For a luxury hospitality group, Modellus Novus completed a proposal for a 25-key ryokan-inspired hotel situated along the northeastern seaboard of the United States. The design defines luxury through simplicity and directly ties the architecture to the experience of the surrounding landscape. A deliberate mix of utility and comfort, the buildings are a tool for drawing attention to the changing conditions of the coastal landscape: rammed earth walls formed from local soil, as well as unsealed timber elements, develop a patina with the salt air and breeze; outdoor circulation creates an awareness of climate, topography, and the smells of nearby flora; operable architectural screens allow guests to react to the position of the sun and direction of the wind; and individual outdoor soaking tubs provide a meditative space in which to quietly observe the changing horizon and windswept dunes.
Distributed over two complementary buildings, amenities include guest suites with private exterior spaces, a 75-seat restaurant, health and wellness facilities, a natural outdoor pool, and direct access to pristine beachfront, sand dunes, and forest. Meant to be used through all four seasons, the architecture of the hotel supports a sense of do-it-yourself, casual adventure that is a respite from urban life, while also facilitating privacy and comfort for guests during their stay.
Stats
25
Number of keys planned for this exclusive retreat, all with direct views of the ocean
800
Length of the project, in feet, allowing guests to emphatically experience the landscape into which the building is situated
335
Distance in feet to the nearby ocean shore
1
Outdoor onsen-style stone soaking tub provided for each hotel room, giving visitors a serene place to observe the surrounding landscape
235
Length of the naturally-filtered private swimming pool perimeter, in feet
22
Height in feet of the highest sand dune on the project site