SB Architects have achieved further shortlist success in the International Hotel & Property Awards 2015 with the Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Dorado Beach Resort in Puerto Rico, competing for the Hotel 50-200 Rooms Award (Americas and Caribbean).
Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve is comprised of a 114-key hotel, spa, beach and golf-oriented condominiums and townhomes, several grand villas, a beach club and golf club, and provides an ultra-luxury experience with an emphasis on sustainability and environmental stewardship.
The centerpiece of the revitalized Dorado Beach Resort, the resort stands on the site of the original resort built more than 50 years ago by Laurence Rockefeller. In keeping with the Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand commitment to stewardship and Mr. Rockefeller’s legacy of conservation, the new Ritz-Carlton Reserve has been designed to LEED Certification standards. True to its sustainable mission, the new Ritz-Carlton Reserve has been built upon the foundations of the original hotel, minimizing the disturbance to the site and “grandfathering” in the hotel’s original location directly on beach.
The unique architectural style developed for Dorado Beach takes its cue from two important influences: the site itself and the rich, multi-layered history of both Puerto Rico and Dorado Beach. The architecture is contemporary, and draws heavily from the mid-century modern vernacular in a direct reference to the period that gave rise to the original Dorado Beach Resort. Yet the environment is warm and inviting, infused with layers of references to the surrounding natural world and to the many cultures – both ancient and modern – that have influenced life on this island. The architecture is arresting, yet unfailingly subtle.
This resort treads lightly on the land and, more often than not, floats above it. Structures float above the earth or appear to rise from the water. The open-air lobby frames a direct view of the sea. The hotel arrival complex is linked by walkways raised 2 meters above the earth, turning the journey through the hotel into a walk through the tree-tops.