Casa J at Chachalaka... noteworthy architecture in paradise

Casa J at Chachalaka is a surprising house in a remote yet accessible area on the Costalegre of Jalisco Mexico. The contemporary and minimalist design is getting a lot of attention for it's architecture. I designed this house to be a surprise and unexpected in this special place. It is truly a hideaway with style, sitting on six acres of park like setting on the ocean.

a view of paradise... Chachalaka in the morning

This is what I call paradise in the morning. This is Casa J at Chachalaka. Sun rising and first rays shining on the terrace and pool. Light and shadow playing on the architecture. And, of course a refreshing dip in the pool that sits at the edge of the beach overlooking the ocean. It does not get better than this.

When less is more

There is an old saying in the design world that could to apply to a broad range of things today. Less is more. It is a way of getting to the point. A visual point. An experience point. A talking point. A message point.

Less is harder, because it requires the ability to edit and refine and be clear about what you present or create, not a something for everyone approach, but execution with great care and skill, and focus.

I am going to stay with design on this, because it is what I do. I was inspired to write this because an architect friend has labeled me minimalist. It is reflected in my Chachalaka project, and the house I designed and built in Mexico.

I was not always minimalist, I did not understand the power of its simplicity.  It takes maturity, and a level of personal experience to reach a point, of just getting what simple is about – a point when you can execute something extremely complex with a simple broad stroke.

A single impactful experience leaves so much more, than a cluster of random distractions.

summer is ending... winter nights at Chachalaka are amazing!

Impossible starry skies and the sound of the surf on a warm winter evening... part of the Chachalaka experience. Indoors and outdoors are seamlessly blended together in the living areas at Casa J.

Chachalaka... as exceptionally refined, as it is secluded

Chachalaka is a place for those who really want to escape and catch up with themselves. It is one of those hard to reach special places that is as exceptionally refined, as it is secluded. A singular opportunity to get off the grid and get in touch with nature, without compromising style or comfort. View chachalaka.com to learn more.

a favorite photo of Casa J from the beach

This is one of our favorite photos of Casa J. It is from the beach at Chachalaka. The architecture and colors compliment the surroundings in all the seasons. A truly spectacular setting.

Escape from the crowds... the allure of Jalisco's south coast

The Pacific Coast of Mexico along the state of Jalisco, is a richly diverse coastline with large and small bays – beaches, and a variety of sparsely populated communities between the larger towns and cities. Cabo Corrientes just south of Puerto Vallarta is where the Costalegre actually begins. Costalegre means “happy coast”, and it is indeed that. It will put a smile on your face when you see some of the remote and pristine beaches it has to offer. There are isolated little coves of sand and grand expanses of beach that stretch for as far as the eye can see. There is a diversity of flora and fauna that ranges from tropical to dry and arid, and high bank oceanfront with rocky cliffs at waters edge, to flat almost dune-like no bank beachfront. There are lagoons that form where rivers outlet against the beach and find a place to break through to the ocean during the rainy season. Birds of many varieties populate the coast, and some are unique to only this area of Mexico. Marine life is still abundant off the coast from Cabo Corrientes and to the south of Jalisco. Much of this remote area is also home to nesting sea turtles that return annually to lay their eggs on the beaches.

All of this is why this area is so special and why it appeals to those who want to escape the usual convenient tourist destinations. Imagine sitting on a beach that seems to go forever, watching the sunset into the ocean, and no one else is around. Perhaps a morning walk, as the first rays of sun warm the sand under your feet. Add a little creature comfort. Perhaps some fresh fish for lunch or dinner, maybe something that you caught. Find a setting with the ambiance that suits your style, and you might not want to go back to whatever you do in real world time. When you do, you will feel refreshed, inspired, and probably planning your return.

Access to some of the best is just now improving with the surfacing of what once was a seasonal dirt road from the town of El Tuito to the Mayto area. The Mayto area affords access to beaches to the north of Cabo Corrientes as well as south to Tehuamixtle and Villa del Mar and beyond to La Cruz de Loreto.

At Chachalaka we are fortunate to have one of the best beaches at our doorstep.

time to talk about the architecture of Casa J

It was a busy year finishing details, designing furniture, and furnishing Casa J. In the new year, it is time to talk about Casa J and the architecture. The first question or comment from visitors... when will it be in a publication? I will be working on that. In the meantime, the vision for Chachalaka has come into focus for those who have been following along with me on this journey.