Casa Sierra Fría, the courtyard behind the wall.

Published 4 November 2026 · WHV

Casa Sierra Fría presents a comparatively closed face to the street. Inside, the living spaces look across a planted courtyard. The two conditions can coexist because privacy and openness are assigned to different sides of the plan.

Esrawe Studio designed the house for a family of four. Look at how the glass, terrace and planting define the distance between rooms without filling it in. At another point, a stair and shelving combine circulation and everyday storage. The house is worth studying for the amount of work done by such decisions.

When judging a similar home, walk through it at the times you will use it. Notice which rooms can open, how much privacy the windows really afford and who will look after the garden as it grows.