Ritz-Carlton Reserve Nekajui
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Location
Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica
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Owner
GENCOM, Mohari Hospitality & The Athens Group
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Architect
10 Design, Gensler, Luxury Frontiers
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Landscape Architect
EDSA
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Photographer
Courtesy of Client
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Press
Ritz-Carlton Reserve Nekajui | The 2025 Great Design Hotel Award Winners
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Sustainability
PPGY Legacy 2030
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Team Members
Anne Wilkinson, Janet Mercier, Addy Williams, Lauren McGuier
Through the Lens of Guanacaste
The design of Nekajui was inspired by five interconnected lenses that shaped its spirit from the very beginning.
The strength and grace of the Guanacaste tree symbolize balance and protection, guiding ideas of shelter, light, and form. The region’s woven traditions and interdependent ecosystems suggested patterns of connection, shaping how spaces relate to one another. The hues of jade, clay, and sunlit wood reflect the rhythm of the dry tropical forest, while local craftsmanship and the artistry of handwork inform the textures, forms, and spirit of the interiors. Finally, the principles of stewardship and wholeness inspired a design ethos centered on respect for the environment, for culture, and for the guest experience.
These influences together defined a vision of hospitality that feels grounded, timeless, and deeply human.
At Nekajui, the guest experience unfolds as a series of quiet discoveries that connect people to the landscape and each other.
BAMO’s design for the Great Room, La Casona, and open-air lounges reflects the resort’s ethos of harmony and stewardship. Stone, wood, rope, and clay are layered with refined restraint, creating warmth and texture that echo the forest canopy. Daylight and shadow are carefully orchestrated, shifting gently throughout the day to reveal new tones and moods. Each space invites stillness and reflection while encouraging community and conversation. Locally sourced materials and sustainable building methods support the land and its people.
The result is a design that embodies the Costa Rican spirit of balance—luxurious yet unpretentious, crafted yet natural, and deeply connected to its environment.
