Nestled in Woods on a Lake Slope
Mauricio Ceballos X Architects
Santa María del Oro, a small town in the Mexican state of Nayarit, lies within the caldera of an ancient volcano. While the crater lake at its center serves as a vital ecological resource, infrastructure and development conditions remain limited. The area is also home to a highly sensitive ecosystem where even minor interventions can have lasting impacts. Any intervention here required a careful negotiation with the land and its ecological context.
Santa María del Oro House was conceived from this understanding. Perched on a steep hillside descending toward the lake, the house embraces constraints—including a narrow frontage, a limited budget, and a fragile natural environment—as opportunities rather than obstacles. Partially embedded in the slope, the residence remains largely hidden from view across the lake, with only a series of terraces visible among the trees. By concealing its volume within the terrain and covering it with a green roof, the project minimizes its visual presence while helping protect the lake‘s water quality and surrounding ecosystem.
Five mature trees became the foundation of the design. Rather than treating them as obstacles, the architects considered them essential spatial elements. The extent of their canopies, root systems, and sightlines informed the design as decisively as columns or beams. Floor plans and sections were carved and adjusted around them, resulting in a form shaped not only by structural logic but also by ecological order. Circular openings in floors and roofs allow the trees to continue growing while bringing light and air deep into the house. Some are framed by the bedroom windows, while others are surrounded by reflective pools that mirror the landscape. Together, they connect interior and exterior spaces, intertwining architecture and nature.
The 350m² residence is organized across three levels. Entry is made via a 20-meter stairway formed by a sequence of cylindrical concrete elements that allow rainwater to permeate the site while creating a sculptural approach. The middle level contains the main living areas, with bedrooms and bathrooms positioned on either side. Exposed concrete floors, volcanic stone, timber, and dark steel frames establish a restrained material palette. Large floor-to-ceiling glass panels facing the lake pivot and slide open, seamlessly connecting the interior with an outdoor terrace. The lower level accommodates a multipurpose room, laundry, storage and mechanical spaces, along with a dock extending to the lake.
Native planting in the terraces and courtyards further softens the boundary between architecture and landscape. Santa María del Oro House neither dominates nor disturbs its surroundings. Instead, it follows the contours of the land and embraces the ecology of the existing trees. Quietly settled within a volcanic landscape shaped over thousands of years, the house demonstrates a respectful coexistence between architecture and nature.
Project: Santa María del Oro House / Location: Nayarit, Mexico / Architect: Mauricio Ceballos Architects / Project team: Francisco Vázquez, Berenice Esquivel, Marco Severino, Verónica Islas, Monse Padilla, De Silva / Contractor: Taller A / Use: residential / Gross floor area: 250m2 / Completion: 2022 / Photograph: ©Brenda Islas (courtesy of the architect); ©Rafael Gamo (courtesy of the architect)
