San Miguel de Allende is one of Mexico’s premier tourist sites, with wine activity throughout the region that has enabled significant tourism and economic growth. In recent years, vineyards offering tastings and tours, as well as the region’s breathtaking architecture, have proven to be a popular combination. It is within that context that ASP was presented with the opportunity to engage in a project to develop a multipurpose complex in a field featuring a small hill.

The project consists of a master plan that is divided into private estates of 6,000 to 8,000 m², as well as 87 hectares of vineyards and buildings destined for public recreation and relaxation. Public areas include a boutique hotel, a spa, a clubhouse, a restaurant, an equestrian club, and multiple sports courts.

The intent of the design was to develop an aesthetic to complement, rather than compete with, existing elements. ASP achieved that vision by integrating each volume into the landscape while using strategically-located horizontal concrete and stone platforms to prevent obstructed views from within each space. The materials used, including stone, wood, earth, gravel, and pavers, serve as unifying elements due to their chromatic and neutral finishes, as well as their local origins.

The complex also features an orchard that supplies some of the restaurant’s fresh ingredients. The vineyards are irrigated courtesy of a drip irrigation system, supplied by two existing wells. As part of the boutique hotel, an artificial lake was designed to generate microclimates and microenvironments that favor the landscape.

Credits

Director: Sergio Portillo Alarcón

Visual artist: Ivan Reyes Almaraz

Landscaping: PA-AR Paisaje y Arquitectura 

Date: 2018

About ASP

ASP is an architectural firm located in Mexico City that was founded in 2014 by Sergio Portillo Alarcón, whose background includes more than a decade of managing all aspects of a contracting company.

The firm focuses on generating value through contemporary practices of architecture and urbanism. Their approach is sensitive to context and the environment, combining high-tech materials with regionally procured products.

ASP is truly committed to the experiences that people extract from architecture. Accordingly, the firm focuses on proposals that are relevant to both a site and its environment, taking the specifics of both into consideration. ASP works closely with multidisciplinary specialists in order to find solutions that dignify a project and generate true value for its clients.