ARRIVING AT VILLA PETRICOR IS LIKE DISCOVERING A MAYAN RUIN, settled in the ground, and covered by centuries of lush greenery. It is difficult to believe that this unique vacation villa was only completed in 2022. But while it may not have been built by an ancient civilisation, there is no doubt that it's a temple of design.
Villa Petricor is named after the scent produced when rain falls on dry soil. The moniker is a gentle reminder that we need to slow down and renew ourselves, and is fitting because the house is located in Tulum, a developing seaside town on the Yucatán Peninsula that gets a fair amount of rain. Built on a relatively small (about 300m²), angular and narrow lot, the three-bedroom home was planned around several existing tree clusters, which the architects worked hard to protect. Recognising the importance of the natural habitat, they only removed what they absolutely had to.
The villa was designed by Tulum-based Collaborative Design Office (or Co-Lab), which was founded by Joana Gomes and Joshua Beck in 2010. The duo are deeply inspired by the beauty of the area they live in. Co-Lab didn't just tackle the architectural design on this project, though - as a full-service practice, the studio also took care of the general contracting and landscaping, and planned, sourced and created much of the home's interiors. Co-Lab has an active workshop in which furniture and lights are developed. As Joshua says, "We started producing custom elements for our work in Tulum because it was challenging to find accessories we liked - and I think this approach allows for more holistic, harmonious projects."
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