Zaha Hadid Architects designs hotel to wind around Okinawa beach

UK studio Zaha Hadid Architects has designed a snaking hotel for hospitality brand Not A Hotel, which will perch above a coastal site in Okinawa, Japan.

Set to be nestled between a forest and beach, the Vertex Hotel for Not A Hotel will include villas, suites and an outdoor pool within its 25,300-square-metre volume.

According to Zaha Hadid Architects, the hotel will be designed to "preserve the island's unique coastal and marine ecosystems", in line with guidelines laid out by local environmental authorities.

Render of the Vertex Hotel in Okinawa — Zaha Hadid Architects has designed a snaking hotel for Not A Hotel

Zaha Hadid Architects' design for the hotel borrows its curving form from the contours of the surrounding limestone geology.

"A continuation of the existing rock formations within the site, the design follows the contours of the shoreline, articulated as a series of stepped horizontal terraces, courtyards and gardens that echo the site's varied topography," the studio said.

"The composition, orientation and materiality of the hotel have been informed by detailed investigations of its oceanfront site."

Render of Not A Hotel site by Zaha Hadid Architects — Its form mimics the contours of its site in Okinawa

Renders of the proposal reveal the hotel's soft-edged floor plates, which will extend outwards from a largely glazed facade and be wrapped at ground level by a slim outdoor pool.

It will be perched above the beach and have a modular structure composed of prefabricated components, intended to minimise disturbance to the local environment during the construction process.

The material palette will include locally-sourced pine and limestone, chosen to embed the hotel into the surrounding landscape, while prefabricated concrete elements will have a tone and texture hoped to evoke the white sands of nearby beaches.

"The hotel extends the rich tradition within Okinawa's historical architecture of showcasing the exacting craftsmanship of master builders and artisans working with the region's finest materials," Zaha Hadid Architects said.

Render of person sitting in Vertex Hotel pool — An outdoor pool will wrap around the ground floor

Curved canopies overlooking the ocean are set to wind around the facade to form shaded outdoor spaces that nod to deep eaves found in the island's vernacular architecture.

According to the studio, they will have bespoke forms determined by an analysis of the site's daily solar irradiation.

"The stepped canopies of the hotel gently transition from the unique geology of the shoreline to the dense vegetation of the rainforest, giving uninterrupted views of the ocean and a deep connection to the surrounding environment," said project director Ludovico Lombardi.

Exterior render of the Vertex Hotel by Zaha Hadid Architects — Canopies will form shaded outdoor spaces for guests

According to the studio, natural ventilation will be prioritised throughout the hotel's communal areas and villas. Additionally, all facilities will be elevated at least 6.5 metres above the high-water line to mitigate the risks of harsh coastal weather.

Elsewhere, Zaha Hadid Architects recently unveiled its design for an Italian hospital arranged around multi-level gardens and a waterfront stadium and sports centre in Guangzhou.

The renders are by Negativ.

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