While some works serve as monuments to the egos of those who practice this profession, other architectural approaches propose the exact opposite. These practices deliver projects that—almost poetically—harmonize built elements with the surrounding natural environment. There are also designs that adapt to the morphological order of nature, resulting in an organic language that generates highly unique and singular interior spaces.
By building underground, architects can seamlessly follow topographical contours, mitigating the visual impact of the structure by blending it into the landscape. This subterranean approach also offers excellent bioclimatic benefits, creating comfortable interior microclimates for residential spaces or storage, as soil is one of the most effective natural insulators against weathering.
We have compiled nine projects across Ibero-America spanning various programs where firms have made design decisions that respect the natural environment and local topography. In these designs, human intervention is reserved for the interior spaces and private facades; from the outside, the structures remain largely concealed from certain vantage points, offering surprising journeys on a pedestrian scale.
