Shaped by nature

Hotel Elements Terschelling

The hotel is currently under construction and carefully positioned in the building envelop of a former abandoned building. The integration of the new volume into the natural landscape is achieved by creating a head and tail volume, and by patterns, lines and setbacks, breaking the scale.

Brutalist and natural simultaneously
Elements Natuur Hotel, on the coast of the Dutch island Terschelling, is a “nature hotel” exploring barefoot luxury. Here, each material design decision has arisen from a sensitivity to the forces of nature.

Reacting to the exposure to wind, sun, views and the surrounding dunescape, Elements is partly sunken and the apartments have been rotated to create a fishgrate floorplan geometry, optimizing views to the north (upwind) whilst creating quiet sunny downwind terraces, following the naturally created slopes on the south. The result is a sculptural “crown” with an angular wave pattern. The color palette is sampled from and evocative of dunes contextualising Elements, with resilient yet embracing materials that patina in tone over time. Samples include the beige of sand dunes; gold-silver of dune grasses and the silvery glimmer from shells, seasonally changing from green to golden to silver, as materials lighten and darken in sun and rain and seasonally too.

Not only in colour, but in textural and tactile quality is the dunescape characterised, with bound reed mats (noeplast camargue) imprinted in the concrete with colour additive to give a blended look; offset with the aluminium window profiles reflecting the shimmering sky and toned with the wood, the grain subtly cracking and adjusting to the natural elements.

Elements is set to open in 2026, offering 4-6 person duplex holiday apartments with south-facing terraces, cafe-restaurant, hotel and sports, and wellness facilities amidst the breathtaking landscape.

A Sense of Place
Elements Terschelling combines boutique hospitality with a spa and wellness area, a beach club, and premium guest facilities, creating a destination deeply connected to the island landscape. Designed for hiking, surfing, cycling, and other outdoor activities, the resort is complemented by Restaurant DUN, where Michelin-starred chefs offer a refined culinary experience inspired by the island. The interiors by Hinabaay Interior & Design are defined by a sophisticated balance between rough and soft, open and intimate. Raw concrete, warm timber, Belgian linen, local wool, custom furniture, and handcrafted objects create an atmosphere of understated luxury deeply rooted in the island context. Wooden portals subtly integrate technical elements while enhancing spatial calm and intimacy.

Rooted in the Landscape
Carefully embedded within the dune landscape, minimizing its visual impact while strengthening the connection between architecture and nature. Expressed through robust concrete volumes and monolithic detailing, the design reflects a timeless, tactile character softened by warm natural materials and refined craftsmanship. Large openings, deep terraces, and framed views create a continuous dialogue with the surrounding landscape, allowing the sea, forest, and sky to become an integral part of the experience.

The Essence of Materiality
Conceived as a tactile landscape, the project uses sensory natural materials, reinforcing the architecture’s relationship with its environment using timber, concrete, terraco, microcement, glass, and aluminium. Inspired by the island’s textures, tones, and atmosphere, this muted palette enhances the experience of barefoot luxury, creating spaces that feel natural, immersive, and intimately connected to the landscape. Materials are chosen for their robust properties, aging beautifully in the sand and salt storms of the North Sea. Over time, they develop a natural patina shaped by the elements, where weathering and imperfections become an expression of beauty. This natural palette extends into the interior, where it is balanced by soft, organic surfaces. The fixed furniture is kept low to preserve and guide the views, emphasizing the strong horizontal line of the landscape.