Gold Architecture, Building and Structure Design · 2021
Haikou Bay Hotel
- A' Design Award 2021 Gold Winner in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Awarded April 15, 2021
- CLIENT: WoWA Architecture
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 23,510
- Verification code 802FBF1372 · Verify this award
About Haikou Bay Hotel
Haikou Bay is a five-star hotel located in Hainan, China. The design is based on the sail, forming an S-shaped mass that links the city and the ocean. The long building is cut by three urban view corridors, which open views and reduce the apparent street scale. A single-loaded corridor plan gives every guest room an ocean view, and the average building depth is 14 metres. The sea-front facades recall ocean waves, while the city-side facades stress horizontal lines. The oval ballroom carries a sloping green roof, reached by a spiral ramp for public activities.
Positioned at the intersection of contemporary parametric design and the enduring human desire to create harmony between built environment and natural landscape, this architectural visualization represents a compelling meditation on organic form within coastal contexts. The work demonstrates remarkable sophistication in its resolution of complex programmatic requirements through biomorphic architectural language, where the undulating forms appear to have emerged naturally from the topography rather than being imposed upon it. The horizontal articulation of the facades suggests careful environmental consideration, with what appears to be integrated shading systems that would modulate tropical sunlight while maintaining visual connectivity to the surrounding seascape. The compositional strategy positions the resort as a mediating element between the dense urban fabric visible in the atmospheric distance and the pristine natural bay, suggesting an architecture of transition and threshold. The integration of verdant roof elements and the careful preservation of existing palm vegetation speaks to contemporary concerns with ecological sensitivity and the creation of microhabitats within developed landscapes. One observes particularly accomplished passages in the rendering of water, where the cerulean depths of the bay contrast with the lighter aquamarine of the swimming pools, creating a chromatic dialogue that extends the maritime theme throughout the composition. The sweeping promenade that traces the shoreline invites contemplation of the phenomenological experience of moving through such spaces, where the boundary between resort and beach dissolves into a continuous landscape of leisure and natural beauty. How might such architectural forms reshape our understanding of hospitality as an act of environmental stewardship rather than mere accommodation?
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This five stars hotel, starting from the "Sail" concept, we create S shape massing to animate the interface between city and nature. Long building massing is cut by 3 urban view corridors to allow visual porosity, and edges are slopped to create dynamic forms. Ocean waves are mimicked on the sea front facades, while the urban side facades emphasize horizontal motions. Hotel ballroom is oval shape with spiral ramp encouraging visitors on the green roof for public activities.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The building is 48m in height, and the GFA is 118,549.0 sqm (include above grade area 68,972.0 sqm and below grade area 49,577.0 sqm), and each wing is a bit more than 200m long. We try to control each tall hotel massing, the sail, no longer than 70m in length so allowing urban view corridor to cut through the long site for decent porosity. Because the hotel has single-loaded corridor layout, the average building depth is 14m, as a ribbon.
- Tags
- Hainan, Hotel, Haikou, WoWA, Haikou Bay
- Production Technology
- The building will be mainly made out of stone, steel, concrete, glass, metal, and wood. We use parametric design tools starting from massing studies, gross floor area calculation, ocean view analysis, facade pattern control, room module generation with modifications to landscape configuration studies. The parametric design tool helps us find the right design balance faster based on scientific analysis and aesthetic preferences.
- Design Challenge
- All guestrooms having full ocean view cause single loaded corridor plan configuration and a long building blocking the views. 3 urban view corridors are requested by the city allowing porosity, and the project must look as one integrated building. We created the "wave" gate to link the cut and pronounce the arrival. Zoning code allowing 20% of site coverage and 40m building height are also challenges to satisfy, we have to negotiate with the city releasing height allowance to achieve the code.
- Project Duration
- The project is located in Hainan, China, and will complete in 2-3 years.
- Operation Flow
- Since the building and the site are long, we try to animate user’s experience walking inside and outside with enough diverse surprises and excitements, by creating hotel function zones, different landscape design characters, corridor pockets, and different facade patterns. We also create the sloping green roof feature for the ballroom, so can interact with the urban setting and invite pedestrians.
- Research
- Function, geometry, projects with similar site scale researches are conducted at the early design stage. Case studies and scale comparison are methods used to collect plan and elevation design data. Our design team members are the main participants conducting the research. Room modules, urban view corridor locations, building length control limitations are the result and insight we gain from the researches and help us creating dynamic and interesting building forms at this unique site.
- Inspiration
- Since the hotel is facing the ocean, we want to use "Sea" elements as design inspirations. "Sails" is the major concept satisfying urban view corridors and building configuration's need. Waving S shape building plan layout makes the city/ nature interface unique, and create different hotel function zones as requested. Sea waves are the form inspirations for facade design and the arrival entrance gate.
- Image Credits
- All right reserved @ WoWA Architecture
- Patents
- All right reserved @ WoWA Architecture
Colors of Haikou Bay Hotel
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