Articles by Valentina Díaz

Ganadería Santillán is located in the heart of the Mexican Bajío, between Tequisquiapan and La Laja, a region with a deep ranching tradition and landscapes reminiscent of the paintings of José María Velasco. The commission consisted of designing a Plaza de Tientas and an Equestrian Training space for the ranch. From the outset, the project was conceived as an intervention integrated into the terrain not as an imposed structure, but as an extension of the landscape itself.

Ojo de Nila is a home shaped by the rhythms of the landscape in Bahía Ballena. Designed for a Swiss couple seeking a deeper connection to the environment, the house invites a lifestyle centered on living outdoors in comfort without air conditioning. Set on a secluded mountain with expansive ocean views and surrounded by abundant biodiversity, the home is completely open toward the Pacific so its inhabitants remain in constant dialogue with light, air, and the forest canopy.

Located to the south of Mexico City, a residential house was designed with the goal of hosting gatherings and events — providing a space for family interaction and recreation — with a swimming lane as the main axis of the project.

Degrees is a geometric and optical device, doubling the 360-degree track of normal vision. The design originates from a central patio and from the ways in which the inner and outer worlds might interact with one another. Conceived as a solar clock that registers the passing of time, this off-the-grid house is many houses in one: during the day it frames a mountain and a volcano, opening up toward the varied views along the external perimeter of the circle; at night, it turns inward around a circular courtyard.

Strategically placed in the forest is a base made of stone native to the site. Emerging in a stereotomic manner, this solid block also comprises the foundation of the project.

Situated on a scenic promontory in Ciales, Puerto Rico, this project represents the transformation of a former funeral home into a dynamic, community-centered space. The Ciales Kindergarten will fill an immediate need for early childhood education in Ciales and surrounding municipalities in central Puerto Rico. Forty-eight children will benefit from this new facility. Aside from this, it will provide employment for teachers, directors and support staff. The client will relocate their Puerto Rico offices from the more remote municipality of Utuado to this new, easily accessible facility.

Located in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Casa Seis Patios is a single-family residence designed for an art lover seeking a home intimately connected to the natural surroundings. The project is organized around six patios: strategic voids that articulate the space, allow for the entry of light and cross ventilation, and dissolve the boundaries between interior and exterior through the presence of vegetation in all environments. At the heart of the volume is the main patio, where the house opens completely to a central pool, making this space a gathering point.