Healing Stay Kosmos Resort > On the small volcanic rock-formed island of Ulleungdo off the eastern coast of South Korea sits two distinct villas that, if it weren’t for their austere white concrete exteriors, look as if they were formed as a byproduct of the towering rock formations that surround them. Designed by Seoul firm the System Lab, the cliffside luxury resort boasts 12 tranquil and minimal rooms with curved walls. Known as an island rich in energy and wild nature, the resort is built as an observatory so guests can take in the spirit of the sky and natural surrounds through expansive windows (hence the name Kosmos, derived from cosmos). To further that connection, Kosmos features two saunas representing the moon and the sun, an outdoor infinity Jacuzzi filled with melted snow collected from a nearby volcanic basin, and a large terrace looking out on the sea.
Gather Greene > Co-owners and co-designers Jackie Brown and Amna Ali asked a simple question when conceiving Gather Greene: What if an event space served the community and celebrated nature? Finding the right location proved challenging, but intuition led them to 100 acres in New York’s Hudson Valley that is resplendent in trees, wildlife, and views of the Catskill Mountains. Gather Greene hosts weddings and retreats in a wood-clad, open-air pavilion (home to a state-of-the-art kitchen, six single-use bathrooms, and two lounges) that connects to the outdoors via a perforated wood screen. “We wanted to have a space where you feel like you’re outside, but you’re also protected from the elements,” says Brown. Nestled into the hill, 17 onsite A-frame cabins (with 12 residing right on the ridge) offer uninterrupted views of the landscape through a floor-to-ceiling glass window. “When you’re there, it feels like you’re in a treehouse,” Brown adds.
Yuansu Hot Spring Resort > Situated in the central part of China’s Zhejiang Province, the under-construction peaceful countryside resort, with 52 hillside villas and 28 one-bedroom lodges, is a response to city dwellers seeking reprieve from the hectic urban lifestyle and landscape. Beijing-based Clou Architects chose elements such as zinc roofs, rammed earth walls, and cedar wood patina that “visually change alongside the nature surrounding it,” says director Christian Taeubert, for a harmonious design “centered on creating two essential experiences: the calmness of being alone with nature and the liveliness of village life.” Rather than being “too earthy,” the design team opted for a monochromatic palette to maintain a strong connection to nature and emphasize the natural landscape of the Wuyi Mountains.
Cannúa > Set to open in May, the 18-room Cannúa is a tranquil ecolodge in Antioquia, Colombia that benefits the guest as much as the climate. “If we aren’t treating the environment and our surroundings well, then by definition, we can’t treat ourselves well,” says CEO and cofounder Nathan Rodgers, who worked closely with Medellín, Colombia-based architect Lucas Henquin and interior design firm Estudioalce. Designed for guests who want to see “firsthand the beauty and bounty of Colombia,” the scenic mountainside property honors its locale with two key materials: bamboo and compressed earth blocks, which come from the retreat’s own grounds. Ceramics, textiles, and embroidery nod to local culture and traditions, while the farm-to-table restaurant gathers its ingredients from Cannúa’s extensive garden. Another added benefit: the hotel’s sensory-infused spa, which offers panoramic views of the San Nicolas Valley.
Photography by Chellise Michael, Kelsey Ann Rose, and Kim Yong Kwan; renderings courtesy of Clou Architects and Cannúa Ecolodge
