Babylonstoren is a farmhouse hotel in Cape Wineland — a region in South Africa. The hospitality establishment and wine estate recently got an update as local studio Malherbe Rust Architects was commissioned to extend the business to include an experience-forward dining space. Filled with plants, the environment encourages guests to sample food and combine it with different spices. Naturally, the opportunity is supplemented with an educational aspect as individuals learn about the historical significance of each spice they consume.
The farmhouse hotel's dining space is plant-filled and, therefore, naturally immersive. The Spice Garden truly guarantees a one-of-a-kind experience. When designing the structure, Malherbe Rust Architects approached the project as a greenhouse, facilitating a gently arching roof and polycarbonate plastic glazing to protect the vegetation from UV rays.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Experience-forward Dining
- Businesses can incorporate immersive environments to enhance dining experiences and draw in consumers with a love for culture and education.
- Educational Immersion
- Creating opportunities for guests to learn about the historical, cultural, or scientific significance of products they consume can add value and create loyal customers.
- Greenhouse-inspired Architecture
- Greenhouse-inspired design can help merge indoor and outdoor experiences, adding natural elements to hospitality spaces and allowing businesses to explore creative architectural structures.
Where This Applies
- Hospitality & Tourism
- Hotels, resorts, and restaurants can create memorable experiences for guests by incorporating immersive and educational dining spaces.
- Food & Beverage
- Food and beverage companies can develop products or services that are inspired by, or teach about, cultural and historical significance, to provide value beyond just the physical product.
- Architecture & Design
- Architecture and design firms can explore creative and sustainable ways to merge indoor and outdoor environments using inspiration from greenhouses.
