Cámara Houses

[2] Over the years, the houses have received countless guests, including Princess Grace and Prince Rainier of Monaco, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, Umberto II of Italy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

In January 1888, with the support of a group of landowners, industrialists and businessmen, a project arose to build a boulevard modeled after Champs Elysées in Paris, which they called Paseo de Montejo.

[5] In 1905, two brothers, Ernesto and Camilo Cámara, decided to build two houses in the neoclassical style, on a lot with just over 3,000 m2 which they owned facing the Paseo de Montejo.

By 1907, the floor plans were ready and Umbdenstock had them published in the April and May issues of the French magazine "La Construction Moderne" under the title "Hôtels particuliers à Mérida (Mexique)".

Many of the materials were imported directly from Europe, including finishing touches for the ceilings, carrara marble for the floors and paired columns, the iron balustrades for the staircase and balconies and the cabinetry.

[13] Over the years, the houses have received many guests from the international jet set including Princess Grace and Prince Rainier of Monaco, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, Umberto II of Italy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

Both houses were designed by Gustave Umbdenstock , a French architect who had studied at the École des Beaux-Arts de Paris .
The grand staircase was built in the French Second Empire Style . On the main floor, the staircase is preceded by a portal of paired columns, the shafts carved in a single piece of Bianco Carrara marble imported from Italy , which complement the steps.
The Cámara Houses viewed from Paseo de Montejo