Casita de Campo

Casita de Campo is a love letter to my roots, to el barrio of Barrazas where I grew up, and to the layered artistry of Puerto Rico. Designed as a speculative residential retreat for my father, this project merges personal memory with cultural homage, blending the essence of the Puerto Rican countryside with a contemporary lens.

Inspired by the works of iconic Puerto Rican artists: Myrna Báez, Miguel Pou, Rafael Tufiño, Ramón Frade, and Rogelio Báez Vega, the project translates their visual narratives into an architectural language. The resulting design integrates painted textures and collaged landscapes as backdrops, evoking the verdant hills of Carolina and grounding the casita in its natural and cultural context.

Drawing from biotropical design principles, the Casita de Campo incorporates breezeblocks, vernacular tiling, and material construction techniques authentic to the jíbaro aesthetic. It also hybridizes the interior patio with the balcony, a design gesture that not only fosters natural ventilation and thermodynamic comfort but also dissolves the boundaries between inside and outside, creating a seamless relationship with the Caribbean landscape.

The project represents both a speculative exercise and a deeply personal narrative: a built reflection of memory, art, and place. As an Architect in Training, I spearheaded conceptual design development, architectural drawings, and design articulation, crafting a vision that embodies both personal storytelling and cultural specificity.