Hobby Rooms, Light-Filled Hallways, and Courtyards Set Up a Couple for Retirement in Mexico

The brick-and-glass residence accommodates limited mobility with a lift between levels and seamless thresholds between indoors and out.

Text by

Amy Dvorak

Photos by

César Belio

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For her, it was plants and cooking. For him, sufficient space for Legos and films. Hobbies defined the program for homeowners Alejandra De Miguel and Jorge Cantellano, a couple who sought the services of their niece to design a dream home where they could retire in Pachuca, Mexico. "One of my favorite things was seeing the hope in their eyes and watching them imagine their dynamics living there, like where plants and toys would go," says architect Renata De Miguel Orozco.

At Casa Cantellano, a class cube sits atop the second level, drawing daylight into the dining room below.

But supporting pastimes wasn’t the only thing she and fellow architect Omar Vergara took into consideration. The duo’s first independent project, Casa Cantellano was also designed to accommodate Alejandra’s impaired mobility, and was done so with the personal touch of a family member who understood them first-hand.

Across the suburban sanctuary, a three-bed, two-level plan interspersed with courtyards, Vergara and Orozco ensured every room was accessible for aging in place. Textured wall tiles were chosen to add extra grip, and in one bedroom, the wardrobe’s clothing rods are wheelchair-height, should Alejandra or Jorge use one in the future. Similar considerations were taken for the floor plan, as well. A tranquil courtyard framed by a breeze block pattern designed by the architects connects the Cantellanos’ bedroom and the kitchen with flush thresholds for seamless indoor/outdoor access. Alejandra loves to cook, and lower cabinet drawers ensure ease and comfort while taking in her pastime.

The dining room is positioned between the living area and kitchen, which is accessed through the door, with ample light drawn through the glass box above it.

Upstairs is rife for recreation—and painless to navigate, thanks to a lift on the ground floor. It takes you to the second level between Alejandra’s reading room, where she also likes to paint, and a cinema for Jorge. He has an impressive collection of movies, records, games, and a fully stocked bar. But his eyes light up most showing off his coveted Lego collection, particularly a tiny grand piano with automated keys. "All the people who visit tell me that it’s magical, that the house makes people feel very happy," says Orozco. "The architecture is important, but it’s not just the volume or the construction. It’s the magic in the end," adds Vergara.

With his help, Orozco achieved a comfortable home not just for everyday needs of aging in place, but also a leisurely space that can be enjoyed for generations to come. "It’s Jorge’s and Alejandra’s," says Orozco. "Everything is designed to fit their needs and hobbies—it’s designed to suit them." For nearly 40 years, the couple lived in Alejandra’s parents’ 1,000-square-foot home with other relatives. "Sharing a space all their lives to having a place of their own was very important," she said.

At Casa Cantellano, courtyards double as circulation areas.

The architects introduced ventilation in one of the courtyards by stacking bricks vertically with spacing, creating the effect of a breeze-block wall.

The new home gives them exactly that, with its nearly 3,500 square feet blanketed in warm brick. Says Orozco, "My aunt and uncle have privacy but also connection between all spaces so they can take care of each other." Despite the separate program, it’s connected at the core by way of a double-height dining room, capped by a glass cube that allows the sun to soak the whole home. That’s the thing about Casa Cantellano: It’s both cozy and bright, an inviting space that makes you want to stick around for afternoon cake and conversation—or perhaps just one more game with Jorge.