The vertex hotel is a concept focused on design where architecture meets advanced technology. The first hotel in the series will be developed in Okinawa and was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The building is distinguished by the studio’s characteristic curves and its cascading layout makes it resemble a ferry set on the ground. The developer is NOT A HOTEL.
The planned complex will be built on a plot of land situated between a turquoise bay with white beaches and the steep slopes of a subtropical forest. From the outset, the architects worked with the aim of minimal intrusion into the environment, integrating the development into the natural terrain and providing unobstructed ocean views for every room. A key element of the design was respect for Okinawa’s unique coastal ecosystems and coral reefs.
ZHA based the concept on an analysis of the site’s geology, dominated by Ryukyu limestone formations (sediments of ancient coral reefs) that date back 400,000 years. It is this layered structure, combined with a humid microclimate, that creates the conditions for a lush rainforest. In response to strict guidelines from the forestry commission, marine conservation organisations and local environmental authorities, the architects designed the development to ‘float’ above the site. The hotel was placed on the boundary between the forest and the beach, reducing the physical footprint of the development and protecting the biodiversity of both ecosystems.
The massing of the building develops as a continuation of the natural rock formations. Terraced layouts, courtyards and gardens follow the shoreline, creating an architecture that does not dominate the landscape but coexists with it. Each element was preceded by detailed analyses of the climatic conditions: temperatures, humidity, precipitation, wind directions, sunshine, air quality and varying ground and sea parameters. This data was used to create digital models to optimise the building’s occupant comfort and energy efficiency in Okinawa’s challenging subtropical climate.
One of the most distinctive elements of the design are the elaborate canopies, the form of which is derived from an annual solar analysis. They form a cascading system of shaded terraces that slope smoothly towards the coast. This is a contemporary interpretation of traditional Okinawan roof eaves, which for centuries have protected homes from intense sun and rain.
The architecture has been designed to take maximum advantage of the natural winds of Kāchibē, which bring cool air from the ocean in summer. All communal spaces, rooms and villas benefit from natural ventilation, which significantly reduces energy requirements. At the same time, the building’s structure has been raised at least 6.5 metres above the high water line to meet the challenges of monsoons, typhoons and heavy rainfall. Advanced engineering solutions to protect the building from the effects of seismic activity have also been incorporated into the design.
With an eye on the environment, the architects used modular structural and façade systems based on prefabricated elements with textures and colours inspired by the white sands of local beaches. The prefabricated elements will be made of concrete containing recycled aggregates from no longer used buildings on the islands, which fits the project into the idea of a circular economy.
source: Zaha Hadid Architects
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