residential complex in mexico colored pink to contrast its lush green surroundings

located in tulum, a town on the caribbean coastline of mexico’s yucatán peninsula, this medium density apartment complex has been designed to foster a sense of community among residents. completed by reyes ríos + larraín arquitectos and gabriel konzevik, the project includes 38 apartments — either two- or three-bedroom units — as well as a variety of meeting places for impromptu interaction.

all images by edmund sumner

set on a rectangular plot, the project — named ‘mi querido tulum’ — comprises two four-storey blocks that run across the plot from east to west. a third three-story building encloses the eastern edge of the site. finally, a single storey block houses the site’s services, while ensuring that sunlight is able to enter into the heart of the project — an expansive patio with a swimming pool and areas for relaxation.

‘it is important to point out that at the street level, this wide longitudinal space is completely free for pedestrian traffic, thanks to the addition of two bridges that join the long blocks and at the same time make circulations more efficient by eliminating flights of stairs at the access level,’ explains reyes ríos + larraín arquitectos, who sought to preserve and relocate as much of the existing flora as possible.

the architects also wanted to construct a building that referenced the region’s vernacular architecture. consequently, the palette of materials used is minimal. for the walls and exterior façade, cement stucco with integrated red pigment was selected to contrast the site’s lush greenery. bamboo has been used for guardrails and privacy screens, while limestone is found in the floors and bathrooms. wood, resistant to moisture and insects, has also been used throughout the scheme.

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project info:

name: mi querido tulum
function: multifamily housing
dates: 2014-2018
location: tulum, quintana roo, mexico
architecture: reyes ríos + larraín arquitectos and gabriel konzevik
design team: salvador reyes ríos, josefina larraín lagos, gabriel konzevik cabib, carlos fleischer cervantes
construction: grupo SIMCA, eloy caceres wejebe, luis montalvo millet
construction resident engineer: esteban guarito SIMCA
structural analysis: ing. morton coral, ing. gabriel vargas