JEAN-MICHEL GATHY’S EXPERIENTIAL ARCHITECTURE IN LUXURY HOSPITALITY DESIGN

JEAN-MICHEL GATHY’S EXPERIENTIAL ARCHITECTURE IN LUXURY HOSPITALITY DESIGN

Jean-Michel Gathy is a name synonymous with luxury hotel design and iconic resort architecture. Over four decades, the Belgian-born, Malaysia-based architect has shaped some of the world’s most iconic resort design projects – from remote tropical escapes to urban sanctuaries – leaving an indelible mark on experiential travel. As the principal of Denniston Architects, Gathy has become the go-to visionary for brands like Aman, Four Seasons, One&Only and Cheval Blanc, renowned for an architectural language that marries drama with serenity.

His signature is unmistakable: dramatic water features, emotional spatial storytelling, cinematic proportions, and seamless indoor-outdoor transitions that together create sensory-rich environments designed for profound emotional impact. This editorial journey explores Gathy’s design ethos and impact through a few of his most celebrated projects – from Aman Venice and Aman New York to Cheval Blanc Randheli, One&Only Reethi Rah, and Capella Hanoi – revealing how his approach blends cultural authenticity with contemporary elegance, and how he has helped redefine experiential travel in the process.

Cheval Blanc

JEAN-MICHEL GATHY’S EXPERIENTIAL ARCHITECTURE IN LUXURY HOSPITALITY DESIGN

THE SIGNATURE LANGUAGE OF GATHY: WATER, SPACE AND STORYTELLING

Water as a centrepiece. Perhaps no element defines Jean-Michel Gathy’s architecture more visibly than water. Gathy is, by his admission, obsessed with water, often turning pools and ponds into theatrical focal points of a hotel. He believes water has a calming, magnetic effect on guests – “Think about how you feel when you’re by a lake or a river – you feel calmer… that’s why I try to incorporate water into all my designs. It soothes the mind. For me, a hotel without water is boring”. In many of his resorts, infinity pools are deployed as breathtaking stages: consider the rooftop pool he dreamt up for Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. This 57th-floor vanishing-edge spectacle has become globally iconic. In the Maldives, Gathy designed private villas at Cheval Blanc Randheli each with a 12.5-meter infinity pool that appears to merge with the turquoise lagoon, blurring the line between man-made and natural. One&Only Reethi Rah, another Maldivian paradise crafted by Gathy, introduced overwater nets (hammock-like platforms suspended above the sea) on villa decks. This now oft-imitated feature lets guests lie above the water. These dramatic water-centric touches are not just for show; they set an emotional tone of tranquillity and grandeur that defines the guest experience from the moment of arrival.

Aman Nai

At Aman Nai Lert Bangkok, Gathy crafted a contemporary urban sanctuary set in the heart of the city within the tropical gardens of the historic Nai Lert Park. Drawing upon the rich tapestry of influences and capturing the essence of Aman’s long-standing commitment to celebrating local culture and heritage, he has imbued the design with Aman’s signature aesthetic of refined elegance, simplicity, and purposeful restraint. Natural textures and materials throughout create a tranquil, immersive space.

One of the hotel’s most luxurious features is its top suite, which includes five expansive terraces, each offering stunning views of the surrounding Nai Lert Park. The suite also features a private cinema room, a vast lounge, dining, and bar area that can seamlessly extend into an openable study, and a multifunction room designed to accommodate a wide range of guest activities. A double treatment room with a reflective pond enhances the spa-like atmosphere, leading to a wet area complete with a sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge, and both experience and bucket showers. This attention to both relaxation and versatility exemplifies Gathy’s ability to craft luxury that is not only visually striking but also profoundly comfortable.

Aman Nai Lert Bangkok

Gathy’s spatial compositions often feel like movie sets – grand in scale yet choreographed for intimate moments. At Aman Nai Lert Bangkok, the blend of dramatic open spaces with secluded private areas creates a dynamic atmosphere that balances grandeur with personal retreat. By incorporating elements like multiple terraces, indoor gardens, and luxurious wellness facilities, Gathy reinforces the hotel’s identity as an urban oasis, capturing the spirit of Bangkok while offering a serene escape within the bustling city.

In many ways, Aman Nai Lert Bangkok is a testament to Gathy’s masterful use of contemporary elegance and cultural integration, creating a space where guests can experience both the vibrancy of the city and the tranquillity of a lush, secluded retreat. It stands as a flagship example of how urban luxury can be both dynamic and contemplative, a place where the cityscape blends seamlessly with nature and refined architecture.

One&Only

JEAN-MICHEL GATHY’S EXPERIENTIAL ARCHITECTURE IN LUXURY HOSPITALITY DESIGN

CINEMATIC PROPORTIONS AND DYNAMIC SPACES

Gathy’s spatial compositions often feel like movie sets – grand in scale yet choreographed for intimate moments. “I design elements that are a composition of dramatic effect; I create large and dramatic space, in opposition to intimate areas, so the space is always dynamic,” Gathy explained of his approach. At Cheval Blanc Randheli, for example, he installed seven-metre-high doors in every villa – towering hand-crafted portals that impart a cathedral-like volume and a sense of spectacle as one moves between indoors and outdoors. Those doors can be flung open to invite in the ocean breezes or closed to create cosy intimacy, effectively allowing guests to dial the ambience from cinematic to snug at will. Gathy’s flair for cinematic scale is also evident in public spaces: Aman resorts often feature soaring ceilings and expansive sightlines that frame nature-like artwork. In Aman New York, a much-anticipated urban project he led, the design carves out voluminous havens amid Manhattan’s skyline – including a dramatic double-height “Sky Lobby” and a 25-meter indoor pool flanked by fire pits and daybeds as the spa’s show-stopping centrepiece. Such grand gestures are balanced by carefully composed human-scale zones. “I design for the sensation you get out of it… I want every space in the hotel to be comfortable,” Gathy says, noting that guests often “don’t know why they like it, but if they walk in and feel good, I know I’ve succeeded”. This philosophy of orchestrating space for emotional resonance – creating a sequence of awe-inspiring volumes and intimate niches – is central to Gathy’s emotional spatial storytelling. Every lobby, corridor, and vista is conceived as part of a narrative journey for the guest, evoking feelings of wonder, relaxation or romance by design.

One&Only

JEAN-MICHEL GATHY’S EXPERIENTIAL ARCHITECTURE IN LUXURY HOSPITALITY DESIGN

SEAMLESS INDOOR-OUTDOOR TRANSITIONS

In tropical locales especially, Gathy’s designs dissolve the barriers between inside and outside, immersing guests in nature without sacrificing comfort. At One&Only Reethi Rah, set on one of the largest private islands in the Maldives, Gathy planned the resort with three words in mind: “luxury, space and privacy”. Each of the 122 thatch-roofed villas is surrounded by abundant private land or decking, so that “if your villa is on one side of the island, you wouldn’t even know who is on the other side,” he quips. Beach villas open directly to secluded white-sand coves, while water villas boast extensive outdoor decks, perfect for alfresco living– the design invites guests to flow freely between a cool air-conditioned interior and the warm embrace of the tropical outdoors. Even bathrooms become open-air pavilions in Gathy’s resorts: at Cheval Blanc Randheli he introduced what he playfully calls naughty bathrooms – expansive bath spaces with freestanding tubs and outdoor shower gardens that let guests bathe under the sky. By extending living areas outward to private pools, gardens or overwater terraces, Gathy ensures that the natural setting is never just a backdrop but an integral part of the spatial experience. The result is a sense of place felt on a visceral level – you smell the frangipani, hear the splashing fountain, and see the sunset melt into the horizon all from the comfort of your living room or spa bed. Such seamless indoor-outdoor design has now become a hallmark of experiential travel, where travellers seek an immersive connection to destination and nature, a trend Gathy helped pioneer long before it was buzzworthy.

JEAN-MICHEL GATHY’S EXPERIENTIAL ARCHITECTURE IN LUXURY HOSPITALITY DESIGN

HONOURING HERITAGE THROUGH DESIGN

A defining trait of Jean-Michel Gathy’s work is how each project reflects its locale’s cultural and architectural heritage, while still feeling fresh and modern. “I’m always inspired by the location of my projects; I like to honour both the landscape and local tradition,” Gathy has noted. Nowhere is this more apparent than Aman Venice (also known as Aman Canal Grande Venice), a hotel Gathy created within the 16th-century Palazzo Papadopoli on the Grand Canal. Rather than overhaul the palazzo, Gathy exercised contemporary restraint in the interiors to let Venetian history shine. Ornate Rococo frescoes, carved marble cornices and gilded chandeliers were meticulously preserved and restored, while modern interventions were subtle and sophisticated – think sleek furniture, soft lighting and polished neutral tones that complement, not compete with, the Renaissance and Baroque details. The result is an atmospheric layering of old and new: guests wander beneath centuries-old painted ceilings and then sleep in minimalist, cloud-like beds. “As palaces and hotels, Venice and [a place like] China couldn’t be more different, yet I set out to achieve a similar aesthetic – to inject a contemporary haven within a culturally rich environment, one that offers guests an authentic yet dramatic experience,” Gathy explains of projects like Aman Venice. Indeed, Aman Venice feels like a secret retreat inside a living museum – a balance of authentic Venetian opulence and modern comfort that gives travellers the sense of living in a historic private home with all the indulgences of a five-star hotel.

Gathy employs a similar ethos of cultural authenticity in far-flung settings. Cheval Blanc Randheli in the Maldives, he drew on local inspirations and materials to ground the ultra-luxe resort in its island context. The design “skillfully combines local traditions and the finest materials to create a stunning experience, in complete harmony with its pristine natural surroundings”. Traditional thatch, bamboo, teak and coconut shells are used throughout the villas, reinterpreted in clean-lined contemporary forms. The colour palette of white, soft taupe and oyster grey is punctuated by pops of sunshine yellow – a nod to the radiant Maldivian sun and the signature colour of the Cheval Blanc brand. Artisans from the region were commissioned to create bespoke décor pieces, and each villa features a one-of-a-kind abstract art installation by artist Vincent Beaurin, making every space truly individual. All these touches ensure that, while Randheli offers cutting-edge luxury, it never feels generic – it unmistakably reflects the spirit of the Maldives, from its thatched roof silhouettes echoing village huts to the Dhivehi language name “Randheli” proudly retained. Gathy’s ability to tailor each property to its destination is also evident in urban projects. In New York, he worked within the ornate 1921 Crown Building to create Aman New York, blending the building’s Beaux-Arts grandeur with Aman’s Asian design roots. The hotel’s tenth-floor lounges feature subtle Japanese influences in screens and furniture, paying homage to Aman’s origin, even as the overall design remains true to the stately Manhattan architecture. It’s a careful cultural calibration: at Aman, New York Gathy celebrated both the city’s “stately architecture and momentous history” and the zen-like tranquillity that defines Aman’s ethos. Likewise in Asia, Gathy’s Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok project integrated Thai artistry – from local artworks to a river-like flow in its reflecting pools – to ensure the property “pays a sweeping homage to its home” and offers a true sense of place.

Even hotels designed by others have followed Gathy’s lead in weaving rich cultural narratives into contemporary luxury. The recently opened Capella Hanoi in Vietnam, for instance, immerses guests in Jazz Age glamour and the golden age of opera through lavish Art Deco interiors and themed decor at every turn – from opera-themed suites to halls lined with vintage costumes and gramophones. This bold storytelling approach creates an evocative sense of history for guests, much as Gathy has long championed immersive cultural referencing in his designs. In an age where many high-end hotels risk looking and feeling the same, Gathy’s work stands out for its cultural authenticity. Each Gathy-designed property is deeply rooted in its locale – be it a Venetian palazzo, a Balinese temple motif, or a Chinese feng shui concept – and yet it presents that heritage with a modern design language that today’s luxury traveller appreciates. This blend of place-based authenticity with contemporary elegance means Gathy’s hotels don’t just give you a luxurious room; they invite you to experience the soul of the destination in a modern, comfortable way.

JEAN-MICHEL GATHY’S EXPERIENTIAL ARCHITECTURE IN LUXURY HOSPITALITY DESIGN

SHAPING THE EVOLUTION OF EXPERIENTIAL LUXURY

Beyond aesthetics, Jean-Michel Gathy has been a pioneer in transforming what luxury hotels offer – helping shift the focus from ostentatious amenities to meaningful experiential luxury. “The hotels where you arrive and lay on the beach and do nothing have progressively disappeared,” Gathy observed in a recent interview. Today’s experiential travel trend owes much to designers like him who anticipated guests’ desire for immersion and interaction. Gathy notes that modern luxury travellers expect to engage all senses and interests: “Guests are connected: they want spas, they want food and beverage, they want activities, they want things to do… luxury property clients are now asking for more than simply great rooms”. This insight has driven Gathy to conceive hotels as holistic environments where one can find endless enrichment without ever leaving. At Aman New York, for example, he included a subterranean Jazz Club, multiple restaurants and a Garden Terrace overlooking Central Park – essentially creating a microcosm of cultural and social experiences within the hotel. His master plan for One&Only resorts has often involved not just beautiful villas, but also curated experiences on-site: from private art collections and gourmet cooking classes to wellness sanctuaries that feel like destination spas unto themselves.

What truly sets Gathy’s work apart is the deliberate design of spaces to evoke emotion and unforgettable moments. He has described designing a hotel as “orchestrating a dance between the landscape, the architecture and the interiors” – a dance that, when done right, creates what he calls “wonderful chemistry” that guests can feel even if they can’t pinpoint why. Walking through a Gathy property is meant to be a sensory journey: you might enter a lobby and be struck by a dramatic vista that gives you goosebumps, then transition to a serene library that envelops you in comfort, then an outdoor pavilion where a gentle breeze and trickling water feature instantly relax the mind. At One&Only Reethi Rah, Gathy famously set out to design the perfect hotel in the Maldives as a place for emotion and togetherness, crafting indulgent settings for couples to connect. From the romantic nets over the water to candle-lit bathrooms open to the stars, every detail at Reethi Rah is aimed at sparking feelings of intimacy and romance in paradise. It’s no surprise honeymooners flock there. Similarly, at Cheval Blanc Randheli, the resort’s layout encourages a sense of discovery and delight – pathways wind through lush vegetation to reveal surprise views of the ocean, and each villa’s arrangement of indoor and outdoor spaces allows guests to personalize their routine, whether for “relaxation, contemplation, invigoration, or conversation”. Such emotional design is not just about luxury for the eyes, but about creating cherished memories. Vladislav Doronin, the owner of Aman, praised Gathy for his transcendent design and pioneering vision in hospitality, noting that with Aman New York, Gathy has redefined hospitality by making the hotel itself a transformative experience.

Industry-wide, Gathy’s influence can be seen in how many luxury hotels now prioritize experiential and contextual design. He was among the first to popularize now-standard concepts like extravagant resort pools as social hubs, spa-like bathrooms that feel like private wellness retreats, and innovative indoor-outdoor living features. Thanks to trailblazers like Gathy, luxury hotel design today is as much about storytelling and sensory impact as it is about high-thread-count sheets. Hotels have become theatres of experience – a shift that aligns perfectly with the values of Fused readers who seek depth and authenticity in their travels.

JEAN-MICHEL GATHY’S EXPERIENTIAL ARCHITECTURE IN LUXURY HOSPITALITY DESIGN

LEGACY OF A VISIONARY

Jean-Michel Gathy’s portfolio reads like a bucket list of extraordinary stays: Aman Venice with its palatial romance, Aman New York with its urban zen, Cheval Blanc Randheli with its contemporary island elegance, One&Only Reethi Rah with its unparalleled privacy, and many more. Each property is distinct, yet all carry Gathy’s unmistakable DNA of experiential luxury. They demonstrate how thoughtful design can celebrate a location’s culture and nature while also innovating new ways to delight guests. Gathy has often been imitated – the “over-the-top pools” and hammock decks he invented are now ubiquitous – but rarely equalled. Not that he minds; as he humbly puts it, “making a beautiful hotel is about orchestrating a dance” between all elements, and the real goal is achieving that elusive harmony that makes guests fall in love with a place. Sometimes dramatic, sometimes intimate, but always charismatic is how Gathy’s style has been summed up.

As luxury travellers and design aficionados, we find in Gathy’s work not just lavish aesthetics but a narrative – a feeling that each hotel is a love letter to its locale and an invitation to be part of a story. From the reflective ponds and courtyards of his resorts in Asia to the restored historic details in his city hotels, Gathy’s designs invite us to pause, sense and remember. They are spaces built to stir emotions – wonder, serenity, joy, romance – in a way few others achieve. In shaping hotels into immersive sanctuaries and cultural touchstones, Jean-Michel Gathy has elevated travel into an art form. His architecture continues to set the bar for experiential travel, proving that true luxury is not just seen, but felt.