Athita Pool Villa and Spa, designed by Studio Miti, draws upon vernacular Thai architectural principles to inform its layout and material choices. Located in Chiang Saen, a historic town along the Mekong River, the project adopts traditional design language to integrate with its surrounding context while maintaining a clear programmatic organization. The architectural layout references the organic structure of local settlements, particularly the irregular yet navigable street patterns of Chiang Saen. This approach is applied to the hotel’s internal circulation, where pathways echo the community’s meandering alleys, enhancing spatial continuity without imposing symmetry. The arrangement intentionally avoids strict formalism, instead favoring a system that supports spatial layering and calm movement throughout the site.

The design is divided into two main architectural typologies: brick volumes and timber-clad structures. The brick volumes, placed at the front of the site, house public functions including the spa and massage facilities. These elements act as a buffer between the street and the more private pool villas located deeper within the property. The use of brick references ancient city walls and religious structures found throughout the region. These walls also provide visual and acoustic insulation, contributing to the retreat-like character of the site.

all images by Pirak Anurakyawachon – Spaceshift Studio

Brick and timber construct Athita Pool Villa and Spa

The private villas are enclosed by vertical timber louver panels, an adaptation of traditional Chiang Saen house facades. These panels enable controlled privacy while allowing filtered light and ventilation. The semi-open character of the villas supports a connection to the exterior environment, offering views of the sky and maintaining a quiet atmosphere. Both brick and timber elements are constructed using updated methods, allowing traditional materials to be expressed through a contemporary architectural lens. Rather than replicating historical styles, Studio Miti’s design team employs these elements as frameworks for reinterpretation, aligning the building with its historical and cultural setting while maintaining functional clarity.

Athita Pool Villa and Spa extends the architectural direction of ‘Athita: The Hidden Court Chiang Saen Boutique Hotel’ and continues its emphasis on spatial calm and contextual relevance. The project situates new construction within a landscape of continuity, reinforcing material familiarity and formal restraint.

brick volumes mark the public-facing edge of Athita Pool Villa and Spa

brick walls evoke the region’s ancient religious structures

circulation paths mimic the meandering alleys of local settlements

vertical wooden panels reinterpret traditional house facades

public areas are positioned as a buffer along the site’s front edge

villas are oriented to maintain visual and acoustic privacy

the spa and massage areas occupy the site’s brick volumes

materials reflect the character of Chiang Saen’s built heritage

the design references the organic street patterns of Chiang Saen

vernacular Thai architectural forms inform the building’s spatial logic

project info:

name: Athita pool villa and spa

architect: Studio Miti | @studiomiti_official

location: Chiang Saen, Thailand

lead architect: Mr. Padirmkiat Sukkan

design team: Mr. Thanwa Chantarasena, Ms. Suchanat Konggamnert, Mr. Thanai Mahakaew

interior team: Ms. Narinrat Chaichat, Ms. Praphavaree Khongchum

structural engineer: Mr. Chiwat Kaewkam, Mr. Phitsanu Bumroong

electrical engineer: Mr. Wutthikrai Srisukho

sanitary engineer: Ms. Siriluk Konkaew
photographer: Pirak Anurakyawachon – Spaceshift Studio | @spaceshiftstudio

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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Sou Fujimoto completes EARTH, a circular, green-roofed villa that seems to sink into the landscape of Okinawa’s remote Ishigaki Island, Japan, for NOT A HOTEL (find designboom’s previous coverage here). Now open and fully booked before construction even ended, the project, announced in 2022, is the largest yet in the hospitality brand’s network. Conceived as an extension of the earth, the 1,500-square-meter retreat is nestled into a 10,000-square-meter coastal site. Its curved white form is barely visible from above, disappearing under a living roof that blends with the surrounding terrain.

Fujimoto, who recently served as Site Design Producer for Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai, designs EARTH with a focus on continuity between inside and out, architecture and landscape, sea and sky. The villa’s bowl-shaped structure draws visitors inward, while still opening outward to the ocean horizon. At the heart of the plan lies a courtyard garden by landscape designer Taichi Saito, featuring an oasis-like water basin and a children’s pool. From the firepit to the roof garden, and the way the sauna captures refracted sunlight from the pool above, guests move between elements of nature and shelter with ease.

images courtesy of NOT A HOTEL

‘earth’ accommodates up to ten occupants in its four bedrooms

The architecture of EARTH centers around a shared living-dining space that looks out directly onto an infinity pool blending into the ocean beyond. Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto designed this front-row view for watching sunsets, listening to waves, or enjoying a dinner prepared by a private chef. Adjacent to the open-plan space is a series of four bedrooms that sleep up to ten guests, each framed by full-height, bezel-less glazing. One room opens directly to a view of the sea, with a shallow water basin flowing between room and horizon.

Underneath, the first floor features a sauna where natural light filters through the water above to create a cavern-like atmosphere, mimicking the experience of being underwater. Guests can step directly from the sauna into an outdoor bath or continue into a fully equipped gym with a punching bag, Smith machine, and cardio equipment. The bathroom continues the horizontal design language of the villa, where the low-profile tub appears to merge into the seascape, following the villa’s architectural motif of vanishing edges.

Sou Fujimoto completes EARTH, a circular, green-roofed villa that seems to sink into the landscape

a private villa surrounded by nature

Originally announced in August 2022, NOT A HOTEL ISHIGAKI ‘EARTH’ was fully sold out via fractional ownership during the construction phase. 

While the villa itself feels like an escape from the world, guests are also encouraged to explore Ishigaki’s natural and cultural offerings. Activities include a traditional ‘sabani’ sailing cruise at sunset, private dinners accompanied by live sanshin music, and even custom brewing experiences of Awamori, Okinawa’s native spirit, made using copper pot distillation methods at the nearby Ikehara Brewery. For food lovers, the villa also offers a range of curated dining experiences centered around local ingredients, from premium BBQ to family-style Okinawan home cooking, always emphasizing minimal processing and deep connection to place. Located just 11 minutes from New Ishigaki Airport, EARTH situates high-end architecture within reach of nature. 

the 1,500-square-meter retreat is nestled into a 10,000-square-meter coastal site

the villa’s bowl-shaped structure draws visitors inward

a series of four bedrooms sleep up to ten guests

a sauna where natural light filters through the water above

EARTH’s architecture focuses on continuity between inside and out

guests move between elements of nature and shelter with ease

the gym is fully equipped with a punching bag, Smith machine, and cardio gear

project info:

name: NOT A HOTEL ISHIGAKI ‘EARTH’ | @notahotel_official

architect: Sou Fujimoto Architects | @sou_fujimoto

location: Miyara 120-92, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan

site area: 9,586 square meters

total built area: 1,489.13 square meters (including indoor space, terrace, pool, and water basin)

indoor area: 975.01 square meters

courtyard area: 2,066.07 square meters

construction: Maeda Toyo Construction Joint Venture

client / owner: NOT A HOTEL Co., Ltd.

operator: NOT A HOTEL MANAGEMENT Co., Ltd.

The post sou fujimoto’s circular green-roofed villa for NOT A HOTEL opens on ishigaki island, japan appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

In Bremen, Germany, a cluster of 1970s grain silos once used by Kellogg’s has been transformed into the John & Will Silo Hotel by Delugan Meissl Associated Architects (DMAA). The site, located on the Überseeinsel peninsula within the larger redevelopment of Überseestadt, forms part of one of Europe’s most ambitious urban renewal projects. With the River Weser on one side and Bremen’s city center nearby, the intervention repositions industrial heritage as a civic and cultural landmark.

The former Kellogg’s site, now a mixed-use complex, maintains the prominence of the original silos while introducing new programs across its perimeter. DMAA’s response preserves the visual identity of the site while subtly threading it into the changing rhythm of the waterfront.

images © Piet Niemann

Silos reimagined as hotel architecture

The concrete silos in Bremen, once capable of storing up to 5,000 tons of Kellogg’s grain, are now occupied by 117 uniquely configured guest rooms for the John & Will Silo Hotel. The architects at DMAA plan each room with a circular or semi-circular floorplan, following the geometry of the original silo forms. Vertical window slits have been carved through sixteen-centimeter-thick concrete walls to frame narrow, cinematic views of the Weser. These minimal apertures maintain the visual weight of the structures while admitting natural light deep into the cylindrical spaces.

The original red Kellogg’s logo remains emblazoned atop the tallest silos, asserting continuity with the past even as the interior is radically repurposed. Below, a low-rise annex formerly used as a vitamin store has been adapted into five levels of office and conference spaces, with a new rooftop pavilion serving as an event venue.

the Kellogg’s silos in Bremen have been transformed into a hotel by DMAA

Cutting through concrete, connecting new volumes

To adapt the Kellogg’s silos for hospitality use in Bremen, DMAA introduced new interior corridors and openings that connect the cylinders. Access routes were carefully threaded through the concrete mass, and 3,500 cubic meters of concrete were excavated and removed by hand. The hotel lobby incorporates the silos’ original funnel-shaped bases, allowing the building’s industrial function to remain legible within the new program.

The architectural intervention extends beyond the hotel. The adjacent rice store has been adapted into a market hall and restaurant cluster, while new terraces and an in-house brewery activate the waterfront with public life. These spaces contribute to a broader strategy for integrating communal amenities within the former industrial fabric of Bremen.

the project is located on the Überseeinsel within Bremen’s larger harbor redevelopment

DMAA preserved the industrial character of the original 1970s concrete structures

the complex includes restaurants, a brewery, and a market hall within the adjacent rice store

117 hotel rooms are carved into the cylindrical and semi-cylindrical forms of the silos

3,500 cubic meters of concrete were excavated to enable circulation within the silos

narrow vertical windows cut into the thick concrete offer framed views of the Weser

project info:

name: Kellogg’s Bremen Germany

architect: Delugan Meissl Associated Architects | @deluganmeissl

location: Bremen, Germany

client: John & Will | @johnandwill.hotel

address: Auf der Muggenburg 30, 28217 Bremen, Germany
completion: 2024

photography: © Piet Niemann | @_piet_niemann

project manager: Eva Schrade
project team: Birgit Miksch, Julia Oblitcova, Klaudia Prikrill, Martin Schneider,
executive planning: dt+p, Gruppe GME Architekten
structural engineering: Wittler Ingenieure
lighting design: Die Lichtplaner
building services engineering: Schweigatz Heizungsund Sanitärbau
building physics: Wittler Ingenieure

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Nestled in the forested hills of Karuizawa, Japan, The Cone by Kamiya Architects redefines the boundary between structure and nature through an inverted-conical roof that blends into its sloped terrain. Designed as a timeshare villa—straddling the line between a private residence and a boutique hotel—the project sits on a steep 3,000 sqm plot, responding to both topography and forest with fluidity. From above, the building presents as a sweeping arc that responds directly to the site. The gently curving plan mirrors the slope of the land, and the uniform, dark roof surface forms a powerful inverted conical shape, tapering inward toward a central point and culminating in a subtle protruding chimney.

images courtesy of Kamiya Architects

KAMIYA ARCHITECTS BALANCE ENGINEERING WITH ATMOSPHERE

Though legally a wooden structure, The Cone employs steel-reinforced beams to achieve a generous 15-by-12 meter span in the main living area, eliminating the need for bulky wooden columns. Instead, slim iron columns discreetly support the architecture, allowing for panoramic openings that blur the division between interior and landscape. By minimizing structural expression, Kamiya Architects emphasize spatial experience over tectonic display, allowing the architectural presence to feel quietly powerful.

Inside, the inverted cone becomes a luminous volume. The white-painted ceiling acts as a gentle reflector, amplifying daylight and diffusing indirect lighting at night. The result is a soft, ambient glow that enhances the cone’s concave geometry, creating an atmosphere that is both introspective and expansive. The Japanese architects use this reflective ceiling to transform the structure into a sensory landscape, where light and form heighten the emotional resonance of the space.

from above, the building presents as a sweeping arc

A CHOREOGRAPHY OF SPACE AND STONE

A curved central corridor arcs through the building like a hidden spine. Its full extent never immediately visible, the corridor evokes a sense of mystery. Radiating from it are variously scaled rooms that engage with the forest in different ways—sometimes framing, sometimes opening fully to the surrounding trees. At the heart of the communal living area sits a three-ton boulder, found in the nearby mountains and repurposed as a fireplace. This uncut, unshaped stone introduces an element of natural randomness that defies human authorship, grounding the otherwise controlled architecture.

the gently curving plan mirrors the slope of the land

the structure serves both as a private residence and a boutique hotel

the uniform, dark roof surface forms a powerful inverted conical shape

the project sits on a steep 3,000 sqm plot

the design responds to both topography and forest with fluidity

a subtle protruding chimney completes the roof design

the structure opens to panoramic views of the surrounding forest

inside, the inverted cone becomes a luminous volume

the white-painted ceiling acts as a gentle reflector

at the heart of the communal living area sits a three-ton boulder

the boulder serves as a symbolic anchor within the space

project info: 

name: The Cone
architects: Kamiya Architects | @kamiya__architects
location: Karuizawa, Japan

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The PURO Hotel quietly settles into the texture of Warsaw, Poland, occupying a site just steps from Plac Teatralny, near the National Opera and Saski Park. Discovered along Canaletta Street — named after the Venetian painter whose canvases helped reconstruct postwar Warsaw — the hotel invites guests into a softened dialogue between memory and modernity. With both its architecture and interiors crafted by Copenhagen-based design studio GamFratesi, the boutique hotel merges local context with a restrained Scandinavian sensibility.

The design team leans into the lightness of natural materials and subtle geometries. GamFratesi’s involvement from the outset enabled a rare unity between architecture, interiors, and atmosphere. The building feels carefully composed yet deeply accessible, composed with an understanding of human movement and spatial fluidity. Public areas on the ground floor shift gently between programs, centering around MUND, the culinary space where architecture and hospitality converge.

lobby, PURO Hotel | images © PION Studio

gamfratesi draws from Scandinavian quality and Craft

With its PURO Hotel in Warsaw, the architects at GamFratesi take design cues from Scandinavian traditions of quality and craft. Wooden floors by Dinesen stretch across interiors that feature custom furnishings, travertine finishes, and bespoke lighting. Every surface and element — whether a softly curved chair or a precisely paneled wall — was selected to age gracefully, and to contribute to the atmosphere rather than command it. The humble materials speak with intention and evoking a domestic calm.

The hotel contains 192 guest rooms, each designed with a similar architectural vocabulary. Their spatial arrangement privileges openness and natural light, while surfaces carry subtle references to the surrounding streetscape. Tonal variations across walls, floors, and textiles establish continuity without uniformity. In contrast to more decorative models of hospitality, the rooms lean toward utility, inviting occupants to settle in without distraction.

the hotel is located near Warsaw’s Plac Teatralny along Canaletta Street | MUND, PURO Hotel

A restaurant, A spa, And gallery-like interiors

The PURO Hotel’s MUND restaurant concept is a continuation of this subdued design logic. Part restaurant, part café, part bakery, the space brings a hybrid model of hospitality increasingly common in urban hotels. The interior maintains consistency with the rest of the project, avoiding thematic styling in favor of muted finishes and integrated furnishings. Menu development was shaped in part by baker Mateusz Ulman, whose work informed the structure of the kitchen and serving areas.

In addition to accommodation, the PURO hotel in Warsaw, Poland includes several ancillary spaces — a gym, a spa, and a conference area. These programs are incorporated without hierarchy, occupying their own corners of the building without disrupting the overall spatial rhythm. Their design reflects the same attention to materials and lighting seen elsewhere, continuing the project’s architectural logic rather than introducing a different aesthetic mode.

Interiors embed artworks that are part of the building’s structure rather than just its ornamentation. Works by Karolina Bielawska, Agata Bogacka, and Cyryl Polaczek share the walls with pieces by Swedish artist Ferdinand Evaldsson, whose relief adds a contemplative weight to the public spaces. These selections reinforce the hotel’s dialogue between Nordic design and Warsaw’s evolving cultural scene. Every piece was chosen for its material sensitivity and quiet resonance.

artworks throughout the hotel reflect local and Nordic sensibilities | MUND, PURO Hotel

baker Mateusz Ulman helped shape the MUND culinary concept | MUND, PURO Hotel

the MUND concept combines dining and bakery functions | MUND, PURO Hotel

natural materials and subdued finishes create a calm atmosphere | guest suite, PURO Hotel

guest rooms emphasize openness, light, and material restraint | guest suite, PURO Hotel

PURO Hotel is curated with an austere architectural presence | guest suite, PURO Hotel

GamFratesi designed the space with a unified architectural and interior vision | guest suite, PURO Hotel

project info:

name: PURO Hotel | @purohotels

architect: GamFratesi | @gamfratesi

location: Warsaw, Poland

photography: © PION Studio | @pionfotografia

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The 2025 edition of the A’ Design Award and Competition celebrates 1805 winning entries from 115 countries across 157 creative disciplines. From spatial and product design to fashion, graphics, and digital innovation, the award recognizes outstanding projects and their creators worldwide. Among this diverse pool of winners, designboom presents a curated selection of award-winning architectural works — from residential buildings and transport hubs to cultural landmarks, hospitality, office, and commercial spaces — that stand out among the diverse winning entries.

Designers, studios, and brands can already submit their work for the upcoming 2026 edition — register here to join the next round of entries.

Mystical Serpent Light Art Installation by Phaidesign
image credit: DXIN

name: Mystical Serpent

designers: Jiewen Luo, Linhui Miao and Yanlong Li

award: Platinum

category: Fine Arts and Art Installation Design

EXCEPTIONAL CREATIVITY HONORED WITH THE A’ DESIGN PRIZE 

Announced annually on April 15, the A’ Design Award and Competition honors exceptional creativity across a wide range of design categories. A jury of design professionals, academics, press members, and entrepreneurs review thousands of submissions, ultimately selecting the best projects from all around the world. Winning projects are awarded the A’ Design Prize, which includes a physical trophy, award certificate, and publication in the annual yearbook. Winners also benefit from global exposure through press release distribution, a public relations campaign, and the right to use the A’ Design Award winner logo. Additionally, laureates are invited to participate in the winners’ exhibition and attend the gala-night and award ceremony in Italy.

The full list of winners is available here, along with interviews offering behind-the-scenes insights from select designers.

Awakening Immersive Experience by Nathalia Cristina de Souza Vilela Telis

image credit: Nathalia Cristina de Souza Vilela Telis

name: Awakening

architects: Nathalia Cristina de Souza Vilela Telis

award: Silver

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

OPENED DOORS FOR 2026 SUBMISSIONS

With the announcement of the winning designs in 2024 – 2025, creatives from all disciplines, including architecture, interiors, graphics, fashion, product design, and beyond, are invited to submit their best works for consideration as submissions to the 2026 edition are open. More details about the competition, evaluation process, jury members, and deadlines can be found on the official website.

Urban Symbiosis Mix Use Towers by Xiyao Wang
image credit: Xiyao Wang

name: Urban Symbiosis

architect: Xiyao Wang

award: Gold

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Twist Bridge Pedestrian Overpass by Ge Wang
image credit: Ge Wang

name: Twist Bridge

architect: Ge Wang

award: Silver

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Dongtou Passenger Port Cruise Terminal by Pengfei He
image credit: Pengfei He

name: Dongtou Passenger Port

architect: Pengfei He

award: Gold

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

DUSITANON Residence by Phaithaya Banchakitikun
image credit: Phaithaya Banchakitikun

name: DUSITANON

architect: Pengfei He

award: Silver

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Amazon Bus Station by Fernando Andrade
image credit: Fernando Andrade

name: Amazon

architect: Fernando Andrade

award: Silver

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Bumi Kinar Hotel And Resort by Tonny Wirawan Suriadjaja
image credit: Mario Wibowo

name: Bumi Kinar

architect: Tonny Wirawan Suriadjaja

award: Bronze

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Green Island Urban Power Substation by Xudong Zhu
image credit: Xudong Zhu

name: Green Island

architect: Xudong Zhu

award: Bronze

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Fuma House by Masakatsu Matsuyama
image credit: Toshihisa Ishii

name: Fuma

architect: Masakatsu Matsuyama

award: Platinum

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Bk Salon Restaurant by Phaithaya Banchakitikun

image credit: Phaithaya Banchakitikun

name: Bk Salon

architect: Phaithaya Banchakitikun

award: Gold

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Huai’an Zhongshuge Bookstore by Li Xiang
image credit: SFAP

name: Huai’an Zhongshuge

designer:  Li Xiang

award: Platinum

category: Interior Space and Exhibition Design

Open Field Space Office by Rong Han
image credit: Shanxi Shanye Architectural Design Co., Ltd

name: Open Field Space 

designer:  Rong Han

award: Silver

category: Interior Space and Exhibition Design

Xloop Shopping Mall by Junwei Shen
image credit: arch-exist

name: Xloop

designer: Junwei Shen

award: Bronze

category: Interior Space and Exhibition Design Category

Aziz House Residential Building by Sara Harhash
image credit: Sara Harhash

name: Aziz House

architects: Sarah Harhash , Ahmed Nader, Mustafa Hussain and Abdulrahman Ahmed

award: Silver

category: Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Zhi Lan Sustainable Hotel by Jinxiang Zhao
image credit: Jinxiang Zhao

name: Zhi Lan

designers: Haochen Xu, Jinxiang Zhao and Haige Huang

award: Bronze

category: Hospitality, Recreation, Travel and Tourism Design Category

Timeles Elegance Club House by Kris Lin
image credit: Kris Lin International design

name: Timeles Elegance

architect: Kris Lin

award: Gold

category: Hospitality, Recreation, Travel and Tourism Design

Mirabilis Bar and Dusk Lounges and Bars by Chun Hoong Lau
image credit: Chun Hoong Lau

name: Mirabilis Bar and Dusk

designer: Chun Hoong Lau

award: Silver

category: Interior Space and Exhibition Design Category

Moon Trace Art Installation by Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts
image credit: Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts

name: Moon Trace

designers: Nanfeng Zhan, Designer:Bojia Xiao, Designer:Xiaolan Xie, Designer:CLEMENT HIMBERT

award: Silver

category: Fine Arts and Art

Waterscape Colab with Jpre Office by Moriyuki Ochiai Architects
image credit: Daisuke Shima

name: Waterscape Colab with Jpre

designer: Moriyuki Ochiai

award: Silver

category: Interior Space and Exhibition Design Category

The post explore standout architecture among a’ design award and competition 2025 winners appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

With the latest images unveiling the interiors of Olson Kundig‘s Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Telluride, California-based Clements Design offers a glimpse into a sensibility attuned to stillness and shelter. Tasked with shaping the hotel and residence’s amenity spaces, the studio brings its signature blend of relaxed refinement to the Colorado mountains, curating interiors that are both tailored and unpretentious, grounded in the drama of the landscape but never overwhelmed by it.

The lobby pavilion, central to the hotel’s social experience, is imagined as a light-filled retreat with floor-to-ceiling glazing that gives precedence to the surrounding peaks. Anchored by a stately fireplace, the space captures a sense of quiet grandeur — echoing the ‘prospect and refuge’ approach described by Olson Kundig in its vision. Clements Design draws on natural textures and warm tones, offering a counterpoint to the elemental vastness just beyond the glass. See designboom’s previous coverage of the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Telluride here.

Clements Design reveals Four Seasons amenities with a tone of quiet luxury | visualization © Hayes Davidson

amenities for wellness in telluride’s mountains

Throughout the wellness amenities, the team at Clements Design leans into material tactility and atmospheric restraint. The spa comprises seven treatment rooms, a silent Relaxation Lounge, and a Thermal Lounge that introduces a contemporary bio-sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, and cold plunge. These spaces are composed with an almost meditative stillness, reinforcing the developers’ ambition to raise the standard for mountain wellness. As a subtle intervention, oxygenation systems integrated into every room demonstrate the studio’s attention to context at high altitude.

The indoor pool and adjacent outdoor hot tub are framed by mountain views, extending the wellness experience into the landscape. Clements Design avoids theatrical gestures, opting instead for generous proportions and subdued palettes that emphasize sensory comfort over spectacle. The inclusion of cryotherapy, LED light therapy, and hyperbaric oxygen treatments signals a forward-thinking approach to spa design, while still grounded in the restorative spirit of the mountains.

Fitness and family-oriented amenities are similarly composed, as the state-of-the-art gym and kids’ club share a common language of ease and functionality. Ski-in/ski-out access and a dedicated ski valet point to the team’s fluency in both the rhythms of resort life and the expectations of Four Seasons clientele.

visitors are introduced to the rooftops and ridgelines before ever entering a room | visualization © Binyan Studios

four seasons draws from spirit of the mountain town

In addition to the amenity spaces, Clements Design is also crafting the interiors of the hotel and hotel residences. The firm’s casual and deeply textural approach provides a strong complement to Olson Kundig’s architecture, which fragments the massing into three low-slung structures to preserve views and respect the mountain town’s intimate scale. This collaborative tone resonates throughout the interiors, which mirror the rugged quietude of the landscape.

The unfolding of the project, from the public lobby to private spa chambers, suggests a choreographed guest experience. Much like the arrival by gondola described by architect Tom Kundig, which introduces visitors to the rooftops and ridgelines before ever entering a room, the interiors invite a sense of slow discovery. 

The project is being developed by Fort Partners and Merrimac Ventures, with construction set to begin this summer. Upon completion, the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Telluride will offer 52 hotel keys, 43 hotel residences, and 26 private residences — each shaped by an ensemble of designers attuned to the nuances of place. Where Olson Kundig’s buildings embrace topography and tectonics, Clements Design lends interiors a subtle, grounded rhythm that keeps the guest experience tethered to the spirit of the mountains.

the lobby frames Telluride’s peaks through full-height glass and natural materials | visualization © Binyan Studios

Clements Design opts for generous proportions and subdued palettes | visualization © Binyan Studios

each room integrates an oxygenation system to ease the effects of altitude | visualization © Hayes Davidson

fitness amenities are designed with a warm, subdued elegance | visualization © Binyan Studios

the spa features seven treatment rooms and a silent lounge with mountain views | visualization © Binyan Studios

the wellness suite includes a steam room, bio-sauna, jacuzzi, and cold plunge | visualization © Binyan Studios

project info:

project title: Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Telluride

architecture: Olson Kundig

interior design: Clements Design

location: Telluride, Colorado

status: construction set to begin Summer 2025

The post four seasons telluride reveals wellness-focused interiors by clements design appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

The newly completed Xirang Hotel by Vector Architects unfolds like a quiet maze in Jiangsu’s watery countryside, bridging the elemental and the urban with a choreographed sequence of spaces. Surrounded by the soft, vaporous Taihu Lake to the east and a lively market to the west, the hotel stands at the intersection of civilization and remote nature. In response to this multidirectional context, Vector Architects orchestrates a project that is at once outwardly receptive and inwardly introspective, offering guests a deeply spatial experience rooted in vernacular traditions and sensorial nuance.

The hotel is structured around a modular courtyard concept that anchors its design language. Each courtyard is tailored to a specific program — be it circulation, gathering, or quiet contemplation — and shaped by natural elements such as light, water, and vegetation. These courtyards are not isolated but aggregated into a loosely gridded cluster, with volumes of varying scales and characters gently colliding and coexisting, creating an intimate architectural topography that feels both spontaneous and deliberate.

image © Luo Canhui

Cascading Forms in Dialogue with Landscape

At ground level, Vector Architects’ Xirang Hotel is unified by a continuous covered verandah that threads through all nine courtyards. This passageway forms a spine of movement, guiding visitors eastward down the site’s natural slope. The architects leave the terrain intentionally uneven, with a gentle descent that culminates in a pond, aligning the built environment with the existing landforms. Sloping eaves and tiered rooflines accentuate this gradient, composing a visual rhythm that cascades from Zhushan Mountain to the canal’s edge.

The spatial language is perhaps most palpable in the way each courtyard is crafted as a distinct atmosphere. One is dappled with golden daylight that filters through foliage; another is centered on a sculptural bronze funnel — the Raindrop Atrium — that channels rainfall in a spectacle of sound and motion. These microcosmic environments harness natural elements to evoke sensations of calm, wonder, and even play. The shifting interplay of light and dark, compression and release, amplifies bodily perception and reinforces the tactile quality of the architecture.

the Xirang Hotel responds to four contrasting site conditions in Jiangsu | image © Luo Canhui

A Tower of Light by the Canal

To the east, the Xirang Hotel by Vector Architects opens onto the Camphor Courtyard, a broad garden space that gazes out to Taihu Lake. Guest rooms here are sheltered behind a delicate double-height copper mesh that glows warmly at sunrise and sunset. Along the canal, a striking glass-brick tower, 24 meters tall, serves as a lighthouse-like beacon, its translucency catching the changing sky and offering a vertical counterpoint to the otherwise horizontal layout.

Sightlines are never accidental. Every aperture, canopy, and wall segment is orchestrated to frame a specific view: the curve of a hillside, the shimmer of rippling water, or the movement of boats in the distance. These framed vistas are not static but evolve with the time of day and the weather, generating a dynamic montage of impressions that guests move through — each moment delicately composed, yet always fleeting.

In its layered procession of spaces, Xirang Hotel by Vector Architects resists grand gestures in favor of architectural restraint. What emerges is a poetic balance of enclosure and openness, of structure and scene — a living maze where body, memory, and environment intermingle in quiet dialogue.

the layout is based on a modular courtyard system, each with a unique theme and function | image © Luo Canhui

nine courtyards are connected by a continuous covered verandah that traces the site’s slope | image © Luo Canhui

the descending ground plane creates subtle level changes that integrate with the topography | image © DONG

volumes feature stepped eaves and brick cladding, culminating in a glass-brick light tower | image © Luo Canhui

each courtyard offers a distinct experience shaped by light, wind, scale, and atmosphere | image © Luo Canhui

strategic apertures frame curated views of lake, mountain, and river for a cinematic journey | image © Luo Canhui

project info:

name: Juxtaposed Maze — Xirang Hotel

architect: Vector Architects | @vectorarchitects

location: Wuxi Yixing Zhoutie County Dayouqiu, Jiangsu, China

landscape design: Zhejiang Lansong Landscape Design Group

area: 16,675 square meters 

completion: August 2024

photography: © Luo Canhui, © DONG

principal architect: Dong Gong

project architect: Guan Shipeng

site architect: Jiang Ming

design management: Zhao Liangliang, Feng Chaoying

construction management: Zhao Liangliang, Li Jinteng

design team: Li Shuyang, Yan Xu, Jiang Ming, Ma Xiaokai, Huang Tianzhi, Wang Ying, Weng Qicheng, Mao Bo, Li Mofei, Huang Xiongshen

The post a landscape of courtyards: vector architects’ xirang hotel bridges land and water in jiangsu appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Hotel Avándaro, located in Valle de Bravo, Mexico, is the result of a comprehensive renovation and masterplan by architecture studios Chain + Siman and modomanera. Originally built in 1958 by Mexican modernist Francisco Artigas and later modified in the 1990s by architect Noldi Schreck, the property has undergone a redesign that maintains key architectural features while introducing updated spatial and material strategies. The 3,000 sqm hotel complex includes 81 guest suites, a convention center, two restaurants, a boutique, deli, golf course, clubhouse, and multiple communal areas. The site, situated within a forested area approximately 90 minutes from Mexico City, remains a venue for corporate gatherings and recreational stays.

The design reorganized circulation to separate and clarify pathways for hotel guests, club members, and event participants, improving spatial flow throughout the complex. While contemporary interventions were added, original architectural elements, such as sloped roofs and timber structures, were retained and adapted through new geometries and detailing. Materials including wood, stone, brick, and neutral-toned finishes were selected in response to the natural surroundings.

all images by Rafael Gamo and Celia Rojo

Chain + Siman and modomanera update hotel’s interior layouts

The collaborative design teams by Chain + Siman and modomanera studio renovated the guest suites with a focus on updated interior layouts. Original wooden ceiling beams were preserved, and new features, such as suspended fireplaces and outdoor balconies, were introduced to extend interior space toward the surrounding landscape. Sustainability was a central component of the project. Emphasis was placed on restoration over demolition to reduce waste and preserve embodied energy. A former dividing wall facade was adapted as a load-bearing element within a newly developed sequence of shared spaces. Additional environmental strategies included the installation of solar panels, a rainwater harvesting system, passive climate controls, and adaptive lighting.

Material sourcing and construction labor were largely local. The use of regional materials minimized transportation impact and supported local production. Employment generated through construction and operations was prioritized for members of the local community. The renovated complex includes new features such as JOSĒ Restaurant and La Acuarima, a circular pavilion adjacent to a natural canal, as well as a deli, café, and gym facilities. The project integrates architectural conservation with contemporary spatial needs, establishing a balance between heritage, environmental considerations, and operational functionality.

Hotel Avándaro sits within a forested landscape near Valle de Bravo, Mexico

neutral-toned materials complement the surrounding forest environment

JOSĒ Restaurant adds new culinary programming to the complex

timber, stone, and clay bricks form a cohesive material language across the site

the project features artwork by Mexican sculptress Charlotte Yazbek

a combination of vegetation and artisanal clay plates decorate the restaurant’s walls

the wooden beams are left uncovered to filter natural light, creating an interplay of light and shadow

Hotel Avándaro’s common areas integrate responsive lighting that illuminates beams and sloped roofs

the renovation includes two restaurants, a boutique, deli, golf course, clubhouse, and multiple communal areas

extensive views of the forested landscape turn the deli into an iconic viewpoint

a new spatial layout improves circulation between guests, members, and event attendees

Chain + Siman and modomanera led the comprehensive design overhaul

the project merges architectural continuity with updated hospitality design

project info:

name: Hotel Avándaro
architects: Chain + Siman | @chainsiman, modomanera | @modomanera
location: Valle de Bravo, Mexico

photographer: Rafael Gamo | @rafael_gamo, Celia Rojo | @celiarojo.fotografia

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

The post chain + siman and modomanera revive modernist landmark hotel avándaro in mexico’s forest appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

Ergon Bakehouse is a hospitality project located in a restored early 20th-century building in central Athens, designed by architect Vasilis Tsagris and adapted by USP – Urban Soul Project. The space integrates a bakery, retail area, dining space, and hotel accommodation, maintaining original architectural elements such as plasterwork, staircases, and an elevator. The design approach incorporates materials and forms that reference the baking process, creating a cohesive spatial identity.

all images by Mirto Iatropoulou

Urban Soul Project combines bakery, retail, and hotel spaces

At the core of the project by Greek architectural practice USP – Urban Soul Project is the 72H Artisanal Bakery, where bread and pastries undergo a 72-hour preparation cycle. The bakery, led by head creative baker Nikos Chandolias and pastry chef Martin Kitan, is designed with visibility in mind, allowing guests to observe the baking process through preserved historic window frames. The adjacent retail and dining spaces extend the experience, integrating the production and consumption of baked goods.

The hotel section consists of 29 rooms designed with references to professional kitchens and traditional bakeries. The material palette includes dark firebrick, stainless steel counters, and linen textiles, contributing to a functional yet warm interior. A defining element in the rooms is the ‘onda,’ a recessed sofa that serves both as a lounge area and an extra sleeping space. Artwork by Stratis Tavlaridis and Nikos Handolias further connects the interiors to the themes of craftsmanship and baking.

Ergon Bakehouse occupies a restored early 20th-century building in central Athens

the project blends a bakery, retail space, dining area, and hotel accommodation

Urban Soul Project adapts the space with materials referencing the baking process

the retail and dining spaces extend the bakery experience into the hospitality setting

the bakery’s open design fosters interaction between guests and the baking process

the hotel consists of 29 rooms inspired by professional kitchens and traditional bakeries

the material palette includes dark firebrick, stainless steel, and linen textiles

the use of raw materials echoes the transformation of ingredients into finished goods

Ergon Bakehouse reinterprets the spatial experience of a traditional bakery within a contemporary hospitality setting

the hotel interiors connect hospitality with themes of food and craftsmanship

project info:

name: ERGON Bakehouse

architect: USP Architects – Urban Soul Project | @urban.soul.project

location: Athens, Greece

partners in charge: Maria Tsaftari

hotel lead architects: Artemis Papanikolaou, Maria Petsani, Dimitris Stefanidis

hotel design team: Alexandros Pantelidis, Mary Vasilaki, Mina Chatzimanoli

restaurant, retail lead architects: Ioanna Tzampazi, Margarita Vogiatzi, Christiana Tsantali

MEP: Emmanouil M. Papadogiannis Mechanical Engineer, REV

facade lighting: BARISLIGHT

construction: Orange Partners Α.Τ.Κ.Π.Υ. Α.Ε.

set stylist: Sissy Rousaki

supervision: Polyscape

photographer: Mirto Iatropoulou | @mirtoiatropoulou, Mia Dorier | @miadorier

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

The post urban soul project’s ergon bakehouse in athens references traditional bakeries appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.