"In Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where the sun dictates the pace of daily life, shade is not just relief but necessity. Casa Tao, designed by HW Studio, embraces this condition as both practical response and a promise of calm. Rather than chasing views, the home turns inward, seeking a deeper conversation with memory, intimacy, and atmosphere. The project began not with architectural sketches, but with the life stories of its inhabitants."
"For Gustavo, the house is rooted in memories of his modest childhood home where resourcefulness mattered more than materials. Those early spaces left a lifelong lesson: shade could be more than shelter - it could embody a sense of calm and protection. Gustavo and his partner Cynthia brought this sensibility, along with their shared fascination with Japanese architecture, into the brief for Casa Tao. A family trip to Japan instilled in them an admiration for the way minimalism and stillness are orchestrated in built space."
Casa Tao is a residence in Puerto Vallarta that prioritizes shade, calm, and intimacy over coastal views. The design grew from the inhabitants' memories of resourceful childhood spaces and a shared appreciation for Japanese minimalism and stillness. The building orients to a nearby plaza shaded by mature trees and angles its relationship to the landscape to allow breezes and filtered presence rather than direct sun. A diagonal approach frames daily life, emphasizing quiet observation rather than spectacle. Programmatic functions are separated across two floors. Bedrooms, service areas, and the garage occupy the larger ground level to preserve privacy.
Read at Design Milk
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