Puerto Escondido

Casa Ohana is a luxury jungle residence located along the Oaxacan coast in Puerto Escondido, Mexico. Designed by Vertebral, the 810 m² home redefines tropical residential architecture through a thoughtful balance of openness, privacy, and environmental sensitivity.

Set between dense jungle vegetation and the vast Pacific Ocean horizon, the project responds directly to its dramatic coastal setting. Unlike typical beachfront villas that prioritize spectacle, Casa Ohana adopts a context-driven architectural strategy: embracing climate, terrain, and landscape as primary design elements.

Site Strategy: Architecture as Landscape

The expansive plot offered freedom but required restraint. Instead of creating a single monumental volume, Vertebral divided the program into eight independent architectural volumes distributed organically across the site.

This fragmented layout allows:

• Natural vegetation to flow between structures
• Cross-ventilation from ocean breezes
• Filtered light through jungle canopy
• Reduced environmental impact on the terrain

The result is a porous architectural composition where built form and landscape coexist harmoniously.

Spatial Organization: Openness and Refuge

Casa Ohana was envisioned as a gathering place for family and friends, while also offering moments of solitude.

Social Areas

The communal spaces are open, fluid, and visually connected to the Pacific horizon. Large spans dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior, creating seamless transitions to terraces and outdoor platforms. Panoramic views and constant airflow define the experiential quality of these zones.

Private Bedrooms

The nine bedrooms function as intimate sanctuaries. Each room includes two precisely positioned openings:

• One framing expansive ocean views
• Another oriented toward private garden courtyards

This dual-orientation strategy enhances privacy while maintaining connection to nature.

Climate-Responsive Design and Structural Resilience

Designing along the Oaxacan coast required careful attention to sun exposure, wind patterns, humidity, and hurricane-risk conditions.

Reinforced concrete frames form the structural backbone of the residence, ensuring durability and safety in extreme weather events. The building massing minimizes solar gain while maximizing cross-ventilation, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling systems, a key feature in sustainable tropical architecture.

Material Palette: Earth, Texture, and Durability

The material selection reflects both climatic necessity and regional identity:

• Exposed concrete for structural integrity
• Locally sourced tropical wood for warmth and craftsmanship
• Neutral earthy tones that blend with the surrounding terrain

Light and shadow become architectural materials in their own right, filtered through vegetation and structural frames to create dynamic spatial experiences throughout the day.

A Model for Context-Driven Coastal Architecture

Casa Ohana stands as a benchmark for sustainable coastal architecture in Mexico. Rather than dominating its site, the residence remains humble, fragmented, and integrated into the jungle ecosystem.

Through climate-responsive design, framed ocean vistas, natural ventilation strategies, and careful preservation of vegetation, Vertebral demonstrates how large-scale residential architecture can remain environment ally conscious and deeply rooted in place.

Casa Ohana ultimately encourages a slower rhythm of living: one aligned with the sounds of the jungle, the movement of ocean winds, and the ever-changing tropical light.