2024

    Episode 46: 40 Years in the Making – David Collins Studio

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    During this episode of DESIGN POD, sponsored by Schlüter-Systems Ltd,  Lewis Taylor, Design Director at David Collins Studio, talks to Sophie Harper about everything design – from cherished projects to team dynamics, and the ongoing achievements on the studio as it approaches its 40th anniversary…

    Founded by David Collins and Iain Watson in 1985, David Collins Studio attracts and fosters industry-leading interior designers. United by an obsession with detail, a team of 60 interior designers sit across commercial, residential, and FF&E teams.

    Since Collins’ death in 2013, co-founder Iain Watson leads the Studio as CEO. The Studio’s creative vision is led by Simon Rawlings, and closely supported by Design Director Lewis Taylor.

    As Design Director of David Collins Studio, Lewis has led the design and delivery of the Studio’s hospitality and retail projects including the Alexander McQueen and Jimmy Choo worldwide store roll-outs, projects for Harrods, David Morris, McQ, Louis Leeman, Pret A Manger and de Grisogono and most recently Cunard’s latest luxury cruise ship, the Queen Anne. He works closely with Creative Director Simon Rawlings, ensuring that Simon’s creative vision is realised and oversees each element of the design and delivery process.

    Since joining David Collins Studio in 2006, Lewis has tackled an increasingly global scope of projects. “The Alexander McQueen store roll-out was one of the most memorable,” he says. “Each of the 50 stores channels the same design concept – the signature element being a large-scale carved wax panel – yet each is unique. The New York store has double-height ceilings, Tokyo is edgier, while some of the stores were created on much smaller budgets while maintaining the core aesthetic elements. It was both creatively challenging and extremely rewarding.”

    Lewis has a particular passion for the FF&E aspect of his work, having started out as a furniture designer – a passion for beautifully made furnishings instilled from an early age with visits to his grandfather’s antique shop. He studied for his BA in Product & Furniture Design at De Montford University and while showing his graduation work at New Designers, was invited to bring in his portfolio by a member of the David Collins Studio team. He was immediately offered a job and started on a part-time basis while studying for his Masters in Design Products at the Royal College of Art (under Ron Arad, in his valedictory year as professor). Lewis eventually joined The Studio full-time in 2008, working closely with David Collins on a variety of projects.

     

     

    DESIGN POD is brought to you by Hotel Designs. This series is sponsored by Schlüter-Systems Ltd, produced by Kevin Lines, and hosted by Sophie Harper.

    Episode 45: The UK Hospitality Industry: The Lay of the Land

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    During this episode of DESIGN POD, sponsored by Schlüter-Systems Ltd, Harry Harris, Managing Director at SUSD, talks to Sophie Harper about the changes he’s seen in the hospitality industry over the years and gives us his opinion on the investment market and disruptors affecting the current hospitality landscape in the , UK…

    An architect by training and an entrepreneur in spirit, Harry Harris is a developer and advisor to investors active in the hospitality, co-living/coworking, senior living and residential sectors in London and further afield.

    Harry had tremendous success as the developer of The Curtain Hotel in London’s Shoreditch. A new-build hotel, it was conceived as a response to contemporary lifestyles. The Curtain comprised hotel, restaurants, members club, coworking spaces and a rooftop bar and pool together with a strong focus on live performance and music curated to attract the neighbourhood artists and creatives. In 2018, just 18 months after The Curtain launched, Harry successfully sold the hotel to the Reuben Brothers and the hotel was rebranded as Mondrian Shoreditch, and this summer rebranded again with new operators to become the first Virgin Hotels London.

    More recently, Harry and his team at SUSD worked on the acclaimed The BoTree in Marylebone and is currently working with Cale Street Partners on the redevelopment of The Park Tower Hotel, Knightsbridge. He has completed several co-living ventures with Cheyne Capital/The Collective and the latest development, in Maida Vale, is now on-site. In Fulham, another project completed by the SUSD team, luxury retirement apartments Riverstone Living, a Cheyne Capital/Goldman Sachs backed scheme, is receiving its first residents, and Harry and team have most recently been appointed on the Lazari Investments backed mixed-use redevelopment of Fenwicks of Bond Street.

    Hear Harry talk about his experience and projects, and the challenges the industry has had to overcome, as well as finding out what he thinks about the security of the current market.

     

    DESIGN POD is brought to you by Hotel Designs. This series is sponsored by Schlüter-Systems Ltd, produced by Kevin Lines, and hosted by Sophie Harper.

    Hamish Brown, 1508 London

    Episode 44: Growing a Successful Design Studio

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    In the second episode of series 6 of DESIGN POD, sponsored by Schlüter-Systems Ltd, Hotel Designs Editor Sophie Harper chats to Hamish Brown, Partner and Business Development & Marketing Director, 1508 London, about the key elements that have enabled 1508 to grow into the successful design business it is today…

    Having been involved since 1508 London’s inception, Hamish has been pivotal to the growth of the company and has championed the studio’s expansion from private residential into multi-unit developments and hospitality, helping 1508 London become one the world’s most revered architecture and interior design studios. As an Interior Architect, Hamish’s ability to understand every facet of the design process ensures he is perfectly positioned to help support clients throughout their journey at 1508 London. His profound commitment to clients’ experiences has installed a dedication to the creation of timeless, elegant spaces of the highest quality, all of which are informed by a unique narrative, grounded in functionality with no one set style.

    In this episode, Hamish tells Sophie how 1508 has grown from a small UK business to an international success by being flexible and open to ideas, embracing the cultural differences and expertise that comes with an expanding global team.

    DESIGN POD is brought to you by Hotel Designs. This series is sponsored by Schlüter-Systems Ltd, produced by Kevin Lines, and hosted by Sophie Harper.

    Greg Keffer speaks to Sophie Harper about integrating wellness into design

    Episode 43: Integrating Wellbeing into Design

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    In the first episode of our latest DESIGN POD series, sponsored by Schlüter-Systems Ltd, Hotel Designs Editor Sophie Harper gets to talk to Rockwell Group Partner and Studio Leader, Greg Keffer, about injecting elements of wellbeing into different hospitality settings, and the impact wellness inclusion has for hotel projects.

    Greg Keffer, AIA, LEED AP, is a Partner and Studio Leader at Rockwell Group where he leads multiple design studios and manages the firm’s Madrid office. He works on a wide range of projects including hospitality, retail, residential, and workplace, while adding new typologies to the firm’s portfolio. Greg’s combined strengths in architecture and interiors have allowed him to develop innovative and holistic design solutions for an international roster of clients including Marriott, Nobu Hospitality, Accor, Related Companies, Union Square Hospitality Group, and sbe.

    Since joining Rockwell Group in 2012, Greg has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the firm through design and management excellence. In 2017, David Rockwell appointed Greg to Partner—the second partner in the firm’s history. As Partner, Greg has taken the lead in developing a firmwide structure and culture that better supports the firm’s designers in doing their best and most creative work.

    As the critical link between New York and Madrid, Greg has helped accelerate the growth of the Madrid office. He established a structure for the Madrid office that enables more frequent and consistent collaboration with Rockwell Group’s New York designers and more seamlessly provides the Madrid staff with firmwide support and resources.  Under his leadership, the Madrid and New York offices have completed Nobu Hotel Barcelona, and the Madrid team is currently working on Spain’s first JW Marriott in Madrid, W Naples, the Seda Club Hotel in Granada, the Miraval Monte de Málaga, and a new SLS project in Barcelona.

    With wellness tourism being the en vogue topic, I asked Greg how much of a consideration guest wellbeing is within hotel design, and he explained that it’s been a key aspect of hotel design for far longer than it being a trend.

    Adding to this, we discussed the different ways in which a hotel without spa facilities can still offer wellness touchpoints, where even the subtlest additions can make all the difference, and whether sustainability counts as a measure of wellbeing.

    Listen now to hear the full conversation.

    DESIGN POD is brought to you by Hotel Designs. Series 6 is sponsored by Schlüter-Systems Ltd, produced by Kevin Lines and hosted by Sophie Harper.

     

    Main image credit: Stephen K. Mack

    Oscar Lucien Ono talks about the inspiration behind his design work in the latest episode of DESIGN POD

    Episode 42: Inspiration Translated into Design

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    In the last episode of series five of DESIGN POD, sponsored by EquipHotel, Hotel Designs Editor Sophie Harper talks to Oscar Lucien Ono, Founder and Director, Maison Numéro 20, about the influence of art and history in his design work and how he took an opportunity 20 years ago that formed the basis of his success today…

    Oscar Lucien Ono describes his early forays into the design world as instinctive and fortuitous, driven by a love of art and a good eye for pairing colours and objects together. Not officially trained in design, Oscar learnt his trade on the job, having taken a leap of faith 20 years ago. Ten years later, Oscar had learnt enough to found his own studio, Maison Numéro 20.

    Inspired by 20th century interior designers like Pierre Chareau, Oscar brings his own interior architecture expertise and creative flair to projects in which custom-made is paramount. Hotels, large residences, restaurants, and bars around the world have been the subjects of Oscar and his team’s design work with a focus on immersion and timelessness. The studio is made up of the talents of a team of architects, decorators, space designers, graphic designers as well as experts in hospitality.

     

    You can catch Oscar at this year’s installation of EquipHotel Paris on 3rd – 7th November:

    For the first time ever, EquipHotel has created a space designed as a mini-museum to play host to four designers and their take on the perfect seat for conversing, talking and sharing. That’s why the new Inspiration Gallery is featuring a new exhibition called “Confidences pour confidences”, giving carte blanche to four talents to showcase four tête-à-têtes (also known as conversation benches) in four different 30 square metre settings. Designer Fanny Perrier, architect Marco Lavit, interior architect Oscar Ono and the creative duo Marthe Simon & Paul Peller took part and set their tête-à-tête chairs in a winter garden, a dressing room, a salon and a space designed as a spa lobby, creating a way to show a piece of furniture differently by focusing on the experience.

    Conversation is also at the heart of interior architect Oscar Ono’s design. His “Disco Bathroom” transports visitors into an undefinable space that’s part bar, part bathroom, part boudoir, part dressing room, all punctuated by creations made using traditional know-how and others using recycled plastic 3D printing, because the world is changing and so are practices.

     

    DESIGN POD is brought to you by Hotel Designs. This series is sponsored by EquipHotel, produced by Kevin Lines, and hosted by Sophie Harper.

    Emma King speaks to Sophie Harper about Implementing Sustainable Measures as Brand Standard

    Episode 41: Implementing Sustainable Measures as Brand Standard

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    In the seventh episode of series five of DESIGN POD, sponsored by EquipHotel, Hotel Designs Editor Sophie Harper chats to Emma King, Head of Premium, Luxury, and Lifestyle Design – Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts, about the changes the hotel company is making to its brand standards to ensure each of its hotel rooms is as sustainable as possible, from collaborating with external companies to forming its own Green Team!

    Leading InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) Design team in Europe, Emma King is responsible for the design, development and product quality of all new openings and refurbishments. Having been instrumental in developing new brand standards and design handbooks for IHG and taking a closer look at the products and materials used within their projects, Emma tells us how she and her team are working towards a more sustainable future.

     

     

    From working with external companies such as MindClick and We Want More, to placing more responsibility on internal teams to find more sustainable solutions, Emma tells us how IHG is making waves to ensure their sustainable commitment is not only met, but shared with other hotel operators to help the industry as a whole.

     

    DESIGN POD is brought to you by Hotel Designs. This series is sponsored by EquipHotel, produced by Kevin Lines, and hosted by Sophie Harper.

    Andre Straja talks about creating the perfect vision

    Episode 40: Creating the Perfect Vision

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    In the sixth episode of series five of DESIGN POD, sponsored by EquipHotel, Hotel Designs Editor Sophie Harper catches up with Founder and Principal at Goring and Straja (GaS) Studio, Andre Straja, about the mechanics of crafting and delivering the perfect design vision – especially when reality kicks in…

    Andre Straja describes himself as a ‘cultural chameleon and professional immigrant’ – born in Romania, he then moved to Quebec, then Texas, then California before going back to his European roots and settling in Milan.

    He brings logic and acute understanding of what makes a luxury experience to his designs, and in this episode he talks about the reality of delivering that all-important five-star experience where landscape plays a major role in the hotel architecture.

    Straja talks about one of the studio’s recent projects, Casa di Langa, in Piedmont, Italy and the intricacies of the design and impact of the site.

    He tells us more about his career and his views on the design world in general, believing if we want to know what’s in store for the future of design, we should refer to the past…

     

    DESIGN POD is brought to you by Hotel Designs. This series is sponsored by EquipHotel, produced by Kevin Lines, and hosted by Sophie Harper.

     

     

     

    Tina Norden speaks to Sophie Harper about Experiential Design on the latest DESIGN POD podcast

    Episode 39: Experiential Design

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    In the fifth show of series five of DESIGN POD, sponsored by EquipHotel, Hotel Designs Editor Sophie Harper catches up with Partner and Principal at Conran and Partners, Tina Norden, about the logistics of working on global projects and creating experiential hospitality design that appeals to tourists and locals alike…

    A well-known personality in the design industry, Tina tells us about her evolving role from architecture to design through to her current role as partner at Conran and Partners and how she’s excited to see her peers’ careers unfold.

    Her design knowledge and understanding of the human condition has contributed to her natural ability to sculpt hospitality environments that offer guests an all-encompassing hotel experience.

    Listen now to hear Tina talk about working closely with clients to really get under the skin of their target market and showcase the visual expression of the brand, as well as incorporating each project’s locality to add depth and immersion.

    DESIGN POD is brought to you by Hotel Designs. This series is sponsored by EquipHotel, produced by Kevin Lines, and hosted by Sophie Harper.

    Nicholas Oakwell speak to Hotel Designs about Fashion's Affinity with Hospitality for DESIGN POD

    Episode 38: Fashion’s Affinity with Hospitality

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    In the fourth show of series five of DESIGN POD, sponsored by EquipHotel, Hotel Designs Editor Sophie Harper talks to Creative Director and Founder of NO Uniform, Nicholas Oakwell, about his career and the inspiration behind his unique clothing collections designed specifically for the hospitality sector.

    Ahead of the opening of the brand-new Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London, we caught up with Nicholas Oakwell, who designed the team’s wardrobe to honour the hotel brand’s Asian heritage while keeping the styling modern and respectful of its surroundings.

    Having started his career in millinery and gone on to launch his own couture design label, Nicholas didn’t anticipate the swerve ball that led him to establish No Uniform, a bespoke clothing design service that now dresses the teams at the most exclusive hotels in the world.

     

     

    Listen now to hear about some of No Uniform’s most notable project collections, from Raffles and Fairmont Doha, to Rosewood London, and Nobu Portman Square. Talking about the complexities of fabric choices to ensure durability and practicality, Nicholas explains that one of the most important aspects of his designs are that they wholeheartedly represent the hotel brand – as well as making the team feel fabulous whilst wearing them!

     

    DESIGN POD is brought to you by Hotel Designs. This series is sponsored by EquipHotel, produced by Kevin Lines, and hosted by Sophie Harper.

     

    Main image credit: NOUNIFORM

    Louis Thompson talks about Unconventional Design on episode 37 of DESIGN POD

    Episode 37: Unconventional Design

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    In the third show of series five of DESIGN POD, Hotel Designs Editor Sophie Harper chats to Nomadic Resorts Founder, Louis Thompson, about his ideas on unconventional design and how he applies different forms of architecture and craftsmanship to some truly unique hotel projects.

    A true believer in creating experiences that enhance a guest’s stay and that complement the local surroundings, Louis Thompson thinks so far out of the box, it makes you question why there was even the option of a box in the first place.

    Talking about customer demand for more interesting and adventurous hotels and resorts, Louis tells us about the projects he has worked on and why going back to basics is key to making unique experiences that are in harmony with and utilise their natural settings.

    Here he unravels his thought process and the research that goes into creating some of the most stunning hospitality projects in the world which, as it turns out, are built in a more conventional way than stereotypical developments.

    Listen now to hear about Nomadic Resorts‘ projects, including a restaurant in the Maldives made in the form of a stingray and constructed from bamboo, and  a completely accessible luxury development in Fiji.

    DESIGN POD is brought to you by Hotel Designs. This series is sponsored by EquipHotel, produced by Kevin Lines, and hosted by Sophie Harper.

    Main image credit: Nomadic Resorts

    Episode 36: Creating Timeless Design Within an Ever-Changing Landscape

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    On the second show of series 5 of DESIGN POD, Sponsored by EquipHotel, Hotel Designs Editor Sophie Harper talks to Tatiana Sheveleva, from Chapi Chapo Design Inc., about creating timeless design within an ever-changing landscape and Tatiana tells us about some of her latest design projects…

    Tatiana Sheveleva comes from a diverse background that has shaped where she is today. Moving to the United States of America opened her eyes to interior design, where she made a massive career move to be part of the beauty she saw in front of her.

    She talks about the definition of luxury and what that meant to her, and how we can use timeless details to bring together design, both in interiors and in fashion. If it’s not comfortable and it’s not beautiful, it’s not timeless design. We discuss how to bring timeless design to multiple generations, especially in a world that moves as fast as ours does today.

    DESIGN POD is brought to you by Hotel Designs. This series is sponsored by EquipHotel, produced by Kevin Lines, and hosted by Sophie Harper.

    Main image credit: Tatiana Sheveleva

    Jacu Strauss, Creative Director, Lore Group

    Episode 35: Storytelling in Design

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    On the first show of series 5 of DESIGN POD, Sponsored by EquipHotel, Hotel Designs Editor Sophie Harper talks to Jacu Strauss, Creative Director at LORE Group, about the storytelling process of hotel design to get a better understanding of how forming a narrative directly impacts the guest experience…

    Jacu Strauss is, by his own admission, a serial country dweller and culture seeker… this has opened his eyes to a number of fascinating local communities and the stories to which they relate – which is why he considers storytelling such an integral part of the design process for hotel projects.

    Speaking about the storied design projects he has directed, Jacu tells us how he lived in Amsterdam to soak up the local atmosphere whilst working on Pulitzer Amsterdam and in the ‘States whilst working on Riggs Washington DC.

    He describes the buildings’ historic relevance and the stories already imbedded within their walls, and what his go-to is when a building doesn’t offer up immediate inspiration.

    We also discuss the features that make a hotel special and memorable, and how in turn that makes its staff and guests feel. Storytelling is, after all, an inherently human trait of connection and familiarity offering a sense of intrigue and experience whilst giving us a level of safety and comfort.

    DESIGN POD is brought to you by Hotel Designs. This series is sponsored by EquipHotel, produced by Kevin Lines, and hosted by Sophie Harper.

    Main image credit: LORE Group