HW Studio's Kehai House: A Zen-Inspired Void in Morelia

HW Studio, a Mexican architectural firm, has finalized the Kehai House, a 95-square-meter dwelling in Morelia intended as a personal sanctuary for its founder, Rogelio Vallejo Bores. The design centers around a stone garden, substituting traditional walls with an open space that draws inspiration from Japanese Zen aesthetics. Accessing the house involves a descent, symbolizing humility, while the interior features shōji doors that softly diffuse light. Living and dining areas are elevated on wooden platforms above gravel, lacking a covered passage, which encourages direct engagement with rain. Three small windows offer selective views of a distant mountain, a nearby pine, or the central tree. The upper level includes a simple bedroom with a round window facing the garden. Prioritizing material authenticity and sensory experience, the project avoids opulent finishes and superfluous hallways. Kehai House builds upon the minimalist ethos of HW Studio's previous Casa Tao in Puerto Vallarta, crafting an internal landscape within the urban environment.