Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

A Mirrored Hideaway Rises on an Extinct Volcano in Central Mexico

A Mirrored Hideaway Rises on an Extinct Volcano in Central Mexico

Located 20 minutes from San Miguel de Allende, Casa Etérea reflects the grandeur of its majestic surroundings.

Conceptualized as a writer’s cabin, Casa Etérea is an 807-square-foot dwelling (and vacation rental) that fully immerses visitors in nature. Designed by Prashant Ashoka, a Singaporean writer, the house sits on the slopes of an extinct volcano located on the outskirts of San Miguel de Allende.



The blue-hued volume stands in glassy contrast against the nocturnal blackness of the mountainside.

Remarkably, Ashoka had no prior architectural experience-although the design of the retreat speaks for itself. "The concept was to create a theater to nature," Ashoka explains. "As such, the house is rooted in the idea of sustainability."



The decked patio and pool area is shaded by olive and pomegranate trees.

The exterior of the V-shaped house is clad in mirrored glass, allowing the volume to take on a transitional quality as it reflects the unfolding seasons. Alluding to this quality, the name Etérea translates from Spanish to "ethereal," suggesting a nebulous, otherworldly sight. Both visually and functionally, the project touches on architecture as site-specific installation art and as an extension of the environment.



Casa Etérea is composed of two rectilinear volumes that connect at a 120-degree angle, evoking the V-shaped ravine visible through the exposed glass shower. The mirrored facade reflects the rugged, natural terrain.

"There are a number of mirrored houses in the world, but most of them use stainless steel sheets, which aren’t bird friendly," says Ashoka. As a result, the writer worked closely with local glass and mirror designer, Oskar Chertudi Maya, to develop an alternative. The pair landed on reflective glass sheets that are coated in a striped ultraviolet pattern that’s visible to birds and not to the human eye.



The interior features exposed ceiling beams and concrete walls, and celebrates natural materials like timber and jute.

Given the ruggedness of the terrain and the extremity of the wet weather season, the house is only accessibly by 4x4-which made for a deeply challenging construction process that spanned three years. "There were periods of time where the roads would be impassable and the build would halt for weeks", he explains. Born from the need to circumvent the transportation of construction materials, as well as from an intention to leave a minimal impact on the landscape, the foundation of the house was built entirely from volcanic rock, hand collected from the site.



A bespoke copper bathtub and matching tapware is framed by expansive mountainside views.



The off-the-grid home takes advantage of a range of sustainable building strategies including photovoltaic cells, a rainwater harvesting system, insulated glass, and careful site orientation to naturally regulate temperature in the semiarid desert climate.

Ashoka enlisted the services of the San Miguel de Allende–based interior studio NAMUH in selecting pieces for the interiors. The living room features a soft gray buffalo leather sofa, a reclaimed oak table with metal accents, and an Indian jute rug.

The interior is sparse and appropriate to context, preserving the expansive views outward. Casa Etérea also pushes the sustainability envelope by giving back to the local community. "A portion of the rental income is earned directly by the community, and our guests are given the opportunity to engage with our neighbors," explains Ashoka. For example, Ashoka’s neighbor, Concho, a seventy-year-old ranchero, takes guests on horseback safaris through the terrain.



The kitchen features exposed wooden beams, textured concrete walls, porcelain countertops, blackened walnut cabinets, walnut bar stools, and antique jade vases.

According to Ashoka, such isolated lodgings encourage us to turn ourselves inwards: "These times have made us acutely aware of our interdependence with our environment. And shelters in remote places may afford us a rare stillness and opportunity to bridge the distance between us and the natural world," he concludes.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Hungary Ranked Among the World’s Safest Travel Destinations for 2025
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Man Convicted of Fraud After Booking Over 120 Free Flights Posing as Flight Attendant
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Beata Thunberg Rebrands as Beata Ernman Amidst Sister's Activism Controversy
Hungarian Parliament Approves Citizenship Suspension Law
Prime Minister Orbán Criticizes EU's Ukraine Accession Plans
Hungarian Delicacies Introduced to Japanese Market
Hungary's Industrial Output Rises Amid Battery Sector Slump
President Sulyok Celebrates 15 Years of Hungarian Unity Efforts
Hungary's Szeleczki Shines at World Judo Championships
Visegrád Construction Trends Diverge as Hungary Lags
Hungary Hosts National Quantum Technology Workshop
Hungarian Animation Featured at Annecy Festival
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
UK and EU Reach New Economic Agreement
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
UK and EU Reach Agreement on Gibraltar's Schengen Integration
Israeli Finance Minister Imposes Banking Penalties on Palestinians
U.S. Inflation Rises to 2.4% in May Amid Trade Tensions
Trump's Policies Prompt Decline in Chinese Student Enrollment in U.S.
Global Oceans Near Record Temperatures as CO₂ Levels Climb
Trump Announces U.S.-China Trade Deal Covering Rare Earths
Smuggled U.S. Fuel Funds Mexican Cartels Amid Crackdown
Austrian School Shooting Leaves Nine Dead in Graz
Bezos's Lavish Venice Wedding Sparks Local Protests
Europe Prepares for Historic Lunar Rover Landing
Italian Parents Seek Therapy Amid Lengthy School Holidays
British Fishing Vessel Seized by France Fined €30,000
Dutch Government Collapses Amid Migration Policy Dispute
UK Commits to 3.5% GDP Defence Spending Under NATO Pressure
Germany Moves to Expedite Migrant Deportations
US Urges UK to Raise Defence Spending to 5% of GDP
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Low Turnout Jeopardizes Italy's Citizenship Reform Referendum
Transatlantic Interest Rate Divergence Widens as Trump Pressures Powell
EU Lawmaker Calls for Broader Exemptions in Supply Chain Legislation
France's Defense Spending Plans Threatened by High National Debt
European Small-Cap Stocks Outperform U.S. Rivals Amid Growth Revival
Switzerland Proposes $26 Billion Capital Increase for UBS
×