Travel: Aman Resorts

Realised in an exclusive collection of intimate resorts, hotels and private residences, Aman Resorts’ distinctively design-driven approach to luxury stays is grounded in sanctuary and a sensitivity to place.

Setting a new precedent for modern resort design that celebrates heritage and luxury in equal measure, each Aman hotel is thoughtfully aligned with the beauty and culture of its location. From humble beginnings in the late 1980s in Thailand with its first hotel, Aman has since grown to encompass more than 30 unique places to stay across the world, in both urban and remote settings.

Light timbers, minimal furnishings and traditional Japanese bathhouse-inspired bathrooms create a calm, balanced and meditative experience.

Quality design has always been intrinsic to Aman, an ethos reflected in its choice of collaborators, which include leading architects and designers like Seattle-born Ed Tuttle, Belgian Jean-Michel Gathy and his studio Denniston Architects, and Australian-Singapore practice Kerry Hill Architects. A long-term collaborator, Kerry Hill Architects has designed nine Aman hotels, including Aman Kyoto and Aman Tokyo. The latter, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, is the first urban outpost of the Aman brand. Light timbers, minimal furnishings and traditional Japanese bathhouse-inspired bathrooms create a calm, balanced and meditative experience.

This sense of retreat from busy urban environments is a recurring theme of Aman Resorts’ designs. Much like the cocooning nature of Aman Tokyo, Aman New York captures the energy of the vibrant city from its location in Manhattan’s iconic Crown Building, across from Central Park, while simultaneously crafting a sense of tranquillity inside the suites.

Setting a new precedent for modern resort design that celebrates heritage and luxury in equal measure, each Aman hotel is thoughtfully aligned with the beauty and culture of its location.

Aman is set to welcome more urban and remote hotels and residences over the next decade. Due to open this year, Aman Amanvari will offer an oasis in the dramatic desert landscape of the East Cape on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. Framed by towering mountain ranges and hugged by sand dunes, Amanvari is the work of architecture firm Heah & Co., which has approached the design with the overriding objective of allowing the landscape to take centrestage and encouraging a constant connection with the outdoors. Each ample pavilion enjoys uninterrupted views of the terrain, with floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto an outdoor terrace and wraparound sundeck, some with a cantilevered pool.

In 2026, Aman Miami Beach will join Aman New York as the luxury chain’s second urban location in the United States. Located directly on Miami Beach, the project is being led by Jean-Michel Gathy of Denniston, while the Aman Miami Beach Residences will be designed by Japanese practice Kengo Kuma and Associates. The design relies on considered juxtapositions such as a striking curved, glass facade that contrasts with the Miami skyline and light tonal hues that are in direct dialogue with the city’s Art Deco heritage. Inside, the spaces are minimalist and elegant, rooted in the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi. Light and connection to the outdoors are prioritised, with a palette grounded in natural tones, limestone, white oak and Japanese washi paper screens.

Light and connection to the outdoors are prioritised, with a palette grounded in natural tones, limestone, white oak and Japanese washi paper screens.

Aman Beverly Hills is slated to open in 2027, with Kerry Hill Architects appointed to lead the design. Situated on the corner of Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards, the hotel will comprise an Aman hotel, branded residences and Aman Club. The design reflects the city’s vibrant spirit and artisanal craftsmanship yet retains a sense of reprieve, drawing on a neutral colour palette that echoes the hills beyond, while natural materials like stone and wood imbue warmth and complement the expansive views across the city.

In stark contrast to the distinctly urban design of Aman New York, Amangiri, located in southern Utah, echoes the hues and moods of the desert scenery found in North America’s canyon country, revealing a deep contemplation of place. Designed by Marwan Al-Sayed, Wendell Burnette and Rick Joy, the brief called for a contemporary interpretation of native American architecture. Raw materials such as stone and neutral, sandy tones are complemented by minimal furnishings – referencing the awe-inspiring cliffs and rock formations – so as not to detract from the natural beauty.

With Aman Nai Lert in Bangkok and Aman Rosa Alpina in the Italian Dolomites both set to open in early 2025, Aman is continuing its pursuit of redefining luxury and hospitality.

With Aman Nai Lert in Bangkok and Aman Rosa Alpina in the Italian Dolomites both set to open in early 2025, Aman is continuing its pursuit of redefining luxury and hospitality. Offering a distinctly local and authentic experience while also revelling in the escape and luxury that comes with travel, Aman signals a new era of design-centric stays, one that allows guests to immerse themselves in other cultures while being surrounded by both comfort and indulgence.