- Interior
Some houses are not completely redesigned. Some houses already exist and are just waiting to be heard. In the La Ermita neighbourhood, in the heart of Mérida's historic centre, there was such a house. Most of the original walls were still there, although over time new floors and additions had been installed in unusual places. Yet traces of the past remained visible: wooden beams, fragments of structures and textures that carried silent stories. This is where the design began.
The clients, a couple from Colombia, were looking for a place to relax in Mérida. One of them is a chef and feels at home in spaces that invite interaction, ritual and presence. The other is an artist, sensitive to light, materials and the beauty of everyday things. From the outset, we knew that the kitchen would be the real heart of the house, not only functionally but also emotionally. 
The first space became a double-height vestibule, where a built-in bench invites you to take off your shoes. A curtain of natural fibre filters soft light into the seating area. Low furniture and a large wooden top define the space, while two skylights allow diffused light to enter, bringing warmth without excess. From here, the house branches out: one route leads to a circular dining room with a bookshelf, wine rack and display cabinet, the other opens onto a stone path surrounded by vegetation that leads to the rear of the plot.
Subtle echoes of the past formed the starting point for the design
The kitchen is central to the house. The original walls have been left intact and an antique work table forms the centrepiece. The vaulted ceiling of dovelas is deliberately left open at both ends, allowing sunlight to break through and cast shadows, a subtle echo of the original wooden beams that filtered the light in slanting rays on the first visit.
Outside, a narrow path leads to a terrace with a swimming pool surrounding a raised concrete tank, now repurposed as a jacuzzi. A narrow watercourse, starting at a small fountain near the vestibule, connects the entire house and emphasises the presence of water. The private areas are located at the end of the plot. The master bedroom on the ground floor is set apart from the outer wall and encloses an internal garden that provides ventilation and filtered sightlines. The bed is integrated with a wardrobe and conceals the bathroom, which opens to the outside and features a bathtub and an open-air shower surrounded by plants. The second bedroom is located on the upper floor with a mezzanine for guests. The new volumes are finished in a washed yellow tone so that they blend into the context.
The project was designed by Veinte Diezz Arquitectos, a studio known for an approach that combines respect for existing structures with contemporary design. Their design philosophy revolves around listening to the character of the space, emphasising natural light and integrating materials that are both tactile and timeless. In this house, this translates into an interior that carefully matches the existing architecture, while introducing new volumes and functions that support and enrich the daily lives of the residents. 
Interior by Veinte Diezz Arquitectos
Photography by Eyes of Memo (Marian Morfin)
Text by Elke Aerts