3 Instead of thinking of the hotel structure itself as the star of the show, the whole site got top billing. "We didn't want to compete with the grounds of the property and its views of Mamitas Beach, so we celebrated the site whenever we could," says Rockwell. In fact, the literal centerpiece of the property is a preserved mangrove orchard. Protecting it and modulating the environmental impact was the first must for the team. As a result, the building that houses the guest rooms frames the trees. That wasn't the only way the site itself led the design. Its irregular slope down to the sea gave the team a roadmap for a three-part layout that worked equally well aesthetically and functionally. A shop-lined street from the city's 5th Avenue (the first architectural "block") literally paves the way for the guest experience. Stepped structures along the sides of the street evoke Mayan ruins. Underfoot? A useful amount of hidden space for back-of-house services. Positioning the lobby and reception area at the peak of the path not only offers a chic arrival experience, it also allows for two levels of meeting and event spaces that remain easily accessible and visually unobtrusive. The need for check-in desks and a reception area meant that the next block of the site would have to offer a more structured look and feel than the entry. Wooden beams and branch-like detailing on the 42 boutiquedesign.com January + February 2016 4 3 Creamy tones create a light but welcoming air. A terrace gives each guest room and suite its own piece of the outdoors. 4 Lighting in the ballroom uses shapes to evoke natural forms. Layering the illumination creates an elegant effect.http://www.boutiquedesign.com