Search

Mérida’s Best-Kept Secret: Cigno Hotel’s Perfect Blend of History & Modernity

The recently opened Cigno Hotel in the Mexican state of Yucatán is a beautiful transformation of a 19th-century mansion by architect Roger González. The hotel, which reflects the cultural milieu of Mérida, blends the provincial past with the present and showcases the multicultural character of the city.

By

Share

Intriguingly Then and Now, With Both Provincial and Urban Appeals, the City of Mérida Makes Way for the Remake of a Grand-dame Mansion Into the Radiant Cigno Hotel

In the Mexican state of Yucatán, Mérida is a melting pot of cultural inheritances, predominantly Mayan and Hispanic, with Lebanese, French and Eastern influences that permeate “the entire character and atmosphere of the city,” says by architect Roger González.

“The old city, built on top of an abandoned Mayan city,” he notes, “is laid out in a grid pattern, much in the Renaissance style, and over nearly 500 years, Mérida has expanded in all directions.”

But it is the city’s historic center—its vibrant, pulsating heart—that occupied Roger González as he completed a head-turning transformation of a 19th-century mansion for use as a contemporary boutique hotel.

Lavished in architectural detail ranging from stately columned walls to ornate iron gates, the recently arrived Cigno Hotel is, like Mérida itself, much shaped by its cultural milieu, with one foot in the provincial past and the other in the electrifyingly present. Little is known about this grand-dame’s past as a private house, only that the structure was modified many times, with one room was fully preserved (its original shape and central yard were rescued and remade).

The present, on the other hand, is vivid and tangible, a warm, rustic and considered reimagining by Roger González deserving of its gallant surround, characterized by colorful streets, broad plazas, and columned, colonial casas that open to beautiful patios and tropical vegetation.

It is all very cinematic, and this particular house-turned-hotel a set piece with a decidedly local tone “reinforced with regional materials that showcase the multicultural character that defines Mérida,” says the architect.

That “Cigno is a hotel with a unique soul,” as described by Raúl Sánchez, CEO of Cigno Hotels, is a fate that was sealed from the start. From the moment this project was conceived, Sánchez notes, every effort was made to preserve the historical details of the century-old structure, and in turn, its palpable sense of place, beautifully realized in details that reflect Yucatecan culture.

This includes many component elements that were handcrafted by local artisans exclusively for this project, Raúl Sánchez points out. Pasta floors are replicated with the original design of the house. A characteristic color palette evoking the water element vital to this area of Mexico. Wall coverings made with local materials with ancestral construction techniques still used today. Poetic, warm, the hotel is a love letter to traditional Yucatecan heritage, combined with the conveniences of the current era—something the culture is also good at producing. 

Charged with leading the restoration of the building, Roger González utilized “painstaking processes to enhance the original and most emblematic features of the structure, such as the high ceilings, cornices, Corinthian-style columns, richly ornamented capitals, ceiling moldings, and cement tile floors,” says Raúl Sánchez. “The symmetry of the façade, with its three arches, was maintained, although only the central one functions as an entrance for guests and visitors. The ironwork and joinery of the doors and windows was also retained and restored to an impeccable finish that contrasts with the steel-blue tone that dominates the property’s exterior.”

The most conspicuous consideration of local culture in the project is the use of chukum, an ancient technique for working with stucco used in Mayan pyramids, and deployed here for organic honesty to blends in with the structure’s original friezes and moldings. Among these is a mural from La Ermita de Santa Isabel , or the Church of Our Lady of Safe Travels. 

Straddling both New and Old Worlds in exquisitely finished ease, the interior of the hotel presents as if it came from the tip of an artist’s brush. It’s a painterly scene, rich in aesthetic detail, with an invigorating palette of blue and terracotta tones and lush, wall-climbing exotica that, combined, both calm and excite the senses.

Lustrous wood, natural textures, hand-honed pieces, exclusive to the hotel, and a  textured tapestry of motifs and tile make for an intoxicating cocktail of elements that convey the history of the architecture and its close and enduring connection with the popular La Ermita neighborhood just beyond its cool-blue, amply columned exterior walls.

It would be a shame to go all the way to a city as cosmopolitan Mérida and stay inside your hotel. And yet, no one would scoff at that notion here. Cigno Hotel is exactly that type of refuge, with fresh, beautifully edited 10 rooms and suites, a lush courtyard and upper terrace pool evoking Mexico cenotes, a serene library and Cocina restaurant serving local flavors. A traditional cistern discovered during the restoration process, meanwhile, was reimagined as a two-room wine cellar.

All makes for a hotel that feels like a secret world. It is certainly the best-kept secret in Mérida. Soon, everyone will be talking.

Cigno Hotel | cignohotel.com

Photos courtesy of Hotel Cigno

RELATED TAGS

Gensler & Yabu Pushelberg Join Forces in DTLA’s Moxy + AC Hotel Fusion

Moxy and AC Hotels have recently unveiled their collaborative venture in downtown Los Angeles, a project masterfully designed by Gensler and adorned with interior spaces crafted by the renowned Yabu Pushelberg, creating an affordable, multi-layered destination for both locals and visitors, set to become an iconic addition to LA's landscape.
  • September 20, 2023
  • Karine Monié

The Rebirth of Santa Monica’s Iconic Georgian Hotel

The iconic Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica reopened its doors in April, unveiling a stunning transformation led by Fettle Design. With a rich history that hosted Hollywood legends like Marilyn Monroe, the hotel's restoration, guided by BLVD Hospitality, gracefully balances its storied past with modern hospitality.
  • August 23, 2023
  • Karine Monié

Sterling-Huddleson Architecture’s the Edge Residence in Pebble Beach

The Edge, a stunning contemporary home located in the picturesque community of Pebble Beach, California, is a masterful creation by Sterling-Huddleson Architecture. The result is a breathtaking residence that seamlessly blends advanced building technology and timeless contemporary design.
  • August 23, 2023
  • Jenn Thornton

Of Possible Unveils Stunning Loft Living Concept in Williamsburg

Explore the soon-to-be-completed building at 103 Grand Street, Williamsburg, offering three units designed to capture the spirit of this historic area. Led by Rise Development and architect Vincent Appel of Of Possible, each unit boasts its own outdoor space and a seamless connection between interior and exterior.
  • July 13, 2023
  • Karine Monié

Elevating Tropical Modernism: Evan Edward’s Stunning Biscayne Bay House

This sleek tropical masterpiece in Biscayne Bay, Florida by architecture and interior design practice Evan Edward seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor spaces, embracing the warm climate and scenic surroundings. With a focus on fluidity and functionality, the 5,000 square foot home combining midcentury tropical modernism with European art deco influences, the interior design features a harmonious blend of materials and textures.
  • July 13, 2023
  • Karine Monié
Sign Up for DIGS Newsletters