Quinta Montes Molina Cultural Center, Mérida Landscaping, Mexican Art Gallery, Mexico Architecture Photos
Quinta Montes Molina Cultural Center in Mérida
29 Nov 2022
Design: Materia + Gustavo Carmona
Location: Merida, Mexico

Photos by Jaime Navarro
QMM Cultural Center, Mexico
This project forms part of the original Quinta Montes Molina premises and property, located in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. The house was originally built in 1906 and became an architectural icon and emblem of Paseo Montejo, the most notorious avenue in the city in which most of the early-century houses were built during the sisal boom.

In 2000, the house began holding important social events in its gardens. In 2006, it also opened as a museum, displaying all of its artifacts, original furniture, and works of art. In 2015, Materia was commissioned to design a pavilion for holding social and cultural events, while integrating new architecture into the existing building. The pavilion was subsequently awarded the Silver Medal at the 2015 Architecture Biennale of Mexico City.
This distinction sparked a change in the vocation of the house, leading the family to become an institution with a role towards culture and community. In 2016, Materia was commissioned to design a parking lot at the back of the property. A series of master plan studies and analyses revealed a larger opportunity to generate value and to expand the house’s legacy and offer.

Materia proposed a Cultural Center that took 6 years o...