- Project: Casa La Blanca
- Architect: Di Frenna Arquitectos
- Location: Mexico, Colima
- Year: 2020
- Area: 342 m2
- Photography: Lorena Darquea
A Luminous Sanctuary Rooted in Tradition
In the tropical heart of Colima, Casa La Blanca by Di Frenna Arquitectos reinterprets the essence of Mexican modernism through light, texture, and cultural continuity. The house—defined by its minimalist white volumes and handcrafted concrete lattice façades—merges privacy with permeability, evoking the poetic play of shadow and light that defines the architecture of Mexico’s warm regions.
“A lattice screen fading into white walls by day, and glowing with light by night — that duality captures the spirit of Colima,” explains Di Frenna Arquitectos.
Concept: A Contemporary Shelter with Traditional Soul
The residence draws inspiration from vernacular Colima architecture, particularly the region’s traditional lattices (celosías) that have long protected homes from heat and humidity. Here, these handcrafted white-concrete panels form a delicate skin that shields the interiors while maintaining openness to air and light.
The design follows a U-shaped plan, centered around an internal courtyard that becomes the emotional and climatic core of the home. This inward-facing organization ensures privacy, filters sunlight, and creates an oasis-like atmosphere within the dense urban context.
The U-Shape and Its Heart: Nature as Protagonist
The U configuration separates public and private functions:
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The ground floor hosts the social and family spaces, encouraging interaction and continuity between interior and exterior zones.
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The upper level houses the private areas, providing seclusion while maintaining views toward the inner courtyard.
At the center, a Cuajiote Colorado tree (commonly known as papelillo for its peeling red bark) anchors the home. Around it, a pool and small fountain complete a composition where water, vegetation, and stone coexist in serene balance.
This courtyard serves as the living heart of the home, regulating temperature and humidity while nurturing an organic dialogue between built form and natural life.
Light, Shadow & the Mexican Lattice Tradition
The handcrafted white-concrete lattice defines Casa La Blanca’s character—an architectural veil that filters the tropical sun by day and glows softly by night. This dual performance creates a kinetic façade, alive with shifting shadows and gentle transparency.
By day, the walls dissolve into the bright light of Colima; by night, they radiate warmth from within, transforming the house into a lantern. The lattice not only protects against the climate but also expresses a deep respect for traditional craftsmanship—a reinterpretation of regional heritage through modern precision.
Materials & Atmosphere
Di Frenna Arquitectos selected a restrained palette that enhances texture and natural illumination:
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White concrete and stucco for purity and reflection.
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Wood accents for warmth and human scale.
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Tropical vegetation integrated throughout to blur the boundary between architecture and garden.
This minimalism never feels sterile—each surface captures light differently, creating a dynamic interplay of brightness and shadow. Heights and level variations articulate zones without relying on partitions, reinforcing openness while maintaining intimacy.
Spatial Experience
Every element contributes to the home’s bioclimatic intelligence.
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The lattices temper sunlight and encourage cross-ventilation.
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The courtyard cools the interior microclimate naturally.
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The orientation and shaded terraces protect from excessive solar gain.
These strategies yield interiors that are both luminous and tranquil—immersed in the rhythms of nature rather than isolated from them.
A Contemporary Tropical Refuge
Casa La Blanca encapsulates Di Frenna Arquitectos’ ongoing exploration of Mexican identity through modern design. It merges geometry and emotion, restraint and richness, heritage and innovation.
By refining local techniques and materials into a timeless composition of white volumes, filtered light, and living greenery, the project achieves what few do: a modern house that breathes the soul of its place.
