The ICA Art Fair happened from November 21 to 23 at W High Street in Bonifacio Global City (BGC). This inaugural art fair was organized as a charity event for the benefit of the ICA Alumni Association Scholarship Foundation. “This one-of-a-kind charity event will feature a curated selection of leading contemporary artists, displaying works across […]
The Cliff Hotel Jeju: How to Accentuate the Environment Around Us
The Cliff Hotel Jeju is another example of building to accommodate the nature around us; but instead of residential homes, it’s a commercial establishment that capitalizes on its views to attract tourists. Built in 2015 by Soltozibin Architects and located in Seogwipo, South Korea, it sits atop Hanlla Mountain facing a vast valley with vistas of the Eongtto Falls, as well as the Yeryecheon.
With lead architect Cho Namho steering the ship, the hotel is an example of Narrative Landscape, which seeks to create environments that use the physical space and all that surrounds it to convey a sense of place and story.
Triangular Building Plans
The hotel is built in the shape of a trinity. It contains three distinct sections of the hotel coming together within a central triangular space. The trinity conforms to the cliffside’s topography, and treats guests to spectacular views of the valley.
Building the structure demanded adapting to the cliff’s dramatic slopes. This meant following the natural undulations and making necessary changes to the landscape to perfectly conform to the mountain’s shape.
This meant placing the lobby in an underground level due to the site’s topography. But this created a problem in the form of an empty space of the hotel’s actual ground level. The architects turned it into a grassland garden to connect the hotel’s buildings and courtyard together.
The lobby in the basement creates some curious architectural features. While the parking lot is built below ground, it’s technically on top of the grassland garden and conforms to the building’s shape. That conformity to the triangular structure works well enough to allow an easier way for cars to enter and exit the parking lot of the building.
Modern Amenities by the Cliffside
Meanwhile, areas like the atrium accommodate the form of the building with its triangle-cylindrical shape. It creates a sleek look that appears almost futuristic. One could point out that it would not be out of place on the set of science fiction movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey.
The hotel’s design cleverly takes advantage of the mountainous area’s dramatic cliffside edge. The planning of the amenities situate them below the main building, oriented towards the forested valley below. This creates a sense of harmony with nature.
Among these include a restaurant deck with windows that show off the outside, and an infinity pool whose edge cantilevers directly above the valley and its streams.
The Cliff Hotel Jeju shows that architecture on a large, commercial scale need not destroy the natural landscape it occupies. Buildings can and should conform to the environment surrounding it as much as possible. And one’s reward, beyond a livable Earth, are spectacular views that give your stay in the country something to remember it by.
Related reading: The Solid Wave Pattern of This Residence in Jeju Island is Inspired by The Nearby Ocean
Swiss architect and designer Aurel Aebi, co-founder of atelier oï alongside Armand Louis and Patrick Reymond, brings a tactile, storytelling approach to design. Visiting Manila for the Louis Vuitton Savoir Rêver exhibition, Aebi shared insights into their philosophy and process, demonstrating how everyday objects can transform into elegant, functional art pieces. At atelier oï’s studio […]
This 2024, we’ve seen a lot of emerging design ideas, taking inspiration from fashion, music, psychology, and philosophy, that changed the way we perceive interior spaces. And now that we’re approaching the Yuletide season, you might want to break away from your usual way of decorating and try something fresh and out of the ordinary. […]
Given the busy schedule of Dr. Aivee Teo—juggling the beauty care of top celebrities and offering free consultations and minor cosmetic surgeries in various barangays through her Beauty Beyond Borders program—it is no surprise that she views her home as a refuge and a space where she can spend time with her family. With the […]
Am I?, the second exhibit of up-and-coming artist Poula Sitjar, finds itself reckoning with the way expectations from society affects us and our perspectives in life. The artist specifically comes to this from the perspective of a woman, with all the contrary pressures and expectations put upon women in modern times. Feminism and the continued […]
In MyHome’s year-end issue, we explore the art of creating new traditions while honoring the old. Our cover story features Dr. Aivee Aguilar-Teo’s stunning holiday-ready home, styled in partnership with Furnitalia. Their timeless Italian pieces complement the elegance of the Teo family’s aesthetic, highlighting the interplay between tradition and modern sophistication. For Dr. Aivee and […]
The Baccarat flagship store in Shangri-La Plaza is meant to resemble an elegant French apartment with white walls and raised panel wainscoting and black and white checkered tiled floor by the window. Of course these design elements only set the stage for what really is the star here – Baccarat’s fine crystal that glimmers and […]
From boosting security to streamlining tasks, smart gadgets can help make your home safer, your routines easier, and your energy bills lighter. By effortlessly combining convenience and efficiency, they give you more time to focus on what truly matters. As more Filipino households embrace the digital age, incorporating smart technology into daily living is now […]
Download this month's BLUPRINT magazine digital copy from:
Subscribe via [email protected]