HEAVY LIFTING

Soaring high in the Mexican forest, this fortress-like holiday home by Ludwig Godefroy hides and protects impossibly lofty interiors

- ELLIE STATHAKI

The concrete cube of Casa Alferez peeks out somewhat unexpectedly from behind the trees on a woodland plot outside Mexico City. It feels a stark contrast to the natural setting, yet somehow fitting, rising like a monolithic ruin or a futuristic tower in the forest. Its creator, Mexico-based architect Ludwig Godefroy, explains that while its powerful exterior may make a strong statement, it is the result of functional needs. Nothing in this project is random and everything has been carefully planned to fulfil a purpose.

Casa Alferez is the weekend retreat of a couple and their child, who live and work in the Mexican capital. They got to know Godefroy while he was working on the hotel Casa TO in Puerto Escondido, meeting him through that scheme’s client, and they instantly clicked. The couple were already in the process of creating this getaway on a tree-filled site about an hour’s drive from Mexico City (Alferez is the name of the wider region where the project is located).

Godefroy is known for his use of raw materials and brutalist approach. He has worked with concrete, stone and wood on most of his projects – including Casa Mérida (W*249), which exemplifies his take on blending modern shapes, rough textures and traditional Mexican architecture into what feels at once powerful and contemplative.