Mazatlán Restorations

Big Casa

Mon, 30 Jan 2006 19:23:59 -0700

This stately structure, completed in 1899, was constructed as a factory for the manufacture of cigarettes, by Antonio Diaz de Leon, the successful Spaniard who built our “Casa” nearby. His commercial endeavors ultimately failed, and over the ensuing century, the lower facade underwent extensive “modernization”. The arches were erratically cut up, squared off, and glassed in as store fronts and eateries. Then, during the ‘70’s a rough concrete canopy was cantilevered from the building. Successive generations of de Leon’s family lived on the second floor, but when we purchased it in 2005, the building was abandoned.

This site is particularly important, as it is located at the hub of Mazatlán’s Historic District. Our original motives for restoring the building were to give something of it’s past glories back to the community, and to preserve it for future generations. Beyond that, the plan was to build three apartments upstairs, and three stores below, all condominiums. This has turned out to be far more financially prudent that we expected, and a welcome surprise, as everyone wins.

Casita

Mon, 30 Jan 2006 19:20:59 -0700

100 years ago this “small house” stood by itself on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It was then only one room, as high as it was deep, with a gable roof of hand hewn hardwood beams and clay tiles. Later, two more such rooms were added, creating an accordion roof line, and finally a small shed roof. When other houses eventually closed in on each side, drains were built to carry the water down the walls from the roof valleys, and from there through a large drain to the street. The facade and bas-relief paneled entry were also added.

When we bought the property, we were advised to remove the roofs and build a second story - as the best investment (this would have destroyed any historical value).

Casa

Mon, 30 Jan 2006 18:48:18 -0700

This house was built by a successful gold miner in 1897. As he was originally from Southern Spain, the house showed much influence from that region. We accentuated this by adding tile “rugs” using “mosaico” - a local patterned cement tile used in that period.