The Sunwing Sandy Bay Beach Resort in Ayia Napa, was constructed in 1989 spanning across a 60,000 sq. m area. The resort arranges itself around a main building, which houses the reception, offices, conference rooms, entertainment hall, restaurants, and back-of-house services as well as 28 detached two-story buildings arranged in clusters, accommodating 328 apartments in total.
Over the years, a series of small-scale extensions and adaptations were implemented to meet the evolving needs of its clients and operational requirements. The proposal sought to strip these away, peeling the buildings to their original form, emphasising its strong lines and simple forms. New elements were introduced, either freestanding forms detached from the existing structure or intentionally interacting with it subtly. These included, the redesign of the hotel entrance by placing a large freestanding canopy in front of the building, the upgrade of the outdoor bar and covered seating area, and the introduction of pergolas made out of timber slats providing shade to ground floor apartments. In addition, the project focused on both the aesthetic and electromechanical upgrades of the interior and exterior spaces, enhancing the hotel’s overall ambiance and establishing an updated brand identity.
Internally, earthy tones and natural wood finishes bring warmth to communal spaces, while rich, reflective surfaces define the entertainment areas, adding a vibrant contrast. The apartments, ranging from studios to one and two-bedroom layouts, have been entirely renovated with revised layouts enhancing the guests’ comfort and experience.
The landscape has been reimagined with organic shaped pathways, improving the flow through the grounds, and moving away from the geometric patterns of the original design. Three new 43-metre long pools stretch between apartment blocks, elevating the resort’s offerings and enriching the guest experience.
Subtle in its design and expansive in its scale, the project enhances the overall experience for visitors, aligning the resort with contemporary hospitality standards while preserving its timeless appeal.