>> Ixi’im was built on the ruins of a string factory which was part of theHenequenera Hacienda in Chablé. The main salon used to be the machine room. The building’s design brings together the past and future of Yucatán, with the use of metal, crystal, cement tiles, wood, and some artifacts from the region. When fully opened, the gates to the terrace make the interiors seem like an extension of the vegetation surrounding the building. The sinks are based on an original design of quarry with a laser cut marble rosette.>> There is a granite pond with an eternal flame in representation of the alchemy behind the kitchen. The place’s gastronomy was made by the chef Jorge Vallejo, whose restaurant, Quintonil, is 12th place on the San Pellegrino list.>>>> The main bar is a unique piece made out of truck parts and an old mirror; local artist George Samuelson’s latest work.>> In order to avoid affecting the nature and particularity of the historical building, fake wooden roofs were placed over the Ixi’im restaurant to reduce noise and cushion costumers.>>>> “The Prix Versailles promotes successful interactions between culture and economy in real-life situations while taking into consideration the architectural relationship with a construction’s legacy and sustainable development objectives,” General Director and UNESCO assistant Ernesto Ottone Ramírez commented.>> If you're in Mexico City, be sure to try Jorge Vallejo's restaurant Quintonil, in Polanco.>>>> dm