A century-old architectural school has been given new life in the picturesque city of Mérida, Mexico, renovated by architect Ezequiel Farca and designer Monica Calderon. A place where students once gathered to design for future generations, the school’s pioneering creative spirit has been preserved and the location reborn as an elegant modern residence, welcoming artists and guests from around the world to discover art, design, food, and wellness.

Built in 1919, every room in this spacious structure tells a story, and this former architectural school is fulfilling its creative mission in a new, distinctly 21st-century manner. Renovated to retain the creative spirit alive in its walls and the detailed beauty of its architecture, it features preserved pasta-tile floors, sturdy wooden doors, traditional Yucatan celosias on the walls, and adorcreto bricks in its bedrooms, stunning central courtyard, and elegant historic dining room.

Five bedrooms, a foyer, spacious living room, dining room, office, bar, fully-equipped modern kitchen, and indoor cinema make up the residence’s principal interior spaces. An open patio, pool, and unique underground water well for deep relaxation make up the outdoors. Each of the bedrooms is unique, though all feature linen bedding and tzalam wood furnishings. The largest bedroom offers guests a private outdoor tub and shower terrace. A double queen bedroom offers dramatic staircase views, a smaller, “junior” king bedroom on the top floor features a private balcony with city views, and two additional queen bedrooms are connected by an outdoor terrace.

The common areas are elegant and comfortable, each with its own energy and style. The living room is pale and soothing, designed to be a relaxed, restful space, with low slung couches, a bar and a mid-century feeling to it. The casa’s open, hacienda-styled patio, located outside the living room’s windows, is plant filled and open air, yet intimately located at the heart of the house. 

An outdoor lap pool and built-in daybed fill a separate outdoor patio space set across the elegant vintage dining room from the courtyard. Glass doorways allow for the elegant, tile-floored dining room to serve as a breezeway between the patios. The kitchen also opens onto the courtyard and pool areas, and it features an industrial-styled look with vivid yellow furnishings offsetting old stone walls. Set up for a crowd, the kitchen is fully equipped and offers a wide countertop workspace, with bar stool seating and a  pizza oven.

Unique additions to the former school include a multimedia room, and a natural water well that lies underneath the courtyard. This dimly lit underground pool has been updated as an oasis for guests to rest and rejuvenate.

AROUND

The house is located five blocks from Mérida’s town square and cathedral, and a 10-minute walk from the city’s most popular neighborhood of cafes, restaurants and shops. Mérida is the capital of Yucatan and is known for its vibrant architecture and ancient Mayan heritage. Named several times as a “Cultural Capital,” Mérida makes a great base for discovering UNESCO-designated archeological sites such as Chichen Itza and Uxmal, as well as touring the Pueblos Magicos, or charming small villages nearby. 

Within the lively city, open-air markets are abundant, and the region is a gastronomical destination. Museums, and galleries are housed in colonial mansions, and haciendas, artisanal markets and boutiques are available for visits. Nearby outdoor recreation opportunities include visiting the cenotes, the legendary regional swimming holes, or making quick day trips to the coasts on either side of the Yucatan peninsula.

LOCATION

Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico. Nearest airport: Mérida

BEST TIME TO VISIT: November to March