Meet our Top-Notch Collaborators

Interior view of the entrance at Hotel Rio Perdido
Floor plan of the hotel & surrounding area at Hotel Rio Perdido

Estudio C2 Arquitectura (Esteban Calvo & Rafael Cruz) 

Esteban Calvo and Rafael Cruz are among the youngest architects to have won the prestigious Bienal de Arquitectura. This was followed by the surprise receipt of the Renee Frank Award. Both of these distinguished awards were the result of their work on Rio Perdido's iconic central building.  For over seventeen years, Esteban and Rafael have been an essential cog of the family-operated development group responsible for Rio Perdido. Their collaboration in the primary designs resulted in the most awards for hospitality architecture in Costa Rica's recent history.  Exemplary projects like Tabacon's Grand Spa, Nayara Springs, Nayara Tented Camp, and Rio Celeste Hideaway, among others, were conceptualized by the talented C2 duo. 

Lady lounging in the East Bungalow terrace at Hotel Rio Perdido
Exterior view of the Hotel surround by trees at Hotel Rio Perdido
Hammock hung on the terrace in East Bungalow at Hotel Rio Perdido

Project CR+d - David Darlington & Carolina Barzuna  

Now heading important divisions at Gensler Architecture & Zurcher Architects, the brilliant couple, David Darlington and Carolina Barzuna, formed this boutique design firm for select clients employing playfully creative hospitality solutions. Carolina and Dave are responsible for the very well-received first phase of rooms, known as the East Bungalows, due to their location on the peninsula, nestled between the two main rivers that run through the property. 

Exterior view of the Hotel surround by trees at Hotel Rio Perdido

VIDA Design Studio (Matthew Flynn, Ana Maria Pinto, & Co.)

http://www.vidadesignstudio.com 

Vida Design Studio was founded by the powerhouse creative couple Ana Maria Pinto and Matthew Flynn. Since their formative days with EDSA, both have worked worldwide, focusing on sustainable land planning and award-winning conscious landscape architecture. Their team is an exemplary showcase of talent and work ethic. 

King bed overlooking the forest in Center Bungalow at Hotel Rio Perdido
Bathroom vanity area with a forest view at Hotel Rio Perdido

PARQ (Daniel Cisneros & Felipe Sanabria) 

 https://www.parqcr.com

This boutique architecture firm is led by artists Daniel Cisneros and Felipe Sanabria. They take great pride in being among the first to employ authentic, experiential architecture at a local level. They are responsible for the one-of-a-kind second phase Center Bungalows.  This design seems simple upon first glance, but all guests that have the privilege of spending time in these units will experience what we refer to as passive-wellness.  The Center Bungalows' design work took almost two years to finalize and was well worth the time and devotion as witnessed by the finished result. 

View of the room interior with twin beds through glass at Hotel Rio Perdido

 

Gensler 

https://www.gensler.com/offices/san-jose-costa-rica 

Gensler is the largest architecture firm globally. Their Costa Rica office has served as the creative headquarters for all of Latin America. Rio Perdido has greatly benefitted from the talent of professionals such as  Samuel Bermudez and Fiorella D'Alaimo. 

Interior of the lobby waiting area & front desk at Hotel Rio Perdido

Garnier Arquitectos (Jean Andre Garnier & Co.) 

https://www.garnierarquitectos.com 

Founding architect, Jean André Garnier, helped us resolve several internal components within the central building, including the reception and main bar. 

Dining & lounge area with a forest view at Hotel Rio Perdido

OUSIA (Carmen Cubillos & Co.) 

http://www.ousiadesign.com

All of our furniture for our reception and dining room area was designed specifically for us and made from locally and sustainably farmed woods. OUSIA, a top interior design firm with many years of experience, made this job possible. 

Studio Saxe

Founded in 2004 by Benjamin Garcia Saxe, Studio Saxe is an award-winning architecture firm that blends innovation and craftsmanship to create sustainable, nature-inspired designs.

They are the creators of our new West Bungalows: floating pavilions designed to integrate seamlessly with the landscape. Elevated on slender pilotis, they allow water and wildlife to flow freely beneath, while frameless glass walls open panoramic views of the forest and canyon. Stone accents, expansive terraces, and outdoor showers create a balance of privacy, tropical simplicity, and refined comfort. Locally sourced materials, passive cooling, and low-impact construction highlight a deep commitment to sustainability and respect for Costa Rica’s ecology.

Interior designer Dania Saragovia brings an understated luxury to each bungalow, using a warm palette, woven textures and a high level of detail to the custom designed furniture.

https://studiosaxe.com/projects/rio-perdido-west-bungalows-bagaces-guanacaste/

https://saragovia.com/

Modern bedroom with wooden furnishings, large windows, and nature view in West Bungalows at Hotel Rio Perdido
Spacious room with wooden furnishings, sofa, and a hammock on the balcony in West Bungalows at Hotel Rio Perdido

Dania Saragovia

Dania Saragovia is an architectural and interior designer based in New York. Her approach to design is rooted in an ongoing exploration of color, texture, and materiality. This sensibility is fully expressed in our new spa, designed in collaboration with Alessandra Filesi. The wooden bungalows that comprise the spa blend into the surrounding forest, leading visitors from the outdoor reception area along naturally landscaped paths – woven with rocks and elevated walkways – toward the raised treatment rooms. Within, the rooms are designed with delicacy and intention, offering both a sense of privacy and an immersive connection to nature. The result is a perfect balance of function, beauty, and craft.

Dania is also responsible for the interior design of our West Bungalows, including the custom designed textiles and the majority of the furniture, which was fabricated in our in-house facilities. Drawing on a warm palette of natural materials and woven textures, she crafted interiors that align with the bungalows' architectural style, creating an atmosphere of understated luxury.


https://saragovia.com/architectural-design