Simspiration: A Brilliant Color Story Found in the Architecture of Mexico
Photographer Joe Santana looks for inspiration in the Yucatán
Local Yucatán photographer Joe Santana loves shooting his region’s architecture, and he chooses each location for its color and history. In Mexico’s Yucatán, buildings and structures can be found in single shades of pinks, yellows, reds, blues, greens and oranges… bold colors are everywhere. He finds inspiration in these vibrant palettes that connect back to the past, and the Yucatán Peninsula has a long history.
Sul sul Simmers! A spark of inspiration courtesy of the real world, through the lens of its local photographers. Like so many of you, we see inspiration all around, both inside and outside of our games. Welcome to Simspiration.
El Pinar mansion in Mérida
The capital of the Mexican state of Yucatán, Mérida, might be known as “The White City” — a moniker that’s attributed to its white limestone and level of cleanliness — but the colorful hues found on buildings are ubiquitous. El Pinar, a cotton candy pink colonial mansion that dates back to 1915, is one of the most famous. It represents Mérida’s golden era, when a natural fiber called henequen made a fortune for many in the industry.
The combination of lemon yellow and ocean blue on a colorful street of Mérida
Additional color inspiration can be found by simply walking around the capital’s historic downtown. Architects in Mexico commonly use bright, cheerful colors that stand out on the facades of stucco buildings. Pastel lavender, blue and green structures border those painted in vivid yellow, orange and red tones, but there are no rules, such as this lemon yellow house with an ocean blue door.
The Stuccowork technique dates back to the ancient Mayans, who built their impressive structures with limestone and decorated with lime stucco. Today, many of these contemporary buildings made with smooth stucco are painted over in saturated, traditional colors that contrast the sky, evoking a picturesque scene.
Ramp up of colorful buildings of Mérida in yellow, blue and lavender
Magical Town (Pueblo Magico) Izamal Yucatán, also known as the “Yellow City”
About 45 miles east of Mérida is Izamal, a Magical Town known for its sunny yellow architecture. Almost every single building in Izamal is painted yellow!
In the Maya era, nearly 2,000 years ago, religious pilgrims worshiped the Sun god Kinich Ahau here; later on, the Spanish erected the Convent of San Antonio de Padua, a Franciscan monastery, where a Maya temple once stood. In a chicken or egg quandary, it’s unknown whether the convent or town were the first to be painted yellow, or even why. Some speculate the color is a nod to the Mayan deity, while others believe the color honored Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1993.
Convent of San Bernardino - Valladolid, Yucatán
The Calzada de los Frailes – Valladolid, Yucatán
A little further on is Valladolid, Yucatán’s third-largest city, also considered a Magical Town, known for its fabulous restaurants and cafes. The beautiful Calzada de los Frailes dates back to the 16th century, features pastel-colored buildings and is one of the best streets to experience boutique shops, restaurants, sidewalk bars and cafes along a cobbled road.
"The colors of Yucatan inspire, because it is the land of pink lagoons, of waters that shine at night, of the emerald sea, of green jungles, of blue cenotes, of yellow towns and terracotta houses, of multicolored art and food,” said Joe. “Yucatan inspires with each of its sunrises and sunsets, with its streets, old houses and beautiful churches. As a photographer, it is magical to be able to capture each scene, convey the emotion that is felt when you ‘click' the camera, in order to show that emotion to people from the photographer’s gaze."
Dag dag and happy Simming!
