At Fublis, our Design Dialogues series delves into the creative minds shaping contemporary architecture and design. Through in-depth conversations, we explore the philosophies, challenges, and innovations that define their work, offering valuable insights for both industry professionals and emerging talent.

In this edition, we feature TACO taller de arquitectura contextual, a studio that places deep emphasis on the relationship between architecture and its surroundings. Rooted in context analysis, their approach integrates cultural heritage, environmental considerations, and material authenticity to create spaces that are both functional and meaningful. Their work, spanning residential, commercial, and public projects, reflects a commitment to sustainability, craftsmanship, and the seamless blending of tradition with modernity.

In this interview, TACO shares their perspectives on preserving local identity in rapidly evolving urban landscapes, the role of craftsmanship in architectural expression, and the challenges of integrating contemporary needs with historical and environmental influences. Join us as we explore how TACO continues to redefine contextual architecture with a philosophy that values place, memory, and craftsmanship.

TACO places a strong emphasis on context analysis, integrating both tangible and intangible factors into each project. Could you share an example where an unexpected cultural or historical insight significantly influenced the final design?

Carlos Patrón: Of course. “Temoc Cabaña Isleña” is an architectural restoration project where we worked on one of the original houses of Holbox Island—something we only discovered when we visited the site. The house had been deteriorated and modified significantly, and the cost of intervention was comparable to demolishing and rebuilding from scratch, with no interference from local authorities. We saw this as an opportunity to demonstrate that commercial activities can coexist with the preservation of regional architecture, which was common before tourism arrived abruptly on the island. The intervention approach extended beyond the built object, influencing the open spaces and new constructions required for the new use. Traditional materials were used in a contemporary manner, always respecting the site’s history and memory. The result was a project well received by the original inhabitants as well as tourists, due to its authenticity, which ironically contrasts with the imported mutations that have flooded the island’s architectural landscape, setting a new direction for future interventions.

Gabriela House is designed to be both a serene retreat and a highly functional home, balancing security, thermal comfort, and cost efficiency. How did you approach these sometimes conflicting priorities to ensure a cohesive and comfortable living environment for the user?

Carlos Patrón: By understanding that every project is unique and that there are no one-size-fits-all solutions. The needs of the occupant, the possibilities of the site, and the financial resources available—among other factors—are key in determining the project’s approach. The process is more about deciphering than creating, from my perspective. Our role as architects is to discover the “what,” and our creative work lies in the “how.”

Sustainability plays a significant role in the project, from passive cooling strategies to the use of endemic plants. What were some of the most effective sustainable design decisions, and were there any unexpected challenges in implementing them?

Carlos Patrón: The first step was capturing the wind and channeling it through vegetation and water areas to help cool it down. Then, cross ventilation was achieved through aligned windows and skylights, which also provided natural lighting while preventing excessive sun exposure. Every design decision was made with thermal comfort in mind, ensuring low operational maintenance for the owner. Since the house was designed from scratch, there were no major unexpected challenges.

You mention that rootedness to the site is a key aspect of your design ethos. In rapidly changing urban environments, how do you balance preserving local identity while integrating modern functionality and materials?

Carlos Patrón: By using common sense—working with what is most effective and logical, as long as it serves the intended use. And always being careful not to fall into commercial traps, meaning products that claim to solve problems we think we have when, in reality, we don’t. Everything that can be solved through architecture should be solved through architecture. Technology should always reinforce, never replace.

Miranda Palmeto is designed as a productive home with a mixed-use approach at the neighborhood scale. What challenges and opportunities did you encounter when integrating residential, commercial, and public spaces within a single project?

Carlos Patrón: The challenge was breaking away from conventional urban development, which is primarily guided by economic and real estate interests. The opportunity lay in revisiting our rural heritage, understanding the logic of our culture, and integrating these lessons to propose more authentic ways of living in cities with a higher quality of life.

Miranda Palmeto plays a role in urban densification while preserving a strong connection with nature. How do you see this type of project influencing future residential developments in rapidly growing cities like Mérida?

Carlos Patrón: It would be overly ambitious to assume that a single project can significantly impact the development of an entire city. However, it serves as tangible proof that it is possible, and that doing things the right way is always a choice.

TACO blends architecture with craftsmanship, involving skilled masons, carpenters, and blacksmiths in the construction process. How does this hands-on approach shape the creative process, and what unique challenges does it present compared to conventional architectural practices?

Carlos Patrón: First, it is important to understand that this approach is quite common in a relatively small city like the one where most of our projects are based, although it is gradually shifting toward dynamics more typical of large cities. For us, working closely with various trades is a bidirectional process—we learn from each other as we gain experience together. The biggest challenge is retaining team members, as there is a high turnover of personnel. However, this situation also prevents knowledge from stagnating and allows us to continuously learn new things as new people join the team.

The project Al Modar Founders Pavilion takes inspiration from the neighboring 16th-century church and Mayan landscape aesthetics. Can you share how these historical and cultural references influenced your material choices and spatial planning?

Carlos Patrón: The design was influenced mainly by the restoration of textures characteristic of the building’s age, the creation of visual connections with surrounding structures, the interior spatiality through the use of a barrel vault, and the interaction with exterior spaces and existing vegetation—just as in the region’s vernacular housing.

The use of a reinforced concrete barrel vault and the recovery of stone masonry walls plays a significant role in shaping the pavilion’s character. How did you approach structural reinforcement while maintaining the building’s traditional aesthetic?

Carlos Patrón: By working closely with our structural engineers and builders. The technical solution was a perimeter “belt” that contains the forces generated by the vault.

Looking at the evolution of your projects, including the Founders Pavilion, how do you envision the future of architecture in historically rich yet rapidly modernizing communities? What legacy do you hope TACO leaves behind in shaping these spaces?

Carlos Patrón: The greatest challenge is working with the memory of a place, beyond what is officially designated as heritage. It is essential to respect the history that gives us identity, ideally with this perspective coming from both the clients requesting the projects and the architects designing them. In this sense, I hope our work serves as an example that it is possible—and that it brings tangible benefits to our habitat.