In Oaxaca, Casa B Turns the Landscape Into Part of the Architecture

In Oaxaca, Mexico, Casa B offers a different perspective on what a family home can be. Designed by multidisciplinary practice Root Studio, the residential complex is shaped by its sloping site, where secluded courtyards and expansive views become part of everyday life. Instead of treating the landscape as a backdrop, the architecture draws it into the experience of living.

Completed in 2025 after five years of design and construction, Casa B comprises three white concrete residences arranged around two courtyards, with a lower communal level that introduces a darker, more intimate atmosphere. Across nearly 700 square metres of built floor area, the project balances the independence of separate homes with the connections that make a shared family compound feel integrated.

A home shaped by movement

The defining feature of Casa B is its relationship with the outside. Connecting two streets at different elevations, separated by approximately five metres, the project uses the change in the levels to organise its layout. The result is a series of interconnecting spaces that reveal themselves gradually, creating a sense of discovery as residents move through the property.

Depending on the route, the journey might lead across water, down a spiral staircase, along a concrete passageway, or into a sheltered courtyard. Each transition offers a different perspective on the house, ensuring that circulation becomes more than just a practical consideration – movement is part of the architecture itself.

From the street, the building presents a discreet exterior that prioritises privacy. However, inside the spaces open towards reflecting pools, greenery, and views across the San Felipe Nature Reserve, Oaxaca city, and the valleys extending towards Tlacolula.

The beauty of white concrete

White concrete establishes the visual language of the house. Its continuous surfaces bring walls, staircases and architectural planes together, giving the complex a cohesive appearance despite its multiple levels and different residences.

The material also responds to its surroundings. Formwork joints give scale to the exteriors, while perforated courtyard walls filter daylight, casting shifting patterns of shadow across the water. Under the Oaxacan sun, the white volumes take on a changing quality, with their clean lines set against the rugged contours of the mountains.

Inside, the palette becomes warmer and more tactile. Timber, stone and leather soften the concrete's mineral character, while reddish-toned window frames bring the colours of the surrounding landscape into the interiors. Dark stone with delicate streaking adds depth, complemented by softly textured walls.

Furniture, joinery, metalwork and lighting were developed around a shared design approach, with bespoke pieces created by Root Studio in collaboration with local crafters. A circular dining table, low-slung furniture, and a sculptural spiral staircase contribute to the interiors without competing for attention.

Water, art, and the details in between

Water is central to the way Casa B is experienced. In the main courtyard, the swimming pool doubles as a reflecting pool, mirroring the architecture, sky, and staircase. A shallow surface gives way to a deeper section for swimming, while a route across the water turns an everyday passage into a moment of pause.

Elsewhere, a ceramic fountain-sculpture by Mexican artist Luis Zárate combines a vertical garden with gently cascading water. Beyond its visual impact, the installation introduces movement, sound, and a subtle cooling effect to the courtyard.

Art is integrated into the architecture. The entrance gates and metal screens reinterpret a bracelet design by renowned Oaxacan artist Francisco Toledo, translating its original motion into cut and folded metal. The screens filter sunlight and cast intricate shadows, giving the entrance a distinctive identity. On the rooftop, silhouettes by Fulvio Capurso appear against the sky, adding another artistic layer to the home's relationship with its surroundings.

These interventions reflect Root Studio's integrated approach where architecture, interiors, construction, and artistic collaboration are considered parts of the same creative process.

Ultimately, Casa B is about the experience of occupying a place. Its changing levels, filtered light, reflective water and framed views create a home that unfolds gradually, revealing something different with each turn. In bringing together privacy, material restraint and artistic expression, Root Studio has transformed a challenging site into an intentional setting for family life.