In the municipality of Amontada (CE), the Aracatiaçu River meets the Atlantic Ocean shaping Ponta de Moitas. Within it, right before the land curves back into Praia de Caetanos, another smaller cape stretches slightly into the sea: Ponta do Icaraizinho. Translating it: Small Sacred River Point.
Rethinking The Future Awards 2026
First Award | Hospitality (Concept)
Project Name: Hotel Icaraizinho
Category: Hospitality (Concept)
Studio Name: Armentano Arquitetura (AARQ)
Design Team: João Armentano, Carolina Lacquila, Fernanda Ajzen, Gabriela Prado, João Paulo Machado, Julia Armentano, Marcello Monte Mor, Mateus Palma, Natalia Franzolin, Roberta Poll, Stela Kozlowski, Thais Henriques
Area: 18.000m2
Year: 2026
Location: São Gonçalo do Amarante, Ceará, Brasil
Consultants: –
Photography Credits: –
Render Credits: Armentano Arquitetura (AARQ)
Other Credits: –
At Ponta de Icaraizinho, a place shaped by the encounter of the river and the sea and by a subtle topographic gesture, sits Hotel Icaraizinho. A canvas for the local greenery to grow even more lush, and a frame for its guests to enjoy the exuberant coastline of the Brazilian northeast.
Occupying approximately 18,000 m², the hotel is organized as a low-density complex, combining luxury accommodations with shared leisure spaces and facilities by the sea. The architectural approach was guided by a sensible dialogue with the site’s topography and vegetation. Horizontal volumes laid out with generous setbacks dissolve the buildings into the environment, allowing nature to take center stage. The materials used in construction reinforces the site awareness of the design, valuing local craftsmanship, incorporating rustic elements, and drawing from vernacular construction techniques.
The common areas are distributed across the site to encourage fluid guest movement, always surrounded by the lush landscape. With a wide array of amenities including restaurant, bar, lobby, spa, gym, massage rooms, kids’ area, and support services, a sinuous web of connected pathways that includes an underground tunnel, links the various buildings. The labyrinthian design offers a sense of discovery for the guest while keeping the privacy of the various accommodations. Aiming for more than luxury lodging, Icaraizinho proposes an immersion on the site that goes beyond any single given activity. It allows for a rich experience even for those who choose to remain idle.
Bringing together three complementary culinary experiences within the resort, Icaraizinho’s restaurant was conceived as a gastronomic oasis with beach views. The evening restaurant is conceived as a more intimate atmosphere, with rich materiality and deeper tones creating a refined setting for nighttime dining. The cocktail bar introduces a vibrant and social environment, dedicated to mixology and informal gatherings. In contrast, the daytime dining restaurant, designed for breakfast and lunch, embraces the coastal landscape through lighter, fresher tones, fostering a relaxed ambiance. A rooftop completes the experience, offering a versatile setting for private events with panoramic views.
Lodging units are conceived as tented wooden structures, the key design feature for the hotel’s project. Light and permeable, these structures touch the ground with minimal impact and are carefully positioned to enhance cross ventilation, frame the seaside view, and maintaining a continuous dialogue with the surrounding environment.
