Vernacular architecture draws its essence from the local the climate, materials, traditional techniques, and culture. It is not about replicating an isolated aesthetic style, but about engaging in dialogue with the surroundings, using local resources, and allowing each project to “breathe” with its place.
At Caoba Hotels, we believe that every stay can be more than accommodation it can be an immersion in both the ancestral and the contemporary. Here we share how four of our properties embody different interpretations of vernacular architecture, reimagined for the 21st century.
1. Isla Fuerte EcoHouse: Colombian Caribbean: Cross Ventilation, Local Materials, and Climate Awareness
At Isla Fuerte EcoHouse (Colombia), we find a perfect example of how tropical vernacular architecture can harmonize with modern sustainability principles. The structure blends classic Caribbean elements, sloped roofs, open galleries, and elevated platforms, with passive ventilation systems and a layout designed to capture the sea breeze.
Local woods and natural materials are used throughout, with minimal technological intervention. Forest bungalows are set back from the coastline to preserve the surrounding ecology, while seaside terraces seem to “extend toward the water,” blurring the boundary between built form and marine landscape.
Beyond its design, Isla Fuerte EcoHouse actively participates in local environmental and cultural initiatives from mangrove restoration and artisanal workshops to underwater museums making it not only a reflection of vernacular architecture but also a genuine agent of local regeneration.
Vernacular highlights:
- Passive design: natural cross ventilation and sloped roofs that dissipate heat.
- Elevated structures: built above the coastal terrain to mitigate flooding and enhance airflow.
- Local craftsmanship: use of regional materials and artisanal construction methods.
- Ecological integration: preservation of mangroves and native flora.
- Cultural connection: collaboration with the indigenous Zenú community.
2. Casa Naila: Puerto Escondido, Mexico: Simplicity, Openness, and a Local Language
Casa Naila (Puerto Escondido) is an outstanding example of how modern architecture can engage in dialogue with tropical vernacular traditions while honoring the local climate, materials, and culture.
The structure plays with clean lines and open spaces that invite natural light and allow air to flow freely. Its materials, wood and concrete, create a warm, organic atmosphere without compromising comfort or contemporary design.
In its own “Vernacular” concept, Casa Naila is described as a tribute to the simplicity of Oaxacan culture, featuring a modular approach that connects indoor and outdoor living through fluid, permeable spaces.
Vernacular highlights:
- Open, breathable spaces that blur the boundaries between interior and exterior.
- Local materials such as wood and concrete, crafted by regional artisans.
- Modular design that enables flexibility and adaptability.
- Passive response to tropical climate through natural light and ventilation strategies.
3. Estancia Rilán: Chiloé, Chile, a Window into Local Architectural Memory
Located in Castro, Chiloé, Estancia Rilán revives the architectural identity of southern Chile. Designed by Ortúzar Gebauer Arquitectos, the hotel draws inspiration from the region’s rural settlements and their deep relationship with the island landscape.
The project uses native materials from Chiloé, mañío wood, Cancagua stone and construction techniques adapted to the rainy, windy climate of the Chilean south. The buildings are arranged as a central “main house” surrounded by auxiliary structures, evoking the layout of traditional agrarian homesteads.
The design seeks to capture the essence of Chiloé’s identity without resorting to the merely folkloric: it blends contemporary sensibility with local heritage, respecting views, solar orientation, natural ventilation, and rainwater harvesting.
Vernacular highlights:
- Use of native materials: mañío wood and local Cancagua stone.
- Sustainable systems: rainwater collection and greywater recycling.
- Insular rural layout: clustered volumes reminiscent of traditional farmsteads.
- Large windows framing the surrounding landscape.
- Contemporary reinterpretation of traditional forms with functional purpose.
4. Lakeview Lodge: Atitlán, Guatemala: Mayan Tradition, Simplicity, and a Bond with the Lake
Perched on the hills of San Marcos La Laguna, Guatemala, Lakeview Lodge is a retreat where Mayan vernacular heritage and sustainable building techniques come together in an intimate, contemporary lodge format.
Its material palette, stone, wood, and adobe, is complemented by panoramic windows that open fully to the surrounding landscape. The design prioritizes dialogue with nature: interiors flow seamlessly into the outdoors, and the structures appear to emerge organically from the lake’s topography.
Though it is a small cabin for two, every design decision is crafted to heighten the sense of immersion, from the sunrise over the lake to the star-filled night sky.
Vernacular highlights:
- Local materials: stone, adobe, and wood sourced from the region.
- Visual integration with the landscape of Lake Atitlán.
- Simplicity of form: compact architecture rich in visual and spatial connections.
- Passive design: maximizing natural light and ventilation suited to the temperate, highland climate.
These four lodgings show that vernacular architecture is not a rigid formula, but a design attitude, one that listens to place.
In each case, the projects combine:
- Respect for the local climate and microclimate: cross ventilation, orientation, and appropriate roofing solutions.
- Native materials and local craftsmanship: wood, stone, adobe, and traditional techniques adapted to modern needs.
- Indoor-outdoor connection: permeable spaces, open views, patios, and terraces that dissolve boundaries.
- Sustainability and ecology: rainwater collection, passive systems, and a genuine commitment to the environment.
- Cultural identity: local traditions and references subtly integrated into design without falling into stereotypes.
For guests, these are not simply places to stay they are living experiences of place. Through vernacular architecture, each project allows travelers to feel the geography, history, climate, and community as intrinsic parts of their stay.
