Mount Olympus was the home of the Greek gods and was presided over by Zeus. At the top resided Poseidon, Ares, Athena, Apollo along with many more. It was said that this place housed luminous palaces of gold and marble, where luxury and ostentation were present in every detail, installed on the top of a mountain in Greece, almost circular as a result of the erosion of rain and wind. In the Troodos mountain range, in Cyprus, there is another Mount Olympus, it is the highest mountain in the range and work is being done on the creation of a luxury resort in a circular shape, on top of it, which will allow guests to feel like if they were Greek deities. This will be the Resort Air.
The Kyriakos Tsolakis group of architects has presented a new hotel project in Cyprus. A resort with 320 rooms and a ring structure that respects the topographic design and the natural habitat of the mountains. A hotel made with sustainable materials, created to promote the rural areas of the island that will be reminiscent of its mythological counterpart thanks to its style and luxury finishes.
The structure made up of circular rings encompasses the entire mountain to integrate into the landscape thanks to the fact that it does not modify the mountain, but rather the construction surrounds it. The panoramic view allows guests to enjoy, on one side, the entire coast, and on the other side, views of the entire island.
With this design, the architects want to keep the building in tune with the island, and for the landscape to rise to the upper floors with gardens and pools that blend in with the surroundings. "Normally, hotel gardens and pools are at ground level. But our site was very dramatic. So we elevated the pools to the 'rooftops' of the rings and allowed the natural landscape to cascade through the complex, like natural gardens".
Two of the three rings will house the guest rooms, and the center will offer restaurant services, swimming pools -including an infinity pool-, a wellness center and reception. “The experience had to be amazing, with spectacular views to the outside, but also with a strong identity. The recognizable silhouette is born from the need for all rooms to be exterior facing, so we bent the shape to increase the length along the mountain”, shares the design team.
The mountain cascades around the resort and blends into the circular gardens that form paths surrounded by ponds. Inside, natural materials predominate, such as wood, travertine and lime on the walls and the double glass doors allow cross ventilation and natural light to pass through the entire room.
They have declined to build more on the crowded coast, so they have done so in the Troodos Mountains, a range that stretches from the north-west to the east. Its steep slopes blend with the Mediterranean forests. The air is unbelievably clean and you can smell a certain aroma of pine.
The work is not in a random location, rather its location is key to bringing vitality to one of the most underdeveloped rural areas of the island.
The mountain range is known for its many rock-cut churches and monasteries, ten of which have been designated World Heritage Sites.
