For SIURA Studio, this accolade represents more than a design victory; it is a validation of a “nature-first” approach to hospitality. Working in close collaboration with the developer, Mandiri Land, the project demonstrates how landscape architecture can transform a site defined by severe ecological constraints into a resilient, regenerative sanctuary. The project itself shortlisted on 3 categories achieved a remarkable clean sweep, taking home the awards for:
- Best Hotel Landscape Design
- Best Hotel Architectural Design
- Best Hotel / Resort Development
The Context: Designing with “Red Earth”
The site at Lagoi Beach ↗ presented a deceptive beauty. While the coastline is pristine, the land itself is defined by Bintan’s characteristic “red earth”, sandy, bauxite-rich soil with high acidity and poor drainage. Coupled with seasonal king tides and intense equatorial rainfall, the ground conditions posed a severe risk of surface ponding and flooding.
The conventional hospitality playbook would suggest importing foreign soil and paving over the problem. Our approach, however, chose to work with the land’s hydrology rather than against it.
A Water-Sensitive Framework
The winning design is anchored by a central freshwater lagoon that functions as the resort’s ecological engine. Far from being a static water feature, the lagoon was sculpted to follow the land’s natural contours, allowing it to collect runoff and buffer floodwaters during heavy rains.
This creates a closed-loop system: water is naturally filtered through bio-based systems and riparian plantings before being recycled to irrigate the surrounding gardens.
Ecological Return
The success of this strategy is now visible in the site’s biodiversity. By reintroducing native species adapted to the harsh soil conditions, the landscape has transformed from a barren construction site into a thriving habitat. The return of local fauna, including sunbirds, dragonflies, and monitor lizards, signals a restored ecosystem that coexists quietly with luxury hospitality.
A Shared Vision
Hotel Indigo Bintan ↗ demonstrates that high-end resort design does not require the displacement of nature. We congratulate Mandiri Land for championing a vision where sustainability and guest experience are inextricably linked, and we thank the PropertyGuru jury for recognizing the value of landscape architecture that performs as well as it looks.
