Bill Bensley and Gensler partner to create St. Regis resort 'paradise' in Malaysia
Bangkok-based interior designer Bill Bensley, UK hospitality designers G.A. Design and international architects Gensler are among the creators of the latest property opened by hotel brand St Regis: a luxury resort in Malaysia’s UNESCO-protected archipelago Langkawi.
The St. Regis Langkawi Resort, which opens today (6 April), is the first new high-end resort in the 99-island chain in a decade. It is owned by Indonesia’s Rajawali Property Group.
The concept of the design has been described by St. Regis as “paradise found and refined” and blends “the style and energy of a European mansion” with Middle Eastern finishes. A six-storey building – inspired by a nearby palace – sits on a 600 metre stretch of white sand beach overlooking a natural 100,000sq m (1,000sq ft) private lagoon that integrates with the Andaman Sea.
“The design team sought to provide a resort to strengthen Langkawi’s position in the luxury tourist market,” said Tom Lindblom, principal architect at Gensler. “Our compelling architectural vision defines the entire resort experience as a journey of discovery – of sanctuary, of vistas, of wellness, of cuisine, of fresh water and of salt water."
The resort also features four overwater villas and 85 suites, including 20 private pool suites with cabanas. Indoor spaces are matched with the outdoors, with a light colour scheme inspired by the island’s shimmering corals, emerald green sea, and verdant jungles, along with “bold, precious metallic accents and local artwork that underscore the island’s rich heritage and natural surroundings.”
The resort’s Iridium Spa has eight treatment rooms, with water cascading on the windows, and surrounds a central sunlit water court.
Other facilities include a St. Regis Bar, a wine cellar, an Athletic Club fitness centre, a ballroom, a signature greenhouse-inspired L'Orangerie restaurant and an Asian-influenced destination restaurant called Kayuputi.
Describing the latter, Bensley – who recently designed a luxury tent and villa encampment hidden in the jungles of Laos – said: "At Kayuputi, everyone immediately feels welcome, like you would at someone's destination beach house on the water, where there's something magical and effervescent in the air, as if there's always a fabulous party happening or waiting to happen."
The St. Regis brand is part of the Starwood portfolio. The parent company is set to merge with Marriott after a rival bid led by Anbang Insurance Group was withdrawn recently/a> as “a result of market considerations.” The merger will create the world’s largest hotel company.
St Regis Malaysia Langkawi Bill Bensley Gensler G.A Design hotel design architecture UNESCODesign revealed for $US40bn Forest City on Malaysian islands
St. Regis Macau features 38th-floor ‘gem’ of a spa
St Regis Dubai’s new Iridium Spa will be the wellness centre that time forgot
Starwood bringing St. Regis brand to the Maldives
Renowned yoga master leads personal programmes at The Andaman
Homely spa design is the future, says Bill Bensley
St. Regis Chengdu debuts with an Iridium Spa
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Aman sister brand Janu launching in Tokyo in 2024 with design by Denniston's Jean-Michel Gathy
The Peninsula London unveils Peter Marino-designed spa inspired by London’s famous parks
First glimpses revealed of Mandarin Oriental, Mayfair's subterranean spa retreat
"Architecture is alive" says Ma Yansong, as Shenzhen art museum opens exhibition showcasing work of MAD Architects
SHA Mexico to debut in January 2024 with genome-inspired design by Sordo Madaleno
Tom Walker exploresthe storybehind TottenhamHotspur’sgroundbreakingnew footballstadium