Drum-Like Cabins and Rooftop Suite: The Latest Comfort and Serenity of Blackbird Hotel

To the architectural studio RDMA, Blackbird Hotel in Bandung has expressed its desire to maximize its property by providing a comfortable and serene stay experience for its guests. The architect answered this challenge by designing three drum-like cabins in the garden and a suite with two rooms on the rooftop of an existing hotel building.

The Drum Room - three new cabin units of the Blackbird Hotel, built in the park and adjacent to the surrounding environment.

First, The Drum Room is a two-story inn cabin assigned to be a honeymoon suite at the Blackbird Hotel. Built on 200 square meters of land, the three tubular cabins with strong wood accents have introduced something completely new to the hotel. Its radial shape results in a unique space and spatial experience that is different from the rooms on the property - most of them are rectangular. Meanwhile, the use of a variety of woods rich in textures and colors also makes the cabins stand out more among the existing buildings, mostly white.

Each cabin of The Drum Room is full of comfort and serenity for its occupants.

Furthermore, the contoured wooden cladding that forms the cabin goes beyond mere aesthetics. The interaction also serves to add air ventilation while providing interior lighting and self-shading. Thus, the three units of The Drum Room can still maximize the privacy of guests staying in it. When the exterior doors and windows are carefully placed, the interior is kept to a minimum due to the presence of partitions and doors.

The bathroom in each unit of The Drum Room is equipped with a skylight roof.

The interior of the bedroom in The Drum Room has sufficient lighting from the top.

Design strategies like this have a reason, to still allow plenty of natural light to illuminate the interior. However, by the architect, efforts to maximize natural light are still supported by the skylight feature on the second floor - the bathroom. Together with the perforated metal sheet that becomes the stair railing as well as the barrier between the upper and lower floors - the bedroom, the skylight will transmit light from outside into the room.

So, overall, the selection of wood as the main material, the play of natural light, and the tubular shape are expected to create a unique spatial experience that is full of comfort and serenity for guests.

The interior of the living room and dining room of The Blackbird Residence.

The Blackbird Residence is on top of the hotel's existing building.

The second is a 90sqm suite on the hotel's roof deck entitled The Blackbird Residence. Similar to the previous one, the project to utilize and increase the hotel's spare space is also being carried out by RDMA using wood. However, what makes the difference is the use of wood which is structurally reinforced by steel. The concept is inseparable from efforts to harmonize this suite unit with a hotel building that has a brick and concrete structure while adding a touch of softness. The wood material used for The Blackbird Residence is as diverse in texture and color as that displayed by The Drum Room. So, the atmosphere full of comfort and serenity can still be felt by the guests.

Onsen is the main feature of The Blackbird Residence.

Meanwhile, this family-friendly suite also features a kitchenette, living room, and small balcony overlooking the entire property and stunning views of the surrounding area. But the highlight is the outdoor onsen located between the two bedrooms. This onsen has a roof cut in a circle, reflecting a typical Japanese bath. Through the gap, everyone who is relaxing while bathing can enjoy the view of the sky along with the cool air and the sound of rustling trees.

Ground floor plan of The Drum Room unit.

Top floor plan of The Drum Room unit.

The Blackbird Residence Floor Plan.