The new resort and spa in Dominica’s Picard district aims to set a benchmark in terms of unique character and personality. The island of Dominica is a place evoking the sensorial, the artisanal and the restorative. The resort is to portray these features as an homage to its homeland. Drawing inspiration from this briefing, the task is to provide and develop a concept that can guide the design of the resort’s entrance in the direction of an iconic, grand figure.
This brief has been carried out through an analysis of the place’s fundamental characteristics, from its nature and geography through to the urban areas and infrastructures surrounding it. From here on, a series of determining factors have been established as guidelines and constraints of appropriate design. There is in the concept’s core level a desire to express a striking state, and delve into its further development in the planning and construction phases.
From traditional to contemporary
The shape for the concept arose from analysing characteristics such as the direction of the circulation, the direction of the wind and therefore rain, and the lateral views that we can achieve with the location of the façade entrance. Once these elements are analysed, we provide a particular solution that aims to emphasize several strong points of the resort possibilities and context.
We take as a starting point the traditional Ajoupa structure. From this we make a set of modifications to make it more attractive and impressive while being able to host our requirements. As a result, we have one iconic, but familiar structure that can be seen from far away and that has an intimate scaled space underneath.
Even if the visitors will be properly attended inside the entrance building, it is always nice to be received by someone from the hotel; for this matter we place a small counter where some first information could be displayed and someone from the resort can be waiting for guests. It is likewise welcoming to be able to sit and relax in this representative space while you wait for someone else to arrive or to simply enjoy the views.
The four corners of the structure adapt to each need of the space below: the lateral spaces cover the counter, the sitting area and the inner road from the rain, the rear corner is shaped as a flat triangle in order to match better with the alignment of the entrance building, while the front and bigger corner gets pushed out so, despite being higher, it also covers the guests arriving by car or foot from possible rain.
The impression on visitors can be further optimised by exploring several material options and lighting systems that can emphasize the pavilion’s sculptural and functional qualities. These wil be explored in the following chapters.
Date
2019
Location
Dominica
Status
Commission
Program
Hotel entrance
Surface
400 sqm
Author
Maze Studio
Design Team
Javier López-Menchero, James Moya
Collaborators
Richard Quittenton – Visualization