Casa Copycha

Facing the Pacific on the Oaxacan coast, this five-bedroom residence by Mexican studio Anonimous borrows from the haciendas and monasteries of Mexico and opens them up to the sea. The result, featured in Wallpaper*, feels both rooted and contemporary. Thick walls give way to open courtyards. The ocean is always in view.

At the heart of the house sits a vast palapa of parota wood and palm, built by Oaxacan craftsmen. It’s where most of the day happens. The living and dining areas gather beneath it, facing the water, while exposed concrete, timber and natural materials give the rest of the house its quiet weight. Interior patios, gardens and a reflecting pool break the plan into a series of distinct spaces, each with its own light and mood.

The fully equipped kitchen looks straight out to the ocean. A few steps away, the infinity pool runs towards the beach and the horizon beyond it. Light, breeze and the sound of the waves carry through the house from morning to evening, so the sea never feels far from any room.

The five bedrooms work well for families and groups of friends travelling together. Three have king beds and sea views. The other two face the garden, each with two full beds and two twin beds, which makes them easy to give to children or to friends happy to share. A house staff takes care of meals and the day-to-day running of the house throughout the stay.

The layout gives the house a good balance. There’s plenty of room to come together under the palapa, by the pool or out on the terraces, and there are quieter corners when someone wants a bit of privacy. It’s a house made for long days by the water and unhurried evenings on the Oaxacan coast.