DESIGN DETAILS
LANDSCAPING & OUTDOOR SPACES
Sumei Skyline Coast Boutique Hotel Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BC with their primary function being to support the weight of the architecture above. Today, they serve that same purpose, but are also employed for aesthetic effect, creating visual illusions or serving to frame views of the surroundings. Such was the case for Shenzen-based firm GS Design, whose striking façade at Sumei Skyline Coast Boutique Hotel on the shores of Hainan mimics the rise and fall of ocean waves, with consecutive arch-shaped windows offering vistas of the clear blue waters beyond. Out on the pool deck, circles carved within square walls overlap to form a layered effect within a hot spring area, while geometric elements and semi-circles act as threedimensional installations. All-white rounded and parabolic arches also feature, drawing the eye and perfectly framing the ocean beyond. “Focusing on the relationship between building and materials as well as the interaction of form, light and shadow, our aim was to interpret the connection between human, space and nature,” say Yuanman Huang and Liangchao Li, Founding Partners and Design Directors at GS Design.
© Ao Xiang
