TOMM House by mauricio Alonso. m arquitecturA

A Dialogue Between Architecture and Landscape

TOMM House by mauricio Alonso. m arquitecturA redefines contemporary residential living in San Miguel de Allende through a design that maintains a constant conversation with the surrounding landscape. Situated on an irregular plot at the end of a cul-de-sac, the home connects naturally with a green public area that becomes the central inspiration for its spatial orientation.

Facing a semicircular roundabout, the residence’s clean geometry and right angles establish a distinctive architectural presence, while its blind street-facing façade ensures privacy. The northeast orientation opens the interior toward the garden and distant horizon, emphasizing light, vegetation, and open-air living.

Designed for a family of three, the house achieves a balance between openness and seclusion, blurring boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces through expansive glazing and framed views of nature.

Site and Topography Integration

The plot rises nearly three meters above street level, creating a dynamic access sequence that enhances the spatial journey. A local flagstone pathway ascends toward the entrance, intentionally exposing patches of the original rocky substrate to reveal the terrain’s natural texture and geological context.

This design gesture grounds the project in its site, embracing the aesthetic of natural imperfection while maintaining a clear architectural order. The flagstone steps lead to a modest entrance landing — a threshold that subtly divides service, storage, and circulation zones.

Material Honesty and Structural Clarity

The upper floor volume — containing two bedrooms — floats above the terrain, supported by four slender steel columns. This elevated structure creates a light footprint, allowing the house to hover gently over the ground while providing space for a shaded carport below.

TOMM House celebrates material authenticity through a restrained palette of exposed concrete, rustic clay, steel, and congona wood (white mahogany). The façade, clad in rough clay brick, gives the home its earthy tone and tactile presence, blending contemporary minimalism with regional craftsmanship.

This material trio — concrete, wood, and steel — defines the home’s architectural identity. Their combination produces a warm yet austere atmosphere that reflects the local vernacular and the honesty of modern Mexican architecture.

Spatial Composition and Interior Flow

The spatial organization is simple yet dynamic. The ground floor accommodates an open-plan living and dining area with visual continuity toward the garden, creating a space that feels expansive despite the compact footprint.

A guest bedroom and study are strategically placed near the entrance, separated by a sliding pocket door that allows flexibility between private and shared use. The staircase, conceived as the home’s main architectural gesture, connects both levels with a sculptural rhythm.

At the mid-landing, a large intermediate platform opens to a garden view, offering a pause in movement and a moment of reflection. This intermediary space enhances the perception of height and depth within the compact interior layout.

Light, Privacy, and Climate Control

On the upper floor, the master bedroom faces the northeast garden, maintaining visual and climatic comfort through automated blinds and large windows. The double-height wall connects vertically to the living space, creating a sense of openness and dialogue between floors.

An internal terrace acts as a micro-garden, surrounded by gray quarry stone and potted plants, filtering sunlight while ensuring privacy. This semi-enclosed outdoor area mediates between inside and outside, softening the boundaries of architectural enclosure and embracing biophilic design principles.

Material Warmth and Minimal Detailing

Throughout the house, the integration of wood and natural textures adds warmth to the minimalist composition. Custom furniture, crafted from mahogany and locally sourced materials, complements the architecture’s structural expression.

Every design decision — from exposed structural joints to simple finishes — reinforces the home’s philosophy of honesty and restraint. This balance between rawness and refinement gives TOMM House its timeless, contemporary character.

TOMM House stands as a testament to contextual modernism — an architecture that is both deeply rooted in its site and expressive of material clarity. By establishing a continuous dialogue with nature, the residence achieves serenity, sustainability, and spatial harmony.

The project embodies the spirit of modern Mexican residential architecture, where structure, material, and landscape coexist as one living entity.

All Photographs are works of Rafael Gamo