Hidden behind a five-metre-high abandoned façade in Oaxaca’s Historic Center, Casa Nayaá is a study in subtle transformation. Designed by Oaxaca-based multidisciplinary practice RootStudio, the residence turns an empty lot into an intimate home that brings together contemporary architecture, local craftsmanship, and the character of its historic surroundings.
Commissioned by an Oaxacan family, the project took more than two years to complete. Instead of imposing a new language on the neighbourhood, RootStudio looked to the scale and logic of traditional Oaxacan homes, reinterpreting them for contemporary life. The result is a seven-room residence organised around open communal spaces, courtyards, and a rooftop terrace.
The name Casa Nayaá – meaning ‘green’ in Zapotec – reflects the home’s close relationship with its surroundings. From the rooftop, views extend towards the greenery of Oaxaca’s Ethnobotanical Garden and the domes of Santo Domingo, with cantera stone, tiled roofs, and greenery forming a constantly changing backdrop.
A home shaped by light, shade, and air
The entrance is deliberately understated. Behind a solid wooden door, a semi-covered courtyard forms the heart of the house, using water and shade to create a gentle transition between the street and the interiors.
From here, the open-plan living and dining spaces unfold towards courtyards and terraces. Custom-built furniture is integrated directly into the architecture, allowing walls and slabs to remain visually uninterrupted. A communal dining table is a natural gathering point in the home, while balconies and walkways create connections between the home and the historic city beyond.
Throughout the house, RootStudio has used natural light and cross ventilation as essential elements of the design. Generous ceiling heights, carefully positioned openings, and framed views help regulate temperature and acoustics while giving the interiors a sense of calm.
The bedrooms and private spaces vary in scale and atmosphere. Some are defined by dramatic double-height volumes, while others sit closer to the ground or incorporate lofts to create additional space without compromising a sense of intimacy. A pigmented pool beneath a skylight provides another moment of relief, bringing together water, natural light, and the warm climate of the valley.
Local materials, made for living
Materiality is purposely restrained. Polished cement in shades of green, lime plaster, regional stone, and naturally finished timber form the foundation of the interiors, creating a palette that feels connected to Oaxaca without becoming too literal.
Local craftsmanship is equally central to the project. Oaxacan workshops produced the carpentry and metalwork throughout the home, creating continuity between furniture, lighting, finishes and architectural surfaces. Rather than treating craftsmanship as decoration, RootStudio integrates it into the everyday functions of the house.
Environmental comfort is also largely achieved through passive design. Thermal-mass volumes, careful orientation, overhangs and openwork screens help moderate the interior climate, while warm, adjustable lighting complements the changing natural light.
Architecture in conversation with its surroundings
For RootStudio, Casa Nayaá is about how a home is experienced rather than how it is displayed. The architecture creates moments for conversation, stillness and connection, from the communal dining table to the shaded thresholds and rooftop views.
Founded in Oaxaca City in 2009 by João Boto Cæiro and Fulvio Capurso, RootStudio works across architecture, design, illustration, painting, and sculpture. Its projects share a focus on integrating contemporary design with landscape, local context, and social responsibility.
At Casa Nayaá, that approach translates into a residence that feels distinctly of its place. Contemporary in its detailing but grounded in the rhythms, materials, and craftsmanship of Oaxaca, it offers a thoughtful interpretation of modern domestic life in the historic city.
Credits
Photography: © Pacu
Architecture and design: RootStudio
