One thing you will notice when you walk around this vibrant city are the beautiful old Mexican houses in Puerto Vallarta. A favourite travel pastime for me is exploring neighbourhoods in depth and not only noticing the architecture that surrounds me but also the use of various materials.
Building Materials
Here in the port city of Puerto Vallarta, most of the earliest buildings are made from a clay based soil brick. Today these bricks retain their deep burnt red colour and are often covered with dark algae. Together with the terra cotta roofing tiles, the homes appear warm and organic.
Puerto Vallarta is a bustling city, the oldest part being Old Town or the Romantic Zone. This area is surrounded by the steep Sierra Madre mountain range cascading into the sea. Because of this terrain, many homes have been constructed on a hillside becoming very steep very fast. Most homes are three stories high.
The brickwork can be so artfully laid, as well as offering structural integrity to the building. Features that make the villas so endearing to me are the large wooden doors, Juliette balconies and arched windows.
Decorative Features
A classic decorative feature are the elaborate wrought iron railings that adorn every window, door and terrace. These can be painted in various colours and are not only functional but are aesthetically pleasing and oh so creative.
Many of the exteriors are decorated with small details such as bottles placed into the bricks to allow light inside the building or brightly painted pottery lights and planters.
A lot of casa’s have had the brick plastered over, and on this plaster are amazing murals, painted by some of the most talented local artists.
There are so many little streets with hidden surprises here. Walking around day after day never gets boring. For I will always wander up a street or alley that I haven’t been to before, and discover something new and photo worthy. Sadly many of these extraordinary old structures are being demolished and replaced with new and modern buildings. There will come a day quite soon when these casa’s are a rarity rather than the norm. While I do enjoy modern buildings, there is often a lack of charm and character to them.
New Construction
I am so impressed when I pass a villa that has been renovated in such a way as to keep all or most of the original design. I applaud the owners in recognizing the beauty of the old and renovating in a way that maintains the style but adding modern conveniences. For me, this is the best of both worlds.
If I am every lucky enough to call Puerto Vallarta home one day, I would love to reside in one of these lovely renovated casa’s.
