- Project: Manantial House
- Architect: APALOOSA Arquitectos
- Location: Mexico, Tuxtla Gutierrez
- Year: 2023
- Area: 119 m2
- Photography: Jaime Navarro
A Sustainable Prototype for Affordable Housing
In Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, APALOOSA Arquitectos designed Manantial House, a compact 1,280 sf single-level residence that merges affordability with sustainability. Built on a 10 x 20 meter plot, the home accommodates three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, kitchen, service patio, and garage—all organized around a central courtyard that serves as the dwelling’s heart.
The project is as much about innovation in low-cost construction as it is about design. With limited client resources, the architects crafted a fast, efficient, and low-maintenance building strategy, transforming financial constraints into opportunities for architectural experimentation.
Design Rooted in Light, Air, and Courtyard Life
The central courtyard is more than a garden: it is the home’s climatic engine, absorbing, channeling, and distributing airflow and daylight across every space. Each room is visually and spatially connected to this corridor-garden, creating a microclimate that enhances comfort while minimizing reliance on artificial systems.
This spatial strategy follows a time-tested principle: courtyard houses create their own ecosystems. Even within the narrow constraints of the plot, the architects turned this into an opportunity to design a luminous, naturally ventilated dwelling.
Structural Ingenuity: Alveolar Blocks and Domotej Roof
Manantial House showcases material and structural innovation through two key elements:
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Alveolar block walls: Lightweight, low-cost, and thermally efficient, the blocks also integrate structural columns, minimizing waste and increasing rigidity.
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Domotej roof system: A patented innovation developed by the Autonomous University of Chiapas, Domotej consists of 1×1 m concave modules that support minimally reinforced slabs. These modules integrate polystyrene or PET filler for acoustic and thermal insulation, resting on twin beams and tied into the alveolar walls.
This construction system reduces costs, simplifies assembly, and enables self-construction, making it a replicable model for affordable housing.
Passive and Active Bioclimatic Strategies
Sustainability is embedded through both passive and active strategies:
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Passive design: Orientation, zoning, and natural cross-ventilation reduce heat gain while maximizing comfort.
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Active systems: Rainwater harvesting and runoff redirection help manage water resources efficiently.
Together, these measures create a resilient home that adapts to its environment while reducing operational costs for its occupants.
Affordable Innovation with Endemic Identity
Despite its modest size and cost, Manantial House achieves architectural richness through exposed construction techniques, local materials, and inventive logistics. By designing every detail—from ductwork planning to block placement—the architects ensured efficiency without compromising aesthetics or sustainability.
The result is not only a home tailored to its residents, but also a prototype for dignified, low-cost housing in Mexico and beyond.
Manantial House by APALOOSA Arquitectos proves that architecture can be innovative, affordable, and sustainable at the same time. With its alveolar block walls, Domotej roof system, and courtyard-centered design, the project sets a precedent for self-sufficient housing solutions rooted in regional identity and bioclimatic intelligence.
In Tuxtla Gutiérrez, this modest home stands as a powerful example of how architecture can elevate everyday life while addressing pressing environmental and social challenges.
