This Cool Off-Grid Hidden House is Close to the US/Mexico Border

It’s not until you’re almost near the house, Casa Caldera, that you start to notice it – it’s disguised in a clever camouflage of ‘scoria’, a basaltic lava that emerges from the native grasses.

The walls of the house are naturally porous, and are made from a red volcanic aggregate, which creates the structure and finish, as well as offering insulation and thermal mass.

The recently completed property was designed by Tuscon-based architectural firm DUST. It is based around the ‘zaguan’, a kind of hallway typical in US Southwestern and Mexican homes that provides a view straight through the property, inviting guests to stop and gaze at the vast mountain ranges beyond. At either end of the zaguan are large, metal bi-fold doors that connect the internal living spaces to the surrounding landscape, while also letting in a cooling breeze when opened.

The only sources of heat are a wood-burning stove and a fireplace for the cooler months. Windows were kept small and the house’s orientation was taken into consideration to ensure that direct solar gain was kept to a minimum during the summer. Water is collected from a well, while solar power is utilised for minimal electrical and appliance needs. A single 30-yard roll-off of waste was removed after the entire construction process.

The 268.4m² (880 ft.²) house has a very simple layout, with two bedrooms and a bathroom opposite the living area, and the kitchen and zaguan running between them. This central space can be used for dining and entertaining, providing a sublime view across San Rafael Valley and the Patagonia Mountains.