TO House
Discover how aesthetics and functionality coexist in harmony with the environment while generating a low impact on nature through simplicity, at the Casa To design hotel by Ludwig Godefroy.
Located in La Punta Zicatela, a destination known as the national capital of surfing, in front of the Punta Zicatela Ecological Community and 15 minutes from the Puerto Escondido airport, Casa TO arises with the mission of crystallizing the first design hospitality experience in the area with a space that harmoniously integrates into the environment with its bold raw materiality and absolute respect for nature.
Its name reflects its contemplative essence, since it is born from a reflection based on the concepts of house and temple, a duality that is summarized in the idea of Casa TO, Oaxacan Temple. Its sensory imprint is evident when it fills the senses with green views, natural sounds and tranquility that invite undisturbed observation.
The design hotel has nine suites of conceptual elegance with an atmosphere that bet on the sobriety of simplicity. On the ground floor there are six suites with an independent terrace, while the upper floor is distributed between three suites with an outdoor bathtub. The layout of the rooms favors privacy, making them imperceptible from the outside.
Vista del interior de la habitación / Interior view of the room
Fotografía / Photography: Arturo Gómez
The project was commissioned by renowned Architect Ludwig Godefroy, who works brilliantly with raw, honest and exposed materials. Casa TO’s identity is inspired by Muslim architecture, such as Yerebatan Sarayı (Medusa Cistern in Istanbul), and by underground water reserves such as Finsbury Park Reservoir, in London.
The main intention of Casa TO is to create an interior oasis in which privacy and personal space generate a radical experience in a surface of 600 m2, where only the physical presence could explain the dimensions, distribution and surreality of a structure that provokes a feeling of complexity.
Vistas de la piscina / Views of the pool
Fotografía / Photography: Izquierda: Aristeo García Derecha: Nicole Arcuschin
The hotel’s aesthetic is defined by its simplicity, where the traditional and contemporary coexist, achieved through the harmonious use of simple elements such as steel, concrete, clay, and wood.
Casa TO seeks to ensure that aesthetics and functionality coexist in harmony with the environment, generating minimal impact on nature. From the beginning, the installation of a water treatment plant was planned, allowing for 100% reuse of water for irrigating green areas.
For this, solutions from the Mexican company TIM, specialized in wastewater treatment, were used, which uses biological procedures to reuse water for irrigation, toilets and other types of non-potable water consumption. The biologically stabilized solids obtained from this process can be used in composts or for soil improvement.
Additionally, a second phase is planned to implement an electrical system adapted to store energy with solar panels, further reinforcing the commitment to the environment.
Terraza interior / Interior terrace
Fotografía / Photography: Camila Jurado
Likewise, the hotel has a zero plastic policy, which is why filtered water is offered and the use of individual thermoses for each guest is encouraged. The plastic that arrives from suppliers or guests is reused and the use of bulk biodegradable products is privileged.
Amenities also make their commitment tangible by providing pool and beach towels made from recycled materials. The bath products are made from natural ingredients based on calendula, an ancient plant used by Maya and Hindu cultures for its regenerative and therapeutic properties. These products from the Mexican brand For All Folks are vegan and free from parabens, minerals, and animal cruelty.
The understated simplicity of the interior design, by Daniel Cinta, co-founder of Casa TO, was based on a color palette inspired by the original vegetation of the site. It featured a Bismarckia nobilis palm and a wrought-iron door of the same green hue were present on the site, leading to the choice of a similar shade for the wrought-iron elements, lamps, and details throughout the space.
Interior mostrando detalles de muebles y herrerías / Interior showing the details of furniture and wrought-iron elements
Fotografía / Photography: Camila Jurado
The faucets and accessories were selected in brushed stainless steel to blend in with the concrete tones, while giving prominence to the glassware and textiles, which feature a range of yellows, greens, and blues.
For the furniture, the goal was to convey a sense of luxury through the interaction with simple and honest elements. Therefore, the furniture was selected from proposals by artisans from various states in the country, such as Puebla, Guadalajara, and Oaxaca, who adapted their designs and colors exclusively for the hotel.
Detalles de herrería y vegetación / Wrought-iron and vegetation details
Fotografía / Photography: Arturo Gómez
Finally, the landscaping was designed to create a gradual process of nature reclaiming the architecture, with vines that would gradually cover the concrete from the outside. Inside, a jungle was created with fruit trees such as bananas and passion fruit, along with plants selected from local nurseries.
Led by Gisela Kenigsberg and Daniel Cinta, co-founders of Casa TO, the expectation is that in the medium and long term the feeling of being in an abandoned ruin will be perceived, taken over by the exuberant vegetation that shapes the space.
Disfrutando de la naturaleza / Enjoying nature
Fotografía / Photography: Arturo Gómez
