Ka’a Tulum Housing Complex

Ka’a Tulum Housing Complex
© Pablo Garcia Figueroa

Ka’a Tulum Housing Complex

Studio Arquitectos

DESIGN TEAM
Jose Martin Amate, Daniela Veron, Angel Cervantes

CLIENTS
Ceci Landa, Julio Alvarez, Juan Zahoul Y Eduardo Garcia

MANUFACTURERS
Chukum, Illux, Melnor, Magg

ARQUITECTO A CARGO
Eduardo Garcia Figueroa. 

AREA
1048 M² 

YEAR
2019

LOCATION
Tulum, Mexico

CATEGORY
Houses

Text description provided by architect.

Local materials, textures, senses and nature merge together in 2 main patios to become the core of this project.

Ka’a Tulum Housing Complex
© Pablo Garcia Figueroa
Ka’a Tulum Housing Complex
© Pablo Garcia Figueroa

The main objective of Aldea Ka’a is to create a solution for the current situation in Tulum the city has become more popular over the years and the vacation housing demand has increased.

Nowadays, the developers are more focused on vacation rental houses and have left locals aside. After we identified the necessity of residential housing, we designed a project to meet the needs of the locals with an architectural design equal to any other complex aimed for tourists.

Ka’a Tulum Housing Complex
© Pablo Garcia Figueroa
Ka’a Tulum Housing Complex
© Pablo Garcia Figueroa

The project is divided in 4 units that are connected by 2 common areas or patios that create air circulation, privacy and natural lighting over the 4 units with 2 apartments each one; that means, 8 apartments in a total area of 873 m2.

The distribution of the units inside the property is directly related to our previous tree survey. The main pergola is the longitudinal axis of the building.

Ka’a Tulum Housing Complex
© Pablo Garcia Figueroa
Ka’a Tulum Housing Complex
© Pablo Garcia Figueroa

It creates tension and connection among the units and the 2 main patios. The path is a whole sensorial and receptive experience by being completely surrounded by plants from the region.

The merging of the patios and the pergola provide proper functioning and efficient flow due to their function as transition spaces between the public and private areas.

In addition, the different plants and organic materials of the region offer privacy, intimacy and partial isolation without separating the inside from the outside.

Ka’a Tulum Housing Complex
© Pablo Garcia Figueroa
Ka’a Tulum Housing Complex
© Pablo Garcia Figueroa
Ka’a Tulum Housing Complex
© Pablo Garcia Figueroa

We aimed to create a volumetric hierarchy starting from the pedestrian level; therefore, we chose a closed volumetry on the upper level facing out and an open one facing to the main patios, creating a terrace in the second floor with a floating garden area that blend both the inside and the outside resulting in a green and private place.

We had the idea to involve local materials so that the residents can feel the connection with the apartments. Our 4 main materials are: polished chukum for floors and walls, tzalam wood for woodworking supplies, Mayan stone and steel beams.

Ka’a Tulum Housing Complex
© Pablo Garcia Figueroa
Ka’a Tulum Housing Complex
© Pablo Garcia Figueroa

The interaction of these elements and design meet our purpose of making a project to create a community, to reflect the personality of the residents and to merge the building with the green jungle of Tulum.


Ka’a Tulum Housing Complex
© Pablo Garcia Figueroa
Ka’a Tulum Housing Complex
© Pablo Garcia Figueroa
Ka’a Tulum Housing Complex
© Pablo Garcia Figueroa
Ka’a Tulum Housing Complex
© Pablo Garcia Figueroa
Ka’a Tulum Housing Complex
© Pablo Garcia Figueroa
Ka’a Tulum Housing Complex
© Pablo Garcia Figueroa


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