Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

A Verdant Forest Home Taps Into the Cultural Roots of Malinalco, Mexico

A Verdant Forest Home Taps Into the Cultural Roots of Malinalco, Mexico

Designed by Ceballos X Architects, Casa Mague is a nature-infused dream home that pays tribute to the history of its locale.

Designed by Mauricio Ceballos X Architects for a psychoanalyst and his family, Casa Mague draws inspiration from the Aztec heritage of Malinalco, Mexico. "Malinalco has a strong, ancient cultural identity," says the firm’s director and founder, Mauricio Ceballos Pressler.

"Piramide de Malinalco, one of only three carved pyramids in the world, is near the house and is part of the town’s daily life," he explains. "The inhabitants feel proud of their Aztec roots, and continue with traditions like the local market, food, drinks, and temazcals (or Aztec saunas). Local artists make continuous references to this time in history."



Inspired by the pyramids, Aztec culture, and the lushness of Malinalco, the architects opted to use only local materials to build the 2,906-square-foot residence. "These regional materials give the house a unique style that respects nature," Pressler says. "The wood we used is natural wood with a coating for durability, and the main finish for the walls is chukum, an ancient Mayan stucco."



The architects designed the rooms to feel as if they’re woven into the landscape. "Starting from the pre-Hispanic cultural context and the predominant connection with nature, the concept is based on the Mesoamerican worldview, where trees have a ritual meaning," Pressler explains. "The roots symbolize the connection with the underworld, the trunks symbolize the earthly human life, and the branches symbolize the connection with the Gods."

A curved and stepped wood wall in one of the living areas references the Piramide de Malinalco, and the dining room’s glass cladding creates the feeling of dining outdoors. "The pyramid is built with blocks of wood, and is reinterpreted in the main exterior space," Pressler says. The carved, monolithic stone of the fire pit represents a molcajete, and Mexican food culture."



The architects arranged the home’s volumes and spaces around existing trees, which gives the dwelling a labyrinth-like quality. "The interiors of the house keep the inhabitants in contact with nature," Pressler says. "We designed multifunctional spaces that can be transformed according to the needs of the moment. All kinds of activities can be carried out-from resting to working from home. This flexibility worked perfectly during the time of Covid-19."


Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
×