Floating Home and Design Studio: Animas 8, Mexico

“No house should ever be on a hill or on anything. It should be of the hill. Belonging to it. Hill and house should live together each the happier for the other.” – Frank Lloyd Wright

The floating home and design studio Animas 8 by Mar Studio Design is definitely of the hill. It floats above it, barely touching it, like it was sitting there and watching into the horizon, waiting for the sun to rise from the Sea of Cortez.

Earlies this year, my friend Marcela Cruz from Mar Studio Design invited me to visit and photograph her newly finished home and studio in San Jose del Cabo. I’ve seen it from a distance, while it was under construction, and saw some sneak peeks of the spectacular view it had from the photos she shared. I was super intrigued to see it up close and personal.

From the outside, the home looks like floating above the hill. It is surrounded by Baja’s natural desert landscapes. It has blue ocean views to the front, desert views to the left, green views of the surrounding rich farmlands on its right. You can enjoy the yellow, orange, and red sunset hues in the early evening, on the far right across the city and adjacent mountains.

When Marcela opened the front doors of the Animas 8 studio and welcomed me in, I gasped! The views are even better than I imagined – they take you directly to the endless blues of the Sea of Cortez and the Marina of Puerto Los Cabos. The interior of the ground floor is functional and straightforward. As an interior designer, she organized the space for multiuse – she used it as home and as a working studio, together with a kitchen and a lounge and reading area.

“The central concept of the project was to create a contemporary space where we can live, base our design studio, and be inspired by the landscape and the breathtaking views of the ocean,” explained Marcela.

“Looking for spatial and functional efficiency, we went for an open concept that allows the interaction between the interior and the exterior. We carefully crafted our design based on local materials to create a multi-functional space that respects artisans and local talent. We decided to design a loft that is more common for the cities by creating a spacious and fresh space, based on high ceilings, horizontal lines, and vast windows, allowing the ocean breeze to be part of the ambiance. With concrete blocks, steel beams, and local woods, we designed our home on an elevated mountain, a space that privileges the views towards the ocean. We achieved this by creating a 12-meter floating structure that projects to the horizon, and a balcony with breathtaking views of the Sea of Cortez that invites you to create and live in peace with nature.”

The inspiration for the decor came from the colors and textures of nature fused with a modern and minimalist feeling that allowed them to combine local artisanship with modern and functional pieces, explained Marcela. In her work with clients, as well as for her own home and studio, Marcela emphasizes quality, sourcing fine materials, commissioning unique pieces, and seeking out the most skilled craftsmen to create elegant, durable pieces that will stand the test of time.

The Animas 8 floating studio has one main floor and living area, with an option to build a second room or studio with a desert garden on the lower level. Immersed in the unique experience of Los Cabos and Baja, the Animas 8 home-studio invites you to work and live in harmony with nature. The home is located in the Animas community, an area of San Jose del Cabo known for fertile farmlands like Acre and Flora Farms. It is far enough from the city to enjoy peaceful and creative days and, at the same time, close enough to join the vibrant nightlife.

Living and working at this floating home and studio is a unique experience. It allows you to have the best of two worlds; the ocean and the desert, work and life, peace and adventure. Creating this space was a unique opportunity for Marcela and Mar Studio Design to put in practice years of knowledge and inspiration and pour it into a place they love and share.

Design: Mar Studio Design
Photography: Romana Lilic, LA76 Photography
See more of our architecture and hospitality photography here.

Animas 8 Floating Home & Studio was published on Arch Daily MX.