Design inspiration abounds in Asia, and nowhere is it as evident as with the region’s most notable luxury resort and hotel properties. The newest generation of hospitality properties takes great inspiration from the land, the history, and the natural beauty of the continent.
The architects behind these luxury properties in Asia do more than just “build buildings”; they take what makes each land and property special and build entire experiences around them. Each architect has a unique approach to building the ultimate luxury property, crafting remarkable experiences that make every stay unforgettable.
A visit to Asia is not complete without a visit to the region’s most opulent hotels. We suggest starting with the 10 Best Luxury Hotels and Resorts in Vietnam.
The Brains Behind the Buildings
The current generation of hotel and resort architects working in Asia have immersed themselves in the environment and culture of the continent. Their best designs weave history, nature, and innovation together in ways that have changed the face of hospitality within the region.
1. Bill Bensley, Bensley
Photo: Bensley.com
Bill Bensley first earned attention and accolades for designing the Four Seasons Chiang Mai in Thailand. His name has since been associated with opulent properties that marry tradition and luxury with eloquent storytelling that relates to the land, the history, and the people that make each place special.
One example of a Bensley property is the Rosewood, located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang in Laos. Built around the restored estate of a French diplomat, the structures, interiors, and antiques chosen for the Rosewood tell the history of the estate and its connections to the first Mekong Exploration.
Other projects include the Four Seasons resorts in Chiang Rai and Koh Samui (the setting for Season 3 of The White Lotus), the Capella Hotel in Hanoi, and Shinta Mani Wild, Bensley’s own resort-slash-nature reserve in the Cardamom Rainforest of Cambodia.
2. Kerry Hill, Kerry Hill Architects
Photo: Hotel Designs
The late Australian architect Kerry Hill, who passed away in 2018, has designed many buildings in Asia and Australia. Within the hospitality industry, however, Hill’s name and designs are closely associated with “nature-inspired” hotels and resorts, as well as what Hill calls “the potential of the fuzzy line that separates the possible from the impossible.”
Two resorts in Malaysia represent Hill’s design philosophy. The Datai Langkawi was designed to blend into the surroundings, literally bringing the native rainforest into every room. Designed before “sustainability” became an industry buzzword, The Datai is Hill’s homage to the cultural and ecological heritage of Malaysia.
One&Only on Johor’s Desaru Coast is one of Hill’s final projects before his passing. The design for One&Only blends straight lines with warm woods and locally sourced materials. As with The Datai, Hill’s intentions for One&Only serve to highlight and preserve the local flora and fauna.
Hill’s designs are also highlighted at the Ritz-Carlton in the Fari Islands of the Maldives. Gain more insights by Embracing Luxury Life at Ritz-Carlton Maldives Fari Islands.
3. Kengo Kuma, Kengo Kuma & Associates
Photo: Parametric Architecture
Another name associated with the “nature-inspired” movement is Kengo Kuma, the designer of the Hyatt Centric in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia and the KAI Yufuin in Japan. In both projects, Kuma and his team have designed distinctive hotels that integrate elements of nature and culture.
Kuma and his team designed the KAI Yufuin as a ryokan-style inn that showcases the beauty of the countryside. The resort’s low-rise buildings are distributed throughout the property, with interiors that reference the structure of Japanese farmhouses using bamboo and other plant materials.
For the Hyatt Centric, Kuma took design inspiration from the structure of a “giant tree,” creating a landmark that brings nature and the urban jungle together. Highlights of the hotel include a forest-like lounge, an infinity pool that faces both the mountains and the ocean, and room interiors inspired by the clothing of Sabah’s indigenous Kadazan-Dusun people.
4. Jean-Michel Gathy, Denniston
Photo: Photo: Gentleman’s Codes
No list of notable hotel architects working in Asia would be complete without one of the most influential designers in the field. Jean-Michel Gathy and his Malaysia-based team at Denniston have become synonymous with the most luxurious properties in Asia, if not the whole world.
Apart from being one of the go-to architects for Aman Resorts, Gathy is the lead designer behind the Four Seasons Bangkok, a stunning property along the edges of the Chao Phraya River. The design combines sleek lines, sustainable materials, and open spaces with water features that reflect the movement of the river.
When asked about Denniston’s signature style, Gathy quoted an unnamed acquaintance who he felt had summed up his approach perfectly: “Sometimes dramatic and sometimes intimate, but always charismatic.”
Explore the luxury accommodations in Thailand’s capital city with the 10 Best Luxury Hotels and Resorts in Bangkok.
Constructing Unforgettable Experiences in Hospitality
Asia’s most awe-inspiring hotels and resorts are luxurious by design, but the luxury embodied by these hotels embraces culture, history, and the native environment in a way that exudes comfort and hospitality. These hotels have turned luxury into an immersive experience that brings guests into the figurative homes of their hosts.
The architects behind the best hotels in Asia are innovative in their design, but they also have nature and history to thank for the stories of hospitality that they’ve built into the guest experience. More than just championing design, culture, and sustainability, these architects are in the business of creating legacies that are built to last.
Read more about the most notable people making an impact on Asia’s luxury market.
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Featured Image by HafH
