ALMA Unveils Award-Winning Coastal Community in Huatulco
Award-winning ALMA Huatulco blends sustainable architecture with Pacific coast living, offering ocean-view villas and condos beside Oaxaca’s National Park.
Mexico, 14th Mar 2026 – Standing on the hills above Huatulco’s Pacific coastline, the boundary between land and ocean begins to dissolve as coastal forests meet the shifting colors of the Pacific across nine bays and thirty-six beaches, with the Sierra Madre del Sur rising behind the shoreline. It was here that Frederic Baron and Noemie Bourdin-Habert recognized a rare landscape positioned between the city and the National Park, a setting that inspired the creation of ALMA, an award-winning architectural community designed to integrate with its natural surroundings rather than dominate them.
A Project Born From Two Careers And One Conviction
ALMA was born from a question that followed both founders across continents. How can real estate development genuinely coexist with architecture and sustainability rather than merely borrow their language?
Baron built a cross-sector career in Brittany, France, working across real estate sales, property development including his own projects, and architectural photography, collaborating with some of the most respected architects in France. Bourdin-Habert spent years leading sustainability projects across China. Six years ago, they relocated to Mexico, where they have been exploring the country’s coastal regions with a continued focus on architecture, landscape, and sustainable design.
What they discovered in Huatulco stood apart. The destination remains one of Mexico’s most naturally preserved coastal towns, yet it also benefits from modern infrastructure and thoughtful urban planning. Developed in the 1980s with strict low-density guidelines, the region balances tourism with environmental protection.
Within this context, ALMA chooses intimacy over spectacle. The private residential community is designed for residents who value silence, space, and a direct relationship with nature. Every detail is considered, from how breezes cross a room to how natural light shifts throughout the day.
Architecture as a Way of Living
The architectural vision of ALMA was entrusted to two renowned Mexican studios, JJRR/Arquitectura and Módica-Ledezma. Both firms are celebrated for crafting spaces defined by striking spatial clarity, abundant natural light, and a profound sensitivity to their surroundings. As torchbearers of the Mexican Modernist movement, they are known for timeless designs that elegantly balance heritage and innovation—creating spaces that feel simultaneously rooted in history and boldly contemporary.
Rather than filling the land with buildings, the master plan carefully integrates architecture with the surrounding jungle and ocean views. Low-density planning preserves the site’s natural character while ensuring that every residence maintains a visual connection with the Pacific.
The community offers a collection of ocean view condominiums and private villas. Each villa includes its own swimming pool, while every residence is positioned to capture sweeping sea views across the bay of Órgano, Huatulco.
Warm minimalist design defines the aesthetic language. Materials celebrate regional craftsmanship, and the architecture follows bioclimatic principles that enhance natural ventilation and light. The result is a community where architecture supports well-being as much as it shapes the visual experience.
As Bourdin-Habert explains, architecture has the power to influence everyday life. Light, volume, sound, and breeze shape how people feel within a space. At ALMA, those elements are not accidental. They are intentionally designed.
Recognition Rare For Residential Development
ALMA has garnered international recognition for its architectural vision and sustainable design. The project was named Best Sustainable Residential Development in the Americas by the International Property Awards. It also received two OPAL Awards for Residential Low-Rise and Multi-Residences Development. (OPAL Awards details) In addition, the project was shortlisted in the Architecture Hunter Awards for unbuilt master plans and recognized as a finalist in the International Property Awards luxury residence category. These distinctions reflect ALMA’s approach to integrating sustainable architecture with a refined residential experience. Additional details on the International Property Awards winners can be found here, and the Architecture Hunter Awards shortlist is available at https://architecturehunter.com/aha-shortlist-2025/.
This level of recognition is uncommon for a multi-residence community, as architectural honors of this scale are often associated with museums, public institutions, or bespoke villas. Judged by international juries that include respected architects, the awards evaluate projects based on architectural quality, sustainability measures, and their integration within the surrounding natural environment, reinforcing ALMA’s standing as a signature contemporary residential development.
A Location That Cannot Be Replicated
Part of ALMA’s distinction lies in the character of Huatulco itself. Located on the Oaxacan coast of southern Mexico, the destination is recognized for its environmental stewardship and became the first tourist region in the Americas to receive a Platinum certification from EarthCheck, an international sustainability benchmarking organization. ALMA sits directly on the oceanfront and borders a National Park whose protected boundary reaches the edge of the property, while remaining just four minutes from Huatulco’s town center and approximately twenty minutes from the international airport. Nearby beaches include Órgano, Violín, La Entrega, Maguey, and Cacaluta, with La Bocana being the closest surf spot, and Barra de la Cruz, known for hosting world championship surf competitions, roughly forty minutes by car. Oaxaca City can be reached within three and a half hours by road or a short regional flight. A fisherman trail from the property also leads through the surrounding forest to a secluded beach within the National Park, providing residents with direct access to one of the region’s protected coastal landscapes.
Amenities Designed For Wellness And Privacy
Life at ALMA balances architectural elegance with a strong emphasis on wellness and comfort. Residents enjoy two saltwater swimming pools with sunrise views over the Pacific, while an outdoor jacuzzi offers a place to observe the milky way at night thanks to minimal light pollution near the National Park.
A dedicated wellness center includes a sauna, ice plunge, jacuzzi, and massage room, complemented by a fully equipped fitness center. Concierge services and a private shuttle provide convenient access to nearby beaches and coastal destinations.
Together, these amenities support a quiet residential atmosphere where privacy, wellness, and the surrounding natural environment remain central to daily life.
A Community Already Taking Shape
Interest in ALMA reflects its distinctive positioning within the region. The development is already more than half sold, with buyers from eight nationalities ranging in age from twenty-eight to seventy-eight, either a primary residence or a refined second home. Construction is underway, with the foundations of several villas already in progress. While Huatulco has historically been known primarily for its beaches, ALMA introduces a more deliberate architectural approach that contributes a new design perspective to the area.
A Different Vision For Coastal Development
ALMA presents a new angle to coastal development in Mexico, demonstrating that residential communities can remain environmentally responsible, context aware, and architecturally refined while maintaining a human scale. Still in its construction phase, the project has already received international recognition for its design, with early residents joining a community shaped by careful planning, architectural intention, and a close relationship with the surrounding Pacific landscape.
About ALMA Huatulco
Additional information about the architecture, residences, and vision behind ALMA Huatulco is available on the company’s website, where details about the ocean view villas and condominiums are presented. Inquiries regarding the development and residential availability can be directed to Noemie Bourdin-Habert, co-founder of ALMA, at hola@alma-huatulco.com, with project updates also shared through Instagram and Facebook.
Company Details
Organization: ALMA
Contact Person: Noemie Bourdin-Habert
Website: https://www.alma-huatulco.com/
Email: Send Email
Country: Mexico
Release Id: 14032642634