A hotel shaped by the wind
The movement of coastal grasses becomes the unifying thread of a project that weaves together a legacy of painting and a sensitivity to natural materials.
On the dunes of Domburg, a seaside town on the North Sea coast of the Netherlands, the wind blows ceaselessly, bending wild plants and continually reshaping the contours of the landscape.
This elusive presence inspired Studio HUGO’s design for Hotel The Dunes. The Dutch destination’s tradition of holistic wellbeing guided the creation of interiors that invite guests to slow down, evoking the rhythmic sound of the waves and the rustle of dune vegetation.
The distinctive light of this place, which captivated artists such as the Symbolist painter Jan Toorop as early as the beginning of the twentieth century, became a central design element in the hotel concept.
Expansive glazing allows it to glide across textured surfaces, fabrics and wood grain, making it an integral part of the composition’s harmony.
On the walls of the lounge and the restaurant, the delicate Kokoro wallcovering from the Komorebi Collection echoes the movement of the vegetation beyond the windows.
In the reeds depicted on the wallcovering, Studio HUGO recognised the choreography of the wild grasses that grow on the dunes.
Stems curve and overlap against a pale background, alternating between dense clusters and open spaces. The design suggests openness and freedom, lending the interior an almost contemplative atmosphere while preserving the intimacy of guests’ encounters and conversations.
Stems curve and overlap against a pale background, alternating between dense clusters and open spaces. The design suggests openness and freedom, lending the interior an almost contemplative atmosphere while preserving the intimacy of guests’ encounters and conversations.
The subtle character of the Komorebi Collection, inspired by a Japandi aesthetic, finds a natural expression here, not least through the qualities of the material that informed its selection.
Made from European linen and felt-effect viscose, it combines a natural composition with breathability and a fibrous surface that is perceptible to both sight and touch.
These qualities reflect the designers’ care for people and the environment, giving the surface a rich, inviting tactile presence.
These qualities reflect the designers’ care for people and the environment, giving the surface a rich, inviting tactile presence.
Blue-grey seating and textured wood and sand-coloured finishes heighten the evocative presence of the wallcovering, reflecting the shades of the landscape outside.
Every aspect of the project contributes to a strong connection with the place and its history. The result is a warm, quiet sense of visual composure, bringing artistic memory, the light within the space and the rhythm of nature itself into perfect balance.
Project Credits
Interior design: HUGO Interieurvormgevin
Photo: ©Peter Baas Photography
Location: Domburg, The Netherlands
Interior design: HUGO Interieurvormgevin
Photo: ©Peter Baas Photography
Location: Domburg, The Netherlands
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