Edificio 55

Located in the vibrant heart of Mérida, Edificio 55 represents a fusion between historical heritage and contemporary design. Adopting a new hospitality use for the building, which has historically been used as a school, a medical facility and a law office.
The house welcomes visitors through an entrance plaza, an unusual element for the time of its construction, establishing a first public space of transition. The architectural program is distributed locating the social areas in the first two front rooms, whose restoration highlights the value of the past by liberating the original stone walls, witnesses of the history of the building. The new bedrooms are located towards the back of the property, replacing a collapsing and intrusive building.
Inside, the design of the living room, dining room, bar, kitchen and service area spaces includes the installation of new artisanal pasta floors, as well as the selection of local designed contemporary furniture, contrasting with the historical architecture and creating a welcoming and dynamic atmosphere. This fusion of styles pays tribute to the cultural richness of the region. In the public area, the new roofed terrace is separated from the original building through a seam of overhead light, establishing a clear reading of history. From here, an open corridor leads to the new bedrooms, vestibulated by a spiral staircase that connects both levels.
The new constructions present finishes in handcrafted plaster, combined with original stone masonry walls and arched windows, which allow natural light entry and offer panoramic views of the surroundings, reinforcing the connection with the historical context of the Santa Lucía neighborhood.
This project seeks not only to preserve the architectural legacy of Mérida, but to complement it, creating a space that celebrates coexistence and dialogue between past and present.