墨西哥圆形湖边俱乐部，木石交融的自然之美

Cross-laminated timber and volcanic stone were used to form a round building along a lake that was designed by Mexican studio Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos.

The Valle San Nicolás Clubhouse is located on the outskirts of Valle de Bravo, about two hours from Mexico City.

The lakeside clubhouse is doughnut-shaped

Set on a 385-hectare residential development, along a lake with an 800-metre waterski run, the building holds a range of spaces for relaxing and socialising.

Designed by Mexico City's Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, the 1,800-square-metre clubhouse was designed to provide views and work in harmony with the landscape.

A sunken, brick passageway traverses the interior pond

"The natural conditions of Valle San Nicolás were explored to better understand how the two most prominent natural elements – the mountains and the lake – could converge and relate to each other through a work of architecture," said the architecture studio.

The building takes cues from an anchored boat and is meant to look like it is floating on water.

Social areas are split between the two wings

Circular in plan, the building has a cut-out centre that is filled with water. A sunken, brick passageway traverses the pond and splits the clubhouse into two wings.

The west wing holds a gym, jacuzzi, steam room and "spa cabins" while the east wing encompasses a bar, kitchen, barbecue spot and dining area.

Visitors can enjoy views of the landscape

"Two rings, one inner and one outer, serve as open corridors to move around the building and enjoy near-360-degree-views of the landscape," the architect said.

The building also has a pier-shaped extension, which has a sunbathing area and a swimming lane.

Made of cross-laminated timber, the clubhouse features exposed beams and columns with short spans. Their radial distribution follows the building's circular form.

"Stone walls housed in wooden frames serve to anchor the volume in the lake," the team added.

A pier-shaped extension offers a sunbathing area and a swimming lane

Finishes include volcanic stone, American red oak and sustainable wood decking from Kebony, a Norwegian company.

The company uses a special technology in which softwoods are heated with furfuryl alcohol, an agricultural by-product, to form a material that is similar to tropical hardwoods, but less harmful to the environment.

Cross-laminated timber and volcanic stone clad the building

Other projects by Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos include a sprawling resort in Los Cabos that consists of staggered buildings and terraces and a Mexico City apartment complex that has black porcelain walls and huge windows.

The photography is by Rafael Gamo.

Project credits:

Architect: Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos

Firm leadership: Javier Sordo Madaleno Bringas (president), Javier Sordo Madaleno de Haro and Fernando Sordo Madaleno de Haro (directors), Boris Pena (project leader)

Project team: Luis Pucheta, Santiago Letona and Alba Díaz (design managers), Andrés Burguete, Ignacio Cabrera, José Mendoza, Luis de la Torre, Marco Pérez, Federico Serna

Interior design team: Fernanda Patiño (director), Delfina Espina, Regina Jarque

Engineering coordination: Marcos Hernández Engineering team: José Eduardo Hernández

Media: Rosalba Rojas, Daniela Cruz, Vanessa Gutiérrez

Developer: Grupo Terraforma

Structural engineering: Metal y Madera and Alba Estructural

Electrical, hydrosanitary and systems engineering: Imati

Lighting consultant: Artec3

Audio and video consultant: Solutions Audio & Video

Lanscape consultant: Jerónimo Gabayet, Concepto Q, Entorno Taller de Paisaje

Construction: TUCA, Metal y Madera

Construction coordination: Terraforma, GJA