欢乐的夏日 | Juan J. Carretero | 2026 | 墨西哥
When Hurricane Otis tore through Acapulco in late 2023 (the most powerful to ever make landfall in Mexico), it left the city submerged in debris and its infrastructure virtually destroyed. For a Mexico City family with two teenage children, their cherished coastal getaway was rendered completely unrecognisable.
Like so many who escape the capital for the coast, the family had always relied on their home in Acapulco as a peaceful retreat from the frenetic pace of city life. Rebuilding in the wake of such widespread tragedy felt daunting, but the resolve to start over was immediate. To bring the space back to life, they turned to New York-based, Mexican-born architect and interior designer Juan J. Carretero, embarking on a year-long project defined by logistics and patience, as much as it was by design.
“The building’s elevators had been out of service for months. At the same time, skilled labour was extremely scarce, as much of the city was trying to rebuild itself. The project ultimately turned into an exercise in patience, resilience and logistics. By bringing in workers from nearby cities — and working at a slower, more deliberate pace — we were able to gradually restore the apartment and transform an experience of loss into an opportunity for rebirth. In many ways, the reconstruction reflected the very spirit of Acapulco: patient, resilient, tenacious and determined to rise from the devastation with renewed energy and optimism.”Perched above Playa Revolcadero, this Mexico apartment overlooks one of Acapulco's most striking landscapes: a wild expanse of golden sand and the restless waves of the Pacific just beyond the airport. Long considered the quieter, more contemporary counterpart to the historic bay, Revolcadero is characterised by its boundless horizons, tropical vegetation, and a sense of seclusion that allows nature to take centre stage. Here, the shifting light, the rhythm of the waves, and the immensity of the ocean create a deeply Mexican and timeless atmosphere.
Several elements give the penthouse its distinctive character. The common areas feature custom-made, low-profile sofas upholstered in a vibrant coral pink, paired with sculptural ivory-colored coffee tables whose soft, organic forms evoke the curves of seashells and eroded stone. Throughout the apartment, custom finishes in warm oak and woven-textured wall coverings introduce a tactile, artisanal quality that balances the endless turquoise views, while art plays an equally important role in the interiors.
Large-scale abstract works in intense shades of blue and green evoke the iridescent colours of the Pacific, while botanical arrangements and playful contemporary pieces reinforce the connection to the tropical landscape. The apartment also features one-of-a-kind pieces, including a striking coffee table crafted from a natural tree root and sculptural works in ceramic and glass that lend the spaces a sense of discovery. The boundary between interior and exterior seems to dissolve: spacious terraces, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a private pool that appears to merge with the horizon allow the ocean to become the focal point of the home, with shifting light and ocean views flooding into every room throughout the day.
The result? A home that conveys a sense of rebirth and optimism, embracing the beauty and energy of Acapulco while honouring its extraordinary resilience. Rather than dwelling on what has been lost, the project looks to the future, using light, colour, natural materials, and art to create warm, sun-filled interiors connected to the seascape. More than just a renovation, the project is a manifesto of reinvention: the transformation of a place scarred by devastation into a sanctuary that captures the essence of this splendid pearl of the Pacific.
It’s worth noting that all of this was made possible thanks to the owners’ trust in the studio led by Juan J. Carretero. “Since we had already collaborated with these clients on previous projects, there was already an atmosphere of mutual respect. This afforded us considerable creative freedom.” Did the owners request anything in particular? “Their only real request was that the apartment convey a sense of joy and feature a very vibrant colour palette. We weren’t there when they first saw the completed penthouse, but they sent us a message almost immediately saying: ‘We love every inch of it. The dining room, the bathrooms… we loved everything. Thank you, thank you. We’ll always say it: you’re the best of the best.’”
Photo: Vivienne, courtesy Studio Carretero
- 转载自：AD(admiddleeast)
- 图片@AD(admiddleeast)
- 国家：美国
- 编辑：序赞网
- 翻译：序赞网
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