Home Design
288 posts on home design.
Concrete Homes in Mexico: Why Houses in the Riviera Maya Are Built with Reinforced Concrete
Learn why houses in Mexico and the Riviera Maya are built with reinforced concrete, including hurricane resistance, humidity protection, termite resistance, energy…
· Read →Why Architects Love Designing Homes in the Riviera Maya — And What That Means for You
Descubre por qué los arquitectos prefieren diseñar en Playa del Carmen, Cancún y Tulum — y cómo eso te beneficia al construir una casa personalizada en la Riviera Maya.
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How to Build a House in Mexico as a Foreigner (Step-by-Step Guide)
Learn what permits are required to build a house in Mexico, including the Licencia de Construcción, zoning verification, architectural plans, engineering approvals,…
· Read →Is hempcrete considered environmentally better than standard concrete?
Hempcrete vs concrete on the environment: hemp is carbonnegative while growing, but concrete's durability and hurricane performance still winout.
· Read →Are there earth-home or alternative-building specialists worth knowing about?
Alternative building specialists worth knowing: Tierra Viva, theCal-Earth Institute, Earthbag Building, The Mud Home and Build With Rise.
· Read →Could sargassum bricks actually solve two problems at once?
Sargassum bricks' benefits are real but narrow: they cut beachwaste and insulate, yet stay non-structural and unproven at residential scale.
· Read →What exactly is a sargassum brick, and how are they made?
A sargassum brick blends dried Caribbean seaweed with lime, clayor cement binder, pressed into molds and cured into lightweight building blocks.
· Read →Is hempcrete structural, or is it just insulation?
Hempcrete isn't structural. It's an insulating infill that pairs with aconcrete, steel or wood frame, which still carries every load in the house.
· Read →What is hempcrete, and is it actually used here yet?
Hempcrete is a bio-composite of hemp hurd, lime and water. It'sstill new to Mexican residential construction, but architects are watching closely.
· Read →Do thermal windows actually lower my air conditioning bill?
Thermal windows lower AC bills by cutting heat gain, and theywork best paired with shaded terraces, roof overhangs and cross-ventilation design.
· Read →Why do dramatic window shapes and glass walls cost so much less here than in colderclimates?
The cost of custom window shapes drops in concrete construction:no wood-framing limits, no cold-climate glazing premium, and lower local labor.
· Read →Can thicker glass actually reduce outside noise?
Thicker glass does reduce noise: double-pane helps, but laminatedsystems deliver the biggest drop, which is why homes near traffic specify them.
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