Dezeen Magazine

Fábrica de Espacios strings "big hammock" between two floors of Casa Bosque Sereno

Architecture office Fábrica de Espacios has designed Casa Bosque Sereno, a Mexican house featuring painted brick walls and a large net hammock that forms one of its floors.

Local firm Fábrica de Espacios built the house in Bosque Sereno, a housing complex in the city of Aguascalientes in Mexico.

The house is in Aguascalientes in Mexico
The house is by Fábrica de Espacios

Pared-back in its design, the house features simple elements such as nude concrete floors and white-painted exposed brick walls in place of traditional materials like plaster and polystyrene, which also keep the house cool.

"Regarding the materials, the construction systems optimised resources," architect Héctor Paredes told Dezeen.

Casa Bosque Sereno has exposed brick walls
Exposed brick and nude concrete feature inside

Handcrafted mosaics and terrazzo also feature in Casa Bosque Sereno, as well as natural wood, which Paredes described as a celebration of traditional local craftsmanship.

The blending of indoor and outdoor spaces is a theme that runs throughout the house's design which is defined by open-plan elements, in particular, a floor that is partially made of net.

The house's hammock is designed for relaxation
A floor made of net is the house's standout element

"A textile net allows communication between two floors, while also acting as a big hammock for the family to watch a movie on," explained Paredes.

With rooms that can be opened out or made more intimate depending on preference, the house is both spacious and cosy.

Referred to by Paredes as a "refuge," Casa Bosque Sereno is also designed to conserve its energy by keeping the house warm in winter and cool in the summer through a solar chimney and double-glazed windows.

"The shading elements were calculated based on the solar path of the site. These strategies make the home a Passivhaus without conventional heating or cooling systems," said Paredes.

Sustainable materials are used in Casa Bosque Sereno
Natural wood is used for kitchen cabinets

Casa Bosque Sereno also achieves minimal water consumption through two design mechanisms.

One system captures and filters water used in the shower and sinks and recycles it for toilet and irrigation purposes, while another tank catches and preserves rainwater in the summer for later use.

The rooms are open-plan
The house's rooms are open-plan

Endemic plants feature in the interior open-air patio, enhancing the house's sustainable nature. The plants are mostly xerophile, meaning that they have the ability to grow in conditions with minimal water.

"The house has an introverted character, where each window is linked to the patio, the sky, or the treetops outside," concluded Paredes.

Endemic plants climb pillars on the patio outside
Endemic plants climb pillars outside the house

Fábrica de Espacios is a Mexico-based architecture firm.

Other recent projects which showcase nets in their design include a netting-topped atrium in a home by Canadian studio Robitaille Curtis, and Divooe Zein Architects' net-covered educational events space in Taiwan that was originally an abandoned house.

Photography is by FRAM Fotografía.

More images and plans

Site plan
Site plan
Ground floor plan
Ground floor plan
First floor plan
First floor plan
Roof plan
Roof plan
Courtyard elevation
Courtyard elevation
The house's facade
The house's facade
Section 1
Section 1
Section 2
Section 2
Section 3
Section 3
Details of the house's insulation plan
Details of the house's insulation plan
Casa Bosque Sereno
Casa Bosque Sereno
Casa Bosque Sereno
Casa Bosque Sereno
Casa Bosque Sereno
Casa Bosque Sereno
Casa Bosque Sereno
Casa Bosque Sereno
Casa Bosque Sereno
Casa Bosque Sereno
Casa Bosque Sereno
Casa Bosque Sereno