Living the Gardens: Sustainable Villas in Cancun

A Sustainable Housing Solution Promoting Resource Reduction and Economic Savings

The Living the Gardens development is a complex of nine villas located on a 2,373 square meter land in Cancun, Mexico. What sets these villas apart is their commitment to sustainability and the use of local materials. Each villa is a three-level building, ranging from 216 to 275 square meters in size.

The ground floor of each villa features a spacious living room, dining room, kitchen, terrace, half bathroom, and an interior garden. The first floor includes a master bedroom with a bathroom, dressing room, and a balcony, as well as two secondary bedrooms with a shared bathroom. Additionally, each villa boasts a roof garden, providing residents with a private outdoor space.

One of the key design elements of Living the Gardens is its focus on solar protection. In a hot climate like Cancun, solar incidence can significantly impact energy efficiency. To combat this, the project incorporates native vegetation, the volumetry of the building itself, and wooden louvers on the south facade, where solar incidence is most intense. These measures not only protect the villas from excessive heat but also create a visually appealing aesthetic.

Living the Gardens is not only environmentally conscious but also supports the local economy. The project is entirely built with local materials, reducing the environmental impacts of transporting materials long distances and contributing to the growth of the local community.

In addition to the villas, the development offers a range of amenities for residents to enjoy. These include a pool, garden, picnic area, outdoor gym, yoga area, sun deck, and a dedicated pets area. The combination of sustainable design and thoughtful amenities creates a harmonious living environment.

The Living the Gardens project began in 2021 and is expected to be completed in 2023. Throughout the design process, the team conducted extensive research to ensure the project's sustainability. By analyzing the local climate and implementing bioclimatic strategies such as solar protection and natural cross-ventilation, the villas achieve low energy consumption and provide a comfortable living experience.

Sanzpont Arquitectura, the design team behind Living the Gardens, overcame various challenges during the project. One notable challenge was avoiding structural support elements on the ground floor. The team ingeniously solved this by designing a rooftop that carries the intermediate slab with tensioned columns, similar to a steel structure. This innovative approach allows the ground floor roof to hang from the rooftop, creating a visually striking and structurally efficient design.

The Living the Gardens project by Sanzpont Arquitectura showcases the possibilities of sustainable housing without compromising on style and comfort. With its commitment to resource reduction, economic savings, and a more sustainable lifestyle, this development sets a new standard for villa living in Cancun.

Images:

Image #1: Living The Gardens, 2021

Image #2: Living The Gardens, 2021

Image #3: Living The Gardens, 2021

Image #4: Living The Gardens, 2021

Image #5: Living The Gardens, 2021