ARMITAJ-ART HOTEL

Kish Island, Iran

2021

CONCEPT & BRANDING:

This proposal is for a 5 star Art-Hotel on the resort island of Kish, in the southern Coast of Iran’s Persian Gulf. By definition, an Art-Hotel is a key cultural hot spot where guests can enjoy a great variety of contemporary Iranian art, film and music. Art hotels can be sponsors of international festivals and become a destination for travelers globally. In these hotels common areas & lobbies often work as art galleries, exhibiting variety of art installations and furniture.

We propose this “art hotel” strategy as a “Branding” concept for the Kish Hotel and all future Armitage hotel developments. Partnering with museum curators and galleries will bring a unique experience to the hotel guests, and visitors. Armitage will become a recognizable International Luxury brand, providing a one-of-a-kind experience. In the 21st century, Luxury hotels are investing in High Art that will make their venue standout from the competition and to be the topic of conversation. It is known that nothing says luxury in hospitality more than a “substantial art collection”.

HISTORY:

Kish island was profoundly affected economically and politically by the Achaemenid dynasty and was linked with the civilization of the Medes & Persians. The Island has ancient remains of the city of Harireh and an

underground vaulted aqueducts, Kariz-e-Kish, called the 'Underground City', supplying fresh water for the residence of the island. Our proposal takes this historic vaulting structures and transforms it into a new modern interpretation as the key hotel elements.

CLIMATE:

The island is hot and humid most of the year with humidity of approximately 60% for most of the year. In this hotel proposal we address the climate challenge with vertical shading devices on the West and horizontal shading devices on the South side. Proper installation of “moisture barrier” on the outside of wall insulations, cross ventilations throughout the hotel and use of indoor & outdoor spaces, green roofs and water elements.

GEOLOGY:

Kish Island is often called the “Pearl of the Persian Gulf” for it’s a beautiful beaches and a unique coral island, built of organic material derived from skeletons of corals and numerous other marine species and plants. This significant natural geology of the Island with the organic white corals abstractly inspires the undulating façade of the main volume of the hotel.

SITE PLAN:

The property is15270 Square Meters and is divided and developed in two phases. Phase one is for a 280-300 room Destination Hotel and Phase two will be for a Hotel Condominium building. Our site planning strategy does not divide the lot into a symmetrical & two equal parts, but rather into an interlocking parts.

Phase one contains a Long Rectilinear Hotel structure with a Large Garden.

Phase two is located on the North West of the property where apartments will be owned by individuals but have access to all the services and amenities of the hotel such as concierge, room service, housekeeping, gourmet restaurants, pools, fitness center and spa.

ARCHITECTURE:

-Podium

The Hotel structure above ground is a two-part composition of a two story- podium with a 12-story volume containing the guestrooms above. The podium contains the entrance marked by a modern hyperbolic paraboloid vaults in thin shell concrete (UHPC) celebrating the history of the island’s ancient Persian civilization and architecture where entrances of public buildings were marked with large archways and vaults. These vaults not only mark the Hotel’s arrival and entrance area they become a shading device and a colonnade protecting the South side of the podium from the harsh southern sun as well. These organic-vaulted forms then continue onto the second floor creating sculpted spaces for the Terrace-Grill Restaurant on the green “Roof Garden” of the Podium.

The Podium is a long rectilinear ship-like volume containing the Lobby, Reception area, Waiting area, Restaurant, Kitchen, Gallery space and other public services of the hotel. A spiral stair in the lobby takes the guests to a Mezzanine level where art exhibitions take place and guests can purchase art from a shop/gallery. On the opposite end there is the Business Center, Presentation Rooms and variety of Meeting Areas. A café with an open bar/counter serves both areas.

-Event Space & Roof Garden

Above the double story Lobby area that make the “Base” of the building is a roof garden with a large ballroom/Event Space. This floor can be accessed independently from a separate entrance, not to disturb the lobby and hotel guests. The roof-garden offers dining, lounging, and cocktail areas under it’s vaulted indoor/outdoor & naturally cross ventilated spaces. A grill Kitchen/ bar will serve both the hotel guests and outside visitors. This floor is a perfect space for conferences, weddings, professional events and art auctions.

-The Main Body

The main hotel volume floating above the podium is a 12-Story structure containing the guestrooms each with a balcony and majority with water views. Varity of guestrooms can be joined to offer larger executive suits, with living rooms and luxurious bathrooms. Special artwork will be displayed to allow guests experience living in a gallery-like environment. This rectilinear volume above the podium is protected and shaded by a layer of undulating facade, molded abstractly like a coral rock.

-The Rooftop/Crown

On the top floor, crowning the building is a vaulted space tiled with handmade Persian mosaics, indoor/outdoor areas, two Swimming Pools, Gym & Spa facilities. This unique space at nights turns into an entertainment/party area lit with mood lighting, open to all visitors with an independent public access.

The repetition of the entry vaults on the rooftop creates a column free open space, symbolically bringing heaven and earth together as a “destination” with dramatic views of the Island.

HOTEL GARDEN:

- Upper garden

The upper garden will be a center for outdoor activities and festivals including a Children sand garden & play area, Cabanas for playing Chess & Backgammon and a water garden. The water garden with circular pods adjacent to the hotel lobby and waiting area allows for relaxation, dining and cocktails.

- Lower garden

The water from the upper garden ends with a waterfall on the lower part of the garden. The lower garden is covered with permeable combination of pavers and grass. An outdoor cinema with a large screen will premiere Iranian art films. Annual film festivals, sponsored by the hotel offers a unique brand-attraction. Sculptures, Art and Furniture are exhibited throughout the garden, encouraging the locals and the guests from other resorts to visit and spend time here. An outdoor Teahouse will serve the visitors enjoying the Garden.

As a Landscaping Concept, the lower garden is sunken into the ground at Elevation +11. This creates a bearing wall on the South side of the property, with

six barrel vaults for Artist-Workshops with natural convection ventilation and cooling wells. Lowering the Garden also allows light and air into the Hotel-Staff offices and resting rooms.

PARKING AND HOUSE KEEPING:

All required parking, mechanical facilities, housekeeping and deliveries are located on the two floors bellow the podium.

LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE:

In the future, the hotels will lose the inherent ‘hotelization’ label and become a diversified places, where lifestyle and social experience blend together. We imagine the Armitage-Art Hotels will be the pioneers in this trend, providing comfortable accommodations for visitors to get inspired.

ARMITAJ-ART HOTEL

Kish Island, Iran

CONCEPT & BRANDING:

This proposal is for a 5 star Art-Hotel on the resort island of Kish, in the southern Coast of Iran’s Persian Gulf. By definition, an Art-Hotel is a key cultural hot spot where guests can enjoy a great variety of contemporary Iranian art, film and music. Art hotels can be sponsors of international festivals and become a destination for travelers globally. In these hotels common areas & lobbies often work as art galleries, exhibiting variety of art installations and furniture.

We propose this “art hotel” strategy as a “Branding” concept for the Kish Hotel and all future Armitage hotel developments. Partnering with museum curators and galleries will bring a unique experience to the hotel guests, and visitors. Armitage will become a recognizable International Luxury brand, providing a one-of-a-kind experience. In the 21st century, Luxury hotels are investing in High Art that will make their venue standout from the competition and to be the topic of conversation. It is known that nothing says luxury in hospitality more than a “substantial art collection”.

HISTORY:

Kish island was profoundly affected economically and politically by the Achaemenid dynasty and was linked with the civilization of the Medes & Persians. The Island has ancient remains of the city of Harireh and an

underground vaulted aqueducts, Kariz-e-Kish, called the 'Underground City', supplying fresh water for the residence of the island. Our proposal takes this historic vaulting structures and transforms it into a new modern interpretation as the key hotel elements.

CLIMATE:

The island is hot and humid most of the year with humidity of approximately 60% for most of the year. In this hotel proposal we address the climate challenge with vertical shading devices on the West and horizontal shading devices on the South side. Proper installation of “moisture barrier” on the outside of wall insulations, cross ventilations throughout the hotel and use of indoor & outdoor spaces, green roofs and water elements.

GEOLOGY:

Kish Island is often called the “Pearl of the Persian Gulf” for it’s a beautiful beaches and a unique coral island, built of organic material derived from skeletons of corals and numerous other marine species and plants. This significant natural geology of the Island with the organic white corals abstractly inspires the undulating façade of the main volume of the hotel.

SITE PLAN:

The property is15270 Square Meters and is divided and developed in two phases. Phase one is for a 280-300 room Destination Hotel and Phase two will be for a Hotel Condominium building. Our site planning strategy does not divide the lot into a symmetrical & two equal parts, but rather into an interlocking parts.

Phase one contains a Long Rectilinear Hotel structure with a Large Garden.

Phase two is located on the North West of the property where apartments will be owned by individuals but have access to all the services and amenities of the hotel such as concierge, room service, housekeeping, gourmet restaurants, pools, fitness center and spa.

ARCHITECTURE:

-Podium

The Hotel structure above ground is a two-part composition of a two story- podium with a 12-story volume containing the guestrooms above. The podium contains the entrance marked by a modern hyperbolic paraboloid vaults in thin shell concrete (UHPC) celebrating the history of the island’s ancient Persian civilization and architecture where entrances of public buildings were marked with large archways and vaults. These vaults not only mark the Hotel’s arrival and entrance area they become a shading device and a colonnade protecting the South side of the podium from the harsh southern sun as well. These organic-vaulted forms then continue onto the second floor creating sculpted spaces for the Terrace-Grill Restaurant on the green “Roof Garden” of the Podium.

The Podium is a long rectilinear ship-like volume containing the Lobby, Reception area, Waiting area, Restaurant, Kitchen, Gallery space and other public services of the hotel. A spiral stair in the lobby takes the guests to a Mezzanine level where art exhibitions take place and guests can purchase art from a shop/gallery. On the opposite end there is the Business Center, Presentation Rooms and variety of Meeting Areas. A café with an open bar/counter serves both areas.

-Event Space & Roof Garden

Above the double story Lobby area that make the “Base” of the building is a roof garden with a large ballroom/Event Space. This floor can be accessed independently from a separate entrance, not to disturb the lobby and hotel guests. The roof-garden offers dining, lounging, and cocktail areas under it’s vaulted indoor/outdoor & naturally cross ventilated spaces. A grill Kitchen/ bar will serve both the hotel guests and outside visitors. This floor is a perfect space for conferences, weddings, professional events and art auctions.

-The Main Body

The main hotel volume floating above the podium is a 12-Story structure containing the guestrooms each with a balcony and majority with water views. Varity of guestrooms can be joined to offer larger executive suits, with living rooms and luxurious bathrooms. Special artwork will be displayed to allow guests experience living in a gallery-like environment. This rectilinear volume above the podium is protected and shaded by a layer of undulating facade, molded abstractly like a coral rock.

-The Rooftop/Crown

On the top floor, crowning the building is a vaulted space tiled with handmade Persian mosaics, indoor/outdoor areas, two Swimming Pools, Gym & Spa facilities. This unique space at nights turns into an entertainment/party area lit with mood lighting, open to all visitors with an independent public access.

The repetition of the entry vaults on the rooftop creates a column free open space, symbolically bringing heaven and earth together as a “destination” with dramatic views of the Island.

HOTEL GARDEN:

- Upper garden

The upper garden will be a center for outdoor activities and festivals including a Children sand garden & play area, Cabanas for playing Chess & Backgammon and a water garden. The water garden with circular pods adjacent to the hotel lobby and waiting area allows for relaxation, dining and cocktails.

- Lower garden

The water from the upper garden ends with a waterfall on the lower part of the garden. The lower garden is covered with permeable combination of pavers and grass. An outdoor cinema with a large screen will premiere Iranian art films. Annual film festivals, sponsored by the hotel offers a unique brand-attraction. Sculptures, Art and Furniture are exhibited throughout the garden, encouraging the locals and the guests from other resorts to visit and spend time here. An outdoor Teahouse will serve the visitors enjoying the Garden.

As a Landscaping Concept, the lower garden is sunken into the ground at Elevation +11. This creates a bearing wall on the South side of the property, with

six barrel vaults for Artist-Workshops with natural convection ventilation and cooling wells. Lowering the Garden also allows light and air into the Hotel-Staff offices and resting rooms.

PARKING AND HOUSE KEEPING:

All required parking, mechanical facilities, housekeeping and deliveries are located on the two floors bellow the podium.

LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE:

In the future, the hotels will lose the inherent ‘hotelization’ label and become a diversified places, where lifestyle and social experience blend together. We imagine the Armitage-Art Hotels will be the pioneers in this trend, providing comfortable accommodations for visitors to get inspired.