Young Singaporean migrates to Mexico, builds Instagram-worthy house on extinct volcano

Three years ago, way before anyone knew what would be in store in 2020, Singaporean writer and photographer Prashant Ashoka bought a one-way ticket to Mexico.

Then 28, the avid traveller left Singapore with just two suitcases of his belongings and moved into a small rented apartment in Mexico City, wanting to go on a completely new adventure and risking it all to build a new life for himself. 

By the time he was featured in The Straits Times in 2018, he had already spent 10 months in the Latin American country, making a living by freelancing for lifestyle publications. It was also revealed that he was in the midst of designing and building a house in the mountainous regions of Bajio in central Mexico. 

On Monday (Sept 28), Prashant showcased the results of his architectural project — a sustainably-built house he dubbed Casa Etérea. And according to pictures he shared in a Facebook post, it is gorgeous. 

[embed]https://www.facebook.com/prashant.ashoka/posts/10158268088087326[/embed]

“Alluding to this quality of the building, the name ‘Etérea’ translates from Spanish to ‘ethereal’, and suggests a nebulous, otherworldly vision,” he wrote. “Both visually and functionally, the project touches on architecture as site-specific installation art and as an extension of the environment.”

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Despite having no background in architecture or design, Prashant conceptualised and managed the entire construction of Casa Etérea on his own. It was built in the style of a mirror house, a mirror-encased structure that blends into nature and reflects the surroundings without having the potential to hurt flying birds thanks to a special ultraviolet coating on the glass that’s visible to birds. 

[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/CBiuhwiHoIL/[/embed]

He added that it’s meant to be an off-grid hideaway fit for two as the house — built on the slopes of extinct volcano Palo Huérfano — draws all power from solar energy and the water supply is from collected rainwater. Now that the 75-square metre house is fully furnished, Prashant has put up Casa Etérea for rent on Airbnb at $338 a night.

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Already, the dwelling has been featured on the cover of Architectural Digest Mexico. 

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”The central idea was to build a space in nature that would stir a sense of wonder and encourage dreaming,” he wrote.  “A secluded hideaway that would hopefully be a place of reflection and metamorphosis for those who stay.”

ilyas@asiaone.com