From Sand to Cenote: Documenting the Art of Chukum in a New Mexican Home
I’m documenting the construction of a new home here in Mexico, and it is fascinating to watch the layers of this house come together. It is a modest, intimate build designed for a young family of three --- a couple and their new baby --- and the textures I'm capturing are unlike anything you typically see in modern construction back home.
In the shots I’ve taken of the workers on the scaffolding, you can see them applying a finish that looks like simple wet sand or beige mud. This isn't paint; it is Chukum.
Chukum is an ancient Mayan stucco technique that is seeing a massive revival in the Yucatan. The builders take the bark of the Chukum tree (native to this region), boil it to extract a tannin-rich resin, and mix it with limestone dust. As I watched the man smooth it over the high walls from the scaffolding, I realized I was watching him waterproof the home using the same method the Maya used centuries ago to line their water reservoirs.
The most striking part of this process is the pool area. I captured a photo of the empty basin—right now, it just looks like a deep, beige hole in the ground surrounded by concrete and rebar. It’s hard to believe looking at that dry, sandy plaster, but a natural optical trick is about to happen.
The magic of Chukum is that it requires no blue dye and no tiles. Because the finish is so light and matte (as you can see in the close-up texture shots I took), it refracts sunlight through the water. Once they fill this beige basin, the water will glow a vibrant, natural turquoise—mimicking the wild cenotes found in the jungle here.
It is going to be a beautiful spot for the family. The resin mixture ensures the surface stays cool to the touch even in the Mexican heat, which is perfect for their baby to splash around in without the harshness of hot tiles or rough concrete.
Talking with the owner while photographing the site, I learned that while Chukum is durable, it is a "living" material.
Maintenance:
It brings a lot of character to a home, but it does require a specific mindset for maintenance:
It brings a lot of character to a home, but it does require a specific mindset for maintenance:
- pH is King: Because the walls are organic limestone, the family will need to monitor the water chemistry closely. High acidity can eat away at that beautiful finish.
- Gentle Cleaning: You can't use abrasive wire brushes on this. It requires a soft touch to maintain that velvety texture.
- Wabi-Sabi: Over time, the plaster naturally develops subtle variations in tone. It’s not a defect; it’s part of the organic beauty of the material.
I’m looking forward to seeing this space transformed from a construction site into a private blue lagoon for the new owners.
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