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.four intertwined masses assemble inward-facing cuatro cielos in mexicoall 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.four intertwined masses assemble inward-facing cuatro cielos in mexico

 

 

 

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.

 

four intertwined masses assemble inward-facing cuatro cielos in mexico
sand color palette completes cuatro cielos

 

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.

 

four intertwined masses assemble inward-facing cuatro cielos in mexico
blurring the boundaries of inside and outside

four intertwined masses assemble inward-facing cuatro cielos in mexico
local material clad the dwellings

 

 

 

four intertwined masses assemble inward-facing cuatro cielos in mexico
an intimate environment that still maintains privacy

 

 

1/5
pops of green
pops of green
an intimate atmosphere
an intimate atmosphere
simple geometrical openings
simple geometrical openings
earthy hues
earthy hues
four interconnected volumes
four interconnected volumes

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 

 

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: christina petridou | designboom