design et al are delighted to announce that DPA&D have been shortlisted in the International Hotel & Property Awards 2014 for the Hotel Design Award – North & South America with the Westin Lagunamar in Cancun, Mexico.
Westin Lagunamar in Cancun, Mexico, is a 65,000 sq.m resort which includes 293 time-share apartments, shops, restaurants, pools, and a health club.
The architecture and design of the project is integrated with nature; it combines indoor and outdoor spaces by means of a structure with monumental porticoes in conjunction with intimate micro spaces. The guest can enjoy both the close proximity of nature and a comfortable homey feel.
At the hotel entrance, the guest will find a canopy, a massive structure with an almost strong architectural resolution, and further up a large glazed lobby directly connected to the outdoor spaces. The public areas define an architectural structure that fans out towards the sea. This structure leads guests to walk down a winding path with its “unexpected connections” among all the pools and the ocean. Soft, inviting lighting generates proposals; it invites the guest to the outdoor spaces, which, in the evening, have an intimate feel. It is a pleasure to walk around the pergolas, in the interplay of light and shadow, as well as along the micro spaces with their typical hammocks, and zoning with varied functionality. The 293 time-share apartments have a very flexible design: they are suites that are arranged in such a way that they may accommodate a couple or a family in the same apartment.
The number of positive remarks made by the hotel guests just confirms the success of every step taken as far as interior design and architecture are concerned. Designing for big brands is a challenge, since you have to respect standards while seeking differentiation. Westin Lagunamar’s design is functional and contemporary, showing many traditional Mexican elements, from which DPA draws on. The Mexican style, expressed in textures, colours, and local artisan ceramics meets DPA studio’s long established experience in designing international hotels without losing sight of the culture of each region. At Westin Lagunamar guests feel that they are staying at a tropical home, not in a hotel.