WINNER
Gold Key – Resort
The Highlights: A calming, subdued palette pervades every space, from guestrooms and public areas to the spa and restaurants. Natural stone, wood, and chukum stucco are a consistent pulse throughout each venue. The resort’s spa represents a larger-scale example of this contextual thinking. Cenotes—deep, hidden sinkholes in limestone with fresh pools of water at the bottom, found throughout the Yucatan jungle—were cherished by the Mayans. The 32,000-square-foot spa is an homage to this lifeblood of the ancient civilization. Natural limestone and organic foundations jut out from seemingly bottomless pools, reflecting the deepest shades of blue and creating a sense of peace and revitalization.
“To provide an experience that reflects a true sense of place in an expansive, all-inclusive environment, often associated with revelry and gluttony, is an essential element in the story,” says Nina Grondin, partner at Curioso.
SOURCES
Design Firms: Curioso, Chicago and Merida, Mexico, and Francisco HanhausenArquitectura y Diseño, Mexico City | Architecture Firm: KinceArquitectura, Cancún | Client and Purchasing Firm: Atelier de Hoteles, Cancún | Photo: Daniel Kelleghan
Click here to read about all of the 2020 Gold Key winners and finalists.
