Róisín Lafferty Crafts a Destination that Feels Both Luxurious and Deeply Rooted in Nature

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a biophilic hotel suite design by 2025 SBID Awards Finalist, Róisín Lafferty.

Completed by Róisín Lafferty in collaboration with Henry J. Lyons in 2024, the Woodland Suite Experience redefines hospitality. Through cantilevered, nest-inspired structures the suites blend into the wooded landscape overlooking the River Lee and Cork City. Each space is connected through soft, natural materials and colours that mirror their surroundings to create a tranquil, inviting atmosphere. Sustainability is core, with charred timber cladding and sedum roofs. The result is a restorative retreat of quiet confidence. Spaces so beautifully balanced between luxury and nature, guests feel immersed, at ease, and reluctant to leave.

What was the client’s brief?

The Montenotte team wanted to unlock the potential of a steep, wooded hillside overlooking Cork City. Their ambition was to create nine luxury standalone suites and a private clubhouse, offering a truly exclusive experience distinct from the main hotel. Because the site is so visible from the city below, it was crucial that the new structures integrate seamlessly into the landscape, preserving the mature woodland and historic gardens. The brief asked us to balance high end hospitality with environmental sensitivity; crafting a destination that felt both luxurious and deeply rooted in nature.

What inspired the design of the project?

Nature itself was our biggest inspiration. We wanted the suites to feel like “nests” in the tree canopy – retreats that touch the land lightly while opening up extraordinary views of the River Lee valley. Working with Henry J Lyons, we elevated the suites on stilts and cantilevered them to preserve the forest floor and reduce disruption. Externally, charred timber cladding and living sedum roofs allow the buildings to disappear into the woodland while enhancing biodiversity. Inside, biophilic principles guided every decision. Beds face full height sliding glass doors, so guests feel as though they are sleeping in the trees. Open-plan layouts orbit the central view, with the bath, bar, and lounge positioned to connect seamlessly to nature. One sculptural oak joinery element integrates bed, bar, sofa, and kitchen into a single flowing structure, enhanced by Japanese rice paper bi-fold screens that double as part of the headboard. Travertine sinks appear to emerge organically from the walls, echoing the earthy tones of the landscape. Tactile finishes such as boucle, Irish linen and wool combined with natural light filtering through the canopy, create an immersive, restorative atmosphere. The Clubhouse mirrors these principles with a monolithic red travertine bar, sculptural banquettes, and muted tones, offering a calm communal counterpart to the private suites.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The site itself was the biggest challenge. With steep terrain and soft woodland ground, cranes couldn’t be used, which made installing large and heavy items like the custom travertine sinks and bar, extremely complex. Everything had to be manoeuvred by hand with precision sequencing, requiring meticulous planning, phased logistics, and incredible teamwork on site. Rejecting modular construction also posed challenges, but it allowed each suite to be tailored precisely to its location in the landscape. That approach demanded extraordinary craftsmanship and problem-solving, but it ensured the buildings felt genuinely embedded in their setting and delivered a level of architectural and interior detail that would have been impossible otherwise.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

For us, the highlight was seeing the stone installations come to life. The red travertine pedestal sinks in the Nest units, the oversized split-face silver travertine sinks in the River Suites, and the sweeping curved travertine bar in the Clubhouse all became sculptural anchors. These bespoke pieces demanded exceptional craftsmanship and watching them evolve from sketches to installation was incredibly rewarding. Equally, there was a joy in seeing how light, shadow, and seasonal colour interact with the interiors – mirrored walls reflecting the trees, rice paper screens glowing softly at dusk, and custom furniture pieces grounding the spaces. These details brought the vision of immersive, nature-rooted luxury to life, and gave the suites their unforgettable character.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

This project redefines what luxury hospitality can be; less about excess, more about connection, restoration, and respect for place. We wanted to showcase that vision on a global stage. The SBID Awards celebrate projects that innovate and set new standards, and we believe the Woodland Suites do exactly that: they demonstrate how architecture, interiors, and landscape can come together as one holistic experience.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

It’s hugely affirming for our team. Being shortlisted validates the bravery it took to reject conventional approaches and craft something so site specific. For our business, it demonstrates our ability to deliver ambitious, environmentally sensitive hospitality projects on an international stage. And for us personally, it’s a reminder that when design is rooted in nature and authenticity, it resonates deeply with people. That’s what makes this recognition so meaningful.

Questions answered by Róisín Lafferty, Founder & Creative Director of Róisín Lafferty.