Más que Arquitectura: Recording the architectural voice of Yucatán

Ángel Sánchez and Javier Alonso recorded several demos of what would become their radio show, long before Kiss FM radio decided to pick them up.

As young architecture students eager to prove themselves, they wanted to create a platform that would bring the architectural world of Yucatán together. Ángel notes that there’s a lack of sense of community among architects in Mérida, which they decided to address in their initiative.

“Groups are very well established,” Ángel notes. “They are defined by the school you attended, the places where you develop, the style with which you design. And it creates an unnecessary disconnection. At the end of the day, we intend to create the best architecture possible, and for that to happen we have to learn from each other.”

This realization inspired them to start a radio show on which established experts, students, and lovers of architecture, in general, could share their ideas. The idea became “Más que Arquitectura” — “More than Architecture” —, early 2016. 

“It became our first professional experience, too,” says Ángel. “Neither one of us was very enthusiastic about joining a firm at the time, and we thought this would be a great way of introducing ourselves to the world of architecture in Mérida — by getting to know one another.”

Ángel notes that much of his own design philosophy has been largely influenced by his time on the show. 

“It’s like having a constant lecture, in a way,” laughs Ángel. “It’s been a very valuable tool, not only from an educational perspective but from a networking one, too. We’ve built very good relationships through the program, we can now ring up an architect we admire and invite them on a project, or ask them for advice.”

As with every other business, the pandemic has pushed the project into different stages, turning it into more of a podcast than a radio show, but Ángel says they’ve welcomed that change with excitement. 

“Considering the new safety procedures, the show had to be modified. We used to record directly in the booth, and air live, but we are now recording in open spaces, sharing our pre-recorded shows on radio and other digital platforms, and it is helping us grow a lot in the podcast universe.”

The intention of “Más que Arquitectura” is to continue putting a spotlight on what Yucatán has to offer, and making sure it reaches every nook and cranny of the country.

“We are creating incredible things, and for the world to see we have to show it off ourselves,” Ángel shares. “We are not reluctant to explore beyond Mérida, not at all, but we want to look at what we have nearby first. There’s so much to see, I don’t think we’ll ever finish.”

Listen to “Más que Arquitectura” Wednesday night at 8:30, via Kiss F.M. 97.7, or find them on Spotify, YouTube, and their Facebook page.