Various Associates has created a beach club that features bamboo-woven trees in Sanya, China. 

Named Beach Club At The Sanya EDITION, the 700-square-metre area is covered by bamboo-woven structures with unique textures and colors, making visitors feel themselves in sand dunes.  

The project, located at The Sanya EDITION, Haitang Bay, Sanya, was designed for EDITION, a luxury boutique hotel brand affiliated to MARRIOTT. 

The company commissioned Various Associates to upgrade its beach club which is the first hotel opened in China, known as The Sanya EDITION.

Situated at the picturesque Haitang Bay, the area is a first-class beach and has a fascinating sea view. 

Together with natural coconut groves, it creates a strong vibe unique to Hainan and brings unprecedented leisure experience for the guests. 

The design embraces common principles of EDITION hotels that have local aesthetic features, they're distinguished from each other while all sharing an iconic brand identity. 

The aesthetics of the hotel is defined by lush greenery, textured materials in original colors, and soft lighting.

Considering the contextual parameters, Various Associates aimed to create "a tasteful, cozy and relaxing venue" that offer visitors socialize while incorporating the inviting natural landscape of Sanya and the aesthetics of EDITION into the design.

Fusion between new structures with existing plants. Image © The Sanya EDITION

The main goal of the project was to create a low-impact design, for this reason, the new structures are blended with the existing landscapes and protected trees on the site, and echo the expansive, azure Haitang Bay across the coconut groves. 

The beach club seems like it "grows" from a site enclosed by the existing plants, which are the soul of the new space.

Fusion between new structures with existing plants. Image © The Sanya EDITION

Activated venue

"The hotel sought creative design strategies, with the hope to refresh and activate the serene, slightly deserted outdoor beach area whilst introducing young, fashionable lifestyle and socializing activities, so as to turn it into a landmark in Haitang Bay and even in the wider city," said the office. 

The studio renewed beach club to provide a strong connection among different activity areas in the surroundings, and form a rendezvous brimming with vigor and joy. 

Interaction between the club and the beach volleyball court

The studio designed all interventions carefully so that bar goers, guests taking a sunbath, swimmers and volleyball players can not visually be blocked from each other. 

The open space allows the users to throw themselves into a passionate vibe without taking away the sense of boundary that keeps them comfortable.

Close interaction between spaces

Upbeat DJs bring a musical feast from early afternoon, which infuses vitality into the area from day to night along with diversified beach activities.

Interaction between the club and the beach volleyball court

Overlapping "tree" canopies started to appear

Continuous bamboo-woven canopies are giving the feeling of resting and sleeping "Under the Tree", which becomes the design concept of the project. 

According to the studio, the trees create "a comfortable, unrestrained space" in the beach.  

The bamboo-woven structures are made up of five overlapping tree-like canopies proposing different heights and forms. Thanks to their organic and natural curved profiles, the trees are merged beautifully into the lush nature.

Close interaction between spaces

While the natural coconut groves and the new structures are scattered around sunken booths, the new bamboo canopies trees are riveted into the ground via their "trunks" - which looks like they are naturally rising with the preserved plants. 

Described as expansive and naturally curvy "tree" canopies bring, the trees also allow sufficient protection to the club's guests, while the space between each canopy unintentionally brings surrounding greenery into the view.

Dynamic DJ booth

"Every "tree" canopy features a curvy form. The clustering canopy structures form beautiful and continuous lines that generate a well-arranged spatial rhythm that blends into nature," said the studio.  

"To ensure a pure visual effect, every structure is presented as an independent work of bamboo weaving, which took days of on-site work by multiple experienced craftsmen."

Dynamic DJ booth

The studio also designed the structures at a certain, lowered height so that the guests can use the canopies as a perfect background for photo taking. 

A main bar counter is set up at the center of the site in the shape of a giant trunk, generating a circulation around the bar so that the bartenders can better capture the needs of guests.

Interior space

Shedding sunlight

To create these trees, the studio used the craft of bamboo weaving method, which carries the typical impression on tropical cities. 

The design team intentionally chose natural and locally sourced materials, to represent the island city and enable the new outdoor structures to adapt to natural changes.

The studio's material selection was based not only textures, but also the quality of being nature-friendly. 

Staggered “tree” canopies enrich the layering of the space

"Natural bamboo and wood build up the structures, and recycled pebble-wash creates warm, textured pavements, all of which contribute to a sustainable design project committed to environmental protection," the studio explained.

"The unique sunken counter seatings and booths under the pavilions enable the guests to enjoy drinking in water. The cool breeze, light, music and wine bring about a dynamic atmosphere, inviting hotel guests and tourists to engage in."

"Each booth has an exclusive waterfront hammock that allows the guests to engage with sunshine and water in an enclosed private space and enjoy the beautiful view inside the hotel," the studio added.

Staggered “tree” canopies enrich the layering of the space

Nighttime passion

Due to the natural skin of tightly interwoven bamboo structures, sunlight can penetrate into the structrues in the daytime. 

When lights are turned on at night, the steel skeleton wrapped in bamboo strips, which stretches like the patterns of a leaf, reveal themselves to the guests, and render the canopy into a giant banana leaf when one looks up, conveying a sense of poetry and revealing the beauty of the structure.

The view of the booth

After the sun sets, the wonderful night life at the beach club starts. Light emits upwards from the "trunks", invigorating the space, while the expansive canopies wrap up the light and separate it from other areas of the hotel to reduce impact on the tranquility of the seaside.

The unique color and texture of bamboo-woven structures are coupled with diffusing light to create a night vibe that the hotel appreciates, and add a touch of romance and warmth to the space.

Bar counter

The renewed beach club, based on the design concept "Under the Tree", indulges its guests in the passion of Hainan Island from day to night in a way that integrates into nature.

Counter seating in the swimming pool

Counter seating in the swimming pool

Bamboo-woven patterns

Upward light sources

Upward light sources

Fusion between new structures with existing plants. Image © The Sanya EDITION

Floor plan

Floor plan

Side view of the bar

Side view of the bar

Sketch 

Various Associates designed a boutique fashion store for a pioneering multi-brand fashion supplier SND in Taikoo Li Qiantan, Shanghai, China. The firm also completed a flagship store for skateboard brand AVENUE & SON in Shanghai, China. 

Project facts

Project name: Beach Club at The Sanya EDITION

Client: The Sanya EDITION

Location: The Sanya EDITION, Haitang Bay, Sanya, China

Area: 700 square meters

Opening: January 2022

Design firm: Various Associates

Lead designers: Qianyi Lin, Dongzi Yang

Design team: Jianpeng Liu, Zhichao Lin, Yue Zhang, Shiqi Li (follow-up work)

Top image in the article: Fusion between new structures with existing plants © The Sanya EDITION. 

All images © SFAP unless otherwise stated. 

All drawings © Various Associates.

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