Vistalcielo: A Serene Urban Oasis in Mérida’s Historic Heart

How Adaptive Reuse Transformed a Narrow Lot into a Light-Filled Sanctuary

Nestled in Mérida’s UNESCO-listed historic center, Vistalcielo a 155 sqm home by Veinte Diezz Arquitectos redefines compact urban living through a masterful blend of preservation and modern intervention. This renovated narrow lot, just 5 meters wide and over 30 meters long, challenges spatial constraints with a rhythmic layout of six modular units: three enclosed spaces and three open-air courtyards. By retaining 70% of the original structure, including traditional masonry walls, the design harmonizes past and present, inviting natural light, cross-ventilation, and tranquility into every corner.

This renovated home sits on a narrow urban lot just five meters wide and over 30 meters long, and has six modules with three enclosed spaces and three open-air patios.

Spatial Poetry: Fluid Transitions Between Indoors and Out

The home’s alternating sequence of private and open zones creates a dynamic flow. Curved walls and vaulted ceilings soften the linear lot, while steel-framed glass doors dissolve boundaries between interiors and lush courtyards. The central patio acts as a lung, channeling breezes through the kitchen, living area, and dining space—each designed for seamless connection. Minimalist furnishings and regional materials (limestone, handmade concrete) emphasize texture and climate responsiveness.

The living room and dining area benefits from the home’s layered layout. Whether placed beside the kitchen or in the patio itself, relaxing and meals unfold in a space that feels both intimate and connected to the outdoors. Minimal furnishings and subtle textures keep the focus on comfort, light, and air movement.

Functional Elegance: Kitchen, Living, and Dining

Open Kitchen: Positioned near the entrance garden, it features organic curves, clean lines, and warm daylight a hub for casual meals.
Living/Dining: Flexible placement (adjacent to the kitchen or in the courtyard) prioritizes intimacy and outdoor integration.
Swimming Pool: A secluded retreat at the rear, framed by regional stone and native landscaping, offers visual contrast and cooling relief.

Set just beyond the entrance garden, the kitchen anchors the social core of the home. It is designed as an open, welcoming space that flows effortlessly into the living area and the central patio beyond.

Private Sanctuaries: Bedrooms and Bathrooms

Two Bedrooms: The guest suite (mid-house) and primary suite (overlooking the pool) prioritize serenity, with curved walls guiding airflow and filtered light.
Tactile Bathrooms: Crescent-shaped skylights cast shifting patterns on lime-washed walls; handmade concrete sinks and local craftsmanship blur utility and artistry.

A contemporary bedroom with a wide headboard, and steel-framed glass walls that open to the outdoors.

Architectural Highlights

Spiral Staircase: A sculptural centerpiece linking levels, its curves echoing the home’s fluid transitions.
Steel-and-Glass Elements: Sky-blue accents and slender frames enhance transparency, tying rooms to outdoor spaces.

A sculptural spiral staircase tucked within one of the modules connects the different levels of the home. It offers more than just vertical circulation, it becomes a visual element that adds movement and softness to the architectural composition. The curve echoes other design gestures throughout the project, reinforcing the theme of fluid transitions.

Final Thought: Vistalcielo is a testament to adaptive reuse, where history informs modernity. By listening to the site’s legacy not erasing it the architects crafted a home that breathes with its environment.

Photography: Manolo R. Solís | Architects: Veinte Diezz Arquitectos | Lead Architect: José Luis Hdez Manzanero
Location: Mérida, Mexico

Upstairs, glass walls and doors, framed in slender steel and painted in a sky-blue tone, add a sense of transparency and lightness, opening each room to the patios and gardens beyond.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

Vistalcielo masterfully demonstrates how spatial ingenuity can transform restrictive urban lots into harmonious living environments. The interplay of preserved heritage and contemporary design creates a dialogue between past and present, while the rhythmic indoor-outdoor flow enhances livability. However, the reliance on natural ventilation in Mérida’s tropical climate might pose challenges during peak humidity, suggesting subtle integrations of passive cooling systems could further elevate comfort. Despite this, the project shines as a model of contextual sensitivity—proving that even the narrowest spaces can inspire profound architectural poetry when guided by light, history, and place.

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