3-storey hotel & resort

The design of this 3 storey hotel draws from the island’s natural and cultural character. Seeking a balance between the modern and the vernacular, we left the building’s concrete structure exposed, letting these honest structural elements become the foundation of the design.

At the heart of the architecture is the interplay between the thatched roof and the wooden slat structure. The slats offer a fresh, abstracted take on the movement of ocean waves.

Together, these decisions respond to the client’s vision: a landmark that stands out while still feeling at home in its surroundings.

The hotel is organized as a progression from busy street activity towards increasingly private and spaces. Public functions occupy the building’s frontage, while the pool and guest areas retreat deeper into the site to create a quieter environment for guests.

Traditional Filipino weaving became a key reference for the interior language, drawing from the “lukay-lukay” festival and its use of palm leaves.

This is most evident in the lobby, wherein the walls of the high-ceiling are enhanced using wood blocks that appear interlocking, and a woven texture can be seen in the recessed portions of the wall. Subtly, this design feature would also be seen in the rooms of the hotel, with each color of the weave indicating the room type.

Climate and context are embedded into the architecture. During the early design stages, the monsoon winds were taken into consideration and the building was oriented accordingly. This openness extends into the use of openings, allowing natural elements to reach into certain spaces, reinforcing the connection between the outside and inside.

The selection of materials follows the same approach. Natural textures were brought into the building to create a dialogue with its setting, balancing the rawness of exposed concrete, the warmth of wood, and the texture of thatch.