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El Ocojal
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El Ocojal is a residence nestled within a forest clearing, where architecture merges with nature to create a serene and environmentally sensitive retreat. Its name comes from the vegetation that defines the site and shapes the project’s identity.
The design begins with a simple intention: to intervene as little as possible. The layout of the house and circulation paths responds to the terrain and existing trees, preserving almost all of the original vegetation and maintaining a direct relationship with the landscape.
The house opens outward through double-height spaces, large windows, and patios that frame the forest—allowing light, air, and shadows to shape the rhythm of everyday life. Materials such as timber, clay tile, and brick strengthen the connection with the surroundings and create a warm, natural palette that blends into the context.
CHAIN + SIMAN is an architecture and interior design studio based in Mexico City, founded by Renatta Chain and Lina Siman. Their practice is defined by a balance between the technical and the sensory, always seeking harmony between function, aesthetics, and emotion.
Each project begins with a deep understanding of its context and the people who will inhabit it. Through an ongoing exploration of material, light, and proportion, the studio creates atmospheres that emphasize serenity, warmth, and a connection to the essential.
Their work spans residential, commercial, and hospitality projects, maintaining a consistent visual language rooted in honest materials, restrained palettes, and meticulous attention to detail. At CHAIN + SIMAN, design does not seek to impose—it aims to accompany and enhance the experience of inhabiting.
Valle de Bravo is a retreat among the mountains, where forest, mist, and lake set the rhythm of the days. It is a place that invites both stillness and movement—silent contemplation as much as outdoor adventure.
At the heart of this setting lies Rancho Avándaro, a development that celebrates life in close contact with nature. Here, daily activities—horseback riding, harvesting from the garden, wandering along trails—become simple and meaningful rituals. The architecture integrates into the landscape with respect, allowing light, climate, and earth to be an essential part of the experience.
What defines this place is not ostentation, but authenticity. Living in Rancho Avándaro means finding luxury in the essential: clean air, the calm of the surroundings, and connection with the natural world. It is to inhabit with intention, surrounded by serene beauty and quiet fullness.
