A small and open corner lot from Colina, Mexico has been beautifully filled out by studio Di Frenna Arquitectos just last year, in 2020. They built here an inviting house which was dubbed Casa Mao. It’s a 389 square meter home with a simple and modern design on the outside and a cozy modern-industrial vibe on the inside.

An overhang extends over the driveway and adds depth to this side of the houseThe perforations in the facade adds an interesting and also subtle texture to the exterior design

The Mao House is defined by all sorts of visible contrasts between the materials and textures used throughout its design, between the social and the private areas and also between the open and closed spaces in general. At the same time, all of these contrasts give this place a balanced look and feel. The site itself is a corner lot which is partially closed off, offering a sort of organic privacy. At the same time, lots of big openings and large windows open the house towards the beautiful outdoor areas.

The kitchen is semi-open and has an island which also serves as a barThe lower and upper level are connected via a series of floating wooden stairsthe main entrance leads into a double-height space which transitions outside

The ground floor is dedicated to all the social areas like the living room, a spacious kitchen with a big island/ bar and a connection to an outdoor lounge terrace and swimming pool area. There’s also a double-height entrance area which adds a sense of grandeur to this place. The upper level is where the private spaces are situated. These have access to an open balcony which wraps around a corner and another one which overlooks the pool area.

A corner balcony mimics the placement of the swimming pool below itThe exterior design alternates between warm brick and dark grey colorsA small part of the upper floor is cantilevered and creates this small overhang with built-in lightingThe ground floor living room and the space above it open beautifully onto a backyard