An ecological retreat where pre-existing elements and the future coexist

Marangatu Luxury Hotel, located between Ilhéus and Itacaré on the coast of Bahia, emerges from a sensitive investigation into the relationship between hospitality, nature, and local culture. The project proposes an ecological retreat developed through AO’s complete solution (masterplan, architecture, interior design, and landscape design). More than a tourist destination, Marangatu balances occupation and existence, leisure and preservation, translating principles of ecological design and agroecology into a human-scale experience.

Materiality is a central element of the project’s narrative. The use of wood, bamboo, stone, ceramic shards, and coconut husk draws on knowledge and references from Bahian vernacular architecture. Brick, a material deeply rooted in Brazilian construction tradition, is reinterpreted as a continuous language that connects ground, walls, and roof: in the reception floor, it anchors visitors to the place; in the bungalows, it contributes to thermal comfort; and in the beach club, it plays a filtering role, modulating light and natural ventilation. Taipa infill patterns, engineered timber structures, and bamboo truss roofs reinforce an architecture that welcomes, protects, and belongs to the territory.

Self-sufficiency and regeneration

The landscape design operates as a living system, connecting the reception area, bungalows, and beach club through vegetated paths, gardens, and natural pools. The site layout avoids major vegetation removal, working with minimal clearings and routes that reveal what already exists, strengthening the local ecosystem. Environmental strategies further deepen this approach: 100% solar energy use; biomass reuse (food waste, coconut husks, and paper packaging) to heat water through a biodigester; rainwater harvesting and reuse; and the use of engineered timber and bamboo which, in addition to being renewable, contribute to CO₂ sequestration—reinforcing the logic of a more self-sufficient and regenerative development.

Implemented across two plots with distinct urban parameters—one beachfront and the other on the mainland—the project seeks to benefit the territory without disrupting its environmental and social logic. The beachfront plot houses the reception, 44 bungalows, and the beach club with restaurant. The bungalows are organized along a central axis, creating a village-like reading and prioritizing sea views, with four typologies integrated into the surrounding greenery and local climate.

In this way, the project proposes a form of hospitality that promotes well-being, a sense of belonging, and connection with its surroundings, while affirming AO’s commitment to a practice that investigates new ways of coexisting with nature and local communities. An architecture that does not seek excess, but permanence.

Architecture: ARCHITECTS OFFICE 

Partner in charge:  Greg Bousquet

Architecture director: Sávio Jobim

Dedicated team: Carolina Passos, Daniela Bertuol, Filipe Meltzer, Thiago Buccieri, Larissa Oliveira