12 Sustainably-Designed Hotels for Design Buffs

By The Culture-ist

• Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman

  By The Culture-ist

  The [Six Senses Zighy Bay](http://www.sixsenses.com/resorts/zighy-bay/accommodation/villas-and-suites) was constructed using local stone and wood. Some environmental projects include the creation of a marine protected area and funding research for protection of coral reefs.

• Ulagalla, Sri Lanka

  By The Culture-ist

  [Twenty ecologically-built chalets](http://www.ugaescapes.com/ulagalla/) on 58 acres of land allow guests to unplug & reconnect with nature. Sustainable initiatives include organic farming, reverse osmosis water management & a solar farm.

• Tierra Patagonia, Chile

  By The Culture-ist

  [Tierra Patagonia](http://www.tierrapatagonia.com/) sits on the edge of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve & sources all materials for its exterior design & furniture from nearby sources. In addition, the hotel plants a tree for each guest.

• Park Hyatt Hadahaa, Maldives

  By The Culture-ist

  Situated on its own island, [this slice of paradise](http://maldives.hadahaa.park.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html) has 50 villas, 14 of which are located on the water. Yet, it was constructed such that the surrounding vegetation & coral reefs were left untouched.

• The Scarlet, England

  By The Culture-ist

  Built atop a cliff, the designers of [The Scarlet](http://www.scarlethotel.co.uk/) set out to prove that luxury didn't have to mean unsustainable. From building materials to the sources of energy, all aspects of design were addressed.

• H2Hotel, USA

  By The Culture-ist

  [The H2Hotel](http://www.h2hotel.com/home/) has a living roof to filter rainwater and insulate the building, and solar panels to heat water. Using two-thirds less energy than expected, the property received LEED Gold certification.

• Six Senses Con Dao, Vietnam

  By The Culture-ist

  The abundant sliding glass doors are designed to let the outside world cool or heat the building. Moreover, construction of [the hotel](http://www.sixsenses.com/resorts/con-dao/offers) left much of the surrounding environment untouched.

• ALT Hotels, Canada

  By The Culture-ist

  [The ALT Hotel](http://www.althotels.ca/) chain is the first in Canada to follow principles of ecological architecture, utilyzing geothermal heating, which radiates from the floor and reduces CO2 emissions by 430tons/year

• Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali

  By The Culture-ist

  [The Alila Villas Uluwatu](http://www.thecultureist.com/2012/07/05/alila-villas-uluwatu-eco-resort-bali/) seamlessly combines nature with luxury, not only through its design, but also in the choice of materials, which are locally sourced to reduce environmental harm.

• Proximity Hotel, USA

  By The Culture-ist

  One of two LEED Platinum certified hotels in America, the 4-diamond [Proximity Hotel](http://www.proximityhotel.com/) uses nearly 40% less power than buildings of its caliber and 35% of that is powered by renewable energy.

• Shipping Container Travelodge, UK

  By The Culture-ist

  [The Uxbridge Travelodge](http://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/365/London-Uxbridge-Central-hotel) is creatively designed — built completely from shipping containers, the hotel is both economically and environmentally sustainable. 

• Bardessono, USA

  By The Culture-ist

  LEED Platinum certified, the [Bardessono](http://www.bardessono.com/) is built from salvaged wood and stone and is designed to retain heat in the winter and stay cool in the summer, saving a significant amount of energy.