In the serene expanse of the Oaxacan coast, where the sun casts its relentless glow and the sea whispers tales of yore, stands Casa Monte—a testament to the nuanced vision of Mexican design as envisioned by Carlos Matos.
This project, nestled a stone's throw from the Tadao Ando-crafted Casa Wabi, emerges not as a mere vacation rental but as a dialogue between the tangible and intangible, the ancient and the nascent.
Carlos, delved into the depths of this coastal enclave, absorbing the elemental lessons imparted by its landscape and its lore. It is here, amid the low thrum of the scrubby forest and the tactile warmth of concrete, that Casa Monte rises—a structure that defies the simplistic categorization of a 'house.' It is rather an exploration, a solitary journey guided by the rugged terrain and the architectural heritage of Mexico.
At its core, Casa Monte, or Hillock House, is an architectural stratagem that weaves together the rich tapestry of Mexico's multifaceted pasts with the threads of an evolving present. The insertion of a 115-square-foot plinth into the sandy embrace of the Oaxacan coast sets the stage for an edifice that embodies resilience and reverence. More than 1400 concrete blocks, each a testament to the craftsmanship inspired by Ando, lay the foundation for a space that resonates with the echoes of Inca temples and the serenity of ancient Egyptian baths.
Yet, it is the very essence of Casa Monte that captivates the soul. Described by its creators as an 'experiment in seclusion,' it is a sanctuary that blurs the lines between the wilds of the exterior and the sanctuary of the interior. The portico, with its high walls and columns, crafts a microcosm where the breeze dallies with the weight of history. Every concrete slab, every block, is a narrative in itself—painting a picture of isolation that is stark, yet profoundly intimate.
Within this bastion of solitude, life unfolds in simple acts—a meal prepared over the kitchenette, a moment of repose on the daybed, a plunge into the emerald depths of the pool. Casa Monte redefines the notion of domesticity, placing it within a broader context of civilization's march towards futurity while anchored in the bedrock of the past.
The ascent to the bedroom is a journey of transition—from the austerity of the ground floor to the warmth of wooden floors and window frames. The terrace offers a panoramic embrace of the ocean, a space where dawn and dusk dance in a perpetual cycle of renewal. And atop the roof, under the cloak of night, the cosmos unfolds in a tableau of ethereal beauty.
