I increasingly grew curious to know more about this person – Who exactly is he? What kind of personality hides behind these amazing photos? Will he ever show his face? So I got in touch so that I could ask him a few questions about his background, his lifestyle, his thoughts... This led to a short exchange of emails, and yet another unexpected discovery: Mauricio’s stunning apartment in his hometown, San Pedro Garza Garcia in Monterrey, Mexico. The show-stopping views and perfectly designed interior were just begging to be shared in my Yatzer world! With its stark minimalism and clean-cut lines artfully mixed with more traditional elements, as well as Mauricio’s memorabilia from his travels, the space may appear serious at a first glance, but  reveals glimpses of a playful, joyful character the closer you look.

Mauricio shares his thoughts with Yatzer in his own words, in the text below...

My name is Mauricio de la Garza Clariond. I'm 27 and I studied architecture in Mexico with exchange programs in Italy. Since a very young age, I've had the opportunity to travel and study abroad (mostly the US and Europe) and am currently involved in several residential interior design projects in Monterrey, such as Highpark by renowned Mexican architect Michel Rojkind. I’m also looking forward to a  number of upcoming projects in Mexico City, which are more artistic and travel-oriented.

Architecture is everything to me. More than space, scale or mass, it's the way I see things around me. But what I love the most about it is how it plays with a person's emotions through light and scale. I have always had trouble labelling myself. Although I’m actually an architect, I tend to bounce around between design, architecture, photography, interior design and travel blogging. One of my biggest dreams is becoming an hotelier someday soon. At the end of the day, I believe that all of the above are connected somehow.

Without a doubt, my travels have shaped the person I am today. My aesthetic, my creations, my memories... all have bits and pieces of the places that I've been and the people that I've met and have all somehow  decided to stay within me. And for this I am truly grateful. My own country (Mexico) has also taught me a lot  about being human: through its vibrant colors, its coexisting chaos and diversity, its heritage and traditions and its warmth and playfulness, Mexico has above everything else, taught me how to reach to people's hearts.

After several years of feeling like a nomad, I decided to build a place from scratch that I could call my haven; a sanctuary where I could unpack my souvenirs and download my photos after long trips away. I decided that this place should be in my hometown, where I could be close to my family, my current projects and my dearest friends. It’s also an exciting place to be as the municipality of San Pedro Garza Garcia, part of Monterrey’s metropolitan area, in the North of Mexico, is undergoing intrepid growth thanks to its industrial and commercial roots. I immediately fell in love with this apartment due to its grand North and South exposures throughout as well as its breathtaking city and mountain views. The architectural project and interior design, which were all done by myself, have resulted in a two bedroom apartment, complete with a large open space for living and entertaining, an open kitchen and a studio. What I love most about this space is that it has evolved along with me. It has seen many changes throughout the years, reflecting my travels and where I am in my life. At the beginning, I only had a few basic, very simple pieces of furniture. After several life-transforming travels and the passing of my grandmother, it too has gone through a considerable transformation of character that has seen it being steered  away from its minimalist origins towards something more eclectic, more Old World.

My knowledge of photography is mostly the result of self-exploration, as well as several courses that I attended in New York and Florence. Photography for me is more than just taking beautiful images of my travels. It has become a tool through which I can express and share my point of view with the whole world. Beauty is everywhere. My Instagram pics are all taken with my iPhone (currently an iPhone 5s). Instagram has become a wonderful tool for sharing my vision, proving that beauty is everywhere. Through it, I've been able to come into contact and meet incredible people from all around the globe. Somehow, the World feels smaller than ever with endless possibilities. And my eyes are always alert, scouting for that next post.

Regarding my face... people ask me all the time: Will you ever show your face? Someday. Maybe. I really don't have anything to hide. The thing is, Mal de Mar is not about my face. It's about sharing my vision with the world, sharing my eyes. If I give you a face, you won't be able to see through my eyes because they will now be mine.