Project: Casa San Francisco / Location: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico / Architect: Jorge Garibay Arquitectos / Location: Mexico City, Mexico / Photography: Cesar Belio

The Casa San Francisco project began with a request for a vacation home in a vineyard on the outskirts of San Miguel de Allende, a small colonial town in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. Due to its location, the goal from the beginning was to create a connection between architecture and winemaking by exploring the concept of time, its architect Jorge Garibay Arquitectos says.

The location and history of the place influenced the design. San Miguel de Allende—originally named San Miguel el Grande—was founded in the 16th century and coincided with the introduction of grape cultivation to Mexico by Franciscan friars. The monumental task of Catholic evangelizing the country, undertaken by the missionaries, also led to the emergence of a movement that influenced the planning and construction of colonial cities, particularly monastic and convent architecture.

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In winemaking, terroir refers to the impact that both natural factors—climate, soil, and altitude—and human factors—cultivation methods—have on a wine’s unique characteristics, such as its structure, flavor and aroma. Similarly, the style of construction that was used to provide shelter and spaces for catechesis to the religious who crossed the Atlantic was also impacted by its new context. Thus, viticulture and architecture imported to Mexico in the 16th century were planted in new lands to produce different and unique results.

The surrounding nature and the property’s purpose as a place for rest and relaxation influenced a third aspect of the design concept for Casa San Francisco. The goal was to create a space for contemplation that would allow for reflection on the natural order of the world and to celebrate the seasonal processes of growth, change, decay and entropy.

To achieve this, the firm divided the house’s spaces into five volumes that open to different landscaped areas, offering clear views of the vineyards and the surrounding natural setting. A transverse corridor running through the volumes guides the layout of the spaces. The corridor is accessed via an entrance with a double-height ceiling that serves as a transitional space between the exterior and interior.

The west wing contains the home’s public spaces: the dining room, terrace, kitchen, living room, garage and service areas, while the four private bedrooms are located to the east.

In order to convey, through materiality, the principle of nature traversed by time and the conventional architectural style brought into a contemporary language, the aim was to use a minimum of materials to achieve maximum results. To give the house a sober form and color, the predominant materials the architects chose were locally sourced stone from a nearby site; unpolished Mexican marble for the floors; and lime-based paint applied by hand in a color that complements the stone’s natural color. This choice resulted in monochromatic monoliths.

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For the interiors, the design team chose oak furniture for its simplicity and lighting design that emulates the light temperature in 16th-century convents without sacrificing illuminance levels. This combination resulted in warm interiors where natural light also plays an important role.

This project’s unpretentious approach aligns with Luis Barragán’s idea that “time also paints” and the notion that beauty is imperfect and emerges over time, Jorge Garibay Arquitectos says.

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