RP Arquitectos has completed an apartment block that prioritizes views towards a forest in Coatepec, Mexico. 

Called Zoncuantla Apartments, the 450-square-metre building is situated on a steep slope in the mesophilic forest of the old Xalapa - Coatepec highway in terrain with privileged panoramic qualities.

"In this polygonal and in correspondence with the slope of the lot, the design is proposed seeking to emphasize the views for all the departments and promote the contemplation of the environment," said the architects.

Image © Onnis Luque

The architects used a gridded volumetric composition to open up the facades of the apartment units on each level. They highly paid attention to material, texture and tone of the building by using materials such as wood, adobe, clay, and earth tones.

Image © Onnis Luque

Sitting on a 760-square-meter of land, the building is displaced, leaving a green area footprint with more than fifty percent of the property, using rooftops as a green area and terrace. 

"A wall of breaststroke typical of the site forms a base on which the building sits; Adopts are used in parking lots minimizing the invasion of the car," said the RP Arquitectos.

Image © Naser Nader Ibrahim

The apartment building is made up of four units: the ground floor is opened up to a garden that is filled with a plant of vegetation, while the upper levels provide panoramic views of the environment assisted by terraces to expand the social space. 

The project invites various playful tours on each of its levels, moving from public spaces to private areas.

Image © Onnis Luque

"The apartments seeks to optimize space without leaving aside the quality of the different atmospheres," added the architects. "Plastically the project alludes to materials such as wood, adobe, clay, and earth tones."

Image © Naser Nader Ibrahim

Image © Naser Nader Ibrahim

Image © Onnis Luque

Image © Onnis Luque

Image © Onnis Luque

Image © Onnis Luque

Image © Onnis Luque

Image © Onnis Luque

Image © Onnis Luque

Image © Onnis Luque

Image © Onnis Luque

Image © Onnis Luque

Image © Onnis Luque

Image © Onnis Luque

Site plan

Floor plan level 1

Floor plan level 2

Floor plan level -1

Floor plan level-2 

Floor plan level-3

Section A

Section A

Section B

Project facts

Project name: Zoncuantla Apartments

Architects: RP Arquitectos

Location: Coatepec, Mexico. 

Size: 450m2 

Date: 2020 

Top image © Naser Nader Ibrahim

All drawings © RP Arquitectos

> via RP Arquitectos