Designboom_ Designed by Estudio MMX, the new Geology Museum in the town of Progreso, on the coast of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, is entirely covered in chukum, a natural finish of Mayan origin. Composed of multiple structures, corridors, gardens, and fountains, the ensemble combines the ideas of Mayan architecture with the colonial heritage of urban design, while light, shadow, and vegetation blend in to create a rich experiential character.

‘The museum consciously synthesizes local Mayan knowledge with contemporary architectural approaches, thus generating a new identifiable and appropriable public space for the people of Progreso.’ shares the Mexican studio.

The new Geology Museum by Estudio MMX is conceived as a ‘cultural element and public space’ in a single project. The result sees an enclosed square arranged on the sides of a central corridor, through which visitors can both access the interior spaces and traverse the site accompanied by gardens and fountains. Two large elevated gardens flank the corners of the square, allowing one to walk down the slopes and enjoy new views at different heights. The use of triangular shapes is evident throughout the complex, in the form of cutouts and large skylights that help illuminate the semi-open structure. Light, shadow, and vegetation shine through, giving the plaza a new character that recalls Mayan architecture and the city’s colonial heritage.

The museum, which occupies the southeast corner of the square, consists of eight exhibition volumes that can be subdivided into two larger zones. One houses the permanent exhibition, while the other serves as a multipurpose space where various events and temporary exhibitions can be held. Adjacent to both volumes are offices, a space for research and catalog rooms, and a storage area. The materiality of the museum, which is entirely covered with chukum, ‘a natural finish of Mayan origin’ as the architects call it, ensures its durability and low maintenance costs.