2022
MCHAP
La Hacienda Jardín
Práctica Arquitectura
Tepoztlán, Morelos, Mexico
July 2021
AUTOR PRINCIPAL
David Martínez Ramos (Architect)
AUTOR CONTRIBUYENTE
José Flores Buzo (Design Team), Eduardo Sosa (Design Team), Andrés Dillon (Design Team), David Martínez (Landscape), David Martínez (Lighting Design
CLIENTE
Erick Sánchez García
FOTÓGRAFO
César Béjar
OBJETIVO
The architectural design of La Hacienda Jardín is articulated through two main elements: the central courtyard and the surrounding volume, maintaining a continuous connection. The entrance, strategically placed at the corner, gracefully integrates the building into its surroundings, guiding the transition from outside to inside. The perimeter wall's distribution and ground plan layout, with walls shaped like staples and lattices, create intriguing light and shadow effects, enhancing the sense of lightness as they detach from the roof, while pergolas ensure a softly lit interior.
The design thoughtfully directs internal movement, offering varying sensory experiences. Near the entrance, secondary rooms face a private garden, contrasting with the central garden's openness. This pathway leads to terraces and communal spaces that gradually transition to the primary room upstairs, emphasizing contemplation of La Hacienda Jardín and El Tepozteco. The ground floor also houses semi-private spaces, including the kitchen, dining, and living rooms, designed to harmonize the home's various components.
Sustainability is integral to the home's design, incorporating both active and passive strategies. Active solutions include solar panels for electricity, heaters, and a sustainable drainage system with a controlled septic tank, alongside water catchment and natural absorption wells for irrigation. Passive measures focus on optimizing natural light and ventilation, supported by vegetation to sustain a comfortable microclimate. Together, these elements underscore the home's commitment to environmental harmony and energy efficiency, contributing to a holistic and sustainable living environment.
CONTEXTO
Just one hour south of Mexico City, the town of Tepoztlán is located within a valley with a pleasant, temperate climate and nestled within three rock formations, including El Tepozteco. These geographic and climatic conditions produce constant and abundant vegetation; it brims with a diversity of flora. With a population of a little more than 35,000 inhabitants, it is a quiet weekend escape for city dwellers and a peaceful retirement oasis.
Visitors who explore the town find a unique and unrepeatable experience filled with hidden mystical and spiritual corners, a mixture of traditional and vernacular architecture and narrow cobblestone streets with low facades. Its building materials, including clay, wood, tile, stone and whitewashed walls form a constant palette and its inhabitants, food, handicrafts, and landscapes have transformed it into an icon of charm and mystery, resulting in its designation as a Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town).
Tepoztlán is a place that is lived inwardly; its secrets are discovered within its patios and gardens, and inside its buildings. The beauty of its street facades is rooted in their sobriety and serenity, actively inviting the viewer to enter. With this intention, the home’s exterior is sober and serene, in silent respect for its environment, and it preserves its magic and mystery for the inside
With this array of characteristics in mind, the prerogative of contributing to the architectural legacy of this valley instills a responsibility to evoke its mystical nature within the home, ensuring that the essence of Tepoztlán is always present.
ACTUACIÓN
The construction of a weekend home in Tepoztlán is an embodiment of the clients' desire for tranquility and a deep connection with the town's architectural essence. Intended as a retreat for a family, with plans to transition into a retirement home, the design necessitates flexibility to accommodate varying activities without spatial limitations. Occupying a 1270 m2 corner lot within a gated community, this property offers stunning views of El Tepozteco and is designed to contrast with the surrounding ostentatious homes, thereby maintaining a harmonious relationship with the natural landscape.
"La Hacienda Jardín" reimagines the traditional hacienda concept, prioritizing the integration of the home with its environment over conventional construction practices. Unlike typical designs that fence off the property before building, this project starts with a roofed wall that opens to the elements, encircling a garden filled with native plants at its heart. This central courtyard acts as a transitional space, blurring the lines between public and private areas while framing views of the Tepozteco mountain, ensuring a continuous intimate connection with nature.
The material palette is carefully chosen to reflect the local climate, landscape, and traditions. The perimeter wall, built from Texcal volcanic stone, encases the living spaces, while the main structure features Durango pine wood, used extensively for beams and poles, complemented by huanacaxtle wood for latticework and finishes. Terracotta tile floors, a tile roof, and walls made of brick and chukum contribute to a color scheme that is both responsive and sensitive to each space's function, echoing the unique character of Tepoztlán.
