ALICIA HOUSE
Altova
ARCHITECTS
Altova
ARCHITECTS IN CHARGE
Roberto Torres Valle, Luis Alvarez
MANUFACTURERS
Vitro®, Cemex México S.A. de C.V., Comex México, Helvex, Interceramic, Ternium
DESIGN TEAM
Nicolas Alvarez Jimenez
PHOTOGRAPHS
Cesar Belio, Roberto Torres Valle
AREA
200 m²
YEAR
2024
LOCATION
Comitán de Domínguez, Mexico
CATEGORY
Lodging
English description provided by the architects.
Casa Alicia is a contemporary architectural intervention located in the Historic Center of Comitán de Domínguez, Chiapas —a Magical Town in southeastern Mexico— designed as accommodation for the Airbnb platform.
It reinterprets vernacular architecture from a modern perspective, integrating bioclimatic strategies that balance efficiency, aesthetics, and low maintenance.
The complex consists of two volumes with gable roofs connected by a central bridge that articulates circulation, voids, and visual connections.
The sober and monolithic volumetry closes off towards the street and opens up to a central courtyard, generating an introspective architecture that responds to the climate and the traditional urban context.
Bricks from a previous construction are reused, combined with exposed concrete, forming reddish walls that evoke the passage of time.
Both materials act as thermal mass, providing character and comfort. The color palette, raw materials, and artisanal details reinforce the local roots.
The distribution includes six independent bedrooms that promote privacy, flexible use, and low maintenance.
The central courtyard is the sensory core of the project: a fountain creates a waterfall that flows into a mirror of water, generating sound, freshness, and contemplation.
Aromas, endemic vegetation, permeable flooring, and clean energy consolidate a livable, resilient, and emotional experience.
Casa Alicia proposes a sustainable architecture, sensitive to the environment and deeply rooted in its place.
