The Grand Mansion Hotel sits atop a historical museum on the site of a former palace, the ruins of which have been preserved and are now an extension of the main museum exhibit, with parts that can be seen across the street. The overall design concept was to reinterpret a traditional leisure garden featuring Japanese cherry, bamboo, and maple trees, and the greenery here forms a link with the palace garden across the way. A simple and serene rooftop garden terrace, located on the museum/hotel’s third level, is also designed to draw your eye across the street to the palace ground. Sitting there with the cascading sounds of water falling and a view of the city in the distance may indeed encourage one’s thoughts to travel back to a simpler time. The primary water feature has infinity edge and provides a reflective surface to recall and merge the historical ground of the ancient past to the present. Sycamore trees along the site’s edge provide a screen for the museum and a hardscape plaza at ground level accommodates street drop-off for guests.
W Hotel Palm Dubai
Positioned on the outer ring of Palm Jumeirah, the W Hotel and neighboring residential towers celebrate the contrasting views to the city’s urban skyline in one direction… and to the infinite sea horizon in the other. These contrasting views droves the form and texture of design elements throughout the property, exemplified by the juxtaposition of geomet...
Hyatt Gainey Ranch
The 28-acre site is part of an existing master planned resort community. The golf course and lake were existing. The owner wanted water gardens and had in mind tropical gardens with artificial rocks and rope bridges. The designers convinced the owner that a concept that recalled ancient South American themes was more appropriate for the desert. Lines of date p...
Kyoto Hotel
This project transforms an old elementary school site into an iconic destination for visitors and community. SWA reinterpreted the traditions and culture of Kyoto and proposed a poetic landscape design for this former schoolyard, transforming it into a welcoming community garden and courtyard.
The courtyard, as a public space, is designed simply, provid...
Bishops Lodge
Bishop’s Lodge Resort is a 66-acre parcel situated along valleys and ridges in the high New Mexican desert, four miles from downtown Santa Fe, known for its history, natural beauty, outdoor activities, and isolated location. The core of the resort is composed of a number of individual lodge-style buildings, along with the historically significant 150+-ye...