MAAYAA tropical retreat draws from Balinese architecture
Architectural studio aslam sham architects constructs MAAYAA, a Balinese-themed getaway nestled within a lush palm plantation. Located just an hour’s drive from Coimbatore, at the border of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the retreat showcases earthy tones and textures, instilling a sense of calm. The spaces are designed to evoke an eye-soothing serenity, as pathways adorned with verdant foliage exude tranquility and elegance.
Aiming to encapsulate Bali’s essence, MAAYAA’s design forms around tropical modernism. Perched in Anakkatti and embraced by the converging Siruvani and Bhavani Rivers, the building is set atop a cliff with river vistas. The resort’s core design objective is to amplify and preserve the surrounding scenery.
all images by Ishi Sitwala
fluid transition between the built and the land
With most of the construction situated below the entrance level, visitors descend to these spaces, greeted by shallow, expansive water bodies integrated into the roof slabs. This fluid transition through the entrance passage leads to the restaurant, where panoramic views of the river and distant mountains unfold.
The lower floors house banquet halls, conference rooms, and offices, while the lowest level boasts an infinity pool seamlessly blending with the landscape. The design team achieves a harmonious fusion between architecture and nature, creating an environment where boundaries blur between built and natural elements. The resort consists of two types of accommodations; standard rooms with river-view balconies, and independent cottages featuring plunge pools that overlook both the river and the hinterland. These structures follow the natural contours of the land, interconnected by passages and bridges at various levels, conveniently linked to the clubhouse and communal amenities. Drawing from Balinese architecture, the chosen materials and design vocabulary mirror the tropical retreat concept, paying homage to the region’s aesthetic.
the Balinese-themed getaway nestled within a lush palm plantation
MAAYAA’s design forms around the concept of tropical modernism
kodomari fuji, a ship-like retreat crowned with cherry trees
In the town of Fujimi, close to the Nagano-Yamanashi prefectures border, Kodomari Fuji emerges as an exclusive and snug retreat designed by Japanese architect Terunobu Fujimori. Standing on a small hilltop and overlooking the rural landscape as if it were the sea, the property’s elongated structure recalls the body of a ship drifting into open waters. Charred cedar panels envelop the building skin, while a roofscape composed of hand-crafted copper plates and planted cherry trees crown the retreat — offering visitors the chance to enjoy the property’s changing appearance over the years. According to Kodomari Fuji, a nearby 300-year-old weeping cherry tree inspired the planting along the roof. This is Fujimori’s first accommodation project in Japan.
all images courtesy Kodomari Fuji
Terunobu Fujimori brings pristine qualities to the interiors
As for the interiors, Terunobu Fujimori used plaster to coat the walls and chestnut wood to cover the floors and build the furniture. The material palette ultimately echoes the ‘pristine’ quality of the Fujimi context. Visitors pick up on this impression by entering the living room, boasting a relaxing atmosphere and an open deck, devoid of unnecessary ormanents and distracting color compositions. Meanwhile, the bedroom, a 63 sqm private space, provides a quiet space for a peaceful slumber. Kodomari Fuji provides guests with environmentally friendly amenities, including air conditioning, underfloor heating, wood stove, electric kettle, refrigerator, rice cooker, a full set of cooking utensils, a full set of tableware, Wi-Fi, and a Bluetooth speaker.
the small inn is located in Fujimi, close to the Nagano-Yamanashi prefectures border
creating an exclusive atmosphere amid the japanese hillscape
Considering its geo-historical and folkloric context, the 4,000 sqm property area has established a strict set of rules to maintain an exclusive atmosphere for current and future visitors. Essentially, access is limited to registered guests and to five people per day; sharing interior photos on social media is forbidden; and wearing strong fragrances or heavily scented fabric softeners is advised against so as not to ‘distub’ the aromatic character of Kodomari Fuji. Lastly, as the inn occupies a small village where children and elderly reside, visitors are encouraged to reduce driving speed upon arrival and to avoid entering nearby fields, gardens, or private areas when taking a stroll in the surroundings. The address to the inn is also provided at the time of booking.
Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning architect Norman Foster has designed the Foster Retreat in Martha’s Vineyard as a holiday home for his friends and those of the Norman Foster Foundation, which features furniture designed by the architect for Karimoku.
Named the Foster Retreat, the mono-pitch roofed building in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, was built opposite Foster’s US home.
The building draws on traditional wood structures
The home was formed from a series of angled steel beams that are connected by timber beams with smooth timber louvres enclosing an outdoor patio space.
According to Foster, the holiday home’s shape was informed by North American barn structures, with large amounts of timber chosen to reference Martha’s Vineyard’s traditional wood-boarded structures and its sustainability credentials.
Pale wood was used inside Foster Retreat
“The retreat takes inspiration from the generous wooden barn structures of North America and combines that tradition of timber construction with a small amount of steel in the form of skinny portal frames which touch the ground lightly,” said Foster, who is the founder of UK studio Foster + Partners.
“Wood was the obvious choice not only for reasons of sustainability but also as a direct reference to the traditional buildings that characterise the island.”
The building has a visible grid
The site levels around Foster Retreat, which will be used as a private residence for friends of Foster’s family and of the Norman Foster Foundation, were contoured to hide the building from the roadside and situate it within the landscape.
The studio also added indigenous plants to the site, as well as a bank of solar panels that together with “a high level of insulation and shading” helps the building be more sustainable, according to Foster.
Norman Foster designed the NF Collection for Karimoku
Inside the building, the holiday home has white walls with pale wood panels and wooden floors.
To match the pared-back material palette of the house’s exterior and interior, Foster designed a wooden furniture collection named NF Collection together with Japanese furniture brand Karimoku.
The collection comprises a dining chair, two stools, a lounge chair, a sofa, and a dining table, all of which feature pale “skeletal” timber frames and padded upholstery.
“The wood-based furniture I designed for Karimoku is an extension of the philosophy behind the building,” Foster explained.
“lt has always seemed to me that there is a commonality between the American Shaker Movement and traditional Japanese furniture. Given my own admiration for the qualities of historic Japanese architecture, there are evident cultural links.”
The furniture has skeletal frames and white padding. Photo is by Chuck Choi
The collection was developed as Foster had trouble finding suitable furniture for the space.
“When we started to think about what type of furniture could best fit in the spaces created in the Foster Retreat, Martha’s Vineyard, we realised that there was no single specific collection in existence that could be used for the different uses of the building, so I decided to develop a bespoke family of furniture,” Foster explained.
“Timber was a natural choice to match the spirit of the building.”
Foster Retreat was designed as a private residence
Foster Retreat is Karimoku’s seventh case study project, which sees the studio work together with architects on bespoke furniture collections.
“I see the collaboration with NF as an important step for us as a brand – not only do we venture into a new area with the case at Martha’s Vineyard, but we also show how the brand can accomodate a more diverse furniture collection, showcasing the unique design languages of the individual studios, yet still maintaining a red thread throughout the collection in the use of materials, excellent craftsmanship and high quality,” Karimoku creative director Frederik Werner told Dezeen.
The collection marks Karimoku’s seventh case study. Photo is by Chuck Choi
The NF Collection will also be shown in an exhibition at Karimoku Commons in Tokyo, the brand’s retail and showroom space. Karimoku was one of a number of Japanese brands that showed at this year’s Salone del Mobile furniture fair as the focus on the European market grows.
One of the world’s best-known architects, Foster leads the UK’s largest studio Foster + Partners. The studio’s recent projects include 425 Park Avenue, which is the “first full-block office building” to be built on Park Avenue in over 50 years, and the tallest building in the EU, the Varso Tower in Warsaw.
The photography is by Marc Fairstein unless stated otherwise. All photography courtesy of the Norman Foster Foundation.
The Norman Foster x Karimoku exhibition is at Karimoku Commons from 21 October to 9 December. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.
