the contemporary 'palace for mexican music' highlights the city's heritage architecture

the palace for mexican music was designed as an expression of contemporary architecture with great respect for its historical context. due to both its location in the vibrant yucatan city of mérida as well as its public programs — including a museum and concert hall — it was conceived as a revitalization of its historical downtown neighborhood and a catalyst for public space. in order to set a precedent for contemporary building within a site with such a significant architectural heritage, the building serves as a plaza which emphasizes and frames the surrounding historical structures. the green terrace rooftop further expresses the magnificence and scale of the surrounding heritage buildings.

all images by onnis lunque

the state-funded project was conceived by a collaboration between four studios: alejandro medina arquitectura, reyes ríos + larraín arquitectos, muñoz arquitectos, and quesnel arquitectos. the building is comprised of four stories divided according to program. the underground level features an interactive museum for mexican music which narrates the evolution of mexican folk music from its origins to present day. 

at street level, the open plan allows pedestrians to filter through the courtyard and access the concert hall and the archive which houses the largest collection of recordings outside mexico city. the rooftop, designed as a terrace with gardens overlooking the adjacent cathedral and the ‘third order temple,’ offers a new perspective and of the heritage sites. 

diagram indicating the project’s formal development

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project info:

location: merida, yucatan, mexico
project year: 2015 – 2018
client: secretaría de cultura de méxico gobierno del estado de yucatán
design coauthors: alejandro medina arquitectura, reyes ríos + larraín arquitectos, muñoz arquitectos, quesnel arquitectos
architecture team: mariana ríos c., natalia avila o., carlos fleischer c., manolo rejón, jonathan álvarez
general contractor: constructora proser s.a de c.v., carlos ancona, francisco bassó, luis burgos
museography: exhibiscopio s.a. de c.v
structural design: esssa ingeniería estructural
lighting designer: 333 luxes, elias cisneros