yinjispace

ARCHITECTURE
JDEstudio
Javier Duenas Estrada
INTERIOR
Aagnes Estudio
LANDSCAPE
Marie-Sant Illumination / Artefaux
PHOTOGRAPHY
Luis Garvan
EDITOR
Gina
Collection

Casa CO, with architecture designed by JDEstudio and interiors by Aagnes Studio, regards beauty as its highest design principle, allowing space to become a vessel for reason, spirit, and the sublime. In today’s architectural discourse, beauty is often perceived as a primitive and ineffable notion—something increasingly overlooked rather than consciously embraced. Yet in the making of Casa CO, beauty is reestablished as both the point of departure and the core of the design process. Here, beauty does not reside in surface-level sensory appeal, but in an order of existence that spans past, present, and future—shaping form, guiding proportion, and ultimately determining how space comes into being. As the most direct expression of existence itself, this beauty does not rely on visual gratification, but arises from the resonance between structure, time, and thought.

When we spoke with Aagnes Studio and JDEstudio about the origins of Casa CO, their answer was “a garden”—a site gently crossed by an ancient aqueduct and sheltered by towering trees. Before any architecture had taken form, the garden had already developed its own language, and the house was gradually awakened through an ongoing dialogue with it. Underlying this spatial narrative is the architectural vision of JDEstudio, who approached Casa CO as an exploration of beauty—not as a visual effect, but as a condition rooted in depth. In their understanding, beauty is not confined to what can be immediately perceived by the senses; it emerges from what exists before, within, and beyond form, quietly shaping architecture from the inside out.

In their early explorations, the house was at times broken down into independent volumes scattered among the shadows of the trees, and at others condensed into a single, weighty mass. Eventually, they realized that the approach most attuned to the spirit of the project was to let the house follow the rhythm of the garden—adopting a more expansive layout that allows its inhabitants to “encounter” the garden through a series of spatial moments.

The works of Aagnes Studio are often described as the “craftsmanship” of space. Yet in their view, craftsmanship does not merely refer to materials or techniques, but to a sensitive and attentive way of handling space itself. As the studio’s founder explains, “Our design process begins with listening—to the light, the materials, and the environment of the site. Everything seems to enter into dialogue with us.” It is precisely this approach that allows their work to resonate on a gentle yet profound level, unfolding like an introspective sensory journey that invites inhabitants to pause, re-feel, reflect, and immerse themselves in the space.

In terms of form, Aagnes Studio seeks to elevate design beyond decoration, transforming it into an expression of identity that exists between past and present—allowing natural textures and cultural memory to resound anew within the language of contemporary architecture. It is precisely at this intersection—between tradition and contemporaneity, the local and the global, history and the eternal—that Casa CO finds its place: a contemporary residence that not only responds to its context, but also extends it with a quiet poetic presence.

Dark wood, light marble, stucco walls, and metal recur throughout Casa CO, forming a subtle tension with light, as if inviting it to shift between different states—to be absorbed, reflected, or softened. Yet what fascinates the studio most is precisely light’s untamable nature. As Aagnes Estudio notes, “Light cannot always be choreographed. When it behaves in unexpected ways, it becomes a quiet and captivating spectacle—one that can only truly be witnessed through attention.”

In their furniture practice, Aagnes Studio emphasizes close collaboration with local artisans and workshops as an essential part of the creative process. The artisans’ skills, knowledge, and dedication are deeply respected, imbuing each piece with a palpable sense of care and craftsmanship. Every detail bears the trace of the hands behind it, and this intimate collaboration ultimately enriches the work itself—allowing it to carry both cultural resonance and refined artistry.

The house also features a number of custom-designed elements: a bookshelf, a six-meter-high steel fireplace, a travertine dining table for twelve people, and a work by a local artist positioned as a centerpiece upon entering the home. Rather than viewing these elements as individual objects, the studio understands them as part of a broader setting—one in which all custom-designed components resonate with one another, collectively telling the story of Casa CO.

When asked about their favorite moment in Casa CO, the designers always think of dawn. The first light slips gently into the garden, and the house quietly absorbs it into its travertine surfaces. Moving through the vegetation in silence, each step feels like an invitation to live in natural harmony. As time unfolds, sunlight travels along the terrace, blurring the boundary between inside and outside, while dark shou sugi ban contrasts subtly with the warmth of noble woods. By afternoon, the light softens, enveloping the family spaces in tranquility and contemplation. Bedrooms become intimate sanctuaries, where the setting sun filters through curtains, casting gentle shadows. In this space, light not only shapes atmosphere, but also allows materiality to speak softly of time, land, and memory.

When we asked Aagnes Studio what “home” means to them, they said: “Home is not merely a reflection of our inner world, but an extension of ourselves—a ‘universe’ materialized from body and emotion. It is where we place our most cherished objects, where our strongest memories are formed, and where we share space, time, meals, laughter, and tears with those we love. A home does not exist simply because it is a building; it exists because there are people within it—with individuality, dreams, and stories. Through the accumulation of these moments of life, a house is truly awakened, becoming a home that holds humanity and the warmth of everyday living.”

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