Solaz Los Cabos Hotel
Ciudad de México, Mexico. The extraordinary natural surroundings of the peninsula of Baja California with its semi-desert landscape in shades of ocher, contrasting with the deep blue of the Sea of Cortes, provides an ideal selected context for the construction of a new landmark hotel for the country.
Exterior View – Pool. Photo credit: © Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, photo by Rafael Gamo
Celebrating the integration between landscape, architecture, and art, Solaz Los Cabos covers a total area of 9.8 hectares along a section of the coast that includes unique topographical formations. The architectural concept was guided by this need for the proper integration of the construction into its surroundings, achieved through the use of organic forms that refer to the movement of the waves, producing an attractive series of volumes that are adapted to the location. The selection of materials, planting and construction methods reinforce this concept of integration and were meticulously studied to ensure they would suit this beautiful site.
Aerial View. Photo credit: © Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, photo by Rafael Gamo
The services provided by the development are designed to offer a range of accommodation and hospitality options to visitors from both Mexico and abroad. It comprises hotel, apartments, restaurants, spa, amenities, site museum, open plazas and more.
Exterior View – Plaza Solaz. Photo credit: © Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, photo by Rafael Gamo
Exterior View – Terraces. Photo credit: © Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, photo by Rafael Gamo
As a result of the natural steep topography of the site, which climbs from sea level towards the north, it was decided to form three large curved terraces running east-west, and to place the hotel rooms at the western end.
Interior View – Erizo Restaurant. Photo credit: © Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, photo by Rafael Gamo
The circulation between these terraces is via narrow cuttings that also operate as dividing passageways with dense planting to separate the different functions, generating greater privacy.
Left: Exterior View – Bar, Right: Interior View – Apartment terrace. Photo credit: © Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, photo by Rafael Gamo
Given the slope, each terrace rises above the other in stepped fashion, with south-facing facades meaning that all the spaces enjoy spectacular views of the sea. The amenities including swimming pools, beach club, sun loungers are located on the lowest level, by the beach.
Hotel’s Lobby at sunset. Photo credit: © Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, photo by Rafael Gamo
The access level is located within the principal building. This construction, which displays great plasticity of form and organic movement, resembles three blocks stacked on top of each other. Each block contains two floors to give a total of six and contains hotel rooms inside. The volumetry of this building combines the same concept of integration into the surroundings while its movement permits the generation of better views, affording the development with a unique tectonic character.
Exterior View – Circulations. Photo credit: © Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, photo by Rafael Gamo
The apartments operated by the hotel are three volumes of square proportions distributed along the length of the south side of the site.
The different typologies of this hotel’s suites and rooms emerges from the topography that merges harmoniously with the sandy beach. To reach them, a courtyard-lobby serves as both entryway and bridge between the topographic undulations of the exterior and the welcoming geometry of the interior.
Circulation Detail. Photo credit: © Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, photo by Rafael Gamo
A warm atmosphere created using tropical wood, textiles with fresh, Mexican colors, and lines marked out in stone generate a distinctive contemporary aesthetic in every room.
Exterior View – Motor lobby. Photo credit: © Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, photo by Rafael Gamo
One of the conceptual pillars of Solaz Los Cabos is the artistic intervention in many of the spaces. Here, Mexican artist Cesar López Negrete creates and exhibits over 400 works of art that commemorate the life and culture of Baja California in ancient times. His artistic vision complements each detail of the construction, at both the micro-level (hotel rooms) and the macro-level (open plazas and common spaces), in the appropriation of the space and the integration with the site.
Left: Aerial View, Right: Exterior View from the highway. Photo credit: © Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, photo by Rafael Gamo
The presence of Solaz in Los Cabos is notable thanks to the way the architecture is woven into an integrated landscape project, created in partnership with Gabayet 101 Paisaje. The palette of plants was complemented with further native species according to the landscape design and the intention of each space. In this way, the architecture and landscaping harmonize with the external walkways, passages, outdoor amenities, lobbies, restaurants, green roofs on the volumes that descend to the sea, and so on. These landscaped areas seek to imitate the local vegetation and its unique natural setting.
With its contemporary Mexican design, its proper integration into the landscape, and the sum of an integral art project, this hotel is expected to be the next icon in the international hospitality industry.
Hotel Room Terrace. Photo credit: © Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos, photo by Rafael Gamo
Architectural Team
Architects
Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos
President
Javier Sordo Madaleno Bringas
Architecture Leader
Javier Sordo Madaleno de Haro
Project Leader
Alejandro Coeto, Boris Pena
Program
Hotel
Construction Area
150,000 m2
Terrain Area
135,000 m2
Termination Date
2018
Status
Built
Location
San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Design Manager
Alejandro Espejel, Cándido Hernández, Luis Pucheta
Design Team
Iovany Fuentes, David Pazos, Miguel Baranda, Marco Pucheta, Santiago García de Letona, Giordana Rojas, Daniela Camarena, Carlos Nuñez, Francisco Barrera
Engineering Coordination
Marcos Hernández
Engineering Team
Héctor Ruiz
Media & Marketing
Rosalba Rojas, Daniela Cruz, Jimena Orvañanos,
Daniela Rosas, Angélica Chávez, Lorena Moreno
Interior Design
Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos
Interior Directors
Nadia Borrás, Enrique Ralph
Interior Team
Guillermo Márquez, Greg Leiner, Pilar Ocejo, Gabriela Mondragón, Andoni Barcón, Héctor Galaz, Maripaz Coto, Melissa Peña, Rossy León, Luz Edith Osuna, Keshin Fuhrmann, Ingrid Flores, Fernanda Patiño, Regina Jarque, Alejandro Gómez-Moncada, Marcia Mejía, Miguel Galindo, Cristina Ramos, Alejandra Angeles
Structural Engineering
Ing. Jaime Palacios
Electric Engineering
Cien Acres
Air Conditioning Engineering
DYPRO
Systems & Special Engineering
Innovative Design
Hydrosanitary Engineering
Termo Aire Consultores Mecánicos
Water Treatment Plant Engineering
Hidro Ecología Especialistas en Tratamiento de Agua
Fire Safety Engineering
Viza Fire
Lighting Consultant
Luz y Forma
Acustic Consultant
Omar Saad
AV Consultant
Innovative Design
Landscape Consultant
Gabayet Paisajistas
Fire Safety Consultant
Bice Vertical
Construction
Quinta del Golfo de Cortés S.A. de C.V.
Photography
Rafael Gamo
About Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos
Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos (SMA) is an internationally-recognized, Mexico City-based architecture studio with over 80 years in practice. Founded in 1937 by Juan Sordo Madaleno, and run by the third generation of architects in the Sordo Madaleno family. It operates with 250-plus design experts dedicated to the development of architectural, urban planning, interior design and master planning projects.
The studio is recognized for its profound commitment to excellence and strategic thinking, which results in fully-integrated architectural solutions that have contributed greatly to Mexico’s architectural fabric. The office carefully evaluates urban context, social impact and viability in order to attend to the potential features and requirements of each project.