Alumni Cathi and Steven House Publish Book "San Miguel de Allende: the Soul of Mexico"

College of Architecture alumni, Cathi and Steven House, are excited to announce the publication of their newest book, “San Miguel de Allende: the soul of Mexico”.  It is an expression of love from them to a town and the people who inhabit it, a place that captured their hearts, that they have come to love deeply and are so grateful to have found.

“It is impossible to know when the next moment might change your life forever.”  In 1975 as young architects having recently graduated from Virginia Tech, Cathi and Steven House chose to take a year off to explore Europe, to see for themselves the great architecture they learned of in history of architecture class.  During that remarkable journey they went to the Greek island of Santorini thinking they would stay for a couple of weeks - but ended up living there for six months.  There they discovered indigenous architecture, created by the inhabitants from local materials, architecture that fit the land and the seasons, that was respectful of neighbors and scale, that wrapped around the inhabitants with care, celebrating their lives and traditions - and they felt a connection.  They arrived as open-minded young architects and left with a vision of what architecture can and should be.  That first trip set a course for their lives that they could not have imagined.

A few years after that first trip, they created an extensive exhibition that premiered at the AIASF Galley in San Francisco entitled, “Mediterranean Villages: an architectural journey”, which later became a major book, documenting their experiences in Italy, Greece, Dalmatia and Spain with drawings, photographs, paintings and maps as well as personal reflections on their extraordinary journey.  It was in these indigenous villages where they learned that light, form and movement can go beyond mere beauty to move our souls. 

Greek vernacular architecture introduced them to a different view of how architecture can mold culture and behavior in powerful ways.  Opening their architecture firm, House + House Architects, in San Francisco in 1982, Cathi and Steven have taken two months each year to travel the world through more than 65 countries continuing their studies that began in Greece - studies that guide their architecture and their lives.  Their previous books include “Mediterranean Villages: an architectural journey”, “Choreographing Space”, “Villages of West Africa: an intimate journey across time” and “Houses in the Sun: light movement embrace”.

In 1988 a seemingly orchestrated series of events led Cathi and Steven to the Mexican town of San Miguel de Allende located high in the Sierra Madre mountains.  After several amazing visits to San Miguel, they bought a small ruin in the historic center and built a home, designed to be a retreat, an escape from their normal lives to a place they love where they are surrounded by their own art and books, where they could work on projects not distracted by the world normally embracing them.  Building their award-winning home led many clients to them and they have now designed more than 45 homes in Mexico.  Working there has added deep, profound dimensions they never imagined - to their work and to their lives.  Fifteen years ago Cathi and Steven created CASA - The Center for Architecture Sustainability + Art, a summer study abroad program based in San Miguel de Allende for Virginia Tech architecture students.  It gives students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves into the architecture, culture, art and history of Mexico, with a focused attention on their personal goals and a perspective on their lives as creative individuals. 

“San Miguel de Allende: the soul of Mexico,” with over 700 evocative photographs, flourishes of poetry and an insightful foreword by noted writer, Tony Cohan, illuminates the remarkable beauty of the people, the markets, the art, colorful textiles, and it’s beautiful architecture.  This stunning 9-inch square, 224 page coffee-table book is a photographic journey through the history, culture and day-to-day beauty of life in San Miguel de Allende.  A magnificently preserved 480-year-old Spanish Colonial city, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008, San Miguel is considered by many to be one of the most picturesque towns in the world.  Sitting at an elevation of 6,400 feet on a vast plateau in the Sierra Madre mountains, San Miguel is enveloped by luminous skies, richly colored walls, lush gardens, bustling markets, joyous festivals, an extraordinary array of galleries, exquisite shops and performances by world-renowned musicians and dance troupes - that all add to the richness of life in San Miguel. 

“The essence of one of the loveliest cities in Mexico is presented full of poetry, charm and beauty... because San Miguel is a jewel and colonial reliquary recognized throughout the world.”  Laura Obregón Baranda, Poet Laureate of Mexico

"Life is a journey – through places and relationships – with ourselves and with each other.  Opening ourselves to other cultures with respect and understanding of our different histories, lives and hopes has been our greatest joy, experiences for which we are eternally grateful.” Cathi House  

Their new book is available from local bookstores or on many internet sites including Schiffer Publishing and Amazon.  Or, if you would like an autographed copy of this new book, please send Steven an email request to: steven@houseandhouse.com and you can buy it directly from them. 

Please see a link to short video of their recent AIASF book reception that one of their former Virginia Tech CASA Architecture students, Michael Folta, produced https://vimeo.com/963963378