Sordo madaleno plans luxury el zafiro residential development in coastal mexico

conceived by sordo madaleno arquitectos, ‘el zafiro’ is a luxury residential complex in careyes, mexico. located along the southern jalisco coast, the development is surrounded by beaches, rivers, mangroves, golf courses, and wildlife. thearchitecture comprises a total of 14 buildings, each with five luxury housing units: 4 two or three-bedroom apartments and a four-bedroom penthouse. construction is expected to begin on site in the coming months.

the development reinterprets the region’s traditional palapa huts
all images by CG veron © sordo madaleno arquitectos

the development is characterized by a defined curve that arises from sordo madaleno arquitectos’ reinterpretation of the traditional palapa huts found in the region. ‘the purpose of this element — apart from its aesthetic qualities — is to provide a comprehensive architectural solution,’ explains the design team. ‘more than just an outer lining, it is a whole: a structural element that protects from excessive insulation while letting in natural light in a controlled manner, and encouraging natural cross ventilation that takes advantage of the breezes.’

the structural element protects inhabitants from excessive insulation while letting in natural light

the form protects residents from the rain without obstructing views. it also serves as an enclosure for the residential program, simultaneously acting as wall, floor, and roof. this modular element is repeated, following the undulations of the terrain and distributing the buildings in a linear sequence — carefully arranging them to permit the best views while preserving privacy between units.

the luxury development is surrounded by beaches, rivers, and mangroves

each of the 14 elements is constructed from superimposed layers. the first is a three-dimensional mesh abstracted from basic geometrical elements. this is made of laminated wood to achieve a lightweight structure that can be assembled in situ, before being covered with a timber cladding system that makes it possible to create apertures and closures. finally, further protection against the rain and sun is added where required. locally sourced materials were chosen to minimize ecological impact, blending with the natural setting.

the scheme comprises a total of 14 buildings, each with five luxury housing units

construction is expected to begin on site in the coming months