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hollywood oscar winner creates kids jungle fantasyland at mexico’s mandarina resort

Amazingly, none of Mexico’s ingenious Academy Award-winning directors won Oscar love Sunday (Alfonso Curarón, Alejandro González Iñárritu and Guillermo del Torro weren’t nominated this time).

 

But One&Only Mandarina, Mexico’s highly-anticipated luxury resort destination (another potential national treasure), did. Perched along a one-mile pristine beach in Riviera Nayarit (an hour north of Puerto Vallarta), Mandarina has gone Hollywood.

 

The exclusive residential resort community inked Academy Award-winning art director Brigitte Broch (the Hollywood directing trio’s accomplished Mexican colleague) to design a spectacular amenity straight out of make-believe movies—a 42,000-square-foot Kids’ Club fantasy jungle.

 

It’s a natural choice for an elevated property nestled amidst one of the last beachfront jungles in all of Mexico. One&Only Mandarina is touted as “the most significant new resort and residential community to grace the shores of Mexico in decades”—a protected natural world luring affluent international buyers and travelers. Real estate and resort facilities officially launch at this tropical, cliffside paradise in June 2020.

 

The 34-hectare landscape will be dotted with luxurious oceanfront hotels (104-room One&Only Mandarina, and Rosewood Mandarina) as well as exclusive branded residences and clifftop villas (One&Only Mandarina Private Homes, and Rosewood Residences).

 

Designed by architecture firm Studio Rick Joy, Mandarina Private Homes features 55 contemporary ocean view villas with tropical jungle surroundings—and a massive nearby lagoon. The private villas (four, five, six and eight bedrooms) range from 5,000 to 11,000 square feet.

 

Seamless outdoor areas (2,500 to 8,000 square feet) offer terraces, infinity pools and gardens overlooking the Pacific Ocean coastline. Prices start at $4.95 million.

 

But serenity and intoxicating Mandarina Experiences will keep guests and investors coming back year after year, including the Majahua Beach Club, canopy tree-covered spa treatments, world-class polo and equestrian club (with dressage, jumping arenas and stables), and Broch’s imaginative KidsOnly club.

 

“What most intrigued me about being part of Mandarina KidsOnly club’s vision was the world of fantasy that could be created in an ancient tropical forest, especially within the spectacular setting of grand trees and unspoiled nature, where the jungle meets the sea.”

 

Fantasy is Broch’s specialty. In Hollywood, she’s known for creating mesmerizing sets in major films such as Romeo + Juliet (1996), Amores Perros (2000) and Moulin Rouge (2001), for which she won an Art Direction Oscar. This time, her canvas isn’t the big screen, it’s a jungle landscape where joyful children will play in a natural habitat.

 

“The Mandarina surroundings already seem to be a fantasy land— jungle, bays, history and amazing birds,” says Broch. “The KidsOnly club is an extension of that. I hope the kids will plunge into the wild freedom [that] the exterior KidsOnly club offers. I channeled my own inner child. I wanted to create an experience for guests that I never had when I was young.”

 

At luxury resorts, most kids clubs are structured, indoor, air-conditioned spaces. At Mandarina, kids are immersed into nature, encouraged to imagine and play in the open-air—on jungle tree houses, hanging bridges, slides, climbing walls and nature trails. “The way the tree houses are connected allows for children to enter into a Robinson Crusoe and pirate life fantasy world,” says Broch.

 

Here, a jungle nature hut will teach children about local animals and insects. They’ll also explore ancient archaeological petroglyphs from the indigenous Cora civilization. More traditional fun can still be had in the outdoor amphitheater, cinema, nursery, game room and indoor activity spaces.

 

Typically, fantasy is born in the minds of adventurous children. Mandarina’s KidsOnly club is inspired by the child in all of us. This includes kids’ intuitive fascination with tree climbing.

 

Influenced by Riviera Nayarit’s forest and its ancient trees, KidsOnly is the brainchild of Ricardo Santa Cruz, RLH Properties’ chief of business development at Mandarina, whose eureka moment came during his son’s 4th grade field trip to Mandarina—rather than a boardroom of suits. His chief KidsOnly consultants were Broch and 9-year-old tree-exploring experts.

 

“Upon arriving, the kids ran for the giant trees as opposed to the beach and surf,” says Santa Cruz. “They let their imaginations run wild, playing hide-and-seek amongst the trees and exploring the unspoiled nature around them. We sought Brigitte Broch’s expertise to bring all the components to life in a magical way with masterfully thought out spaces aimed to capture the imagination of children.”

 

Adults needn’t worry. Mandarina offers adult playgrounds too—the polo and equestrian club (with dressage and jumping arenas, and stables), horseback rides, zip lining, The Outpost jungle excursions, hiking trails, kayaking the Flatlands Estuary, The Farm cooking classes, and infinity pools galore (one that seemingly juts out over the ocean).

 

A new tropical paradise is born—Mandarina. This jungleland looks like some Eden Jumanji characters might drop into (a film Oscar ignored). But Oscar and kids will soon hover over Mandarina like Tarzan, courtesy of Broch’s KidsOnly club design.

 

In Mexico, the only thing more anticipated than Mandarina are Curarón’s, Iñárritu’s and del Torro’s next films. Talk about good investments.

 

*Originally posted on Forbes

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Map of Mandarina, Mexico
Rosewood Mandarina
The Jetty
One&Only Private Homes
Rosewood Residences
Canalan Beach Club
One&Only Mandarina Carao
One&Only Mandarina Alma
One&Only Mandarina The Jetty
One&Only Spa
Club KidsOnly
One&Only Private Homes
The Farm
Outpost
Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club
Estuary
Jungle Course
Flatlands Allora
Apiary
Sports Courts
Chukker
Mandarina Golf Club
Future Rosewood Residences
Beach Pavillion
Resort Pools
Asaya Spa
Rosewood Explorers Club
La Cocina
Buena Onda
Barra Penasco
Toppu
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Rosewood MandarinaRosewood Mandarina will have a residential-style hotel and set of unique private residences beginning in 2021.

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One&Only Mandarina Mexico logo

The JettyResidents and guests will depart The Jetty for their water adventures and gather each afternoon to enjoy the sunset.

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One&Only Mandarina Mexico logo

One&Only Private HomesThe villas are located in an exquisite private location in close proximity to the One&Only Mandarina.

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Rosewood Residences Starting in 2021, Rosewood Residences will take their residents deep into nature, offering them award-winning Rosewood hospitality.

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Canalan Beach ClubThe Canalan Beach Club is located on 1.6 kilometers of pristine and golden beaches for swimming, where you can enjoy kayaking and snorkeling.

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One&Only Mandarina Mexico logo

Carao An adult-only spot nestled on the rugged mountains, Carao captures the most spectacular views of the Mandarina sunsets.

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One&Only Mandarina Mexico logo

AlmaA different poolside relaxation and dining experience, The Plateau overlooks The Jetty and the horizon of the Pacific Ocean.

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One&Only Mandarina Mexico logo

The Jetty Beach ClubLocated on the calm waters of the Pacific, the One&Only Majahua Beach Club offers a relaxing and casual elegance experience.

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One&Only Mandarina Mexico logo

One&Only SpaThe One&Only Spa offers a truly unique holistic wellness experience and outdoor treatment rooms under the trees.

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One&Only Mandarina Mexico logo

Club KidsOnlyThe KidsOnly Club brings Mandarina's wonders to life, with tree houses, an insect cabin, game room, nursery, sandpit, and outdoor amphitheater.

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One&Only Mandarina Mexico logo

One&Only Private HomesThe villas are located in an exquisite private location in close proximity to the One&Only Mandarina.

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The FarmLocated in the Flatlands, The Farm offers locally grown produce and a country-at-your-table restaurant.

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Mandarina ExperiencesThe adventures begin at The Outpost, the place to enjoy the day exploring the trails and the Mandarina jungle.

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Mandarina Polo & Equestrian ClubThe Mandarina Polo and Equestrian Club beautifies the Flatlands, offering an exceptional venue for lovers of an equine lifestyle.

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EstuaryThe Mandarina estuary houses a rich biodiversity and an exceptional bird observatory.

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Jungle CourseExperienced guides will immerse you in the sights and sounds of the rainforest, as you soar amidst the trees on the zipline or challenge yourself and your loved ones on the obstacle trail.

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ALLORASituated within the beachfront setting of Canalan Beach Club, Allora presents traditional Italian dining at its open-air restaurant nestled along the pristine, one-mile stretch of beach at Mandarina.

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APIARYHome to Mandarina’s beekeeping program and signature honey production.

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LUX TENNIS SPORTS COURTSOutdoor courts for tennis, pickleball and basketball offered through Mandarina Experiences.

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CHUKKEROpen-air Argentine asado dining and cocktails overlooking the Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club.

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MANDARINA GOLF CLUBGreg Norman–designed short course offering world-class play amid the Flatlands.

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FUTURE ROSEWOOD RESIDENCESA collection of Rosewood Residences presenting award-winning Rosewood hospitality and design.

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BEACH PAVILIONRelaxed beachfront lounge and dining pavilion with panoramic ocean views at Rosewood Mandarina.

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RESORT POOLSA collection of scenic pools designed for leisure and family enjoyment at Rosewood Mandarina.

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ASAYA SPARosewood’s signature holistic sanctuary for wellness, balance and rejuvenation.

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ROSEWOOD EXPLORERS CLUBNature-inspired children’s club fostering creativity and exploration at Rosewood Mandarina.

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LA COCINAVibrant open-air venue serving fresh, local coastal cuisine at Rosewood Mandarina.

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BUENA ONDACasual beachside spot for light bites, drinks and ocean views at Rosewood Mandarina.

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BARRA PEÑASCOOceanfront bar offering craft cocktails and breathtaking Pacific vistas at Rosewood Mandarina.

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TOPPUCliffside Japanese-inspired lounge with dramatic sunset views at Rosewood Mandarina.

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INQUIRE ABOUT OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES STARTING AT $4.95 MILLION

A collection of private villas features 4, 5, 6 & 8-bedroom designs with 7,500 to 19,000 square feet of living space, each offering exclusive residential services provided by One&Only Mandarina.

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