Carlos Herrera: The Architecture of Lines, Light, and Luxury

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1.

Rancho Laureles — Cuernavaca

Carlos Herrera’s architectural trajectory can be summed up by this project. His learning, triumphs, and experience are materialized in cement, wood, and glass. This property is in the city of Cuernavaca, the city of eternal spring, a treasured destination for many capital city dwellers. The vitality of the colors of the vegetation proves their point.

Rancho Laureles embodies elegance and maturity, but it is also a reward for a life dedicated to work. At a given moment, the passage of time begs us to reflect on the past and face the future with optimism. This site is a perfect haven for such a period of maturity and wisdom.

Architecture of Leisure

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Rancho Laureles is the result of a collection of trips, experiences, and tastes of the architect all coalesced into one of his most avant-garde houses. It is the summary of much wisdom gained over the years and across different continents and eras. It is archetypal work, set apart from his previous projects and a starting point for future ventures.

The façade is a declaration of simplicity. A concrete wall emerges from a pond of river stones

that stand tall and powerful. The area acts as a preamble to what one will find inside—minimalist spaces that transmit harmony through sober and elegant details.

The premise of “less is more” coined by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, gives meaning to this house.

The design of Rancho Laureles fulfills all its functional needs. Even though the house sits on two levels, it was planned so that life would take place on the upper level. This is where we find the master bedroom, living room, kitchen, terrace, and lap pool. A few meters away, one steps onto the tennis court or into the gym. The main floor can be fully toured from north to south without having to navigate a single wall or door. On the terrace, a cantilevered pergola breaks the vertical rhythm of the layout, creating a living room balcony. It is one of the most delightful places to enjoy the surroundings.

The spaces of this house are made to be shared. Rancho Laureles has three fireplaces. Each

one presides over a welcoming area that encourages vibrant conversation.

Tadao Ando, the famous Japanese architect, asserts that his fondness for ruins lies in the fact

that their endurance does not lie in the design as a whole, but in the precision of their idea. A naked structure can be the spirit of some unknown. Architecture constantly requires intervention in any given space. This challenge tends to grow when the site is imbued with history. Such is the case for Rancho Laureles. Seventy years ago, a set of archeological excavations showed that this plot might have been home to the house built by the conquistador Hernán Cortés as part of his Marquesado de Oaxaca. In the twentieth century, another interesting person, Swedish magnate Axel Wenner-Gren, bought the property. He amassed a large fortune as president of Electrolux.

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The house includes a lap pool, a gym, a tennis court, and a small bunker for golf practice.

La casa cuenta con un carril de nado, un gimnasio, cancha de tenis y una pequeĂąa trampa de arena para golf.

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8.

Zicarú — Huatulco

The state of Oaxaca, in southwestern Mexico, has provided one of the most productive settings for Herrera’s work.

He has found inspiration in the wild landscapes and relaxed yet elegant lifestyles of the state’s coastal domains. At Zicarú, specifically, hours go by unnoticed. The walls of this house are not thick enough to hold back the minutes.

There is never enough time to fully enjoy one’s stay in paradise. This is precisely what makes it hypnotic. When we leave, three things stay in our minds – the vast generosity of nature, the mysticism of the place, and everything that the color blue can say without words.

Majesty of detail

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Guadua, the Colombian name for bamboo, is one of the materials used to build this corner of paradise.

La guadua, el bambú en Colombia, es uno de los materiales a los que se recurrió para construir este rincón del paraíso.

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The outdoor showers transform a daily ritual into an immensely pleasurable experience.

Las regaderas al aire libre transforman una acción cotidiana en una experiencia de máximo placer.

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12.

La Vela — Acapulco

A large sail presides over the main setting of this residence in the port of Acapulco, Guerrero. This object is a recurring theme in Carlos Herrera’s universe. A white canvas mimics a dove about to take flight. It is a detail that separates this house from the rest of the vacation homes in one of Mexico’s most visited regions. Like many other of Herrera’s beach houses, this home finds its strength in its orientation. The view from this house over Acapulco Bay is breathtaking.

The main room, under the shelter of the sail, acts as a meeting place and invites guests to spend long hours enjoying the pool and the Mexican Pacific.

A lively blowing breeze

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Una gran vela, un objeto recurrente en el universo de Carlos Herrera, preside el principal espacio abierto de esta residencia en el puerto de Acapulco, Guerrero. Una lona blanca asemeja una paloma a punto de levantar el vuelo. Es un detalle que distingue a esta casa del resto de residencias de veraneo en una de las zonas más turísticas del país. Ésta, como otras casas de playa de Herrera, encuentra su fortaleza en su orientación. La vista de la bahía que se percibe desde aquí quita el aliento. El espacio principal, que está cobijado por la vela, sirve de centro de reunión e invita a pasar largas horas disfrutando de la piscina y el sol del pacífico mexicano.

EL SOPLO VITAL DE LA BRISA

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