Laiva Plaza

Integrating urban flow with intimate hospitality Laiva Plaza, designed by RA!, is a boutique hotel situated in the historic center of San José del Cabo. The project is conceived as an urban piece that seamlessly integrates into the pedestrian fabric of the city, offering public space while providing an intimate hospitality experience. The building's layout features mixed-use spaces on the ground floor, two levels of guest rooms, and a roof garden with amenities oriented towards the urban context. The design responds to the walkable nature of the historic center, utilizing color as an expression of cultural identity. A public atrium set back from the street creates a sequence of shade, ventilation, and transition between exterior and interior spaces. The entrance acts as an open threshold, with a shaded passage mediating the relationship between public space and the interior. Internally, the building is organized around a vertical central courtyard that facilitates circulation, introduces natural light, and promotes cross ventilation. This void serves as both a climatic and spatial regulator, fostering an atmosphere of calm and controlled luminosity. Circular openings in the staircases visually engage with the courtyard, enhancing continuity between interior and exterior. Formally, Laiva Plaza is defined by interwoven walls that create connected patios and terraces. The volume steps back progressively to respect the historic center's scale, while the rhythmic repetition of its elements evokes the cut paper flags found throughout San José. The use of color and handcrafted stucco introduces a sensitive, timeless materiality, consolidating an architecture of hospitality deeply rooted in its urban and cultural context.

Design Highlights

Integration with the pedestrian fabric of San José del Cabo Mixed-use spaces on the ground floor Roof garden with urban views Vertical central courtyard for natural light and ventilation Interwoven walls creating patios and terraces Use of color and handcrafted stucco

Key Facts