THE RIGHT ANGLE

A MODERN HOME IN SAN PANCHO, MEXICO, IS INSPIRED BY THE BUILDINGS OF LE CORBUSIER.

- NANCY A. RUHLING

On a narrow thread-the-needle dirt road outside the Mexican fishing village of San Pancho, a Los Angeles couple built a Pacific Ocean oasis where they retreat to recharge and to entertain family and friends.

The place is paradise, an international haven where artists, musicians, and chefs live a simple and luxurious life at one with nature.

The 14,000-square-foot exposed-concrete house, an ode to the angles of geometry, is a standout contemporary interpretation of Mexican Brutalism designed by architect Raul Velazquez, the founder of RVO Studio, which is based Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.

Velazquez, whose work is inspired by the buildings of Le Corbusier, sees "a powerful link" between the iconic architect and the local Mexican techniques, specifically the use of raw concrete.

"The house is one of a kind," he says, adding that he's been working in the style during the course of his 20-year career.