a shadow as a space for living
Casa Tao by HW Studio stands in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, as an architecture shaped by the coastal sun and shade. Rather than chase a postcard view, the concrete house faces a tree-lined courtyard, drawing in breezes and scents while filtering the intense Pacific sunlight. Its quiet stance responds to the climate as much as to the personal histories of its owners.
‘The project began with the silent memory of those who inhabit it,‘ the architects explain. Gustavo, who grew up in Puerto Vallarta, hoped for a house that promised coolness and retreat, recalling the modest home of his childhood where shade was essential. His wife, Cynthia, shared a fascination with Japanese design after a trip with their daughters.
The clients told the design team: ‘We’d like to feel as if we were living inside a Japanese museum,’ describing a place where time slows and silence is tangible. These experiences shaped every decision, giving Casa Tao a language of restraint and depth.
image © Hugo Tirso Domínguez
casa tao: a composition of simple geometries
HW Studio organized the plan of its Casa Tao as a composition of stacked forms. Bedrooms, garage, and service areas create a grounded base, while a light, double-height volume floats above with the social spaces. By lifting the living areas, the architects surrounded them with air and treetop views, capturing the ocean breeze without exposing the interiors to direct sunlight.
‘We wanted the presence of the plaza to be sensed without being overwhelmed by heat,’ the architects note. Instead of large panes of glass, angled openings frame glimpses of trees and sky, allowing the house to observe the neighborhood at a measured diagonal.
Inside, the bedrooms gather around a secluded patio where a curved wall and a single tree create a soft threshold. This arrangement encourages movement that is slow and deliberate. ‘Shade here is an emotional condition,’ the team continues, ‘a promise of calm and silent protection.’ The house turns inward yet remains permeable as breezes carry the fragrance of the sea through subtle apertures, and shafts of daylight slip across the walls.
image © Hugo Tirso Domínguez
hw studio takes cues from japanese design logic
Concrete forms Casa Tao’s structural core, chosen by HW Studio for its durability and tactile depth. Exposed surfaces absorb the coastal sun with a muted glow, while white finishes heighten the gentle contrast between shadow and light.
‘We wanted the material to settle light, not bounce it,’ HW Studio explains. Over time, the concrete will warm and soften to become a surface that records use and weather rather than resisting them. The combination of solid mass and delicate illumination gives the house a meditative stillness.
The architects hope to invited lingering throughout the home. Elevated patios become terraces for contemplation, where the scent of flowers mixes with the sound of leaves in the wind. Each space is an atmosphere for quiet observation. The team seeks to echo the reflections of 20th century Japanese author, Junichirō Tanizaki in his essay, In Praise of Shadows, where subtle light reveals depth and texture. HW Studio captures that spirit, allowing light and shade to guide the senses and slow the day. In this way, dwelling becomes a study in presence.
image © Hugo Tirso Domínguez
image © César Belio
image © César Belio