Resorts

Client: MAB
Status: Proposed 2015

Unaizah Resort and Spa is a retreat proposed within the Qassim Province located at the heart of Saudi Arabia. A perfect combination of rustic elegance and modern comfort, the resort features spacious private bungalows, a luxurious spa, and breathtaking views of the Arabian Desert. Made of clustered arrangements of villas, the architecture of the holiday homes is inspired by Unaizah’s traditional courtyard house design to achieve maximum privacy. Each villa is equipped with a private pool and has access to the attached courtyard, which are connected to the main pedestrian promenade. The dwelling is designed to accommodate for various typologies and occupant’s requirements, in tune with prevalent resorts located within Saudi Arabia and abroad. This is done by sympathetically keeping in mind the experience of the user within the haven. Being in the hot dry desert climate, comfort is a prime factor to ensure that the residents are content and at ease during their retreat.

This is effortlessly achieved by adopting thermal mass construction using natural material such as clay and bricks. The main entry points for vehicles and pedestrian ensures that patrons arrive to an expansive desert view of the National Park situated beyond. Qassim region is abundant in water, thus continuous water body is introduced throughout the sanctuary which acts as veins that supplies life to the development and unifies all components. The water body also improves the microclimate of each cluster and provokes an air of mystery and intimacy for individual assemblage. Being one of the Middle East’s largest producers of dates, the importance of the dates plantation to the region is understood. Thus, immersion of existing date palms as part of the resort’s masterplan is done to create a wholesome an oasis effect for resort.

Client: MAB
Status: Completion 2025

The Corniche Resort in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, is a stunning example of contemporary coastal architecture designed to blend luxury with the natural beauty of its surroundings. Situated directly on a private beach, this on-water resort captures the essence of an exclusive seaside retreat. The design features sleek, modern lines and expansive glass facades that offer panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf. The use of natural materials such as wood and stone complement the water's edge, while the sophisticated landscaping integrates native flora, enhancing the sense of seclusion and tranquility. The resort's architecture not only provides an immersive experience for its guests but also respects and highlights the unique coastal environment of Al-Khobar.

Status: Proposed 2000

The Crown Hotel Zanzibar stands as a testament to architectural splendor, its design seamlessly blending traditional Zanzibari elements with modern influences. Nestled just a short 7-minute stroll from the historic heart of Stone Town, its facade beckons with intricate carvings and vibrant hues, reminiscent of the island's rich cultural tapestry. Within its walls, airy interiors adorned with Swahili motifs evoke a sense of timeless elegance, while panoramic views of the Indian Ocean from its terraces captivate the senses. Whether one finds themselves enchanted by the intricacies of its design or swept away by the serenity of its surroundings, the Crown Hotel Zanzibar stands as a beacon of architectural excellence in this idyllic island paradise.

Client: AWN
Status: Completion 2025

Located in the north-western Tabuk province of Saudi Arabia, the Umluj consists of 104 islands, sewn together to form an archipelago in the Red Sea. Inspired by the hidden wonders of outstanding, pristine natural beauty and the untold stories of fishing culture, the design concept for this 70-room and 40-suite resort project is about discovering Umluj; a story of pristine immersion in the exquisiteness of the ‘Maldives of Saudi Arabia’.

The masterplan of the complex is inspired by the form of giant sea clams which thrive in the Red Sea. It is a reflection of sustainable resilient living with the environment which demands agility, adaptability and flexibility. These features are reflected in the design through the organic arrangement of a modular system which is flexible to adapt to the site profile, expandable to the requirements and which can be erected quickly. It comprises individual cocoon suites, multiple room size cabin clusters and other hospitality programs. The arrangement of the cabins creates hidden nooks and corners for unique spatial experience.

The scheme also incorporates many sustainable design ideas including a big roof to install solar panels for renewable energy and water heating that also doubles-up as overhang shadings. 

Client: Pattis
Status: Completion 2025

Neom is a 26,500 skm resort-themed city located in the Tabuk province of North-western Saudi Arabia facing the Red Sea. It was launched in 2017 and is envisioned to incorporate smart city technologies and operate independently from the existing governmental framework. In 2020 VERITAS was engaged to design a world-class carbon-neutral resort to be called the Pattis on a 26-ha site located along 0.8 km of beachfront within the Neom master plan.

The Neom Pattis Resort and Spa will consist of exclusive private villas and suites organized around common landscaped spaces. The architectural character of the resort is influenced by Greek, Caribbean and Arab traditions combined with a modern sensibility. The luxurious landscaping of the beachfront areas will form a stunning contrasting backdrop to the sand dunes of the desert in the background.The 130 standard villas and suite rooms will all be sea-facing and a private jetty will extend deep into the Red Sea. The project also incorporates conference/meeting facilities and a wide array of guest amenities, resulting in a total built-up area of 16,300 sm.

Client : Senja Aman Development Sdn. Bhd.
The design of the Angsana Resort celebrates the experience of the meeting of the Forest and the Sea. 

The narrow 3.5 acre site is sandwiched between the majestic, forested slope of Penang Hill and the pristine bay of Teluk Bahang where remnants of the old Malay fishing village community still brings in their daily catch each morning in their weathered wooden boats near the abandoned timber jetty. 

Inspired by the tenacity of the Malay fishing community and their closeness with the outdoors, the hotel and service apartments are laid out to allow a constant experience of the outdoors and the sea, with naturally ventilated circulation and common areas connecting the hotel and serviced apartment block. 

The hotel and serviced apartment block is connected by a generous entrance portal where arriving guests are immediately greeted by sea breezes and a dramatic view of the Andaman Sea framed by lush trees and the lofty 3-storey high lobby, clad in old, recycled timber. Sheltered by a large permeable screen of overlapping glass panels, the lobby with its slim, tall steel columns and recycled timber walls is intended to evoke the Forest. The recycled timber recalls the old fishing village nearby, reminiscing the experience of water, boats and jetties. The arrangement of the timber on the wall was hand-picked at site to enhance texture and shadow on the large lobby walls. 

While creating a distinctive arrival statement for the hotel, the lobby also serves as a multi-use space which hosts community events on weekends, in line with the corporate ethos of the hotel operator, Banyan Tree Hotel and Resorts. 

The long-folded block breaks down the length of the building on a narrow-elongated site, allowing the guest rooms to have varying views of the sea and forested cape. The angled block also relieves the sense of the long corridors in the single-loaded plan. The corridors are kept open for guests to enjoy the forest views of Penang Hill, punctuated with screens of metal grill and custom-cast GFRC screens with a geometric Peranakan inspired motif that creates a rich play of light and shadow to mitigate the typical relentless wall-of-corridors façade that plague many seafront hotels and apartment blocks. 

At the seafront façade, the long building block is punctuated with several multi-storey sky terraces which aspires to extend the greenery of the majestic backdrop of Penang Hill, through the building and out to the seafront – reinforce the theme of the meeting of Forest and Sea. The seafront facade of 9-storey hotel block is punctuated by alternating pairs of verandahs to a create a modulated façade and greater privacy for guests. The Service Apartment block has a terraced roofline with cascading roof gardens to soften the building profile against the mountain backdrop.

Client : ADK Travels 
Fairmont Resort, Sirru Fen Fushi Maldives features an internationally designed 5 star resort with 100 luxury rooms. Designed to surpass the expectations of the most discerning global traveler, the retreat offers a mix of over water villas, beach villas, several dining and entertainment outlets, a fully integrated spa plus diving and water sport centers. Guests will be able to experience a full range of water sports including snorkeling, diving and fishing – all in the crystal clear waters of the lagoon. 

Client : Link Holdings Limited 
Part of Indonesia’s Riau Archipelago, with a short boat ride from the city of Singapore, Bintan island attracts hundred thousand of visitors annually as a resort destination offering secluded beaches and diverse water sports. Located at the east coast of the Bintan Island, the development comprises of a beachfront hotel and water villas. Perched along 240,000-square-foot (5.5 acres) land, the hotel consists of five blocks, an outdoor restaurant, an infinity pool and a rock spa, all designed to fully immerse the guests with nature and panoramic sea view.

Worth-mentioning, at the north end of the development, the rock spa is featured to create a semi-outdoor space for relaxation. “Wavy, rhythmical” pattern is incorporated into the landscape and façade to signify the concept inspired by ocean waves. Moreover, an undulating pathway where 10 water villas can be seen along the way leads to the island which accommodates 5 presidential suites, a themed restaurant and a chapel for special occasions. Constructed of mainly timber which depicts locality and tropical rustic architecture, the hotel and villas can accommodate up to 250 guests. 

Client : Maxcorp-Husnien Ptd Ltd 
Formerly the Pakistan Railway Golf Club, the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club comprises a 100,000 sq ft. luxury clubhouse, 88 Golf Lodges, a 200 room hotel and other ancillary facilities. The client called for the introduction of new buildings to replace the old structures. Sited on a vast triangular plot of land, the complex is surrounded by a sprawling vista of an 18 hole golf course. Much of the complex is buffered from the congested cityscape of Lahore, a result of the decision to locate the structure deeper within the confines of the site amongst dense greenery.

Ingress is via a formal boulevard terminating in a circular plaza fronting the main clubhouse. The longitudinal assemblage of volumes forming the main clubhouse simultaneously behaves as a gateway and threshold, separating the car parks and entrances from the sprawling golf course beyond. Arranging the programmatic elements in a long, linear configuration maximizes views on both sides of the building whilst admitting ample daylight. The architectural language of the building is a contemporary interpretation of Mughal architecture, a clean and minimal aesthetic. This project was designed in collaboration with Unikon Consulting. 

Client : Lhasa Shangri-La Co Ltd

Client : Diqing Shangri-La Co Ltd 
A hidden paradise in the city of Shangri-La Diqing. The public areas and gardens which envelop Shangri-La Resort, Shangri-La evoke a rich and graceful world, filled with alluring Tibetan artefacts and quiet elegance. The same immersive experience can be savored in the 228 rooms and suites, coupled with exacting luxury comforts and meticulous Shangri-La hospitality. From each room, spectacular scenery opens up with panoramic views of the stunning mountainous region. the 228 rooms and suites of Shangri-La Resort, Shangri-La seamlessly reflect the outstanding beauty of the surrounding landscape. Each room features unique Tibetan-inspired design features coupled with captivating views

Client : Sanya Shangri-La Hotel Co Ltd
Sanya Shangri-La Resort is located in the north-eastern coastal area of ​​Sanya City, the tourist center of Hainan Province consisting of Haishuwan Town of Sanya City and Yingzhou Town of Lingshui County. The bay is 42.8 kilo-meters long.  The base of the hotel is high in the west and low in the east with a total land area of about 180 square meters. 
 
The overall layout is centered on the Main Hotel building, with the main entrance lobby and the rest of the hotel north-south winged guestrooms and supporting buildings diverging around.  Entering from the main entrance at the northwest corner of the base, passing through a landscaped green belt with a rich tropical atmosphere, the resort-style hotel building is displayed in front of the hotel. Group composition; the roof of the main building of the hotel is equipped with a roof garden, which combines the original base terrain with the surface garden landscape design to form a unique and harmonious overall tropical scenery and leisure landscape. The north-south two-wing hotel rooms, which descends along the terrain and stretches to the east coast, forms a nice natural vista for the hotel rooms, maximizing the number of sea-view rooms for the hotel. 

Hierarchy of the development is achieved with the roof of the main hotel building designed with double-pitched slopes while the other guestroom buildings and supporting buildings are in the form of single-sloping roofs. The building materials are mostly made of local or domestic stone materials and building materials. 

The overall functional layout of the development places great emphasis on the privacy of hotel guests and visitors.  The guestrooms complex is connected to other public areas by pedestrian walkways, but is separated by green spaces, clearly divided, and away from possible noise sources of public events; ensuring a relatively quiet environment in the hotel room area, providing guests with quality rest and leisure conditions.  

The landscape planning and design of the project adopts the idea of ​​“being close to nature and leisure” with the consistent use of local tree species, flowers, and local stone to blend into the existing environment, scenery, and topography to create a green garden with rich tropical flavour.  The planning combines seascapes to form an eco-type holiday and leisure environment that “sees the sea and opens the door to see the greens”; the design uses the design techniques of borrowing and translucent, highlighting the faint and elegant taste.

Client : Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts 
The site is located in Hambantota at the southern tip of the island.  With a site area of approximately 40 hectares, it faces the sea and beach front at the southern side and a lake view to the east. 

The approach to the resort style is to adopt the eclectic style of the Sri Lankan architecture stripped down to a more minimalist approach.  The structure is kept to basic geometric shapes with play of shadow and light using texture, colours, clean and fine detailing to bring out tasteful non-fussy design. 

The beauty of nature patterns on stone cladding and real wood encapsulated within ordered simplified structures is key to a simplified but stunning modern architecture. 

Ornamentations are quality rather than quantity and set in gallery design spaces to give full flavor to the Sri Lankan cultural heritage in a modern futuristic resort setting.  Overall conceptual layout design is to maximize the panoramic views for the villas facing the sea with the lake villas being constructed on the lake.  Overall height of the Resort is kept below the coconut trees level to maintain and integrate the architectural built-forms with nature and landscape. 

Pitch roof design with huge eaves and overhang is best suited to this climatic condition.  Veranda, balconies, courtyard design with quick rainwater run-off will ensure minimum erosion and comfort of the ground usage after a heavy rainfall. 

Key performance areas for environmentally sound-design are considered such as the use of locally produced building materials, waste and water conservation management.  The incorporation of natural ventilation, use of balcony, veranda and large roof eaves are also integrated into the built-forms to achieve energy conservation. 

Client : Shangri-La 
Shangri-la Rasa Ria Resort & SPA, located along the beautiful sandy beach of Pantai Dalit in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, was designed based on the re-interpretation of the traditional Malay architecture with modern facilities and functional requirements. Located amidst a natural 
environment, the Resort is surrounded by about 400 acres of tropical rain-forest. It commands the scenic beauty of South China Sea along its North-Western beach front and Mount Kinabalu towards North-East of the Resort. 
The overall planning of the Resort Centres along the lengthy beach front with the guestrooms taking prominence and capitalizing the panoramic view of the ocean.

Arrival at the Resort is almost at the Centre of the property, passing through the 18-hole championship golf course, Dalit Bay Golf & Country Club, the road access being through the golf course which is located within the 400-acres property. The Main Building serves as the overall focus of the Resort and is supported by other indoor facilities such as Coffee House, SPA and function rooms, etc. Designed with the traditional pitched-roof architecture, it forms the hierarchy to the overall development and welcomes guests upon their arrival. Consisting of a 2-storey built-form, the arrival is at the upper level and is designed with through natural ventilation in-line with the concept of the traditional Malay architecture.

Prominent pithed-roof with large overhangs greets the guests upon arrival at the Porte Cochere and the said roof-form draws the vision into the elaborate Main Arrival Lounge cum reception and terminates with the panoramic view of the ocean beyond. The lower level houses the functional rooms and activities linking the guests to the beach front. On both sides of the Main Building are the guestroom blocks which are similarly designed with the traditional pitched-roof. Each guestroom block is no more than 6-storeys and consists of around 8 to 10 guestrooms per floor. All guestroom blocks are designed with single-loaded corridor to ensure that every guestroom has the ocean view.

With a total of 522 guestrooms spanned over 3 phases of development, there are a variety of guestrooms to cater for the different guest expectations. As the site is more vegetated towards the right of the Main Block upon arrival, the location of the Garden-Wing guestroom blocks, which forms the “Signature” Garden Wing of most Shangri-la Hotels, is proposed to be located while maintaining the direct view of the ocean beyond. The Ocean Wing guestrooms are located on the left of the Main Block which has a deeper beach, thus accommodating the swimming pool and water facilities. Being a resort hotel, most of the guestrooms are larger than the normal guestrooms and is deliberately designed with a large Lanai with outdoor Jacuzzi for maximum enjoyment of the beach-front and ocean view.  

Artworks and elaborate detailing reflecting the culture of Sabah together with choice of materials creates the overall theme and ambience for a comfort and luxurious stay in the Resort. The overall focus of the Resort, the themed restaurant, is at the furthest part of the beach just next to the sea-front, in between the swimming pool and guestrooms. This serves to create a backdrop and focus for the Resort at night with the lighted restaurant and the alfresco-seating along the beach, thus a backdrop for the Resort with the dark view of the ocean in the night. The overall development consists of 522 guestrooms of various types built over 3 phases of construction with Phase 1 completion in 1995 and Phase 3 with the two additional guestroom blocks on the furthest left of the development and another swimming pool in 2015. 

Client : Pernas OUE Sdn Bhd 
Pelangi Beach Resort in Pulau Langkawi, Malaysia was designed based on the concept of Malay “Kampung” or Village.  It is a reflection of a series of small buildings arranged at random in the spirit of the indigenous layout.  Although it may be seen as randomly arranged, the layout of the buildings also reflect the hierarchy of the spaces whereby the Centre of focus is the main building which houses the public facilities surrounding which are the buildings for chalets of different sizes.  The hierarchy is also reflected in the scale and proportion with respect to the rest of the chalets and further enhanced by the amount of architectural details reflected in the main building. 

The chalets are arranged in a series of clusters, each with its own focus.  Each cluster of chalets addresses a different theme which varies from a swimming pool to landscaped courtyard, an exercise node or even a landscaped pond. 

The chalets are linked to each other by an informal footpath which meanders with the landscape and existing coconut trees complimented by local plants and shrubs. 

The main architectural focus of the building is the prominent roof form which is the adaptation of the traditional “Bumbung Panjang” of the Malay houses found in the state of Kedah.  It is basically of a hip-gable roof with the gable ends terminating with a scissor-shaped timber barge board.  The richness of the Malay architecture and thus this project is reflected in the elaborate timber decorative panels and bend-saw cuttings in the floral motifs taken from the flowers found in the state of Kedah. The interior of the resort is basically dictated by the building concept which gives a rustic and original “Kampung” feeling and thus enhances the overall theme. 

Environmentally, the local tropical environment is optimized as reflected in the “no-wall” spaces which can be seen in the Lobby, whereby cross-ventilation is induced as a result of the openness of the building.  This is further enhanced by the high exposed timber pitched roofs.  The environmental condition is also considered in the guestrooms whereby full height timber casement windows, with louvres, which can be adjusted, are provided at both ends of the rooms permitting air to flow in and at the same time cutting away any glare. 

The concept of the Malay “Kampung” resort is not new but Pelangi Beach Resort, Langkawi can be safely claimed to be the largest resort of timber structure and such theme in Malaysia. 

The idea of the Malay House architecture with the prominent pitched roof and timber structures is definitely worth considering as a built-form especially when Malaysia was in the process of searching for a Local Malaysian architectural identity. 

Client : Pulai Springs Resort Sdn Bhd
This project was conceived with the owners’ dream of having a resort reflecting the richness of the local Malaysian culture and heritage that at the same time, caters to the needs of the members of the resort.  Situated within the natural beauty of Gunung Pulai’s surroundings on an elevated platform, the clubhouse commands a majestic view of the golf course and is the focus of the whole development.

The resort is a showpiece of Malaysian architecture which reflects the cultural elements of the multi-ethnic population of the country.  Resplendent on a plateau and commanding a view of emerald green fairways, the entire clubhouse is reminiscent of an ancient royal Malay palace.  The clubhouse celebrates nature while reinterpreting traditional Malay architecture into modern functionality.  Based on the concept of a Malay house, the whole clubhouse is a series of buildings which accommodate the functional requirements of the entirety.  The hierarchy of the buildings is reflected in the scale and proportion of the buildings and further enhanced by the amount of architectural details reflected in the individual buildings.

Vaulting roofs, huge exposed timber structures, soaring ceilings and 42 king posts blend with traditional motifs in the interior design such as marble floors in a batik layout and wooden lightboxes carved in a “lada hitam and gambir” design and echo the graciousness of days gone by.  Through an extensive network of covered breezy verandah ways; one is able to walk under shelter, from the main clubhouse which is the Social Centre, to the Sports and Golf Centre, all amidst beautifully landscaped gardens and water features.

The main architectural focus of the buildings is the prominent roof form which is the adaptation of the traditional “rumah limas Bugis” found in the state of Johor.  It is basically a hip-gable roof with flat clay roof tiles laid in scaled patterns to simulate the traditional usage of the shingle tiles.  The richness of the local traditional culture is reflected in the elaborate timber decorative panels found around the buildings.

At the tip of the gable end of the roofs is the “balung ayam” timber feature terminating the end of the roof, another common feature in Malay houses of Bugis origins.  The degree of the carvings found on the decorative features varies from the Social Centre to the other buildings and is the least elaborate at the entrance arches.  The built-form of the Multi-purpose hall was adopted from the Malay “wakaf” building found mainly in the paddy fields serving as a communal shelter.  Terminating in the pyramidal roof is the “mahkota atap”, or the roof crown, an elaborate carved timber spire.  The traditional bamboo shoot motif or the “pucuk rebung” found around the roof eaves was retained but modified with the use of floral motifs. Internally, the scissors-shaped trusses terminate with a king post which is again carved with a floral menu.

The “gambir and lada hitam” floral motifs were chosen as the main theme for all the timber carvings found within the buildings as these spices were the main items traded in Johor during the old days.  These hand-crafted timber carvings are of two types, viz. the bendsaw carvings and the timber carvings proper.   The bendsaw carvings are found mainly at the gable end of the roofs and above the doors and around the lower part of the beams.  Their main function, apart from decorative purpose, is to allow cross-ventilation of the spaces.  The other type of timber carvings are mainly decorative wall features.  Complimenting the elaborate timber artworks are the timber decorative balustrades and handrails as well as the antique furniture and fittings.

Pulai Springs Resort is a reflection of the owners’ vision of a fine piece of art transformed into reality and in the process, exhibiting the richness of the local culture and heritage.  By interpreting the Malay architecture and adapting it to accommodate the modern functional requirements, the said built-form and culture can be preserved and appreciated by others in the future.