Can architecture truly connect with the earth and foster ecological rebirth? RootStudio’s expansion of Rancho Cebú in Oaxaca, Mexico, offers a compelling answer, demonstrating how craft production can bridge the gap between built structures and the natural world. Led by João Boto Cæiro, the multidisciplinary studio has taken a hands-on approach to design, ensuring that every element of the ranch’s development honours the local ecosystem and the community it serves.

Initiated in 2017, the ranch began as a project centred on agave cultivation. Over time, it has evolved into a versatile complex featuring a distillery, a hotel, an artist residency and an expansive two-hectare garden. The studio's expansion plan is guided by a commitment to using traditional methods and sustainable materials to create structures that are as much a part of the landscape as the plants and trees that surround them.

At the heart of the project is its distillery, a 3,500-square-metre building constructed using pink stone from a local quarry. This stone, also used historically in the colonial church in nearby Mitla, integrates the distillery with the broader heritage of Mexican architecture. The 80-metre façade design showcases hand-sculpted blocks, each unique in texture and form, highlighting the artisanal technique employed in the building process.

The distillery’s design prioritises both functionality and aesthetics. Its cellar is buried to enhance the ageing process of mezcal, a distilled spirit crafted from agave plants native to the region. While the bamboo-structured roofs draw inspiration from traditional Oaxacan weaves. These terraces break the building into smaller sections, offering sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and the ancient cave paintings of Yagul. This thoughtful integration with the landscape is a hallmark of the studio’s approach in ensuring that architecture enhances the natural beauty of the site rather than disrupts it.

The gardens surrounding the distillery are a crucial element of the project, designed to restore and enhance the local ecosystem. Native plants, rescued from highway construction projects, have been replanted here, creating a vibrant, living tapestry that reflects the region’s biodiversity. A large huizache (aromo) tree, alongside newly planted saplings, forms a striking visual anchor for the garden, alongside 1,300 oak trees that contrast beautifully with the yellow-flowering plants. In addition to cacti, agaves, mesquites and marigolds, the design features distinct zones, such as the spring garden, a collaboration with contemporary artist Guillermo Olguin who shaped the interplay of light, shadow and plant life to create a landscape that echoes his art and creative sensibilities. The Mexican architects have spent more than seven years tending to these plants, allowing them to grow in their own way.

Collaborative craftsmanship is key to the garden’s development. A notable feature is the large water tank, designed in the shape of an agave “pineapple” and inspired by pre-Hispanic fretwork found in the ruins of Mitla. Crafted in metal by Oaxacan artist Luis Zárate, this tank not only provides water to the complex but also serves as an iconic landmark, uniting seamlessly with the valley’s natural lines.

The expansion of Rancho Cebú also includes the addition of a hotel, the first distillery in Oaxaca to offer accommodation. RootStudio’s design for the hotel reflects its philosophy. The bungalows are built using bricks from disused ovens, arranged to echo local kilns found in traditional architecture. These independent units, partially sunk into the earth, are designed to fuse into the landscape, appearing as if they have always been part of the ranch’s history. These bungalows, designed to accommodate two guests each, include eight at ground level and three partially submerged into the earth. With rooftop open-air bathtubs and lookouts, they offer unobstructed views of the surrounding cave paintings.

Plans for the landscape architecture project involve expanding the hotel with additional bungalows and a church, bringing the total to 30 rooms. A portion of the new bungalows will be made from sheet metal and eight of adobe combined with agave fibre; a waste material from the agave harvest. This choice of materials is a deliberate nod to the diversity of the local environment, with each material selected for its ability to contribute to the ecosystem’s health. For instance, the intercropping of agave with corn, squash and beans enriches the soil and provides food for the community. In the gardens, the coexistence of different plants has cultivated a setting that supports the return of endemic fauna.

Across various regions, architectural projects like Rancho Cebú are not just about creating buildings but about fostering the regeneration of disrupted ecosystems. By incorporating native plants, restoring natural habitats and using sustainable design methods, these projects are helping to re-establish biodiversity and encourage the return of endemic species. Since its inception in 2010, RootStudio has become a well-respected name in Oaxaca City and beyond. The studio's multidisciplinary approach spans architecture, design, illustration, painting and sculpture. Their projects, whether residential or hospitality-focused, consistently demonstrate a commitment to blending with the landscape and prioritising social responsibility. Spaces designed by the studio reflect a thoughtful simplicity that underscores their mission to engage with contemporary architecture.

Throughout the project, RootStudio has emphasised the importance of using artisanal methods with sustainability. The studio is deeply rooted in the belief that architecture should support and enhance the natural environment rather than impose upon it. This philosophy is evident in every aspect of the ranch’s development, from the choice of materials to the integration of the buildings with the landscape.

The sustainable architecture project’s ongoing transformation under the Mexican practice’s guidance illustrates a growing awareness in the architectural world; that buildings should serve as stewards of the land they occupy. This project is a reminder that architecture can be a force for good, not just in its form but in its capacity to nurture and revitalise the ecosystems around it. In embracing this philosophy, RootStudio has crafted more than just a ranch; they have created a living, breathing example of how architecture can coexist with nature.