Last Updated on September 9, 2024 by teamobn
Mexico City, Mexico – Revolution
Built Area: 106.71 m2
Year Built: 2015
Photographs: The Black Rabbit
The Black Cabin is a compact house with a green roof. It’s a calming respite in the middle of the busy Mexican metropolis. The cabin sits surrounded by nature, with tall trees and dense bushes providing shade. Because it’s set inside a wooded section, it’s protected against visual and acoustic pollution.
The façade is clad in black-stained pine planks. Large glazed panels dot the structure, framing views of the outside landscape. These openings also allow natural light in while promoting passive ventilation. There’s a green roof that regulates the building’s temperature. At the same time, it acts as an outdoor dining area and a secondary garden space.
The features of this modular cabin were driven by cost-effective construction techniques and sustainability. Most materials used in its construction were recycled in nature. As protection from humidity and cold, the structure was raised and kept off the ground.
Notes from the Black Cabin Architect:
Site
This black cabin project is located at Desierto de los Leones woods, in the west part of Mexico City. The terrain is surrounded by nature within the vast city.
Here we found great amount of trees, allowing a natural visual filter towards the highway and the near constructions. It is a private space, isolated of visual pollution and acoustic disturbance.
Objective
The main objective of the black cabin project, was to create a space for our clients and friends that could be ready as soon as possible. The haste of inhabit it in so short notice made us think of a constructive system that could be more efficient without raising the cost and handling the balance planned from the beginning.
Also we had to design and build exclusively the spaces that were really needed, letting go of any extras and fitting each measure to their style and way of life. A compact and useful black cabin project was the best choice because we agreed that the luxury was on the exterior, the woods.
Concept
This black cabin project, being in the middle of the woods, full of trees and nature inspired us to create a cabin.
We knew that it could not be an ordinary cabin, and we had the goal of making it a sustainable home, although we had the margin of budget and time.
First thing we did was to analize the program that the client asked for, that stood mainly in the way the space should be organized. We created 3 modules: Private, semi-public and public.
After deciding the main division, hundreds of variations turned into volumetric diagrams that narrowed down into this three space modules. We studied how they could and should relate with each other and the arrangement towards the free space around, taking advantage of the vast land that offered few limits. We also had to merge certain design rules to fully understand this black cabin project.This guides were: Orientation. Views. Privacy.
We concluded that the Private and Public modules had to have the most important views and had priority in the orientation. The Semi-Public would work as a bridge between Private and Public modules, and it could act as a visual barrier as well to produce privacy within the immediate neighbour.
Architecture
The Cabin is 106 sqm, composed of 3 modules: Private, Semi-Public and Public. The Private module has the main bedroom with a full bathroom and dressing room. In the Semi-Public module is the kitchen, a full bathroom intended for guests and a laundry room. And the Public module has the living room and an exterior terrace.
The house floats 60 cm over the floor to avoid natural cold, save humidity on the floor, and dismiss a direct contact with the water that falls from the mountain top.
The house has also a green roof that acts as a thermal filter with the exterior, maintaining the house cool during daytime and warm through the night. It is also a space that may be used as an extra piece of garden
Materials
Time, budget and sustainability were the target, and we had to use precise materials to complete with success these tasks, and to avoid at all cost any work of masonry, excepting the foundation and the retaining wall on the east facade of the house.
The skeleton is a metallic structure in the vertical elements, as well as the horizontals. We believe that in this way we were being sustainable because the metal we can be recycled in the future.
All the black cabin is cladded with natural wood, black pine planks on the exterior walls, and on the floor and ceiling we left the natural color of the material.
For the humid areas of the cabin, such as the bathroom and kitchen, we used basaltic stone to cover the surfaces.Interior walls are covered with gypsum panel painted in white to adjust the cost and give more visual dimension.
The green roof system has plastic membrane that works as an envelope insulating and waterproofing between the wood and the natural soil. Water that comes from rain and falls over the rooftop is directed to the natural terrain giving back the area that we took from the land.
All the materials we used to build the black cabin can be recycled, the metallic structure,the wood cladding and the plastic membrane for the insulation. We created passive ventilation and natural light through the big windows so we achieved the goal for the client to have a sustainable home.
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Exterior Views:
Interior Views:
Drawing Views:
Technical Challenges and Solutions in Construction
Constructing The Black Cabin presented a unique set of challenges due to its location in the Desierto de los Leones woods and the ambitious sustainability goals set by the architects. The design team faced obstacles related to the terrain, the choice of materials, and the need to minimise environmental impact while adhering to a strict budget and timeline. Here, we explore how these challenges were met with innovative solutions that underscore the cabin’s design philosophy.
Terrain and Foundation
The Black Cabin is situated on a sloped, wooded site, which posed significant challenges for stability and water drainage. The traditional approach of extensive ground modification was not viable due to environmental and budget constraints. Instead, the solution was to elevate the structure 60 cm above the ground.
This approach not only protected the cabin from moisture and cold but also reduced the need for invasive land alterations. The use of a lightweight metal skeleton for the foundation allowed for quick assembly and minimal ground disturbance, aligning with the project’s sustainable ethos.
Material Selection and Sustainability
Choosing materials that met both the aesthetic and functional requirements of The Black Cabin was another hurdle. The architects opted for black-stained pine planks for the exterior to blend with the forested backdrop and provide durability against the elements. Internally, natural wood colors were retained to enhance the sense of connectivity with nature.
For humid areas like the kitchen and bathroom, basaltic stone was selected for its moisture resistance and longevity. Each material was chosen for its recyclability and minimal environmental footprint, ensuring that The Black Cabin remained as eco-friendly as possible.
Passive Design Techniques
Integrating passive design strategies to handle the microclimate challenges without compromising the cabin’s energy efficiency required careful planning. The large glazed panels installed throughout The Black Cabin serve multiple purposes—they enhance natural lighting, encourage passive solar heating, and promote natural ventilation, all crucial for reducing reliance on artificial heating and cooling systems. The green roof was another significant feature, acting as a natural insulator. It helps maintain interior temperatures stable throughout the year, further reducing the cabin’s energy consumption.
Construction Efficiency and Cost Management
The Black Cabin was envisioned to be constructed swiftly without escalating costs. The modular design was a strategic choice to address this. By dividing the cabin into three primary modules—private, semi-public, and public—the construction process was streamlined, allowing for sections to be prefabricated and assembled on-site more efficiently. This modularity not only expedited the building process but also kept material wastage to a minimum and simplified logistics, which was vital given the remote location.
The construction of The Black Cabin was a meticulous exercise in balancing sustainability with functional design, all while addressing the inherent challenges of its unique setting. The solutions derived from these challenges not only facilitated a smoother construction process but also ensured that the cabin fulfilled its role as a sustainable retreat in the heart of Mexico City’s forested outskirts. The project stands as a testament to the possibilities of modern architecture to integrate seamlessly with nature while promoting environmentally conscious living.
Here’s another cabin we think you’d like, the Cabin at Longbranch…
