PPAA completes minimalist Lamartine hotel in Mexico City's Polanco

PPAA, an architectural firm based in Mexico City, has unveiled Lamartine, a boutique hotel featuring 10 keys in the upscale Polanco area. The design faced challenges due to the narrow plot, leading to innovative spatial arrangements, including a central skylight above a metal staircase that channels natural light throughout the structure. The exterior is wrapped in a semi-transparent metal mesh, ensuring guest room balconies maintain privacy while minimizing heat gain. The interiors showcase a minimalist aesthetic with neutral tones, including beige plaster walls, light wood furnishings, and soft textiles. A long reception desk is supported by a structural column, while volcanic stone flooring displays room numbers. Each of the two middle floors contains four compact rooms, and a larger suite on the ground level opens to a triangular patio. A small gym with a terrace is located on the third floor. The hotel also features a rainwater harvesting system and green areas at the back for passive cooling. PPAA characterized the hotel as a 'discreet yet powerful landmark within the urban fabric of Polanco.' Photography credits go to Fabian Martinez.