Hotel Designs

    NEWS AND ANALYSIS FOR HOTELIERS, DESIGNERS AND INDUSTRY SUPPLIERS
    Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo beach deck

    VIP arrivals: hottest hotel openings in March 2022

     1024 640 Pauline Brettell
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    VIP arrivals: hottest hotel openings in March 2022

    Still focussing on Q1 openings for 2022, writer Pauline Brettell takes a look at the hotels getting ready to throw down the welcome mat in March, and shares her standout choices from a Jedi-style Star Wars experience through to extreme sustainability in a project by the Sextantio group, with a few slightly more subtle stops inbetween…

    Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo beach deck

    Pipelines and projects for hotels in 2022 have been coming through thick and fast, and March is looking like no exception. From the international groups expanding their collective footprints, to boutique ventures embedding themselves into the community, there is something going on for everyone this month as the hotel and hospitality industry continues to take back travel. Starting off aiming for the stars…

    Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser

    guest room and sleeping pods on the disney Galactic Starcruiser

    Image credit: Walt Disney Resorts

    Opening with a bang and a lightsabre, voyages on the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser are preparing for take-off as of March 1. Love it or hate it, it is making a statement and taking the idea of an immersive experience to the edge of the galaxy and beyond – it will no doubt take you to the edge of something.

    Four Seasons Resort  Tamarindo

    sun deck and infinity pool with a hammock at four seasons tamarindo

    Image credit: Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

    Listed in our hottest hotel openings for 2022, The Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo takes a slightly more tropical approach to the concept of immersive experience. Situated on a private peninsula overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the resort has been designed to blend seamlessly into its environment on this natural reserve. The project supports the local environment through rewilding as it aims to create a perfect balance between the comforts of the indoors with the exceptional outdoor opportunities.

    25hours Hotel Indre By

    guestroom at 25hours Copenhagen

    Image credit: 25hours / Stephan Lemke

    Heading north to Scandinavia, 25hours Hotel Indre By is slated to open by the middle of the month. Situated right in the middle of Copenhagen in a building that dates back to the 19th century, this is a debut hotel into Scandinavia by 25hours, and is full of its trademark interiors focussing on individuality and personality as the designers explore the buildings previous purpose as a university and a place of learning in all the details.

    The La Salle Chicago

    Presidential Suite Bedroom inside The LaSalle in Chicago, which includes a modern design scheme with colours of rish blue and brushed gold.

    Image credit: The LaSalle Chicago

    Bringing a little 1920’s glamour and drama onto the scene is The La Salle Chicago. Located in the heart of downtown Chicago’s Financial District, the hotel is a modern club-like escape that sits on the top five floors of a historically iconic landmark from architect Daniel Burnham. Rich in symbolism encapsulating the essence of its time, the hotel pays tribute to The Hour Glass Lounge from the old La Salle Hotel.

    ROOST Tampa

    A rendering of apartment-style hotel with urban, laid-back interior design scheme

    Image credit: CG Rendering

    ROOST Tampa is expected to ‘transform downtown Tampa’ into a walkable urban experience. In addition to offering a collection of rental residences, SPP has partnered with Method Co. to bring Tampa the first Florida location of its high-design extended-stay concept. Designed inside and out by architecture firm Morris Adjmi Architects, the building offers a nod to Tampa’s industrial history with oversized windows that maximise natural light. With luxury rental residences on the top 15 floors of the building, ROOST Tampa will occupy the first six residential floors.

    Cashel Palace Hotel

    The Spa at Cashel Palace Hotel

    Image credit: Cashel Palace Hotel

    Moving from urban experience to country manor, Cashel Palace Hotel is a Palladian manor in the heart of Ireland. After a couple of pandemic-related delays, this destination hotel is slated to open later this month. In a previous life it was home to the Archbishops of Cashel before transitioning to a hotel in the 1960’s. Now, upgraded and redesigned, and with original interior details meticulously restored, it is ready to reopen its renovated doors.

    The Retreat Elcot Park

    croquet on the lawn at The sinet Collection The Retreat at Elcot Park

    Image credit: The Signet Collection

    Combining the classic with the contemporary – The Retreat Elcot Park is the second offering of The Signet Collection. The Retreat will continue the brand’s celebrated design aesthetic, blending the old with the new and quirky British sensibility. Earlier this year, we took a closer look at all the design details being put in place by the London-based luxury interior design practice Taylor and Turner , the creative lead behind the design transformation.

    Gleneagles Townhouse

    Edinburgh skyline from The Gleneagles Townhouse

    Image credit: Gleneagles

    The first outpost of one of Scotland’s most iconic hotels, the Gleneagles Townhouse aims to bring the glamour and classic style of the Perthshire original to one of Edinburgh’s most impressive former banking halls. An urban option for Gleneagles fans, this hotel/members club set in an Edinburgh townhouse is all about Scottish heritage with a contemporary touch, and, as its strapline says, it is a place to ‘gather and be glorious’!

    Sextantio Rwanda, The Capanne Project

    Sextantio Rwanda, The Capanne Project

    Image credit: Sextantio Rwanda

    The Capanne Project by Sextantio is the final offering on this list of March openings, and it is all about authenticity and giving back while enjoying an immersive experience that is a little more earthbound in so many ways! Hotelier Daniele Kihlgren is the creative energy behind the Sextantio projects which have previously taken abandoned and run-down Italian villages and sparked new life into entire communities. With a brand ethos that is all about making a profit from the conservation of the landscape rather than from its destruction, the result is truly authentic stays that immerse guests in the setting’s rhythms and routines. In this latest project Kihlgren is overseeing the first Sextantio opening outside of Italy, on the shores of Rwanda’s Lake Kivu. Huts will be available to stay in on a donation basis, with profits being funnelled back into the local community. Slated to open on March 21, if the only luxury you require is time and tranquillity this could tick all the boxes.

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    Main image credit: Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

    Industrial sink with contemporary lighting in concrete room

    The first porcelain sink collection from Atlas Concorde

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    The first porcelain sink collection from Atlas Concorde

    Changing perspectives, Atlas Concorde has unveiled the trendy Dialogo collection, the surface brand’s first porcelain sink collection, developed in partnership with designer and architect Mario Ferrarini…

    Industrial sink with contemporary lighting in concrete room

    Atlas Concorde has pumped more than 50 years’ experience supplying the hotel design industry with innovative surface solutions to launch its first collection of porcelain sinks.

    The Dialogo Collection has been developed in partnership with the designer Mario Ferrarini, who has extensive experience in the bathroom furnishing sector. For this project, Ferrarini worked on parallel lines with an extremely calibrated design that carefully assesses thicknesses and cross-sections to create sinks of dimensions that meet the needs of interior design.

    Grey industrial bathroom with porcelain sinks

    Image credit: Atlas Concorde S.p.A

    The new range embraces the strengths of porcelain to ensure high performance and to meet the growing demands of the medium-high market, both in retail and contract sectors.

    With its robust qualities, Atlas Concorde products have been designed for hotels, hospitality businesses, retail, and large residential complexes. In research stages during this project, Atlas Concorde combined a refined aesthetic with the functional aspects of porcelain, ideal for bathroom surfaces: healthy, easily disinfected, and easy to clean thanks to its compact, waterproof structure, which makes it resistant to stains, abrasions, and wear over time.

    Porcelain sink from Atlas Concorde

    Image credit: Atlas Concorde S.p.A

    The name itself, Dialogo, reflects the project’s genesis: a dialog between materials, both in harmony and in contrast; between different surfaces; between an industrial reality like Atlas Concorde and the world of design.

    The collection marks a return to elementary geometries, to that romantic minimalism that distinguishes Ferrarini, creating a virtuous relationship between vitality and the perfect balance of shapes.

    The sinks are available in different models – recessed single, recessed double, shelf, top and countertop basin – in a colour palette and with finishes chosen from the Atlas Concorde collections.

    Green Bathroom with shite porcelain sink from Atlas Concorde

    Image credit: Atlas Concorde S.p.A

    The main characteristics of the sink include the presence of a monobloc steel bowl that allows for the perfect insulation of the plumbing and long durability over time. The bowl itself features optimised inclination that facilitates water flow while significantly reducing splashes during use. What’s more, the sinks are packed with reinforcement specially designed to increase impact resistance and to eliminate the risk of pieces falling in the event of breakage.

    A marble-like bathroom with grey and white sink

    Image credit: Atlas Concorde S.p.A

    The various possible customisations of the Contract range were developed to respond to the various needs of the designer, such as the centered or offset positioning of the bowl for the single and double sink, the length of the sink, and the presence and position of the hole.

    Atlas Concorde is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Atlas Concorde S.p.A

    Marriott's The Ocean Club Costa Norte

    Marriott makes its mark in the Dominican Republic

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    Marriott makes its mark in the Dominican Republic

    Marriott’s Luxury Collection welcomes The Ocean Club Costa Norte on the Dominican Republic’s northern coast to its unique ensemble of experiential hotels…

    Marriott's The Ocean Club Costa Norte

    The Luxury Collection falls under the umbrella of Marriott International’s portfolio of 30 curated hotel and hospitality brands, and the addition of The Ocean Club to the collection marks its debut into the Dominican Republic. The resort is located deep within the expansive beachfront landscape of the island, providing a stunning natural backdrop to the property, and making it a picture-perfect addition to the Luxury Collection portfolio. Throughout the property a contemporary and sophisticated design by Chapi Chapo Design is portrayed using materiality to make a connection to the location, resulting in an intimate retreat suffused with the natural beauty of its surroundings.

    “Costa Norte is an ideal fit for our expanding footprint as we continue to offer our global explorers captivating home bases from which to explore all corners of the world,” said Philipp Weghmann, VP and Global Brand Leader for The Luxury Collection. “The Ocean Club will draw on the area’s natural wonders, and we’re delighted to offer our guests unique design and exceptional service as they discover this magical destination.”

    The Ocean Club offers 64 spacious suites by French interior designer Nathalie Pain, ranging from one to three guestrooms as well as five multitiered four guestroom penthouses. All combine beachfront elegance with modern craftsmanship and design. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the interior with natural daylight and ocean views, while a light colour palette with thoughtfully curated artwork and furnishings brings a sophisticated eclecticism and residential feel to the suites. Making a definite design statement is the resort’s Presidential Penthouse suite, the largest in the Caribbean with a total of 9,732 square feet of space. The suite boasts five guestrooms, a fitness centre, jacuzzi and multiple terraces offering unlimited views of the surrounding tropical landscape.

    The resort shelters three distinct restaurant offerings, all celebrating the best of the Dominican Republic’s produce and cuisine. The Cellar, is in the style of a Caribbean speakeasy. Baia, the hotel’s signature restaurant will offer both familiar and new dishes inspired by the region’s produce. Aguazul features Asian-Peruvian fusion cuisine, a menu where the elegant and delicate cuisine of Japan meets the freshness and spicy punch of Peru. Rock Bar & Grill, a casual outdoor restaurant, offers meals at the foot of the ocean where the sunset is the backdrop to Mediterranean style meals and signature cocktails. The Cellar showcases an intimate room to enjoy a world-class vintage spirits collection and limited-edition cigars.

    The property features three pools along with beachfront whirlpools and firepits, perfect for those who want to unwind after a day of exploring. Guests who prefer their toes in the sand can enjoy the secluded beach, with private wooden cabanas and bespoke beach service.

    Inspired by the Mediterranean art-de-vivre, the L’OCCITANE Spa is seen as the pinnacle of the entire resort experience. Guests can enjoy a range of holistic and wellness therapies in a contemporary setting, inspired by local rituals. With four treatment rooms, the spa boasts open-air relaxation areas as well as two sauna rooms.

    The beautiful grounds, curated experiences and attention to design details ensure that the Ocean Club is a seamless fit into Marriott’s Luxury Collection portfolio.

    Main image credit: Marriott International

    Granorte cork tiles

    Granorte: 50 years of cork innovation

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    Granorte: 50 years of cork innovation

    Celebrating 50 years since its foundation by the Rocha family, Granorte has moved from cork stopper production to being a leader in decorative surface design…

    Granorte cork tiles

    In 1955, Francisco Rocha started a cork stopper production company and by the 1970s the business had grown into one of Portugal’s major cork stopper producers with five factories. However, this drew the family’s attention to the growing amount of cork waste from production and one of Francisco’s sons, Jose decided that something must be done to create value from it. With this in mind, Granorte was established with the aim of finding ways to recycle and repurpose waste cork from wine stoppers into new products.

    Since the beginning, the company has focused on research and development and in the last 50 years the family-run business has established itself as one of the most innovative cork companies in the world. Counting award-winning furniture, floors, walls and insulation among its product portfolio, Granorte now exports 90 per cent of its products to more than 50 countries.

    “We’re hugely proud of our history and our 50th anniversary is testament to the extraordinary efforts of all our colleagues over the last five decades,” said Paulo Rocha, Granorte. “Since our foundation, we’ve invested heavily in technology, focused on innovation and new ways of harnessing cork’s properties, and have worked with leading producers that share our philosophy to enhance the performance of our products. The result is a collection of floors, walls, furniture, sanitary ware and other decorative objects that honour cork as a natural material with a unique aesthetic.”

    Processing 6,600 tonnes per year of cork waste – impressive quantities given the material’s light weight nature – at three production sites totalling 48,000m2 and with a turnover in excess of €22m, the company is a leading recycler of cork, finding new life for this natural, renewable and sustainably managed raw material.

    “Cork has come a long way since our foundation in 1972,” said Rocha.”We are confident that the next 50 years will also hold developments that lead to new applications for the material. With cork’s relevance in a market where the sustainability of products is of growing importance, we are excited about the future and introducing the benefits of this wonder of nature to new generations.”

    Today, Granorte’s range is focused on flooring with a wide range of constructions designed for residential and commercial use. From mono-material cork tiles to hybrid products that combine the acoustic, thermal and comfort benefits of cork with innovations such as click-fitting; the collection is one of the biggest currently available and includes many first to market products.

    Granorte is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Granorte

    Vision Stage HRC render

    First look at the cafe-inspired Vision Stage for HRC 2022

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    First look at the cafe-inspired Vision Stage for HRC 2022

    Harp Design has unveiled its ‘immersive cafe’ design for the Vision Stage for Hotel, Restaurant & Catering 2022, which will host a number of panel discussions between March 21 – 23 at ExCel London…

    Vision Stage HRC render

    Ahead of Hotel, Catering and Restaurant 2022 (HRC), Harp Design has unveiled this year’s Vision Stage, which takes the audience into an intimate cafe setting, inspired by what the industry learned during the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Comparable to everything being burnt to the ground and rising from the ashes, the team at Harp Design have drained the stage of colour. The bright greens and yellows of the plants then represent new growth and the changes we are all embracing in our new day to day life It’s a fresh start, it’s something different and it’s time for new ideas to be heard. “Our worlds have been flipped upside down from the pandemic and from this we have all had to rethink everything we thought we knew,” said Hayley Roy, Founder, Harp Design. “We’re letting new ideas, new ways of working and new experiences shine, and take centre stage.”

    Vision Stage model at HRC

    Image credit: Harp Design

    The studio has made the stage an immersive experience, showing the change from 2D cartoon to real life interactive 3D life, and allowing it to all blend together seamlessly. The stage is made of a mixture of real-life objects like the chairs and tables along with faux flowers and printed backgrounds. The goal was to show that we can expand the limitations of 2D drawings.

    The Vision Stage, which showcases the studio’s innovative approach beyond conventional interior design, pushes boundaries and will no-doubt be a talking point of this year’s edition of HRC, as audiences will interpret the stage in their own way.

    “I’m so excited to be invited back for a second time to design one of the main stages,” Roy added. “As events have been on hold for such a long time, we’re super excited to be back! 2022 is the year for change and growth and hopefully you see that from our design of the Vision Stage.”

    The speakership line-up for HRC is complete. Hotel Designs is a proud media partner for HRC, and will be hosting a panel discussion on March 21 at 14:15 on ‘how restaurant design can get consumers back dining out‘. 

    Main image credit: Harp Design

    Jacu Strauss interview with Hotel Designs 2022

    In conversation with: Jacu Strauss on designing One Hundred Shoreditch

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    In conversation with: Jacu Strauss on designing One Hundred Shoreditch

    Hamish Kilburn, Editor of Hotel Designs, caught up with Jacu Strauss, Creative Director of Lore Group, to understand the design narrative inside One Hundred Shoreditch…

    Jacu Strauss interview with Hotel Designs 2022

    Lore Group’s second hotel in London, One Hundred Shoreditch, will open its doors this month. In our ‘sneak peek’ inside the new hotel, we explored how all areas inside would reflect how the area has evolved during the last decade, with interiors that mirror the neighbourhood’s new, grown-up feel while retaining the buzz and vibrancy synonymous with the area in the hotel’s public spaces.

    Neutral suite inside One Hundred Shoreditch

    Image credit: Lore Group

    One Hundred Shoreditch takes over from what was the Ace Hotel London Shoreditch, which, when it opened in 2013, was among the cluster of hotels that became a new generation of luxury-lifestyle hospitality in East London.

    Seven year’s later, though, when Ace Hotels bid farewell to London in 2020, designer Jacu Strauss, Lore Group’s Creative Director, began planning his latest masterpiece.

    Before the hotel officially opens in just a few weeks from now, I went to meet Struass on site to understand the pressures he faced and the opportunities he found when designing the 258-key hotel.

    Hamish Kilburn: Jacu! I love what you’ve done with the place… So tell me, when did you first learn that Lore Group would be taking over this hotel? 

    Jacu Strauss: We started looking into it around April 2020. The hotel was closed due to the pandemic so we thought it was a good time to evaluate the next chapter for the building, which our group had owned for several years. We decided it was a good time to rebrand and redesign to reflect how Shoreditch had matured in previous years.

    “We wanted to maintain that energy but at the same time redesign the spaces to feel more inviting and more connected to the street scape.”  – Jacu Strauss, Creative Director, Lore Group.

    Rooftop bar/restaurant of One Hundred Shoreditch

    Image credit: Lore Group

    HK: How have you captured the essence of Shoreditch in this hotel? 

    JS: The true spirit of Shoreditch historically has been about welcoming new visitors and celebrating what they bring and leave behind. I feel One Hundred Shoreditch is a hotel that welcomes a diverse crowd, and that to me is the essence of Shoreditch. Our rooftop space, for example, is open to all, unlike most in the neighbourhood that operate in a more exclusive manner.

    HK: We first met back in 2014 when you unveiled your design scheme inside The Pulizter Amsterdam. What is it with you and breathing new life into iconic buildings?

    JS: I have always been interested in the repurposing of buildings rather than demolition and reconstruction. It is a long-term sustainability point of view and I believe the more we start thinking about buildings in this way, the more beautiful they will become. I love bringing the beauty back in buildings, although it involves a lot of research and experimentation to get it right in each different property.

    G&G Shoreditch inside One Hundred Shoreditch

    Image credit: Lore Group

    HK: What was the design concept here, and what were the major challenges along the way?

    JS: We wanted to create a hotel that reflects a more grown-up Shoreditch, compared to what the area was like a decade or so ago. We chose to keep what we thought was beautiful in the building and add to it in order to elevate the overall experience to one that was more comfortable and peaceful in parts, while maintaining the degrees of buzz and energy in the public areas. The new facade was the largest transformation, all in aid of humanising the building and creating a more alluring first impression.

    We wanted to create a hotel that was more democratic to its visitors and guests, with genuine personal touches throughout in the design, F&B and overall service. There are several restaurants and bars, and we wanted them each to have their own identity while at the same time collectively form part of one hotel.

    HK: The guestrooms and suites feel calm and considered – a juxtaposition from the neighbourhood outside. How did you create this? 

    JS: Good hotels are cornerstones in a community and neighbourhood. Most visitors will more often experience the public areas such as restaurants, bars and meeting spaces so these need to have a more upbeat energy that truly echoes the energy within the local area. The rooms and suites are designed to be more of a sanctuary away from it all, with emphasis on comfort. I opted for neutral base palettes and textures: white upholstery (removable covers!), natural tones, soft berber carpets (something you would expect in a great apartment, not a hotel) and generous oversized bedding. I also wanted some pop accents to cut through all the neutrals, and we did this by having custom tapestries with geometric patterns, large hand painted artworks by me and huge oversized white pottery vases, which I also designed.

    “London adopted me in a way that made me always think of it as home. What I love most about the city is that one can choose peace or something more energetic, all in the same day.” – Jacu Strauss, Creative Director, Lore Group.

    One Hundred Shoreditch suite, with red chair and calming interior design

    Image credit: Lore Group

    HK: How have you evolved since working as a senior designer at Tom Dixon’s Design Research Studio?

    JS: I trained as an architect, but hospitality design is something I learned throughout the years, first working on Sea Containers London when I was with Tom Dixon Design Research Studio. I have been lucky to have worked on some very diverse hotel projects in many countries, so I am constantly learning. The fundamentals I learned from Tom have been incredibly important; namely concepting, storytelling, doing what is right and being brave. Along with this, I have been able to apply my own style and passions for design in different ways on each project.

    HK: As a man who travels a lot for work, what is it about London that keeps bringing you back?

    JS: I moved here from South Africa when I was 18 years old and never went back. London adopted me in a way that made me always think of it as home. What I love most about the city is that one can choose peace or something more energetic, all in the same day. The parks are amazing, and there is a real sense of civility and good manners.

    Image of large suite inside One Hundred Shoreditch

    Image credit: Lore Group

    HK: When it first opened in its previous guise, this hotel was defined by its public areas. What’s changed from then to now? 

    JS: The previous hotel captured Shoreditch’s energy in its public areas with people meeting here to party, eat and socialise. We wanted to maintain that energy but at the same time redesign the spaces to feel more inviting and more connected to the street scape. The restaurant, for example, used to be a hidden from the world, and we changed that by introducing a wine bar with lots of glass that connects it more to Shoreditch High Street. Likewise, the lobby feel a lot lighter and softer than it did previously.

    QUICK-FIRE ROUND

    HK: If you were to describe One Hundred Shoreditch in an emoji, what would it be?
    JS: Well, in the bedrooms definitely the snoozing face as any room I design is about great sleep – while in the public areas I’d say the cocktail emoji!

    HK: What was your first ever job?
    JS: I worked in international remittances at the Royal Bank of Scotland when I was 18, I ended up being a temp for two years!

    HK: What’s your go-to cocktail on the menu here?
    JS: A Martini, always.

    HK: Where in the hotel do you feel most at peace?
    JS: Sitting in one of the oriel windows watching the London sunset in the evening.

    A calm lounge area inside One Hundred Shoreditch

    Image credit: Lore Group

    HK: You’re not one for following the traffic. Tell us about the quirky details that show that this is a Jacu Straus design?  

    JS: I think there are personal touches throughout. My team and I are very hands-on. For example, almost all of the art throughout the hotel is created by myself and my team. We physically made it ourselves. Some of the sculptural pieces are collaborations with great manufacturers, such as Jan Hendzel who made the wooden sculptures at the entrance and reception (all made from local wood).

    I think something constant in my work is that I never get too serious, while I also avoid trends because I like to do what is right for the property. I also like mix and match contrasting elements. For example, in the lobby I’ve placed one of my favourite Vernen Panton Heart chairs in red next to all white and wooden furniture pieces.

    HK: How have the collaborations you have been involved in – including working with Mio Gallery to create new design dimensions using floristry for Riggs Washington D.C.’s in-house eatery – helped you evolve as a modern designer?

    JS: Great collaborations are key, and it is also part of my duty to give opportunity to designers and artists who really understand what I am trying to achieve. It is a healthy way for someone like me to learn and often be challenged. I often see collaborations fail in other projects when there is a lack of a brief, and also a lack of understanding how other people work.

    Library bar inside One Hundred Shoreditch

    Image credit: Lore Group

    HK: One of your previous projects included Super Lyan, which is a modern bar set in a 17th century townhouse in the heart of Amsterdam. What is the secret behind a good destination bar?

    JS: It really is very simple: do what is right and it becomes truthful and authentic. It is easy to spot someone trying too hard to impress or spot flaws in their concept. The secret to a good destination bar is to make a visitor feel special and to give them some breathing room to create their own experience. In all the bars I designed we do not dictate the guest experience.

    I am aware that design alone does not make a good bar, and I respect the other aspects that, equally, make a bar a success: service, atmosphere and the drinks offering of course.

    Rooftop overlooking Shoreditch London

    Image credit: Lore Group

    HK: What’s next for you and Lore Group? 

    JS: We have the ambitions and confidence to do more hotels, but we will never do a hotel for the sake of ticking a box. We will never compromise on the importance of storytelling and being contextual to a neighbourhood and city. My work is never done with any of the properties I have designed either, as hotels are organic and we always need to make changes and work on programming.

    Main image: Lore Group

    The Sumei Skyline Coast Boutique Hotel designed by GS Design of the Sumei Skyline Coast Boutique Hotel by G S Design

    Miniview: Sumei Skyline Coast Boutique Hotel, where space becomes art

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    Miniview: Sumei Skyline Coast Boutique Hotel, where space becomes art

    Designed by GS Design to both mirror and frame its natural coastline location, the Sumei Skyline Coast Boutique Hotel uses architectural form and furniture in a palette of pure white and bright blue to make a strong statement that sculpts the space in which it sits…

    The Sumei Skyline Coast Boutique Hotel designed by GS Design of the Sumei Skyline Coast Boutique Hotel by G S Design

    The Sumei Skyline Coast Boutique Hotel is located on the Skyline Coast in Sanya Hainan in China, a popular tourist attraction that is all about the vast open seascape, a seascape which is also the definitive point of inspiration for this project. Inspired by the ocean and the winding coastline surrounding it, the façade of this hotel is designed to mirror the rise and fall of the waves along the shore while the interior is all about maximising the views, and presenting guests with a series of sculpted and framed spaces.

    white architectural forms mirror the waves at sumei skyline coast boutique hotel

    Image credit: GS Design

    Shenzhen based practice GS Design are responsible for both the architecture and the interior design.The project is all about the space and the shapes within it, with the minimal palette making a strong design statement as the pure white forms are set in contrast to the sky, the seascape and the sunset.

    “We work to craft the space into a timely and sophisticated art piece with long lifespan of usage by adopting this classic color.” GS Design

    simple shapes and a minimal palette in this boutique hotel on china's coastline

    Image credit: GS Design

    The surrounding blue of the sky and the sea has been curated into views and vistas within a series of arches and architectural forms with careful consideration to proportions. Broad curves of pure white become sculptural statements against the contrasting colour of the sky. The ocean and beach, the palms and the sky are all collected within the arch shape frame with precise aesthetic proportion guiding the entire process. Wandering by the consecutive arch shaped windows, guests are offered a broad vision of pure white that frames and emphasises the vivid natural scenery of the exterior. Heights, shapes, depth are all considered to create a multi layered surface that relates to the environment.

    curves, arches and circles define the white interior space

    Image credit: GS Design

    Space has been designed to flow freely around curves and corners with a blurring of visual boundaries. On the exterior deck, the swimming pool is visually integrated with the ocean and the infinite blue sky, presenting guests with the natural experience of swimming freely in the vast ocean. Within this space, every view is considered and every vista framed or sculpted by the structure. Depth of water is as important as the walls around it with the shallow water working as a mirror of the sky, the stone steps and the sunken seating area define and give the space order. Everything works together to provides a relaxing interactive scene fusing nature and art.

    the water is part of the design at the Sumei Skyline Coast Boutique Hotel

    Image credit: GS Design

    GS Designs have deconstructed the space by using simple graphic shapes. The circles within the squares overlap and interconnect which creates the in-depth vertical layered effect in the hot spring area. The shifting of light and shadow is key to the poetry of the spatial structure; the silhouette of the waves, the afterglow of the sunset, and the ripples of the hot spring pool are all part of a single composition. Natural light is used to frame architectural shapes, and the relationship between light and shade is key to the design. Windows bring the waves and sunset into the space, while the skylight directly above a bed brings sparkling starlight, enhancing the connection to nature that directs this entire design. The interior design is minimalist with all furniture and textiles in the space in pure white with an emphasis on texture and form, the interplay of delicate and rough, light and shade, replacing colour.

    white colour palette in the hotel guestroom in this coastal resort

    Image credit: GS Design

    The furniture in this hotel is as sculptural and as architectural as the space in which it sits. The design has again maximized the views and the scenery by introducing various perspectives through the height difference of the furniture. Every view is considered as part of the design, and the placement of the furniture is as much about functionality as it is about how it breaks up and defines the space in which it is placed.

    white interior frames the blue sea

    Image credit: GS Design

    Defined by the strong geometry; circles, semi-circles, and squares are repeated throughout and used to frame the building and the space around it. This design is all about the pictures, the views, the vistas created by both the architecture and the forms within. Everything has been designed to maximise the purity of the scenery in which the Sumei Skyline Coast Boutique Hotel is embedded.

    Main image credit: GS Design

    GROHE water saving shower for sustainable design

    Why sustainability is a core pillar in design at GROHE

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    Why sustainability is a core pillar in design at GROHE

    At GROHE, sustainability is at the heart of the business, reflected in everything from product design through to packaging. Ebru Bircan (Marketing Activation UK, LIXIL EMENA) discusses how the brand continues to innovate…

    GROHE water saving shower for sustainable design

    Sustainability in design isn’t just a growing trend; it’s a necessity. In recent years, it’s been imperative we begin taking a closer look at our environment and our impact on it. Individually, it’s a seemingly overwhelming task, but as an industry responsible for product, design and experience innovation, together we can make progress and drive transformation.

    Here at GROHE, sustainability is at the heart of our business reflected in everything from the products we design to how they’re packaged. We’re incredibly proud to be creating innovations which enable designers, architects, hoteliers and developers to create more considered spaces. Our Cradle to Cradle Certified Gold Level range, for example, is amongst the first in the sanitaryware industry to begin approaching a circular economy. The world-class design accreditation means each product component can be recycled or has an endless lifecycle.

    Achieving the globally recognised certification was a huge milestone in our commitment to sustainability. The circular approach to design allows us to drastically reduce the use of new resources – using this framework is a necessary mindset change in our industry to help drive change.

    white on white contemporary bathroom using sustainable products

    Image credit: GROHE

    As sustainability continues to be increasingly important, we’re here to empower our customers in making eco-friendly decisions which don’t compromise on design or features. With GROHE product ranges including cold-start, energy-saving taps and technology to reduce water flow without disrupting usage, we’re passionate about innovating while creating beautiful pieces which are still user-friendly. After all, sustainable practices should be doing good for the future of our planet without negatively impacting on our day to day lives.

    Our infra-red taps are another great example of introducing sustainability without compromising on features; the technology allows for less water wastage as well as helping to keep the area more hygienic due to less need for touch. There are also significant resource savings to be made by opting for water-saving bathroom products. With more and more advanced technology being developed, many of these economical options are still able to deliver an excellent experience.

    infra red tap by GROHE in graphite finish

    Image credit: GROHE

    At GROHE, we offer water-saving capabilities across premium bathroom products with the help of our EcoJoy technology, which is available across a wide range of taps and showers. Such as, the GROHE Tempesta 250 showerhead delivers GROHE’s Rain spray pattern at a reduced flow, while offering a premium shower experience, with GROHE EcoJoy helping to reduce the water flow by up to 50 per cent.

    Our shower thermostats help encourage water saving with models equipped with an EcoButton that allows the user to opt for a reduced water flow. The GROHE Grohtherm 1000 thermostat, for example, is available with the GROHE EcoButton and packed with GROHE EcoJoy technology for consumption efficiency.

    As well as our product development, our global company initiatives have seen us become CO2 neutral worldwide and reduce our water consumption by 38.7 per cent. We also reached our goal of plastic free packaging as of January 01 2022 meaning we’ve saved 32 million pieces of plastic packaging.

    GROHE is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: GROHE

    aerial view of future Melia Vinpearl Cam Ranh Beach Resort

    Meliá Hotels International deepens its footprint in Vietnam

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    Meliá Hotels International deepens its footprint in Vietnam

    With 12 new properties  from Tay Ninh to Hai Phong, the Spanish hotel group Meliá Hotels International, is set to become one of the largest international hotel brands in Vietnam through a new collaboration with the country’s largest domestic hotel owner, Vinpearl. Here’s what we know…

    aerial view of future Melia Vinpearl Cam Ranh Beach Resort

    The global hotel brand Meliá has built a portfolio of 380 hotels in more than 40 countries since its founding in Palma De Mallorca in 1956. It already has a strong presence in Southeast Asia, and currently operates 20 properties and has a pipeline of an additional 20 hotels in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Under the agreement announced with Vinpearl, Meliá Hotels International will take over the management of 12 hotels and resorts already opened and in operation, in top destinations spread across the length of the Vietnam.

    “We believe in creating strong and strategic regional partnerships with companies that have a deep connection to the locations they serve,” said Gabriel Escarrer, Vice Chairman and CEO of Meliá Hotels International. “The Vinpearl properties and destinations at the heart of this agreement are a wonderful complement to the roots we’ve already established in Vietnam.”

    This latest move by the group will make it the second largest hotel group in Vietnam in terms of number of rooms. The rapidly expanding company first entered Vietnam back in 1999 with the opening of Meliá Hanoi. They currently have six properties in operation with six hotels in the pipeline in popular tourist hotspots throughout the country. The partnership will increase the group’s room count for Vietnam to 24 hotels and resorts, with eight hotels under operation and 16 more on the way.

    In addition to Meliá Hotels International, the existing portfolio includes two other brands, Sol by Meliá and INNSiDE by Meliá. In this new arrangement with Vinpearl, the properties will be known as Meliá Vinpearl hotels in order to emphasise the unique personality and strength of this collaboration.

    “Collaborating with international partners in running our properties will effectively facilitate Vinpearl in joining world-famous hotel networks and contribute to raising the bar for Vietnamese tourism,” said Mr Thai Thanh Nhat Quang, CEO of Vinpearl Hotel. “Through this cooperation, Vinpearl and Meliá Hotels International also expect to deliver a variety of high-class hotel service experiences to millions of domestic and international tourists.”

    aerial view of the Melia Vinpearl Hotel Quang Binh

    Image credit: Melia Hotels International

    The 12 five-star Meliá Vinpearl properties will complement the group’s existing portfolio, by expanding into new locations. The first hotel to come into the fold was Vinpearl Quang Binh. The property is now under Meliá management and will be rebranded as Meliá Vinpearl Quang Binh. The coastal location catapulted to fame several years back when the world’s largest cave was discovered in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. Despite this magnet, the area has remained relatively untouched by international hotel brands.

    Vinpearl Hotel Hue is now also under management and will be unveiled as Meliá Vinpearl Hotel Hue in May 2022. The hotel holds a prime position in Vietnam’s former imperial capital city, Hue, with views over the popular destination’s fabled Perfume River. The other hotels under this strategic alliance include sites such as Thanh Hoa and Hai Phong near the country’s capital Hanoi; Nghe An and Ha Tinh along the North Central Coast, and Tay Ninh in the south. The group will expand under Meliá Vinpearl into locations where Melia already has properties, such as Danang, as well as cultivating new ground in destinations where the group currently has no presence.

    “At Meliá we prioritise each guest’s wellbeing and, through our personalised service approach, develop authentic connections with all who stay,” said Martin. “This is our way and what we will bring to each Melia Vinpearl property.” Long renowned for its Spanish hospitality, the brand intends to inculcate the same spirit of warmth and passion in every one of its Vinpearl properties. At the same time, the group plans to elevate sustainability as a priority. Meliá Hotels International was recently named the most sustainable hotel brand in Europe and Spain for the third consecutive year by the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment.

    Main image credit: Meliá Hotels International

    master oak panel by UNILIN

    UNILIN unveils an even more sustainable oak finish

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    UNILIN unveils an even more sustainable oak finish

    Suppliers of innovative wood-based solutions for building and interior design projects, Master Oak by Unilin, provides an answer that is both authentic and sustainable…

    master oak panel by UNILIN

    The impressively authentic Master Oak from Unilin Panels is available on HDF panels made with 100 per cent recovered wood, and sets a new benchmark in authenticity for decorative finishes, presenting lifelike decors that look and feel just like genuine oak. Hardwearing, scratch and UV-resistant and easy to clean, Master Oak is suitable for a wide range of interior applications, including doors, shelving, furniture, desks and walls.

    “Unilin’s Master Oak’s matt finish delivers a luxurious appearance and has a unique pattern – just like genuine oak,” said Caroline Van de Populiere, R&D Director, Unilin Panels. “That natural appearance is enhanced even more by the different types of pores and depth variations. Together with the outstanding performance of decorative panelling and our 100 per cent recovered wood MDF and HDF, you end up with a product that masterfully outshines genuine oak. Master Oak has a natural appearance, is scratch-resistant, colourfast, and low-maintenance.”

    The company has invested in developing a process that allows it to use 90 per cent of wood from post-consumer sources such as unwanted furniture and building timber without compromising the quality or integrity of its products. Through advanced sorting and cleaning processes, it removes all impurities for a high-grade wood fibre suitable for products. This process gives more life to more than 1,000,000 tonnes of waste wood every year.

    Master Oak is available in six colours – brown, natural, double fumed, light natural, everest white and elegant black – in a range of HDF panel sizes, as well as HPL and edging tape, for use in doors, walls, shelves and bespoke furniture production. All of these finishes can also be combined effortlessly with any type of substrate such as MDF or chipboard, and comes in fire-retardant, moisture-resistant and formaldehyde-free variants.

    Unilin Panels is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Unilin Panels

    Geraldine Dohogne Hotel Designs

    In (video) conversation with: Interior designer Geraldine Dohogne

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    In (video) conversation with: Interior designer Geraldine Dohogne

    Editor Hamish Kilburn caught up with Geraldine Dohgone, whose pure love for design and hospitality earned her the highly commended title for the second consecutive year in the Interior Designer of the Year category at The Brit List Awards 2021…

    Geraldine Dohogne Hotel Designs

    To say that Geraldine Dohogne had an unorthodox beginning to her career would be an understatement. She began on the operational side of hospitality, with renowned Zannier Hotels.

    Image caption: The lobby and lounge inside Zannier Hotels' 1898 The Post. | Image credit: Ich Miles

    Image caption: The lobby and lounge inside 1898 The Post. | Image credit: Ich Miles

    It was not long until her natural gifts and undeniable talent as a designer began to shine through, and quickly pulled her to lead as the company’s Design Director. Her career blossomed out of what she describes as “pure love for design” – an odyssey that has taken her around the world, and back.

    After designing some of Zannier Hotels’ most impressive projects – including one hotel that is literally perched on top of bolders in the Nambia desert – Dohogne made the decision to set up her own studio while also working with the hotel brand to launch its first hotel in Vietnam.

    Zannier Hotels Bãi San Hô - Paddy Field Villa 2 - © Frederik Wissink for Zannier Hotels

    Image caption: A suite inside Zannier Hotels Bãi San Hô. | Image credit: Frederik Wissink

    With each project she brings positive social impacts, sustainable literacy and fresh inspiration drawn from each country and culture. Her strategy and work ethic that she leads her studio with pushes projects beyond ‘hotels’ and into spheres of learning, leisure and beauty.

    Despite having an awe-inspiring story, though, it was Dohogne’s projects that captured the attention of the judges at The Brit List Awards 2021, and led her to become, for the second consecutive year, the highly commended candidate in the Interior Designer of the Year category.

    > Click here to watch the full 7-minute interview between Geraldine Dohogne and Hotel Designs’ Hamish Kilburn on the GROHE X platform.

    One of those projects is Grandvoir, nestled in Belgium’s Ardennes, which is due to open in Autumn of this year. The project will be a masterful expression of biophilic design. 84 cottages will span over around 60 acres in a pocket of pristine vegetation. Among it, the Old Mill from 1852 on the property is being completely restored to its original aesthetic and will favour the natural materials of the land, such as ageing timber, blue-stone and yarn-woven linens.

    The project will bring children’s education in nature and regenerative sustainability to the forefront. With educational paths, stimulating architecture and mindful wildlife watching, the project will be driven by our humanistic need, for both adult and child, to play and reconnect. “All products, will be locally grown, made or found,” Dohogne explained.

    Designers shape the world. It is through our collective decision making in construction, development and experience, our world interacts — and ecological and social systems, built. Dohogne’s passion and dedication to push each project into a new dimension of thought and care sends a message to design enthusiast and travellers everywhere that sustainability does not compromise luxury, and local collaboration proves for the best projects.

    Continue watching for the next chapter…

    Main image credit: Beyond

    Modern bathroom inside heritage building

    Virtual roundtable: bathroom design within heritage buildings

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    Virtual roundtable: bathroom design within heritage buildings

    With an increased emphasis being put on bathroom design to differentiate and add personality to a project, Hotel Designs in association with Schlüter-Systems, invited a panel of designers and architects to explore innovation in the realm of bathroom design when working within the constraints of heritage buildings…

    Modern bathroom inside heritage building

    Bathroom design is fast becoming the focal point of the guestroom experience in luxury hotels – in some cases, quite literally, as in recent years the bath in many luxury suites has shifted right into the bedroom itself. At the very least, there is certainly more focus on ambient details, such as lighting and scent. And these new elements are bringing more experience to wellness.

    As we see bathrooms pivot from practical spaces to becoming the central point of luxury and wellness, Hotel Designs and Schlüter-Systems invited a panel of designers and architects to look specifically at bathroom design within the parameters of heritage buildings; the opportunities and challenges as they work with the narrative of a building’s history while trying to accommodate areas that practically live up to modern traveller demands.

    Meet the panel:

    Hamish Kilburn: Let’s dive straight in – how can designers and architects sensitively add personality in bathrooms that are sheltered within heritage buildings?

    Amrit Naru: The starting point in any [bathroom] design is about understanding what the heritage asset is, and then trying to establish which of those elements can be drawn on and incorporated within the bathroom space.

    HK: In a previous roundtable discussion, we looked at bathrooms beyond practical spaces, and it does seem as if there are more risks being taken in the bathroom spaces now.

     AN: Yes, I think there is an element of that, partly because of what is available now in terms of the products that have been developed – you can draw on the smaller elements – the details such as the handles, which bring in character to a particular space.

    Neil Andrew: By the nature and function of washrooms, people use those spaces as a pause point.

    HK: Where would you start when injecting personality in bathrooms within a heritage building?

    Una Barac: While on the one hand there can be space restrictions, the heritage of the building can kickstart the project with conceptual thinking, which can give you as the designer a lot of personality to work with. We have recently completed serviced apartments for 11 Cadogan Garden – a typical Chelsea redbrick townhouse with six apartments. We had lot of restrictions as it is a listed building, but we used what the heritage of the building had to offer and, in this project, taking advantage of beautiful Victorian windows was key. We then went quite contemporary with fittings and fixings, which provided a nice juxtaposition, because while the design needed to show that connection to the history of the building, we also wanted it to feel like a very different offering.

    Geoff Hull: When we worked on The Ned, the restrictions meant that the bathroom solution was to create a pod within the middle of the floor plan. Then in another example, looking at our project at The Old War Office, we had rooms and spaces with high historical significance. Working with the building, we were able to approach things differently and placed the bath in the middle of the room rather than create a separate bathroom – we approached the bathroom design as a process of adding and positioning furniture rather than creating and defining space. In short, each project brings its own approaches and solutions.

    HK: It’s not uncommon to see a freestanding bath in the middle of a suite these days. Is this an easy solution if designers are struggling to work within the confines of a heritage space?

    GH: Each project and space brings with it different considerations but combining the bathroom and bedroom space into a single room is a way to connect the design with the building. The obvious advantage is that it makes a space feel less confined. There does seem to be a move away from the cookie-cutter approach that we saw perhaps 20 to 30 years ago.

    Suite inside Nomad London, with gold bath in suite

    Image caption: The Royal Opera Suite inside NoMad London, designed by Roman and Williams (architecture by EPR Architects). | Image credit: Benoit Linero

    Sze Wei Lee: We recently completed The Relais Henley. For this project, we did not see the bathroom as a separate area. Instead, the design of the bedroom and the bathroom is seen as one. We worked in the context of the location beside the river in a listed building that is more than half a century old, and all this directed the design. But also, with listed buildings, you don’t want to open a can of worms. Therefore, on a practical level you also must respect what is already there and, in the bathroom design specifically, work with the existing plumbing. These are limitations, but those restrictions also make every bathroom unique.

    HK: Expanding on that ‘can of worms’ concept that Sze Wei mentioned… what challenges have been thrown at you in working on these types of projects that you have never had to face before, and what unique solutions did you come up with?

    SWL: We have worked with several existing and heritage buildings, and the key to finding solutions is in the collaboration process – the builders, contractor, designers must all be flexible to find a solution. We all need to think on the spot and work and as a team – there is always a solution to something!

    A bathroom inside The Relais Henley, designed by Translation Architecture. | Image credit: Gregoire Gardette

    Image caption: A bathroom inside The Relais Henley, designed by Translation Architecture. | Image credit: Gregoire Gardette

    GH: We need to understand the clients’ aspirations, and investigate structural limitations, because it is not just about the aesthetic and the emotional connection, the technical elements are also important, and we need to know how to solve challenges if we are going to drive a successful project.

    UB: To be honest, every project catches you unaware … I am always waiting to see what challenge a new project is going to throw at me!

    A large bathroom, featuring marble, and luxury finishes - Rosewood London

    Image caption: The marble bathroom is a hero feature at The Manor House inside Rosewood London, designed by GA Group (architecture by EPR Architects)

    HK: The softening of brand standards that we are seeing with some of the large hotel groups must make things easier?

    UB: While we don’t push our clients beyond their comfort zones and we respect the brand and the building as well as its heritage, there is also no point in mimicking history.

    NA: It depends on the brand, and while I wouldn’t want to do a pastiche and recreate the past, some concepts for a hotel might call for something like that – or somewhere in the middle where the client looks for what can be called a modern irreverence, where you can introduce that mix and juxtaposition.

    HK: Drawing attention to accessibility, what are the main challenges in designing modern bathrooms inside heritage buildings for all?

    AN: We have come a long way with assisted equipment, and there is so much more available today – we have the opportunity now to do some nice, innovative design solutions in rooms without making them feel different to the rest of the hotel, and special requirements can be seen as part of the design rather than separate to design.

    NA: Even the location of DDA rooms can be an issue, especially in a listed or heritage space. When you are looking at an old building and all the level changes within that, the location of bedrooms can be difficult before you even get to address the design requirements.

    UB: I would like to add here that while a lot of us talk about how we can conceal things like grab rails, however much you hide it, it is still there. So, where possible, I feel we should celebrate it rather than hide it! There are now so many options, so rather than hiding things, I would opt to celebrate them by using all the beautiful colours and finishes available now!

    A quintessentially English bathroom inside The Lund Collection with floral wallpaper

    Image caption: Bathroom designed by Bergman Design House inside The Lund Collection’s first property in The Cotswolds. | Image credit: Vigo Jansons

    HK: Let’s move onto sustainability. How can you make a bathroom feel luxurious using sustainable materials – where are we in this conversation with clients?

    UB: We have started to ask suppliers to provide credentials of products when specifying and requesting samples. Carbon neutral products are becoming easier to find. It does feel easier when you are able to use modern finishes and materials, but possibly when looking at more traditional materials, it becomes more about being local and regional.

    NA: We still have a long way to go when it comes to our knowledge of sustainable design. Everyone wants to do it, but we don’t necessarily have all the answers and solutions. I still believe that if you can go local when sourcing materials, that is still the better option as a lot of products claiming to be carbon neutral are simply carbon offsetting and that is not really the long-term solution. The other key question in this conversation is the longevity of materials, as ultimately, we want things to be reused rather than taken out and recycled.

    SWL: At the moment, key considerations regarding sustainable design are in the actual functioning of the bathroom. The flow rates, sanitary ware, amenities, and the water use are also significant areas we should look at when exploring sustainability in design. With all the best will in the world, though, from our clients’ perspective, sustainable materials need to become more available and affordable.

    GH: You could argue that simply by working with a restoration programme and restoring a historical building, that is a significant nod to sustainability. Working on a listed building, you are encouraged to use and reuse the same materials. It is often easier and cheaper to throw things away and start again, so you do need a client that is ambitious and for these morals to be integrated into the design process.

    Modern bathroom with marble walls and gold taps

    Image credit: Amira Aboalnaga/Unsplash

    HK: In conclusion then, going back to the subject at hand, with more emphasis being put into the bathroom, where do you see bathroom design in five years from now?

    AN: Luxury is now less about the physical and more about the value to the individual – physical luxury is quite easy to understand, but it is now about that bespoke environment that can be tailored to the individual. The givens are that you have luxury materials, the extra level is about using new technology to connect into that extra sensory offering.

    NA: I would say the same; more multi-sensory design, and normalised circadian lighting. Luxury hospitality, in my opinion, will always be about giving guests something that they can’t experience at home.

    Schlüter-Systems is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Schlüter-Systems/Hotel Designs

    Spa Days by Skopos

    Skopos reinvents its Vienna and Spa collections

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    Skopos reinvents its Vienna and Spa collections

    To mark its 50 anniversary, Skopos has breathed new life into two of its most popular fabric collections…

    Spa Days by Skopos

    The Vienna collection from Skopos, which launched in 2008, was born from a desire to create pattern which was graphic, bold and fun. Aimed originally at the education sector, the designs were simple, yet playful. Sacher an organic horizontal hoop design, shouted retro vibes, and was ripe for reinvention.

    Revisiting this design, the team at Skopos played with texture, colour and direction to develop a vertical loop with a linen graze, placed onto muted gold and green. The result is ‘Vienna Loop’, which is being added to the brand’s 50th anniversary collection and being sampled on its exquisite velvet blackout base-cloth, Sonno.

    Vienna Loop collection of fabrics from Skopos

    Image credit: Skopos

    Joining Vienna Loop, to celebrate this anniversary, the next design has been named ‘Spa Days’. Originally a woven design, known as Spa, from Skopos’ Nereus collection, Spa was a two-tone design, with a frolicking, playful line. Evolving this look, the creative team married two contrasting-coloured lines on a simple background to create a printed design that works across all contract environments, offered as samples on its P11 base-cloth.

    Vienna Loop and Spa Days have been added to our 50th anniversary celebration collection, with samples of the four skus available to order via our website. These revisited designs have been re-coloured and reworked to fall in-line with today’s trends and the scales have been manipulated to work effectively across different soft furnishings.

    As with all Skopos prints, designers will be able to order the ‘anniversary’ designs in bespoke colourways, in-line with minimum order requirements, across a number of base-cloths, including upholstery velvets and various drape qualities for use across a variety of environments.

    Skopos is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Skopos

    Villeroy & Boch products in bathroom at Hotel Ami in Paris

    Case study: a contemporary bathroom redesign in the heart of Paris

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    Case study: a contemporary bathroom redesign in the heart of Paris

    Interior designer Gesa Hansen has given the bathrooms of a 15th arrondissement hotel in Paris a fresh new look with the help of  Villeroy & Boch…

    Villeroy & Boch products in bathroom at Hotel Ami in Paris

    Surrounded by tree-lined streets filled with little boutiques and shops, gourmet bistros and food stores, the Hotel Ami has been welcoming guests in this quintessentially Parisian setting since 1925. Following a complete renovation and redesign, the hotel is ready to reveal its new look, done with the characteristic, attention to detail of interior designer Gesa Hansen. Having already developed several colour concepts for Villeroy & Boch, Hanson has succeeded in conveying the district’s authentic charm in the interior design. The result is a welcoming haven of peace and relaxation for travellers in the midst of fast-paced city life.

    facade of Hotel Ami in Paris

    Image credit: Romain Ricard

    Hansen has styled the interior of the Hotel Ami with her distinctive minimalist Scandinavian signature where warm, expressive colours meet light wood, straight lines fuse with flowing curves, and natural materials along with carefully selected accessories and functional features create a feeling of comfort and homeliness. The 41 guestrooms with bathrooms have all been individually decorated and designed using Villeroy & Boch ceramicware from the Collaro series.

    “Their very balanced, welcoming proportions make them ideal for any space and they fit perfectly with the overall concept of the bedrooms and bathrooms,” explained Hansen. “The edges and walls are neither too thick nor too thin. They have a very human design which makes them one of my favourite products in the bathroom.”

    minimalist white and natural bathroom design at Hotel Ami with Villeroy & Boch ceramics

    Image credit: Romain Ricard

    As is typical for Paris, the bathrooms are not very large, but the design has made full use of the available space with clever solutions to ensure maximum comfort for guests. To create a sense of continuity between the design concept in the adjoining, partially open-plan integrated guestroom and the bathrooms without overcrowding these small spaces, Hansen has used colour to create highlight effects rather than on entire surfaces. In some of the bathrooms single coloured tiles create playful effects on the walls, while in others larger areas of light-dark contrasts make the space appear larger. The result is a light look that gives the bathrooms a pleasant atmosphere.

    Villeroy & Boch is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Villeroy & Boch / Romain Ricard

    A close-up of a guestroom inside Thompson Madrid

    Thompson to debut in Spain with luxury hotel in the heart of Madrid

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    Thompson to debut in Spain with luxury hotel in the heart of Madrid

    Slated to open in summer 2022, Thompson Madrid is set to become an iconic landmark in the city and marks the luxury brand’s arrival into Spain…

    A close-up of a guestroom inside Thompson Madrid

    The first Thompson Hotels property will arrive in Spain this year. The 175-key Thompson Madrid will be located in the centre of the new Golden Mile in Madrid, just steps away from the iconic streets and plazas of Gran Vía and Puerta del Sol, amongst the most visited and eclectic tourist hotspots in the city.

    “We are honoured to work with Exacorp One S.L. to welcome the Thompson Hotels brand to Spain, a sought-after market of today’s leisure travellers. Thompson Madrid will become a remarkable property in the heart of the city, where culture is celebrated and everyone who walks through the doors feels more like a resident than a guest,” said Peter Norman, senior vice president development EAME & SWA at Hyatt. “These plans for Thompson Madrid come at a time of significant growth for the Thompson Hotels brand, largely fuelled by leisure travel demand, offering a luxurious, evocative collection of boutique hotels, synonymous with highly distinct services and experiences that cater to the high-end traveller.”

    The luxury lifestyle hotel, which will enter Madrid as the third Hyatt-branded hotel in the city, will feature a striking mid-century aesthetic. Its thoughtfully curated spaces will include a rooftop terrace and pool that have all been inspired by the soul of the city and its architecture.

    “We are thrilled to work with Hyatt on Thompson Madrid, a stunning property that we are sure will become an iconic landmark within the beautiful city of Madrid,” said Carlos Llansó, architect and spokesperson at Exacorp One S.L. “We look forward to welcoming guests to discover a new sense of luxury later in 2022.”

    Lobby inside Thompson Madrid

    Image credit: Hyatt Hotels

    The 175 sophisticated guestrooms include 22 exceptional suites – many with balconies or terraces and outstanding city views. The 222 square-metre Penthouse suite, will be the crown in the jewel.

    Three food and beverage outlets will be on offer, with culinary offerings managed by Grupo La Ancha, the renowned restaurant group who have had a strong presence in Spain since the early 20th century and are the creators of beloved dining concepts such as Fismuler in Madrid.

    A suite inside Thompson Madrid, with luxury finishes

    Image credit: Hyatt Hotels

    Alongside a speak-easy style bar, the hotel will feature a signature rooftop terrace, offering drinks and dining with sweeping views overlooking the city. Styled as a hilltop residential inspired cantina and a destination day club, it will be the perfect urban oasis for guests to enjoy.

    The hotel’s expansive outdoor pool will elevate it as a wellness experience, with the city’s natural scenery as the pool’s backdrop. In addition, the hotel will also shelter an open-air courtyard and state of the art fitness centre.

    Thompson Madrid marks a significant moment for the luxury hotel brand. Other hotels under construction from Thompson Hotels include Texas properties in Austin and Houston, as well as Thompson Denver, and Thompson Buckhead.

    > Since you’re here, why not read about Thompson Hollywood, designed by Tara Bernerd?

    Main image credit: Hyatt Hotels

    Surface Hotel Design

    In conversation with: Paul Sewell on innovative surfaces in hotel design

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    In conversation with: Paul Sewell on innovative surfaces in hotel design

    From practical considerations to the latest style influences, Paul Sewell, Specifications Manager at CTD Architectural Tiles, discusses with Editor Hamish Kilburn the impact surfaces can have in hotel design…

    Surface Hotel Design

    There’s nothing quite like characterful surfaces in hotel design to create a lasting impression in all areas. These days, when it comes to innovative surfaces, there is so much on offer – you only had to attend Surface Design Show to see how manufacturers are create new, bold and ethically sourced products.

    To understand more about the latest trends – and to get a glimpse of the brand’s latest collections – I caught up with Paul Sewell, Specifications Manager at CTD Architectural Tiles to discuss the power of a first impression, hygienic offers and what designers should consider when specifying new tiles.

    Hamish Kilburn: You have recently unveiled a number of new product collections – what are the latest tile trends you’ve been able to tap into?

    Paul Sewell: The curation of our new ranges has been directly informed by the conversations we are having with our clients and our desire to always ensure we can offer the choice and creativity they need. Traditional and decorative ‘chipped’ stone finishes, such a terrazzo and Ceppo Di Gre styles, have enduring popularity and lately, there has been a growing preference for combining natural materials with warmer colour palettes. Our new Inclusioni Classico tile range perfectly captures both these elements and includes some striking Mediterranean inspired tones. This range also offers the timeless beauty of a terrazzo effect in a porcelain tile which is not only easier to install but also has real longevity and durability.

    Using terrazzo style tiles alongside simple yet striking cement finishes is also proving popular and our new Masterpiece tile collection embraces this. Master is inspired by concrete, and Piece emulates the traditional Italian speckled look. These tiles can be freely combined together or used separately to create bespoke designs and work well with designers who are looking to create a rich palette of complementary colours and finishes.

    A blue wallpaper inside a bedroom

    Image credit: CTD Architectural Tiles

    HK: A good first impression is everything – how can tiles create a welcoming front of house design?

    As many modern hotel schemes are increasingly being used as spaces that welcome all sorts of visitors, not just guests, but hot-desk workers and visitors to restaurant and bar facilities, the opportunities for creating stunning front of house interiors are vast. We are continuing to see a preference for using larger format tiles to create stunning feature atrium floor designs, with richly glazed smaller format tiles used as wall details to connect to the other spaces.

    We are also seeing a greater use of colour with royal blues and deep greens creating really opulent and luxurious interiors, and pastel shades evoking a sense of calmness and serenity. Many of our existing tile collections have been updated to include wider colour options to offer even greater creative flexibility. The Affrescati range embodies this trend really well and it is inspired by the look and feel of traditional Italian tiles and aged plaster. This gives the tile a tactile, sumptuous character and one that looks stunning when used as feature wall – the blue tile with star décor detailing is simply stunning.

    Experimenting with texture and finishes can also be really effective in zoning a space, particularly when used alongside different lighting conditions. We’ve again responded to this by expanding and refining our tile ranges. The new Marea collection for example can produce really striking effects in different lights thanks to its undulating ribbed pattern which creates contrast between both gloss and matt finishes.  It’s a simple but striking way to create a focal point or create defined areas.

    HK: From offering al-fresco dining to providing access to complementary sports facilities, outdoor areas need to work seamlessly with the interior space – how can the commercial tile package help achieve a cohesive design?

    PS: They absolutely do need to work together and if the last few years have shown us anything, it is that outdoor spaces need to offer the same level of comfort and aesthetic appeal as the interior. With this is mind, we’ve been able to offer tile solutions that allow designers to create a unified design scheme with seamless internal and external flooring designs. Large format limestone inspired tiles such as those found in our Anthology collection provide the perfect balance between being practical, as they are both hardwearing and offer excellent anti-slip properties, and providing a stunning, seamless design when in situ.

    One of the biggest challenges of creating harmony between interior and exterior space is that although the same style of flooring tiles can be used, not all ranges will enable the same size tiles to be used in these different environments. We’ve addressed this with the addition of the Stern range, which includes extra large tiles that can be used both inside and outside for a coherent design.

    Melia Innside Hotel Newscastle 2

    Image credit: CTD Architectural Tiles

    HK: Of course, it isn’t all about aesthetics – what other qualities need to be considered when specifying commercial tile packages?

    PS: The durability of tiles is unrivalled and they are the perfect solution for high-traffic areas and a great long-term investment. The other main issue to consider is of course safety and we not only offer a wide range of tiles with great anti-slip performance but we can also work closely with our clients to find the most appropriate tiles for their project, particularly when working on areas such as swimming pools, spas and wet rooms. Traditionally, tiles with ultra high-slip resistance could also be harder to clean and we’ve been keen to find a solution to this, which is why we’ve recently added some innovative glazed tiles to our collection such as Realstone Argent, which scores highly in terms of slip resistance but is also almost completely smooth to the touch and exceptionally easy to clean.

    HK: Speaking of cleanliness, how has the tile industry responded to the need to keep surfaces hygienically clean?

    PS: With hygiene being so important to this sector, there is also huge potential for the use of anti-bacterial tiles which is one of the most exciting innovations of the last few years.  These tiles have an enhanced glaze which eliminates bacteria on contact, making spaces cleaner and more hygienic for guests. The technology is baked into the tile, meaning it will work for the full life of the tile and importantly, can’t be washed away no matter how robust the cleaning regime. This type of tile offers incredible practical benefits but as always, we are aware that our clients don’t want to have to compromise on aesthetics. That’s why we been keen to add some really beautiful and bold ranges to our collection such as Luce which combines a high-performance anti-bacterial glaze with a striking finish reminiscent of silk. This creates a truly lustrous visual statement which alters as the viewer moves past it.

    Inclusioni by CTD Architectural Tiles

    Image credit: CTD Architectural Tiles

    HK: Sustainability is also an important topic for anyone working in the built environment sector. How can you work with designers to provide eco-friendly and stylish solutions?

    PS: We are having many conversations with both our clients and manufacturing partners about sustainability and I’m pleased to say that we are consistently able to bring new solutions to the table. We offer several tile ranges that achieve Gold Cradle-to-Cradle certification and only work with tile manufacturers that have Environmental Product Declarations. Many of our tiles also have high recycled content, such as our Yuri range which is created using 90 per cent recycled materials.

    As a UK-based supplier, we are also keen to minimise the embedded carbon generated through the distribution of our products, which is why we hold large amounts of stock to be able to offer efficient and timely deliveries. For other tile ranges that we don’t hold in stock, we can offer quick lead times so that projects can remain on track.

    HK: Can you tell us more about some of the recent hotel schemes you have been involved with?

    PS: We’re proud to have partnered to supply tile packages for a number of clients in the hotel sector and we have worked with both large national hotel chains as well as independent operators.

    Most recently we supplied the tile package for the new Melia InnSiDE hotel in Newcastle. Located in the historic Quayside area of the city, the new hotel has been designed to complement the industrial heritage of its surroundings and required a tile solution that combines both natural aesthetics with enhanced durability. We put forward tiles from our Realstone Rain range, which has been inspired by the look and feel of English Limestone, and these have been used to great effect in the hotel’s main entrance area and staircase. To create a focal point, the floor design features the soft tones of the Almond coloured Realstone Rain tiles with the darker Griege tiles installed in strips across the width of the floor. It’s a really stunning scheme.

    Another recent example is the newly renovated and rebranded Broadcroft Hotel in Glasgow which embodies a lot of the key trends that we have seen in this sector. The hotel has made a real focal point of its reception area, using the natural tones of our Realstone Slate iron stone effect floor tiles to accentuate the warmer tones of the walls and soft furnishings. The hotel also showcases a stunning design in its new café bar-grill which both complements the main reception area and also creates a distinct identity. Here the use of the Havana White Garden patterned tile defines the bar area and showcases the vibrant blue tones that we have been seeing so much of. The use of patterns and colour creates an attractive contrast with the warmer tones of the adjoining wooden floor to create a really stunning space.

    HK: As well as offering a vast range of tile solutions, what other services can you offer designers working in this sector?

    PS: What we are able to offer our clients, and what makes many of them choose to work with us time and time again, is our in-house technical expertise. That means we can work with clients at the very earliest stage of a project to provide them with inspiration and insight – we can suggest tile collections that we know work well in hotel settings and we can also address the key practical requirements. We find our skill set is particularly valuable when working on complex areas of a hotel such as swimming pool areas as we can provide tile packages that not only look amazing but work effectively within the space. The potential for the use of tiles in this sector is vast and we are passionate about helping our clients realise it for their own projects.

    CTD Architectural Tiles is one of the brands that has taken advantage of our Black Friday package. To keep up to date with supplier news, click here. 

    Main image credit: CTD Architectural Tiles

    Iris pendent for LEDS C4 case study

    LEDS C4 light a ‘serene, harmonious & majestic space’ in Barcelona

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    LEDS C4 light a ‘serene, harmonious & majestic space’ in Barcelona

    The project, lit by LEDS C4, originated in the materials that are a part of our physical and tangible world, but it is also related to the work of Six N. Five with technology and spaces. With a monochromatic colour scheme in earth tones, there is an artisanal feel to connect both worlds…

    Iris pendent for LEDS C4 case study

    Under the guidance of the interior designer Isern Serra, LEDS C4 is providing the lighting for the new offices of the 3D design studio Six N. Five in Barcelona, founded by Ezequiel Pini. With the aim of designing a multidisciplinary space that encourages creativity, the decision was made to show off the reality of construction, leaving all of the original structure uncovered while providing warmth and serenity by means of the materials, earthy tones and light.

    LEDS C4’s lighting, with Atom Track 52 spotlights and Play High Visual Comfort Adjustable downlights, blends into the architecture of the space and helps to create a cosy, relaxed environment.

    In addition, Cocktail, Simply, Big and Nude light fixtures from the Decorative Collection help to create sources of light in the creative space.

    The project involved refurbishing street-level premises. A multi-purpose space, mainly used as an office, but also as a showroom, adding an area for presentations, a small workshop for creating small prototypes, a leisure and virtual reality zone, and a café area. All in all, a multidisciplinary space open to the city with small cultural activities.

    A contemporary workspace

    Image credit: LEDS C4

    “The diverse spaces to be allocated and the imposing heights made it possible to create a space in the top section to house the workshop and a storage area,” said Serra. “This mezzanine also enables us to separate the public area from the more private ones.”

    The mezzanine can be closed off with curtains at both the top and the bottom, thus making it possible to not only offer different levels of privacy, but also provide an element for dividing the different areas.

    The space was devised to be a large architectural sanctuary with a strong artisanal feel. Earth colours were chosen to reinforce the idea of materiality, opting for a smooth finish cement floor with building elements, along with walls in the same tone with uneven plasterwork.

    > Since you’re here, why not read about LEDS C4’s latest installation project?

    LEDS C4 is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: LEDS C4

    Hotel Design - SB Architects_Pendry Park City_Swim

    SB Architects completes Pendry Hotels’ first year-round mountain resort

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    SB Architects completes Pendry Hotels’ first year-round mountain resort

    The 153-key Pendry Park City, designed by SB Architects and KES Studio, is slated to usher in a new era of hospitality in the heart of Canyons Village at Park City Mountain…

    Hotel Design - SB Architects_Pendry Park City_Swim

    Pendry Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of Pendry Park City, the brand’s first year-round mountain resort located in the heart of Canyons Village at Park City Mountain, which sits in the heart of largest mountain in the nation, with more than 7,300 acres of skiable terrain.

    Aerial view of ski resort of Pendry Park City in the mountains

    Render credit: Pendry Hotels & Resorts

    The ski-in/ski-out resort, which opens as the sixth addition to the Pendry Hotels & Resorts portfolio, features 153 guestrooms, suites, and residences. In collaboration with Columbus Pacific, the resort was designed by SB Architects with interiors by KES Studio, and shelters four dining outlets, a rooftop pool and spa, a curated art collection and more than 2,100 square metres of meetings and event space.

    “Pendry Park City is a true year-round destination, bringing outdoor pursuits, world-class dining, art, wellness and entertainment, to guests, residents and the local community,” said Alan J. Fuerstman, founder, chairman and CEO, Montage International. “We are incredibly proud to debut Pendry’s first resort in one of our favourite mountain destinations and look forward to showcasing all that Pendry has to offer.”

    The arrival experience at Pendry Park City

    Render credit: Pendry Hotels & Resorts

    In conceptualising the exclusive enclave, SB Architects considered what was missing from Canyons Village, and thought carefully about how the broader masterplan could evolve over time. Drawing inspiration from the natural surroundings, the studio departed from the traditional alpine lodge aesthetic to set a new standard for refined mountain living within a contemporary architectural vernacular. Influenced by the area’s rich mining history, and neighbouring mountain ridges, the design is driven by the guest and owner experience.

    The resort and residences were designed to connect back to Canyons Village, both from an aesthetic and functional perspective. Comprised of three buildings that sit on a shared podium, the project extends beyond Pendry, with a proposal for an elevated bridge connecting the adjacent properties while integrating the rest of the village into a compelling anchor. Residential units feature protected balconies and floor to ceiling windows that maximise views from the living spaces toward the mountains and activities as they unfold across the plaza.

    Plaza outside Pendry Park City

    Render credit: Pendry Hotels & Resorts

    Today’s global travellers are hungry for new experiences that are true to locale, and resort homeowners want more than just a home, where they can gather and entertain friends, enjoy outdoor activities, have memorable meals, and experience the art and culture that give a place its character. The hotel opens with the facilities (and style) to cater for such an era in modern travel.

    Main render credit: Pendry Hotels & Resorts

    MET Hotel in La Paz bolivia

    MET Hotel opens its doors in La Paz, the city that touches the clouds

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    MET Hotel opens its doors in La Paz, the city that touches the clouds

    Overlooking the Andes mountains and with panoramic views over the city, the MET Hotel combines contemporary design with a strong reference to Bolivian culture in this vibrant concept that feels right at home in the cool Calacoto neighbourhood…

    MET Hotel in La Paz bolivia

    The Panorama Hospitality Group, the team behind Bolivia’s most awarded and first design hotel, Atix, has added to its Bolivian portfolio with the opening of MET Hotel in Calacoto, one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in the city. At an elevation of more than 3,600 metres above sea level, La Paz is known as the city that touches the clouds and is the gateway to the otherworldly Salar de Uyuni salt flats and the Bolivian wine country.

    entrance to MET Hotel with curved white bar

    Image credit: MET Hotel

    “La Paz is a bustling city with a vibrant art and gastronomy scene,” said Fernando Rodriguez, founder of Panorama Hospitality Group.”We are thrilled to be opening MET Hotel to provide travellers with a unique home base for their Bolivian adventures. Calacoto is a residential neighbourhood that continues to grow in popularity and offers galleries, boutiques, and great dining options.”

    The hotel design is a partnership between New York-based hospitality design firm Los Designers and Bolivian architect Ivan Valdez, who has worked with the late Zaha Hadid Architects in London. Overlooking the Andes Mountains, the hotel is centrally located to Mi Teleférico, an aerial cable car that offers epic views of the city.

    MET Hotel restaurant with colourful original art on the walls

    Image credit: MET Hotel / Valeria Dorado

    The property shelters 76 guestrooms which includes a penthouse suite. The premier MET Penthouse is a two-room suite with the perfect combination of panoramic views over La Paz on the outside and a carefully curated art collection featuring local artists on the inside. Modern accent décor pieces such as the pillows celebrate the rich weavings from the Jalq’a culture in Southern Bolivia and the bedroom rug patterns take inspiration from local historic textiles from Tiwanaku, an ancient city and sacred site consisting of former pyramids and enclosures, gateways and monuments located in western Bolivia near the southeast shore of Lake Titicaca.

    MET Hotel guestroom with a view over La Paz

    Image credit: MET Hotel / Valeria Dorado

    Continuing the design narrative of modern design with an emphasis on Bolivian culture, the lobby draws inspiration from the local ruins of Pumapunku and Tiwanaku with its layered concrete walls shaped like perfectly cut geometric stones. While the design is largely modern, these historically significant patterns provide underlying textures that provide a sense of place.

    The all-day dining destination, Dominga transforms itself from a lively breakfast venue to a warmly lit and engaging space with chef’s table at night. With an emphasis on local ingredients, Dominga offers a distinctive dining experience based on contemporary cuisine that can be paired with a fine vintage from its wine cellar. The bar allows guests a space to indulge in local wines and spirits and includes the world’s largest collection of Singani, Bolivia’s national liquor. Met Hotel will also include La Paz’s first outdoor rooftop bar named Azotea offering scenic views and craft cocktails available for guests and private events.

    Main image credit: MET Hotel / Valeria Dorado

    Frances Bildner exhibit at OmniDe in London

    Frances Bildner explores art behind the gallery

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    Frances Bildner explores art behind the gallery

    Currently exhibiting her paintings at Omni De Architects, an innovative and collaborative gallery space that aims to connect all aspects of design while giving artists access to less traditional methods of exhibiting their work, Frances Bildner discusses the role art can play in public spaces…

    Frances Bildner exhibit at OmniDe in London

    With the increasing focus on art as an enhancement to the environment, we are starting to see more art in public spaces. Correctly curated, it can add value to these spaces in hotels as it brightens up the lobby and corridors, while at the same time can make guests feel more comfortable and relaxed, inspired and energised. The more colour on the walls, the more wellbeing all round! Using these spaces to exhibit takes art out of the conventional galleries, which can be rarefied and intimidating places, into the public realm, giving the everyone access to the art, and giving the artists a bigger platform on which to exhibit.

    abstract paintings by Frances Bildner

    Image credit: Frances Bildner

    As the art comes out of the galleries and into new and more collaborative spaces like Omni De Architects, it gets a wider audience, and at the same time becomes more central to all our lives. It removes some of the elitism that can surround gallery art as it becomes part of our everyday experience. Another shift in artistic space is the increase in Artist in Residence collaborations, more events both on and offline, and retreats where artists can spend time working on their craft in different environments as art becomes more integrated into the hospitality and travel sector. Along with this comes the benefit of travel, which to my mind enhances one’s work and is a stimulating broadening experience which allows a growing in perspective. The different colours and light in places like India and Morocco, South America and Africa can add layers to an artist’s work. I would recommend travel to any artist who wants to vary their experience.

    In many ways, as art becomes more integrated into hotels and hospitality, we have come full circle as art is no longer confined to the exclusive margins of galleries. This is excellent for all involved. The public has greater access to art, spaces can be reimagined as the works change and businesses grant artists more respect and validity. It is a win-win situation.

    Frances Bildner is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Frances Bildner

    Courtyard outside in Glasgow restaurant

    Sonance takes multi-zoned approach for F&B space in Glasgow

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    Sonance takes multi-zoned approach for F&B space in Glasgow

    The challenge presented to Sonance by this social space required a multizone sound system solution, that would lend individual atmospheres to the different environments within the restaurant. Here’s how it was done…

    Courtyard outside in Glasgow restaurant

    Famous for fine wine, whisky and excellence in Scottish cuisine, Ubiquitous Chip is one of the longest serving restaurants in Glasgow today. Situated within a fantastic setting on Ashton Lane in Glasgow’s West End since 1971, the restaurant uses an extraordinary mix of room design, subtle artificial lighting and cascading natural light amid islands of lush foliage to create the setting for customers to share intimate (or rowdy) dining experiences in a range of individual environments day and night.

    high ceilings and wooden beams in The Ubiquitous Chip

    Image credit: Habitech /The Ubiquitious Chip

    The challenge for installer Lairds of Troon was to design a multizone sound system that would lend individual atmospheres to the different environments within the restaurant, enhancing the customer experience without imposing on conversations or detracting from the room design.

    “We wanted to build upon the vitality, freshness and colour of the spaces with excellent full-range audio quality that would blend in and be easy to control zonally by the restaurant staff,” said Tom Watson, Lairds.

    The solution selected for the project was Sonance Mariner 54 speakers, driven and tablet-controlled by Yamaha’s super compact MusicCast WXC-50 pre and WXA-50 power amplifiers.

    “We placed the Mariners strategically and discreetly throughout the levels of the restaurant,” explained Watson .“They blend perfectly with the interior and, via their Fastmount brackets, are easily directable for optimum coverage, and they can work at high volumes without distortion, helping to create a high quality musical backdrop even on a jumping Saturday night. The performance of the Mariners is such that intelligibility and audio dynamics are excellent at lower volumes as well, and this offers more scope to get the sound just right.”

    Independent music selection and volume in the different spaces can easily be achieved through the MusicCast system (which is linked to the restaurant’s cloud server), so that each has a unique full range sound, custom curated for the mood in the room. The MusicCast system is perfect for the job, as it is easy to use and set up, with a simple touch-control over zone, volume and virtually any streaming service, ensuring that the music fits perfectly with any occasion in the venue. This ease of control also includes a One Push Play feature, which turns the system on and initiates playback of the previously selected source by pressing any button on a WXC/WXA-50 front panel. The entire system has been strategically and discreetly placed throughout the levels of the restaurant.

    Habitech is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Habitech / The Ubiquitious Chip

    M+ Loom design Studio Irvine madder 1

    The Mosaico+ tile collection inspired by embroidery

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    The Mosaico+ tile collection inspired by embroidery

    Surface brand Mosaico+ has unveiled the Loom collection, the new range of floor and wall tiles designed by Marialaura Rossiello Irvine, and inspired by her trousseau’s embroideries…

    M+ Loom design Studio Irvine madder 1

    “Loom is a random assembly of memories and tradition, dedicated to the women of my family.” This is how Marialaura Rossiello of Studio Irvine describes Loom, the new collection she designed for Mosaico+ taking inspiration by embroidery; a series of porcelain stoneware modules that will be disclosed at Cersaie 2021.

    The collection of full-body porcelain stoneware suitable for indoor and outdoor use on both floors and walls was born from the personal story of Marialaura Rossiello Irvine. From the memory of her childhood, spent observing the work of the women of her family who used to meet up to embroider together. Endless afternoons in which they spun and unthreaded until they reached perfection.

    The result of this painstaking work was the trousseau that Marialaura Rossiello Irvine could boast already at the age of five. “30 sheets, 30 tablecloths, 60 towels of different sizes, 10 assorted bedspreads and blankets,” she said. “Hundreds of doilies. All meticulously embroidered, sewn, assembled with different techniques: crochet, bobbin lace, knitting, cut-work.” A rich dowry that the designer, however, could not use after the wedding, because her husband resented to wake up with the embroidered tattoos on his face.

    Cream wallcovering of M+ Loom design Studio Irvine cotton 2

    Image credit: Mosaico+

    With Loom, those embroideries emerge from the wardrobes where they have been closed for more than 30 years and acquire a new life. Enlarged or shrunk, the cut-outs taken from the designer’s trousseau have been assembled and embossed on full-body porcelain stoneware modules.

    The collection is a random sequence of several embroideries, different one from another as much as for the needlepoint of which the designer’s trousseau was composed.

    Carbon coloured floor - M+ Loom design Studio Irvine carbon 2

    Image credit: Mosaico+

    Loom comes in pre-cut, 8,5 mm thick 14×70 cm modules the surfaces of which feature portions with different textures. Once they have been laid and grouted, the modules are no longer legible and the surface becomes a complex combination of different elements, shapes and dimensions. The collection is composed of two left patterns and two right patterns – staggered end-to-end installation is mandatory for the best result.

    The collection consists of four patterns, two for the left side and two for the right side. The staggered running pose is mandatory for the output of the project.

    > Since you’re here, why not read about two other collections from Mosaico+?

    Mosaico+ is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Mosaico+

    Hotel Designs The Lund Collection

    In pictures: inside The Lund Collection by Bergman Design House

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    In pictures: inside The Lund Collection by Bergman Design House

    What The Lund Collection lacks in size, it more than makes up for in personality. Bergman Design House has transformed a one-bedroom private cottage in the Cotswolds into a quirky bolthole, complete with original artwork, vintage treasures and luxury details throughout… 

    Hotel Designs The Lund Collection

    Bergman Design House, the design studio that is about to complete the debut property for The Other House, has taken a one-bedroom private cottage, just a stone’s throw from Chipping Norton and Great Tew, and converted it into a design-led staycation oasis.

    Lund Collection Hotel Designs bed

    Image credit: Vigo Jansons

    The Lund Collection is exquisitely decorated by the husband-and-wife design duo, Marie Soliman and Albin Berglund and features a carefully-curated collection of original artwork and vintage treasures alongside new bespoke furniture from the studio’s Black Berg Collection. From 17th century Chinese ceramics and an 18th-century marriage armoire turned showstopping drinks cabinet to a modern and luxurious deep-soaking bathtub, design enthusiasts will marvel at the wonders on display.

    A quintessentially English bathroom inside The Lund Collection with floral wallpaper

    Image credit: Vigo Jansons

    “What’s been so enjoyable about this project has been the ‘treasure hunt’ for the most incredible antique and vintage finds, all of which tell their own unique story while highlighting the beauty of the newer items next to them,” said Soliman. “It’s an approach I like to call ‘organised chaos’; the creation of a space that is both functional and timeless, with a playful hint of surprise or whimsical energy.”

    Inspired by the beauty of the Cotswolds, the property features a colour palette that reflects all four seasons, from the vibrant green of Summer to the russet-oranges of Autumn. In combination with some of the most distinguished furniture and textile artisans in the UK, including upholstery from the likes of Robert Kime, Tori Murphy and de Le Cuona, the result is an authentic, charming and quality interior design scheme that feels true and connected to its roots.

    Living room The Lund Collection

    Image credit: Vigo Jansons

    Creating and designing the property has been a passion project for Soliman and Berglund, and they hope it will be a sanctuary for future guests seeking zen and an escape in the countryside. “We fell in love with this cottage and the absolutely stunning countryside. We are so thrilled to share it with our guests. It is intended to be a sanctuary for all who visit – we want our guests to come here and truly switch off, connect with nature and feel at home,” said Soliman.

    Dining area The Lund Collection

    Image credit: Vigo Jansons

    The Lund Collection is Bergman Design House’s foray into a new line of luxury individual accommodations in the UK, providing the utmost privacy while offering the ultimate guest experience. Where’s next, we wonder…

    Main image credit: Vigo Jansons

    Establishing render of Four Seasons Render Melbourne

    Four Seasons Hotel Melbourne to open as group’s second hotel in Australia

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    Four Seasons Hotel Melbourne to open as group’s second hotel in Australia

    Taking luxury to new heights as part of the STH BNK By Beulah development, Four Seasons Hotel Melbourne will be located in what is set to be the world’s tallest vertical garden…

    Establishing render of Four Seasons Render Melbourne

    Melbourne property developer, Beulah, has announces that Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, a global leader in luxury hospitality, has been chosen to manage the hotel within its new AUD $2.7 billion development, STH BNK By Beulah.

    Four Seasons Hotel Melbourne – the second Four Seasons property to open in Australia – will feature 210 rooms, crowning the western tower of STH BNK By Beulah, and will see guests arrive via a Sky Lobby situated on the 63rd floor, boasting panoramic views over Melbourne’s city skyline, beachfront and Royal Botanical Gardens. The hotel will also offer a world-class integrated health and wellness experience, a sprawling rooftop restaurant and bar and multiple event spaces.

    Hotel Designs Four Seasons Melbourne Render

    Image credit: Beulah

    “Four Seasons was the perfect partner for STH BNK By Beulah and will offer an unmatched hospitality experience, while remaining uniquely Melbourne,” said Adelene Teh, Beulah Executive Director. “As STH BNK By Beulah continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the luxury, lifestyle and sustainability spaces, Four Seasons aligned perfectly to our ethos and vision, offering unparalleled experiences, a bold commitment to innovation, and fantastic sustainability initiatives across its hotels and resorts.”

    On track to become Australia’s tallest tower, STH BNK By Beulah is also set to become the tallest vertical garden in the world, setting a precedent for future skyscrapers to incorporate the natural environment. The vertical garden will reach a total of 5.5 kilometres, the length of Melbourne’s famed The Tan running track nearly 1.5 times over.

    Hotel Designs Four Seasons Melbourne

    Image credit: Beulah

    “We are incredibly proud to partner with Beulah and to be a part of the leading-edge STH BNK By Beulah development. This project will set a new standard for luxury in Melbourne, offering guests an exceptional Four Seasons experience set within an environment that will be unmatched in this market,” explained Bart Carnahan, President, Global Business Development and Portfolio Management, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “At Four Seasons, we look for opportunities where we can be part of innovative new projects, with partners who share our vision for excellence – Four Seasons Hotel Melbourne is no exception, and we look forward to welcoming guests through our doors in the years ahead.”

    In addition to services and amenities of the hotel, guests will enjoy access to the myriad experiences available at STH BNK By Beulah, including the lush gardens, programming within the art and culture spaces, co-working facilities, the STH BNK Market Hall, and much more.

    Envisioned as a vertical mini-metropolis, STH BNK By Beulah will comprise four distinct collections of private residences, public and green spaces, a rooftop sky garden, 3,000-seat auditorium, commercial offices, childcare centre, a health and wellness precinct, arts and culture spaces and programs, as well as world-class experiential retail, all within two twisting terraced forms.

    > Since you’re here, why not read about the hotel group’s 2022 pipeline?

    Main image credit: Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts / Beulah

    Andrew Meredith Moooi Carpets

    Kit Miles collaborates with Moooi Carpets on Biophillia collection

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    Kit Miles collaborates with Moooi Carpets on Biophillia collection

    British textile designer Kit Miles joined forces with Moooi Carpets to create a new Biophillia collection that draws on nature for some bold inspiration…

    Andrew Meredith Moooi Carpets

    Kit Miles’ fascination with the rich synergy between plants and animals comes to life in a new collection inspired by biophillia’s mesmerising patterns. The new addition to the Moooi Carpet’s Signature collection, the selection of prints, named Biophillia, aim to provide a ‘window into the world of plants and nature’ with hand-drawn dragonflies, flora and surreal plants that dance around each other bound as well as references to eternal natural cycles.

    Biophillia exults in the surreal qualities of the natural world. Drawing on the tradition of botanical illustration, highly rendered flora and fauna celebrate the complexity and curiousness of nature. The striking use of colour gives this design a distinct and modern visual identity and is an expression of the studio’s passion for evoking the strangeness that is ever-present in the world around us. The collection combines the sumptuousness and tradition of the Baroque with modern design. This Design is available in different colourways that will definitely find a match in any interior and is available as an area rug or a broadloom wall to wall pattern.

    Moooi biophillia carpet design in dark blue

    Image credit: Moooi Carpets / Andrew Meredith

    Kit Miles founded the design studio in 2013 with one vision: to create a textile collection steeped in the values of quality, exquisite draughtsmanship and a futuristic, often surprising use of scale colour and imagery. The studio is regularly invited by leading architects and interior designers to bring Miles’s unique skill across projects both large and small. The studio’s breadth and skill in executing fine product is continually developing, highlighting a restless drive towards the exploration of what print design is now and what it could be next. This collaboration with Moooi Carpets covers new ground and is an exciting addition to the extensive Moooi collection.

    Moooi Carpets is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips. Kit Miles has joined MEET UP London as an Event Partner, and will display its latest collection at the Minotti London showroom on March 24.

    Main image credit: Moooi Carpets / Andrew Meredith

    sunset at the Radisson Hotel Antananarivo Waterfront

    Radisson Hotels is making its mark in Madagascar

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    Radisson Hotels is making its mark in Madagascar

    Radisson Hotels has announced its entry into Madagascar with the opening of three hotels: Radisson Blu Hotel, Radisson Hotel on the Antananarivo Waterfront and Radisson Serviced Apartments in the city centre…

    sunset at the Radisson Hotel Antananarivo Waterfront

    Antananarivo, is also known as ‘Analamanga’ or the ‘City of Thousand’ referring to the thousand soldiers appointed in the 17th century by the King Andrianjaka to protect the palace, locally known as Rova, on the highest hill of the city.

    Marking the hotel group’s arrival in Madagascar, Radisson Hotels has announced that it will open three hotels in the area that are set to change the city skyline, and will give visitors access to these charming streets as well as the surrounding attractions showcasing the island’s remarkable fauna and flora. Situated between the city centre and the newer waterfront development, all three Radisson offerings will bring something different to the ‘Tana’ table.

    view from the rooftop terrace of Radisson Serviced Apartments Antananarivo City Center

    Image credit: Radisson Hotels

    The properties slated to open in the city are Radisson Blu Hotel Antananarivo Waterfront, Radisson Hotel Antananarivo Waterfront and Radisson Serviced Apartments Antananarivo City Centre.

    Radisson Blu Hotel Antananarivo Waterfront will be centrally located in a private area within the tree-lined waterfront and is close to the recently developed premier business district. The hotel’s 168 modern guestrooms and suites will be filled with natural light and overlook the captivating city with waterfront views. Guests can choose from a variety of F&B options ranging from international to regional dishes, a rooftop restaurant with indoor dining and terrace seating, offering panoramic views of Tana or a refreshing cocktail or light snack at The Lobby Coffee & Bar. The hotel will also feature an outdoor rooftop pool and a modern, fully equipped fitness centre, and meetings and events of all sizes are also catered for with five meeting and boardroom venues within the hotel.

    guestroom at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Antananarivo Waterfront

    Image credit: Radisson Hotels

    Also located in the Waterfront development will be the 30-key boutique Radisson Hotel Antananarivo Waterfront. Reflecting the Radisson brand’s signature Scandinavian aesthetic, the hotel’s guestrooms and suites will feature natural materials such as beautiful wooden details, combined with Madagascan inspired architecture, all with picturesque lake and garden views. Sheltered within the hotel, the Tamboho Restaurant will present a menu of local and international dishes, made with fresh, seasonal ingredients, while The Tamboho Meeting Room, accommodating up to 20 guests, will be the perfect venue to host a meeting in the city.

    Meanwhile, Radisson Serviced Apartments Antananarivo City Centre will shelter 56 spacious and bright studios and apartments. With views of the surrounding hills, the apartments will offer the ideal home-from-home for guests traveling for business, leisure or extended stays.

    The convenient in-room features will include a kitchenette and minifridge all within a neutral colour palette and with modern details as the studios and apartments, are designed to provide the ultimate sense of functional tranquility. Located on the fifth floor, SOHO Rooftop Lounge will offer an escape from the bustling city, while the SOHO Rooftop Terrace will provide the ideal space to host a private event or celebration with its intimate atmosphere and spectacular views of Antananarivo.

    > Since you’re here, why not find out more about Radisson’s West and Central African pipeline?

    Main image credit: Radisson Hotels

    Skopos fabrics Vienna Loop design

    Skopos Fabrics: Inspired by the past, looking to the future

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    Skopos Fabrics: Inspired by the past, looking to the future

    Celebrating 50 years of design and manufacture in contract textiles, Skopos is marking this milestone by looking back at some of the standout designs that have come off its drawing board, and putting them back in the design spotlight with the launch of its 50th Anniversary Collection…

    Skopos fabrics Vienna Loop design

    The early ’70s saw the birth of a new textile business in the Yorkshire town of Batley. With design and innovation at the heart of everything, three local art college students came together to build an energetic business delivering eye-catching printed fabrics for healthcare and hospitality interiors. The students were influenced by graphics seen in Greek pattern and began developing bold repeating textile prints, and hand-printing fabrics on-site in Yorkshire. Derived from the Greek word for ‘purpose’ the business became known as Skopos. Designs were hand-made to order, and early collections used simple, bold shapes, the perfect backdrop to modern 1970’s interior spaces. Mixing colours by hand to deliver an on-trend solution, the Skopos team created dramatic, eye-catching designs that became synonymous with the the brand.

    curtain designs by Skopos part of the 50th anniversary collection

    Image credit: Skopos

    At this early stage the business made the decision to partner with a company with expertise in flame retardancy fabric treatment, and realised the requirement to deliver against certain safety standards for textiles within contract interiors. Demand grew in the UK, covering markets including healthcare, hospitality, cruise and ferry and then started to gain momentum overseas with big orders coming in from the Middle East.

    Fast forward to 2022, and this year marks the celebration of 50 years! As a tribute to this milestone, throughout this year, the Skopos team will be looking back at some of their favourite designs over this half century. The 50th Anniversary Collection will see some of the most authentic landmark designs reborn using contemporary design production techniques. The evolved designs will be developed in line with current trends for use within contract interiors today. Each month these ‘new’ designs will be brought to life on the website and samples made available in the usual way.

    As with all Skopos prints, customers will be able to order the Anniversary designs across a number of base-cloths, including upholstery velvets and various drape qualities for use in any project. The design team will be able to help with bespoke projects and colourways.

    > Since you’re here, why not check out more designs from Skopos?

    Skopos is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Skopos

    Hotel design: Pool overlooking Costa Rica landscape

    Weekly digest: surface (Design Show) reflections & nature-inspired hotels

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Weekly digest: surface (Design Show) reflections & nature-inspired hotels

    Editor Hamish Kilburn here to bring you up to speed on the latest and hottest hotel design stories. In this week’s digest, I share my thoughts on Surface Design Show 2022, give a nod to the interior designers who gave Hotel Designs some serious lighting inspiration and explore what the first Ritz-Carlton hotel in Costa Rica will look (and feel) like…

    Hotel design: Pool overlooking Costa Rica landscape

    Every so often on the editorial desk at Hotel Designs, a project emerges that completely blows my mind. Yes, we always cover sensational projects that shelter exceptional interiors, but when the design narrative of a hotel runs so deep so that every touchpoint sensitively references its location a creative and non-confirming way, I can’t help myself from standing in awe when understanding the challenges the designer faced when creating such a masterpiece.

    Well, this week the editorial team have had the pleasure of writing about two of these projects that stylishly sit in this category of ‘extraordinary’. The first being Taoxichuan Hotel, designed by AIM Architecture and David Chipperfield Architects. Its design pays tribute to the city’s porcelain heritage in the design, the finishes and the surfaces. The other is located in Costa Rica. Every inch of Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, designed by SB Architects, will reflect a deep respect to the region’s biodiversity.

    But that’s not all… let’s take a look at this week’s hottest stories and features:

    Hotel lighting: How Interior designers are breaking boundaries

    The Penthouse inside The Mandrake hotel

    Image credit: The Mandrake Hotel London

    To launch this month’s feature around innovative hotel lighting, Hotel Designs asked a handful of leading interior designers share their favourite lighting design schemes.

    Read more.

    Top highlights from Surface Design Show 2022

    Two women looking at surfaces and materials

    Image credit: Surface Design Show

    With a deliberately unsubtle undertone of sustainability and drive towards reusable materials, Surface Design Show 2022 took place inside London’s Business Design Centre – and received an overwhelming response from both visitors and exhibitors.

    Read more.

    Dorchester Collection’s debut property in Dubai opens

    Water feature at the entrance to One At Palm Jumeirah

    Image credit: Dorchester Collection

    OMNIYAT and Dorchester Collection have just announced the completion of One at Palm Jumeriah, Dorchester Collection, Dubai. As the leader in luxury real estate that offers the most sought-after residences, the OMNIYAT development offers unparalleled views of the shorelines of Dubai.

    Read more.

    XXX

    Taoxichuan Hotel: A journey in ceramics & context

    dark green ceramic tiles in Hyatt Unbound Taoxichuan

    Image credit: Hyatt / Aim Architecture

    Taoxichuan Hotel is situated in the vibrant Taoxichuan creative and cultural district of Jingdezhen, China. The project is a collaboration between AIM Architecture and David Chipperfield Architects and occupies three interconnected buildings, every part of which pays tribute to the city’s porcelain heritage in the design, the finishes and the surfaces.

    Read more. 

    SB Architects reveals design details for Ritz-Carlton in Costa Rica

    Hotel Design exterior Ritz Carlton Costa Rica

    Image credit: SB Architects / Marriott International

    SB Architects has revealed the design it led for Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve and Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Residence. The resort and exclusive collection of luxury-branded residences will be located in Peninsula Papagayo, a private club and resort community in Costa Rica’s northwestern region of Guanacaste.

    Read more.

    Mandarin Oriental announces debut plans for Greece

    sunset view from mandarin oriental costa navarino

    Image credit: Mandarin Oriental

    The group’s first property in Greece, Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino, will be located on the southwest coast of the Peloponnese, in one of the most unspoiled and breath-taking landscapes in the Mediterranean. The beachfront resort will be part of Costa Navarino, a well-established tourism destination. The Costa Navarino project is owned and developed by TEMES, a leading developer and operator of high-end tourism and real estate destinations in Greece.

    Read more.

    Since you’re here…

    More than 60,000 readers per month enjoy the content we publish on Hotel Designs. Our mission is to define the point on international hotel design, and we are doing that by serving relevant news stories and engaging features. To keep up to date on the hottest stories that are emerging, you can sign up to the newsletter, which is completely free of charge. As well as receiving a weekly round-up of the top stories, you will also access our bi-monthly HD Edit –staying ahead of the curve has never been so easy!

    Click here to sign up to our newsletter.

    Various materials on wall at Surface Design Show

    Top highlights from Surface Design Show 2022

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Top highlights from Surface Design Show 2022

    With a deliberately unsubtle undertone of sustainability and drive towards reusable materials, Surface Design Show 2022 took place inside London’s Business Design Centre – and received an overwhelming response from both visitors and exhibitors. “It was spectacular,” writes editor Hamish Kilburn…

    Various materials on wall at Surface Design Show

    The 2022 edition of Surface Design Show was, for many reasons, the best one yet! More than 160 exhibitors showcased the best in sustainable materials, with almost 5,000 architects, designers and specifiers (and one or two design editors) visiting over the two and half days to explore the latest trends, materials and conversations around sustainable solutions in surface design.

    Once again, the show attracted a high-quality audience. 84 per cent of visitors worked in the architecture and design sector and 73 per cent have direct purchasing authority. Reflecting the cancellation or postponement of exhibitions over the last 24-months; 69 per cent of the audience came to source new products and 50 per cent were looking to discover new design trends.

    The overriding theme of the show ‘Sense of Place’ which looked at putting humanity and the planet’s wellbeing at the heart of all decision making, was first introduced at The Opening Night Debate.

    Held in partnership with RIBA, Climate Change and Future Proofing featured a stellar line up of industry experts. The passionate session hosted by Simon Sturgis, Founder of Targeting Zero brought together a younger generation of architects, designers and clients. They not only explored the issues around the future durability and adaptability of current projects, but also how we ensure that the commercial value of projects can be future proofed against climate change.

    The debate continued as the stage was taken over by Interior Design Declares, a new association that has formed by a number of interior designers in response to the climate change emergency. Moderating this panel – and amplifying the individuals who are really making a difference with a disruptive approach to sustainability in design – left the audience emotionally charged, demanding change, which indeed was one of my highlights of the show.

    Carrying on with the theme Sense of Place, many of the exhibitors brought new products to the show, which were both innovative and sustainable.

    Among them was James Latham, one of the UK’s leading distributors of timber, panels and decorative surfaces, which hosted a variety of premium material brands, and unveiled a range of new exclusives including: Honext recycled panels, Dekodur decorative laminates and Studio Collection solid surfaces. The team also revealed a brace of new innovations, include its proprietary Carbon Calculator, which is an academically researched tool that grades specific timber’s sustainability credentials, helping specifiers understand how green their chosen material is.

    Surface Design Show (36)

    Image credit: James Latham

    Meanwhile, The Good Plastic Company showcased sustainable panels from 100 per cent recycled plastic, Wonderwall Studios had stunning wall panels made from salvaged wood, whilst Armourcoat launched its new natural clay lime plaster, Clime.

    Visitors could not leave the exhibition hall without first exploring the Stone Tapestry, a moodboard-like installation designed by Squire & Partners that highlighted the use, applications and reuse of natural stone.

    In line with the show’s theme of sustainability, this year Stone Tapestry focused on locality, and showcased some of the impressive materials quarried in the UK – tapping into the ongoing conversation around using natural stone to deliver a more sustainable built environment.

    One of the standout trends of the show, Bio Magic, looked at how biodegradable ingredients continue to offer sustainable solutions with developments in colour dyeing and recycling processes, bringing new alternatives to the table using food waste.

    Wildman & Bugby brought ecology leather to the show, which uses Olivenleder, a biodegradable tanning agent made using the fallen leaves of the Mediterranean olive harvest. Meanwhile Johnson Tan, one of 32 New Talents at the Show, created surfaces using food waste including eggshells and coffee to achieve delicate, subtle and translucent materials.

    Indeed, one of the most visited and exciting areas of the show was the New Talent section. Surface Design Show is committed to supporting and promoting up and coming designers in the materials sector. Sponsored by Canon UK and curated by Jennifer Castoldi, the 2022 show saw more than 30 participants display a range of sophisticated and innovative designs from textile designs to augmented reality to 3D tiles, including Best in British Design winner from The Brit List Awards 2021 The Monkey Puzzle Tree. A recurring theme among many participants this year was the use of natural materials and dyes.

    Two women looking at surfaces and materials

    Image credit: Surface Design Show

    Among the 160 exhibitors the Italian Trade Agency in conjunction with Confindustria Marmomacchine presented a pavilion of 28 companies representing the Italian stone industry. Showcasing new, innovative and luxury materials including stunning white marble from Elite Stone, Limestone from Fato Stone and porphyry natural stone from Avisio Porfidi Srl representing the best of Made in Italy.

    There was also a comprehensive talks programme, which included more than 50 speakers from a range of design backgrounds. New for 2022 was the Legends Live sessions which saw industry leaders interviewing someone in or connected to the industry. The pairings included lighting designer Sally Storey being interviewed by Theresa Dowling, editor of FX Magazine, Conran and Partners’ Tina Norden in conversation with myself and AHMM’s Paul Monaghan talking to Phil Coffey of Coffey Architects as the interviewees discussed their illustrious careers to date.

    Winners of the 2022 Surface Design Awards were announced at a breakfast ceremony on the last day of the Show, where the BAFTA headquarters in London by Benedetti Architects took not only the award for Public Building Interior category but was also selected as the Supreme Winner.

    Awards Ceremony-SDS22-39

    Image credit: Surface Design Show

    The judges were impressed by the sensitive reconfiguration and repositioning of the original Victorian plasterwork and reuse of oak flooring whilst also introducing future facing solutions including Eyrise TM s350 Licrivision liquid crystal rooflight ‘smart’ insulated glass, which removes up to 80 per cent of harmful rays.

    Other winners included Maggie’s Southampton by AL_A, which won Light + Surface Exterior and Public Building Exterior and the Peacock Cellar restaurant in Shanghai which took the top honours in the Light + Surface Interior category.

    The good news keeps on coming… Surface Design Show 2023 will take place at The Business Design Centre February 7 – 9, 2023. 

    Main image credit: Surface Design Show

    a Mandrake_Penthouse

    Hotel lighting: how interior designers are breaking boundaries

     1024 640 Hamish Kilburn
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    Hotel lighting: how interior designers are breaking boundaries

    To launch this month’s feature around innovative hotel lighting, Hotel Designs asked a handful of leading interior designers share their favourite lighting design schemes. Editor Hamish Kilburn writes…

    a Mandrake_Penthouse

    Let’s face it, quality hotel lighting ultimate riddle. In 1994, interior designer Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz told Elle Decor that “light is the magical ingredient that makes of breaks a space; it’s one of the most important elements in all my interiors.”

    Perhaps, therefore, what is difficult to accept is that for the majority of projects, good lighting should not be noticed.

    Well, here at Hotel Designs, we like to champion those who confront existing ideas and attitudes and instead put forward bold, innovative solutions. To launch our wider feature on lighting, we have spoken to a handful of leading interior designers and lighting experts to understand the power of being well lit, and how (used sensitively) architectural and decorative lighting can completely change the look and feel of a space and take the overall design scheme deeper.

    Designer: Simon Rawlings, Creative Director, David Collins Studio
    Project: Nobu Hotel London Portman Square

    Lighting Design in Lobby Lounge of Nobu Hotel London Portman Square

    Image credit: David Collins Studio

    Nobu Hotel London Portman Square, which opened in 2021 to rave reviews, was designed by the award-winning David Collins Studio, which was responsible for the concept of the signature Nobu Restaurant, bar and all year-round terrace, the Lobby and Lobby Lounge, plus a 600-person ballroom, facilities and meeting spaces.

    Lighting was key to the overall design concept and extensively considered to ensure a feel of flow and unity as the guest moves throughout the hotel’s various spaces, yet providing a point of difference to respond to the requirements and mood for each. In the Lobby Lounge a considered multi-layered lighting concept enhances the atmosphere of comfort and glamour, which is echoed with a series of informal sofas and armchairs upholstered in luxurious mohair, velvet and woven fabrics, all inviting guests to relax within the space.”The vision was one of comfort and approachable glamour and the Studio’s layered lighting concept was considered to reflect this, providing a seamless transition,” said Simon Rawlings, Creative Director, David Collins Studio. “The space feels relaxed and informal by day, becoming a more dramatic scene at night, where the mix of unique textures are gently illuminated from the softly diffused custom wall lights and with the bar itself becoming a focal point, anchored with glass towers each illuminated from above.”

    Custom wall lights, cast from bronze, create pools of light rippling through evocative seeded glass, whilst the central bar’s textures of rich dark timber and traditional Japanese raku tiles are dramatically highlighted from above, with lighting encased within large- scale linen and alabaster shades atop glass display cabinets.

    Designer: Marie Soliman, Co-Founder, Bergman Design House
    Project: Laowai F&B speakeasy bar in Vancouver

    Moody hotel lighting scheme inside a bar. Bergman Design lighting scheme

    Image credit: Bergman Design House

    Ever since launching in 2016, Bergman Design House has been gathering momentum on the international hotel design scene. Its most recent and most-talked-about project is about to launch this spring, which will be unveiling the debut property of The Other House, a new hospitality brand that is expected to disrupt the traditional sectors of hotels, serviced apartments and private rentals, effortlessly and elegantly combining home comforts with hotel-style facilities.

    For the sake of this feature, though, we’re taking a look at another hospitality project a little further from the London-based studio’s home. The Phoenix lighting installation inside Laowai in Vancouver is what makes this project speak, sing and even dance. The lighting scheme brings a sense of freedom to the flying flock of Phoenix manufactured by Karice lighting while the peacock with emerald lamp shades brings the glam.

    Inspired by the false storefronts and secret passwords of speakeasies in Shanghai and Hong Kong’s cocktail scene, Laowai is the newest speakeasy to grace Vancouver’s booming cocktail bar scene and (we’ll spill the tea)… it’s through a secret door in the new restaurant, BLND TGER. “Laowai is a throwback to an illicit and seductive Shanghai 1930 glam period when that city’s infamous bars and clubs welcomed the world: locals, émigrés, and refugees; dreamers and deviants; celebrities and criminals,” said Marie Soliman, Co-Founder, Bergman Design House.

    Designer: Paul Nulty, Founder, Nulty
    Project: Rove Expo 2020 Hotel, Dubai

    Reception with large orange hotel lighting. Nulty Rove Expo 2020 Hotel Credit Arco Group

    Image credit: Nulty/Arco Group

    International lighting design practice Nulty has never been afraid of breaking new ground when it comes to hotel lighting. And the lighting studio’s recent project is no exception. Nulty was asked to design the lighting scheme for Rove Expo 2020 Hotel, the only hotel situated on Dubai’s landmark Expo 2020 site.

    Located adjacent to the Al Wasl Plaza and its awe-inspiring coloured dome, the hotel has been designed as a vibrant centrepiece that reflects the Expo 2020 theme of ‘Connecting Minds and Creating the Future’. The hotel’s interior draws inspiration from the sub-themes of the Expo, in particular the neighbouring Sustainability pavilion. A sustainable consciousness runs throughout the LEED Gold design concept, including Nulty’s lighting scheme which is all LED and controlled by a DALI system that allows individual areas to be adjusted throughout the course of the day.

    Nulty worked in partnership with architecture practice RSP and contractors Arco Group to create a contemporary lighting scheme that evokes a sense of place by

    weaving in references to Dubai’s rich heritage and culture. Within the hotel’s expansive open-plan ground floor, where lobby, lounge and co-working areas merge with a bar and all-day dining café, layers of illumination add character and creativity to each individual area. The lighting scheme also brings a sense of rhythm and cohesion to the ground floor to mark the subtle transitions between each space.

    “Guests are greeted by the lobby area where industrial design details have been set against a warm but refined material palette inspired by Dubai’s urban and desert landscapes,” explained Paul Nulty, Founder, Nulty. “Oversized orange pendants adorn each desk and complement a series of ornate metallic structures used to frame the reception area. Linear lines of light illuminate each reception desk to create a floating effect and are replicated across the ceiling to add further visual interest.

    In fact, oversized orange pendants are a recurring theme within the neighbouring bar area where they have been paired with intricate white metalwork to create a striking central feature. Linear lines of illumination pick out the materiality of the wooden bar and help demark the space as an area where guests can socialise and relax after a day at the Expo site. Contemporary ceiling pendants offer a further nod to the industrial Dubai theme and work alongside suspended track lights to strike the right balance between decorative and functional lighting.

    Designer: Lara Bohinc/Adam Coare, Dernier & Hamlyn
    Project: The Mandrake Hotel, London

    The hotel lighting scheme inside The Penthouse of The Mandrake

    Image credit: The Mandrake Hotel, London

    Everything about The Mandrake, in fashion terms, is Haute Couture. The design of the luxurious boutique hotel in Fitzrovia was inspired by the medicinal properties of the plant after which it is named, the interior is an eclectic mix of vibrant features with carefully curated artworks and intriguing soundscapes.

    When it came to bespoke lighting for The Mandrake’s Penthouse Suite, designer Lara Bohinc chose Dernier & Hamlyn for the room’s very distinctive chandelier because she had been told we were probably the only company in the UK who could truly respond to her demanding commission.

    The resulting chandelier comprises more than 1,100 metal tubes which were individually machined to precise measurements. Each tube was hand finished in antique nickel and mechanically fixed to the fitting’s aluminium frame. This ensured that the metal finish was of the very highest quality and consistency while the frame was as light as possible to aid installation. Practically irreplicable, the chandelier is fitted with more than 30 LED G9 lamps that give the perfect level of illumination for this very special room.

    “I was involved in all aspects of this amazing chandelier and it was completely different to anything I had previously been involved with,” Adam Coare, Design Manager at Dernier & Hamlyn said. “It was a great experience to work on the initial concept, producing rendered images, 3D models and working drawings to finally manufacturing. It was a really complex job that was well worth the effort, especially when seeing this fantastic piece in situ.”

    Designer: Martin Brudnizki, Founder, Martin Brudnizki Design Studio
    Project: Annabel’s, London

    Hotel Designs Annabel's

    Image credit: Annabel’s

    Forgive us, our next case study is not a hotel – but redesigned by a hotel design legend, Martin Brudnizki, the iconic members club Annabel’s shelters an revolutionary lighting design scheme that helps to transport its members into a different world entirely.

    When tasked with redesigning the new-look Annabel’s back in 2018, Martin Brudnizki Design Studio was excited to try new creative styles, push design boundaries and really play with the narrative. “It was an extraordinary project to work on and thanks to the client, we were really pushed to think outside of the box and design something totally new and undiscovered,” Brudnizki told Hotel Designs. “As Annabel’s is a club that welcomes members from breakfast through to dinner and beyond, we knew early on that the lighting design would be really important and critical to the space’s success. Conscious of natural sources of light we worked on the premise of integrating lighting across three main levels: low-level ground lighting, mid-level wall lights and overhead chandelier lighting.

    Working with Isometrix, the studio’s lighting consultants, Brudnizki and his time created a club that mimicked the flow of the day; natural bright light for breakfast through to lunch that’s also suitable for working remotely and holding business meetings and then a moodier, more playful lighting scheme that takes members from late afternoon through to the early hours. Lighting was such an important aspect of the whole club’s design as it enhanced the ambience, ensuring every member felt at home and at ease yet excited and titliated enough to feel as though they had arrived at the best club in London.

    Since you’re here…

    More than 60,000 readers per month enjoy the content we publish on Hotel Designs. Our mission is to define the point on international hotel design, and we are doing that by serving relevant news stories and engaging features. To keep up to date on the hottest stories that are emerging, you can sign up to the newsletter, which is completely free of charge. As well as receiving a weekly round-up of the top stories, you will also access our bi-monthly HD Edit –staying ahead of the curve has never been so easy!

    Click here to sign up to our newsletter.

    Main image credit: The Mandrake Hotel, London

    Dorchester Collection's One at Palm Jumeirah Dubai

    BREAKING: Dorchester Collection’s debut property in Dubai opens

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    BREAKING: Dorchester Collection’s debut property in Dubai opens

    The anticipated completion of the Dorchester Collection‘s One at Palm Jumeriah, has been announced – and the doors to the flagship property are ready to swing open…

    Dorchester Collection's One at Palm Jumeirah Dubai

    OMNIYAT and Dorchester Collection have just announced the completion of One at Palm Jumeriah, Dorchester Collection, Dubai. As the leader in luxury real estate that offers the most sought-after residences, the OMNIYAT development offers unparalleled views of the shorelines of Dubai. Managed by world-renowned luxury hospitality brand, Dorchester Collection, the property welcomes residents to immerse themselves in a unique selection of luxury lifestyle experiences, and as of February 2022,  we are told that 96 per cent of the entire residential plot has been sold.

    “Following the culmination of hard work and diligence, we are proud to welcome the completed architectural masterpiece, One at Palm Jumeirah, Dorchester Collection, Dubai, to the nation’s luxury property landscape, setting the standard in the global real estate industry,” said Mahdi Amjad, Founder and Executive Chairman of OMNIYAT. “Our flagship residential building and Dubai’s most sought-after address is guaranteed to offer a unique lifestyle as well as an unrivalled way of living, and it will be the most enviable address in the Emirate, an address that our residents can now call home.”

    “Together with OMNIYAT, the region’s architectural visionary and leader in the luxury real-estate landscape, we have now opened the doors to this new and iconic landmark on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah.” – Christopher Cowdray, CEO of Dorchester Collection.

    Water feature at the entrance to One At Palm Jumeirah by the Dorchester Collection

    Image credit: OMNIYAT / Dorchester Collection

    As the leader of luxury living in Dubai, OMNIYAT became the first developer to collaborate with acclaimed hospitality brand Dorchester Collection, to launch its first ever offering in the Middle East region. This is a highly collaborative partnership, with luxury, quality and attention to detail being at the centre of both brand’s core values. Similar to Dorchester Collection, OMNIYAT appeals to discerning individuals who are well versed when it comes to luxury living and are looking for a particular lifestyle. Both companies share one common vision: delivering an ultra-luxury lifestyle with privacy and exclusivity.

    “This project is a measure of true success,” said Christopher Cowdray, CEO of Dorchester Collection. “Together with OMNIYAT, the region’s architectural visionary and leader in the luxury real-estate landscape, we have now opened the doors to this new and iconic landmark on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah.”

    This residential landmark houses 94 immaculate and prestigious residences with extensive views and the utmost privacy without compromising décor and style. The interiors and finishes are not the only reason why One at Palm Jumeirah is becoming the epitome of luxury living, the exteriors are an artwork in themselves. One at Palm Jumeirah elevates the experience even further by offering unbeatable Dorchester Collection services including reserved loungers and beach butler service, spa treatments for residents, a private cinema, infinity pools and even valet parking, to ensure the ultimate treatment for its guests is to the highest standard.

    > Since you’re here, why not read our review of another OMNIYAT property, The Opus (also in Dubai)?

    Main image credit: OMNIYAT/Dorchester Collection

    cherry red and duck egg blue in the bedroom at The Mitre

    Checking in to The Mitre for a royal retreat

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    Checking in to The Mitre for a royal retreat

    The first hotel from boutique brand, The Signet Collection, The Mitre Hampton Court opened its doors in September 2020. Nadia Walford took some time out to soak up some of its signature countryside chic…

    cherry red and duck egg blue in the bedroom at The Mitre

    Set on the banks of the River Thames sits the Grade II-listed property that shelters a The Mitre, which has just 36 keys. It is steeped in history and oozes charm, warmth and character thanks to its quirky, mood-lifting interiors and authentic blend of old-meets-new features.

    Commissioned by Charles II in 1665 to house the overflow of courtiers, the hotel site is rich with historical and royal connotations and has been reconstructed several times over the years. Legend has it that The Mitre was linked to Hampton Court Palace by a tunnel to facilitate kingly meetings with mistresses.

    More recently, it was given a new lease of life in 2020 by Hector Ross and Ronnie Kimbugwe, founders of The Signet Collection, whose vision for the brand is to create meaningful stays in time-honoured places throughout southern England. If rumours are to be believes, due to the pandemic, Ross based himself inside the hotel alongside 30-plus builders during the first lockdown to conduct an extensive, multimillion pound refurbishment.

    shades of blue and cherry red in the library at The Mitre

    Image credit: The Mitre Hampton Court

    Bringing this vision to life, interior designer Nicola Harding, who worked on Beaverbrook and The Rose in Deal, was the creative energy behind the colourful reinvention.

    Sticking to the brand’s ethos which “aims to connect guests with the history and the location of each hotel, providing characterful bedrooms, and playful lively public spaces where people quickly feel at home”, Harding has certainly stuck to the brief, decorating spaces with a playful mix of vibrant colours – an incredible 244 paint shades were used during the refurbishment – clashing prints, a hand painted de Gournay electric blue wallpaper, all the while drawing inspiration from Hampton Court and the surrounding neighbourhood including Bushy Park.

    Each of the 36 guestrooms and suites have been individually designed with Harding’s signature aesthetic. Marrying bright colours with busy patterns, features include gingham chairs, Rosi de Ruig lamps, wallpapers from London-based Dutch designer, Ottoline de Vries and antique headboards. Vintage books, posters, and nostalgic toys are placed in stylish nooks, while some original pieces taken from the original hotel have been reworked or upcycled, a satisfying blend of old and new.

    mixing the old and the new with bright colours in the guestrooms at The Mitre Hampton Court

    Image credit: The Mitre, Hampton Court

    The ‘heritage rooms’ are pet-friendly and themed around English countryside traditions of hunting, boating and other sports, while the showstopping Henry VIII bridal suite features a four-poster bed, a copper roll-top bath, and spectacular views of the River Thames and Hampton Court.

    view over the river from guestroom window at the mitre

    Image credit: The Mitre, Hampton Court

    A stay at The Mitre is not just about feeding the soul. With two restaurants, a lively riverside terrace complete with Whispering Angel Boat Shack, an Orangery, a library, and a vintage food truck, it’s ideal for those in need of an overnight escape and a quality feed, along with plenty of opportunities for riverside walks and time to explore nearby Hampton Court. Thanks to its location, the property caters for guests looking for a chic, country house hotel experience within easy reach of central London.

    This spring the brand is set to launch its second property, The Retreat at Elcot Park in Newbury. Housed in a Grade II listed 18th-century building located between Hungerford and Newbury, The Retreat will comprise of 55 individually styled bedrooms with magnificent grounds to match, combining quirky British sensibility, blending the old with the new. With stunning views of the Kennet Valley, the property is ideally situated for those looking to enjoy both country pursuits and culture alike, with its proximity to various famous sites including the Downton Abbey Highclere Castle and Newbury racecourse.

    > Since you’re here, why not find out more about The Signet collection here and here?

    Main image credit: The Mitre, Hampton Court

    Mark Bruce Architect of the Year

    In conversation with: Mark Bruce, Architect of the Year 2021

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    In conversation with: Mark Bruce, Architect of the Year 2021

    EPR Architects’ Mark Bruce – recently crowned Architect of the Year at The Brit List Awards 2021 – invites Editor Hamish Kilburn inside the studio doors to discuss the make up of the multi-award-winning NoMad London, as well as some of the masterpiece projects that are currently on the boards…

    Mark Bruce Architect of the Year

    In the second video as part of our four-part series where we interview a handful of the winners of The Brit List Awards 2021 we meet Mark Bruce, Main Board Director of EPR Architects.

    Bruce heads up the hotels and hospitality team with extensive experience across the hospitality sector, and particular expertise with listed buildings, refurbishments and resort hotels.

    > Click here to watch the full 7-minute interview between Mark Bruce and Hotel Designs’ Hamish Kilburn on the GROHE X platform.

    Whether designing efficient hotel and bedroom layouts, revitalising grand hotel buildings, repurposing a retired ship in to a unique stay-over destination or designing an exclusive and homely 40-key ranch in the New Mexico Desert, Bruce brings a particular flair with an informed, yet inventive, commercial approach.

    The NoMad brand arrived in London last year to a flood of heart-warming reviews. The hotel’s architecture, envisioned by EPR Architects with its clients, Sydell Group, aptly compliments the interior design and overall look, envisioned by New York-based interior design studio Roman and Williams. The new hotel breathes life into the grade II-listed building that was famously known as The Bow Street Magistrates’ Court and Police Station.

    It was this hotel, along with the projects that are on the boards, including Raffles London, Six Senses London and many more, that impressed the judges to unanimously vote Bruce as Architect of the Year in 2021.

    Ballroom inside NoMad London

    Image caption: Ballroom inside Nomad London. | Image credit: Simon Upton Interiors

    Bruce is a qualified architect (RIBA) and was educated at both the Mackintosh School of Architecture at the Glasgow School of Art and Edinburgh College of Art where his passion for truly transformative and regenerative projects was first nurtured. He immediately found that a career in hospitality design allowed him to combine this passion with his love of remarkable buildings and interest in hotel architecture within a sector that demanded bespoke and thought-provoking solutions.

    Since then, he has dedicated his career to specialising in hotel design and delivery working with many of the mainstream hotel brands as well as having the opportunity to use his skills in undertaking a number of unique hospitality project.

    Standing as one of the architecture firm’s most ambitious projects, EPR Architects is working with a handful of leading interior designers to convert London’s Old War Offices in Whitehall into a luxury development, which will shelter Raffles Hotels and Resorts’ debut hotel.

    The narrative continues…

    Main image credit: EPR Architects

    brass bathroom fittings by Unidrain

    Product watch: Reframe by Unidrain is going bold as brass

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    Product watch: Reframe by Unidrain is going bold as brass

    Trends and fashion statements aren’t confined to the catwalk, our bathrooms need to keep up with the seasons new looks, and Unidrain’s new Reframe collection is taking the lead…

    brass bathroom fittings by Unidrain

    Functionality is always top of the leader board when it comes to bathroom design, from a family bathroom makeover, through to a five star hotel refurbishment – function comes first! Followed closely by style and colour and other design considerations. Unidrain has taken all of these elements into consideration with the new Reframe collection.

    When creating the perfect bathroom, fixtures, fittings, taps, accessories and drains all work together to create the overall picture, and with current trends moving away from chrome to focus on a more tonal finish, from black to brushed brass, the colour palette has grown. Deciding on colour palettes, tones and textures is not just limited to walls and floors in the bathroom but extends to the fittings and fixtures as well.

    Unidrain have embraced the warmer tones in the new Reframe Collection, and accessories are available in the on-trend shades of copper and brass. These warmer, sun kissed tones add reflective light to a bathroom; showers become statement pieces with bright drains and glowing soap shelves. All the elements in this collection have been designed in tones and finishes that can both blend or highlight the space.

    Unidrain is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Unidrain

    geometric tile design in the bathroom at the Drake Modern Wing

    The Drake Hotel Toronto adds five-storey ‘Modern Wing’

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    The Drake Hotel Toronto adds five-storey ‘Modern Wing’

    The Drake Hotel has turned the page onto an exciting collaborative project with the new Modern Wing which combines a strong sense of place along with some playful and eclectic design details…

    geometric tile design in the bathroom at the Drake Modern Wing

    The new Modern Wing at Toronto’s Drake Hotel is a five-storey addition to the original nineteenth century Classic Wing, and provides the hotel with a new living room style lobby, an intimate street front bar, meeting and event spaces, 32 new guestrooms (for a total of 51), and a rooftop penthouse suite with a large terrace. DesignAgency took on the project of the Modern Wing’s interiors in collaboration with the Drake’s in-house design team and the original Drake hotel designer John Tong of +tongtong, with Diamond Schmitt Architects as the building’s architects. Adding local flavour came naturally to this team of design experts as, uniquely, all are residents of the area, and the project represents a significant milestone for the future of their neighbourhood.

    graphic carpet and informal seating in the lounge area in the modern wing of The Drake Hotel

    Image credit: The Drake Hotel / Brandon Barre

    “Since The Drake Hotel opened 17 years ago, the neighbourhood has matured from a local secret to a world-renowned destination for art, fashion, food and culture,” said Anwar Mekhayech, a founding partner at DesignAgency. “The interior design for the Modern Wing reflects how the Drake continues to lead this vibrant scene by rethinking and reinventing itself.”

    In step with the hotel’s evolution, DesignAgency brought a sense of refinement to the Drake’s playful and referential style and grounded the interiors with a rich sense of place. A generous brass revolving door, and a red velvet curtained bar offer the elegant sense of arrival and comfort associated with the world’s most treasured vintage urban hotels. DesignAgency imagined the lobby as a place where guests and locals alike can mingle and savour the Drake’s famed cocktails. The eclectic mid-century modern furnishings and painted brick fireplace signal classic hospitality spiked with contemporary panache.

    relaxed seating , a work station and eclectic design details in the lounge of The Drake

    Image credit: The Drake Hotel / Brandon Barre

    The lobby bar capitalises on the flow of energy between the street and interior. The Drake has always enlivened Queen Street West, and now its lobby bar features a curved, full-height window to engage passersby with bar guests, and vice versa.

    modern vintage decor in the lobby bar in The Drake New Wing

    Image credit: The Drake Hotel / Brandon Barre

    The design team are all avid travellers, and their personal and professional understanding of the elements of a great hotel stay informed the lengthy design process of the guest suites. The rooms’ saturated colours, feature artists, and signature wallpapers – ranging from traditional Arts and Crafts style to geometrics – change from floor to floor, giving each a unique mood. Custom-made blankets, patterned rugs and lighting by local artisans, underscore the hotel’s creative expression. The nearly 1,000 square-foot, two-bedroom Rooftop Suite is the epitome of the Drake’s idiosyncratic personality and spirited approach, fearlessly mixing bold patterns with a sophisticated more-is-more attitude.

    “The Drake Hotel made history when it opened as Toronto’s first design hotel,” said Mekhayech, “and this new phase gave us the chance to help reimagine it for the future.”

    The Modern Wing both mirrors and creates a contrast to the more classic architectural design of the original Drake Hotel, and as the Drake’s first new building, it gives the community a vibrant new meeting space, and offers guests improved accessibility and an expanded variety of innovative and fun room options, all of which is expressed through the design and interior details.

    Main image credit: The Drake Hotel / Brandon Barre

    view of new Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino Greece

    Mandarin Oriental announces debut plans for Greece

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    Mandarin Oriental announces debut plans for Greece

    Slated for spring 2023, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has plans for a new luxury hotel in Costa Navarino, Greece. Here’s what we know…

    view of new Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino Greece

    The group’s first property in Greece, Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino, will be located on the southwest coast of the Peloponnese, in one of the most unspoiled and breath-taking landscapes in the Mediterranean. The beachfront resort will be part of Costa Navarino, a well-established tourism destination. The Costa Navarino project is owned and developed by TEMES, a leading developer and operator of high-end tourism and real estate destinations in Greece.

    “Mandarin Oriental is known for delivering exemplary service and exclusive experiences in its many luxury properties around the world”, said Achilles V. Constantakopoulos, Chairman of TEMES. “We are proud to have the Group bring their hospitality expertise to Greece for the first time, signifying the further growth of Costa Navarino, which is becoming a top international destination for people to visit and to live.”

    sunset view from mandarin oriental costa navarino

    Image credit: Mandarin Oriental

    Image credit: Mandarin Oriental“We are delighted to be opening our first property in Greece in Costa Navarino and look forward to sharing this striking combination of unspoiled landscape, olive groves, pristine beaches and authentic Greek culture in the region with our guests” said James Riley, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental. “We are pleased to partner with TEMES, the group that has been responsible for the creation of Costa Navarino as a bourgeoning tourism destination.”

    The hotel will shelter a total of 99 guestrooms, including 48 pool villas, all with outdoor terraces and sea views, along with five restaurants and bars. In addition, there are plans for a 1,500 sqm wellness facility which will feature an impressive 25m indoor-outdoor pool that has magnificent bay views, along with the signature Mandarin Oriental wellness therapies with both indoor treatment rooms and outdoor pavilions. The guest experience will be further enhanced by its proximity to the destination’s leisure activities, water sports, biking and rock-climbing, as well as four signature golf courses designed by Bernhard Langer, Robert Trent Jones II and José María Olazábal.

    > Since you’re here, why not check out the Mandarin Oriental plans for Vienna in 2023?

    Main image credit: Mandarin Oriental

    green ceramic tiles and brickwork in the reception at Hyatt Unbound Taoxichuan

    Taoxichuan Hotel: A journey in ceramics & context

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Taoxichuan Hotel: A journey in ceramics & context

    Aim Architecture and David Chipperfield Architects are the creative forces behind Taoxichuan Hotel, part of the Unbound Collection by Hyatt. The hotel is sheltered inside three interconnected buildings, immerses guests into an experience through design and architecture, which is a nod to the ceramic heritage of its location. Pauline Brettell writes…

    green ceramic tiles and brickwork in the reception at Hyatt Unbound Taoxichuan

    The Unbound Collection is about unique design and it is about story telling. The brand prides itself on its portfolio of one-of-a-kind destination hotels; properties that are part of the fabric and strongly connected to their location. Nowhere is this more visually clear than in AIM Architecture and David Chipperfield Architects’ recent masterpiece. Taoxichuan Hotel is situated in the vibrant Taoxichuan creative and cultural district of Jingdezhen, China. The project is a collaboration between the two architecture studios and occupies three interconnected buildings, every part of which pays tribute to the city’s porcelain heritage in the design, the finishes and the surfaces.

    dark green ceramic tiles in Hyatt Unbound Taoxichuan

    Image credit: Hyatt / Aim Architecture

    The project is the story of a journey and takes guests and visitors on the path of the long and fascinating life of porcelain in all its forms and metamorphoses. Jingdezhen, in Northeastern Jiangxi, is the porcelain capital of the world. For more than 1,000 years, it served emperors of all dynasties, and its history is the history of porcelain. With this guiding the design process, the physical spaces as you move through the hotel are divided into tonal and textural themes that traverse the history of  porcelain from its origins through to its spread and influence in the broader world, and finally in its return to its native home.

    translucent porcelain ceiling in the spa and pool area

    Image credit: Hyatt / Aim Architecture

    The different spaces are the Origin in the lobby, the Creation in the lounge, the Discovery in the ballroom, the Fascination seen in the dining area, the Appreciation in the SPA , and finally, the Return as translated into the guestrooms.

    Each space explores and uses ceramic differently, pulling out different colours and textures. Each area is a piece of the journey. The project seeks to unite raw and refinement, turning ceramics into architecture, furniture, and patterns.

    hotel lobby where the ceramic surfaces define the space

    Image credit: Hyatt / Aim Architecture

    The contemporary brick architecture, designed by David Chipperfield’s studio, consists of three courtyard blocks connected by a generous interior street. AIM’s approach with the interiors, was first to continue the architecture into the interiors by extending the brick facades of the exterior, and then, from translucent white to glazing greens and blues, each of the three interior volumes is dedicated to one technique. The lounge uses green Celadon glazing. The restaurant and spa are committed to the methods of using cobalt for blue colouring. The meeting and ballroom are all about the lightness and transparency of porcelain. To move through the hotel is to move through different techniques of porcelain.

    cobalt blue and brick combine in restaurant space in Hyatt Unbound Taoxichuan

    Image credit: Hyatt / Aim Architecture

    With roof lights designed to evoke the powerful heat of the kiln, through to the use of softer clay tones in the guestrooms, the hotel is a tribute to the technique and experience of porcelain in the heart of its birthplace. It is worth a journey now as much as was in the times of the Portuguese or Dutch tradesmen and Chinese emperors. Here, ceramic is commemorated in a unique way and is explored both as an honest material, along with its versatility and power in interior design.

    > Since you’re here, why not check in on Hyatts pipeline for 2022?

    Main image credit: Image credit: Aim Architecture

    LED light in the middle of stree

    LEDS C4 lights up the Llum BCN 2022 festival

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    LEDS C4 lights up the Llum BCN 2022 festival

    LEDS C4 took on the signage project for the Llum BCN light festival, which was held in Barcelona from February 4 – 6. The festival comprised of 19 light sculptures, which were strategically distributed throughout the streets and designed in a way that allows the general public to enjoy them up close…

    LED light in the middle of stree

    Llum BCN 2022 festival in Barcelona is all about lighting the streets with personality. For this year’s event, LEDS C4 took on the signage project by contributing to two artistic installations: the “Treequency” project, the work of a group of students at IED Barcelona design school, and the OracLED artistic installation by BeatMe Lab, which is taking part in the Off Llum alternative circuit, combining video mapping and pixel mapping to recreate scenes straight from a dream.

    Llum BCN 2022 is an extensive laboratory full of night-time landscapes that are home to a wide range of artistic disciplines, placing it among some of the world’s top light art events, such as those in Eindhoven, Prague and Lyon.

    The signage project is made up of 19 large light sculptures that are strategically placed throughout the Poblenou district of Barcelona, one of the city’s most dynamic and vibrant areas and the perfect setting for the Festival of the Light Arts.

    The main design element of each signage sculpture was a circle: a simple expression that symbolises the concept of a place, a meeting point. The rings with built-in LED strips were designed by the special project department at LEDS C4. They are all 1.5 metres in diameter and installed on minimalist structures at a height of three metres.

    Each ring was lit up in one of three basic and easily distinguishable colours: red, blue or yellow. Each colour represented the different parts of the festival: festival locations (red), schools (blue) and external collaborations with the festival (yellow).

    LEDS C4 is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: LEDS C4

    SpaceInvader designs interior scheme for new Tribe Hotel in Malta

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    SpaceInvader designs interior scheme for new Tribe Hotel in Malta

    Leading Manchester-based design studio SpaceInvader has created the interiors scheme for a new Tribe Hotel within Malta’s fast-developing airport city complex. Here’s what we know…

    Tribe, a new and rapidly growing hotel brand from Accor with three properties from Paris to Perth, has more than 38 hotels in the pipeline. Geared towards a youthful, contemporary traveller, the brand is making significant inroads into the design-led affordable luxury sector. When the owners of the Skypark development in Malta invited bids for one of the sites to become a hotel, it was a clear match, and Tribe together with a regional Maltese consortium won the bid. Malta-based architects AP Valletta have now designed the building envelope, with designers SpaceInvader creating the hotel’s interior concept, having been appointed to the project after already having worked with the Tribe brand on UK hotel concepts for Liverpool and Glasgow.

    Tribe,a new fast-growing hotel brand from Accor, with three properties from Paris to Perth currently operating, has more than 38 hotels in the pipeline. Geared towards a youthful, contemporary traveller, the brand is making significant inroads into the design-led affordable luxury sector’. When The owners of the Skypark development in Malta, where the hotel will be located, invited bids for one of the sites to become a hotel, it was a clear match.The bid by Tribe together with a regional Maltese consortium won the bid and Malta-based architects AP Valletta Ltd have now designed the building envelope, with designers SpaceInvader creating the hotel’s interior concept, having been appointed to the project after working twice already with the Tribe brand on UK hotel concepts for Liverpool and Glasgow.

    Image credit: SpaceInvader

    The brief for the interiors was to create a vibrant and sociable atmosphere for guests, visible from the second they enter the hotel. The area of Malta the hotel is located in is young, cool and already known for its F&B offerings – including a lively evening cocktail culture – meaning the hotel has an additional role to play in responding to and staying in keeping with the existing local vibe. In response to this and the building’s architectural concept, with plays on light and dark and the concept of day-to-night transformation, SpaceInvader’s design concept is fun, glamourous and dramatic.

    The overall concept was inspired by the idea of a ‘Zoetrope’. “This was an early form of animation technology offering fast-moving contrasts from black to white or light to dark,” explained John Williams, Founder of SpaceInvader. “It most often took the form of a cylinder with vertical slits cut into the sides. We have expanded on the concept to design an interior that captures constant movement in a fixed space, reflecting the nature and situation of the hotel as a robust and monolithic building made of local stone, but surrounded at all times by the fast-paced movement of the airport and a sense of travel, transformation and possibility. The Zoetrope additionally references the spirit of theatre and performance, as theatre has traditionally been such a major part of Maltese cultural life.”

     

    lighting plays a key role in the design of The Tribe hotel Malta

    Image credit: SpaceInvader

    The concept’s applications will find form in myriad ways, from art installations by local artists to interiors elements such as panels that allow slivers of light and movement to be glimpsed through the gaps. The concept will also be expressed in the lighting scheme, which includes a bespoke, supersized bar pendant with moving images projected onto its interior surface. Corridor lighting meanwhile will play with dramatic light-and-dark illusions, making a perfect backdrop for guests to record on Instagram. Effects throughout the hotel will ensure a strong sense of day-to-night transition and a variety of atmospheres making use of colour, art and video projection, which can be customised as required to reflect local events, exhibitions and seasonal festivities.

    roof terrace with low seating and statement lighting

    Image credit: SpaceInvader

    A crucial ‘affordable luxury’ element will be the use of local materials, from the hotel’s construction to the inclusion of ceramics. Maltese glassware and ceramics will create decorative, eye-catching moments, nodding to a key Maltese craft and marrying Maltese culture with Tribe’s high-style commitment to contemporary artwork, photography and installations. The material palette for the interior will make use of contrasting colours, bold prints and tactile textures, sitting proudly on a balanced neutral base of Maltese limestone. Surfaces of Maltese terrazzo and hammered gold will refer to Maltese crafts and architecture, whilst marble and brass finishes add notes of an affordable luxury aesthetic with added Zoetrope lines ensuring fun graphical concept features. Furniture will include bold monolithic forms to chime with Maltese architecture, together with the fun element synonymous with the Tribe brand.

    a guestroom with a panoramic city view at The Tribe in malta with contemporary furniture and lighting

    Image credit: SpaceInvader

    Dark corridor spaces with floor and ceiling spotlighting cast light and shadow paths, creating a transient lighting effect inspired by the overall design concept. The hotel’s standard bedrooms will feature bold colour blocking with layered textures and forms for depth and interest. Contrasting black and white patterns within the upholstery and lighting will once again reflect the movement of the Zoetrope, with feature lamps inspired by the film and photography industry. Bathrooms will offer 3D linear feature tile offset with luxury marble vanity, along with block colour tiles. Brass sanitaryware and detailing ensures an elegant luxurious bathroom that reflects Tribe’s bold and vibrant brand.

    The hotel’s executive bedrooms will feature a palette of muted tones, taking influence from the colours of Malta’s Luzzu boats and surrounding Mediterranean hues. Softness and warmth will be added through the use of timber flooring together with warm lighting and luxury detailing. The executive bathrooms feature stunning vanity units in a bold and unique blue marble, together with gold tones, reflecting the Mediterranean Sea, set against Malta’s limestone architecture.

    Tribe Hotels is Accors answer to the affordable luxury niche of contemporary, design-driven accommodation. The brand focuses on an edited guest experience having identified that luxury under this umbrella, is all about efficiency flexibility and design, rather than the contents of your minibar. The brand is about simplicity accessibility and social connectivity, it is about getting the style and budget balance right, along with an understanding of what a functional, contemporary hotel should be. The Tribe pipeline is testimony to a trend that is clearly here to stay, and the Spaceinvader design concept for Tribe Malta encapsulates this design ethos as it prepares to drive the brand forward.

    Main image credit: SpaceInvader

    porcelain tile from RAK ceramics that looks like marble

    Product watch: Versilia Marble from RAK Ceramics

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Product watch: Versilia Marble from RAK Ceramics

    Versilia Marble by RAK Ceramics is all about combining the look of luxury with the practicality of porcelain…

    porcelain tile from RAK ceramics that looks like marble

    Inspired by the natural, effortless beauty of marble, but with all the practical advantages that porcelain brings to interiors, Versilia Marble displays striking grey veining set against a neutral white backdrop for instant attention.

    Monochromatic kitchen design using Versilia tile by RAK that looks like marble

    Image credit: RAK Ceramics

    Durable, straightforward to install and easy to care for, this revised classical marble surface is the ideal choice for worktops, wall surfaces and floor coverings. The high gloss finish gives the material the edge, even when used over compact spaces where reflecting light can introduce the illusion of spaciousness into the design.

    Tapping into the continental trend for worktops with a slim profile, Versilia Marble is 9mm thick and in measurements from 60x120cm per tile. The Mega Slab format allows for greater consistency when used over large areas, with less need for grout lines and a seamless finish.

    Having identified the bathroom trends moving forward into 2022, this Versilia Marble tile is a perfect fit as we look to add a bit of designer luxury  to our lifestyle.

    RAK Ceramics is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: RAK Ceramics

    Hotel Designs Ritz Carlton Costa Rica

    SB Architects reveals design details for Ritz-Carlton in Costa Rica

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    SB Architects reveals design details for Ritz-Carlton in Costa Rica

    With construction scheduled to commence anytime now, the new Ritz-Carlton resort and exclusive collection of luxury-branded residences in Costa Rica will be nestled in one of the most prized coastal locations of Peninsula Papagayo in the northwestern region of Guanacaste…

    Hotel Designs Ritz Carlton Costa Rica

    SB Architects has revealed the design it led for Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve and Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Residence. The resort and exclusive collection of luxury-branded residences will be located in Peninsula Papagayo, a private club and resort community in Costa Rica’s northwestern region of Guanacaste. Collaborating with landscape architect and land planner, EDSA, and a market leader in experiential lodging, Luxury Frontiers, SB Architects created a design reflective of the Guanacaste region and the Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand, which is renowned for creating immersive and meaningful escapes in the rarest corners of the world.

    Costa Rica, rich with almost five per cent of the entire world’s species, is known as a ‘blue zone’, a destination where data indicates people live longer and healthier. The new Ritz-Carlton resort’s design and architecture pays deep respect to the region’s biodiversity. “Today’s discerning travellers and buyers are seeking the most beautiful, remote landscapes to relax, explore, and deepen their connection to nature,” said SB Architects President and Principal, Scott Lee. “With immersive hospitality concepts informed by research into the traditions and architecture of the Guanacaste region, our team designed Nekajui as a place to soak up the local culture, satiate a thirst for outdoor adventure, and experience the peninsula’s natural wonders through the Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand.”

    Hotel Design exterior Ritz-Carlton Costa Rica

    Image credit: Gencom

    Nekajui, a Ritz Carlton Reserve will encompass 107 guestrooms and suites while the Residences will include 36 rare villa and estate homes. The exotic sanctuary is in Costa Rica’s Área de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a sensitive nod to Costa Rica’s position as a prime ecotourism destination and one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, SB Architects’ site-sensitive design weaves tree-house type structures and tents alongside villas, with a light-on-land approach that allows the design to be guided by the natural, steep contours of the land.

    SB Architects conducted research into local architectural elements and reinterpreted them for its design, which immerses guests and residences authentically in the locale and delivers experiences tailored to the ethos of Guanacaste. A ‘classic zone’ at the heart of the resort draws from traditional, hacienda-style architecture and honours Spanish influences, while a ‘transitional zone’ showcases an interpretation of architecture found in the local Guanacaste region across guest rooms, suites, and branded residences. An ‘organic zone’ encompassing the guest lodging, beach club, and wellness spa features iconic treehouse-style architecture inspired by the natural environment and distinctive site.

    Hotel Designs pool Ritz-Carlton Cosa Rica

    Image credit: Gencom

    An understated arrival pavilion in the local architectural vernacular leads guests to a spectacular central open-air courtyard, where La Casona and beautifully crafted guestrooms and suites are rooted in the Classic Costa Rican Hacienda Architecture. Comprised of a collection of buildings at the heart of the property, La Casona welcomes guests to the arrival pavilion, an event centre resembling a Guanacastecan church, and three main ocean front buildings that include the Great Room/lobby, barista bar and marketplace, boardroom, and suites on the top levels, all facing the ocean. La Casona also leads guests down one level to a three-meal restaurant, a hidden rum cave to savour the finest regional rums and exclusive tasting events, and to the main pool and pool bar. As guests move out further from the resort, the scale of buildings becomes smaller, and the guestrooms and residences showcase an elegant, clean, and light transitional interpretation of the architecture found within the local region of Guanacaste.

    The branded residences are intimately scaled buildings tucked into the hillsides, featuring entrances from the second level, and delivering great privacy to owners. Ranging from 2,200-6,300 square feet, most of the two-to-five-bedroom villas feature spacious outdoor living areas, views from master bedrooms and bathrooms, canopied terraces, outdoor kitchens, and private pools. Designed in a transitional Costa Rican style, the homes feature modern interiors with a distinguishing feature – the Great Room – conceived as a modern version of the salón in Spanish colonial architecture.

    “SB Architects’ contemporary reinterpretation unifies the kitchen, dining, and living room spaces into one grand salón,” said SB Architects Vice President Marcelo Balzano. “The Great Room is the arrival point in every home at Nekajui Ritz-Carlton Reserve Residence, a place where residents can reunite with family and friends in an exotic coastal retreat.”

    Nekajui winds organically from coastal bluffs down to the sandy beach, offering unparalleled access to the peninsula’s natural beauty and a multifaceted architectural journey. SB Architects conceived the notion of giving guests the option of staying close to the heart of the resort at La Casona, in one of the guestrooms scattered across the site, or in tents or treehouse-type structures that are more remote and the most casual and organic in design. The design caters to a wide audience with varying tastes and appetites for adventure travel, allowing people to delve as deeply into nature and organic experiences as they desire.

    Hotel Designs Master bathroom inside Ritz-Carlton Costa Rica

    Image credit: Gencom

    The beach club, designed in a whimsical, rustic style akin to the tent structures, features its own natural lagoon-like pool, with another pool and three-meal restaurant experience situated above at La Casona. An iconic funicular carries guests down from the main pool to the secluded beach club, which is designed high above the sand and pushed back to respect the coast. Whisking guests 200 feet up and down the coastal hillsides, the funicular offers bird’s-eye views between the arrival core and the beach club destination. Here, guests will discover the organic shaped pool and a casual private dining experience that extends above the sloping mountainside, along with sandy pathways leading to the ocean.

    Main image credit: Gencom

    arched ceiling and dramatic chandelier in EDITION Dubai

    A new EDITION Hotel stands tall in downtown Dubai

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    A new EDITION Hotel stands tall in downtown Dubai

    Designed by Dubai-based interior design studio LW, The Dubai EDITION is Marriott International’s latest addition in the Middle East. Making a strong statement on the city skyline, we stepped inside to take a closer look at the design and details inspired by the energy and innovation of downtown Dubai…

    arched ceiling and dramatic chandelier in EDITION Dubai

    Having thrown open its (impressive) doors to guests in November 2021, The Dubai EDITION, with its own unique design and identity, has already made its mark in the centre of this thriving international gateway city. The EDITION  brand by Marriott, a concept innovated in collaboration with designer Ian Schrager, is all about creating a personal and unique hotel experience that embodies a sense of place. And claiming to herald a new generation of modern luxury, the Dubai EDITION, designed by LW, takes this mantra on and pays homage to Dubai’s passion to create something entirely new. The result is an elegant, vibrant, urban hub that undeniably encapsulates the essence of this inspired city and sets the bar for luxury. The hotel brings a new bespoke, boutique experience with the attention to detail and finesse that the brand is known for.

    entrance to the Dubai EDITION with organic curved staircase

    Image credit: Marriott International / Natelee Cocks

    As with all EDITION hotels, the lobby is a dynamic, social space that subtly reveals a sense of place and of time. With its soaring arches, the impressive domed ceiling is reminiscent of Italian architectural structures. You are immediately drawn to the centre piece, a seamless triple spiral staircase, which makes a unique design statement as it connects the lobby to other public spaces. Dark woods, neutral tones, soft textures and warm lighting take you effortlessly through the public areas where the space is broken up with furniture placed in intimate seating groups. This considered and intentional space is consciously tranquil and comfortable. A grand three-tiered crystal chandelier adds drama and decadence to this  gathering place, a place definitely to see and be seen.

    gallery wall in the seating area in the lounge at the Dubai EDITION

    Image credit: Marriott International / Natelee Cocks

    The cohesive design language flows seamlessly throughout the hotel and continues into the 275 guestrooms, including 41 suites and a vast Penthouse. This simplicity in design immediately brings attention to minute details such as the matching of veins in the natural stone and wood. The palette is minimal yet warm, with a journey of slightly different hues and colours. The light oak wood and stone accents flow from one room to the other and evoke a feeling of tranquil luxury. The monochromatic colour scheme and contemporary minimalism make each room feel fresh and light and is complemented by the elegant lines of the furniture, textured upholstery and wooden-lined walls. Floor to ceiling windows provide abundant light and lead onto large glass balconies with spectacular views over the iconic Burj Khalifa.

    Accessible from the lobby, the ground floor is home to Duomo, the theatrical Italian restaurant which is again, filled with natural light from the  floor to ceiling windows and punctuated with pops of yellow in the velvet furnishings, a clear design departure from the natural toned lobby. Abstract digital art is projected onto the dome ceiling above, creating an interactive and encompassing dining experience from the surroundings to the plate. Tucked away in the lobby, Leon is a cosy speakeasy-style bar serving original custom cocktails and flavours from around the world. It is an exciting juxtaposition to the rest of the hotel with contrasting punchy accents in orange and red against a dark, rich background. Clever lighting further enhances the vibrant colour-blocking throughout the space. It is full of energy and has already become the place for visitors and those living in the city to enjoy live DJs, network and socialise,  as it channels EDITION’s ethos to surprise guests with the unexpected.

    The combination of these spaces and the considered design has created both a serene escape from from the busy city life of Dubai, as well as a social and vibrant destination hotel.

    > Since you’re here, why not find out more about Marriott’s plans and pipeline for 2022?

    Main image credit: Marriott International / Natelee Cocks

    IDAS Lineup of speakers

    Meet the speakers for Interior Design & Architecture Summit 2022

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Meet the speakers for Interior Design & Architecture Summit 2022

    Hotel Designs has taken over the speakership programme for the Interior Design & Architecture Summit that takes place on June 30 at London Hilton Canary Wharf. Interior designers and architects attending will enjoy three panel discussions that will cover topics such as sustainability, wellness and materials. Editor Hamish Kilburn writes…

    IDAS Lineup of speakers

    The Interior Design & Architecture Summit (IDAS), which is free to attend for qualifying designers and architects, is Hotel Designs’ premium meet-the-buyer event.

    The one-day event, which this year will take shelter at London Hilton Canary Wharf on June 30, is designed to dynamically bridge the gap between senior designers, architects and key-industry suppliers. The Summit includes pre-arranged face-to-face meetings, a networking lunch – and to round it all off, Hotel Designs has curated a captivating panel discussion programme. The three debates will run throughout the day, and will include leading industry figures to discuss topics such as sustainability, wellness and materials.

    “When curating this year’s sessions and line-up of speakers, we identified these three particular topics, not just because of their relevance but also because of the pre-conceptions around them,” Editor Hamish Kilburn who will chair each conversation said. “Take sustainability, for example: the ultimate ‘buzzword’ of the modern design era. We want to go beyond championing products and schemes that use recycled materials and move into talking about what’s next; products, projects and new methods of working that intuitively help our industry to work towards a circular economy.

    “The speakers we have invited for all of our sessions, I believe, are at the forefront of change – and have been called upon to impart their knowledge and latest research. Above all, though, we are encouraging all designers and architects to come to together to challenge conventional approaches to design and architecture.”

    This year’s confirmed sessions and speakers are:

    01_IDAS_Speakers

    IDAS panel discussion on wellnessHow to attend IDAS:

    If you are interested in exhibiting at the 2022 event, please email Katie Parkin, or call 01992 374064. If you are a senior designer and/or architect and would like to attend the 2022 event, please email Alex King, or call 01992 374086, or email .

    Main image credit: IDAS/Hotel Designs

    Hotel Designs: Interior Designer of the Year, Tina Norden Conran and Partners

    In conversation with: Tina Norden, Interior Designer of the Year 2021

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    In conversation with: Tina Norden, Interior Designer of the Year 2021

    Conran and Partners’ Tina Norden – recently crowned Interior Designer of the Year at The Brit List Awards 2021 – welcomes Editor Hamish Kilburn into the studio’s brand-new Clerkenwell home, in the heart of London’s thriving design neighbourhood…

    Hotel Designs: Interior Designer of the Year, Tina Norden Conran and Partners

    Tina Norden is a rare breed when it comes to hotel and hospitality design. Throughout the pandemic, Norden was a consistent and key voice in the industry, speaking as a leading interior designer and architect at various online events on topics such as, emerging interior design trends, the impact of the pandemic on the hospitality industry, inclusive design, and quality craftsmanship. Throughout this year, the interior designer and architect continued to mentor more junior members of her team and generally kept the momentum going and the positive vibes electric all while working on and completed large-scale projects remotely.

    It was therefore only natural for the judges of The Brit List Awards 2021 to collectively award her the prestigious title of Interior Designer of the Year.

    Following what she describes as an “unsuspecting win” at the awards ceremony which she describes as like a “big group hug from the industry,” I went to visit Norden in Conran and Partners’ new home in the heart of Clerkenwell.

    Norden’s passion and curiosity for interior design and architecture was a combination of nature as well as nurture. Her father was a landscape architect, and growing up on the outer edges of the German port city Hamburg – a destination that amplifies creativity, culture and liberal attitudes – which influenced her career path.

    Despite her love for her hometown, Norden’s commitment to the world of design and architecture brought her to London aged just 18 years old – directly after leaving school. Drawn, she explains in the Conran and Partners’ A Way of Living book, to the city’s “incredible music scene”, when it came to applying for university, there was no other place for Norden.

    > Watch the full interview with Tina Norden, Partner, Conran and Partners here.

    Upon completing Part I of a course, Norden took a year out, which opened the door to a placement at Conran and Partners, a place that Norden describes as “the place for me.”

    Taking away the experience from her placement, Norden was offered a place at the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London, on a course that combined both design and architecture (something she wishes was more common in today’s educational system). There, she completed her Part II, and arguably where she discovered her interest in interior architecture.

    While studying, the designer and architect continued working at Conran and Partners (and never left), enjoying the creative freedom, while working closely with Sir Terence Conran on a number of high-profile projects.

    In her time at Conran and Partner, Norden has given so many projects new leases of life, while also leading a team with a strong and empathetic style. Her masterpieces include German Gymnasium, Skylon, South place Hotel, Finsbury and the Maximilian Hotel in Prague.

    One thing is certain when flicking through all of Norden’s work: she designs for style over fashion (every time) to ensure the result is both aspirational and long-lasting – a skill she has no-doubt inherited from Sir Terrence Conran himself.

    Recently completed projects include the new Park Hyatt hotel in Auckland, FEAST within Hong Kong’s iconic EAST hotel, a new dining destination and members’ club within London’s Taj Hotel and the Peninsula Boutique and Café in Hong Kong.

    In addition, Norden and her team were recently part of what many would consider the highlight of HIX Event 2021; designing the WFHotel installation. The studio worked collaboratively to design a set that explored how consumers’ attitudes towards working from home/hotel could challenge conventional lobby designs. Norden’s interpretation of the brief centred around community-focused ways to interact (unsurprising after experiencing for myself her selfless approach to being a true leader in international hotel design).

    This editorial series is sponsored by GROHE, Broadcasting Partner of The Brit List Awards 2021 – and was filmed by CUBE. The Brit List Awards will return this year – with applications/nominations opening in the Summer, and remaining a free-of-charge process for all categories. Following our interview with Norden as Interior Designer of the Year, up next we meet Mark Bruce, Main Board Director of EPR Architects who was recently crowned Architect of the Year 2021.

    Main image credit: Conran and Partners

    Hotel Restaurant & Catering show confirm line-up

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Hotel Restaurant & Catering show confirm line-up

    Hotel, Restaurant & Catering (HRC) has unveiled its 2022 seminar programme, with an all-star line-up of hospitality brands and industry leaders, including some of our own here at Hotel Designs. The event, which takes place on March 21-23 at ExCeL London, will reunite the hospitality and foodservice industry for three packed days of learning, networking and product discovery…

    Hotel Restaurant & Catering (HRC) has partnered with EXP101 for this year’s event to curate the programme of content for the Vision Stage, designed by Harp Design, which will be focussing on a range of timely topics and trends affecting hoteliers, publicans, restauranteurs and professional caterers.

    After a two-year period which has seen significant evolution in the use of hospitality tech, the show’s Tech X stage will host sessions examining best practice in implementing new technology and where to make smart investments for hospitality businesses.

    “HRC 2022 is jam-packed with content tackling some of the most important topics, challenges and opportunities in the world of foodservice and hospitality,” said Ronda Annesley, HRC Event Manager. “We’re thrilled to be working with some fantastic content partners who have brought exciting new insights, speakers and talking points to this year’s seminar programme.”

     Monday March 21

    Day one of the show will kick off with ‘The return of the pub’ on the Vision Stage, during which KAM, the British Institute of Innkeeping, Louise Maclean of Signature Pubs and Anthony Pender of Yummy Pubs will be discussing the impact that the past two years have had on the pub and bar sector and some of the new opportunities that have emerged since restrictions eased in the UK.

    One of the biggest challenges to emerge in recent years has been staffing shortages in the hospitality and foodservice industry, and 21 March will see an all-star panel hosted by Keiron Bailey of EXP101 and featuring Chris Gamm of Springboard, Mark McCulloch, Founder of Hospitality Rising, Abi Dunn of Sixty Eight People and UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls take to the stage to discuss the changing approaches needed in recruitment and retention.

    Dunn commented: “We’ve seen operators struggling with staff shortages throughout the pandemic at all levels, not just in recruitment but also in retention. Some of the more successful businesses to tackle this have collaborated with marketing teams, made smart use of technology and have understood that there is a need to invest in people.”

    At 14:15 – 15:00, Editor Hamish Kilburn will take to the vision stage with David Chenery, Founder and Director of Object, Space, Place Limited and Claire Smith, Director of ADBA Design to discuss how restaurant design and bring back consumers to dine out again.

    Tuesday March 22

    Day two of the show will see HRC’s Chef Ambassador Michel Roux Jr take to the stage to discuss shifting kitchen cultures with a panel of top UK chefs.

    This will be followed by Katie Rose, CFO and COO of Market Halls and Andy Dyson, Business Development Director – New Concepts at Revolution, revealing how diversifying your offering can grow and protect your business.

    On the Tech X stage, KAM Founder Katy Moses will be joined by Yummy Pubs Founder Tim Foster and Philip Thorley of Thorley Taverns to discuss how hospitality tech can benefit both pubs and their patrons.

    Wednesday March 23

    The third and final day of HRC will be putting people on the agenda with a session from The People Collective featuring John Mason of Sideways, Leanne Tester, Learning & Development Manager at Pizza Pilgrims, Grind’s Head of People Preeya Parker and Avi Collins, Head of People at Tapas Revolution.

    Tech on Toast Editor and EXP101 Founder Chris Fletcher will then be joined on stage by pointOne EPoS Founder Steven Rolfe, Dub Lee of Honest Burgers and William Connors of Popeyes for a discussion around all things digital transformation, and how technology has elevated the online offering of leading hospitality brands.  

    View the full seminar programme, including the chef line-up for The Staff Canteen Live and the agendas for the Better Hospitality Conference and Hospitality’s Talent Conundrum conference, at hrc.co.uk/2022-seminar-programme. Places are limited for these live discussions so ensure you book ahead to secure your place. 

    Main image credit: HRC

    brass and wood bar area in Motto by Hilton

    New Motto by Hilton opens in Chelsea, New York

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    New Motto by Hilton opens in Chelsea, New York

    As one of the first of Hilton’s new Motto brand properties to open, this project in one of Manhattan’s most vibrant neighbourhoods sets a standard for those to come. We stepped inside for a closer look…

    brass and wood bar area in Motto by Hilton

    A short walk from architectural icons like the Flatiron Building and the High Line, the 374-key Motto New York is sheltered inside a 42-storey structure by Stonehill Taylor, the New York City based firm that has also designed the hotel’s interiors.

    The setting within a former theatre district and current arts district inspired the use of unique art installations and dramatic arches in The Motto New York’s public spaces and guest rooms. However, it was the venue’s 24th Street address that acted as the main design muse, as Stonehill Taylor used the number 24 and its significance in different contexts as a spark for the hotel’s colour scheme, furnishings, finishes, and artwork.

    entrance to Motto by Hilton in Chelsea New York

    Image credit: Motto by Hilton / Joe Thomas

    The ’24’ design concept is highlighted by way of three unique concept pillars. The first, the 24 hours in a day, takes inspiration from the passage of time, the sun, the moon, and the contrast of light to dark. In military time, 2,400 signifies the midnight hour, which the firm wove into the hotel through accents of deep midnight blue. The second 24-ism references metals, in particular 24-karat gold and chromium, the 24th element on the periodic table. Stonehill Taylor’s team incorporated these finishes in a unique yet cohesive way in light fixtures, case goods, and artwork. For the third and final concept, the designers looked to 24-bit colour, a means to produce colour digitally in its truest form, which resulted in concentrated moments of vibrant jewel tones carefully curated throughout the hotel.

    Stepping inside you are greeted by multi-coloured panels hung in a kaleidoscopic ceiling installation. A jewel-tinted stained-glass screen, inspired by the phases of the moon, provides a vibrant backdrop to a clean-lined reception desk. Moving into the food and beverage area, gold and midnight blue elements define the space in a skylit F&B space located along the ground floor’s eastern edge. Gold velvet-upholstered chairs saddle up to walnut tables, and back-lit midnight-hued velvet and leather banquettes adjoin the walls. Located centrally on the ground floor is a dramatically sunken day-to-night conversation pit for working or lounging by the main bar. A suspended lighting installation of glowing multi-coloured glass globes climbs its way through the brass-railed feature stair to the second-floor lounge, where an over-sized mixed metal wall sculpture greets guests at the upper level of the stair. There, a well-appointed lounge area can be found with welcoming and stylish furnishings atop jewel-toned area rugs and a bar with a midnight blue mosaic tiled wall, softly lit by glowing brass and chrome mirrors. All these elements clearly showcasing different aspects of the design narrative.

    A restrained but distinctive design scheme characterises the guestrooms. These compact yet smartly appointed spaces feature furnishings that make maximal use of available space. Platform beds have channel-tufted headboards in a light-to-midnight-blue ombre, as well as built-in storage. Contrasting midnight-blue and white colour blocking appears on the tiled walls in the bathroom, highlighting brass and chrome fixtures. In both the guestrooms and corridors, the designers have carefully curated a selection of artworks recalling urban elements of New York City, whether through colourful graphics or striking photography. Guestroom corridor wallcoverings continue the contrasting blue and white concept with a carpet design that explodes in a prism of colour. In addition to traditional king and double guestrooms, the Chelsea Motto offers a unique three-bay plan, that includes a “king bunkie” option – a king bed with a twin bed above it.

    From the striking Motto green entry doors through to the lobby, public spaces and finally the guestrooms, the story behind the design concept has been considered at every step and in all the details. The finishes, fixtures and installations are all part of a cohesive project that reflects the neighbourhood that shelters the latest addition to the Motto by Hilton brand.

    > Since you’re here, why not find out more about the brand Motto by Hilton?

    Main image credit: Motto by Hilton/ Joe Thomas

    Render of concept of new hotel in Africa

    A hotel concept designed using innovative sustainable materials

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    A hotel concept designed using innovative sustainable materials

    In the wake of winning the special Jury Prize for their innovative hotel concept that they unveiled at Accor Design Awards, Yasmine Bennani, Solène Percie Du Serf, Nicolas Alibert and Alexandre Albert-Picquet from L’Ecole de Design Nantes Atlantique speak to editor Hamish Kilburn about the unique materials explored in this hotel experience of tomorrow…

    Render of concept of new hotel in Africa

    The Coccon project, a hotel concept unveiled by the students from L’Ecole de Design Nantes Atlantique, was one of the highlights of Accor Design Awards in 2021. The sustainable shells of each ‘cabin’ or ‘suite’ stunned the judges with the designers’ level of creativity, flair and knowledge of innovative materials.

    The hotel presented to the judges catered to the rising demand of bleisure travel. Forget the typical corporate shell, though, because this hotel suite concept – made from biopolymer, local wood and other eco-friendly elements – has been designed for the future as a one-off travel experience in Africa.

    Following their special accolade, designers Yasmine Bennani, Solène Percie Du Serf, Nicolas Alibert and Alexandre Albert-Picquet, spoke to Hotel Designs about how the project came about, as well as what they hope the industry can learn from their research.

    Hamish Kilburn: What were the major challenges of this project?

    Yasmine Bennani: The major challenge was creating a project suitable for future travellers, and predicting what that would look and feel like. We had a free hand on the design but we really wanted to challenge today’s existing views on sustainability. As well, we pushed our creatives and technical limits, both on design and on software.

    HK: What or who were the main influences?

    Solène Percie Du Serf: Our main influence was Neri Oxman, an American scientist, architect and designer who is a leader of bioclimatic architecture. With her team at the MIT Media Lab, she works on new sustainable process for the design of the future.

    HK: What brand would you believe would be most appropriate for this concept?

    Nicolas Alibert: Matching with our concept, it would be great to have a business-oriented brand, in the premium sector and with a special sustainable ethos. We think that Mantis Collection answers this need, as it is anchored in the preservation of the environment. ‘An exceptional place to find yourself’ is the baseline of the brand, which is in line with our concept.

    HK: Can you tell our readers a bit more about the materials you had in mind for this concept?

    YB: The main material is the chitin developed by Neri Oxman, which is a large, structural polysaccharide made from chains of modified glucose and is found in the exoskeletons of insects. It is an engineering track, an experimental material nowadays to imagine tomorrow standardisation. We would love to count on the new modes of 3D printing to push for a freer architectures.

    HK: Nearly one year on, would you change anything with the design?

    Alexandre Albert-Picquet: We would not change the concept, still today we are proud of our design. We would however go into further detail, in the finishing touches, to make the experience completely real and adjusted to customers’ needs.

    The hotel concept on the outskirts of a city

    Image caption: The hotel concept’s design and architecture took cues from the local vernacular, designed to be a non-invasive luxury hospitality experience. | Image credit: Accor Design Awards

    HK: Where else, geographically, can you see this concept working?

    NA: Our design is very specific to Konza City, with locals resources and needs. But we can imagine our ‘break’ concept, from the city to the nature, developed in all the technopolis of tomorrow with a new local thinking.

    HK: And finally, how has this ‘special accolade’ from the judges helped you in your individual journeys?

    AAP: It proves that we are not doing this for nothing; our hard work is awarded and respected. It gives us the confidence and the desire to not hold back, and to always push the boundaries in our work. Also, it helps us to be recognised by the professional community, which makes it easier when we have to apply for internships and future jobs.

    Main image credit: Accor Design Awards

    ILIV Atlantic fabric collection in dark blue colourway

    ILIV introduces new weaves & textures into its 2022 collections

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    ILIV introduces new weaves & textures into its 2022 collections

    The year has got off to a flying start for the family owned fabric company of SMD ILIV, as it plans for ten brand new collections to launch in a dynamic response to emerging design trends…

    ILIV Atlantic fabric collection in dark blue colourway

    The past twelve months has seen the SMD ILIV team investing heavily in research to identify new and emerging markets and trends with a view to align them to gaps in the company’s product offering. As a result of this time and inspiration, ten brand new collections are set to be launched across all of the three sectors of hospitality, workplace, and care.

    This means that ILIV now has over thirty collections suitable for drapery to choose from with two more plain drape collections set to launch over the next quarter, including an elegant herringbone weave and sumptuous duotone chenille. The range now spans a selection of velvet and chenille qualities along with drier, woven textures such as basket weaves and wools.

    Alto, one of the latest releases, is available in twenty-nine colours and has a natural animal look with an organic feel. With its soft handle, Alto creates the ultimate drape, perfect for hospitality environments. The mottled design within the cloth has an iridescent appeal, giving a more luxe feel making it the ideal choice for making a statement.

    The second of the new collections to launch, Nightfall, is the first ever wide-width flame retardant dim-out drapery collection. Echoing the woven texture of the bestselling drapes collection Tundra, Nightfall has a subtle two-tone construction with a soft, light-weight handle. Nightfall, along with the Starlight, Aura and Eclipse collections, make up the wide-width offering, allowing designers and specifiers ample choice of dim-out plains, black-out plains, voiles and patterned designs for interior schemes.

    starlight fabric range by ILIV

    Image credit: ILIV

    Alongside the plain drapes collection, ILIV offers an extensive offering of printed designs which allow flexibility within interior schemes. With seventeen base cloths to choose from, the print qualities range from sheer voiles to antimicrobial weaves and velvets, suitable for any concept. The Brookland velour drapery quality has now been added to our base cloths selection (Q1529), offering a more cost-sensitive alternative with a soft handle and drape. Later this year, the launch of  the  crib-5 velvet Casa upholstery quality for printing, will add a luxurious feel to the existing offerings.

    Serene is the latest print collection to launch and was created with a watercolour hand-painted look with soft brush strokes and a relaxed form. Heavily inspired by the pandemic, the Serene collection emotes stillness and serenity, designed to bring calmness and tranquillity to interior design, a strong trend which has swept the nation during the global pandemic.

    SMD Group is one of the brands that has taken advantage of our Black Friday package. To keep up to date with supplier news, click here. 

    Main image credit: ILIV

    Villeroy & Boch new range of VICTORIAN tiles incorporate fashion and interior design as inspiration

    Mary Katrantzou designs new tile collection for Villeroy & Boch

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Mary Katrantzou designs new tile collection for Villeroy & Boch

    Inspired by the past to create designs for the future, Villeroy & Boch has collaborated with fashion designer Mary Katrantzou to bring the natural world into the living environment with the VICTORIAN tile collection…

    Villeroy & Boch new range of VICTORIAN tiles incorporate fashion and interior design as inspiration

    Villeroy & Boch tiles has unveiled its first designer collaboration in more than 20 years. Created by leading fashion designer Mary Katrantzou, VICTORIAN is a vibrant and colourful tile collection inspired by the art of lepidopterists and the geometry of traditional Victorian tiles. Captured by the creative vision of Katrantzou – an acclaimed designer with a strong passion for premium and timeless elegance, as well as an appreciation of craftsmanship and tradition – Villeroy & Boch tiles saw the opportunity to create a signature collection that would lend itself to the designer’s unique aesthetic and style.

    When Katrantzou was first approached by the tile specialist, she was instantly drawn to its over two centuries’ history of design and manufacturing. The designer was keen to convert her approach to fashion into a spatial context of walls and floors, blurring boundaries between decorative mediums and drawing inspiration from objects, interiors and art. By visiting Villeroy & Boch tiles’ headquarters in Merzig, Germany, Katrantzou learnt more about the process behind the creation of its tiles. She also discovered that tiles from this era were still present in one of the hallways on site and realised that 19th century Victorian tiles have truly stood the test of time, being as fashionable today as when they first came into style.
    Katrantzou felt that this collaboration with Villeroy & Boch tiles should be an exercise in the understanding and application of balance, symmetry and proportion, and that striking a harmonious balance between colour, pattern and form is just as important in interiors as it is in fashion.

    designer Mary Katrantzou with tiles designed for Villeroy & Boch

    Image credit: Villeroy & Boch / V&B Fliesen GmbH

    As a former architectural student, she also explored Victorian interiors and ornamentation in her own Autumn/Winter 2018 Collection. As a result, the designer and Villeroy & Boch tiles decided to collaborate on a collection that interplays between their respective archival designs.
    Butterflies are central to the new VICTORIAN collection. A recurring theme in her fashion collections, Katrantzou sees them as one of the truest examples of metamorphosis. The designer wanted to utilise butterfly prints to communicate optimism while transforming tiles into a collectable piece of art. Another theme central to Katrantzou’s work is that of postage stamps. She believes that they “exude the allure of faraway lands and make you dream about what each piece of paper represents, where it might have been, who has touched it on its journey round the world.” In a world where stamps are becoming obsolete, the designer appreciates them even more “as tokens of the past and relics of a different era”. Through the VICTORIAN collection, she wanted to create a vignette within the home, a window into the world that captures this sense of nostalgia but is equally graphic and modern in its design.

    butterflies and postage motifs tile designs

    Image credit: Villeroy & Boch / V&B Fliesen GmbH

    Gathering these themes together, VICTORIAN features eight different décor sets (20cm x 20cm) with borders and edges to complete the offering. Four coloured butterflies on either white or black backgrounds have been created using a combination of digital print and traditional screen-printing, with light visual 3-D effect used to provide a handcrafted appearance to each tile. Seen either straight-on or at a 45-degree angle, each butterfly tile is enhanced with either gold, black or perforated borders. Continuing the theme of white, black and gold, authentic marble-effect tiles are offered in two different finishes – high gloss for walls and polished surface for floors. They are joined by concentric designs alongside modern graphic interpretations of Victorian tiles. The butterfly tiles can be used independently or in combination to create a design that perfectly suits every bathroom setting.

    Villeroy & Boch is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Villeroy & Boch / V&B Fliesen GmbH

    Hyperion new graphic architectural ceiling tiles in luxury hotel guestroom

    Hyperion Tiles adds Mikodam luxury panels to its portfolio

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Hyperion Tiles adds Mikodam luxury panels to its portfolio

    Designer tile specialist Hyperion Tiles has expanded its portfolio to include contemporary wall and ceiling panels for commercial interiors. The five distinctive designs have been launched with luxury hotel living in mind…

    Hyperion new graphic architectural ceiling tiles in luxury hotel guestroom

    Hyperion Tiles is known for its design-driven portfolio of porcelain, stone and mosaic statement wall tiles and engineered wood flooring. By expanding its collection to include the range of luxury wall panels by Mikodan, Hyperion will be able to provide alternative state-of-the-art wall and ceiling solutions for discerning interior designers and hoteliers.

    three dimensional luxury wall panel from Hyperion tiles

    Image credit: Hyperion Tiles

    “We have successfully joined forces with Mikodam, an architectural products and furniture brand, as their exclusive UK supplier,” said Richard Skeoch, director at Hyperion Tiles. “Installing Mikodam panels on walls and ceilings facilitates even sound distribution and prevents acoustical defects such as glare, background noise echo and flutter echo. This makes them the perfect solution for commercial properties, such as hotels, restaurants and bars.”

    Mikodam has just launched five new striking panel designs – Deta, Neka, Rona, Sona and Zeta, all of which which are now available at Hyperion Tiles. With strong graphic and architectural qualities, these panels have the ability to transform a wall or ceiling into a unique design statement. All the panels are available in a range of colours, materials and shapes, with options allowing the designer to experiment with different rotations and combinations, as each panel is attached to an innovative rail system which allows for 90°,180° and 270° swivel.

    “These panels are part of Mikodam’s ultra-modern acoustic collection, which combines function with form,” said Skeoch. ” They address a variety of noise and soundproofing issues making these ideal for the hotel sector, enhancing peace, privacy and comfort.”

    Aside from the aesthetic qualities of the panels as a strong design statement, they also provide practical solutions by improving acoustics, and facilitating visual definition of space. They are a versatile feature for commercial properties such as offices, restaurants and bars, as well as being a valuable addition to residential projects, such as luxury apartments and town houses.

    Hyperion Tiles is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Hyperion Tiles

    Thornbury Castle exterior

    Case study: A sensitive bathroom renovation inside Thornbury Castle

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Case study: A sensitive bathroom renovation inside Thornbury Castle

    Once owned by Henry VIII, Thornbury Castle, having undergone an extensive and impressive renovation, has been transformed into a luxury hotel and sought after event venue. Schlüter-Systems came to the rescue with a full system solution…

    Thornbury Castle exterior

    Situated in the heart of Gloucestershire, Thornbury Castle is the last Tudor Castle to be built in England. Once owned by Henry VIII, it is now a high-end luxury hotel and popular venue for weddings and other grand events. This impressive renovation project saw multiple guestrooms and guest bathrooms refurbished and reimagined.

    Due to its historic roots, there needed to be a balance between creating the new facilities whilst retaining the charm of the famous Grade I listed building. Schlüter-Systems were able to help with this tricky task, offering a full system solution using Schlüter-KERDI products to ensure waterproofing within the guest bathrooms, which were designed and specified by Childs Sulzmann Architects.

    bathroom renovation at thornbury Castle using schluter sytem

    Image credit: Schlüter-Systems

    For areas of high moisture, waterproofing is an essential consideration, and it takes on an even greater significance when it comes to preserving historic buildings such as Thornbury Castle. To meet this requirement, a selection of Schlüter products were utilised to create a fully tanked system. This included the BBA-certified Schlüter-KERDI-BOARD tiling substrate and sealing components Schlüter-KERDI-KEBA sealing band, KERDI-COLL-L sealant adhesive and Schlüter-KERDI-KERECK which was used for internal corners.
    To provide entry level within the shower area, Schlüter-KERDI-LS sloped shower tray and Schlüter-SHOWERPROFILE-S tapered profile were installed beneath the tiles.

    When working on the design and specification of bathrooms within heritage buildings, waterproofing will ensure the building is preserved for generations to come, and Schlüter-Systems are able to work within heritage constraints to create sympathetic and practical solutions.

    Schlüter-Systems is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Schlüter-Systems / Thornbury Castle

    Contemporary guestroom

    Product watch: The latest lamps, fittings & pendants from Franklite

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Product watch: The latest lamps, fittings & pendants from Franklite

    In the wake of an award-stealing year, lighting brand Franklite emerges in 2022 fired up with new product ranges that are new in stock. Hotel Designs takes a peek…

    Contemporary guestroom

    Following a fantastic 2021, during which the brand received three prestigious national lighting awards and sponsored a roundtable on innovative lighting, Franklite has unveiled new product ranges that are now all in stock.

    With two successful product launches in January and September last year, Franklite’s Catalogue 26 Supplement is quite the bumper edition, full of exquisite product ranges.

    A range of lighting products

    Image caption: The Perdita range. | Image credit: Franklite

    The Perdita, an already very popular range, is now available in brushed brass finish with rectangular crystal drop. With varying sizes – from five-light to 30-light fittings– the range is suitable for any application.

    Modern and contemporary bedroom in San Francisco with views of the financial district of the city. Condo or Hotel accommodation.

    Image caption: The Avenue range. | Image credit: Franklite

    Floor lamps make a subtle, yet functional addition to any hotel room. The Avenue range includes a matt brass finish floor lamp on a white marble base along with a satin nickel finish floor lamp on a black marble base both with an in-line switch on the cable.

    The ceiling fitting, pendant and wall bracket of the Acoste makes this range suitable in multiple areas within a hotel. Available in brushed brass and satin nickel finish with clear ribbed, enclosed glass with a slightly inverted base. The modern, uniquely designed wall brackets frame any hotel bed perfectly all whilst providing sufficient reading light.

    Adding a touch of royal elegance to any hotel interior is the Coronet, a chrome finish fitting with oval-shaped crystal glass. The fitting is supplied with a chain suspension which can easily be converted to a flush fitting suitable for low ceilings.

    Image caption: The Coronet collection. | image credit: Franklite

    Franklite continues to design product ranges for the hospitality market that are not only functional and efficient, but also beautiful and creative.

    Franklite, which won Best in British Product Design at The Brit List Awards 2021,  is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Franklite

    Fluid architecture Hotel Designs Westin London City

    Celebrating sculptural design: Inside Westin London City

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Celebrating sculptural design: Inside Westin London City

    Almost four years on from when Editor Hamish Kilburn broke the news that Westin Hotels & Resorts will make its debut on the UK hotel design scene, he is back to unveil the design and architecture narrative now that Westin London City has officially opened its doors…

    Fluid architecture Hotel Designs Westin London City

    Days after Marriott International shared its hotel opening pipeline for 2022 and beyond, Westin Hotels & Resorts has given Hotel Designs access inside the brand’s debut hotel in the UK, which also marks the 1,000 property within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio in Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

    Designed by British architecture and interior design studio Dexter Moren Associates, the new riverside hotel, with unparalleled views of Shakespeare’s Globe theatre and Tate Modern art gallery, combines meaningful wellness with contemporary fluid and sculptural design. Built on the premise that a connection to nature enhances wellbeing, the design is integral and is inspired by the unique location, and shelters a modern residential feel.

    Hotel Designs: The lobby inside Westin London City

    Image credit: Marriott International

    “The Westin London City seamlessly balances London’s captivating energy with the wellness promise that Westin Hotels & Resorts is known for, providing mindful travellers a new way to experience this iconic destination,” said Jason Nuell, Senior Vice President, Premium Brands, Marriott International. “As the brand’s debut in the UK, we’re excited to continue expanding our portfolio, delivering industry-leading well-being experiences designed to empower a better you.”

    Wellness plays a powerful role within the hotel’s 222 guestrooms, which feature brand signatures, such as the iconic Heavenly Bed and a spa-like bathroom. In fact, the hotel experience comes to life through the brand’s six pillars of wellbeing – Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well, and Play Well – allowing guests to personalise their stay and engage in programming that best meets their needs.

    The expansive Heavenly Spa by Westin has been designed to prioritise guest’s well-being with six treatment rooms and an indoor pool, which was carefully constructed around the archaeological remains of the Huggin Hill Bathhouse below.

    Westin London-heavenly-spa-indoor-pool-29734_Feature-Hor copy

    Image credit: Marriott International

    Riverside dining can be enjoyed at two venues – wine bar Hithe + Seek, overlooking the Thames, and all-day dining destination Mosaic, featuring a sustainably sourced menu of nutritious dishes. Presenting a world of contrasts to city-goers, Hithe + Seek is set at the heart of the hotel.

    Plush furnishings and modern finishes create an intimate atmosphere while the eclectic wine list, made up of 80 references, is carefully split into two sections – Hithe which features a selection of familiar favourites and Seek which showcases undiscovered gems hand-picked for diners looking to expand their palate. The small plates menu combines recipes from old and new world wine countries within the wine list.

    Named after the colourful artwork commissioned for the front of the hotel, Mosaic offers a sustainably sourced menu ideal for those seeking healthier choices including dishes from the Westin Eat Well menu, which provides options that fuel and energise guests without compromising flavour, taste, or satisfaction. Located on the fourth floor, where the north and south sides of the hotel merge, its city-facing location makes it the perfect destination for lunches or after work dinners and drinks.

    “By connecting these two sides of London, we have opened a walkway that could help towards a greener city.” – Neil Taylor, Chief Operating Officer at 4C Hotel Group.

    Collaborative working areas that spark creativity are at the heart of the hotel with its 1,060 square meters of contemporary meeting and events space. Allowing flexibility in function through simple and intuitive design details, the hotel’s Ballroom is a fluid space that can be easily tailored to host a range of events. Five expansive meeting rooms emulate the linear nature of the north lobby’s design, introducing residential touches and natural textures.

    Owned by 4C Hotel Group and managed by leading hospitality management company RBH, Westin London City, which also has nine state-of-the-art residences, unites the final piece of the Thames pathway connecting the Embankment to the Tower of London. “By connecting these two sides of London, we have opened a walkway that could help towards a greener city, encouraging locals and visitors alike to walk the beautiful stretch of river,” said Neil Taylor, Chief Operating Officer at 4C Hotel Group. “It has been 80 years in the making in bringing this walkway back for everyday use and we are delighted to see our city united once more.”

    Main image credit: Marriott International

    Hotel Designs Zimmer + Rohde ss22 collection

    Product watch: Zimmer + Rohde unveils SS22 collections

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Product watch: Zimmer + Rohde unveils SS22 collections

    Textile manufacturer Zimmer + Rohde has given Hotel Designs a sneak peek of its SS22 collections, which will be on display at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour at London Design Week this March. Editor Hamish Kilburn shares his top picks from the launch…

    Hotel Designs Zimmer + Rohde ss22 collection

    On March 13, the design community will gather in the uplifted Design Centre Chelsea Harbour for what we expect to be the most meaningful London Design Weeks yet, given the struggle around live events over the last few years and following the venue’s spectacular renovation.

    Among the resident suppliers that will be showcasing the latest trends and new ranges will be Zimmer + Rohde, which will unveil a range of beautiful new textiles. And it is my role to tease the design industry on what the textiles brand will be celebrating.

    Sketchbook 

    Sketchbooks have their own special charm, as they provide an insight into the internal workings of the artistic process. They reveal the raw material behind design and, according to Goethe, speak directly to the spirit, without intellectually circuitous detours. On the quest for the origins of artistic geniality, the sketchbook is its own genre in the art world and the scribbles of major artists are, of course, exhibited alongside finished works.

    There are many different types of sketching: the planned formal sketching in a studio, in an artist’s workbook, scribbles on a journey in small sketch pads or on loose scraps of paper that fit into a jacket pocket. Sketching nocturnal inspirations on a notepad next to the bed or even the classic white serviette in a restaurant. Taken together they have one thing in common: they immortalise the creative flashes of genius. It is this short moment, as well as its myriad manifestations in the shape of dots, lines, bundles of lines, hatching, brush marks and colour splotches, spontaneously transferred onto paper, that the Sketchbook collection by Zimmer + Rhode is dedicated to.

    For the artistic designs – Graffiti, Script and Superimposition – fine line drawings, scribbles and hatchings were translated into artfully woven and finely embroidered textiles. The spectacular linen print, Colour Study, is a textile interpretation of a painterly colour study. The material collage, Compilation, was created through lighthearted experiments with weave and Scherli techniques as well as a virtuoso choice of materials. The deliberate use of random principles in the manufacturing process and the combination of print and jacquard fabrics is particularly acute in the two signature designs, Grand Leaves and Kubist, which tell of the experimental joy of working with a sketchbook. This ramble through the decorative worlds of a variety of artistic styles is rounded off by extensive monochrome palettes in unadulterated materials like thick-pile mohair velour and relaxed but sophisticated linen satin, all the way down to flattering soft textured mélange fabrics.

    Of all the interior materials we use in our homes (and in the hotels we design), textiles are responsible for the feeling of softness and warmth in the living space. Its appearance varies like no other, depending on the light, the atmosphere and simply due to its inherent liveliness. In this way, the fabric, and therefore the collection, takes on the role in interior space that the sketchbook would in an exhibition.

    Etamine – ‘Coup de Soleil’

    Against whitewashed walls and rough stone floor, the sun plays games with the flowers of an Etamine fabric and creates shadows that dance in the wind. Somewhere in Andalusia, in the studio of a French artist, the Coup de Soleil, collection by Etamine offers us a glimpse of the beauty of natural materials and the rich colours of its prints and embroideries.

    Like a painter’s canvas, the Chant de L’eau fabric offers us a depth of focus of an imaginary horizon thanks to a digital printing process that also reduces energy and water consumption. For Esprit de Vent, the blend of cotton, linen and recycled fibres creates an open weave like a fishing net that gently entraps the light while the wild flowers of Liberté Folle throw themselves at a linen voile with a hand-washed finish that comes to us straight from the shores of Lake Como.

    Who is the true creator, nature or the artist? Etamine steps away from the norm and projects its vision of the world in an imaginary dimension where shapes and fabrics blend and fuse. Wool fabric wraps itself around a piece of furniture to enhance its form, a voile fabric reaches out ephemerally into nature to create an illusion and reveal a gesture. The essence is light, nomadic and the stuff of dreams.

    Caught in the last rays of the sun, the floral fabrics come to life, while at nightfall a star sparkles above the olive groves; it bears the beautiful name Etamine.

    Travers – Garden Club

    Designed to reflect the spirit of a well-travelled lifestyle, inspiration for Garden Club was drawn from all corners of the world. It stays true to Travers’ traditional design history and is influenced by the outdoors. The designs in the collection offer escapism, with an assortment of patterns and textures reminiscent of the diversity found in nature. The collection is motivated by the dream of a beautifully cultivated garden composed of plants and flowers that have been gathered from near and far. This philosophy directly relates to a variety of original designs, printing techniques and weaving processes that together form a layered collection of fabrics reminiscent of old world style.

    A mastery of craftsmanship and attention to detail is found in the development of each design in the collection. To realise the hero print, Audubon Garden, Zimmer + Rhode teamed up with Southern California artist Allison Cosmos. Every brush stroke was preserved for the fabric adaptation of this original hand painted garden oasis, filled with birds, flowers and butterflies. Wave Hill, a true warp print produced by trained artisans in India has a rustic quality that perfectly encapsulates a feeling of vintage charm. The colour palette is ‘of today’, with a relaxed casual nuance making each fabric approachable and easy to use. Garden Club blurs the lines between home and garden, breathing fresh colour and new life into each interior.

    Zimmer + Rhode is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Zimmer + Rhode

    One&Only Moonlight Basin private home design

    Inside One&Only’s debut resort in the United States of America

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Inside One&Only’s debut resort in the United States of America

    Rolling out the first One&Only resort and residential community in the United States, One&Only Moonlight Basin, slated to open in 2024, sets out to redefine luxury hospitality in Big Sky, Montana…

    One&Only Moonlight Basin private home design

    The Lone Mountain Land Company and Kerzner International Holdings Limited have released plans for Moonlight Basin in Big Sky Montana, the first One&Only resort and residential community in the United States. The development forms part of the strategic growth for the brand portfolio with its ethos of introducing its resorts and residences to some of the world’s most incredible natural settings, buzzing urban centres, and exclusive communities.

    Designed by architect Olson Kundig, One&Only Moonlight Basin will shelter 73 guestrooms and suites in the main lodge, 19 secluded villas throughout the resort, a separate ski lodge, and a Chenot Spa. In addition, the resort will introduce the first community of One&Only Private Homes in the U.S., offering 62 private residences throughout the landscape, which are sure to become one of the most sought after addresses in the U.S. The free-standing Olson Kundig-designed homes will offer a contemporary design, complete with glass walls to showcase Big Sky’s soaring mountain ranges.

    “Each One&Only resort celebrates their own distinctive location and Big Sky is the perfect site, where guests and residents alike can enjoy the very best of nature year-round through the life and energy of One&Only.” – Philippe Zuber, Chief Executive Officer, Kerzner International.

    floor to ceiling glass windows look out over mountains at One&Only Moonlight Basin private homes

    Image credit: One&Only

    “I am thrilled that we are introducing our first One&Only resort and community of Private Homes in the U.S.,” said Philippe Zuber, Chief Executive Officer, Kerzner International. “Each One&Only resort celebrates their own distinctive location and Big Sky is the perfect site, where guests and residents alike can enjoy the very best of nature year-round through the life and energy of One&Only. At Moonlight Basin, Lone Mountain Land Company has built a mountain destination that showcases the natural beauty of Montana’s extensive, dramatic landscapes, and I am delighted to introduce One&Only in this unrivalled destination.”

    warm wood and leather interior design with glass windows overlooking the mountains

    Image credit: One&Only

    Intimate in size, the architectural design of the resort respects the terrain, and minimal impact will be made to the location’s ecosystem during development. Framing the majestic mountain ranges of the area, the resort will seamlessly integrate into the inspired landscape. Featuring local art embracing textiles, roaring fires, and stunning floor-to-ceiling windows, guests will simultaneously feel connected to, yet protected from, the spectacular surroundings. Like all properties in the collection, Moonlight Basin will place an emphasis on privacy, providing the ultimate hideaway within a choice of accommodations that are perfect for both couples and families. An emphasis will be placed on outdoor living spaces to enjoy the natural mountain surroundings.

    One&Only also has an exclusive global partnership with the leading health and wellness brand based in Switzerland, Chenot. The resort will be home to a transformative Chenot Spa, providing an experience that combines science-based health and beauty with alternative therapies. This will be the first time the Chenot Method will be available in North America. A cutting-edge fitness centre will feature both indoor and outdoor spaces as part of the resort’s overall amenities that will evolve with the seasons.

    view across the lake to One&Only Moonlight Basin Lodge

    Image credit: One&Only

    The resort will act as both the nexus for adventure, and a space to unwind between activities. From hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fly fishing and snowshoeing, to Alpine and Nordic skiing, dogsledding, and snowmobiling, personal experiences will be offered to discover the best of Big Sky. As with all One&Only properties, it will offer innovative programming for families with children while carefully preserving space for adults only as well.

    From awe-inspiring natural landscapes to state-of-the-art facilities for fitness, wellness, art, cooking and more, Moonlight Basin will be a stimulating oasis for active, mindful, and creative pursuits, regardless of age or passions. An adventurous experience in an authentically wild environment that will take the One&Only brand ethos into the heart of the country.

    > Since you’re here, why not read One&Only Portonovi or about SIRO, the new wellness brand launched by Kerzner International?

    Main image credit: One&Only

    A lilac sofa and purple, textured run in living room

    Top 3 rug and interior design trends forecasted for 2022

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Top 3 rug and interior design trends forecasted for 2022

    On the topic of cutting-edge rug and interior design trends, it’s always intriguing to hear what the experts at Modieus are predicating. This year, the team have grouped their trends under one overarching theme, allusion, which Hotel Designs has broken down into three sub-trends…

    A lilac sofa and purple, textured run in living room

    So far this year, the trend forecasts published on Hotel Designs have provided a safety blanket for designers and architects. Whether it has been surface design trends, wider hospitality trends or how wellness and wellbeing is shifting up a gear, the trends that have emerged in recent months are clear indicators that the industry needs to adapt in order to keep ahead of modern traveller demands.

    Most recently, though, we have heard from Modieus which never fails to shake up conventional approaches to interior design. The ‘rugtrepeneurs’ there have confidently categorised this year’s predicted trends under one overarching theme, Allusion.

    So, how does the concept of Allusion relate to trends, you may ask? Well, as we’ve come to expect from Modieus it’s with a thought provoking twist.

    “We have developed a series of design stories to support our three core trends which represent a passage through time,” Xander Okhuizen, Founder of Modieus, tells Hotel Designs. “We took time to consider key influences as we journeyed through this linear timeline. We call this process “stop at an intersection” –  we look back, look around, look up, ahead and forward. In that moment, we assimilate particular historical styles and events.”

    The design team at Modieus identified three core trends each linked to a point in time, but each trend has two distinct viewpoints. Leah Manwaring and Debra Ryan, the creative brains behind this report were keen to emphasise that you can have different perspectives when following a trend.

    Boho folk

    Image caption: 1970s trendboard of colours and tones that surround the 'boho folk' trend. | Image credit: Modieus

    Image caption: 1970s trendboard of colours and tones that surround the ‘boho folk’ trend. | Image credit: Modieus

    The Boho Folk trend takes us back in time to the ’70s. Think retro fused with boho. A nostalgic revival style that started in fashion.

    “The fabulous fervor of the 70s geometrics, lines and block patterns are modernised and embrace a Japandi construction, Scandinavian rustic and Japanese minimalism. Shapes are round, circular or arched,” says Manwaring. “Furniture is also curvilinear in style. Colours feel grounding like they have literally been drawn from the earth, clay and ochre. Mixed with a light honey, slightly saturated and soft. This is almost neutral.”

    A tonal living room set up inspired by 1970s trends

    Image caption: Modieus

    Ryan adds: “While we pause in the 1970’s, we soak up bohemian vibes to articulate our second story. Whimsical florals, delicate petals awash with texture. Hand painted blooms and stylised flowers have been bleached and sunkissed. Our nude colour story uses soft pinks, porcelain and blush. Our soft pinks have a chalky effect.”

    Urban street

    Image caption: A trendboard that reflects the colours and tones that represent 'urban street'. | Image caption: Modieus

    Image caption: A trendboard that reflects the colours and tones that represent ‘urban street’. | Image caption: Modieus

    The street art movement that started in the 90’s comes back with a contemporary feel in the Urban Street trend.

    “The maximalism of the street art movement is back with a contemporary feel,” Ryan explains. “With pattern-clashing and eroding textural mash-ups. You can add drama to industrial hospitality spaces, incorporating a maximalist feel without a huge commitment to step outside the comfort zone with a rug that has big energy.

    “Do you remember the tie dye shirts from the 90’s? Once the preserve of hippies, ravers and Grateful Dead fans, tie-dye has moved into the mainstream the trend gathered steam during the pandemic. Our tie dye inspired designs are darker and moodier, like darker timber colours that are set to make a comeback.”

    A living room set up with '90s inspired colours

    Image caption: Modieus

    Manwaring shares the other side of their Urban Steet trend. “Our collective love for lush indoor environments will continue to bloom,” she says. “Our innate connection to nature has seen the incorporation of biophilic elements within interior spaces, while outdoor spaces such as courtyards and balconies have become secondary living and working spaces.

    “This has meant an increasing pursuit of natural light, harnessing lighter-toned colour palettes and embracing plants.  Using lush leafy greens, hues of the forest and foliage as a way to interact with and nurture our natural environment from the comfort of our own homes.”

    Smart future

    Image caption: A trendboard made up of futuristic colours that represent Smart Future. | Image credit: Modieus

    Image caption: A trendboard made up of futuristic colours that represent Smart Future. | Image credit: Modieus

    The Smart Future trend caters for our ever-changing needs, recognising that we need to provide equally adaptable interiors.

    “The design of the future is multi-functional and in harmony with the end-user, more meaningfully than ever before,” Manwaring explains. “For example, as designers, we could be asked to design a bar space to become a pop up cinema for an indie movie festival. We need to develop solutions for experiences in a way previously unseen.”

    “The two colour stories in this trend are ELECTRIC BLUE, reflecting digital, automated and clean patterns and  PEARLESCENT, which incorporates disco glam hues and  structured patterns.” adds Ryan.

    Purple carpet in airport gate area

    Image credit: Modieus

    PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri is a perfect partner for muted pastel tones. These pearlescent tones appear translucent, layered and take a nod to the sparkle of disco glam.

    It’s pretty clear that the Modieus team are driven by colour, with more than 1,400 shades to select from, their clients can be confident in colour matching in any construction type. Whether it is wall to wall carpets, rugs (indoor or outdoor), impervious backed, carpet tiles or even entrance mats, Modieus skill is finding solutions for their clients.  And because everything is bespoke, almost anything is possible.

    > Since you’re here, why not read our exclusive interview with the founders of Modieus?

    Modieus is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Modieus

    Hafele lighting installation for Loox 5

    Häfele’s Loox Van takes to the road

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Häfele’s Loox Van takes to the road

    Häfele has overhauled a Renault Relay van, installing it with the latest innovations from its new Loox range to offer customers the chance to get up close with the products and explore the breadth of its capabilities…

    Hafele lighting installation for Loox 5

    Häfele has started touring the UK in its brand new Loox Van in an innovative launch of Loox 5 and its Lighting Design Service. Kitchen design studios, independent retailers, merchants, architects, manufacturers, installers and others in the industry can now book a slot to receive their own personalised experience in the Loox Van, with Häfele’s team of lighting experts on hand to discuss the latest lighting trends and design advice.

    “The Loox Van was developed to provide a mobile, accessible facility for the industry to improve their understanding of how lighting can improve their projects, and how our products and services can help them achieve even more for their customers,” said Shaun Barker, assistant product group manager for smart lighting, security and media at Häfele UK. “We’ve seen demand for Loox products increase almost 20 per cent in the last 12 months which – given trading conditions – is brilliant, and we expect that trend continue as we officially release Loox 5 to market and continue to tour the country with the Loox Van.”

    Hafele Loox Van taking products on the road

    Image credit: Häfele

    The Loox 5 range is a form of LED lighting that can be integrated and built into furniture and units. It includes upgraded internal components and an improved distribution style compared to its predecessor, making it suitable for a wider variety of applications spanning the domestic and commercial markets. Its connection capability has increased from 3.5amp to 5amp, with improved drivers that mean the lighting can be used 24 hours a day for up to 50,000 hours – and in some case 70,000 hours – without any noticeable reduction in performance.

    The colour rendering index – a scale that rates an artificial white light source’s ability to accurately display colour – is above 90, meaning that during extended use there is no difference in colour quality, making it a top choice for settings where colour accuracy is important, such as shop displays, or galleries.

    “Loox 5 is the next generation in lighting; it offers a distinct improvement in performance compared to anything currently available on the market,” Barker went on to explain. “As well as being technically more capable than similar products, the beauty of the range is that it’s designed to meet the tastes and needs of more people – from families working with installers and manufacturers to create modern kitchens, to hotel owners wanting to offer their guests a unique lighting experience.”

    Alongside Loox 5, Häfele is officially launching its Lighting Design Service, arming designers, retailers, manufacturers, and installers with a free, value-added tool to ensure customers receive great-looking, holistic lighting solutions in their projects. Customers can submit room or floor plans to the Lighting Design Service’s team who will create creative and technical lighting schemes on their behalf providing a bespoke layout, product list and priced quote – all free of charge. This can then be used together with Häfele to Order – a service that cuts, assembles, packages, labels and delivers products to specific requirements to save time during the installation process.

    Häfele is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Häfele

    eclectic and layered guestroom design at 25hours hotel in Copenhagen

    Come as you are: 25hours opens its first hotel in Scandinavia

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Come as you are: 25hours opens its first hotel in Scandinavia

    The 25hours Hotel Indre By, slated to open its doors next month, is the first 25hours hotel in Scandinavia, and the design team has been true to brand developing layered interiors focussed on individuality and personality while exploring the buildings previous purpose as a university and a place of learning…

    eclectic and layered guestroom design at 25hours hotel in Copenhagen

    The name of this hotel says it all, as the Danish term ‘Indre By’ means inner city or city centre, and, like it says on the tin, this hotel is situated right in the middle of Copenhagen. The building itself dates back to the 19th century, once housed a porcelain factory and was later used as a university building. The interior design of the complex, which comprises four buildings, was the result of a first-time collaboration between 25hours and the London-based Martin Brudnizki Design Studio.

    “Coming of Age was our fundamental idea when we were developing the concept of the hotel, which ties in with the building’s former use as part of a university,” explained Copenhagen Project Director Henning Weiß. “Passion and knowledge, art and science find a new home in the hotel in an exciting combination.”

    design details in a Knowledge themed room at 25hours copenhagen guestroom

    Image credit: 25hours / Stephan Lemke

    The 243 guestrooms, designed in ‘Passion’ and ‘Knowledge’ styles, range from Small to Gigantic and offer a retreat to suit every traveller and their needs. Several of the rooms even boast a small terrace and access to the Secret Garden – something which is virtually unique in Copenhagen.

    Whether it’s the Vinyl Room or the Love Library, there are hidden spots all over the hotel which are well worth exploring. The Assembly Hall forms the central meeting point and is the perfect location for a quick coffee in the morning, a snack after a stroll around the city or a drink before checking out the Copenhagen nightlife. The NENI restaurant and Café Duse are destinations for hotel guests and locals alike, and the Boilerman Bar in the basement is the ideal place to spend cosy evenings with music and top-class drinks.

    The hotel’s spacious wellbeing area is situated on the first floor. Awaiting visitors is a fully-equipped fitness studio with the latest techno gym equipment, yoga mats and a view of the terrace. The outdoor sauna, featuring both indoor and outdoor loungers, offers guests deep relaxation. Those who arrive early and want to hit the town before check-in can use the power shower in a section specially fitted out for early check-ins or late check-outs to freshen up before their rendezvous with Copenhagen.

    yellow basin and vintage furniture bathroom detail in 25hours hotel in copenhagen

    Image credit: 25hours / Stephan Lemke

    The bicycle is as synonymous with Copenhagen as the famous Smørrebrød, and the city is ideal for exploring by bike, which is why guests of the 25hours Hotel Indre By can also enjoy the urban bikes of Berlin-based firm Schindelhauer. Both classic city bikes and e-bikes are available, perfect for a relaxed tour of the neighbourhood. The bikes come with a tour map of the city’s most charming routes, which has been specially compiled for 25hours by bike professionals.

    25hours Hotels have positioned themselves as a creative hospitality company rooted in culture and community, and characterized by provocative urban locations, irreverent yet functional aesthetic, and the romantic nostalgia of grand hotels. The brand focuses on individuality, authenticity and personality and, under the motto “If you know one, you know none”, designs each of its hotels with different designers and unique style. This Copenhagen design team have ensured that Hotel Indre By lives up to all the branding with its eclectic interior that tells a story at every turn.

    > Since you’re here, why not read about 25hours in Italy?

    Main image credit: 25hours / Stephan Lemke

    bar, restuarant and working space at YOTEL Shoreditch

    YOTEL picks up the pace with its fifth UK opening

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    YOTEL picks up the pace with its fifth UK opening

    Global hospitality brand YOTEL has announced the addition of YOTEL London Shoreditch to its portfolio, the groups fifth city centre hotel in the UK, and its nineteenth globally. Slated to open in April, here’s what we know…

    bar, restuarant and working space at YOTEL Shoreditch

    Putting a clean emphasis on British development, YOTEL is opening its fifth hotel in the UK this April. The 161-key hotel, conveniently located in the heart of vibrant East London, on Cambridge Heath Road, already incorporates some of YOTEL’s minimalistic design features and facilities. As part of the conversion, the property will receive a light refurbishment to incorporate YOTEL’s signature design and technology features. Guests will be able to check-in in under a minute on self-service stations at Mission Control and will be able to use their mobile devices as SmartKeys.

    The hotel is ideal for both business and leisure travellers, featuring several room types, from double and twins, to family and interconnecting rooms. Accessible via the high street and hotel lobby, the hotel also features its own beautifully designed bar, restaurant, and co-working space. YOTEL London Shoreditch is owned by Crestline Investors Inc. and Avelios Investors, and will be managed by Michels & Taylor.

    exterior view of YOTEL Shoreditch

    Image credit: YOTEL

    “Being able to secure two franchise deals in under three months is testament to the growing strength of the YOTEL brand and its increased relevance in delivering low-touch high-tech hospitality experiences,” said Hubert Viriot, CEO, YOTEL. “We’re delighted to be working with institutional partners Crestline and Avelios, which once again showcases YOTEL’s continued sophistication in working with established hotel owners and investors.”

    Less than three minutes’ walk away from Bethnal Green tube station, the hotel is situated in a vibrant part of East London, home to many creative start-ups, media agencies, and entrepreneurs. The area is conveniently connected to the city centre, famous London landmarks, and leisure attractions through various transport links. It is well supplied with cocktail bars, urban wineries, and world-class restaurants. Guest staying at the hotel will be a short walk away from London Fields, Broadway Market, and Columbia Road.

    “As with YOTEL Manchester, YOTEL London Shoreditch contributes to the more than 1,200 keys in our UK portfolio and is testament to the continuation of our hotel conversion strategy as well as our expansion plans in the UK and Europe whether through franchise or hotel management agreements,” said Viriot. “We are looking forward to emulating this strategy in other cities around the world.”

    The group currently has 19 hotels in operation worldwide, from San Francisco to New York, Amsterdam to Istanbul, and all the way to Singapore. The next YOTEL to open will be YOTEL and YOTELPAD Miami in spring 2022, followed by YOTEL Geneva later in the year.

    > Since you’re here, why not find out more about the design ethos behind the YOTEL brand?

    Main image credit: YOTEL

    Blue and grey bathroom design with Duravit No 1 range

    A new design by Duravit, No 1 is a complete range with a host of combinations

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    A new design by Duravit, No 1 is a complete range with a host of combinations

    With the focus on what is truly required in the bathroom, the new Duravit No.1 complete bathroom series is a compact and comprehensive product range that is excellent value for money within in the entry-level segment…

    Blue and grey bathroom design with Duravit No 1 range

    Bathroom concepts in the budget price range are usually dominated by round shapes. With the new No 1 series, Duravit presents an exciting alternative in planning-friendly dimensions. The rectangular shape of the washbasins and the narrow design of the side edge produce a large inner basin – with a generous, comfortable tap panel. Washbasins, as well as hand rinse basins can be combined with pedestals, semi-pedestals, or vanity units. In addition furniture and built-in washbasins are available.

    rectangular hand basin in duravit no 1 range

    Image credit: Duravit

    A practical choice of furniture is part of this range, with a minimal overhang from the washbasin to the bathroom furniture, which underlines the modernity of the Duravit No.1 design. Features like the recessed grip and surfaces pleasant to the touch makes for a seamlessly integrated design into the décor fronts. Available in White Matt or Graphite Matt, the furniture has been designed to enable easy retrofitting at a later stage.

    Vanity units with a hinged door are available for the handrinse basins and furniture with a pull-out compartment, with an additional and practical internal drawer on request for some of the washbasins. A semi-tall cabinet provides generous storage options. Matching mirrors and mirrored cabinets have long-lasting and energy-saving LED lighting. All furniture is supplied pre-assembled and fully adjusted, enabling quick and convenient final installation.

    The stylish Duravit No.1 tap range has a harmonious and balanced design. The handle, with its dynamic upward-facing position, feels pleasant in the hand and underlines the high-quality aesthetics. The washbasin mixers excel both in terms of quality and function with their long-lasting ceramic cartridges, subtly integrated aerators, and sustainable product features – they are available with FreshStart (energy-saving cold-water start) or MinusFlow (throughput limited to 3.5 l/min).

    A further highlight in this price segment is the trapezoid built-in bathtub made from sanitary acrylic, available in three sizes, with the option of left or right corner versions. The bathtub provides a luxurious bathing experience with a comparatively low filling volume even on smaller floor plans. Rectangular built-in bathtubs in all standard sizes complete the range; the 1800 x 800 mm model is available as a two-seater. With depths of 40 or 46 cm, the bathtubs are comfortable whether sitting or lying. The bathing experience can be further enhanced by the optional whirl function with its beneficial massage effect. Bathtub handles, can be ordered separately and are installed at the factory, improve safety.

    trapezoid shaped bath in a blue bathroom design

    Image credit: Duravit

    The Duravit No.1 toilet range features the bathroom manufacturer’s innovative Duravit Rimless flushing technology and the successful DuraStyle Basic toilets, plus a wall-mounted toilet for children. Bidets and urinals complete the product range.

    Designed to be simple, practicable, and stylish, Duravit No.1 has everything that a contemporary bathroom needs, optimum quality at an unbeatable price. This is an ideal collection for a first time buyer bathroom through to the hotel and the project sector: all products stemming from Duravit’s new in-house design have been created to enhance the quality of daily life. With the focus on what is truly required in the bathroom, Duravit No.1 opens up a whole host of combination options, creating the perfect foundation for a range of bathroom plans and designs.

    Duravit is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Duravit

    Paola Navone

    In Conversation With: Paola Navone, interior design muse for COMO

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    In Conversation With: Paola Navone, interior design muse for COMO

    The Italian designer and talent behind several COMO projects, Paola Navone, talks to Pauline Brettell about her inspiration, love of travel, and her latest COMO design collaboration at COMO Le Montrachet…

    Paola Navone

    From Thailand to Tuscany, paging through the Paola Navone’s COMO portfolio is a journey in both design and destination. She is a designer who always draws in attention with her strong visual statements, and this signature has become interwoven with her history and work with the brand. She approaches each project with a fresh eye and innovative designs, allowing for a strong sense of place and context.

    hotel interior design with red accents and local materials for COMO Point Yamu

    Image credit: COMO Hotels and Resorts

    On the COMO website it states that “Italian designer Paola Navone is one of COMO’s greatest inspirations,” so we started the conversation by asking her about this relationship, and how it started.

    “I have known Cristina Ong for many years. We immediately shared an appreciation for the same kind of understated luxury – immaterial, never aggressive and respectful. I had the chance to design COMO Point Yamu and we chose to design a hotel that was made entirely with materials available in Thailand, taking advantage of the incredible Thai craft traditions. It was a great creative adventure which has been followed by other very special collaborations with COMO all over the world. The most recent are in Europe, with COMO Castello del Nero in Tuscany and the new COMO Le Montrachet in Burgundy.”

    It is clear from looking at Navone’s work across all mediums, that there is a love for travel that expresses itself through her designs, as she has the ability to extract what is essential to a destination and communicate this in the details. She has a rich history in the design movement more broadly and can trace her roots and influences back to being part of the Alchimia family, in the late seventies, right through to today where she is still seen to be at the forefront of contemporary design. There remains an irreverence and eclecticism that runs through her designs which sits comfortably alongside the multifaceted influences that come from travel.

    “Much of my free and unconventional way of thinking about things comes from my involvement in Alchimia family, the anti-academic side of architecture in Italy in the late seventies. Then there is, of course, my nomadic attitude, my Mediterranean roots and my sense of beauty linked to simplicity and imperfection.”

    The love of travel, the nomadic, clearly informs the designs and gives insight into what makes a successful hotel interior concept and design. “When I travel, I love breathing in the atmosphere of the place I’m in. I always like saying that, when you wake up in a hotel room, you need to open your eyes and feel where you are, whether that be on a Mediterranean island, in India or in New York. So, when I design the interiors of a hotel, I always try to make guests feel an instinctive complicity with the environment, a natural sense of belonging to the place, always in a contemporary, relaxing and joyful way.”

    La Sirena restaurant designed by Paola Navone at COMO Point Yamu

    Image credit: COMO Hotels and Restaurants

    Despite a substantial portfolio in hospitality and hotel design, Navone’s projects have never become formulaic. But like most designers, there is a strand or a common element that runs through the body of work. She discussed a little more about how each project is unique, and what it is that connects the COMO projects she has worked on, the common element, and it is all about a feeling rather than a physical design construct.

    “Each of my projects come from a special alchemy, that’s why they are always unique. It’s a bit like in cinema, where each movie is distinctive because the story, the actors and the costumes are different, even if the director is always the same. What connects every project for COMO Hotels and Resorts is the feeling, the special attention to the all-round wellbeing of guests linked to the pleasure of spending quality time in a beautiful place.”

    guestroom design by Paola Navone for COMO Castello Del Nero

    Image credit: COMO Hotels and Resorts

    “When you wake up in a hotel room, you need to open your eyes and feel where you are” – Paola Navone.

    With so many beautiful hotels and resorts in the COMO portfolio, we had to ask Navone, as a designer, if she has a favourite – not necessarily the biggest and the boldest project that she has worked on with the COMO brand, but the one that for her stands out on a personal level. With no hesitation COMO Point Yamu was on top of her list.

    interior design by Paola Navone at COMO point Yamu

    Image credit: COMO Hotels and Resorts

    “COMO Hotels and Resorts are always located in wonderful places around the world, and this is the first thing that makes them so special. COMO Point Yamu is immersed in the magnificent natural scenery of Phuket and even the smallest details are designed to involve the guest in the magic of the natural environment. Point Yamu demonstrates what I love to do in my work very well, incorporating my passion for craft traditions, my taste for the imperfect beauty of natural materials and the idea that even everyday things can have a surprising chance of a new life.”

    design details using natural and local materials as inspiration at Point Yamu

    Image credit: COMO Hotels and Resorts

    QUICK-FIRE ROUND

    Pauline Brettell: Which is your favourite space in the new COMO Le Montrachet Hotel?

    Paola Navone: As with all COMO properties, guest wellbeing will be the core of the experience even at Le Montrachet. The COMO Shambhala Retreat, known all over the world for its wellness treatments and therapies, will be one of the surprising highlights of the project

    PB: Your favourite (or go-to) colour/palette?

    PN: I have an instinctive attraction for cold colours, the shades of air and water

    PB: A favourite COMO Hotel 1) as a traveller, and 2) as a designer

    PN: Both as a traveller and a designer, I’m looking forward of visiting Bhutan, relaxing and enjoying the breathtaking Himalayan panoramas that COMO Uma Paro offers

    PB: Next destination on your travel bucket list?

    PN: COMO Uma Paro!

    As both the hospitality industry and interior designers are starting to look critically at the design process, we moved away briefly from Le Montrachet and veered off into the bigger and broader question that is on everybody’s lips right now, the question of sustainable and ethical design. Navone’s response makes it clear that this is not a new concept to her, but one that has always been an integral and unselfconscious element of her designs.

    “My way of thinking about design, linked to simplicity and respect for the craft traditions of the world, naturally embodies the idea of sustainability. I enjoy introducing the simplicity and poetry hidden in natural materials and the raw finishes present in the industrial process. It’s not always easy but what happens is always full of wonder.”

    Looking at the details and the integration of craft and artisanal finishes, is what always draws me into these designs, there is always the element of innovation as she is able to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. The magical process of taking an everyday utilitarian item and turning it into a design statement is something she excels at, the vision in which the lobster basket becomes statement lighting, woven wicker is scaled up and becomes a wall. Trying to get a sneak peek into what is happening behind closed doors in the Le Montrachet project, we thought we would ask if she has found anything is this corner of France that called out for repurpose and some design inspiration? But she kept her designer cards close to her chest!

    “We love to discover excellence in the craftsmanship of the places we work. Meeting local artisans and getting to know their art is always an exciting part of the project for us and a great source of inspiration. France has got countless traditions and it will be beautiful to express them in the design of this exciting new hotel. Working on an existing property with so much history, the challenge is to create an element of surprise in a special and respectful way. Working on historical heritage has never been a barrier to us, but a great creative opportunity. In harmony with COMO’s style, everything about the Le Montrachet project will be very light and soft, in order not to overshadow the special charm of the place.”

    So for now, it looks like “light and soft” are our only taste of designer things to come at Le Montrachet!

    Slated to open later this year COMO Le Montrachet has been consistently listed as one of the most anticipated hotel opening of 2022, and the role of Paola Navone as interior designer on this project is creating as much interest as the hotel opening itself. With everything going on behind closed french doors, we are intrigued and waiting to see the results of  what her signature style and trademark contemporary touches will bring to the historic 18th-century property in the sought-after Côte-d’Or.

    Main image credit: Giovanni Gastel

    Audience at Surface Design Show

    Surface Design Show 2022: Line-up confirmed for 2022 edition

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Surface Design Show 2022: Line-up confirmed for 2022 edition

    Days ahead of Surface Design Show 2022 officially opening its doors, Hotel Designs takes a peek at the speakership line-up, which includes Editor Hamish Kilburn moderating one of the opening night debates as well as interviewing interior designer of the year, Tina Norden, on the main stage…

    Audience at Surface Design Show

    Surface Design Show 2022, which opens next, will be an exciting combination of education, engagement and entertainment at one of the first industry events to fully return to a face-to-face format this year. Held from February 8 – 10, the event, which will aim to shine the spotlight on surface trends, will take place once again at London’s Business Design Centre in Islington.

    The Main Stage will host a total of 18 different talks staged across the 2 1/2 days, featuring some 50 speakers, inspiring and educating a professional audience of over 1,000 architects and designers.

    Audience walking around hall at Surface Design Show

    Image credit: Surface Design Show

    The Opening Night Debate, held in partnership with RIBA, kicks off proceedings from 18:30 – 19:30pm on February 8, where a stellar line up of industry experts will discuss Climate Change and Future Proofing. This session will explore not only the issues around the future durability and adaptability of current projects, but also how we can ensure that the commercial value of projects can be future proofed against climate change. Speakers include Rachael Owens, Architect and Head of Sustainability with Buckley Grey Yeoman, Simon Sturgis, Founder of carbon consultancy Targeting Zero LLP and Ana Rita Martens, Architect and Senior Associate sustainability at Woodalls.

    Continuing the environmentally conscious theme, the second session of that evening will be moderated by Hotel Designs’ Hamish Kilburn, and will look at Why Sustainable Interiors Matter, featuring founding signatories of the Interior Design Declares, an industry response to climate breakdown and biodiversity collapse. These include biophilic design champion Oliver Heath, MCM’s Design Director Deepak Parmar and Helen Gordon, Co-founder of sustainable construction company Kite.

    There will be a number of ‘Legends Live’ sessions throughout Surface Design Show. These will offer visitors the chance to hear from the likes of lighting designer Sally Storey being interviewed by Theresa Dowling of FX Magazine, Conran and Partners’ Tina Norden being interviewed by Kilburn and AHMM’s Paul Monaghan talking to Phil Coffey of Coffey Architects as they discuss their illustrious careers to date.

    Among the highlights of Wednesday are the Colour, Material and Finish Forecast featuring Hannah Malein, Head of Trends for Colour Hive/MIX magazine and the Surface Design Awards Preview: Surface Tension. Chaired by architectural critic and correspondent Aidan Walker, the session will gather together a group of articulate influencers to select and discuss some of the outstanding submissions from the 2022 Surface Design Awards.

    The winners of the Surface Design Awards will be revealed in a networking breakfast on Thursday 10 February from 08:45 until 10:30. Hosted by designer, educator, diversity & inclusion consultant and careers mentor, Simon Hamilton, 48 Finalists will be present to hear whom the judges have chosen as their 2022 winners. Ever-supportive of emerging talent, the Surface Design Awards Display will be designed by a team of young people supported by the Design Museum.

    Ever popular elements of the Surface Design Show return once more including the New Talent section, dedicated to ‘start up’ designers and Surface Spotlight Live where visitors can touch and feel a selection of materials curated by trend and colour expert Sally Angharad.

    Stone Gallery is set for its strongest ever showing with an Italian Pavilion of 28 stone producers. Britain’s Stone Federation will also be hosting a pavilion, whilst architects Squire & Partners has designed a Stone Tapestry, a bespoke installation piece exploring innovative textures, light, colour and pattern to create a tapestry of inspiring materials from around the world.

    Get set for a packed few days of knowledge sharing, a celebration of industry achievements and plenty of opportunities for networking at Surface Design Show 2022.

    Main image credit: Surface Design Show

    sundeck looking across the pool and out to sea in marbella

    9 leading hoteliers share expectations & predictions for 2022

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    9 leading hoteliers share expectations & predictions for 2022

    As January slides seamlessly into the rest of the year, and 2022 is starting to look optimistically (dare we say it) like some normality might be on the horizon, we speak to some of the movers and shakers in the world of hoteliers and hospitality about their expectations and predictions for the year ahead…

    sundeck looking across the pool and out to sea in marbella

    The beginning of the year is always awash with trend predications and expectations, and as we emerge, a little bleary eyed from the enforced hibernation of a global pandemic, with the baton of optimism firmly in hand, we spoke to nine hoteliers from very different corners of the globe, and asked them to share some of their thoughts on the year ahead for hospitality.

    Periklis Gompakis, Sales & Marketing Director of the MarBella Collection, Greece:

    hotelier Periklis Gompakis, Sales & Marketing Director of the MarBella Collection, Greece

    Image credit: MarBella Collection

    “2022 is shaping up to be a year like no other, bringing together new trends inherited and accelerated following the last two years with a series of post-pandemic consequences in a global socio-economic context. Sustainable and mindful travel is expected to co-exist with increased flight costs and inflation rise. Staycation, bleisure, and workcation patterns are here to stay, resulting in less frequent travel but for more extended periods. Upward trends for both multigeneration and solo travel will resume, focused on the luxury five-star resorts and private residences or villas, mainly for Europe and the Mediterranean. High-end holidaymakers will continue to expect personalised services and seek tailor-made holiday experiences, keeping a balance with enhanced digitised hotel services offering. No slowdown in new hotel openings is anticipated, although the significant disruptions in the global supply chain and the labour shortage hotel firms are already facing.”

    Nick Prattas, Vice President & Managing Director of Windjammer Landing, St Lucia:

    windjammer landing st lucia

    Image credit: Windjammer Landing

    “This year, we are already seeing amazingly positive signs for the resort. Bookings up an incredible 22 per cent compared to 2019, with enquiries continuing to come in thick and fast. With the demand bouncing back for long haul travel and the rise in multi-generational trips, St Lucia is firmly back to being a bucket list destination. We are also implementing many new advances in technology, service and food and beverage at Windjammer Landing for 2022, which alongside the Caribbean Tourism officials report, will look to be one of the best years for us and the Caribbean.”

    Sean Moriarty, CEO of Quinta do Lago, Portugal:

    Sean Moriarty, CEO of Quinta do Lago, Portugal

    Image credit: Quinta do Lago

    “Destination of choice is key in the decision making, and confidence in the location is already paramount for 2022. Destinations that have continued to invest will always stand out in the luxury market and will attract repeated and new travellers and investors. Low-density areas are also becoming a target for shorter breaks rather than city break style trips. Furthermore, people will look for more places where nature is respected and protected – where the brand has strong sustainability initiatives. We are also starting to see longer holidays and rising trend in real estate, where buyers’ second home is becoming their primary residence, due to the flexibility in remote working.”

    Kate Hughes, Operations Director of Lepogo Lodges, South Africa:

    safari lodge bedroom at Lepogo Lapalala

    Image credit: Lepogo Lodges

    “Once South Africa was removed from the red list, we saw a steady stream of international enquiries for 2022. Many for family groups rather than individual couples, and longer stays of four – six nights rather than the two – three we saw before. However, there is still a level of uncertainty in booking, and flexibility is key which, of course, we are happy to provide. We believe this year will bring guests keen for adventure and bucket list trips after the last two years, travelling in family groups and staying in one place for longer than moving every few days.”

    Simon Ball, Founder of Tuscany Now & More, Italy:

    Simon Ball, Founder of Tuscany Now & More, Italy

    Image credit: Tuscany Now & More

    “With 90 per cent of our stock sold for 2022, we are anticipating that travel this year will be even busier than pre-pandemic times. Since people have not had the opportunity to travel in two years, we’re noticing a growing interest in villas with services and properties that offer privacy and peace. The reality is that our future is in the hands of various governments and political powers, therefore we must trust that they make the best decision to help the travel industry and our economy bounce back.”

    Julian Hudson, General Manager of The Fellows House Cambridge, Curio Collection by Hilton, UK:

    Julian Hudson, General Manager of The Fellows House Cambridge, Curio Collection by Hilton, UK

    Image credit: The Fellows House Cambridge

    “Looking ahead to 2022, we are anticipating the return of business travel to Cambridge and that our luxury lifestyle long-stay apartment offering will be a refreshing alternative to hotels guests may have previously visited. The Fellows House Cambridge, Curio Collection by Hilton is a hybrid option of hotel facilities combined with your own apartment and place to call home, even just for the night. For our long stay market segments (7+ nights), we are forecasting this to be at least 45-50 per cent of our business mix, and we are the only operator in Cambridge that our guests not only get discounted prices based on length of stay but are also rewarded with points via the Hilton Honours programme.”

    Howard Hastings, Managing Director of Hastings Hotels, Northern Ireland:

    lounge and bar area in the europa hotel

    Image credit: Hastings Hotels

    “Last year we enjoyed an excellent staycation boom from the Republic of Ireland. Travel from GB will be boosted in 2022, both due to the post-pandemic sustained marketing for Northern Ireland in GB and the reduction in air passenger duty from April, making it cheaper to arrive here by air. There is also much pent-up demand from the US – the direct flights cancelled during the Pandemic are being reinstated (Dublin – San Francisco has now resumed), and new ones have been added (Dublin – Vancouver direct starts in June). So we expect to see a strong rebound in 2022 from North American visitors. It is also anticipated that 2022 will be a record year for the number of passengers on Cruise Liners coming to Belfast, so we look forward to welcoming the influx of guests in the near future.”

    Roberto Sortino, Managing Director & Founder of Villatravellers, Sicily, Italy:

    Roberto Sortino, Managing Director & Founder of Villatravellers, Sicily, Italy

    Image credit: Villatravellers

    “I’m hopeful and optimistic that travel will return in full force in 2022. I think that the trends we saw in 2021 – longer term stays, a desire for space and privacy, and an interest in really getting to authentically know your destination – will continue this year. Villa holidays are a great way to enjoy a sunny and secluded getaway, and Villatravellers has a wonderful selection of villas to rent, and we also offer extra experiences that let you see the real Sicily in all its glory. We hope that travellers will continue to be curious and enjoy precious time with family and friends this year.”

    Raffaella Scalisi, General Manager of the Courmayeur Mont Blanc, Tourism Board, Italian Alps:

    swimming pool in the snow at Courmayeur Mont Blanc

    Image credit: Courmayeur Mont Blanc / ©Bazzana Aiace

    “In 2022 we predict a gradual restart to tourism, with long-haul trips from flourishing markets such as the US hopefully resuming in full swing in the summer season. As travel continues to return and grow, Courmayeur is confident in its ability to handle high amounts of tourism during peak season, while still preserving the area’s essence of a typical alpine village. Additionally, as sustainability is one of our highest priorities, we are proud to boast a pedestrian-friendly city centre and offer tourists plenty of options from public transportation to biking to reach the nearby Veny and Ferret valleys.”

    > Since you’re here, why not check out the Hottest hotel openings in February 2022 ?

    Main image credit: MarBella Collection

    Contemprary bathroom design in cream and wood finishes with GROHE Allure brassware in Cool Sunrise

    GROHE ‘reinvents’ two of its premium bathroom collections

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    GROHE ‘reinvents’ two of its premium bathroom collections

    In response to the growing health and wellness trend, GROHE has extended its premium portfolio of bathroom fittings with the newly reinvented GROHE Allure range and the new GROHE Rainshower Aqua Body Sprays for an enhanced, expertly crafted bathroom experience…

    Contemprary bathroom design in cream and wood finishes with GROHE Allure brassware in Cool Sunrise

    Offering sanctum and oasis from a hectic day of meetings, travel and sightseeing, the hotel bathroom plays a big role in the overall experience of a guest’s stay. Materials, light, fixtures, and fittings must marry together to offer a relaxing and cosseted experience. The GROHE Allure range offers designers the freedom to tailor the space to the client’s needs, whether designing a tranquil spa landscape for a resort, or a private luxurious private bathroom in a boutique. Progressive designs and carefully chosen materials, finishes, and colours, combined with high-end technology, will stand out and create the desired impact in any bathroom project.

    “These exclusive new products are especially dedicated to architects and designers who want to transform their clients’ bathrooms into a holistic wellness oasis that becomes a perfect hideaway to recharge body, mind, and soul,” said Patrick Speck, Leader, LIXIL Global Design, EMENA.”GROHE Allure is defined by a progressive design that allows full design coordination, creating unique bathroom experiences. These memorable, unique spaces will stand out in any project. In addition, a palette of carefully curated colours and finishes enables architects and designers to add a personal touch.”

    GROHE Allure tap and three-hole basin mixer in Brushed Cool Sunrise

    Image credit: GROHE

    The popular GROHE Allure tap line has been updated to offer the very best in health and wellness within the bathroom. The design statement captivates with its minimalist and extraordinarily slim design, which is now even more appealing due to its newly refined aesthetic. By combining state-of-the-art water technology with German craftsmanship, the tap offers a distinctive highlight in the range. Thanks to seamlessly designed haptic feedback, the precision control of the three-hole basin mixer offers a unique tactile experience and improves interaction.

    Contemporary bathroom in cream and white with a deck-mounted bath filler and hand shower

    Image credit: GROHE

    The versatile range also encompasses floor-mounted taps and waterfall spouts for the bathtub, which allow for a holistic, coordinated design. For tasteful accents in the bathroom, the Allure line offers a choice of different colours and finishes: Chrome, Brushed Cool Sunrise, Brushed Warm Sunset, and Hard Graphite – all perfectly coordinated with GROHE Allure Accessories.

    GROHE Rainshower Aqua Body Spray

    Image credit: GROHE

    With the Rainshower Aqua Body sprays, GROHE launches a showering highlight which upgrades the daily routine with a pulsating water massage. Control and function are intuitive with a pop-up design; when the water is activated, the body sprays pop out of the cover plate, allowing users to switch between the Rain and Active Jet spray easily by simply turning them. When the water is turned off, the body sprays pull back and blend into the shower surround completely, resulting in a slim, minimalist design for optimised space in the shower.

    Full freedom of choice is guaranteed with round and square designs, available in different GROHE colours to match any aesthetic. Along with a luxurious showering experience, the Rainshower Aqua Body sprays support in eco-conscious design with GROHE’s EcoJoy technology integrated for a reduced water consumption, combining innovation and sustainability.

    GROHE is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: GROHE

    croquet on the lawn at The sinet Collection The Retreat at Elcot Park

    Quintessentially British design scheme unveiled for The Retreat at Elcot Park

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Quintessentially British design scheme unveiled for The Retreat at Elcot Park

    On a mission to create extraordinary boutique hotels in curated destinations, The Signet Collection has transformed The Retreat at Elcot Park into a design that is both classic and contemporary with a few unexpected twists en-route…

    croquet on the lawn at The sinet Collection The Retreat at Elcot Park

    The Retreat is getting dressed and ready for its springtime launch, following in the successful footsteps of its cousin property The Mitre Hampton Court, as visionary British hospitality brand The Signet Collection reveal the design details of its second hotel. Housed in a Grade II-listed 18th century building, The Retreat has a storied past, once being the childhood home of the great poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Following the success of The Mitre Hampton Court, The Retreat will continue the brand’s celebrated design aesthetic, blending the old with the new and quirky British sensibility. Tasked with a fun, escapist and element-of-surprise oriented brief, London-based luxury interior design practice Taylor and Turner is the creative lead behind its transformation, which nods to both the history and location of the picturesque country house.

    “Elcot Park has a fascinating, long and rich history,” commented Anneke Gilkes and Harriette Cayzer, of Taylor & Turner. “It has been a huge privilege to be entrusted with creating a new chapter in its story with Hector and the brilliant team at Signet. We have endeavoured to respect its past whilst ensuring that the design practicalities meet the rigorous standards of the modern day. Our ethos has been rooted in creating a retreat for any age offering complete escapism and a sense of fun.”

    The Retreat will be home to 55 characterful and comfortable guestrooms, including three suites, each showcasing its individual heritage. Each room is a celebration of the very best of British design, with many of the rooms containing eclectic antiques sourced by local dealers. Whilst antique furniture and traditional elements remain throughout, punches of colour, fun and the unexpected are clearly visible in each of the rooms. Guests will be spoilt for choice when choosing from views over the Wessex Downs, the gardens, or picturesque courtyards.

    Each floor has a theme, with rooms named after champion racehorses, famous jockeys, local points of interest, or nods to British country pursuits such as: shooting, fishing, hunting and racing. Meanwhile, the three Signature Suites are decorative and named after previous inhabitants of the country house: the Sutton, Bushby Bacon (a family suite), and the Percy Shelley.

    The Sutton Suite features Watts of Westminster’s hand-blocked ‘Pineapple’ wallpaper which provides an elegant contrast to the duck-egg blue doors and skirting boards. Key design elements include a pomegranate Sanderson bed canopy with a contrasting Fermoie striped headboard, and a spectacular roll top copper bathtub in front of large bay windows. A blush pink Mimi Pickard sofa and strawberry patterned throw cushions inject pops of colour throughout the Suite.

    freestanding roll top bath in bay window at the retreat elcot park

    Image credit: The Signet Collection

    The Bushby Bacon Suite, an expansive two-bedroom family suite with an open plan bathroom, is dedicated to one of The Retreat’s earliest inhabitants. Elegant and refined, the suite features a contemporary four poster bed with a navy and cream interior with pelmet and simple pleating, set against red and blue Braquenié’s Toile des Indes wallpaper by Pierre Frey. The suite leads through to the children’s bedroom where curtained orange bunk beds take centre stage, against hand-painted striped walls. The bedrooms connect to a stylish white bathroom with a freestanding marble bathtub surrounded by bay windows.

    A spectacularly elegant suite dedicated to one of the major English Romantic poets, The Percy Shelley Suite boasts bold and expressive décor with statement vintage Morris & Co wallpaper. Contrasting sage green woodwork matches the tone of the freestanding bath which sits in front of a large window overlooking the gardens.

    Taylor & Turner have breathed new life into the bedrooms, which ooze vibrancy and fun with bobbin mirrors, Rosi de Ruig lamps, scalloped-edged side tables and bright upholstered headboards. Each bedroom is a treasure-trove of pattern and personality, and the playful use of colour and antiques lends soulfulness to give each room its own unique character.

    Similarly to The Mitre, the designers have placed emphasis on the entrance hall being a place for reading and relaxation, similar to a drawing room in a country home. Mohair blue sofas, traditional seating, yellow cushions and Titley and Marr green curtains make for a cosy atmosphere. Complemented by the beige walls, many of the existing fittings and furnishings have been restored, such as the teak wooden flooring. Guests are met by a hand-painted map of the local area illustrating the abundance of British pursuits on The Retreat’s doorstep. Meanwhile, to the right of the grand entrance, a quote from one of Percy Shelley’s poems adorns the walls, reflecting the property’s literature and arts heritage. The result is a quintessentially British feel with an informal, playful twist where guests will quickly feel at home.

    True to brand, all things culinary will have pride of place at The Retreat, which will open with a Whiskey room, two private dining spaces and two restaurants: Yü, a Pan-Asian restaurant, and 1772, an all-day-dining Brasserie. Atmospheric orb bulbs, a sputnik chandelier and golden table lamps make for a sleek and refined setting. A five metre brass bar with a fluted leather front is paired with elegant striped-back bar stools. Curved and straight seating booths in sumptuous deep blue and bottle green velvet offer pleasing aesthetics, and an intimate dining experience.

    Having dined and imbibed to their hearts content, guests can enjoy the facilities of an impressive Health Club, including hydrotherapy pools, three treatment rooms, a steam room & sauna, large gym, spin studio and a relaxation area. The tone and textures in the spa exude a feeling of calm, in contrast to the women’s changing room, however, which is unexpected, playful, and fun, and inspired by the 1950s boudoir.

    The Signet Collection is a home grown and hands-on brand, resolute in its dedication to crafting stunning designs in historically significant properties, preserving authenticity and delivering unparalleled service and experiences. The addition of The Retreat Elcot Park to the portfolio looks set to ensure the brand continues on its journey of creating meaningful stays in time honoured places. 

    Main image credit: The Signet Collection

    Arte wallcovering Saturnia in the Les Thermes range

    Sneak peek: SS22 wallcovering collections from Arte

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Sneak peek: SS22 wallcovering collections from Arte

    Drawing inspiration from the past for the design year ahead, the new collections from Arte are serving us luxurious materials from traditional techniques that can transport us back in time with a taste of grandeur of days gone by…

    Arte wallcovering Saturnia in the Les Thermes range

    Arte is planning to take us on a journey of discovery with its new collections. Not only will designers dive into the splendid architecture of stately Greek temples and Italian palazzos, but impressive mosaics, sculptures and ornaments will also catch the eye as classical antiquity is revisited in a modern and playful way through the use of surprising drawings, materials, techniques and colours.

    “Arte strives to create innovative wallpaper collections that explore exciting new production methods and quality materials and reach far beyond the boundaries of traditional wallpaper design,”said Philippe Desart, Co-owner and Managing Director, Arte. “This spring the eight new collections include luxurious mosaics and plaster inspired details, which recognise historic crafts, as well as hand-painted scenes and large-scale panoramic designs that create truly show stopping art for your home.”

    The Les Thermes collection depicts the rich history of Greco-Roman antiquity in which sculpture and architecture both play an important role. The well-known bathing culture also has a prominent presence, and this is reflected in aspects such as luxurious mosaics, traditional techniques, and an impression of a hand-painted scene of Roman thermal baths. This opulent collection provides a taste of the grandeur of days gone by.

    Within the collection is the Mosaico design, where large mosaics with a metallic accent catch the eye in an aged tile pattern, creating an incomparable graphic effect. Mosaics have adorned the walls and floors of countless squares, palazzos, and historic buildings for centuries. This characterful wallcovering adds a touch of history to modern interiors and comes in nine shimmering colourways that compliment the other designs in the Les Thermes collection.

    Saturnia – Within the collection, the statement design takes its inspiration from the Tuscan village of the same name which has been known for its hot springs since Roman times. This peaceful scene illustrates people bathing in the springs. As well as providing relief, the underlying fil-à-fil technique with silver and gold foil creates a unique sheen in the water, creating a genuine statement wallcovering. This design is available in three colourways which integrate with the colours running through the Mosaico pattern.

    terracotta stucco design wallcovering adds texture to the wall surface

    Image credit: Arte

    Stucco – This design makes a playful reference to the decorative plaster used during Greco-Roman antiquity. It is an abstraction of textile and the tone-on-tone colour palette ensures a serene but weathered patina. The design is available in 16 colourways.

    Tessera – The small squares made of stone, ceramic, terracotta or glass that are used to make mosaic floors or decorative jewellery are the inspiration for this design in the Les Thermes family. This pattern adds a note of luxury to the collection with its highly luxurious feel due to the reflective nature of the metallic shades of silver, gold, bronze and rose.

    Orrizonte – The textile-inspired wallcovering has a warm weathered look thanks to the luxurious bouclé fabric it takes its inspiration from. The horizontally woven multicolour threads lend depth and relief to the pattern, and the visible metal threads ensure a subtle sheen. This design comes in an extensive 11 colourways.

    mosaic effect finish in the tessera design wallcovering

    Image credit: Arte

    A second collection, Sculptura, draws its inspiration from traditional plasterwork. Strips of plaster were arranged by hand and then transformed into a surprising textural vinyl collection, leaving the typical plaster structure of mesh, cracks and uneven areas clearly visible. This intriguing wallcovering with its surprising geometric patterns subtly lends a touch of colour, relief and structure to the wall. The shadow play of light and dark brings smooth walls to life. Sculptura lends a subtle, classic decorative touch to an interior.

    feature wall with etched mural of ancient rome by arte

    Image credit: Arte

    Rovine – The statement design of the Sculptura Collection, Rovine depicts an etching of a Greek ruin, the drawing shows antiquity in decay, yet with an element of grandeur in its statement dimensions. The work is dedicated to Monsieur Descamps, one of the king’s artists, and is available in three colourways.

    Oblong – The design qualities within this collection feature a playful patchwork of irregular rectangles. As with plaster, strips are placed on top of each other and flow together. The result is a peaceful, plain effect that reflects the enduring trend for uneven plasterwork. This design comes in the earthy tones  that compliment the rest of the collection.

    Shards – Displaying a composition of fragments the design titled Shards draws its inspiration from plasterwork, which gives the pattern a traditional character. The uneven nature of the wallcovering and incidence of light create extra relief and are more organic in feel. Available in ten colourways.

    Piante – Showcasing a botanical drawing designed to transport you into untamed nature, the collection, which is available in 10 colourways, is a celebration of all things outside of perfection. Due to the tone-on-tone plasterwork effect, the overall look remains peaceful and lends character to the wall. The uneven nature of the wallcovering and incidence of light create extra depth and relief.

    Arte is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Arte

    Hotel Designs - Christopher Hyde

    Product watch: 3 new lighting collections from Christopher Hyde

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Product watch: 3 new lighting collections from Christopher Hyde

    Having excelled at manufacturing luxury luminaires for an extensive range of interiors for more than 25 years, Christopher Hyde Lighting is showcasing some of the finest designs within the prestigious classic and contemporary collections…

    Hotel Designs - Christopher Hyde

    Christopher Hyde has unveiled a stunning range of new lighting products. Here’s our editor’s pick of some of our favourites.

    The Carlton Collection comprises of sconces and elegant chandeliers available in antique french gold and antique silver with clear crystal droplets, which can also be available in smoke or mixed glass.

    Image caption: The Carlton Collection. | Image credit: Christopher Hyde

    Image caption: The Carlton Collection. | Image credit: Christopher Hyde

    The Chicago Collection of floor and table lamps make a subtle, yet functional addition to any hotel room. Suitable for both contemporary and classic interior design styles, the range of mirror-covered floor and table lamps with dark wood details and antique dark bronze finish are supplied with a stone coloured chinette shade.

    The Victoria collection includes cut crystal lanterns on a cast brass frame finished in satin chrome and available in three sizes. The style of this collection is quite unique from the more traditional style lanterns who would expect to see.

    Product shot of the Victoria Collection chandelier

    Image caption: The Victoria Collection. | Image credit: Christopher Hyde

    Recently, Christopher Hyde has been working on new product designs and is excited to include these luminaires to the eclectic collections. The Christopher Hyde Lighting team based at the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, are always available to offer expert advice.

    Christopher Hyde Lighting is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image caption: The Chicago Collection. | Image credit: Christopher Hyde

    Hotel Designs Clarke and Clarke ss22 collection

    Product watch: Clarke & Clarke unveils SS22 fabrics collection

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Product watch: Clarke & Clarke unveils SS22 fabrics collection

    Texture, style and substance… Clarke & Clarke’s SS22 fabrics collection sets the stage for new heights of performance with technically equipped fabrics that shine in hospitality settings…

    Hotel Designs Clarke and Clarke ss22 collection

    Clarke & Clarke’s new fabrics collection for SS22 combines elevated performance in its very fibres, with luxurious style. Whether it is for banquette seating in a bar setting, bedroom headboards or a variety of lobby chairs and stools to greet patrons, Clarke & Clarke’s latest fabric additions, take hospitality design up a notch, offering technically superior fabrics without compromising on style.

    Flame retardant, GRS certified (Global Recycling Standard) and utilising innovative materials to achieve high-spec, luxurious fabrics, Orla, Riva and Dawson are three strikingly beautiful new designs, created to capture the essence of many an interior setting and in some instances, mimic fabric textures and details.

    Cameo selection of fabrics

    Image credit: Clarke & Clarke

    Orla, crafted from 52 per cent recycled plastic bottles, is a go-to fabric for upholstery and drapes. Sumptuously soft, the relaxed, natural-feeling fabric has a subtle herringbone detail and an incredibly tactile quality. 24 trend-led colours, all GRS certified, range from subtle naturalistic shades of Pebble and Ash to the more daring Spice and Garnet, complemented by earthy tones of Olive and Saffron, ensuring that the fabric suits a host of interior schemes. The 48 per cent natural cotton ensures a soft and high-quality texture is maintained and this delicate balance of recycled and natural fibres creates a luxe yet relaxed weight, for bespoke drapes and soft upholstered pieces. Orla is the first Studio G recycled product at Clarke & Clarke.

    Entering the realm of mimicry, Dawson has mastered the leather-look whilst also being inherently flame retardant, waterproof, antimicrobial and phthalate-free. Durable and sophisticated, Dawson, in its 18 shades and tones, is the perfect embossed faux leather for dining and drinking areas, where traffic is high, and spillages may occur. The antimicrobial fabric is waterproof to one metre and is  cigarette and match certified, passes IMO 8 and meets American standards for international specification. Natural hues combine with more punchy jewel tones to create accents and highlights in amongst an otherwise meltingly soft palette of Chestnut and Mahogany, for that classic, leather-bound chair appeal.

    Dawson collection featured in modern lounge setting

    Image caption: Dawson collection. | Image credit: Clarke & Clarke

    Booth seating or bar stool designs look equally high-end in Dawson, with its naturalistic patina and muted shine allowing the texture and feel of the fabric to delicately accent the entire interior setting, be that a cool cocktail bar or a hotel brasserie.

    Clarke & Clarke’s reputation for the development of its eco portfolio continues in Riva, a soft, luxurious velvet made entirely from plastic bottles. The opulent drama of Riva’s velvet texture and colour choices, of which there are 25, makes for the ultimate fabric for hospitality settings. This dual-purpose, environmentally conscious fabric is GRS certified (Global Recycling Standard) but does not hold back on glamour and style. Rich, sumptuous and innovative with its harnessing of the power of recycling, this short velvet traverses the spectrum in bold Chartreuse, inky indigo and a heritage-inspired Moss, to complement a rich tapestry of leathers, woods and metals within an interior. Pairing Dawson and Riva in communal settings create texture and depth, for the most convivial environment, limiting environmentally impact and elevating style all at once. Equally, Riva’s rich palette and texture that melts in your fingers would serve private bedrooms and suites beautifully.

    Riva landscape feature with red sofa

    Image caption: Riva collection. | Image credit: Clarke & Clarke

    Orla, Dawson and Riva join Burlington, whose legacy for strong performance matched with stylish aesthetics continues.

    Inspired by the historic Burlington Street, London, home to Savile Row, a distinguished wool feel emerges from a washable, 100 per cent fire retardant fabric. Highly durable and adaptable, Burlington sets the standard for brushed decorative weaves, pairing high performance with that sleek London style.

    A modern bedroom with Burlington Clarke and Clarke fabrics

    Image caption: Burlington collection. | Image credit: Clarke & Clarke

    Crafted in plains, stripes and checks, the 100 per cent inherent FR polyester yarns and overall durability of the fabric does not impact the style, including herringbone and dog tooths, only serving to elevate Burlington’s suitability for hospitality environments.

    > Since you’re here, why not read our trends special ahead of Surface Design Show?

    Clarke & Clarke is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Clarke & Clarke

    surface design show trends of textured surfaces, with stone, paper and plants

    Preview: Trends & materials to emerge at Surface Design Show 2022

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Preview: Trends & materials to emerge at Surface Design Show 2022

    As we gear up for all things material at the Surface Design Show 2022 next week, where editor Hamish Kilburn will take to the stage moderating two sessions; taking an in depth look at why sustainable interiors matter, and interviewing Tina Nordan on the Legends Live platform, Pauline Brettell takes a sneak peek at what visitors can expect and the emerging design trends for surface design and materials…

    surface design show trends of textured surfaces, with stone, paper and plants

    Taking place next week at London’s Business Design Centre, Surface Design Show will again provide architects and designers with an exciting and inspirational range of surface designs and materials as it prepares to ‘bring surfaces back to life’. The show promises to inspire with innovation and creativity both in the form of exhibitors, as well as conversations to challenge and debate around issues that are important for the design industry as a whole.

    Speaking before the event opens, trend forecaster and curator of the Show’s Surface Spotlight Live feature, Sally Angharad has given us a sneak peek into the trends that are predicted to direct our designs over the coming year. “The design directions I have highlighted see new surfaces that blur the boundaries of material properties and celebrate original characteristics,” explained Angharad. “With greater focus on offering multiple solutions in one, we see solid materials interact with light and mixed material designs that give the customer greater choice. It is particularly exciting to see biodegradable and recycled ingredients driving aesthetics, with a move towards unique colourways and textures. Once again the Show will set the scene for the next year in terms of design ideas.”

    These trends, as highlighted and developed by Angharad, have been divided into the appropriately descriptive categories of Soft Lines, Pattern Inlays, Translucent Layers, Bio Magic and Dappled Colour. We take a closer look at the colours, textures, and technology at play, and some of the makers and manufacturers championing them.

    The soft lines trend is all about gentle relief surfaces that evoke a sense of calm by featuring tonal shifts and subtle line work for a pared back aesthetic. Tattoo by Italian wallpaper designer and manufacturer Zambaiti Parati showcases this trend in its embossed wallpaper with beautiful soft tactile lines that echo natural stone.

    Raven is Europe’s leading Japanese tile specialist, and Yuki is a glazed porcelain tile from Master Ceramicists, INAX of Japan. The YU-KI name is from YU meaning glaze and KI meaning seasons. The standard white colour represents winter snow, the red represents summer sun, and the black represents the night sky of a mid-autumn day. The gentle curved Yuki border form is naturally created by using split bamboo, one of the most familiar materials for Japanese people.

    Pattern Inlays looks at how patterns and motifs are introduced in intricate ways, taking inspiration from marquetry techniques, with modular shapes creating a design. Cora Wood Experience has teamed up Pininfarina to create Miraggio a new wooden floor collection that combines different technologies and materials and features complex geometric patterns inspired by natural elements. The idea behind the collection was to create continuous flooring that blurs the borders between the exterior and interior spaces, uniting them with a unique design, mixing the wooden surfaces with ceramic elements.

    Wonderwall Studios brings this theme to life in its premium panelling created from salvaged wood, giving discarded timber a second lease of life. Pheonix is perhaps its most avant-garde design, conceived of furniture-grade hardwoods with geometric and organic patterns that collide.

    surface design patterned wooden panelling from salvaged wood

    Image credit: Phoenix Wonderwall Studios

    Translucent Layers introduces designers to hard materials which explore translucency to maximise on light and space using geometric shapes and interlocking structures. Jodhpur Blue has developed a range of stunning translucent stone sheets that bring this theme to life. Made using a thin layer of stone with a transparent resin backing to create a beautiful stone sheet that can be back lit to enhance the stones features and characteristics.

    Another interesting application of this concept can be seen in the installations by Amron Architectural, a trusted supplier and manufacturer of products for the architectural and design industry worldwide. Providing innovative solutions from the workplace to award winning restaurants, used within their schemes are chains by Kriscadecor. This architectural solution uses intricate chains to create semi-transparent textures and shapes from elegant waves to parallel structures.

    kriskadecor chain installed as design feature

    Image credit: Kriskadecor

    Bio Magic is set to be a key trend for 2022 and beyond as it looks at biodegradable ingredients and materials which continue to offer sustainable solutions with developments in colour dyeing and recycling processes bringing new alternatives to the table using food waste. Johnson Tan, one of 32 ‘New Talents’ at Surface Design Show, has created surfaces using food shell waste including eggshells and coffee which creates a delicate, subtle and translucent material. Also found within the New Talent section is Biotic by Studio Lionne Van Deursen, an ongoing research project and material archive. Microbes are used to grow a biological material which is made of bacterial cellulose. This is made using yeast and bacteria in a fermentation process. During this process bacteria spin nano fibres of cellulose and produce a layer on the surface. When this layer has dried, it becomes a solid material that has comparable properties to leather.

    sustainable leather alternatives

    Image credit: Biotic Studio

    Also innovating on the leather front, Wildman & Bugby brings ecology leather to the show in the form of a sustainable 100 per cent genuine leather made using Olivenleder a biodegradable tanning agent. The leathers within this collection are tanned with the patented wet-green technology. Using the power of nature, the olive leaf extract used for the tanning agent is exclusively made from the fallen leaves of the Mediterranean olive harvest.

    leather using olive leaf extract in tanning process

    Image credit: Wildman 7 Bugby

    The Dappled Colour trend heroes the rise in recycled materials and sees more one-off design aesthetics emerge where repurposed materials define the colour palette, embracing dappled patterns and flecks of contrast instead of solid colour.

    The Good Plastic Company produces sustainable panels from 100per cent recycled plastic, in addition each panel is made from a single type of plastic so it can easily be recycled, extending the economic life of the material. There is a huge choice of colours and styles with many having a striking dappled colour effect. Another dappled surface being created from plastic is WasBottle from Benecore, a 100per cent recycled HDPL panel designed to produce tabletops, shelves and partition elements and claddings for interiors. Each panel is unique thanks to the randomness of the recycled material showing variations in colour which creates a vibrant dappled texture.

    wasbottle bencore recycled plastic surface

    Image credit: Benecore

    We are only touching the surface of these trends here, and it is clear that there is a lot to look out for and discover amongst the exhibitors at this years Surface Design Show. As we explore and discover all this material innovation, take time to listen to the conversations on stage. At a time when interior designers are joining others across the industry and are being challenged by the Interior Design Declares petition, these trends and materials take on a greater significance in the big design picture.

    Hotel Designs is proud to be a media partner with this event and editor Hamish Kilburn will be moderating the conversation on the main stage on ‘Why sustainable interiors matter and how we plan to transform the industry’ at 19:45 on February 8. The following day Kilburn will join Conran & Partners Tina Norden on stage as part of the ‘Legends Live’ interview series on the main stage 14:30 February 9.

    Main image credit: Zambaiti Parati 

    Four Season Private Residences Lake Austin

    Four Seasons unveils 2022 hotel development pipeline

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Four Seasons unveils 2022 hotel development pipeline

    For Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, 2022 is all about solidifying success and strategic expansion. We take a look at the group’s plans and pipeline for the year ahead…

    Four Season Private Residences Lake Austin

    Luxury hospitality company Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, plans to continue to solidify its position through the strategic expansion of its portfolio of hotels, resorts and residential developments. The company is also extending its luxury lifestyle offering through the growth of Private Retreats, its portfolio of luxury villa and vacation home rentals, its bespoke Private Jet experience and through the Four Seasons at Home luxury goods collection. Despite industry-wide challenges caused by the pandemic, Four Seasons outlook for 2022 looks set to build upon the success of the past year, including the addition of highly anticipated new hotels, resorts and residences in key markets, and the extension of its standalone residential collection with new properties opening last year in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

    Supporting this growth, the company’s longstanding shareholder, an affiliate of Cascade Investment, L.L.C. (Cascade), closed this month on its acquisition of a majority stake in Four Seasons from its long-term investment partner, an affiliate of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC). The transaction marks a pivotal point for the company, further demonstrating Cascade’s commitment to provide Four Seasons with resources to accelerate growth, support the company’s properties and owners, and expand its strategic goals. KHC retains a 23.75 per cent stake in Four Seasons and remains strongly dedicated to the company’s considerable opportunities.

    “2022 marks an important moment in the evolution of Four Seasons as we sharpen our development focus in key markets, strengthen our leadership position as an iconic luxury brand and capitalise on new opportunities that will continue to drive and diversify our growth,” said John Davison, President and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “Realising these opportunities means investing in our greatest competitive advantage – our people. For more than 60 years, the strength of Four Seasons has been grounded in our unmatched commitment to service excellence. As we grow with intention, so too do the opportunities for our people, ensuring we create an environment in which they can flourish.”

    swimming pool with sunloungers and umbrellas at San Domenico Palace Taormina

    Image credit: Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

    Four Seasons is building on the momentum of its successful 2021 openings in strategic markets, including in Napa Valley, California; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Taormina, Italy. The company continues to accelerate expansion plans worldwide with four openings planned for 2022, including exciting new developments in Tamarindo, Mexico; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Along with the accelerated pace of new openings, the high valuations and increasing demand for existing Four Seasons properties managed on behalf of owners speaks to the strength of the Four Seasons brand.

    chandelier in the lobby and bar in four seasons private residences new orleans

    Image credit: Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

    Four Seasons has more than 50 new projects under planning or development, including in Italy, Spain, China, Japan, Colombia, Belize and across key markets in the US, all of which will add to the company’s existing portfolio of 122 hotels and resorts and 48 residential properties in 47 countries around the world.

    “Four Seasons has a strong, strategic growth trajectory – an extensive pipeline of projects that will open in key global destinations, with visionary development partners who share our commitment to excellence,” said Bart Carnahan, President, Global Business Development and Portfolio Management, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “Our residential business in particular is a key pillar in our growth plans, with a five-year pipeline of USD 7 billion in gross sales value comprising more than 30 projects worldwide.”

    New standalone Private Residences, developments not connected to a hotel or resort, set to open in the coming years include Four Seasons Private Residences Dubai at Jumeirah – a project that fully sold out before public sales began – Four Seasons Private Residences Lake Austin and Four Seasons Private Residences Marrakech at M Avenue. These new standalone developments join the company’s current collection in London, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Other upcoming residential developments connected to an existing or soon-to-open Four Seasons property include Fort Lauderdale, Minneapolis, Nashville, Mumbai, Cartagena and Belize.

    As Four Seasons extends its portfolio globally, the company does so with consideration for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) priorities. Four Seasons is committed to sustainable hospitality, including reducing carbon emissions, conserving water, eliminating waste, and sourcing responsibly. To further its commitments to address waste and protect local ecosystems, the company aims to remove all single-use plastic from the guest experience by the end of 2022.

    Main image credit: Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

    EDITION LIGNATUR from KEUCO and TEAM7

    EDITION LIGNATUR by KEUCO and TEAM 7 add new furniture pieces

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    EDITION LIGNATUR by KEUCO and TEAM 7 add new furniture pieces

    KEUCO and TEAM 7 have announced a new addition to the Edition Lignatur collection of solid wood bathroom furniture. Wild white oak has been added to the collection of premium natural wood surfaces which are the bespoke trademark of this collection…

    EDITION LIGNATUR from KEUCO and TEAM7

    EDITION LIGNATUR is an exclusive collection of furniture made from natural wood, and is the result of many years of bathroom know-how from KEUCO combined with leading manufacturer TEAM 7’s traditional art of woodworking. Every element of EDITION LIGNATUR furniture has been individually created by the Design House Tesseraux + Partner, as these unique pieces are custom-made and hand built for each and every order.

    The original offering of premium natural wood surfaces has been extended, and now includes a distinctive range of wild white oak furniture. Each piece of this light wild oak series features uniquely prominent dark knots. To enhance these natural features, the entire surface is treated with a special formula that includes a natural white oil which helps to give the furniture its distinct appearance. The wild white oak joins the other premium real wood finishes in the range which include noble walnut, oak and Venetian oak. The Venetian oak furniture is made of aged oak piles from the lagoon city of Venice, with their natural shipworm markings as a key feature. Each piece of EDITION LIGNATUR solid wood has its own individual markings, making it one of a kind.

    edition lignatur bench seat provides natural bathroom storage in white wild oak

    Image credit: KEUCO

    As well as introducing the wild white oak finish, the range is also including an additional washbasin, fitting and mirror cabinet options, extending the possibilities for designing exclusive bathrooms. You can now choose from a range of single or double washbasin units and counter top washbasins, as well as side units, tall units and bench seats. The vanity units for surface mounted round washbasins, as well as side units and the coordinated side units, are available with a choice of either with ceramic or glass cover plates.

    KEUCO fittings and accessories create a harmonious visual appearance with surfaces in classic chrome or new brushed finishes, including bronze, champagne-coloured nickel, or trendy black chrome. The EDITION LIGNATUR free-standing accessories for the washbasin and toilet incorporate different types of wooden furniture and designs into the range.

    Washbasins made of Varicor or ceramic can be combined with these noble wood surfaces. Round ceramic surface mounted washbasins in white or slate grey complement the product range, and a specially developed free-standing fitting stands enhanced in the middle of the washbasin. The washbasins can also be combined with KEUCO on-wall fittings.

    grey ceramic surface mounted basin with natural wood finish in the edition lignatur range

    Image credit: KEUCO

    The EDITION LIGNATUR mirror cabinet offers a perfect combination of wood, mirrors and light accentuating the natural wood elements of the design, while the shelf inners, rear wall and exterior side panels all made of matching wood. This triple-sided light frame makes it a real highlight in the bathroom and comes as either as a classic on-wall or recessed mirror cabinet.

    bathroom furniture and fixtures in natural wod in a contemporary bathroom

    Image credit: KEUCO

    The open shelf  is the perfect stage for your favourite products, while the LED lighting can be dimmed by means of a panel giving you the possibility of changing the light colour from warm white to daylight.

    The aim of perfectly crafted products is to combine aesthetic forms with sensible functionalities, and this is a claim that is consistently taken into account with this collaborative bathroom collection, right from the idea through to the implementation.

    KEUCO is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: KEUCO

    Moooi Hotel Designs

    Product watch: Re-cut from Atelier Reservé for Moooi Carpets

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Product watch: Re-cut from Atelier Reservé for Moooi Carpets

    Atelier Reservé is an Amsterdam-based niche brand, founded by the Reverse Boys Alljan Moehamad & designer Deyrinio Fraenk, with a focus to bring old stock fabrics, used materials and vintage garments, back to life. Moooi Carpets’ Re-cut collection is a product of that vision…

    Moooi Hotel Designs

    Atelier Reservé’s focus is on redesigning and reinventing garments by using a combination of old and new blended fabrics, with uniquely designed Japanese and tattoo references. Not surprisingly, the brand’s design philosophy and aesthetics have led to admiration and representation around South-East Asia, with exclusive high-end retail partners in Hong Kong, Singapore, China and Japan.

    The brand’s love for using vintage Levi’s garments and fabrics has also resulted in a long-term collaboration with the global jeans brand. For Levi’s, Atelier Reservé created various limited edition capsule collections, upcycling and reconstructing existing Levi’s classics.

    With these collections, the two brands appeal to a next generation of consumers who are looking for sustainable and unique pieces with a story, and who are not limited by conventional norms, fashion rules or trends. For Atelier Reservé, each item is genderless by nature and can be worn fitted, oversized, inside out, or anyway the owner likes it.

    Without explicitly highlighting its sustainable and organic nature, Atelier Reservé gives an authentic touch to quality garments and embraces the aging process that naturally occurs as a result of day-to-day wear and tear. For Atelier Reservé, ‘one-of-a-kind’ means each garment has its own story with its own unique shape. All garments are made by hand, by a small team at a workshop in Amsterdam. That’s why colours, shapes and details vary. The consistency is in the love for handwork, quality materials and the free-spirited nature of the makers.

    Atelier Reservé follows its own nonconforming path and invites its wearers to do the same.

    The vintage garments are “Re-cut” to give a longer lifespan to fabrics and raw materials that are already in rotation. Redesigning and reinventing a combination of old and new blended in a unique garment with strong Japanese references.

    > Since you’re here, why not read about what else Moooi Carpets is launching in 2022?

    Moooi Carpets is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Moooi Carpets

    safe surfaces in the bathroom and shower from duravit

    Duravit offers attractive solutions to safety in the bathroom

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Duravit offers attractive solutions to safety in the bathroom

    Bathrooms can present us with a range of risks and hazards. With this always in mind, Duravit offers solutions that are both safe as well as aesthetically dynamic…

    safe surfaces in the bathroom and shower from duravit

    Whether caused by moisture, less than ideal structural conditions, or operator error, typical sources of risk in the bathroom include slipping or stumbling hazards, and scalding hot water. The risk of accidents can be significantly reduced if careful precautions are taken right from the beginning of the design and specification process. Duravit’s range includes a host of elements to enhance safety in the bathroom – whilst still meeting the highest aesthetic standards.

    flush fitting shower base by duravit to prevent accidents in the bathroom

    Image credit: Duravit

    Preventing falls with a flush-fitting, anti-slip base is why all Duravit acrylic shower trays come with an antislip coating to reduce the risk of slipping on a wet surface. The transparent and yet tangible primer guarantees sureness of footing and slip-resistance. TÜV Rheinland has confirmed quality level C for wet barefoot areas (DIN 51097). For example, all Tempano shower trays are available with this anti-slip coating.

    Products made from DuraSolid meet anti-slip requirements even without an additional coating. DuraSolid is a cast mineral material developed by Duravit. Bathtubs made from DuraSolid A feature a matt, velvety surface, and offer a pleasant feel without visible joints and seams – for example the bathtubs of the ranges Cape Cod by Philippe Starck, Dura Square or Luv by Cecilie Manz. Stonetto shower trays with the DuraSolid Q surface texture guarantee safety in the bathroom thanks to class B slip-resistance. Users warm to the innovative mineral material on the first touch
    thanks to its texture that is reminiscent of natural stone.

    Structural conditions need to be taken into account in addition to the composition of bathroom elements. Flush-fitting showers do not have a lip, which helps prevent trips. Tempano offers the option of a straightforward flush-fitting installation, and the specially developed support frame is supplied in a preassembled format and can be easily adapted to the height of the floor structure on site using templates and the adjustable feet that are accessible from above. Stonetto also offers the option of flush-fitting installation.

    Bathroom lighting can be a further safety factor, and a well-lit bathroom makes trip hazards visible –by day and night. Shower-toilets with LED night-light function, such as SensoWash Starck f, offer orientation and safety in the dark without interrupting the body’s repose. All keys on the A2 actuator plate are permanently illuminated in the dark to aid orientation and the night-light function switches on or off automatically, depending on the ambient light. Some mirrors and mirrored cabinet models also feature washbasin lighting that acts as a night light. For example, the L-Cube furniture series comes with an optional installation frame including an integrated LED night light and daylight sensor.

    Scald protection thanks to thermostats is another safety feature that can be easily intergrated into a design. A thermostat guarantees that the required temperature can quickly be set and is ideal in cases of recurrent fluctuations in pressure and temperature in the supply pipes. A safety lock at 38 degrees Celsius protects the user from scalding. At the same time, warmer water can be obtained by pressing a safety button and turning the handle further. The C.1 Duravit faucet series by Kurt Merki Jr. includes shower-head and bathtub thermostats for exposed or concealed installation, as is also the case with B.1 and B.2. Shower systems that are optionally available with a thermostat or single lever shower mixer are a practical all-in-one solution. Holistic bathroom design is ensured by B.1, B.2, and C.1, each perfectly match all Duravit series with their soft, striking, or simply unpretentious design language. Polished chrome surfaces ensure a pleasant feel on all models. The combination of the anti-slip and flush-fitting base, illumination, and a thermostat from the Duravit portfolio creates a safe environment, consistent with the design concept of the holistic bathroom.

    Duravit is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Duravit

    Hotel Designs Hottest Hotel Openings in February 2022

    VIP arrivals: Hottest hotel openings in February 2022

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    VIP arrivals: Hottest hotel openings in February 2022

    Cutting through the noise around the flood of hotel openings anticipated for Q1 in 2022, Editor Hamish Kilburn shares his pick of the VIP arrivals expected this February. In his round-up, he picks out a quirky LA bolthole, a 250-key luxury abode in New York and a new wellness destination in the Middle East…

    Hotel Designs Hottest Hotel Openings in February 2022

    So far this year, the most popular stories on Hotel Designs have been the articles that have referenced Marriott, Raffles, Hyatt and Hilton’s hotel openings and development plans in 2022 and beyond. Following popular demand among our readers to be in-the-know when it comes to the latest and greatest hospitality entrances, from this February onwards we have re-launched our much-loved VIP arrivals editorial series.

    Each month, the editorial team will take it in turns to lay down the upcoming hotel openings that we cannot stop talking about. So, without further a due, here are my hottest hotel openings to look forward to in February.

    One Hundred Shoreditch, London

    Located in prime position on Shoreditch High Street, and arriving this February on our ‘hotel openings’ radar, One Hundred Shoreditch is the new hotel from Lore Group, the group behind Sea Containers London, Pulitzer Amsterdam, Riggs Washington DC and Lyle Washington DC. Designed by Lore Group Creative Director Jacu Strauss, One Hundred Shoreditch will reflect how the area has evolved during the last decade, with interiors that mirror the neighbourhood’s new, grown-up feel while retaining the buzz and vibrancy synonymous with the area in the hotel’s public spaces.

    Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som, Qatar

    Render of Zula Wellness, a hotel opening in February

    Image credit: Chiva-Som

    For the wellness gurus among us, the news that Chiva-Som is opening a retreat in the Middle East is nothing short of significant for the brand, as well as Qatar. Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som sits in a pioneering destination in the Middle East that blends Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine with a holistic health and wellbeing philosophy, established by Chiva-Som, the internationally acclaimed wellness resort in Thailand.

    The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad

    Hotel openings in February: Exterior of building on York York skyline. Hotel Designs The Ritz Carloton New York Nomad

    Image credit: Marriott International

    Following our insight into Marriott’s 2022 hotel development pipeline, there is one hotel that stands out for us in that exciting mix of hotel openings in Manhattan, and that’s the The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, steeped in history but we are told will feel ‘thoroughly modern’. The 250-key hotel, which will finally open this February, shelters a spa with eight treatment rooms, an all-day dining restaurant led by Michelin-starred chef José Andrés and almost 1,000 square-metres of event space.

    YOTELPAD Miami 

    An interesting hotel opening in February, Hotel Designs YOTELPAD guestroom

    Image credit: YOTEL

    Taking the clever hospitality concept that made YOTEL famous and loved among the on-the-go modern travellers, but packaging it up with a more residential feel, YOTELPAD, we expect, is going to turn heads on the global long-stay hospitality scene. Each PAD is the epitome of efficiency, with custom European kitchen and bath cabinetry with stone finishes, contemporary flooring and beautifully made furniture and that transforms to do everything modern guests need.

    Short Stories Hotel

    Hotel Designs Short Stories

    Image credit: Short Stories Hotels

    In the heart of Los Angeles sits a 66-key boutique hotel that is about to open a new hospitality experience, where the stories may be short but also deeply meaningful. Short Stories Hotel LA draws inspiration from LA’s breezy natural aesthetic and pace, and will serve as a ‘tranquil retreat in an urban core’.

    MET La Paz

    Opening in one of Bolivia’s trendiest neighbourhoods, the 76-key MET La Paz will shelter a contemporary design narrative, which will flow through from the lobby/open restaurant area right into the guestrooms and suites.

    Inhabit Queen’s Gardens, London

    Listed in our ‘hottest arrivals in 2022‘, Inhabit London Queen’s Gardens will open as an intimate boutique hotel comprising of 159 uplifting guestrooms, along with carefully considered social spaces. Just like its sister hotel, which shares the same city as its home, Inhabit Queen’s Gardens has been created with a passion for wellbeing and living in a way that supports a healthy mind and body, as well as modelling responsible hospitality practices.

    Since you’re here…

    More than 60,000 readers per month enjoy the content we publish on Hotel Designs. Our mission is to define the point on international hotel design, and we are doing that by serving relevant news stories and engaging features. To keep up to date on the hottest stories that are emerging, you can sign up to the newsletter, which is completely free of charge. As well as receiving a weekly round-up of the top stories, you will also access our bi-monthly HD Edit –staying ahead of the curve has never been so easy!

    Click here to sign up to our newsletter.

    Main image credit: Marriott International

    Woman standing in courtyard at The Temple House Hotel Designs

    Weekly digest: Design deliveries, ace openings & development pipelines

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Weekly digest: Design deliveries, ace openings & development pipelines

    Namaste! Editor Hamish Kilburn here to wrap up your week (and month) with the only story you need to read this week in order to be fully aware of the latest movements on the hotel design and hospitality scene. This week’s round-up includes news from the likes of Marriott, The Set Collection and Ace Hotel Group…

    Woman standing in courtyard at The Temple House Hotel Designs

    Is it that time already? Fridays on the editorial desk at Hotel Designs always starts the same: with a piping-hot coffee followed by scroll of our analytics to see which of the headlines published over the last five days have been a hit with our readers.

    As we prepare to bid farewell to what I am glad to call a stable month – a welcome novelty given the unpredictable times we were all working in over the last two years – the stories that have stood out this week as our most-read include interviews and features that all share a common denominator; they are all looking towards brighter, happier and healthier times – PMA to the rescue!

    Channelling nothing by good vibes, here are our top stories from the week.

    In conversation with: Jean-Luc Naret, Executive Director, The Set Collection

    Image caption: A contemporary guestroom inside Mamilla Jerusalem. | Image credit: The Set Collection

    Image caption: A contemporary guestroom inside Mamilla Jerusalem. | Image credit: The Set Collection

    Inside The Set Collection’s iconic London hotel, Hotel Café Royal, Hotel Designs meets legendary hotelier and Executive Director Jean-Luc Naret to discuss hotel development, the definition of luxury and how (and why) the collection is expanding.

    “A decade on from that spectacular opening party, I am back here, inside the Regent Suite that casts an unparalleled view over Piccadilly Circus, to meet Jean-Luc Naret, the Executive Director of The Set Collection, which is made up of a cluster of iconic hotels in spectacular locations.”

    Read more.

    In pictures: Pigeon Post Bar & Eatery, Hilton Cologne

    detail of bar design at Pigeon Post cologne

    Image credit: Hilton / THDP

    The Hilton Cologne is nestled in an amazing location in Cologne’s city heart, being a stone’s throw from the most visited attraction in the city, the Cologne Cathedral. The city is also known for its vibrant cultural scene, including numerous festivals such as Cologne Carnival, Cologne Lights, Cologne Pride, Art Cologne, IMM Cologne, Heinzels Winter Fairy-tale: Handbrotzeit and several food festivals, amongst many others. The hotel itself was once home to Cologne’s postal savings bank, a landmark building on the famous Marzellenstrasse. The building’s heritage is the inspiration behind the interior design of The Pigeon Post Bar & Eatery by the THDP design studio, which expresses this vintage vibe, while being considered and contemporary with some fun quirky details.

    Read more.

    First look inside Ace Hotel Toronto

    Guestroom inside Ace Hotel Toronto with wooden interiors and modern design scheme

    Image credit: Ace Hotel Group

    The opening of the 124-key Ace Hotel Toronto this June will mark the brand’s debut property in Canada. The modern hotel, which has been developed in partnership with Zinc Developments and Alterra Group and designed by Toronto-based design firm Shim-Sutcliffe Architects in collaboration with Atelier Ace’s interior design team, will be housed in a new building in Toronto’s Garment District designed. “Our intention with Ace Hotel Toronto was to make a positive contribution to our city, a welcoming civic space where life happens and memories are made, and where both locals and their guests feel equally at home, Brigitte Shim from Shim-Sutcliffe Architects told Hotel Designs.

    Read more.

    How The Londoner created a new dialogue between design & wellness

    It was one of the most ambitious architecture and hotel development projects that Leicester Square had ever seen. The plans for the world’s first ‘super boutique’ hotel, The Londoner, designed by Yabu Pushelberg, engineer experts at Arup Associates and artist Ian Monroe, reportedly cost £5 million and included 15-storeys of innovative design and architecture. 

    Read more.

    Pharrell Williams and David Grutman to open hotel in The Bahamas

    Image credit: Somewhere Else

    It’s not the first time celebrities have dipped their toe in the hospitality waters, with the likes of Hugh Jackman, Donatella Versace, Elizabeth Hurley and of course Robert De Niro among A-listers owning hotels. The recent addition to the list includes Pharrell Williams and David Grutman who in 2021 opened The Goodtime Hotel to rave reviews.

    Less than a year later, the pair have tasked design and architecture studio Rockwell Group to bring to life their next hotel vision of a design-forward lifestyle hotel in The Bahamas.

    Read more.

    Marriott provides insight on 2022 hotel development

    crystal clear water at island resort of st regis in the red sea

    Image credit: Marriott International

    Following the lows of the pandemic, 2021 was a surprisingly good year for Marriott International and there was plenty to celebrate about, including opening its 70th hotel in Japan, opening its 100th JW Marriott property worldwide and agreeing the signings of three new hotels in Saudi Arabia.

    At the end of 2021, the hotel group’s worldwide system consisted of nearly 8,000 properties and roughly 1.48 million rooms in 139 countries and territories. At year-end, the company had the largest global development pipeline, with roughly 485,000 rooms.

    Read more.

    Editor checks in: ESG, let’s talk about it (consciously)

    coastal bedroom designed using net zero principles and sutainable materials

    Image caption: This month, Perkins&Will announced how it plans to go carbon neutral on its projects by 2030. | Image credit: Perkins&Will

    I would like to address the greenwashing effects of buzzwords. The latest of which, surrounding the topic of sustainability, is ESG, which stands for Environmental, Social, Governance. The decision was made (by whom, I am still not entirely sure) to replace the over-used term of ‘sustainability’ with ‘ESG’ in the hope of encouraging people to think about the wider context. But in doing so, the problem has in fact escalated. I have waited until now, adhering to the unspoken rule of thinking before I speak, to put forward my views on this matter, but I’m afraid my frustration has boiled over.

    Read more.

    Since you’re here…

    More than 60,000 readers per month enjoy the content we publish on Hotel Designs. Our mission is to define the point on international hotel design, and we are doing that by serving relevant news stories and engaging features. To keep up to date on the hottest stories that are emerging, you can sign up to the newsletter, which is completely free of charge. As well as receiving a weekly round-up of the top stories, you will also access our bi-monthly HD Edit –staying ahead of the curve has never been so easy!

    Click here to sign up to our newsletter.

    Main image credit: The Set Collection/The House Collective

    Hafele Hotel Designs main image

    Why architectural ironmongery is key to successful hotel design

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Why architectural ironmongery is key to successful hotel design

    The individual components of a hotel are cherry picked to strike the perfect balance between aesthetic and functionality. To achieve this, architectural ironmongery is crucial, says Paul Smith, Head of Specification Sales at Häfele UK…

    Hafele Hotel Designs main image

    As hotel design projects progress, budget limitations sometimes mean the teams have to swap the originally specified products for cheaper alternatives. As a result, the final hurdle of the project – which sees the initial vision truly come to life – becomes more about hitting cost requirements than selecting the best products for the building’s needs, and the guest’s expectations.

    The assistance of an architectural ironmonger at the specification stages of a project can prove vital. Helping to translate and convert your requirements into a functional and legally compliant ironmongery schedule, an ironmongery expert will also help achieve an overall aesthetic that will impress your guests and ensure the finished building has the wow factor.

    A creative, geometric headboard in modern bedroom

    Image credit: Häfele UK

    On a recent project at the Harrington Hall Hotel in South Kensington, the Häfele Projects 360 team were called on to help create a luxury interiors scheme that would leave a lasting impression on guests. They developed and supplied a suite of UK-manufactured brass door hardware, specially finished in satin and antique styles, to complement the building’s character and established aesthetic while adding a modern edge.

    The Häfele Projects 360 Team offers hotel designers and operators a solution to ensure design consistency across an entire building, from start to finish. The team is made up of more than 20 Guild of Architectural Ironmongers who are DipGAI qualified and were some of the founding members of the GuildMark Scheme, assuring customers of the highest standards of modern specification.

    Close up of bedroom floor

    Image credit: Häfele UK

    Its tailored programmes of work are built around specific budgets and deadlines, while also adhering to current construction design standards, offering bespoke solutions which ensure each hotel stands out for its individuality. The team offers design consultation, product specification and product selection, as well as order management, ongoing support and after sales care. All of this helps customers achieve the levels of accuracy, attention to detail and absolute functionality required for every part of their project, with a specific focus placed on architectural ironmongery.

    For example, via Häfele’s industry standard door scheduling software, the Häfele Projects 360 team can prepare accurate and detailed ‘door by door schedules’ for hotel projects of all shapes and sizes. Customers will receive an easy to follow document with a comprehensive list of all doors within the project and the related hardware, tailored to specific requirements, including product imagery and pricing information, grouping similar products into hardware sets.

    Additionally, Häfele’s breadth of range means that it has products to suit every budget. The team can work to the original ironmongery brief without amending the functionality, a solution can be sourced to suit the budget of a project without compromising on the intended look and feel, meaning a client’s original vision need never be sacrificed. The finishing touches of a hotel scheme should be equally prioritised as the bricks and mortar. As the space develops, moving from concept to reality, the finite detail must remain a big deal and be delivered in such a way to ensure your project runs efficiently, meets the expectations of customers today and stands out in a crowded marketplace. The Häfele experts are on hand to oversee the entire process, leaving operators to focus on getting people through their doors.

    Häfele is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Häfele

    hypnos bed in hotel indigo on the french riviera

    Case study: In bed with Hypnos and Hotel Indigo

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Case study: In bed with Hypnos and Hotel Indigo

    Hypnos Contract beds can be found in Hotel Indigo hotels across the UK and Europe. We take a look at how Hypnos seamlessly delivers comfort to two very different hotel design styles…

    hypnos bed in hotel indigo on the french riviera

    The first Hotel Indigo opened in 2004, and today this wonderful boutique hotel brand from IHG can be found all over the world. Each Hotel Indigo delivers authentic local experiences, modern design and intimate service with the peace of mind and consistency of staying with one of the world’s largest hotel groups. And because no two neighbourhoods are alike, neither are any two Hotel Indigo properties. Every Hotel Indigo has its own character, no matter where in the world, but they all have one thing in common, and that is to provide exceptional customer experience, which of course, includes a great night’s sleep.

    Hypnos beds can be found in Hotel Indigo’s across the UK and Europe. Olivier Brommet, Director of Global Business Development, Hypnos Contract Beds explains why. “Hypnos are the only bed manufacturer approved to supply the worlds four largest international hotel groups,” said Brommet. “Our extensive network of global representative’s service and supply our clients in their locality. This collaborative approach allows us to provide our global clients such as IHG with bespoke solutions consistently across their hotels around the world.”

    Hotel Indigo Cagnes-sur-Mer and Hotel Indigo Bath are two perfect examples of how design style can be completely different, but guests can be sure of the same comfortable night’s sleep.

    hypnos beds in hotel indigo bath

    Image credit: Hypnos / Hotel Indigo

    Bedrooms at the Hotel Indigo Bath are contemporary with a traditional twist, reflecting the age and style of the 18th century Georgian building whist also catering for modern tastes. Each of the stunning 166 guestrooms are furnished with fabulously comfy Hypnos beds.

    guestroom opening onto a private terrace at Hotel Indigo in France

    Image credit: Hypnos / Hotel Indigo

    Hotel Indigo Cagnes-sur-Mer is the perfect escape on the French Riviera. This modern hotel provides a peaceful haven from the bustle of this medieval city, while Hypnos beds provide a more classic comfort in the contemporary design scheme. In the past, the city was used as a great retreat for all kinds of artists, most famously Renoir who spent his last 12 years living just around the corner from Hotel Indigo site.

    With this meeting of great brands, guests can enjoy a great night’s sleep after exploring beautiful culturally rich cities across the UK and Europe, as Hypnos beds can be found in Hotel Indigo’s, from Stratford upon Avon to Glasgow in the UK, and from Belgrade to Madrid in Europe.

    Hypnos is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Hypnos / Hotel Indigo

    Editor checks in: ESG, let’s talk about it (consciously)

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Editor checks in: ESG, let’s talk about it (consciously)

    Are you discombobulated with the various buzzwords that are circulating conversations around sustainability? Why are we being advised to use the term ESG, and what does it even mean? Editor Hamish Kilburn attempts to answer these questions when trying desperately to encourage people to be more conscious when using terminology on the global design and hospitality scene… 

    Throughout my childhood, there was one saying over others that I remember most vividly. “Think before you speak,” my mother, teacher – even my gymnastics coach, would say. It’s been ingrained into my head ever since I received soap in my mouth after asking for the ‘effing’ marmalade at the breakfast table, when my grandparents were present.

    As I grew up, careless back-chatting advanced into opinions being formed. Later, this transformed, as luck would have it, into a career of journalism where I have always found comfort and passion in sticking up for the unpopular and ethically addressing the formally unsaid or underrepresented (or both at times).

    “ESG stands for Environmental, Social, Governance.”

    With that in mind – and in the risk of sounding overtly negative in this already challenging era of design and hospitality – I would like to address the greenwashing effects of buzzwords. The latest of which, surrounding the topic of sustainability, is ESG, which stands for Environmental, Social, Governance. The decision was made (by whom, I am still not entirely sure) to replace the over-used term of ‘sustainability’ with ‘ESG’ in the hope of encouraging people to think about the wider context. But in doing so, the problem has in fact escalated. I have waited until now, adhering to the unspoken rule of thinking before I speak, to put forward my views on this matter, but I’m afraid my frustration has boiled over.

    Lounge area at Inhabit queens park london with natural light filled interior and wooden crafted furniture

    Image caption: When it opens later this year, Inhabit Queen’s Gardens will shelter a conscious design narrative, which is sustainable and innovative. | Image credit: Inhabit Hotel / Tim Evan Cook

    “The truth is, I don’t care what words are use, so long as they are spoken or written with morality, understanding and meaning.” – Hamish Kilburn, Editor, Hotel Designs.

    Having watched friends, colleagues, clients and brands blurt out the term without fully comprehending it, enough is enough. And they are not alone, nor do I blame them. Many people, quite understandably, assume (making an ‘ass’ out of ‘u’ and ‘me’ in the process) that the ‘S’ in ESG stands for ‘sustainability’, which voids the entire sentiment of using yet another acronym. Instead it stands for social; the social impacts of decisions.

    In addition, admittedly fuelled by passion and good will, eco-warriors – of which I say with sensitivity as I put myself in the same category – unintentionally have amplified the stigma around sustainability that heavily suggests that if you’re not using the right terminology then you’re on the wrong side of history against the wider issue of climate change.

    The truth is, I and many others who care deeper about the wider and devastating impacts of climate change, don’t care what words are use, so long as they are spoken or written with morality, understanding and meaning. I can get on board with ESG, but I do feel like there are other words that can be used that offer more clarity.

    coastal bedroom designed using net zero principles and sutainable materials

    Image caption: This month, Perkins&Will announced how it plans to go carbon neutral on its projects by 2030. | Image credit: Perkins&Will

    I also fear that the industry’s strive to say the right thing, instead of trying to do everything we can to live and work more consciously, will camouflage those who are proposing and delivering very good and innovative work behind the scenes, which is where the attention should really be focused on. This month, we shone the spotlight on several of these, including Perkins&Will’s mission to become Net Zero by 2030, Harrison Spinks’ on-going journey to become carbon-neutral by 2023 and two hotels that, when they open, will seriously disrupt and challenge the current hospitality landscape. In just a few weeks, I will have the pleasure of joining industry legends from Interior Design Matters on stage at the Surface Design Show to discuss the significance of sustainability and why we all should act now to become better working citizens.

    As we leave January behind – having explored hotel openings and smart tech – we move into investigating our upcoming features; surface design and lighting. 2022 is well and truly underway, folks and, during the next 11 months, I hope you will see how our committed team will discover the unsung heroes when finding those around us who are showing original and conscious concepts that will better people.

    If hotel designers, architects, hoteliers and brands developed themselves while being conscious to those around them as well as the environment they are in, then the hospitality and hotel design landscape, on a global level, would be a much cleaner and greener place to sleep, work, play and eat.

    Consciously yours (always),

    Editor, Hotel Designs

    Meet Up London 2022

    MEET UP London: Early bird promotion ends this Friday!

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    MEET UP London: Early bird promotion ends this Friday!

    A short sharp shout-out for our early bird promotion which runs until 17:00 on Friday (yes, that’s tomorrow!) for you to claim your early bird tickets to Hotel Designs‘ Q1 networking event, MEET UP London…

    Meet Up London 2022

    Where: MEET UP London is taking place in the Minotti London showroom on March 24 2022, so not only will you get to meet and network with professionals across the disciplines in the hospitality design industry, but you will be doing it in an inspiring space.

    What: MEET UP London is a networking event, designed specifically to bridge the gap between designers, architects, hoteliers, developers and suppliers. This next MEET UP will be themed ‘inspiring creativity’.

    Why: “If we have learned anything from the last few years, it is that hotel design and hospitality is fuelled extensively by human relationships,” said editor Hamish Kilburn who will return to the Minotti London to host MEET UP London. “If our recent face-to-face networking events, including The Brit List Awards 2021, are anything to go by, designers, architects, hoteliers, developers and suppliers alike have a strong appetite for meaningful networking events. And with that qualitative research complete, we are once again ready to serve.”

    The early bird promo runs until 17:00 on Friday 28 January – between now and then, tickets for designers, architects, hoteliers and developers are just £10 + VAT (inflating to £20 + VAT after early bird promo). For anyone else, they are just £99 + VAT (inflating to £150 + VAT after early bird promo).

    Not wanting to make you panic, but…please note, there are limited tickets available for MEET UP London. Due to the demand for this event, we anticipate that tickets will sell out. To purchase tickets, click on either the supplier booking form tab or the Buyer booking form tab*.

    * Only designers, architects, hoteliers and developers qualify as ‘buyers’.

    Sponsors and partners

    Main image credit: Hotel Designs

    Sekers Grandeur fabric as dramatic full length curtains

    Product watch: Sekers launches two new collections

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Product watch: Sekers launches two new collections

    Sekers has launched two new fabric collections, Grandeur and Munro, both referencing the brands Scottish locale as inspiration in the sheer weaves and textured neutrals…

    Sekers Grandeur fabric as dramatic full length curtains

    Fabric brand Sekers has launched its first sustainable collection woven in Global Recycling Standard certified polyester, whilst continuing to meet the necessary contract market requirements. The Grandeur collection features a textured plain with a complementary wide width sheer, woven in a refined palette of sophisticated neutrals, cool greys, attractive pinks and soft, dusky blues.

    sekers fabric glamis from grandeur collection

    Image credit: Sekers

    Grandeur is made up of two designs; Glamis and Kinnaird. Glamis is composed of 53 per cent recycled polyester and 47 per cent polyester, and ideally suits being used to make contract curtains, bedding and accessories. This design has an elegant, raised strié effect which gives a subtle striped appearance on the fabric. The use of Glamis can add a hint of personality when used in an interior space, as it adds a textural element to the room which will not go unnoticed. The supporting plain wide width sheer, is composed of 100 per cent recycled polyester, making this collection the ideal choice for the environmentally conscious designers specifying for the hospitality and leisure markets.

    Sustainability aside, this washable collection also has a delicate hand and fluid drape, proving Grandeur to be an elegant addition to any hospitality or leisure interior.

    Munro, inspired by Scotland’s towering mountains, glistening lochs and golden beaches, is a striking collection of five decorative, wide width sheers. The five designs in this collection all clearly directing us to the source of inspiration, are Dorain, Lomond, Macdui, Nevis and Wyvis.
    Dorain is a dramatic net textile with intertwining yarns, giving this design a bold, noticeable appearance. Lomond is a dense weave with a subtle lustre, while Nevis draws inspiration from the rippling water of Loch Eil which reflects the mighty peak of Ben Nevis. The fourth design, Macdui, resembles the plateau of the mountain which is covered with granite gravel and boulder fields. Its delicate texture flaunts decorative floats which display an attractive ombré effect. Finally, Wyvis shows off an exaggerated strié effect which mimics the grand cliff edges.

    Much like Scotland’s landscape, this collection will take your breath away. Munro is available in a refined palette inspired by the natural world with a great selection of greys, whites and blues. Munro is an elegant addition to any interior and the ideal choice for the designer specifying for the hospitality, leisure and marine (with the exception of Dorain and Lomond) markets.

    Sekers is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Sekers

    Hotel Designs in conversation with Jean-Luc Naret for The Set Collection

    Talking all things luxury hospitality with Jean-Luc Naret

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Talking all things luxury hospitality with Jean-Luc Naret

    Inside The Set Collection’s iconic London hotel, Hotel Café Royal, Editor Hamish Kilburn meets legendary hotelier and Executive Director Jean-Luc Naret to discuss hotel development, the definition of luxury and how (and why) the collection is expanding…

    Hotel Designs in conversation with Jean-Luc Naret for The Set Collection

    In the heart of London – straddled between the well-to-do neighbourhood of Mayfair and the exuberant quarters of Soho – sits the iconic Hotel Café Royal, which for many is the epitome of luxury hospitality with its bold, voguish design that meets the height of quality service.

    “If only walls could talk,” I say to myself when walking through the paired-back, minimalist corridors being told tales of the building’s former existence, when it was, as the name suggests, a café. But not just any café in London. It was a place where the rich and famous were seen rubbing shoulders. Patrons include the likes of Mohamed Ali, Virginia Woolf, George Bernard Shaw, Mick Jagger, Elizabeth Taylor and Diana, Princess of Wales.

    Hotel Designs Cafe Royal London Lobby

    Image caption: The magnificent lobby inside Hotel Café Royal. | Image credit: Hotel Café Royal/The Set Collection

    In 2008, the hotel closed for an extensive renovation, which was led by David Chipperfield Architects and Donald Insall Associates. The task was to transform the building into a thriving luxury hotel, while also being sensitive to the building’s long and storied heritage.

    Hotel Café Royal emerged in 2012 from its building site to reveal a modern five-star hotel. The second hotel of what was then The Set, its sister hotels include the Conservatorium in Amsterdam and Hotel Lutetia in Paris.

    A decade on from that spectacular opening party, I am back here, inside the Regent Suite that casts an unparalleled view over Piccadilly Circus, to meet Jean-Luc Naret, the Executive Director of The Set Collection, which is made up of a cluster of iconic hotels in spectacular locations.

    Prior to starting his journey with The Set Collection, Naret took the global hospitality industry by storm. He was the Director General of the Michelin Guide and also managed luxury hotels worldwide, in destinations such a Mauritius, the Maldives, Barbados and also become CEO of La Réserve Hoetls & Spas, where he was at the helm of a collection of six hotels and five private residences.

    His latest mission is to sensitively expand The Set Collection’s small cluster of award-winning luxury hotels, to welcome new members that speak the same design and hospitality language. “The Set Collection launched a few years ago during the pandemic,” he tells me. “We started with four properties in Europe (the original members, if you like). From there, we wanted to expand and that’s where our search for unique design-led hotels began.”

    Hotel Designs Hotel Lutetia suite bedroom

    Image caption: A bedroom inside a suite at the iconic Hotel Lutetia in Paris. | Image credit: The Set Collection

    When it comes to selection process of which hotels will be sheltered under The Set Collection umbrella, Naret and his team are looking for properties that sit in a class all on their own and have a strong and meaningful sense-of-place, both in the design as well as hospitality. “We are not looking for more than one hotel per destination,” Naret explains. “We want to avoid our hotels feeling like they are competing against each other. Therefore, we are looking for a properties that are leading luxury hotels within their neighbourhoods. Each of the hotels that are already in the collection – Lutetia in Paris, the Conservatorium in Amsterdam, the Mamilla in Jerusalem and Hotel Café Royal in London – are based locally. Take this hotel, for example, you have one foot in Soho and one foot in Mayfair.”

    The latest news is that The House Collective will be joining The Set Collection, which will add a further four properties to the mix. “Like our founding members in Europe and Israel, The House Collective’s properties have made an impact on their market and the luxury traveller’s collective consciousness that is far greater than their relatively small footprint would suggest,” Naret said in a press release that was issued a day before our meeting. “It is a privilege to work with these expert hoteliers, not only to offer them the myriad benefits that being a part of The Set Collection offers but also to learn and grow together in new and exciting markets during these unique times.”

    QUICK-FIRE ROUND

    Hamish Kilburn: So, you currently have properties in London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Paris, Beijing, Chengdu, Jerusalem and Amsterdam… If you had to chose one destination answer where you choose to party, live and work?
    Jean-Luc Naret: Party in Paris, live in Amsterdam and work in London

    HK: Is there such thing as an unachievable guest demand? What’s the most outrageous one you have heard of?
    JLN: No. A guest once requested 1,000 rose petals to be floating in an Olympic-size swimming pool

    HK: What’s the last item that shows up on your credit card transactions?
    JLN: Last night’s dinner with my team.

    HK: Number one item you cannot travel without?
    JLN: My phone. What would we do without them?

    HK: Incredible food with a sleepless night or an incredible sleep with a standard F&B experience?
    JLN: Food every time.

    HK: Define luxury for you in 2022?
    JLN: Luxury is defined by quality service, in my opinion.

    Given Naret’s experience working on the operational and management corner of luxury hospitality, I am keen to understand where design, in his opinion, sits when it comes to the new era of luxury travel. “The hospitality businesses that set themselves aside from others, such as Club Med, One&Only, Rosewood and others, will create their own style that will be replicated by other brands,” he says. “Design plays a vital role. Ian Schräger is a fantastic example of someone who challenged what was then the conventional way of designing hospitality spaces. He poured his energy into the public spaces so that the guestrooms and suites were almost secondary, and that completely transformed the hotel market in the luxury sector. In the luxury business, we used to be – dare I say it – boring. Today, people like to do things differently, and have bold ideas for the future of luxury travellers.”

    As we wrap up our morning meeting, and Naret prepares to leave for the airport to travel to The States for more meetings, and no-doubt interviews about The Set Collection, I am keen to understand where he sees the next big movement in luxury hotels and hospitality. “For me, I have been keeping an eye on the fashion industry’s launch into hospitality,” he says, “and that’s an interesting concept that I think will further change the landscape.”

    Image caption: Fashion meets design. The dramatic courtyard at The Temple House. | Image credit: The Set Collection/The House Collective

    Image caption: Fashion meets design. The dramatic courtyard at The Temple House. | Image credit: The Set Collection/The House Collective

    Off the record, I am told that The Set Collection, currently with eight properties as members, is not planning on procrastinating, with Naret and his time moving towards the ambitious goal of having 25 – 30 hotels under its umbrella by 2023. Following the destruction the pandemic caused on the independent hospitality sector in particular, it is refreshing to see a brand that is working to celebrate the essence of luxury hospitality by collaborating with hotels that channel deep senses of place and purpose.

    Main image credit: The Set Collection

    pigeon post bar and eatery with design references to the buildings history

    In pictures: Pigeon Post Bar & Eatery, Hilton Cologne

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    In pictures: Pigeon Post Bar & Eatery, Hilton Cologne

    Interior design studio THDP have taken inspiration from the history of the building housing Hilton Cologne to create The Pigeon Post Bar & Eatery, a new restaurant and bar that combines vintage style with modern hospitality…

    pigeon post bar and eatery with design references to the buildings history

    The Hilton Cologne is nestled in an amazing location in Cologne’s city heart, being a stone’s throw from the most visited attraction in the city, the Cologne Cathedral. The city is also known for its vibrant cultural scene, including numerous festivals such as Cologne Carnival, Cologne Lights, Cologne Pride, Art Cologne, IMM Cologne, Heinzels Winter Fairy-tale: Handbrotzeit and several food festivals, amongst many others. The hotel itself was once home to Cologne’s postal savings bank, a landmark building on the famous Marzellenstrasse. The building’s heritage is the inspiration behind the interior design of The Pigeon Post Bar & Eatery by the THDP design studio, which expresses this vintage vibe, while being considered and contemporary with some fun quirky details.

    art and design details in the Pigeon Post reference the buildings post office past

    Image credit: Hilton / THDP

    The Hilton Cologne lobby, bar and social spaces were redesigned and re-furbished to accommodate a modern, innovative gastronomy concept, and the centrepiece of this, is the Pigeon Post, a combination of restaurant, bar and lounge and social working area. Its unusual name and amusing details are a clear reference to the buildings history as a post office in the early 1950s through to the late 1990s. Later, after a long vacancy, in 2002 it was finally gutted and converted into the Hilton Hotel.

    seating area in pigeon post bar with display design detail referencing post office design

    Image credit: Hilton / THDP

    The Pigeon Post Bar & Eatery invites you to enjoy curated coffee specialties in the morning, after which it becomes the ‘Eatery’, with a separate entrance for external guests. At lunchtime and in the evening, there are à la carte dishes on the menu, while the bar shifts into cocktails and drinks mode from early evening . The optically chic restaurant and bar was built with a total of 110 seats, with a variety of furnishings and seating options which include intimately lit dining areas. A feature central bar dominates the space with a prominent overhead gantry in wood and copper colours. The table tops are in a faux marble, expressing the previous functionality of the building while updating the effect to offer a more intimate but contemporary vibe. Seating options are either at the bar on new Stellar Works bar stools, or in the custom made half moon cozy booths fabricated by Hagenauer, providing private dining in a more intimate space.

    Curating the artwork and accessory package sprang from the narrative of the F&B concept, and part of this reference was the choice to reuse obsolete German 70’s office equipment and furnishings and to re-appropriate them in a relevant contemporary way. The overall effect was to convey a sense of heritage with a real 1970’s vibe. Vintage mechanical typewriters, light fittings and objet d’art were curated to give an aesthetic appeal and to be a curio or an ornamental talking point for Pigeon Post guests. With a lovely attention to detail, the typewriters, mounted in glass display cases, each have a love letter being typed. Post boxes and writing counters are positioned to invite guests to pick up a free postcard and write to a loved one or friend, and the hotel then posts them for free.

    vintage typewriters become art works in the pigeon post bar & restaurant cologne

    Image credit: Hilton / THDP

    Artworks were inspired by the buildings history as a post office and represented using various mediums, including mixed media painting, stamp collages , ceramics, wood and digital prints created by local and international artists. Fun, colourful decorative objects, books and curiosities were incorporated for the dressing of the social working area Library. Artworks inspired by collages, typography recalling the graphics of old German post offices, with perching wooden pigeons, screening inspired by typewriter keys were all incorporated to layer the interior.

    a curated collection on display in the post boxes at pigeon post bar & restaurant

    Image credit: Hilton / THDP

    The interior uses a simple earthy colour palette of blue greens, greys drizzled with mustard, and has a unique balance between industrial, vintage and modern styling.

    As interior designers on this project, THDP were able to harness its trademark narrative based approach incorporating an inherent creative curiosity, while working closely with local manufacturers, artisans, and talented artists. This interior reflects an experiential guests focused approach which is evident in so many of the details running thought this design.

    > Since you’re here, why not check the RG Naxos design project by THDP?

    Main image credit: Hilton / THDP

    Sonance sound system in the manor house lyndly event space

    Case study: Sonance at Manor House Lindley

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Case study: Sonance at Manor House Lindley

    When it comes to boutique style hospitality at this luxury hotel and wedding venue, this discreet, high performance audio installation by Sonance was really the only option…

    Sonance sound system in the manor house lyndly event space

    With a blend of high style, distinctive interior design and personal service, the privately owned Manor House Hotel aims to offer its guests the experience of luxury through the quality of its accommodation, communal areas and purpose designed wedding and events spaces. Located at Lindley near Huddersfield, the boutique hotel comprises eleven bedrooms, four individually themed bars and restaurants, a roof terrace and a gym. There is also a discreet wedding and events venue called the Coach House, a versatile space designed to accommodate up to 200 guests and complete with a private musical garden. Making time spent at the Manor House truly memorable, a service-first mentality conveys a strong sense of bespoke hospitality within a range of meticulously curated environments, all of which include the necessity for discreet high-performance audio in sympathy with their design. Installer Smart Synergy was challenged to create a discreet AV installation that made a beautifully boutique experience even more distinctive, and opting for Sonance would fulfil the brief at every level.

    “Perfecting the sound at the Manor House was complicated somewhat by the fact that it’s a listed building,” explained Shaun Hawkins of installers Smart Synergy. “So we had to be super sensitive with the design, and not just with the way it looked; we also had to eliminate the transfer of sound from social to private spaces within older architecture. The brief demanded a level of sound quality and design you just can’t buy off the shelf.”

    As a result of the detailed specifications, Sonance Pro Series speakers were perfect for the project. The Sonance Pro Series is a range of 70V/100V/8 ohm selectable In-Ceiling, Pendant and Surface Mount Speakers, designed to deliver high fidelity with extremely low distortion, wide dispersion and smooth power response. The range shares consistent voicing, ensuring seamless sonic integration when used together throughout a space. The Pro Series speakers are powered entirely by Sonance Sonamp digital amplifiers.

    The outdoor space was as important as indoors, and these areas feature a mix of Sonance Mariner on-wall speakers and Son Array in-ground satellites and subs. AV distribution is through Wyrestorm’s Network HD 400 architecture and hotel security is supported by Dahua, involving five 4MP IP eyeball dome cameras and an eight channel NVR.

    “There’s a growing desire for discreet high sound quality within the UK’s luxury hospitality sector,” said Hawkins.” This may come from the US where discriminating customers associate the quality of the venue with its ability to get the audio just right. The advantage for resi CI integrators is that their skill sets have developed to achieve this level of fine tuning.’’ He added: “The Manor House was Smart Synergy’s first boutique hotel install and something of a dream job. We knew the product and the support we’d get from Habitech, and we applied our skills and competences to relatively simple tech for a customer who understood the value of quality and wanted the very best.”

    This meeting of the period interiors of The Manor House, with cutting edge technology facilitated by Habitech, along with the creativity of Sonance products which are designed to disappear rather than dominate a space, has created a bespoke sound solution that goes beyond the ordinary to transform a space and the events it is designed to accommodate through attention to detail at every level.

    Since you’re here, why not read about how Sonance fitted out the audio inside The Hendrick’s Gin Palace?  

    Habitech is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Habitech / Manor House Lindley

    curio collection hotel in the heart of florence italy

    Curio collection by Hilton to debut in the heart of Florence

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Curio collection by Hilton to debut in the heart of Florence

    Hilton has announced plans to open Anglo American Hotel Florence, Curio Collection by Hilton in autumn 2022, following a full renovation. Here’s what we know…

    curio collection hotel in the heart of florence italy

    Anglo American Hotel Florence, Curio Collection by Hilton is less than 15 minutes by foot to renowned palaces, churches, and museums — all replete with Renaissance art, including the works of the great masters such as Giotto, Brunelleschi, Botticelli, and Michelangelo, and the beautiful architecture that Florence is famed for. Top nearby attractions include the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Piazza Duomo, the Uffizi Palace and Gallery, the Accademia Gallery, and the Ponte Vecchio, the beautiful bridge spanning the Arno river.

    “Anglo American Hotel Florence is a stunning addition to Curio Collection by Hilton, joining almost 50 Curio Collection hotels trading or under development in Europe,” said Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Hilton. “Across the continent, we’re seeing growing owner interest in our Collection brands, which allow hotels to maintain an independent look and feel, while benefiting from Hilton’s commercial systems and global customer base. We look forward to welcoming guests in the historic centre of Florence.”

    Following an agreement with Westmont Hospitality Group and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., the 115 guestroom hotel, located in the centre of Florence, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site, will undergo a full renovation prior to opening. The hotel will feature distinctly local offerings in a stunning setting, exemplifying the Curio Collection flair for authentic, curated experiences. A mere two blocks from the famous Arno River in a tranquil neighbourhood, the elegant hotel reflects the history and the charm of the city, complete with romantic Tuscan shutters and a sun-drenched interior courtyard typical of classic Italian villas.

    “We are excited to strengthen further our relationship with Hilton following our highly successful collaborations both in Italy and around the world,” said Westmont Hospitality Group. “Originally built in 1792 as one of the first hotels in Florence that has also hosted Leo Tolstoy and Maria Callas among its former guests, the fully renovated Anglo American Hotel Florence will retain its historic and elegant grandeur while enjoying the added consistency and global recognition of the Curio Collection brand.”

    The renovation will follow the parties’ commitment to ESG investment, with a particular focus on sustainability. The main emphasis will be on the restoration of the property in keeping with its architecture and history, and the restoration of original finishes and utilisation of existing materials will make up a key part of the sustainability strategy.

    > Since you’re here, why not have a look at The Royal Senses Resort Curio Collection by Hilton?

     

    Main image credit: Curio Collection by Hilton

    Phono lighting by Chelsom

    Product watch: Phono from Chelsom

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Product watch: Phono from Chelsom

    As part of the EDITION 27 range, Phono presents table, floor and wall lighting options in an effortless balance of flawless product design with function…

    Phono lighting by Chelsom

    Since its launch in 2020, the Chelsom EDITION 27 range has been throwing a light onto an extensive and varied range of spaces, places and projects. The range was conceived as a diverse collection that covered an extensive array of lighting options and solutions.

    When EDITION 27 first came under the spotlight, we identified some of the stand out designs in the range, and drew attention to the lighting spectrum and solutions included in it, from focussed bedside reading solutions to dramatic statement pieces. Since then, the range has become a firm fixture in designers lighting vocabulary.

    More recently we saw the range take centre stage at HIX 2021 when Chelsom were finally able to present the range in person, displaying a selection of the EDITION 27 range on their stand, while showcasing the design trends, materials and finishes incorporated into the collection. Drawing on their vast experience in the industry, designers Will and Robert Chelsom have been able to create products that are wholly suited to the global hospitality and marine marketplaces, expertly fusing function and aesthetics throughout.

    “In all my years working within the industry never has there been a more challenging yet exciting time to be designing lighting products,” said Robert Chelsom, Chairman at Chelsom.  “Triggered by fashion cycles, interior trends are moving increasingly faster and in doing so constantly stimulate new design directions when it comes to finishes and materials, which is something we have given careful consideration to. Edition 27 has been a fantastic collection to produce and it’s our most ground-breaking to date. Will and I are proud to be able to say that all product has been designed in- house to create this diverse lighting collection that truly caters for all levels of the hospitality and marine sectors.”

    The Phono collection presents designers with a range of design and functionality options. The conical fabric shades fit seamlessly in to spun brushed brass cone holders and emit a beautiful warm light designed to enhance the ambience of any room. Table and floor lamps stand on heavy satin black cylindrical bases. The combination of fabric with the brushed brass provides a warm multi textured fitting with focussed ambient lighting.

    Chelsom is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Chelsom

    Kimpton Kitalay Samui-Villa Kitalay Master Bedroom

    Kimpton Resorts arrives in South East Asia

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Kimpton Resorts arrives in South East Asia

    Kimpton Kitalay Samui, the first resort in South East Asia for IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury boutique brand, has officially opened its doors. We take a look at its distinctive design showcasing its take on the Samui way of life…

    Kimpton Kitalay Samui-Villa Kitalay Master Bedroom

    Located on Choengmon Beach in the northeast of Koh Samui, Kimpton Kitalay Samui will be the island’s newest luxury beachfront resort. Tranquillity and privacy will be easy to find as the resort occupies a quiet cove along the pristine beach, far from the hustle and bustle of Chaweng. The resort’s name is derived from two Thai words: ‘kita’, which means ‘song’ or ‘singing’, and ‘lay’, which translates to ‘sea’ and encapsulates the spirit of the local community. ‘Kitalay’ is thus a joyous ode celebrating the song of the sea.

    Kimpton Kitalay Samui view from above

    Image credit: IHG/Kimpton Hotels & Resorts

    “Koh Samui is renowned for its breath-taking beauty and village living, and this inspires the immersive guest experiences – our take on the return of Samui’s way of life, at the resort,” said Michael Janssen, General Manager, Kimpton Kitalay Samui. “We are also offering Kimpton’s signature perks including a nightly-hosted Social Hour, the brand’s industry-leading Kimpton Pets Programme, and an approachable luxury experience fuelled by a team who champions heartfelt, human connections.”

    interior design with traditional thai elements in Kimpton Kitalay Samui

    Image credit: IHG/Kimpton Hotels & Resorts

    Standing on double-tiered, stilt-suspended platforms, the resort is an enchanting fusion of contemporary design and traditional accents. Local Thai design agency, P49 Deesign integrated rustic wooden elements from repurposed driftwood, nostalgic veranda-style features and timeless accents such as local artwork by Thai artisans. Earthy palettes and wave-inspired terrace furnishings lend a rustic character to the 138 guestrooms and pool villas, complemented by interwoven Thai basketry motifs on the bathroom floors and local artwork upon the walls.

    Thai inspired design in guestroom at Kimpton Kitalay Samui

    Image credit: IHG/Kimpton Hotels & Resorts

    Within the rooms, handwoven ocean blue cotton robes are custom designed by local Samui tailors. An elevated bath experience in the oversized-bathtub awaits with the resort’s signature sea salt and patchouli-scented bath amenities by HARNN including bath bombs, bath salts and milk baths.

    With connection and wellness top of mind, Pimãanda by HARNN is the perfect treatment for those seeking to restore balance, with its 14-step spa ritual, or its signature treatment, ‘Paradise of Wondrous Sea’. Apart from a 24-hour gym, guests can also enjoy a refreshing dip in the resort’s outdoor pool, or their own private pools located within the villas, or try Rue Sri Dad Ton, a Thai Hermit’s programme which teaches self-stretching and body manipulation poses that boosts energy and harmonises minds.

    traditional woven lampshades in the Lanai Bar at Kimpton Kitalay Samui

    Image credit: IHG/Kimpton Hotels & Resorts

    First-class food and beverage programmes play a big part in Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants across the world. Kimpton Kitalay Samui is no exception and boasts five distinct and immersive dining venues. The Lanai offers guests a journey of discovery through finely curated coffees including Thai single origin coffee, artisanal teas and locally-produced spirits. Fish House is an elevated all-day beach house dining with its range of classic seafood flavours as well as innovative seafood bao buns or local-inspired spicy nam jim sauce. Guests can also look forward to lounging at SHADES Ocean Lounge and Pool Bar for refreshing poolside cocktails and beach events, dine at the Thai lifestyle café, Boho, or partake in freshly baked fun at HOM Baking Company with its extensive range of creative baked goods, confectionery, specialty teas and cold press juices.

    The resort’s lifestyle programming which continues to be part of Kimpton’s DNA, delivers memorable experiences, starting with a morning kickstart experience to Kimpton’s Social Hour, where the brand’s vision to enable human connection comes to life as guests mingle with locals. Not forgetting the furry guests, Kimpton Kitalay Samui’s Pets Programme will delight with special amenities and treats, and even a pet spa experience.

    nautical decor in the Kimpton Kitalay Samui Junio Kids Club

    Image credit: IHG/Kimpton Hotels & Resorts

    Inspired by the buzzing seaside port, Junio is the 500 square-metre, split-level Kids Club at Kimpton Kitalay Samui designed for interaction, creative play and active exploration, Little guests can learn new skills like tie-dye, coconut leave weaving or roll up their sleeves for a day tending to plants and growing their own sprouts at the resort’s Herbs Garden.

    The brands debut in this tropical paradise is all about the warmth of human connection and sense of community which are woven into the fabric of an idyllic escape and intertwine into every aspect of the resort through references to the stories and culture of the island’s fishing village.

    > Since you’re here, why not check out Kimpton Hotels Australia debut?

    Main image credit: IHG/Kimpton Hotels & Resorts

    GROHE bathroom featuring Allure brassware in Cool Sunrise

    GROHE identifies sustainability and wellness trends

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    GROHE identifies sustainability and wellness trends

    Patrick Speck, Leader LIXIL Global Design (parent of the GROHE brand) shares insights straight from the design studio into the trends that will emerge in 2022 and inform the designs that shape our homes…

    GROHE bathroom featuring Allure brassware in Cool Sunrise

    As many of us continue to incorporate hybrid ways of working with spending more time at home, and perhaps, sharing more of it on our social media channels, new trends are emerging for 2022. The kitchen and bathroom are leading the way when it comes to creating spaces which are both functional and well designed. Considerations such as sustainability, self-care, wellness, and multi-functionality are all high on the agenda for the year ahead, while style features and design nuances continue to play an important factor in renovation decisions.

    Patrick Speck, Leader LIXIL Global Design discusses the trends forecasted for the year ahead while identifying the key factors and influences informing these trends. As more consumers continue to live and work from home, technology and luxury will go hand in hand to create a seamless design experience. At the same time, individualisation continues to reign supreme with different choices of finishes, colours and remaining popular. Impacting on all of this, is the forecast that a sustainable home has become an important priority for consumers and therefore one that all leading brands and designers need to take note of and prioritise.

    GROHE bathroom lifestyle shot featuring Grandera shower, tap and bath filler

    Image credit: GROHE

    Taking these trends straight into the bathroom, it seems some spa-inspired luxury right at home is on all of our wish and search lists. Living through a pandemic, coupled with seeing more of each other’s homes on Instagram Reels and TikTok hacks, means we’re all looking to invite more moments of indulgence and wellbeing into our homes. With searches for ‘freestanding bath’ and ‘slipper bath’ increasing by 228 per cent and 237 per cent respectively in the last year according to Houzz, it’s clear that creating a spa-like bathroom is an ideal first step to inviting luxury into our homes. Think calming scents, greenery and thoughtful design, to Japanese style toilets and step in spa showers at the top end of the scale. Wall-hung units and sanitaryware make for a more streamlined bathroom, ideal for smaller spaces, while metallic-finished brassware and soothing rainfall shower heads add a premium touch.

    While relaxing showers, minimalist wet room designs and slim-line taps are growing in popularity, easily sustainable homes have also become a top consideration for us, with our impact on the planet being highlighted more than ever. GROHE continues to enable homeowners to live more sustainably without compromising on design or features, with product innovations which include cold-start taps to help save energy, and technology to reduce water flow across taps and showers without disrupting usage.

    GROHE’s flagship Cradle-to-Cradle Certified and Level Gold product ranges have been designed to work towards a circular economy, meaning each component can be broken down and re-used endlessly in future products – helping homeowners’ shop with a conscious.

    GROHE Eurosmart kitchen basin mixer with Cradle to Cradle certification

    Image credit: GROHE

    While we might be saving hundreds of pounds a year forgoing a shop-bought coffee on our morning commute, filtered water to keep refreshed and hydrated throughout the day is a luxury we can keep, without the guilt of buying bottled water. GROHE has also used innovate design to ensure that we don’t miss out on that office cooler convenience as the shift from office to home is clearly here to stay. Swapping the office water cooler for your local tap water may not initially scream sophistication, but with GROHE’s Blue Home water system, the brand is encouraging the reduced use of plastic water bottles while enjoying the most convenient of refreshments. The system, which acts as a filter for tap water, refines the taste as well as offering chilled still, semi-sparkling or sparkling water in an instance. Staying hydrated throughout the day, without compromising on quality, has never been easier.

    While both the kitchen and bathroom have always been of utmost importance when it comes to cleanliness, living through a pandemic has perpetuated the need for easy cleaning, and with that the demand for premium, hygiene-focused products. With GROHE’s infra-red taps, people can wash their hands without the need to touch any surfaces; offering efficient cleaning for the hygiene-conscious as it reduces the chance of spreading germs, with added water saving capabilities too. Complete with an adjustable temperature limiter to help save energy and cut the risk of scalding and low-energy electronics, the infra-red solutions are the go-to for those opting for more sustainable choices in the home. Plus, their slim profiles and sleek profiles make them the perfect design feature for smaller bathrooms and cloakrooms.

    With the number of people regularly working from home and spending more time indoors continues to increase, coupled with taking inspiration from the home renovation industry’s micro-influencers, individual tastes are expected to be seen aplenty this year, especially in the realm of colour trends. Greens and neutral colours are expected take centre stage in the kitchen to help create the perfect hybrid space, while searches for coloured bathrooms are on the rise too – expect to see black finishes, darker tones and textures being incorporated into the bathroom as it continues to transition from functional room to a space of self-care and wellbeing. Metallic finishes, industrial design features and innovative technology are also on track to be in high demand, with hygiene playing a major part in home decisions for the coming years.

    With all these options on the rise, along with the use of technology coupled with a concern for our environment, 2022 looks like it is set to be an interesting one on the design front, full of wellness and sustainability, not to mention some interesting colours and surfaces shifting the traditional kitchen and bathroom palettes into more interesting design territory.

    GROHE is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: GROHE

    Hotel Designs Ace Hotel Toronto modern guestroom

    Exclusive first look inside Ace Hotel Toronto

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Exclusive first look inside Ace Hotel Toronto

    Opening this summer, Ace Hotel Toronto will be housed in a new building in Toronto’s Garment District designed by award-winning Toronto firm Shim-Sutcliffe Architects, in collaboration with Atelier Ace’s interior design team. Editor Hamish Kilburn shares what he knows about Ace’s first foray on the Canadian hospitality scene…

    Hotel Designs Ace Hotel Toronto modern guestroom

    The opening of the 124-key Ace Hotel Toronto this June will mark the brand’s debut property in Canada. The modern hotel, which has been developed in partnership with Zinc Developments and Alterra Group and designed by Toronto-based design firm Shim-Sutcliffe Architects in collaboration with Atelier Ace’s interior design team, will be housed in a new building in Toronto’s Garment District designed. “Our intention with Ace Hotel Toronto was to make a positive contribution to our city, a welcoming civic space where life happens and memories are made, and where both locals and their guests feel equally at home, Brigitte Shim from Shim-Sutcliffe Architects told Hotel Designs.

    Guestroom inside Ace Hotel Toronto with wooden interiors and modern design scheme

    Image credit: Ace Hotel Group

    The new hotel also features dining from critically acclaimed chef Patrick Kriss, who helms the signature restaurant, Alder, and a yet-to-be-named rooftop bar and lounge debuting later this summer.

    Ace Hotel Toronto is adjacent to Queen West, Chinatown, and the Downtown business core, blocks from famed music venues Horseshoe Tavern and Velvet Underground, from the Art Gallery of Ontario and TIFF Bell Lightbox — Toronto International Film Festival’s HQ, and from the Bentway, the city’s artistic, cultural, and recreational public space. The hotel reflects the city’s past through a prismatic and future-facing vantage — preserving its layered legacies and adding texture with considered design and feeling. Intentionally crafted as a civic space, the hotel stands both in homage to and in dialogue with the neighbourhood it inhabits.

    “We’ve long admired Toronto, a free-thinking city and international cultural capital, and we are thrilled to open our first Canadian home here,” Brad Wilson, CEO, Ace Hotel Group said. “Ace Toronto is housed in a brand-new building inspired, both in design and ethos, by the electricity and independence of this remarkable place. Along with our brilliant collaborators, including Shim-Sutcliffe and Chef Patrick Kriss, we have created a site that reflects the city’s legacy as a global meeting ground and aims to actively share in its future. We look forward to opening our doors and welcoming everyone — locals and visitors alike.”

    Entering Ace Hotel Toronto, guests will be greeted by a suspended lobby overlooking St. Andrew’s Playground Park — site of the city’s first patch of green devoted to children’s play. The hotel’s public spaces are defined by an honest and refined material palette of concrete, clay, copper and wood that is echoed throughout the hotel’s public spaces as well as the guest rooms. Site-specific furnishings and lighting were custom-designed by Atelier Ace and Shim-Sutcliffe Architects to bring tangible comfort to the building’s design, and playfully intermix with vintage furniture sourced locally in Toronto. Original artworks by primarily Torontonian artists will offer reflection and joy across the hotel.

    The guestrooms, conceived as urban cabins to offer respite from the city, feature deep-set window benches that invite conversation and closeness, and grant sitters bird’s-eye views of the park below.

    Widely regarded as one of the world’s top culinary talents, Chef Patrick Kriss holds the distinction of being awarded the title of “Outstanding Chef” by Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants consecutively from 2017-2020. Relaxed and inviting, Alder aims to be an all-day hangout for Toronto. “For Alder’s menu, we’ve been inspired by the use of earthen and tactile materials in the design of Ace Hotel Toronto,” explained Kriss. “In the same way, our offerings will be direct and elemental. Drawing on elements from the wood-fired grill, we envision a little more olive oil than butter; lightly-treated seasonal vegetables; a selection of crudos, handmade pastas, and charcoal- grilled seafood and meats.”

    The restaurant’s keystone is its wood-fired hearth and grill, which offer the simple yet effective preparation methods of open flame and smoke to gently transform seasonal ingredients selected at their peak.

    Ace Hotel Toronto will take the Ace into a new territory. The lifestyle hospitality brand also has properties in Seattle, Portland, New York, Palm Springs, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Chicago, Kyoto and Brooklyn. Following high anticipation, Ace Hotel Sydney is due to open next.

    Main image credit: Ace Hotel Group

    Marriott provides insight on 2022 hotel development

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Marriott provides insight on 2022 hotel development

    Marriott International, which added 86,000 gross rooms last year and 517 properties, provides Hotel Designs with the latest on its hotel development progress, while also indicating a few emerging travel trends that are currently shaping hospitality development. Editor Hamish Kilburn writes…

    Following the lows of the pandemic, 2021 was a surprisingly good year for Marriott International and there was plenty to celebrate about, including opening its 70th hotel in Japan, opening its 100th JW Marriott property worldwide and agreeing the signings of three new hotels in Saudi Arabia.

    At the end of 2021, the hotel group’s worldwide system consisted of nearly 8,000 properties and roughly 1.48 million rooms in 139 countries and territories. At year-end, the company had the largest global development pipeline, with roughly 485,000 rooms. The company signed 599 agreements during 2021 representing approximately 92,000 rooms of which slightly more than half are located outside of U.S. and Canada. Rooms falling out of the pipeline remain at historically low levels, despite challenges brought on by the pandemic. During 2021, Marriott added more than 86,000 rooms on a gross basis, growing the system 3.9 percent, including deletions of 2.1 per cent. The deletion rate was 1.2 per cent excluding the exit of 88 Service Properties Trust select service hotels.

    “Marriott has the benefit of sitting at the intersection of information and insights from a global community of developers, properties, owners and franchisees, as well as the more than 160 million members of our Marriott Bonvoy travel program,” said Stephanie Linnartz, President, Marriott International. “Our analysis of the prevalent trends in global development is particularly instructive as we continue to recover from this global pandemic. We have been focused on working closely with our valued community of owners and franchisees throughout these unprecedented times. We are pleased with our strong 2021 development results and look forward to continuing to drive value for our owners and franchisees throughout the recovery and beyond with our quality brands, our comprehensive business support systems and industry leading loyalty platform.”

    Luxury maintains momentum

    Travellers crave leisure luxury travel experiences seeking iconic destinations and undiscovered locations. Marriott is poised to meet this demand with its unmatched portfolio of seven dynamic luxury brands across 476 hotels spanning 69 countries and territories.

    In 2021, Marriott International signed 40 luxury hotel deals, representing more than 6,000 rooms, and grew its portfolio of luxury hotel rooms by 4.8 per cent net, with notable additions in prime locations around the globe including Philadelphia (W Hotels), Nashville (W Hotels), Charlotte (JW Marriott), Bermuda (St. Regis), Paris (Bulgari), Rome (W Hotels), Maldives (The Ritz-Carlton), Budapest (The Luxury Collection) and Reykjavik (EDITION).

    Hotel Design of W Rome

    Image caption: Lobby/lounge inside W Rome. | Image credit: W Hotels

    The company continues to expand its luxury footprint and has by far the largest global pipeline of hotels in this important, high fee earning segment, with nearly 50,000 rooms. Marriott anticipates debuting more than 30 luxury hotels in 2022 in destinations from Mexico (The St. Regis Kanai Resort) and Portugal (W Algarve) to Australia (The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne) and South Korea (JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa). Marriott’s industry leading luxury portfolio adds to the power of Marriott Bonvoy, giving members a tremendous choice of experiences around the globe.

    The leisure boom continues booming

    Leisure demand has led the travel recovery, a trend that is expected to continue into 2022, as travellers continue to embrace multi-purpose trips, mixing remote work and vacation time. Leisure transient global room nights were the first to recover to 2019 pre-pandemic levels in the second quarter of 2021. For some time prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, leisure travel had been growing at a faster pace than business travel, and according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), all signs point to a continuation of the trend. Marriott’s industry leading resort network includes more than 600 properties in beach, mountain and desert locations around the world that have seen incredibly high demand and have demonstrated impressive average daily rates.

    Contemporary public area inside a Marriott Hotel

    Image credit: Marriott International

    Consumer interest in the very high growth all-inclusive resort segment continues to increase. Marriott intends to therefore capitalise on its strong recent momentum in this area, leveraging its proven brands to drive additional growth in this important segment. Currently, Marriott International’s all-inclusive portfolio spans 28 properties, representing more than 8,000 rooms in locations across the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. In 2021, Marriott International signed 22 agreements for all-inclusive resorts, marking a company record, including 20 all-inclusive resorts under its Autograph Collection Hotels brand and the first Marriott branded all-inclusive resort agreement in North Africa.

    “Marriott’s all-inclusive platform is energising the segment and providing Marriott Bonvoy members, owners and franchisees access to our strong brands,” said Carlton Ervin, Global Development Officer, International, Marriott International. “While our initial all-inclusive growth has been focused in the Caribbean and Latin America, we see tremendous opportunity to expand our all-inclusive platform into additional markets, including the Mediterranean and the Middle East.”

    Europe, Romania, Bucharest, The Marmorosch

    Image caption: The Marmorosch Bucharest, Autograph Collection. | Image credit: Marriott International

    The extended stay segment has always been attractive to leisure travellers and has become even more popular with the increase in remote work and the blending of business and leisure travel. Marriott International is the leader in the extended stay segment, setting the bar with the introduction of its Residence Inn brand almost 40 years ago. In 2021, extended stay accounted for 37 per cent of the company’s rooms signings in U.S. and Canada. Marriott Bonvoy’s extended stay brands – Element Hotels, Residence Inn by Marriott and TownePlace Suites by Marriott – include more than 1,400 hotels, offering stays from a few nights to a few weeks. Notable expected openings in 2022 include Element City Center Doha, Residence Inn by Marriott The Hague City Center and TownePlace Suites Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach.

    With growing consumer demand, Marriott’s extended stay portfolio offers modern design, signature programming​, new food and beverage offerings​, a flexible room mix for leisure and business​ travel and a proven operating model. At ALIS, Marriott will be showcasing Element Hotels, Residence Inn by Marriott and TownePlace Suites by Marriott through its ‘Longer Stay Lounge’, a space where investors, owners and operators can experience the latest in brand programming and designs while networking. The Longer Stay Lounge will present immersive brand vignettes that will allow visitors to learn about and experience each of the company’s longer stay brands.

    Modern spa area inside the JW Marriott hotel

    Image credit: JW Marriott

    “The extended stay segment has been extremely resilient over the past few years and guest and owner demand continues to grow, driven in some measure by the rise in multi-purpose travel,” said Noah Silverman, Global Development Officer, U.S. & Canada, Marriott International. “We are excited for continued momentum around extended stay and to use our presence at ALIS to communicate the strength and possibilities of Marriott’s longer stay category and the impressive value it brings to owners.”

    Conversions transform across the portfolio

    Conversions are an important driver of rooms growth in any year, but they have been particularly meaningful during more disruptive times. Marriott provides a rich and flexible conversion platform with significant revenue synergies, cost saving opportunities and turnkey access to many of the programs and services that the company provides, including the company’s powerful Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program.

    Marriott added more than 18,000 conversion rooms in 2021, accounting for 21 per cent of overall openings. In addition, conversions accounted for 27 per cent of rooms signings in 2021. Interest in conversions into Marriott brands remains high, led by the company’s robust portfolio of collection brands, including Autograph Collection Hotels, The Luxury Collection, and in particular the Tribute Portfolio, which has grown its footprint of open and pipeline hotels by nearly four times in the past five years. In addition, Delta Hotels by Marriott, the company’s flexible full-service conversion brand represented nine percent of signed conversion deals in 2021. Notable expected conversion additions in 2022 include the JW Marriott Hotel São Paulo in Brazil, The Brix, Autograph Collection in Trinidad and Tobago, The Serangoon House, Singapore, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel and a Delta Hotels by Marriott City Center Doha in Qatar.

    Strong international growth poised to continue

    In 2021, the company signed 256 agreements representing nearly 51,000 rooms in international locations outside the U.S. and Canada. With the company rapidly growing its international footprint, Marriott continues to enter new markets, offering travellers more exciting destinations. In 2021, the company expanded into Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Bermuda, Grenada, St. Lucia and Turks & Caicos. In 2022, the company expects to plant its flag in Albania and Honduras.

    Luxury minimalist suite

    Image credit: Ritz Carlton/Marriott Hotels

    Development activity for well-established brands within the select service space remains another key driver of growth, especially internationally. Comprised of brands including Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft Hotels and Moxy Hotels, Marriott International’s select brands are increasingly resonating internationally. In 2021, the company opened 107 select service hotels representing nearly 19,000 rooms in 29 countries across its international regions. In China, select brands further expand consumer travel experiences and choices, bringing guests diversified experiences in emerging Chinese destinations. Notable expected openings in 2022 include Element Yangjiang Hailing Island and Moxy Suzhou City Center. In 2021, Fairfield by Marriott continued to make its mark in Japan with the “Michi-no-eki” project, bringing six more hotels to key locations across four prefectures in Japan. The company also launched its new Fairfield prototype in Europe and the Middle East.

    Branded residential soars

    Marriott’s branded residential business soared in 2021 as evolving lifestyle changes have sparked growing interest in on-demand amenities and services from brands people admire and trust. Marriott continues to lead the branded residential segment with nearly 190 projects open or in development worldwide across 14 of the company’s brands.

    Marriott’s branded residential offerings include a standalone residence model with similar elevated services offered at the company’s hotel properties, but without a co-located hotel, which speaks to the power of Marriott’s brands to attract residential buyers in markets around the globe. In 2021, Marriott signed its first standalone residences for the EDITION brand in Miami and for the Autograph Collection Hotels brand in London. The company currently operates 14 standalone residences with 16 in the pipeline. Overall, the branded residential sector continues to grow rapidly internationally, with nearly 80 percent of Marriott’s upcoming projects located outside of the U.S. and Canada. The company expects to debut 14 residential projects in 2022 in destinations from New York City (The Ritz-Carlton Residences, New York, NoMad) and Algarve (W Residences Algarve) to Belgrade (The Residences at The St. Regis Belgrade).

    Since you’re here…

    More than 60,000 readers per month enjoy the content we publish on Hotel Designs. Our mission is to define the point on international hotel design, and we are doing that by serving relevant news stories and engaging features. To keep up to date on the hottest stories that are emerging, you can sign up to the newsletter, which is completely free of charge. As well as receiving a weekly round-up of the top stories, you will also access our bi-monthly HD Edit –staying ahead of the curve has never been so easy!

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    Main image credit: Marriott International

    leaflike pink floral ceiling display at rozu restaurant

    Case study: Leaflike takes flower power to a whole new level

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Case study: Leaflike takes flower power to a whole new level

    With Leaflike’s comprehensive and inspiring collection of colourful flora from full blown blooms to a subtle statement moss, no stone is left unturned, and no surface is left unadorned…

    leaflike pink floral ceiling display at rozu restaurant

    Adding colour and greenery can transform a space and Leaflike can provide a creative solution for almost any space or surface with its statement floral designs. In today’s hospitality design marketplace, restaurants in particular need to stand out visually and provide clients with an experience that is not just about the food but involves all the senses, and of course, all the social media platforms. With clients frequently requesting an instagrammable installation, Leaflike was able to create three spectacular flower walls for three very different restaurants. Despite their differences all three customer requirements were similar; to provide a flower wall in the restaurant that is both photogenic and a statement that will encourage guests to click and like and share! With this in mind, Leaflike took on the brief and created these unique floral and lighting displays.

    In Rozu Restaurant, the brief took shape in the form of a floral green wall in the entrance along with dramatic pink floral hangings across the ceiling of the restaurant. Unique in design and well placed for guests to see, the results are all focused on achieving the same desired outcome. Ensuring a floral feature creates a stunning finish inside the venue, showcasing vibrant and colourful wall art, adding atmosphere and ambiance that enhances the guests arrival experience.

    Despite their differences all three customer requirements were similar; to provide a flower wall in the restaurant that is both photogenic and a statement that will encourage guests to click and like and share! With this in mind, Leaflike took on the brief to create unique floral and lighting displays.

    Image credit: Leaflike

    The restaurant Salam also features a floral green wall that greets the clients, and makes the perfect backdrop for a post dinner selfie with its lush tropical ferns and foliage and pops of bright colour that certainly don’t require a filter!

    Close up of neon light in flowers

    Image credit: Leaflike

    The display at Esabella’s becomes a creative backdrop to the branding and signage and its more muted palette adds a note of floral sophistication.

    “The transformation is wonderful to see when working with these venues,” said Brandon Abernethie, Head of Design at Leaflike. “To see each display unique to the customer with their colour and style and know we have achieved what the customer wanted, it’s great PR for them via Instagram!”

    From moss walls and flower ceilings, to biophilic design and sustainable planting, Leaflike continue to enhance the client experience in hospitality design through the use of creative and design-lead planting and floral displays, .

    Leaflike is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Leaflike

    Minimalist bathroom - with Ideal Standard shower in corner

    Product watch: New shower collections from Ideal Standard

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Product watch: New shower collections from Ideal Standard

    Ideal Standard, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of bathroom solutions, has expanded and redefined its showering range to help customers easily choose the perfect shower system and guarantee a premium showering experience day after day…

    Minimalist bathroom - with Ideal Standard shower in corner

    Following the launch of Intellimix, Ideal Standard has expanded its shower collection to enables designers and users to find their ideal combination of comfort, style and performance to complete their space – whether it’s an original design or a renovation of a family bathroom, wet room or en suite. Selected models are also available in a silk black finish, allowing customers to elevate any bathroom with a contemporary alternative to traditional chrome. 

    All of Ideal Standard’s thermostatic shower systems are fitted with the brand’s pioneering Firmaflow Therm cartridge, allowing for precise temperature control while providing unrivalled durability and efficiency. Each model also comes with Cool Body technology, keeping surfaces cool to the touch to protect people from scalding. Meanwhile, integrated eco flow regulators help users to save water and energy without sacrificing the showering experience, and all components are smooth and easy to clean.  

    The entire collection benefits from Ideal Standard’s selection of Idealrain shower heads, offering a personalised showering experience with a choice of spray modes – from invigorating to relaxing.  

    The showering portfolio comprises three offers – Design, Comfort and Fresh – helping users to find their perfect solution, all of which are equipped with Ideal Standard’s innovative, German-engineered technologies that ensure optimum functionality, safety and durability. 

    The deluxe showers of Design are characterised by flat surfaces, extra-large shower heads and quality metal handles, making them a statement piece for style-conscious customers. Included in the collection is the new Ceratherm S200, which features a forward-facing controls unit for easy access when adjusting temperature and flow, as well as an integrated shelf of safety glass, adding valuable extra storage space without compromising on aesthetics. 

    Shower systems within Comfort have been designed with safety, durability and comfort in mind. Users have a choice of hard-wearing shower heads, and can easily flick between three different spray modes at the push of a button.  

     Fresh blends modern design and must-have technology, with small but important design touches adding extra flexibility and control, such as the raised button on the Ceratherm T25 to enable better grip. With both Comfort and Fresh, a shelf can be ordered separately to create extra storage in the bathroom.  

    When it comes to installation, all products come pre-calibrated, with streamlined designs and common connections making set-up hassle-free. EasyMount height adjustable wall bracket fittings also ensure simple installation in almost any location, while Swivel Arm functionality lets installers easily adjust the angle of the shower arm. 

    Ashley Smith, UK Product Manager for Brassware at Ideal Standard, said: “Everyone has their own distinct idea of the perfect shower – from temperature and pressure to position and spray mode, not to mention how it looks. We understand how personal it is, which is why we’re offering a different choice for every need with Design, Comfort and Fresh. With a range of styles and features, all backed up by faultless engineering, we’re confident our customers will be able to find the shower with the look and technology they’ll love – day in, day out.” 

    Ideal Standard is one of Hotel Designs’ recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips by clicking here.

    Main image credit: Ideal Standard

    Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences, The Secret Garden,

    Raffles announces hotel openings expected in 2022

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Raffles announces hotel openings expected in 2022

    Raffles Hotels & Resorts is continuing its global expansion with new openings in Boston, Macau and Jeddah slated for later this year. Here’s what we know…

    Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences, The Secret Garden,

    Known for transforming landmark properties in storied destinations around the world, Raffles is adding a host of distinguished locations that will continue to set the standard in the luxury hospitality industry. Later this year, Raffles has announced that it will debut flagship locations in Boston, Jeddah and Macau, among others.

    Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences, Balcony overlooking the city

    Image credit: Raffles Hotels & Resorts / Binyan Studios

    Raffles Boston will be the brand’s first mixed-use North American venture, featuring both a hotel and private residences. Located in Boston’s prestigious Back Bay neighbourhood, just a block away from Copley Square, the 35-storey building will be a new landmark in Boston’s skyline, with 146 residences, 147 guestrooms, and six restaurant and bar venues, including a sky bar and speakeasy. The property will feature state-of-the-art facilities and amenities. The striking three-story sky lobby, the first of its kind in Boston, will be the centrepiece of the property, complete with a grand staircase spanning the 17th, 18th and 19th floors.

    Raffles at Galaxy Macau will be situated within a stunning architectural landmark featuring a glass airbridge that connects the two towers on every floor. Each of the 450 suites draws inspiration from a modern palazzo, with curated artworks and some featuring private pools and gardens. Raffles at Galaxy Macau will be a spectacular addition to the Galaxy Macau, a world-class luxury integrated resort that offers an array of bespoke leisure activities, on-site entertainment and a specialty restaurant helmed by a multi-Michelin-starred Japanese chef.

    dramatic glass and marble entrance and lobby to Raffles Hotel Jeddah

    Image credit: Raffles Hotels & Resorts

    Inspired by the rich history of Saudi Arabia and Jeddah’s old town architecture, Raffles Jeddah will have 181 guestrooms – including a spectacular wedding suite and penthouse suite with in-room entertainment – and 188 branded residences. Alongside six restaurants and lounges, there will be an extensive library, a 1,200 square metre spa with eight treatment rooms and a state-of-the-art fitness club. The hotel’s meeting facilities include a 1,500 square metre ballroom overlooking the corniche and 1,000 square metres of conference rooms.

    Raffles Hotels & Resorts has an illustrious history with some of the most prestigious hotel addresses worldwide, starting as far back as 1887 with the original Raffles Singapore. With these properties set to open in 2022 the brand will continue its tradition of luxury in leading cities across the world.

    > Since you’re here, why not have a look inside the first Raffles hotel in India?

    Main image credit: Raffles Hotels & Resorts

    Accor Hotel restaurant and bar design with natural materials and surfaces

    Accor steps into boldly into 2022 with 25 new hotel signings

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Accor steps into boldly into 2022 with 25 new hotel signings

    Accor ended 2021 on a high note with the signing of 25 hotels in northern Europe in December, bringing its total signings in the region to an impressive 89. We take a closer look at its plans and pipeline for the year ahead…

    Accor Hotel restaurant and bar design with natural materials and surfaces

    Last year saw a strong development across Accor’s Northern European region, which today consists of more than 1,100 hotels across a portfolio of more than 20 brands spanning 31 countries, from Ireland through to Russia.

    “2021 was a phenomenal year for signings culminating in a strong year end across the region,” said Camil Yazbeck, Senior Vice President Development, Accor Northern Europe .”Accor has maintained its stronghold on the region with a 39 per cent branded hotel market share in signings. In 2020 development was resilient, in 2021 our signings returned to pre-pandemic levels. Development is future looking and our strong pipeline reflects our and our partners’ strong belief in market recovery.”

    Accor hotel lobby in black and white with gold accents

    Image credit: Accor

    Within the UK, 2021 ended with 13 signings across all of Accor’s portfolio, and added more than 500 guestrooms to the group’s already strong London portfolio. The year closed with the signing of Hyde Paradox Hotel London City, which will be coming soon to the historic location by the Old Bailey in the heart of London. The 110 guestroom property will occupy the 15 Old Bailey, originally known as the Spiers & Pond Hotel. Built in 1874 by architect Evans Cronk and converted to office use in the early 1900’s, the latest re-conversion by Hyde London City owners OB Capital, seeks to return the asset back to the iconic hotel that it once was. This stylish property is expected to open in 2023. Hyde Hotels, Resorts & Residences is part of Ennismore, a joint venture with Accor, formed in 2021.

    Accor Hotel guestroom detail with orange sofa

    Image credit: Accor

    Signings span Accor’s strong spectrum of brands, from economy to luxury, with notable growth in key brands such as the ibis brand family, with 27 signings across ibis, ibis budget and ibis Styles. Mercure saw an additional 15 signings across the leading midscale brand, including one Mercure Living longer-stay brand. Novotel signed a further 7 properties, including two Novotel Living brands, and the new economy and midscale conversion brands, greet and By Mercure, gathered momentum, with 10 signings across the two brands.

    Germany, Poland, Russia and the Benelux continued to dominate the brand acquisitions, with strong signings in each region. Eastern Europe remains a strong pipeline for the group with multiple signings in countries including Albania, Croatia, Georgia, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro and Romania.

    Black freestanding bath in Accor Hotel guestroom

    Image credit: Accor

    Accor boasts an unrivalled portfolio of distinctive brands and has one of the industry’s most diverse hospitality ecosystems from luxury through to economy brands. Its growth moving into 2022 ensures it is set to retain its position on the lifestyle hospitality platform.

    > Since you’re here, why not find out more about Accor Masai Mara, Kenya?

    Main image credit: Accor

    The Retreat inside The Londoner

    How The Londoner created a new dialogue between design & wellness

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    How The Londoner created a new dialogue between design & wellness

    Sitting majestically above Leicester Square, in its very own island site, The Londoner took the design and architecture community’s breath away when it opened in 2021. One year on, Editor Hamish Kilburn meets Rob Steul, the Creative Director of Edwardian Hotels to learn more about the unparalleled design and wellness narrative…

    The Retreat inside The Londoner

    It was one of the most ambitious architecture and hotel development projects that Leicester Square had ever seen. The plans for the world’s first ‘super boutique’ hotel, The Londoner, designed by Yabu Pushelberg, engineer experts at Arup Associates and artist Ian Monroe, reportedly cost £5 million and included 15-storeys of innovative design and architecture. 

    Rob Steul, the Creative Director of Edwardian Hotels, was the puppet master – AKA architect – behind the magnificent and innovative performance. Due to urban planning height restrictions, Steul and his team proposed a 30-metre subterranean series of spaces on six levels, which created the deepest habitable basement in London and among the deepest in the world – a factor that presented a plethora of architectural, structural and engineering challenges for all involved.

    As the hotel moves close to its one year anniversary – a milestone in itself considering the unpredictable landscape along with travel restrictions that the hotel opened within – Hotel Designs, in association with AXOR and Hansgrohe, caught up with Steul to understand how, as well as architecture, the hotel has reached new heights (or depths is perhaps more apt) in wellness and wellbeing.

    Hansgrohe is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Hansgrohe

    A modern bathroom with shower and glass screens overlooking skyline of city at night

    6 smart bathroom technology products for 2022

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    6 smart bathroom technology products for 2022

    With evolution of technology in the bathroom arguably out-running any other area of the hotel, Hotel Designs, in association with Plumb It, has identified six savvy and smart bathroom ideas that should be on the radar of all interior designers and architects…

    A modern bathroom with shower and glass screens overlooking skyline of city at night

    “Technology and water do not mix.” Never has a saying been more inaccurate than it is today when taking a glance at how smart hotel bathroom design is transforming. In fact, following the innovations that we launched at CES 2022, it’s safe to say that the bathroom is currently the epicentre of innovation, with tech influencing an evolution in function as well as form (and sustainable initiatives) in products such as toilets, showers, bathrooms, taps and even smart mirrors.

    With new tech, though, comes confusion. This is why we, in partnership with Plumb It, have taken the time to identify six smart bathroom technologies that we believe have the power to challenge the conventional approach to bathroom design.

    1) The shower toilet

    Image of urban large bathroom

    Image credit: Geberit

    Although not an obvious nor new piece of technology, it’s remarkable to see how popular the shower toilet has become worldwide. Brands such as Geberit, Toto and Euro Bathrooms are providing a no-hassle, gentle and natural way to clean, which is far more sustainable. Geberit AquaClean products, for example, allow users to save more energy by individually adjusting the product settings, thus giving them the option to reduce their environmental impact even further. In standby mode (economy mode), all AquaClean models, which fulfil the European eco-design requirements (ErP directives), consume less than 0.5 watts of energy in total.

    2) The spa bath

    There was a lot of hype in Las Vegas earlier this month at CES 2022, where bathroom brand Kohler displayed its Infinity Experience Freestanding Bath, which comes complete with LED lighting effects, and relaxing fog that has been inspired by Japanese hot springs. Well, it seems Kohler is not alone in its predictions that the bathrooms of tomorrow will have an even stronger emphasis on experience. Two years ago, Toto launched its weightless bathing experience. More recently, the whirlpool and airpool system baths by Phoenix Bathrooms takes wellness to new levels by also using sensory design. The Ancona + System 3 luxury bath features underwater, fully rotating colour-kinetic LED lighting, variable three-speed airpool blowers that allow finite and customisable adjustment and an inline heater that maintains a consistent water temperature during bathing.

    3) Smart eco showers

    Hansgrohe EcoSmart handshower

    Image credit: hansgrohe

    A smart shower does not have to read you the news or play your favourite playlist while you are washing. For the sake of this editorial, smart means intuitive. The technology inside the hansgrohe EcoSmart happens behind the scenes. The showers and taps equipped with EcoSmart technology consume up to 60 per cent less water than conventional products. This not only means that you use less water, but also need less energy to heat the water – good news for the planet, and good news for your client’s pocket.

    4) Mirrored art

    The hotel design industry has seen the rise (and arguably the fall) of smart mirrors in the bathroom. When creating a tranquil space that encourages users to ‘switch off’, the idea of a smart TV becomes somewhat outdated. However, with the bathroom being predominantly a practical space, good lighting is an essential element. The Edison mirror by Origins Living, which comes in a variety of sizes, is more like atmospheric wall art than simply a reflective surface. Users can create their individual ambience with colour temperature control from warm to cool white lighting, adding texture and practicality to the bathroom experience.

    5) Touchless demands

    Even before 2020, prior to when the world become transfixed on hygienic solutions, touchless technology was a common element in public restrooms (in and outside the hotel arena). Since the pandemic, though, consumers’ demands for contactless has sky-rocketed – and brands such as Roca were prepared with resolutions. The Roca EM1 Flush Valve, for example, has been developed as a touchless option for either public or private bathrooms.

    Thanks to an integrated infrared sensor, the flush button detects the movement of a hand and activates the flush automatically without contact, avoiding the spreading of viruses and the growth of bacteria. Roca’s EM1 mechanism allows you to choose between full and half flush volumes which can be easily adjusted to flush at 6/4, 4.5/3 or 4/2 litres, helping you to save your annual water usage with no electrical installation needed. It simply works on four AA batteries that provides more than 40,000 flushes.

    6) Sustainable & durable baths

    Crafted from Biolux, Ashton & Bentley has launched a freestanding bath that has been made from 100 per cent from an eco-friendly alternative to natural stone. The Biome Range is created for the eco-conscious and curated for harmony; a selection of modern classic freestanding baths and complementing countertop basins and freestanding washbasins. Roca’s designs are where engineering meets art – high impact visual statements of sculpted beauty created with Ashton & Bentley’s signature quality and craftsmanship. The gentle silhouettes and organic curves of the Biome Range connect contemporary ergonomic design with nature while nurturing sanctuary and wellbeing.

    Plumb It is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Kohler

    Render of Somewhere Else in The Bahamas, by Pharrell Williams and David Grutman

    Pharrell Williams and David Grutman to open hotel in The Bahamas

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Pharrell Williams and David Grutman to open hotel in The Bahamas

    The 13-time Grammy rapper, songwriter and producer Pharrell Williams and nightclub entrepreneur David Grutman have announced that they will open a new lifestyle hotel in 2024. Set the be the creative duo’s largest hospitality project, Somewhere Else, will be located on a small island just off Nassau in The Bahamas. Editor Hamish Kilburn writes…

    Render of Somewhere Else in The Bahamas, by Pharrell Williams and David Grutman

    It’s not the first time celebrities have dipped their toe in the hospitality waters, with the likes of Hugh Jackman, Donatella Versace, Elizabeth Hurley and of course Robert De Niro among A-listers owning hotels. The recent addition to the list includes Pharrell Williams and David Grutman who in 2021 opened The Goodtime Hotel to rave reviews.

    Less than a year later, the pair have tasked design and architecture studio Rockwell Group to bring to life their next hotel vision of a design-forward lifestyle hotel in The Bahamas.

    “Throughout the resort, there will be a strong emphasis on indoor-outdoor flows with flush, freeform landscaping.”

    The new hotel will be situated on Atlantis Paradise Island, in a building that has been, until now, referred to as The Beach – and was the island’s first hotel, originally designed by the late Morris Lapidus who was a leader of the vivacious ‘Miami-modern’ style.

    The 400-key hotel, named Somewhere Else, is slated to open its doors in 2024 and will shelter multiple F&B outlets and  bungalows featuring recording studios. Throughout the resort, there will be a strong emphasis on indoor-outdoor flows with flush, freeform landscaping. Williams referred to the project as “tropical modernism” in a recent interview.

    The design of the property will be led by Shawn Sullivan, Partner at Rockwell Group. The overall aesthetic will take inspiration from topography of the landscape. The latest renders show a water-coloured depiction of a flamingo pink-trimmed building. On the site, the hotel will feature cascading pools that draw the eye towards the sea and polychrome room concepts with flashes of colour, CNN reports.

    Despite this project being Williams and Gutman’s largest and most complex development undertaking to date, the 13-time Grammy winner and the nightclub entrepreneur have previously completed two other hospitality ventures; Miami-based restaurant The Swan and The Goodtime Hotel.

    Main render credit: Somewhere Else/Rockwell Group

    The House Collective

    Weekly digest: Eco hotel openings, tech updates & Vegas developments

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Weekly digest: Eco hotel openings, tech updates & Vegas developments

    Roll up, roll up! Editor Hamish Kilburn here with your weekly digest. If you’re drowning in work, hurtling towards deadlines or are unable to scour the net for design and hospitality news, then this is the only article you need to read about the latest hotel openings and news to be stay in the loop…

    The House Collective

    In this week’s digest, there’s a lot to cover – from technology hit and misses at CES 2022 to Regent Hotels’ debut property Vietnam, and even our feature that follows our cheeky trip to the Harrison Spinks farm. Having looked at the analytics, this month’s news is largely dominated by hotel openings, which come in all shapes, sizes and styles – and this week has been no exception with a number of sneak peeks garnering a lot of attention.

    From all the headlines that we have published, here are the most significant.

    How the design scene is embracing Net Zero initiatives

    coastal bedroom designed using net zero principles and sutainable materials

    Image credit: Perkins&Will

    With Net Zero fast becoming the buzzword of 2022, along with conversations around sustainability and the importance of working towards a circular economy, and brands such as GROHE, Harrison Spinks and Room2 pledging to become Net Zero, design studio Perkins&Will has published a report which identifies the steps it is taking – and what other design studios could be doing – to create Net Zero projects by 2030.

    Read more.

    On the farm with Harrison Spinks

    Image caption: Each interior design scheme has been themed to celebrate the locality of the farm, such as Fenton, my hut, which is a nod to RAF Church Fenton. | Image credit: Harrison Spinks

    Image caption: Each interior design scheme has been themed to celebrate the locality of the farm, such as Fenton, my hut, which is a nod to RAF Church Fenton. | Image credit: Harrison Spinks

    In the heart of the Yorkshire countryside – slap-bang between Leeds and York – editor Hamish Kilburn arrived on the 300-acre farm where the Harrison Spinks journey evolved into one that was centred around sustainable and innovative initiatives. From understanding the benefits of hemp to seeing how the bed manufacturer is keeping British manufacturing alive, Hotel Designs was given full access for 48 hours to understand why the bed and mattress manufacturer is commonly referred to as ‘the true bedmakers’.

    Read more.

    Hard Rock Hotels to transform the Las Vegas strip

    guitar shaped hard rock hotel in las vegas

    Image credit: Hard Rock Hotels

    Hospitality and entertainment company Hard Rock International, has announced its agreement to acquire The Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas from MGM Resorts International. Having made history in 2019 with designing the first ever guitar-shaped hotel for its Florida expansion, Hard Rock is planning to add to its guitar collection by building  its second guitar-shaped hotel, this time on the famous Las Vegas Strip.

    Read more.

    The technology products that hit and missed at CES 2022

    A stillness bath by Kohler

    Image credit: Kohler

    Quiet floors, a lack of international travellers and it all coming to close a day early due to the organisers facing pressures from travel restrictions and the Covid-19 crisis: is this really the same CES that dominated the world’s attention every January with the biggest tech show on earth? Well, the answer is ‘no’ but for good and healthy reasons for the hotel technology sector.

    Read more.

    Regent Hotels to arrive in Vietnam this spring

    Regent Phu Quoc villa with swimming pool over looking the lagoon on long beach vietnam

    Image credit: Regent Hotels & Resorts

    IHG Hotels & Resorts will launch the first resort from its recently acquired, leading luxury brand, Regent Hotels & Resorts this Spring in South East Asia. Situated off the southwest coast of Vietnam, alongside a UNESCO-designated World Biosphere Reserve, Regent Phu Quoc will usher in a new era for this heritage brand, offering guests 176 spectacular suites and 126 spacious villas, set against the serene waterfront backdrop of Long Beach.

    Read more.

    Nordic Hotels to open Sommerro in Oslo this year

    Scandic climate neutral hotel guestroom

    Image credit: Scandic Hotels

    Nordic Hotels & Resorts has announced that it is bringing one of Oslo’s most iconic buildings back to life as Sommerro – a new luxury hotel set to open its doors in September 2022.

    Read more.

    The Set Collection adds four new properties to portfolio

    fireplace and lounge area in the Upper House in Hong Kong

    Image credit: The House Collective

    In an exciting marriage of East and West, this the first chapter in an organisation that looks set to disrupt the traditional models of what went before, while doing justice to the reputation and success of the iconic properties present at its start.

    “I cannot think of a better group of hotels to be our first new members than The House Collective,” said Jean-Luc Naret, Executive Director of The Set Collection.

    Read more.

    And one for the January blues: Vibrant, story-telling hotel art for optimistic times

    breaking boundaries by Frances Bildner

    With coming out of lockdown and the latest omicron fears easing up, it’s time to look forward to some fresh outlooks. Frances Bildner of Frances Bildner Expressive Arts produces and sells dynamic artwork to hotels, other businesses and residences and is no stranger on Hotel Designs‘ radar. Her paintings often tell stories, albeit abstract ones, and enhance interior design schemes by injecting vitality to the environment. Her paintings, described by New York’s Village Voice as being “vital enough to convert even the most jaded of people”, bring life and colour to empty walls.

    Read more.

    Since you’re here…

    More than 60,000 readers per month enjoy the content we publish on Hotel Designs. Our mission is to define the point on international hotel design, and we are doing that by serving relevant news stories and engaging features. To keep up to date on the hottest stories that are emerging, you can sign up to the newsletter, which is completely free of charge. As well as receiving a weekly round-up of the top stories, you will also access our bi-monthly HD Edit –staying ahead of the curve has never been so easy!

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    Main image credit: The House Collective

    Regent Phu Quoc spa and treatment room

    Regent Hotels to arrive in Vietnam this spring

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Regent Hotels to arrive in Vietnam this spring

    Regent Phu Quoc, with design inspired by the tropical and tranquil surroundings in which it is set, is on track to combine the brand’s trademark luxury with Vietnamese heritage to create a unique and immersive destination resort…

    Regent Phu Quoc spa and treatment room

    IHG Hotels & Resorts will launch the first resort from its recently acquired, leading luxury brand, Regent Hotels & Resorts this Spring in South East Asia. Situated off the southwest coast of Vietnam, alongside a UNESCO-designated World Biosphere Reserve, Regent Phu Quoc will usher in a new era for this heritage brand, offering guests 176 spectacular suites and 126 spacious villas, set against the serene waterfront backdrop of Long Beach.

    Regent Phu Quoc villa with swimming pool over looking the lagoon on long beach vietnam

    Image credit: Regent Hotels & Resorts

    Designed by BLINK Design Group who were inspired by the island’s tropical abundance and tranquil surrounding, the villas at Regent Phu Quoc showcase panoramic views of the translucent ocean and sky from their private infinity pools. The resort offers multiple accommodation options perfect for both couples and families, from one-bedroom havens to expansive seven-bedroom ultra-villas, including beach pool villas with direct access to the pristine white beach, sky pool villas situated high in the Sky Wing with breathtaking ocean views and lagoon pool villas which overlook the striking vista of the resort’s lagoons.

    “Founded more than 50 years ago, Regent Hotels & Resorts changed the face of modern luxury with bold firsts, such as pioneering the private villa with pool concept which have since become luxury hotel standards,” said Juan Losada, General Manager, Regent Phu Quoc. “With the opening of Regent Phu Quoc, a truly visionary resort has been conceived which marries the calming, the imaginative and the extravagant. We look forward to setting new luxury benchmarks through exceptional Vietnamese hospitality and guest experiences which feel simultaneously luxurious and effortless.”

    infinity pool at sky villa in Regent Phu Quoc Vietnam

    Image credit: Regent Hotels & Resorts

    With a design brief of Vietnamese heritage meets minimalist modernity, the resort’s architecture echoes and reflects the traditional Vietnamese vernacular, while its design maximises access to the environment with floor-to-ceiling glass windows framing enchanting ocean views, and inside spaces featuring decadent touches that hint at the tropical surroundings. Guests will be greeted by a modern interpretation of Vietnamese roofs, and a variation of the local traditional wooden truss structural system, known as the Bovi, has been developed into subtle patterns found on screens, carpets and accessories. Another local style, known as Gian Nha, comprising small courtyards within a traditional Vietnamese house, is the inspiration for the layouts in the villa designs. The boundaries of indoor and outdoor areas blur through intelligent zoning across the resort as a homage to Gian Nha, providing privacy within a luxurious setting in this evolution of a traditional way of living.

    main swimming pool under a pagoda at Regent Phu Quoc

    Image credit: Regent Hotels & Resorts

    The Spa at Regent Phu Quoc will offer an innovative approach to wellness, with a curated schedule of contemporary and traditional treatments that go beyond the ordinary. Guests can experience a highly personalised wellness itinerary guided by the resident Holistic Wellness Coach. The resort’s holistic wellness programmes include Acoustic/Vibrational Therapy complemented by the Welnamis System, as well as Psammo Hot Sand Therapy on an exclusive quartz bed designed by Gharieni, one of the world’s leading spa manufacturers. In addition, guests can experience Biologique Recherche treatments, and the Pedi:Mani:Cure concept salon by renowned podiatrist Bastien Gonzalez. alongside all these treatments, the Health Club features a fitness centre, reset meditation studio and rooftop yoga pavilions to recharge and rejuvenate.

    Adding to the sense of natural rejuvenation on offer, is the fact that nearly half of Phu Quoc island is a National Park. The northern part of the island is home to  kilometres of lush tropical forest which has been declared as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, while the southern part of the island is popular for its pristine white sand beaches. With this impressive natural backdrop the resort has kept this as its focus, and maintained a sensitive approach to the design while introducing visitors to a range of immersive destination experiences that showcases all the rustic charm of an idyllic island life.

    Main image credit: Regent Hotels & Resorts

    Sommerro Hotel art deco designed guestroom

    Nordic Hotels to open Sommerro in Oslo this year

     730 565 Pauline Brettell
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    Nordic Hotels to open Sommerro in Oslo this year

    Before one of Oslo’s most iconic art-deco buildings is restored back to life as new luxury hotel Sommerro, Hotel Designs get a sneak peak into the design that plans to ‘revolutionise’ the city’s hospitality landscape.  Pauline Brettell writes…

    Sommerro Hotel art deco designed guestroom

    Nordic Hotels & Resorts has announced that it is bringing one of Oslo’s most iconic buildings back to life as Sommerro – a new luxury hotel set to open its doors in September 2022.

    With panoramic views of the Norwegian capital, Sommerro is housed in the former headquarters of Oslo Lysverker, the city’s original electrical company, and will be a modern tribute to Norwegian cultural heritage, with a strong focus on eco-conscious experiences. A community in its own right, the 231-key, art-deco hotel, complete with 56 branded residences, will shelter four restaurants and three bars, meeting and event spaces with capacity for up to 150 people, a 100-seat gilded theatre, a gym and wellness space, and the city’s first year-round rooftop pool, sauna, and terrace.

    “Sommerro will be an open house for all where visitors and locals can work, sleep, eat, play and recharge.” – Jarle Moen, Managing Director of Sommerro.

    “Our vision is to redefine Oslo’s hospitality landscape by creating a new kind of hotel built on Frogner’s classic and creative neighbourhood spirit,” said Jarle Moen, Managing Director of Sommerro. “Made by the local community, Sommerro will be an open house for all where visitors and locals can work, sleep, eat, play and recharge. Together, we are creating an inspiring space where kindred souls and culture-makers can gather in cosy corners or pop by for a range of experiences from intimate gatherings and work meetings to late-night movie screenings and wine tastings in our library.”

    Drawing heavily from the building’s magnificent architectural details, Sommerro will pay homage to a fusion of neoclassical contemporary aesthetics with original elements that have been meticulously restored and developed by local firm LPO Architects in collaboration with New York and London based studio GrecoDeco. Notable art deco details include oak parquet flooring, bespoke furnishings upholstered with 1930s Norwegian motifs, and slick bathrooms with custom tiles. Original artwork by celebrated Norwegian artist Per Krohg is featured throughout the hotel, with unique pieces including a giant wall fresco and a ceiling mural that nods to the building’s heritage, highlighting life after the wonders of electricity.

    The crown jewel of Sommerro’s social spaces is its year-round rooftop terrace, home to the contemporary restaurant Tak Oslo. The hotel will also offer Lysverker Scene, an alluring 100-seat gilded theatre that will host intimate events open to the public. Vestkantbadet, one of the few public baths left in all of Norway, has been brought back to its former glory and expanded into an 740-square-metre underground wellness paradise – the largest of any city hotel across the Nordic countries. Open to hotel guests and the public, the wellness space will include a series of treatment rooms, restored Roman baths, a gym with an infrared sauna, and cold plunge pool offering a traditional Nordic thermotherapy experience, all with soothing, eco-friendly spa products.

    Sommerro spa and plunge pool with art deco design details

    Image credit: Sommerro Hotel

    Expected to become one of Oslo’s most coveted culinary destinations, the hotel will feature four restaurants, including outposts from local favourites Barramon, a Spanish tapas and wine bar, and Plah, one of the city’s most popular restaurants that features elevated cuisine by Norway’s ‘Best Thai Chef’ Terje Ommundsen. Ekspedisjonshallen, an all-day dining spot located in the former hall where the public once paid their electricity bills, will come to life with regular DJ performances accompanied with brasserie-style cuisine, and the hotel’s central sunken floor will be converted into a lively bar overlooked by the vast Per Krohg wall mural.

    Adjacent to Ekspedisjonshallen will be To Søstre, an elegant home for mimosa-fuelled afternoon teas served on decadent cake trolleys and accompanied by regular classical concerts. The sky is the limit on the hotel’s seventh floor at Tak Oslo, a Nordic-Japanese restaurant by award-winning Swedish chef Frida Ronge, where guests can experience hyper-local, seasonal dishes using sustainable Norwegian produce and seafood.

    The hotel will invite groups of 12 to 150 people to gather within its dynamic range of meeting and event spaces, which include Sommerrostuene, a collection of four laidback and playful rooms; Salongen, a relaxed interchangeable room; Storstua, a break-out area serving grab and go lunches; Biblioteket, a snug book-filled library layered with whimsical Nordic touches; and Kinoen, an intimate screening room. On the Heritage floor, eight historical rooms outfitted with top technology and again adorned with original ceiling murals from Per Krohg, will also be available to rent.

    As the most recent independent venture by Nordic Hotels & Resorts, Sommerro will uphold and enhance the group’s commitment to eco-sustainability through a variety of meaningful on-property practices and amenities, from what dishes are served at each restaurant to the materials used to design and construct the guestrooms and property as a whole. A year-round destination with sweeping views over the Norwegian capital, visitors of Sommerro can explore the local neighbourhood of Frogner while enjoying the curated guest experiences brought to life in this historic building full of inspiring design, and great storytelling.

    Main image credit: Nordic Hotels & Resorts