The architecture studio RA! has designed Hacienda Wabi, a residential building immersed in the jungle where, over time, nature will reclaim the space occupied by the building's footprint. The project is located in the city of Tulum, known for its well-preserved ruins of an ancient Mayan port city.

The staggered volumes that shape the building pay homage to the ancient settlements that occupied the area in times past, seeking to reinterpret the passage of time through the aesthetics of the ruins. Bordering these volumes we find different planters with vegetation, placed with the aim of provoking a sensation of nature reappropriating the space.

The project developed by RA! arranges fifteen homes on three levels, alternating spaces for exchange in the form of open spaces. These open-air spaces create different winding paths towards the public spaces that the complex has in a game of stairs and volumes.

The building pays homage to local materials, using neutral tones that allow the jungle to play a leading role in walls and slabs, inviting vegetation to be an intrinsic part of the architecture. With great knowledge and respect for the context in which it is located, the project creates contrasts in a game of textures and materials typical of the area such as stone and Chukum.

Hacienda Wabi por RA!. Fotografía por Ariadna Polo.

Hacienda Wabi by RA!. Photograph by Ariadna Polo.

Project description by RA!

Hacienda Wabi is a residential complex nestled within the jungle, seamlessly blending into its natural surroundings. Promoted by Namus, a Tulum-based developer specializing in boutique projects and designed by RA!, the structure, composed of stairways and terraces, rises to create spaces that, over time, seem to surrender back to nature. The building’s design seeks to reinterpret the passage of time through the lens of ruin aesthetics.

The staggered volumes, which recede skyward, evoke the ancient settlements that once lined the area, generating a layout that ensures a consistent flow of light and air to each block. The terraces are framed by perimeter planters that drape the façade in greenery, giving the impression of nature reclaiming the space.

Hacienda Wabi por RA!. Fotografía por Ariadna Polo.
Hacienda Wabi by RA!. Photograph by Ariadna Polo.

Inside, a large, fragmented courtyard creates intimate corners that provide access to the 15 apartments spread across three levels. Each level features terraces and winding pathways that lead to the semi-public areas, including the pool and recreational spaces.

Each floor offers distinct features: the ground level boasts expansive gardens and pools, the first level includes terraces and jacuzzis, while the second level features roof gardens with views extending to the treetops.

The building’s material palette draws from local textures, with stone anchoring the base and Chukum finishing the upper levels. Neutral tones allow the jungle to play a starring role, as vegetation becomes an integral part of the walls and slabs, blending seamlessly with the architecture.

More information

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Architects
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RA!. Lead architects.- Pedro Ramírez de Aguilar, Santiago Sierra, Cristóbal Ramírez de Aguilar.

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Project team
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Alejandro Hernández, Lourdes Gamez, Mateo Vázquez del Mercado.

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Collaborators
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Interior design.- Namus, Casa Portal.
Engineering.- EMX Structural Engineering.

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Developer
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Namus.

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Area
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1,800 sqm.

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Dates
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Completed.- September 2023.

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Location
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Tulúm, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

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Photography
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RA!. Architecture studio founded by Pedro Ramírez de Aguilar, Santiago Sierra and Cristóbal Ramírez de Aguilar in 2017 and based in Ciudad de México.

They understand architecture as the study and production of spaces that stimulate and shelter the human being. Through this thinking, RA! classifies architecture according to human relationships: social, personal and interpersonal, always placing the individual at the centre of their project.

The studio seeks an architectural proposal through questioning, research and the use of various tools ranging from drawing to the production of videos, models and coordination with specialists to express, explore and communicate every detail, in order to excite those who inhabit it.

RA! is in constant exploration, so experimentation is a process inherent to its vision. Experimental projects such as competitions, installations and academic exercises, allow the practice to explore new design possibilities and unknown tools to maintain a constantly evolving vision.
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Published on: October 29, 2024
Cite: "Reinterpreting the passage of time. Hacienda Wabi by RA!" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/reinterpreting-passage-time-hacienda-wabi-ra> ISSN 1139-6415
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