A boutique hotel of discreet modernist design was born in the Mexican coastal town of Zihuatanejo, inserted in a complex with artistic residences and a strong environmental commitment.
Wild animals are a regular presence in the project’s grounds (Photo: Lover Lover for MUSA)
Tucked between the mountains and the sea, there is in Zihuatanejo a new paradise for the traveller who likes to “live to explore”.
MUSA – an acronym for Modern Utopian Society of Adventurers – is an ambitious project by Mexican designer Andrés Saavedra and Canadian entrepreneur Tara Medina, stretching over a kilometre and a half of beach and more than 70 hectares of palm trees.
The couple have devised a model community based on the pillars of conscious design and sustainability, where “work and well-being coexist in synergy”.
At the heart of the place is a small boutique hotel: the Hotelito.
The minimalist buildings blend into the tropical landscape without changing it – the panoramic views of the Pacific are framed by dense vegetation.
In addition to running on solar power, Hotelito reinforces its environmental commitment through the implementation of rooftop gardens (to promote cooler internal spaces), composting and soil regeneration initiatives and rainwater harvesting systems.
Andrés has developed a modernist yet welcoming design, combining neutral and natural materials, such as cement and stone, with the warmth of native tropical wood, local craft details and mosaics in emerald hues from Oaxaca.
Each of the 13 accommodations is adorned with works by international artists (Oso Parado, Brian Eno, Ryan Estep, Linnea Goransson, Rachel Garrard and Ricky Lee Gordon), some part of MUSA’s artist residency program.
All have private terraces with pools and are scented with a fragrance designed for the hotel, which combines clove, frankincense and sandalwood with lighter notes of vanilla and musk.
The space is completed with a saltwater infinity pool, a Beach Club and an open-air restaurant, ALBA, led by chef Rodrigo Serna.
