Casa Escuela is a multidisciplinary residence that bridges the gap between past and future, where centuries-old architectural beauty is respected and repurposed by Ezequiel Farca Studio to foster cultural exchange, learning, and the creation of artists in a variety of media.
The project houses spaces that will not only host a variety of different artistic disciplines, but also host an exhibition that culminates the residency of the residents with the aim of attracting new audiences, encouraging art collecting, and fostering dialogue about contemporary practices and influences from the region.
Casa Escuela by Ezequiel Farca Studio. Photograph by Fernando Marroquín.
Project description by Ezequiel Farca Studio
Casa Escuela is a multidisciplinary residence located in the center of Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. Originally built in 1919 as a private home, it was converted into a coeducational school in 1965. After the school closed its doors in 2011, the building was acquired by the current owners, who reopened the space in 2022 with the vision of transforming it into a community center for learning and lived experiences across a variety of cultural and artistic disciplines.
The mission of this project is to be a space for learning and cultural exchange that hosts artists, creatives, teachers, chefs, and wellness and hospitality experts to inspire and create unique experiences with the local community. The restoration of the building took four years and aimed to preserve the original character of the property's historic architecture while incorporating a contemporary approach. Casa Escuela is also committed to promoting art and supporting local artists.
The house offers artist residencies throughout the year. The goal of each residency is to foster the artists' work in a variety of media, such as sculpture, film, painting, and drawing, collaborating with local artisans working in textiles, metal, music, high-tech, etc. The curatorial team accompanies each artist in the development of their individual needs by providing professional access when necessary.
Invited by a panel of experts in the fields of art and design, in some cases the artists will culminate their residency through an exhibition in the Casa Escuela exhibition space. Its goal is to attract new audiences, encourage art collecting, and foster dialogue about contemporary practices and the diverse influences of the region. The space embraces the collaborative nature of knowledge, honoring Mexican tradition while establishing connections with other cultures.
In essence, the School House serves as a bridge between the past and the future, where a centuries-old architectural beauty has been reused to facilitate learning and creation and the exchange of ideas between diverse cultural and artistic fields, a place where the past and the present harmonize to inspire the future.
