In the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, we meet Marino Tomacelli. Born in Mexico, he spent his teen years in the United States. For the last 20 years he's been back in Mexico helping his family develop and run small hotels. Three years ago he and his wife, Kathy, decided to build a getaway home.
The development is called Paraiso Tucan. It's very different from their home in Playa del Carmen, a busy tourist area about 14 miles away. The main house of the getaway home is constructed primarily of limestone found on the property. The house has a palapa roof--a grass thatch roof that's been used for thousands of years in the Yucatan. The deck is made of hardwood.
Next to the main house they built a utility tower high enough to provide full exposure to the sun at the top. There are now several buildings on the 8-acre property. A few smaller thatched-roof structures provide extra sleeping space. The main house consists of two floors. The lower level is primarily a large bedroom and sitting area. The upper level contains a living area, kitchen and dining area. The bathroom uses a composting toilet, and there are windows all around to make the most of natural light.
The Tomacellis spend most of their time around the pool. They also have an outdoor kitchen with refrigerators, stoves and barbecues. The birds and wildlife in the area are plentiful, so they built an aviary and sometimes assist in the care and breeding of birds for a nearby zoo. To enhance their self-sufficiency, the Tomacellis planted an extensive vegetable garden. In addition, both adults and children have a variety of play areas to choose from--including a pool, playground, treehouse, gameroom and basketball court.
To see the most unusual feature of the home, you have to go underground where you'll find a cenote--a large cavern where an underground river system flows. This fresh-water stream provides the Tomacellis with an endless water supply--as well as a lot of entertainment. In fact, they built a water slide just to add to the fun . Other than the slide, they have kept the cenote as natural as possible, recognizing its link to the past. When the masons were building the stairs down to the river, they found pottery shards that may date back to the Mayan civilization. The Tomacellis like the feeling that they may be sharing a place enjoyed by an ancient people--just one more reason why they love their Extreme Home in the Yucatan jungle.
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WINDOWS MEDIA VIDEO
