Toronjos: Self-Sufficient Retreat Between Avocado Groves

Toronjos, a self-sufficient vacation house by architecture firm PPAA, was completed in 2024 on a site between two avocado plantations in Mexico. The property lacks electricity, drainage, and potable water, so the design employs a sustainable strategy that carefully manages available resources and minimizes its footprint. The single-story home is organized into three longitudinal strips: a private core of bedroom, bathroom, and dressing room in the center, with social areas on both sides opening to the landscape. A sequence of interrupted walls articulates movement without fully enclosing spaces, while generous apertures allow natural light and cross ventilation, passively responding to the local climate. Materials include adobe and wood, chosen for their warmth, locality, and honest expression, reinforcing the house's essential character. Sustainability guided the project from the start, with orientation, natural lighting, and ventilation forming a logic of self-sufficiency. Minimal intervention preserves the central role of water, vegetation, and soil. The result is an architecture that integrates discreetly among the avocado trees, offering a conscious way to rest and observe the landscape.