How much space do we humans truly need to inhabit?
I am acutely aware that everyday livable space is becoming more limited, and our understanding of this fact will require a radical change in the very Zeitgeist of the world`s major cultures. But special limitations do not have to deny our human need for a place to work and rest, to cook and meditate, and to be together.

This dwelling seeks continuous interaction with the jacaranda tree located in the center of the 68-square-meter lot. This tree is the “lady of the house”. The living space and its partner, the living tree, carry on a unique dialogue, embracing the creation of uniformity in daily existence. This is where the building links geometrically with the process of growth in the trunk of the “lady of the house,” her massive body. This “marriage” generates torsion geometries, which contain structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing elements.

The dwelling was designed and built to reduce energy emissions from heating, cooling and lighting systems and embodied materials. The house also minimizes environmental impact by recreating the land on which it was built through a green roof terrace, with soil and native plants that require little water.

Some of the components used in this project were recycled materials from old, demolished constructions. Regional craftsmen applied traditional techniques and designs that have been nearly lost due to mass production, industrialization and importation of cheap materials. Vernacular elements also were used to reinterpret Mexico`s unique past.