R-eva-lutionary

Six Senses has created a zero-carbon emissions prototype for its new ‘Evalution' brand. Selina Denman takes a closer look at the Eco Villa.

It started with the site. Selected because a large rubber tree had fallen there and already cleared many of the bigger trees, it guaranteed minimal disruption to the natural environment. A suitable setting for Six Senses' first zero-carbon emissions Eco Villa.

"The Eco Villa at Soneva Kiri is totally ecological," noted Eva Shivdasani, co-creator of the Six Senses Resorts & Spas brand. "It is a prototype zero emissions villa built at Soneva Kiri as the pioneering project to the forthcoming zero emissions Six Senses Evalution brand.

"It showcases a range of environmental technologies, incorporated into a bio-climatically designed structure made from locally sourced and non-toxic building materials, creating an entirely new experience for guests," Shivdasani continued.

A rare opportunity for hotel guests to tread lightly on the earth for the entire length of a luxury holiday, the Eco Villa is a natural manifestation of the Six Senses brand ethos.

The company has long pioneered a ‘greening' of the hospitality industry and the Eco-Villa is only the first step in a quest to create an entirely zero-emissions collection of resorts. "We always try to use sustainable products and materials, locally sourced where possible. We are always on the hunt for the right sustainable woods for construction and furniture. We also use bamboo and local stone," Shivdasani said.

The project, which is aiming for LEED gold or platinum certification, is set on Thailand's Koh Kood island, against a backdrop of endemic, adapted and native plants, organically-grown banana and papaya trees, herbs and medicinal plants. But incorporating environmental technologies into a bio-climatically designed luxury pool villa was no straightforward task, Shivdasani explained. "It is actually very difficult to make everything from sustainable and renewable sources.

"You can't use plastic and polyester. The mattress is made of natural latex. The big daybed pillows are filled with chopped up natural latex and we used a silk-filled duvet. It was very interesting to find substitutes to what we usually use," she noted.

Structural

The structure was erected by a team of local craftsmen, from mud brick experts and terracotta potters to master carpenters and stonemasons. No cement or concrete was employed in the structure, which instead relied on low embodied energy materials, recycled waste products and green building techniques.

Most of the timber used for the post and beam structure was harvested, kiln dried and treated on site, while some poles and rafters were made from locally-sourced Casuarina driftwood.

Plantation eucalyptus, also locally sourced, was used for the remaining timber poles and beams, and rubber wood planks harvested from mature rubber plantations in a nearby province were used for the roof decking.

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