Guadalajara-based V Taller has completed a striking residential complex in Tulum, inspired by the mythical Tower of Babel. Finished in soft pink stucco, the 6,178-square-metre (66,500-square-foot) development combines nearly 60 vaulted apartments around a central tower, creating a visual and spatial dialogue between human habitation and the natural environment.
A Tower as the Focal Point
At the heart of the complex stands a round tower, punctuated by vertical slit windows and accessed via a freestanding staircase crossing a small moat. The structure is crowned and grounded by plants, while a triangular aperture directs views toward the sky. V Taller describes the tower as a “mediator between human experience and the natural world,” where mass and void interplay to evoke the essence of Babel.
The complex’s eye-shaped layout positions the tower as the pupil, with residential units stacked radially across three levels. A planted courtyard optimises airflow and allows for reforestation, while the compact vertical arrangement reduces land consumption by nearly 40% compared to traditional horizontal developments.
Design That Fuses Efficiency and Comfort
Catering to both long-term residents and short-term rentals, each apartment includes fully equipped kitchens, combined living and dining areas, private bedrooms and bathrooms, and a balcony or garden with an integrated jacuzzi. The curved structure’s radial layout ensures every unit enjoys a seamless connection to the surroundings, with narrow staircases serving as “tunnels of light” that bring daylight deep into the interiors.
The ground floor features an arched colonnade opening to the courtyard, middle-floor balconies showcase inverted semi-circular openings, and double-height upper floors allow light and cross-ventilation through elongated oval windows. Interiors combine tropical woods and clay, creating a warm, textured atmosphere that highlights regional craftsmanship.
Sustainable and Regenerative Approach
Finished in chukum, a limestone-based stucco traditional to the Yucatán Peninsula, the project benefits from natural humidity resistance, thermal regulation, and low maintenance. V Taller emphasises bioclimatic strategies, spatial efficiency, and material authenticity, aiming to foster a regenerative framework for sustainable tourism.
“Babel establishes a continuous interaction between built space and nature, where light, vegetation, and air shape the experience of inhabitation,” the studio said.
Previously, V Taller explored hacienda-inspired designs in Jalisco and flexible residential layouts in Guadalajara with Santoscreativos, demonstrating a consistent commitment to blending tradition, innovation, and context-sensitive design.