If a structure could imitate warmth and humanity, linking the innate wonder of nature to one’s need to inhibit it, Casa Orgánica by architect Javier Senosiain is it. Built in 1984 in Naucalpan, Mexico, Casa Orgánica was the first organic project of the architect and also his family home for over twenty-five years. Within each room, one is transported through an intimate exploration of curve, light and humanity.
 
 
Senosiain designed the house with the objective that the spaces adapt to the human body. Senosiain reasoned that everything rotates in a spiral, from DNA molecules to galaxies—a straight line hardly exists in the universe—and so it is with Casa Orgánica. Made of ferro-concrete, the contour of the house is also curved, each room existing similar to that of a mother’s womb or shelters adapted millennia ago, such as the igloo. The house was originally designed with a single bedroom, but as Javier and his family grew, the house expanded. Several partially subterranean bedrooms were added, connecting to the middle of the original tunnel and functioning as foundations that prevent the top studio from flipping over.
 
 
 
Senosiain’s deep understanding of harmonizing structure with environment results in the space taking advantage of what already exists. Large windows utilize the changing light throughout the day and highlight the dynamic beauty of the natural environment allowing for inhabitants to feel cradled by the structure. Thus, the house provides an overall soothing experience to those within.
 
 
Although the rare space often appears bizarrely otherworldly, function was not lost in artistry. Details such as divots in the wall serving as toothbrush holders, embedded shelving, and built-in stairs leading up to a child’s loft bed all reflect Senosiain’s intention to serve humanity with the structure. Circular windows serve as natural spotlights and the aerodynamic forms of the dwelling allow for air circulation and natural ventilation.
 
 
 
The whimsical nature of the house is heightened by Senosiain’s genius ability to integrate the interior with exterior. Just as captivating as the house itself is its external surface, which is enveloped by grassy dunes. The garden truly feels as if one has been transported to another land. Pursuing the property’s ethereal gardens of foliage, trees and vibrant Bougainvillea results in walking on the roof without even realizing it. Butterflies meander about the grounds as if performing on cue and the green grassy knolls are complete with a slide, which playfully transports one from the top of the garden to the lawn below. Beyond aesthetics, the earth and the grass protect the house from natural elements, limiting its exposure to the wet-dry cycle as well as filter dust and carbon dioxide, creating a microclimate.
 
 
 
Casa Orgánica is beyond an architectural feat; it exemplifies the venture of a creative genius. Senosiain’s family home sparks imagination beyond any structure, his ingenuity and architectural knowledge poetically linking nature to the species that inhabit it.
 
Photos by Avery Wheless.