12 May 2015

Located on the northern Mexican border, in the Maderas del Carmen biosphere reserve, Los Pilares is an area devoted to the conservation of endangered species and the reproduction of local breeds that have vanished from the region, like Bighorn sheep. The site, which covers 5000 hectares, is situated in the state of Coahuila and is linked with the Big Bend National Park, on the other side of the border in Texas. In Los Pilares stands The Cave, a facility where researchers and local experts can meet and exchange information and ideas, in a spectacular mountainous setting. It is a villa designed by the Mexican studio Greenfield, built using the methods and standards of vernacular architecture and located in an unspoiled environment, adopting its characteristics: the materials, colors and textures allude directly to the nature of the place. The Cave has basic volumes that, as its name suggests, evoke the geometries of a cavern, and is constructed with recycled materials typical of the region, such as river rocks, pinewood, rammed earth and concrete. Partially buried in the ground, the structure has an L-shaped plan and is made up of ample living spaces, with glass doors that stretch from floor to ceiling and face onto the panoramic terrace. A small kitchen and a barbecue area, separated from the bathroom by a corridor, have been installed in the southwest wing of the building, while a winding passageway leads to an underground wine cellar. The Cave has no sleeping areas.