7 Epochs

Project idea

The 7 Epochs Resort is conceived as a spatial narrative—a resort that transcends hospitality to become a metaphorical journey through the evolution of the human spirit. Set within a terraced landscape, the resort is organized across seven contour levels, each representing a philosophical and emotional epoch: Innocence, Reason, Faith, Materialism, Spiritual Awakening, Unity, and Enlightenment.

Rather than merely designing spaces, the project choreographs experiences—each zone immerses visitors in distinct atmospheres of light, texture, sound, and materiality aligned with its symbolic epoch. The design aims to trigger reflection, growth, and healing, where architecture becomes both a vessel and a catalyst for inner transformation.

Material transitions—from earthy terracotta to translucent alabaster—reinforce the progression from grounded existence to spiritual elevation. This is not a static resort, but a living path—an architectural pilgrimage through the self, inspired by psychological, cultural, and sensory layers.

The 7 Epochs Resort proposes a new hospitality model: one that is not about escape, but return—to meaning, to balance, and to deeper human connection.

Project description

This project consists of the following interconnected parts, each located at a distinct contour level and designed to provide a curated, immersive experience:

Innocence Epoch (0m):

Reception and Welcome Lounge

Sensory Garden and Playful Fire-Cooking Restaurant

Demonstration Kitchen and Displayed Kitchen Dining

Reason Epoch (4m):

Philosopher’s Circle (Outdoor Dialogue Arena)

Tinkering Workshop for hands-on exploration and making

Faith Epoch (8m):

Chakra Healing Hall and Meditation Spaces

Yoga Studio and Plant-Based Drinks Bar

Accommodation Units with introspective interiors

Materialism Epoch (12m):

Salt Therapy Cave, Massage Rooms, Hair Spa, and Sauna

A focus on physical indulgence and restorative wellness

Spiritual Awakening Epoch (16m):

Mirror Meditation Room and Sound Healing Studio

Healing Foods Restaurant and Art Initiative Studio

Unity Epoch (24m):

Artisan Market and Local Arts Center

Music Center and Cultural Performance Space

Community-focused Accommodation Units

Enlightenment Epoch (28m):

Elemental Foods Restaurant using raw, symbolic ingredients

Closing Ritual Hall for personal reflection and farewell

Each contour level presents a unique architectural language through materiality, openness, and texture, while maintaining a consistent design ethos rooted in rectilinear geometry, clean lines, and contemporary minimalism. Domes and traditional motifs are intentionally excluded to assert a timeless, universal aesthetic that avoids regional clichés.

Key Facade Strategies:

Innocence Epoch:
Earth-toned clay bricks and perforated terracotta screens express warmth and simplicity. Openings are playful and low, offering tactile interaction with nature, filtered light, and a childlike sense of wonder.

Reason Epoch:
Facades here use structured stone and exposed joinery, reflecting order, logic, and craftsmanship. Vertical fins and modular openings emphasize rhythm and clarity.

Faith Epoch:
Soft sandstone cladding with subtly recessed niches and screens introduces a calm, contemplative feel. Diffused light and privacy are prioritized, echoing inner reflection.

Materialism Epoch:
Polished stone, glass, and metallic accents are used to suggest material indulgence and luxury. The facades are more enclosed, contrasting light control with visual richness.

Spiritual Awakening Epoch:
Rammed earth and textured concrete create honest, grounding surfaces. Strategic light slits, mirrored surfaces, and water-reflective façades blur boundaries and provoke introspection.

Unity Epoch:
The facades become more open and inviting, using local limestone and wooden slats. Arcades, openwork panels, and generous fenestration reflect collective identity and cultural openness.

Enlightenment Epoch:
At the pinnacle, fair-faced concrete and alabaster elements form luminous, monolithic facades. Openings are large and serene, framing vast horizons. The architecture dissolves into light, symbolizing transcendence.

Unifying Elements:

Deep shadows, layered textures, and sustainable materials tie the levels together.

Passive shading, cross-ventilation strategies, and orientation-aware design enhance environmental performance.

The progression from heavier, textured facades to lighter, more transparent expressions is deliberate—a material metaphor for spiritual ascension.

Technical information

Structural System:
Reinforced concrete structural frame with modular bays

Stepped foundations integrated with natural terrain

Retaining walls and elevated platforms stabilize the contour transitions

Envelope and Facade System:
Varied facade treatment per epoch, using materials such as terracotta, sandstone, limestone, rammed earth, fair-faced concrete, and alabaster

Passive shading, recessed openings, vertical fins, and breathable screens

Material progression supports the symbolic shift from earthy grounding to spiritual elevation

Key Features:
Sea Water Pools:
Integrated across multiple levels, with bio-filtered saltwater systems. These pools offer distinct experiences: wellness therapy in Materialism, meditative reflection in Spiritual Awakening, and horizon merging infinity pools in Enlightenment. Sea water is sourced sustainably and reused through natural filtration.

Rail Car Tunnel System:
A subterranean electric rail car tunnel runs beneath the resort, connecting all seven epochs.

Provides barrier-free, climate-controlled internal circulation.

Small electric shuttles transport guests between levels, enhancing accessibility without disturbing the surface experience.

Tunnel stations are embedded into each epoch zone and integrated with vertical circulation cores.

The tunnel also doubles as a symbolic spine, supporting the narrative of an inward, introspective journey.

Sustainability Strategies:
Greywater recycling and low-flow fixtures

Passive cooling via earth sheltering and natural ventilation corridors

Locally sourced, low-embodied-energy materials per zone

Solar energy from canopy-integrated PV systems

Green roofs and terraced landscaping for heat regulation

Sea water reuse for therapeutic pools through biofiltration systems

Materials by Epoch:
Innocence: Terracotta, brick, raw timber

Reason: Clay masonry, oxidized metal, whitewashed plaster

Faith: Sandstone, hempcrete, woven screen panels

Materialism: Marble, polished concrete, glass and chrome

Spiritual Awakening: Rammed earth, acoustic wood, reflective pools

Unity: Limestone, natural stone, earth-tone finishes

Enlightenment: Alabaster, fair-faced concrete, brushed metals