In 2012 a run down 6 one bedroom apartment building on 600 square meters of land in the up and coming Art District in San Jose del Cabo?s colonial center was purchased with a goal to provide an upscale hostel in one of Mexico?s most expensive resort towns - an alternative to the array of expensive ocean front luxury resorts.

© Mike Arce

Architects: Self Designed

Location: San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Ead Architects: Stu Waddell, Pablo Torrestrueba

Area: 445.0 m2

Project Year: 2016

Photographs: Mike Arce, Rafael Gamo

© Mike Arce

From the architect. In 2012 a run down 6 one bedroom apartment building on 600 square meters of land in the up and coming Art District in San Jose del Cabo?s colonial center was purchased with a goal to provide an upscale hostel in one of Mexico?s most expensive resort towns - an alternative to the array of expensive ocean front luxury resorts.
© Mike Arce

The concept was to provide a youthful, social and do-it-yourself no frills accommodation for independent travelers who prefer adventure and culture over all inclusive. The renovation was done on a shoestring and consisted of turning the original 6 apartments into 8 hotel rooms, a staff kitchen office and laundry, guest coffee bar and retail space.

© Rafael Gamo

Leaving the original structure - but removing all aluminum windows, ceramic tiles, lighting, wood closet...