About
The studio behind the work, and the architect who leads it
Nicte Danell
Architect from the Faculty of Architecture at UNAM, National Autonomous University of Mexico, with a master's degree in interior design from Universidad Complutense de Madrid. She works in English and Spanish with equal fluency.
Her early career included renovation work on homes affected by the 2017 Mexico City earthquakes, followed by years leading projects in landscape architecture and interiors.
That range, from structural recovery to garden design to interior detail, shaped how she approaches renovation today, with the patience to read what is already there before deciding what to change.
A way of working
"A renovation requires a particular kind of attention, since it involves working with a home that already has its own history. Fully understanding that from the first visit takes time to develop. The resulting design must not only work from day one, but it must also leave room for the homeowner to make it their own, including in ways they haven't even imagined."
Nicte believes a home should be allowed to change as many times as it needs to. That's what keeps a space alive, not the materials or the finishes, but the ability of the home to keep working for whoever lives in it. Each project starts with the same question: what does this space need to do, and for whom?
In Vallarta
For more than four years, Nicte has built her practice around foreign homeowners in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit. Buyers from the United States and Canada who own a condo or second home in the bay and want their property handled by someone they can trust locally.
Most of them prefer not to deal with execution, they want a design they're happy with, decisions they understand, and a team that takes care of the rest. They also tend to want something they couldn't find back home, a Mexican sensibility, materials with character, the craftsmanship of local trades, and the kind of authenticity that drew them to the bay in the first place.
That's the work the studio gravitates toward, investments handled with professional care, finished with the talent of Mexican design and Mexican hands. Many of her clients return for a second project. Several have referred her to neighbors and friends in their buildings.
Tell us about your project
Share a few details about your home in Puerto Vallarta or Riviera Nayarit and the kind of work you have in mind.