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Arising from the conversion into a house-museum and the first intervention from Materia developing the pavilion in 2015, the client commissioned us to develop a parking lot structure. Nonetheless, after analyzing the appeal of Merida as a place of culture and tourism, the inquiry represented an opportunity to capitalize on the legacy of the Quinta, leading to the development of a carefully curated master plan, supported by the house, the events' pavilion, an art gallery, a restaurant, bookstore and workshops. The project presents itself as a series of spaces intertwined by porticoes & thresholds.
Amongst the bustle of Paseo Montejo, Merida's most notorious avenue, Quinta Montes Molina stands as an icon of both the city and the early century houses built during the sisal boom. The pavilion and the surrounding garden serve as a buffer between the noise of the avenue and the more intimate space produced within the cultural center. A line of existing trees is set in between of the pavilion and the newest addition, reinforcing the aim of the project of not being an object and rather a series of spaces intertwined, blending with the existing environment. Its modern approach allows it to have a voice of its own and stand out, whilst having dialog with the cultural heritage provided by the house.
Amongst the bustle of Paseo Montejo, Merida's most notorious avenue, Quinta Montes Molina stands as an icon of both the city and the early century houses built during the sisal boom. The pavilion and the surrounding garden serve as a buffer between the noise of the avenue and the more intimate space produced within the cultural center. A line of existing trees is set in between of the pavilion and the newest addition, reinforcing the aim of the project of not being an object and rather a series of spaces intertwined, blending with the existing environment. Its modern approach allows it to have a voice of its own and stand out, whilst having dialog with the cultural heritage provided by the house.
After becoming a museum, the Quinta quickly became a reference point given its iconic architecture and history. In 2014, the owners commissioned a pavilion to host cultural and social events, the resulting structure formed a contemporary identity that blends with the existing house. The most recent expansion is the Cultural Center, composed of art galleries, a performance plaza, gardens, an area dedicated to food, and a retail space. Beyond the mere fulfillment of the programmatic needs, the project seeks to reinterpret the program, blending within one interior space that encompasses: a signature restaurant, a café, and a bookstore; creating a unique setting with no precedent in the city. The program is complemented with exterior terraces under porticoes that connect to the Cultural Center, including a patio and a reflecting pool providing an outdoor dining experience. The restaurant is named Avelino & María, honoring the first owners of the original Quinta. The bookstore and café are called “Dos Encuentros” (Two Encounters), referring to the links created through time between house and public space, tradition and contemporaneity, individuals, and community. The result is a hybrid program that promotes permanence and encounter, framed by historic references revamped in a contemporary language, giving continuous life to craft, detail, and the experience of light within the space.
In the words of Agustín Illescas: Materia helped us dream about exploring new opportunities that enhanced the property’s vocation. Even when the kickoff idea was that of building a parking lot, Gustavo’s approach led the way into developing a cultural landmark. The symbiosis of a cultural space with a retail component, plus the exhibition rooms, allowed to consolidate the vocation of the Cultural Center while securing its operation, this would have been impossible without Materia´s vision.
Founded in 2006 by Gustavo Carmona and Lisa Beltrán, Materia is an architecture studio based in Mexico City with global outreach. Our work aims to create atmospheres expressed through the detailed and thoughtful craft of material.
Our team has designed and overseen projects in more than 10 countries becoming proficient in strategic thinking, communication, and the assembly of regional teams. Our vision and discipline bring together talent, skill, and the complicity of third parties toward a successful project within complex environments.
Our work focuses on the creation of atmospheres closely related to the careful craft of materials and integration into the surrounding context. This approach provides an architecture that is both pragmatic, fully responsive to its needs, innovative, and highly sensitive. Our vocation and process are genuinely contemporary, open, and collaborative.
http://www.materiarq.com/proje...
