Huayacocotla Cabin

This refurbishing project required taking over a half-built weekend cabin in the woods. After starting its construction, the client had second thoughts about the cabin’s design and functionality. The original plan was to have large windows overlooking the forest, however, the large glass panels would have left the building vulnerable to robbers during longer periods of absence. For this reason, together with some space distribution issues, the client reached out to us to strategize a way of tackling such problems midway through the cabin’s construction process.
For the design proposal, a window shutter system was integrated into the facade, which would cover the large glass panels when needed. Moreover, by opening or closing the shutters, two opposite atmospheres are created; one with a transparent envelope where the coniferous forest is the protagonist, and on the other hand, an introverted and completely private atmosphere that is protected from the outside.
Additional to the window shutters, a new layout for the ground floor was proposed, which had to be integrated into the already constructed walls to minimize expenses. The new layout features an open plan kitchen, a second entrance through the back, and overall more efficient use of space and separation between the social and private areas.