DHERMI, ALBANIA
2022
"Rooted in the rock of Dhermi, this design is a poetic conversation between earth and elegance: the massive, honest weight of local stone meeting the light, rhythmic shade of modern wood."
The hotel's design appears to embrace a contemporary coastal vernacular concept. The stacked structure, which some reviews liken to villas, maximizes views of the sea and the rugged mountain backdrop, integrating the built environment with the natural landscape. The use of multiple balconies and terraces—including the resort's beachfront location and sun decks near the water's edge—emphasizes an outdoor-focused living experience, encouraging interaction with the spectacular Albanian Riviera. The overall effect is a retreat that offers a sense of privacy within a resort setting.
Materials: A dominant feature is the extensive use of rough-cut, variegated natural stone cladding for the main building facades, providing a textural depth and a direct connection to the local rocky terrain. This stone is balanced by warm, horizontal elements of timber-look pergolas and louvers, which provide sun shading, define the distinct volumes, and introduce a contemporary Mediterranean warmth. Glass railings on the balconies ensure unobstructed views.
Innovations: While specific high-tech architectural innovations are not detailed, the building's design prioritizes passive strategies through the extensive use of deep overhangs and wooden vertical screens to manage the intense summer sun, promoting natural cooling and reducing energy consumption. The integration of outdoor lounging areas and a pool immediately adjacent to the sea suggests a focus on seamless leisure and maximizing the unique site.
The building's material palette creates a striking but harmonious composition against the vivid blues of the Ionian Sea and the white foam of the waves, establishing the hotel as a visually appealing and contextually responsive destination.
The platform bed, resting on a slatted wood base, serves as a prominent focal point. Behind it, a striking vertical wood slat screen acts as a decorative headboard and a semi-transparent room divider, adding both texture and a sense of privacy or spatial separation to the room. The use of warm wood tones contrasts nicely with the crisp white bedding and towels and the light flooring, creating a minimalist yet inviting aesthetic. The soft, flowing drapery on the left introduces a softer fabric element to the design.