Nekajui, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Nekajui (neh-KAH-wee), a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, is a 1,400-acre ultra-luxury resort among the cliffs and jungle canopy of Costa Rica’s Peninsula Papagayo. The interior lighting scope included guestrooms and suites, luxury tents, five-bedroom branded residences, multiple dining venues, a wedding chapel, private beach club, and a signature spa with treetop treatment suites. Our involvement spanned from 2019 through early 2025, requiring the lighting design to respond to extended construction timelines and evolving architectural design modifications, placing importance on flexibility and commitment.

The lighting concept reinforces a contemporary interpretation of Chorotega heritage and Spanish colonial influence through a restrained, layered approach that prioritizes architectural integration and visual hierarchy. Conventional general downlighting was intentionally minimized in favor of accent, grazing, and decorative illumination that reveals material texture, ceiling articulation, artwork, and spatial transitions. Given that most circulation and dining occur outdoors, the lighting strategy articulates the purposeful connection between interior and exterior environments as levels and color temperatures preserved the harmonious nature of both.

Exterior gas lanterns serve as both a cultural reference and a visual guidepost, establishing the project’s warm evening character. Their flame color informed source selection and dimming behavior throughout the resort, with all lighting transitioning to warmer color temperatures when dimmed. Controls are zoned by effect and location, enabling common areas to follow the natural progression of the Pacific sunset while providing scene flexibility for events, operations, and future adaptation.

Luminaires are carefully integrated into ceilings, dark wood elements, recessed architectural pockets, and uplighting opportunities, employing multiple glare-control strategies to maintain visual comfort and appropriate contrast ratios. The project complies with Peninsula Papagayo’s strict energy guidelines, minimizing uplight, spill, and power density while preserving nighttime ecology. The resulting lighting solution balances experiential richness with environmental stewardship, supporting both guest comfort and the long-term integrity of the site.