* 10.05. Presentation of the final idea

This Thursday on May 10 we will have a presentation of the final idea, its volume and relation to the landscape, architectural features and floor plannings. You will be given 3-5 minutes each to present the ideas.

Here are general notes and guidelines for the final design.

Design qualities

The yacht club hotel will be no less than 4+ stars. Being in very exclusive location next to the water it must be in the level of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. You may read more about them at www.slh.com and surf around the "destinations". For example, city of Paris has pretty good examples but even Latvia has one hotel included in their lists. It is hotel Bergs, located in Berga Bazārs. Be creative and keep in mind the client who is ready to pay for good design extras.

Access

The hotel will have the same access road as shown in the very first topography and parking for just few cars in front, no underground or other parking needed, because the cars will be parked to nearby property, by the way, owned by same investors. Small access for service is also needed, so it would be maybe from one side, preferably from the back. The road will go by the waterside, only in the area of the private land.

Waterside

Develop the waterside to the maximum. A small mole is allowed to be built. Everything from different scale yacht and boat piers are allowed and expected. Please limit the expansion on water respecting the possible developments from neighbors. All the waterside should be accessible by public, 24/7. Keep 10 meters from waterside free from any building elements on ground floor level.

Shape

Shape of the building will be strongly limited to the land plot, but designing overhangs or consoles is allowed, so there are lots of possibilities to this. Think of some design accents, like exposing some vertical elements or underlining the horizontality. Also all fluid forms are welcome, so it may be that some design lines from yacht piers continue to landscape and then evolve around the facades. There are no budget limitations, so develop the shape to the maximum. 

Planning

Six floors in total, average of 300 sq.m. per floor. Free planning and deviations of exact sizes is accepted and recommended, to come up with innovational and fresh proposals.

First floor will have a reception, lobby, bar and a restaurand, as well as some half-administrative office spaces, staff room, small utility room, restrooms. Corresponding to the yacht club needs design a club room which may be multifunctional so in the off-season it may be combined together with the restaurant or be used as a conferencing space.

Next floors will be composed of the hotel rooms. Plan from 5 to 7 rooms per typical floor and always think of what can be seen from the rooms, therefore try to keep the access corridors in the middle of the building or just one side, whichever suits your design best. Hotel should have an elevator, main stairway and and fire-rescue stairway which is closed and fume free or runs along the exterior (your choice).

One floor from the remaining hotel floors should consist of 2 exclusive apartments, roughly 120 and 140 sq.m. Could be so that the client wishes to use whole floor of the private apartments, so in that case the two apartments could be joined into one unit. Preferable location for apartments is the last, sixth floor or the floor of your choice if you can prove it with design.

Seventh floor is not advised and not necessary, so limit the height to six floors. Still, an exit to the roof terrace is allowed if your design has it, and a small additional element on seventh floor may be considered, again if the design proves the necessity and functionality of such element.  

All of the given guidelines are approximate and they may be modified to your needs, therefore allowing you to have all of the design ideas and creativity be expressed to its best. Good luck and design responsibly!

Dr.arch. Arne Riekstiņš