A luxuriant residential garden in a mystic Mexican town
Malinalco is a valley where its enclosing hills were chosen by the Aztecs to build a sacred citadel for “los guerreros aguila” or eagle warriors-the most important warrior class. The citadel and temple, whose ruins are now part of a significant archaeological itinerary, were settled as a defensive site, which strategically oversaw the whole valley. Although this region was one of the hardest to conquer by Spanish colonizers during the XVII century, they built an important monastery and eight churches that marked eight different picturesque barrios, or neighbourhoods, at the valley´s lowest areas.
All these cultural components, along with the exuberance of the local flora native to this sub-tropical region, where the main reason for an American retired couple to acquire a residence in this historical town. They chose a typical Mexican house in a large lot and in addition, bought the adjacent vacant lot thus significantly increasing the total size of the site where they wanted to create a garden. Inspired by the Malinalco Golf Club, which was designed by Mario Schjetnan, they hired him to create the landscape plan. As part of the project´s program they established some defining conditions: a garden with diverse ambiances, a sports area and an exuberant presence of tropical and sub-tropical plants.
Following these stipulations Schjetnan created a colorful and eye-catching garden yet functional and sober. As in his other projects, primarily urban large-scale plans, he seeks to take care of the water use and reuse systems. In order to respond to the needs of the garden he incorporated the contradictory conditions of this project: on the one hand the freedom that comes with any large residential plan and, on the other, the local restrictions of the city of Malinalco. As a result, he created a water collection system that connects to the city water network, allowing for the water remnants to go back to it, and adds a spare well within the site.
The water circuit starts in a small basin located on one of the sides of the house, right next to it and is then channeled by a system of “aplantes”, some of them original to the site, toward a small central lake; from here the water keeps flowing through these aplantes toward a citrus orchard. The aplantes are stone linear constructions which were historically used for water channeling and distribution and typical of local ancient settlements; edged by clusters of banana plants (Musa sp), bamboo or low shrubs and, at some segments, with complementary stone paths, they help to provide a quite vernacular representation. In front of the main façade of the house another rock surface outlined as a terrace contains a small swimming pool, made of the enlargement of an existing pool.
The lake was built at the lowest part of the site and the earth was reused to shape a subtle mound, or elevated garden, on one of its sides opposite to the house. This composition frames the lake with large masses of orange lantanas, which act as permanent butterfly attractors, groups of agaves and rocks found in the site. In this manner, the water reservoir becomes the most attractive spot of the garden, delineated with curvilinear gabions that alternate with strips of aquatic plants and grasses. The combination of the organically shaped stone pieces and the green material, either vertical elements or horizontal blanket-like bands, offer a perfect reference to local habitats and provide an ideal place for rest and relaxation. Behind the lake and the elevated garden, at the furthest point from the house, the project includes a small orchard of citrus trees organized in a geometrical layout and a small vegetable garden, leaning against one of the lot´s enclosing walls.
The opposite part of the lot, at one of the sides of the existing house, is laid out as a formal area with open vistas and an adjacent tennis court. The large lawn surface is delimited with short stone walls that defines subtle curves and are framed with banana plants, bamboo and canna lilies (Cana indica). Narrow paths with organic shapes lead to the other “rooms” of the garden, generating an intimate connecting circuit. All the compositions created within the site, characterized by sculptural vegetal shapes, picturesque colour combinations and architectural lines; recall the wonderful designs of famous Brazilian landscape architect Burle Marx. In this work, Schjetnan makes clear his admiration and knowledge of this master´s work.
The guest house, which is the only architectural piece added by the project, is located exactly between the two main areas of the garden and appears in front of the lake as if emerging from the water. This floating surface leans against the edge of the lot and is facing the distant house; in this way, the new construction contrasts it very simply with geometrical lines and the traditional design of the existing one and with the organic shapes of nature. The public spaces of this new house are completely open, thus making not only the garden and lake become part of them but also the far-off landscape of the hills and the historic sacred temple of Malinalco.
This Mexican garden, created as a flowing overlapping of intimate spots and open areas, all part of the same utterly visual composition, offers a small-scale representation of local environments and becomes a fabulous yet peaceful experience for those who spend any time at the site.
Size: 6.635 m2
Date of Completion: 2011
Landscape Architect: GDU, Grupo de Diseño Urbano, Mario Schjetnan
Project Coordinator: Jorge Calvillo
Team: Megumi Andrade Hashimoto, Silvia Rodríguez, Rodrigo Hernández Covarrubias
