HOTEL TERRESTRE

Mexican hospitality pioneers Grupo Habita own various boutique hotels, each with its own personality. Their latest opening, Hotel Terrestre, represents a turning point in their quest for sustainability. “We have spent the past decade designing and building sustainable hotels, starting with Hotel Escondido, and now we have achieved the pinnacle with the 100 per cent solar-powered Hotel Terrestre,” says Rafael Micha, co-founder of Grupo Habita.

Nestled in a lush jungle, Hotel Terrestre is a group of seven brutalist-inspired buildings envisioned by architect Alberto Kalach and his team at Taller de Arquitectura X, along with interior design studio RB + K. Crafted with locally sourced materials such as brick, wood, clay and sand, the property also features innovative passive cooling techniques rather than relying on air-conditioning.

Adding a sense of luxury to the 14 interconnected villas are custom furniture by Mexican designer Oscar Hagerman; the Ruiseñor (Mockingbird in Spanish) chairs, in particular, are a favourite of Micha. While it might be challenging to replicate the enormity of the hotel’s sustainability ethos in your home, more manageable tweaks such as using less glass and choosing natural materials for your furnishings is a step in the right direction.