A weekend house designed that responds to nature and history in a Mexican vineyard

Casa San Francisco is a weekend house nestled in a vineyard on the outskirts of San Miguel de Allende, a colonial town in Guanajuato, Mexico. Designed by Jorge Garibay Arquitectos, the project draws on two powerful cultural narratives—winemaking and convent architecture—to explore the concept of time through built space.

Photo credit: Cesar Belio

The town, originally known as San Miguel el Grande, was founded in the 16th century, the same period when Franciscan friars introduced grape cultivation to Mexico. These missionaries not only spread Catholicism but also influenced colonial urban planning, particularly through monastic and convent architecture. In winemaking, the term “terroir” refers to how natural and human factors—climate, soil, altitude, and cultivation techniques—affect a wine’s characteristics. Similarly, convent architecture, rooted in Mediterranean traditions, adapted to the new pre-Columbian context of Mexico, taking on new meanings and expressions. Both viticulture and architecture were planted in Mexican soil to yield new, distinctive results.

Photo credit: Cesar Belio

Photo credit: Cesar Belio

Photo credit: Cesar Belio

Photo credit: Cesar Belio

Photo credit: Cesar Belio

The project also considers the natural environment and the home’s role as a place of rest. The design aims to create a contemplative space where one can reflect on the natural cycles of growth, change, decay, and entropy. Casa San Francisco is divided into five volumes, each facing a different landscaped area with open views of the surrounding vineyard. A transverse corridor connects these volumes, anchored by a double-height entrance hall that acts as a transition from exterior to interior. The west wing houses public areas—dining room, terrace, kitchen, living room, garage, and service spaces—while four private bedrooms occupy the east wing.

Photo credit: Cesar Belio

Photo credit: Cesar Belio

Photo credit: Cesar Belio

Photo credit: Cesar Belio

Photo credit: Cesar Belio

The architectural material palette reflects the passage of time and a contemporary take on conventual austerity. Local stone, unpolished Mexican marble, and hand-applied lime-based paint in hues matching the stone create monochromatic monolithic forms. Traditional building methods were revived to enhance permanence and simplicity. For the interior, oak furniture adds simplicity and warmth, while lighting replicates the soft glow typical of 16th-century convents, without compromising functionality. Natural light also plays a key role, shaping the warm and calm atmosphere within.

Photo credit: Cesar Belio

Photo credit: Cesar Belio

Photo credit: Cesar Belio

Photo credit: Cesar Belio

Photo credit: Cesar Belio

Photo credit: Cesar Belio

The project embraces Luis Barragán’s notion that “time also paints,” suggesting that beauty does not need to be perfect—it evolves and emerges over time.

Photo credit: Cesar Belio

Photo credit: Cesar Belio

Photo credit: Cesar Belio

Photo credit: Cesar Belio

About Jorge Garibay Arquitectos

Jorge Garibay Arquitectos focuses on creating emotionally resonant spaces through simplicity and site-specific responses. Their projects emphasize deep relationships with people, place, identity, and limitations. With every design, they aim to balance essential elements with possibility to achieve the best possible spatial outcomes.