Design : The Vines ResoRT & spa
The Vines ’ 22 villas incorporate outdoor living spaces to take full advantage of the nearby mountains and vineyards .
Surrounded by the Andes Mountains in the heart of the Uco Valley , Argentina ’ s premier winemaking region , The Vines Resort & Spa fittingly focuses on the natural beauty of the region and all it has to offer in its design . The 22-villa new-build resort grew from the success of The Vines of Mendoza , which since 2005 has sold private vineyards to more than 100 owners from around the world and today encompasses some 1,500 acres ( 607 hectares ).
“ We didn ’ t want the hotel to overpower or conflict with the beauty of the surrounding landscape — we wanted it to become a part of it ,” explains Michael Evans , cofounder of The Vines of Mendoza and The Vines Resort & Spa . “ We wanted to use the nature from the property and methods as sustainable as possible to preserve and amplify the beauty of this land .”
“ We ’ ve drawn from some of the essential elements of the Andean countryside — gravel , stone , breeze and sunlight — and made them ‘ protagonistas ’ of the architecture ,” notes Eliana Bórmida , cohead of Bórmida & Yanzón Architects , Mendoza , which led the project ’ s design . “ We wanted to respect and celebrate our surroundings , bringing the outdoors indoors as much as possible by filtering light , creating shade and using shadow as a tangible material .”
Villas , which range from 1,000 sq ft to
2,700 sq ft ( 93 sq m to 251 sq m ), offer both indoor and outdoor living spaces with expansive views of the mountains and vineyards . Design features aim to highlight local history and culture as well ; guestroom details such as blankets , cushions and rugs are woven from llama hair and made by local artisans , while the 15,000-sq-ft ( 1,394-sq-m ) spa — scheduled to open this summer — will have a quincho construction and utilize vinotherapy products made from The Vines ’ own grapes .
“ The smallest of details are very important ,” Bórmida says . “ Within this property , we are working with huge open spaces and dramatic landscapes , and our challenge is to create a cozy , intimate and natural refuge within that expansive beauty .” The resort ’ s main target is leisure business , Evans says , with average rate starting at US $ 510 during the low season ( January and May through September ) and US $ 850 during the high season ( February through April and October through December ). He notes that the pre-opening period attracted a good number of guests , and at press time the hotel was on track for greater than 30 % occupancy in March .
“ We ’ re excited about the amount of interest in the hotel ,” Evans adds . “ If our bookings for this first season are any indication of the future , it ’ s going to be a great success .”
The main lodge is the heart of the resort , including its dining options and soon-toopen spa . www . hotelsmag . com April 2014 HOTELS 29