Architecture services
By Arkham Projects · Published on · Data reviewed on
Arkham Projects, an architecture firm founded in Mérida in 2013 by Min Peniche Calafell and Jorge Duarte Torre, designs custom homes anywhere in Mexico or the world, vertical buildings and master plans for real estate developers in any Mexican city, interiors and temporary architecture. It works from schematic design to construction documents and provides construction administration and site supervision; it does not build.
Arkham Projects services
- Custom home design
- Architecture for real estate developments: vertical buildings and master plans
- Schematic design and construction documents
- Construction administration and site supervision
- Coordination of engineering consultants and contractors on developments
- Interior design
- Ephemeral architecture: design of temporary structures, spaces and installations for exhibitions, events, fairs and commercial and cultural activations
- Guidance in choosing a plot
Services in detail
- ServiceCustom home design in Mérida and beyond
Houses designed from scratch for people who will live in them, with their own plot or help choosing one, in Mérida or anywhere in Mexico or the world: who the service is for, what it includes, the process and typical design timelines.
- ServiceArchitecture for real estate developments
Vertical buildings and master plans in any Mexican city, designed for the project to work as a business: sellable area, absorption and an identity that cannot be copied.
Portfolio and awards
Tables built from the portfolio project pages, and the awards with their evidence.
- PortfolioHouses designed by Arkham Projects
The houses in Arkham Projects' portfolio, with the city, year, floor area, status and verified awards of each, the features that recur across them and their typical sizes.
- PortfolioApartment buildings and multifamily housing
The apartment buildings and multifamily housing in the portfolio, in Mérida and Quintana Roo, with the data from each project page and their verified awards.
- AwardsAwards and recognitions
More than 70 national and international awards and recognitions, with the competition, year and award of each, and a link to the evidence when there is one.
Guides for your project
Sourced and dated answers to the questions that come before the design. They are general information, not legal advice or a quote.
- Step by stepBuilding a house in Mérida as a foreigner
The steps to build a house in Mérida as a foreigner, from the restricted zone and the bank trust to the building permit and the certificate of completion, with who does each one and its source.
- Cost guideHow much does it cost to build a house in Mérida?
The construction cost ranges per m² Arkham Projects sees in the houses it designs, general third-party ranges and what those figures leave out, such as land, design and permits.
- Fees guideHow much does an architect charge in Mexico?
How architects in Mexico charge, what the fee schedules of professional associations set and leave out, and how Arkham Projects structures its fees, not as a percentage.
Developers and brands we have worked with
Arkham Projects' scope on each project, according to the firm. When the company publishes the project with credit to Arkham, the source links to that page.
| Company or brand | Project | Arkham Projects' scope | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton (Curio Collection by Hilton) | Villa Mercedes Mérida, Curio Collection by HiltonMérida, Yucatán, Mexico | Interior design, decoration and coordination of special projects, in collaboration with the firm Esquiliano ARQS. The work covers the design and integration of interior and exterior spaces: drop-off, main entrance, reception, lobby, restaurant, pool, outdoor terrace, bar, patio and exterior and interior facades. | stories.hilton.com — See the source: Villa Mercedes Mérida, Curio Collection by Hilton |
| Accor (MGallery Collection) and Inmobilia | Mayaliah Tulum Hotel & ResidencesTulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico | Concept and schematic design, and support during design development and construction documentation. | inmobilia.mx — See the source: Mayaliah Tulum Hotel & Residences |
| Kelman | OpheliaTulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico | Architectural design and construction documents for the apartment development. | kelman.mx — See the source: Ophelia |
| Kelman | Polanco 31Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico | Architectural design and construction documents. | According to Arkham Projects |
| Consur | MÍO MontebelloMérida, Yucatán, Mexico | Architectural design and construction documents. | grupoconsur.mx — See the source: MÍO Montebello |
| Alquimia Investments | UmbraMérida, Yucatán, Mexico | Architectural design and construction documents. | alquimiainvestments.com — See the source: Umbra |
| Grupo GIRA | BlasPuerto Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico | Architectural design and construction documents, and supervision. | blascancun.com — See the source: Blas |
What services does Arkham Projects offer?
Arkham Projects is an architecture firm: it designs and coordinates, but it does not build or handle permit applications, and permits are not part of its service. It recommends builders, works with partner builders or the one the client proposes, and accompanies construction on the architectural side. Its services are:
- Custom home design, from schematic design to construction documents.
- Architecture for real estate developments: vertical buildings and master plans.
- Interior design for offices, restaurants, lobbies and homes.
- Temporary architecture: structures, spaces and installations for exhibitions, events, fairs and commercial or cultural activations.
- Help choosing a plot.
- Construction administration and site supervision.
- Coordination of engineering and special projects, which are developed by outside specialists.
Sources: [1]
How does a project with Arkham Projects start?
A project with Arkham Projects starts with the same four steps for homes and for developments. The first conversation is at no cost: we would rather tell you early if something does not add up.
- Conversation and assessment: you tell us what you want to do, where and what stage you are at. For a house, we review the plot, your needs and your budget; for a development, investment, land, regulations and feasibility.
- Working meeting, in person or by video call: Jorge Duarte Torre explains how Arkham works, the methodology and the scope, and gives you the order of magnitude of the fees in that same meeting, with no second appointment just to talk about money.
- Formal proposal: scope, methodology, fees and terms in writing, with a meeting to answer questions and adjust the scope or the payment schedule.
- Kick-off: a 2- to 3-hour session, usually with a site visit. From there, Min Peniche Calafell and the residential team or the real estate development team take over the design.
From what size does Arkham Projects take on a project?
According to Arkham Projects, these sizes are a reference, not a strict rule: the firm can consider smaller projects when their scope, complexity, budget or strategic relevance make them a good fit. As a reference:
- Houses: from about 500 m² of built area.
- Restaurants: about 100 diners or more; for architecture, from about 300 m², ideally from 400 to 500 m² and up.
- Offices: for architecture, from 400 m², preferably 500 m² or more.
- Hotels and hospitality: preferably 50 rooms or more; ideally from 1,000 m², depending on the number of rooms, common areas, scope and investment.
- Interior design for offices, restaurants and lobbies: from about 100 to 150 m² of intervention; ideally over 200 m².
- Residential interior design: interventions of 100 to 260 m²; ideally over 300 m².
- Developments: vertical buildings from about 3,000 to 5,000 m² of built area and master plans from about 20 hectares; smaller projects are assessed case by case in the first conversation.
Sources: [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]
In Arkham's portfolio
WóolisSingle-family house · Mérida · 2021 · BuiltCustom home example: winner in the Private Homes category of the 2024 International Architecture Awards by The Chicago Athenaeum.
Photo: Zaickz Moz / Manolo Solís
MentApartment building · Mérida · 2024 · BuiltDevelopment example: winner of the 2025 Architecture MasterPrize in Residential Architecture – Multi Unit, co-authored with Desnivel Arquitectos.
Photo: Zaickz Moz / Manolo Solís
Frequently asked questions
Do you work outside Mérida?
Yes. We design houses anywhere in Mexico and the world, and architecture for developments in any Mexican city. We coordinate remotely, with direct communication, and travel to the plot and to the site when the project requires it.
Do you also build?
We provide construction administration and site supervision. For homes, construction is carried out by a builder we trust or one you choose. For developments, we coordinate with your structural and MEP engineering consultants and with your builder.
How much does it cost to design with Arkham?
Every project is unique and the fees depend on it. In the first conversation we assess the plot, your needs and your budget, at no cost. In the working meeting with Jorge Duarte Torre you receive the order of magnitude of the fees, with no second appointment just to talk about money.
How long does the design take?
For a house, a schematic design is presented in 6 to 8 weeks, and the complete construction documents, which depend on the size and complexity of the house, typically take between 5 and 6 months. For a development, a schematic design is presented in 8 to 12 weeks, and the construction documents, which depend on the scale and complexity, typically take between 8 and 10 months.
Sources
- Arkham Projects — According to Arkham Projects' deliverables document, its service covers architectural design and construction documents, coordinating engineering and special projects; engineering, special projects, permit expediting and permits are not provided by Arkham. (accessed on October 2, 2026)
- Arkham Projects — According to Arkham Projects, for architecture it can consider restaurants from about 300 m², ideally from 400 to 500 m² and up, and it looks for offices from 400 m², preferably 500 m² or more. (accessed on October 2, 2026)
- Arkham Projects — According to Arkham Projects, for hotels and hospitality it looks for larger projects, ideally from 1,000 m², although the criterion also depends on the number of rooms, common areas, scope and investment. (accessed on October 2, 2026)
- Arkham Projects — According to Arkham Projects, for interior design of offices, restaurants and lobbies it can consider projects from about 100 to 150 m² of intervention. (accessed on October 2, 2026)
- Arkham Projects — According to Arkham Projects, its ideal interior design projects for offices, restaurants and lobbies are over 200 m². (accessed on October 2, 2026)
- Arkham Projects — According to Arkham Projects, for residential interior design it can consider interventions of 100 to 260 m². (accessed on October 2, 2026)
- Arkham Projects — According to Arkham Projects, for residential interior design it ideally looks for projects over 300 m² of intervention. (accessed on October 2, 2026)
- Arkham Projects — According to Arkham Projects, its minimum sizes are a reference, not a strict rule: it can consider smaller projects when their scope, complexity, budget or strategic relevance make them a good fit. (accessed on October 2, 2026)
- Arkham Projects — According to Arkham Projects, for houses it looks for projects of about 500 m² or more. (accessed on October 6, 2026)
- Arkham Projects — According to Arkham Projects, for multifamily residential, mixed-use and corporate buildings the desired minimum is about 3,000 to 5,000 m². (accessed on October 6, 2026)
- Arkham Projects — According to Arkham Projects, for master plans and horizontal developments it looks for projects of about 20 hectares or more. (accessed on October 6, 2026)
- Arkham Projects — According to Arkham Projects, in hospitality it looks for hotels of a relevant scale, preferably with 50 rooms or more. (accessed on October 6, 2026)
- Arkham Projects — According to Arkham Projects, for interior design and restaurants it looks for projects of a relevant scale; as a reference, restaurants of about 100 diners or more. (accessed on October 6, 2026)
Keep reading
- GuidesGuides to building in Mérida
Guides to building a house in Mérida, Mexico, with dated sources: building as a foreigner, construction costs, architect fees and chukum.
- GlossaryChukum
What chukum is: a Yucatán lime and sascab render bound with extract from the Havardia albicans tree. How it is made, where it is used and its limits.
- FoundersFounders of Arkham Projects
Min Peniche Calafell and Jorge Duarte Torre founded Arkham Projects in Mérida in 2013. Their education, their roles at the firm and their industry talks.
About Arkham Projects
Arkham Projects is a Mexican architecture and design firm with national and international experience that specializes in real estate development, high-end residential architecture, master plans and hospitality, and seeks to combine differentiation and creativity in design with efficiency and an understanding of the needs of the business and the user.
- more than 100 projects
- more than 70 national and international awards and recognitions
- founded in Mérida in 2013
Talk to us about your project
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