ACAPULCO
HOUSE
Acapulco,
Mexico
The Acapulco house sits in the tropical coastal lands south of Acapulco. The architecture draws its inspiration from Pre-Columbian archeological remnants, the archetypal Mexican Courtyard house, and Latin American Modernism. The house consists of a stair element that passes through all areas of the house, supporting complete outdoor circulation from level to level, and defining all critical spaces. The steps, which are 90cm wide each, allow for various plaza deck uses and dominates the west elevation. The east elevation is a horizontal cantilevered bedroom and bathroom zone that provides deep shade to terrace areas below: outside the kitchen and around theswimming pool. Rising just above the deep shade canopy of the heavily vegetated landscape, the upper floor looks out over the Pacific. An interior rectangular courtyard provides more intimate views from within the house. The house was designed for an American actor, who plans to use it as a second home as well as an assembly point for colleagues in film and theater. The initial structural engineering was done by Guy Nordensen Associates. All other engineering was done with Colinus De Buen of Mexico City.