The project for the Park of the Four Elements consists of on a large scale intervention over a hilly terrain near the zone of Zawgyi.
In the design and conception of the park the preexisting nature is of a great importance and respecting the existing trees and woods is the key for raising the best compromise between the construction intervention and nature.
Along the streams that has shaped the lake there are trails, terraces and flowering gardens to enjoy the natural context, so as vegetable gardens and orchards on the slopes of the hills are planted to supply at the resort’s need for fresh vegetable and fruit.
The idea is of a light intervention on the very characteristic natural landscape of these wooded region, tracing paths that can be walked by feet, by bike or by horse rides, twisting along the steep grades, creating a scattered park where different facilities take place, forming themed areas, linked in their morphological shape to the theme of the four elements.
The ground: a resort on the hill with the best exposure, is composed by 32 housing units on a unique floor, that are perfectly integrated with the surrounding landscape, inserting part of their volume directly into the hill and beneath the use of cob walls and rooftop gardens.
The air: a restaurant stand out on the highest hill, overlooking the view on the lake and the resort. The high rounded shapes remind light bobbles, intensifying the lightness sensation of the structures, formed by wooden frames with wide glass curtain walls on the fronts offering the best possible panorama.
The water: the underlying lake is the ultimate natural environment of the park, in the service of park’s visitors, with its long wooden paths and terraces suspended on the water, where it is possible to relax and enjoy the landscape.
The fire: a wellness centre/spa shaped with elementary forms, reminding the peaks of a volcano emerging from the ground with different shapes, curves and inclinations, dominates the other high hill of the lot. The ‘volcanos’, made in local stone with a dry laying effect, form the different spaces for the functions of the wellness centre (massages, sauna, Turkish bath, ecc.), while a long and majestic stairway livened up by torches and nestled in the hill, leads to the lake. Other facilities compose the complex, guaranteeing multiple functions and activities to the park and taking advantage of the slopes and the privileged points of view: a sky bar with suspended terraces offers a wonderful view on the entire park, an infinity pool in the middle hight of the same hill is a suggestive place where to spend the sunset time, shelters for horses and other animals are hided in the forest for the delight of the little ones, an archery field takes place on the bare hill and it’s fun for all, terraces and panoramic points climb on the wooded hights of the lower hills to offer surprising views on the verdant nature, and where they can not raise, a zip-line allows the visit of the park suspended on its forests, safely hung to a rope.
All this is obviously equipped with facilities for the management of the park and for the daily life of the staff involved in its maintenance, together with ample parking spaces for staff and of course for visitors, with parking spaces combined with bus seats.