The Refugio Sak Nikté project was awarded second place in the Roots & Dreams competition in Mexico, a contest focused on innovative architectural solutions. The team of IAAC alumni—Mauro Izarra, Kevin Guerrero, Guillermo Gamboa, and Carlos Arcos—developed a proposal that integrates traditional Maya housing principles with contemporary sustainable practices. Their design distinguishes itself by merging vernacular techniques with modern architectural approaches, addressing both cultural preservation and environmental concerns in the Yucatán region.

This achievement aligns with IAAC’s emphasis on fostering architectural innovation with a focus on sustainability. Refugio Sak Nikté demonstrates how contemporary architecture can incorporate historical building practices to meet modern challenges, particularly in the context of climate change.

This approach illustrates how the integration of indigenous building practices with modern sustainability measures can provide viable housing solutions in the context of contemporary environmental challenges.

The project is based on the concept of the solar maya, the basic territorial unit of the Maya people. Historically, the solar is a self-sustaining space that integrates housing, subsistence farming, and economic activity within a family-managed plot, typically ranging from 250 to 1,000 square meters. Key structures within the solar include vernacular homes, wells, and areas for livestock, all arranged in accordance with Maya cultural and cosmological principles.

In the Refugio Sak Nikté proposal, this traditional layout is adapted to a modular grid system, incorporating spaces for gathering, work, and rest. The construction utilizes locally sourced materials such as kankab walls and wooden structures covered with dried palm, which contribute to reducing carbon emissions while maintaining the connection to the local environment.