Villa Petricor sits within a tropical garden in Tulum

[Celerity]

https://www.dezeen.com/2022/12/07/villa-petricor-tropical-garden-tulum/









Arched openings create a sense of fluidity inside a holiday home by Mexican studio CO-LAB Design Office, which was designed to encourage occupants to feel connected to the lush surroundings. Villa Petricor sits on a slender, angled site with tropical vegetation in the beach town of Tulum. The 300-square-metre house is oriented to take advantage of prevailing winds.









Named after the "earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil", the dwelling is meant to evoke feelings of renewal and stillness. "Villa Petricor connects us to the natural world by providing spaces that encourage us to slow down and marvel in the beauty of the present moment," said local studio CO-LAB Design Office.









The concrete house was built around several clusters of trees, and windows were carefully positioned to provide "green views". The glazing also ushers in daylight and enables shadows to dance across the walls. "Projected shadows cast by the surrounding vegetation extend the presence of nature in all the rooms of the house," the team said. On the entrance facade, the team created a distinctive brise-soleil made of concrete blocks. The screen offers glimpses of within while providing privacy. A walkway to the front door is topped with a canopy punctured with circular holes, allowing trees to grow upward.









The interior features many arched openings and niches, which create a sense of fluidity between rooms, and between the interior and exterior. The ground level holds two bedrooms, along with an open space for lounging, cooking and dining. Large pivot doors open onto a terrace and a small swimming pool. CO-LAB described the interior as "sculpted [and] monolithic"Upstairs, there is a split-level main suite with a sleeping area, bathroom, lounge and terrace. A vaulted ceiling continues the language of arches found throughout the dwelling.

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[snowybirdie]

1. Beautiful location

and design. But I find the bland decor and lack of color very much different from a typical Mexican home. I'd love to take a trip to Tlaquepaque near Guadalajara to find those wonderful Mexican artifacts that make a home there.

[Coventina]

2. I'd love to vacation in it, but it doesn't feel like a home.

My reaction is the same as yours.

It's dramatic in its starkness. I believe to draw more attention to the lushness of the garden.

But, yeah, very sterile.