Sneak peek – Six Senses Xala unveils its model room

Mexico’s first Six Senses Hotel and Residences introduces a design approach rooted in land, materiality, and restraint.  Designed by Combeau Murtagh in collaboration with Xala co-founding partner Juan Bremer, the project includes 51 suites and 36 branded residences set within Xala’s 3,000-acre coastal landscape along Costalegre.

The unveiling provides an early look at an architectural approach shaped by topography, climate, and the rhythms of Mexico’s Pacific coast. Rather than imposing a singular design language, the project is conceived in dialogue with the landscape, with buildings designed to sit quietly within their surroundings.

Image credit: Six Senses Xala

“At Xala, architecture is not approached as an isolated exercise,” said Juan Bremer. “It is shaped by the land, the climate, and how people will inhabit the space over time. With Six Senses Xala, the intention is not to compete with the surroundings, but to create spaces where light, material, and landscape define the experience.”

The project is planned as a village-like environment, where spaces are arranged to preserve openness, privacy, and a continuous connection between land and sea. The model room reflects this philosophy at a residential scale through open layouts and a seamless indoor-outdoor relationship shaped by airflow, filtered light, and surrounding views.

Image credit: Six Senses Xala

Living, sleeping, and bathing areas unfold in sequence, extending outward to terraces, shaded spaces, and water elements. Materiality plays a central role throughout the design. Locally sourced stone, wood, and natural fibers create a tactile and grounded environment, while finishes remain warm, matte, and understated. A palette of sand tones, soft earth hues, and subtle ochres draws directly from the surrounding landscape, allowing texture, light, and shadow to take precedence over ornamentation.

“The model room was designed as a quiet extension of the landscape,” said Felipe Combeau, co-founder of Combeau Murtagh. “Every decision, from the proportions of the room to the use of stone, wood, and natural fibers, was guided by the idea that the architecture should feel rooted in place rather than imposed on it.”

Image credit: Six Senses Xala

The architecture pairs contemporary living with Mexico’s traditions of craftsmanship. Interior elements, including integrated wood headboards, sculptural stone vanities, and custom furnishings, are conceived as part of the architecture itself. At the same time, subtle irregularities and handcrafted details introduce a sense of informality that softens the overall experience.

“Six Senses Xala is about creating atmosphere through restraint,” said Andrea Murtagh, co-founder of Combeau Murtagh. “The palette, textures, and handmade elements are intentionally subtle, allowing the experience of the room to unfold through light, touch, air, and the constant presence of the landscape.”

Many elements throughout the project are developed in collaboration with regional and Latin American artisans, reinforcing a connection to local culture while maintaining a contemporary design language.

Image credit: Six Senses Xala

Set within Xala’s low-density coastal landscape, where development is intentionally limited to preserve the integrity of the land, the hotel and residences form part of a broader residential and hospitality community integrated into the natural environment. The larger property includes protected beachfront, agricultural programming, trails, and wellness-oriented gathering spaces designed to support an outdoor-focused way of living.

The development is also supported by The Xala Foundation and the Sierra a Mar initiative, which focuses on ecological restoration and community engagement across the surrounding region.

Construction of the Six Senses Xala hotel and residences began this year, with the hotel projected to open in June 2028.

Image credit: Six Senes Xala