Dezeen Magazine

Purple rectangular one-storey building with a swimming pool and palm trees

Workshop Architects renovates and expands purple Mérida home

Local architecture studio Workshop Architects has renovated a Spanish colonial house in Mérida, Mexico, and added two concrete buildings in its garden.

Named Casa Pulpo, the 235-square-metre residential project is characterised by lilac-hued exterior walls and traditional pasta floor mosaic tiling in the interiors.

Purple two-storey cuboid house with sun lounges and palm trees
Casa Pulpo has three purple-coloured buildings

"The traditional architecture of Mérida uses pasta tile for the floors, and usually, each room has a different pattern," said Workshop Architects co-founder Francisco Bernés.

"That is why in this project, every room has a unique design on the floors and a similar tone colour for the base of the walls."

Front exterior of the existing house at Casa Pulpo by Workshop Architects
The studio renovated the existing Spanish colonial house

The studio renovated the existing house, preserving the high ceilings and exposed white metal beams with wooden joists in the bedroom and living room at the front of the property.

An archway in the living room leads to the kitchen, which features a wood and white quartz island and a corner breakfast area to add a sense of cosiness.

A one-storey purple building with glass sliding doors revealing a dining room and swimming pool beyond
Glass sliding doors in the central building connect the living space and swimming pool

Each space in the house features a different colour applied to the pasta floor tiles and painted on the lower sections of the walls.

Workshop Architects united the rooms by using a neutral colour on the upper part of the walls and adding white border tiles on the perimeter of the floors.

Interior of a living room with mosaic floor tiles, exposed ceiling joists and a blue sofa
Traditional Mexican pasta tiles decorate the floors

Large sliding glass doors connect the kitchen and outdoor space, letting natural light and ventilation into the interior.

A breakfast nook was also added to generate a "warm and cosy feeling".

The studio added two separate concrete buildings to the site, using door proportions and wall heights and thickness that reference the original house.

One of the buildings is a one-storey structure in the middle of the site, accommodating a bedroom and dining and TV room with glass sliding doors open out to a swimming pool.

"This area, being independent of the rest of the house, allows, through the use of two sliding glass doors, to have visuals that flow towards the gardens and towards the pool area, giving the sensation of spaciousness and freshness," said Workshop Architects.

Exterior of a purple two-storey building with an arch entryway and swimming pool
Workshop Architects added an arched entryway to the building at the rear of the property

At the end of the garden is a two-storey structure containing a bedroom and ensuite on the ground floor, accessed by an arched entryway. An outdoor staircase leads to an additional bedroom and ensuite above.

"The third and last nucleus of the house has a more modern and purposeful volumetry with respect to the previous two, which are presented in a more conservative way," said Workshop Architects.

Purple rectangular one-storey building with a swimming pool and palm trees
Chukum was used for the swimming pool walls

Adjacent to the two-storey structure is a small terrace with a bajareque wooden roof that filters natural light and "projects an extraordinary play of light and shadow on the walls and floors".

The swimming pool walls were made from the material chukum, which is created by boiling chukum tree bark and mixing it with concrete.

Interior of a kitchen with mosaic floor tiles, a corner breakfast area and archway leading to a living room
Different colours were used on the lower parts of the walls in each room

"Casa Pulpo seeks to create perfect atmospheres for the full enjoyment of each of its spaces through the use of different materials and textures throughout the property," said Workshop Architects.

In 2020, the studio transformed a colonial house in Mérida into an art centre and workshop for the city's annual festival of lights.

The photography is by Tamara Uribe.

More images and plans

Ground floor plan of Casa Pulpo by Workshop Architects
Second floor plan of Casa Pulpo by Workshop Architects
Elevation drawing of Casa Pulpo by Workshop Architects
Section drawing of Casa Pulpo by Workshop Architects
Section drawing of Casa Pulpo by Workshop Architects
Section drawing of Casa Pulpo by Workshop Architects
A bedroom with yellow lower walls and a bed with navy bedding
A swimming pool with a terrace and lounge chairs with wood cover overhead
A corner breakfast area in a room with white walls and mosaic floor tiles
A swimming pool with a terrace and lounge chairs with wood cover overhead
Living room interior with mosaic floor tiles and a blue sofa
Interior lounge space with a palm tree, chair and mosaic floor tiles
Kitchen interior with a white and wood island and mosaic floor tiles
Kitchen interior with a white and wood island and mosaic floor tiles
Exterior of the purple Casa Pulpo home by Workshop Architects
Interior living room with white walls, mosaic flooring and a blue sofa
Interior of a bedroom with mosaic floor tiles at Casa Pulpo by Workshop Architects
Interior lounge space with mosaic floor tiles and sliding glass doors leading to a swimming pool
A dining area with wooden furniture and mosaic floor tiles
Outdoor sun loungers with palm trees
Interior of a bedroom with mosaic floor tiles at Casa Pulpo by Workshop Architects
Two purple buildings and a swimming pool at Casa Pulpo by Workshop Architects
Purple exterior staircase at Casa Pulpo by Workshop Architects
Vegetation and purple buildings at Casa Pulpo by Workshop Architects
Interior dining space with wooden furniture and mosaic floor tiles
Interior of a bathroom with mosaic floor tiles at Casa Pulpo by Workshop Architects
Interior of a bedroom with mosaic floor tiles at Casa Pulpo by Workshop Architects
Interior of a dining space with mosaic floor tiles at Casa Pulpo by Workshop Architects
Kitchen interior with wood cabinets and white splashback
Kitchen interior with wood cabinets and white splashback
Kitchen interior with wood cabinets, white splashback and wood kitchen island
An archway leading to a kitchen with an island and mosaic flooring
Purple arched entryway leading to a bedroom
Interior of a bedroom with mosaic floor tiles at Casa Pulpo by Workshop Architects
Exterior staircase at the purple Casa Pulpo by Workshop Architects
Swimming pool and planting in front of a purple one-storey building
Interior kitchen with wooden kitchen island and mosaic floor tiles
Purple Casa Pulpo building with sun loungers in front