Highlights
- Architects: HW STUDIO
- Location: Morelia, Michoacán, México
- Completion: July 2024
- Project Type: House
- Building Area: 54.35 m²
- Site Area: 40.00 m²
- Lead Architect: Rogelio Vallejo Bores
- Construction Company: Alberto Gallegos Negrete (Grupo GAPSE)
- Clients: Alejandro Solís Hernández
- Budget: 120,000.00 USD
- Photographer: César Béjar
HW Studio’s Casa Emma in Morelia, Mexico, is a compact and serene home inspired by a profound architectural experience. Designed for reflection and peace, this project reveals the influence of Eduardo Souto de Moura’s Paula Rego Museum, which left a lasting impression on HW Studio’s principals. Through thoughtful use of space, natural light, and traditional elements, Casa Emma showcases the architects’ dedication to creating an atmosphere that is both culturally resonant and refreshingly simple.
A Design Inspired by Light and Emotion
Casa Emma was born from a moment of awe experienced by HW Studio’s architects at the Paula Rego Museum in Portugal. Enchanted by the way light flowed through the museum, they wanted to bring a similar tranquility to Casa Emma. Through soft, natural lighting, they aimed to instill a sense of calm that invites visitors to slow down, reflect, and connect with the space around them. Rather than an outward expression of luxury or scale, the house instead focuses inward, using light to create depth and dimension in the small, 4-by-10-meter space.
The architects treated light as both a functional and emotional tool. High skylights capture sunlight, which cascades down, highlighting textures and shadows on wood surfaces, creating a warm and inviting ambiance that resonates throughout the house.
Embracing Pure?pecha Tradition in a Modern Context
Casa Emma’s design pays homage to the Pure?pecha culture, particularly through its reinterpretation of the Troje—a traditional granary structure unique to the Pure?pecha people. HW Studio carved out spaces within Casa Emma to evoke this traditional form, preserving cultural memory while reimagining it in a modern architectural language. The interiors, primarily crafted from wood, mimic the earthy, organic tones of a Troje and evoke a sense of continuity and respect for tradition.
This rootedness in local heritage doesn’t feel forced but emerges naturally from the design process. By grounding the design in cultural elements, HW Studio achieves a timeless quality, enabling Casa Emma to feel as though it belongs to the land as much as to the people who occupy it.
Clever Spatial Solutions in a Compact Setting
With a plot of just 40 square meters, Casa Emma is a masterclass in spatial efficiency. HW Studio arranged the house to create an open flow and multi-functional spaces. An entry corridor greets visitors and subtly conceals the roofline, while the central living area incorporates the kitchen, dining, and living room seamlessly. Instead of dividing walls, these areas blend together, maximizing both the sense of space and the flow of light.
The private quarters are strategically tucked away. A discreet staircase at the rear leads to a mezzanine level with a bedroom and a full bathroom. This elevated space, distinguished by a floating white volume that feels light and unobtrusive, creates a focal point in the otherwise wood-dominated interior. The designers opted for this white material to subtly contrast the wood and evoke an airy quality, as though it were suspended in space.
A Journey Through Light and Reflection
HW Studio’s approach to Casa Emma is one of contemplative simplicity. Each aspect of the home—from the integration of Pure?pecha influences to the use of filtered sunlight—contributes to an experience that feels both serene and grounded. The architects set out to recreate the emotional impact they felt at the Paula Rego Museum, using light as a guide for introspection and calm. In Casa Emma, light doesn’t just illuminate; it shapes, softens, and reflects, blurring the line between interior and exterior.
Casa Emma serves as more than a home; it’s an architectural meditation on culture, light, and simplicity. By focusing on space, structure, and the gentle play of light, HW Studio creates an inviting retreat that quietly celebrates both Mexican heritage and the universal need for peace.