Making its foray into the Americas with Banyan Tree Mayakoba, the iconic Asian company Banyan Tree was presented with the task of blending the brand’s strong Asian heritage with the physical beauty and rich cultural landscape of Mexico. Their commitment to authenticity has resulted in a multi-cultural fusion unlike any other resort residence, managed through careful attention to detail and a variety of creative design influences that seamlessly merge two distinct worlds.
Banyan Tree’s in-house designers, Architrave Design and Planning, began the fusion process by focusing on the distinctive Banyan Tree experience rather than a predetermined palette or design concept. This experiential approach allows each Banyan Tree project to adapt itself to the local environment while blending with the brand’s strong architectural heritage. This approach also allowed the design team to be as socially responsible and environmentally sensitive as possible and conserve the existing natural environment.
"Banyan Tree is seen as an intellectual leader, a pioneer of intimate retreats with an Asian flavor," states Mr. Ho Kwoncjan, managing director, design services, Banyan Tree Holdings Ltd. "To our delight, the interest in Asian heritage and design has begun to extend beyond Asia itself. With Banyan Tree Residences Mayakoba, we capitalized on the increased global appeal of Eastern influences while tastefully incorporating elements of the local Mexican and Mayan culture."
As a result, Banyan Tree Mayakoba exudes authentic Asian gentility, exoticism, and romance while still capturing the spirit, passion, and palettes of the Mexican locale. The design concept of each of the villas is drawn from the courtyard houses of the Far East, where the house encloses the garden (instead of the western model in which the garden is located on the house exterior). Authentic, local Mexican charm was incorporated into landscaping with plants and flowers indigenous to the Yucatan Peninsula such as Orchids and Ferns.
Interiors incorporate local wood, stones and textiles into key Asian architectural elements, using clean lines and minimal decoration to create the serenity and open spaces typical of Asian design. Furniture is made of rattan and teak wood – both indigenous to the East – while neutral floors and walls offset the bright colors of locally-made textiles used in pillows, upholstery and bed spreads.
Water, a key element in both Mayan and Asian culture, is constantly flowing throughout the Mayakoba development in the natural cenotes which create a tapestry of waterways and connect each piece of the resort. To heighten the sense of water, Architrave designed the hotel lobby to feature four curved roof structures, evoking the hull of a boat, or the rising and falling of a wave.
