Mexico City-based Fernanda Canales Architecture has completed a remarkable circular residence that functions as a "solar clock," measuring time through the interplay of light and shadow. House 720 Degrees, finished in 2024, sits on a remote 2-acre site outside Valle de Bravo, Mexico, in an area called La Reserva Peñitas. The innovative design has been shortlisted in the rural house category for the prestigious Dezeen Awards 2025.
The 1,115-square-meter (12,000-square-foot) residence was conceived for two families and features a distinctive ring-shaped main structure with a central courtyard, plus a separate secondary building containing additional sleeping areas. Studio founder Fernanda Canales explained the conceptual approach: "House 720 Degrees is conceived as a geometric and optical device – a solar clock that measures time through light and shadow. It doubles the usual 360-degree view, expanding perception and interaction between interior and exterior worlds."
The home's low-profile design carefully follows the site's natural topography while its materials allow it to blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. Construction utilized a unique concrete mixture combined with local soil, creating a natural finish that merges with the terrain. This material choice was selected for its durability, local origin, and low maintenance requirements. The residence was specifically designed to adapt to the area's extreme temperature variations and heavy seasonal rainfall.
At the heart of the project lies a circular open-air patio that serves as both the geometric and experiential core, connecting all enclosed spaces visually and spatially. "During the day, it opens outward to frame views of the mountain and volcano," the studio explained. "At night, it turns inward, fostering intimacy and warmth." Rectangular living spaces are strategically arranged around the perimeter of this central patio, creating a unique blend of orthogonal geometry with radial circulation patterns and curved corridors.
The division into three distinct volumes – the main circular house, guest studio, and auxiliary building – responds thoughtfully to the natural terrain and the need for privacy among the families and their guests. Canales noted, "The division into three volumes responds to the natural terrain and the need for privacy among two families, sometimes three families and guests." This organization allows for natural cross-ventilation throughout the residence, with flexible openings that can be adjusted for optimal daylight and privacy control.
Interior design continues the emphasis on local materials and craftsmanship, featuring oak wood and stone elements that ground the project in its natural setting. Handcrafted furniture and lighting fixtures were created on-site, adding to the home's authentic character. The earthen materials provide excellent thermal mass properties, while solar panels generate electricity and heating as part of a self-sufficient, off-grid infrastructure system.
Canales emphasized the project's broader architectural philosophy: "The project's circular geometry transcends the symbolic 360 degrees of vision to create a dwelling that feels both expansive and grounded. It merges architecture, landscape and time into one continuous spatial experience, turning the house itself into a device for observing light, weather and life." She added that "achieving a very intimate, domestic scale, despite the large built area and making the house disappear into the landscape, is truly unique."
This circular design approach reflects a recurring theme in Canales' architectural work. Her portfolio includes other notable circular structures, such as a concrete community center serving the adjacent prison in Iztapalapa and a perforated brick community center featuring multiple circular openings designed for elderly residents in Neco. The House 720 Degrees project was documented by architectural photographer Rafael Gamo, whose images capture the interplay of light and shadow that defines the residence's solar clock concept.
