four intertwined masses assemble inward-facing cuatro cielos in mexico

so individual as interconnected

cuatro cielos is an ensemble of four intertwined residential volumes with an individual layout, that responds to the tropical environment of tulum, mexico, providing quality spaces. void studio sought to develop an inward-facing configuration, that makes the view of its own space, opening to its forms, textures, colors, lights, shadows, and vegetation. the four-apartment cluster, includes two private pools on the ground floor and two terraces on the second level, while the transitions between interior and exterior are clear.all images courtesy of zaickz moz

feeling the tropical ambiance within CUATRO CIELOS

the architects used local materials and traditional techniques, in an attempt to pay tribute to the beauty of tulum’s jungles and beaches.‘we wanted each apartment to feel different, we wanted people to identify with the place. it was also important to make sure they knew they were in tulum, that they lived the jungle, the heat, the ambient humidity and, of course, the skies,’ says fernanda rodríguez, architect of the studio.

intertwined masses enhance people’s interaction 

along with achieving clear transitions between interior and exterior, another aim was to maintain independence and privacy that wouldn’t require walls entrenching the residents or a development cut in four. the studio sought not only to link the inhabitant to the environment but also to encourage interpersonal connections. with this in mind, the apartments are intertwined and let the presence of the others be perceived in places like the crossing passageways, bridges, and the matched angles.

cuatro cielos was built with local materials giving the buildings good resistance for the site conditions: jungle, saltpeter, lots of sun, and humidity. chukum stucco clad the flooring, walls, and pools, limestone — collected from the same site — used as gravel and exterior coating and maculí wood and jiles in fences. aesthetically, the natural character of those materials pay tribute to the beauty of tulum’s jungles and beaches, and it exploits the impact of sunlight on its surfaces, turning out in colors, textures, and entire atmospheres that change according to the hour of the day and the season of the year.

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project info:

name: cuatro cielos
designer: void studio

location: tulum, mexico

terrain surface: 467 sqm

constructed area: 811 sqm

photography and videography: zaickz moz  | @zaickzstudio 

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