Cutting-edge design meets Mother Nature at the exclusive Mandarin Oriental, Sanya 297-room resort, where world-renowned landscape architect Bill Bensley and acclaimed interior design from Lim, Teo & Wilkes (LTW) Design Works, have collaborated to create an exotic oasis of harmony and elegance that is sympathetic to the location’s geography and the indigenous Hainanese culture.

Bensley is synonymous with planning and crafting high-end lifestyle resorts, and his award-winning work with some of the world’s most admired resorts, spas and private residences is testimony to his prodigious talent. Over the past two decades, his company, Bensley Design Studios (BDS), has worked on prestigious projects in Thailand, India, China, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, Mauritius, the Seychelles, Turkey, Hawaii and Spain.

A self-proclaimed “designer of environments”, Bensley’s skill is in adapting a project to suit the different characteristics and cultures of its location. By making the most of the Mandarin Oriental, Sanya’s unique topography, he has created one of the most stunning architectural landscapes in Asia, providing each and every guest ‘a room with a view.’
                                                                      
The resort’s low-rise buildings are deliberately understated, so as not to detract from the natural surroundings, and are set in a lush tropical garden linked by open-air pathways. Bensley has used a mixture of tropical wood, local volcanic rocks and water features to create a serene atmosphere and slate-grey roofing tiles that are reminiscent of local Chinese houses. 

Mandarin Oriental, Sanya is located on a 12-hectare beachfront site on Coral Bay, with a rugged coastline and hillside backdrop. All the guest rooms, suites, villas and communal areas boast spectacular views of the South China Sea and many feature private gazebos, plunge pools and gardens, with timber decks and trellises for optimum privacy and enjoyment. The resort’s four landscaped swimming pools all have direct access to the beach, as do many of the rooms.

To create the resort’s beautiful interiors, Mandarin Oriental employed the services of Singapore-based LTW Design Works, which was responsible for the recent refurbishment of Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong and also the stunning interiors of Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo.

LTW Design Works’ expertise lies in creating innovative designs that maintain a cultural sensitivity. Its philosophy is in keeping with Mandarin Oriental’s, namely to retain a definitive ‘sense of place’ with every project. This it achieves admirably at Mandarin Oriental, Sanya. The clean, contemporary style of the interiors is set off to perfection by artistic touches that reflect not only China, but also Hainan and its colourful culture.

The overall look is one of rustic, understated elegance in contrast with the cutting-edge design of the hotel’s façade.

As with all LTW’s projects, the detail lies in the finishes, and the company has used a harmony of colours taken from costumes of Hainan’s indigenous tribes throughout, with splashes of red and indigo blue accenting the cool colour-palette of the surrounding lush green mountains and clear azure waters. 

In the spacious guest rooms, local fabrics in traditional tribal patterns perfectly complement the coconut and bamboo finishes sourced from the island. Artwork inspired by Sanya’s native cultures adorns the walls, while beige stone and honey-coloured floor tiles add a warm, luxurious feel. Furniture is modern, with clean, sculptural lines that are in keeping with the resort’s contemporary take on rustic, understated elegance that reflects a warm and luxurious approach.

Mandarin Oriental, Sanya promises unrivalled space, privacy and luxury and a relaxed experience both indoors and out.

About Mandarin Oriental, Sanya
Mandarin Oriental, Sanya is the first hotel managed by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group to open in China and is a showcase for the Group’s legendary award-winning service, innovative dining and holistic spa and wellness expertise.

Located on a private 12 hectare beach front site named Coral Bay, Mandarin Oriental, Sanya will offer a wide range of facilities and services for sophisticated travellers in search of serenity and tranquility in beautiful surroundings.