Architects: Jorge Kelleher, Studio Arquitectos
Area: 375 m²
Year: 2023
Photographs: The Polf
Manufacturers: Caliza boles, Cemex, Chukum, Guadua Angustifolia, Jabin, Sacbay
Lead Architects: Jorge Kelleher, Diego Mendoza, Eduardo Garcia
City: Tulum
Country: Mexico
El Mirador Tulum, designed by Jorge Kelleher and Studio Arquitectos in Tulum, Mexico, demonstrates sustainable innovation through bamboo and parametric design. Located in a prime tourist destination, the project utilizes ecological materials like bamboo and hardwoods for structural and aesthetic benefits. Parametric technology optimized bamboo trusses through 3D modeling and algorithms, simplifying construction parameters and merging expertise from architects, engineers, and craftsmen. Prefabricated trusses were assembled with metallic bases and laminated beams, forming a lightweight, renewable, and visually appealing alternative to traditional materials. The exposed structure combines bamboo, chukum, concrete, and artisanal stone, harmonizing natural materials with sustainable architecture.
The Mirador is a real estate development situated in Tulum, Mexico, a prominent tourist destination renowned for its natural and cultural wealth. The project incorporates luxury amenities crafted from materials like bamboo and hardwoods, showcasing their diverse benefits in construction.
Parametric design enables the analysis of complex, organic forms that were previously unimaginable. By adjusting variables like size, shape, and geometry to meet specific project requirements, parameters are defined for constructing structures with natural fibers, as seen in this project.
For this development, innovative approaches were applied in the design, planning, and execution stages using bamboo. Specialized software was employed to create a system of parametric trusses that simulated the properties of round bamboo. These 3D models underwent various analyses, resulting in functional, structural, and aesthetic solutions that were ultimately realized.
Mathematical algorithms facilitated the development of adjustable parameters, supported by a database combining the expertise of bamboo masters, engineers, and architects. This process simplified key factors such as shape, dimensions, heights, material quantities, and the number of required arches, providing a significant technological advancement for future bamboo construction projects.
Bamboo presents numerous benefits as a construction material. It serves as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional materials like steel and concrete, offering a lightweight quality that provides flexibility in architectural design, enabling creative, innovative, and adaptable forms. Its natural patterns and veins enhance its aesthetic appeal, producing harmonious and visually engaging designs. Bamboo’s rapid regeneration makes it a highly renewable resource that avoids contributing to deforestation. Furthermore, its cultivation demands fewer resources and produces less waste compared to the manufacturing processes of other construction materials.
From a logistical and construction perspective, the trusses were prefabricated in a workshop and assembled before installation on-site. Metallic elements were incorporated for the bases and connections, with laminated beams linking the trusses and supporting the thatched roof.
The exposed structure is a defining feature of the project, revealing bamboo elements, exposed concrete, chukum, and a distinctive stone carpet crafted through an artisanal process that begins with the manual selection of each stone based on its characteristics and continues with its precise execution. Constructed using round bamboo trusses, this structure serves as a remarkable example of how nature and architecture can merge to create spaces that are both sustainable and visually appealing.
Project Gallery
Project Location
Address: QROO 15, Tulum Beach, 77765 Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
