Coyote Arquitectura designed a red housing complex in Tulum. The development consists of nearly 40 homes arranged in two parallel lines separated by a long, landscaped axial alley on a 4,800-square-metre site. The two different types of homes were arranged side by side along the long building to create a pattern of solids and voids and create small private areas for each unit.
The voids between the units have interior solid staircases for second-floor access, the form of which translate to a void on the exterior, forming a negative stair-shaped niche in the facade. The units' arrangement allows for cross ventilation, natural lighting and urban gardens and shared spaces that preserve as much vegetation as possible.
There are 21 single units, which have a living room, dining room, kitchen, garage and private garden with a jacuzzi on the ground floor and a bedroom, bathroom and terrace on the upper level. Meanwhile, 18 double units trade the terrace for a second suite on the upper level. All of the windows and folding glass doors look onto patios and across the community alley, sealing the complex from the exterior. Only the garages face out from the complex, which is marked by delicate wooden screens.
The amenities–accessed by the internal street–include a gym, lobby, bicycle parking, and resort-style pool. The pool has large shading structures, both adjacent to and in the water, with wide, flat columns that rise above the roof like fins. A basin wraps around several trees in the middle of the water.
The flat, monolithic exterior was clad in a traditional reddish plaster finish called "chukum," which provides a smooth juxtaposition to the rocky terrain. The interiors have a lighter pink finish, softening the colour and adding natural wood, textiles and high-quality finishes. The studio wanted the vibrancy of the structure to contrast with the nearby rocky jungle terrain.
- Architect: Coyote Arquitectura
- Photos: Onnis Luque