Nestled between the mountains and vineyards of Valle de Guadalupe, in a region celebrated for its vibrant food and wine culture, El Grove is a family home organized as a collection of small buildings. Organized rows of one hundred olive oil trees create a formal entry into the triangular site and filter views of the property.
Photo: César Béjar
El Grove
Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California Norte, Mexico
Common Materials Used in Uncommon Ways
The buildings, composed of commodity items like concrete masonry unit (CMU) blocks, steel, glass, and concrete, are encircled by a CMU wall with gaps between blocks. This neutral palette is punctuated by a yellow garden gate, which reveals a floating wood deck that winds through trees and culminates in the main house’s striking yellow front door.
Within the main house, the kitchen and living area are housed in a black steel volume with an 8-foot ceiling, a floating hearth, and a kinetic flap that connects the office desk to an outside bar. Sliding glass doors and a deck further extend these spaces beneath a cantilevered canopy, providing respite from the sun. The simple interior is enriched with the client’s collection of Mexican contemporary art.
Stepping stones through wild grasses lead to separate guest houses with entrances that mirror each other. Each offers framed mountain views, a private courtyard of gravel and sculpture, and crisp corner windows. When the family is home, these guest houses serve as the children’s rooms, providing privacy and independence.
Additional features include a caretaker unit that blends into the landscape, a simple “Texas cattle tank” pool surrounded by lavender, fiberglass glamping tents with private bathrooms, and landscaped mounds to view the landscape. The sustainability-driven, net-zero energy design and photovoltaic array are complemented by a salvaged water tank repurposed as a viewing platform.
Valle de Guadalupe is a high desert setting—a tough, arid climate. The design embraces this harsh exterior with commodity items like CMU blocks, while the interiors are warm and contemporary as a contrast that harshness.Tom Kundig
FAIA, RIBA, Design Principal
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