In your impression, is a resort just a place to rest? Have you seen a different kind of resort architecture? Resort architecture around the world interprets the profound meaning of "living" in a diverse manner.
This article will take you to explore 10 very inspiring resort architecture cases. They either integrate geometric structures into the sea view, or let the traditional temple form be reborn in a modern villa, or coexist naturally in the desert canyon.
10 Resort Design Architecture
Resort design architecture has long surpassed the shackles of functionality. Avant-garde design reconstructs people's imagination of "vacation". Next, we will take you to the following top ten resort architectures in the world.
Red Sol Resort in Dhërmi
On the coastal cliffs of Dhërmi in southern Albania, Red Sol Resort pierces the blue of the Mediterranean with angular red concrete blocks. The facade of the building is covered with local volcanic rock fragments and red oxide paint. The conical patio in the center of the building runs through three floors and brings sunlight into the seawater swimming pool on the ground floor.
The project was designed by the Albanian local firm "Studio KAST". The main architect, Arjan Kastrati, drew inspiration from volcanic geology and folklore. Red Sol Resort breaks the homogeneous pattern of traditional Albanian seaside resorts and is highly recognizable. Dhërmi has transformed from an obscure fishing village to a check-in spot for architecture enthusiasts.
More importantly, 80% of the building materials are sourced locally, including volcanic rocks from nearby quarries and hand-fired terracotta tiles. So it reduces transportation carbon emissions, and promotes the revival of surrounding traditional handicrafts. This eco resort architecture realizes the dual value of cultural heritage and economic development.
Sou Fujimoto’s Resort Project on Ishigaki Island, Japan
At the edge of the tropical rainforest on Ishigaki Island, the southernmost island in Japan, the resort architecture designed by Sou Fujimoto is like a white cloud suspended between the treetops. The building consists of dozens of irregular white grid-shaped "bubble" units, each of which is built with steel frames and translucent polycarbonate panels. From a distance, it looks like a group of floating jellyfish cruising in the green sea.
The most exquisite is the "overhead forest" design at the bottom of the building. The bottom floor is completely open to nature, and tropical plants grow through the gaps under the building. Even the terraces of some guest rooms are directly connected to the branches of the century-old banyan tree, forming a spectacle of "symbiosis between architecture and trees".
This project is the first resort on Ishigaki Island to use "eco resort architecture" as a selling point, which has completely changed the local tourism industry's dependence on concrete high-rise buildings. The building uses a number of environmentally friendly technologies and has become a benchmark case for sustainable tourism architecture in Japan.
An Independent Villa Inspired by a Classical Temple in Algarve, Portugal
On the sunny coastline of Portugal's Algarve, the resort architecture draws on the symmetrical aesthetics of classical temples, with a simple and majestic colonnade structure outlining the building's outline.
Two months before his death, Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill left behind a brand new vision. Later generations turned one of his last designs into reality. The Algarve was once an important region of the Roman Empire, with many remains of classical temples. Elements extracted from traditional Portuguese architecture, such as arches and courtyards, are also reflected in this beach resort architecture.
It has become a new window to showcase the history and culture of the Algarve, allowing tourists to gain a deeper understanding of the historical heritage of this land while on vacation.
Hanging Gardens for Topical Resort in China
Hanging gardens amaze everyone with their vertical greening design. The exterior of the building is like an aerial castle made of layers of green plants. Each floor is equipped with a wide terrace, and lush tropical plants cascade down from the edge of the terrace. These terraces are intertwined to form a staggered three-dimensional landscape. The main body of the building adopts a smooth curved shape, and the combination of glass curtain walls and green plants makes the whole building shine in the sun.
Its designer, Ole Scheeren, draws inspiration from the concept of "harmony between man and nature" in traditional Chinese culture and the legendary story of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. At the same time, considering that Sanya, China, is in the tropics, it has rich plant resources and a unique ecological environment. The designer also borrowed the landscaping techniques of traditional Chinese gardens, such as borrowing scenery and facing scenery, so that every space is full of poetry and charm.
The planting of a large number of plants helps to improve the local air quality and add green space to the city. At the same time, the completion of the resort has attracted a large number of tourists and promoted the development of surrounding catering, transportation, shopping and other related industries.
Nature-Integrated Mountain Resort in Saudi Arabia
The "Desert Hive" in Saudi Arabia abandons the traditional regular building form and adopts irregular organic curves. The exterior wall is made of concrete and local basalt, and the surface is covered with concave and convex textures that imitate rock textures, which are integrated with the surrounding mountain landforms. 60 guest rooms are even directly embedded in the mountain, and the magnificent desert sunset and steep mountain scenery can be seen through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Designed by the American company Oppenheim Architecture, the project is inspired by the collision of the ancient Bedouin culture of the Arabian Peninsula and the modern sustainable concept. The resort architecture is embedded in the mountains to shade the sun and avoid the sand. The ventilation wisdom of the "wind tower" in traditional Saudi architecture has also been applied to it.
This resort is a practice of Saudi Arabia's promotion of the transformation of the tourism industry in the "Vision 2030". It breaks the stereotype that Saudi Arabia only has deserts and oil, and opens up a new route for eco-tourism in the local area.
Next Collection in Batumi
The Next Collection Resort in the Georgian coastal city of Batumi consists of three twisted and rising towers. Its facade is covered with wavy silver metal plates and panoramic glass curtain walls, which sparkle in the sun. The transparent viewing corridor in the middle is 100 meters high, where visitors can overlook the colorful roofs of the old city of Batumi and the endless Black Sea.
The interior space is also full of science fiction, with spiral dynamic stairs and curved digital art walls projected on the surface, creating an immersive future holiday experience.
Next Collection was designed by the well-known architectural company Next Group. Batumi, as a port city connecting Europe and Asia, has a European classical architectural style and modernist relics from the Soviet era. The designer abstracted elements such as ships, waves, and lighthouses into architectural forms based on the concept of "future port".
Next Collection has greatly enhanced Batumi's international image and has become another city landmark after the "Ali and Nino Statue".
Tsingpu Baisha Retreat in China
Tsingpu Baisha Retreat, located in Baisha Ancient Town, Lijiang, Yunnan, is like a long scroll of ink painting. The overall architecture of this resort continues the pattern of "three courtyards, one screen wall, four courtyards and five patios" of the traditional Naxi dwellings. The appearance of green tiles, white walls, and flying eaves and brackets has the traditional Chinese simple charm. In the courtyard, the gurgling water and lush green plants contrast with the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the distance.
The project was designed by Diyoukuang Architectural Design Studio. They designed it with "inheritance and innovation" as the core concept. The designer drew inspiration from the spatial layout, construction techniques and Dongba culture of traditional Naxi architecture, and combined with the aesthetic concepts of modern people to create a space that can reflect regional characteristics and meet the needs of contemporary vacations.
Maison Brummell Majorelle in Marrakech
In Marrakech, Morocco, Maison Brummell Majorelle is unique for its strong colors. The exterior of the resort adopts the iconic "Majorelle Blue", a bright and deep blue that collides with the ochre walls and golden decorative lines. The building combines traditional Moroccan Islamic architectural elements with modern design styles, including Islamic architectural symbols such as arches, domes, and mosaic collages.
Jacques Majorelle built the famous Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech in the early 20th century. Its unique use of colors and garden design has become a cultural business card of Marrakech. Bergendy Cooke Architecture and Moroccan architect Amine Abouraoui collaborated to design the Majorelle Gardens.
Maison Brummell Majorelle is not only a luxury resort architecture in Marrakech, but also an important carrier for inheriting and promoting Moroccan culture.
FORT & PORT in South Korea
FORT & PORT Resort is located in the mountains at an altitude of 100 meters on Baekcho-gil Road, Dolsan Island, Yeosu City, South Korea, covering an area of 9,936 square meters. Its overall layout is unique, divided into Tower Area A and Single-family Accommodation Area B. Tower Area A faces the city skyline. Single-family Accommodation Area B cleverly utilizes the sloping terrain, and the shared space between each building is adjacent to the unit, providing good lighting and ventilation for each unit.
Designed by IDMM Architects led by Heesoo Kwak, the resort is inspired by the water and marine elements of Yeosu as a marine tourist destination. It promotes the development of local tourism and enhances Yeosu's attractiveness and competitiveness in the tourism market.
The Bíku Treehouse Retreat in Bocas del Toro, Panama
The Bíku Treehouse Retreat is located in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Designed by London-based Baca Architects, the treehouse is shaped like a cracked cocoa pod. Its unique shape is inspired by cocoa pods and other seed structures in the Panamanian rainforest. A wide panoramic opening is set on one side of the spherical shape, allowing customers to fully appreciate the surrounding picturesque natural environment.
Baca Architects considered local climatic conditions when designing. For example, deep overhangs are set to provide shade, cross ventilation, rainwater collection, and protection from tropical storms.
The emergence of this resort architecture has brought a new form of tourism accommodation to the Bocas del Toro area. It attracts more tourists, promotes the development of local tourism, and drives the growth of the ecological green economy.
Build Your Eco Resort Architecture with Innovative Dome Home
Among the top ten resort architectures in the world, we can find a commonality. They not only bear the responsibility of spreading local culture, but also coexist harmoniously with natural ecology and drive local economic growth.
At present, when the concept of sustainable architecture is prevalent, as an investor, a dome house is becoming one of the choices for eco-resort construction. Its unique spherical structure can efficiently utilize space. At present, PVC dome houses and glass dome houses are the most popular in the market.
PVC dome house is very cost-effective. Durable polyvinyl chloride material plus PVC coating can effectively resist ultraviolet rays, wind and rain erosion. The glass dome house attracts attention with its transparent panoramic view. High-strength tempered glass also has excellent heat insulation and sound insulation effects.
These dome houses all have some commonalities.
- Prefabricated Design: After all components are standardized in the factory, they can be quickly built with simple assembly.
- Strong: The dome structure has uniform force distribution, and its wind and earthquake resistance far exceeds that of traditional buildings.
- Flexibility: They can be flexibly arranged according to the terrain and needs, and there is no need to choose a flat ground for construction when combined with the deck.
- Rich Customized Accessories: From energy-saving systems, to interiors that incorporate local cultural elements, they can all be configured on demand.
- Green and Environmentally Friendly: Recyclable metal frames and long service life ensure that resources will not be wasted.
Conclusion
From the volcanic rock crystal buildings in Albania to the secret tree house in Panama, are there any of the top ten resort architectures in the world that you would like to experience? The prefabricated ecological solution of PVC and glass dome houses further proves the innovative possibilities of resort architecture.
To explore more resort architecture inspirations, you can contact Shelter Dome!
