Drawing Board

Hon Thom Island

PHU QUOC

International architecture practice 10 Design has revealed plans for Sun Group’s Hon Thom Island, an integrated resort and residential destination on Bai Trao Beach in Phu Quoc.

Occupying 20 hectares of premium waterfront, the development unfolds along the Vietnam coast through various components, ranging from a resort tower, clifftop villas and townhouses to beach clubs, bars and restaurants.

Led by Design Partners José Cláudio Silva and Peter Barrett, 10 Design’s concept for the central tower evokes a pair of billowing sails, with a double-skin glass façade shaped to mimic movement. Guestrooms are positioned in the curvature of the sails to maximise the panorama, while public spaces such as a viewing deck and gardens occupy the lower-level podium.

Beyond the resort tower, luxury villas line the beachfront and residential townhouses are set within a European-style village featuring public squares and parkland. A public promenade winds around the coastline to connect the facilities, leading to Fisherman’s Wharf, which has been reimagined as an extension of the rocky coast, with stone and glass volumes seemingly rising from the sea.

Completing the masterplan, Hon Thom Island will enhance its connectivity to the wider archipelago through private marinas, a public jetty and helipad, in addition to a cable car connecting the island to Phu Quoc.

Anantara Manucabo Bahia Resort

BRAZIL

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Operator: Minor International Architecture and Interior Design: Sidney Quintela Architecture + Urban Planning Landscaping: Alex Hanazaki www.anantara.com

Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas will make its South America debut in 2025, with a sustainably designed resort in Brazil. Located in Baixio on the northern coastline of Bahia, the 116-key property will occupy a 500,000m2 site close to one of the largest protected sandbank reserves in the country.

The resort’s architecture and interior design is being led by Sidney Quintela Architecture + Urban Planning, while exterior spaces are by Alex Hanazaki, considered one of the most creative landscape designers in Brazil.

Set amongst the native plantlife, facilities will include a signature Anantara Spa and two outdoor swimming pools, one with a multi-level waterfall feature, as well as three restaurants and a beach club. What’s unique however, is the structures that house them. “The inspiration for the architectural concept came from the dialogue between the Exoticism present in Thai architecture and the uniqueness of primitive Brazilian architecture, seen in preexisting indigenous villages in the region,” Sidney Quintela tells Sleeper. “As such, we are using an organic parametric structure crafted from bamboo – referencing Thailand – creating more sinuous and feminine shapes that pay homage to Brazilian heritage.”

The positioning of the structures on site – across multiple levels to maximise views of the Atlantic Ocean and Mamucabo River – is largely determined by the natural terrain, ensuring an environment-first approach. Through the entire masterplan, close attention is also being paid to sustainability and local culture, with the design team utilising certified materials, exploiting natural ventilation and lighting to ensure low energy consumption, and keeping water usage and waste levels to a minimum.

Dillip Rajakarier, Group CEO of Minor International, Anantara’s parent company, comments: “We are excited to announce the development of this future Anantara in Brazil, which will represent the brand’s debut on the South American continent. It is a part of the world we have been keen to expand Anantara’s footprint into and this exciting project represents the perfect opportunity.”

Surry Hills Collection Hotel

SYDNEY

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner / Developer: Toga Group Operator: TFE Hotels Architecture and Interior Design: SJB www.tfehotels.com

Australia-based Toga Far East Hotels has announced it will open Sydney’s first Collection branded property in Surry Hills in 2024.

Envisioned by Adam Haddow, Director of architecture and interior practice SJB, the Surry Hills Collection Hotel will unite a series of existing buildings including the former Bank of NSW on Cleveland Street. Along with 102 suites – some with private lift access and skyline-facing terraces – the hotel will feature a rooftop infinity pool with its own bar and dining terrace, as well as a luxury day spa and highend gym. A destination restaurant, known as The Cloister, rounds out the guest experience.

“Adam and his team have combined the colour of Australia’s natural landscapes with luxurious materials to provide guests with the ultimate hotel sanctuary above the cosmopolitan streets of Surry Hills and Redfern,” explains Toga Group’s Managing Director, Allan Vidor. “Materials draw from nature with figured green marble, soft grey terrazzo, brick detailing and softly muted timbers.”

In addition to the hotel, the 1.2-hectare mixed-use development will incorporate a curated precinct comprising 122 residential apartments, 12,000m2 of retail and commercial space, co-working venues, contemporary event spaces and a new public park. Fink Group, owner and operators of some of Sydney’s leading restaurants have already signed up, with more operators to follow.

“Our mission is simple - to deliver the best urban resort hotel experience in Sydney,” reveals Vidor. “From large gestures to the finest details, our guests will enjoy intuitive service, room design and meaningful experiences – all set within a sophisticated precinct.”

The Surry Hills project will be the fifth to open under the Collection by TFE Hotels banner, following in the footsteps of Brisbane’s The Calile Hotel and New Zealand’s Hotel Britomart.

I C I C L E b y C H E L S OM E D I T I O N 2 7 C H E L S O M . C O . U K

Fairmont

TOKYO

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: Nomura Real Estate Development Co. Architecture: Maki & Associates, Shimizu Corporation Interior Design: Bar Studio www.fairmont.com

Bar Studio has been appointed to design Fairmont Tokyo, the luxury brand’s first property in Japan, slated to open in 2025.

Offering views across Tokyo Bay and the iconic Rainbow Bridge, the hotel will occupy the upper floors of Shibaura Project’s South Tower, forming part of a mixed-use development that spans the waterfront.

In developing its vision, Bar Studio set out to create a destination for both visiting guests and locals, taking inspiration from the thrill and adventure of travel, with subtle references to exceptional journeys that hark back to Fairmont’s origins. This concept will be translated across the interiors, from the arrival lobby and flagship restaurants to the 219 guestrooms and suites. Further facilities also under Bar Studio’s remit include a spa, fitness centre and swimming pool as well as meetings facilities and a rooftop wedding chapel.

The overarching design will take cues from the location’s meeting of natural and urban environments, fostering a connection to the bay with its outlying islands and Tokyo’s dynamic cultural scene. “By bringing art, craft and provenance to the fore, we aim to curate a mosaic of locally-inspired guest experiences,” explains Lucas Chirnside, Project Design Director at Bar Studio, adding that carefully selected art pieces will evoke the hotel’s connection to the contemporary art scene.

“We are excited to welcome Fairmont Tokyo into our portfolio of grand hotels, providing a stunning backdrop where glamour meets culture, and where guests and locals will come together to make memories,” comments Garth Simmons, CEO for Accor Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea. “Like all Fairmont properties around the world, the hotel is set to become the epicenter of Tokyo’s social scene and will bring a new level of personalised service and thoughtful luxury to the city.”

Emonika

SLOVENIA

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner / Developer: OTP Bank Principal Architect: Elia IC Architecture: Mixity Studio www.emonika.si

Mixity Studio London has revealed its design scheme for Emonika, a 175,000m2 mixed-use urban generation development in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Slated for completion in 2025, the €500 million project will comprise a hotel, apartments, shopping centre and offices, located alongside a remodelled transport interchange occupied by the city’s central train station.

Anchored by a 100m tower featuring an illuminated lantern at its pinnacle, Emonika will transform the skyline and create a new destination to the north of Ljubljana’s historic pedestrian quarter. The crowning glory of the development is a 207-key urban resort that will include a 170m retail and entertainment podium, elevated 20m above street level and topped by a 2,000m2 roof garden.

The hotel itself will comprise 153 guestrooms, including 15 suites with private outdoor terraces and 54 serviced apartments for extended-stay. The restaurants, shopping, entertainment and health facilities will be situated below within a 21st century galleria, while offices are to be spread across the site. Rounding out the scheme is Ljubljana’s largest ballroom, with natural light and access to the roof gardens, bringing a new dimension to inner city hospitality for functions and conferencing.

On the sustainability front, the project is the first of its kind in the city to be rated Excellent by BREEAM. The certification demonstrates its green and environmental credentials, which include social and economic performance. Sándor Csányi, Chairman and CEO of OTP Group, comments: “Our goal and focus is to significantly enrich the wellbeing of the people who live, work, shop and relax in Emonika whilst ensuring the development is environmentally responsible and sustainable.”

Emonika is owned and managed by Mendota Invest, which is a 100% subsidiary of OTP Real Estate Investment fund, owned by OTP Bank.

Angels Landing

LOS ANGELES

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Developer: The Peebles Corporation, MacFarlane Partners Architecture: Handel Architects www.angelslandingdtla.com

Handel Architects has released design details for Angels Landing, a two-tower project that upon completion will become the third tallest building in Los Angeles. Rising 88 and 42 floors respectively, the structures will house two hotels, 432 residential units, retail shops and restaurants, while the site’s multi-level plaza is to bring green space to the heart of the city.

On an urban scale, the project strives to connect various neighbourhoods that converge at its location, including the Financial District, Historic Core, Cultural District and Civic Center. Using the buildings’ architecture and landscaping, the design encourages the fluid movement of people through the site.

“The design approach was based on several key factors,” say Handel Architects. “These included the re-interpretation of the arrival plaza at Pershing Square Metro Station, the enhancement of the journey aboard the Angels Flight funicular, and the creation of a livelier pedestrian experience to and from California Plaza and its adjacent office buildings.”

Consequently, the podium comprises a series of cantilevered floors and terraced levels that gradually reach upwards to California Plaza, while the floorplate configurations vary and undulate along the plaza to generate venues geared towards circulation and gathering.

Rising above the podium, the two towers are designed to act as a gateway to the site. The lower of the pair is situated along 4th Street and set back from the corner of Hill Street, while the taller building is located on the east side closer to the street edge. “The juxtaposition of the two provides visual distinction from the surrounding context,” the studio explains, adding that a dialogue is also present between the structures thanks to a horizontal banding that turns vertical on the upper floors, where protruding vertical fins appear as layered screens in front of a horizontal substructure.