Limonero Residence

Project Title: “Limonero Residence – A Home Grown from the Forest”

Architectural Concept Description: Nestled within the embrace of an ancient woodland, Limonero Residence is an architectural project that draws its inspiration directly from the quiet intelligence of nature. This residence doesn’t sit on the land it emerges from it. Designed to blur the boundary between built and natural environments, every form, material, and spatial experience in the project pays homage to the forest that surrounds it. The structure echoes the simple geometry of tree canopies and river stones. The roof line aligns like hills on the horizon, crafted inside with millwork cabinetry of natural timber shingles that weather over time to blend into the forest palette. Limestone walls join softly, as if shaped by wind and water, and large expanses of glass invite the forest inside, framing views as though they were living paintings. The floor plan follows a branching logic, like a root system, of a lemon tree,  with communal spaces at the core and private nooks radiating outward. Materials are sourced locally and sustainably: rammed earth, charred wood, and travertine, chosen not just for their beauty but for their ability to age gracefully alongside the landscape. Passive design principles take cues from the forest's natural cooling and insulation. Dappled light filters through an insulated limestone, mimicking the forest rock and reducing heat/cold gain. Rainwater is collected, filtered through a planted roof and used to nourish an edible garden that grows up and around the building. More than a house, Limonero Residence is an ecosystem a quiet collaboration between architecture and earth, offering shelter not just for its human inhabitants, but for birds, bees, moss, and mushrooms alike. It is a place to live in harmony with the rhythms of the land, a reminder that the most sustainable structures are those that listen first and build second.

Volumetric Study Shaped by Sun Movements:

The massing begins as a low, elongated form anchored by the chimney.

Morning → Eastern glazing angles to catch low, soft light into bedrooms and breakfast areas.

Midday → Overhangs and vertical fins protect from harsh southern light while framing forest views.

Afternoon → Western terraces become warm gathering spots; deep shadows enhance texture on limestone facades.

Winter/Summer Adjustments → Roof slopes and window heights are tuned so winter light penetrates deep into the living areas, while summer shading keeps interiors cool.

The result is a building that tilts, folds, and carves itself based on the sun’s arc — like a forest plant leaning toward the light — so that each space feels alive to the time of day and season.