The 28-acre site is part of an existing master planned resort community. The golf course and lake were existing. The owner wanted water gardens and had in mind tropical gardens with artificial rocks and rope bridges. The designers convinced the owner that a concept that recalled ancient South American themes was more appropriate for the desert. Lines of date palms mitigate a massive building and extend into the landscape, framing views to the mountains and creating garden rooms under the palms and between them. An aqueduct, water temple and pavilions provide an armature from which water can fall and create a second level pedestrian experience. These elements also provide for bars, waterslides and spas. In addition to the water gardens, six courtyards provide a variety of spaces for lawn games, quiet gardens, entry and arrivals courts. With the exception of the existing lake and the owner’s requirement for 20,000 square feet of swimming pools, water use is minimized. Lawn was used only where needed as a space for outdoor activities. Other plant materials are desert species or drought tolerant. Water features are in the Moorish tradition of narrow, shallow canals, low volume clear water jets and small gravity spouts.
Kyoto Hotel
This project transforms an old elementary school site into an iconic destination for visitors and community. SWA reinterpreted the traditions and culture of Kyoto and proposed a poetic landscape design for this former schoolyard, transforming it into a welcoming community garden and courtyard.
The courtyard, as a public space, is designed simply, provid...
Beverly Hills Hotel
Serving as the symbolic heart of the City of Beverly Hills, the Beverly Hills Hotel is synonymous with its gardens. After 80 years of high use, the hotel needed complete rebuilding and modernization. The goal of the reconstruction was to preserve and restore the historic gardens while adding new public and private outdoor spaces around the southern and western...
Desert Ridge
SWA provided site planning and full landscape architectural services for this 1,000-room desert resort hotel on a 54-acre site. The project also includes five restaurants, a day-spa facility and a conference center. The landscape design provides a desert theme contrasted with water in the form of lakes, pools and lush foliage, and the desert theme provides a d...
Virgin Hotel Dallas
The Virgin Hotel Dallas is a boutique hotel appropriately set within the city’s design district, carrying forward Virgin’s high standards of distinctive, comfortable luxury programs and experiences for guests. SWA worked with the architecture and interior design team to propose a modern spin on an urban hotel constrained by an extremely small site. Fronting H...