When gallery owners Boris Vervoordt and Nicholas Olney set out to build a new art space on Mexico’s west coast, they had a designer in mind: Boris’ father, minimalism master Axel Vervoordt. The elder Vervoordt, one of Belgium’s most celebrated contemporary artists, collaborated with Japanese architect Tatsuro Miki on the temple-like gallery called Meridiano, designed in local stone to resemble an archaeological treasure.

The trapezoidal structure sits comfortably on the secluded shoreline outside Puerto Escondido and nods to the region’s ancient spiritual traditions. Each of the two main spaces is shaped by “sacred” Mexican geometry and each features a four-sided skylight open to the elements, aligned with the cardinal directions. The movement of the sun creates shadows throughout the interiors, illustrating the passage of time and creating a dialogue with the works on display. Vervoordt and Miki used local wood for the rustic Paduke doors at the entrance.

This windswept stretch of Oaxaca coastline has become a cultural hub. The art and architecture gallery Fundación Casa Wabi, designed by Tadao Ando, ​​is within walking distance.

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