Max von Werz Arquitectos has revived the weathered brick bones of an oyster harvester’s villa as part of the new La Paz hotel Baja Club.

The 32-room Baja California Sur hotel is the latest addition to hospitality outfit Grupo Habita and has seen the adaptive reuse and expansion of an existing property on the site dating from around 1910.

La Paz is famed for its pearls and oysters (the inspiration for John Steinbeck’s novel, The Pearl), and the colonial-style dwelling was historically used for harvesting these goods. Max von Werz Arquitectos has added a sleek, modernist extension to the historic structure that mirrors the L-shape of its original plot.

Guests can breathe in the fragrance of the hotel’s large frangipani tree-filled central courtyard or head up the winding outdoor staircase to the rooftop bar, where panoramic views of the coastline and surrounding seaside town await.

Paris studio Jaune crafted the La Paz hotel’s interiors, taking cues from local traditions and crafts. An earthy colour palette forms the backdrop for bright details such as blown-glass lamps and glossy handmade earthenware tiles made using local materials and practices.

Many of the rooms – which start at $250 per night – have a courtyard or terrace with sea views, and the proximity to the water informs many of the hotel’s unique design quirks, such as curved timber bulkheads and streamlined horizontal lines. Meanwhile, brise-soleil elements help naturally ventilated rooms and corridors capitalising on gulf breezes.

Paseo Alvaro Obregon 265, Zona Comercial, 23006 La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico

Porto Covo restaurant Abranda offers a polished take on the rustic aesthetic