Saint Peter House: A Testament to Participatory Design

Angel Valerio and Diego Vilatela's Award-Winning Architectural Marvel

The Saint Peter House is not just a residence, but a living, breathing example of the philosophy of participatory design. The house is conceived from bricks, a material widely used in the San Pedro Cholula region in an ancestral way. The design process was a collaboration between workers, architects, and the client, resulting in a house of high sophistication achieved through plasticity.

The uniqueness of the Saint Peter House lies in its skin, which accommodates bricks in three formats: double wall, lattice, and spike. These formats are distributed functionally to close, gain natural light, or ventilate the interior spaces. Sometimes, the bricks form windows in openings, and at other times, they form a double semi-solid facade between the brick wall and glass, ensuring privacy and safety.

Every element of the Saint Peter House is a testament to local craftsmanship. The bricks are handmade, and various artifacts are manufactured from different materials by local artisans. For instance, the sinks are inspired by metate, a pre-Hispanic material of volcanic origin and high resistance, made by artisan women. Even the metal lighting fixtures and switches are manufactured by local blacksmiths and turners from an exclusive design.

The house is designed with the possibility of progression in mind, allowing the client to build and explore other materials, textures, or colors in the composition of future architecture. This design factor is one of the most relevant, arising from the possibility of housing growth in the medium or long term. The structure and facilities are prepared to accommodate other spaces as the family grows or its purchasing power increases.

Despite the challenges posed by the adverse climate of Cholula, located more than 2000 meters above sea level, close to the tropic of cancer and approximately 50 km from the crater of the active volcano Popocatepetl, the house is architecturally designed to respond adequately without the need for high maintenance over time. This resilience is a testament to the architectural prowess of Angel Valerio and Diego Vilatela.

The Saint Peter House is not just an architectural marvel, but also an award-winning design. It was awarded Silver in A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2023, a testament to its top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable design that illustrates outstanding expertise and innovation. The design is admired for its strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill, showcasing a remarkable level of excellence and introducing positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.