central garden of getaway home frames mountainous mexican surroundings

a weekend home steeped in tranquility 

One hour south of Mexico City, in the town of Tepoztlán, studio Practica Arquitectura has realized a getaway retreat for city dwellers who wish for quiet and tranquil moments. Through ‘La Hacienda Jardín’, the design team sought to provide a reinterpretation of classic Mexican Haciendas, adding a modern touch, both combined into a harmonious whole. Haciendas are usually fenced by gardens, but in this case, the project does the opposite: The residence is developed around a generous garden that echoes the area’s unique topography nestled within three rock formations. 

The dwelling is conceived as a holiday residence for both the couple and their children, and in the future, it can be converted into a retirement home. Therefore, the programmatic boundaries generated at the perimeter by staple walls are blurred, allowing the inhabitants to rearrange the space depending on their needs.

La Hacienda Jardín in its immediate context

all images by César Béjar and Oscar Hernández

drawing inspiration from the area’s characteristics 

Tepoztlán is an area free from daily activities that usually become needs in a bustling city: Cell phone service is very low, electricity is unsteady and water is lacking during dry seasons. Within this context, where everything works at a slower pace, the architects opted to reflect it in the design, prioritizing what the area has to offer: Pure nature and calm.

Apart from tranquility, the architects at Practica Arquitectura sought to mirror the area’s architectural character in the design. Thus, they opted for building materials gently integrated into the immersive landscape that works as a backdrop for the garden. To achieve that, the material palette is completed with clay, wood, tile, stone, and whitewashed walls. Furthermore, drawing from the area’s hidden gems, the design team sought to incorporate a hidden charm into the design. This charm is translated into the central patio, concealed from the outside, inviting viewers to enter and discover further.

Aerial view of the project

reinterpreting the concept of the hacienda

As aforementioned, the design is inspired by the hacienda concept, with the only difference being that the design team turned the idea on its head. As a result, the house is formed around a large courtyard that becomes the diaphragm that handles the interactions and marks the public and private spaces. The roof over the courtyard frames the Tepozteco mountain, allowing a visual connection with the landscape. As for the materiality, the perimeter wall is made of Texcal volcanic stone coming in dialogue with the surrounding landscape. In contrast, Durango pine is used for the main structure and becomes the principal interior material for the beams and poles.

The inner perimeter wall consists of staples and lattices, creating a play of light and shadow and evoking different sensory experiences. Directly to the right of the entrance, one meets the secondary rooms with a view opening toward the private garden. Besides the additional rooms, the ground floor includes the kitchen, dining room, and living room. Following the passage, a series of terraces and guest bedrooms sit over the surrounding nature and usher to the main bedroom on the upper floor.

The view of the interior from the entrance offers internal paths that connect the different spaces with the garden

adding sustainable solutions 

For this project, Practica Arquitectura sought to incorporate sustainable solutions, such as solar panels for electricity, drainage with a controlled septic tank, irrigation from water catchment systems, and natural absorption wells. They also optimized natural light and ventilation in all the spaces. Finally, the vegetation provides a stable and pleasant internal microclimate.

The first aisle, to the right of the entrance, offers access to the secondary rooms and garden

The secondary garden offers an intimate experience with the landscape from the secondary bedrooms

The lattices produce plays of light and shadow during the day and at night

The corridors offer internal and external routes that produce different sensations for the inhabitants

The disconnection of the staple-shaped walls from the ceiling creates a sense of lightness. Materials create dialogues of color and texture in each space

The main room, the only space on the upper floor, serves as a privileged viewpoint to Tepozteco. The arrangement of the floor plan elements breaks the division between public and private spaces

The corridor to the main room receives a homogeneous light thanks to the pergolas that allow its entrance

The main room functions as a contemplative space with a privileged view

The final aisle has the main public spaces: kitchen, dining room, and living room, always in constant contact with the elements

project info:

name: La Hacienda Jardín
architects: Practica Arquitectura

architect in charge: David Martínez Ramos

location: Tepoztlán, Mexico
area: 700 sqm

photography: César Béjar and Oscar Hernández

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. See more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina petridou | designboom