As I’ve previously written about here, I’m currently building a house in Merida, Mexico on the Yucatan peninsula.
In the fall of 2020, after visiting Merida multiple times in the last several years, I found an amazing property online in the neighborhood of Jesus Carranza, just a few blocks from the city’s main thoroughfare, Paseo Montejo. It’s nearly 50 feet wide on the main entrance side, 100 feet deep with a separate street entrance around the corner, with a 30 x 40 foot “bonus lot”.
Over the past year and a half I’ve been working long distance with my friend, architect Erik Gonzales of Gonzales Estudio on a plan for the main house remodel with an addition of a new facade, courtyard, parking area, office with a 3 bedroom, 2 bath guest “casita” (little house) with its own kitchen next to the 11 meter lap pool at the rear of the property.
I went to Merida and closed on the property on May 5, 2021. Yes, on Cinco de Mayo, which is ironic because it’s the one day, besides the Day of the Dead, that Americans know and it’s not even a holiday in Mexico. Nevertheless, because we had been refining the project design while the government approved the sale, demolition began the following week.
The house gets its name Casa Cisterna, from a ruin of an old cistern at the back of the main house. In fact, Erik believes the property was never a house but rather a business for processing grain. There was a 6 meter deep well next to the cistern water catchment tower and parts of what was once a windmill. This is an odd coincidence since my studio, gallery & shop in upstate New York is housed in a former gas station that was converted from a grain and feed shop built in 1924.
Restored wall above the entrance to the primary bedroom suite. The stonework is called “mamposteria”
Old cistern tower with new pool edge in front & living room window opened up for double steel & glass casement French doors, right
Project contractor Russell Zumarraga, has been working on demo and construction since my visit in May, but it was slow going with all of the rain they had during the rainy season, which is summer here. Also a crew member contracted COVID, so they had to replace them with a new crew. I hear that they are thankfully recovered.
Facade before
Rendering of Casa Cisterna, approx. 16 meters wide, Gonzales Estudio
3 meter deep excavation of parking area
Installation of septic tanks
Front facade coming down
There was no septic tank so an enormous pit was excavated with heavy machinery after the existing hodge podge wall was demolished to be replaced by the new facade.
Looking from edge of the sidewalk toward to the front entrance and studio and office
Rendering of interior courtyard. Gallery entrance, left, studio window, center, office door, right
The main entrance to the house is a dining room/gallery and to the right my painting studio which is convertible into a bedroom for rentals when I’m not in residence. My plan is to divide my time 50/50 between upstate New York and Merida. I just received my permanent residency visa.
Courtyard & gallery entry, parking service entrance, left, studio window, right
Entry gallery/dining area with 4.5 meter ceilings & original restored pasta tile floors
Entry gallery with construction material and gravel to protect the original floors
The cement ceilings/roof on the main house was taken out because of old rusted rebar and is being replaced in the new year. The roof has been off the house for 6 months. Three of the main house rooms have existing pasta tile floors, which we are cleaning and polishing. My bedroom, bathroom, art studio, plus new additions of an office with a separate entrance, laundry and pantry will all get grey polished concrete floors.
Rendering of built-ins in the living room facing the entry gallery
Main house kitchen with plumbling channel, grey moisture barrier & 5 meter ceilings
Main kichen rendering with polished concrete counters, restored original pasta tile floors looking out to the garden
Pantry storage, left, garden & utility/half bath, right
Daybed, bouganvilia pergola & dining area, looking toward the guest casita kitchen door
Guest casita rendering, looking toward the garden. Tile will be the same design with golden stars, cantilevered shelves will be concrete
Looking toward the kitchen, the downstairs casita bedroom will have glass & steel casement double doors to the terrace & pool
Downstairs bathroom vanity & shelf design with access on three sides, including from the outdoor shower, left
Upstairs guest bathroom will get back tub wall tiled, a glass shower partition, edge to edge mirror. (Red dots below indicate recessed lighting. Sink size will be slightly reduced.)
Upstairs bedroom before concrete floors are polished
The guest casita (little house) contains a full kitchen, bedroom, bathroom/dressing room with a private outdoor shower and terrace downstairs. Up an outdoor, concrete spiral staircase is a small guest bedroom, a larger bedroom connecting to bathroom with a large tub and terrace overlooking the pool. The stairs are an all handmade engineering marvel.
The spiral staircase is constructed entirely of rebar & cement using handmade wooden molds
The guest casita will be completed by February 2022 and the rest of the project by April 2022. Follow the progress & see the finished results on Instagram @casacisternamerida
“Acapulco” outdoor furniture was custom-ordered ordered for poolside seating & lounging
Merida was just named the #6 Best Large City in the world by Condé Nast Traveler in their 2021 Reader’s Choice Awards. (1-5 were Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Singapore & Istanbul)
6. Mérida, Mexico
The streets of Mérida are bursting with the colorful facades of Spanish colonial architecture, but the capital of Mexico’s Yucatan state is also steeped in Mayanhistory. Centrally located on the Yucatan Peninsula, the city is an easy day trip to UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the ancient cities of Uxmal and Chichen Itza, and the beaches on the Gulf shore in Progreso. Locals recommend visiting Fundación de Artistas, a nonprofit featuring art exhibits in a 19th-century home; Gran Museo del Mundo Maya, a modern cultural museum; and the traditional Yucatecan food at the super casual Manjar Blanco. –Condé Nast Traveler, Reader’s Choice Awards, 2021
Vogue put Merida at the top of their “8 Places to Visit in 2022” list:
“Merida, Mexico still manages to fly under the radar, despite its proximity to incredible Mayan ruins and neon-blue cenotes. Plus, it has a unique culinary scene that runs the gamut from perfectly fried street cart churros to haute takes on traditional dishes by chefs like Pedro Evia, whose restaurant Kuuk is a critical darling. Look around for some excellent lodging options, including rooms in sprawling historic haciendas and sleek little city apartments.” –Laura Motta, Senior Director of Content at Lonely Planet
