Hospitality Design - January/February 2015 - 57

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Marangoni, which is set in a bed of local lava stone. Marangoni's
work also appears in several focal points in the restaurant, whose
design theme and name is Evolution. A DNA double-helix
sculpture, also set in aluminum, sits at the center of the space, and
doubles as a lava stone fireplace, while another sculpture depicts
the evolution of man, and a third pays homage to the beaks of the
Galápagos finch-an important catalyst to Darwin's theory.
Other arts and artifacts such as photoreal paintings of the
Ecuadorian Amazon by artist Servio Zapata and artisan-made
rugs and alpaca wool pillows are all locally sourced, minimizing
the need for carbon-emitting transport from distant shores.
Throughout the property, fossils serve as ideal artwork and
centerpieces-both sustainable and relevant to the overarching
theme of evolution.
But these important elements and many key construction
materials almost didn't make it-the cargo ships carrying them
sank in the Pacific, adding yet another challenge to the project,
delaying its completion by several months and testing the patience
of its project team. "Luckily, we had very capable people working
on the project that worked hard to overcome the difficulties,"
Frei-Shephard says. It was the stalwart determination of a fatherdaughter team, however, bound by their common interest, which
truly made Pikaia Lodge a reality.
Reluctant to take full credit, Frei-Shephard says of her father
and the lodge: "We were together for the whole process, and we
are very close-we have a lot in common. Our special connection
really helped us on this project. I think the chemistry that we have
was a must for something this important to him." hd

showerheads and taps are employed on property to help save
water. Plaza's development team also went one step further in
contributing to the ecological well-being of their site, replacing
a cattle farm, ravaged by elephant grass overgrowth and
deforestation, with 12,000 endemic trees, wild tortoises, and birds.
The resulting hotel, christened Pikaia Lodge (named for
the first known vertebrate, pikaia gracilens, from which all
modern vertebrates are thought to have evolved) is nothing if not
impressive. "We can proudly state that Pikaia Lodge is definitely
one of the most advanced ecolodges in the world," says Frei's
daughter, Maria Elena Frei-Shephard, who was responsible for its
interior design.
Her design directive was just as environmentally conscientious
as the lodge's construction-after all she was right by her father's
side in his quest for eco-perfection. Fourteen suites ranging in size
from 463 to 550 square feet (one with its own pool) feature teak
and bamboo harvested from sustainable Ecuadorian plantations
and travertine imported from nearby Peru. Their location and
orientation allow for them to be naturally cooled with little or no
need for air conditioning. And Plaza designed a structure for the
rooms, located on the side of a hill, which will be added to the
property in the future. These will just skim the ground so that
rainwater can flow underneath, ensuring sufficient absorption into
the groundwater.
The lobby features a stunning aluminum tree of life sculpture
(completely recyclable in itself) by Ecuadorian artist Larissa

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Hospitality Design - January/February 2015

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