Casa SM is conceived through a fundamental architectural gesture: carving out a contained void that becomes the organizing core of the home. Rather than functioning as a conventional courtyard or a terminating space, it serves as the element that structures movement, filters light, and gives meaning to the spatial experience.

Instead of being understood as a courtyard that concludes the composition, it is conceived as a contained space that organizes the house both vertically and horizontally, shaping circulation, relationships, and atmosphere. Every room is oriented toward this central void, allowing the architecture to establish a constant dialogue between openness and intimacy.

From the street, the house presents itself as a restrained, almost monolithic volume. A concrete screen forms an intermediate layer that regulates daylight, privacy, and the relationship with its surroundings. Rather than serving as a decorative façade, it functions as a spatial filter that thickens the boundary between public and private, delaying the visual transition into the interior. This restrained exterior reinforces the idea of discovery, allowing the experience of the house to unfold gradually rather than being immediately revealed.

Upon crossing the threshold, the house opens up. The central void emerges as an introspective space that visually connects each level, where light—filtered through the concrete screen—casts ever-changing patterns across walls and floors throughout the day. Time becomes perceptible through architecture as sunlight transforms the atmosphere from morning to evening, making the courtyard a dynamic and living element rather than a static one.

The staircase, conceived as a light and suspended element, inhabits this void not only as a means of circulation but as part of the spatial experience itself. Movement through the house becomes a continuous transition between light and shadow, enclosure and openness. Every ascent and descent offers a changing perception of the central space, encouraging a slower and more contemplative experience of the home.

The reddish-toned metal frames introduce a material counterpoint to the neutrality of the architectural envelope. Rather than acting as a purely chromatic gesture, they establish a permeable boundary that softens the distinction between interior and exterior while visually extending the courtyard into the living spaces. Together with the natural palette of concrete, wood, and vegetation, these elements create a warm and timeless atmosphere.

On the ground floor, the living areas unfold as a continuous open plan, always anchored by the central void as their spatial reference. On the upper levels, the house becomes more intimate, prioritizing privacy without losing its visual and spatial connection to this central core.

Casa SM was conceived not only as a place to inhabit, but as an extension of its users' lifestyle. The project seeks to create an environment where architecture encourages moments of calm, contemplation, and everyday interaction with nature. More than providing shelter, the house becomes a refuge from the pace of the outside world—a space where light, materiality, and landscape foster a meaningful connection between architecture and its inhabitants. Through this balance between enclosure and openness, Casa SM aspires to transform daily life into a sequence of quiet, immersive experiences.