When Four Seasons sought to reinvigorate its maiden flag in Costa Rica, its leadership turned to one of the brand’s most frequent collaborators: New York-based firm Meyer Davis. Located on Peninsula Papagayo in the Guanacaste province of northwest Costa Rica, the Four Seasons Papagayo has returned from its $35 million update with a series of striking new elements. Kenda Bailey, who serves as senior vice president of design for the hotel’s owner, Gencom, teamed up with the Meyer Davis team to breathe new life across the property. Each space was comprehensively refurbished without sacrificing the original character of the architecture.
“There was a strong emphasis on the local surroundings that influenced the design and inspiration; it was important that the design was unique to Papagayo and representative of the beautiful environment,” firm co-owner Gray Davis says . “Our focus was for the interiors to compliment the lively environment of the peninsula.”
Greeting visitors with large marble sculptures, the porte-cochère leads guests into the open-air lobby that frames treetop views of the jungle. Local architect Ronald Zurcher contributed to the design of the hotel canopy, which is crafted with locally sourced ramas de café, or coffee branches. Made from local cedar, the porte-cochère is punctuated with teak wood screens that also flank the lobby, which is anchored with desks made from Guanacaste wood slabs.
“Our goal was to enhance the guest’s comfort by creating a crisp and inviting experience in the interiors, that did not compete with the lively exteriors,” says senior interior designer Kristen Cochran. “All of these layers were thoughtfully orchestrated throughout the property to leave the guest with an experience which is engaging, restorative, and inspirational.”
Crisp interiors further reflect a coastal-inspired theme, while outdoor spaces are punctuated with inviting cabanas, daybeds, and refreshed lighting and fire pits. Native motifs are colorfully captured against a backdrop of materials either reclaimed or sourced from South American and local fabricators, manufacturers, suppliers, and artisans. Guestrooms and public spaces are flooded with natural light to enhance the once-shadowy interiors and also reinforce the natural surroundings. Indoor-outdoor accommodations also feature advanced lighting technology paired with new interior finishes and furniture.
“Peninsula Papagayo is such a special and unique place that feels like the Costa Rica’s best kept secret. We wanted to update and uplift and bring this exclusive resort the clean, refreshing and modern design that it deserved,” says Will Meyer, fellow co-owner of Meyer Davis. “The modern design, coastal, high-end luxury but casual aspect of the interiors all contribute to this rare find in the secluded peninsula of Papagayo.”
