Back by popular demand, check out our Part I here of architecture mountain design hotels. Hope you enjoy our selection . . . wishing I could escape to one of these now. Enjoy your weekend everyone!
Hotel Valentinerhof Castelrotto / Italy / 2011
Lagació Mountain Residence Alta Badia / Italy / 2010
Romantik Hotel Muottas Muragl Samedan / Switzerland / 2010
It is coming up to 4 years since we last went to Europe & UK I can’t believe how time flies. Therefore, today I am dreaming of another holiday, escape to London. Located in a sought after region of London, at the southern tip of Covent Garden in London’s art, culture and design district, the ME London 5 star hotel surprises due to an original modern design. The contemporary accommodation unit was developed by Foster + Partners and features 157 guest rooms including 16 suites. The apartments located on the upper two levels come with access to spectacular terraces and extensive city views.
High quality craftsmanship and an aversion to last minute trendiness guide the clean, terraced architecture of Cyprus’s Almyra Hotel. Following a major renovation by Thanos Michaelides, the hotel has undergone an ultra-chic metamorphosis and now features sleek interior elegance inspired by the island’s patron goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite. Banquette sofas and low irokko and oak wood tables face windows that afford the first glimpse of the breathtaking ocean views available throughout Almyra. Sleek modern furniture and black and white interiors have been selected by Tristan Auer and Joelle Pleot, who designed one of Karl Lagerfeld’s houses, vamped up by hand-assembled Byzantine chandeliers that hang in both the lobby and the Mosaics restaurant. Splashes of 1970s boldness – such as white leather sofas and ottomans – are enhanced by a combination of natural and artificial lighting. Seeing as the hotel places as much emphasis on a successful family experience as on good design, the concept also focuses on practicality. All of Almyra’s guestrooms and suites are generous in size, so as to provide ample space for families – who will most certainly also appreciate the Almyra’s two freshwater pools, both built with Italian slate. Auer and Pleot have selected lots of natural materials in addition to glass and Carrara marble to create a calming effect in the rooms. Charming small details such as room numbers engraved on the floors are enhanced further by the freedom of guest’s being encouraged to move around the artworks on display at whim. Wide terraces, covered with glowing white trellises surround the pool area and afford sweeping views of Paphos harbour. The landscaped gardens with lavender walkways surrounding the design hotel complete the picture perfect setting. Given the stunning results of the makeover, it is indeed surprising that this is Pleot’s first ever hotel project – but one for which her collaborator Tristan Auer and her have already earned oodles of industry praise. Rest assured, your praise is bound to follow.
ARCHITECTURE | TRAVEL
Project: Reethi Rah Five-star Resort| Architects: One&Only | Location: Maldives |
I am constantly coming back to fascinating Maldives, now I am daydreaming at Reethi Rah five-star resort developed by One&Only. According to the official resort description, “One&Only Reethi Rah is home to 130 private villas discreetly placed along the shore – with 98 Beach Villas secluded by lush tropical greenery, and 32 Water Villas set above the clear, protected waters of the lagoon. Amongst the largest resort villas in the world, each is detached, expansive and equally luxurious. Designed with a contemporary elegance, their stylish feel is combined with a diverse Asian influence, blending clean lines with the skillful use of natural materials such as coconut shell, sea grass, silk, rattan, teak, mahogany, terrazzo and thatch. Generous exterior spaces range from beach verandas to private swimming pools and large over-water decks“.
ARCHITECTURE | TRAVEL
Project: Six Senses Con Dao Resort | Architects: AW² Architects | Location: Con Dao, Vietnam| Compleated: 2011
The Six Senses Con Dao site is an amazing setting and certainly one of the most beautiful places on Con Dao Island. The beach, a one kilometre long strip of white sand with its dunes and turquoise sea, is surrounded by dark rocks, most prominent of which the Elephant Head Mountain, gliding into the sea, making it a most dramatic setting.
At the back of the site, the experience is completely different. Behind the sand dunes a river runs along close and shaded lush tropical vegetation, a mangrove, like an oasis between white sand and dark forest. These natural settings give an extraordinary sense of nature a feeling of remoteness, of a secluded and private site, unique with its preserved natural landscape. Definitely looks like a place to escape, to relax and to live close to the natural elements.
The walls of the public buildings are clad in old Vietnamese doors. This is a clear statement made both environmentally in terms of re-use of discarded construction materials but also to give a sense of place. The end result is a stunning arrangement of buildings, which carry the mark of history of a vernacular Vietnamese architecture.
Ok, I am off to daydream again of my next luxury destination. . .and if you want to see more of beautiful resorts we have written about before click here.
ARCHITECTURE | TRAVEL
Project: Nu Hotel | Architects: Nisi Magnoni Architects | Location: Milan, Italy| Compleated: 2012
‘Nu Hotel is the ideal solution for your business or leisure trip to Milan, located few minutes away from Linate airport and few steps from the Underground Station. Thirty eight different rooms, with every detail designed and created by hand, makes Nu Hotel a unique and sought after place as well as elegant and practical, with all the comfort and the indispensable services. From the five meters tall windows of the panoramic restaurant, located on the roof, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Milan where to taste dishes fromtraditional Italian cuisine.’ Nu Hotel
Arhitektura+ 