Luum Temple / CO-LAB Design Office

Architects: CO-LAB Design Office
Area: 250 m²
Year: 2019
Photographs: César Béjar, CO-LAB Design Office, Pakal Egger and Tonatiuh Egger
Lead Architects: Joana Gomes, Joshua Beck, Arturo Garza Espinosa, Rodrigo Arias Lopez, Thalia Velasco, Antonio Quintero, Alberto Avilez
Engineering: Esteban Morales
Construction: Arquitectura.Mixta: Jaime Peña, Javier Creuheras, Arley Osorno, Farut Varon
Client: Luum Zama
City: Tulum
Country: Mexico

Luum Temple, a bamboo pavilion by CO-LAB Design Office in Tulum, Mexico, functions as a yoga and community space within the Luum Zamá development. Constructed with sustainably sourced bamboo from Chiapas, the pavilion’s five interlocking catenary arches form a symmetrical, open-air structure inspired by Felix Candela’s catenary designs. The structure, protected by a thatched Zacate grass roof, is designed to withstand the tropical climate, providing shade and ventilation. Positioned centrally within Luum Zamá, the pavilion reflects CO-LAB’s conservation-focused masterplan, dedicating half of the 8-hectare site to preserved native vegetation and reforestation.

Luum Temple, a bamboo pavilion designed by local studio CO-LAB Design Office, is situated within the jungles of Tulum for practicing yoga. Located in the Luum Zamá development in Tulum, Mexico, the pavilion is intended to host a range of activities, including yoga, meditation, workshops, and other community events.

CO-LAB Design Office constructed the open-air pavilion in Tulum’s beach town using sustainably farmed bamboo from the neighboring state of Chiapas. Bamboo was selected for its sustainability and natural resilience against hurricane forces. Flat bamboo beams were bent on-site, then screwed and strapped together to form the pavilion structure.

The design is fully symmetrical, featuring five interdependent catenary arches arranged in a circular layout. These arches create distinct rooflines, with walls that extend down to the ground, forming natural internal partitions.

The studio stated that the project aims to raise awareness for more sustainable development methods within Tulum’s sensitive ecology and beyond. They highlighted bamboo’s sustainability benefits, noting its rapid growth cycle for carbon sequestration and its impressive strength-to-weight ratio, especially when woven, making it an ideal, sustainable material with great potential.

The bamboo structure is covered with a thatched roof made from locally sourced Zacate grass, a regional material that provides protection from rain and sun while allowing ventilation suited to Tulum’s humid tropical climate. This traditional thatching approach is also seen in various Tulum hotels, such as Jungle Keva, Punta Caliza, and Habitas Tulum.

The design of Luum Temple is inspired by the catenary reinforced concrete shell work of Spanish-Mexican architect Felix Candela. A notable example of Candela’s work is the curved concrete aquarium at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain, created in collaboration with Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.

CO-LAB Design Office developed the structure using parametric software and collaborated closely with local builders and a bamboo-structure specialist engineer. Inside, the thatched roof and bamboo framework are visible, highlighting the pavilion’s craftsmanship. The studio explained that once the arches were erected, they were interwoven with a structural triangular pattern and reinforced with two continuous layers of tightly woven bamboo lattice, interlaced in opposite directions to enhance stability.

Situated at the center of the Luum Zamá development, the pavilion is part of a residential community set within a protected native jungle. CO-LAB Design Studio also created the master plan for this community, emphasizing environmental conservation and resource protection. Luum Zamá dedicates 50% of its 8-hectare area to preserving existing vegetation and supports a reforestation program featuring native plant species from the region.