Casa Mérida

Mexico has a pretty pleasing climate and there is an increasingly impressive line up of contemporary architecture to be appreciated in the country and the latest to have caught our eye here at Coolector HQ is a minimalist marvel by the name of Casa Mérida. Designed by Ludwig Godefroy, this stunning piece of design is a lesson in understated architecture and uses unusual angles and layouts to really capture the imagination.

The beauty of Casa Mérida lies in its simplicity and clever use of space which really maximises the footprint of the property. Boasting a traditional aesthetic with a modern twist, this property is essentially a fragmented concrete house, which spans an 80-metre-long site in Mérida, Mexico, and takes its design inspirations from Mayan traditions and culture.

Magnificent Mexican Design

There is a clear nod to Mexico’s past in the design aesthetic of Casa Mérida and that ramps up its appeal still further in our opinion here at Coolector HQ. Ludwig Godefroy, an architect operating out of Mexico City, is the man responsible for this striking piece of residential architecture which is located in Mérida, which is the largest city in Yucatán state. It is regarded as the capital of the indigenous Mayan civilisation and the architect wanted to reference designs from this ancient community throughout this impressive build.

The plot for Casa Mérida had highly unusual proportions, measuring eight metres wide and about three quarters of the length of a football field, but this actually worked to the architect’s advantage in realising his vision for the design. These dimensions allowed him to explore the notion of a long, fragmented home that he said is inspired by a Sacbe, an ancient Mayan road system used to connect different communities.

Breaking up the flow of Casa Mérida and interspersing it with outdoor areas served as a means of naturally ventilating the home. This followed the Mayan architectural style which was devised to ease living in the extreme climate of Yucatán, which is home to extremely high temperatures and a rainy season from June until September.

Following Local Traditions

The construction and materials used in the build of Casa Mérida from Ludwig Godefroy, were locally sourced or reference Mayan culture and this adds significantly to the overall tradition aesthetic of this minimalistic but striking piece of architecture in Mexico. The creamy stone perimeter walls, which have joints covered in the stone splinters, take their design influence from those in Mayan pyramids and temples sites and it’s hard not to be a little awe-struck by the aesthetic of this property.

Casa Mérida from Ludwig Godefroy really is a sight to behold and a wonderful piece of modern architecture that we’re big fans of here at Coolector HQ. It has simple decor such as wooden furnishings, a stone bathtub and a rough sink. There are pops of colour throughout the property though which are provided by blue-hued textiles and artwork that aim to reflect the tones of the swimming pool.