Casa Cal

Designed by José Alfonso Quiñones of Mexico City's BAAQ’ studio, this 6-bedroom villa contrasts austere, minimal facades with traditional carved latticework and palapa roofing. Casa Cal’s design is purely functional, yet the results of this cold logic are extraordinary, creating a space that intelligently responds to its environment filled with intriguing details.

The Design

José Alfonso Quiñones’ approach to designing Casa Cal was purely pragmatic, which is part of what makes its beauty so remarkable. The villa was erected on the foundations of an abandoned project, which placed interesting limitations on its shape, size, and location. 

For instance, the plot is set back from the beach; to maximize the vistas, Quiñones flipped the traditional layout, placing the living areas upstairs and bedrooms below. This captured stunning ocean views and prompted some fascinating design choices. The standout example is the elevated concrete pool, whose dramatic cubic sides and sculptural ladder are the property’s defining features. 

Meanwhile, the architect’s response to the environment created a distinct division in the home’s layout. One side opens up completely to the ocean, while the other is a simple white wall with lattice-style openings. These openings let the breeze flow while providing complete privacy. 

Read about Casa Cal in Architectural Digest, Ignant, and the Architecture Masterprize.

The Space

Casa Cal is a 6-bedroom villa that can accommodate up to 12 people. Five of the bedrooms are doubles, and one is a twin. Each of the 5 first-floor bedrooms is accessible via the interior courtyard, while the upstairs bedroom directly joins onto the pool area. Every bedroom has an ensuite bathroom. 

The home’s second-floor communal area takes full advantage of the views while keeping the bedrooms cool. The spacious living and dining area is situated under a shady palapa in front of the infinity pool, whose ladder connects down to private beach access. The property comes with WiFi, a daily cleaning service, and a private chef for an extra cost. 

Bedroom layout:

• Bedroom 1: King bed
• Bedroom 2: King bed
• Bedroom: 3: King bed
• Bedroom 4: 2 Single beds
• Bedroom 5: 1 King bed, 1 sofa bed
• Bedroom 6: 1 King bed, 1 sofa bed

The Neighborhood

Casa Cal is in the small coastal community of Santa Elena El Tule, a town 45 minutes from Puerto Escondido Airport (PXM) and the downtown area. The same distance in the other direction is Mazunte, a bohemian enclave where you can find a few restaurants, small shops, and a yoga studio or two. Casa Cal is a place to completely disconnect—so if you do get the urge to explore, we suggest renting a car upon arriving in Puerto Escondido. 

Casa Cal is fully staffed, cleaning is included. Chef available for an extra fee. There is no AC. Property includes fans in every room! 

‍