Aligning with Mexico City-based Grupo Habita’s mission to support local communities by enhancing unique locations, multidisciplinary practice RootStudio was enlisted to create the brand’s newest lifestyle hotel, Otro Oaxaca.
RootStudio—led by architect João Boto Caeiro and known for its sustainable design principles and commitment to advancing local trades’ construction know-how—envisioned a new-build/heritage hybrid that blends harmoniously with Oaxaca’s historic surroundings. Respecting the urban scale of the site previously occupied by tenement housing from the 1980s, the hotel maintains volumes similar to nearby buildings such as the Instituto de Artes Gráficas de Oaxaca (IAGO).
Orto Oaxaca’s minimalist design approach mixes unvarnished finishes, handcrafted aesthetics, and local creative techniques. Bricks, red earth from the valleys, polished cement, artisanal resins, steel, glass, concrete, and reclaimed timber combine into sculptural architecture that emphasizes purity of form and respect for materiality.
Inspired by the regional archaeological site Mitla’s cross-shaped tombs reached via steps that descend underground, the hotel’s main building was conceived as a habitable sculpture with interplays of light and staircases that shape diverse experiences. Upon entering the historic façade that preserves its natural brick coloration, guests discover a 130-foot corridor constructed from repurposed timber railway sleepers that simultaneously connect and divide the space.
Local artisans crafted RootStudio’s bespoke furniture designs with layered textures from materials like wood, upholstery, suede, resin, and metal, all selected to complement the architecture. A rooftop terrace and pool showcase panoramic views, while filtered sunlight creates intimate serenity in the underground pool and spa.
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