The Prismatic Chambers Of The Nautilus House

Published January 8, 2014
Updated February 27, 2024

A fine example of arquitectura orgánica, the Nautilus House in Mexico City convenes nature with modern architecture in an aesthetically pleasing way.

Looking more as though it belongs under the sea than it does in Mexico City stands an enigmatic residence that mirrors what we’ve come to call the “living fossil”. The Nautilus House was spawned from the mind of Arquitectura Orgánica architect Javier Senosiain.

Senosiain has been working in organic architecture–the seamless blending of human habitation with the natural world–for some time, drawing much inspiration from the design work of Gaudí and Frank Lloyd Wright.

Interior Of The Nautilus House

Source: Via House

Senosiain bases his architectural layouts on organic forms and natural principles, incorporating local history and traditions into the fold. Senosiain strives to create harmony with nature in his designs, which is especially evident in his Nautilus House.

In 2006, a young Mexican family with two children had grown tired of living in a conventional home and longed to dramatically reconnect with nature. Senosiain’s was the right person to call, as his creation melded modern architecture, contemporary art and notes of the natural into a home that is both visually stunning and utterly unique.

Dining Area

Source: Most Beautiful Places In The World

From the exterior, there is little doubt as to what this house resembles; the huge facsimile of a nautilus shell is easily discernible. The painted highlights ensure that the home won’t be mistaken for an onion or anything else of a similar shape. Imagine this modern work of art as a home straight out of the lost city of Atlantis.

Theater Seating In The Nautilus House

Living Room

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The curves, lighting, and colors of the interior could lead a visitor to believe that they are inhabiting a spacecraft: dozens of round, stained glass windows produce a cornucopia of color when the sun shines through, creating an other-worldly aura ripped straight from a 1960’s sci-fi film.

This, combined with the art deco mosaic style of the bathroom and the sweeping curves of the entire space, rids the Nautilus House of the possibility to ever be described as visually bland.

Nautilus House Entry

Source: Most Beautiful Places In The World

Senosiain muses that “this home’s social life flows inside the Nautilus without any division, a harmonic area in three dimensions where you can notice the continuous dynamic of the fourth dimension when moving in spiral over the stairs with a feeling of floating over the vegetation.” A surreal home deserves an equally surreal explanation!

author
Erin Kelly
author
An All That's Interesting writer since 2013, Erin Kelly focuses on historic places, natural wonders, environmental issues, and the world of science. Her work has also been featured in Smithsonian and she's designed several book covers in her career as a graphic artist.
editor
John Kuroski
editor
John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of interest include modern history and true crime.