Casa Guaro

Fernando Marroquín

• Architects

Casa Guaro draws inspiration from the zalate or wild fig tree (Ficus palmieri), which grows at the edge of the site along a dry streambed. This tree became the conceptual starting point for the design. With its remarkable ability to thrive in arid environments of intense sunlight and scarce water, the zalate is extraordinary not only for its evergreen presence and beauty but also for the microclimate it creates, sustaining hundreds of animal species. As a symbolic figure, the tree inspired a similar ambition for the future inhabitants of Casa Guaro. More than a visual feature in the garden, the zalate became the symbolic and functional core of the project, around which the house is organized.

photo_credit Fernando Marroquín — Fernando Marroquín

The residence is structured around a central courtyard that preserves four Torote trees (Bursera microphylla), which serve as guardians and protagonists of the house. This space not only connects the volumes and circulation paths but also creates an immediate dialogue between interior and exterior. The layout of the volumes prioritizes openness to the landscape, while stone walls and white surfaces create a visual language that reinforces the connection with the surrounding environment. Existing vegetation was carefully protected, and some of it was relocated to form a perimeter garden composed of native species that seamlessly integrate with the broader landscape.

The spatial organization of the house unfolds around the central courtyard, which acts as the main axis articulating public and private areas. Featuring a radial stone paving design, the courtyard introduces a dynamic geometry that breaks the orthogonality of the built volumes and highlights the trees as gathering points. The common areas, such as the living and dining rooms, are designed to open fully to the outdoors through large sliding windows, blurring the lines between interior and exterior.
Private areas, including the bedrooms, are oriented towards controlled views that ensure privacy and comfort. These spaces feature wooden floors and finishes, reinforcing a warm and serene atmosphere. Each volume is connected by corridors and terraces that go beyond functional circulation, strengthening the bond between architecture and nature.

At the entrance, a large Saguaro cactus—rescued from a neighboring property—stands as a centuries-old sentinel and symbolic guardian of the house. From this cactus comes the name Casa Guaro.
The materiality of Casa Guaro seeks to root the project in its site through textures and colors that evoke the local terrain and regional architecture. Natural stone clads the exterior walls, providing a sense of permanence and an organic texture that ties the construction to its immediate environment. This handcrafted material contrasts with the smooth white interior surfaces, which amplify natural light and enhance the feeling of openness.
Wood, used in exposed beams and carpentry details, introduces a warm rhythm that complements the predominantly neutral palette. This material defines more intimate spaces, such as the bedrooms, giving them a sense of comfort and enclosure. In terraces and patios, exposed aggregate concrete provides a visual transition between the natural landscape and the inhabitable areas, while traditional clay roof tiles are reinterpreted to endow the project with a timeless character.

One of the most distinctive features of Casa Guaro is its ability to dissolve the boundaries between interior and exterior. The house opens to the landscape through terraces, gardens, and corridors that extend living spaces outward. The absence of perimeter walls reinforces this openness, allowing the natural surroundings to flow into the home.
The central courtyard is a mutable space, shifting with light and shadow throughout the day. The textures of the paving and walls continuously interact with the four Torotes, creating an atmosphere that connects the inhabitants with the passing of time and seasons.
Casa Guaro is an exploration of how architecture can respond to its natural context with respect and balance. By taking the zalate tree as its point of origin, the project establishes an ongoing dialogue between built form and the environment, prioritizing local materials and low-impact strategies.
More than a functional composition of living spaces, the project invites reflection on our relationship with the land—valuing what preexists and building with a logic of integration and continuity with the landscape.