Cool minimalism in a Boracay hotel, todays topic

by:Dennis Ladaw

When hotelier Annabella Santos-Wisniewski first saw the Boracay property she acquired for her hotel, she discovered it was a piece of land that covered a hilly slope and stretched all the way to the beachfront located at the island’s tranquil Station 1.
"I fell in love with it immediately because its location between slope and sea offered some of the most magnificent views of the island. I certainly thought it would make an ideal location for a hotel," she says.
Wisniewski manages HSAI-Raintree, which operates the Discovery Suites and Discovery Tagaytay Suites. The hotel she eventually built on the parcel of land in Boracay is the Discovery Shores. The setting of the property inspired her to create "an environment of sublime indulgence."
"The beauty of Boracay itself was my only inspiration behind the concept of the resort. Here, the traveler will have a chance to experience modern indulgences in a setting that is pristine and natural," she explains.
Wisnewski hired the designers of W.V. Coscolluela and Associates, who collaborated with Budji Layug and Royal Pineda. The result of this collaboration is an interplay between familiarity and surprise, which is palpable in the hotel’s sleek cosmopolitan architecture. Cantilevered out over a slope, the clusters of vertical lines emphasize endless space and could be at home in a upscale urban community. The open canals meandering through the structures provide a playful counterpoint and an unmistakable resort feel. Against the Boracay skyline, the property cuts like a sleek stencil.
The architects and designers chose to use simple elemental materials such as wood, stone, glass, and cement, all of which are uniquely interpreted in the design of each of the 88 guestrooms. The approach to the guestrooms is open and floating. They’re carefully studied in such a way that every space is maximized effectively. By keeping the space simple and open, the feeling of the room is peaceful and uncluttered.
The rooms were also designed to offer every luxury amenity available to guests, but without making them forget they’re in a lush tropical island resort. The colors and materials chosen for the interiors serve as the reminders. Also, most of the guestrooms overlook either the mini gardens, the hotel’s 14-meter high waterfall, or the sea itself.
The cool, minimalist look of the hotel blends beautifully with the sugar-white sands of the island’s famous beach.
The clean architecture is also a sharp contrast to the gaudy and colorful structures that proliferate the rest of the beachfront of Boracay. Where the rest of the island resembles a venue for rambunctious partying, the look and location of Discovery Shores promises serenity and peace of mind.
In fact, the hotel’s management is wary of hosting major events that might disturb the privacy of guests. Quiet and less rowdy gatherings are preferred - the hotel is ideal for elegant cocktail parties, unprententious barbecue dinners and screenings of classic films like "Casablanca"... right on the beach.

source:mbonline.com