Kudadoo Maldives > With New York-based architect Yuji Yamazaki leading the charge, eco-friendly tourism received a luxurious upgrade at the Kudadoo resort in the Maldives. Fifteen private water villas were built from cedar wood and open up to secluded ocean views. “Our mission was to combine luxury with sustainable elements that keep the guests interested in new technologies that is informative, persuasive, and even seductive,” says Yamazaki. Case in point: Guests are welcomed by 7,218-square-feet of solar panels that line the roofs, creating a resort in the middle of the ocean that is 100 percent powered by the sun.
Lighthouse Hotel > To create a sustainable hotel located near the Island of Jeju off the coast of mainland South Korea, London- and Beijing-based architect Margot Krasojević chose a dynamic system of suspended aluminum panels combined with steel tension cables embedded into the ocean floor. The highly sophisticated design is inspired by the structural design of oil rigs and was orchestrated to be completely energy efficient. Hidden within the layered steel panels are a series of flipwing turbines that convert the saltwater waves into renewable electrical energy. The overall goal aims to significantly reduce water consumption by storing and reusing it to power the hotel, which will also offer guests the opportunity to partake in biodiversity initiatives.
Flying Nest > Shipping containers converted into mobile, eco-friendly hotel rooms is the latest innovative venture from Accôr. “The idea was to develop an immersive experience and offer the possibility for our guests to live in the heart of their passion, be it an event or a place,” says Damien Perrot, head of design for the French hotel company, who worked with Paris designer Ora Ito on the concept. “Developing a mobile hospitality solution came to mind to offer clients the possibility of a hotel that comes to them, wherever they are.” Arranged as a small island, each module contains six containers with the exterior created with sustainably harvested wood, while inside, the décor is minimal, allowing the location to take the lead. Currently only available in France, Accôr is set to take the adaptable concept worldwide.
Andaz Sydney > A dash of eco innovation is slated to bloom in the heart of Sydney, courtesy of global architecture and design firm Woods Bagot. The practice was recently named the winner of the bid to craft the city’s first luxury tower in two decades. The 55-story building at 4-6 Bligh Street will boast commercial offices, a wellness center, and a 400-room luxury hotel from Andaz, which hopes to become the first WELL Building Standard hotel in Australia. Levels 38 to 50 are home to the hotel’s guestrooms and suites, crowned by a rooftop restaurant, bar, and garden with 360-degree views of the harbor. “At 4-6 Bligh Street, I want the smells of the Domain [public park], the sea air, the sounds of the harbor. I want to see the blue of the sky and feel the breeze,” says Ian Lomas, Woods Bagot principal and Sydney design leader, which is achieved by mixed-mode ventilation. The spaces also show off Sydney’s best design tradition: blurring the lines so you never know “whether you’re in or out.”
Photography by Niklas Bernstein and renderings courtesy of Margot Krasojević; Photography and renderings courtesy of Accôr and Woods Bagot
