Casa Hilo
January 7, 2020
Zeller & Moye projected a housing prototype for living in rural conditions with warm climate in Colima, Mexico.
Based on modules, the house takes form from a single box that can be multiplied and arranged freely according to the site, budget and needs of each family. The modular system allows for single-story as well as multi-story arrangements and thus for flexibility for future family extension.
Other than typical houses where all rooms are under one roof, here each room is arranged as a separate space with a front
door and a roofed terrace. Playfully connected together, the rooms create a house that is interwoven with the landscape
where each room is accessed off the surrounding garden instead of through a traditional corridor space. The open spaces
between the rooms form green patios and niches that become vital elements of the house. The house garden is as important for
the daily activities within Casa Hilo as the rooms themselves.
door and a roofed terrace. Playfully connected together, the rooms create a house that is interwoven with the landscape
where each room is accessed off the surrounding garden instead of through a traditional corridor space. The open spaces
between the rooms form green patios and niches that become vital elements of the house. The house garden is as important for
the daily activities within Casa Hilo as the rooms themselves.
The base arrangement of Casa Hilo comprises two bedrooms, one kitchen/dining room, and a bathroom. Additionally, outdoor
elements within the garden such as a cooking pit, a tub, and table and benches complete the house.
elements within the garden such as a cooking pit, a tub, and table and benches complete the house.
All windows and doors are made of a bamboo lattice structure that allows for a constant modest air circulation within the
rooms. The panels can open gradually to control privacy and natural ventilation as well as provide shading to the garden
areas when folded outwards. The concrete frame structure is resistant against earthquakes. Adobe blocks that were manufactured on site by locals form the solid walls as infills to the concrete framework. The adobe provides a natural climate
buffer by absorbing excess humidity and cool the interior with its thermal mass during the day, making Casa Hilo a sustainable
example for rural architecture.
rooms. The panels can open gradually to control privacy and natural ventilation as well as provide shading to the garden
areas when folded outwards. The concrete frame structure is resistant against earthquakes. Adobe blocks that were manufactured on site by locals form the solid walls as infills to the concrete framework. The adobe provides a natural climate
buffer by absorbing excess humidity and cool the interior with its thermal mass during the day, making Casa Hilo a sustainable
example for rural architecture.
Photography by Jaime Navarro
www.zellermoye.com
SHARE THIS
Contribute
G&G _ Magazine is always looking for the creative talents of stylists, designers, photographers and writers from around the globe.
Find us on
Latest News
In the vibrant Sukhumvit district, tender pink, graceful arches and refined minimalist design come together at Away Sukhumvit Bangkok , creating a playful yet sophisticated retreat for the modern traveler.
The international home and kitchenware industry will once again gather in Istanbul as ZUCHEX returns for its 36th edition on 9-12 September 2026 . Bringing together manufacturers, brands, buyers, retailers, distributors and sourcing professionals from around the world, the exhibition continues to be one of the sector's most influential international meeting points.
Set along the tranquil shores of Lamai Beach in Koh Samui, Ammatara Pura Pool Villas invites guests to embrace the philosophy of Raja Living. Here, architecture, hospitality and authentic Thai heritage come together to create an experience that feels less like a luxury stay and more like stepping into a royal way of life.
Building on What's Already There As this year's LIV Hospitality Design Awards winners settle into the wider conversation, certain patterns become difficult to ignore. Properties built for warm-climate escape recur across the list. Sustainability surfaces less as a stated goal than as a working method. And several of the strongest projects are renovations rather than new builds. Read together, the winners point toward where hospitality design is heading as the year continues. Designed for the Season Several of this year's winners speak directly to the season ahead. Kona Village , on Hawaii's Big Island, reimagines an 81-acre resort around the history of Kaupulehu, led by Greg Warner and Mike McCabe of Walker Warner. The rebuilt property includes 150 traditional guest hale, a new spa, and five restaurants and bars—two of which carry over from the original resort. Rather than a wholesale reinvention, the project reads as a continuation: a property rebuilt around what made the original site significant in the first place.
On Norway’s western coastline, where fjords, trade routes, and ancestral narratives have shaped generations, GCR Design AS / Gunvor C Røkholt approaches interior architecture as cultural stewardship. Recognized by Luxury Lifestyle Awards with the title of Best Contemporary Residential Interior Design in Norway for Project KYN , the studio’s work reflects a disciplined commitment to preserving heritage through active, contemporary use.
Recognized for its unique ability to create emotionally resonant spaces that are as visually striking as they are functionally intelligent, JAQUE has been nam ed Best Luxury Interior Design Studio in Arizona by the Luxury Lifestyle Awards in 2025.
Subscribe
Keep up to date with the latest trends!
Popular Posts
Set along the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the Salil Hotel Riverside – Bangkok can be reached by its private boat, offering guests an arrival that feels less like a simple transfer and more like the arrival in a world of imagination, art and mythical creatures.
Situated in a prime location in the heart of the city, WestCord Eindhoven reveals its newly renovation that blends heritage, contemporary design, smart technology, and refined hospitality. The hotel’s refreshed identity marks a new chapter where history and innovation coexist, offering guests an elevated stay that feels both stylish and intuitively comfortable.
At M&O September 2025 edition, countless brands and design talents unveiled extraordinary innovations. Yet, among the many remarkable presences, some stood out in a truly distinctive way. G&G _ Magazine is proud to present a curated selection of 21 Outstanding Professionals who are redefining the meaning of Craftsmanship in their own unique manner, blending tradition with contemporary visions and eco-conscious approaches.
