HOTEL REVIEW |
SB Architects has completed one of the world’s largest spa destinations in a style inspired by the traditional walled villages of Southern China.
Mission Hills Haikou, Hainan Island
Words: Rebecca Lo Photography: Courtesy of Glodow Nead Communications
fortified architecture. At three- to five- storeys high, they house up to 80 Hakka or Minnan families and are often doughnut shaped, with a thick, load bearing outer wall made from rammed earth. Their elegantly simple forms allow for naturally lit, well- ventilated, earthquake-proof structures that remain cool in the summer, while retaining warmth in the winter. In 2008, they were recognised as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO for harmoniously cohabiting with their surrounding environment, and now, this traditional style has found its way into present day hospitality design. The San Francisco head office of SB
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Architects has used tulou architecture as a source of inspiration for Mission Hills Volcanic Mineral Springs and Spa, one of the
Sleeper China 2012
ulou dwellings commonly found in the southeastern part of China’s Fujian province are considered to be excellent examples of rural
world’s largest spa destinations and part of the expansive Mission Hills resort in Haikou, Hainan Island. The complex is owned by Mission Hills Group, one of China’s leading developers of hospitality and leisure real estate with aspirations of transforming Hainan into an international tourism destination. Boasting an exceptional variety of sports and leisure facilities including ten golf courses, a theme park, arts and crafts centre, shopping arcade, and 12 restaurants and lounges, the resort accommodation comprises 423 guestrooms, 98 Premiere rooms and suites, and four Presidential Suite Duplexes. The latest addition is the 21-acre Mission Hills Volcanic Mineral Springs and Spa with 29 exclusive spa villas, 61 treatment suites, and over 150 natural springs and water features surrounded by gardens designed in collaboration with landscape architect EDSA. The spa is the central defining structure
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