Subtle renovations can have a huge impact, as evidenced by this hacienda in Southeast Mexico transformed into a gorgeous boutique hotel. A collaboration between AS Arquitectura and R79, the renovation combines traditional architecture with modern functionality to create a place that offers guests respite from the burdens of everyday life.
The existing buildings of the Niop Hacienda included facilities for livestock and textiles, which have been renovated to house a mix of hospitality and residential spaces. A series of subtle interventions merge contemporary design with traditional architecture, maintaining the charm of the pre-existing structures.
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The team first designed a promenade that allows visitors to gradually discover the space. This path leads from the parking area to the lobby, where a large stone carpet starts to unfold. A steel grill floats between the existing stone blocks and leaves a sort of imprint on the pavement in the form of a wooden plaque that reemerges in other parts of the site. It appears again, floating on the swimming pool, and then splits down to connect the basement with the landscaped esplanade. A diverse material palette of wood, concrete, stone, gravel and steel all contribute to a delicate balance in materiality – resulting in a truly lovely design.
Photos by David Cervera Castro
