Woods Bagot_Lifestyle_Hotel and Resort_1

01.Global StudioLifestyle: Hotel and Resort Design Lifestyle

Lifestyle:Hotel &Resort Design

01Lifestyle: Hotel & Resort Design

Who We Are

Woods Bagot is a global studio that designs and delivers buildings and interiors across five sectors: Aviation & Transport, Education & Science, Sport, Workplace and Lifestyle.

Our network of 16 studios operates in five regions: Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. We employ some of the world’s leading designers focusing on architecture, interior design, masterplanning, urban design and consulting.


Our Global Studio

850+ People16 Studios5 Regions5 Sectors


Our Clients

BaccaratBanyan Tree Edwardian GroupFairmont Raffles & SwissotelFirmdale HotelsFour SeasonsGMP Group GreenlandHiltonHyattIHG GroupJumeirahKa’ana BelizeKempinski HotelsKOP PropertiesMarriottMerivaleMorgans Metropol GroupPafilia Property DevelopersReignwood GroupStarwood


Lifestyle—Our Offer

Lifestyle projects are those in which our design approach offers guests and customers an ‘authentic’ live/leisure experience. This experience is sensitive and responsive to specific cultures and contexts, capturing the essence of the environment in which such projects are delivered.

We create distinctive hotel, resort and hospitality destinations that make clear statements about how people live, work and play. Our designs are united by their ability to provide insight into the ‘bigger story’ behind each development in terms of its context and evolution. Understanding the site and the surrounding built environment, and responding with a design solution which is modern, functional and deliverable is key to the success of our projects.

This approach results in exceptional schemes which create memorable and unique guest experiences. Wherever possible, we base our designs on a ‘family’ of products with the same essential ‘DNA’. These often reference the local vernacular, materials and styles, but deliver the feel of a private residence rather than a conventional hotel or guest villa experience.

Understanding the interests of the guests and visitors who use the hotels and resorts we design is the starting point for our approach. Expectations differ between business or leisure customers, single or multiple guest experiences, or international travellers simply expecting the ‘extraordinary’. We start by identifying the desires and aspirations of guests, both in terms of abstract feelings and practical requirements. These directly inform the mapping of individual guest experiences which, when overlaid with one another, create a detailed picture of the services and facilities required, helping to identify public and private areas of activity and interaction.


Our Approach

A rigorous design process is central to our approach. Woods Bagot Design Intelligence is the primary method we employ to ensure the best possible outcome for our clients, stakeholders and end users. Our aim on each project is to create a built environment of lasting quality and value. We strive to create exceptional buildings and spaces, while contributing to the communities they serve and realising the business goals of our clients.

Sustainability is an integral component of our projects as we constantly seek to measure and —ultimately—limit our impact on the environment, both as businesses and individuals. We design sustainable buildings that are commercially viable and we work closely with our clients to make this standard practice, rather than the exception.

Underpinning all our work is a strong emphasis on effective collaboration between our regional studios and a highly flexible approach towards shared working in terms of project resourcing, specialist knowledge, design management and leadership. This means that we are able to tackle projects through a variety of approaches that adapt to specific needs, ranging from discrete in-country teams to full cross-border, multi-locational collaboration.

Our experience with some of our global clients demonstrates our ability to manage a large number of design projects in parallel with multi-market locations, including those where we do not have a physical presence. This reflects the robustness of our collaborative approach and our ability to ensure that the quality and delivery of our product is—at all times—consistently high wherever we work.

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Edwardian GroupLeicester Square HotelLondon, UK

Woods Bagot is working for Edwardian Group to design a new hotel in Leicester Square, London.

The proposal is for a landmark building, integrated into the fabric of the West End cinema experience, accommodating 360 guest rooms across seven floors, two Odeon cinemas, a spa, restaurants, bars and a 500-seat banqueting suite.

The hotel will occupy an entire city block in the south-west corner of Leicester Square and will complete the rejuvenation of one of London’s busiest public spaces. The site stands at the intersection of four conservation areas, each with their own separate scales and identities, and this has strongly influenced the quality and type of materials used in the design.

The main body of the building is formed in natural Portland stone and complemented by an inner layer of royal blue faience creating moments of colour and texture.

Natural zinc roof-panels, designed to fold into a series of partially twisted forms along the length of the roof, create a striking rhythm at high level and help to reduce the bulk and mass of the building.

Whilst recognising that much of the new hotel needed to respond in scale and detail to the surrounding streetscape, the Woods Bagot team was actively encouraged by planning officers to create a striking corner on Leicester Square. The bold tower-like form serves as a new marker for pedestrians moving between Trafalgar Square and the West End.

06Lifestyle: Hotel & Resort Design Hotel: Project 01


Firmdale HotelsHam Yard HotelLondon, UK

The first new-build Firmdale hotel in the UK, designed by Woods Bagot, opens in Spring 2014 in the Soho area of central London.

Before it was acquired by Firmdale, Ham Yard had been an abandoned site close to Piccadilly Circus. The hotel not only helps to repair the urban fabric of the site, but also fully engages the wider neighbourhood within which it is located.

The new development comprises a 91-room hotel as well as 24 luxury apartments, 13 retail units and a restaurant, bar, gym and spa. Within the basement is a 176-seat theatre space and a series of private event spaces, including a four-lane bowling alley.

At the heart of the proposal is a new public square linking Great Windmill Street and Denman Street. This creates a pedestrian route from Golden Square to Piccadilly Circus, breathing new life into a previously unattractive and neglected corner of Soho. Lined with shops, restaurants and a new arcade on Denman Street, the route will pass through an attractively landscaped courtyard that forms the entrance to the hotel and provides opportunities for outdoor dining.

The design approach seeks to encapsulate the distinctive architectural landscape of Soho by delivering a building which is complementary to the scale, massing and materials of the area, while providing a contemporary addition to one of London’s key leisure and tourist districts.


Reignwood Group10 Trinity Square Hotel London, UK

10 Trinity Square, the former headquarters of the Port of London Authority, is one of London’s most cherished and important buildings. Built between 1911 and 1922, this grand Portland stone courtyard building is Grade II* listed, and forms part of the Tower of London World Heritage Site.

Woods Bagot was appointed to implement a sensitive approach to the redevelopment of this prominent site, being careful to preserve the listed elements of the existing building, while incorporating two new floors and expanding the public area into the existing courtyard.

As part of the overall restoration project, Woods Bagot created a modern interpretation of the original rotunda. The rotunda is an integral part of the restoration, connecting the first, second and third floors of the main building to this unique space.

The space has been carefully designed to maximise views from within. The rotunda’s twisted fins will create an optical illusion, giving shape to the simple geometric form whilst providing privacy for those guests occupying hotel rooms in the courtyard. The terrace surrounding the rotunda will be a hidden garden with an infinity-edged water feature at its base.

The development, which overlooks the River Thames, includes 120 guest rooms and 41 luxury serviced residences, with residents enjoying unrestricted access to facilities including a spa, fitness centre, swimming pool and a 24-hour concierge.

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GreenlandThe Greenland CentreSydney, Australia

The Greenland Centre—at 115 Bathurst Street, Sydney—comprises a 170-key, 5-Star hotel within a restored, listed building as well as a partial new-build, 235m-high tower offering 450 apartments.

Woods Bagot’s design proposal is for a sensitive refurbishment of the existing Art Deco office building which seeks to restore its heritage features while reconfiguring the space as a contemporary design hotel, with a rooftop restaurant, bar and pool.

Guest rooms—across six floors—feature luxurious interiors. Original features of the building—including marble columns—are celebrated, complemented by a range of modern finishes and materials. The materiality of the new elements reference the original stone and timber veneer panelling, with lighter tones visually helping to connect the large ground-floor space.

The existing structure adjacent to the proposed hotel will be built upon to form Sydney’s tallest residential tower.



JumeriahGrosvenor House ApartmentsLondon, UK

The Grosvenor House Apartments are located in the Mayfair district of London, offering 133 apartments, including four penthouses operated by Jumeriah Living as exclusive ‘hotel residences’.

Woods Bagot was engaged by Park Lane Properties Ltd as the lead architect to refurbish the hotel apartment complex and create a new central atrium. We also collaborated with Anouska Hempel Design on the interior design of the apartments and lobby area.

Creating an apartment-hotel complex in an historic building—originally designed by Edwin Lutyens in the 1920s—was a challenging brief. The design needed to work with the existing, operational hotel spaces below, including Europe’s second largest ballroom, as well as respond to the existing inefficient floor plates of the building. As a result, considerable additional space has been created within the scheme.

The atrium provides a new guest lounge on the second floor reception, featuring a substantial fireplace with dining and seating areas and soft landscape zones—all key elements of a London home. The apartments fronting the new atrium were increased in area by extending floor plates into the atrium. Variable apartment layouts and interconnectivity, by way of lobbied alcoves, provide flexibility while a high-end finish reflects Woods Bagot’s desire to remain in keeping with the building’s landmark status. The Grosvenor House Apartments have achieved a 5-Star hotel standard within the constraints of a building which had not been modernised for many years. The development opened in April 2012.


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Metropol GroupBanyan Tree ResortSveti Marko Island, Montenegro

Proposed as Banyan Tree’s first European resort, Sveti Marko Island comprises 74 private residences and a 160-key hotel, set on this private haven of exceptional natural beauty in the midst of the UNESCO-listed Kotor Bay.

The project required close collaboration with the local government to ensure sensitive development of the site. The hotel is designed to merge with the lush landscape of cypress trees, olives and acacias which covers the island. Buildings were kept off the ridge lines to allow the distinctive profile of the land form to remain untouched. Large-scale excavation was avoided and the approach focused on protecting the coastline from erosion.

Private villas—ranging from 300–700m2, each with its own jetty—are interspersed throughout the landscape. All feature cantilevered pools and terraces to take advantage of the dramatic views.

The hotel comprises 60 deluxe suites—with plunge pools—within a central building, offering magnificent views of nearby mountain ranges. A further 100 beach bungalow suites are included in the development.

An authentic and unique architectural design was achieved by referencing the local vernacular and materiality in a contemporary aesthetic. Roof forms reflecting the surrounding landscape provided an identifiable architectural ‘brand’.

16Lifestyle: Hotel & Resort Design Resort: Project 01


GMP GroupLas Colinas, Golf & Country ClubAlicante, Spain

Las Colinas Golf & Country Club is a resort development in Murcia, southern Spain. The site covers 200,000m2 of outstanding natural beauty, including dense pine forest and the remnants of agricultural terraces with groves of citrus trees. The championship golf course has been designed by the renowned North American landscape architect, Cabell B. Robinson, and extends across the valley between the hills, adapting to—and integrating with—the contouring of the landscape.

In addition to the golf course there is an established clubhouse, beach club and residential development, managed by Troon Golf.

The client was looking for a fresh architectural approach and Woods Bagot was appointed to design a family of new villas to respond to the client’s requirements and broaden the resort’s appeal. The Phase 1 villas have different characteristics depending on the type of landscape they sit in. Forest villas seemingly float amongst the pine trees; patio villas sit amongst orange groves on the agricultural terraces; finca villas lie on the river flats; and modern Mediterranean villas have elevated views of the golf course.

Woods Bagot’s proposal was for a lower-density development with a range of eco-friendly buildings that creates a ‘preserve’ and a community rather than a typical resort development, forming a secluded haven of natural beauty with residences of lasting quality that can be passed on to future generations.


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Kempinski HotelsThe WaveMuscat, Oman

Woods Bagot was appointed to undertake architectual, landscape and interior design services for this new landmark 5-Star hotel in the heart of the Wave Muscat development in Oman. The site—which enjoys absolute waterfrontage—adjoins an 18-hole championship golf course on one side and connects to the marina and central commercial district on the other.

The hotel incorporates 309 guest rooms and 68 serviced apartments as well as extensive landscaped gardens, a destination gym and spa, two swimming pools, restaurants, bars, and a ballroom on the corner of the site for up to 1,000 guests.

The hotel element is based on a reinterpretation of the architecture found in local villages. The hotel is designed as a series of smaller buildings creating courtyards which offer an intimate guest experience. A dozen retail outlets encourage a vibrant street atmosphere, connecting the hotel to the neighbourhood.

The ballroom has been designed to reinforce movement around the corner of the site. The massing of the buildings, careful choice of materials, clean lines and simple detailing provide a contemporary aesthetic.


Pafilia Property DevelopersMinthis Hills Golf & Country ClubMinthis Hills, Cyprus

Minthis Hills is set in a stunning undulating landscape outside Paphos, Cyprus, on a 1,200-acre site. Woods Bagot has taken an holistic approach to the creation of the project vision. This involved masterplanning—in conjunction with Capita Lovejoy—architecture and interior design and also leading the resort branding—in conjunction with consultants Bear—to create a unique country retreat lifestyle experience.

The masterplan incorporates a major upgrade of the existing golf course and ancient monastery, as well as the creation of a 600-villa residential offer, a contemporary clubhouse and a village centre with spa, taverna and local shops. The clubhouse comprises a gourmet restaurant, meeting facilities, a sales office and pro shop.

The design draws reference from traditional Cypriot mountain village architecture through the use of stone and timber and is blended with a dramatic roof and stunning views of the golf course and mountains beyond. Woods Bagot has designed nine villa types of various sizes, and the first phase of these villas is now complete.

The overall architectural concept for the development has been established by the clubhouse design and is an approach which seeks to provide privacy while maximising views for each villa. Outdoor spaces are optimised through the use of stepped terraces and infinity pools that are incorporated into gardens which blend seamlessly with their natural surroundings. The interiors utilise natural ventilation and incorporate winter courtyards which feature open fires and barbecue areas.

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Image Credits

All images in this brochure are owned by Woods Bagot except:

pp 06–07: Cityscape (far left)pp 08–09: Assembly Studios (far left)pp 10–11: Visualisation One (far left); Jorge Luis Dieguez (below, near left)pp 14–15: Will Pryce (all)pp 18–19: Las Colinas (above)pp 22–23: Minthis Hills (all)

DubaiLevel 3, Suite 313, Emarat Atrium Sheikh Zayed RoadPO Box 58041DubaiUAE+971 4404 [email protected]

Hong Kong6th Floor200 Gloucester RoadWanchaiHong Kong+852 2526 [email protected]

London75 Riding House StreetLondon W1W 7EJ

MelbournePodium Level 13 Southgate AvenueSouthbankMelbourne VIC 3006Australia+613 8646 [email protected]

New York8th Floor142 West 57th StreetNew YorkNY 10019USA+1 646 756 [email protected]

PerthFleet HouseCnr King & Murray StreetsGPO Box 2797Perth WA 6001Australia+618 9322 [email protected]

San Francisco5th Floor228 Grant AvenueSan Francisco CA 94108USA+1 415 277 [email protected]

ShanghaiSuite 1001Shanghai Bund Intl Tower99 Huangpu RoadShanghai, 200080China+86 21 6356 [email protected]

SingaporeRobinson RoadPO Box 960Singapore, 901910+65 8666 [email protected]

SydneyLevel 260 Carrington StreetPO Box N19Grosvenor PlaceSydney NSW 1220Australia+612 9249 [email protected]

Contact Us

Abu DhabiSuite 1413, Makeen TowerCorner 9th & 10th StreetPO Box 110710 Abu DhabiUAE +971 2657 [email protected]

AdelaideLevel 14 11 Waymouth Street GPO Box 338 Adelaide SA 5001Australia +618 8113 5900 [email protected]

BeijingLevel 5, Building 15Taikoo Li Sanlitun North11 Sanlitun Road ChaoyangBeijing, 100027China+86 10 6419 [email protected]

BrisbaneLevel 13, Waterfront Place1 Eagle StreetPO Box 7842Waterfront PlaceBrisbane QLD 4001Australia+617 3308 [email protected]

CanberraLevel 5, St George Centre60 Marcus Clarke StreetGPO Box 1996Canberra ACT 2601Australia+612 9295 [email protected]

DohaServcorp Qatar LLCLevel 14/15 Commercial Bank PlazaWest Bay,PO Box 27111 DohaQatar+974 4452 [email protected]

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