Las Golondrinas House for a Retired Couple in Valle de Bravo, Mexico by PPAA.

Mexican architects PPAA Pérez Palacios Arquitectos Asociados have created a secluded matte-black home for a retired couple, set within the tree canopy of Valle de Bravo. Architects describe Las Golondrinas as a “place of disconnection and rest”, where their clients can enjoy the surrounds of the soft sounds of the forest.

The structure manages to blend in with the lush forest that wraps about its bold, black-dipped shell. Window frames and shutters, made from a tropical tzalam wood, speak to the surrounding woodland, creating a building that is sensitive to its context.

Although the house appears as a whole it is actually made up of three volumes, joined by a large sloping roof. One volume contains the kitchen/dining area, the second houses the lounge, and the third holds a series of bathrooms. Architects explain, “the space between these three volumes generates a covered terrace that becomes the social place during the day.” Covered and semi-open corridors blur the boundary between interior and exterior space, pushing those within to experience the natural world around them.

Despite the solidness of its exterior form, spaces within feel light and airy. The kitchen, arguably our favourite area of the project, stands in stark contrast to the dark façade. The space, despite its humble size, feels open and filled with light. A simple palette of timber and creamy marble acts as a canvas, continually recoloured throughout the day as the sunlight moves across its surfaces.

In each room, one’s eye is drawn to the beautiful view, whether it be through a framed small window, a panoramic balcony, or partially through the slats of a wooden screen. Architects explain, “the project takes place in the upper part of the plot, leaving the surrounding nature intact and opening up the views of the mountains”.

PPAA’s Las Golondrinas retirement retreat stands as an elegant intervention within the lush, natural setting, making all our early retirement dreams all the more real.

Related: Casa La Quinta: Weekend House For A Retired Couple In Guanajuato, Mexico.

[Images courtesy of PPAA. Photography by Rafael Gamo.]