Cap Karoso Resort
Cap Karoso Resort
GFAB Architects
INTERIOR DECORATION
The Frenchman, Bitte Design Studio
INTERIOR DESIGNERS
Bitte Design Studio, Gfab Architects
CONTRACTORS
Dharmawangsa
MEP CONSULTANTS
Prosol
LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS
Bali Landscape Company
STRUCTURE CONSULTANTS
Abed Struktur
PHOTOGRAPHS
Alexandre Pietra, Eric Martin, Alex Grabchilev, Toni Breton, Ben Richards
AREA
19403 M²
YEAR
2023
LOCATION
Indonesia
CATEGORY
Hospitality Architecture
Text description provided by architect.
Cap Karoso Resort is a project designed for French clients on the island of Sumba, an as-yet undeveloped island in the east of Indonesia. It is set on a gently sloping beachfront land facing into the sunset.
The design embraces the (relative) lack of skilled labor available on the island by combining simple "brutalist" concrete forms with local stone timber and woven elements.
The design comprises 47 suites (rooms) in several configurations and 20 villas in a mixture of 2 and 3-bedroom variants, which follow the contours of the site to allow sea views from all.
The roof of the main building is intended as a solar farm which can supply much of the power needed to run the resort.
Covered/shaded lounging areas surround a large infinity pool whilst spa/wellness areas are housed within native Sumba roofed buildings laid out to resemble a traditional village.
Elsewhere all other roofs are treated as planters, the vegetation on these roofs as well as the planting between the various suites and villas has been selected for its suitability to the harsh beachfront environment and to require minimal watering.
This is a significant consideration as the island is subject to long dry seasons being east of the Wallace line and groundwater can become brackish towards the end of these dry spells.
At the bottom of the site, there is a beach club which serves as the main restaurant for the resort. Here, once again, a traditional Alang–Alang grass roof is juxtaposed with brut concrete elements and locally carved screens in teakwood.
A sunken bar allows guests to dine at it whilst layered lounging areas extend towards the beach. The kitchen(s) are deliberately on show and a small deli shop is provided for guests.
The project's construction took place during the pandemic, this made what was already a difficult process (due to the remote location) even more challenging.
This effort was rewarded however with the design winning the AHEAD "Best Resort SE Asia" award in 2023.
