reyes rios+larrain completes the casa sisal

‘casa sisal’ by reyes rios+larrain studio, yucatan, mexico
image © pim schalkwijk
all images courtesy of reyes rios+larrain studio

mexican practice reyes rios+larrain studio has just shared with us their newest award winning project, ‘casa sisal’, named after the agave plants that were cultivated on the 45 m by 140 m site enclosed by old masonry walls dating back to the late 1800’s.  the 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom home is used as an individual guest house for the hacienda san antonio sacchich 35 kilometers from merida in the yucatan peninsula. covering 200 square meters, the building is composed of rather modest orthogonal geometries with an exterior stairs that leads to a rooftop terrace. each bedroom and bathroom is located at either end of the structure separated by a living/kitchen area enclosed by two large glass walls that slide back into the walls, allowing the space to become an extension to the exterior patio and swimming pool – characteristic of yucatan living. this conversion also allows the inhabitants to ventilate the interior spaces ans stay shaded in the summer heat.

front yard
image © marcelo troche

a unique aspect of the construction lies in the white concrete that makes up the entire structure. the studio spent 15 years experimenting and testing a special concrete mixture consisting of white cement and the resins from local chukum trees, a technique originally mastered by the regional mayas. this unique combination results in a material that is both structural and aesthetic, ideal for final finishes indoors and outdoors that contain a local color and texture. it does come with certain challenges however, as the resins take longer to set in the concrete mix, it cannot be poured during the rainy season. entire wall sections must also be cast as solid pieces in a single pour which complicates the construction as it must be very well thought out. once the concrete is set it boasts an extraordinary strength and natural seal due to the resins, making it very resistant to extreme weather conditions.

image © pim schalkwijk

image © marcelo troche

exterior stairs to the rooftop terrace
image © pim schalkwijk

image © marcelo troche

image © pim schalkwijk

open-air living room
image © pim schalkwijk

open walkways to the exterior surround the living area
image © pim schalkwijk

image © pim schalkwijk

bedroom
image © pim schalkwijk

master bedroom
image © marcelo troche

second bedroom
image © pim schalkwijk

bathroom
image © pim schalkwijk

image © pim schalkwijk

image © pim schalkwijk

image © pim schalkwijk

image © pim schalkwijk

image © pim schalkwijk