Modernist Home: Artisanal Construction With Contemporary Architecture

Above the shoreline of Lake Atitlán in central Guatemala, however, a unique architectural design immediately catches the eye. Susan Marie Tabush, along with her husband Daniel Galvez Tabush and her son Sergio Galvez Thompson, offers an example of how contemporary construction techniques and modernist design can create a functional, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing home. 

Designing for Beauty and Functionality

Daniel and Sergio are architects. They work together at their Guatemalan-based architectural studio Estudio Creativo. Their work focuses on the “sensory community between the designed space, the client and the user.” 

In 2010, they began work on what was initially intended to be a vacation home for their family. As the design process progressed, the beautiful plot of land on the south shore of Lake Atitlán eventually came to house three separate living spaces surrounded by beautiful gardens landscaped with native plants. 

According to Daniel, the property is now home to “a series of houses that combine historic artisanal construction with contemporary architecture design. These houses are made of concrete, local carved stone, wood, and local furniture textiles; they are among the first to be completely handmade in this region.” 

Due to challenges that came with building in a somewhat remote part of the Lake Atitlán region, the family decided to construct the buildings on-site without prefab building materials. The local contractor who worked with the Stabush family stated that “We are thrilled to be part of this construction because it’s the first house that we build on-site without using prefabricated blocks.” 

Prefab homes do offer some sustainability benefits, especially in the North American housing market. In rural Guatemala, however, the Stabush family wanted to involve the local community. Through building on-site, they were able to employ more local workers and maintain their investment within the community. 

Local, Yet Modern

The three towering volcanoes surrounding Lake Atitlan, have contributed to the area’s geology and topography over the eons. Volcanic rock is prominent. The Stabush family wanted to incorporate this beautiful rock as part of the construction. 

The intention was to create “invisible architecture,” Sergio says. “These houses blend with the environment thanks to the use of materials in their natural state. This approach forces us to interact with the local landscape at all times.” From the native landscaping around the homes to the structures’ open-plan interiors with abundant views to the outdoors, the overall design process focused on blending environment, architecture, and livability to create a holistic experience. 

“The architecture of the houses utilizes artisanal construction along with modern design and construction processes,” Daniel adds. “This constitutes a concept of invisible architecture that sought to affect the terrain and the natural environment as little as possible.” The use of raw building materials such as concrete, stone, and wood gives the homes a natural aesthetic while blending contemporary design with regional modernist aesthetics. 

When pouring the concrete for the walls, wooden forms were used. Instead of adding a final plaster layer, Sergio and Daniel decided to leave the wood grain impregnated on the molten concrete. This “unfinished” aesthetic adds a touch of natural beauty to the modernist construction.