Rosewood Clearwater Bay adds dramatic sense of place to BLINK Design Group's growing 'Luxury Collection' in China

BANGKOK, Thailand - BLINK Design Group has dialled up the design drama with its latest China project, Rosewood Clearwater Bay, on luxury-drenched resort island Hainan.

As BLINK continues to amass a portfolio of stunning luxury hotels it has created in China, Rosewood Clearwater Bay sets new standards of 'architecture as theatre' designed to lend maximum impact through a series of clever reveals while staying true to the Rosewood brand's emphasis on the importance of a 'sense of place'.

BLINK senior creative director and founder Clint Nagata said BLINK's goal in tackling the design of Rosewood Clearwater Bay - currently under construction and due to open in 2016 - was to stay true to the pristine Hainan Island setting by creating a sequence of dramatic build-ups and reveals.

"It was about creating an element of surprise through the design that let the spectacular views and landscape stand out even more," Mr Nagata said. "We strove to make the resort a natural extension of the sea and beach, and this was achieved through the strategically-placed bodies of water. When viewed from eye level, the waters form an infinite extension that merges with the ocean, creating the illusion of floating on an infinite sea."

The use of high walls and long corridors narrows the view, while moving between courtyards heightens the suspense. The guest is rewarded by dramatic, expansive views of the ocean and different, unexpected spaces at the end of each corridor.

BLINK's Bangkok-based Head of Design, Ong-Art Ngamnarongkij, the lead designer on the project, said a stand-alone 'specialty restaurant ' on the beach took a different design direction - encouraging a more casual kind of luxury that's confidently understated, laid-back to the point where guests can dine in comfort in their designer flip-flops.

"Here, we have taken some of the angles and roof lines and use of bamboo from local traditions and given them a twist," Ong-Art said. "We have also taken the immersion experience one step further, offering guests the option to sit in a sunken dining area surrounded by bodies of water while they gaze across endless ocean views."

Ong-Art said he had just returned from Hainan Island where some minor 'tweaks' to the design were requested by the owners. In terms of materials and inspirations, Ong-Art said BLINK's deep-dive approach involving extensive research into the locale and its design history, culture and vernacular had been important.

"We have decided to use a lot of Chinese light grey granite that looks very luxurious. The design is like a series of stacked boxes and this wraps it all up like a jewel box. It's honed, very smooth, but a matte finish. Then we emphasize certain features like the swimming pool that sits on top of the lobby with a ceramic tile in a zig-zag effect, which is lit up at night and will be quite spectacular."

"Overall it's a fairly neutral architectural language. A simple massing, brought to life with articulation and shading. Space and choice of materials are where the luxury resides."

Ong-Art said of his design style: "I find my inspiration in a mix of art, from textiles to jewellery, music and movies. And I bring that to my foundation of architectural languages. To me, art is convergent. So I treat design as looking at fabric layers, with patterns and transparencies, and you create a series of screens to wrap various parts of each space."

Ong-Art joined BLINK as a design lead before quickly becoming Head of Design for its Bangkok studio. He has 16 years of experience in the industry, and in that time he has undertaken all aspects of space planning, design and interiors for projects that have included major commercial offices, retail outlets and hotels. Before joining BLINK he was a Senior Architect at Space Matrix Design Consultants and began his career with Bunnag Architects International Consultants.

Other BLINK projects under construction in China include Doubletree by Hilton, Benxi, a 500 key property set to open in the famed hot spring resort in 2015, Renaissance & Courtyard by Marriott Resort, Hailing, Qianshen Spa & Hotel, Hefei, and Sheraton Resort Beijing.

Projects in the design phase comprise Dongxian Lake Ningbo Resort, Marriott Wenchang, Hainan Island, Courtyard by Marriott Jiujiang, Guangdong, Regent Place Taiyuan and Regent Place Xi'an, and Miaonong Resort, Ningbo.

Rosewood, established in 1979, is a distinctive collection of highly individual, luxurious, residential-style hotels inspired by the culture, history and geography of each locale. Its portolio includes The Carlyle in New York, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, Texas, Hotel de Crillon in Paris, Rosewood London and Rosewood Beijing.

Rosewood Clearwater Bay is part of an Asian growth spurt by the brand which will be joined by Rosewood hotels in Guangzhou, Phuket, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Bali and Jakarta by 2017.

sourced:traveldailynews.asia