Like the proverbial “castle on a hill,” The Oriental Legazpi sits atop Taisan Hills, commanding the best views of the majestic Mayon volcano. The design program called for an ultra-modern contemporary hotel that takes note of the site as a place of fond nostalgic memories and breathtaking views. So the idea was to create by respecting. By making only positive interventions and additions we pay homage to and embrace this site of memory.
The opportunity to create a crystalline palace was evident in the structural framework of the existing building. This crystallinity is realized most strongly in the hotel’s main lobby where the sun enters the skylight and filters through the criss-crossing beams and creates a kaleidoscope of light and shadow as it hits the globular crustal chandeliers and falls on the gleaming white marble floors. This is your welcome view of The Oriental.
The rest of the hotel opens up through huge bay windows and full height glass doors framed in white powder coated aluminum trimmings. This creates an expansive, seemingly endless, lobby space on the ground floor – a sleek modern interpretation of contemporary urban hotel living.
A new floor was added to alter and better structure the proportions of the hotel. The 8-meter high space serves as a penthouse ballroom with an amazing backdrop that defines the hotel from its backdrop. This space is anchored by a cubist crown that serves as the hotel’s marquee and also acts as a beacon that is visible from the rest of the city.
From outside, the hotel’s luminous, airy quality, accented by white-washed walls stands out in stark contrast to verdant greens and blue skies. This is then underlined by retaining strips of the existing cyclopean volcanic rock walls.
A stay in The Oriental Legazpi should be an unforgettable experience. This is furthered by the clean lines of its ultra-modern interiors. This indellible memory is then set in warmly-lit palatial interiors with open and fluid, playful layouts. Here you can wander about from the lobby to the chic dining halls, to the gallery, the coffee lounge, the cocktail bar, and outside to the breakfast and tea deck- covered by a hanging 7-meter planar glass canopy and framed by the best view of Mayon, without going through a single wall. Here you can always find yourself instinctively as all these areas are set in order by the grid of hallways framed by the ceilings and floors.
The 2nd floor deck area is the ultimate venue for parties and events. The whole stretch faces mount Mayon and its omnipresence and dominant role as the heart of Legazpi is best appreciated. It is a pool setting accentuated by the sweeping wood decks and planters that create just the right spaces for groups of all sizes. From one end to the other, the story plays out with the pool bar serving snacks and beverages, the live bands playing, the cocktail parties, the quiet romantic walks, the perfect cup of coffee at breakfast, and the swimmers in the infinity pool that then flows out toward the fiery mount.
The 116 guest rooms are all faced with full glass views of Legazpi and Mayon. Custom designed furniture keep the theme of urban modernity with their streamlined forms and polished white finishes. The white walls reflect the highest housekeeping standards yet the romance of the setting is maintained by the tactile feel of textured wallpaper patterns, rich leather wall finishes, and lish woven carpets. The multitude of lighting options is kept bright and warm, enhancing colors and eliminating shadows. Best of all, full
glass doors open up to wide balconies where one can enjoy the crisp mountain air.
The 116 guest rooms are all faced with full glass views of Legazpi and Mayon. Custom designed furniture keep the theme of urban modernity with their streamlined forms and polished white finishes. The white walls reflect the highest housekeeping standards yet the romance of the setting is maintained by the tactile feel of textured wallpaper patterns, rich leather wall finishes, and lish woven carpets. The multitude of lighting options is kept bright and warm, enhancing colors and eliminating shadows. Best of all, full
glass doors open up to wide balconies where one can enjoy the crisp mountain air.
