On a 2,500-square-meter plot immersed in Tulum’s lush tropical vegetation, Jaque Studio has designed a boutique hotel that makes the principle of contrast its compositional hallmark. The project orchestrates a lively dialogue between the spontaneity of the natural landscape and the architectural rigor of the built form, between local materials and sculptural geometries, between solids and voids. The result is a work that proposes a sensitive and balanced relationship between architecture and nature, deeply rooted in the Mexican context.

The project addresses the theme of exotic tourism, which is often expressed through consumerist and self-referential uses of the territory. Here, however, the approach is guided by a conscious sense of localism and by the desire to define a strong architectural identity—free from both mimetic intentions and authorial spectacularization.

It is, in fact, the Genius Loci that inspires the work, evident in the choice of materials, construction techniques, and passive design strategies that have been used in the region for centuries. These aim to establish a respectful—not imitative—dialogue with the surroundings, enhancing climatic comfort while minimizing the environmental impact of the built environment.

The complex is composed of several simple, restrained volumes, arranged along the edges of a quadrangular plot and surrounding a large central garden with a pool, evoking a centripetal and sheltered spatial experience. Among them are the reception pavilion, built in concrete with a traditional chukum finish (a local plaster), and topped by a light wooden structure that recalls tree trunks and seems to float among the forest canopy; and the double-height restaurant, featuring an open kitchen and elevated position that offers privileged views over the garden.

The ten guest rooms, varying in type and layout, are distributed among the separate volumes: the ground-floor units open directly onto the garden with terraces and semi-outdoor bathrooms, while the upper-level duplex rooms offer greater privacy. Careful design mediates between public and private realms, enhancing visual and spatial connections with the garden and pool in the social areas, while using massive, seemingly impenetrable envelopes to protect the most private zones.

The material palette—wood, local limestone, travertine, and chukum—anchors the hotel to regional building traditions and contributes to climatic comfort through passive design strategies informed by local knowledge. Shading devices and carefully studied openings promote cross ventilation, mitigating tropical heat and encouraging outdoor living. The interiors, furnished with essential pieces in raw, natural materials and complemented by soft, earthy textiles and finishes, emphasize the enveloping and tactile character of the space.