Project

Casa Eva

- Ocuilan, Mexico

A resilient home designed by Fernanda Canales, Casa Eva offers a flexible and sustainable living solution for a family affected by the 2017 earthquake.

Rectangular building with barrel-vaulted roof, concrete block construction, narrow vertical window, and horizontal wooden-framed windows.

A small rectangular building with a barrel-vaulted roof, constructed from light gray concrete blocks. It features a narrow vertical window and a set of three horizontal wooden-framed windows on the facade.

Story

Casa Eva

A prototype for resilient and sustainable living Casa Eva, designed by Fernanda Canales, resilient and sustainable architecture. Situated in Ocuilan, this project was conceived as a response to the 2017 earthquake, providing a new home for Eva, a single mother, and her four children. The design encapsulates a prototype for a minimum dwelling, extending from one to three bedrooms within a compact 50 square meter footprint. The house is structured around a 4×8 meter rectangular plan, featuring two levels and a distinctive vault ceiling. This configuration allows for a double-height space that accommodates the living, dining, and kitchen areas, creating an illusion of spaciousness despite the minimal dimensions. The design ensures that every room is bathed in natural light and benefits from cross ventilation, enhancing the living experience. Materially, the house is a study in simplicity and continuity, utilizing only concrete blocks and wood. These materials, with their natural finishes, contribute to the home's aesthetic coherence and ease of maintenance. The orientation of the house maximizes sunlight exposure from the East, South, and West, ensuring warmth and comfort throughout the year. The vertical emphasis of the design provides secure sleeping quarters for the children on the upper floor.

Design Highlights

Compact 4×8 meter rectangular plan Double-height living, dining, and kitchen space Natural light and cross ventilation in every room Use of concrete blocks and wood for continuity and simplicity Orientation to maximize sunlight and warmth Vertical design to optimize site area and ensure safety

Key Facts

Feature Detail
Architect Fernanda Canales
Location Ocuilan, Mexico
Year 2026
Status Built
Materials Concrete blocks, wood
Area 50 square meters

Technical summary

Updated 4/22/2026

Finishes

  • flooring: Concrete floors with a natural finish.
  • walls: Concrete block walls with a natural finish.

Materials

  • concrete blocks — Used for walls and structural elements.
  • wood — Used for window frames, stairs, and interior elements.

Construction / Systems

  • structural system: Concrete block construction with a barrel-vaulted roof.

Products

  • Not specified

Palette / Lighting

  • Colors: light gray, natural wood tones
  • Lighting: Natural light with cross ventilation.

Images

Rectangular building with barrel-vaulted roof, concrete block construction, narrow vertical window, and horizontal wooden-framed windows.
Two-story house with barrel-vaulted roof, concrete blocks, wooden windows, and a person walking nearby.
Two-story house with concrete block facade and wooden window shutters, with a dog walking in front.
Two-story house with concrete blocks and wooden shutters next to a red brick structure with a water tank, person sitting outside.
Interior space with concrete block walls, wooden stairs, and natural light creating shadows.
Kitchen interior with wooden countertop and sink, brick wall, and multiple windows.
Interior of a room featuring concrete block walls, a high window with wooden slats, and a wooden kitchen counter with a sink.
Interior of a room with concrete block walls, wooden doors, and windows, with sunlight streaming in.
Wooden architectural model of a two-story building with a barrel vault roof on a layered base.
Wooden architectural model of a house with a barrel-vaulted roof on a layered terrain base.
Wooden architectural model of a small house with a curved roof on a rectangular base.
Wooden architectural model with a barrel-vaulted roof and tiered base.
Wooden model of a rectangular building with a barrel-vaulted roof and vertical slats, set on layered terrain.
Architectural floor plans for Casa Eva, illustrating the layout of the ground and upper floors with rooms and furniture placement.
Section drawings of Casa Eva with a barrel vault ceiling and minimalistic design.
Architectural diagrams of a house with ground floor, upper floor, and exterior views.

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