![Casa Zihuaren by Intersticial Arquitectura](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/03/casa-zirahuen-Intersticial-arquitectura-queretaro-mexico-house-home-residential_dezeen_hero-852x479.jpg)
Intersticial Arquitectura emphasises local materials in Mexican home
Mexican firm Intersticial Arquitectura has built a home on the outskirts of Querétaro, using local materials such as light-coloured bricks, rough masonry blocks, and an exposed concrete frame.
Casa Zirahuen is a 350-square-metre residence built on a deep, narrow plot. The two-storey building encompasses four bedrooms, and is named after the street it is built on.
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Intersticial Arquitectura described the surrounding areas as monotonous and isolated – the adjoining plots are cut off by high concrete walls for protection.
"The proposal's idea is based on a different integration to the site, one that dignifies and offers better ways of living in its outside and inside space," the local studio said.
![Casa Zihuaren by Intersticial Arquitectura](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/03/casa-zirahuen-Intersticial-arquitectura-queretaro-mexico-house-home-residential_dezeen_2364_col_13-852x568.jpg)
Two distinct courtyards help organise the home's layout. At the back of the property, a large garden wraps around the side of the house and provides an exterior dining area.
Another, smaller courtyard lies at the centre of the home. "The use of a central patio works as a natural lantern that articulates and ventilates – a witness to the house's everyday life," said the firm.
![Casa Zihuaren by Intersticial Arquitectura](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/03/casa-zirahuen-Intersticial-arquitectura-queretaro-mexico-house-home-residential_dezeen_2364_col_12-852x1278.jpg)
The home is entered through a large wooden door that leads to the lobby. This space is adjacent to the central courtyard, and contains an open staircase that overlooks it.
"The house works around a main guiding axis that splits and distributes the public program on the ground floor and the private program on the first level," said the architects.
![Casa Zihuaren by Intersticial Arquitectura](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/03/casa-zirahuen-Intersticial-arquitectura-queretaro-mexico-house-home-residential_dezeen_2364_col_11-852x568.jpg)
Social spaces are located at the back of the property. The kitchen and dining room connect to an outdoor seating area. Beyond, a few steps lead to a sunken living room at garden level.
The architects included a guest bedroom at the front of the house, which provides more privacy. Instead of facing the street, this bedroom's window looks out onto the courtyard.
![Casa Zihuaren by Intersticial Arquitectura](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/03/casa-zirahuen-Intersticial-arquitectura-queretaro-mexico-house-home-residential_dezeen_2364_col_17-852x1278.jpg)
The resident's sleeping quarters are located upstairs. Each has its own bathroom, and the master suite contains a small office space.
"The exposed materials reveal [the home's] constructive honesty," said Intersticial Arquitectura. "The polished concrete and bare brick reflect the quality of artistry and craftsmanship the region has to offer."
![Casa Zihuaren by Intersticial Arquitectura](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/03/casa-zirahuen-Intersticial-arquitectura-queretaro-mexico-house-home-residential_dezeen_2364_col_18-852x1278.jpg)
For the designers, using local materials was a priority. "These textures and tones respond to a natural palette found in Querétaro's semi-desert context," they explained.
Intersticial Arquitectura recently completed another home in same area, just north of Mexico City. The renovated 1980s industrial building is now used as a combined home and studio.
![Casa Zihuaren by Intersticial Arquitectura](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2017/03/casa-zirahuen-Intersticial-arquitectura-queretaro-mexico-house-home-residential_dezeen_2364_col_16-852x1260.jpg)
Other recently completed projects in Mexico include a revamped art-deco building with an expansive rooftop terrace, and a home that pays homage to modernism by using local materials such as volcanic stone.
Photography is by Marcos Betanzos unless otherwise mentioned.
Project credits:
Project leaders: Ian Pablo Amores, Rodolfo Unda
Team: Gildardo Olvera, Andrea Oliveros, María José Milke, Mauricio Salmón