Episode 1: Letting Nature Shine—Environmentally Sensitive Architecture in the World’s Most Beautiful Places
An aerial view of Kasiiya Papagayo, set amid 123 acres of pristine coastline and jungle on Costa Rica’s western coast.
There are stunning examples of innovative architecture and design in hotels all over this great planet, some of which we have been privileged enough to visit over the course of our travels. But what has struck us as the most impressive are those hospitality ventures that haven’t taken over a landscape, but have instead become part of it, quietly. Many African safari camps do this quite well, especially those designed by Luxury Frontiers for Wilderness Safaris, such as Abu Camp. But it’s less common to see this sensitive approach taken in other parts of the world. Hopefully not for long, though.
Designers Reda Amalou and Stéphanie Ledoux of AW² onsite, working on Kasiiya Papagayo.
In this episode, we first speak with Reda Amalou, architect and founder of AW², who allowed the dynamic topography of Costa Rica’s Papagayo Peninsula to guide his low-impact designs for the intimate yet sprawling beach and jungle retreat, Kasiiya Papagayo. With just seven elegant yet rustic tents spread over 123 acres of virgin jungle, Kathryn found the property to be unique in the way Mother Nature breathes through every aspect, allowing each guest to find and define their own experience. In fact, owner Mehdi Rheljari told us the whole thing was, in a way, reverse-engineered to bring patrons a sense of clarity and connection to the senses, adding that “a holiday is a remedy for the speed of life.”
The remote, sensitively built Swell Lodge on Christmas Island.
On the other side of the world, on tiny, lush Christmas Island, Eric discovered a different kind of natural paradise. Swell Lodge is the result of wildlife photographers and guides Chris and Jess Bray’s passion for what’s sometimes referred to as the “Galapagos of the Indian Ocean.” The unparalleled biodiversity of Christmas Island and its national park made for an idyllic if challenging location to build an eco lodge, yet Chris was up to it. With two eco-chalets perched on the edge of wilderness boasting panoramic ocean vistas, Swell’s guests, as Eric can attest, are completely immersed in the pristine landscape. Add to that solar power, composting toilets and environmentally sensitive products and it’s the dream for those seeking a low-footprint retreat.
Chris Bray’s ingenious crab moving attachments are critical during migration season, when 50 million of the critters take over Christmas Island.
What Kasiiya and Swell Lodge have in common is a reverence for the natural environment that runs so deep they have not sought to change it. Listen to the episode for more from these visionaries, and follow them on Instagram at @kasiiyapapagayo, @redaamaloudesign, @aw2_architecture, @swelllodge and @chrisbrayphotography.