In the realm of luxury resorts, Vietnam has emerged as a canvas for architectural masterpieces that blend organic design with cultural authenticity. The Princess d’Annam Resort & Spa at Ke Ga Bay is a testament to this evolution, showcasing a design philosophy that transcends mere aesthetics to create an immersive experience for guests. With a masterful blend of public grandeur and private intimacy, the resort exemplifies the pinnacle of intelligent design in the hospitality industry.
As the sun sets over the South China Sea, the silhouette of fishing boats paints a serene picture against the horizon. A British family, sun-kissed from a day at the beach, meanders along a pathway lined with lush ginger plants, leading to their villa. The resort's white structures emit a soft glow, welcoming them to their "home away from home," a concept deeply ingrained in the resort's architectural ethos.
Tan Hock Beng, a proponent of critical regionalism, believes that architecture's role is to enhance the sense of homecoming. This philosophy is evident in the resort's design, which seamlessly integrates the local geography with the built environment, creating a sense of place that is both comforting and inspiring.
In 2005, The New York Times shone a spotlight on Vietnam's burgeoning resort scene, praising establishments like the Furama, Victoria Phan Thiet, and Evason Ana Mandara for their luxurious offerings. However, the landscape has since shifted with the debut of the Evason Hideaway in Nha Trang and the Nam Hai on China Beach near Hoi An. These resorts have redefined luxury with their organic designs and rejection of the arbitrary, setting a new standard for the industry.
The Princess d’Annam, in particular, has elevated Vietnam's resort offerings, attracting the attention of Jean-Philippe Beghin, former manager of the iconic Raffles-run property in Siem Reap. Beghin's vision for the resort is not to compete with local establishments but to rival exotic destinations like Bali, the Maldives, and Thailand. This ambition has led to an exclusivity that is fiercely guarded, with Beghin closing the doors to casual visitors in favor of preserving the resort's unique atmosphere.
The Princess d’Annam occupies a quintessentially Vietnamese landscape, long and narrow, yet within its confines, guests lose all sense of dimension. The resort's master plan, crafted to obscure the scale and orientation of the villas, creates a disorienting yet enchanting effect. The ginger garden, designed by Alan Carle of Singapore's Botanical Garden fame, is a botanical marvel with over 200 varieties of ginger plants. It serves as a verdant interlude, encouraging guests to pause and lose themselves in its maze-like quality.
The resort's villas, categorized as Mandarin, Princess, or Empress, play with spatial expectations. The Princess villa, for instance, features an expansive al fresco bath that rivals the room's size, complete with a sunken tub and shower stall. Each villa is designed to foster intimacy, with private plunge pools and walled gardens, while the public spaces project colonial grandeur with their high ceilings and colonnaded expanses. The spa, restaurant, and reception areas contrast the villas' humble architecture with bold, audacious structures reminiscent of ancient Mediterranean edifices.
The resort's defining image is a framed view through the reception area to the sea, a visual invitation to the splendor that awaits. Beyond the Lounge Bar, guests are greeted by the terrace and the shallow bay of Ke Ga, flanked by a historic lighthouse to the north and a sprawling sand dune to the south. The beach, with its sunny weather and gentle surf, is a natural draw, complemented by over 20 pools scattered throughout the property.
The Princess d’Annam Resort & Spa is more than a luxury destination; it is a celebration of intelligent design that honors its Vietnamese setting while providing an unparalleled guest experience. As the resort scene in Vietnam continues to evolve, it is clear that the future of hospitality lies in the thoughtful integration of design, culture, and nature.
For more information on the Princess d’Annam Resort & Spa, please visit their official website. To explore the principles of critical regionalism in architecture, refer to the architectural resources provided by ArchDaily.
