House of Tubes Residential by Enrique Leal is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Silver A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design Competition Category.
SilverArchitecture· 2021
House of Tubes Residential
by Enrique Leal
Client: Enrique Leal
Silver A' Design Award Winner in Architecture Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #108579The Design
About House of Tubes Residential
The project is the fusion of two buildings, an abandoned one from the 70's with the building from the current era and the element that was designed to unite them is the pool. It is a project that has two main uses, the 1st as a residence for a family of 5 members, the 2nd as an art museum, with wide areas and high walls to receive more than 300 people. The design copies the back mountain shape, the city's iconic mountain. Only 3 finishes with light tones are used in the project to make the spaces shine through the natural light that is projected on the walls, floors and ceilings.
The Recognition
About the Silver A' Design Award
House of Tubes Residential is a Silver A' Design Award winner, an extraordinarily prestigious recognition granted to top-of-the-line, gorgeous, and impressive designs. Silver winners are tremendously brilliant and exceedingly creative works that illustrate the outstanding expertise, talent, and acuity of their designers. House of Tubes Residential is expected to be a wonderful, showpiece work that is remarkably professional and profoundly innovative. This Silver A' Design Award-winning design is a highly notable, admired invention that benefits and advances the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology. House of Tubes Residential is a vastly envied creation that evokes desires, introduces positive feelings, and sparks amazement and wonderment.
Where to Get It
Contemporary Architecture and Building Design Services
We create distinctive residential and corporate architecture that balances simple forms with natural light. Our 25 years of expertise transforms unique client visions into spaces that inspire. With over 200 satisfied clients, we specialize in contemporary designs that seamlessly integrate with their surroundings while maximizing sustainability and energy efficiency.
Discuss Your ProjectInterviews
Grand Interview
Your innovative fusion of a 1970s abandoned structure with contemporary architecture in House of Tubes Residential has created a remarkable dialogue between past and present - could you elaborate on how the swimming pool became the pivotal element in uniting these distinct timelines?
The pool was originally the last of the cylindrical structures from the old construction, and we chose to make it the junction point with the new building. Architecturally, it became the element that divides the intimate areas from the social spaces, serving as both a physical and functional separator within the residence.Beyond its structural role, the pool holds a symbolic significance. The water represents a process of purification, washing away the myths and haunting stories that surrounded the old building and transforming it into a space of peace and tranquility for the new family. By repurposing this cylinder into a serene, central feature, it bridges the past and present while redefining the building’s narrative into one of harmony and renewal.
The House of Tubes Residential mirrors the iconic silhouette of Mount Silla - what inspired you to create this visual connection between architectural form and natural landscape, and how does this relationship enhance the living experience for its residents?
For everyone living in Monterrey, Mount Silla is much more than a natural landmark; it is a symbol of pride, identity, and belonging. Designing a residence that mirrors its iconic silhouette was an intentional choice to create a deep emotional connection for its inhabitants, allowing them to feel truly at home. The architecture not only pays homage to the mountain’s grandeur but also integrates its essence into daily life.From the main windows of the house, residents can enjoy breathtaking views of the hill at all hours of the day. The morning sun bathes it in golden light, creating a serene and inspiring start to the day, while in the evening, the mountain glows in front of the setting sun, becoming a living piece of art. This thoughtful connection between the built environment and the natural landscape enhances the sense of harmony and tranquility, turning the home into a sanctuary that celebrates both the beauty of nature and the cultural pride of Monterrey.
Your decision to limit House of Tubes Residential to just three light-toned finishes creates an extraordinary interplay with natural light - could you share your philosophy behind this minimalist material palette and its impact on both the residential and museum functions of the space?
The decision to limit House of Tubes to three light-toned finishes stems from a philosophy of creating spaces that serve as a canvas for the intangible. By embracing simplicity, the residence becomes a stage for the interplay of natural light and shadow, where every hour of the day offers a unique composition—a living artwork in constant evolution. This minimalist approach allows the sun to sculpt the interiors, turning light itself into an ever-changing element of design.The chosen tones—earth, wood, and white—are not merely aesthetic choices; they represent a deeper pursuit of harmony. These colors reflect a desire to strip away excess and return to essentials, fostering an atmosphere of peace, introspection, and connection to the natural world. This restraint transforms the home into more than a residence; it becomes a meditative space where the boundaries between art, life, and architecture dissolve.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- In the project is the fusion of two buildings, an abandoned building from the 70's with the building from the current era and the element that was designed to unite them is the pool.
It is a project that has two main uses, the first as a residence for a family of 5 members, the second as an art museum, with wide areas and high walls to receive more than 300 people. The design copies the shape of Cerro de la Silla, the city's iconic mountain. Only 3 finishes with light tones are used in the project to make the spaces shine through the natural light that is projected on the walls, floors and ceilings. - Dimensions & Packaging
- Site area 2,283.29 m2- Area of building 1,153.20 m2
- Tags
- House of Tubes, Old Building, Tubes, Minimalist, Concept Design, Architecture
- Production Technology
- The house is composed of steel structure and block filled walls and inside durock with fiberglass insulation.
In this project the architect wanted to minimize the finishes to be used, three main finishes which are travertine marble, oak wood in a natural color, white paint finish on some walls and ceiling lights, and glass. - Design Challenge
- This project seeks to find the balance between the preexisting and the new. Demolishing the house was the first impulse that made sense in face of the challenge. Rescuing the structure, and integrating the necessities, lead the architect to a point where the analysis became challenging and insinuating. The best dialogue we could have was contrast based in lines.
The architect sought a dialogue between lines of opposite characters, to unify two architectural concepts. Because of this, rethinking the necessities of the client in a space without previous construction was the wisest thing to do. - Research
- Sustainability and energy efficiency were the goals of this project. Led lighting and a Double-layer drywall system as insulation optimize the A/C system (28 SEER) and energy consumption. it was built with steel-based structure, a material totally and indefinitely recyclable. Using artificial grass reduces water consumption. Solar Panels cover 80% of the energy needed to power the residence. Solar boilers to avoid the use of electricity or gas to heat water. Rainwater harvesting with dedicated containers.
- Inspiration
- The peaks of the Mount Silla with the peaks of the top of the old structure, were critical to decide to angle the higher volume of the new residence to create a dialogue, seeking unity between these three elements. The use of water as the link uniting different timelines, concepts, uses, and histories. The pool as the unifying element, the water as the new soul of the house, the cylinder as a container representing the old holding the new.
- Project Duration
- The property is located within the Guadalupe municipality, which is a part of the Metropolitan area of Monterrey, Mexico. Located in Cerro de la Silla, which is one of the most emblematic mountains in the city, and in Mexico.
Started in November 2017 in Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon, Mexico and finished in November 2019. - Operation Flow
- Design a project with ample spaces; interiors and exteriors, that when integrated with the original project, would form a communion with the views of the surrounding landscape.
The layout and concept needed to resemble a museum, with multi-purpose spaces. A clean and sober aesthetic, allowing it to be used for exhibitions, reunions, workshops and other activities, pertinent to the different disciplines the family members practice. In the same way, it needed to offer privacy in between the different areas. - Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer Jorge Taboada, House of Tubes, 2020
Image #2: Photographer Jorge Taboada, House of Tubes, 2020
Image #3: Photographer Jorge Taboada, House of Tubes, 2020
Image #4: Photographer Jorge Taboada, House of Tubes, 2020
Image #5: Photographer Jorge Taboada, House of Tubes, 2020
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