Luxury Frontiers, a San Francisco and Johannesburg-based international firm specializing in the design and development of upmarket, light-on-earth building concepts, was commissioned to design Nayara Tented Camp, a safari-style experience located in Arenal Volcano National Park in Costa Rica. The Camp welcomes guests with low-impact, high-yield, eco-friendly, and comfortably luxurious accommodations, immersing them in the rain forest's wilderness.
Luxury Frontiers designed 29 air-conditioned tented accommodations sized at 1,496 square feet. Inspired by traditional African safari-style tents and fused with Costa Rican sense of place, each tent has openings that allow for unobstructed views of natural vegetation and the Arenal Volcano as part of the experience. The exterior color blends seamlessly with the surroundings, while interior palettes reflect those found in the natural environment and context of Costa Rica, including tones of rainbow eucalyptus tree bark, shades of green, and touches of leather. A private plunge pool fed by natural mineral hot springs is a highlight of each accommodation.
Interior features were designed to reflect the natural beauty of Costa Rica, including exquisite wooden floors, and a backwall mural of rainforest foliage. The ox wagon wheel was used to inform the stylistic and artistic lines of carved details. Explorer-inspired furnishings nod to a period when luxury was celebrated in a nomadic way, with sunsets greeted with a refreshing drink from the comfort of a stylish, foldable campaign chair.
The form of the tents is unique in the sense that Luxury Frontiers has created a bow on the tent's flysheet, rather than a typical pointed peak. With that the silhouette is softened against the hillside and creates a lovely, undulated curved ridge that runs parallel to the surrounding hills. Internally as well as externally, the company has employed custom colors and bespoke furniture. Luxury Frontiers designed every piece and had it manufactured exclusivly for Nayara Tented Camp.
The public areas of Nayara Tented Camp reflect the same local context as the tented accommodations, with sites in areas that offer exquisite views of Arenal Volcano. The arrival experience is breathtaking, with the reception designed as a glass box to frame the volcano. Multiple lounges, entertainment areas, and lookout points are all fronted by an amazing multi-level swimming pool and an outdoor fire pit—a quintessential tented camp experience.
In keeping with Luxury Frontiers design philosophy, all buildings at Nayara Tented Camp were designed as floating, light-on-earth structures. Each was built as a modular kit with eco-conscious composite decking for the exteriors and limited use of concrete. Interior flooring is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-approved. Tents are insulated to correct R-values, and though air-conditioned, they are properly insulated to minimize power loss. All lighting uses LEDs and low-energy fittings. Luxury Frontiers also prioritized the preservation of heritage trees, minimized site grading impacts, maintained natural drainage, and sourced local plants for landscaping. Natural material was used in paving and walls, turf grass usage was limited, and passive airflow was employed to reduce air-conditioner usage.
Luxury Frontiers was honored with the 2020 AHEAD Americas Award in the “New Concept” category for its design of Nayara Tented Camp. The Awards for Hospitality Experience and Design – aka, AHEAD – celebrate the relentless pursuit of the exceptional in the hospitality industry, recognizing design in all its forms and the guest experiences created in hospitality worldwide. Nayara Tented Camp was one of more than 200 entries from 16 countries and one of 18 winners. Announcing the “New Concept” winner, host Guy Dittrich, Editor-at-Large of Sleeper, described the property as “a simple, straightforward definition of new luxury. This winning concept sees the seamless integration of indoor to outdoor. It takes into consideration the importance of the site and elevates the luxury experience whilst keeping a harmonious relationship with the natural surroundings.”
Fun fact? Luxury Frontiers used about 8,000 meters of running canvas for the accommodations, including internal and exterior canvas. The canvas was specially selected and custom dyed for the Camp.
Material Used :
1. RiptechExternal Canvas Walls (Custom Color)
2. Endurer Internal Wall and Ceiling (Custom Color)
3. Serge Ferrari 502 Satin mesh Membrane
4. Corteza Timber cladding to columns (Locally Sourced )
5. Almendro internal timber flooring (Locally Sourced)
6. MarfillTempisque colored stone floorig for WC (Locally sourced )
7. Green Colored Stone Flooring for pool and showers (Locally Sourced )
8. Imported Brushed Brass Sanitary Fittings
