Photographer: Andrés Asturias | ArchDaily

Designing for Temperature Gradients: 6 Central American Projects that Use Transitional Spaces to Mitigate Heat

Moises Carrasco — Sat, 17 May 2025 07:30:00 +0000

Understanding the temperature gradient in a building is essential in cold or temperate climates, where airtight enclosures and continuous insulation are used to prevent heat loss. However, this approach is not suitable for tropical areas like Central America, where the climate is marked by a consistent alternation between wet and dry seasons rather than four distinct ones. Factors such as proximity to the sea, elevation, and local topography influence microclimates across short distances, but high humidity remains a common challenge. Sealed, airtight walls with no ventilation can quickly become breeding grounds for mold, making the thermal strategies of temperate climates problematic. In response, local designers have developed alternative approaches that embrace, rather than resist, the outdoor environment, allowing airflow and evaporation to manage interior comfort.

How to Choose the Front Door of a House?

Valeria Montjoy — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 04:00:00 +0000

As much as walls, ceilings, and furniture pieces define the character and perception of an architectural project, doors play a critical role in building that style. Among all the doors used in houses, the front door is the first tangible element that homeowners and visitors will encounter, acting as the pivotal point where architecture greets the user. After all, first impressions are always important; and the entrance door is certainly one that can set the tone for the rest of the interior. However, choosing the right front door for a contemporary house can be difficult, especially with so many design possibilities. Therefore, before making that decision, it is crucial to know what those possibilities are – and how these can transform the front door into a design statement.

House BF / Paz Arquitectura

Andreas Luco — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 16:00:00 +0000

BF House is located on a peculiar piece of land, being completely flat in a mountainous sector of the city. This situation taken in consideration, the owners wanted a one story house taking advantage of the garden in a most efficient way. It was decided to build a basement garage in order to save garden area. The house has an “L” shape in order to frame the garden, which is bordered by a considerable mountainous space in the back.

An Architectural Guide to Guatemala City

Fabian Dejtiar — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 04:00:00 +0000

This guide is not a catalog. It is an open invitation to walk around the city and learn more about the architecture in Guatemala City.

Ayvalaan House / Paz Arquitectura

Rayen Sagredo — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 13:01:00 +0000

Ayalaan house is owned by a recently married couple whose children from previous marriages live in other countries and visit Guatemala sporadically. Ayvalaan is the name of the street where the couple lived during their first years together in Holand.

Clara House / Paz Arquitectura

Rayen Sagredo — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Clara House is a residence for a family located in Tapachula, on the southern border of México. The site is characterized by an extreme amount of rain, a very hot climate and a high degree of humidity.

Although there is a need to have closed spaces for privacy, the purpose of our design is to generate enough openings to dispel the borders between the inside and outside in order to encourage the owner to enjoy the advantages of the weather, vegetation and exterior living. That’s the reason for the main sectors to be focused towards a pérgola área and to be able to open up and integrate.

LP1 House / Paz Arquitectura

Rayen Sagredo — Thu, 31 May 2018 13:00:00 +0000

Located in a new neighborhood close to Guatemala City, this house occupies the high part of a sloped lot with a steep topography around cypress and pine woods.

6 Firms Highlighted as New York's "Promising" New Practices

Karissa Rosenfield — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 12:30:00 +0000

The American Institute of Architects New York Chapter has named six firms as the recipients of its New Practices New York 2016 award. Under this year's theme of "Prospect," the winners were selected for having "leveraged multiple aspects of the architecture profession, utilizing unique and innovative strategies, both in the projects and the practices they have started."

Saul E. Méndez, Zona 14 / Taller KEN

Karen Valenzuela — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 01:00:00 +0000

"Saul Zona 14" is a house with many charms. Under one roof, we combine fashion, design, art, objects and food. Here, a union of culture and commerce full of surprises and small treasures entices clients and visitors to take the time to enjoy diverse experiences. It is a place to meet, to stop for a drink at the café, to shop at the store or to visit the terrace to have a long meal or just sit to read. The design's playful qualities draw from cultural references.

Metropolitan School Extension / Paz Arquitectura

Daniel Sánchez — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 01:00:00 +0000

This is the first stage of a Master Plan for the expansion of a school to be executed in approximately an eight years term. This building houses classrooms for 5th and 6th grades, restrooms for an area dedicated to sports, and an art hall.

Corallo House / PAZ Arquitectura

Victoria King — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Located on a dense hillside forest in the Santa Rosalía area of Guatemala City, Corallo House integrates the existing forest into the layout of the house. It merges nature into the architectural intervention. The design process began with the aim to preserve the existing trees, in order to have the trees interact with the living space.