Casa Escuela in Mérida, Mexico, is not only a dreamy private paradise - it’s also a multidisciplinary art sanctuary, artist residency, wellness retreat, and cultural hub. Furniture designer and curator Mónica Calderón and her husband, architect Ezequiel Farca, imagined a second home for their family (9th image) where the LA-based family could reaffirm their Mexican roots and give their children “a totally different experience.” The couple found an abandoned 1919 schoolhouse (last image) for their passion project, and @ezequielfarcastudio explains, “We tried to preserve as much of the original schoolhouse as possible to keep its soul intact. We made strategic interventions to shore up the structure and bring it into the present, but those interventions are clearly delineated- what is old looks old, and what is new looks new.” Traditional tile floors, doorframes, and mamposteria rubble walls contrast with modernist concrete block and steel-framed glass doors, adding to the “palpable handmade component,” says @monicacald. “Casa Escuela honors the wisdom and insight of ancient Maya culture as well as the incredible energy of the contemporary Mexican art and design scene. The program will continue to evolve and grow, but the basic premise remains the same. We want to share the magic of this special place.” Full story in December AD and via link in bio 📷 @fernandomarroquint text @mayer.rus ❤️ 🇲🇽