This is precisely why I don't want any battling gimmick anywhere in the land. It's too complicated for the guest who knows zero about Pokemon to pick up. Focus on some simple catching gimmick out in the land with Poke balls, sure, but keep the more complex stuff away. The early rumors of that wacky AR battle/attack gamified ride on the SCOOP vehicles for the USJ ride have me worried.
Re: architecture, I'd like them to go compeltely original with it. Take Shanghai's Zootopia land for inspiration. Wacky architecture with elements/motifs from Pokemon designs on each building, and themed exteriors or window displays with simple AAs sprinkled throughout. A nursery with grass types hanging out in planters on the building, an aquarium with large sculpted scales or shell elements from various Pokemon on the exterior, a bakery with some of the food themed Pokemon in the windows, etc. But give the land a more tropical feel with appropriate greenery incorporated throughout so it doesn't feel like a dense, urban environment.
The main ride should just be a Pokemon Snap style attraction if it NEEDS a game element. Keep it packed with AAs in different biomes so guests can use the camera function on the vehicle or not, and it doesn't negatively affect the ride experience if they choose not to participate.