Chetumal to Showcase Anglo-Caribbean Wooden Houses as June Artisan Piece of the Month

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — The Othón P. Blanco municipal government, through its Institute for the Social Economy (IMES), will present the Artisan Piece of the Month for June 2026: a miniature replica of the Anglo-Caribbean wooden houses that once defined Chetumal’s urban landscape.

The initiative aims to preserve the cultural identity of the state capital, promote local artisan talent, and strengthen spaces for regional artistic expression.

The selected piece, titled “Casitas de Madera Anglo-Caribeñas Naj Che,” was created by artisan Rubén Matías Fernández Navarrete. It recreates the iconic wooden houses that characterized the former Payo Obispo settlement and later Chetumal. These structures, with their sheet-metal roofs, wide verandas, balconies, and elevated foundations, reflect the Anglo-Caribbean architectural influence that arrived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Through this work, Fernández Navarrete seeks to rescue and promote the historical value of these buildings, now considered a fundamental part of the city’s cultural heritage and urban identity.

The presentation will take place on June 18, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. on the ground floor of the Othón P. Blanco Municipal Palace, located on Álvaro Obregón Avenue in downtown Chetumal. Admission is free and open to the public.

Attendees will have the opportunity to examine the piece’s details, learn about the materials used, and hear the artisan describe his creative process. The event also serves as a platform to highlight local producers and artisans, promoting the consumption of locally made pieces and strengthening the region’s social economy.