INDUSTRY:

HOSPITALITY

LOCATION:

TULUM, MEXICO

YEAR:

2022

STATUS:

DESIGN

Render of the Ahau Tulum motor lobby featuring a manta-ray inspired bamboo canopy with a chukum finish, supported by bio-parametric branching columns amidst the jungle.

Ahau Motor Lobby

about.

Located at the Ahau Collection in Tulum, this motor lobby serves as a transitional threshold between the Mayan jungle and the Caribbean Sea. The structure is conceptually designed as a manta ray gliding over a coral reef, featuring a fluid bamboo canopy finished with chukum to mimic organic skin textures.

The supporting branching columns were developed using computational design and genetic optimization algorithms, making each element unique to its structural load and location. Prioritizing sustainability, the canopy features strategic perforations derived from a detailed vegetation study, allowing existing trees to penetrate the architecture and continue their growth undisturbed.

Interior visualization of the Ahau Tulum motor lobby at night, featuring organic bamboo columns and custom bio-mimetic lighting fixtures hanging over a sand floor.
Interior perspective of the Ahau Tulum bamboo canopy, highlighting circular skylights designed to preserve existing trees and the parametric lattice structure of the columns.
Architectural frontal elevation of the Ahau Tulum motor lobby, illustrating the bio-parametric 'manta ray' canopy and branching column structure with human scale references.
Cross-section architectural drawing of the Ahau Tulum pavilion, detailing the structural undulations of the bamboo roof, integrated skylights, and organic support system.