InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, which is nestled amid the lush jungles of Central Vietnam’s Son Tra Peninsula, has unveiled the new “Bill Bensley Digital Design Tour”, which provides guests with an opportunity to explore this five-star sanctuary and uncover every aspect of Bill’s dramatic architectural concept, which is woven seamlessly into the natural environment with many original and surprising elements.
Available on any smart device, this new digital tour is a handheld companion that accompanies curious explorers on immersive adventures through this 39-hectare resort. Traversing four distinct levels – Heaven, Sky, Sea and Earth – guests can delve inside Bensley’s extraordinary mind and learn how this maverick designer was influenced by Vietnamese architecture, culture and nature to create a one-of-a-kind destination that looks and feels like nowhere else on Earth.
Starting at the resort’s reception area, the Bill Bensley Digital Design Tour reveals the inspiration behind the resort’s distinctive colour palette, including the black and white backdrop to represent the yin & yang of Asian philosophy and vibrant citrus splashes of lemon yellow, lime green and tangerine orange that can be discovered all around the resort, from the rooms to the restaurants. Guests can also understand how the five elements – fire, water, earth, wood and metal – are incorporated to produce a rich tapestry of textures.
Bensley and his team were inspired by Vietnam’s ancient temples, palaces and pagodas, and the tour escorts travellers from the resort’s three-door Ta Quan gate to reveal temple gardens, cobblestone courtyards, curved eaves, and elegant hanging lanterns.
These classical features are juxtaposed with scenes from Vietnam’s rural heritage, with wooden and thatched buildings influenced by traditional fishing villages and the colonial Indochine architecture of La Maison 1888, the resort’s Michelin-starred fine-dining French restaurant.
Guests can dine in upturned “non-la” conical hats at Citron, overlooking the ocean, and the iconic Quonset huts from the American War are even depicted at the Mi Sol Spa.
Bensley has a deep passion for conservation, and the entire InterContinental Danang project was designed to exist in harmony with the environment and preserve the local flora and fauna.
Having been awed by the beautiful banyan tree at the hotel’s entrance, visitors can gaze down upon a “Tree of Life” motif on the floor and up to the bronze shell-like structure that hangs from the ceiling. A cheeky monkey fountain awaits at Citron, along with sketches of native birds, while marble bovines graze peacefully in the Buffalo Garden.
The Bill Bensley Digital Design Tour also invites explorers to ride the Nam Tram, a funicular railway that spans the resort’s four distinct levels and frames spectacular sea views. Designed as a local basket and topped with a roof shaped like a non-la hat, this exhilarating 80-second ride through the forest is a highlight of the tour.
After visiting the Sky Level heritage village, including The OUTSIDER Gallery, which showcases Bensley’s own artworks, guests can return to Sea Level for a well-earned drink at L_O_N_G Bar. This bar is defined by its 50-metre-long counter, punkah ceiling fans, and suspended chairs inspired by fisherman’s baskets.
Bill Bensley says, “I absolutely love conducting the personal tours of InterContinental Danang – it’s such an exciting and vibrant resort. I hope this new digital experience helps people truly capture the essence of my vision.”
“I am delighted to reveal our new Bill Bensley Digital Design Tour, which gives curious visitors a unique opportunity to uncover the secrets of our original architecture and design. The whole resort is a celebration of Vietnamese culture and nature. By presenting this creative concept in an easy-to-follow handheld digital format, we can put the entire resort at our guests’ fingertips and let them explore at their own pace,” added Seif Hamdy, General Manager, InterContinental Danang.
The Bill Bensley Digital Design Tour is exclusively available to in-house guests. To access it, guests scan a QR code at check-in and then can access it at any time during their stay.
For more information and to book your stay at InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, please call +84 236 393 8888 or visit www.danang.intercontinental.com.
Lead image: The design concept at InterContinental Danang is inspired by nature, including the majestic banyan tree at the resort’s entrance.