In Zihuatanejo, Mexico, Casa Malonic by HW Studio begins with something that was already there, an extraordinary landscape. The sea stretches toward an infinite horizon, while jungle, trees, flowers, stones and other living elements fill the site. Instead of treating the house as an isolated object, HW Studio shaped the project around a relationship with these existing conditions.
The architecture is stripped back to three basic elements, a ground, a roof and a shadow. The idea recalls una enramada, a simple shelter beneath a canopy that provides protection from sun and rain while allowing nature to continue around it.
A White Mass Beneath a Canopy
From the street, Casa Malonic initially appears quite contained. A white volume and a curved concrete wall create a boundary between the road and the house, while vegetation, stones and the site’s topography add further layers between the interior and the street.
Inside, the relationship with the landscape becomes much more open. The sandy color and texture of the ground recall the nearby beach, creating a sensory connection with the site that can be experienced underfoot. The white walls take their cue from the white flowers of the nine Cacalosúchil trees surrounding the house, bringing two elements of the landscape, the earth and its color, into the architecture.
A Calm Arrival Through the Garage and Courtyard
The garage and courtyard introduce a quieter, more tactile side of Casa Malonic. Crisp white walls meet pale stone paving, raw concrete and warm wood steps, creating a simple composition that feels both sculptural and practical. Mature trees soften the clean geometry, while gravel, irregular stepping stones and small touches of pink flowers bring texture to the outdoor spaces.
Stairs Lead to a Circular Courtyard
The transition continues through the stairs leading toward a circular courtyard. Enclosed by white walls, this open space creates a dramatic change from the contained character of the street-facing exterior. Above the walls, the landscape begins to return, with sky, sunlight and the crowns of the surrounding trees entering the view.
The circular void removes part of the built mass and turns the wall into an edge. From here, the architecture starts guiding the body and the gaze outward, creating a sequence from street, to house, to courtyard, and finally toward the landscape.
Living Spaces Open Beneath a Broad Roof
The living room, dining area and kitchen sit within the sequence of spaces between the protective exterior and the open landscape. Here, the house moves further away from the enclosed character of its street frontage and toward a more open relationship with the horizon.
Inside, the broad roof overhang creates generous shade across the living areas and terrace, reinforcing the close relationship between the interior and the outdoors. Pale stone floors and crisp white walls form a simple backdrop, while warm wood furniture and caramel-toned lounge chairs introduce softness and warmth.
Beyond the shaded terrace, a long pool reflects the trees and sky, extending the view outward from the living spaces. The generous covered area also gives the home a natural place for entertaining, relaxing or simply spending time close to the landscape.
The Primary Bedroom Frames the Trees
The primary bedroom continues the home’s movement between enclosure and openness. Its relationship with the Engawa creates an intermediate space between the bedroom and the exterior, extending the experience of the house beyond its interior walls.
The primary bedroom continues the home’s restrained material palette, with soft white bedding, warm wood, pale stone floors and sheer curtains filtering the natural light. A wide opening looks directly toward the surrounding trees, bringing the landscape into the room and making the changing view part of the interior.
The Secondary Bedroom Keeps Things Simple
Warm wood and soft white bedding give the secondary bedroom a welcoming feel, while a wall of streamlined cabinetry provides generous storage without adding visual clutter. The low platform bed and integrated bedside ledge continue the simple approach, with a small dark vase introducing a subtle contrast. Floor-to-ceiling glass opens the bedroom towards a terrace, while neutral curtains soften the daylight.
A Journey From Enclosure to Openness
The floor plan can be understood as a sequence of transitions. The house begins with a contained presence toward the street, then leads through the entrance and courtyard before opening into the main living areas and toward the landscape.
Casa Malonic by HW Studio begins as a protected white volume on the street and gradually opens toward the courtyard, trees, sky and sea. By the end of the journey, the architecture is almost reduced to a structure providing shade beneath the horizon.