Project Details
- Project Name
- The Haylofts at Flora Farms
- Location
- Mexico
- Builder
- The Verano Group
- Architect
- Dorman Associates
- Project Types
- Single Family
- Project Scope
- New Construction
- Size
- sq. feet
- Awards
- 2018 Gold Nugget
- Project Status
- Built
2018 Gold Nugget Awards
Grand Award, Innovative Housing Design
Judge's Special Award of Excellence
Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains in northwestern Mexico, the six Haylofts at Flora Farms are camouflaged by their lush 10-acre site. The Haylofts—designed by Mill Valley, Calif.–based Dorman Associates and built by development company Verano Group with the help of local craftsmen—are composed of metal and glass panels that frame each home’s great room and kitchen, and are flanked by two straw bale walls that line each of the bedrooms.
The homes’ open gathering and eating spaces meet collapsible glass that leads to green terraces overlooking each unit’s private swimming pool. Uncovered, operable windows throughout—primarily oriented toward the north side of the property for shade and privacy—offer unobstructed views of the vertical, terraced farmland dedicated to growing organic herbs, fruits, and heirloom vegetables. Inside, subdued, neutral tones complemented by warm woods emphasize the landscape views served up in each room.
Nearby, two on-site restaurants, an organic market, and boutique workshops stock handmade goods that support the local economy and ground the intimate development’s integrated plan that benefits visitors and natives alike. The project’s land planners made the most of the secluded site while propagating both the land and its inhabitants: Its destination restaurants and markets encourage residents to tend to the plentiful communal farmland while enjoying a farm-centric, agricultural lifestyle.
The agrarian-style buildings take advantage of the temperate climate without relying heavily on electricity, and the site’s shared spaces and homes are thoughtfully shaded and oriented away from the late afternoon sun. As respectful of the landscape as they are beneficial to the site’s natural resources, the smattering of structures with minimal formal walls fulfill the objective for a nature-driven village that’s gently shaped by its architecture.
View the full list of winners here.
