U House: The Beauty of Simplicity

In Architecture & Design by Ali Madrazo

I love to write about the works of people with great professionalism and human quality, and that’s the case of Lisa Beltran and Gustavo Carmona, who created the Mexican Architectural firm called Materia Arquitectonica. The consistency and strength in their work has led them to put the name of our country very high, plus they have formed an excellent working team, who manages projects like this one. U House is located in the suburbs of Mexico City; it is unique in many ways, such as the main entrance that is in its roof, of which you then descend to the private and social spaces of the house. When I use the word “simple” to describe this place, it is not because it wasn’t a complex project with a great execution; I call it simple because in the façade you can appreciate simple and sober lines, when mixed and intertwined result in quality architecture. One of my favorite elements in U House is the bridge that extends the transition from the street and becomes an observatory to watch the extraordinary view. Concrete was used for the volumes that hold the earth and contain service spaces, while the volumes containing the bedrooms were finished with a white and light surface creating contrast. Never forget the phrase “Less is more.”

(Photos: Onnis Luque)

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