Devoted to Materials
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From the bark of the Havardia Albican.
We’re devoted to materials. Our affinity for understanding them in their deepest sense leads to a relationship that is symbiotic: a respect for a material’s history and heritage draws out its great potential for the future.
The spaces we design are comprised of a variety of these finishes, from wood, stone, and metal to other artisanal elements. Each tangible material helps to shape the experience of a space in a holistic and intentional way.
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Nuup Spa, Atelier Playa Mujeres
Drenched in the rejuvenating essence of the Yucatán, Nuup Spa is an abstraction of Mayan influence and traditional wellness practices. The space is an experiential homage to the cenotes of the peninsula, honoring both the immediate natural landscape and its ancient history.
Here a calming finish palette was inspired by the natural environment of the Yucatán, featuring limestone, tropical wood, and traditional Mayan CHUKUM.
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One of the most distinctive features of the northern Yucatán Peninsula is its flat topography and limestone foundation. This soil is referred to as “saskab”, the Maya word for “white soil”. Using this white soil, the Mayans first developed a limestone-based stucco with resin from indigenous chukum (Havardia albicans) trees.
This “chukum” finishing technique is highly water resistant, an important consideration in a tropical climate with abundant rainfall. Walls, hand-finished in “chukum”, create a warm, artisanal envelope and are employed extensively across not only the Spa, but the entire Atelier Playa Mujeres property
The spaces we design are comprised of a variety of these finishes, from wood, stone, and metal to other artisanal elements. Each tangible material helps to shape the experience of a space in a holistic and intentional way.
︎︎︎
Nuup Spa, Atelier Playa Mujeres
Drenched in the rejuvenating essence of the Yucatán, Nuup Spa is an abstraction of Mayan influence and traditional wellness practices. The space is an experiential homage to the cenotes of the peninsula, honoring both the immediate natural landscape and its ancient history.
Here a calming finish palette was inspired by the natural environment of the Yucatán, featuring limestone, tropical wood, and traditional Mayan CHUKUM.
︎︎︎
One of the most distinctive features of the northern Yucatán Peninsula is its flat topography and limestone foundation. This soil is referred to as “saskab”, the Maya word for “white soil”. Using this white soil, the Mayans first developed a limestone-based stucco with resin from indigenous chukum (Havardia albicans) trees.
This “chukum” finishing technique is highly water resistant, an important consideration in a tropical climate with abundant rainfall. Walls, hand-finished in “chukum”, create a warm, artisanal envelope and are employed extensively across not only the Spa, but the entire Atelier Playa Mujeres property
