Javier Senosiain’s Hideaway
I, for one, have always wanted to live completely at one with nature. Mexican architect, Javier Senosiain’s underground home accomplishes this to a degree that’s hard to even imagine until you see it. Built in 1984, it’s a perfect example of ‘organic architecture’, takes its shape from nature and aims for minimal impact on the environment. It was in fact, modeled after the shape of a peanut. The green dune wraps itself around the inside spaces almost completely, rendering it almost invisible to the passer-by.
The walls, ceilings, and built-in furnishings are made of ferro-cement coated with a paste of marble powder and white cement. The living room features a hand-shaped chair by Mexican artist Pedro Friedeberg and a Bubble chair by Eero Aarnio.
The exterior is adorned in bright Bougainvillea and Senosiain used trees and bushes to create green barriers that filter harsh sunlight, keep the interiors cool, and protect the house from dust and noise pollution. The Organic House's grassy green roof protects against heat and cold to maintain a comfortable interior temperature. Every room inside is connected to the stunning exterior by windows.
“To take a walk in the garden is to walk over the roof of the house itself without even realizing it.”
