Cultural
Center
Tulum
Year
2014
Status
Proposal
Scale
8,750 m2 / 94,184 ft2
Typology
Culture & Recreation
Location
Tulum, Mexico
Client
Consultants
Team
Fernando Romero, Alba Díaz, Gaia Cella, Luis Torres, Alexandra Lukyanova, David Forsyth, Libia Castilla, Adriana Merchant, Luis López, Pablo Morales, Liza Bandala, Óscar Caballero.
The Tulum Cultural Center embodies the complex contrasts of its surroundings—a meeting place where modern culture, nature, and history converge yet struggle to coexist. Rising from the heart of the jungle, this architectural feat reflects Tulum’s unique dichotomy. Its organic design seems to grow naturally from the lush landscape, a powerful symbol of the enduring dialogue between nature and civilization.
Here, tension between the built environment and the natural world finds a rare moment of balance. The center’s purpose as an art space symbolizes this harmony: civilization has given us the means to create and appreciate art, while nature offers the inspiration and beauty for artistic expression. The center thus serves as both a canvas and a sanctuary, capturing Tulum’s soul.

Drawing from ancient architectural forms, the building’s exterior is defined by terraced, layered designs, echoing amphitheaters and earthworks of the past. Its inverted vault structure surrounds a central void, creating an open, stepped amphitheater perfectly suited for cultural events and gatherings. Biophilic elements are seamlessly integrated, with terraces appearing to rise from the earth, cloaked in greenery that reinforces its connection to the natural landscape.
The Tulum Cultural Center is a powerful expression of harmony and tension, blending Tulum’s contrasts through its architecture and purpose. It stands as a figurative bridge, uniting the area’s contemporary pulse with its timeless, natural, and historical essence.