The architects of the Mexican studio Práctica Arquitectura have built a house, the center of which is an open courtyard.

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Photo: Cesar Bejar

Tepostlan is just an hour’s drive from Mexico City. But it differs significantly in atmosphere — it has a pleasant temperate climate, an abundance of greenery and only 35 thousand inhabitants. Therefore, the settlement is considered an ideal place for a relaxing weekend break.

Photo: César Béjar.

Photo: César Béjar.

It was here that the customers of Práctica Arquitectura decided to build a new house. The architects proposed an interpretation of a classic Mexican hacienda – a manor house or a large ranch. Usually such buildings are surrounded by gardens, but in this project everything turned out the other way around – greenery became part of the architecture and was located in the center of the structure, in the courtyard.

Photo: Oscar Hernandez

Photo: Oscar Hernandez

In addition, it was important to make the spaces adaptable to different scenarios, since for now the family wants to use the villa for holidays with children, but in the future plans to convert it into a nursing home.

Photo: Cesar Bejar

Photo: César Béjar.

On the ground floor of La Hacienda Jardín there are four bedrooms, as well as a kitchen and many rooms facing the courtyard. Upstairs there is another bedroom with a separate exit to the patio, which is protected from the wind from all sides and equipped with a seating area sunk in greenery.

Photo: César Béjar.

Photo: César Béjar.

The building itself is constructed of Texcal volcanic stone, extracted from the nearby El Teposteco Mountain, as well as Durango pine. Local materials, according to the architects, help to create a dialogue with the city and the landscape.

Photo: Oscar Hernandez

Photo: César Béjar.

Photo: Oscar Hernandez