Located in the heart of Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico, a 3,200m2 plot of land neighbors the busiest and most important touristic avenue in the city known as the 5th Avenue, a 5 km long pedestrian-oriented street filled with vitality and 24 hour activities. Existing since the early 1980’s flea market type stalls and local restaurants, bars and stores have grasped both international and national attention. Because of the intensity and vibrancy of the area, the client’s request was to maintain the synergy and a relationship with the street without losing the tranquility and privacy of the hotel guests.
Cacao Hotel Boutique had to integrate correctly to the street to maintain the vitality of the area and trigger future developments that would continue to promote the pedestrian activities within the area. Therefore resulting in a mixed use project with commercial areas that open to the active street fronts, without compromising the privacy of the hotel guests.
The hotel had to respond to the aesthetic values of the Mexican culture and translate it into a whole new contemporary artistic concept, placing close attention to details and permanence to the area. Cacao contributes to the activation of the city’s streets while creating self-monitored sidewalks that remain busy and self-monitored day and night. As a result, achieving to be a part and a promoter of city life.
The building’s floor area is 9,067 m2 on a plot of 3,200 m2. Contains 60 spacious guest rooms and suites with a dining area, roof top bar and infinity pool.
Inspired by colonial Mexican architecture, a traditional central patio is incorporated to the design. Allowing the entrance of natural light and crossed ventilation. Moreover, the paved stone courtyard covered by parasols provides natural shade with a light white textile canopy that provides the illusion of open space and gently diffuses the intensity of the sun during the day. One of the major influences within the design schemes were the bioclimatic factors, located on an extremely humid and hot climate, a grid that allows crossed ventilation was incorporated allowing the cooling down of temperatures and shadings within the building.
During the beginning of the design process the sidewalk was defined to be a fundamental aspect of the Project. It was considered to be the integrating factor with the exterior of the building; being so, the existing gap between the sidewalk and the street was removed, resulting in the integration and expansion of both elements; giving a greater importance to the pedestrian and revitalizing the surrounding street areas.
Cacao Hotel Boutique accomplishes the integration of the Fifth Avenue, the project communicates the interior to the exterior life of the building. The sidewalk is lowered to the street level creating a “seamless” effect, in order to extend the restaurant area and integrates the pedestrian activities within the building, resulting in the creation of a vibrant ambience that promotes the desired recreation level without losing the privacy of the hotel guests.
Material Used :
1. Travertine Marble – Facade – Marmoles Arca
2. Trespa – Ceiling – Meteon Walnut Line - BASA
3. Hurricane Resistant Windows - Pretecno
4. Italian Porcelain Plank Tile - Versitalia
