The next step in Rosewood Hotels & Resorts' ambitious Asia expansion plan will take the Dallas-based company to Thailand.
News of Rosewood's Thailand deal comes on the heels of the company's first Rosewood property to debut next summer in Beijing. Rosewood Phuket is scheduled to be open by the end of 2014.
The resort, including 87 villas, 20 residences and six hideaway homes, will be located on the 1,968-foot (600-metre) Emerald Bay beachfront in Western Phuket, one of the island's last remaining areas for a secluded beach resort enclave.
The resort will be designed to integrate organically into the hillside forest surroundings with an environmentally sensitive, contemporary architectural style showcasing the location's striking natural attributes.
For example, all private and public areas will blend interiors and exteriors with retractable glass walls, and cantilevered structures will meld with the landscape. "Green" rooftops of living plants will not only provide energy conservation but uninterrupted sightlines to the Andaman Sea.
To preserve the 40-acre forest, including 150-year-old banyan trees considered sacred in Thai culture, Bangkok-based P-Landscape will retain or carefully transplant every tree within the site. Plus, any introduced foliage will be indigenous species.
Meanwhile, Singapore-based WOHA, principal architect, and Melbourne-based Bar Studio handling the creation of restaurants and hideaway homes, will incorporate sustainable practices and indigenous materials wherever possible, with ample use of stone and timber.
Strategic positioning of the one and two-bedroom beach, lagoon and pool villas will provide privacy and uninterrupted ocean views. At a minimum total area of 2,600 square feet (240 square meters), villas will include separate lounge and dining spaces, swimming pool, garden, deck and outdoor shower and bath.
The 20 two-to-nine-bedroom tropical mansion residences are set on sites that average half an acre (quarter hectare), while the six 2-to-3-bedroom forest hideaway homes are positioned on a steep slope with panoramic views of Emerald Bay. Each home will have a private gymnasium, 20-meter lap pool and lounge for exclusive use.
"Within this very special environment, Rosewood Phuket guests will feel 'at one' with the land and sea," says Radha Arora, president, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. "Everywhere, the innovative architecture with subtle Thai influences will blend beautifully with the natural landscape."
Rosewood's Sense spa will feature five treatment rooms, seven spa villas with steam and shower, and a swimming and Watsu pool. Rosewood Phuket will also feature The Pavilion, a new concept of residential-style meeting and function space that will be a signature for all Rosewood hotels in Asia.
A self-contained rooftop wedding pavilion and private outdoor garden will host ceremonies, receptions and banquets for up to 200 people. Recreational facilities will include a free-form and children's pool, a beachside lap pool and a cascading spa pool with naturally filtered waters set amidst forest foliage. Other amenities will be a health club with gymnasium, yoga pavilion, sea sports pavilion and rooftop tennis court.
Rosewood Phuket will join the following luxury Rosewood Hotels & Resorts around the world: Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, The Carlyle in New York, Rosewood Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda, Rosewood Sand Hill in California, Rosewood San Miguel de Allende in Mexico, and Rosewood Tucker's Point in Bermuda.