Based on the traditional hacienda typology, the Macuil Tochtli project combines the use of local materials and vernacular building methods. The building is sculpted from the inside out, based on the movement of the sun. Daylight, passive cooling and the visual and physical connections to the surrounding landscape are the main parameters that inform the architectural form. The complex is conceived as a ‘wasteless’ building. Waste streams from the tequila making process are utilised in secondary production chains resulting in textiles made from fibres, agave honey, perfume, inulin for high-energy snacks, and biogas. Besides reducing consumption through bioclimatic design and reusing waste streams, the building makes optimal use of the local water and solar resources. By integrating photovoltaic panels and solar collectors in the envelope, the building can operate independently of the grid. Apart from the ecological and economic benefits for the region, the complex offers habitation for nine nuns, who teach the children of the factory workers during the week. Besides the classroom, a library and chapel introduce a social aspect to the complex, embedding it in the local culture and society that will benefit from it.
