Casa SA207 | © Diego Vázquez Mellado Casa SA207 by Vázquez Mellado is situated in the historic city of Querétaro, Mexico, on a narrow site measuring 8.70 meters in width and extending 37 meters in depth. The lot’s proportions posed a particular challenge, which the architects addressed by drawing inspiration from the traditional courtyard houses in Querétaro’s historic center. In these historic residences, the courtyard, or patio, serves as a passive climate moderator and a spatial and social nucleus. Casa SA207 revisits this typology through a contemporary lens, offering a nuanced response to privacy, density, and domesticity in the urban fabric. Casa SA207 Technical Information Architects1-3: Vázquez Mellado Location: Querétaro, Mexico Area: 362.47 m2 | 3,900 Sq. Ft. Completion Year: 2025 Photographs: © Diego Vázquez Mellado The patio is not just a spatial element but the heart of the home. It welcomes, shelters, and connects, offering a sense of peace and belonging within the density of the city. – Diego Vázquez Mellado Casa SA207 Photographs © Diego Vázquez Mellado © Diego Vázquez Mellado © Diego Vázquez Mellado © Diego Vázquez Mellado © Diego Vázquez Mellado © Diego Vázquez Mellado © Diego Vázquez Mellado © Diego Vázquez Mellado © Diego Vázquez Mellado © Diego Vázquez Mellado © Diego Vázquez Mellado Spatial Organization and Domestic Hierarchies The project’s street-facing façade is entirely closed off, with no visible windows or apertures. This gesture reinforces privacy and anonymity within the city while turning the house inward. At the rear of the property, the architects introduced a direct connection to a neighboring public park, anchoring the residence within both private and communal realms. The courtyard, centrally within the linear plan, acts as a fulcrum that mediates light, views, and circulation. It is both the spatial heart and the conceptual axis of the home. The house is organized into a two-level scheme, with the ground floor dedicated to shared family life and the upper floor reserved for private functions. The spatial strategy intentionally encourages daily activity and interaction on the ground level. The living and dining rooms are placed at the far end of the house, adjacent to the public park. These areas are balanced by a kitchen and TV room positioned toward the front of the lot. Both rooms are oriented toward the central courtyard, promoting visual connectivity and natural ventilation. On the upper level, bedrooms and a modest study are distributed linearly. These spaces are compact by design, reinforcing their function as retreats for rest and contemplation rather than prolonged daytime activity. The reduced footprint of the upper floor emphasizes the hierarchy of domestic life envisioned by the architects: a house where familial engagement and collective routines unfold at ground level and where privacy is quiet and unobtrusive. The courtyard acts as the project’s spatial and psychological anchor. Its tall enclosing walls and dense vegetation cultivate a sense of introspection, calm, and disconnection from the surrounding city. It is not merely a source of daylight or ventilation but a place of stillness, where time slows, and attention turns inward. Materiality and Constructive Logic The project is defined materially by the use of clay brick, chosen for its durability, thermal properties, and ability to age gracefully over time. This decision reflects a clear commitment to low-maintenance living and constructive honesty. The brick’s modularity also provides flexibility for future adaptations without disrupting the architectural language of the house. One of the project’s defining features is the 6-meter-high wall that borders the courtyard. This vertical surface acts as a visual barrier while allowing the interior spaces to remain open to the patio without compromising privacy. The wall also contributes to a sense of enclosure and sanctuary within the house, allowing residents to draw their curtains or leave them open without concern for external views. Throughout the project, the material palette is restrained, composed primarily of exposed brick, wood, and concrete. This simplicity reinforces the architectural clarity of the design and allows spatial relationships to take precedence over decorative elements. The detailing is modest and measured, aligning with the overall ethos of the project. Reflections on Typology and Contemporary Living Casa SA207 thoughtfully explores the courtyard as an enduring architectural typology. By foregrounding the patio not just as a design feature but as the organizing principle of the entire house, the architects offer a model for contemporary living that prioritizes inwardness, serenity, and slow rhythms. The house precisely negotiates the tension between urban density and domestic refuge, creating a spatial narrative grounded in tradition and responsive to present-day needs. The project demonstrates how compact urban living does not necessitate compromise in spatial quality. Through careful program, form, and material orchestration, Casa SA207 invites reconsidering how architecture can shape the conditions for a more deliberate and connected way of living. In its restraint, the house resists spectacle and offers a quiet, rigorous architecture rooted in site, culture, and human experience. Casa SA207 Plans Ground Level | © Vázquez Mellado Upper Level | © Vázquez Mellado Roof Level | © Vázquez Mellado Section | © Vázquez Mellado Elevation | © Vázquez Mellado Casa SA207 Image Gallery About Vázquez Mellado Vázquez Mellado is a Mexican architectural design studio based in Querétaro. They are known for their thoughtful reinterpretation of traditional typologies through contemporary forms and materials. Led by Jorge and Diego Vázquez Mellado, the firm explores spatial intimacy, privacy, and material honesty across residential and cultural projects. Credits and Additional Notes Lead Architects: Jorge Vázquez Mellado, Diego Vázquez Mellado Collaborators: Elvia Torres, Adelfo Pérez, Norma Velázco, Jorge Uribe Landscape Design: Matorral Estudio #casa #sa207 #vázquez #mellado #contemporary