On a hilly site near Mexico City, architect Javier Senosiain has created a remarkable home inspired by the shape of a peanut. When it was completed in 1984, the 1,873-square-foot Organic House was ahead of its time. Senosiain designed the unique home to seamlessly integrate with the natural landscape: “The green dune wraps itself around the inside spaces almost completely, rendering it almost invisible so that, from the outside, all one sees are grass, bushes, trees, and flowers.”

“To take a walk in the garden is to walk over the roof of the house itself without even realizing it,” says Senosiain. The Mexican architect is well known for his organic architecture – to date, he has built houses inspired by the shape of a snake, a shark, a flower, and a mushroom. Modeled after the shape of a peanut shell, the house is composed of two cavernous oval spaces connected by a narrow passageway. One chamber contains the private areas, which are used mainly at night, while the brighter chamber contains the social areas.
Although the interior of the house feels like an underground cave, it’s connected with the lush landscape by a large window.

Taking into consideration the impact of bioclimatic conditions on inhabitants’ physical and psychological well-being, Senosiain used trees and bushes to create green barriers that filter harsh sunlight, keep the interiors cool, and protect t...