OBMI's 'aera' resort proposes organic tower of stacked landscapes

bringing the lush resort to the city

Global architecture studio OBMI harnesses its vast experience in hospitality design to investigate a new type of luxury vertical resort, dubbed ‘Aera.’ The designers at the studio’s innovation lab have envisioned the conceptual retreat as a resort experience in the heart of an urban context, bringing the atmosphere of ‘toes in the sand, waves crashing on the shoreline’ closer to home, with immediate access to city dwellers. The proposed built space reorganizes the familiar, sprawling destination landscape into an organic tower of stacked micro-landscapes.

images courtesy OBMI

‘aera’ offers an oasis retreat while preserving wild nature

The innovators at OBMI note that the Aera Vertical Resort model is a first for cities. Designed to take shape as a nature retreat dropped into any urban center, the stacked organization reduces the footprint of the typical resort which would otherwise interrupt a pristine natural environment. Thus, visitors are offered an atmosphere of wellness, intimate access to a wild oasis without dedicating extensive time for travel.

‘Leveraging vertical architecture minimizes the footprint in areas where land is precious in value and availability,’ the architects note. ‘This reduces the environmental impact on the surrounding land and encourages domestic travel.’

the porous tower concept by obmi

With its Aera Vertical Resort concept, OBMI explores the ‘porosity for design,’ opening up spaces within the structural grid of a typical hotel tower. This carving strategy aims to enhance a connection between the building’s interiors and exteriors, and the surrounding urban context — creating unique spatial environments in doing so. The team continues: ‘By curating distinct, luxurious experiences into the initial design framework, Aera will create a highly differentiated product within an urban environment — appealing to locals and international guests alike.’

The model is organized between seven districts including dining, art, fashion, drama, garden, wellness, and family. A sky deck opens out to the city and hosts a pool gazing directly downward onto the streets below. The team notes: ‘Serving as an escape within the city, the walking trails lined with greenery allow for a true sense of escape from the stresses and challenges of the metropolis.’

walking trails lined with greenery create a true sense of escape
the architecture is carved out with large voids to link the interiors with the city beyond a stack of micro-landscapes within the urban context would preserve natural environments