Lava
Surf Lodge
Location: El Jiote, Guatemala
Type: Architecture
Year: 2016
Context: Academic
How can we enjoy nature
while preserving it
for future generations?
Lava is a Surf Lodge located in the untouched beach of El Jiote, one of Guatemala's top spots for surfing.
The project uses only local materials, supporting both the environment and the work of nearby artisans.
A series of elevated cabins is designed to minimize ground impact and maintain thermal comfort naturally, even in the region’s intense heat.
It’s a place that invites you in, while letting nature stay as it is.
From lava to shore...
One of the most striking features of Guatemala’s beaches is their black volcanic sand, a rare landscape the project seeks to celebrate and protect.
Each cabin in the surf lodge is built with local materials and designed for natural thermal comfort, but also goes a step further by collecting rainwater in onsite tanks. With nearly half the year bringing rainfall, the system helps the lodge operate sustainably, minimizing its impact while embracing the rhythm of the place.
RESTAURANT
BAR
WAX AREA
FRONT DESK
“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors;
we borrow it from our children.”
Native American proberb
ROOMS