Lock-and-leave jungle oasis

Designed by Mark Gacesa, Ultraspace

From the interior designer:

Concept / theme

The owners wanted a fun, modern boutique-hotel aesthetic with a robust industrial jungle theme. 

The design was to feel adventurous, lush, immersive, and luxurious – combining rugged natural environment, industrial elements, and playful features.

Goals & objectives

• To design a new internal structure plan re-using and adapting an existing structural footprint, based on a steel portal frame engineered for high wind / cyclone resilience.
• Each suite to be uniquely themed, ensuited, with illuminated name plaques.
• To include a bunk room that sleeps six – designed to be playful, safe, comfortable, and exciting – with full multiple charging facilities.
• To integrate and blur the boundary between inside and outside – maximising relationships with the natural environment (views, vegetation, daylight, breezes).
• To use materials, forms, light, texture, and structure in ways that reflect both the industrial and jungle elements: steel / impervious finishes / robust construction, combined with lush planting / natural looking faux timber / organic forms.

• To deliver an ultra-low maintenance, high durability design able to withstand remote conditions (salt spray, storms, corrosion, limited servicing).
• Able to be fully closed down and locked off for when the facilities are not in use.

Site context & constraints

• Remote island – logistics for materials, transport, labour will be more challenging.
• Climate – tropical, can be hot, humid, with potential storms, salt air / sea spray.
• Vegetation – existing native flora, potential for wildlife, desire to preserve / integrate landscape.
• Views, topography – views to ocean, vegetation, possibly uneven terrain; orientation for wind / sun / shade was critical.
• Utilities – on-site systems for power generation, water supply, wastewater treatment – sustainability was vital.

Design solutions and features

• Distance between structural portal vertical beams was 5m – the living space had potential to open up to 5m in one direction and 10m in the adjacent direction – with the use of Vitrocsa stacker doors we were able to produce door panels that were 2.5m wide and 2.7m high with only a 19mm vertical interlocking frame interruption when closed – when open, the panels disappear entirely past the openings, leaving a massive uninterrupted indoor/outdoor experience.

• With the stacker doors open and the balconies becoming part of the extended interior/outdoor experience, the whole area is designed to be fully enclosed or opened (depending on weather and event type) with the use of concealed automated clear roller shutters, which still allow full light to fill the space while protecting from wind and rain – these shutters also lock the interior off from the elements when the space is not in use.
• Another part of the indoor/outdoor experience in the kitchen area is the automated island bench flap for additional seating that can only be activated while the stacker doors are in the open position through laser technology.
• The island bench also has multiple concealed charging for handheld devices.
• Two illuminated steel porthole widow seat sanctuaries have been punched outward and cantilevered through the structure of the house – they are upholstered and contain concealed lighting.
• Concealed storage behind artificial green wall.
• The lower floor also has a six-sleeper bunk room, powder room, large bathroom and laundry.
• The upper floor consists of three fully ensuited master suites and a private mezzanine for the children to hide away and watch television, play games of just chill.
• The centrepiece of the guest house is the made-on location, illuminated steel and curved acrylic spiral staircase with perforated steel mesh treads that leads up to the perforated steel mesh catwalk and to the suites and mezzanine – the design of the mesh allows for any excess sand to be removed before entering the bedrooms while allowing a non-slip finish that also adds to the adventure and a visual spaciousness – for durability, all steelwork has been coated with marine grade polyurethane.

• Walls throughout the guest house are either black penny tiles (extensively) or painted VJ panelling – with a few features of artificial green wall and custom designed mural wall coverings also part of the mix.
• Flooring throughout is commercial, timber-look vinyl floor planking for ease of maintenance and durability to combat the harsh environment, pets and multiple visitors.
• The exploration and experimentation with custom and feature lighting is obvious throughout the residence – along with Fibaro smart home automation for ease of use, the lighting has been designed to maximise the users' experience in every way – making it an exciting, yet practical part of the journey.
• Technology – this dwelling is completely off grid and fully selfsufficient – the solar panels and batteries run extensive air conditioning units, water pumps and irrigation, along with the extensive lighting and entertainment in the home – it has Starlink technology and the whole premises (as mentioned) is controlled by Fibaro smart automation.
• The ground level consists of multiple car parking facilities, parking for off road vehicles and toys including all the watercraft – it also has ample storage and games facilities.

Conclusion

This home is more than just a guest residence – it is an immersive architectural narrative. 

It invites its occupants into a dramatic play of structure and nature, of light and shadow, of rugged durability and refined luxury. 

Every detail – from the extensive internal gardens, the recessed stacker doors to the illuminated porthole nooks; from the self-closing shutters to the mesh stair that sheds sand – is composed to heighten the feeling of exploration in comfort.

For a remote island setting, this design balances drama and restraint, infrastructure and imagination, adventurous spirit and operational feasibility. 

It offers a 'boutique hotel' experience reimagined at a domestic scale – where each suite has identity and presence, and communal life flows seamlessly into the wild.

Story by: Trendsideas