Kasiiya Papagayo in Costa Rica, eco-lodge design project created by architecture agency AW², pushes the architecture and resort design towards a new dimension, in a new way of thinking about ecology.
Tucked away in the heart of the Costa Rican jungle, Kasiiya Papagayo’s five tents are built on wooden platforms. The development project successfully achieves AW²’s goal to blend in with the natural landscape. It demonstrates that luxury can have a harmonious relationship with the world: it can be more stealthy, respectful, and authentic. Architecture and nature can live in symbiosis, without trying to gain ground on one another.
Thus is Kasiiya Papagayo’s design concept, whose creative ambition is to peacefully blend and disappear into the beauty of nature. It also shows outdoor living in a new spirit: a new concept of chic which moves luxury hospitality to other horizons. Kasiiya Papagayo’s tented retreats are stylish, minimalist rafts that float, hidden, in the jungle. Their delicate wooden beams summarize this new philosophy: enjoying the Earth without consuming it.
Reconnecting with nature and with each other is this new complex’s ambition. Each Kasiiya Papagayo tent is accessed by a private road and is carefully oriented to reconnect with nature. Common spaces acting as relaxation areas allow guests to meet others or spend time with loved ones.
Architecture agency AW² hoped to find its wild state, enabling Kasiiya Papagayo to enjoy a perfect balance between stylish comfort and the beauty of the wilderness. Each tented retreat has been designed to strengthen your connection with nature and to enhance the well-being of visitors. From the beginning, the conservation of the rainforest has been paramount. The intention throughout the design project is not to have a minimal impact on the environment, but rather to have a zero impact on the environment.
The eco-lodges are built from mostly natural materials on wood-framed platforms. The new tent suites are located in varying unique positions in the landscape to offer guests an individual and special hospitality experience. The accommodation, conveniently located on 123 hectares of wilderness, offers unparalleled comfort, privacy, and security.
‘‘The design and construction of Kasiiya Papagayo have been completed without cutting down a single tree or using concrete for the buildings. The resort is 100% solar-powered, the water is fresh from the well, and all vehicles within the property are electrical. We are delighted to be able to say that we have built the property respectfully, whilst at the same time to the highest standards of comfort and peace.’’ Reda Amalou & Stéphanie Ledoux, AW²
Kasiiya Group
Kasiiya is a unique hotel concept that began with just five luxury safari tents in the heart of the historic Central American rainforest. Respectful of the environment, Kasiiya creates a coherent and altruistic experience.
AW² Architecture Group
AW² is an international architecture and interior agency, based in Paris. Reda Amalou, a graduate of the University of East London, founded the agency in 1997. Stéphanie Ledoux, graduated from l’Ecole Spéciale d’Architecture in Paris, joined in 2000 and became an associate in 2003. The two partners have since led the agency together, and are personally involved in each project.
With projects in nearly 40 different countries, the agency was built from priceless experience and is now internationally recognized as a leading architecture brand producing high-quality projects. Currently, their main projects involve high-end luxury hotels and interiors. The agency’s projects have been awarded numerous prizes, including the MIPIM Award for the Best Hotel (Six Senses Condao), three nominations for the Grand Prix AFEX de l’Architecture Française à l’Export, le Lycée Français of Amman in Jordan (Six Senses Condao), Art Academy (Ani Villas).
Photos – Kenny Viese
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