The Carmen Hotel | sanzpont arquitectura

Design Concept inspired by the Coral Reef of the Caribbean Sea

Exotic, sustainable and avant-garde design, inspired by the coral reef of the Caribbean Sea. The design concept is focused on representing an experience for each of its visitors through a natural, unique and contemporary environment.

Architecture, Construction & Design Awards 2018
Third Award | Hospitality (Built)

©sanzpont arquitectura

Modular structure and high thermal efficiency

The structure of the building is totally regulated through the constructive system based on frames, which makes a logical, simple and economical structure. The entire building uses the Novidesa construction system (high density polyurethane), which is highly efficient in thermal and acoustic insulation.

Functionality and a view from every room

This project’s first principle, which is functionality, was resolved by best utilizing the space. Secondly, since the site offered a short façade overlooking the sea and a long façade facing the street, the solution was to rotate the building 30 degrees to ensure all rooms featured an ocean-view.

©sanzpont arquitectura

Sustainable Concept High Efficiency with Low Energy Consumption

The whole building is built using a high density polyurethane construction system, which prevents solar radiation heating, and integrates double glazed windows, achieving a completely isolated system when the use of air conditioning is required. The design features a highly efficient use of cross ventilation of natural air which keeps the consumption of air conditioner to the very minimum. In addition, the heat emitted works to heat the water.

The water system is divided into sewage and gray, independently treated. In terms of lighting, the entire building has LED technology with low energy consumption.

Climate Analysis

The hotel is located on one of the most paradisiacal beaches of the Caribbean Sea, on Calle 8 in Playa del Cármen, Quintana Roo. The climate of the region is warm and sub-humid. The movements and angles of the sun were analyzed with solar geometry, which allowed us to implement effective architectural shading elements. Overhangs and lattices were put in place to prevent the penetration of direct sunlight into the interiors and to block the South and West facades.

©sanzpont arquitectura

Sundown

The average annual temperature ranges between 28º C and 32º C (82º F and 90º F) in summer; and from 26º C to 27º C (78º F and 80º F) in winter. Isolating the building was essential to create comfortable interior temperatures. The thermal gain that the building would undergo was calculated using a thermal digital analytical model, obtaining a greater gain in the roofs, South and West façades, all of which dictate the choice of materials.

Energy Savings

The building is conditioned to reduce energy consumption by the efficient design of constructive, hydraulic, electrical, electronic and refrigeration systems, which have a fundamental role in the energy efficiency of the building.

Cross-Ventilation

Knowing that the dominant winds in the Caribbean come from the Southeast and East, it was decided to turn the rooms 30 degrees to capture the wind and extract it through a duct in the ceiling of the corridor, creating natural ventilation in each space.