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Blog: Updates on Urbanology
Moorish, Mexican, Mauian
Exactly what is “authentic” architecture?
It’s a design shock, for example, to visit the Fairmont Kea Lani. The conceptual design of the hotel – on the southwest edge of Maui, near Wailea – is not “traditional” Hawaiian, but Moorish. Its larger forms resemble a Moroccan palace. Its innumerable details echo this style within the (blissful) constraints of the Maui landscape, and the demands of a resort.
In 1986, the development hired Mexican architect Jose Luis Ezquerra, an authority in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean art, architecture and archeology to design the property. According to the Fairmont’s well-sourced documentation, the design team sought to express the theory of Spanish origin in the discovery of Hawaii: “In particular, the story of Spanish navigator Juan Gaetano, who was the first known European to visit Hawaii and charted the islands in 1555.”
The result? Moorish colors and motifs, filtered through their Spanish and Mexican extensions, and rendered in Mauian uses. Under the palatial domes and arches of the property’s entry, the sense of arrival is overpowering. These curves extend throughout: balconies and bridges, lattice-work and lanais… all exhibit matching proportions. One can also get enjoyably lost in the smallest replications: Moroccan hanging lamps in lounge off the lobby; blue and white starburst wallpaper and carpeting; koi pond and outdoor furniture set against vertical villas.
It’s beautifully done. Architectural Digest included the property among the best designed hotels on Maui. And, like Hawaii in general, it raises the question of just what is “authentic” culture in a place that – like many – has been impacted for centuries by many other cultures. The effect is also experienced in the islands’ food and music. But that’s another story…
What Happened in Vegas Went Everywhere
At a recent groundbreaking, Cuningham Group Architecture released design details of All Net Resort and Arena on the Las Vegas Strip. Main components include: an NBA multi-purpose arena with retractable roof (the only such arena in the world!); a grand pedestrian plaza; and 44-story, five-star hotel with 500 specialty suites. All Net Arena will have one of the most striking appearances in the world of entertainment. The spherical exterior is inspired by the barrel cactus found in Red Rock Canyon. This profile is animated with brilliant light and color, as the arena is sheathed in a matrix of LED screens, creating an immersive, interactive environment. Cool, right? The $1.4 billion development broke ground Oct 29 to nationwide media coverage such as Associated Press and U.S. News and World Report.
Some samples of the biomorphic shapes the designers drew from below:
