Sustainable Resort Interior: Integrating Eco-Friendly Materials, Biophilic Design, and Vernacular Architecture

Abstract

The rapid expansion of the global ecotourism and luxury hospitality sectors has
underscored an urgent need for interior spaces that mitigate ecological degradation while
prioritizing occupant physical and psychological well-being. Traditional resort interiors often
depend on energy-intensive, non-renewable materials, synthetic composites, and uniform
architectural typologies that detach guests from indigenous cultural contexts and natural
landscapes. This research paper explores the multidimensional integration of eco-friendly
materials, biophilic design principles, and vernacular architectural systems in contemporary
resort interiors. By adopting a qualitative, desk-based methodology supported by peer
reviewed literature, sustainable hospitality frameworks, and green building assessment
criteria (such as GRIHA and LEED), the study investigates how material lifecycle analysis,
spatial spatial-cognitive nature immersion, and regionally adapted craft traditions coalesce to
create regenerative hospitality environments. The investigation analyzes passive climate
adaptation, locally sourced low-embodied-carbon finishes (such as bamboo, rammed earth,
reclaimed timber, and lime plaster), circadian lighting, and direct-indirect sensory
connections to nature. Building on these theoretical foundations, the paper proposes a design
development framework tailored for a sustainable resort interior project, balancing structural
durability, sensory luxury, carbon reduction, and vernacular authenticity. The findings assert
that sustainable hospitality interiors are most impactful when environmental performance is
harmonized with authentic cultural narratives and holistic user wellness.