Helios Resort zone is located beside the sea in the Čikat Park Forest on the idyllic island of Lošinj in Croatia. This area of great natural beauty has attracted visitors for over a hundred years who are in search of wellness and serenity and as a result is synonymous with elegance, health and luxury.
The original resort was built in 1964, characterised by its pavilion structure and associated bungalows nearby. The hotel and bungalows layouts prevented their operation outside the summer season and their aged appearance and dilapidated facilities triggered the decision to demolish the existing facilities and replace them with a new redesigned 5 star hotel and spa and villas.
The client’s concept aspirations was to create a new 250 room, luxury 5 star contemporary hotel with a comprehensive spa retreat offer and 20 associated villas, operating on a year round basis.
The outlined design should establish an evident connection to their natural wooded environment using natural materials, such as stone, wood and glass, both for the exterior and the interior.
The design should minimise waste impact on the environment and maximise its relationship with the sea, while projecting a sense of elegance and comfort- offering a holistically immersive and relaxing experience.
Our proposal for this luxury resort offers a sense of harmony between the natural and built environment. The design concept was inspired by the structure of the Čikat pine tree forest. The hotel layout is organised around a public area amenity core with four guestroom wing corridors branching off to the east and west, interspersed with light wells – creating the effect of dappled forest light.
The guestrooms form the shape of clusters of pine cones from these branches. The villas are arranged in similar clusters with some sharing their pool facilities.
The low lying nature of all the structures ensure that the buildings blend into the forest setting – with a clear view to and from the coastline. All the spaces are arranged to respect and minimise the removal of the existing pine trees while enhancing the guest experience.
