1050MC

CALLE 18 No. 97 ENTRE 13 Y 15 DEPTO. 101, COLONIA ITZIMNA C.P. 97100 MERIDA, YUCATAN, MEXICO. (999)926-02-04 E-MAIL: zavalaarqs@prodigy.net.mx

YUCATAN NATURE

OLD WOOD BOATS

OLD HACIENDAS

MAYAN RUINS

MAYAN RUINS

MAYAN RUINS

YUCATAN LAND FISSURES, CRACKS

A CONSTANT SEARCH… Since my graduation as an Architect in 1990, I have undertaken a long journey in search of a real unknown design philosophy, but being honest I barely feel as I am taking the very first steps...

Back in the 90’s I began with a walk through out my Yucatan land, trying to find answers, based on simple observation of aspects and details of nature that started to interest me, the Mayan civilization has been like a bible to be tasted slowly…

My search has been centered on looking and taking pictures of scenarios, caves, “cenotes”, stone cracks, depths, sharp angles, zenith light through darkness, holes.. the thing is that I really don´t know why I have payed attention to them, but what I can tell you is that I have done it with the help of the sun, and there is quite a lot of sun in my land!. My Yucatan is light and shadow, cracked land with mysterious shapes, dark, deep caves and beautiful cenotes that have so much history, so much to tell.

I like taking pictures to the entrails of the raw extensions and surfaces or layers of limestone that hide underneath running currents and veins of water not very deep but interesting when a stone-crack reveals them.

The sun is in charge of showing these depths, like if the stone might of succumbed, cracking wide open and leaving the mystery out..

Some old “haciendas” (country colonial properties) that have fallen in use and time generate very interesting spaces where the dualism and contrast of light and shadow are very generous for the imagination.

On the other hand the ancient Mayan ruins are a delight from the big scale of its urbanism and trace to the intricate geometry of its temples and frets. The Mayans were geniuses of the plastic, they knew how to play with it, raising its proportions in stone with the sublime resource of the contrast. The Mayans inspire me in the management of the geometry, the proportion, the plasticity of its architecture, light-shadow contrast, mystery and the information reserved for very few…

I travel with my two small daughters and wife searching for answers, exploring and finding beauty and pleasure by simple observation.

We have a small sailboat and go out often for a “sail-day”, I have learned from this wonderful and exciting activity to learn to listen to the wind, and more important to take advantage of it… wind invites you to silence, introspection, tranquility, serenity… also I have learned that sailing with a bad weather can send me right to hell, but also the exquisite pleasure of a sunset with soft breeze helps you reach “heaven”.

I am interested in finding an authentic path in architecture, one that may respond wisely to the site, a contemporary architecture that will respond in the best way for Yucatan, with all its humidity, sun, heat, hurricane seasons, economic reality, I am interested in an architecture that is healthy, and brings joy to mankind.

Inspired by my trips around my Yucatan that began about 20 years ago: Mayan ruins, haciendas, beaches, nature, sailing, I have captured images that I keep as a diary ,as a spark to generate an imaginative exploration of new “space models” as I call them, by the hand of sculpture and/or architecture a new horizon expands with enormous possibilities, but also I am finding to make sense to all these explorations to all my concerns that search for light in the contrast, the light in the service…

“I seek for an architecture that will excite and create situations of -space emotion- I am attentive when I finish a building to see the first reactions of people experiencing and walking through the spaces, this is my real feedback”.

“Designing in a tropical weather should be fun” (this is what a client told me once), he was right, it is fun and exciting.

I am committed with new proposals that will really work for the Yucatan area, a contemporary Architecture not copy of the previous ones but as a reinvention that will consider our local reality as well as our global issues.

A cheerful Architecture that plays with contrasts between light and shadow, bringing trees and green areas inside to refresh, listening to water, patios, interacting between in and out spaces- diluting, erasing barriers between them-feeling the outside in and backwords, well natural cross ventilated spaces that will lift the spirit, creating enjoyable outdoor living areas as well as peaceful private indoor spaces-“space depths”-, protecting living areas with roof hangovers for rain and sun purposes, filtering the sun light, stilting constructions on the beach coast for those furious hurricanes!, taking advantage of our sun and wind generating electricity by solar panels and eolian systems, closing on west sides for harmful sun, screening inside areas for those mosquitos!, considering peaceful areas, party areas…human areas, respectful for nature and site, with a special spirit and essence of our place and time…sure it can be fun designing in my tropical weather!

CASA DE CRISTAL

CASA DE CRISTAL

HONOURABLE MENTION, COMPETITION FOR IPEPAC ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPTS

HONOURABLE MENTION, COMPETITION FOR IPEPAC ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPTS

HONOURABLE MENTION, COMPETITION FOR IPEPAC ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPTS

HONOURABLE MENTION COMPETITION, FOR IPEPAC ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

HONOURABLE MENTION COMPETITION, FOR IPEPAC ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

CASA CROWELL

CASA CROWELL

CASA CROWELL

CASA CROWELL

CASA DE CRISTAL

NAUTICAL CLUB, MARINA PARAISO

CASA MONTEALBAN

THIRD PLACE COMPETITION FOR ADMINISTRATION BUILDING FOR MERIDA CITY COUNCIL

WINNING PROJECT “URBAN ENTRANCE OR SCULPTURE COMPETITION FOR MERIDA”

WINNING PROJECT FOR COMPETITION “URBAN ENTRANCE/SCULPTURE FOR MERIDA”

CASA ARECAS

CASA ARECAS

CASA ARECAS

WINNING PROJECT COMPETITION PRINCIPAL CHURCH; PROGRESO, YUCATAN

WINNING PROJECT COMPETITION PRINCIPAL CHURCH; PROGRESO, YUCATAN

WINNING PROJECT COMPETITION PRINCIPAL CHURCH; PROGRESO, YUCATAN

CASA DE CRISTAL

NAUTICAL CLUB, MARINA PARAISO

NAUTICAL CLUB, MARINA PARAISO

NAUTICAL CLUB, MARINA PARAISO

CASA SISAL 3

CASA CANTO

CASA ALGARROBO

CASA ALGARROBO

CASA CASTILLO LUBCKE

CASA SAN RAMON

CASA CEBALLOS DIAZ

CASA AGUIAR

CASA ANCONA CAMARA

CASA GARBER

CASA GARBER

CASA GARBER