Artisanal mezcal maker El Silencio has channeled its brand into a remote boutique hotel in Oaxaca’s agave-studded valleys. Dubbed Casa Silencio, six guest suites join a working palenque, or mezcal distillery, whose ancestral techniques inform the property’s aesthetic.
The hotel “pays homage to the mystical location from where the [mezcal] craft is so deeply connected,” says Vicente Cisneros, who cofounded El Silencio with Fausto Zapata. To draw inspiration, the partners traveled with Mexico City-based architect Alejandro D’Acosta through Mexico’s wine country and visited whiskey distilleries in Scotland. The result is an experiential retreat where guests can stand over pits of coal-roasted agave hearts, sip the smoky spirit at a giant communal stone table, and unwind in private rooms infused with a mezcal-inspired palette of copper, burnt wood, and volcanic rock.
Oaxacan carpenters repurposed wood into a striking exterior canopy that sits above a communal table
Cisneros says D’Acosta’s innovative approach to sustainable construction complements the mezcal maker’s made-by-hand ethos. Casa Silencio’s textured walls are made from local soil, clay, and sand, which were compressed into blocks using a rammed earth technique. Oaxacan carpenters turned repurposed wood into striking exterior pillars, ceiling beams, and window frames. Mosaics of recycled mezcal bottles lend transparency and artistry, while handcarved stone pieces form bathroom sinks and monolithic sculptures.
Suites, too, brim with local craftsmanship: rugs handwoven in the village of Teotitlán del Valle, curtains pedal-loomed in Mitla, and wooden furnishings from San Andrés Huayapam. Designer Martina D’Acosta, who is the architect’s daughter, sought to balance traditional Oaxacan elements with a contemporary feel, adding velvet upholstery, copper lamps, and distressed leather pieces. The finishing touches come in the form of an eclectic mix of paintings, illustrations, and pottery scattered among the suites and common areas, which include a restaurant, plunge pool, and firepit.
If the rugged surroundings are part of Casa Silencio’s appeal, they also represent unique challenges. Roads were repaired to offer better access to the property, while solar panels provide onsite electricity. Rainwater harvesting and water-reuse systems replenish the building, which was designed and oriented to capture natural sunlight, breeze, and insulation. But perhaps no feature better embodises the partners’ vision than the bespoke solar-powered tahona, a huge stone wheel used in mezcal making. Casa Silencio is “a modern temple to ancient tradition,” Cisneros says.
This article originally appeared in HD’s October 2021 issue.
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