Hospitality Design - April 2021 - 20

perspectives trends

Local wood clads the McMichael Café in Ontario, a project conceived
by Denizens of Design to reflect the work of the Group of Seven artists

legacy of the former rancher on the property
who would spray a green 'O' on the sheep to
help keep track of them, " says Mutuus partner
Kristen Becker.

Eco-Immersion

Many travelers today are looking for a
transformative experience, and perhaps no
company has honed in on this market more
than Habitas. Dubbed a " global home for a
global community of likeminded people seeking
connection, inspiration, and a better future
together, " the mission of the experience-led
hospitality group is about escape, restoration,
and reflection. Joining Habitas' growing
portfolio, which counts destinations in Namibia
and Tulum, will be Habitas Bacalar, set in the
mango and coconut forests of Mexico's Yucatan
peninsula and slated to open this summer.
Upon arrival, guests will glimpse the site's
lagoon, with its striking blue hues and ancient
reef-like formations. They will then be ushered
off to one of the 35 A-frame palapa structures

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April 2021 hospitalitydesign.com

with open decks oriented toward the crystalline
waters. Every detail, in fact, " is designed to
integrate with nature, " says Habitas cofounder
and CEO Oliver Ripley, " from the organic and
local materials we use to how we preserve plant
life and trees to how we build. "
Specific attention was given to the local
Mayan culture, immersing guests in the land
and its traditions via Habitas' wellness programs
and F&B concepts. " We also worked with local
communities, farms, and therapists to create a
holistic approach for our guests, " says Ripley,
whether that's paddleboard yoga or sunrise
mediations. Indeed, " wellness is woven into the
fabric of everything we do, " he adds, noting that
guests are equipped with tools to continue their
journeys long after they return home.
Sustainability is also top of mind, with a
focus on preserving the lagoon because of its
stromatolites (the sedimentary formations
contain micro-organisms dating back to the
origins of the planet that are only found in a
handful of places), which are crucial to the

lagoon's ecosystem. " Our home is designed to
leave minimal impact on the surroundings, "
explains Ripley, adding that everything
Habitas buys and sources will support the local
community and aim to create micro-economies
in the area. " This is integral to our ethos-
helping local farmers and artisans and training
and teaching the local workforce. "

Local Influence

Dyonne Fashina's great-grandfather studied
painting under A.J. Casson, one of the
Canadian landscape artists comprising
the 20th-century Group of Seven, so the
principal at Denizens of Design had a personal
connection to the McMichael Canadian Art
Collection in Kleinburg, Ontario, which is
home to the series of wilderness paintings by
the group.
In collaboration with the gallery's
hospitality partner the Food Dudes, the
Toronto firm reimagined the McMichael Café,
a welcoming space in the entrance hall that
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Hospitality Design - April 2021

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