Maxcanú Station is part of the railway infrastructure network of the Maya Train, located in Section Three, which includes six stations and two stops across the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico.

Situated between the Campeche Station and the Umán Stop, approximately 65 kilometers west of Mérida along Federal Highway 180, the project is conceived as a transitional space that offers visitors a place for contemplation and rest. The design aims to transform the pause of waiting into a moment of respite and connection with nature, light, and the terracotta tones inspired by the nearby colonial town.

The building is conceived as an open, curved volume that maintains constant visual contact with the exterior from any point inside. This form captures sunlight from the east and closes toward the west to control solar incidence. Under this premise, respect for context was established as the main guiding principle, generating architecture that responds to environmental conditions.

Cross ventilation functions as an essential passive strategy. The design of façade brackets, in addition to framing entrances and guiding circulation, creates a layered system that acts as sunshades, dramatically reducing indoor temperature.

This solution recalls the ruins of Palenque, where column systems supported main platforms and allowed entry from any direction.

A semi-desert contemplative garden is integrated to the north of the complex, inspired by the Mayan courtyard, a fundamental element in pre-Hispanic architecture for cooling and ventilation. Its organic shape is abstracted from pre-Hispanic mural art, where curves and spirals were used to represent nature.

The project also features the use of cochineal red*, a pigment characteristic of Indigenous cultures and present on the façade of Maxcanú’s own church.

*The cochineal red, or carmine, is an intense natural dye extracted from the dried bodies of female cochineal insects (Dactylopius coccus), which feed on cacti.
The program is organized around a central space that distributes the ensemble and establishes a connection with the region’s landscape, light, and warmth.

The station comprises 1,690 m² of lobbies, courtyards, entrances, ticket offices, restrooms, and service areas; 1,600 m² of boarding zones; over 1,000 m² of operational areas, offices, and technical rooms; and 130 m² of commercial premises, completely open to the waiting halls but enclosed toward the platforms.

The boarding and waiting areas are the design’s main features, accompanied by two types of prefabricated concrete lattices inspired by regional textile patterns. In the waiting halls, the latticework is open to allow better lighting and airflow, while at the platforms, it becomes denser to provide more shade.

Both types create a play of light and shadow, evoking the sensation of standing beneath the green canopy of the Maya jungle.

The material selection focused on regional and cost-effective resources that convey a sober and timeless architectural expression. The plastered concrete walls in cochineal red tone and the tropical wood pivot doors from the region create an interior atmosphere of calm and serenity.

The construction process lasted 36 months and was marked by continuous adaptation due to the discovery of archaeological remains and cenotes, which required designing as building progressed. This underscored the importance of collaboration with the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and the Ministry of Environment, alongside SEDENA and the Government of Mexico, which executed the development. The project ensured respect for the jungle context, limestone terrain, and subterranean structures.

The process involved building Category A infrastructure, meeting all seismic, subsidence, and wind load requirements for the region, obtaining structural safety certification, and following regular supervision protocols.

A shallow foundation with continuous reinforced concrete footings was used to adapt to the cavernous terrain. Above these, a lightweight steel structure supports prefabricated roof panels, while the main walls were built in reinforced masonry with concrete columns, beams, and ring beams.

An exposed beam-and-vault system completes the mezzanine construction, ensuring a clean, open, and low-maintenance architecture. The façade brackets, beyond organizing circulation, create deeper shading and conceal the structure, generating a compositional rhythm that defines the ensemble’s visual identity.

The material palette consists of four tones in perfect visual balance: cochineal red walls and brackets, the warm hue of wooden doors, the black metal structure, and the gray of exposed concrete vaults.

The site’s location, directly connected to the Mérida–Campeche bypass, allows integration with local mototaxi and collective transport routes that link visitors to the town center within minutes.
In parallel, sustainable mobility strategies were implemented, including bike paths to Maxcanú, tactile-visual signage, accessible parking, and pick-up/drop-off areas for people with disabilities.
The landscaping includes palm trees, regional shrubs, and Golden Shower trees* (Cassia fistula) planted throughout the parking lots, courtyards, and plazas.

*The bright yellow flower of this tree, introduced during the colonial period and native to South Asia, adapted perfectly to Yucatán’s climate. In Yucatecan culture, it is appreciated not only for its beauty but also for its resilience and ability to bloom under adverse conditions, symbolizing hope and endurance.

The station is closely connected to the context of Maxcanú, a town of over 21,000 inhabitants known for its jícama production, church, and Ermita de las Tres Cruces, as well as the Oxkintok archaeological site and nearby caves. With the capacity to accommodate more than 10,000 daily visitors, the project generates semi-open, low-maintenance spaces that enhance user experience without disrupting community dynamics.

Overall, Maxcanú Station distinguishes itself from other Maya Train stations by maintaining a deep dialogue with its natural and cultural surroundings. It neither conceals its structure nor damages the cenote-rich terrain; it minimizes tree felling and compensates through vegetation, water collection, and permeable materials, while respecting the archaeological remains that shaped its execution.

Its greatest achievement lies in integrating respectfully into the landscape of Maxcanú and Yucatán, delivering large-scale infrastructure that remains coherent with its setting and contributes to community development through architecture designed for both travelers and locals alike.