Sitting in a prime location on Hainan island’s beautiful shoreline, 1 Hotel Haitang Bay, Sanya’s design is a celebration of nature and sustainability. From dappled light filtering in through leaf-sheltered skylights to stacks of salvaged Chinese roof tiles echoing coastal cliff faces, the first Chinese resort from luxury brand US-based 1 Hotels draws its design inspiration from the rugged beauty of the island.

1 Hotel Haitang Bay – Eco-conscious Design

The eco-conscious architecture, designed by strategic planners Oval Partnership, combines locally sourced natural materials, such as lava stone and red cedar, with innovative green technologies. Company Director and project leader, Dr Lin Hao explain, “Our inspiration for the 1 Hotel Haitang Bay project is deeply rooted in the vision of the 1 Hotels brand, which aspires to be a relaxed, comfortable, natural and open environment for travellers, by crafting a more tangible and imaginative sustainability that celebrates the DNA of 1 Hotels.”

Paying homage to the tropical flora and fauna of Sanya’s forests and the crystal-clear waters of the ocean, Singapore-based design studio FARM managed the interior design. “We were taken by Sanya’s raw nature of fertile volcanic plains, green forested hills, sandy beaches and sparkling waters,” says Nina Arily, senior designer. “We wanted the interiors to capture the textures, diversity and spirit of the island.” “It has been a pleasure to work with FARM and to see them bring the nature-inspired 1 Hotel aesthetic to life through sustainable design,” says Arash Azarbarzin, CEO of SH Hotels & Resorts.

Encapsulating the biodiversity of the area’s local species and natural surroundings, verdant landscaped gardens sprawl across the grounds and building exterior. A lush Mangrove Tree Courtyard offers a tranquil retreat, while Living Green Walls planted with local vegetation – such as ficus pumila and ferns – flourish across staggered roof terraces and semi-open courtyards. Additionally, the off-site farm showcases Hainan’s seasonal produce.

Capturing the beauty of nature inside and out, the overall impact of the resort’s design is a gorgeous retreat that revolves around Mother Nature and builds upon the area’s rich resources.

1 Hotel Haitang Bay – Nature-Inspired Interiors

1 Hotel Haitang Bay, Sanya boasts 294 spacious and beautifully furnished rooms, suites and villas, ranging from 62 square-meters to 1,300 square-meters.

Bringing a slice of island life inside, the contemporary guest rooms feature unpolished and locally sourced volcanic basalt stone and wood throughout and an abundance of natural furnishings: stools made of tree stumps, live-edge timber desks, rattan rugs, bespoke artworks made from sun-bleached driftwood, and organic cotton upholstery.

Incorporating reclaimed timber and steel from old fishing boats and authentic textured surfaces, 1 Hotel Haitang Bay, Sanya’s seven dining and drinking venues mirror the island’s natural wonder. The refined outlets offer some of Hainan’s freshest flavours, including handcrafted noodle restaurant Noodle House;

breezy lobby lounge Drift; al fresco rooftop lounge Sky Bar – opening soon that offers unparalleled ocean views; relaxed pool-side bar The Sandbox; and The Juice Bar for guests on the go.

1 Hotels’ signature all-day dining concept 1 Kitchen evokes imagery of rocky coastline, featuring a rammed earth wall to form a beautiful backdrop that complements its use of natural and organic ingredients.

True to its name, Chinese fine-dining restaurant Green House has floor-to-ceiling windows that allow sunlight to stream through and bring life to an exotic collection of edible plants, hanging ferns, palms, and orchids.

1 Hotel Haitang Bay – Experience Sustainability

Focusing on a mission-driven luxury lifestyle, 1 Hotel Haitang Bay, Sanya is carefully designed to minimize its footprint by utilizing the natural elements. Alongside using reclaimed and locally sourced materials, the hotel features a solar water heating system, greywater is harvested for back-of-house use and landscape irrigation, and rainwater is collected and stored for reuse. Skylights and clerestory windows allow daylight to be used over artificial light wherever possible. To keep areas cool, vertical landscaping and trellising provide shade and natural ventilation systems take advantage of the sea breeze in key areas such as the guest corridors and lift lobbies.

1 Hotel Haitang Bay, Sanya is working towards Silver Level certification for LEEDv4 Building Design and Construction. The property has been pre-certified by the US Green Building Council, with its certification expected by mid-2020. In order to achieve this, sustainability measures include depositing over 75% of construction waste at recycling centres to reduce landfill waste; opting for building materials located within a 500-mile radius of the site to reduce transport energy; and using recycled materials where possible. Furthermore, environmentally friendly and low-VOC materials have been used for interior décor.

1 Hotel Haitang Bay – Accommodations & Facilities 

1 Hotel Haitang Bay, Sanya comprises 294 distinctively designed rooms, suites and villas ranging from 62 to 1,300 square meters with stunning views of the garden, poolside or the sea. The hotel boasts seven dining venues, 630 square-meters of meeting facilities and 4,000 square-meters of garden venues. There is also a Feature Pavilion, sunlit Sky Deck, natural farm, fitness center and 1 Hotel Spa by Bamford from the UK.

The five swimming pools mark another highlight of the resort, including the Family Pool, Children Pool, Sky Pool, Lagoon Plunge Pool and Adult Pool.

1 Hotel Haitang Bay – Book Your Stay

1 Hotel Haitang Bay, Sanya is conveniently located on the beautiful shore, just 40 minutes away from Sanya Phoenix International Airport. It is also close to a number of leisure, recreation and entertainment attractions such as Haitang Bay Duty-Free Shop, Fantasy Town, and Water Park.