Completed in December 2024 on Mexico’s Pacific coast in La Manzanilla, Jalisco, Four Seasons Tamarindo was designed by Legorreta + Legorreta, Taller de Arquitectura, and LegoRocha, with lighting design by Artec Studio led by Jose Cardona and Maurici Ginés.
Developed within a 3,000-acre natural reserve where jungle meets the sea, the project includes 160 rooms and 63 villas organized across three levels that adapt to the site’s topography rather than imposing upon it.
At the core of the design is a system of custom horticultural luminaires, developed to support academic study and experimentation. These fixtures provide full-spectrum photosynthetic active radiation and high photon flux density, and are mounted on movable structures that allow precise adjustments. Plug-and-cord connections and toolless hardware enable flexibility and ease of maintenance, while custom glazing with ribbed optics diffuses direct solar glare and maintains high light transmission for plant growth.
The lighting concept was conceived as an exercise in restraint, where darkness remains central, and light appears only when necessary. During the day, architecture filters the intensity of the sun; after dusk, artificial light is carefully contained and released through recesses, niches, walls, and reflections on water.
Paths are marked by paired ground lights, while trees alternate between illuminated and shadowed areas, preserving the depth of the landscape.
Sustainability was approached through precision and minimal impact. Lighting power density was limited to 7 W/m² using efficient LED systems and advanced controls compliant with ASHRAE standards. By reducing light trespass and preserving dark skies, the project protects the surrounding ecosystem, allowing species such as sea turtles to orient naturally toward the ocean.
