in mexico, layered form draws from street life and tradition
Located in the historic center of San José del Cabo, Mexico, Laiva Plaza Hotel, designed by RA! and developed by LAIVA, is conceived as an extension of the city. The boutique hotel connects public life with private retreat, integrating into the pedestrian fabric while introducing shared spaces.
The project 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.
The rhythmic repetition of the facade recalls the suspended patterns of papel picado commonly seen throughout San José 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.
images by Oscar Hernández, unless stated otherwise
RA! opens laiva plaza hotel to the city through layered spaces
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’s 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.
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.
Rather than operating as a self-contained object, Laiva Plaza Hotel positions hospitality within the life of the city. The Mexico City-team 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.
the street-facing facade unfolds as a series of layered, stepped volumes
the street-facing facade unfolds as a series of layered, stepped volumes
repeating red-toned stucco frames create a sequence of shaded thresholds at ground level
deep-set openings and small balconies introduce rhythm and depth to the facade
curved voids and staircases carve out moments of pause within the interior
circular openings filter light into circulation spaces
narrow stairways guide movement through compressed, softly lit spaces
the stepped volume occupies a compact urban plot within the historic grid
embedded within the low-rise fabric of san josé del cabo
the boutique hotel connects public life with private retreat
project info:
name: Laiva Plaza Hotel
architect: RA! | @ra_arquitectos
location: San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico
developer: LAIVA
The post red-toned stucco surfaces form layered facade for boutique hotel by RA! in mexico appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.