In every great project, there's a first gesture, a spark, a place where everything begins. In Larimar City, that place is called Origin.
A restaurant with a pool and jacuzzi, yes, but also an emotional meeting point, a tribute to the project's roots and an invitation to reconnect with what's essential.
Origen was born from memory and emotion. From that first improvised space in front of the cliff, where we gathered to dream, to welcome those who would later fall in love with this city, to share a coffee while the first ideas were born. That simple thatched roof was our first home in Larimar, and from there, everything made sense. Designing Origen was almost inevitable: it was a necessary tribute to the roots of this community that has emerged from the ground up. Today, the architecture team shares the key details of Origen in this simple yet in-depth interview.
How Origin Happened...
What was the main inspiration behind the design of Inception?
We designed Origen from a deeply emotional place. Its inspiration stems from that first collective gesture, a palapa in front of a viewing platform overlooking the entire Caribbean coast, which brought us together when it was just an idea.
We wanted this space to speak to what united us from the beginning: simplicity, connection with nature, and the beauty that emerges when a place is able to inspire community.
How is the idea of “origin” reflected in the restaurant’s architectural elements?
Everything in Origen is designed to look as if it's always been there. We used local coral stone, thatched roofs, and structures that open and retract as the landscape dictates. The architecture retreats slightly to let the surroundings speak, to frame them without dominating them.
From the curved terraces to the infinity pool among the trees, every line, every texture, returns us to the essential: that which connects us to the earth, to the water, to life.
Is there any distinctive architectural element that you consider the heart of the project?
Without a doubt: the infinity pool facing the cliff. It emerged from a team walk (Juan Andrés, Nicolas, and Arisleidy) through the terrain, when we noticed a natural slope and it was clear to us: a hidden pool must emerge there, free-form, like an extension of the cliff itself.
We also remember the moment when Juan Andrés, sitting in the original palapa, pointed to the hillside and said, "There will be some high terraces where we can enjoy the restaurant... and next to them, a pool." Today, that visionary gesture is a tangible, moving reality.
How was sustainability considered in the design of Origen?
Sustainability was part of the design from the first sketch.
We reused coral stone from the same site, avoided aggressive cuts in the topography, and maintained native vegetation whenever possible. The orientation of the space allows for cross ventilation and natural shade, reducing energy consumption and respecting the environment.
We designed Origen with the conviction that building in harmony is possible—and necessary.
What was the biggest architectural challenge during the development of Origen?
The greatest challenge was integrating a contemporary architectural proposal without disrupting the natural power of the site. The terrain spoke to us: its unevenness, its vegetation, its history.
Rather than designing on the landscape, we decided to design with it.
It was a demanding technical process, but deeply rewarding. The most valuable part was discovering that the answer was already there: we just had to listen.
What does Origin represent to you, and what do you hope it will become over time?
For us, Origen isn't just a restaurant. It's an emotion transformed into architecture.
It's the symbol of the first steps in Larimar, the physical reflection of a collective memory. Its soul was born long before the design: it was born in a simple palapa facing the cliff, where we gathered to share ideas, to dream of what Larimar could become.
We particularly remember the 2024 Christmas party. Origin didn't exist yet, but we were all there, with the ocean breeze caressing the night and the city lights in the background. We felt—needless to say—that this place had something special. That it deserved to be so much more. And so it was.
Today, Origen is just that: a connection between idea and life, between the natural and the human, between what we were and what we want to be. It's a space that emotionally anchors the Larimar experience, inviting us to pause, contemplate, and share.
We hope that over time it will become a vibrant meeting place. A setting for celebrations, evening conversations, family gatherings, new ideas...
And above all, may it never cease to excite. May those who visit it for the first time not just take away a beautiful image, but a profound feeling. Because if anything defines Origen, it is its ability to connect with what is authentic.
What would you like people to remember after their first visit?,
That they felt something.
That it wasn't just a meal, a view, or a pool, but a real connection to the place.
Who remembered how important it is to return to the essential, to the authentic.
Because if anything defines Origen, it's that it doesn't seek to impress, but to excite.
Thanks to the Larimar City Architecture team for sharing not only the creative process, but also the deep emotion that shaped Origen.
This amenity, the first to be realized, is not just a built space: it is the most authentic expression of how it all began.
A work that reminds us that every city, like every story, has a place where everything begins. And that place, here, is called Origin.
By the Department of Architecture
Arisleidy Herrera Mercedes
arquitecta