Sustainable, modular housing designed for warm climates

Casa Hilo absorbs humidity to cool the interior and doors are made of woven bamboo to provide air circulation

Spotted: Mexico City-based architecture studio Zeller & Moye has designed a sustainable, modular house for rural areas. The prototype design, dubbed Casa Hilo, is a 2,900-square-foot family home.

The architects were inspired by the way that people in rural areas interact with the land and with their neighbours. It uses a concrete framework which can be arranged in a number of configurations.

The design involves a number of individual, box-shaped rooms. Each room is a separate space, with its own door and roof terrace, and with open green patios between them. The outdoor spaces are slightly shaded by the buildings and provide a pleasant microclimate for socialising.

Casa Hilo is designed specifically for warm climates. The walls are made of locally-built adobe blocks set in a concrete frame. The sustainable abode absorbs humidity to cool the interiors naturally. The windows and doors are made of bamboo woven into a lattice. This provides air circulation. Although the basic design has only four rooms, it can be easily expanded, based on the needs of the family.

Each room in the house is accessed through the garden, instead of through a closed space like a corridor. The architects have also included an outdoor tub, wood fire stove, benches, and a large outside dining table for gatherings.