INSPIRED by the great Guatemalan farmhouses of the 19th century, Villa la Merced sits on top of a hill from which one can contemplate a beautiful natural forest. Its geometric purity is exalted by the use of structural walls of brick and hammered stone, as well as the imposing wooden roof that crowns the house.

The villa receives visitors in a beautiful private street that ascends the hill until they reach a small plaza, defined by a vegetated retaining wall, an ancillary building for vehicles, and the entrance arch that pierces the solidity of the main facade of the house. This arch becomes a cozy hall that receives the visitor, connecting interior and exterior.

The interior is organized around the most important social spaces of the house: the family room, a study, and the main living room whose great height allows a visual connection with the family room. In the latter, located on the second level, the tall ceiling is enhanced by the structural authenticity of the wooden beams. A family chapel is embedded under the wooden trusses, highlighting its hierarchy within the ascending design concept.

Outside the main living room, and as an extension of it, a large porch of hammered stone columns and Spanish terrace roof, rests on the hill like a belvedere over the garden and over the forest on the horizon. A free-standing brick oven serves as a sculptural-focal point accompanying the composition of this pleasant outdoor space.

All levels are comfortably connected by a monumental staircase, which features a traditional octagonal flared window. The lower level, with a cozy cellar and game room, opens up to the garden, thus completing the harmony and sequence of social spaces.

Credits

Design: Pedro Pablo Godoy Barrios and María Fernanda Sánchez, Estudio Urbano
Interiors: Client
Construction Documents: Estudio Urbano
General Contractor: LC Construcciones