Naviva®, A Four Seasons Resort

• Create an ecologically driven luxury resort that is less resource-intensive than traditional resorts.
• Minimize land disturbance to protect the wet/dry tropical forest ecosystem.
• Decrease energy consumption by maximizing the use of vegetation and air circulation for natural cooling.
• Create job and income opportunities for local people while showcasing the local art and craft of Nayarit culture. 
• Express cultural sensitivity through the use of local materials and construction methods.
• Seek design inspiration from nature.
• Provide guests with broad views of their surroundings to celebrate ocean vistas and views of the natural jungle landscape, while also providing secluded, sheltered spaces for privacy.
• Offer reflection and socialization opportunities for guests.
• Use the landscape to guide guests on a path of holistic transformation.

• The design and construction preserved 97% of the intact wet/dry tropical forest by leveraging existing infrastructure, roads, and cisterns that remained from the unrealized traditional resort plotted in the early 2000s.
• Plant material used on-site includes native species as well as a native seed mix dispersed in disturbed areas. Native species include kapok (Ceiba pentandra), gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba), silk tree (Albizia niopoides), golden trumpet tree (Tabebuia ochracea), and pink trumpet tree (Tabebuia rosea). Sea lavender (Argusia gnaphalodes), beach naupaka (Scaevola frutescens), and cocoplum (Chrysobalanus icaco) were shrubs chosen to stabilize dunes. Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) was used as groundcover, and parrot heliconia (Psittacorum heliconia) with its colorful flowers anchors the ground-level plant palette.
• The site is designed to prioritize foot traffic and minimize environmental impact, with pathways exclusively for pedestrians and vehicle access limited to only the main entrance.
• Permeable concrete and paving materials, including a natural soil pavement, were used for golf cart and pedestrian paths to reduce runoff and heat absorption. Paved paths constructed from stabilized compacted aggregate mimic the color of the natural terrain and blend in with the environment. The paths provide circulation to open use areas, resort amenities, and private guest quarters.
• Nature trails are elevated to facilitate access and allow for light exposure on the forest floor.
• A natural vegetated ravine serves as the primary drainage corridor where stormwater is directed and collected.
• Inspiration from the monarch butterfly’s metamorphosis and native ceiba seed pod are reflected in building architecture, paving patterns, and circulation paths throughout the resort. Guests arrive through butterfly chrysalis-inspired lobby bridge over the natural ravine.
• Naturally weathering materials like copper roofing, natural wood, and bamboo were used to show the effects of transformation and change over time.
• Buildings are made of concrete and bamboo, which flexes and withstands seismic activity due to its lignin and vascular bundles. Roofs were designed to guide rainwater into collection basins before filtering into landscape beds and natural vegetated spaces. Throughout the resort, artisans constructed architectural details with woodwork from locally sourced bamboo.
• Guests can refill reusable bottles with drinking water from a self-contained solar powered panel system that collects water from the air.
• 15 tented suites have rooms designed to maximize cross-ventilation and reduce air conditioning demand.
• Guest amenities include a jungle pool, treatment pods, yoga pavilion, outdoor gym, nature observation pavilions/platforms, event lawn, pedestrian paths, nature trails, temazcal (cleansing ritual within a hot dome-shaped space), and beach access. 

The landscape strategy for Naviva® followed biophilic design principles, with the design team aiming to promote health, well-being, and sustainability through connecting people with nature. Below are examples of how 12 biophilic design principles were incorporated in the design.

1) Visual Connection with Nature: The design team emphasized both ocean and jungle views within the boundaries of the property. This reinforces and educates the visitor about the unique habitat and biome of the project site.   

2) Non-Visual Connection with Nature: By restricting the property to pedestrian and golf cart access only, the designers created a place with minimal sound pollution that allows guests to hear their natural surroundings: waves, wind, birds, and more.

3) Thermal and Airflow Variability: The resort was planned to maximize existing tree canopy and allow for airflow. This is a sustainable practice that reduces the need for climate control in guest rooms provided by HVAC systems. The preserved existing tree canopy also provides the resort with natural shading. Dappled light cools private and public gathering areas, which allows guests to enjoy their time throughout the resort in nature rather than in climate-controlled spaces.

4) Presence of Water: Having access to water in the jungle pool allows visitors to engage with water without needing to traverse to the ocean’s edge.

5) Dynamic and Diffuse Light: Dynamic light patterns are a key element throughout the resort. The dappled light through existing tree canopy and shadows created by the designs in the artisan-created architectural woodwork reinforces the natural elements of the place.

6) Connection with Natural Systems: The design team preserved the natural ecosystem of the project site with little disturbance to natural topography, landforms, and existing trees. This connection with natural systems is also highlighted in the use of the natural ravine for stormwater management.

7) Biomorphic Forms and Patterns: Design inspiration from the ceiba seed pod and the monarch chrysalis was incorporated into concept planning of architectural features, circulation, and paving patterns.

8) Material Connection with Nature: Natural building elements with different textures were used throughout the site. Native building materials like bamboo were used as an architectural accent. Copper was used to show the passing of time through its natural oxidation process. Existing boulders were incorporated into the planning and construction of the resort, and tent accommodations were placed strategically around boulders. In the fitness area, a boulder was not moved but instead transformed into a shelf.  

9) Complexity and Order: Paving patterns, stone-filled mesh retaining walls, and a natural soil pavement were selected because they tied into the surrounding environment. As such they are not visually distracting. The use of aesthetically pleasing and familiar neotropical plants around the resort facilities were used to soften the edges where wild meets controlled.

10) Prospect and Refuge: The design team created a circulation path that offers both sheltered private spaces and public gathering spaces. A guest has the option to retreat within heavily wooded, forest spaces and reflect while observing open ocean vistas.

11) Sustainability and Resilience: Many elements described in the Sustainable Features section represent the biophilic principle of sustainability and resilience, including the water capture system, use of natural and sustainable building materials, permeable pavements, and more. 

12) Cultural and Ecological Narratives: The resort offers guests education about biodiversity and the natural ecosystems through trail walks. Local culture is represented in the work of native artisans and through resort experiences and amenities.

Indigenous communities such as the Cora and Huichol peoples have called the Nayarit region home for generations. These tribes have a strong appreciation of nature and the environment, and they dwell in an area known for its agriculture, pastureland and fishing villages. Art and craft along with local construction materials and techniques were important to the design of the resort to reflect on the importance of the Indigenous groups, past villages, and the local economy.

Bamboo is an example of a historically important building material in this area. Known for its tensile strength in a seismically active region, locally sourced bamboo utilized in an intricate pattern tastefully blends into the natural surroundings of the resort while highlighting local culture. The design team also incorporated cultural symbols and beliefs into the planning of the resort. The Indigenous tribes believe the souls of their departed ancestors return in the form of a butterfly. The monarch butterfly is an important symbol of environmental appreciation and ancestral admiration. Inspiration from the monarch butterfly and its metamorphosis are featured throughout the resort’s form and circulation. Another element important to Indigenous tribes is the ceiba tree. With its long think vines hanging down, the ceiba was thought to be the center of the world and connect the terrestrial world to the spirit world.

• Brand standards should be identified at the design concept phase to avoid major adjustments during construction, as hotel brand standards altered the original intentions of the design. An example is the golf cart path, which was originally designed to be 13 ft wide (4 meters), but the brand required a 19.7-ft (6-meter) road with an additional gutter. This brand standard affected the site’s aesthetics and caused unnecessary impact to the landscape.
• Although permeable pavers were selected to provide environmental benefits, they did not fully meet local stormwater management requirements. As a result, an additional closed stormwater system had to be installed to ensure compliance.
• Design flexibility was key in working with local artisans to honor the design intentions while allowing creative freedom. For example, the monarch butterfly chrysalis-inspired bridge was developed through close collaboration, ensuring the final structure reflected both the design vision and artisans’ craftsmanship. Similarly, elements inspired by the ceiba tree seed pod were refined with input from the artisans.
• The use of stone-filled mesh retaining walls minimized visual impact compared to traditional retaining wall systems, achieving a more natural aesthetic that aligned with the design intentions. Unlike typical retaining walls, these were specifically chosen for their ability to blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.
• On-site supervision by the designers and constant communication with contractors was essential to ensure grading plans were executed correctly to protect native vegetation and hydrology.

Natural Soil Pavement: PolyPavement
Stone-filled Mesh Retaining Walls: Terramesh
Solar-Powered Water Collection System: SOURCE Hydropanel

Project Team

Lead Designer, Master Planning and Landscape Architecture: EDSA
Lead Designer, Architecture: Luxury Frontiers

Role of the Landscape Architect

The landscape architect and the architect were the co-lead designers for Naviva®. The landscape architect performed master planning, design development, construction documentation, and construction administration services. The client consulted with the landscape architect to define a unique take on a nature-based guest experience. Planning and design efforts, from the initial arrival and room placement to the gardens and walking paths, served as an opportunity to engage the senses and introduce guests to something larger than themselves. Upon implementation of the project, the landscape architect also directed the use of sustainable materials and construction methods to minimize environmental impact and achieve the lightest possible footprint on the land.