This five-bedroom Mexican bungalow, a sustainable hideaway surrounded by lush plant life near the Caribbean coastline, acts as “a sanctuary deep in the jungle, a sort of concrete and wood bubble in between the trees,” says Juan Pablo Heredia, partner at Tulum Treehouse. Starting with the existing building, which had been built over time by different contractors, was no easy task—“all the windows were different, the flow of the house was completely off with a kitchen under the stairs,” he notes. “It made little sense.” So he, along with local firm Co-Lab Design Office, solved the problem by creating indoor-outdoor living complete with wraparound terraces and open-air spaces. To help preserve Tulum’s delicate ecosystem, they employed a water treatment and irrigation system, while energy comes courtesy of solar panels and a battery bank.

For the warm and inviting interior, Co-Lab and Berlin-based Annabell Kutucu chose locally sourced materials like Tzalam wood and polished white cement that blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings, while an organic and raw earthiness was achieved through a neutral color palette, local textiles and ceramics, Oaxacan rugs, and unique furnishings by Meridian artisans. It’s a barebones aesthetic that allows guests to “focus on the moment, relax, and enjoy time with friends,” Heredia says.