British architectural firm Delvendahl Martin has completed a striking residential project in the hills north of Guadalajara, Mexico, that seamlessly blends traditional Mexican and Japanese architectural influences. The house, designed for a family of six, features a distinctive veranda with deep blade-like columns that connects the central living areas while providing essential shade and protection from the region's heavy summer rains.

The home is strategically organized around a series of adaptable spaces, with both the veranda and a checkerboard pattern of patios creating outdoor rooms that deliberately blur the boundaries between interior and exterior living. This design philosophy reflects the architects' intention to create flexible spaces that can evolve with the family's changing needs over time.

The dwelling is divided into three distinct volumes, each varying in size and height to accommodate different functions. The largest volume houses the main living and dining areas along with the kitchen, which serves as the heart of the home. A large barn door provides direct access from the living spaces to a south-facing garden, enhancing the indoor-outdoor connection. The master bedroom occupies the top floor of this two-story main volume and connects to the rest of the house through a mezzanine and south-facing greenhouse that acts as a thermal buffer, dissipating heat during summer months and storing warmth in winter.

The other two wings contain the children's bedrooms and service areas respectively. The children's wing has been specifically designed with flexibility in mind, capable of being partitioned into up to four individual spaces as the children grow older. Three distinct staircases connect all spaces in a continuous circulation loop: a stone staircase, a concrete staircase, and an innovative sliding wood and steel staircase that doubles as a ladder providing access to the living room's double-height bookshelf.

The architects employed a simple materials palette that emphasizes natural surfaces, including stone, wood, and unpainted steel frame windows. The veranda features pigmented concrete that has been stratified to produce a tactile surface that subtly contrasts with the rest of the house. Natural ventilation is achieved throughout the home via a system of small shuttered openings that complement the windows, regulate airflow, and add compositional richness to the building's facades.

Eric Martin, founding partner of Delvendahl Martin Architects, explained that working in Mexico presented unique opportunities and challenges. "Working in Mexico presented a great opportunity to explore a different approach from our work in the UK," Martin said. "The contrast was multifaceted, extending beyond the obvious climatic differences and the unique qualities of natural daylight. Construction methodologies varied significantly, and regulations in Mexico for this type of residential project were slightly less stringent."

Martin noted that while this flexibility allowed for more latitude in design and material specification, it was balanced by differences in craftsmanship. "The approach in Mexico is more artisanal in contrast to the more industrialized methods prevalent in the UK," he explained. "We had to immerse ourselves in the local construction processes, understanding how residential buildings are made, identifying available local materials, and assessing construction timescales."

The collaboration with Xal Arquitectura, which served as both executive architect and contractor, proved invaluable to the project's success. Their early involvement allowed for the development of a robust collaborative process where key design decisions were discussed and agreed upon among all parties. A critical aspect of this collaboration was the early introduction of material sample testing, particularly for the concrete work where the team spent considerable time testing pigmentation and layered pouring techniques to achieve the desired tonal variations for the final structure.

The clients described the building process as "a once-in-a-lifetime experience" that began with initial ideas in 2019. They emphasized how the house's inherent flexibility proved essential as their family evolved during the construction period. "One of the most profound lessons we learned throughout this period was the inherent dynamism of life; nothing remains static," the clients noted. "It's a great relief that the house is designed with such inherent flexibility, capable of responding to the shifts and demands of our lives."

The project broke ground in November 2022 and reached completion in December 2024, with a gross internal floor area of 300 square meters. The construction cost per square meter was $980, though the total project cost was not disclosed. The structural engineering was handled by Fernando Guizar Reyes, while Xal Arquitectura served as the main contractor in addition to their role as executive architect.

The completed home stands as a testament to successful international collaboration and adaptive design, demonstrating how contemporary architecture can honor traditional influences while meeting the evolving needs of modern family life. The project showcases innovative approaches to climate-responsive design, flexible living spaces, and the integration of indoor and outdoor environments in residential architecture.