Casa Jacona, designed by TAAB, is a 600-square-meter residence located beside the Celio River in Jacona, Michoacán, Mexico. Shaped by the curves of its triangular site, the house blends architecture with nature through flowing stone walls and two connected volumes that frame a central garden. Crafted from dark granite, burnished earth, and wood, the home balances solidity with warmth, while light and landscape play integral roles in shaping its atmosphere. Native vegetation surrounds and filters the spaces, creating a continuous dialogue between the built and the natural — a serene retreat where design, materiality, and environment exist in perfect harmony.
Architects: TAAB Area: 600 m² Year: 2025 Photographs: Cesár Belio Lead Architects: Diego Torres Guízar and Diana Ortiz Moreno Team: Fabiola Cruz García Interior Design: Estudio Karla Vázquez Structural Calculations: Daniel Torres Barragán Site Supervisors: Austreberto Zarco Contreras, Eduardo García García City: Jacona de Plancarte Country: Mexico
Nestled along the banks of the Silio River in Giacona, Michoacan, Casa Giacona unfolds as a
poetic dialogue between architecture and nature. Designed by TAAB, this 600-square-meter residence
sits gracefully on a triangular plot, where one edge curves softly toward the water. The home's
layout, guided by the gentle bend of the river, feels as if it's been shaped by the landscape
itself, opening to welcome and folding in to embrace the gardens like a protective gesture
central garden that greets you at the entrance. The first volume, oriented to the northeast,
rises over two levels along the longest side of the triangle. On the ground floor lies the
main bedroom and a quiet library, where a secret door hidden behind the shelves leads to an
underground wine cellar, a detail that adds mystery and depth to the spatial journey.
Upstairs, the guest rooms are positioned to enjoy soft light and serene views.
Light has been carefully orchestrated to follow the geometry of the architecture,
sliding along folds, tracing corners, and illuminating curves with precision.
Rather than dominating the space, it enhances the subtleties of the design.
At different times of day, the house reveals new moods,
shadows soften, surfaces glow, and spaces breathe in rhythm with the surrounding landscape.
That landscape, rich with native species like pyrils, agaves, and calyandras,
feels inseparable from the architecture. These plants filter sunlight, sway with the wind,
and carry the earthy scent of freshly watered soil. From the shaded interiors, you can sense
this living world in constant motion, a quiet dialogue between built form and the wild beauty
beyond.
The second wing, positioned to the south, gathers the daily life of the house. Here,
the kitchen, dining room, and living area flow seamlessly together, extending outward beneath
a hovering portico. This long cantilevered roof not only protects from rain but also filters the
morning light, creating a calm and shaded atmosphere perfect for everyday moments.
The open plan and sheltered terraces invite life to move easily between indoors and out.
Materiality plays a profound role in shaping the home's character. The outer wall that wraps around
the property is built from dark granite, dense, textured, and grounding, evoking the sense of
refuge and permanence. Inside, the walls are finished with burnished earth tones, paired
with exposed wooden beams that recall traditional Michoacán houses. Together,
these materials bring warmth, memory, and a timeless connection to place.
Through its open transitions and transparent layers, Casa Chacona allows nature to inhabit
every space, not as decoration, but as a vital presence that completes the architecture.
It's a home where light, air, and vegetation coexist with structure and stone. Here,
design becomes an act of listening to the flow of the river, the changing seasons,
and the rhythm of daily life, all harmonized into a serene and deeply grounded home.
