“We designed the chalets as steel-framed structures wrapped in Colorbond metal roofing,” Kanny says. “This allowed us to carefully place them between the trees, keeping the majority of the site’s flora intact.”

Indeed, sustainability is at the heart of VanaVasa’s design.

Don’t miss: How architect Andra Matin’s unconventional designs are reshaping Indonesia’s built environment

The resort achieved Gold Certification with Green-RE thanks to features like natural ventilation instead of air conditioning, rainwater harvesting, and the use of low-energy LED lighting.

Janda Baik’s relatively cool climate made it possible to forgo air conditioning entirely, a rarity in tropical resorts.

Read more: What goes into great hotel design?

Materials were chosen with both sustainability and cost-consciousness in mind. While bamboo was initially considered for flooring and sun-shading devices, the team ultimately opted for bamboo-effect composite timber made from waste material.

“This proved to be the right choice,” Kanny notes, “as it’s more durable and still a green product.”

See also: From mycelium floors to fruit peel lamps: The sustainable materials shaping eco-friendly design

The project was not without challenges. Built on steep, landslide-prone slopes, it required extensive stabilisation measures and took over three years to complete, partly due to Covid-19 delays.

However, the results are a celebration of the team’s patience and vision that luxury accommodations can coexist with nature.

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