A Sanctuary in the Pines: Ludwig Godefroy's Brutalist Casa Alférez in Mexico

Inspired by the romantic notion of a protective cabin nestled in a forest, Mexico City-based architect Ludwig Godefroy presents Casa Alférez, a concrete holiday home located in a Mexican pine forest.

This unique two-bedroom weekend house, completed in 2023, is situated about an hour outside of Mexico City, balancing the dual elements of a fortress-like sanctuary and a whimsical, light-filled retreat.

Casa Alférez boasts a compact 9.5m x 9.5m footprint, prioritizing height over width to minimize the impact on the steeply sloped terrain. The house appears to hover among the pines on its southwest corner, while its northeast corner is semi-buried. The elevated structure allows the home to bask in the sunlight, and its double-height design ensures that natural light reaches every interior space.

The house's ground floor features high windows, providing security and privacy by keeping sightlines and access away from the perimeter. The interior spaces are oriented upwards, focusing on the sky and the surrounding treetops. The board-formed concrete structure playfully balances the material's weight with the weightlessness of the spaces, creating a dramatic contrast.

Casa Alférez features five half-levels, with rooms acting as a series of mezzanine spaces. These spaces are furnished with built-in concrete furniture and wooden finished floors. The structure's fenestrations, reminiscent of Le Corbusier's Notre Dame du Haut, comprise seemingly unrelated shapes and scales that contrast with the depth of the concrete mass. This unique design provides a secure yet light-filled sanctuary for those seeking solace in nature.

Casa Alférez is a sanctuary that harmoniously blends with its natural surroundings, providing an unforgettable retreat for those seeking solace among the Mexican pines. With its innovative design, this holiday home demonstrates how architecture can artfully balance contrasts, merging the solidity of brutalist concrete with the ethereal beauty of a forest cabin. As a luxurious weekend escape, Casa Alférez invites visitors to unwind, recharge, and experience the captivating interplay of light and shadow in this unparalleled forest haven.