the essence of pre-Hispanic heritage in contemporary architecture
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LOCATIONTulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico
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YEAR2022
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BUILT SURFACE12,864 m2
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PROJECT DIRECTORLeonardo Neve
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DESIGN TEAMJesus Amezcua, Otli Campos, Jessica Alcántara, Max Pasquel, Rita Bustos, Itzhel Zambrano, Abraham García, Pavel López, Ana Montes
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STATUSProject
Manzana 14 is a residential complex of 64 villas in Tulum that draws from the region’s pre-Hispanic heritage and translates it into contemporary architecture.
Inspired by the material and symbolic richness of the Yucatán Peninsula, the project incorporates white stone and the Mayan arch as defining elements of identity and character.
The fortified materiality not only evokes solidity and tradition but also acts as natural solar protection, creating intimate refuge-like spaces. Each villa encloses private gardens and pools that bring freshness and foster an inward way of living, in constant dialogue with nature.
A continuous glass wall, conceived as a second skin, opens the private areas toward the gardens without compromising thermal comfort, creating a sense of openness, transparency, and seamless connection to the surroundings.
On the upper floor, a perforated lattice with organically arranged rectangular patterns filters daylight and promotes cross ventilation, reinforcing a pleasant interior climate.
The design encourages introspective spaces that balance privacy, artistic expression, and harmony with the natural environment.
