Mérida, Yucatán · 20°58′ N
Designing for the heat.
Mérida lies two and a half degrees south of the Tropic of Cancer. From May to July the midday sun passes almost straight over the houses, and every afternoon, all year, it hits the west façade head on. That is why architecture here starts with the sun.
The sun in Mérida, 20°58′ N
Move the sun and watch the house.
Pick a day and a time. The faces that get sun light up, the others fall into shade, and the house casts its shadow on the ground.
- Sun altitude
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- Coming from the
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- Façades in the sun
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- Shadow of a 1 m post
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How we respond to the climate.
Six decisions we make for every house, before choosing a single finish.
Orienting the house
We open the large windows to the north and south, where an eave controls the sun, and close off the west, which takes the lowest and hottest afternoon sun.
Shade before air conditioning
Eaves, pergolas and lattices stop the sun before it reaches the glass. A shaded wall heats up far less than an exposed one.
Cross ventilation
Windows on opposite sides so air can move through the house. We use the south-east winds and let hot air out up high.
Generous ceilings
Hot air rises. With high ceilings the heat stays away from people and rooms feel cooler.
Materials that work
Crema maya stone, thick walls and light finishes: they are slow to heat up and reflect the sun instead of absorbing it.
Plants and water
Trees to the west, a garden and a pool. Plants shade the ground and lower the temperature around the house.
Your site
Tell us which way your plot faces.
With the orientation and the measurements we can already tell you where to open up, where to add shade and how the air will flow.