The Mérida English Language Library, which serves the small but active English-speaking expat community here, offers weekly tours of houses in the historic district. We've been more than happy to tag along on two of them (so far). The colonial houses of Mérida follow a basic pattern. They are almost like fortresses with their four walls pushed up right to the property lines and everything happening inside the walls. Their plain facades are what our tour guide called the opposite of McMansions: no expansive front lawns, no elaborate architectural displays, no showing off. Everything is hidden behind the thick stone walls, including the living spaces, swimming pools, terraces and all the greenery, which is conspicuously absent out in the streets. High ceilings are the norm to allow for maximum air flow in the tropical climate. The houses we've seen on the tour have all been remodeled – some to retain historical details, some to a thoroughly modern style, some a mixture of the two. We can totally see ourselves living in one of these beautiful homes which provide a high degree of privacy but, with careful design, still manage to let in plenty of light and air and a sense of outdoor living.
Some facades look like this...
...and some look like this.
This plain facade hides a stunning house - our favorite so far.
Inside courtyard with a recreated street scence featuring seven different facades, including a "ruin". The doors on the sidewalls are fake and lead nowhere.
Beautiful pool with covered terraces all around.
They can build anything from concrete here. Straight building lumber doesn't grow on the Yucatan - only small twisty trees.
Second storey balcony overlooking the pool area, as seen from a roof terrace.
Another house with more traditional details, including elaborate tile in the kitchen.
Beautiful ironwork is common.
Sink carved from local limestone (you can even see bits of shell in the stone).
Another pool, open to the sky.
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