Around the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, the Maya Trends is a 966-mile rail route spanning five states, connecting cities and towns, tourist destinations, historic Mayan ruins and archaeological sites, jungle landscapes, and sandy beaches. A multi-year project, the route includes 34 stations (20 major and 14 minor stops), serving local passengers and visitors traveling throughout the region. A key stop is the Maxcanú station, designed by Gi21 Architecture.
Photo by OHFA
THE Company based in Mexico City conceived the 68,470-square-foot terminal as more than a utilitarian passenger boarding facility: Gi21 co-founders Eduardo Ramírez Plata and Ximena Beltrán Plata describe it as a “transitional space that offers visitors a place for contemplation and rest.”
For Gi21, architecture begins with the observation of a place. The partners spent time in Maxcanú, about 40 miles west of Mérida, the capital of the Mexican state of Yucatán, before starting design. They said they wanted to “stand and watch everything, visit the people and see how they live.” Experiencing the nuances of the locations—how the morning sun differs from the afternoon, the weather patterns, the vegetation, the surrounding architecture—informed a lot about the final result.
Photo by OHFA
A historic colonial town, Maxcanú is known for its jicama production, Mayan ruins, cenotes and the Iglesia de San Miguel Arcángel, which dates back to the 16th century and has a stunning ocher-toned exterior. To maintain a visual connection with this environment, the station (one of two on the Tren Maya line designed by Gi21) was conceived as a curved volume that provides access through multiple entry points and views to the outside from any position inside.
Modeling the ancient Mayan city of Palenque in neighboring Chiapas, where vertical columns support horizontal platforms, the station translates this structural language into full-height plastered concrete arms that frame entrances and guide traffic. The arms also facilitate cross ventilation and provide a shade system to further control interior temperatures.
Photo by OHFA
The entire building is painted in a deep terracotta made using a natural dye extracted from cochineal insects. The colored hue is important in indigenous cultures and is inspired by the tone of the nearby church. The red is complemented by local tropical wood doors, which can be left open during the day to improve ventilation and easily closed at night when the station is not in use.
Above the doors is a series of lattice panels made of precast concrete. The basket weave detail of the panels evokes local textiles, while also increasing the amount of light and air that flows into the interior. A tighter weave pattern was used for the panels on the platforms themselves, which provide shade and a sense of privacy and protection. In both scenarios, the interplay of light and shadow evokes the feeling of being under the Mayan forest canopy.
Pavelín’s photo
Classified as Class A infrastructure, the station is built on shallow foundations and reinforced concrete footings, a decision made to cope with the site. During construction, archaeological remains and voids were discovered, requiring a delicate construction process and further fueling criticism of the larger Tren Maya project.
Working with the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and the Ministry of the Environment (along with SEDENA and the Government of Mexico), the architects accommodated the limestone soil and underground structures while also meeting all seismic load, subsidence and wind requirements.
Pavelín’s photo
Inside the station, programming is organized around a central atrium and includes ticket offices, lobbies, courtyards and restrooms. An exposed beam and canopy system enhances the overall openness and helps minimize maintenance needs. Local travertine marble tiles cover the floor, with the exposed metal frame painted a rich black for graphic contrast.
Respecting its environment and providing much-needed infrastructure to the region, Maxcanú Station is not only a station on the railway line, but also a destination in itself.
