This Ian Schrager-helmed Haitang Bay resort off the coast of Southern China was conceived as a “dream of aqua,” where sky and water converge. SWA’s competition-winning landscape design emulates a river delta and its convergence with the sea. Gently curved forms define the boundaries for 40 private villas, and are echoed throughout the terraced resort in swimming pools, aquatic life pools, and fountains—the most dramatic of which, in the lobby, pours through openings into basin pools below and opens the view to preserved sand dunes and the sea. Additional forms derived from creatures such as the abalone and octopus influenced plantings and pools. Careful site programming and planning helped to preserve the existing specimen trees, particularly in the beach zone and dune ecosystem. Re-vegetation of impacted dune areas will be done with naturalized plantings rather than ornamental species, complete with a management plan that allows for an environment that ensures the overall quality of the resort experience without having to be manicured. The 52-acre landscape for this luxurious 500+-key resort hosts an array of locally farmed native plant materials, as well as transplanted local specimens to protect and promote biodiversity.
Rosewood Sand Hill Hotel
SWA provided full landscape architectural services for this mixed-use development, which includes a 120-room luxury hotel, five villa residences, a supporting office complex, fitness center, spa and multi-use space. The Sand Hill Hotel and associated offices are nestled onto a dramatic hillside that slopes toward the Santa Cruz Mountains immediately beyond I-2...
W Hotel Palm Dubai
Positioned on the outer ring of Palm Jumeirah, the W Hotel and neighboring residential towers celebrate the contrasting views to the city’s urban skyline in one direction… and to the infinite sea horizon in the other. These contrasting views droves the form and texture of design elements throughout the property, exemplified by the juxtaposition of geomet...
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...
Grand Mansion Hotel
The Grand Mansion Hotel sits atop a historical museum on the site of a former palace, the ruins of which have been preserved and are now an extension of the main museum exhibit, with parts that can be seen across the street. The overall design concept was to reinterpret a traditional leisure garden featuring Japanese cherry, bamboo, and maple trees, and the gr...