The meeting between past and present is more than evident and perfectly harmonized in this mansion that dates back almost a century and has been transformed into a Boutique Hotel. The renovation project was carried out with great care as the architect, Roger González, aimed to preserve all the emblematic and traditional features of the building. The symmetry of the façade with its three arches was preserved, although only the central one serves as the entrance for guests to the Cigno Hotel located in Mérida, Mexico. During the restoration process, traditional techniques of the region were utilized, such as chukum, a method for finishing stucco used in the Mayan pyramids, giving it a rustic look thanks to the reddish hue of the Uxmal earth. In addition, the layout of the main volume of the house welcoming guests to the lobby and bar was preserved. The adjoining hall houses a boutique where works by local artists are sold. A traditional cistern, once used to collect rainwater, was discovered during the work. This underground space was redesigned as a two-room wine cellar. In the central courtyard, a wall was built that features a mural of La Ermita de Santa Isabel – also known as the Church of Our Lady of Safe Journeys – inspired by the sketch included in the book Incidents of Travel in Central America, published around 1840, in which John Stephens and Frederick Catherwood recount their explorations of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Photos Courtesy of Cigno Hotel Boutique