Prize(s) Honorable Mentions
Lighting Design/Product Company STARH
Lead Designers Svetoslav Stanislavov
Other Designer's names Dimitar Katsarov, Hristo Dushev, Iva Kostova, Petar Nikolov, Borislav Stanchev
Architecture Company STARH
Client Eleya Trade Ltd.
Photo Credits Dian Stanchev
Completion Date 2022
Project Location Varna, Bulgaria
Entry DescriptionUmani Hotel is located in close proximity to Golden Sands Nature Park near Varna and looks over directly towards the Black Sea. The plot of land is significantly sloped from west to east, surrounded by a pristine landscape with valuable tree species and natural rock formations. The concept of the project is to create a contextual building that fits easily into the natural environment, that looks light, airy and unobtrusive, as well as to work together with all elements of the surroundings without being dominant.
The design of the building follows clear floor plans, forming a rectangular prism with cut out volumes. Both materials used in the façade – glass and Finnish thermowood – are blending the building in with the natural environment.
Sustainability ApproachThe clear floor plans and maximally large windows of the hotel rooms allow them to change their view in height - from the richness of the vegetation to the endless expanse of the sea horizon, which gradually appears. Umani Hotel has a humane way of influence - both because of its delicate intervention and because of the peaceful experience it brings.
The biggest challenge of the project is preserving all trees and rocks that cover the slope of the property.
