Minimalist white building with a person walking beside it, against a concrete wall and tree.

A minimalist white building with clean lines and geometric shapes, featuring a person walking alongside it. The structure is set against a large concrete wall, with a tree visible in the background.

Minimalist building with concrete wall and white geometric structures amidst greenery.
White box-like building surrounded by greenery and trees.
Minimalist white building exterior with a tree and bush in front, surrounded by dark rocks.
Minimalist interior with circular window, garden, and living area with shoji doors.
Garden with tree and stones in front of a room with shoji doors.
Interior view of a minimalist space with a wooden platform, stone garden, tree, and shōji doors.
Courtyard with wooden platform, stone, trees, gravel, and shōji doors leading to a warmly lit interior.
Interior courtyard with a tree, gravel, stones, wooden platforms, and a circular window above.
Minimalist interior with wooden platform, gravel, and stones, featuring a rust-colored door.
Interior view of a minimalist room with a person sitting on a wooden platform, shoji screens, and a central stone.
Minimalist interior with a central table, stone centerpiece, and shoji doors opening to a garden.
Minimalist interior with a central stone in a gravel-filled recess, surrounded by wooden surfaces and white cabinets in the background.
Room with shōji screens and a view of a minimalist garden featuring rocks and a small tree.
A person ascending a minimalist staircase with a stone at the top landing.
Minimalist bedroom with circular window, person standing, wooden floor, green bed, and framed picture.
Minimalist bedroom with green bedspread, small window, and stone sculpture on a shelf.
Person standing in a minimalist room with a circular window casting light.
A minimalist bedroom featuring a wooden headboard, a bed with a green bedspread, and a large ceramic pot on the floor.
Interior view of a minimalist space featuring wooden elements, white cabinetry, and a shoji screen.
Minimalist interior with central table, wooden surfaces, and shōji doors opening to a garden with rocks and a tree.
Minimalist interior with wooden table and shōji doors.
Minimalist kitchen interior with white cabinets, wooden ceiling, and stone pathway.
Minimalist room with a wooden platform and shoji screen.
Circular window with cross frame casting shadows on a dark wall.
Floor plan showing a central courtyard with a tree and surrounding rooms.
Floor plan showing a rectangular building with contour lines indicating the surrounding topography.
Section drawing of two building volumes with trees and human figures for scale.
Elevation drawing of a rectangular building on a slope with trees and a human figure.
Section drawing of a house with two levels and a central courtyard featuring a tree.
Section drawing of a house on a slope with two volumes and a tree in the center.
Architectural section drawing with two volumes and human figures.
Detailed architectural drawing of The Architect's House with front and side sections, including labeled components and circular insets.
Architectural sketch with watercolor and ink showing a building facade with abstract blue and pink washes.

Story

A contemplative residence in Morelia, embracing void and Zen philosophy. Kehai House, designed by HW Studio, is a profound exploration of space and void, drawing inspiration from Zen philosophy and Japanese aesthetics. Located in Morelia, Michoacán, México, the house is a personal project of the architect, reflecting a journey towards simplicity and introspection. From the exterior, the house presents itself as a quiet, stone-like box within the urban landscape. However, this apparent hermeticism conceals a delicate stone garden at its heart, reminiscent of Kyoto's temples. The garden, with its carefully arranged stones, serves not as decoration but as the organizing core of the house, around which the living spaces orbit. The interior is defined by its minimalism and the absence of unnecessary elements. The kitchen and dining area, with its double-height ceiling, and the living room are separated by an open passage, encouraging interaction with the elements. Shoji doors, crafted from rice paper, filter light into soft, time-infused shadows, creating a serene atmosphere. The bedroom, a minimal and intimate space, features a singular circular window offering views of a central tree, reinforcing the connection between the interior and the natural world. The house eschews glass, with only three small windows framing views of the surrounding landscape. The entrance descends, a gesture of humility, aligning with the spiritual ethos of the design. This descent symbolizes a bowing before the sacredness of the space.

Design Highlights

Central stone garden as the organizing heart Minimalist interior with double-height kitchen and dining area Shoji doors for soft, time-infused light Intimate bedroom with a circular window Descending entrance as a spiritual gesture

Key Facts

Key Detail Description
Location Morelia, Michoacán, México
Completion Year 2025
Size 95 m²
Budget 82,000 USD
Lead Architect Rogelio Vallejo Bores
Structural Engineer Abdiel Nuñez Gaona

Technical Summary

Finishes

  • Wall Finish: White plaster walls
  • Floor Finish: Wooden flooring

Materials

  • Concrete — Exterior walls
  • Wood — Flooring and platforms
  • Paper — Shōji doors
  • Stone — Garden elements
  • Gravel — Garden bed

Construction / Systems

  • Structural System: The house uses a concrete structure with minimal glass, focusing on inward-looking spaces.

Products

  • Not specified

Palette / Lighting

  • Colors: white, natural wood tones, green from plants, gray from stones
  • Lighting: Soft, natural lighting filtered through shōji doors

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