Alegria Palace is a residence located in Brisas de Zicatela, Santa Maria Colotepec, Oaxaca. Its name was chosen based on the sensations it aims to evoke in users and the inspiration drawn from the selected architectural style, reminiscent of the palaces of North Africa. The main vision was to create a residence exclusively oriented towards rental. To achieve this goal and provide an attractive experience for tourists who stay there, the architectural design was inspired by a Moroccan style, aiming to attract both local and foreign tourists with a high visual and sensory aesthetic value in one of Mexico's most popular vacation destinations.
The project offers the opportunity to inhabit a space of foreign architecture in Mexico for local tourism. Additionally, for the foreign market, it provides the chance to experience the Pacific Ocean of southwestern Mexico in a unique space within the coastal city. Today, Alegria Palace has surpassed all economic expectations, as the project exceeded the client's expectations due to its originality in the locality, achieving a 95% occupancy rate during peak vacation seasons.
Alegria Palace was built in a record time of 7 months, which represents a remarkable achievement in one of the states with the highest economic lag, according to Mexico's economic censuses, and in one of the cities with the most construction and real estate regulations, according to municipal statistics at the national level. Additionally, the construction presented unique challenges, such as the plastering work due to the irregular natural topography of the terrain, the work on the Moroccan-style arches, and the scarce skilled labor in the area.
The positive impact of this building on its surroundings is one of its most significant characteristics. Since its completion, pre-existing residential projects have sought ways to renovate; new constructions, for their part, have increased significantly to compete within a market with high vacation demand.
The project is designed to accommodate four people, offering two bedrooms with their own bathroom and dressing room. One of the bedrooms has a bathtub to provide a relaxing and luxurious experience. The house also features a living room, kitchen, dining room, half bathroom, garage, utility room, storage room, pool, and uncovered area for sunbathing. The design aims to provide all the comforts and luxuries in finishes and materials to its occupants.
The materials used in the structure and finishes are mainly brick, plastered with natural earths and pigments. The color palette was selected according to the Moroccan style, evoking the earth tones and woods common in that country. The central space of the house is the pool, around which the rest of the project develops, featuring a mosaic of green and white diamonds that reinforce the dialogue with North African architecture. Additionally, it has patios, terraces, and balconies on the ground floor and first level that allow occupants to enjoy the views and the climate.
The furniture and art were personally selected by the owner. Some of these pieces were brought from Africa to complement the chosen style and provide an additional connection between the diverse origins of the different elements of inspiration from this continent. The house features unique details, such as antique wooden doors recovered from southwestern Mexico, a distinctive characteristic of projects carried out by Garquiteg, creating a material dialogue between both styles, and copper sinks that chromatically blend with the interior walls and ceilings.
The vegetation was chosen to promote an active beach environment that meets the desert. For the first task, endemic palms from Oaxaca were chosen; for the second, cacti were used in planters near the walls to strengthen this complementary dialogue.
Alegria Palace is a project that meets all the expectations of a luxury rental residence. The proposal creates a home with a distinctive and exotic style, using local materials and construction techniques, becoming an example of functional integration across all elements of the project, between the Moroccan and the local.
