Cross-laminated timber and volcanic stone were used to form a round building along a lake that was designed by Mexican studio Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos.
The Valle San Nicolás Clubhouse is located on the outskirts of Valle de Bravo, about two hours from Mexico City.
Set on a 385-hectare residential development, along a lake with an 800-metre waterski run, the building holds a range of spaces for relaxing and socialising.
Designed by Mexico City’s Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, the 1,800-square-metre clubhouse was designed to provide views and work in harmony with the landscape.
“The natural conditions of Valle San Nicolás were explored to better understand how the two most prominent natural elements – the mountains and the lake – could converge and relate to each other through a work of architecture,” said the architecture studio.
The building takes cues from an anchored boat and is meant to look like it is floating on water.
Circular in plan, the building has a cut-out centre that is filled with water. A sunken, brick passageway traverses the pond and splits the clubhouse into two wings.
The west wing holds a gym, jacuzzi, steam room and “spa cabins” while the east wing encompasses a bar, kitchen, barbecue spot and dining area.
“Two rings, one inner and one outer, serve as open corridors to move around the building and enjoy near-360-degree-views of the landscape,” the architect said.
The building also has a pier-shaped extension, which has a sunbathing area and a swimming lane.
Made of cross-laminated timber, the clubhouse features exposed beams and columns with short spans. Their radial distribution follows the building’s circular form.
“Stone walls housed in wooden frames serve to anchor the volume in the lake,” the team added.
Finishes include volcanic stone, American red oak and sustainable wood decking from Kebony, a Norwegian company.
The company uses a special technology in which softwoods are heated with furfuryl alcohol, an agricultural by-product, to form a material that is similar to tropical hardwoods, but less harmful to the environment.
Other projects by Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos include a sprawling resort in Los Cabos that consists of staggered buildings and terraces and a Mexico City apartment complex that has black porcelain walls and huge windows.
The photography is by Rafael Gamo.
Project credits:
Architect: Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos
Firm leadership: Javier Sordo Madaleno Bringas (president), Javier Sordo Madaleno de Haro and Fernando Sordo Madaleno de Haro (directors), Boris Pena (project leader)
Project team: Luis Pucheta, Santiago Letona and Alba Díaz (design managers), Andrés Burguete, Ignacio Cabrera, José Mendoza, Luis de la Torre, Marco Pérez, Federico Serna
Interior design team: Fernanda Patiño (director), Delfina Espina, Regina Jarque
Engineering coordination: Marcos Hernández Engineering team: José Eduardo Hernández
Media: Rosalba Rojas, Daniela Cruz, Vanessa Gutiérrez
Developer: Grupo Terraforma
Structural engineering: Metal y Madera and Alba Estructural
Electrical, hydrosanitary and systems engineering: Imati
Lighting consultant: Artec3
Audio and video consultant: Solutions Audio & Video
Lanscape consultant: Jerónimo Gabayet, Concepto Q, Entorno Taller de Paisaje
Construction: TUCA, Metal y Madera
Construction coordination: Terraforma, GJA
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