Mexican architecture firm RA! has built residences that mimic ancient ruins to create echoes of time in Tulum, Mexico. 

Named Hacienda Wabi, the 1,800-square-metre building is nestled in the heart of the forest, Hacienda Wabi is a home complex that blends harmoniously with its natural environment. 

The proposal, which was created by RA! and developed by Namus, a developer located in Tulum, features a variety of terraces, stairways, and tiered volumes that gradually give a residential building form and blend in with the surroundings. 

In order to reinterpret history and evoke the historic settlements that once populated the area, its design is inspired by the aesthetics of ruins.

The complex, which has 15 units spread across three levels, is centered around a central courtyard. A semi-public area featuring a swimming pool and leisure areas is reached when this inner space is divided into smaller courtyards and corners that lead to winding walkways. 

Every apartment has constant natural light and cross ventilation thanks to the volumes' stepped layout, and the façades are partially covered by planters around the perimeter, which furthers the idea that design should prioritize greenery.

First-floor apartments have terraces and jacuzzis, second-floor apartments have terraces and roof gardens with views of the treetops, and ground-floor apartments have gardens and private pools.

Local factors defined the materiality of the complex, according to the architects. The walls are completed with Chukum, a natural coating derived from plant-based processes and sand that improves interior brightness and lowers the project's carbon impact, while the base is constructed with local stone. 

In order to encourage energy efficiency, solar panels were placed on the rooftops, and the planters and center courtyard are both designed to support the growth of vegetation. 

By using neutral wall and slab colors, the building blends in with the surrounding forest without taking away from its organic qualities.

By using local materials, passive design techniques, and a close interaction with the vegetation, Hacienda Wabi provides a way to live in the jungle where architecture merges in with its surroundings, emphasizing daily life and reverence for the natural world.

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The Mexico City-based architecture practice RA! was established in 2017 by Santiago Sierra, Pedro Ramírez de Aguilar, and Cristóbal Ramírez de Aguilar. The firm's approach prioritizes lived experience over form and focuses on creating places that react to individuals and their relationship with the environment.

Project facts

Project: Hacienda Wabi

Architecture: RA!

Location: Tulúm, Quintana Roo, México 

Type: Residential Apartment Building

Client: Namus

Date of completion: 10 September 2023

Area: 1,800m2

Developer: Namus

Interiors: Namus + Casa Portal + RA!

Engineering: EMX Structural Engineering.

Design team: RA! (Pedro Ramírez de Aguilar, Santiago Sierra, Cristóbal Ramírez de Aguilar, Alejandro Hernández, Lourdes Gámez y Mateo Vázquez del Mercado).

All images © Ariadna Polo. 

All drawings & model photos © RA!. 

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RA! residence residential architecture Tulum