Restoration and adaptive reuse for the Hacienda de Sombreretillo

 

A few years back the ruin Hacienda of Sombreretillo was restored to its original glamour. This presentation will encapsulate the project in its entirety from its historical background to its present new use.

The Hacienda of Sombreretillo is located in the municipality of Villa Matamoros in the state of Chihuahua at approximately 13 km from the City of Hidalgo del Parral. The founding of the Hacienda dates to the end of the XVII century. The structure is built out of adobe and is dominated by two large torreones that at one time were joined by a large perimeter wall. The building follows the typical enclosed interior patio delineated by interior rooms accessed by a zaguan and complemented by a small chapel.

The Hacienda had been abandoned for more than 50 years, utilized as stables and corrals. Most of the structure had fallen into disrepair and had deteriorated to an unrecognizable state. In 1999 the ruin structure was donated to the Diocese of Parral in order to house the new seminary. The challenge was to house the needs of the new seminary while at the same time respecting the original historical appearance.

Approximately over 300,000 adobes were made mostly from the recycled material obtained from the original fallen earth roofs and walls. The building was restored using its traditional construction methods.

This painstaking project will be chronologically presented through the use of images showing the ruin state to its present use as a seminary and how this architectural treasure, a legacy of our ancestors, was preserved to benefit our future generations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Submitted by:

Architect Antonio Guerrero Arzaga