As far as design eye candy goes, it doesn’t get much better than this.
These hotels have all been longlisted in the architecture hospitality category at the prestigious Dezeen Awards 2019 – and they are all stunning.
The list includes a quirky triangular-shaped retreat on stilts in Norway, a breath-taking private island resort in the Maldives, a Chinese mountain hotel that used to be a farmhouse and a rugged tented lodge in Sri Lanka.
Now in its second year, the awards, run by architecture and design website Dezeen, identifies ‘the world’s best architecture, interiors and design’, as well as the studios, architects and designers producing ‘the most outstanding work’.
A jury comprising a panel of international architects, designers and academics will whittle the longlist down to a shortlist, which will be announced later this month.
Scroll down to see some of the jaw-dropping hotels that are in the running for the grand prize.
Al Faya Lodge – Desert Retreat and Spa, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Designed by Anarchitect
The Al Faya Lodge is located in the Sarjah desert in the United Arab Emirates. It was designed by London-based architecture studio Anarchitect
The Al Faya Lodge was initially a clinic and a grocery shop housed in a couple of stone buildings. Pictured right is one of the rooms at the lodge
The Al Faya Lodge is a hotel and saltwater spa located in the Sarjah desert in the United Arab Emirates.
The retreat was initially a clinic and a grocery shop housed in a couple of stone buildings, but these have now been transformed into a luxury resort by London-based architecture studio Anarchitect.
The hotel is designed to be booked out in its entirety so guests can enjoy the spa and pool in private.
XY Yunlu Hotel, Yangjia, China. Designed by Atelier Liu Yuyang
Nestled in a village between Guilin and Yangshoo next to Li River in China is the XY Yunlu Hotel
The hotel is made up of five historic farmhouses as well as a new building that houses a restaurant
XY Yunlu Hotel was designed by Atelier Liu Yuyang of Shanghai. The architecture firm said it took a ‘sensitive approach’ to its design
The XY Yunlu Hotel is an eco-resort nestled in a village between Guilin and Yangshoo next to Li River in China.
It’s formed from five renovated historic farmhouses and a new building that houses a restaurant.
It was designed by Atelier Liu Yuyang of Shanghai, which said it took a ‘sensitive approach’ to its design to make sure the hotel fitted into the ‘original village structure’.
The Retreat at Blue Lagoon, Iceland. Designed by Basalt Architects
The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon in Iceland was designed by Basalt Architects, which is based in Iceland
The hotel’s 62 suites have floor-to-ceiling windows with views across either the lagoon or moss-covered rocks
The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon has been designed to merge seamlessly with the environment
The spa area in The Retreat. The resort is carved into volcanic rock and surrounded by the natural springs
The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon in Iceland is carved into volcanic rock and surrounded by natural springs and 800-year-old lava formations.
It was designed by Basalt Architects and the hotel’s 62 suites have floor-to-ceiling windows with views across either the lagoon or moss-covered rocks.
The architecture firm used materials such as lava and moss to merge the building seamlessly with the environment.
Yule Mountain Resort, Taihuyuan, China. Designed by Continuation Studio
The Yule Mountain Resort had been an old farmhouse before its transformation by Chinese design firm Continuation Studio
The resort is located next to Taihuyuan Creek in China. It is one of several Chinese properties nominated in this category
The resort now has fewer bedrooms, but there is an enhanced amount of space for guests
The Yule Mountain Resort is located next to Taihuyuan Creek in China.
It had been an old-fashioned farmhouse offering traditional lodgings.
But it was transformed by Chinese design firm Continuation Studio, which helped the owner reduce the number of rooms but enhance the amount of space for guests.
Z9 Resort, Kanchanaburi, Thailand. Designed by Dersyn Studio
Located in Kanchanaburi in western Thailand is the tranquil Z9 Resort (pronounced Zinine)
The resort consists of just 15 private villas. It was designed by Bangkok-based architects Dersyn Studio
The Z9 Resort (pronounced Zinine) is a tranquil retreat in Kanchanaburi in western Thailand.
It was designed by Bangkok-based architects Dersyn Studio and consists of just 15 private villas.
The resort’s website says it ‘presents a peaceful shelter for rehabilitating your physical and mental goals’.
Riverbend House, Ubud, Indonesia. Designed by Ibuku
In the Bambu Indah resort on the Indonesian holiday island of Bali is Riverbend House, pictured
Ibuku, who designed the property, says it wanted to make Riverbend House feel more like a nest than a house
Riverbend House is a two-bedroom structure in the Bambu Indah resort on the Indonesian holiday island of Bali.
It is described as being perfect for families and friends travelling together and also has a living room, kitchen and views of the Ayung River.
Architecture firm Ibuku, which designed the property, says it wanted to make Riverbend House feel more like a nest than a house.
Jungle Keva hotel, Tulum, Mexico. Designed by Jaquestudio
The Jungle Keva Hotel is located in the popular Mexican resort of Tulum. It is made up of just five lodges
The hotel was designed by Jaquestudio and its design was inspired by the ‘jungle’s essence’
The Jungle Keva Hotel is located in the popular Mexican resort of Tulum and was designed by Jaquestudio.
The tree-filled property has just five 50-square-metre guest lodges dotted throughout it.
The hotel’s website says: ‘All five senses will stand to attention as you observe the impeccable infusion of the jungle’s essence into every single design element of Jungle Keva Tulum.’
Wild Coast Tented Lodge, Yala, Sri Lanka. Designed by Nomadic Resorts
The Wild Coast Tented Lodge is located on the edge of Yala National Park in Sri Lanka
Design firm Nomadic Resorts used ‘carefully selected natural materials’ to create the lodge
The Wild Coast Tented Lodge is made up of 28 tents that are laid out almost in the shape of a leopard’s paw
The Wild Coast Tented Lodge is located on the edge of Yala National Park in Sri Lanka, which is known for its leopard population.
It is situated on a rugged beach and design firm Nomadic Resorts used ‘carefully selected natural materials’ to create the lodge.
The resort’s website states: ‘The use of arched fabric structures allows each of the 28 tents to take on the shape and color of the rocks and boulders that lay scattered nearby, whilst a clever layout in the shape of a leopard’s paw print alludes to the area’s most famous resident.’
Bunjob House: House of Flow, Phangan, Thailand. Designed by NPDA Studio
Bunjob House, designed by NPDA Studio, is a two-storey building that has been split into four
The property is located in the middle of a coconut plantation on Phangan Island in Thailand
The area’s extreme climate of hot sun and monsoon rain has been taken into account by the architect
Bunjob House, designed by NPDA Studio, is located in the middle of a coconut plantation on Phangan Island in Thailand.
It is a two-storey building that has been split into four spaces that are inter-connected.
The design of the building takes into account the area’s extreme climate of hot sun and monsoon rain.
Kondan The Retreat, Maval, India. Designed by PMA Madhushala
Kondan The Retreat, pictured, is a boutique resort that is located in western India
Kondan The Retreat has just 10 rooms that offer stunning views of a lakeside and hillside backdrop
The retreat boasts a stunning swimming pool, pictured, as well as a restaurant
Kondan The Retreat is a boutique resort located in Maval in the western state of Maharashtra in India.
It has just 10 rooms that offer stunning views of a lakeside and hillside backdrop.
The retreat was designed by PMA Madhushala and also boasts a swimming pool and restaurant.
PAN Treetop Cabins, Norway. Designed by Espen Surnevik
The triangular PAN Treetop Cabins are perched on slender stilts among the treetops of Finnskogen, Norway. They can sleep up to six people
The triangular PAN Treetop Cabins are perched on slender stilts among the treetops of Finnskogen, a woodland in east Norway.
They were designed by Oslo-based architect Espen Surnevik and were commissioned by a couple who wanted to create a retreat in ‘the real Norwegian wilderness’.
Each of the cabins measures 40 square metres and can accommodate up to six people.
Kudadoo Maldives Private Island, Kudadoo, Maldives. Designed by Yuji Yamazaki Architecture
Kudadoo Maldives is a 15-room private island resort. It was designed by Yuji Yamazaki Architecture
The resort has 984 solar panels, which generate enough power for the entire island
One of the luxury bedrooms at Kudadoo Maldives. It can only be reached by seaplane
Kudadoo Maldives is a 15-room private island resort.
It has 984 solar panels, which generate enough power for the entire island to run without the use of fossil fuels.
The resort was designed by Yuji Yamazaki Architecture and can only be reached by seaplane.
Woodhouse Hotel, Tuanjie, China. Designed by ZJJZ
China’s Woodhouse Hotel is made up of 10 wooden cabins dotted around the countryside
Inside one of the wooden cabins. Each one is covered in charred timber
The Woodhouse Hotel in the village of Tuanjie, China, is made up of 10 wooden cabins dotted around the countryside.
There are three different cabin designs – one with a steep pitched roof, one with a shallow mono-pitch, and the other with a flat roof.
Each cabin is covered in charred timber so that it blends into the surrounding forest.
- For more information about the Dezeen Awards click here.