It requires a village to construct a house similar to this one; the construction of the hacienda outside San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, maintained a significant number of craftspeople employed for three years. The natives built this house brick and mortar with no electricity. “When we started this endeavor, all of the workers employed to walk to the site,” architect David Howell states. “Then, after a while, they’d pedal bikes. About a year later that they’d motorbikes, and from the project’s end they all had trucks. It’s an excellent feeling to have a positive influence on the local community’s market.”
The house was a collaboration between Howell and also the proprietor, furniture designer John Houshmand. “We designed the house at a traditional hacienda style with a true courtyard fully enclosed by the outside,” Howell explains. “It’s a monastic, simplistic aesthetic without embellishment.” Local materials stand out, and perspectives of the surrounding mountains of central Mexico were carefully considered.
in a Glance:
Location: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Size: 12,000 square feet; 6 bedrooms
Who lives here: Vacation home for a couple and their friends
That’s interesting: No scaffolding was utilized during construction.
David Howell Design
The home is a modern interpretation of traditional Spanish hacienda architecture, with a true interior courtyard. “We discovered what worked locally and thought hard about the way the house would be utilized,” Howell says. “It was a matter of listening, interpreting and creating an easy bold statement.”
The courtyard and house were planned around two existing trees, and the courtyard is centered around an infinity pool fountain. “Now that there’s water on the site, it has changed from a very dry and arid landscape to one filled with lush plants,” Howell says.
“If you approach the house, there isn’t a typical procession into a principal entrance; you simply organically filter through distinct openings,” Howell notes. Inside are numerous opportunities to observe the significant view from the courtyard throughout the house.
This design can be energy efficient. “The hacienda is 4 meters tall. The air flows through on the first degree, and the hot air is trapped up high,” Howell says. Thick walls control the temperature too. “There’s passive solar gain in winter. It’s a pure way that is worked for hundreds of years.”
David Howell Design
The long dining room includes views from all sides — to the outside, into the courtyard, and also to the one long axis that extends from the opening into the kitchen in the other end.
The light fixtures were custom made by Howell’s spouse, Steffani Aarons; their form and materials create a gorgeous transition from the space between the boveda ceilings along with the metal window casements. The live-edge dining table was created by Houshmand to accommodate 16 diners, and the chairs are local, handmade roadside uncovers.
David Howell Design
These traditional Spanish boveda ceilings were made by a single master craftsman onto a ladder. “He stitched these ceilings collectively like he was weathered bricks,” Howell describes. The craftsman was over 70 years old when he constructed them has been perfecting his craft since he was 12. In this dining room space, he finished three domes with no scaffolding.
David Howell Design
This cheerful kitchen is in the other end of the axis that runs throughout the dining area. Howell wanted to prevent the busier, glossier hand-painted tiles commonly seen around Mexico, so the kitchen is filled with sunny yellow handmade 2-inch from 2-inch ceramic tiles.
David Howell Design
The boveda ceilings continue in the kitchen along with the light fixture was repurposed from a wire basket. The counter stools were locally made and a roadside find.
A natural thermal spring with a sexy pool makes for an inviting spot to relax.
David Howell Design
The remaining side of this pool includes a large shelf that is only 4 inches deep and functions as a beachfront area.
David Howell Design
The thatched roof pavilion offers protection from the powerful Mexican sunshine.
Additionally, it is a favorite spot for dining al fresco and enjoying the sunset. In reality, Howell calls this “sunset sofa”
David Howell Design
The house can easily match up to 16 individuals. This is the most important living room, complete with lots of seats for a big group.
David Howell Design
“The hard surfaces in the living area make for great acoustics,” Howell says. “The sound bounces around.” Guests love playing and listening to music in here.
The live-edge cherry couches and coffee table are by John Houshmand.
David Howell Design
An integrated sofa gives a cozy perch that overlooks the courtyard.
The living room’s fireplace is open into the courtyard, so the fire and the view may be appreciated from both spaces. It’s just one example of numerous elements that blur the transitions between inside and outside.
David Howell Design
The “orange area” is one of four master bedrooms. “Each of the bedrooms was created around a color, and every bedroom has a fireplace for warmth,” Howell says.
David Howell Design
This poured-in-place concrete bathtub is in the opposite end of the orange area.
David Howell Design
The large master bath has a spalike feel. It features a large bathtub, a lounging area and a fireplace. “Individuals can hang out and keep you company while you soak,” Howell says.
David Howell Design
Inside this bathroom, the sink is a repurposed trough from a local farmer. “It has a topnotch where the little lambs used to drink with the bigger sheep,” Howell says.
David Howell Design
This is a banquette nook at the massage/yoga room, which may change into a bedroom when needed. The walls are local lava rock.
This bedroom is another wonderful example of the rich textures used throughout the house.
This opening results in a lava rock terrace.
David Howell Design
The stairs and patio on the right are crafted from lava rock and lead to a master bedroom. This shift in material adds a wonderful contrast to this stucco utilizing local materials.
David Howell Design
“All of the interior wall surfaces are easy plaster,” Howell says. “In this bathroom, they were naturally ready for paint but we abandoned them like this to show off the gorgeous variegated colour and texture.”
The sink was another antique local roadside find. For the bathtub, with concrete was a no-brainer since the artisans were able to form just about anything out of concrete onsite.
David Howell Design
Off a master bedroom is what Howell dubs the “margarita sofa” To protect it from the weather, this patio includes a concrete roof with a thatched ceiling much like the one that covers the sunset patio down from the pool.
Though the house has a very carefully planned sequence of perspectives and axes, the effect of the local fashion and craftsmanship allowed Howell to relax the rigor and let the design evolve in an organic way. It’s very befitting for a house that emerged out of entirely local materials and ability.
The home can be available to rent. To learn more, see retreatmexico.com.
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