Mexico is a country full of style, beauty, and elegance. From the exquisite Art Deco and Art Nouveau streets of Mexico City to the stunning tropical minimalism of the Yucatan, everywhere you turn is a surprising delight of alternative design and traditional style.
While some misguided souls only think of cacti, sombreros, ponchos, and tequila when they think of Mexico, in the design world the country and its architects are pioneers, blazing design trails that blend ancient Aztec and Mayan concepts with natural beauty and alternative style.
One of the best things about Mexican architecture and design is its flexibility. Most of the motifs and concepts in Mexican architecture work incredibly well in combination with other styles, and in other geographical locations. So if you are considering a home renovation in the near future, why not pack your bags and take a luxury cruise to Mexico to get a little inspiration? You might be surprised at what you’ll find.
Here are some of the most incredible examples of modern and historic Mexican architecture to give you a little taste of what to expect.
An Aztec beach house
Zicatela House (photo below), designed by Ludwig Godefroy, a Mexican architect born in France, was inspired by the stark exteriors of ancient Aztec temples. Built from smooth, minimalist concrete blocks broken by stairways, vaulted bridges, and shimmering swimming pools, it offers an eye-catching and dramatic vision in gray. Dark wood for doors, windows, and shutters offers a warm contrast to the otherwise cold gray exteriors and brings together the concept in a fascinating way.
An exploded house
Another work in concrete, but one that offers a completely different result, Casa Bruma is a modular house, a deconstructed home, designed by Fernanda Canales and Claudia Rodriguez. Dark anthracite concrete rooms are scattered across the grounds, situated for maximum sunlight, with green rooves to soften the harshness of the exterior. Each room is a separate module, connected to the others with covered walkways, making the most of Mexico City’s pleasant climate. The vegetation and surrounding forest have been allowed to encroach on the house, creating a fascinating inside-out atmosphere.
The beauty of Merida
Merida, the capital of the Yucatan state, offers some of the most beautiful and intriguing architecture that Mexico has to offer. Ranging from smooth, polished concrete to colorful, ornate colonial designs, and intricate, almost Moorish cement tiles, the architecture of this city is stunning, dramatic, and charming all at once, with elements that can be incorporated into almost any other design style.
Tuluminati
The Tulum style is almost instantly recognizable, an eco-boutique vibe that offers curves, wood and earth tones, and natural vibes to create a holistic, hippy, and effortless gorgeous design concept. The Instagram-famous hotel Azulik is one of the best and most famous examples of this style, while the recently-opened contemporary art gallery there is another great illustration, all undulating vine floors and tree-like ceilings.
Palacio de Correos
For the more traditional architecture lovers, the Palacio de Correos in Mexico City offers amazing inspiration straight from the Porfiriato, the Mexican Industrial Revolution. More like a palace than a post office (hence the name), the Palacio Postal is decked out in intricate wood balustrades, shining brass, stained glass, and polished Italian marble.
Casa de Los Azulejos
No dive into Mexican architecture and design would be complete without a mention of their fabulous azulejos, the vivid blue tiles from Puebla that mimic the other Talavera ceramics of the region. The Casa de Los Azulejos is an 18th-century house in the center of Mexico City covered in these gorgeous blue and white tiles and offers beautiful inspiration for anyone wanting to add a blast of color to their home.