Top 6 Must-See Summer Eco Resorts Around the World!ARCHITECTURE
by Othnie Kingsley Chanda
VIEW SLIDESHOWSummer is here and we've rounded up a slew of destinations for you to enjoy a fabulous yet eco-friendly vacation. Whether you want to lounge at the beach or hike in the mountains, we here at Inhabitat suggest you check out these six spectacular eco resorts located across the globe. From caves to treehouses, we've selected these resorts for their commitment to sustainable design, environmental stewardship, promotion of local or organic food, and their dedication to social good for the local community. See them all ahead, and don't be shy about looking into one (or more) for a visit!
Photo courtesy Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali, IndonesiaAlila Villas Uluwatu, Bali, IndonesiaThe Alila Villas Uluwatu combines the best of tropical luxury and sustainable design. The Earthcheck-certified resort on Bali’s southern Bukit Peninsula finds its inspiration from the local homes in which local farmers live. The rooms’ decorations, from handmade ceramic tiles to rattan furnishings, are made by local artisans. Each of the villa’s walls were built out of limestone excavated onsite. Passive cooling design (not air conditioning) reigns with the villas arranged to capture the brisk ocean breezes that flow over the resort’s salt water ponds and through the room’s bamboo rafters. Landscaping only features local fauna, all of which is irrigated thanks to a grey water capturing system. Underground water cisterns capture rain runoff for the bathroom’s toilets. Waste generated at the resort is converted into biofuels, which will provide energy until a nearby wind farm can operate at full capacity. The Alila Villas’ management also has a strong social commitment with its support of local families who live below Indonesia’s poverty line, as well as abandoned and orphaned families.
Photo courtesy TreehotelTreehotel, Harads, SwedenTreehotel in Sweden’s Lule River Valley, just 40 miles south of the Arctic Circle, is a fantastic place to experience Scandinavia’s long and glorious summer nights. The hotel’s founders had different architects design each of the “tree rooms” to blend into the surrounding forest without felling one single tree. The wood used to construct the rooms, which are as high as 20 feet above ground, was heated at a high temperature to strengthen it, therefore avoiding the use of chemicals. Local hydropower provides electricity and combustion toilets prevent the need for any local sewage system. Wastewater from the room’s sinks is captured to irrigate the resort’s plants. If you cannot make it to Sweden, you can order a prefabricated version of Treehotel’s Mirror Cube, which is camouflaged in mirrors to reflect the local boreal forest, to install on your property for a taste of innovative Nordic design.
Photo courtesy Gamirasu HotelGamirasu Hotel, Cappadocia, TurkeyThe Gamirasu Hotel in Turkey’s Cappadocia Region is a prime example of how the greenest building is one that already has long been in use. For over 1000 years this troglodyte labyrinth of caves was a retreat for Byzantine monks. Now the Gamirasu is a 30-room hotel spread across these former subterranean monk cells. A local volcanic rock, tufa, insulates the rooms so they maintain a comfortable temperature for guests. When you are ready to get out of your cave, you will be met with a treat. Be prepared to indulge in the finest of Ottoman cuisine — the best reason to visit Turkey. Everything from the apricots to the honey and cream from the hotel owner’s cow is either organic or local. Vegetarians will love the dinner entrees based on lentils, beans, a huge variety of vegetables and thick sumptuous yogurt. The hotel can also arrange lessons at a local farm where guests can learn how to dry apricots, make fruit jams, and bake bread in a stone oven.
Photo courtesy Leon KayePousada O Forte, Mangue Seco, BrazilMangue Seco was completely isolated until a telenovela by the same name made this a popular vacation in destination spot in northeast Brazil. A giant sand bar that juts into the Atlantic Ocean,Mangue Seco (“dry mangroves”) and its 300 residents are confronting a host of ecological challenges. But for eight years a French Brazilian family has embraced sustainability with the loving care of Pousada O Forte. The five acres of beach front property hosts 12 sustainably built bungalows constructed out of locally harvested woods. A rainwater capture system irrigates the plants and like the rest of the village, your only outdoor lighting at night are the stars above. Locally caught fish is on the menu and fresh coconuts from palms sprouting all over the property will hydrate you during the day. Meals are eaten outside under a canopy with the only air conditioning coming from the cool breezes drifting from the Atlantic Ocean. Nightlife is a church and a snack shop featuring ice cream made from fruit grown in the owner’s yard. Not that you will want to venture far, as the locally woven hammocks will lull you into long daytime, and evening, naps. Ives, the owner, regularly runs trash collection campaigns throughout Mangue Seco and pays his workers a high wage.
Photo Courtesy Soneva KiriSoneva Kiri, Koh Kood, ThailandSoneva Kiri is a gateway to Thailand’s tropical rain forests, white sandy beaches and timeless Thai traditions with a keen focus to preserving the local environment. Koh Kood is Thailand’s fourth largest island and it is also one of Thailand’s least developed regions — and Soneva Kiri’s management works on keeping it that way. Green design features include ample use of daylighting to conserve electricity, passive cooling forces cooler air below to villas to flow the rooms, and green roofs help keep guests cool in Thailand’s tropical humidity. The resort’s guests have access to electric carts and bicycles to explore the 150 acres, and when the return for a meal after an excursion they dine on a cuisine based on organic and local ingredients. Best of all is the treetop dining pod: engineered out of woven rattan, this private dining room in the sky offers spectacular views of east Thailand’s finest beaches.
Photo courtesy La Lancha HotelHotel La Lancha, Tikal, GuatemalaYour 4:00 a.m. wake up call will be the roar of the howler monkeys that claim their turf. Evenings are spent staring at the stunning Lago Peten Itza. And 30 minutes away is Tikal, the most glorious collection of Mayan ruins in Central America. Tying all of this together is Hotel La Lancha, one of Francis Ford Coppola’s resorts. The ten individual casitas are built from local woods and are furnished with locally hand made Guatemalan crafts. The rooms are only cooled by ceiling fans, but the towering trees provide enough of a canopy to ward off the tropical heat. Dinner, a showcase of locally sourced ingredients, will be by candlelight. Forget about watching TV as the rooms do not have one, but kayaks and bicycles are available to explore the nearby villages and lake’s wildlife. And if you forgot your toiletries, the ones La Lancha provides are organic and made nearby.
+ More Eco Resorts on Inhabitat
VIEW COMMENTS (1)
by Othnie Kingsley Chanda
VIEW SLIDESHOWSummer is here and we've rounded up a slew of destinations for you to enjoy a fabulous yet eco-friendly vacation. Whether you want to lounge at the beach or hike in the mountains, we here at Inhabitat suggest you check out these six spectacular eco resorts located across the globe. From caves to treehouses, we've selected these resorts for their commitment to sustainable design, environmental stewardship, promotion of local or organic food, and their dedication to social good for the local community. See them all ahead, and don't be shy about looking into one (or more) for a visit!
Photo courtesy Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali, IndonesiaAlila Villas Uluwatu, Bali, IndonesiaThe Alila Villas Uluwatu combines the best of tropical luxury and sustainable design. The Earthcheck-certified resort on Bali’s southern Bukit Peninsula finds its inspiration from the local homes in which local farmers live. The rooms’ decorations, from handmade ceramic tiles to rattan furnishings, are made by local artisans. Each of the villa’s walls were built out of limestone excavated onsite. Passive cooling design (not air conditioning) reigns with the villas arranged to capture the brisk ocean breezes that flow over the resort’s salt water ponds and through the room’s bamboo rafters. Landscaping only features local fauna, all of which is irrigated thanks to a grey water capturing system. Underground water cisterns capture rain runoff for the bathroom’s toilets. Waste generated at the resort is converted into biofuels, which will provide energy until a nearby wind farm can operate at full capacity. The Alila Villas’ management also has a strong social commitment with its support of local families who live below Indonesia’s poverty line, as well as abandoned and orphaned families.
Photo courtesy TreehotelTreehotel, Harads, SwedenTreehotel in Sweden’s Lule River Valley, just 40 miles south of the Arctic Circle, is a fantastic place to experience Scandinavia’s long and glorious summer nights. The hotel’s founders had different architects design each of the “tree rooms” to blend into the surrounding forest without felling one single tree. The wood used to construct the rooms, which are as high as 20 feet above ground, was heated at a high temperature to strengthen it, therefore avoiding the use of chemicals. Local hydropower provides electricity and combustion toilets prevent the need for any local sewage system. Wastewater from the room’s sinks is captured to irrigate the resort’s plants. If you cannot make it to Sweden, you can order a prefabricated version of Treehotel’s Mirror Cube, which is camouflaged in mirrors to reflect the local boreal forest, to install on your property for a taste of innovative Nordic design.
Photo courtesy Gamirasu HotelGamirasu Hotel, Cappadocia, TurkeyThe Gamirasu Hotel in Turkey’s Cappadocia Region is a prime example of how the greenest building is one that already has long been in use. For over 1000 years this troglodyte labyrinth of caves was a retreat for Byzantine monks. Now the Gamirasu is a 30-room hotel spread across these former subterranean monk cells. A local volcanic rock, tufa, insulates the rooms so they maintain a comfortable temperature for guests. When you are ready to get out of your cave, you will be met with a treat. Be prepared to indulge in the finest of Ottoman cuisine — the best reason to visit Turkey. Everything from the apricots to the honey and cream from the hotel owner’s cow is either organic or local. Vegetarians will love the dinner entrees based on lentils, beans, a huge variety of vegetables and thick sumptuous yogurt. The hotel can also arrange lessons at a local farm where guests can learn how to dry apricots, make fruit jams, and bake bread in a stone oven.
Photo courtesy Leon KayePousada O Forte, Mangue Seco, BrazilMangue Seco was completely isolated until a telenovela by the same name made this a popular vacation in destination spot in northeast Brazil. A giant sand bar that juts into the Atlantic Ocean,Mangue Seco (“dry mangroves”) and its 300 residents are confronting a host of ecological challenges. But for eight years a French Brazilian family has embraced sustainability with the loving care of Pousada O Forte. The five acres of beach front property hosts 12 sustainably built bungalows constructed out of locally harvested woods. A rainwater capture system irrigates the plants and like the rest of the village, your only outdoor lighting at night are the stars above. Locally caught fish is on the menu and fresh coconuts from palms sprouting all over the property will hydrate you during the day. Meals are eaten outside under a canopy with the only air conditioning coming from the cool breezes drifting from the Atlantic Ocean. Nightlife is a church and a snack shop featuring ice cream made from fruit grown in the owner’s yard. Not that you will want to venture far, as the locally woven hammocks will lull you into long daytime, and evening, naps. Ives, the owner, regularly runs trash collection campaigns throughout Mangue Seco and pays his workers a high wage.
Photo Courtesy Soneva KiriSoneva Kiri, Koh Kood, ThailandSoneva Kiri is a gateway to Thailand’s tropical rain forests, white sandy beaches and timeless Thai traditions with a keen focus to preserving the local environment. Koh Kood is Thailand’s fourth largest island and it is also one of Thailand’s least developed regions — and Soneva Kiri’s management works on keeping it that way. Green design features include ample use of daylighting to conserve electricity, passive cooling forces cooler air below to villas to flow the rooms, and green roofs help keep guests cool in Thailand’s tropical humidity. The resort’s guests have access to electric carts and bicycles to explore the 150 acres, and when the return for a meal after an excursion they dine on a cuisine based on organic and local ingredients. Best of all is the treetop dining pod: engineered out of woven rattan, this private dining room in the sky offers spectacular views of east Thailand’s finest beaches.
Photo courtesy La Lancha HotelHotel La Lancha, Tikal, GuatemalaYour 4:00 a.m. wake up call will be the roar of the howler monkeys that claim their turf. Evenings are spent staring at the stunning Lago Peten Itza. And 30 minutes away is Tikal, the most glorious collection of Mayan ruins in Central America. Tying all of this together is Hotel La Lancha, one of Francis Ford Coppola’s resorts. The ten individual casitas are built from local woods and are furnished with locally hand made Guatemalan crafts. The rooms are only cooled by ceiling fans, but the towering trees provide enough of a canopy to ward off the tropical heat. Dinner, a showcase of locally sourced ingredients, will be by candlelight. Forget about watching TV as the rooms do not have one, but kayaks and bicycles are available to explore the nearby villages and lake’s wildlife. And if you forgot your toiletries, the ones La Lancha provides are organic and made nearby.
+ More Eco Resorts on Inhabitat
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How Workspace Design Affects Workflow By Othniel Kingsley Chanda September 22, 2015
The world of corporate office design is rapidly changing. Image Via: dandelion design
Running a business is no easy task. At any given moment, there are a thousand different decisions to be made. As the boss, not only is it your responsibility to make those decisions, but the answers that you give could potentially make or break your commercial success. When you live under all that pressure day in and day out, it’s only understandable why office design would be the furthest thing from your mind. After all, it doesn’t really matter what a space looks like as long as the work gets done, right?
Wrong. It turns out the way in which a corporate space is designed has a profound impact on the business itself. Design choices have an effect on everything from task performance, to error rate, and employee satisfaction.
Take a look at the article below for further explanation of the science behind these effects. We’ll share the research with you and then show you how to help your workspace design achieve optimal results. It may just be time for a remodel.
Companies that stick to a traditional layout may be unintentionally harming their bottom line. Image Via:
How Workspace Design Affects Work flow
Color Choice Affects Task Performance:
At first thought, it may seem like choosing colors for your workspace will be your easiest office design decision. Of course, you’ll choose the colors that you’ve chosen for your brand, right? Not so fast.
Research by the National Institute of Health has found that the colors that surround us have a profound effect on how well we are able to complete tasks. Exposure to blue and green shades was found to enhance performance on tasks that required participants to generate new ideas. Red, on the other hand, seemed to aid tasks that required specific attention to detail.
It’s no coincidence that a red, blue, and green color combo sounds familiar to us. Many big name companies like Google, Ebay, and Microsoft have incorporated these shades into their branding and office design. Keep an eye out the next time you come across an advertisement. Odds are you’ll often come in contact with these three shades.
Green shades are often used in corporate design because they've been shown to improve task performance.
Rounded Shapes Inspire Collaboration:
When it comes time to buy furniture, there are undoubtedly a few characteristics that any employer will be taking into consideration: price point, style, and even color. But, for whatever reason, shape is often overlooked – and it shouldn't be. Using round furniture in your workspace design could help employees think more creatively.
A 2013 study by the Proceedings of the Notational Academy of Sciences in the United Kingdom found that participants were more likely to engage in collective thinking when they were seated in a curved formation. Conversely, they were more likely to have in self-based thoughts when in a rectangular arrangement. Interestingly, the study also found that subjects were more apt to rate shapely spaces as beautiful compared to linear environments.
So, what does this mean for you? Maybe it’s time to put the stark look aside for the more relaxed feel of rounded furniture. Plus, when it comes to putting together spaces for your creative teams, a large round table may be a better investment than several segregated cubicles.
Choose curved furniture for the areas in which you need creativity most.
Decor Items Attract Higher Quality Workers:
In the past, office space design was all about sleekness, clean lines, and functionality over form. Neutral shades were preferred over pops of color and clean desks were praised over ones filled with clutter. However, it appears that this movement toward minimalism has gone too far. A lack of personality in office design is leading to employee dissatisfaction and higher turnover rates.
Gensler, an architectural practice, surveyed the opinions of 200 managers from law, media, publishing and financial firms. Their survey found that individuals who worked in an office space with a lean design strategy were far more likely to feel undervalued and ignored by their employers than those who worked in a decorated environment. Employees with positive personality attributes – self-motivation, self-confidence, task dedication – were also more likely to report plans to move on to a new company in the near future.
The key to successful décor lies in moderation. Too little will appear stark and unwelcoming while too much will seem cluttered and unorganized. Stick to wall art that feels interesting-yet-professional and try to coordinate it with your paint colors to maintain cohesiveness.
Offices that pay attention to decor report happier workers. Image Via: Imtex
The Right Temperature Decreases Errors:
In any office, regardless of occupation, temperature always seems to be a battleground. There’s always one group that complains about sweating in the middle of winter and another group that always requires a cardigan, even in the middle of summer. While it may seem impossible to make everyone happy, there may be a way to help your employees work smarter.
Conventional wisdom by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) states that offices should be kept between 68 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit – the perfect middle ground between warm and cold. But, new research out of Cornell University argues that raising the temperature from a brisk 68 to a warmer 77 degrees decreased typing errors by a shocking 44%. Employees’ work output also drastically increased. Consider incorporating a programmable thermostat into your workspace design to help keep temps consistent.
Of course, you can’t forget about your employees who prefer cooler weather entirely. Instead of turning the thermostat down, offer them individualized methods to help keep themselves cool. Access to portable desk fans or even ice cold beverages can go a long way to assuring your staff that their newly error-proof work is very much appreciated.
Keeping employees warm at their desks could reduce errors.
With the amount of decision-making that goes into running a business, it’s no surprise that most entrepreneurs may not give their workspace design the attention it deserves. But, what if we told you that the design choices you make could be hurting your bottom line. Research shows that environment has a profound impact on how employees feel about their jobs and how well they perform tasks. Take our suggestions on how to rejuvenate your décor to achieve positive results on both those fronts. It may just be the smartest business decision you’ve ever made.
Does the look of your office affect how you feel about your company? Will you incorporate these tips into your corporate design strategy? Let us know in the comments.
Read more: http://www.facebook.com/dandelion.design
Follow us: @dandelion on Twitter | dandelion on Facebook
The world of corporate office design is rapidly changing. Image Via: dandelion design
Running a business is no easy task. At any given moment, there are a thousand different decisions to be made. As the boss, not only is it your responsibility to make those decisions, but the answers that you give could potentially make or break your commercial success. When you live under all that pressure day in and day out, it’s only understandable why office design would be the furthest thing from your mind. After all, it doesn’t really matter what a space looks like as long as the work gets done, right?
Wrong. It turns out the way in which a corporate space is designed has a profound impact on the business itself. Design choices have an effect on everything from task performance, to error rate, and employee satisfaction.
Take a look at the article below for further explanation of the science behind these effects. We’ll share the research with you and then show you how to help your workspace design achieve optimal results. It may just be time for a remodel.
Companies that stick to a traditional layout may be unintentionally harming their bottom line. Image Via:
How Workspace Design Affects Work flow
Color Choice Affects Task Performance:
At first thought, it may seem like choosing colors for your workspace will be your easiest office design decision. Of course, you’ll choose the colors that you’ve chosen for your brand, right? Not so fast.
Research by the National Institute of Health has found that the colors that surround us have a profound effect on how well we are able to complete tasks. Exposure to blue and green shades was found to enhance performance on tasks that required participants to generate new ideas. Red, on the other hand, seemed to aid tasks that required specific attention to detail.
It’s no coincidence that a red, blue, and green color combo sounds familiar to us. Many big name companies like Google, Ebay, and Microsoft have incorporated these shades into their branding and office design. Keep an eye out the next time you come across an advertisement. Odds are you’ll often come in contact with these three shades.
Green shades are often used in corporate design because they've been shown to improve task performance.
Rounded Shapes Inspire Collaboration:
When it comes time to buy furniture, there are undoubtedly a few characteristics that any employer will be taking into consideration: price point, style, and even color. But, for whatever reason, shape is often overlooked – and it shouldn't be. Using round furniture in your workspace design could help employees think more creatively.
A 2013 study by the Proceedings of the Notational Academy of Sciences in the United Kingdom found that participants were more likely to engage in collective thinking when they were seated in a curved formation. Conversely, they were more likely to have in self-based thoughts when in a rectangular arrangement. Interestingly, the study also found that subjects were more apt to rate shapely spaces as beautiful compared to linear environments.
So, what does this mean for you? Maybe it’s time to put the stark look aside for the more relaxed feel of rounded furniture. Plus, when it comes to putting together spaces for your creative teams, a large round table may be a better investment than several segregated cubicles.
Choose curved furniture for the areas in which you need creativity most.
Decor Items Attract Higher Quality Workers:
In the past, office space design was all about sleekness, clean lines, and functionality over form. Neutral shades were preferred over pops of color and clean desks were praised over ones filled with clutter. However, it appears that this movement toward minimalism has gone too far. A lack of personality in office design is leading to employee dissatisfaction and higher turnover rates.
Gensler, an architectural practice, surveyed the opinions of 200 managers from law, media, publishing and financial firms. Their survey found that individuals who worked in an office space with a lean design strategy were far more likely to feel undervalued and ignored by their employers than those who worked in a decorated environment. Employees with positive personality attributes – self-motivation, self-confidence, task dedication – were also more likely to report plans to move on to a new company in the near future.
The key to successful décor lies in moderation. Too little will appear stark and unwelcoming while too much will seem cluttered and unorganized. Stick to wall art that feels interesting-yet-professional and try to coordinate it with your paint colors to maintain cohesiveness.
Offices that pay attention to decor report happier workers. Image Via: Imtex
The Right Temperature Decreases Errors:
In any office, regardless of occupation, temperature always seems to be a battleground. There’s always one group that complains about sweating in the middle of winter and another group that always requires a cardigan, even in the middle of summer. While it may seem impossible to make everyone happy, there may be a way to help your employees work smarter.
Conventional wisdom by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) states that offices should be kept between 68 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit – the perfect middle ground between warm and cold. But, new research out of Cornell University argues that raising the temperature from a brisk 68 to a warmer 77 degrees decreased typing errors by a shocking 44%. Employees’ work output also drastically increased. Consider incorporating a programmable thermostat into your workspace design to help keep temps consistent.
Of course, you can’t forget about your employees who prefer cooler weather entirely. Instead of turning the thermostat down, offer them individualized methods to help keep themselves cool. Access to portable desk fans or even ice cold beverages can go a long way to assuring your staff that their newly error-proof work is very much appreciated.
Keeping employees warm at their desks could reduce errors.
With the amount of decision-making that goes into running a business, it’s no surprise that most entrepreneurs may not give their workspace design the attention it deserves. But, what if we told you that the design choices you make could be hurting your bottom line. Research shows that environment has a profound impact on how employees feel about their jobs and how well they perform tasks. Take our suggestions on how to rejuvenate your décor to achieve positive results on both those fronts. It may just be the smartest business decision you’ve ever made.
Does the look of your office affect how you feel about your company? Will you incorporate these tips into your corporate design strategy? Let us know in the comments.
Read more: http://www.facebook.com/dandelion.design
Follow us: @dandelion on Twitter | dandelion on Facebook
Kids Rooms Design Ideas
Your little ones deserve a unique space of their own! Keep up with the latest trends and techniques for designing kids’ rooms that are both practical and unforgettable.
Comfy Sophistication: Gorgeous design & decor ideas for Sub-Saharan African -Style Nursery Ideas
Your little ones deserve a unique space of their own! Keep up with the latest trends and techniques for designing kids’ rooms that are both practical and unforgettable.
Comfy Sophistication: Gorgeous design & decor ideas for Sub-Saharan African -Style Nursery Ideas
‘T is the season for decorating! Warmer weather often translates into a desire to freshen up the home and embark on new design endeavors. Luckily now is a great time to be shopping for kids’ rooms, as well as nurseries. After all, children’s decor is increasingly mirroring popular design trends for all ages (hello ombre curtains and pendant lighting). Not to mention, a range of new…
If you’re a parent, you know how hard it can be to find toys that are classic, kid-friendly and not too obvious when it comes to branding. Children love their favorite movie and television show characters, and it’s these very heroes that kiddos often want to acquire in toy form. From the packaging to the design of the toys, things can get a little over the top in the branding department, making the house look like a toy store rather than a child-friendly space.
Adventure Kids Bedroom Decorations with Cool Striped Pattern