Casa En El Aire / Agustín Hernández | Classics On Architecture Lab

Architects: Agustín Hernández
Photographs: Courtesy of arqred.mx, elsesterciodeganimedes.blogspot.mx/, imagenesaereasdemexico.com, skyscrapercity.com
City: Mexico City
Country: Mexico

Casa en el Aire, designed by Agustín Hernández near Mexico City, showcases his Sculptural Architecture by merging expressive geometric forms with a reinterpretation of pre-Columbian design. The cantilevered residence is supported by two large pylons, allowing it to float above the steep terrain. Its prismatic form creates distinct horizontal axes, with the widest section for reception and the narrowest for service areas. Inside, Hernández eliminates traditional walls, using décor to define spaces. The home features a glass entrance corridor, outdoor parking, a wine cellar, and a stepped garden with a pool and waterfall, combining advanced engineering with cultural heritage.

This unusual and sophisticated architectural work, resembling a monumental and provocative ultra-modern sculpture, is in fact a cutting-edge family home designed by Mexican architect Agustín Hernández, renowned for his Sculptural Architecture style.

Casa en el aire / agustín hernández | classics on architecture lab

In this project, each geometric element is shaped by three key concepts: the originality and expressive value of the forms, the interior design solution, and the reinterpretation of pre-Columbian architecture—a consistent theme in Agustín Hernández’s work.

The residence’s location east of Mexico City was crucial to its structural design. Positioned on steeply sloping terrain at the end of a wide avenue, the design was influenced by the cultural tradition of using circumscribed circles and squares. The challenging slope significantly shaped the overall concept.

The project aims to create a cantilevered structure that maximizes views while eliminating the need for retaining walls. Two massive pylons with circular openings support the prismatic body of the home. The rhomboidal volume defines the horizontal axes on the façade, with the reception area on the widest level, service areas on the narrowest, and bedrooms on the intermediate floors.

The house is accessed through a 30-meter glass corridor, fully covered with domes. This design creates a striking contrast between light and shadow, allowing for light refraction within the space, where purple is the dominant color.

Architect Agustín Hernández chose to avoid traditional walls, dividing the interior spaces with decorative elements connected by a hallway. The interior is minimalist and elegant, featuring wood, concrete, steel, and glass as the primary materials.

The house also includes outdoor parking and a wine cellar built into the load-bearing walls. A pool, situated in a stepped garden, is crossed by a waterfall flowing from the upper part of the building.

The building’s structure is based on a 1.15-meter module and supported by two reinforced concrete columns under compression. The cantilevered design uses a prefabricated metal frame attached to four master beams. This setup enables the six facades to reveal the interior layout without concealing it. Windows, skylights, and finishes play a key role in creating a cohesive design across the unique spaces.

Many perceive this work as having a science fiction-like aesthetic, but architect Agustín Hernández responds: “I would rather say that the house is within the architecture of our century, within the optimistic trend. For me, the idea of a house is an abstract concept of interrelated spaces to be able to live in them; a structure of needs where the well-being and comfort of the human being prevail in their own microcosm, within their habitable universe.” Ultimately, Casa en el Aire reflects both contemporary technology and culture.