Casa Majagua, Luis Barragan’s little known unfinished weekend home in Colima Mexico.
For those seeking the serene allure of Baja California Sur, Mexico—a place where nature and solitude coexist in harmony—”Solitude is Good Company” offers a profound exploration of these themes. This collective project, presented at the Beta Timișoara 2024 Biennial, invited 10 architects and artists, including a10studio, to reinterpret Luis Barragán’s Casa Majagua, an unfinished weekend retreat enveloped in the Colima jungle.
The beautiful coastline of Colima near Casa Majagua
Guided by Barragán’s reverence for solitude and nature, the project embraced both philosophy and practicality. Each intervention honored the house’s essence while imagining its future.
Current condition of Casa Majagua
Guiado por la reverencia de Barragán por la soledad y la naturaleza, el proyecto abrazó tanto la filosofía como la practicidad. Cada intervención honró la esencia de la casa mientras imaginaba su futuro.
Nature has taken over the ruins of Casa Majagua
A Poetic Reimagining:
Our contribution at a10studio sought to merge Barragán’s iconic principles—light, water, and time—with a poetic and tactile approach to materiality. Inspired by the cyclical rhythms of nature and the intimacy of a house immersed in its environment, we envisioned:
The way nature now plays a very important part of how the “interior” of the house its perceived and “lived” was very important for our proposal.
Una Reinterpretación Poética:
Nuestra contribución en a10studio buscó fusionar los principios icónicos de Barragán—luz, agua y tiempo—con un enfoque poético y táctil de la materialidad. Inspirados por los ritmos cíclicos de la naturaleza y la intimidad de una casa sumergida en su entorno, imaginamos:
We wanted to emphasize the way light and shadows along with nature reveal the pass of time in the house.
A Canopy of Recycled Nets:
Formed from discarded fishing nets sourced from local communities, the canopy creates a vortex of filtered light and shadows. Over time, it traps leaves, becoming a dynamic tapestry that evolves with the seasons. This ever-changing interplay echoes Barragán’s use of natural light to shape experience.
Una Cubierta de Redes Recicladas:
Formado por redes de pesca descartadas provenientes de comunidades locales, la cubierta, a manera de dosel, crea un vórtice de luz filtrada y sombras. Con el tiempo, atrapa hojas, convirtiéndose en un tapiz dinámico que evoluciona con las estaciones. Esta interacción siempre cambiante refleja el uso de la luz natural por parte de Barragán para moldear la experiencia.
Discarded fishing nets by local fishermen, becomes the main material four intervention, perfect to shape and act as a “leave catcher” that will play with the sunlight through the day.
A Water Balcony:
Revisiting Barragán’s dialogue with water, the balcony transforms into a reflective pool, naturally filling with rain. This homage to Barragán’s fountains celebrates time’s passage as the water overflows and dissipates, a quiet rhythm connecting the home to its surroundings.
Un Balcón de Agua:
Revisando el diálogo de Barragán con el agua, el balcón se transforma en una piscina reflectante, llenándose naturalmente con la lluvia. Este homenaje a las fuentes de Barragán celebra el paso del tiempo mientras el agua se desborda y se disipa, un ritmo tranquilo que conecta la casa con su entorno.
Our intervention embodies a poetic manifesto “covering” the work of Mario Benedetti (Teoria y Practica):
“Let’s say, for example,
that a house beats in delirium,
and its elements straighten, clean,
and bewitch it.
Let’s say, for example,
that rain and sun belong to us,
as does the over-sky, the under-soil,
and the territories of our work and heart.”
Esta intervención encarna un manifiesto poético que hace una reversion del trabajo de Mario Benedetti (Teoria y Practica):
“Digamos, por ejemplo,
que una casa late en delirio,
y sus elementos la enderezan, limpian
y hechizan.
Digamos, por ejemplo,
que la lluvia y el sol nos pertenecen,
al igual que el sobre-cielo, el bajo-suelo,
y los territorios
de nuestro trabajo y corazón.”
Overall isometric view of the proposal: a canopy/vortex and the balcony enabled as a water mirror.
From Colima to Baja:
The project’s themes resonate deeply with our clients in Baja California Sur. Many seek homes that reflect their desire for connection to the landscape, sustainability, and timeless beauty. Just as Casa Majagua becomes a vessel for solitude, our Baja projects create sanctuaries for expatriates—a blend of Barragán’s ideals and Baja’s rugged charm.
De Colima a Baja:
Los temas del proyecto resuenan profundamente con nuestros clientes en Baja California Sur. Muchos buscan casas que reflejen su deseo de conexión con el paisaje, la sostenibilidad y la belleza atemporal. Así como Casa Majagua se convierte en un recipiente de soledad, nuestros proyectos en Baja crean santuarios para expatriados—una mezcla de los ideales de Barragán y el encanto rústico de Baja.
A Collective Vision:
Curated by Zeller & Moye, the interventions included diverse interpretations of Barragán’s legacy:
Sculptural furniture, poetic narratives, sustainable materials, and water infrastructure all converge to form a cadavre exquis—a collage of ideas creating a unified vision of shelter and solitude.
Una Visión Colectiva:
Curadas por Zeller & Moye, las intervenciones incluyeron diversas interpretaciones del legado de Barragán:
Mobiliario escultórico, narrativas poéticas, materiales sostenibles e infraestructura hídrica convergen para formar un cadáver exquisito—un collage de ideas que crea una visión unificada de refugio y soledad.
Explore how a10studio reimagined Luis Barragán’s Casa Majagua at the Beta Timișoara Biennial, blending light, water, and sustainability for timeless architectural experiences in Baja California Sur.
Why It Matters:
This project invites us to consider how architecture shapes not just space, but life itself. For those envisioning a retreat in Baja, the principles of simplicity, light, and nature are timeless guides.
Por Qué Es Importante:
Este proyecto nos invita a considerar cómo la arquitectura no solo configura el espacio, sino la vida misma. Para aquellos que sueñan con un retiro en Baja, los principios de simplicidad, luz y naturaleza son guías atemporales.
[Add visuals of your design sketches, site images, and completed interventions.]
Explore how a10studio reimagined Luis Barragán’s Casa Majagua at the Beta Timișoara Biennial, blending light, water, and sustainability for timeless architectural experiences in Baja California Sur.
Explore how a10studio reimagined Luis Barragán’s Casa Majagua at the Beta Timișoara Biennial, blending light, water, and sustainability for timeless architectural experiences in Baja California Sur.
Explore how a10studio reimagined Luis Barragán’s Casa Majagua at the Beta Timișoara Biennial, blending light, water, and sustainability for timeless architectural experiences in Baja California Sur.
