How does one deal with stress? In this time and age, the options are limitless. One could see a movie, read a book, go to a favorite restaurant and enjoy a special treat, chat with friends, listen to music, play a video game, and many other suggestions that may or may not work.
One way which has stood the test of time is to go someplace else. Leave the dust and grime of your everyday life behind and travel to another place where you can relax and wind down. Simply put, go on a vacation, because that is where you will find your old, un-stressed self.
Treehouse Suite
Guerrero, Mexico
Beaches have been the most popular holiday destination for centuries. The sound of waves, the smell of the sea, the warm sun on soft sands, and water as far as the eye can see—all have cast their magic on our drained souls. In the Treehouse Suite, all of these things are available for you 24/7, from the moment you open your eyes until you fall asleep.
Deture Culsign, an architectural firm which also specializes in interior design, tackled the challenge that is the Treehouse Suite with an eye on immersion with nature. This self-supporting eco-resort is designed with two levels. The entry level houses a sitting area and a bathroom, with wood and stone intertwined for walls and furniture, enclosed by bamboo. A short flight of stairs outside leads to the perch level, which is the true gem of the building.
Elliptical in shape and covered entirely in bamboo, the perch level contains the sleeping area. Minimal furniture allows an unobstructed view to the beach from the bed, only screened by a wisp of a curtain. Hatch windows are scattered along the curved walls, both for ventilation and continual glimpses of nature. At the foremost part of the level, a floor hammock coaxes guests to lie down and lounge for hours on end, enjoying the view with the sensation of being suspended above the ground.
Yun House Boutique Eco Resort
Yangshuo, Guilin, China
Other than beaches, another popular destination for vacations is by going the opposite direction, toward mountains and rivers. Yangshuo is a picturesque, ancient settlement located along the Li River. Tucked in a village in the northern part of Yangshuo, with Guilin’s dramatic landscape of limestone mountain formations as its backdrop, is the Yun House Boutique Eco Resort.
Nine renovated and refitted old farm houses, with one new steel-framed, glass-screened addition to serve as an all-day dining restaurant, comprise the entire compound of Yun House Boutique Eco Resort. Each farm-house-turned-guest-house consists of four guest rooms as well as a shared living space in the center. The original walls of hand-molded bricks and terracotta roof remain unchanged, allowing the establishment to blend gracefully with the surrounding houses in the village.
Old and quaint though the guest houses may seem, they are nevertheless equipped with all contemporary amenities to assure a comfortable stay. Atelier Liu Yuyang Architects and Ares Partners are responsible for the careful effort in the design that achieves a harmonious balance between comfort and authenticity. White walls blend with raw brick, only covered in places with wood for a warmer atmosphere. Most of the wood beams and wooden doors from the original building are also preserved and reused, adding yet another layer of authenticity to a masterwork of balance.
Eskisehir Hotel and Spa
Eskisehir, Turkey
Third and last but certainly not least is a slightly more eccentric choice: a hot spring. Eskisehir is a city in Turkey well-known for its thermal water resources. For years, locals have flocked to the area, believing that the hot water has healing properties and is beneficial for health. Utilizing this natural resource, the Eskisehir Hotel and Spa offers a luxurious choice where tourists can relax and seek to improve their health.
The complex includes a spa and wellness center in the middle as well as various accommodation units for guests on the perimeter and all combining to form the shape of a shell. In order to make the most of its proximity to the land’s geothermal features, the spa has been built underground. On the roof of the underground structure are the sunbathing terrace and pools whose domes allow natural daylight inside.
Eskisehir is a city with a rich historical and cultural diversity, owing to the many different civilizations which have touched the city in the past. This is reflected in the architecture of the buildings, with the many arches, domes, and combination of sinuous curves and rigid squares. The long history of Turkish baths—with their stunning architecture—also lends its influence, particularly in the colorful mosaic tiles on the floor and walls of the spa area.
Photos by Leonardo Palafox, Su Shengliang, Altkat Architectural Photography
