We tour a Guanajuato ranch by Fabian Escalante in Mexico

Two horses, one brown, and one black are standing next to a wooden fence.

(Image credit: Jorge Succar)

last updated 14 August 2022

Contributions from
Jorge Succar - Photography

Created as a private space for family socialising, this ranch in the Mexican countryside is the work of Guanajuato-based architecture studio Fabián M Escalante H. The project, situated in the San Miguel de Allende area near the central Mexican city of Guanajuato, was conceived as a calming retreat and a vessel to house anything from small gatherings, to barbecues and larger parties for a private client whose primary residence is in an urban centre.

‘Located in a natural area, next to a body of water, the Terrace's (also known as Rancho Sierra Allende's), main function is to provide a respite from the bustle of the city to its inhabitants,' explains Escalante. ‘It’s a space to enjoy time with the family on the weekends. From the Terrace they can fish directly into the dam, and in the surrounding land, they can play outdoor sports. There is a stable with horses nearby, so they can also ride, and the water is for them to cool off.'

The exterior of the ranch photographer at night. The ranch sits at the edge of a lake, surrounded by trees and mountains in the back. The walls are covered in glass and we see the lights on.

The building is designed as a light, transparent pavilion in a low, linear form. The interior contains a small lounge, a bar, an area to prepare food, an outdoors grill and a space for a campfire. The overall shape and construction methods take their cues from local, traditional ones, but are seen here in a pared down fashion, bringing them to the 21st century.

The young, small studio – currently just three-people strong – often works on the architectural balance between urban and rural, manmade and natural, indoors and outdoors. ‘I believe all these principles are also reflected in this project,' says Escalante. ‘We aim for minimal intervention that will allow the client to inhabit nature. We focused on the landscape that surrounded the project in order to strengthen the relation of the architecture with the trees and the dam. We made sure to preserve all the trees in the plot.'

The structure uses traditional materials such as wood and clay, while the main volume also showcases steel cladded as a way to reduce building maintenance. The project also takes advantage of passive cooling systems and natural resources, such as capturing rainwater and wastewater for the irrigation of the garden.

A closer look at the exterior of the ranch photographed during daytime. The house is surrounded by tall trees, and the walls are all glass.

A look at the exterior of the ranch photographed during daytime. The house is surrounded by tall trees with green pasture, and the walls are all glass.

A pathway that surrounds the house, is covered with wooden beams and boards. The floor is made out of small stones. In the distance, we see a man riding a horse.

A look at the interior of the house. Bar made of stone is to the left with red bar chairs. In the distance, we see a dining table and behind it the living area. Wooden beams go from the floor and stretch out to the roof which is set in an A-frame.

A detailed look at the exterior of the house. A part of the house is constructed out of wood, through which a tall tree grows.

Two horses are walking around the area enclosed with wooden beams.

A part of the courtyard at the ranch is covered with wooden boards put together in a repeated triangle shape. Tall trees are growing through the spaced-out boards.

A part of the courtyard at the ranch is covered with wooden boards put together in a repeated triangle shape, the floor is covered with rustic wooden beams. Through an opening, we see three sinks above which are three round mirrors.

A look at the courtyard. The floor is covered with stones, concrete beams support the railing above through which threes grow.

INFORMATION

fabianmescalanteh.com

Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).

With contributions from

Jorge Succar - Photography