Fernanda Canales designs a house for wraparound views
House 720 Degrees by Fernanda Canales stands in a secluded valley three hours from Mexico City. The project approaches dwelling as a calibrated relationship within the landscape as the design takes form as a geometric and optical device which extends a 360-degree span into a doubled circuit.
From a central patio, the house establishes a continuous exchange between interior and exterior conditions. It works like a solar clock, tracking time through ever-shifting sunlight and shadow. The home frames distant mountains and a volcano during the day and turns its attention inward after sunset around a circular courtyard. This dual orientation gives the house multiple identities across a single day.
image © Rafael Gamo
a dwelling in three parts
With her House 720 Degrees, architect Fernanda Canales brings together three distinct volumes that respond to the site’s pronounced topography. A main circular house anchors the composition, accompanied by a detached studio or guest room and a rectangular block organized around its own patio. This separation preserves existing vegetation and allows each volume to settle into the land with minimal disturbance.
Designed for two families, the complex supports shared use while maintaining autonomy. Spaces for guests sit slightly apart, connected by exterior paths that follow the slope. Movement between volumes becomes an outdoor experience which reinforces awareness of the weather and the earth.
image © Camila Cossio
inside the circular ‘house 720 degrees’
House 720 Degrees spans two levels, with living spaces on the ground and an open roof terrace above. The circular plan fits rectangular bedrooms, bathrooms, closets, and the kitchen, while curved walls remain free for circulation. These arcs extend outward as terraces toward the courtyard and as gardens along the exterior edge.
Large fold-away windows, privacy screens, and framed views allow breezy rooms to extend outward toward the scenic site. This way, interior spaces maintain direct contact with the environment, easily adjusting to the season and time of day.
image © Camila Cossio
Set within a valley marked by intense temperature swings and long rainy seasons, the house balances shelter with exposure. Thick walls act as membranes between forest and prairie, dry and wet periods, and spatial conditions that move from center to interior to open air. With this layered approach, the architect moderates climate while preserving a strong connection to the surrounding landscape.
Materials are sourced directly from the site. Local soil mixed with concrete gives the walls a finish that reflects the color and texture of the land. A low, single-level profile allows the building to settle into the earth. Lamps and furniture produced on-site draw on regional craft.
image © Rafael Gamo
House 720 Degrees operates off-grid, harvesting rainwater and generating electricity through solar panels. The same system heats water throughout the house, while hydronic radiant floors serve the bedrooms. Cross-ventilation reaches every room, with openings oriented toward multiple directions to support airflow and comfort.
Durability guided material choices, supporting straightforward and economical upkeep. Surfaces withstand weather without paint or applied cladding, allowing the structure to age alongside its surroundings. As seasons pass, subtle shifts in color and texture register time, reinforcing the house as an active participant in its environment rather than a fixed object.
image © Rafael Gamo
image © Rafael Gamo
image © Rafael Gamo
image © Camila Cossio
project info:
name: House 720 Degrees
architect: Fernanda Canales | @fernandacanales_arquitectura
location: La Reserva Peñitas, Valle de Bravo, Mexico
area: 1,115 square meters (12,000 square feet)
completion: 2024
photography: © Rafael Gamo | @rafaelgamo © Camila Cossio | @_camilacossio
architect of record: Fernanda Canales
team: Aarón Jassiel, Alberto García Valladares, Ángela Vizcarra
interior design: Camilla Pallares
structural engineer: Gerson Huerta – Grupo Sai
sanitary, electrical installations: Carlos Medina – Grupo MEB
carpentry: Óscar Nieto
lighting: Lucas Salas
general contractor: Felipe Nieto
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