In Mexico, Veinte Diezz Arquitectos Transforms a Nearly Ruined Home
Vistalcielo, in Mérida, is an adaptive reuse project that turned an abandoned building into an earthy yet airy vacation rental.
Mérida, the capital of Mexico’s Yucatán state, is a city of jaw-dropping colonial architecture and hidden courtyards—so it’s no wonder that it’s home to a booming expat community and tourism industry. With that market in mind, Mérida-based architecture firm Veinte Diezz Arquitectos has designed Vistalcielo, an adaptive reuse project that turned an abandoned building into an earthy yet airy vacation rental.
Located on a narrow lot in the centre of town, the existing structure wasn’t fit for habitation. Its roof was collapsing, and its historic masonry walls were covered in vegetation. Rather than demolish the house, project lead José Luis Irizzont Manzanero opted to conserve approximately 70 per cent of the original structure and reorganize the dwelling into six distinct spaces: three open and three closed. Through the clever use of patio spaces and skylights, the new 1,600-square-foot-home celebrates natural light and traditional materials.
“Rather than creating a new house, we wanted to recover the one that was already there, revealing its potential through the rhythm of patio, curves, and light,” Manzanero says.
Behind the doors of its unassuming façade, the rental property reveals a courtyard before welcoming visitors into its central living core, which contains the kitchen and living room. Another patio delineates the guest bedroom and pool area, with the master bedroom at the back.
Manzanero prioritized local materials and techniques, such as lime plaster in a natural tone and hand-striated concrete, used for traction in wet areas. The new roof slabs were left exposed to showcase their beam structures, and every bathroom boasts a crescent-shaped skylight for an unusual portal to the day and night sky. Even the steel window grilles are an homage to the home’s original colour, painted a vibrant sky-blue tone. That same blue reemerges in the bedding and rug of the master bedroom, creating an impression of cohesiveness.
Passive design strategies, from natural ventilation and shading to low-energy materials, helped breathe new life into this old structure, making Vistalcielo a sought-after spot for design-savvy tourists craving an authentic experience in Mérida.
