The Barrio Historico House got its name from its location: Tucson’s Barrio Historico, a district keeping the flavour of the Mexican-American mix. Rising from between the flat-roofed mud-brick houses and roofs made from saguaro ribs and packed dirt, the house is a modern ode to the Mexican design influence. Spreading over 2,100 square feet, the residence reinterprets the neighbourhood’s traditional courtyard architecture in a contemporary way.
The front facade displays a wise low profile, with proportions that do not overstep the neighbourhood guidelines and door and window openings that blend with the surroundings. The interiors feature little connections to the Mexican traditions, instead each space was constructed to offer a strong connection to the courtyard. Here, the outside heaven belonging to the house shelters a pool surrounded by a high, pure white wall. Besides the fact that the wall protects the inhabitants’ privacy, it also serves as background for social and entertaining activities.
Designed by Kathy Hancox and Michael Kothke of HK Associates Inc, the Barrio Historico House is an exceptional home that blends in with the surrounding neighbourhood, adding modern character to the street. The trees planted in front of the house will tell its history – for now, they have much to see.