omar lópez bautista nestles 'bungalow H' within mexican highlands

‘bungalow H’ by Omar López Bautista

Resting on a natural terrace amid the sloping lands of Mexico’s Northern Oaxaca mountains, ‘Bungalow H’ is the latest creation of architect Omar López Bautista. A minimalist and low-maintenance private cabin designed for couples or individuals seeking breaks from the city, the 29 sqm structure appears as a black-coated concrete body surrounded by trees and spectacular vistas. Bautista sealed off the cabin on three sides for privacy and kept one façade glazed, framing generous views of the valley and city ahead. Keeping up with a sustainable approach, the architect also left some free space around ‘Bungalow H,’ making it easier to ‘deplant’ the structure without impacting the surroundings.

image © Omar López Bautista | header image © Marcos Rojas Sosa

minimizing impact on the surrounding landscape

Visually, Omar López Bautista (see more here) opted for a black coating to help soften the cabin’s presence within its pristine-like context. Furthermore, by reducing the foundation area, ‘Bungalow H’ appears to float a few centimeters above ground, ‘projecting a sense of lightness enhanced at night through perimeter lighting in its lower base and the black color of the walls,’ shares the architect. Complementing the floating effect is the structure’s final geometric shape, showing a box cut diagonally at the front to frame the view to the valley and city properly.

a black-coated concrete cabin nestled in the Mexican highlands | image © Omar López Bautista

maximizing the off-grid living experience

While minimalist in its geometry and material palette, ‘Bungalow H’ is equipped with all essentials for short stays. Namely, the architect fitted the interiors with a basic living space (kitchen and bedroom) and added a snug outdoor terrace set up as a triangular wooden platform. ‘Due to its temporary space condition, priority is given to the outdoor area and the room,’ adds Bautista. Besides concrete, wood, natural light, and generous glazing converge to elevate the off-grid experience, providing ample comfort and visual calm for the next cabin hosts.

minimal materiality for a maximized experience | image © Omar López Bautista

glazing the front façade to frame the valley and city ahead | image © Omar López Bautista

bedroom area | image © Omar López Bautista

kitchen area | image © Omar López Bautista

concrete, wood, + sunlight combine to elevate the off-grid experience | image © Omar López Bautista

‘Bungalow H’ amid the trees | image © Omar López Bautista

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image © Marcos Rojas Sosa

image © Omar López Bautista

project info:

name: Bungalow H
location: San Andrés Huayápam, Oaxaca, México

project period: 2020-2022

area: 29.25 sqm

architecture: Omar López Bautista – ET.co

structure: Miguel Ángel Torres

construction: Alfredo Cruz

lighting design: Samantha Sigüenza Betancourt

lamps design: Jesús Ortiz, Habitus Hexis

photography: Omar López Bautista, Marcos Rojas Sosa

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom