workshop architects revitalizes mexican casa pulpo

Casa Pulpo breathes new life into historical Yucatecan house

Merida-based architecture studio Workshop architects restores a historic house located in one of the oldest neighborhoods of Yucatán, Mexico. The geometric volumes and silhouettes brighten up in vibrant purple tints as part of the subtle renovation plan of ‘Casa Pulpo’. The internal arrangement retains most of the initial features repairing the structural elements when needed. The first of the spaces, consisting of a bedroom and a living room, preserves the original high ceilings with the traditional white metal beams and wooden joints leaving the timber exposed to display the weathered shades of the aged material. Each zone decorates the space by putting up a different color that is reflected in the ‘pasta’ tiles and accentuated on the lower border of the walls. The upper parts of the surfaces tint in a unifying off-white paint throughout the interior.

Casa Pulpo by Workshop architects | all images by Tamara Uribe

the interior sets up distinct atmospheres for each area

Through the arch of the hall, the kitchen presents neutral tones, while large sliding glass doors connect the space to a small central patio, providing ventilation and natural light throughout, as well as direct access to the exterior. Aiming to generate distinct atmospheres for each area of ‘Casa Pulpo’, the design team at Workshop architects applies wooden textures and white quartz materiality to differentiate the main kitchen, dining, and lounge zone.

The central volume of the property arranges another room, the dining room, and the TV room, leading to a small wooden deck surrounded by tropical vegetation. Two sliding glass doors provide views and circulatory flow towards the garden and pool area. The third main space forms the core of the house presenting a more modern and purposeful volumetry and integrating various elements, such as a set of extrusions dividing each space according to its use.

the middle volume connects the bedroom to the outdoor terrace

wooden decks and stone walls contrast the lilac color

The main bedroom on the ground floor connects to a small terrace for private use with a ‘bajareque’ roof made of bamboo and soil, projecting an intricate shadowplay on the walls and floors throughout the day. ‘Casa Pulpo’ project seeks to create diverse atmospheres through the use of different materials and textures throughout the property, such as the ‘pasta’ tile floors and the interior colors or the wooden decks, stone walls, the ‘chukum’ pool, and the plantation, contrasting the lilac color of the exterior.

the lilac arch of the hall leads to the rear building, hosting the master bedroom and guestroom upstairs