Aman Kyoto by Kerry Hill Architects
Kyoto, Japan
Capturing the essence of Japan’s ancient imperial capital, Aman Kyoto transports you to a secret garden where nature, history and architecture beautifully coalesce. As the latest addition to Aman Resorts in Japan, Aman Kyoto opened just under five years ago, following Aman Tokyo and Amanemu. Designed by Australian-Singapore firm Kerry Hill Architects, it offers a modern interpretation of the traditional Japanese Ryokan inn and onsen, featuring 24 guest rooms, two two-bedroom villas, and dedicated living, dining and spa pavilions.
Located in Kyoto’s Takagamine district, the resort is within walking distance of Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion), one of Kyoto’s 17 Unesco World Heritage sites. Embedded in a historic hidden garden of moss-covered footpaths, forested slopes, and streams, Aman Kyoto feels remarkably secluded while deeply connected to the city’s past, providing an authentic and immersive design stay.
Aman Kyoto is a testament to Kerry Hill Architects’ understanding of its environmentally and culturally significant site and the Aman Resorts philosophy. The resort invites guests to contemplate, wander, and find peace in nature, transcending any preconceived notions of wellness and retreat.
Aman Kyoto by Kerry Hill Architects | Photography Courtesy of Aman Resorts
Aman Kyoto by Kerry Hill Architects | Photography Courtesy of Aman Resorts
Aman Kyoto by Kerry Hill Architects | Photography Courtesy of Aman Resorts
Vipp Cold Hawaii | Photography courtesy of Vipp
Vipp Cold Hawaii
Thisted, Denmark
Emphasising how the natural and the constructed can work as one, Vipp Cold Hawaii functions as anything from a surf retreat — hence the name — to a space to escape to and wake every morning to the sound of the sea. The guesthouse’s architect, Ebbe Lavsen, transformed the historic early 1900 cottage into the modern guesthouse, describing the location as a surreal experience; “When you step out the door, you step into a national park. The sensation of being in a no-mans-land, almost in a moon-landscape, strikes you.” The two-storey guesthouse comprises three double bedrooms, a ‘utility’ room, two bathrooms, and an open-plan living and kitchen area.
Ebbe’s architecture pairs with the refined interior design of Julie Cloos Mølsgaard to highlight the striking exterior landscape from within. The guesthouse is walled with large floor-to-ceiling windows, and the interiors – down to the linen – are designed to retain a feeling of serenity while drawing attention to the beauty of the ever-present national park.
“I aimed to make the Vipp guesthouse in Cold Hawaii as tranquil and comfortable as possible, creating somewhere guests would want to stay longer and where they could simply relax surrounded by the untamed nature,” Julie affirms.
Vipp Cold Hawaii | Photography courtesy of Vipp
Vipp Cold Hawaii | Photography courtesy of Vipp
Vipp Cold Hawaii | Photography courtesy of Vipp
Casa TO by Ludwig Godefroy
Puerto Escondido, Mexico
Situated in the resort town of Puerto Escondido, Casa TO was crafted as an immersive experience that seamlessly integrates raw materials and organic forms with the local landscape. Despite its central location in the country’s surfing capital, the design-forward hotel offers a sense of seclusion while being within arm’s reach of all the town has to offer.
Designed by local architecture firm Ludwig Godefroy, the building prominently features concrete and is enveloped by lush tropical plants, evoking the sensation of a traditional Oaxacan temple. A standout example of this design approach is the concrete pool area on the ground floor; this striking architectural element creates the feeling of bathing in a jungle sanctuary by blurring the boundaries between indoors and outdoors.
Casa TO comprises nine thoughtfully designed suites, offering a respite from the sun-soaked days and lively nightlife of the town. The six ground-floor suites feature private gardens adorned with subtle decor, while the three upper-level suites feature secluded terraces complete with outdoor tubs, inviting guests to relax and unwind amidst nature’s embrace.
Casa TO by Ludwig Godefroy | Photography by Biel Moreno
Casa TO by Ludwig Godefroy | Photography by Biel Moreno
Casa TO by Ludwig Godefroy | Photography by Biel Moreno
Casa TO by Ludwig Godefroy | Photography by Biel Moreno
Château des Fleurs | Photography by Mr. Tripper
Château des Fleurs | Photography by Mr. Tripper
Château des Fleurs
Paris, France
Located near the iconic Champs Elysées, adjacent to the Arc de Triomphe and the Golden Triangle, stands the Château des Fleurs, a recently opened luxury boutique hotel. Housed within a historic 1910 building, the luxury hotel has been reimagined as a homage to the grace and refinement of the 19th-century Parisian balls and offers a decorative nod to the effervescent spirit of the ‘Belle Epoque’.
“We wanted to create a reinterpretation of late 19th century Art Nouveau and adapt it to our times. For this, we were inspired by organic shapes and the natural imagination and diverted everything with certain levels of minimalism,” says the design team behind the hotel. Château des Fleurs is also home to the esteemed Restaurant OMA, a Korean-French fusion restaurant by well known Chef Ji-Hye Park.
Chateau des Fleur was recently awarded the distinction of a Michelin Key. This award highlights their commitment to providing an exceptional hotel experience, combining luxury, elevated design and the refinement of the Parisian Belle Époque.
Château des Fleurs | Photography by Mr. Tripper
Château des Fleurs | Photography by Mr. Tripper
Grand Hotel Bellevue London
Paddington, London
Grand Hotel Bellevue London is the first British outpost for French hospitality group Lignée Hotels. Designed by French architect Fabrizio Casiraghi, the name behind the Hôtel des Grands Voyageurs in Paris, the recently opened boutique hotel is located within a former Victorian townhouse. Spanning 60 guest rooms and five floors, Grand Hotel Bellevue London is designed to emulate the warmth of a traditional English home, imagined as the ‘London residence of an eclectic couple’.
Greeted by a white Victorian facade in Norfolk Square, Paddington, it’s immediately clear upon entry that Fabrizio wanted to design each space as ‘if it were a cocoon’. The reception area is wrapped in rust-ochre walls and dark boiserie, layered with a mix of bespoke velvet and antique furnishings, a marble fireplace and period mouldings. In the adjacent a Pondicherry Bar, the interiors feature focal textiles by fashion label Bode. The material palette is more restrained in the guest suites, where cream walls and dark wood meets terracotta or soft green carpets, curtains, and custom soft furnishings, with matching tiles in the bathroom.
Grand Hotel Bellevue London | Photography by Billal Taright
Grand Hotel Bellevue London | Photography by Billal Taright
Grand Hotel Bellevue London | Photography by Billal Taright
