Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual

Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Interior Photography, Windows, Stairs, HandrailTrava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Interior Photography, DoorTrava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Interior Photography, Living Room, Sofa, Table, ChairTrava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Interior Photography, StairsTrava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - More Images+ 31

Mérida, Mexico
  • Construction: TACO taller de arquitectura contextual
  • Team: Carlos Patrón Ibarra, Ana Patrón Ibarra, Alejandro Patrón Sansor, Karla Gómez Luna, Kristell Guillen, José Alavez.
  • City: Mérida
  • Country: Mexico
More SpecsLess Specs

Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Image 29 of 36
North facade
Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Exterior Photography, Windows, Facade
© Manolo R. Solís

Text description provided by the architects. Las Casas Trava & Quintero are two rehabilitation projects for the built heritage of the Santa Lucia neighborhood, one of the most touristy areas in the Historic Center of the city of Merida (Mexico). The aim is to transform them into two spaces for temporary accommodation, taking advantage of their privileged location behind one of the city's most popular public squares due to its cultural offerings.

Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Interior Photography, Living Room, Chair, Lighting
© Manolo R. Solís
Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Image 30 of 36
Ground floor plan
Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Interior Photography, Living Room, Sofa, Table, Chair
© Manolo R. Solís

Both building projects follow the guidelines of conservation institutions and propose the integration of their facades and material palettes in order to recover the scale of the original constructions in the neighborhood. This approach offers an alternative solution to the urban image issues that have arisen from the subdivision of properties in the area.

Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Interior Photography, Door
© Manolo R. Solís

Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Interior Photography, Living Room, Table, Chair
© Manolo R. Solís

When the project began, both buildings had been operating as commercial spaces for several years and had undergone multiple interventions that responded to the immediate needs of the tenants at the time. The first step was to remove the added elements in order to understand the original structure of both buildings.

Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Image 31 of 36
First floor plan
Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Interior Photography, Stairs
© Manolo R. Solís

Once this was done, the resulting spaces were analyzed to see how they could be adapted to the new activities that would take place in them. Similarly, the entrances and horizontal and vertical circulation were redesigned in order to improve the habitability of the spaces, providing them with cross-ventilation and natural lighting.

Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Countertop
© Manolo R. Solís
Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Image 33 of 36
Section

The project included the reconstruction of the slabs, the complete replacement of the installations, and the application of new finishes wherever necessary, as all the previous ones were in an advanced state of deterioration. Similarly, the heights of the slabs were standardized and the openings of doors and windows were aligned.

Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Interior Photography
© Manolo R. Solís
Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Image 34 of 36
Section
Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Interior Photography, Door, Windows, Stairs
© Manolo R. Solís

In terms of the architectural program, Casa Trava (front left) is a 2-bedroom private residence with 1 shared bathroom, a kitchen, a social area (dining room-living room), a half-bathroom, a laundry room, an open patio, and a shallow pool. Casa Quintero (front right) is a 1-bedroom residence with an open loft-style bedroom, 1 bathroom with a bathtub, a kitchen, a social area with a double-height ceiling, a laundry niche, an open patio, and a pool.

Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Interior Photography, Windows
© Manolo R. Solís
Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Image 35 of 36
Section

The materiality proposal seeks to highlight the history of the houses and respond to the characteristic moisture problems in buildings of this type. Part of the patina of the walls (a product of the passage of time) was preserved and framed by the repairs made to the deteriorated parts and where the new installations passed through.

Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Interior Photography, Bedroom, Bed, Windows
© Manolo R. Solís
Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Image 36 of 36
Section
Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Interior Photography, Bedroom
© Manolo R. Solís

For the wall and ceiling finishes, lime paint was used, except in the damp areas where a waterproof stucco with a smooth finish was used. The masonry of the adjacent walls was also uncovered. For the interior floors, rough gray concrete, Santo Tomas marble, and paste were used. Open perimeter joints were left on the ground floor to allow for moisture release. Local permeable gravel with hammered concrete plates was used for the exterior.

Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Interior Photography, Bathroom, Sink
© Manolo R. Solís
Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Image 32 of 36
Roof plan
Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual  - Interior Photography, Bathroom, Sink
© Manolo R. Solís

Project gallery

See allShow less

Project location

Address:Mérida, Yuc., Mexico

Click to open map
Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Trava & Quintero Houses / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual " [Casas Trava & Quintero / TACO taller de arquitectura contextual ] 14 Apr 2023. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/999446/trava-and-quintero-houses-taco-taller-de-arquitectura-contextual> ISSN 0719-8884

You've started following your first account!

Did you know?

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.