PPAA designs "discreet yet powerful" Mexico City hotel Lamartine

A central skylight naturally illuminates the interiors of this 10-key boutique hotel in Mexico City, designed by local architecture studio PPAA.

Lamartine occupies a narrow lot in the city's affluent Polanco neighbourhood, so PPAA had to get creative with the spatial constraints presented as part of the new-build project.

"From the outset, the main challenge was clear: to optimise natural lighting within the constraints of a limited site," said the studio.

The solution was to position a skylight above the central metal staircase, which acts as a vertical shaft to draw daylight into the building.

"This architectural gesture not only solves the lighting challenge but also becomes the poetic and structural core of the project," the team said.

At street level, the hotel entrance is via a glass door set into a textured plaster wall, onto which its name is embossed in handwritten metal letters.

Above, the facade is covered in a semi-transparent metal mesh, creating privacy for the guest room balconies behind while still providing views out.

"Beyond its visual and spatial role, this mesh also helps regulate temperature by creating a microclimate that reduces heat gain in rooms exposed to direct sunlight," said PPAA.

The interiors throughout the hotel are neutral-toned and detailed in a minimalist style, comprising beige textured plaster walls, pale wood furniture and soft fabrics.

Reception is formed by a long desk anchored by a structural column at the far end, where the wall gently curves around to direct guests to the staircase and elevator.

Shafts of light highlight the solid handrails and dramatically illuminate sections of wall as the stair flights rise around the core.

Guest room numbers are etched into the slabs of volcanic stone flooring outside each door, which also continue into the private spaces.

Four compact rooms are housed across each of the building's two middle floors, all following the same pared-back interior style.

A larger suite is positioned on the ground floor, beyond the reception area, and enjoys access to a triangular patio at the rear of the site.

Another can be found on the third level, also at the back of the building, while a small gym that opens to a terrace sits at the front.

"The project features a rainwater harvesting system and prioritises green areas at the rear of the site, where open garden spaces and vegetation enhance the natural atmosphere and contribute to passive cooling," said PPAA.

Between the minimal interiors and the monolithic street facade, the hotel has both a subtle and impactful presence in its tree-lined surroundings.

"With a timeless facade that blends restraint and sophistication, Lamartine positions itself as a discreet yet powerful landmark within the urban fabric of Polanco," said the studio.

PPAA has completed projects from Los Angeles to Zurich, as well as a wide variety in the firm's home country Mexico, including another boutique hotel in the capital and a collection of holiday apartments in Tulum.

Other recent examples of the studio's work range from a rammed-earth guest house and a grey stucco residence with open-air terraces, to Mexico's "first all-wood" mass timber structure.

The photography is by Fabian Martinez.

The post PPAA designs "discreet yet powerful" Mexico City hotel Lamartine appeared first on Dezeen.