An Introspective Brick Home in Mexico City Wraps Around a Jungle-Like Courtyard

The concept of home is often synonymous with that of a sanctuary—a secluded retreat that offers escape from the world. It was this desire for privacy that drove the form of a home in Mexico City for a mother, who works as a hotelier, and her three daughters aged 15, 14, and 11. The resulting home—the first residential project by Mexican industrial designer Hector Esrawe—offers the family a verdant oasis hidden behind an imposing and protective brick facade.

“The brief was mostly based on how to achieve moments of interaction amongst the family in everyday life,” says Esrawe. “The house provides a constant feeling of warmth and safety, and different spots that allow the family to relate to the courtyard and its lush expression.”

Casa Sierra Fría is located in Lomas de Chapultepec in Mexico City. The residential area surrounds Bosque de Chapultepec, one of the largest parks in the Western Hemisphere. Many of the buildings in the area date back to the 1920s, and feature traditional brick constructions, which inspired the materiality of the monolithic built form. “Because of its format and scale, it stands out immediately,” says Esrawe. “The brick relates to the property’s surroundings and is contemporary yet not invasive.”