Huerta El Garambullo | Luis Carbonell

Huerta El Garambullo takes place in the field of an Avocado Orchard, a property located in the south of the State of Mexico, close to Valle de Bravo and Avandaro. Prior to our intervention, a couple of independent structures had been built at different points in time, standing as separate entities within the landscape. An initial hut was built out of adobe, hosting two small rooms of minimal conditions. Subsequently, a masonry structure was added to serve as a communal space, comprising a living room, a small kitchen and an adjacent bathroom.

Our objective was to orchestrate a third intervention that would seamlessly integrate and unify these structures into a cohesive country house. The new architectural envelope was conceived to echo the independent character of the preexisting buildings while also bridging them together, creating a unified entryway that fosters a sense of privacy in the designated areas. The small rooms were reconfigured and reallocated to align with a new central hallway, featuring an integrated bathroom and connecting them to the focal point of the project - tha main room.

This new architectural entity pays homage to its predecessors by adhering to their established norms and material palette, incorporating elements such as stone, adobe, and concrete. It embraces the typological criteria of traditional local dwellings, characterized by sturdy walls and an inclined shed roof, while also introducing subtle alterations to its morphology.

Through different architectural elements and its conditions, a new personality is given to the project. For example, concrete slabs extend beyond the confines of the enclosing walls, defying traditional boundaries and creating dynamic spatial connections. One such slab serves as a unifying element, seamlessly linking adjacent spaces and blurring the distinction between them. Beginning as a functional sink in the bathroom, it transforms along its horizontal expanse, doubling as a versatile desk or shelf before culminating in a chimney at the space's end. This multifunctional element transcends its initial purpose, extending outward to form an outdoor shelf that seamlessly integrates with a lower bench, ultimately transitioning into a garden-level feature that delicately filters light and views through the window above.

On another element, the continuity is interrupted by a sliding door that instead of being actively closed, stays passive for the constant state of the spaces to flow only to be activated by its gliding movement to interlock in a tongue and groove tail double axes joint with the opposite slab.

Outside, rainwater cascades from the main roof onto an inclined surface, eventually flowing into a carved stone container before replenishing the soil and groundwater - a spectacle visible from the entryway.

As  part of our exploratory endeavors, we collaborated with Pablo Kobayashi to devise innovative solutions for containing, directing and interrupting the flow of vital elements of the house. Kobayashi conceptualized a sink and a chimney that serve as both functional elements and sculptural accents within the space. The pieces rise from the reassessment of two banal and opposing rituals. Placed across extremes of the concrete slab that simultaneously joins and split rooms, they act as controllers of both elements, water and fire.

The geometry is inspired by the “Metates”, a flat and oblong stone to ground grains and other foods from Prehispanic cultures, never concealing the techniques in which it was virtually modeled and digitally fabricated onto the manual processes of manufacture.

The vessels stand on a pedestal-like foot that floats from an underground tray, as they lay on the concrete slab on precision brass pins inserted on the negative cutout made by hand demolition from the horizontal surface. Water is guided through concrete grooves leading to a natural sequenced fall on the interior of one side as in the other the receptacle holds the ashes of the fire. The water fills an underground stone tray and the fire exhumes the smoke into a metal chimney that hangs from the roofs. 

Kobayashi led the execution of the final design as well as the production and manufacturing of these pieces and others that helped complement furniture and lighting elements of the project.

Within Huerta El Garambullo, there is a block that serves as a common area for indoor activities. This stone volume is one of the original constructions of the complex, where there already was a small bar at the back serving as a kitchenette.

When the orchard was rehabilitated as a country house to receive visitors, it became evident  that the existing kitchen was small and inadequate for its new role. We opted to keep the existing bar with its rustic and original characteristics while enhancing its functionality, concentrating the area for refrigeration, cooking, and washing, along with some minor improvements.

The focal point of the intervention focused on two new elements: first, expanding the overall kitchen surface. This piece of furniture serves a dual purpose, acting as an island from the back end and then, with a slight change of material, a bar for diners at the front. On one side, drawers, baskets, and shelves complement the kitchen's storage and equipment, and on the other, benches accompany those who are cooking or sharing breakfast at the bar.

The second and most important piece was a pantry expanded onto the stone wall. The challenge here was to further address storage and display needs for kitchen items in a small space that also shares with the living room and general project area. Previously, there was an old, robust, heavy, and very uncomfortable piece of furniture that was impractical and almost completely occupied the space and circulation.

To replace it and open up the space flow, a piece of furniture was designed that detached from its container and physical barriers, creating a light, dismembered, and multifunctional element.

The traditional pantry was reduced to its component parts: cabinets, shelves, baskets, hangers, and other accessories that hold food, condiments, decorations, and a few rarities from the family's collection.

Using the volcanic stone wall as a backdrop and supporting element, the ironwork pieces are integrated, almost floating in a free and random landscape. 

The furniture becomes more like a wall dressing, loaded with handicrafts from all over the country, from friends' artworks, fruits, and flowers from the area, and all the tools for eating and drinking. The visual boundaries between the living room and the kitchen blur, creating an integrated space for the weekend visits in San Juan Atezcapan.

Collaborators:

Habitáculo San Juan:

Pablo Kobayashi - Concrete and Ironwork  (Sink, Chimney and additional concrete pieces)

Offelia Estudio - Specialized Ironwork  (Chimney Fabrication)

Makaua - Palma (Hanging Shade Lamp)

Maestro Jesús Rodríguez - Construction (Construction Management and Execution)

Kitchen:

Jessica Young – Design

Dos44 – Specialized Carpentry and Ironwork

Camila Cossio - Photography