CO-LAB's stilted casa tepui recalls tabletop mountains of venezuela

Casa Tepui emerges as a vacation home in tulum

Hidden among the greenery in Tulum, Casa Tepui by CO-LAB Design Office emerges as a stilted vacation home for a Venezuelan/Mexican couple who loves traveling, cooking, and working from home. The overall design recalls the qualities of a tree house, all while delivering the comforts of a modern home. ‘The inspiration for this villa comes from tepuis – flat tabletop mountains – meaning ‘house of the gods’ in the indigenous language of southeastern Venezuela. In this case, the elevated living space provides the owners with a lush green backdrop to the space they spend most of their time in,’ writes the project team.

Several details reinforce that indigenous spirit, like sliding wooden windows pocketed into the walls on three sides, allowing gentle breezes to pass through the space; wraparound planters with aromatic herbs supplying the kitchen with fresh ingredients and perfuming the room with scented breezes throughout the day; banana and papaya trees planted below the elevated living area windows allowing fruits to be watched over and picked from the crowns of the trees directly where they grow. And much more.

all images © César Béjar

co-lab designs an elevated living space with an organic palette

On the first floor of Casa Tepui, the kitchen, dining, and living room merge in one elongated space that opens to an elevated swimming pool and terrace. A modest home office room on this level allows the couple to refresh themselves with a dip in the pool on work breaks. On the ground floor, CO-LAB (see more here) incorporated three en-suite bedrooms that open to the owners’ private gardens and terraces. The rooftop features a barbecue and dining table, a jacuzzi, and ample lounging options.

Moreover, the use of neutral tones and organic color palettes blends with the natural environment, boosting the home’s individual elements as they integrate as a whole. The walls are finished with white polished cement, softened by light grey polished cement floors. The decorations are simple and warm, with bespoke furnishings designed by the architects. Light, breezy rooms frame the surrounding greenery while moving shadows decorate the walls, creating a peaceful atmosphere optimal for unwinding after a beach day.

Casa Tepui by CO-LAB Design Office

preserving trees, using cross ventilation, collecting rainwater

While shaping Casa Tepui, the architects adhered to a low-impact and sustainable mindset. On the one hand, no trees were cut during the construction; the architects relocated eleven existing trees to the lot’s perimeter, reinforcing the green canopy and providing more privacy from neighboring lots. On the other hand, the house is designed to breathe naturally in this tropical climate thanks to a cross-ventilation system and the stack effect. Lastly, a rainwater collection system and solar panels allow the house to reduce its energy load. In general, the materials used respond to the need for durability and low maintenance required by the tropical climate.

rooftop area with a jacuzzi and ample lounging options