The construction of Yamani Healing, a new eco-design hotel, destination spa and healing centre in Mexico’s Riviera Maya is due to start later this year, following the announcement of a real estate partnership with lifestyle development Los Árboles Cobá

The $12.3m Yamani Healing project will offer a holistic approach to detoxification and will feature a hotel with 38 rooms and 10 suites, three large yoga halls, six cleansing and detox rooms, eight alternative healing and spa treatment rooms, infrared and herbal saunas, a temazcal sweat lodge, and a swimming pool.

The centre will act as the centrepiece of the Los Árboles Cobá development, which includes 420 residential lots, a community centre and more than 1,000 acres of conservation areas.

“Yamani Healing will be situated in 48 acres of pristine, raw jungle, so we have a real responsibility to protect the land,” Yamani Healing co-founder Heather Henninger told CLADmag. “We have committed to not clearing more than 10 per cent of the land – and whatever trees we do clear, will be used as design materials as much as possible. We will maintain raised walkways throughout the property, so we minimise our imprint on the land itself.”

Mexico City-based architectural practice Estudio Tacubaya has been selected to lead the design of the hotel and healing centre, and UK-based Greg Kewish has been hired as sustainable architect and design consultant. LEED-specialist Robyn Vettriano will work with the architectural team to outline green specifications and design strategies to reduce the retreat’s environmental impact, and ultimately obtain LEED certification.

“Yamani will be one of the largest dedicated green wellness communities in the world,” says Henninger. “Our goal is to be the first carbon neutral resort and destination spa, with the first LEED accredited hotel, in Mexico. From a design perspective, our starting point is the delivery of personalised and renewing experiences which come from being surrounded by nature. We want the architecture to be in sync, so form follows function. The healing centre has been designed around the rising and setting of the sun, feng shui, and natural sightlines, so it’s harmoniously integrated with the jungle.” The project will use solar and wind power, reclaimed and naturally harvested building materials, water reclamation and aquaponic techniques.

While a ‘substantial part’ of the funding has already been secured via a key investment partner, potential investors are being invited to contact Nathan Stevenson ([email protected]) about getting involved. “Yamani is a $32m project with $12.3m dedicated to the eco-design hotel, healing centre and spa and surrounding areas,” said Stevenson. “There’s a private offering open to investors for the remaining capital.”