- Interior
- Architecture & development
In the hilly landscape of Oaxaca, Mexico, Will Meyer, co-founder of design studio Meyer Davis, took charge of his own home together with his wife Kerstin Meyer. The nuanced design combines local knowledge, personal history and architectural craftsmanship to create a beautiful whole that is tailored in detail to the sea climate, rhythm and use of materials so typical of the area.
Founded by Will Meyer and Gray Davis, the multidisciplinary design studio Meyer Davis operates internationally in the world of high-end hospitality, residential architecture and retail design. In each project, the firm seeks a balance of contrasts: private and public, artisanal and innovative, grand and sophisticated. With projects for Four Seasons, Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Oscar de la Renta, among others, it positions itself in the high-end segment, without losing sight of the human scale. This is also palpable in Oaxaca: this house is not designed to impress, but to be meaningful. 
The house consists of a series of open volumes around a central palapa, the traditional Mexican thatched roof structure reinterpreted here as an architectural focal point. The palapa symbolises the interaction between old and new, as does the use of local breeze blocks; perforated bricks that provide natural ventilation and playful light. These blocks were redrawn by Will Meyer based on traditional weaving patterns, connecting practicality with local imagery. A logic of reduction is palpable throughout the house: built-in elements, honest materials and a palette of terracotta, white and concrete provide space for calm and reflection. 
Every rug, every cushion cover, every bowl comes from Oaxaca itself.
The interior is deliberately minimal, and yet it is rich in meaning. This is thanks to Kerstin, who has been involved in the region's local craft communities for years. Every rug, every cushion cover, every bowl comes from Oaxaca itself, often commissioned by makers with whom she has built long-term relationships. The furniture and objects are not décor, but part of a larger story centred on craftsmanship and mutual respect. Even the lighting, made from cactus fibre, is locally produced. 
The outdoor space was equally carefully designed. Under the guidance of Kerstin's brother Ramses Alexander and landscape architect Edwina von Gal, a garden was created that respected and enhanced the microclimate. Native plants from nearby nurseries were strategically placed to support both visual continuity and biodiversity. As the whole project proves, this is not an isolated design object, but a place that lives in dialogue with its surroundings - thoughtful, understated and with a deeply embedded appreciation for what was already there. 
Photography by The Ingalls
Text by Carolien Depamelaere