{"id":559688,"date":"2026-03-23T20:29:20","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T20:29:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/559688\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T20:29:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T20:29:20","slug":"stucco-surfaces-form-layered-facade-for-hotel-by-ra-in-mexico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/559688\/","title":{"rendered":"stucco surfaces form layered facade for hotel by RA! in mexico"},"content":{"rendered":"

in mexico, layered form draws from street life and tradition<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Located in the historic center of San Jos\u00e9 del Cabo, Mexico<\/a>, Laiva Plaza Hotel, designed by RA! and developed by LAIVA, is conceived as an extension of the city. The\u00a0boutique hotel<\/a> connects public life with private retreat, integrating into the pedestrian fabric while introducing shared spaces.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The project<\/a> is organized through a system of interwoven walls that create patios and terraces across different levels, elements that regulate light, ventilation, and privacy. The volume steps back progressively, aligning with the scale of the surrounding fabric and avoiding abrupt contrasts within the historic context.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The rhythmic repetition of the facade<\/a> recalls the suspended patterns of papel picado commonly seen throughout San Jos\u00e9 del Cabo. This reference is translated architecturally through layered surfaces and openings, while the use of color reinforces a connection to local identity. Handcrafted stucco further grounds the project in a tactile material language, giving the building a sense of permanence without detaching it from its cultural environment.<\/p>\n

\"red-toned
images by Oscar Hern\u00e1ndez, unless stated otherwise<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

RA! opens laiva plaza hotel to the city through layered spaces<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

At street level, Laiva Plaza Hotel opens into a mixed-use ground floor that prioritizes permeability over enclosure. The structure is set back to form a public atrium, creating a shaded threshold between the urban exterior and the hotel\u2019s interior. This gesture establishes a sequence of transition spaces, where airflow, shadow, and movement mediate the experience of entry. The access unfolds as a passage, reinforcing the idea of continuity with the surrounding streets.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rising above the open base, the guest rooms occupy two levels, offering a more private atmosphere without losing their connection to the surrounding streets. At the top, a roof garden gathers the program into a shared space oriented toward the historic center, where views extend outward over the city. The building shifts gradually from enclosed to open.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rather than operating as a self-contained object, Laiva Plaza Hotel positions hospitality within the life of the city. The Mexico City-team <\/a>at RA! folds public space into the project, and softens the boundary between street and interior, allowing everyday urban activity to pass through and shape the experience of the building.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"red-toned
the street-facing facade unfolds as a series of layered, stepped volumes<\/p>\n

\"red-toned
the street-facing facade unfolds as a series of layered, stepped volumes<\/p>\n

\"red-toned
repeating red-toned stucco frames create a sequence of shaded thresholds at ground level<\/p>\n

\"red-toned
deep-set openings and small balconies introduce rhythm and depth to the facade<\/p>\n

\"red-toned
curved voids and staircases carve out moments of pause within the interior<\/p>\n

\"red-toned
circular openings filter light into circulation spaces<\/p>\n

\"red-toned
narrow stairways guide movement through compressed, softly lit spaces<\/p>\n

\"red-toned
the stepped volume occupies a compact urban plot within the historic grid<\/p>\n

\"red-toned
embedded within the low-rise fabric of san jos\u00e9 del cabo<\/p>\n

\"red-toned
the\u00a0boutique hotel connects public life with private retreat<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

1\/9<\/p>\n

\"repetition<\/p>\n

repetition of faceted openings creates depth and shadow across the elevation | gallery images courtesy of RA!<\/p>\n

\"physical<\/p>\n

physical model shows the stepped volume integrated within the surrounding urban fabric<\/p>\n

\"the<\/p>\n

the model highlights the layered facade and planted terraces across upper levels<\/p>\n

\"axonometric\"\/<\/p>\n

axonometric<\/p>\n

\"floor<\/p>\n

floor plan<\/p>\n

\"roof<\/p>\n

roof garden plan<\/p>\n

\"seciton\"\/<\/p>\n

seciton<\/p>\n

\"elevation\"\/<\/p>\n

elevation<\/p>\n

\"detail<\/p>\n

detail section explores the depth of openings and integration of planted thresholds<\/p>\n

project info:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

name: Laiva Plaza Hotel<\/p>\n

architect: RA!<\/a> | @ra_arquitectos<\/a><\/p>\n

location: San Jos\u00e9 del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico<\/p>\n

developer: LAIVA<\/p>\n