GLORIA MEXICANA

GLORIA MEXICANA In Oaxaca, Mexico, a restored 18th-century farmhouse bridges its storied past with a new mission in fostering artistic collaborations

- Celeste Goh

Located about 30 minutes from the city of Oaxaca, Mexico is the town of San Jerónimo Tlacochahuaya, nestled amid the thriving agricultural fields that line the Tlacolula Valley, with sweeping fields of yellow cempazúchitl and red cockscomb stretching across the landscape, while native birds such as herons, hummingbirds and vermillion flycatchers soar overhead.

With over 250 years of history, the area is rich with archaeological sites and ancient towns, including the Zapotec ruins of Mitla and the 16th-century temple and ex-convent of San Jerónimo, whose decorations and carvings blend European and indigenous influences unlike any other in Oaxaca.

Moreover, San Jerónimo Tlacochahuaya is a leading producer of agave and mezcal, the sweet and earthy distilled alcoholic beverage for which the region is known.

This setting provides an idyllic location for a colonial-style property built between the 1700s and 1800s: a hacienda (estate) held by the Dominican Order as a working farm producing corn, tomatoes and beans, until it passed into private hands in the 19th century.

While the property fell into disrepair in the 21st century, Raul Cabra and Michael Sledge, co-founders of design collective Oax-i-fornia, took over in 2007, and as current custodians of the historical residence have overseen its meticulous and ongoing restoration.