10 Picks for Hospitality Architecture Projects

The editorial team of ek magazine selected ten architectural projects, featured in past print issues as well as the ek website, that showcase hospitality architecture designs.

Located just outside the area of Planos in Zakynthos, the hotel is set within a natural environment that harmoniously combines elegance with functionality, offering guests an authentic and immersive hospitality experience. Occupying a 24,237m² site characterized by pronounced slopes, the complex takes full advantage of the terrain’s natural contours. The design establishes a series of terraces that integrate the architectural volumes into the landscape. The main building, villas, and bungalows are positioned to strengthen the guests’ connection with nature, offering expansive views and natural shade. A defining feature of the composition is the use of water as a central design element. Large reflective surfaces – whether swimming pools or ornamental features – are placed strategically across the site. Following the natural gradient of the ground, these water features not only introduce visual calmness but also connect different zones, enhancing the overall sense of serenity and understated luxury. Water thus becomes the binding element between architecture and nature, generating a cohesive and tranquil atmosphere.

The traditional guesthouse occupies one of the most iconic buildings in the Old Town of Chania, dating back to the late 16th or early 17th century. The structure has been meticulously restored to preserve and showcase its historical character. Distinguished by the original stone columns on its façade, Aisha exudes a unique charm, specifically a refined blend of architectural influences that narrates the rich history of the area. The hotel features seven suites, five on the ground floor and two on the upper level, each named after the original function of the space in the historic building. The new layout embraces natural materials such as stone, wood, marble, and metal, while an earthy, neutral palette ensures a sense of warmth and luminosity. The design philosophy is rooted in the harmonious coexistence of old and new, aiming to evoke a subtle sense of nostalgia while offering contemporary comfort and elegance.

04. Grace La Margna St. Moritz Hotel Extension and Renovation | Divercity Architects

The iconic Grace La Margna hotel, located on the main street of St. Moritz, has reopened its doors following an extensive renovation and expansion. The project breathes new life into a landmark dating back to 1906, originally designed by Swiss architect Nicolaus Hartmann, and elegantly bridges its historic legacy with a contemporary aesthetic. Hartmann’s original design balanced Art Nouveau influences with the traditional Heimastil style, highlighting authenticity and local craftsmanship at a time when St. Moritz’s architectural scene was marked by eclecticism. Perched on the slopes of the Engadin valley, the hotel enjoys a strategic location next to the town’s historic railway station, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and offers panoramic views of the surrounding glaciers and alpine landscape.

The hotel in Santorini, characterized by its clean geometric forms, embodies a distinctive built environment harmoniously integrated into the natural landscape, maintaining a dynamic dialogue with the island’s traditional architecture. Occupying a site of approximately 17,000 m² in the Tholos area of Oia, the project adapts gently to the island’s terrain, defined by soft slopes and a northern orientation overlooking the Aegean Sea and the islands of Ios, Sikinos, and Folegandros. Located about 300 meters from the coast, the design is guided by a principle of respectful integration with the landscape. All buildings are single-story, following the contours of the ground, and finished in tinted plaster derived from local volcanic soil in a red-ochre hue that echoes the color of Santorini’s rock formations. Each unit was designed to enjoy unobstructed sea views while the building volumes provide natural protection from the strong northern winds typical of the summer months. These parameters shaped the siting, scale, and orientation of the entire complex.

The five-star resort is located between Chania and Rethymno, on the northern coast of Crete, within a 20,000 m² plot, of which 4,000 m² are developed. A central aspect and challenge of the design was the configuration of the rooms and their strategic orientation within this limited footprint. The architectural composition unfolds along the outer edge of the site’s developable zone. The southern boundary functions as a visual and acoustic buffer against the national road, while the northwestern section opens like a “fan,” maximizing the unobstructed views toward the sea. The careful arrangement of the volumes creates a central, open-air atrium that provides natural ventilation and daylight across the complex.

The project offers a holistic and authentic eco-tourism experience inspired by Scandinavian traditions, with a strong emphasis on local culture. Located in Alsace, it combines Scandinavian influences with the region’s culinary heritage, wellness practices, and nature-centered lifestyle to create a fully immersive experience. Positioned on a hillside above the village of Breitenbach, the hotel reinterprets the traditional Scandinavian hytte, a place for retreat, solitude, and reconnection with nature. Set within a protected Natura 2000 landscape, the development is designed to integrate gently into its surroundings.

The hotel is housed in an existing 19th-century stone structure in the heart of Rethymno’s old town and consists of five suites offering all contemporary comforts. The design aims to immerse visitors in elements of Cretan culture, offering an atmosphere where the evocative character of the past coexists with contemporary sensibilities. During the adaptive reuse of the original shell, the stone masonry was highlighted and preserved, with targeted structural reinforcements where necessary. To maintain the authenticity of the original character, all mechanical and electrical systems were concealed within the walls and floors. A new stone structure was created on the adjacent plot, centered around the presence of water, forming the hotel’s shared pool and introducing a sense of oasis within the dense fabric of the old town. The two stone volumes are connected by a staircase made of exposed concrete.