Mica

Wellness Resort

The project for the semester is "a global eco-resort that promotes rest, rejuvenation, and healing for guests using the concept of the four elements of matter." The resort is to showcase and connect to a dynamic and inspiring landscape, as well as incorporate a relaxing guest environment, a comprehensive experience of the elements, and a property that operates sustainable.

Elemental Research

The four elements theory from Democritus were widely accepted amongst philosophers, but the “primary element” was a subject hotly debated. Empedocles argued that there was no primary element of the four, but rather that all earthly things were made of a combination of the four. He lit a stick on fire to show the presence of all four elements: fire burning the stick, earth in the ash left behind, water in the wet residue, and air in the smoke created.
My research focused on how the elements interacted with both humanity and the structures they build and how the elements exist in nature. I felt that by understanding both aspects, I would be able to more completely incorporate all of the elements within my work.

Site

The site of the resort is located within Indonesia. The land formations are found along the north coast of the island of East Nusa Tenggara in the Lesser Sunda Islands. The temperature averages at 86 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year with about 250 hours of sun each month. The islands of Indonesia are filled with large varieties of exotic flowers, fruits, and spices.

Master Plan Concepts

This was the first design I developed, and I drew most of my inspiration from the landscape itself. I designed the agora portions of my resort to reflect the natural formations of the land with a garden space underneath. The villas branch out from the main building in corresponding areas of the landscape. The earth villas are in a densely forested area, the air villas are elevated, the water villas are near the river, and the fire villas are in an area that allows them to form a campfire-like array.

For my second design, I took the shapes from my original design and rotated them to create a layered shape for the building. In this design, I chose to experiment with putting the villas together in an enclosed space rather than having them separate. The garden space is still under the central building area and serves as a gateway between the building and the villas.

For my third design, I wanted to create something that cut through the natural shapes of the landscape. I used geometric shapes rather than organic for the buildings, and played with overlapping walkways connecting them. The villas are once again disconnected from each other, and the garden is between the two ground buildings and under the second story building.

Master Plan Final Concept

I decided to work on my third concept idea for the master plan because I felt it had something more to offer than the other designs, which I felt relied too heavily on the shapes of the landscape. In response to the comments I received in my critique, I chose to orient the walkways to reflect the elements further in the design. I also adjusted the area the garden occupied, as well as where the elemental follies existed within the space.

Follies

Garden Folly

For my air folly, I adapted a design from the popular video game Skyrim, which features a variety of farms and gardens. I chose to adopt the cage-like pillars that surround the garden, but to expand the amount of area it covers to include more room to grow both local and traditional crops that can be used within the resort.

Fire Folly

My fire folly is based off of a fire pit structure I came across in my research. I admired the shape of the structure and how it related to the element, and I decided to integrate the shape into an array of ovens within the garden that can be used to cook. This allows for cooking class opportunities, which collaborate with the fresh produce from the garden folly.

Air Folly

When researching the element air, I focused a lot on the idea that air is best represented through its interactions. I wanted to represent this through sound, which gave me the idea to hang windchimes over a large, open area. I feel the area would serve well as a meditation space and can facilitate guided meditation and yoga sessions. The floor is a light marble with cracks filled with gold/bronze metal, mimicking a Japanese pottery style.

Water Folly

For my water folly, I wanted to contrast the energy of moving water and still water, and chose to do so with a design that slows water through rock formations, until it trickles into a calm koi pond. This process mimics the human process of relaxation, and can be used as a tool to do such.

Villas Concepts

Water Villa

For my water villa, I wanted the flow of movement to center around a body of water. The pool is the central element in this design, and the other structures wrap around it. The structures largely lack walls, and are open air to allow the occupants to connect with the sea-side nature around them. I am still exploring the possibility of a curtain that snakes around the structures. As for health and wellness, the design of the pool includes an infinity lap pool for aerobic health, as well as a hydrotherapy tub in the bathroom, which utilizes jets to massage. I like the idea of making the ground in this villa limestone with fossil imprints to mimic sea rock and add another element of the ocean and water into the design.

Earth Villa

In my earth villa, I wanted to open up the space as much as I could to the jungle landscape the resort is in. I did this by using both glass and open air aspects within the design, as well as incorporating a garden specific to the villa, which allows the occupants to connect to the earth through produce and healthy eating. I plan to use local materials in the construction, mainly dark wood for the exterior walls, and thatched palms on the roof. I want to express earth subtly through the materials it supplies architects, fully capturing how earth interacts with a dwelling.

Air Villa

In my air villa, I wanted to reflect height and layers, which occur within elevation, as well as keeping an open air concept. One of the challenges I ran into in this design is the rain that tropical climates get. I solved the issue by using skylights in areas I‘d rather omit roofs, such as in the meditation area. The meditation area is the health and wellness element of the air villa. The open air platform opens directly to nature outwards, and features a large skylight above to connect with the sky. The area is designed with a program of meditation and yoga, and has enough space to incorporate the different equipment associated with each aspect of relaxation.

Fire Villa

For my fire villa, I wanted to mimic a fire pit, which signifies warmth, comfort, and the hearth of a dwelling. The design encircles a fire pit, which is below an opening of the stretched canvas roof. The roof it supported by pillars that mimic the propped logs in a fire pit, with the villa being the warmth they encompass. The design also largely lacks walls, with the exception of privacy and utilities, which is based on fire’s ability to hollow out thinner, weaker elements in a structure, leaving an open floor plan behind. Around the villa, there is a bed of chili plants, and the kitchen features a large, hibachi style grill, which further incorporates elements of fire found within the home into the villa.