Architects: Moro Taller de Arquitectura, uno más uno
Area: 118 m²
Year: 2022
Photographs: Rafael Palacios Macías, Nicolás Millón
Lead Architects: Mauricio Rodríguez Mejía, Rosalio Omar Almaguer Viruete
Overview: Francisco Xavier Alvarez del Castillo Iñiguez
Designers: Zarak Modad Betancourt, Alexis Herrera Arteaga, Glen Moelo
Construction: Francisco Xavier Alvarez del Castillo Iñiguez
City: Chiquilistlán
Country: Mexico
La Luciérnaga House by uno más uno and Moro Taller de Arquitectura is a forest retreat designed for a young couple seeking tranquility away from city life. Located in a rugged, oak-forested basin, the house is constructed with minimal environmental impact, using local materials like earth, stone, and wood, along with minimal steel, cement, and glass. The design features monolithic rammed earth walls and segregated volumes connected by a wooden terrace. Passive energy features, rainwater collection, and solar panels reduce environmental strain, making La Luciérnaga House a sustainable, immersive shelter that respects its natural surroundings.
A young couple and their dog set out to find a place where they could settle into nature before building, hoping for an escape from the city’s fast pace, noise, and work demands. This led them to acquire a plot deep within a forest, reachable only via a dirt road, about 25 minutes from the nearest town. Surrounded by oak trees, wildlife, and rugged basin topography, they aimed to construct a home with minimal environmental impact. This commitment guided their choice to avoid tree removal and use mainly local natural materials—earth, stone, and wood—with only minimal additions of steel, cement, and glass.
The structural solution for the project centers on a construction system using monolithic, 40 cm-wide rammed earth load-bearing walls, which rest on an intricate stone foundation and support a wood-beamed ceiling with staves and tiles. The architectural layout is arranged into three separate volumes connected by a wooden terrace and a steel pile structure. This design aims to seamlessly blend the building into the forested landscape, creating the impression that it naturally emerged from its surroundings and was crafted by hand. Moreover, the design provides a warm, natural ambiance without requiring significant energy. Visible structural elements, inherent thermal qualities, and the natural tones of the materials contribute to the house’s practical and authentic character.
This house manages its waste responsibly, using a separation and filtration system for soapy and black water, as well as rainwater collection. Additional sustainable features include a wood stove, solar panels, and gas for heating. Its passive energy design, attributed to the thermal properties of the rammed earth walls, ensures low energy use. Local craftspeople learned mud wall construction methods while assisting with the project. This house seeks to emulate the gentle, respectful presence of a firefly, fostering a direct connection to nature and offering visitors from the city a peaceful retreat.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: Chiquilistlán, 48640 Jalisco, Mexico
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
