- Project: Lujambio House
- Architect: Jorge Garibay Arquitectos
- Location: Mexico, Juriquilla, Santiago de Querétaro
- Year: 2022
- Area: 452 m2
- Photography: César Belio
A Monumental Residence Sculpted in Concrete and Light
Lujambio House by Jorge Garibay Arquitectos is a stunning example of Mexican contemporary architecture defined by sculptural geometry and bold material expression.
Located in the tranquil suburb of Juriquilla, Querétaro, the residence rises from its site as a composition of interlocking volumes, each precisely calibrated to control light, privacy, and views.
The project is a study in balance—between solidity and openness, mass and void, urban sophistication and the warmth of a family home.
Concept and Spatial Composition
The concept for Lujambio House began with a clear architectural ambition: to create a playful yet disciplined composition of geometric forms that interact dynamically with one another.
Rectilinear blocks are arranged like a three-dimensional puzzle, producing a rhythm of projections and recesses that form terraces, overhangs, and shaded voids.
From the exterior, the residence reads as a monumental concrete sculpture; from the interior, it unfolds through carefully sequenced spaces that guide movement and light throughout the home.
A central double-height space anchors the plan—serving as both the visual and social heart of the house. Around it, the private zones, entertainment areas, and terraces are distributed to offer privacy without sacrificing connectivity. Each transition between spaces reveals a different perspective on form, texture, and illumination.
Integration with Site and Orientation
The site in Juriquilla presents both topographic variation and expansive views, which the architects embraced as design opportunities.
The building’s orientation was planned to optimize solar exposure, cross-ventilation, and natural shading, ensuring comfort across seasons.
Social spaces open toward the west-facing garden and pool, while the private quarters are positioned deeper within the composition for quiet and seclusion.
Outdoor terraces extend from nearly every level of the home, dissolving the boundary between interior and exterior. These terraces not only provide thermal relief but also create elevated vantage points over the surrounding landscape—turning the home into a vertical promenade of open air and architectural rhythm.
Material Palette and Visual Identity
The visual signature of Lujambio House lies in its expressive use of board-formed concrete, tinted in a subtle rose-gray hue that captures and transforms light throughout the day.
The textured concrete evokes a tactile dialogue between craftsmanship and modernity, its horizontal striations emphasizing the linear flow of the architecture.
Complementary materials—glass, wood, and steel—are used sparingly but purposefully, introducing warmth and lightness to balance the mass of concrete.
Large glazed openings frame curated views and draw sunlight deep into the interiors, while wooden ceilings and furniture elements soften the ambience with natural tones.
At sunset, the façade comes alive in dramatic chiaroscuro, revealing the house’s sculptural essence.
Interior Experience and Atmosphere
Inside, the house feels serene yet cinematic. The sequence of spaces is choreographed to emphasize light, movement, and material contrast.
The ground floor opens with a grand foyer leading to an expansive living-dining area that overlooks the pool terrace. A sculptural staircase connects to upper-level bedrooms, offering glimpses of the double-height void below.
Open corridors and skylights infuse the interiors with natural illumination, creating subtle plays of shadow that shift with time.
Furniture and finishes were designed to match the architectural rigor—minimalist in form, tactile in finish, and deeply connected to the house’s structural geometry. The interiors thus become an extension of the architecture itself: functional sculpture meant for living.
Climate Strategy and Sustainability
Without overt technological display, Lujambio House achieves passive environmental performance through thoughtful planning.
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Deep roof overhangs and recessed windows reduce direct solar gain.
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Concrete’s thermal mass regulates temperature fluctuations.
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Natural cross-ventilation is encouraged by the layout’s open voids.
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Locally sourced materials minimize environmental impact while harmonizing with the regional context.
Every sustainable choice is seamlessly integrated into the aesthetic and functional language of the home, proving that responsible design can coexist with architectural artistry.
A Contemporary Monument to Mexican Craftsmanship
Lujambio House stands as a modern reinterpretation of brutalist principles through a humanist lens. It celebrates structure, light, and material honesty while maintaining a clear sensitivity to climate and context.
Jorge Garibay Arquitectos has created more than a home—it is a monumental residence that breathes, adapting to its environment and reflecting Mexico’s enduring architectural creativity.
With its geometric purity, warm concrete texture, and fluid connection to landscape, Lujambio House encapsulates the essence of contemporary Mexican architecture: expressive, disciplined, and deeply rooted in place.
