As intrepid travelers gear up for summer, the award-winning Marriott Cancun Resort on the sublime shores of the Yucatan Peninsula is redefining its welcome experience with a lofty new lobby. Designed by international architecture and interior design firm Rottet Studio, the impressive new entryway is steeped in chic sophistication with intentional spaces made to serve as the future heartbeat of the iconic hotel.
Marriott Cancun’s airy new lobby complements the design of the resort’s 450 well-appointed guestrooms and suites with a fresh design inspired by historical Mayan influences and 16th Spanish architecture.
“The inspiration behind the design came from several historical influences and traditions of the Yucatan Peninsula, Cancun’s touristic location and pristine sand beaches that surround it,” said Anja Majkic, LEED AP, associate principal, Rottet Studio. “Usually, we research historical facts, geographical surroundings and social influences to seek inspiration for the projects.”
Local textiles, weaving techniques and vibrant hues found outside the hotel’s walls are the basis for the crisp design. Incorporating a mixture of both natural and imported textures like stone, rope and wood, the color palette includes marbleized beige and creams, accented by shades of indigo and turquoise.
“Spanish Colonial architecture with white stucco walls, monumental architectural arches and clean lines were adopted throughout the lobby to capture light and astonishing views of the beach,” Majkic said. “Wood beams at the entry, simple white interiors with little decoration and stunning limestone floors were some of the main elements of this Spanish colonial influence. Inspirations such as Mayan traditional woodcarving and local textures of woven materials were used as design elements to select furniture, fabrics and accents. According to Mayan language translation, the possible meaning of Cancun is ‘place of the golden snake.’ This notion inspired us to use brass metal accents in the lighting and furniture details through the space. As the city is one of the largest cruise ships port in the world, nautical colors and woven texture of jute were used in comfortable seating arrangements. Blue colors of the Caribbean Sea, white sand beaches, red of the sunrays were transported in the color palette for the accent pillows, rugs and furniture fabrics.”
Giving the room an added edge, Rottet Studio incorporated high-touch finishes like terrazzo floors, sleek chandeliers and signature paneled windows constructed from blackened metal. Upon entering the lobby, guests are greeted by breathtaking views of the palm-lined grounds and turquoise waters of the Mexican Caribbean.
“The story is that of the modern world meets ancient Mayan influence vacation,” she said. “Fresh and contemporary design comforts guests with fine details alluding to the modern-day cruise industry while other design details tie back to ancient Mayan history.”
Compartmentalized into several spaces with its own function and personality, the lobby houses reconfigured reception desks as well as cozy nooks for guests to relax with a good book or catch up on the latest news. Opposite that is a high-end gift shop that sells vacation essentials, fashion-forward hats, swimwear and resort wear. Next door at 750°, guests can savor authentic pizza, pastries and ice cream or grab & go with ready-made market items and travel essentials.
“The Mayans are known for interpreting stars so in the lobby bar we created a blue-sky ceiling with LED lights to show star constellations above the city of Cancun,” Majkic said.
The focal point of the newly redesigned lobby bar is its indigo and starry domed ceilings, designed to mimic various constellations. The bar, dubbed “The GreatRoom” houses an impressive collection of Mexican whiskeys and mezcals, all illuminated by the glow of a mid-century, modern style light fixture. Plush gray couches and trendy chairs offer plenty of seating options, while planter boxes add definition and bring color contrast to the space.
In addition to the new design of the lobby, Marriott Cancun Resort is set to offer a new Polynesian-inspired restaurant, Hana, which is scheduled to open by end of this year.
