Projects of Past…Ucluth Lodge and Spa

I was going through old files, and came across these early SketchUp model renderings from my final year of college. It is an adaptive re-use project of a local fish plant, from working plant to a boat in eco-resort. If you are a student of interior design, and read my blog, please know that this is the most freedom you may ever have, as budget and time issues (not dynamic ones, at least) are not working against you- so push it and have fun. I learned SketchUp in a month; it’s that intuitive.

My favourite part of the project was the sunken glass tide line room where you could watch the tide deposit shell life. The rooms are in the old cold storage building, and the spa was the shrimp room…so much fun. The sushi bar was called Kimoto’s after a local Japanese founding family. I thought it had a real Cannery Row meets Long Beach Lodge feel.

*note, the middle dwg is a process dwg

Coastal Cottage

I have been a fan of a particular little Japanese fishing shack on the water in Ucluelet's harbour for a long time, and a few weekends ago, the owner gave me a tour of her home and the darling little cottage she rents out during the warm season. We will be styling it for professional photos soon.

Interior of the cottage; I would keep the interior white, add watery blues and greens, retain the dark floor, and add a larger desk area that faces the water. The owner didn't want me to show pictures of the interior, since it didn't look it's best, so I sketched the intent for you instead. Once we have our styling day, I will share the pictures, and contact info, so you can book a week!

This is the ultimate escape, to bring a great novel, a favorite blanket, and leave your worries behind in the city. Spend the day, walking the beaches and trails listening to the sea lions and gulls. In the evening, enjoy a glass of wine near the fire, and watch the fishing boats go by.

There is a darling little loft up above, and a small kitchen and bathroom at the back. The view is of Port Albion; it's calm, being in the inner harbour.

Ucluelet was a series of cedar walkways with little cedar shacks like this a hundred years ago. It's quite an interesting history...one of First Nations (the Nuchanuth people), Japanese fisherman and their families, and early logging, establishing a resourced based economy.

There are only a couple of these little fishing shacks left, and you are no longer able to build so close to the water, on this side of the peninsula. That's what adds to the charm...and the building is original...grandfathered in, as they say.

Owner's home just up from the waterfront cottage.

The entry to the waterfront cottage...can you imagine the styling possibilities? The owner is actually very savvy, and hangs fishing floats by the front door, and sets out a cute little bench during warm season. You can fish from the dock.

The view out the kitchen window...yes, that is frost on the inside of the windows... brrr.

More to come with this little cottage...

Ucluth Lodge and Spa

There is talk of an adaptive re-use hospitality project in Ucluelet...someone has purchased a great upper harbour fish plant, and wants to keep some original components, and run it as a resort.

I will be pursuing this with everything in me, because in school, this was my thesis project, I grew up there, program requirement have been written (and will gladly be re-written), and most of all, who could be a better match?

The overlook from the spa into the pool area.

Hotel Lobby is the old "box up" area, and where forklifts would turn around and load trucks.

The spa reception area features a seating area with fireplace, large scale imagery on the walls (almost every space features this), and a natural stone floor. Off each side of this space is the entry to the spa, to the pool area and up to more treatment rooms, and a water feature.

The juice bar at the spa mixes leggy and pod like furnishings, natural materials, and features unobstructed views of the inner harbour of Ucluelet. A "Cannery Row" feeling with corrugated tin, and colourful plastics pay homage to the history of the site.

The horizontal siding used throughout gets it's reference from the numerous, utilitarian wood palettes used in the industry. A staircase overlooks the spa area, which features a tidal pool (a submerged glass box adjacent the pool), and is accessed by a second floor sky walk from the main building. The resort also includes a restaurant, a sushi bar, a lounge and a penthouse/corporate retreat.

Does anyone have any miraculous specific marketing ideas they would like to share? I have the name of the purchaser (he used to run my thesis fish plant), but know there are other investors. I just thought you ever so talented business bloggers may have some secret strategies up your sleeves :)