Along the beach of west coast of Mexico, the village of Punta de Mita thrives with local art and history as vibrant as the epic sunsets. With a surrounding so rich, the interior design and architecture of the W Punta de Mita is a perfect balance of surfer culture, native design and modern flair. From a sunset-inspired color palette to showing local Huichol artistry, the design elements of the hotel embrace the region’s vivid spirit.
To get deeper into the design of this striking space, we spoke to the hotel’s Global Brand Designer Greg Stobbs about his favorite design elements representing the radiance of Punta de Mita.
WHO designed it:
Laetitia Dijan.
WHAT it’s made of:
Plaster, paint
WHERE it was made:
Sayulita, Mexico
WHY it fits with the hotel:
An oversized version of a popular local souvenir, the statue is based on ancient Huichol designs. Taking the place of the traditional big W sign at the entry, the icon shows off a “W” on his belt, watching over the hotel and posing for all.
WHO designed them:
Mr. Important.
WHAT they’re made of:
Hand-cut sheet metal.
WHERE they were made:
Mexico.
WHY they fit with the hotel:
Inspired by the cut paper banners found in the streets of towns across this part of Mexico, these screens are welcome banners that portray the culture and irreverent humor of the country. Frida Kahlo on a surfboard, Lucha Libre wrestling masks, grinning skulls–the imagery brings together, local art practices, surf life and the culture’s overall happy disposition.
WHO designed it:
Mr. Important.
WHAT it’s made of:
Colored glass tile.
WHERE it was made:
On site.
WHY it fits with the hotel:
Based on traditional native textile designs, the tiled carpet is a central nervous system to the hotel, leadings guests through on a journey across the hotel and branching off to restaurants, bars and pool along the way. Crafted form 751,184 tiles, the “carpet” depicts characters from Huichol legends, like a coyote, scorpion and the blue deer, a revered God in the culture. Take a your own vision quest through the space, from the entry, through the Living Room, across the Wet Deck, and then up and over the beach to the majestic ocean.
WHO designed it:
Mr. Important.
WHAT it’s made of:
Votive LED lights and tin ceiling panel.
WHERE it was made:
Mexico.
WHY it fits with the hotel:
Based on the traditional Mexican votive candles found in churches, this chandelier suspends over 500 LED votives in a giant cluster above the bar, providing gentle light through the night and soft motion in the wind.
WHO designed it:
Global Brand Design.
WHAT it’s made of:
The water feature is fed by underground streams while the table is made of an ancient, local tree.
WHERE it was made:
On site.
WHY it fits with the hotel:
The space was conceived as the exclusive restaurant in the world, with a single table overlooking the beach and sunset. It’s the perfect place to gather with friends, indulge in a good meal, and take in the natural beauty.
Love design? Get an intimate look at the architecture, objects and interior elements in our Design in Focus series.
