Mexican studio V Taller has completed a residential complex in Tulum, Mexico that features a series of vaulted apartments surrounding a tower representative of the mythical Tower of Babel, all finished in pink stucco.

Completed in 2024, the 6,178-square-metre (66,500-square-foot) complex serves as an "architectural response to the intersection of space, time and environment, redefining architecture as a regenerative force rather than an imposition on the landscape," Guadalajara-based V Taller explained.

At the centre of the project sits a round central tower, punctured by vertical slit windows and accessed by a freestanding staircase that traverses a small moat. Plants ring the base and crown of the sculptural structure, and a triangular aperture opens to the sky, directing views upward.

"Through its interplay of mass and void, solidity and openness, it embodies Babel's fundamental approach – where architecture serves not only as shelter but as a mediator between human experience and the natural world," the studio said.

The project has an eye-shaped plan with the tower as the pupil. Across a planted courtyard that allows space for reforestation and optimises airflow, nearly 60 residential units are stacked in three levels.

Set on a total area of less than one acre, the curved, vertical complex reduces "land consumption by nearly 40% compared to conventional horizontal developments [and] concentrates construction while preserving significant open spaces," the studio explained.

Catering to both Tulum's tourism industry and its permanent residents, the efficient apartments include both short-term rentals and long-term homes with fully equipped kitchens, combined living and dining areas, private bedrooms and bathrooms and a garden or balcony with an integrated jacuzzi.

Separated by narrow staircases, which serve as "tunnels of light", the apartments are laid out in a radial plan capped by a series of straight and wedge-shaped barrel vaults.

"The layout of each unit subtly varies depending on its position within the curved structure, ensuring that every residence maintains a seamless connection with its surroundings," the studio said.

The ground floor units are characterised by an arched colonnade that opens to the courtyard, while the middle level features inverted semi-circular openings on the internal balconies. The double-height upper floor allows light and views to the courtyard through elongated oval-shaped openings.

The entire project is finished in chukum, a limestone-based stucco common to the Yucatán Peninsula, laid over reinforced concrete. The handcrafted, soft pink material is valued for its resistance to humidity, thermal regulation and low maintenance.

Inside, tropical wood species and clay elements create a warm, textured atmosphere of regional craftsmanship. Natural light works deep into the units through the windows that offer cross-ventilation and reduce the need for mechanical cooling in the tropical environment.

"By prioritizing spatial efficiency, material authenticity, and bioclimatic strategies, the project establishes a regenerative framework for sustainable tourism," the studio said. "Rather than treating architecture as an isolated object, Babel fosters a continuous interaction between built space and nature, where light, vegetation, and air shape the experience of inhabitation."

Previously, V Taller drew upon hacienda architecture for the design of a stucco house in Jalisco and collaborated with Mexican firm Santoscreativos to design a boxy house in Guadalajara with a flexible layout.

The photography is by Conie Suárez.

Project credits:

Architects: Daniel Villanueva, Miguel Valverde
Civil works: MAQTE Company, Bramah Developments