The pila is basically a Guatemalan home staple. Normally the pila design has a water tank in the center and two sinks, one on each side of the water tank. One sink is for hand-washing your laundry and thus its surface is ribbed. The other sink is for doing dishes and the surface is smooth. … Read more
Of course, big part of the beauty of the Casa Antigüeña is found in its details, like the niches that can host angels, owls, figures of Santo Hermano Pedro, Jesus, Virgen María, et-cetera. It is nice to have a spot light to illuminate the niche at night, but during the day, the wonderful filtered sun … Read more
Well if the panoramic view of one volcano is astonishing, the view of two volcanoes, Fuego and Acatenango, is breath-taking, especially at sunset and when Volcán de Fuego is putting up a show. Just give me a hot cup of authentic chocolate from Antigua or a cup the best coffee in the world (from La … Read more
It is quite obvious that when one lives in the land of the eternal spring, one would like to have a nice rooftop living room to enjoy all the wonderful sunsets and fresh air. But what if the land of the eternal spring also came with astonishing panoramic views of three volcanoes, one of them … Read more
The cúpulas (cupolas) has to be among the most distinctive architectonic elements of the Casa Antigüeña. Originally design as chimney for the kitchen or to provide light and air to a room, nowadays the cúpulas are mainly decorative pieces. The cupolas break the otherwise flat rooftop line of the La Antigua Guatemala. Don’t you want … Read more
From the attic, it is only a matter of a few steps to reach the terrace or perhaps veranda would be more appropriate term. Since the weather in La Antigua Guatemala is Spring-like year round, well it only makes sense to make the terrace or veranda accessible through stairways. From the terraces of the Casa … Read more
Finally, we reached the loft in the second floor… oops, I meant the attic. Remember the building codes in La Antigua Guatemala prohibit new construction of two-story houses (wink, wink). They say nothing of really high ceilings in single story homes. 😉 Anyway, you can see how the attic-turned-loft can be used for a guest … Read more
In this escalara de caracol (winding staircase) you find the same repetitive azulejos (ceramic tiles) found in the stairway details photo from yesterday. And I wonder aloud, how can things so simple be so beautiful? ¡Qué alguien me lo explique!
In this photo you can see how some simple details and their repetition turn a utilitarian architectonic device like the stairway into a gorgeous piece of every-day beauty. You take the bare stairway, add the martirinado effect (hammered and chipped-away) to the huella (the run), some repetitive patterns in the form of ceramic tiles to … Read more
In the Casa Antigüeña you often find stairways or staircases. Quite often you find forged metal handrails beautifully worked by the antigüeño blacksmiths. Wait a minute Rudy, you’ve had said before that the building codes in La Antigua Guatemala prohibit new two-storey constructions. Oops, that’s right I said that. But, I did not mention at … Read more
Now, I don’t know if the fireplace was an element of the original house from La Antigua Guatemala, but in recent years it looks like, under the influence of the expat community, the fireplace has become commonplace inside all the new houses. I say that I am not sure about the fireplace being an original … Read more
The area for el comedor (dining room) in the casa antigüeña has always flowers nearby, light, lots of it and usually at least a window. Sometimes you also get to see arches or domes or both in the dining area of the houses from Antigua. In this case, the dining area is clean and elegant … Read more
The kitchen area in the casa antigüeña usually has a high ceiling provided by cupola which in most cases served as chimney, but in most recent times and design is simply a decorative architectonic element. You normally find arches inside the house, the kitchen being no exception. The counter is usually cover with ceramic tiles … Read more
Casas antigüeñas normally have at least one corridor or hallway, usually next to the garden and fountain. Omnipresent are the terra cotta floor tiles and wood beans and columns. Now Stephanie asked how typical is the house that will be shown in the Casa antigüeña series on the first entry. Good question. Well the house … Read more
Several times people have asked to show the inside of a house from La Antigua Guatemala and I had said that I would show as many aspects of casa antigüeña (House from Antigua) if I was ever given permission. Well, we can rejoice now because we’re going to begin a tour through the inside of … Read more