Fabricated nature

This new destination hotel represents the next evolution in mountain architecture: familiar forms reimagined through a composition of precision-fabricated natural materials for a 21st century solution.

 

Project Aim

Located 1.5 hours northeast of Spokane and set within the Rockies of Northern Idaho at the nexus of two distinct ranges, the Selkirk and Cabinet Mountains, the location offers ready access to year-round recreation opportunities. Developing a masterplan for future development, including the hotel and support facilities, the design redefines the mountain experience. Leveraging the properties of mass timber construction -beauty, sustainability, and structural efficiency- the complex brings together tradition and innovative materials in a contemporary, future-forward expression.

 

 

Context Integration & Materials

The 31-unit, 60,200m2 hotel is a ski-in, ski-out hotel that provides on-slope accommodations as well as hospitality and support services to reframe Schweitzer as a year-round destination. Anchoring the Schweitzer village, the bar-shaped hotel takes advantage of the steep site by nestling into a notch cut into the slope, creating space for a covered parking garage. The hotel’s exterior is shaped by an exposed wood structure, board-formed concrete, metal panels, and large expanses of glass. Primary gathering spaces feature exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT), including ceiling planes and glulam beams and columns to evoke a familiar lodge-like aesthetic.

 

 

Interior Design & Layout

The lobby and welcome area are situated atop the below-ground parking area. Inside, the interiors take inspiration from classic ski equipment and fashion, including the bright ski suits of the late 20th century. Guest rooms are arranged over three floors offering views of nearby Lake Pend Oreille. Bracketing the hotel are two amenity areas, the Glass Room -the hotel’s family/living area and a place for guests to relax and play games- and on the opposite end of the building, the Crow’s Bench -the hotel’s signature 50-seat restaurant- where guests are able to make the most of après-ski or -bike, or take advantage of the adjacent 15-seat bar and lounge areas, which cozies up to a grand fireplace. Other amenities include an indoor retreat/co-working space, and a small fitness facility. A third floor outdoor terrace features an oversized hot tub affording views of the surrounding mountain landscape and Lake Pend Oreille below.

 

Urban impact

The hotel is located in the Plaza Saltillo neighborhood and includes eighty-three rooms situated within a five-story, L-shaped tower and an adjoining two-story podium which houses two restaurants, three bars, a coffee shop, leasable street-side retail space and a parking lot.

 

Design Philosophy

The project’s philosophy questions the established luxury hotel “requirements”: the grand entry, the hotel restaurant and the spacious -albeit regularly empty- lobby. Instead, the design features a dynamic, functional layout inspired by the material typologies of the surrounding 1920s warehouses as well as the masonry and concrete construction found at Huston Tillotson University, a facility situated next to the project. The resulting building becomes a synergy between high-quality architecture and cost-conscious design strategies.

 

Façade Morphology & Materials

The facade morphology acts as a playful response to the area’s construction regulations, in which buildings longer than 30m should include, at least, 0.6m by 6m overhangs. As a result, the design employs a series of articulated concrete “ribbons,” formulating long awnings, protected overhangs and corner balconies for hotel guests. The discrete horizontal lines made of concrete are interrupted by a series of carefully selected materials in shades of black.

 

Contextual Design

The ground floor includes a mix of restaurants situated adjacent to a low-rise brick building with great historical significance. The existing structure is preserved, featuring a bar and a restaurant, and connects to the new addition via the kitchen space. By referencing the architectural language still present in East Austin’s built environment, the project becomes a powerful and original response to an urban context comprised of largely homogenized residential buildings.

Volcanic landscape

The new resort, located near Messaria, seamlessly blends old and new aesthetics. The project refurbishes existing hotel units and connects them with new structures, resulting to a total capacity of 121 rooms. The outdated functional layouts are being reimagined in favour of a cohesive, modern design that views the surrounding landscape as a key element.

 

Integration with Nature

The reception is accessed through a garden filled with climbing plants, providing ample shade. A suspended pergola made of wire mesh discreetly hides its supports and plant trunks. On either side of an accessibility ramp, a water path flows over stepped lava slabs, paying homage to the island’s volcanic history.

The reception itself is an open structure adorned with billowing curtains. The main pool begins at the entrance, framing a stunning view of the sea, and follows a curved path towards the restaurant, forming an artificial beach-like area. Natural materials dominate the water area: at the pool bar, makuti covers the lower part on the pergolas, while the restaurant roof features illuminated wicker baskets. The presence of nature continues in the upstairs bar, which boasts a large, planted wall, as well as on the terrace, where new metal pergolas support an array of climbing plants.

 

 

Material Pallet & Vegetation

In both the bar and the central internal staircase, mosaic floors are paired with marble, creating surfaces rich in color. These material combinations preserve the memory of the volcanic island fragments and the diverse pavings found in the alleys of Santorini. The introduction of earthy, charcoal, and reddish hues subverts the traditional Cycladic color palette, enriching the off-white architectural volumes with sharpness and contrast.

A new garden, situated lower than the pool surface, leads to the spa. This introspective building features gentle curves that unfold around a linear courtyard. Brick partitions create porous boundaries and a shadow interplay, reintroducing one of the most successful architectural idioms from Santorini’s reconstruction following the 1956 earthquake.

 

 

Architectural Geometries

The architectural volumes of the new suites are developed in a staggered manner, nestling into the natural landscape, reminiscent of a traditional settlement. Typical Cycladic geometries are reinterpreted through singular, fragmented gestures, acquiring a subversive dynamic aesthetic that gradually unfolds within the space. The shutters of the suites evoke the distinctive vineyards of Santorini, with their characteristic “kouloura” shapes creating a unique interplay of light and shadow.

Within the existing linear buildings surrounding the pool, the central circulation corridor has been replaced with a new open-air pathway, which features abundant shading, large, two-storey openings, and brick patterns that act as filters. The incorporation of curved grooves becomes a key feature in shaping the rooms, both on the facades and the interior, where modern “caves” are formed.

The ground-level rooms feature courtyards with metal pergolas covered in makuti, visually connecting them to the surrounding fields. In the existing bungalows, fences following the terrain contours construct private gardens in fluid, organic shapes. Throughout the existing unit, canopies were removed, while the design adopted an architectural language of sloping sections and freestanding walls. This facade treatment not only adds variety to the overall appearance but also simulates shadow interplay amongst the array of volumes.

 

Natural sensation

The hotel, situated in Imerovigli at the edge of volcanic rocks, is comprised of five undercut residences with courtyards arranged along the plot, creating the impression of an open terrace overlooking the Caldera and the Aegean Sea. One distinctive feature is the central pedestrian street that splits the design in two parts.

 

Location and Orientation

At the upper level, a villa is situated alongside the reception. Below the pedestrian level, four additional suites are developed, connected by a central outdoor staircase. The rooms are designed through varying typologies and oriented to maximize views of the Caldera and the volcano. Each suite features a courtyard that leads to a swimming pool, creating a seamless visual connection with the water.

 

Design Philosophy

Special emphasis is placed on ensuring the privacy the outdoor relaxation areas around the pool. The interior design follows a minimal approach, in keeping with the island’s traditional architecture. This achieves a harmonious blend of the traditional and the modern elements. The decor is simple, featuring Cycladic elements like built-in furniture and raw materials. The material selection imparts a sense of naturalness as well as subtle gloss to the space. The interior is dominated by pressed cement mortar, marble, and oak, while warm wood tones are seamlessly combined with the natural simplicity of cement mortar.

 

Landscape Design

In the exterior, the extensive use of raw, natural materials ensures continuity with Santorini’s landscape. This is evident in the monolithic treatment of the floors, featuring fine-grained and rough light-colored mosaic flooring in the outdoor and pool areas. The lighting design focuses on creating a uniform light diffusion throughout each space. Accent lighting is used to illuminate selected elements such as bathroom and office countertops, producing a more atmospheric effect. Special emphasis is placed on planting the exterior spaces, primarily with local low-height flora that harmoniously alternates with the existing natural features of the Santorini landscape.

Secluded shelter

The boutique resort in Agia Pelagia, built along a rocky peninsula, consists of 49 suites and villas. It was designed as an elegant and secluded retreat, with unobstructed views and complete privacy.

 

Design Aesthetic

The building’s architecture perfectly integrates it with the rocky landscape, placing it in constant dialogue with nature through the choice of materials, textures, and colors. The hotel’s design draws inspiration from the harmonious blend of organic traditional and contemporary elements, infused with the raw character of the Cretan landscape where it is built.

 

 

Material Palette

During construction, natural materials, such as the local Mylopotamos stone and the antique Egyptian Sinai marble were used for the flooring, while Phaistos marble was used for the custom-made furniture placed throughout the different rooms. All metallic components are painted in rusty tones and have Corten details, while the sound-insulating hidden aluminum frames frame the sea through large windows, allowing plenty of natural light to fill the interior spaces. Woods such as chestnut from Mount Athos, reed wicker, solid oak and niangon complete the composition, while coats of polished concrete in earthly tones are used for the interior walls.

 

 

Functional Organization & Sustainability

The communal wellness facilities include a heated indoor swimming pool, a 300m2 yoga room made entirely of bamboo, a hammam cladded with Sinai marble slabs and rainforest green -following the spirit of the Byzantine tradition- and a gym.

The sustainable thermal façade, along with the KNX automation systems, effectively lowers electricity usage. The ample water features located in the public spaces as well as the private rooms improve the overall humidity levels, fostering better microclimate conditions in both indoor and outdoor spaces, while controlling abrupt temperature fluctuations. The integration of pergolas used for shade, outdoor seating, rock gardens filled with Cretan herbs and typical Cretan architectural elements such as domes and arches, create a journey of simplicity and subtle luxury.

 

The beauty of imperfection

Located in the Bay of Korfos, on the western side of the island of Mykonos, the project is a new luxury hotel proposal focusing on authenticity and expressive simplicity.

 

Contemporary Minimalism

The design philosophy revolves around sleek, contemporary spaces interrupted by the juxtaposition of raw, unrefined materials in specific areas, offering a delightful contrast. Faithful to the concept of contemporary minimalism, colors, shapes, and textures avoid excess, leading to a balanced composition that exudes a sense of calm and serenity.

 

 

Space Planning

The hotel offers unobstructed views of the sea. The main building houses most public areas, including the reception, the lounge and the dining room, a small showroom and a bar, as well as the majority of the rooms. The more spacious rooms are strategically positioned along the building’s perimeter, while the diverse range of typologies offer varying spatial qualities and opportunities. Each room has a private outdoor area with an exclusive swimming pool or jacuzzi, depending on the level it is located. The wellness centre is situated on the second floor, separated from the other public areas.

 

 

Façade Design

The wooden façade wraps around the facilities and blends smoothly with the natural landscape. The restaurant and the communal swimming pool are nestled along the hillside, adjacent to the main building. Both the dining and the seating area face the surrounding landscape, enjoying views of the lush garden and the sea.

 

 

Natural Light

In the interior, a key element of the floor plan is the impressive atrium in the center of the building, which connects three different levels as well as organizes the various uses, creating an atmospheric play of light and shadow. The light emerges from organic-shaped holes in the ceiling and is reflected on a water surface on the ground floor, leaving an imprint along its path.

 

Earthly tones

The hotel complex consists of ten suites, divided into tree distinct typologies. The design’s focus is to harmonically blend the building with the immediate landscape and the local architecture.

 

Design philosophy

The building integrates seamlessly with its surroundings through the incorporation of earth-toned limestone on its exterior, as well as natural stone coatings and custom-made wooden pergolas that complement the outdoor space. Large openings were incorporated into the building’s facade to allow natural light to enter the space and offer unobstructed views of the sea or mountains.

 

Typologies

All suite typologies include a spacious bedroom, fully equipped kitchen, a comfortable living room and bathroom. The suites vary from 55-75m2, some offering views to the mountain others to the sea. The deluxe suites, 75m2, are spread over two floors: on the first floor there is the kitchen, living room, a bathroom, and the private pool, while the basement includes the master bedroom, an additional bathroom and a free-standing bathtub situated against a rock-framed backdrop, overlooking the private pool. The junior suites, 55m2, have mountain views as well as a private pool, while the suites located on the upper level have panoramic views of the island of Kelyfos as well as an outdoor hot tub.

 

Interior material pallet

The interior design is quiet and unobtrusive, featuring a palette of textures and colours in earthy tones, clean geometric volumes, and simple lines. Specifically, a user and environmentally friendly concrete coating is applied, complemented by custom-made furniture crafted from reclaimed oak, and carefully selected natural fabrics. All the above, combined with the statement decorations and minimalist light fixtures, offer a sense of harmony and relaxation to the space.

 

Landscape design

Regarding the landscaping of the surrounding area, the selection of plants is intended to cultivate a tropical landscape that harmonizes seamlessly with traditional Greek elements. The plants include bamboo, palm trees, stipes as well as Greek herbs such as rosemary and lavender, promoting a naturalistic identity to the hotel.

Social core

The hotel, located on the homonymous beach of Mykonos, consists of 24 suites of varying typology and rich common areas. It represents a modernization and architectural expansion of a small existing unit, part of which was demolished for the needs of the composition.

 

Design concept

The design aim was to create an internal communal focal point for the hotel complex. Thus, a water core was constructed at its centre, an inner courtyard dominated by a swimming pool around which the public spaces and suites are developed. Important design parameters were also the spatial coherence of the expansion with the existing section, optimal hotel functionality, room privacy and the quality of the view.

 

Functional organization and orientation

Both communal spaces and rooms face the inner courtyard and the pool, a relaxation area with wooden decks, sun loungers, low sofas, and a bar. Ground-floor rooms of the new building enjoy direct access to the pool from private courtyards, while those on the upper floor have access to private terraces overlooking the pool, beach and sea, just a breathe away from the complex. The floor area creates semi-outdoor spaces that function as circulation areas or living areas for the ground-floor suites. Access to the new buildings is around their perimeter, leaving the inner courtyard free of movement. A sloping walkway leads to the courtyards and entrances of the preserved section and is separated from the pool level by planting partitions

 

Material Alternation

For shading and protection of the privacy of the courtyards, wooden pergolas with bamboo cladding in natural shades and retractable shading membranes in off-white color were designed. The alternation of white and stone blocks is characteristic. White, lime-washed walls without guides, untreated stone masonry, and cementitious materials dominate both the building and the landscape. Olive trees, mottles, and herbs delineate the spaces and enrich the hotel’s environment.