Molding with INAH: A Bust at Casa Santorini
One of the reasons we love Mazatlán is the archeological strangeness of Centro Histórico. Art deco, neoclassical, modernism, even some baroque — all sitting shoulder to shoulder with no particular regard for one another. And yet underneath, there is this unspoken sadness in many of the now-derelict homes that were once prosperous and beautiful.
Centro has gone through waves of transformation. Families divided old colonial homes and modernized facades in their own eras — some of the 1970s updates have their own charm; some of the early 1920s touches have seen better days. Casa Santorini was exactly that house. We found old photographs of the street showing the original neoclassical tropical detail, and we wanted to pay tribute to the structure that used to be there.
And so began our long, divided relationship with the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia — INAH. We petitioned to restore the facade to its original glory, including the defining moldings that crown the windows and doors of most neoclassical buildings in Centro.
Our petition was denied. We were able to restore part of the facade, but not the moldings. When friends ask why we did not put moldings on the front, the answer is always the same: "INAH did not let us."
Sophia is one half of 35 Agave. She leads the design, the writing, and the long conversations about color, light, and what makes a house feel like a home.