Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa
Renovating a Luxury Hotel surrounded by a volcano
The Hotel Arenal Kioro arguably boasts the best view of the Arenal volcano.The layout of all hotel spaces was meticulously planned using laser measurements, ensuring that guests could enjoy views of the Arenal volcano from every room and common area.
Twenty years after its construction, the Arenal Kioro Hotel is undergoing a renovation process, but perhaps, even more important, is the conceptualisation process at the spatial level that is needed to assess the operation, the usefulness and the service they provide at the different spaces of the hotel.
Conceptual Development
At the interior design level, the spaces slated for intervention must be conceptually reimagined, as many of them currently appear disjointed, with finishes and materials that do not convey luxury in a hospitality setting. Twenty years ago, the directive was to 'fill the walls of the hotel,' leading to recent investments in decorative items that lack a cohesive concept, atmosphere, or narrative.
Green Luxury as a concept
The conceptual exploration contemplated the following questions: What is luxury? / What does it mean to modernize? / What are we valuing?
This definitely showed that it was necessary to create from the inside, a connection with the experience of being outside and stimulate the relationship with the volcano on a sensory level. In other words, evoking a sense of proximity to the volcano.
The concept of Green Luxury is also being explored as a guiding principle for the project: What does luxury entail in our tropical context?
Green Luxury is explored based on: the relationship with the context, the use of local materials, support for local art and crafts, the balance between what is national versus what is imported.
The Design Process
The design process began with the proposal for the rooms. There is an urgency to update their status and the comments on the most popular websites reaffirm this.
Once the project was ready: design proposal, shopping lists, budget breakdown, etc. They changed the execution plan... and the rooms did not go first.
Flexibility is Key to undergo change
In this way, we had to change plans and although the proposal for the grill area was still in the preliminary draft, we had to work hard to polish the proposal, put together the project and start remodeling the restaurant/bar/grill area.
This rarely occurs at the methodology level, but flexibility is sometimes necessary to meet immediate needs.
For the development of the project, a very open communication channel was maintained that included periodic meetings, both virtual and in-person, and a WhatsApp chat with those involved in the project's decision-making. A 3D model of the process was developed, as well as renderings and material tables (moodboards) both physical and digital. Visits were made to suppliers and tests of materials and finishes were requested.
All of these measures are aimed at ensuring a seamless transition from digital design to physical reality.
To be mindful of collaboration
Each design project is made up of a backbone of people involved, necessary for the project to be a reality and a success.
From the table team to the field team, every person is important.
In this case, the design team, made up of Jennifer Cob and Priscilla Garita, worked collaboratively from the conceptualization phase until the delivery of the project.
Jennifer worked on site and Priscilla worked remotely. After having completed a graduate program together in interaction design, the designers use the same collaborative work methodology.
Undergoing renovation process. Due: Nov 2024
Queen sized bed suites are expected to undergo renovation in the furure
Current state of the suites
Photography: Daniela Linares