Published in The Daily Transcript; March 6, 2023
Solana Beach-based Burton Landscape Architecture Studio recently completed work on outdoor spaces at the Ritz-Carlton in Kapalua, Maui, as part of a $100 million transformation of the resort.
The renovations added more outdoor “living space, more privacy, and more luxury” to the Hawaiian hotel, according to a press release.
Burton Studio guided the landscape enhancements at the resort, where the outdoor spaces were at the forefront of the hotel’s recent upgrades.
“While the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua property received a substantial upgrade overall, there was a particular emphasis on enhancement of outdoor spaces,” Burton stated. “The Aloha Pavilion, a large event venue, has been transformed through extensive architectural upgrades and a new pre-function garden. The swimming pool complex has been remade into the focal jewel of the property with full rim flow perimeters at all three levels and cascading black rock waterfalls to connect them. New sun shelves provide luxurious lounge space within the water itself.”
A signature addition to the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua is the new Fire Lanai collection, a series of ground floor rooms with private garden-style living areas that include shade trellises, lounge furniture, and private fire pits.
The expanded patio spaces double the private living space associated with each room and offer detailed outdoor perches that frame views to the property’s surroundings.
Even as the Fire Lanai rooms command increased rates, they have proven to be enormously popular, according to Burton. After having been almost continuously sold out since their debut, property owner BRE Hotels & Resorts has decided to add more, which are currently under construction.
Burton Studio crafted the early landscape renovation concepts for all portions of the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, and carried those through to construction documentation and construction coordination.
“Each property’s individual setting is paramount to our design approach, and we craft a unique solution for each project based on our study of that context,” Matthew MacLeod, Burton Studio partner, said in a statement. “For this effort, we were fortunate to work closely with the property’s cultural advisor in order to responsibly implement the updates with regard for the adjacent ancient burial ground and other historic neighboring developments.”
Burton Studio, which was founded in 1989 by William Burton, is responsible for landscape design, site planning, and site design at some of the world’s premier properties, including the Four Seasons Bora Bora; Msheireb Downtown Doha in Qatar with the region’s largest covered public square; the 504-acre Pelican Hill in Newport Beach; and the Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa near Phoenix.
