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Inspired by pre-hispanic architecture

Private Spa in Tepoztlán by Soler Orozco Arquitectos + Javier Sánchez

 - Jakob Schoof

For a private client, Soler Orozco Arquitectos have created a pyramid-shaped spa with unmistakable touches of the region's historical places of worship.

Private Spa in Tepoztlán by Soler Orozco Arquitectos + Javier Sánchez
© Jaime Navarro

The city of Tepoztlán, which has 15 000 inhabitants and is located about 75 km south of Mexico City, joins untouched nature and a rich pre-Hispanic heritage: the 240 km² national park known as El Tepozteco surrounds the city centre. Between 1150 and 1350 the indigenous population created a place of worship on the eponymous local mountain, which is 2000 m tall. The site draws tourists to this day.

© Jaime Navarro

Soler Orozco Arquitectos were clearly inspired by the pyramid shape when they designed this spa building for a private client about 5 km outside Tepoztlán. The client’s weekend house, which he had built by another architect five years previously, stands a bit removed on the lot. Otherwise, the place is peaceful and green; only occasional gravel paths lead to the residences, which are scattered here and there.

The spa aims to fit into the grounds without interfering with the landscape. Its shape is based on a truncated cone of volcanic stone that has been covered with a green roof. The ensemble is embedded into the forest to the extent that it can hardly be perceived as a whole from any given point.

© Jaime Navarro

The client and his guests enter the piled-up pyramid via a tunnel. The individual areas of the spa – fitness room, massage room, changing rooms, showers and baths, sauna and frigidarium – are arranged radially around a central distribution space with a skylight. The circular opening forms the middle of the jutting, planted roof shell, which measures 20 m in diameter.

© Jaime Navarro
© Jaime Navarro

Like the impluvium in an ancient home, rainwater collects here before flowing into several subterranean cisterns. These are sized to provide water for the showers, baths and the cold pool in the spa as well as the rooftop planting. There is enough left over for the neighbouring house as well.

Architecture: Soler Orozco Arquitectos + Javier Sánchez
Client: privat
Location: Tepoztlán, Morelos (MX)

Structural engineering: Clinker Proyectos
Landscape architecture: Paar Taller
Building services engineering: Amado Guevara, Oscar Zárate
Overall area: 355 m²

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