The Maralda Beach Club in Miches, Dominican Republic is conceived as an architecture that dissolves into its tropical surroundings through a fluid, biomorphic formal language. The overall concept draws inspiration from natural coastal geometries—waves, dunes, and the articulated patterns of palm canopies. This results in a continuous undulating roofscape formed primarily in bamboo, giving the impression that the structure emerges organically from the landscape. The design privileges openness, natural ventilation, and seamless integration of programmatic zones with the surrounding beach and forest.
The complex is arranged as an interconnected sequence of open-air environments, each calibrated to maximize visual and physical permeability. The central structure accommodates dining and lounge areas, set on a curvilinear timber platform that mirrors the form of the adjacent pool. The spatial composition avoids rigid enclosures, enabling breezes from the coastline to permeate throughout. Satellite structures—such as the sculptural bar pavilion and the secluded wellness retreat—reinforce the overall architectural language through similar curving, elevated, and porous forms. Together, these elements create an experiential promenade that guides visitors fluidly from beach to forest.
Bamboo is the dominant structural and expressive material, used both for its mechanical properties and its aesthetic resonance with tropical environments. Vertical bamboo culms are bundled to form branching structural supports that flare outward to hold the expansive roof. The roof itself—woven from bamboo, cane, and lightweight timber battens—achieves a high level of translucency, mediating sunlight and casting dynamic shadows throughout the day. Circular and looping bamboo elements within the bar pavilion function both as structural reinforcement and sculptural ornamentation, amplifying the sense of movement inherent in the design.
The interior environment maintains a cohesive aesthetic through the use of natural fibers, raw timber finishes, and artisanal furniture. Rattan, rope, and hand-woven textures complement the architectural palette, promoting a tactile and inviting atmosphere. Seating arrangements near the pool emphasize informality and relaxation, with low-profile lounge furniture and organically shaped platforms that blur the boundary between built space and water. Illumination is subtle and integrated into the structure, allowing the warm tones of the materials to define the nighttime ambiance.
The landscape strategy reinforces the project's immersive character by incorporating native vegetation directly into architectural voids and structural intersections. Pathways meander through dense foliage, leading to a stone-clad wellness pavilion set within a reflective water garden. Views are choreographed to maintain continuous contact with the surrounding ecological context, whether looking outward toward the sea or inward toward shaded courtyards. Pools and water features serve as transitional elements, cooling the microclimate and strengthening the visual connection between architecture and nature.
Sustainability is central to the project, beginning with the extensive use of bamboo, a rapidly renewable resource with low embodied energy. The open-air design reduces the need for mechanical cooling, leveraging cross-ventilation and shading from the expansive roof. Local sourcing of materials minimizes transportation impact while supporting regional craftsmanship. Rainwater is collected through the curving roof forms for use in irrigation, and the landscape relies on native plant species that naturally thrive in the coastal environment, reducing maintenance and preserving biodiversity.
The Maralda Beach Club in Miches, Dominican Republic is conceived as an architecture that dissolves into its tropical surroundings through a fluid, biomorphic formal language. The overall concept draws inspiration from natural coastal geometries—waves, dunes, and the articulated patterns of palm canopies. This results in a continuous undulating roofscape formed primarily in bamboo, giving the impression that the structure emerges organically from the landscape. The design privileges openness, natural ventilation, and seamless integration of programmatic zones with the surrounding beach and forest.
The complex is arranged as an interconnected sequence of open-air environments, each calibrated to maximize visual and physical permeability. The central structure accommodates dining and lounge areas, set on a curvilinear timber platform that mirrors the form of the adjacent pool. The spatial composition avoids rigid enclosures, enabling breezes from the coastline to permeate throughout. Satellite structures—such as the sculptural bar pavilion and the secluded wellness retreat—reinforce the overall architectural language through similar curving, elevated, and porous forms. Together, these elements create an experiential promenade that guides visitors fluidly from beach to forest.
Bamboo is the dominant structural and expressive material, used both for its mechanical properties and its aesthetic resonance with tropical environments. Vertical bamboo culms are bundled to form branching structural supports that flare outward to hold the expansive roof. The roof itself—woven from bamboo, cane, and lightweight timber battens—achieves a high level of translucency, mediating sunlight and casting dynamic shadows throughout the day. Circular and looping bamboo elements within the bar pavilion function both as structural reinforcement and sculptural ornamentation, amplifying the sense of movement inherent in the design.
The interior environment maintains a cohesive aesthetic through the use of natural fibers, raw timber finishes, and artisanal furniture. Rattan, rope, and hand-woven textures complement the architectural palette, promoting a tactile and inviting atmosphere. Seating arrangements near the pool emphasize informality and relaxation, with low-profile lounge furniture and organically shaped platforms that blur the boundary between built space and water. Illumination is subtle and integrated into the structure, allowing the warm tones of the materials to define the nighttime ambiance.
The landscape strategy reinforces the project's immersive character by incorporating native vegetation directly into architectural voids and structural intersections. Pathways meander through dense foliage, leading to a stone-clad wellness pavilion set within a reflective water garden. Views are choreographed to maintain continuous contact with the surrounding ecological context, whether looking outward toward the sea or inward toward shaded courtyards. Pools and water features serve as transitional elements, cooling the microclimate and strengthening the visual connection between architecture and nature.
Sustainability is central to the project, beginning with the extensive use of bamboo, a rapidly renewable resource with low embodied energy. The open-air design reduces the need for mechanical cooling, leveraging cross-ventilation and shading from the expansive roof. Local sourcing of materials minimizes transportation impact while supporting regional craftsmanship. Rainwater is collected through the curving roof forms for use in irrigation, and the landscape relies on native plant species that naturally thrive in the coastal environment, reducing maintenance and preserving biodiversity.
Our offices are located in Barcelona, Cancún, Chicago and Santo Domingo, but thanks to technology we can do projects on all over the world.
Barcelona
Bac de Roda 136
08020, Barcelona
Spain
Madrid
Av. de Buendía 11
19005 Guadalajara (Madrid)
Spain
Chicago
373 Hazel Ave, Apt A1
60022, Glencoe, Illinois
United States