Hotel Sevilla by Zeller & Moye is a “palimpsest” of old and new

Mérida is a historic, landlocked city on the northern tip of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. Tourism in Yucatan has soared in the past decade with visitors from around the world flocking to see the peninsula’s landscapes, pastel villas, and UNESCO World Heritage sites like ancient Mayan ruins. Hotel Sevilla, one of Grupo Habita’s latest properties, arrives just in time to offer travelers a stay steeped in history thanks to the design and restoration by Zeller & Moye.

zeller & moye design hotel — Some of the natural stones floors and wooden beams were salvaged and reused (Fernando Marroquín)

hospitality in merida — Furnishings opt for monochrome and light to let the historic structure shine (Fernando Marroquín)

With offices in Berlin and Mexico City, Zeller & Moye converted a colonial villa in Mérida into the property, what designers call a “palimpsest” of present and past architectural layers. Carlos Cuevas, a local practitioner, was the architect of record. Together, Cuevas and Zeller & Moye worked to maintain the charm of the building, which dates back to the 16th century. A typical courtyard building, the hotel is listed as a historical monument. The architects kept much of the colonial villa intact while reconfiguring circulation to achieve greater accessibility and connectivity between spaces.

mexican modernism — Mexican modernism as well as local architecture inform the design (Fernando Marroquín)

New interior design interventions at Hotel Sevilla were expressed in raw concrete, adding contrast between the old and new. For the 21-room hotel, the office, created by Christoph Zeller and Ingrid Moye, took inspiration from traditional Yucatan architecture—its craftwork, local materials, and rituals—and Mexican modernism. Local woods, brass, stone, henequen, and leather were used in the furniture and furnishings. Architects managed to salvage existing wood beams, natural stone floors, wall finishes, tiles, wall frescoes, and sculptures.

grand room — In the Grand Room, glossy tiles offer a contemporary contrast to the ceiling of beams (Fernando Marroquín)

hotel room in mexico — Some rooms feature more contemporary designs than others (Fernando Marroquín)

The natural elements are a crucial part of the design, both in the suites and amenities. Water pools don the patios, a water cave finds home in the spa, fire powers the temazcal (Mesoamerican sweat lodge), and natural ventilation in the guest rooms all abound. Lush plantings were speckled throughout the corridors and balconies. Rooms, featuring expansive ceilings, also have large, shaded terraces to enjoy the outdoors but also be shielded from its strong sun.

interior stone walls — Interior stone walls make the guest rooms feel part of local history (Fernando Marroquín)

Passive ventilation features and water pools help cool Hotel Sevilla in Mexico’s hot months. As the tourism industry in Yucatan and Mérida continues to blossom, Hotel Sevilla will undoubtedly serve as a locus in the region’s evolution.

Hotel Sevilla by Zeller & Moye is a “palimpsest” of old and new in Mérida, Mexico

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