# Sap-Covered Tropical Homes David Cervera's Mexican Holiday Home is Finished with Natural Tree Sap By Joey Haar | Published 2017-08-04 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/david-cervera References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2017/08/02/el-palmar-modest-holiday-retreat-david-cervera-hammocks-palms-chuburna-mexico/) David Cervera, a local Mexican architect, recent designed a [holiday home](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/casa-girasol) by making the most of the natural surroundings. In order to build as sustainably as possible, the architect used [local tree sap](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/abney-effect) as a finish for the cladding and lining of the building, ensuring that it would be completely waterproof without having to resort to harsh chemicals. The tree sap is known as chukum, and it comes from the palm trees that are endemic to the Yucatan peninsula, where the home is located. The only feature of the home that doesn't use chukum is the floors, which are made from polished concrete inlaid with intricate, decorative mosaics. Aside from the finish, the [vacation home](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/casa-solai) is meant to elicit relaxation, with several hammocks throughout the interior and exterior spaces. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.4/10 - Popularity: 70% | Activity: 23% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Architecture](https://www.trendhunter.com/architecture) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Sustainable Architecture:** Using natural tree sap as a building finish opens up disruptive innovation opportunities in sustainable architecture. - **Local Material Usage:** Incorporating locally-sourced materials like chukum in architecture creates opportunities for sustainable, region-specific design. - **Eco-friendly Construction:** The use of chukum demonstrates a trend towards eco-friendly construction methods that prioritize natural materials over harmful chemicals. ### Who This Affects Most - **Construction:** Construction companies can benefit from offering sustainable, eco-friendly building solutions that incorporate locally-sourced materials. - **Architecture:** Architects can revolutionize the industry by creating sustainable, regionally-influenced designs that use natural materials like chukum as building finishes. - **Tourism/hospitality:** Hotels and holiday homes can appeal to eco-conscious travelers by incorporating sustainable design elements like locally-sourced chukum finishings. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Vegetal Concrete Mexican Hotels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/casa-yuma.md) - [Timber-Clad Canadian Holiday Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/la-cime.md) - [Tree-Centered Cubic Home Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tonalli-house.md) - [Oak Wood-Clad Residences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/palo-quemado.md) - [Spacious Forest Vacation Retreats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/casa-el-pinar.md) - [Rainforest Lodged Residences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/a-lodging-in-the-pige.md) - [Tar-Coated Timber Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-tjurpannan.md) - [Nature-Inspired Bungalow Residences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/maurpankhi.md) - [Natural Landscape-Surrounding Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/under-the-rain-trees.md)