Calle Acacias

Tlaltenango, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico

Anfitrión is Spanish for Host. Closeup of window in staircase tower.

The house of the homestay hosts is very nice, I can not ask for more. It is architecturally interesting, has 2 levels built into a steep hillside, with a sunken atrium in the front and a garden in the back. The rooms (cuartos), hallways (pasillo) and even the staircase (escaleras) are spacious. The house is modern and comfortable, well maintained and clean.

The host family is very welcoming and easy-going, and my private room comes with a private bathroom and access to the terrace. I leave my door open so I can hear the family interacting, and I feel less homesick.

El gato, Tato. Family cat, Tato.

Frente de Casa y Atrium Baja - Front of House and Sunken Atrium
The house is on a private street, or calle privado, that is shared with three other houses. The four plots of land, or terrenos, all belong to related cousins, pertenecen a primeros.

There are two entry ways, one on each floor.
The upper entrance is rectangular, and the lower one is arched.
On top of the stone round tower is a cupola. The metal railing (shown at foreground) is for concrete stairs that lead to a ...

Sunken atrium that takes advantage of the hillside plot

Atrium - wall of plants framed by floating staircase

Grooves cut into concrete steps provide
drainage away from area under foot

Torre de Escaleras Flotantes - Tower with Floating Stairs
Inside the circular stone tower is a spiraling staircase. The stairs are made of reinforced concrete steps that are securely connected into the stone wall, yet appear to be floating in space.

I like how the wide stairwell is an integral part of the house, spaciously connecting the top floor and bottom floor, or planta alta y planta baja. The design gives a feeling of integration between the two levels rather than a separated feeling.

Upper level hallway and Stairwell with cupola skylight

Wide spiral staircase. Lack of railing provides an aesthetic flow.

There are three stained-glass windows embedded into the thick stone wall, providing natural light and each with sill for a potted plant. The stained-glass and concrete design is contemporary, and the rough stone wall is natural. I really like the combination.