WINNER OF CITYSCAPE AWARDS! VIETNAM MUI DINH SOUTH RESORT PROJECT
The Vietnam Mui Dinh South Resort Project designed by NDA Group was awarded “Winner” of the Leisure & Hospitality Section of the Cityscape Awards at the Awarding Ceremony held in the evening of September 25, 2019 in Dubai.
Cityscape Awards recognize the best developments in Asia, The Middle East and South America. Along with NDA Group, some of the best architects in the world such as KPF, Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Morphogenesis, ONG&ONG, etc. also won awards this year.
Another two projects designed by NDA Group, The Citychamp Dartong Plaza Project in China and Sunbay Park Hotel and Resort in Vietnam, were also awarded “Highly Recommended” in the Commercial and Residential Sections.
Project Overview
Mui Dinh South Resort is located in Bai Trang beach, Ninh Thuan Province, Vietnam. In this unique location, a white sanded beach opens up at the conclusion of a sandy desert. Set between two rocky hills, this location provides panoramic views of the sea with a varied landscape and rocky formations abound.
Mui Dinh South Resort is a 4-star resort-style complex composed of 86 villas and a 420-room hotel on top of a broad offer of leisure and entertainment amenities. These include a commercial village, a spa, a gaming and convention center and F&B facilities, to name a few. This project covers an area of 88 ha with a construction area of 88,667 m2 including the total hotel area: 31,134 m2, facilities: 15,133 m2 and villas: 42,400 m2. The main building has a height of 37.2m with 9 storeys, 1 basement and 300 parking spaces.
The main idea for the project was to provide an incomparable resort experience for the guests whilst at the same time respecting the environment and promoting good tourism practices.
For the architectural design, Champa culture (a local ethnic minority) served as an inspiration to be updated in line with contemporary trends and modern technology with regards to architecture.
Client’s Perspective
The client requested to develop the project with several key principles in mind: a high-quality service, a realistic and site-adapted plan, reference to local culture, respect for the environment and a singular architecture design.
Besides the initial client requirements, after the site study and preliminary approach, the design team proposed alternative solutions to handle the site adaptation thereby reducing the construction impact yet keeping the outcomes unchanged.
The zoning strategy was to arrange the biggest piece (the hotel) on the flat land in the front of the beach with sprawling villas and smaller facilities in a low-density distribution on the irregular topography; thereby optimizing sea views and providing suitable access roads. This way, apart from simply minimizing construction costs, 100% of the resort villas and hotel rooms were now set with a direct sea view.
Design Concept
Uniqueness in design
The main influence on the architectural conceptualization was the local culture leverage, combining light tropical architecture, ancient Champa culture and traditional Vietnamese architecture. Consequently, it was reformulated using contemporary architecture as a base to evoke those references and at the same time adapted to the needs of the location with the best modern solutions.
Space and user experience
One of the most important features to mention about singular Champa architecture is the process of discovery created through changing perspectives. Iconic spaces that embrace the user through light effects and materiality expression. This was taken into account most prominently for the large common spaces to provide exceptional spaces for gathering, doing activities and relaxing that welcomes guests into an unforgettable experience.
Technical solutions
From a technical point of view, the detailed solutions were very important in the development, some examples are:
- Articulation of constructive elements, to adapt architectural forms to local materials and techniques.
- Water elements and good indoor-outdoor relations, to create comfort in this arid location.
- Visuals and privacy control, to allow guests to enjoy themselves comfortably.
Sustainability
Green surface increase
Due to the rocky and desert-like site, NDA Group proposed a total green land space of 19.2 ha with local flora that resists dry seasons such as Dracaena draco, hence contributing to a water demand reduction, too. The conservation of 5.4 ha of land for a nature reservation was also one of the principles for adaptation.
Energy saving
Ninh Thuan province has 2,540 hours of sun annually, so most spaces in the complex benefit from either direct or indirect natural light, therefore reducing energy consumption. Insulation, natural ventilation, shading systems and water surfaces also contribute to a higher energy reduction for cooling. Thus, technical analysis revealed that the temperature can drop down to as little as 8 degrees Celsius.
Local materials and labor
Together with adapting to local design, the materials chosen for construction were also following the tradition of Champa ceramic bricks. Since Mui Dinh EcoPark is a locally based company, the labor force will aim to support the local economy and community by creating about 150 and 100 direct and indirect jobs respectively.
Buggy transportation system
Thanks to the electric buggy system, this project achieves a car-free environment therefore promoting cleaner air, quieter ambience and custom-made transportation. This is on top of a large pedestrianised area. A total of 2952m of buggy road is planned, as well as a 5473 m2 arrival parking lot for guest’s vehicles.
Adapted development
The distances and space configuration were planned to reduce inequality. For instance, the longest corridor is just 118m in this large complex.
Additionally, the main vertical circulation of the hotel provides access to all levels, from the top floor to the beach landscape by virtue of two vertical cores of 4 lifts.
Health and Comfort Provision
Relaxation, comfort and joyful healthy activities are some of the key attractions of Mui Dinh South Resort. Furthermore, the sea water has a unique upwelling feature that provides natural wealth. This is one of the special features of the “Thalassotherapy” offered by the resort’s spa.
NDA is a leading global design and marketing consultancy group specialising in creating dream destinations. We are a French company with 32 years of rich history, 18 years of which are in Asia. In more than 20 countries, we have completed nearly 300 successful projects. We have 5 offices worldwide, Headquarters in Lyon (France), with 4 branches in Shanghai (China), Hong Kong (China), HCM City (Vietnam) and Dubai (the Middle East). NDA is a leading professional in the waterfront, mountain, tourism, sports, culture and commercial industries. Our integrated services include marketing & investment feasibility study, urban planning, architecture design, and consultancy services during the whole project development process and operator’s introduction. Active clients include governments, real estate developers, investment institutions and tourism operation institutes.