esrawe, lassala + orozco design residential complex within jungle in tulum, mexico

esrawe studio, in collaboration with lassala+orozco arquitectura have completed the ‘luz azul’ residential compound located in tulum, mexico. the project emerges as a brutalist concrete monolithic volume with wooden elements that generates a variety of open spaces, allowing inhabitants to be in touch with the surrounding natural environment. 

all images courtesy of esrawe studio, lassala+orozco arquitectura

esrawe studio and lassala+orozco arquitectura designed the monolithic volume as a frontier that separates the street and the residential area. meanwhile, it also serves as a veiled entrance to the complex, through which users cross into a pathway of light, shadows and scales alongside the concrete formations that offer a shelter from the sun. upon passing this monumental lobby, an oval wooden structure creates a path leading visitors to an inner patio surrounded by lush vegetation. from this courtyard, a wooden staircase circling around the oval complex, connecting the houses and the communal areas, leading each resident to their respective apartments to the roof, where the pools with magnificent jungle views reside.

at the ground level there is an oasis of water lilies to refresh the surroundings and the apartments. towards the outer area and through the facade, the jungle views are framed and the houses benefit from its exuberance. towards the patio, light enters subtly through the wooden lattice, providing a fresh breeze to the residences. a direct and honest relationship is established between the environment and the architecture, which merges naturally with the sky and the vegetation, blending with the colors, the sounds and the smells.

roofs are configured with platforms that create terraces and different spaces that residents can visit in order to relax. here, pools emerge as ponds, evoking the natural vestiges of the erosion caused by the water in the cenotes; furrows are filled, and resting platforms arise to form a flooded landscape with wide views towards the jungle. suspended vegetation is integrated into the perimeter of the complex, which fuses and grants continuity to the natural environment. the project also comprises of a wellness area which is partially sunk in the ground to provide privacy and shade, looking towards the rich vegetation on the ground floor. 

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edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom