The house is organized around a central courtyard that works as the building’s lung. Walls of rammed earth, made from soil excavated on site, absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night. Deep verandas and a planted courtyard shade the glazing and cool the air before it enters the rooms.

The result is a home that stays several degrees cooler than its surroundings with only ceiling fans for most of the year. Inside, the earth walls give each room a soft, mineral warmth that photographs never quite capture.