Described as bold and eclectic, the work of Cancun-based designer Paulina Morán presents a modern vision of Mexico while staying true to the principles of traditional hacienda design and ancient Mayan techniques. The nimble balance is on display at Chablé Hotels, the Mexican brand whose holistic aesthetics, stunning locations, and dedication to local artisans have earned it international acclaim (including a Surface Travel Award).

On the heels of the recently debuted Casa Chablé in the Yucatán’s pristine Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, with another property opening soon in Baja California, Surface spoke with Morán about her indigenous approach to Chablé's expanding collection of properties.

How do you bring a sense of place to each Chablé outpost?

Each Chablé destination is unique: the new Casa Chablé in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Chablé Yucatán in Merida, Chablé Maroma in the Mayan Riviera, and the forthcoming Chablé Sea of Cortez in Baja California.

When we embark on a project, our first step is a profound immersion in the culture of the location. The Yucatán Peninsula, for instance, is steeped in the rich heritage of the Mayan culture—an irresistible landscape for us to work within. However, the same approach wouldn’t apply to Los Cabos with its distinct Sioux and Yaqui cultures. It’s astonishing, really, the richness of cultural diversity within Mexico.

What’s your creative process like when you start to design a new location?

We delve into the locale—its producers, art, culture, and customs. If we’re in Los Cabos, we would need to understand the culture and ecosystem of the desert; in Chablé Maroma or Chablé Yucatán, we engage with the fascinating Mayan culture—how they construct their homes, their food customs, and the materials they use. Another crucial element is the mix of cultures that influenced these regions post the Mayan civilization. For instance, the French influence in Merida. We try to distill all these elements, creating a distinctive result.

Chablé is deeply committed to sustainability, and respect for nature is evident in your design principles.

Indeed, sustainability is a core principle at Chablé. We work with architects who, like us, have a profound respect for the land. For example, Chablé Yucatán was designed to preserve the oldest trees in the area. Similarly, Chablé Sea of Cortez incorporates nature into its design, using vegetation to provide a cooling effect. We aren’t merely constructing beautiful places—we’re building a lifestyle rooted in appreciating Mexican culture, and we do so sustainably and respectfully.

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The menswear staple collaborated with Gubi on an exclusive drop of the roped MR01 outdoor lounge chair, accompanied by a five-piece collection that pulls inspiration from the chair’s rope accents. The range includes a beach towel, hat, swim shorts, tote bag, and boat neck sweater that were created to accompany the lounge chair, which is a favorite piece of Noah cofounder and Dreamawake principal Estelle Bailey-Babenzian. The Noah x Gubi MR01 chair is made from speed sailing-grade nylon in gray, mustard, royal blue, and navy, and is available online now and at the brand’s Mulberry Street and Amagansett shops.

The Brandon Blackwood Foundation formally debuted with an all-day Juneteenth celebration. Guests from New York’s cultural sphere headed to Williamsburg for the sunny affair, where they enjoyed food and beverages from Black-owned vendors and performances by Young Wavvy Foxx, Siobhan Bell, Angel and Dren, and Metro Boomin. The party marked an official debut for the foundation, which aims to empower Black and POC creatives through education, philanthropy, and activism.

When was it? June 19

Where was it? Brooklyn

Who was there? Roberto Johnson, Kennedy Yanko, Kingsley, Raul Lopez, Mazurbate, Aaron Philip, and more.

To know the work of Anony founders Christian Lo and David Ryan is to understand how the duo behind the Surface-approved lighting studio imbues their creations with a sense of wonder and discovery. Their latest launch, the Pola collection, achieves this by balancing elements of Memphis playfulness with sophistication of form. Anony first introduced Pola in an ethereal exhibition at NYCxDesign, where it was easy to see how the collection was, according to Lo, inspired by long, illuminated corridors and archways lit from below.

When: Until July 30

Where: Marta, Los Angeles

What: On bottle caps enlarged 26 times the size of their petite counterparts, the Arcadia-born artist explores a multitude of pictorial references: the barn hexes of the Pennsylvania Dutch, commercial marks for Chinese hard candy, and kaleidoscopic hybrid shapes of playing card suits. With a sense of joy and intrigue, Sanders reminds us that experience is infinitely scalable, and the beauty and anxiety of our current age is ours to pocket or recycle.

How did we create a world where cars are often prioritized over humans? In Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World, writer Henry Grabar explores our obsession with parking, revealing how it consumes massive amounts of land. Cities like L.A. dedicate 200 square miles to parking; in Des Moines, there are 20 parking spots per resident.

That’s more parking than we can ever use, but is it abating? Walmart reduced the size of its lots, ADUs have started popping up in L.A., and alfresco dining sheds are enduring post-pandemic. Parking is access, Grabar writes, but “a primitive kind of access that overshadows and impedes a more profound and widely held right to the city.”

Moleskine revived the legendary notebook used by artists and thinkers—such as Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and Bruce Chatwin—over the past two centuries. Today, Moleskine is an iconic brand that’s an open platform for creativity, reflection, and sharing.

Surface Says: Best known for the stalwart minimalism of its classic notebooks, Moleskine also produces bags, accessories, and illustrated books. The high quality of its products and its historical references evoke a nostalgia that inspires writers and authors to this day.

Gas stations have caused a $20 billion toxic mess—and it’s not over yet.

According to a hotel manager, avoid these in-room items during your next stay.

The second Las Culturistas Culture Awards went delightfully over-the-top.

Magdalena Abakanowicz receives a Google Doodle for her 93rd birthday.