A studio based in Guadalajara, the capital city of Jalisco, Mexico, Aagnes’ body of work revolves around the interplay between opposites – traditional and contemporary, local and global – all of which relate to a strong awareness of place. Casa Cedros, located in the town of Tapalpa, encompasses this ethos by engaging with and respecting the land on which it is built, ultimately carving out a space for reflection and recess in nature.

The motif of timber in Casa Cedros elevates the experience of being in the forests of the Jalisco region.The home features oak floors, cedar joinery and walls made from local stone.Jalisco, the birthplace of tequila, and home to Mexico’s second-largest city is also known for its quiet regional towns – some by the beach, others in the forest-covered mountains. Tapalpa, in the southern mountains, is surrounded by the iconic cedar and pine trees of the region, making it the perfect destination for a ‘cabin in the woods’. 

The motif of timber in Casa Cedros elevates the experience of being in the forest, Aagnes creative director Omar Godínez explains, while each individual piece – each material composition – makes some kind of tribute to the long-lasting traditions of the nearby communities; traditions that survive thanks to the respect for craftsmanship.

The evocative living space is complete with contrasting textures – timber, leather, linen, marble – and a bold chequered rug.The work of local artists is dotted around the cabin.Rough wooden objects are paired with sculptural copper pieces, while structured marble tables meet soft basketry. Some of these pieces hail from the nearby towns of Michoacán and Tequisquiapan.