Pallet for Home: Interior Design: Resort Design

bloo lagoon eco village

'bloo lagoon eco village' by tony gwilliam in bali, indonesia
all images courtesy of tony gwilliam

english architect tony gwilliam has designed and constructed an eco village in bali, indonesia,
where designboom got its start back in 1999. a key component to the development of 'bloo lagoon'
was a sense of community. a number of the resources such as the gardens and swimming pool
are all shared rather than individually owned; during construction, the skills and techniques
of the local people were utilized to establish a symbiotic relationship of knowledge
with the builders. this idea of sharing also translates to the distribution of organic food
produced in the village gardens, as well as social resources such as ideas, thoughts,
and family services.

thatched roofs

'bloo lagoon' aims to be as sustainable and environmentally conscious as possible:
the excavated stones during construction are repurposed for building walls. sensible ecological
solutions such as building forms that encourage passive climate control are adopted
rather than energy consuming options. the use of high-efficiency LED lights, simple refrigerators,
solar cells and natural gas cooking stoves all ensure minimal waste of energy.
rainwater is collected and filtered for use while black water is treated biologically
by waste water gardens which are integrated throughout the village. many of the ecological
features of 'bloo lagoon' are integrated deeply into the architecture, becoming a part
of the design rather than a separate element.

communal pool

from above

open interiors

community garden

the bamboo structure is exposed in the interior

looking into a bedroom

tiled floor detail

walls constructed out of local stone

outdoor shower

entrance

multi-storey restaurant in construction

Aman Resorts' latest luxury spa and resort (and their second in the US), Amangiri, located in Southern Utah near the Arizona border, relaxes me just by looking at their spectacular brochure. I'm afraid that if I went for a visit, I might never return.

An über elegant but tasteful resort, it doesn't overwhelm the stunning landscape in which it is situated, but instead seems at home nestled in the canyon. The design and decor complement the natural surroundings rather then fight with it and at dusk the whole resort seems to melt into the mountains.

Located on a 243-hectare (600-acre) expanse of wilderness in Canyon Point, the resort is tucked into a protected valley with sweeping views over colorful, stratified rock towards the Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument.

Arrival to the resort is via a winding road that descends into the valley and leads to the central Pavilion. Built around the main swimming pool, the Pavilion embraces a dramatic stone escarpment. Within the Pavilion is the Living Room, Gallery, Library, Dining Room, Private Dining Room and Cellar.

Two accommodation wings lead from the Pavilion into the desert: 16 suites are located within the Desert Wing and another 18 suites together with the Aman Spa are located within the Mesa Wing. Outward views from the resort look over the untouched valley surrounded by lofty bluffs.

The swimming pool:

The swimming pool is set within a sunken courtyard framed by the Pavilion and rock escarpment.

It wraps around the rock to finish with a hot tub that sits at the base of a rock wall. The pool’s lounging terrace features king-sized day beds and pairs of sun-loungers.

The Spa & Water Pavilion:

The 2,322-square metre (25,000-square feet) Aman Spa at Amangiri is a vast complex of stone, water features and streams of light, offering a number of unique treatment venues.

The Spa offers single and double treatment rooms in addition to two outdoor treatment terraces with spectacular views of the mesas.

The Water Pavilion features a steam room, a dry sauna and a cold plunge pool and the Floatation Pavilion offers colour therapy-enhanced floatation treatments.

Beauty salon, yoga pavilion and fitness centre:

The Beauty Salon offers manicures and pedicures while the Yoga Pavilion offers individual and group yoga sessions in a light-filled setting.

The Fitness Centre on the upper level of the Aman Spa is fully equipped with a wide range of cardio, strength-training and free-weight exercise equipment.

The Accommodations:

Amangiri offers 34 suites in total: 13 Desert View Suites, 14 Mesa View Suites, one Terrace Suite, two Pool Suites, two Terrace Pool Suites, the Girijaala Suite and the Amangiri Suite.

All suites offer air-conditioning for summer and under-floor heating for the cooler months. Entry to each suite is via a private courtyard that features a Douglas Fir timber screen and includes a dining table, two chairs and a sculptured light form.

The Desert View and Mesa View Suites:
A glass wall with a central door opens to a combined bedroom and living area which includes a writing desk and a king-sized bed.

Beyond the bed is a sitting area which features a low-set sofa, a coffee table, reading chairs and a side table.

A soaring timber cabinet separates the bedroom and living area from the dressing room, and houses a television and combined CD/DVD player.

Concertina glass doors open from the sitting area to a spacious desert lounge that frames the view of the natural landscape beyond.

The lounge contains a plinth with resting mattresses and a central fireplace. The adjacent sky-lit dressing room extends the full length of the suite and features an extensive wardrobe with a personal safe and spacious dressing area with twin vanities atop a stone plinth.

To one end of the dressing room is a separate toilet room and to the other, a spacious bathroom lined with sage green tiles. The bathroom features twin rain showers and a comfortable soaking tub with uninterrupted views of the landscape.

Design finishes include white stone floors and concrete walls that echo the natural stone of the surrounding landscape.

The furniture features rawhide, natural timbers and fittings in blackened steel, while light-coloured cushions and soft throws add warmth.

Other Luxury Suites:

Cuisine:

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Dining Room features floor-to-ceiling glass doors which open onto the outdoor dining terrace overlooking the swimming pool.

The focal point of the Dining Room is the open kitchen with its wood-fired oven imparting a unique flavour and rustic authenticity to Amangiri's cuisine. The menu changes frequently, driven by locally-sourced seasonal produce.

The Library:

Situated on an elevated plinth in the centre of the Pavilion is the Library. A series of extended sofas is punctuated with ledges filled with books and magazines – the ideal space for daytime relaxing or after dinner drinks.