In conversation with: INODA+SVEJE on global minimalism in design
Editor Hamish Kilburn lands an exclusive interview with the founders of INODA+SVEJE, who are central characters in Minotti’s 2022 Collection, launched this week at Salone del Mobile…
I’ve managed to speak to the design pair ahead of the media circus arriving. We are sat in a corner of Minotti’s 3,200 square-metre stand, hidden from view. Just hours before, their inaugural collaboration with the Italian furniture brand was announced, and their products – Yoko, Lars and Sendai – were unveiled to the world. What is perhaps most appealing from my perspective is the realisation that the designers have no idea just how much of a buzz has circulated around their latest products and the collaboration, which is humbling. It almost feels as if I have been given the first interview with an actor or actress about to land their career-defining movie, and in many ways I have ahead of the new products being available in Minotti London’s showroom in just a few months time – a premiere, if you like.
“The chair, for example, is just the interface between the person and the rest of the house.” – Nils Sveje, Co-Founder, INOD+SVEJE.
Image caption: The Yoko, designed by INODA+SVEJE. | Image credit: Minotti
“Before now, all of our collaborations have been with small, talented artisans, so this six-month process [working with the Minotti family] has been different in a way that has been equally refreshing,” Inoda says. The studio in which the pair own and nurture has, like their products, been formed and has evolved naturally. Perhaps the most obvious unique aspect to the studio’s style is the meeting of two design cultures. Sveje is Danish while Inoda is Japanese. The thread that binds each culture, far away geographically, is the shared respect for minimalism that has, over the years between the two, been refined into what is fair to say the studio’s ‘signature style’.
INODA+SVEJE was founded in 2000 in Copenhagen and is now, since 2003, situated in Milan. Together, working as a team of two – expanding beyond that would disrupt each designer’s harmony (their words, not mine) – they have developed a sensitive approach applied to both the design process and the resulting form and aesthetics. “We design around the whole environment,” explains Sveje. “The chair, for example, is just the interface between the person and the rest of the house. That way of physical interaction with products has always been very interesting to us.”
Image caption: Lars, designed by INODA+SVEJE. | Image credit: Minotti
Using this methodology, the designers are used to creating products at their own pace, answering only to the natural rhythm of the design process. So, when Minotti approached the studio with its collaborative proposal, and with a tight deadline, the designers were challenges to put their resources – and learnings – into the project. “Each week, we dedicated a day working with the team at Minotti,” explains Inoda. “Generally the process is something between us, so to be able to work with a dedicated and talented team in a brand that shelters such specialists was a real privilege,” adds Sveje.
There’s a distinct lack of ego when speaking to the two designers, reinforcing the opinion that there’s less of an emphasis on the ownership of an idea and there’s more focus on the collaborative process and learnings along the journey. “[This partnership has made us realise that] we can only put so much into this ourselves,” says Sveje. “We are working with specialists who have reached a degree that we can never achieve. You have to respect that, because if you know how to make a collaboration work then you can achieve new levels in design.”
Image caption: The Sendai sofa and chair, designed by INODA+SVEJE. | Image credit: Minotti
The first protagonist to emerge as a result of this meaningful collaboration was Yoko, a light and elegant seating design; a Japanese name with Scandinavian lines that come together in a piece of furniture with an aesthetic matrix, flavoured by both cultures. Delicate and sinuous lines, the item has been created with precious cabinet-making interlocking techniques that enrich the structure of legs and armrests in solid ash open pore wood lacquered with a Liquorice colour, or in solid Canaletto walnut stained Light Brown, a chromatic choice that lends a more decisive tone to the elegance of the silhouette. “We spent most time on this furniture piece,” says Inoda. “We perceive minimalism the same as nature – it’s never in straight lines,” explains Inoda. “The product is curved and authentic.”
Image caption: The Yoko, designed by INODA+SVEJE. | Image credit: Minotti
In addition to the Yoko chairs, the signature of the Japanese-Danish duo is also imprinted in the design of the Lars sofa with its organic shape, and in the compact Sendai seats in the small sofa, armchair, dining and lounge little armchair versions.
It may be premature to say, but if past Minotti collaborations are anything to go by, it feels like this collection is just the beginning of a meaningful journey that will no-doubt lead to more innovative pieces in the near future. After all, the same way natural laws shape the world around us, collaborations that are born from genuine admiration often lead to the most impactful and longest-lasting design statements.
Panel discussion: the real meaning of collaboration within design
At a recent event staged at the Mapei World showroom in Clerkenwell, fuelled by M+ Editor Hamish Kilburn moderated a discussion delving into collaboration in design. On the panel were Beverley Bayes Creative Director of Sparc Studio, Joanna Knight, Director of JK Interiors and Simon Kincaid, Partner at Conran and Partners…
In the weeks leading up to Clerkenwell Design Week, while most brands were catching their breath before London came alive for the three-day fair, M+ studio decided to host a panel discussion on collaboration within design.
Introducing the concept within the , it was appropriate to kickstart the conversation with Editor Hamish Kilburn, who chaired the discussion, asking Stefano Nencioni, General Manager of M+, to develop the context and explain how the company works with various designers, and how it provides a platform to gain the best creative insight while encouraging a sharing of thoughts and feelings in order to develop designs in the most relevant way for a new collection. As the Creative Director, Massimo Nadalini has a very focussed approach to engage with the designer and progress in the process.
Image credit: M+
The conversation then moved onto the panel and all points of collaborations were covered, starting from if it actually is a reality in the interior design world, and if so, how. Going into the variables, at what stage and why they may choose to work with other designers: they all agreed that for areas of expertise, such as precise lighting, signage, landscaping, they would consult with someone who’s area of expertise this is in order to get it right, rather than try to contain things and make the wrong decision.
Panellists agreed there is an element of bravery involved in inviting someone into your own creation, but also a need to get the right result and share experience and knowledge. This need justifies the engagement in a project and gives the client the best result, ultimately maintaining credibility.
With questions opened to the audience, some great questions were asked, and the conversation was broadened as the floor got involved in this topic that we are all familiar with and work on in some form a lot of the time. The audience participation brought out other aspects of how and why we may need to work together, ensuring a cohesive and reassuring approach in areas of finance and supply.
What was clear from the conversation, along with the engagement of everyone who attended, is that once we start to share our thoughts, in whatever area, this stimulates a natural wish to understand other’s points of view, their experiences and to realise we can also find potential solutions. In addition, within the hospitality and interior design sector, an inherently creative community, sharing, and collaboration is the best way to realise even greater results that benefit everyone involved.
There does seem to be a fundamental shift happening in design ownership and a greater sense of democracy within the design process – with inspiring individual talent and contribution, the process of collaboration can only elevate design solutions and creativity – with collaborations, the sky is indeed the creative limit!
It was appropriately a spirit of collaboration that made the day a success, with everyone involved combining thoughts, skills and creativity. Mapei UK kindly provided the location in its recently refurbished showroom and supported the event in all aspects from marketing and technical, through to the Showroom Manager.
M+ 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.
Nujuma, the new Ritz-Carlton Reserve, will be situated on a pristine set of private islands as part of The Red Sea Project, an ambitious regenerative tourism project. It will be the first property from the brand in the Middle East and joins an exclusive collection of only five Ritz-Carlton Reserves worldwide…
Marriott International has signed an agreement with The Red Sea Development Company to debut its Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand off the west coast of Saudi Arabia. Slated to debut in 2023, Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, is expected to form part of the eagerly anticipated Red Sea destination and offer a highly personalised leisure experience that blends intuitive and heartfelt service with stunning natural beauty and indigenous design. Nujuma will be the first property from the brand in the Middle East, and joins an exclusive collection of only five Ritz-Carlton Reserves worldwide.
“We are thrilled to bring our most luxurious brand, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and its exemplary experience to the Middle East,” said Jerome Briet, Chief Development Officer, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “Perfectly situated on one of the most anticipated regenerative tourism projects in the world, the resort will blend seclusion and sophistication to provide a highly personalised luxury escape.”
Image credit: Marriott International
Nujuma will be situated on a pristine set of private islands, which are part of the Red Sea’s Blue Hole cluster of islands. Surrounded by unspoiled natural beauty and designed to blend seamlessly with the environment, the resort is expected to feature 63 one to four bedroom water and beach villas. Plans also include a range of luxurious amenities and exceptional services including a lavish spa, swimming pools, multiple culinary venues, a retail area and a variety of other leisure and entertainment offerings including a Conservation Centre.
Ritz-Carlton Reserve offers a complete escape to the unexpected: a private and transformative travel experience that is centred around human connection and brings together unique elements of the local culture, heritage and environment. For the most discerning travellers seeking a distinct and luxurious escape, Reserve properties are tucked away in handpicked corners of the world, featuring chic, relaxed and intimate settings that weave indigenous flavours with highly responsive and individualised service. Current Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties are located in Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.
The destination is also expected to include 18 Ritz-Carlton Reserve branded residences, offering owners a one-of-a-kind living experience.
“I am excited to welcome Ritz-Carlton Reserve into the fold of our luxury collection of brands for The Red Sea,” said John Pagano, CEO at The Red Sea Development Company. “Around the world, Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties are synonymous with providing unique luxury experiences and creating personalised meaningful escapes, underpinned by a commitment to sustainable practices. As we inch closer to opening our first resorts early next year, this world-class brand is sure to excite and entice future guests.”
The Red Sea Project is an ambitious regenerative tourism project, covering 28,000 square kilometres on the west coast of Saudi Arabia, of which less than one percent will be developed. The destination is expected to offer a new type of barefoot luxury experience and is being developed with the highest standards of sustainability. The development features an archipelago of more than 90 untouched natural islands, as well as dormant volcanoes, sweeping desert dunes, mountains and wadis, and more than 1,600 cultural heritage sites.
Product watch: indoor/outdoor tiled surfaces from Hyperion Tiles
Ensuring that the indoor/outdoor design flow is seamless, independent tiles specialist Hyperion Tiles has carefully curated a combination of classic and contemporary garden tile designs to transform and make the most of your overall living space…
Plain or patterned, an inspired choice of tile can extend your living area and make an easy transition between indoor and outdoor space. Designs from the comprehensive Ca’ Pietra outdoor tiles collection, in conjunction with the 30 years of experience Hyperion Tiles has in working with interior designers, hoteliers, architects and decorators on commercial projects, fulfil the brief of being both practical and pretty, offering solutions that extend indoor living into the garden.
“We tend to spend a lot of time mulling over choices for indoor flooring, and it makes perfect sense to devote the same level of attention to prospective garden tiles,” said Richard Skeoch, Director at Hyperion Tiles. “Whether you are keen to create a large space for entertaining, a relaxing place to enjoy family time, a cosy outdoor dining area, or simply somewhere to enjoy some peace and quiet, we’ve got a huge variety of garden tiles to suit.”
Image credit: Hyperion Tiles
Image credit: Hyperion Tiles
The tiles showcased in the Ca’Pietra range are made from porcelain for an ultra-durable finish with suitable slip ratings, making them the perfect choice for functional, yet super-stylish, outdoor living. The Blenheim Paving Porcelain Textured Smoke Tiles are large format, which makes them ideal for creating an illusion of space outdoors. These have been designed to replicate the look of natural stone and can be used inside and out for a seamless flow from a kitchen or conservatory onto a garden. In colourful contrast, patterned garden tiles such as the Cabana Porcelain Havana tile, will instantly make a strong style statement which will complement a classic-style garden, perfectly. This design has also been created for inside and outside use, bringing more versatility to your home and garden.
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.
GROHE’s collection designed for wellbeing and wellness
Wellbeing, health, selfcare – they’re all topics we hear plenty of, and there are countless pieces of advice regarding night-time routines, meditation rituals and embracing the natural elements to feel more centred. So, how can we incorporate feelings of wellness and encourage care in our interior spaces that are designed to be a home away from home, to complement and improve personal self-care? GROHE explains…
Leading bathroom manufacturer, GROHE, is committed to creating exceptional experiences and delivering “Pure Freude an Wasser”, or ‘Pure joy of water’, with emphasis on the benefits and positives our most natural resource can provide. The perfect element to soothe us both physically and mentally, water can be used in a myriad of ways to promote wellbeing.
Inspired by premium spas and wellness sanctuaries, GROHE has designed and created the latest Allure collection with health and wellbeing at the forefront. Offering the epitome of modern luxury, state-of-the-art water technology meets captivatingly minimalist and extraordinarily slim design with the GROHE Allure tap line. With its distinct haptic feedback, the precision control of the basin mixer offers a unique tactile experience, improving interaction and allowing users to truly immerse their hands in the water flow. Also included in the range are statement floor-mounted taps and waterfall spouts for the bathtub, encouraging a harmonious bathroom experience with holistic, co-ordinated design.
Image credit: GROHE
For shower-lovers the GROHE Rainshower Aqua Body sprays upgrade the daily cleansing routine with a pulsating water massage to soothe and revitalise. With intuitive design, the body spray pops out of the cover plater when the water is activated, allowing users to switch between Rain and Active Jet sprays easily. Turn off the water and the sprays are pulled back and blend into the shower surround completely, resulting in a minimalist design feature, perfect for a streamlined, fuss-free bathroom space to relax within. Created with GROHE EcoJoy technology, the GROHE Rainshower Aqua Body sprays successfully combine responsible water consumption with a premium showering experience.
Image credit: GROHE
As bathroom fittings and fixtures continue to be considered as a pivotal part of the overall bathroom design and utilised as decorative features, the Allure collection is available in a range of statement finishes to further evoke feelings of refuge and wellness. The range offers choice of traditional Chrome, Brushed Cool Sunshine, Brushed Warm Sunset, and Hard Graphite, with coordinating Allure Accessories available to create the ultimate relaxing space, with wellness, innovation, and harmonious design at the forefront.
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.
Case study: CTD Architectural Tiles creates a modern classic in Cardiff
Commercial tile supplier CTD Architectural Tiles has curated a stylish and practical tile package for the new Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff, combining the classic beauty of marble with the modern benefits of high slip resistance and innovative antibacterial technology…
The new four star Parkgate Hotel is situated in a prime location in central Cardiff, and has been created following the redevelopment of two historic Grade II civic buildings and construction of a new-build extension. Once the home of Cardiff’s Post Office and County Court, the new hotel building has been given a new lease of life thanks to the vision and expertise of architects Guant Francis and principal contractors BECT Building Contractors, and complimented by the complete tile package put together by CTD Architectural Tiles.
The interior design scheme pays homage to the heritage of the site whilst meeting the needs of a busy modern-day hotel. Marble-effect porcelain tiles from the Delight range were chosen and installed throughout the communal areas and washrooms, with the paler colour of the Venato Bianco tiles complementing the darker hue of the Marquina Nero tiles to create a classic monochrome design. A combination of matt and polished tile finishes was used to provide contrast between the floor and wall areas, with safety requirements addressed by ensuring that the specified product had a high level of slip resistance, with a Pendulum Test Value (PTV) of over 36.
Image credit: CTD Architectural Tiles
Image credit: CTD Architectural Tiles
The Victorian inspired heritage look has been continued into the hotel’s hospitality areas, with limestone-effect ceramic tiles from the Anthology range chosen to create a focal point around the bar. Specified in an attractive Dark Grey, these matt tiles also provide the added benefit of being robust and easy to sanitise. The Anthology range has in-built antibacterial protection which also helps to eliminate odours, making them the ideal choice for use in areas where hygiene is paramount.
To complete the commercial tile package, which was installed by supply chain partners NC Ceramics, stylish glazed ceramic tiles from the Poitiers range were used in the shower area of the hotel’s en-suite bathrooms. The attractive narrow rectangular shape of the tiles combined with the calming green-blue shade of Mint has created an attractive and easy to maintain solution.
With a proven track record of creating high performance tile specifications for projects across the hotel, hospitality and leisure sectors, CTD Architectural Tiles can also provide technical support and advice.
CTD Architectural 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.
With a decorative eye on sustainability, The Waldorf Hilton London has given the unique Everleaf preserved seasonal floral displays, by Leaflike, centre stage…
Leaflike’s Everleaf Preserved plants bring the colour and texture of nature along with more practical considerations such as longevity to the hotel table. The florals in the collection are 100 per cent natural and have been through a preservation process to maintain their beautiful original state with no need for additional sunlight or water. The flower is cut in its prime and harvested to absorb a special feed of plant-based and bio-degradable preservation formula. The preservation liquid substitutes the water and sap within the flower, which in turn forms a beautiful and natural plant. The stunning florals then continue unchanged for months with no light or water required.
The Waldorf Hilton London have incorporated Everleaf florals both as delicate floral features, as well as the more substantial preserved palm trees to compliment The Waldorf Palm Court. Together with floor standing living plants which thrive in planters made from recycled wood and an exterior planting display at the front of the hotel, the Everleaf options fit seamlessly into the seasonal displays, and ensure that beautiful design can work hand in hand with a sustainable floral option.
“We are passionate about helping customers achieve their goals through biophilic design and sustainable planting,” said Brandon Abernethie, Head of Design, Leaflike. “With our recent Silver rating for sustainability via the ecovadis online platform, we continue the sustainability journey with The Hilton Group Head Office and their venues throughout the UK.”
Image credit: Leaflike
These unique floral designs have a low carbon footprint, and are resistant and long lasting – with the right care they can last months or even years. Preserved plants are cheaper than fresh cut and artificial floral displays, due to their longevity. They maintain their natural beauty and fresh look, and are low maintenance, while the preservation liquid is non-toxic, ensuring that the treatment is plant based and biodegradable.
The point that needs to be stressed, is that Everleaf plants and flowers are not artificial, instead the plants go through a transformation process to stabilise the natural plant. There is no plastic or synthetic fabrics, instead the preservation process simply stops the aging of the plant to maintain its appearance as a living plant. They are not freeze dried, no dehydration techniques are used which can damage the qualities of the product. They are not toxic, which means that all plants can be touched by people and pets.
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.
2022 Collection by Minotti: a global expression of pure style
Italian furniture brand Minotti has arguably made the most noise at Salone del Mobile 2022 than any other brand when presenting its 2022 Collection to the world for the first time. Editor Hamish Kilburn is in Milan with the team at Minotti London to exclusively meet this year’s designers and to explore the hero products, which includes a nod to a ’70s British icon…
American graphic designer, Saul Bass, once remarked that ‘design is thinking made visual’. In a new era that is working hard to rebuild and re-explore what was missed over two years of forced hibernation, Salone Del Mobile 2022 is undoubtably ‘thinking made visual’. One brand that has arguably been working smarter than all others during the fair to make up for lost time is Minotti, showcasing its 2022, 2021 and 2020 collections in its largest ever stand (3,200 square metres), which was more reminiscent of a high-end boutique pop-up hotel than an exhibition area.
Salone del Mobile in Milan has long been considered the international design event in the global calendar; the ‘Mecca’ of design, many would argue. It attracts thousands of designers and architects who migrate to the exhibition venue on the outskirts of the city to experience new, innovative products born from seamless collaborations, deep research – in both materials and form – as well as the desire to meaningfully challenge conventional approaches in design. It is where leading luxury brands can peacock their feathers in a setting that effortlessly evokes a new way of thinking, and quite possibly usher in a new era in luxury-lifestyle design and hospitality.
Image caption: Twiggy, designed by Rodolfo Dordoni. | Image credit: Minotti
Image caption: Horizonte, designed by MK27. | Image credit: Minotti
This year, in the wake of the pandemic that put up a solid fight to stall and disrupt the show going ahead as usual for two long years, Minotti was determined to turn up the volume in the first full-scale Salone del Mobile since 2019. The brand’s products were contained within its own perforated architectural shell, and displayed over two floors. It cleverly and seamlessly sheltered protagonist products from the collections that have emerged over the last three years – it has been an apt nod to what we missed in recent years, allowing visitors to see, feel and experience the products, in a personal environment, perhaps for the first time since the Covid-19 crisis.
Each year, Minotti creates a stop-the-press level of design phenomenon that no visitor attending the fair can afford to avoid – and this year was no exception. With its legacy and reputation of manufacturing some of the finest furniture pieces in the world, it’s the brand’s somewhat recent decision – five years ago – to open up its family to hand-selected designers that has really has amplified Minotti to an engaged global audience. With the always iconic Rodolfo Dordoni leading the creative direction, world-renowned design studios, such as MK27, GamFratesi and this year, Inoda+Sveje, have allowed Minotti to break away from the conventional to instead break pre-existing creative boundaries while also maintaining its elegant form.
One of this year’s hero products, no doubt, came from Dordoni himself, who is Minotti’s longest-standing collaborator. Named the Twiggy, to give a nod to British 1970s, the item stands out for its ability to ‘revolutionise’ living spaces with unprecedented ideal of timeless beauty. The family of seating originated as a single armchair in the small, large and deep versions, with or without armrests, but embellished with stitching that reveals the depth of the brand’s manufacturing know-how combined with its striking ability to make even the most sculptural seats extremely comfortable. The Twiggy seating elements have rigorous geometric shapes but are extremely comfortable and enveloping, covered in leather, nubuck or fabric and embellished with refined stitching.
The curved, dynamic design of the base, made of semi-glossy polished aluminium or aluminium with a black coffee colour polished varnish, is one of the details that contribute to making these seats unique and destined to redefine the concept of style.
The other new items that were displayed in various settings were…
Goodman, designed by Rodolfo Dordoni
Image caption: Goodman designed by Rodolfo Dordoni. | Image credit: Minotti
Continuing to be inspired by the 1970s – in particular the graphic character of those years – Dordoni has designed Goodman. In this piece, the mark of the matelassé stitching, typical of the Minotti’s tailoring process, draws shadow and light on the seat, creating the sensation of a quilted cross-padding. The system is suspended from the floor on refined bronze or polished chrome metal feet, deliberately set back from the edge, and a perimeter frame that matches the same finish; the optical effect of suspension certainly enhances the softness of the product, offering an extremely comfortable experience.
Horizonte, designed by MK27 (Marco Kogan)
Image caption: Horizonte, designed by MK27. | Image credit: Minotti
As often with design, it is only when understanding the journey from concept to completion when one really understands the impact and significance of the product’s creation – and what that means. Marcio Kogan described the studio’s Horizonte range, for example, as starting from a line, the horizon. The pieces were formed from his imagination to see these modular pieces as clouds converging together in the air; an ever-evolving series of furniture pieces.
Yoko, Sendai and Lars, designed by Inoda+Sveje
Yoko, Sendai and Lars are the three new furniture pieces that launch while marking the inaugural collaborative project between Minotti and Milan-based design studio Inoda+Sveje. Minotti describes this collaboration as ‘two worlds connecting’, referring to the the two owners’ separate heritages – one Japanese and the other from Denmark. But, in reality, these three protagonists within the 2022 Collection are the result of three cultures combining, including Minotti’s Italian heritage. The tread that connects each piece is the language of minimalism, told is various ways.
Image caption: Yoko, designed by Inoda+Sveje. | Image credit: Minotti
Yoko, a light and elegant seating design; a Japanese name and Scandinavian lines that come together in a piece of furniture with an aesthetic matrix, flavoured by both cultures. The continuous cross-reference between the two cultures, their styles and manufacturing skills shapes a project composed of an armchair, a dining armchair and an ottoman bench characterised by a dual lightness: physical and aesthetic. Delicate and sinuous lines, created with precious cabinet-making interlocking techniques that enrich the structure of legs and armrests in solid ash open pore wood lacquered with a Liquorice colour, or in solid Canaletto walnut stained Light Brown, a chromatic choice that lends a more decisive tone to the elegance of the silhouette.
Image caption: Sendai, designed by Inoda+Sveje. | Image credit: Minotti
Named after the city of trees, Sendai, this line of furnishing pieces consists of a small sofa, an armchair and dining and lounge small armchairs. Like slender trunks, the elegant, polished legs, in Canaletto walnut solid wood stained Light Brown, or Liquorice lacquered ash, rest on the ground, lifting the enveloping upholstered body and creating a soft rhythm of vertical lines. The possibility of having both the armchair and the dining and lounge small armchairs also in the 360-degree swivel version with return (base in polished Bronze-coloured varnished metal, with sheathed spokes in solid ash with an open-pore Liquorice-coloured lacquer, or in solid Canaletto walnut with Light Brown stain) makes the Sendai seats particularly comfortable for both residential and hospitality environments.
Image caption: Lars, designed by Inoda+Sveje. | Image credit: Minotti
A Danish name for a line with a clearly Japanese-inspired design: this contradiction brings to life the harmonious shapes of the Lars sofa. A soft, asymmetrical, continuous, organic curve resting on five slender legs in solid ash wood with an open-pore Liquorice stained lacquer or in Canaletto walnut with a Light Brown stain. The architecture of this object, raised off the ground, rises above the seat to support and frame the backrest, lending an aerial elegance to this sofa proposed by Minotti for both residential and hospitality projects. The solid wood frame is enhanced by details that embellish the joints and highlight the complex cabinet-making process behind its apparently simple lines. The balance between the vertical wooden profiles and the softness of the edgeless forms, characterised by a seat upholstered in high-density polyurethane, translate the synthesis between Danish design and Zen harmony. The frame and cushions have fully removable covers in both fabric and leather versions.
Patio Teak, designed by GamFratesi
Image caption: Patio Teak, designed by GamFratesi. | Image credit: Minotti
In recent years, with boundaries being continuously blurred between indoors and out, the design demand for luxury outdoor furniture has challenged Minotti to explore innovative ways to offer premium outdoor collections that speak the same language of its iconic indoor seating configurations. Cue the arrival of the 2022 Outdoor Collection reaffirms the brand’s unequivocal and increasingly strong desire to transfer the aesthetics of indoor living to premium outdoor spaces. The identity of the Outdoor Collection has been shaped by contributions from Rodolfo Dordoni, Gordon Guillamier and Inoda+Sveje. GamFratesi’s involvement came in the modification of the Patio, which first launched in 2021. The wooden frame of Patio Teak, chosen to create a more natural aesthetic that is easier to combine with other furnishing pieces in the outdoor collection, thus joins the version with aluminium base, borrowing the structure of its backrest in Ecru polypropylene rope. Some of the seating elements of Patio and Patio Teak feature a handy tray in natural teak, with grooves for draining water.
The introduction of the Patio version in wood enriches and multiplies the transversal nature of the system, which can thus be adapted to multiple environments and contexts, meeting all aesthetic and formal requirements.
As ever, Minotti has delivered a real – in every senses – exploration of new creative horizons that incorporates shapes, images and cultural references from around the world; heralding a new, important stage in the inspirational pathway of Minotti.
Offering solutions for competition, spa and health clubs, residential and outdoor pools, Aquatechnica tiles are now available exclusively through Parkside Architectural Tiles & Strata Technical Tiles, providing a system-based approach that lets you develop a unique tile specification…
The Aquatechnica portfolio is focussed on delivering a total answer from design to installation, and includes everything needed to deliver a tile specification that works hard for a swimming pool project. With pool tank, surround, changing room, wet area, circulation, outdoor and complementary area tiles, profiles, movement joints, adhesives, epoxy grouts, renders, screeds and waterproofing.
The range of specialist tile solutions for competition and diving pools ensures that sports and performance centres can benefit from pool tank and edge systems for high and low water swimming pools. The range includes metric formats suitable for short course (25m) and Olympic standard (50m) pools, along with anti-slip across a wide collection of different styles and designs. Meeting the latest health and safety requirements and guidelines by the HSE and Sport England, the Aquatechnica competition and diving pools collection is supported by profiles, movement joints, adhesives, epoxy grouts, renders, screeds and waterproofing.
For the high-quality interiors of Spa and Health Clubs, Aquatechnica delivers a range of tiles for pool tanks, surrounds, changing rooms and associated wet areas. With design-focused porcelain and ceramic tiles that provide the durability for round the clock use while delivering attractive interiors, the range includes coordinated designs for elegant transitions from tank to surround and other areas. As with every specialist solution in the range, the tiles are supported by a full range of installation products for a complete swimming pool system.
Catering for the unique design demands of private and residential pools, there’s a range of Aquatechnica tiles that blend high aesthetic principles with the anti-slip performance needed to bring a safe surface underfoot in residential pools. Suitable for tank, surround and other wet areas, and creating a true sense of luxury with durable and maintenance friendly finishes, these tiles excel in contributing to sophisticated and elegant residential swimming pool interiors that feel connected to other areas of the home through natural effects.
To respond to the rise of outdoor swimming pools and lidos, the range includes options for an outdoor porcelain tank and surround tiles ready for the rigours of all-year use in a 20mm specification. Providing a durable and safe surface underfoot in nearly all conditions, the outdoor pool tiles can be used to create an attractive and durable swimming pool area and are supported by a range of all-weather profiles, grating, movement joints, adhesives, epoxy grouts, renders, screeds and waterproofing products.
Parkside 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.
Positioned in the evergreen Oosterpark and sheltered in a historic building that dates back to 1909, the latest project from Pillows Hotels, Pillows Maurits at the Park, is slated to open in Q4 of 2022. The boutique hotel combines timeless elegance and contemporary aesthetics, with gastronomy and events taking centre stage…
In the heart of Amsterdam, a 20th century monumental building has been given new life as a luxury five-star hotel, following a delicate and meticulous transformation process. Maurits at the Park, which is expected to open later this year, is the seventh property from Pillows Hotels.
With 88 luxury rooms and suites, a fine dining restaurant, a brasserie, two bars, a private lounge area, and several meeting spaces, the hotel is set to become Amsterdam’s latest hot spot. A hub for gastronomy, events, and curated experiences drawing inspiration from its beautiful natural surroundings, Maurits at the Park is next to Tropenmuseum and a short walk from Artis Amsterdam Zoo.
Image credit: Pillows Hotels
Despite its imposing exterior, this iconic building has been re-imagined from its origins as a university to a welcoming, cosmopolitan meeting place. Offering a different kind of hospitality experience in Amsterdam, it combines privacy and instant access to the buzzing city centre.
“We couldn’t find a more fitting way to celebrate our fifth anniversary than to return to Amsterdam, the city where it all started, with the first five-star property in our portfolio”, said Loes Dingemans, CEO of Pillows Hotels. “Maurits at the Park is everything our brand stands for: exceptional hospitality in intimate, elegant settings. Located in a monumental building in the heart of the city, the hotel is seamlessly connected with a vibrant park, offering guests numerous experiences without having to leave its premises.”
Image credit: Pillows Hotels
Situated in bustling Oosterpark, the hotel was envisioned by Office Winhov, the award-winning architectural firm, as an open, indispensable part of the neighbourhood where everyone is welcome. More than 4,000 sqaure metres of parkland will be returned to the people of Amsterdam, removing any existing partitions and fences. The hotel’s open invitation is also extended to the park’s cute feathery friends, thanks to nesting boxes, feeding areas, and an aviary that helps protect birds. The evergreen gardens are a constant highlight of the scenery.
Image credit: Pillows Hotels
“We are adding the hotel to the park; usually, it is the other way around”, added Uri Gilad of Office Winhov, who took into account the building’s unique location and the intricate features of its past. This is especially evident in the hotel’s new wing, where different types of windows seamlessly connect the indoors with the outdoors; the new and the old intertwine harmoniously, becoming one. The warm lighting transforms the monumental space at night, adding a serene touch and creating a relaxed vibe.
The careful consideration of the building’s heritage has been applied to the interiors as well. Studio Linse, responsible for the interior design, is no stranger to the brand, as the firm won an award for its work at Pillows Hotel Ter Borch Zwolle.
A “noble simplicity”, as Paul Linse described it, runs throughout the hotel, connecting the meticulously selected interior elements. The soft, tactile materials and the warm, earthy colour palette create a calming harmony, while the comfortable furniture is ideal for lounging away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s the perfect counterpart to the robust exteriors.
Image credit: Pillows Hotels
Touches of Parisian elegance are combined with Dutch sophistication, setting a relaxing tone in the 88 gracious rooms and suites, which range from 16 square metres to 50 square metres. Understated and inviting, the rooms are like high-end sanctuaries ready to nurture and nourish the soul. With striking individual artworks by established painter Raphaël Hermans and every detail in the room thoughtfully planned for maximum comfort.
Great attention has been given to the hotel’s culinary offerings, celebrating gastronomy in every way. Felix, helmed by rising star chef Floris van Straalen, is a fine dining restaurant serving heavenly dishes prepared in an open kitchen. This truly magnificent space with fifteen-meter-high ceilings and design elements from a bygone era pays homage to the illustrious Tropenmuseum next door.
Meanwhile, Spring Cafe Brasserie adds a playful touch to the mix with mouth-watering dishes inspired by Italian and French cuisine. Its generous outdoor seating area in a large, green urban garden blends perfectly into the atmospheric Oosterpark.
Guests also have the chance to experience signature cocktails at Fitz’s Bar, an intimate space with leather, wood, felt and velour details in its design. The rooftop bar’s stunning views of the park and the city make it the ultimate setting for summer drinks.
Image credit: Pillows Hotels
The three sumptuously decorated salons, another integral part of the hotel, are ideal for private meetings and events. The Living, a private lounge accessible only to staying guests, offers an impressive library and luscious design. A thoughtful entertainment plan, currently in the works, includes various events and activities curated by local creatives.
By offering a new take on luxury hospitality, the new Pillows Maurits at the Park is a breath of fresh air. In the middle of vibrant Amsterdam, it’s an inviting retreat where dreamy rooms and star-studded cuisine mix with irresistible cocktails, served at a stunning rooftop bar overlooking the city skyline.
Global design studio Yabu Pushelberg embarked on a monumental two-year refresh of the New York city landmark, and drawing from the Park Lane New York’s historic past, has breathed new life into this iconic hospitality landmark…
Standing at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Central Park South, neighbouring cultural canons such as The Plaza Hotel, Carnegie Hall, and The Museum of Modern Art, along with unparalleled views of Central Park, Park Lane New York is primely positioned among Manhattan’s finest. At the centre of it all, Yabu Pushelberg considered how to renew Park Lane’s identity while ensuring it continued to shine as a unique icon amidst neighbouring institutions. As opposed to leaning into the sensibilities of the hotel’s surrounding company, the design team looked inward to embrace the eccentric legacy behind Park Lane New York, which in turn shaped the hotel’s design language and is redefining the Central Park South experience.
Image credit: Park Lane Hotel / Adrian Gaut
Image credit: Park Lane Hotel / Adrian Gaut
As a narrative-based practice, Yabu Pushelberg begins its design process through immersion in a project’s sense of place, culture, and heritage, all the while maintaining an intimate, globally minded perspective on how people choose to live today and into the future. For Park Lane, the studio immersed itself in the hotel’s vibrant history to formulate the re-conceptualisation of the property through dynamic storytelling that resonates not only aesthetically, but with the emotional experience guests will encounter upon visiting this re-envisioned landmark.
The legacy behind Park Lane New York drove the direction of Yabu Pushelberg’s design for the public spaces, private guest rooms, suites, and Penthouse. Inspired by the hotel’s natural exuberance, the studio sought to inspire Park Lane New York’s renaissance. Rather than dismissing the hotel’s past, the design celebrates its storied history by asserting Park Lane New York’s original spirit as an anchor upon which to build layers of wit, charm, exploration, and discovery. With a vision to enhance the hotel’s existing persona, the studio studied Park Lane New York’s inherent qualities and defining characteristics to understand how the property’s history would inform its evolution.
Image credit: Park Lane Hotel / Alice Gao
Inspired to create an evocative and unexpected experience, Yabu Pushelberg gravitated toward the palette of mischief left behind by previous owner Leona Helmsley and her dog Trouble. The resulting design tells the modern tale of Trouble, personified. Young, dapper, and handsome, Trouble straddles the line of protagonist and antagonist, serving as the charismatic and adventurous voice of possibility exuded through the reimagined Park Lane New York. Boasting a true life of lavishness, Trouble resides at Park Lane New York’s Penthouse, immersed in magical panoramic views of Central Park whilst enjoying the endless sense of possibility at his disposal. Left to his own devices, Trouble infuses entertainment into both his mornings and evenings, hosting opulent extravaganzas, proper tea parties, and chic soirées to be shared and enjoyed alongside his discerning and worldly companions. With this iconic new property serving as Trouble’s personal playground, Park Lane New York’s senses have been reawakened, propelling the infamous hotel into an illustrious chapter of today.
Image credit: Park Lane Hotel / Adrian Gaut
Developing layers of design, the studio has infused subtle odes to some of Manhattan iconography throughout the hotel. Drawing from some of the city’s defining features such as the wonders of Central Park and its changing seasons, the ubiquitous New York news stand, landmark Grand Central Station and beloved Bemelmans Bar, Park Lane New York stands as an homage to the wonders which lay beside it.
Image credit: Park Lane Hotel / Adrian Gaut
Blending past and present, Yabu Pushelberg repurposed Park Lane New York’s original chandeliers, sconces and fixtures to sustainably infuse a modern graciousness throughout the property. Remixing the original qualities and defining characteristics of Park Lane New York with spirited modernity allowed the studio to reassert the hotel as a present-day landmark imbued with thoughtful consideration and elevated flair. Using a tongue-in-cheek approach to communicate contemporary techniques via sensibilities with heritage, the design studio delivered a sense of place to the property whilst igniting new life within Park Lane New York.
The Grove announces refurbishment of its Sequoia Spa
Following an extensive three-phase refurbishment, the transformation of The Sequoia Spa at The Grove, taken on by the team at StudioJill, has been completed, and The Grove is ready to open the doors to the stylishly redesigned spa, offering an enhanced experience for guests and spa members alike…
Set in 300 acres of rolling green Hertfordshire countryside, The Grove offers a five-star retreat sheltered within the restored former home of the Earls of Clarendon, with a rich history dating back to the 1500s. In addition to 215 luxurious guestrooms, The Grove features the award-winning Sequoia spa, a championship golf course, unique restaurants, an original Walled Garden which is home to a kitchen garden, a heated outdoor pool and ‘beach’ area, along with a wide selection of meeting and event spaces.
Image credit: The Grove Hotel, Hertfordshire
With the entire hotel having recently undergone a complete renovation, it was only a matter of time before the Sequoia Spa followed suit. The latest refurbishment allows for guests to embark on an all-encompassing spa journey, which starts from the moment they arrive at reception. Following their arrival, guests will make their way into the newly-created relaxation space, while following treatments, guests are invited to unwind in the new relaxation room with a refreshing herbal tea, where couples can also unwind and relax together. Guests can enjoy a variety of healthy dishes from the new Sequoia Kitchen menu, the perfect way to energise before using other experiences or taking a dip in the pool.
“The refurbishment of Sequoia Spa is extremely exciting and will continue to enhance the experience for both spa members and guests of The Grove,” said Debbie Rogers, the Spa Director at Sequoia Spa. “Throughout the spa, warm earthy tones will be used, contributing to the peaceful, nature-inspired ambience. Natural materials will be used as part of The Grove’s ongoing goal to bring together the beautiful gardens and its outstanding interiors and facilities. We look forward to welcoming guests to the beautifully enhanced Sequoia Spa in June.”
Image credit: The Grove Hotel, Hertfordshire
Alongside the renovation, The Grove is also unveiling a selection of new treatments, offering a variety of facials, massages and luxurious body treatments. All treatments are designed to relax, rejuvenate and replenish, from drench wraps to bamboo massages with the interior design by the StudioJill team created to enhance the experiences. As well as reviving treatments, guests can also spend time together in the extended heat experience area where a Japanese bath spa will be added. The heat experience includes the spa bath set within the walls and floors with back-illuminated onyx panels, along with a stylish upgraded sauna and modern steam room. The new heat experiences elevate the way in which guests can experience the spa together, moving from their treatment to the pool, before embracing the new heat spaces.
Elsewhere, the men’s changing rooms will also benefit from exciting additions with a new heat experience, complete with sauna and steam room, both of which will be sleek and stylish. The poolside steam room, available to both men and women, will be replaced with a more spacious and modern room, designed with a polished black, white and marble colour scheme in order to match the Sequoia Spa’s iconic black mosaic-tiled swimming pool.
Image credit: The Grove Hotel, Hertfordshire
Similar to the recent renovation of The Grove’s West Wing bedrooms, which took place in 2021, the dining areas will also be given a makeover, using warm, earthy tones in order to contribute to the peaceful and natural ambience. With orange and yellow shades, along with splashes of fresh greens, these spaces will breathe in the elements of the natural world. Low-level, soft lighting will also be used to create a gentle glow through the space.
The dining spaces will be redecorated both inside and outside, where guests will be able to choose from a range of fresh and seasonal dishes. During the summer months, the area between the two indoor dining spaces will be opened up to create an al-fresco dining feel – once again, bringing the outdoors in. The Spa Terrace will also be renovated, and will be an enviable location from which to enjoy a refreshing beverage from the comfort of a sun bed.
As part of the renovation, a brand new members’ lounge has been opened to allow an area for socialising and relaxation. The lounge will be a comfortable and welcoming space for Sequoia Spa members to socialise and unwind. In the summer months, the doors from the lounge will be opened up onto a private terrace, set to be adorned with lush planters, where guests can take advantage of the warm weather and calming surroundings.
Having previously launched the Fibromax Compact MR Black, an extremely strong and moisture-resistant Compact MDF product, UNILIN now have a decorative version of this versatile product…
UNILIN Panels has introduced a new decorative Compact MDF to its range – a very strong material that is easy to process. This budget-friendly new product for interior design professionals is scratch- and wear-resistant, and its panels come in a handy large size. It’s the perfect choice for various applications: from lockers and changing rooms to furniture for intensive use. The substrate of decorative Compact MDF has a high density and a black core. This means it is not necessary to finish the panel with an edge tape, for example. As the core is moisture-resistant, decorative Compact MDF is also suitable for humid environments such as sanitary areas.
Image credit: UNILIN Panels
Due to its scratch- and wear-resistance, decorative Compact MDF is ideal for rooms and applications that are subject to intensive use. Examples include lockers, changing rooms and dressing rooms, toilet areas, kitchen and bathroom furniture, wall coverings, indoor signage, product displays, worktops and much more.
Image credit: UNILIN Panels
Decorative Compact MDF is also extremely easy to process, which is another major asset, and assists with ensuring fast delivery. Unlike other materials with a very high density, it can be processed using standard tools for MDF materials (sawing, drilling, milling etc.). The wide format of the panels (2800 x 2070 mm) also results in less saw loss and fewer joints in the end result.
As part of the UNILIN Decorative Range, decorative Compact MDF is available in different thicknesses and over 80 designs. The product is budget-friendly, is delivered within five working days, and is also available in small quantities from just two panels upwards.
For a closer look, order a decorative Compact MDF sample HERE.
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.
Clerkenwell Design Week arrived back in familiar territory last week; leading conversations around trends and showcasing the best in British and international design. Hotel Designs was proud to be part of the process – hosting parties, panel discussions, roundtables, visiting showrooms in between and connecting with designers while exploring all that the week had to offer. What goes on in Clerkenwell does not stay in Clerkenwell, as we share the people, places and products that caught our collective eye…
It felt like Clerkenwell Design Week was all about round edges, natural materials and biophilic hues, all punctuated by the event trademark ‘hot pink’. From large corporate showrooms to smaller individual stands of up-and-coming designers, there appeared to be a textured thread that ran throughout the week. Broadly, it felt like design was about connecting to nature, understanding the importance of providence, and leading on from that, questions of sustainability and production process were of course key across all nine exhibition sites and the showrooms that surrounded them.
Before we dive into the highlights, here are our editor’s picks:
Starting at the very beginning, the graphic signage and street stickers deserve a mention – both decorative and functional (I for one would probably have not got further than the first coffee shop without them) the well-designed graphics by Lois O’Hara provided direction. On the floors and up the walls, there was no excuse to miss an installation. Further into the exhibitions, you could also discover her playful and colourful table and hanging chair design that made its mark outdoors despite the sporadic showers that sent everyone dashing for cover.
Image credit: CDW
Image caption: Lois O’Hara collaborated with CDW last year. | Image credit: CDW
Following the signs, first stop on the exhibition circuit saw Detail, set in the remarkable venue of The Order of St John. Luxury products exhibited between stain glass windows and antique alters with designs that brought a slightly more contemporary and curated feel to the space. Arte was there with a wonderful and eye-catching collection of luxury wallcoverings, space was given to showcase recycled yarns by B.I.G Yarns in a graphic installation making a strong visual statement about the sustainability of the product. Before exiting, The Shore Collection by Holmes Bespoke offered an inspiring reflection of the zeitgeist of the day with organic designs being made from 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles. These bottles are predominantly washed up along the Indian shoreline, and each rug is named after one of India’s most beautiful beaches to honour this connection.
Image credit: Arte
Image credit: Holmes Bespoke
Going back a few steps up the CDW route, it was impossible not to stop and stare at the installation in the Kohler Showroom window – a collaboration between the brand and designer Jack Irving, titled Future Splash certainly made a few designer ripples as the inspired silver creation was worn and modelled in the window. Showrooms all around the neighbourhood stepped up to the Clerkenwell challenge creating conversation, and championing design and creativity beyond the confines of the brand. Hansgrohe hosted a series of candle-making sessions, Atlas Concorde welcomed designers and architects in on an interview with designer Mario Ferrarini and Conran & Partners, for the first time, opened its new studio doors to the public. Parkside & Strata’s Sustainability and Design Studio was another showroom on our agenda, with a full programme of activities around the theme of zero waste and sustainability, looking at the challenges of global climate change and how commercial interior design can make a lasting impact.
Image credit: Jonathon Coles Lighting / Sam Frost
Moving on up the Exhibition trail, one of the most exciting exhibitions, both in terms of venue and content, was the Light and Rising Stars Exhibition, presented within what was a former Victorian prison – affectionately known as the House of Detention – this was a curated combination of lighting installations along with some bright new shining lights in the design industry. A few that grabbed our attention were; the atmospheric and organic lighting sculptures by designer Cindy Lilen – the statement lighting by designer Jonathan Coles showcasing both organic and industrial designs – the combination of the traditional and the contemporary in the beautifully crafted designs by Chris Murphy – the fascinating surface design furniture range by Emily Hatton who combines innovative digital techniques in laser cut precision with a more traditional furniture element.
Image credit: Chris Murphy Design
Image credit: Emily Hatton Design
Moving from the prison into the field, the exhibition space Design Fields was all about international furniture, lighting and product design. Referencing those curves and textured surfaces mentioned earlier, Parla was there showcasing some of its new award winning furniture – the aptly named Hug Sofa is as close to emotional commitment from a couch that you are going to get! Alongside the international movers and shakers, UK designer Christian Watson made a bold statement in black and white with the Edenvale Collection in fabric by Kirkby Design.
Alongside all the finishes and surfaces, furniture and fittings, was of course the conversations. That connectivity that drives creation and ensures that design and inspiration is strong while embracing the challenges of social change along with the demands of transparency and sustainability. What was apparent on every level of CDW 2022 was that designers, manufacturers and makers are all listening to the concerns, and in many cases, driving the changes.
Castillo Hotel Son Vida, a 13th-century Mallorcan possessió in Palma de Mallorca, and part of the Luxury Collection Hotel portfolio, has unveiled 100 newly renovated, luxury guestrooms designed by studio Goddard Littlefair. The new design combines Balearic textures with the hotel’s heritage…
Having started the renovation process with the garden guestrooms in 2019, the remaining 100 rooms and suites with views over Palma Bay have joined in the makeover process with a new design by the Goddard Littlefair studio which combines Balearic textures with the hotel’s heritage. Inspired by the architecture, location, and spirit of the hotel, the design is centered around the hotel’s iconic character as a haven of discreet luxury for the elite who choose the island of Mallorca as a holiday destination. Island life and Mallorcan traditions have also played a very important role in the new design, with clear references to hand-woven fabrics in the furniture and the choice of traditional patterns that inspired the textiles and design of the carpets.
“We were delighted to work alongside the ‘The Luxury Collection’ brand on this project. Each property has a unique ethos, with layers of interest and intrigue that can appeal to a variety of guests. Whilst there are requirements which ensure that the guest has a consistent and luxurious experience, the nature of the design can be directly responsive to the design pillars which we also ascribe to: location, architecture, and narrative. It resulted in a scheme where pattern, texture, colour and artwork could all be embraced to deliver a unique identity for the property”, commented Martin Goddard and Jo Littlefair, co-founders of Goddard Littlefair. “Designing for hotels has always attracted us, because they allow us to add a dose of drama to the project and create opportunities that do not exist in other design disciplines. Castillo Hotel Son Vida is a very special property with a dazzling history but also a place where guests have always felt welcome and relaxed.”
Image credit: Marriott International
Creating a residential atmosphere in the rooms was key and the living area is designed to provide guests with space to relax, dine, or work. Access to the terraces provide a seamless connection between the inside and outside, while lighting and mirrors are used to enhance the feeling of space in the room. The polished terracotta plaster wall behind the headboard reminds guests of the warm sunsets on the island and local handmade ceramics, and the floor is carpeted with inset borders, strongly influenced by traditional Mallorcan patterns. The joinery elements are also coated in a rich dark timber and the walls are simply painted, allowing the furniture, colours and fabrics to bring the warmth and familiarity of a Mallorcan residence.
“Our intention with the renovation of the most appreciated rooms of the hotel was to breathe a fresh and Mediterranean air into them without losing sight of the elegance and glamour that correspond to the rooms of our resort,” said Francisco Vila, CEO of Arabella Hotels and Investments of Spain. “The essence and soul of the building’s architecture remain intact in a design that is firmly linked to the tradition of the island’s crafts through materials, patterns, textures and colours. The intention is to give the guest the feeling that they have arrived at an old friend’s house in a Mallorcan traditional possessió, where the courteous staff will look after your every need.”
Image credit: Marriott International
Developing a harmony of colour and texture was imperative to the design and guests can observe how they change during different parts of the day, and with different lighting. The colour combination chosen by Goddard Littlefair is inspired by local Mallorcan trades, history and culture and the island setting. The relaxed, neutral palette is accented by warm terracotta, coral pinks, and Mediterranean blues with glamorous notes in the strong black accents through selected finishes. Warm, natural timber tones in the furniture also helped provide a more organic contrast to the strength of the ivory and black contrast.
All fabrics are sourced locally, and natural textures used reinstate the residential feel. The headboard is covered in woven textures, the dressing stool is dressed in a coral velvet, while the bench at the end of the bed is finished in a beautiful tan leather which in turn connects to the coloured plaster finish on the wall. To complete the look, cushions on the sofa pick up on the combination of blue and coral printed textiles.
The majority of the furnishings were designed bespoke for the project including a mini-bar cabinet inspired by an antique dresser. The intention was not to create a suite of matching furniture, instead the pieces were selected as if they would have been part of a residence, adding a notes of individual luxury to the guestroom.
12th-century chic: checking in to COMO Castello Del Nero
Old meets new – in an unconventional yet subtle way. Using lighting, architecture and the region’s pure charm as the hotel’s allure, there’s something reassuring and warmly familiar about the design scheme inside COMO Castello Del Nero. Editor Hamish Kilburn explores…
Hidden in-between vineyards and rolling Tuscan hills, COMO Castello Del Nero’s arrival experience feels more like entering a luxurious mansion than it does a hotel. Far removed from the energy and noise of Florence (but still just a 40-minute drive from the action), the hotel evokes a warm sense of calm, which is the vibe one feels when stepping inside the understated yet still stately lobby, where a gothic-like, black cast-iron chandelier weaves its way around the ceiling intuitively casting light on a wallcovering that, put simply, needs no art.
Image credit: COMO Hotels & Resorts
For Paola Navone, the Milanese interior designer who is no stranger to the COMO Hotels & Resorts portfolio – having been the creative force behind the design of the majority of the hotels under the brand’s umbrella – this project was different; like coming home. Bringing the brand’s first hotel in continental Europe to life, Navone was required to give sensitive nods to the building’s heritage while also reflecting simplicity in a way that felt inherently luxurious. She opted to breathe new meaning into the interiors by first transforming its terracotta walls into a lighter, more modern aesthetic by introducing white-washed surfaces, allowing the building’s period features to play a major role.
Image credit: COMO Hotels & Resorts
In true COMO style, each room within the hotel – whether that be a public space or guestroom – feels intimate, refined and refreshingly paired back. No area has gone untouched. In some rooms, it’s the lack of furniture, art and lighting that effortlessly adds drama. In others, such as ‘the mirror room’ – a chamber of floor-to-ceiling mirrors, which include all the mirrors Navone found in the castle when renovating – the design narrative is told in a modern and slightly abstract way.
Avoiding an overtly stuffy feel, Navone chose colour schemes and design elements that would enhance the hotel’s main attraction; the postcard-perfect views that stretch beyond the nourished gardens and uniformed vineyards within the 750-acre estate.
Image credit: COMO Hotels & Resorts
Image credit: COMO Hotels & Resorts
But for guests wishing to truly escape, the cocoon-like Como Shambhala spa – a main organ inside any COMO property – is located deliberately in the centre of the hotel’s site. It is a peaceful space that shelters healing and restorative treatments designed to balance the scales opposite the stresses of modern life.
Image credit: COMO Hotels & Resorts
The hidden sanctuary features a 25-metre heated outdoor pool and a thermal suite that includes an ice fountain, a gentle sauna, an aromatic steam room and heated vitality pool.
Image credit: COMO Hotels & Resorts
When it comes to dining experiences, COMO Castello Del Nero delivers the COMO philosophy of only using the finest produce with style. The Pavillion is an interesting venue that makes full use of the hotel’s unique sense of place. Located on the terrace, the F&B outlet under the cabana was only intended to be used as a temporary shelter during the pandemic. However, following the positive response to the airy restaurant, the indoor-outdoor dining experience has become a permanent fixture. The menu – and of course its overall style – is casual and works seamlessly with striking countryside views as the guests’ backdrop.
Image credit: COMO Hotels & Resorts
The hotel’s Michelin-starred La Torre Restaurant, meanwhile, is located inside the main building under large archways, in front of a generous open fire. Its design is layered with playful lighting – oversized lampshades as chandeliers and wire-like wall lighting to steer guests’ attention around the room. The restaurant uses the finest ingredients sourced from local farmers, or directly from the estate’s organic garden, which is carefully tended by Executive Chef, Giovanni Luca Di Pirro and turned into innovative dishes that appear on the plate more like art than food.
Image credit: COMO Hotels & Resorts
As I check out from COMO Castello Del Nero, I leave with a slower heartbeat, having experienced what feels like the most premium hospitality in the region, which felt warmly familiar thanks to COMO Hotels & Resorts way of making every guest feel at home, while bathing in luxury.
Located along Saudi Arabia’s west coast on Shura Island, the new Rosewood Hotel will be part of The Red Sea destination, which is comprised of a stunning marina offering a yacht club, commercial retail and dining options, as well as an 18-hole championship golf course. This new development is poised to be one of Saudi Arabia’s top cultural and lifestyle destinations, appealing to international visitors and local citizens through a mix of leisure elements.
“We are delighted to partner with Rosewood to establish its ultra-luxury brand on our hub island, Shura, at The Red Sea destination,” said John Pagano, CEO at The Red Sea Development Company. “Rosewood’s philosophy to reflect the local culture and spirit of a destination in its offering will tempt visitors to explore the rich heritage and unsurpassed natural beauty of this undiscovered, unique region. Rosewood Red Sea is set to meet the increasing demand for exclusive, personalised experiences that dovetail with the natural environment, and we look forward to welcoming guests to the resort.”
Rosewood Red Sea will shelter 149 guestrooms and suites. Food and beverage offerings will include three restaurants, two lounges, a signature Manor Club and a central hub featuring authentic eateries. Additional recreational spaces will include event pavilions and Asaya, Rosewood’s integrative well-being concept consisting of seven treatment rooms, a gym, two movement studios and a yoga pavilion.
“It is our great pleasure to announce our expansion in the Middle East, adding Rosewood Red Sea to Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning cultural movement,” said Sonia Cheng, Chief Executive Officer of Rosewood Hotel Group. “Rosewood’s presence in The Red Sea destination will mark a transformational time for the brand as the project looks to set new standards in sustainable development and support Saudi Arabia emerge as a top global tourism destination.”
Encompassing 22 islands and five inland sites by the time it completes in 2030, The Red Sea destination will be home to a luxury and upper-upscale segment composed of mono-island resorts, beach resorts, centralized island-hubs, and inland resorts in the desert and mountains. The destination is located 550 km north of Jeddah. For travellers near and far, the new Red Sea International Airport will provide access and airlift to the destination.
With the aim to celebrate inclusivity and equality – elements that have arguably always been prominent and high up on the agenda in hotel design, architecture and hospitality – the team at Hotel Designs are amplifying their faith this Pride Month by adding a splash of rainbow colour into its logo throughout June. Editor Hamish Kilburn writes why Pride Month should be celebrated at every opportunity…
It’s so easy to call yourself a ‘global brand’ these days. Thanks to the democratisation of everything, a social post can be viewed by tens of thousands of people worldwide in an instant. On platforms like Hotel Designs, we take pride in covering news and features from what feels like all corners of the globe – from energy positive hotel concepts in Norway to chic new properties in Australia and the fast-evolving concepts within the Red Sea Development. But the truth is, we – the editors – decide just how international our content is at any given time, depending on what we believe is relevant. We won’t be swooning over Russia’s hotel development pipeline any time soon…
I have a question for you about our global arena. Are you proud of our ‘international’ industry? Perhaps the answer is ‘yes’ seeing as there are beautiful hotels around the globe. But, given the hospitality’s need to discuss (ESG) Economic, Social and Governance, socially is the world and its politics – and therefore its hospitality parameters – something to be proud of? If I am really honest, I don’t think I can be when, in 2022 Human Dignity Trust provided an overview of the countries across the world where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are criminalised.
71 jurisdictions/countries, including much of the Caribbean, for example, criminalise private, consensual, same-sex sexual activity. The majority of these jurisdictions explicitly criminalise sex between men via ‘sodomy’, ‘buggery’ and ‘unnatural offences’ laws. Almost half of them are Commonwealth jurisdictions.
Meanwhile, 43 jurisdictions criminalise private, consensual sexual activity between women using laws against ‘lesbianism’, ‘sexual relations with a person of the same sex’ and ‘gross indecency’. Even in jurisdictions that do not explicitly criminalise women, lesbians and bisexual women have been subjected to arrest or threat of arrest.
“It takes no compromise to give people their rights … it takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no political deal to give people freedom. It takes no survey to remove repression.” – Harvey Milk.
Furthermore, 11 jurisdictions in which the death penalty is imposed or at least a possibility for private, consensual same-sex sexual activity. At least six of these, many of which are considered prime hotel development hotspots, implement the death penalty – Iran, Northern Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen – and the death penalty is a legal possibility in Afghanistan, Brunei, Mauritania, Pakistan, Qatar and UAE.
Equality goes beyond same-sex relations. Pride Month, however, was born out of homophobic atrocity, and in its infancy was developed by the LGBTQ+ community who wanted to call out homophobia. It is celebrated each year in the month of June to honour the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. In recent years, though, while it is important to understand the heritage, it has evolved into something greater. Brands and people can use the month to amplify their support and intolerance towards homophobia.
Pride Month today, in my opinion, is the answer to society’s shame. It is promotion of the self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ+) people as a social group. It is an opportunity for everyone to support the cause towards fairness.
Our wonderful and colour-filled and creative industry is known, respected and responsible for pushing forward social and climate issues and presenting solutions to complex problems that threaten a peaceful world. In all of these stigmatised scenarios, it is often collaborative efforts that lead to change. So, throughout June, to mark Pride Month with the noise and stance evolution demands, Hotel Designs has decided to change its logo to represent the colours of the rainbow with the hope that others will follow.
The exhibition is being staged to celebrate a decade of working in the building that ZHA designed for Roca in 2011. Located at Imperial Wharf near London’s Chelsea Harbour, the gallery’s form is based on water, central to Roca’s business and reflecting their sustainability commitments to people and planet. Hadid herself described the role of water in the building, saying “it acts as a transformer, moving without interruption through the façade, carving the interior and flowing through the main gallery as drops of water.”
Image credit: Luke O’Donavan
The sculptural spaces of the striking 1,100 metre-squared gallery will become the site for an immersive installation of ZHD’s portfolio of pioneering designs, from fashion and jewellery, to home accessories and furniture, carpets and lighting. First time UK exhibits include a new furniture range made in collaboration with Japanese high tech brand Karimoku and jewellery designed for Tateossian.
Image credit: Jacopo Spilimbergo
“What we have learned from Zaha — the integrity of her design process at any scale, the way she shared knowledge with the team, her bold curiosity toward new discoveries and her exhilarating creativity — are the foundations on which ZHD builds,” said Woody Yao and Maha Kutay, Co-Directors of ZHD. “We strongly believe in collaboration; we see it as a catalyst for inventiveness through the exchange of ideas, talent and expertise from every party involved in the design process. It is important to always engage with partners, collaborators, and clients who share the same approach and are never afraid to experiment and innovate – each in their respective fields.”
Image credit: Masaki Ogawa
The collaborative output is well represented in the exhibition, including furniture developed with David Gill Gallery; lighting for Slamp and Lasvit; shoes designed for United Nude and Lacoste; jewellery made for Bulgari and Tateossian; and crystal bowls and vases designed for Lalique.
Roca 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.
JW Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of 30 hotel brands, has made its debut in Frankfurt, Germany with the opening of JW Marriott Hotel Frankfurt. Combining thoughtful interiors and fashionable state-of-the-art amenities, the hotel aims to create a serene retreat within the heart of the thriving metropolis…
With a transformative renovation being planned, the hotel will soon to be completed with the aim of bringing to life the JW Marriott brand’s serene sensibility in conjunction with modern technology catering to the sophisticated, mindful traveller. Located in the centre of Frankfurt, directly connected to the shopping area Zeil, the hotel will give guests an unbeatable location just steps away from the heart of the city.
“We are delighted to welcome JW Marriott Hotel Frankfurt to our growing portfolio of remarkable hotels,” said Candice D’Cruz, Vice President – Luxury Brands, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International, “JW Marriott offers guests service and experiences that are integral to today’s business and leisure travellers and this hotel will act as a retreat for those visiting this thriving destination.”
Image credit: Marriott International
True to brand, JW Marriott Frankfurt proposes to combine purposeful design with extraordinary service and a commitment to holistic well-being, with each of the 219 guestrooms and suites featuring floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping views of the city skyline and River Main, giving guests a moment of reflection. Embracing local touches in the design, the group has enlisted Hartwig Ebersbach, one of the most famous painters in Germany, to create 230 paintings which are thoughtfully placed throughout the hotel. While the paintings are not for sale, guests can enjoy and appreciate the depictions and inspirations that Ebersbach gathered during his journeys around the globe.
The hotel will embrace the brand’s focus on authentic and sustainable dining experiences by introducing two new F&B offerings for guests. Located on the first floor, Max on One offers modern French cuisine with an Asian twist in a metropolitan atmosphere. Perfect for after dinner drinks, guests can enjoy Ember Bar & Lounge, a chic cocktail and champagne lounge with an extensive gin and wine list.
Image credit: Marriott International
Furthering the brand’s commitment to nourishing the body as well as the spirit, JW Marriott Hotel Frankfurt produces its very own honey from a colony of bees that live on the hotel’s rooftop. The honey is served fresh from a honeycomb during breakfast while also being incorporated into delectable dishes served during lunch and dinner.
“We are excited to introduce the JW Marriott brand to Germany,” said David Salomon, General Manager, JW Marriott Frankfurt. “With its perfect location in the heart of Frankfurt, as well as extraordinary service and special finishing touches, JW Marriott Frankfurt brings excellence and redefined luxury to the city.”
Image credit: Marriott International
Designed with the guests’ well-being in mind, visitors are encouraged to take a moment for themselves to truly discover the experiences that will leave them feeling revitalised and refreshed both during and after their stay. The hotel’s fitness centre offers a variety of services including cardiovascular equipment and free weights. The Spa by JW offers a full range of amenities, including indulgent and calming treatments and access to the onsite indoor pool, spa and sauna. Guests can enjoy an experience that’s effortless, approachable, and intuitive and where spaces connect seamlessly, offering areas to relax in, with or without a treatment, as an individual or part of a group.
Gran Meliá scheduled for a summer opening in Menorca
Meliá Hotels International has announced the upcoming opening of Villa Le Blanc Gran Meliá on Santo Tomás Beach in Menorca this summer. Returning to Meliá’s Balearic heritage, the new luxury hotel will be fully integrated with its natural surroundings with sustainability at its heart, while reflecting the Mediterranean essence of the island…
Villa Le Blanc, as the latest addition to the Gran Melia portfolio, is a renovation of what was once the Sol Beach House Hotel, located in an idyllic setting on the Migjorn coast, halfway between Mahón and Ciutadella. The hotel remains a prime location for discovering the island’s cultural and natural attractions of an island which was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1993.
Image credit: Melia Hotels International
The project is led by architect Álvaro Sans and fuses simple and contemporary design with luxury. The hotel will shelter 159 guestrooms, some with a private pool, and is designed to resemble a large balcony overlooking the sea. Predominantly decorated in white and blue, the large terraces and porches typical of Mediterranean architecture blur the boundaries and blend the indoor/outdoor spaces.
Image credit: Melia Hotels International
Image credit: Melia Hotels International
“Menorca is the Mediterranean in its purest form and transmits a sensation of peace and well-being that you can only find elsewhere in some of the Aegean islands,” said architect Alvaro Sans. “That’s why we set ourselves the challenge to create one of the best hotels in the entire Mediterranean, and we are making a lot of progress in that direction.”
The project aims to be a prototype for hotel efficiency and respect for the natural environment, with state-of-the-art facilities and technologies that will allow it to reduce its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 87 per cent. The hotel will also explore alternatives to offset its remaining emissions and ensure carbon neutrality, one of the objectives actively pursued by the company. Villa Le Blanc will not only improve the island’s ability to attract higher quality tourism but will also make Menorca an international benchmark for efficient and environmentally friendly hotels.
“Villa Le Blanc is a dream come true for our company,” said Gabriel Escarrer, Vice President and CEO of Meliá. “A project like this allows us to move forward towards hotel decarbonisation. It is also in such a special place as the Biosphere Reserve of Menorca, making it one of the most tangible results of our commitment to a hotel model based on excellence, responsibility and sustainability.”
Image credit: Melia Hotels International
Owned by Victoria Hotels & Resorts, created in 2021 by Meliá Hotels International, Bankinter and other investors, who are customers of the bank, along with GMA acting as the managing partner – each partner involved in the project shares a strong commitment to sustainability, as shown in the clear ethos behind the transformation of this iconic hotel.
“Villa Le Blanc Gran Meliá will be the best demonstration of what the partners in Victoria Hotels & Resorts are able to achieve together,” said Victor Martí, founder and CEO of GMA. “Meeting our objectives of renovating and repositioning very iconic hotels to introduce them to a new stage of magnificence and splendour while increasing the value they create for their shareholders and also for the destinations where they are located.”
Image credit: Melia Hotels International
The hotel has already received the Rethink Award for the best hotel sustainability and rehabilitation project at the beginning of 2022 from the Habitat Futura Group, and will have an efficient energy management system based on the use of renewable energy such as biomass, solar or geothermal, and home-automation technology reduce consumption of both energy and water. The building’s air-conditioning systems will use seawater to improve efficiency and achieve reductions in electricity use of up to 40 per cent.
The hotel has plans to adopt circular-economy model in its waste management. For example, the residual heat from air-conditioning systems will be used to preheat domestic hot water and the heated swimming pools, backwash water from the swimming pools will be used for cleaning the hotel, rainwater will be used to irrigate the gardens and grey water will be used in the toilets.
Shining a spotlight on place and location, the hotel will also be a tribute to the work of local artisans, whilst simultaneously offering exquisite cuisine focused on local products in the various restaurants. In true Gran Meliá style, the resort hotel has a respect for things well done, and understated elegance in every detail forms part of its hallmarks.
Villeroy & Boch launches new freestanding bath in matt grey
With warm grey shades a top trend in the modern bathroom, Villeroy & Boch has launched the Theano freestanding bath in a new design-led matt grey colour…
With the move towards biophilic design constantly looking at ways of referencing nature in, the new matte grey colourway in the Villeroy & Boch palette evokes images of natural materials such as stone and rocks, creating a relaxing atmosphere for daily bathing routines. Created by the designer Christian Haas, the Theano freestanding bath in the new matte grey almost appears to have been carved from stone. The sculptural statement piece breaks away from the traditional white look in bathrooms with a monumental effect inspired by nature.
Designer Haas, recently listed among the 100 most important designers for 2022 by AD magazine, has worked successfully with Villeroy & Boch’s Bathroom and Wellness and Dining & Lifestyle divisions for many years. With his newest addition to the Theano bathroom portfolio, the impressive freestanding monolith bathtub combines balanced proportions with geometric contours in a precise and delicate design. Despite its narrow edges and thin walls, the bath is extremely strong. This is thanks to the high-quality Quaryl material, a blend of tried-and-tested sanitary acrylic and the mineral quartz.
Freely positionable and sitting directly on the floor, the Theano bath makes a strong statement with its understated beauty in a strikingly streamlined design that adds an elegant and natural touch to the warm matte grey, making it a perfect choice for extravagant bathrooms in which minimalist elements create a natural, urban homely feel.
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.
Taking centre stage for the first time since 2019, Clerkenwell Design Week is currently delivering a performance of a lifetime, writes Editor Hamish Kilburn who has been on the ground to capture the action…
We’re not known for spreading gossip (only when it’s really juicy), but we have it on good authority that there are a few sore heads this morning – possibly our fault together with Table Place Chairs for putting on our join #CDW Takeover party last night. Following a spectacular first day (and evening) at Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW), which made its bold return yesterday for the first time since 2019, here’s a low down of what you may have missed – and, more importantly, what’s still available to explore.
Since it made its debut in 2009, CDW has become one of the UK’s leading independent design festivals, providing a welcome and creative platform for brands to showcase their products and for the 100+ resident showrooms to open their doors to new audiences.
For a few precious days, the entire neighbourhood of Clerkenwell, which boasts a deep layer of historical design and architectural heritage, lights up. This year has been somewhat of an exceptional edition of the event. Showrooms have made use of the opportunities to flex their muscles while the show has extended its territory to cover more ground, showrooms and trends. This year CDW’s festival route – follow the pink-lined road – has been extended to include Charterhouse Square, which sees Orticolario’s Delenimentum installation making somewhat of a statement. Take it from me, the gigantic version of the legendary Adirondack Chair created in 1903 by the designer Thomas Lee is a playful and photo-worthy addition to this year’s show.
“One element that has been hard not to miss has been showrooms and brands taking it upon themselves to create content.” – Hamish Kilburn, Editor, Hotel Designs.
Visitors attending the show can expect to be flooded with the latest designs, innovations and creative ideas, plus installations celebrating the fascinating history of Clerkenwell, as well as hundreds of design-led fringe events, pop- ups, workshops, talks and showroom presentations. Once again, CDW will host a series of talks in Spa Fields by leading designers and architects tackling topical and newsworthy issues. As interesting as these talks have been, though, one element that has been hard not to miss has been showrooms and brands taking it upon themselves to create content – something we have been proud to help amplify. To kickstart the proceedings, Hotel Designs hosted two engaging talks yesterday. The first, which took shelter inside Atlas Concorde’s new showroom was an In Conversation With Mario Ferrarini, and explored the designer’s unique approach to product design. Later in the day, the team arrived at the recently opened Table Place Chairs showroom, which was where the energy of CDW was well and truly captured with both an insightful panel discussion on blurring boundaries in hospitality and design followed by what can only be described as a the party of the week.
Also new for 2022 is Contract, where visitors can view the latest products for commercial interiors. Clerkenwell’s subterranean House of Detention, which was previously a prison in the mid-19th century is showcasing Light + Rising Stars where a host of new and upcoming designers are exhibiting alongside leading lighting brands. Pop, the former cold store turned nightclub (always a popular destination on the CDW route) has been an essential place to visit to experience brand activations and immersive installations throughout the three days.
In a partnership that has spanned five years, CDW has once again collaborated with Scale Rule to present the NextGen Design Pavilion. This year’s design concept for the NextGen pavilion exemplifies human impact upon the earth and in turn mankind’s responsibility to protect and shape it for better, a highly topical issue following COP26 in 2021. The domed structure illustrates a deconstructed planet, which is formed, fractured and reconfigured from natural materials including timber geometric segments. The pavilion celebrates sustainability through its modular production methods, recycled materials and future re-use, encouraging people to rest and socialise within its bounds, making use of and leaving their positive trace upon the structure.
As we reach the half-way point of the week, there’s still much more to look forward to, including a captivating roundtable discussion with Kohler and yet another party tonight at the Schlüter-Systems pop-up showroom where Hotel Designs will interview architect Lauren Hunt on how she, along with her team, managed to complete the once-in-a-lifetime Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge.
Stay tuned as our writer on the ground, Pauline Brettell, will be casting her official review of CDW very soon.
Product watch: Julienne Collection from Samuel & Sons
Woven from mercerized cotton, the Julienne Collection by Samuel & Sons features a full spectrum of colours, from rich saturated tones to neutrals and tinted hues, giving designers over 250 possibilities to choose from with unlimited combinations…
Samuel & Sons is a consistent source of innovative and quality trimmings, inspiring interior designers and architects with both innovation, and variety. The Julienne Collection is a refined collection of finely woven, mercerized cotton piping and double welting offered in a comprehensive selection of 143 colours. The patterns in the collection are comprised of the Julienne Piping, the Julienne Double Welting, and the Julienne Two-Tone Double Welting. Woven from a beautiful, mercerized cotton yarn, the refined exterior weave structure will lead to greater consistency in applications. The Julienne Piping and Welting achieves greater uniformity along edges and fluidity in turning corners, while maintaining its silhouette. The superior quality piping and double welting method in the collection provide greater structural stability and aesthetic.
With its 121 colours, eleven metallics and twelve two-tone double welting, the Julienne Collection’s patterns, offers designers over 250 possibilities to choose from, with unlimited combinations. The extensive palette features a full spectrum of colours from rich saturated tones to neutrals and tinted hues.
Image credit: Samuel & Sons
Image credit: Samuel & Sons
Within the neutral realm, the collection houses pure whites such as Chalk, as well as a series of ivories and is complimented by more nuanced tones such as Opal and Sandstone. The yellows range from light Forsythia to a bright Citron and then transition into warm earthen ochres and Amber before moving into the midtones of Mulberry and Quince. Ethereal Cloud and Ice Blue counter the brilliance of the more saturated shades of Snapdragon and Emerald, contributing to the wide colour selection. Within the shades of Blue the collection ranges from lighter tones such as Rain through midtones of Periwinkle into a more formal shade of Imperial. Within the greens, the focus is on deeper tones with richer pigmentation such as a majestic Viridian with Forest and Juniper all processing subtle blue notes. With botanical influences gaining momentum, a palette of fresh organic colours including Parsley, Bamboo, Honeydew and Willow have been included in the comprehensive palette.
Samuel & Sons 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.
Mövenpick scheduled to open its doors on Al Marjan Island
Bringing Mövenpick to Ras Al Khaimah in a series of firsts – located on the first manmade island in the emirate, as well as being the first Mövenpick Resort to the UAE, Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island is set to become a major landmark in the region and the perfect retreat for families and couples in a spectacular island location…
Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island is set to provide guests with the ideal escape from everyday life, with its stunning coastlines and the magnificent desert planes in Ras Al Khaimah. Boasting 300 metres of white sandy seashore and only a short distance from the bustling city of Dubai, Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan will be a striking landmark in one of the region’s preferred tourism destinations. Sheltering 418 guestrooms, the contemporary design will include suites and one-bedroom beachfront chalets featuring private swimming pools and terraces.
Image credit: Mövenpick
“Al Marjan Island is further enriching its offering with the opening of Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island, which is another testament to the reputation of Ras Al Khaimah as one of the region’s fastest-growing tourism destinations,” said Eng. Abdulla Al Abdooli, CEO of Marjan. “The hotel will attract a new demographic of visitors and offer them an exceptional hospitality experience. It will also enhance the appeal of Al Marjan Island for developers as a sought-after destination for leisure.”
Swiss heritage brand Mövenpick will continue to honour its Swiss roots and strong culinary heritage in this property by introducing six fresh new restaurant and bar concepts, including a trendy and sociable day to night beach lounge and restaurant inspired by the summer season in Greece, a rooftop restaurant boasting panoramic views of Al Marjan Island and a bistro bringing authentic French cuisine into a modern and welcoming setting. For coffee connoisseurs and chocolate lovers alike, the Lobby Lounge offers Mövenpick’s renowned signature Chocolate Hour each day with a selection of signature coffee blends and pastries.
Image credit: Mövenpick
Once open, this family-friendly resort will introduce Ras Al Khaimah’s first floating waterpark in the sea, featuring giant floating playgrounds, climbing walls, monkey bars, slides, and trampolines for experiences full of fun and laughter. Focussing on the whole family, while adults are out to play, the little ones are invited to 200 square metres of children’s facilities with an outdoor playground where they can create wonderful memories of their own.
“We have put together an exciting exploration program for children of all ages, which will allow parents to enjoy peace of mind as children will be taken care of from day to night in an environment which inspires imagination through hands-on ‘edutainment activities, supervised by a professional team, balancing each child needs and interests.” said General Manager Fabien Chesnais.
Image credit: Mövenpick
For events, weddings, and conferences, the resort will offer exceptional and multi-functional venues in addition to a 485 square metre grand ballroom and an elegant pre-function area. Providing natural daylight and a capacity of up to 350 persons, the ballroom can be split into sections to offer increased flexibility for weddings and celebrations.
The new Mövenpick resort promises to deliver high service standards and fun-filled, activity-packed stays for all ages. It joins a portfolio of more than 100 hotels and resorts around the world, with another 50 planned by 2025. Along with this ambitious pipeline, the brand has a holistic approach to sustainability and, as a result of its deep commitment to local environments and communities, Green Globe has named Mövenpick the world’s most sustainable hotel company every year since 2017.
To celebrate the relaunch of its London Experience Center, Kohler has unveiled a collaboration with UK fashion designer Jack Irving during Clerkenwell Design Week…
Inspired by Kohler’s new digital showering collection Statement and Anthem, fashion designer Jack Irving’s window display is called Future Splash and its design reflects the beautiful, organic form of water when captured in slow motion or fused with technology. Future Splash celebrates immersive showering experiences and embodies the spectacular forms created when water is energised by technology.
Reflecting the chrome and matte black finishes of some of Kohler’s ranges, the installation is a hybrid of both art and fashion, combining static futuristic sculptures alongside a wearable tech statement piece, which will be demonstrated by one of Irving’s models.
The London KEC has been closed for a few months to allow for a full high spec refurbishment of the space, which offers a creative design hub for architects and specifiers across Europe and beyond. The KEC has opened its doors to Clerkenwell Design Week visitors, allowing them a glimpse at the new showroom along with the spectacle of Jack Irving’s window display.
Jack Irving is a Central St Martins performance design alumnus, known for his theatre and production work. His fantastical creations span entertainment, having collaborated with productions such as Secret Cinema; high profile fashion, having designed pieces for Lady Gaga and the Spice Girls, as well as more recently presenting his first solo London Fashion Week Show in collaboration with On|Off. Irving has also worked with hospitality design through his ongoing relationship with the W London.
Image credit: Kohler
The new Statement and Anthem showering collections elevate the showering routine to a next level sensory event, further expanding Kohler’s industry-leading approach to digital showering. This combination of advanced technology with unique shapes and an array of colour finishes breathes new life into well-loved standards. Statement and Anthem marry the latest in technology with enduring craftsmanship. Furthermore, universal compatibility means the system works wherever it is installed around the world.
A roundtable event in partnership with Hotel Designs will also be held at the KEC on Wednesday May 25, where editor Hamish Kilburn will lead a discussion on Enhancing Luxury Through Digital Innovations.
Kohler 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.
Live from CDW: Renew, a journey continued with Morgan
After great anticipation, Clerkenwell Design Week is back, and Morgan are delighted to open their showroom doors, for a series of events and installations exploring the theme of ‘Renew’and showcasing a sustainable approach to production through an immersive exhibition…
The Morgan showroom can be found in the heart of Clerkenwell, perfectly placed and ready to welcome back Clerkenwell Design Week. With sustainability consistently on top of the agenda, Morgan have always been consciously looking to reduce waste and produce products with longevity, and with this in mind will be hosting an immersive exhibition titled ‘Renew’. Visitors will follow the journey of four Pastille dining chairs through reupholstery, showcasing Morgan’s sustainable approach to manufacturing, and gaining insight into a live project with AELTC, Wimbledon. Extending the life of the chairs, ready for many more Championships to come.
Launching at CDW is the latest addition to the Oslo collection, a Scandinavian inspired, slender dining chair featuring a cane panel detail to the inside back, emphasising the lightness of the frame. Porto barstools will also be unveiled, combining Porto’s crisp upholstery with a generous seat and a slim line metal underframe. These stools are available with a leather handle detail to the outside back.
Image credit: Morgan
After a successful digital launch, the Kaya Dining collection will also be available for visitors to view in person for the first time. Including the increasingly popular woven cane detail this collection is tactile, warm, and relinks contemporary design to traditional artisanal techniques. The collection has an emphasis on space and light, evoking an atmosphere of ‘komorebi’, the Japanese word for the sunshine filtering through leaves. As with a lush woodland, Kaya’s serene frame finds strength in numbers. Individual timber sections have been kept small with multiple lightweight supports in place of a single, larger component.
Image credit: Morgan
Also on display will be Morgan’s latest collections, including ‘Lugano’ designed by Rock Galpin, and launched at LDF 2021. This solid crafted timber-framed collection draws inspiration from human interactions, exploring the complex topic of ‘nurture’, interpreted through form and balance. In line with Morgan’s ongoing commitment to being an environmental leader, Rock took a ‘make once, make well’ approach to designing Lugano, striving to achieve a sustainable product to last a lifetime.
The latest collections will sit alongside a complete showroom transformation, continuing the theme ‘Renew’. Morgan London has invited artist Olly Fathers, to create a large-scale installation across their main showroom wall, entitled ‘Offcuts’, the piece is an exploration of a single set of wood offcuts, arranged in multiple compositions. Each work is cut by hand and with each work made, a new set of offcuts are created. The series celebrates this process of constant rotation and encourages the viewer to look closer at these previously disregarded forms.
Innerspace, a Cheshire based designer & manufacturer of sustainable decorative wall panels, have created a renewed installation of beautifully preserved moss and oak, heightening the biophilic aesthetic of the space. Lighting of the space has been carefully curated and supplied by Bert Frank. all this can be viewed and experienced at the buzzing showroom for Morgan London.
Morgan 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.
For the first time since 2019, MEET UP North returned on May 19 2022 to the creative hub of Manchester. More than 150 designers, architects, hoteliers, developers and suppliers arrived to be inspired by the theme of design development in the North. Here are the official images from the night…
Following the energy of MEET UP London, which took place just two months prior, MEET UP North 2022 took shelter underground, in The Storehouse at Whitworth Locke. The theme of the night was ‘development in the North’ in line with the Manchester – and other Northern hotspots, such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Leeds and Birmingham – being hives of hotel development.
Hotel Designs’ leading networking event kickstarted the day with an exclusive panel discussion, which will be available to watch, in full, on demand shortly, between leading designers who explored together creative opportunities outside the capital.
Following this, more than 150 designers, architects, hoteliers, developers and suppliers arrived for an evening of premium networking. “It’s so important for Hotel Designs to host networking events in territories where innovation and creativity flourishes,” said Katy Phillips, Publisher, Hotel Designs. “This is our third MEET UP North event in Manchester, a city that is ever-evolving while also progressively getting louder year-on-year on the hotel design scene. Whitworth Locke, our venue for MEET UP North 2022, is a shining example of a hospitality offering that is embracing the city’s vibe while also giving locals and travellers something they have perhaps not experienced before in Manchester.”
Here are the official images from the night.
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP North/Hotel Designs
The next major networking event, brought to you exclusively by Hotel Designs, is The Brit List Awards 2022. Nominations/applications will open on June 27 and will close on August 19. The awards ceremony – open to all to attend – will take place on November 2.
Live from CDW: unlock the power of nature with UNILIN
UNILIN Panels is at Clerkenwell Design Week with a programme of creative and informative events that explore the central theme of nature and how it can be used to connect people with the spaces in which they work…
With a full programme of workshops, talks and live interviews, UNILIN Panels at The Gallery Clerkenwell is giving the architecture and design community the chance to explore how the natural world influences approach to the design of commercial interiors. From the supportive qualities of nature in interior materials and spatial design to the need to be active in building a sustainable future that preserves the planet for future generations, the programme has something for everyone involved in the design of today’s work, leisure and living spaces.
With Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW) scheduled to run from May 24 – 26, kicking off the programme on Tuesday afternoon, visitors to The Gallery Clerkenwell can take part in a Kokedama workshop that teaches the Japanese technique of hanging indoor plants, taking home their very own air filtering palm to hang at home. There will also be a chance to discover the latest design trends coming from the natural world in a morning talk.
The following day will start with sustainability expert Rudolph de Jong exploring how it’s possible to commit to the tough goals of Science Based Targets and still deliver powerful design. For those keen to hear opinion from peers on the topics that matter, Wednesday’s Live Interviews with Grant Gibson is not to be missed. Grant Gibson, host of the Material Matters podcast, will be chatting to Ian Mitchell and Dominic Duggan of Oktra, architecture practice BDG and other industry colleagues on a range of design related topics. Covering everything from the rise of home in office interiors to asking whether we’re becoming immune to the influence of nature, the live interview series promises some interesting conversations.
With London’s famous Utter Waffle serving up breakfast waffles street side on Thursday morning and a selection of loaded fries for the afternoon, UNILIN Panels is staying close to its Belgium roots for the final day of Clerkenwell Design Week. Thursday is a chance to explore the new 2022-2026 decorative collection and have your questions answered by the team before the guestlist-only closing party with drinks and a live DJ begins.
Visit the Eventbrite programme to book workshops and talks and to join the closing party guestlist.
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.
Study Hotels opens on University of Chicago campus
Study Hotels continues its expansion into prominent university markets with the official opening of its third property, The Study at University of Chicago. With a British-inspired tavern aesthetic it is set take its signature style to the South Campus…
The Study Hotels, falling under the development umbrella of the Hospitality 3 group, is about high-quality, full-service lodging expressly designed to integrate into the unique culture of prominent universities. Every Study Hotels experience is about providing an authentic taste of life on campus—a respite from the world and a special haven to read, rest, and reflect. The latest addition to the Study Hotels portfolio, the 167 guestroom The Study at University of Chicago joins the two established traveller favourites: The Study at Yale and The Study at University City.
“Study Hotels has a strong track record in collaborating with academic institutions and local communities to create a distinctive hospitality experience,” said Angie Marks, Associate Vice President of Real Estate Operations at University of Chicago. “We’ve enjoyed working with Hospitality 3 to open The Study at University of Chicago and are thrilled to bring this new amenity to campus with economic benefits for our neighbouring communities.”
The 167-key hotel, which includes a complement of impressive suites, is designed to stand in harmony with the university’s iconic architecture and landscaping, established in the 1890s by Henry Ives Cobb and Frederick Law Olmstead (of Central Park fame). Transparency and light define the hotel’s public spaces, creating a clear connection to the landscape of the Midway Plaisance. In the lobby, guests can get their own taste of academia by perusing the library curated by The Strand Bookstore or exploring the rotating student art gallery.
Image credit: The Study
Every guestroom at The Study is abundant in natural light and features a leather reading chair and wood writing desk. In addition to high-quality furnishings, guests can look forward to Frette linens, C.O. Bigelow toiletries, spacious showers, and breathtaking views of campus or Lake Michigan. Beyond the four walls of each room, the hotel offers guests one-of-a-kind opportunities to enjoy university culture as part of their stay. Exclusive guest experiences include guided tours at The Renaissance Society, campus architecture tours, and shows at the Court Theatre.
As a complement to the world-class events that take place at the sprawling David Rubenstein Forum next door, The Study has 4,700 square feet dedicated to hosting social gatherings and business meetings. The true star of these event spaces is the Winter Garden, where awe-inspiring clerestory windows stream sunlight in from above., making it an ideal venue for summer weddings with room for up to 200 people to celebrate in an unforgettable indoor/outdoor setting.
Image credit: The Study
“It’s an honor to bring our thoughtful approach to service and philosophy to help strengthen this prestigious academic community through the Study mission,” said Paul McGowan, President & Founder of Hospitality 3 and Study Hotels. “Whether someone is visiting the university for the first time as a prospective student or they already call UChicago home, The Study—from service to amenities to our tavern Truth Be Told—reflects what makes this campus so special.”
For hotel guests, university residents, and visitors alike, the hotel provides them with a new campus hot spot to frequent. Truth Be Told is an English style tavern, located just off of the hotel’s lobby, offering traditional pub fare and a curated list of beers, spirits, and wines. Guests can choose to imbibe an intimate pint by the fireplace, relax in the lounge area, or tuck into a satisfying meal in the main dining room.
The Study at University of Chicago is so much more than a campus hotel. It is an extension of the university and an enduring epicentre for the community where guests can continually immerse themselves in the school’s rich culture while enjoying exceptional accommodations and hospitality.
Product watch: fabrics with a conscience from Clarke & Clarke
Long gone are the days when design and sustainability do not go hand in hand, and at Clarke & Clarke, known for producing glamourous and sophisticated fabrics, substance and sustainability are part of delivering on stylish and thoughtfully made fabrics…
Clarke & Clarke’s foray into fabrics with a conscience has been a steady progression, backed by Sanderson Design Group’s own commitments to become net zero by 2030 and its Planet Mark certification, which the group recently achieved for the fourth consecutive year. Planet Mark recognises continuous improvement, encourages action within brands and builds on an empowered community of companies and individuals who strive to make a positive difference to the planet.
As part of Sanderson Design Group’s Live Beautiful strategy, Clarke & Clarke’s collections of fabrics, Orla, Riva and Eco have been designed using innovative materials to achieve high-spec, luxurious fabrics, synonymous with the brand and the group’s values.
Image credit: Clarke & Clarke
The Eco collection speaks to both the style and environmentally conscious customer. This comprehensive collection has contributed to caring for the planet – recycling 90 plastic bottles on average creates one metre of fabric. A classic herringbone, rustic multi coloured plain and a soft distressed chenille create a perfect union of three durable, easy to use designs – Gaia, Tierra, and Avani. Washable with a beautiful soft handle, these versatile dual-purpose designs are suitable for all decorative applications and are sustainable to boot. The Eco collection boasts a very organic feel in versatile, easy-living shades, creating a soft overall palette.
Image credit: Clarke & Clarke
Image credit: Clarke & Clarke
Crafted from 52 per cent recycled plastic bottles, Orla 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. With 24 trend-led colours, all GRS (Global Recycling Standard) certified, ranging from the 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 perfect for bespoke drapes and soft upholstered pieces. Orla is the first Studio G recycled product at Clarke & Clarke.
Image credit: Clarke & Clarke
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 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. Riva’s rich palette and texture melts at your fingertips.
With an emphasis on British manufacturing, coming out of Standfast & Barracks, the distinctive fabric printers, and Anstey Wallpaper Company, with its rich heritage of wallpaper printing, coupled with a commitment to lowering its carbon footprint through changing its approach to fabric design and creation, Clarke & Clarke is shifting the focus for fabrics in a suitably sustainable way.
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.
5 minutes with: Mark Tremlett on the value of sustainable beds
Mark Tremlett started Naturalmat 23 years ago from a shed on his family boatyard, with a vision to make better mattresses for the marine industry. Along with co-founder Peter Tindall, he quickly realised that the breathability of natural fibres made them far better suited to the damp, moist environment of a boat than the typical slabs of polyurethane, and far more comfortable to boot…
It was from this vision and voyage of design discovery that Naturalmat was born, and today it remains true to its roots and hand makes beds, mattresses and bedding from entirely natural materials for the retail, trade and hotel markets, all just a few feet from the Devon boatshed where it all began. We stole five minutes of Mark Tremlett’s time to ask him a few questions about the brand from collaborations through to sustainability.
Image credit: Naturalmat
Hotel Designs: How did Naturalmat get started in the hotel industry?
Mark Tremlett: In 2008 I was approached by Simon Woodroffe, the ex Dragon’s Den dragon and founder of Yo! Sushi, who had just launched his new hotel, YOTEL. The concept behind the chain was compact but luxury ‘cabins’, so we were a natural partner on that project considering our background!
Two years later we went on to supply mattresses for the 660 rooms in Simon’s New York location, and in 2015 we collaborated with Six Senses Resorts as part of their ‘sustainable luxury’ plans, to provide our mattresses to their global chain of hotels. Today we work with everyone from Ennismore’s Hoxton hotels, to remote cabins in the Scottish highlands.
Image caption: Naturalmat supplied the beds for The Bull Inn, Totnes credit: Rachel Hoile Photography
HD: How have the requirements of hotels and guests changed over the last decade?
MK: Well our work with Six Senses certainly happened at a time where there was a noticeable shift in the demands of savvier guests around sustainability credentials, and also the use of natural fibres – particularly when it comes to where they sleep. This mirrored a general buying behaviour trend of consumers putting more thought into the businesses they support, with the ethics and actions of companies more important than ever. You’ll find that the hotels who acted on this switch in behaviour back then are in a far stronger position today.
Fortunately we were well placed to provide the solutions that hotels needed – a range of entirely natural fibre beds and mattresses, made sustainably since day one.
HD: What are the key things that make your product unique?
MK: Well firstly, absolutely every bed and mattress is made by hand under one roof in our Devon workshop. We are obsessive when it comes to quality control, and have always believed in people, rather than machines. We are equally meticulous when it comes to sourcing our all-natural raw materials. From the smallest duvet cover buttons – we get ours from an artisan button maker, crafted from tagua nuts – to our organic lambswool sourced directly from local Soil Association certified farmers, we go to great lengths to find the finest sustainable, renewable and recycled materials.
If I had to pick one thing though, it’s our long-standing commitment to sustainability that really sets us apart.
MK: Whilst the rest of our industry is scrambling to jump on the sustainability bandwagon, we’re in the fortunate position of having had an eco-friendly approach from day one.
As an example, most mattresses on the market are comprised of non-recyclable, synthetic materials, treated with chemicals and made cheaply in high quantities. It’s these low-quality mattresses that are a major contributor to the five million that go to landfill each year in the UK alone – a figure that I find absolutely terrifying. Our mattresses are designed to last, but when they do reach the end of their life, the natural fibres can be disassembled, recycled, or – as part of our new Mattress for Life initiative – the mattress itself can be entirely refurbished and refreshed for many more years of great sleep.
Away from our products, sustainability is at the core of everything we do. From our solar-powered workshop, to our now entirely compostable, recyclable or reusable packaging, we are constantly innovating and refining our eco-conscious approach.
There’s always room for improvement and we’re working hard to continually raise the bar. We’ve recently published our first Impact Report, with the boldest sustainability strategy in our industry that will challenge us to do even more between now and 2025 – including cutting our direct emissions to zero without the use of offsets. We’re also excitedly awaiting our B-Corp certification, which we are expecting this year.
Naturalmat 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.
Hilton has announced the opening of Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort, marking the company’s first-ever all-inclusive offering in Tulum and setting a new standard for the all‑inclusive experience as it expands its offering in Mexico…
The beachside resort Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya, located beyond the mangroves and overlooking the white-sand beaches and Caribbean coastline of the Riviera Maya, is a destination unto itself, offering a new kind of retreat for travellers seeking great service and extensive amenities alongside enriching culture and lasting experiences. The 735 key resort will be Hilton’s largest resort in the Caribbean and Latin America and joins the campus of the recently debuted Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya, with nearly 30 additional Hilton-branded properties set to open in Mexico in the coming years.
Image credit: Hilton International / Victor Elias Photography
“As we continue to strategically expand our footprint across the Caribbean and Latin America, Mexico remains a priority as we move closer to reaching 100 hotels in the country, which represents our 5th largest in number of hotels, in the next four years,” said Danny Hughes, Executive Vice President and President, Americas, Hilton. “The opening of Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort is an incredibly exciting addition to our rapidly growing portfolio of premier all-inclusive resorts in the most sought-after beachfront destinations around the globe.”
Designed by HBA San Francisco to integrate the stay experience with the unique natural environment of Tulum, each touch point of the resort’s design brings guests together with the spirit of the destination through considered details – from pathways that weave from each guest room’s doorstep through dense palm trees leading to the ocean, to materials sourced from local artisans. Guestrooms feature soothing tones that emphasize the white sand beaches and clear shallow water of Tulum and offer private balconies with nature or ocean views. Each of the resort’s 59 suites features ocean-facing balconies alongside large living and dining areas and spacious king bedrooms with comfortable sitting areas. Each suite also features upscale bathrooms with oversized vanities and walk-in rainfall showers. Premium suites include two-bedroom connecting room options ideal for families and groups travelling together.
Image credit: Hilton International / Victor Elias Photography
The dining experience offers 13 concept-driven restaurants and an upscale beverage program. The culinary options include five signature restaurants, bars and lounges, a coffee shop and deli as well as numerous casual poolside offerings. Along with the extensive F&B offerings, the resort offers a variety of immersive activities and entertainment options including world-class live theater, music, family fun and authentic cultural experiences. Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya also offers Tulum’s only and largest purpose-built event centre featuring 55,000 square feet of exquisitely designed indoor and outdoor event space. Shared with Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya allowing for dual-resort events, the convention centre’s modern and sleek décor boasts large windows for sun-soaked rooms and breathtaking views.
Main image credit: Hilton International / Victor Elias Photography
Live roundtable: a personal approach to surface design
In Hotel Designs’ second roundtable in association with Arte, Editor Hamish Kilburn gathers a handful of leading interior designers to discuss surface design beyond today’s trends…
A lot has changed since Hotel Designs was last in the Arte showroom at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour. Putting shifting trends, lifestyle evolutions and pandemics aside, the element that has remained the same is the client’s demand for personal approaches in hotel design. Therefore, editor Hamish Kilburn returned to the stunning showroom, with some interior designers who could help him shine some perspective on adding personality to surface design.
On the panel:
Hamish Kilburn, Editor, Hotel Designs
Arun Rana, Design Manager, Northern Europe, Accor
Dale Atkinson, Founder, Rosendale Design
Jane Maciver, Creative Direcotr, BuckleyGrayYeoman
Simone Suss, Founder, Simone Suss Studio
Wren Loucks, Creative Director, Be-kin
Michael Simon, Associate, LXA
Hamish Kilburn: Is it fair to argue that the role of wallcoverings has emerged from being a backdrop to being more of a focus in a room these days?
Simone Suss: That’s fair to say. I wouldn’t just limit that to walls either. Recently, whether that be in residential or commercial projects, we have explored the value of wallcoverings on ceilings. People are looking for inspiration – and there’s a lot out there whether that be on Instagram or in magazines. A lot of that inspiration is coming from the outside world.
Image credit: Arte
Arun Rana: Wallcoverings in hotels is key. There are so many different experiences sheltered in one hotel. The transitional spaces, such as the lifts and corridors, are sometimes forgotten in terms of design. However, often it is in these areas where you can create the most impact. Surface design, therefore, has become really important.
Image credit: Accor/Ibis
In the bedroom, we have seen a lot more ceiling wallpapers or paint finishes coming in, really to create something exciting, and to encourage the guests to look up. The key with wallcoverings in hotel design is understanding how we create an interaction with the guest and the surface, and don’t just make it a backdrop or a textual finish.
At Accor, we have a lot of brands – some standardised and some non-standard. Where there is room for personal touches, they [wallcoverings] are a really clever way to inject some inspiration and artwork, and that helps create the room experience.
Image credit: Arte
HK: Why is there such a demand for bespoke wallcoverings when brands like Arte offer such an array of patterns, textures and colours?
Jane Maciver: Every client wants something special for their space, and it’s about how you showcase that storytelling element through your design. Art is an effective way to do that. By going bespoke, it really breaks down any creative limitations. It’s incredible how much technology has improved, allowing brands like Arte to print and create some incredible finishes – it’s all happened in the last few years, so it’s quite special.
When we were working on the Mercure Antwerp City, we discovered a history of talented designers and painters, and that gave us the licence to focus this project around creativity. We hired a photographer and stylist, compiled all the fabrics that were used in the upholsteries and we created these garments that we then photographed on figures and the finished prints give the public areas character. It was just fun, unique and gave the lobby inside the hotel a signature element.
AR: Interestingly, the main reason was to hide the stainless steel lift doors. Jane and the team did a fantastic job – and the artwork is wonderful – by using design as a tool to create unexpected moments.
Image credit: Mercure Antwerp City, designed by BuckleyGrayYeoman/Accor
HK: Do wallcoverings therefore have more longevity in terms of the overall design?
Dale Atkinson: Absolutely, and it’s the behaviours of guests – and their new demands – that is largely dictating this. When people travel, they feel like it’s their space. I think people want to almost lose themselves in their space.
Going back to the bespoke point, I think businesses want to have what others can’t in order to offer something different for their guests. Generically speaking, people have more of an understanding, and passion, for design so these details matter. A lot of time with wallcoverings and patterns, you can place them into eras in time. When you have a bespoke finish, it allows you to play with that, which in itself gives the product more longevity.
AR: My role at Accor is to explore a design’s longevity. Typically, we expect a hotel’s concept to work for 15 years. After this, we will hope that the hotel will renovate and become something new. Realistically, though, we have to consider how versatile the design can be. If, for example, the hotel changes hands you don’t want the design to be so niche that the design can’t work for other brands. By having these conversations, we are able to understand how a product can work in a multitude of ways, and really exploring the sustainability qualities of each product.
Image credit: Moooi / Arte
HK: How can surface design help to further blur the line between residential and commercial spaces?
DA: Especially nowadays, people have given up having office space. It is very much the same when you are going to a hotel, these spaces have to work harder, and transition throughout the day/evening without the design changing.
I am working on an interesting project at the moment that is all about that concept. It’s a golf club in the New Forest, and using colour and textures has been focus when designing this space. The owners realised that the club is not just about golf; it’s a social space. As much as it is celebrating the game, it is also about the food, the vibes, and creating a private members club that feels warm and inviting.
SS: There’s definitely a heavy demand to blur the boundaries. Hotels want to feel more residential, homes want the quality of hotels and offices have emerged from the pandemic really having to be all things to all people. This is where design comes into its strength, because it makes the guests/clients feel a certain way and influence how people behave in a certain way. Wallcoverings are a big part of that because they can help set the tone that impacts the space.
HK: I reviewed a hotel recently where there was a distinct lack of art in a 12th century castle. The walls were simple and featured empty frames. This makes me question whether we should be considering wallcoverings as art…
Wren Loucks: Wallcoverings are so much more than decorative elements within a design. They can be used for wayfinding. Strong patterns can really help people with visual impairments or who have cognitive or neurodiversity differences. These surfaces can be incredibly practical.
Image credit: Be-kin
AR: We have spoken about how hard hotels have to work, but in order to shelter all these different experiences, designers need to carefully and subtly create different zones. Wallcoverings have such versatility. Sitting in this room alone, you have your essentials range, then you have your bold, 3D patterns that can resemble artwork.
HK: How, as designers, do you make ‘personal’ choices while also ensure it’s going to work for the client and the guests? Where is the line drawn?
Michael Simon: I think we all make personal choices when selecting surface materials, and hope that the client will also follow the same journey you are trying to take both them and guests on with your design. During a brief with the client you are always looking to get a feel of the clients taste and how far you believe you can take them off that trail, if you felt you could push the design further. It’s not always possible, and budget constraints can be a deciding factor.
Image credit: Rumours Restaurant London/LXA
AR: Design is subjective, and in my role I end up having deep conversations about what we keep and what we remove. The personal decisions we make are around the guest journey. We have already touched on this. Generally speaking, for us the design process is much like a triangle. The arrival (the base) should feel heavy, and as you move through the space it should become lighter and when you reach the guestrooms, it should be a calm, tranquil spaces.
In spaces people are spending less time, you can afford to go bolder. In guestrooms, though, which is where guests will likely spend most of their time, going bold is not always practical. If you are going to go for a statement piece in a room, then I would advise to use the headboard wall, because it’s usually the first thing people see when they enter and guests are sitting on their bed, perhaps watching TV, that wall is not always going to be visible – and not too invasive.
DA: In the last hotel I worked on, we decided to dress the headboards in a bold fabric. It was a seamless way to challenge the demand for ‘feature walls’, which, I must admit, feel a bit dated and they often end up fighting with other elements in the room. This decision allowed us to create a cohesive link between the furniture and the fabrics in the room, it gave the room added texture, which really worked when answering the brief, and added to the overall guest experience.
JM: I think in these situations, it’s about not forcing the design. It’s really about letting the design develop to create the right space for the product.
Image credit: COMO Castella del Nero
HK: Injecting biophilic design and portraying escapism is such a focus in a lot of projects, at the moment. How, through surface design for example, can you do this sensitively?
WL: There are a lot of studies that show that just by looking at images of nature, it reduces cortisol levels. Therefore, it’s not too gimmicky to have images of nature in and around the public areas of hotels.
SS: Anything that calms the senses the way that nature does. We are looking at preserved living walls, because the maintenance of ‘living’ walls is quite a commitment. So, the client will not get the oxygenated benefits, but just by looking at nature creates a feeling.
Image credit: Rosendale Design
HK: In an industry that strives to think unconventionally – where technology is opening up so many new opportunities when it comes to design possibilities – is surface design limitless, or are there certain rules we need to abide by?
DA: I think this is about understanding the technology and the design, instead of meaninglessly purchasing products. Texture is such a good way to play with the room. Not only do you get to explore shadows, depending how you use it, but the product ends up lasting longer. If you have overly flat colours, you are going to notice smudges than if you have movement in colour. Thanks to technology, texture can be explored in so many different ways when it comes to surface design.
WL: Where this conversation gets really interesting is how much we can now do around sensory design. I have designed offices for large companies in the past, and there’s a real demand in offices, and hotels now, for spaces to understand guests’ sensory profiles.
AR: Technology is more than digital. Until today, I was not aware of Arte’s microfibre properties. This, for me, falls into technological innovation. The fact that these wallcoverings don’t absorb smell and are easy to clean means that all of a sudden you can use them for a headboard. Technology that as designers we need to be aware of is not just the interface technology that guests can see. It’s refreshing to see that suppliers are doing the hard work.
Image credit: Arte
HK: With everything you are saying, it’s clear that wallcoverings have more value than ever before. With this in mind, are clients willing to spend more money on wallcoverings?
JM: It’s a balance. There’s always a budget and it’s about weighing up this element with the others in the room.
AR: Balance is the right word. It has to be achievable. Designers have to consider where and how much to use wallcoverings. What I would say, though, is that there is more room to have these conversations. With the demand for ‘experiences’ in hotels, design has to work harder. There are clever ways to achieve this look and feel within the parameters of the budget.
From my perspective, the trend I am seeing is that there is more of a focus on art, objects and styling. With the demand for hotels to be home-from-homes, artwork and objects play a large role. They are really key and they dress a space and when it is embraced it is done very well to give the space more meaning. That being said, with the lines blurring between artwork and surface design, wallcoverings also play a large role when it comes to layering, depending on the texture.
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.
Product watch: cork without compromise from Granorte
Granorte’s Vita Décor collection combines the natural and sustainable attributes of cork with looks that capture classic and modern flooring looks…
The Vita Décor collection comes into its own as an alternative solution to natural cork finishes. It still incorporates the sustainable and renewable values central to Granorte’s range, but through direct to substrate digital printing techniques, Vita Décor explores the aesthetics of heritage parquet patterns, contemporary mosaic, tile, cool stone and trim styles.
“Choosing sustainable design should not be about compromising on individuality,” said Paulo Rocha, Product and R&D Manager. “Our Vita Décor allows specifiers and interior designers to embrace patterned surfaces within their projects while incorporating cork’s natural attributes and ethical credentials.”
All Vita Décor floors share the same performance, harnessing cork’s unique attributes to ensure excellent sound absorption, underfoot comfort and thermal insulation. Equipped with WEARTOP for a durable and easy to maintain surface, as well as Uniclic for rapid installation and Microban for antibacterial protection; Vita Décor is a floor packed with innovation.
Available in 22 designs, Vita Décor achieves a Class 32 Light Commercial rating, making it suitable for light-traffic retail, hospitality and commercial projects.
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.
Product watch: Kaldewei Whirl system turns the bathroom into a private spa
With four new Whirl Systems to add to the mix, Kaldewei offers bespoke solutions for every bathroom, allowing for state of the art design in combination with the joy of a luxurious spa offering…
Kaldewei has been creating bathroom solutions combining modern luxury with sustainable thinking, management, and action for over 100 years, and has now introduced the Whirl System to its signature steel enamel bathtubs that are about design and durability. Redefining relaxation in the bathroom, the new Whirl System provides users with the full spa range.
From a vigorous sports style massage, through to a gentle caress, the bubbling, pre-warmed air bubbles in illuminated water can be altered in intensity and type of wellness treatment to suit the individual There are four different massage systems available; Body Soul, Soul, Full Body, and Body. The choice of settings means that relaxation is guaranteed, and the system can even be switched to silent mode, allowing the flat nozzles to work quietly to ensure the atmosphere of wellbeing is not disturbed.
Image credit: Kaldewei
The Body Soul combination wellness system combines the elements of water and air for the perfect massage experience. Powerful jets of water loosen muscles, tendons, and joints, while sparkling, preheated air bubbles stimulate the skin. The whirl programme and intensity can be adjusted separately, and the side nozzles can be individually aligned to the body, whilst special micro nozzles treat the back and feet. On request, the side and floor nozzles can be selected separately and be adjusted in their intensity.
The Soul wellness system ensures relaxation and inner peace with its bubbling air flow. The sparkling, preheated air bubbles ensure a mild soothing skin massage. The gentle caressing of the air stimulates the nerve fibre ends of the skin, and produces the unique feeling of floating weightlessly in the water. The particularly flat and efficient floor nozzles of the Soul air system fit elegantly into the bathtub made of high quality steel enamel.
The full body Body aquamassage option pampers you with an intensive massage using powerful water jets. This is the perfect setting after a hard day’s work or a demanding work out, as the massage relieves tension, loosens the connective tissue, and promotes blood circulation in the body. The water jets are enriched with air and work deep into the skin for stubborn muscle knots. The side jets can be aimed directly at different parts of the body, and additional micro nozzles specifically treat the back and feet. The intensity of the massage can be adjusted, and the LED lighting conjures up an atmospheric ambience of wellbeing in the bathroom.
Image credit: Kaldewei
Image credit: Kaldewei
The basic system Body, massages the muscles with lateral water massage jets with a range from gentle to powerful. The intensity can be varied as desired and adjusted using a rotary knob. Air can also be added to the water jets. In addition to the jet and massage options, the spectral light function in the Whirl systems provides a fascinating interplay of light, air and water. Select from a stimulating deep red, a soft, silky green, an airy blue or a neutral white light – the positive effect of light and colour on the body and spiritual wellbeing is well known and, in combination with water, provides even deeper relaxation. For the ultimate wellness experience this system offers a soothing water or air massage in combination with the energy of the spectral light.
Seeing the relaxation experience all the way through, the Kaldewei Whirl system does not end when you leave the bath, as its intergrated system means that the automatic cleaning system ensures a perfectly clean and hygienic bath with minimal effort – a true spa experience, all within the confines of a conventional bathroom.
Kaldewei 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.
Product watch: built-in hygiene from CTD Architectural Tiles
With more emphasis on sanitation than ever as the commercial sector continues to adapt for the post-pandemic future, commercial tile supplier CTD Architectural Tiles is making it easy for designers to build hygiene into every project – without compromising on aesthetics…
While the use of antibacterial tiles may historically be associated with design projects for assisted living schemes and residential care homes, enhanced hygiene should be an important factor in any high traffic environment from offices to hotels. Working closely with leading manufacturers from around the world to source the latest innovative products, CTD Architectural Tiles has added three new antibacterial tile ranges to its carefully-curated tile collection this year. Antibacterial Protect technology is integrated into these tiles during manufacturing, and this innovative coating eliminates 99.9 per cent of surface bacteria – making it the ideal choice for areas with heavy footfall. Because the added hygiene comes from within the product the need to use harsh chemicals for cleaning is eliminated, which is beneficial for the environment; another key design consideration.
Image credit: CTD Architectural Tiles
Created by renowned designer Ferruccio Laviani, the Masterpiece collection seamlessly combines classic Italian style with the practical benefits of a high anti-slip rating and built-in hygiene. Alternatively, the Pure Stone range is available in four stone-effect shades for an elegant appearance inspired by the beauty of natural San Vicente stone from southern Spain, classic French Limestone, Gris du Marais marble from France and Billiemi marble from Sicily. As well as the benefits of built-in antibacterial properties, the Pure Stone collection offers users a wide range of neutral floor tiles suited to a huge variety of commercial sector projects. Pure Stone is also the ideal choice for those looking to bring the inside, out as it can be used seamlessly both indoors and outdoors – a key trend for the commercial sector this year.
For even bolder designs, CTD Architectural Tiles also offers Luce, a unique tile range which combines a high performance antibacterial glaze with a striking finish reminiscent of silk. This creates a truly lustrous visual statement which alters as the viewer moves past it.
Not only does this antibacterial tile collection offer a hygienic and eco-friendly solution, but it also comprises a variety of colour options and sizes to suit all project styles and budgets. The full collection of antibacterial tiles is available to view online.
CTD Architectural 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.
If you can’t take the heat, take the fire outdoors with Focus
Gathering around the fire is an integral part of summer, and the outdoor collection from Focus takes over the terrace and adds a designer note to the event…
Designer Dominique Imbert designed his first fireplace, the model Antéfocus, for himself to heat up his sculpture studio located at the foothill of the Cevennes. This was followed by the creation that really sparked the imagination, the iconic Gyrofocus, created in 1968. Since then, Focus creations, still designed and made in France, are found in both private homes, hotels and some of the most prestigious design museums in the world. With this new collection Focus take the designer fireplace outdoors, making these moments of life in the garden or on the terrace memorable with its characteristic soul and style.
Image credit: Focus
The newest addition to the Focus portfolio is the Bubble brazier which is designed as a wood-burning outdoor fire. Intended to be installed in a garden or on a terrace, for the city or country, it is a compact and chic heat source with flickering flames designed to be enjoyed on balmy summer evenings. Equipped with two castors (on the back) and measuring a compact 700 mm in diameter, this brazier can be easily moved on level ground. Its removable inner bowl makes for low maintenance while its anticorrosion coating allows it to withstand the effects of environment, protecting the quality of its finish and its design. Bubble is part of the brazier-barbecue range that includes the ever-popular Sigmafocus and Diagofocus.
Image credit: Focus
Focus’s outdoor range includes seven models – Gyrofocus,Bathyscafocus, Domofocus, Emifocus, Ergofocus, Miofocus and Paxfocus. All of the designs are available in two finishes: rust or black paint with anti-corrosion treatment. With specialist outdoor treatments and finishes all the designs are prepared for life in the great outdoors. With the rust version, the fireplaces are treated with acid in the factory to start the process which allows metal to age naturally. Whilst, on delivery, the rust-finished fires are orange, the outdoor installation will allow the rust to evolve over time. Rusty steel will darken and evolve a unique patina resembling old leather or patinated bronze. It is then, according to Focus, at its most authentic and resplendent.
Focus 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.
This will be the first net-zero hotel in the United States
The brutalist architectural landmark Hotel Marcel New Haven, originally designed by Marcel Breuer, is now part of the Hilton Tapestry collection and is anticipated to be both the first net zero hotel and the first passive house certified hotel in the US. Slated to open this spring, here’s what we know…
Ignore the building site, for now, Hotel Marcel New Haven is set to make history. Listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places, the building that will shelter it, originally designed by Marcel Breuer, is a fitting destination for a new cutting-edge hotel that still nods to the building’s history. It reimagines the iconic historical building, celebrating its rich history while debuting an innovative eco-friendly travel destination. The eco-friendly hotel is the result of the innovative vision of lead architect, developer and owner Bruce Redman Becker, FAIA, LEED AP of Becker + Becker. He purchased the building, which originally opened in 1970 as the Armstrong Rubber Company Headquarters, and modernised it with sustainability as the key focus every step of the way. Becker + Becker, along with partner Dutch East Design, retained many design elements of the original building’s Brutalist architecture with board-formed concrete and granite tile and a focus on functionality, clean lines and geometric forms.
“We are all responsible for confronting the climate crisis, and that sense of obligation factored into every decision we made in creating Hotel Marcel New Haven,” said Becker. “The opening of this revolutionary hotel, which is giving new life to a New Haven landmark, is a momentous occasion for travellers, the industry and the planet. Guests will be ensured a terrific hotel experience and can relax knowing that both they, and the environment, are being cared for during their stay.”
Image credit: Hilton International
The revolutionary hotel will utilise renewable solar power sources on site to generate the electricity needed for its common areas, restaurant, laundry, meeting rooms and 165 guestrooms and suites. Set to debut this spring, the all-electric hotel will operate independent of fossil fuels, resulting in zero carbon emissions. It is also expected to be the first Passive House-certified hotel in the country and will be one of fewer than a dozen LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum-certified hotels in the country. Additional features in the transformation of the building include a power-over-ethernet lighting system that reduces lighting energy use by more than 30 per cent; repurposed building materials throughout, such as light fixtures and carefully restored wood-panelled walls in suites that were once the Armstrong executive offices and conference rooms; and extensive upgrades to enhance interior temperature control and air quality, resulting in the building using significantly less energy per square foot than most hotels.
The green design of Hotel Marcel New Haven also improves guest comfort. Triple-glazed windows provide ultra-efficient insulation to keep guest room temperatures stable, while greatly reducing noise levels. Built-in motorised sheer and blackout window shades provide a better night’s sleep. Guests and travellers on the go also have the convenience of 12 Tesla Superchargers or universal level-two chargers for their electric vehicles.
Dining offerings at Hotel Marcel New Haven further demonstrate the hotel’s sustainable experience. The on-site American restaurant and lounge BLDG – pronounced ‘building’ – offers locally sourced menu items served alongside biodynamic and organic wines. BLDG’s kitchen, as well as the hotel’s laundry room, run on electricity instead of natural gas. The kitchen uses induction, an energy-efficient process that ensures a more precise and even heat. In addition to the restaurant and bar, Hotel Marcel New Haven features a grab-and-go station offering sustainable snacks as well as design-focused gifts and a water filling station.
“Hotel Marcel New Haven is a major milestone for the Tapestry Collection by Hilton brand as the first anticipated net-zero hotel in the U.S.,” said Jenna Hackett, global brand head, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. “Each Tapestry Collection property displays an original style and personality while also encouraging guests to explore local destinations. Hotel Marcel New Haven will connect travellers with the New Haven area while inspiring them to incorporate sustainability into every aspect of their stay. We look forward to celebrating this new and exciting chapter for this unique landmark with our guests.”
The development of this hotel is a key example of Hilton’s Travel with Purpose program, which is an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy to drive responsible travel and tourism globally. Hilton is focused on paving the way toward a net-zero future and remains committed to partnering with its owners to help minimise carbon footprints and redefine sustainable travel.
Designed by DKO Architecture and located in one of Melbourne’s premier events, arts and entertainment precincts, AC Melbourne Southbank will be the design-led lifestyle brand’s debut in Australia…
Nestled in the prestigious inner-city enclave of Melbourne’s Southbank, with the Central Business District and South Wharf precinct – Australia’s largest urban renewal project – on its doorstep, AC Melbourne Southbank brings together the very best of Melbourne housed in one sculptural landmark address. With close proximity to the Arts precinct, and other first-class amenities, the hotel offers sweeping city views with everything guests need for a memorable stay.
Designed by DKO Architecture in collaboration with Capital Alliance, AC Melbourne Southbank has created a bold architectural presence within the Fishermans Bend skyline. The design approach to every space is optimal comfort and utility through modern décor with open layouts offering functional beauty without distraction. The elegantly framed geometric glass façade will be activated by LED lighting at night acting as a beacon for visitors and residents alike. A sculptural canopy creates an iconic entry to the hotel and the design-led guestrooms contained within.
Image credit: Marriott International
The new hotel features 205 thoughtfully designed guestrooms and suites, signature dining, and an infinity pool and cocktail bar with sweeping views of the city skyline. AC Melbourne Southbank has been expertly refined and crafted to deliver an elegant yet unobtrusive experience, right in the cultural capital of Australia.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the arrival of the AC Hotels brand in Australia with the opening of AC Melbourne Southbank,” said Jeff Tomczek, Vice President and Global Brand Leader of AC Hotels. “Melbourne is the cultural and design capital of Australia, allowing for a seamless fit with AC Hotels, known for its purposeful design and obsession with detail. With Australia’s border reopening, we look forward to welcoming travellers with a distinctive experience that has been edited to offer only the best of what guests truly need.”
Image credit: Marriott International
All the 205 guestrooms and suites offer sweeping views of the city skyline and the Yarra River. From sleek desks, open closets, and integrated bathrooms to easily accessible outlets for mindful work and play, AC guestrooms are free of clutter and maximise a sense of openness. The subtle layering of materiality with modern classic finishes such as natural stone tiling, warm textured timber, metal details, soft layers of drapery and brass accents all create a sense of functional calm. The mood reflects the industrial warehouse scenes of South Melbourne while echoing the Spanish roots of the AC brand.
AC Melbourne Southbank features a range of collaborative spaces including the brand’s signature AC Lounge, a modern co-working space for creative gatherings by day and a buzzing social hub offering European-style tapas by night. The signature AC Gin Tonic experience is available throughout all dining and bar venues at the hotel. The speciality cocktail is served in a custom glass by sculptural glass artist Adam Walmon and has been scientifically developed to heighten the taste, aroma and palate experience for the drinker.
Image credit: Marriott International
Other F&B offerings include Sorolla, the perfect place for breakfast to start the day, with a dining experience that includes an open kitchen to capture the chefs in action. Triana Bar exudes a ‘wow’ factor showcasing stunning views and a long, iconic freestanding bar where guests can mix and mingle with each other. The space offers simplicity and sophistication in the subtle finishes of warm timber, natural stone, bronze accents and softer grey materials. Bar de Buceo, the pool bar, also offers guests a relaxed area to enjoy drinks and light, alfresco style dining, making it the perfect place to unwind.
The hotel offers a range of leisure facilities, including an outdoor, infinity-edge swimming pool spanning the width of the building, a 24-hour fitness centre, and meeting and event space designed to host groups of varying sizes. The 576 square metres of flexible meeting space, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing abundant natural light, along with an outdoor covered terrace room and pool bar. The outdoor terrace beside the infinity pool can serve as a pre-function space accommodating up to 200 guests in cocktail format or broken down into smaller spaces for breakouts and more intimate meetings, social gatherings and weddings.
Owned by Capital Alliance, a Melbourne-based diversified mixed-use real estate developer and investment company, the hotel marks Marriott International’s ninth hotel in Melbourne and the third new hotel to open in the Victorian capital over the last 12 months.
Kohler – taking global innovations to Salone del Mobile Fair
Global lifestyle brand and leader in kitchen and bath products, Kohler, will debut at the 2022 Salone del Mobile fair with new, innovative luxury products with nods to wellbeing and immersive experiences…
Kohler’s Salone booth will showcase new designs, colours and finishes along with bathroom technology in an array of global products with the focus on encouraging visitors to interact with these innovations through the products on display,
Included in the experience will be the Statement Shower Collection, bringing with it a range of unique shapes and an array of sizes to the shower. Innovative sprays elevate the showering experience, and universal compatibility means the system works wherever in the world it is installed. Inspired by iconic furniture and design, and defined by soft, approachable forms, the collection carries an underlying familiarity while creating striking aesthetics within the space.
Image credit: Kohler
Visitors to the Kohler experience will be able to discover the Stillness bath, which offers an entrancing bathing experience through the combination of water, aromatherapy, lights, and fog. With leading innovation in the form of intelligent toilets, the Numi 2.0 Intelligent Toilet will be at the design fair, featuring unique personal cleansing functionality, lighting and audio that can pair to create spa-like environments within the space, auto open/close and flush as well as an embedded voice assistant, and the Veil, Eir and Innate Intelligent toilets that provide optimum personal hygiene and striking, sleek designs.
Image credit: Kohler
Guest will be invited to explore the globally available Occasion bathroom faucet collection, that offers a comprehensive collection of lavatory and bathing faucets, along with matching accessories and striking finishes to make a gracious statement in the bathroom space. Alongside this the Brazn bath collection combines the simplicity of minimalism with elegant, functional solutions; available in striking honed black as well as white.
Image credit: Kohler
Guests will also be able to experience Kohler and the world premiere of “Divided Layers” by Daniel Arsham in in the Palazzo del Senato daily from 12:00pm to 10:00pm from Tuesday, June 7 through Sunday, June 12.
Additionally, in honor of Milan Design Week, Kohler has made a donation to Water Mission’s WASH projects in Indonesia, helping to bring safe water and sanitation to up to 10,000 people through 15 projects in 2022. Through impactful products and inspiring partnerships, Kohler’s Believing in Better platform strives to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations through design, craftsmanship, and innovation.
Kohler 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.
Designing the bathrooms inside ‘Ireland’s most sustainable hotel’
The new Wren Urban Nest Dublin City, dubbed Ireland’s most sustainable hotel, features a range of innovative bathroom products from leading manufacturer Roca…
Wren Urban Nest is a stunning new hotel with 137 guestrooms tucked into a quiet corner of Dublin, making it an ideal place to stay in the city. Located on the edge of the Creative Quarter, the hotel has Dublin’s best restaurants, bars and boutiques right on the doorstep. Wren Urban Nest has been designed to focus on compact luxury and energy efficiency. It has been constructed using advanced sustainable technologies – eliminating the need for fossil fuels and allowing the venue to use 100 per cent renewable electricity to achieve ‘Net Zero Carbon’ status.
Image credit: Wren Urban Nest
Award-winning multi-disciplinary interior design consultancy 21 Spaces created the hotel’s distinctive interiors, which offer a luxurious yet cosy design aesthetic, using natural materials and earthy tones. Its small-format bedrooms are supported by smart, sustainable technologies and materials, with fit-outs inspired by contemporary Irish craft. The hotel’s design team chose Roca for the guest bathrooms.
“With a shared ethos for sustainability, Roca offered the Wren Urban Nest Hotel a range of bathroom products which are manufactured to the highest standards,” explained Eimear O’Neill, Specification Sales Manager for Roca. “Sustainability is at the heart of our business, from the implementation of more efficient production processes to the development of solutions that contribute to the reduction of water and energy consumption. This enables us to progressively reduce the environmental footprint of our entire value chain. In collaboration with the Wren, we contributed the all-important versatile bathroom solutions required for their perfectly appointed guest en-suites, where great designs meets functionality.”
Image credit: Wren Urban Nest
Image credit: Wren Urban Nest
The bathrooms feature the distinctive Roca Bol countertop washbasins designed by Ramon Benedito and made from vitreous china. Taking an elegantly organic shape as its design basis, the white basin adds a unique charm and character to the bathroom space. Clean, simple and decidedly modern, this countertop basin has a fresh and inspiring design. Featuring a sloping profile, it plays with symmetry and asymmetry alike, creating a unique design statement.
The shower area features Roca’s T-1,000 thermostatic mixers, designed for maximum safety and comfort. The collection features a minimalist and modern design to ensure it will blend harmoniously into any setting. The thermostatic shower valves are compatible with the RocaBox universal system, which makes installation faster by allowing them to be easily built-in behind the wall (with a minimum installation depth of just 70mm). Roca’s exclusive Evershine electrolytic coating guarantees a long-lasting shine and makes for easy cleaning.
For a luxury shower experience, the Roca Rainsense round shower head in chrome has been installed, for an invigorating, powerful shower. Featuring Easyclean® which makes cleaning easier, by preventing limescale from building up, ensuring a practical, as well as luxurious, shower choice.
Completing the shower specification is the Roca Loft shower handset. The Loft collection features modern design and technology to create strong and high-quality elements. This design is timeless with a refined and precise finish.
The Wren hotel guest bathrooms feature Roca’s innovative Duplo In-Wall frames for wall hung WCs, a system that combines efficiency and technology. Sustainability is key to this product, with flush volumes ranging from 4/2L-6/3L offering excellent water saving benefits. For example, if set on the lower scale and based on four flushes a day in each hotel room, the Duplo system could save more than 1,000 litres of water per day.
Director of Moran Hospitality and Hotel Operator, Tracey Moran said: “We couldn’t be more excited to have Wren Urban Nest open. We are passionate about the environment and believe in taking little steps towards a better planet. It was a pleasure working with suppliers like Roca who share the same sustainable and ethical values as we do without compromising on quality of product. This was an extremely important consideration for Wren Urban Nest. We wanted the hotel to be finished to an exceptionally high standard without compromising on its eco values and still be able to deliver a luxury experience for our guests.”
Roca 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.
Diving into the philosophy of private wellness with Gessi
Gessi, through its distinctive design style, is on a mission bring a sense of private wellness to everyday life, seeing water as a means of wellbeing, and the beauty of design as a pleasure to the eyes…
For more than 25 years, Gessi has designed and produced furnishing elements for bathrooms, kitchens and private and public wellness. With its total look design products that include fittings, advanced function shower systems, accessories, ceramics, tubs and shower trays, the brand has become synonymous with wellbeing and quality living in all types of environments, from hotels to spas, from yachts to private homes. Gessi creations allow the enjoyment of private spaces to become sanctuaries of private wellness, places to re-establish contact with oneself. Strictly ‘Made in Italy’, the products dictate a new trend in living, attentive to elegance and the charm of objects, but also to the wellness that they provide to those around them.
Image credit: Gessi
Through its designs, Gessi has created a new philosophy linked to domestic environments through a vast line of products, styles, models and new installation solutions, offering an unlimited freedom of design linked to water. With concepts born from creative liberty and constant originality, and with a passion for objects that are freed from mere functionality to be reinvented for new uses; the result is empathic and indispensable objects, objects that improve people’s lives and make them happier.
Gessi 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.
Make space count: i.life collection from Ideal Standard
Ideal Standard has launched i.life, a total bathroom solution for the everyday that is designed to bring beauty into any home, whatever the shape or size…
Having just launched, i.life offers simplicity with pure lines, and is about creating a serene bathroom where function and practicality meet flawless beauty. The collection was crafted in collaboration with Italian design studio Palomba Serafini Associati (PS+A) and enables users to create a bathroom they can enjoy day after day with all the pieces needed to support modern living, from basins and furniture units, to baths and toilets.
The collections have been designed to be mixed with solutions from other ranges through the Singular concept from Ideal Standard. Singular was specifically developed to streamline bathroom design and simplify the selection process, enabling architects, designers, retailers, tradespeople and end-users to create tailor-made spaces for every project.
“The i.life bathroom collection is a true example of design that creates a backdrop to good living; design that fosters a safe space for life and love to happen, no matter what size or shape your bathroom may be,” said Roberto Palomba, Ideal Standard, Chief Design Officer. “It’s a smart, versatile collection where design, comfort and hygiene come together beautifully and we can’t wait for our customers to experience it in their homes.”
Image credit: Ideal Standard
Image credit: Ideal Standard
The collection is made up of i.life A and i.life S, both of which are available now, having launched this month. i.life A is characterised by soft, rounded ceramics and accessible design, both practical and beautiful, and includes a selection of basins, toilets, bidets, baths, enclosures and furniture. The basins in i.life A come in four different sizes and there are two pedestal options, with both elements combining to create a sculpture-like piece in the bathroom, making them easy to pair with other products.
All the pieces benefit from Ideal Standard’s industry-leading engineering and technology. The toilets of both i.life A and S feature RimLS+ hygiene technology to ensure the entire bowl is cleaned with every flush, while water-efficient functionality helps to support a sustainable lifestyle. The collection offers wall-hung and floor standing options for its bidets and toilets, with the toilets all benefiting from a soft-close seat for smooth operation.
i.life S has a contemporary, space-saving, soft-square design, featuring a variety of ceramics and furniture – including basins, WCs, shower trays and vanity units. Designed to complement smaller spaces, this range is perfect for ensuites and under-the-stairs bathrooms. The vanity units and washbasin units offer further space-saving options, helping keep rooms neat and tidy while complementing the aesthetic look. A number of storage sizes, colours and handle options are available, making it simple to create the ideal bathroom for each individual project.
Image credit: Ideal Standard
Image credit: Ideal Standard
The ceramics and furniture of i.life A and S are complemented by bathing, enclosure and shower tray options which can again enhance smaller bathroom spaces. The design-led baths feature a contemporary, curved style to match the wider range and are made of Idealform and Idealform plus ceramics, to ensure durability and heat retention. Multiple sizes of single and double-ended baths are available, with the water-saving options on offer restricting water use to just 139 litres, without affecting the internal size of the bath. This makes the bathing products in this range a truly versatile choice.
The new i.life 8mm semi–framed enclosure range embodies quality and performance. At two meters tall, the enclosures feature slim, polished, aluminium profiles and long solid handles, for an elegant, modern aesthetic. The products are also time-savers, with features like ‘IdealClean’ glass treatment and click and clean which can reduce cleaning time, while soft-close slider options add an extra premium touch. A wide choice of models is on offer, including; pivot, infold, one & two door sliders, corner entry, quadrant and offset quadrants, all in various sizes.
Completing the i.life shower solutions, the Ultra Flat S shower trays are just 30mm thick, coming in over 25 different sizes and four matt finishes to create a cohesive look in any bathroom. The trays feature a robust gel coating that gives a textured stone finish and vital anti-slip properties – with so many options available, i.life is a truly versatile selection.
Ideal Standard 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.
White Tulip and D- Neo from Duravit have been honoured at iF DESIGN AWARD 2022, with the jury ‘impressed by high quality design’…
Since 1954, the iF DESIGN AWARD has been a recognised trademark for outstanding design all over the world. This year, Duravit was identified and celebrated for its innovative approach to bathroom product design.
The two complete bathroom ranges White Tulip and D-Neo, the faucets of the D-Neo bathroom series, and the News Magazine #13 from Duravit have been honoured with the iF DESIGN AWARD 2022.
The complete bathroom ranges White Tulip and D-Neo were decorated in the “bathrooms” category – as were the faucets of the D-Neo bathroom range. In the ‘Publications’ category, issue no. 13 of the Duravit News Magazine won over the 132-strong, independent, international expert jury. There were a great many applicants, and the jury selects the winners of the coveted quality seal from among 11,000 entries from 57 countries.
Organic design
Image credit: Duravit
Image credit: Duravit
With White Tulip, the French designer Philippe Starck has created a holistic bathroom collection which has already been honored with the Red Dot Award and German Design Award. From bathtubs, washbasins and furniture, toilets and bidets, to matching mirrors and a complete collection of faucets, the exceptional form of all the components within the series echoes the organic silhouette of a tulip in bloom. The monolithic, free-standing ceramic washbasin is particularly eye-catching.
Geometric shapes
In March 2021 Duravit first unveiled the award-winning D-Neo range by Belgian designer Bertrand Lejoly. The D-Neo complete bathroom range stands out with its straight-lined and geometric forms. Thanks to the range’s attractive price point, new target groups can enjoy Duravit products. The design series as a whole and the faucets have already won the German Design Award and the Red Dot award.
Image credit: Duravit
Straight-lined faucets with additional functionality
In fitting with the D-Neo design, the D-Neo faucets also boast a straight-lined and geometric design. The characteristically narrow, vertically positioned handle is standard throughout the entire range. Sustainability is key: on the D-Neo washbasin mixers with FreshStart, only cold-water flows in the central position to start with. Hot water is only added when the one deliberately moves the handle to the left. The energy-intensive production of hot water is limited to situations where it is needed.
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.
Product watch: design-driven tiles from Hyperion Tiles
Specialising in providing bespoke wall and flooring solutions with porcelain, stone and mosaic tiles and panels, Hyperion Tiles has released a new design-driven range of tiles to make a statement on any surface…
With increasing expectations on the bathroom and the tiles within them, balancing practicality with style is key to a successful design. As an area with high humidity, tiles may provide a perfect practical solution, but they also need to offer stylish solutions. While these new ranges are being showcased in the bathroom, they are versatile solutions which can also be used outdoors, and will work well on both floors and walls in any room setting.
“Many of our tiles can be used anywhere in a commercial setting, indoors and out,” said Richard Skeoch, director at Hyperion Tiles. “However, as you can see, these new collections lend themselves particularly well to a bathroom environment.”
Image credit: Hyperion Tiles
Image credit: Hyperion Tiles
The new Ca’ Pietra Magnifique Polished Ocean porcelain tile features a timeless, luxurious look with a high-gloss marble effect in four colour ways, offering all the luxury of marble with the practicality of porcelain.
The Deck Chair porcelain offers another contrasting yet stylish striped solution, suitable for floors and walls both indoors and out. These designs, along with Mermaids Garden, a new hexagonal design, and Maldives Lagoon which brings the colours of the ocean into the bathroom, all have design elements that lend themselves to creativity and versatility.
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.
In conversation with: AXOR on wellness in the bathroom
To really understand whether bathroom design will flow with or push against some of the mega trends around wellness, Hotel Designs caught up with Jay Phillips, Managing Director at Hansgrohe UK, Managing Director UK & Ireland…
Conversations at Hotel Interiors Experience (HIX) last year saw views on bathroom design move to a new area of responsible wellness and wellbeing. Pushing this space beyond recreating a spa-like feel, the team of leading interior designers and architects joined a panel discussion, sponsored by Hansgrohe, to explore how the hotel sector can enhance the visitor experience by considering both physical and cognitive health.
In just the space of a few months, a lot has changed even since then. So, we have decided to speak to Jay Phillips, Managing Director at AXOR, to investigate the trends helping to make this concept workable for hospitality, not only to benefit guest experience but also commercial wellness.
Hotel Designs: First things first, what are the latest trends in shower design technology that are positively impacting wellness in the bathroom?
Jay Phillips: Developments in showers and mixers serve a fundamental purpose – to enhance the user experience. As the HIX panel discussed, this can take the form of a recharging space, finding room for quiet or escaping somewhere where distractions are minimal.
At the heart of this is how we use and enjoy water in the bathroom. We’re seeing increased demand for a more bespoke and individual experience, meaning a heightened interest and demand for innovative spray patterns, extra-large shower heads and instinctive water controls.
Image credit: AXOR
Anything that makes our lives as easy as possible, is, unsurprisingly, popular too. Our AXOR One collection with Barber Osgerby is a great example of this. The Rain and PowderRain spray patterns deliver a personalised element and are selected via highly responsive, clearly marked paddle handles that offer intuitive control of the spray, water temperature and volume to ensure the very best showering experience.
Powered by state-of-the-art Select technology, the elegant brassware from the same collection follows an equally simple mode of interaction; press down on its all-in-one controller to start or stop the water and turn clockwise to increase the temperature. The action is effortless and ultra-precise.
HD: How important is customisation and the ability to personalise the bathroom space?
JP: Personalisation is just as important in the bathroom as in any other space in the home. For too long consumers could only choose from white sanitaryware and traditional chrome finishes. The bathroom has long been viewed as a clinical and purely functional space. We are helping change this. Bathrooms are becoming personal places of sanctuary and retreat from an always on world. Given the chaotic nature of the last few years, this seismic shift is understandable.
Through our extensive range of finishes, shapes, textures, and accessories, we have risen to meet this demand for personalisation. Our showers and mixers are becoming one-of-a-kind works of art that can be used to enhance an interior scheme and deliver a higher specification finish. Marble, wood, leather, and metal are bringing a new lease of life to bathroom design and offer greater scope for creativity when used in combination with finishes such as luxury polished gold and brushed black chrome and beautifully modern Matt Black and White.
For our most exclusive AXOR products, there is also the option to add signatures and monogrammed pieces – the perfect accompaniment for a luxury hotel bathroom. The result is an individualised bathroom of superior quality.
Image credit: AXOR
HD: How can spray technology improve wellness?
JP: In a world that is perpetually connected, the ability to switch off is imperative. Moments with water provide those much-needed ways of escape. As a group, we spend a great deal of time and money investing in spray technology development to make sure our products give unparalleled experiences to our customers.
One of our key technologies is the renowned and industry acclaimed PowderRain. When showering, water should fall on the body and nowhere else. Imitating nature with warm and misty rain droplets as inspiration, PowderRain is designed to envelop the body in a gentle cocoon of water. With the advantage of micro spray technology, PowderRain is much finer than conventional shower jets; with six-outlets per nozzle, spray is transformed into thousands of micro droplets, contributing to an overall experience of pure relaxation that indulges all the senses.
HD: What role does biophilic design play in improving wellness?
JP: Used to increase connectivity to the natural environment, biophilic design is an ever-growing trend when it comes to bathrooms. As the importance of wellness is increasingly understood, the natural world is playing a crucial role inside our homes and hotels.
Prioritising this human-nature connection and understanding how biophilic experiences can reduce stress and improve health and cognitive function, the Hansgrohe Group continuously looks to nature, specifically the beauty and movement of water, to shape our product offering and brand ethos.
Take our AXOR Massaud Waterfall collection. Created to be in harmony with nature, this avant-garde collection eliminates all traces of traditional bathroom design to set the stage for a holistic experience. Mimicking the delicate shape of a blade of grass, the mixer spout is exquisitely thin and sensuously organic. The innovative spray shape takes the form of a waterfall to give maximum enjoyment of water, transforming the bathroom into a spa-like paradise.
HD: Discuss the importance of sustainable design in hospitality bathrooms?
JP: At the Hansgrohe Group, we strive to make products that boast unparalleled functionality whilst using less. We understand it is our wider responsibility to produce products that do not cost the earth or its precious resources.
Our AirPower technology, for example, ensures water is enriched with air resulting in lighter and softer droplets. Producing a velvety soft water stream, the aerated water significantly reduces overall water consumption without compromising on performance.
Image credit: AXOR
Equally effective, our CoolStart technology, an environmentally friendly resource fitted on all our basin mixers, is another example of how we are innovating and pushing industry standards in this area. On standard taps, the continuous flow heater or circulation pump starts up immediately when the handle is in the middle position, yet this is needless if the user only requires cold water. With CoolStart, only cold water flows initially meaning pipes are not filled unnecessarily with hot water, saving energy, and reducing water-heating costs.
From an ecological standpoint, by using CoolStart or AirPower products across entire hotels or larger commercial properties, the savings could be significant from a financial and water consumption perspective.
HD: How can opting for quality products boost commercial wellness?
The ability to fit a product in the knowledge that it will not cause further issues later down the line is key to always keeping rooms usable and reducing the potential for emergency callouts and disappointed customers. Here, form and function must go together, with products incorporating precision engineering which is built to last.
For example, all Hansgrohe products are tested with water or air to get as close to the bathroom experience as possible before leaving the factory. We also ‘over-test’ to ensure robustness of all our showers and taps. In the UK, three bar working pressure tends to be the average but Hansgrohe products are all tested to sixteen bar as standard.
Equally, with so many brands offering different guarantees and warranties it can be difficult to navigate the products with the most longevity. Looking out for products that guarantee every single part is an effective way to build this reassurance into product selection and room design.
Unlike other brands, Hansgrohe manufacturers every aspect of the product, including the mixer cartridges, so the whole product is guaranteed by a five-year manufacturer’s warranty. In addition, a spare parts guarantee is upheld even after the product is discontinued – for up to 15 years. Allowing you to simply ‘fit and forget’.
Responsible wellness can take different forms, but the fundamentals of opting for both precision-engineered products with distinctive, individual designs are essential. In turn, this creates the right showering experience for guests and secures building wellness for the longer-term.
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.
In the factory: how Sanderson Design Group will go carbon-zero by 2030
With the aim to understand how Sanderson Design Group will go carbon-zero by 2030, Editor Hamish Kilburn headed up to Lancaster, to the printing factory of Standfast Barracks, to explore how the group is keeping British manufacturing alive…
In Northwest of England – under the shadow of the Lake District – is a factory in Lancaster that is helping to keep British manufacturing alive. Standfast & Barracks’ role in British textile design is vast. It has been a creative force in fabric printing since 1923, and stands today as one of the few British factories. To stay ahead of the curve, to be able to print intricate designs for the brand, the building shelters cutting-edge technology and a team that is as passionate as it is skilled to push innovation in textile design into a new era. It is here where the printing for Sandserson Design Group takes place, which I am told makes up 70 per cent of the factory’s work.
Inside the walls, there’s a constant challenge (and threat) to find the balance to sensitively maintain its heritage, while also meeting modern demand as a business. And with Sanderson Design Group announcing that it will be a carbon-neutral business by 2030, the latest task has been to shift production into being clean, conscious and, too, carbon-neutral.
In order to understand how both businesses are collaborating with the aim to meet this end goal in less than eight years from now, we first have to understand the step-by-step, artistic process of textile printing.
After arrival, before the fabric comes into contact with dye, the cloth begins its preparation journey by being sewn into continuous sheets ready for processing using the plaiting machine.
The material then enters the singer machine, which burns off any loose fibres from the surface. During this process, the starch used for weaving is broken down with an enzyme. It is then rotated for no less than 16 hours to continue breaking down the ‘size’ (starch).
Image credit: Standfast & Barracks
Mercerising is an essential process used for cottons, which swells the fabric fibres and enhances the lustre that helps with colour yield. The fabric is then stretched, as it shrinks in the wet processes, which is the final preparation procedure before printing occurs.
Image credit: Standfast & Barracks
The cloth then enters the dyehouse, where there are a few different methods of printing, depending on client demand. The factory has six Jig Dyers, one pad-batch dyer, which is known as the ‘Padder’ and a small laboratory where tests can be carried out efficiently.
The Jigs and Padder machines prepare the base cloths for printing, and each fabric has a standard shade that the team’s colourist checks against for continuity.
Image credit: Standfast & Barracks
Flatbed printing
Using the flatbed printing method, up to 24 colours can be used on one design, using up to 24 screens to print a full design onto fabric (each screen is used to print a different colour onto the fabric). Despite this being a long and labour-intensive process, this, I am told, is the best method of printing on the fabric in order to achieve the crispest line quality and sharpest detail. Due to the time and resources needed, the factory’s minimum order for flatbed printing in 200 metres per colourway.
Image credit: Standfast & Barracks
Rotary printing
With a rotary printer, the design is applied using cylindrical metal screens which are engraved using a laser.
The latest rotary printing machines can produce accurately fine detail and closer fitting prints; they’re very accurate, and ideal for small apparel prints. Limited to a maximum of 20 colours using this method, the factory’s minimum order for flatbed printing is 300 metres per colourway.
Image credit: Standfast & Barracks
Digital printing
The latest method of printing, constantly evolving part of the factory, is digital printing, which is where the answer lies for the factory – and Sanderson Design Group – in achieving their combined carbon-neutral goals, without compromising on quality.
The new EcoFast production process, which uses from 30-80 litres less water per metre than conventional printing, provides high-performance fabrics with both indoor and outdoor use. Due to the nature of the technology, this method enables multiple colourations to be developed and taigled for all markets and design specifications.
The factory has engineered several durable polyester-base options. These are suitable for outdoor use, with comprehensive list of performance related features, including printing with high definition durst greentex inks and a fluorocarbon finish, which makes it stain-resistant. What’s more, the process requires a minimum order of just 100 metres per SKU.
Image credit: Sanderson Design Group
So what’s next? In order to understand exactly how Sanderson Design Group and Standfast Barracks are going to achieve NetZeroby30, we sat down with Lisa Montague, CEO, Sanderson Design Group. “We have made certain assumptions and some advances past the initial five years are hard to predict, such as how hydrogen will be adopted, Lisa Montague, CEO, Sanderson Design Group, told Hotel Designs. “Our Live Beautiful program has 2 big pledges, to be Zeroby30 and to be the Employer of Choice in our industry. Both are very ambitious!”
Image credit: Clarke & Clarke/Sanderson Design Group
Image credit: Clarke & Clarke/Sanderson Design Group
“The first challenge is that we are not a green industry,” adds Montague. “We work with dyes, solvents and chemicals that require a lot of energy in production. There are many ways to reduce our impact and we are confident to reach net zero in scopes one and two with a 50 per cent reduction aim in scope three.”
I’m told that the focus in 2022 has been to design in longevity and deeply explore product lifecycle with a project group set up to work from all aspects. “As you will have seen at Standfast, base materials and print processes are already working at the forefront of the most ecological solutions available to deliver the product that is desired,” explains Montague. “Afterlife has not yet been a focus of ours, and this is an opportunity to reduce waste and make the products the most sustainable they can be. Packaging was changed a couple of years ago, moving away from plastics to sugar-cane wrapping. Sample books have been reduced by more than half across the business with digital design books introduced and physical books made to order. Supplier audits have been introduced and there is great opportunity to work more closely with all third-party partners as we emerge from the pandemic and find a new equilibrium.”
“My ambition, 10 years from now, is to be a hub of creative talent, the destination for beautiful home interiors, at home and abroad, as a trusted business partner to architects, designers, and retailers, and a reliable resource for inspiring fabrics, wallpapers and bespoke objects that compliment and bring beauty to a room.” – Lisa Montague, CEO, Sanderson Design Group.
Image credit: Harlequin/Sanderson Design Group
Sanderson Design Group is well on its way to achieving its ambitious goal. The latest milestone reached has been receiving the fourth annual certification from Planet Mark. Without taking the significance away from long-standing brands that are striving to become net-zero, in the process, there is the unavoidable challenge of maintaining a legacy while also ensuring that it is a team effort across all areas of the business. “With regards to people,” Montague says, “we have worked intensively on culture and community over the past few years, especially these past two years when facing the Covid-19 crisis, when keeping in touch with our workforce in various parts of the UK and some in other countries, was vital. We have significantly upped internal communication, and I am continuing my weekly newsletter post pandemic, to maintain that connection. Community groups in each site have been re-formed and interlink with the Live Beautiful groups to develop both group wide and local initiatives to support the work streams (100 in total with priority 20).
With so much emphasis on the brand’s eco credentials – and plans to achieve ambitious goals in the process – it’s all too easy to loose sight on the creative opportunities that these changes to production have made. “Our vision is to bring the beautiful into peoples’ homes and lives,” concludes Montague. “My ambition, 10 years from now, is to be a hub of creative talent, the destination for beautiful home interiors, at home and abroad, as a trusted business partner to architects, designers, and retailers, and a reliable resource for inspiring fabrics, wallpapers and bespoke objects that compliment and bring beauty to a room.” And having seen what I have seen at the Standfast & Barracks factory, and the collaborative nature in which both companies are evolving with meaning, I would say that Montague’s objectives are in reach.
Sanderson Design Group 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.
LEDS C4 presents more technical & efficient outdoor lighting solutions
The latest outdoor lighting proposals from LEDS C4 have been designed to provide clients with quality lighting solutions. Let’s take a look…
LEDS C4, which has been in the press recently for its various office lighting case studies, has unveiled its latest cluster of outdoor lighting products that have been designed to blend into the surroundings, and offer a modern and seamless way-finding solution.
The Modis design stands out for its incredibly flexible ball joint – the head rotates 350 degrees to the sides and 180 degrees up and down – which offers total freedom when designing the space, giving you the option to choose the type of light beam, either concentrated or diffuse.
Image credit: LEDS C4
Image credit: LEDS C4
The collection includes an extensive product range, offering integral outdoor project solutions. Available as a projector, wall fixture, ceiling light, beacon or lamppost.
The smart version allows users to personally and remotely control each light fitting and manage the lighting level as required, enabling you to save energy. Modis has great blow resistance, excellent protection to stop the entry of dust and pressurised water and it can even be installed in seaside settings thanks to the cataphoresis treatment applied before painting.
REK, meanwhile, allows you to fully illuminate a road using a smaller number of bollards than if you go for other conventional models, thanks to their optimal inter-distance between bollards of five metres. This helps achieve greater energy savings, with 35 per cent less consumption. Apart from the obvious savings in the total cost of the project, this means that the landscape is not altered so noticeably and greater architectural integration can be achieved.
The Rek beacon can be managed remotely using the Casambi app and can perform a range of functions, including programming switch-on/off according to set times.
Image credit: LEDS C4
And finally, Rack is a new and extensive outdoor, decorative and functional collection. Thanks to its customisable design and professional light quality, it’s the perfect fixture for all kinds of outdoor applications. It adapts to all aesthetic needs without sacrificing the high performance required, for example, by the retail or hotel industries.
The Rack collection is presented with a common aesthetic in the eight available options, both in the table, wall, floor and beacon versions, with the aim of achieving an attractive uniformity across the environment. In all cases, it has decorative side covers, an interchangeable top cover with two popular finishes available: wood and cement and a choice of different colours in its finishes — black as standard and the rest on request. In addition, most versions are compatible with a spherical opal glass diffuser to recreate a more subdued light.
Image credit: LEDS C4
Rack is a new and extensive outdoor, decorative and functional collection. Thanks to its customisable design and professional light quality, it’s the perfect fixture for all kinds of outdoor applications. It adapts to all aesthetic needs without sacrificing the high performance required, for example, by the retail or hotel industries.
The Rack collection is presented with a common aesthetic in the eight available options, both in the table, wall, floor and beacon versions, with the aim of achieving an attractive uniformity across the environment. In all cases, it has decorative side covers, an interchangeable top cover with two popular finishes available: wood and cement and a choice of different colours in its finishes – black as standard and the rest on request. In addition, most versions are compatible with a spherical opal glass diffuser to recreate a more subdued light.
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.
Sneak peak: Hotel Genevieve sets its sights on a spring 2023 opening
Hotel Genevieve, with a name inspired by the regional Saint Genevieve limestone which is key to local bourbon production, a new property from Bunkhouse Group and the design team at ROHE Creative, is set to open in spring 2023…
Bunkhouse, an Austin-based hospitality company founded on the pillars of design, music, and authentic community-driven experiences, has announced its plans for Hotel Genevieve, a new project in Louisville. The property, with architecture by Memphis-based LLW Architects, is located in the heart of the NuLu neighbourhood, will shelter 122 guestrooms on six floors, along with a restaurant, lush rooftop, mini market, and intimate bar. With a name inspired by a regional type of limestone which is a key ingredient in bourbon production, and Saint Genevieve, a female saint and the patron saint of Paris, thus celebrating both the French origins of Louisville, which was named after King Louis XVI of France, as well as the women involved on the project. Louisville, named for King Louis XVI of France and known as Strike City, definitely has French origins, but is a decidedly American city with a legacy peppered with rebels and revolutionaries.
Image credit: Hotel Genevieve / ROHE
Bunkhouse is partnering with ROHE Creative, a female-owned and operated design team based in Philadelphia, on the interior design of the project. As the city is much more layered than simply being about bourbon and horses, the design represents the nuances that make Louisville a destination for all. An intersection of unexpected opposites, the hotel dives into Strike City’s history. The lobby and restaurant’s signature bold colours, playful furniture, and vivacious art program will all lend themselves to the rebels and revolutionaries that have come from Louisville. The Parisian-inspired rooftop restaurant and bar will include French nods to the city’s namesake, King Louis XVI, and will heavily feature Louisville’s vibrant local flora. Corridors and guest rooms will offer a feminine touch with curves found in paint details and custom furniture. Kentucky’s quilt culture also became a muse, including modern quilting patterns in the corridor carpet and bedroom throws. This myriad of inspiration culminates in a design that is effortless, vibrant, and, in the best ways, a bit over the top.
Image credit: Hotel Genevieve / ROHE
“Our commitment to the communities we enter is genuine, and we intend to celebrate the character of the NuLu neighbourhood, which we love, across cultural programming, ingredient sourcing for the menu, and the selection of regional makers and products in the retail mix,” said Amar Lalvani, Executive Chairman of Standard Hotels and Bunkhouse Group. “We could not be more thrilled with the collaborative team we’ve created to introduce Bunkhouse to Louisville.”
Image credit: Hotel Genevieve / ROHE
As Bunkhouse’s first hotel in Louisville, it will aim to provide the amenities that the NuLu neighbourhood and community need, which will lead to a number of Bunkhouse firsts, including a mini-market offering curated grocery staples, which will feature fresh local produce, snacks, and beverages. The hotel will also feature the brand’s first rooftop restaurant and bar, a magical enclave providing city views in an opulent garden setting. Bunkhouse will continue to lean on the brand’s values and sense of community by collaborating with local vendors, sourcing furniture in town, and hiring Louisville-born staff. The neighbouring Rabbit Hole Distillery is partnering with Bunkhouse and Mountain Shore Properties, the Charleston-based developers of the project, to create an art garden that will help facilitate access as well as enhance connectivity to the distillery from Market Street.
Living the vida Locke: checking in to Buckle Street Studios
Stepping out of the underground and into the concrete oasis of calm that is Buckle Street Studios by Locke felt like a great way to combine a busy London trip with experiencing the hybrid design concept of flexible hotel space first hand – all those buzzwords made tangible. Pauline Brettell writes…
Located in Aldgate, East London, you already feel more like a local and less like a tourist by opting for a studio space in The Buckle Street Studios, and that is precisely the point. The small-but-perfectly-formed studio spaces have been designed by the creative talent of Grzywinski + Pons, to provide visitors with that hybrid mix of hotel, home and studio that allow you to work, play and relax in a space that you can make your own. There is an immediate sense of this being a place to lay your hat.
Image credit: Buckle Street Studios / Grzywinski + Pons / Nicholas Worleyrs
Stepping off the busy London street and into the public areas, Buckle Street Studios does feel more curated gallery than hotel lobby, with light flooding in through industrial-sized glass frontage, well-designed corners, hard edges and soft seating, along with a minimalist concept store style display that catches the eye, and piques interest. The Makers Space in the lobby is a feature that underlines the brand ethos of locality of space, with the makers on display all predominantly based in and around the area. The dramatic suspended floral arrangement is a focal point that draws your attention up and creates an interesting contrast to the hard edges of the exposed structure. Again, these spaces, despite the double volume, have a sense of intimacy and you do feel like you can step in and rearrange the seating to suit your purpose, from quiet conversation to a more formal meeting.
“Buckle Street Studios is the cherry on top of an exceptionally busy year of new openings across Europe for Locke. The project is another masterstroke in design by Grzywinski+Pons, and an example of how hotels as spaces are evolving to become increasingly hybrid and versatile,” said Eric Jafari, Chief Development Officer and Creative Director, Locke. “The concept store and Makers Space is a particularly exciting project for us, and we hope that it will enable guests and locals to discover some of the most talented emerging creatives in the UK.”
Image credit: Buckle Street Studios / Grzywinski + Pons / Nicholas Worleyrs
Moving from the public space into the lift, again there is the sense of location and community in the details, with a notice for a yoga class in the evening, and the monthly book club meeting on the mezzanine. It all goes back to the brand notion of ‘finding your tribe’, of community and connection, an antidote to the anonymity of travel, and an answer to the flexibility afforded by remote working.
Image credit: Buckle Street Studios / Grzywinski + Pons / Nicholas Worleyrs
Opening the door into the studio, home for the night, everything was in place for a comfortable working visit. There is a suggestion of the Le Corbusier ethos of a space being ‘a machine for living in’ in the studios, with functionality being at the core of the design. Space is maximised without being crowded, and for this to be achieved it must work hard below the surfaces. In fact, the surfaces within the design create an interesting juxtaposition with a lot of hard edged concrete housed within the unapologetically industrial exterior, all softened with round upholstered edges in soft calm colours and velvety textures.
With just enough time to offload my suitcase and, for those more organised than me, to make use of the ample storage to hang clothes and stash a bag, I was able to make myself a strong coffee while checking my emails, all while admiring the urban landscape view from the window. Again, that trademark mix of functionality and comfort with practical surfaces and economic shapes all softened with softer notes of luxury in the pared down palette of soft neutrals and sophisticated pastels.
Image credit: Buckle Street Studios / Grzywinski + Pons / Nicholas Worleyrs
Image credit: Buckle Street Studios / Grzywinski + Pons / Nicholas Worleyrs
Lighting is given the same attention as the furniture and fittings, with bespoke details designed to maximise the space along with its multi-functionality. In a space that is required to be bedroom, boardroom and living room, lighting needs to address all of these functions, and the plan within the studio space maximised natural light, something often overlooked in hotel design, while including the more focussed and functional options in a user-friendly format.
Image credit: Buckle Street Studios / Grzywinski + Pons / Nicholas Worleyrs
While there is ample work space within the studios, should you get tired of your own company, there is of course the more communal option in the public and mezzanine area downstairs. This area feels like an extension of the private studio space, with the same quiet and understated scheme, along with all the facilities required for a functional workspace – and of course there is that great display of biophilic glory in the rafters to calm your senses and connect you to nature despite being in the centre of the city.
With Buckle Street being more apartment block than hotel, the hotel offering in Locke Leman is adjacent with its shared facilities available to all guests. If you aren’t staying long enough to stock up the fridge in your studio or simply need some refreshment and respite from your routine, The Shaman coffee shop and restaurant is perfect for a flat white and croissant en-route to the station. If you are concerned about not getting your step count up to speed, not usually a problem for visitors to London, there is also a communal workout space which guests at the studios have access to.
Finally, going back to that buzzword of ‘hybrid design’ and the concept of flexible hotel space that is being discussed across the hotel design boards at the moment – Buckle Street Studio delivers on all fronts. It is that merging of function and blurring of lines on offer here that presents guests with some very stylish and contemporary solutions in the heart of London.
Main image credit: Buckle Street Studios / Grzywinski + Pons / Nicholas Worleyrs
Standing tall at 51 stories in the heart of downtown Philadelphia, is the first-ever W Hotels Worldwide and Element by Westin dual-branded hotel development. Having announced the opening of W Philadelphia in Q4 of last year, with new interior images hot off the press, it’s time to take a closer look at the design and the details sheltered within…
The dual branding of this project in the centre of Philadelphia has allowed for two distinctive styles and experiences to be developed through design and offered to guests. W Philadelphia is a luxurious custom brand that disrupts the status quo, and Element, an extended stay brand, increases guests’ awareness of sustainability. Marriott entrusted award-winning architecture, design, and strategy firm NELSON Worldwide to lead the architecture of the new dual-branded W/Element hotel to meet the demands of today’s travellers.
Image credit: Marriott International
Early on in the project, the interior design firm designstudio ltd, established the design narrative for the W Philadelphia as ‘Ring Free’. This concept focused on the collection of the city’s rich history, including the birthplace of democracy, the first planned gridded city, and the origin of horticulture in North America with a region rich in public gardens and parks. Throughout the property, this narrative is woven into both the architecture and the interior design.
Now the tallest hotel building in Philadelphia, W/Element makes a striking impact on the existing city skyline. The cascading vertical LED lights and stepped private terraces at the top of the glass tower pay homage to the local Wissahickon Valley Falls and the Schuylkill River cliffs. The floor-to-ceiling glass windows fold in and out of the façade, mimicking the rock outcroppings of the Wissahickon while providing sweeping views of central Philadelphia from each of the guestrooms and suites.
Image credit: Marriott International
Image credit: Marriott International
At the base of the tower is a seven-story stone and precast podium housing the public spaces showcasing the masonry and historic context of the neighbouring limestone structures. The street is lined with many uniquely designed entrances that provide a separate identity for each brand, as well as the restaurant, retail and employee entrances. The façade encompasses a mosaic of textures and patterns of stone, metal, and glass, giving tribute to the city’s diversity. They represent the layers of history and culture that are interwoven into Philadelphia’s social fabric. Paying homage to Penn’s planned city, a patterned interlayer grid is set into the glass canopy and the vestibule at the W entrance. A vertical ornamental metal screen separates the masonry base as a nod to its main entrance while simultaneously drawing your eye up to the tower above. Fortifying the historical aspect of Philadelphia, the metal grid extends into the entrance, directing guests as they approach the lobby. Once inside, guests recall the patterned grid throughout the interior, including its use as decorative screened walls and ceiling features.
Image credit: Marriott International
Inside the W are many standout elements that enhance the materiality and colour story by drawing inspiration from Philadelphia’s parks, gardens, music, and nightlife. The Living Room, inspired by the sunken gardens and tree lined urban parks, features banquettes that act as hedge walls, a serpentine-inspired sofa, and a variety of bright-coloured accent pillows that complement the outdoors-in aesthetic. Staying in line with the brand, the design team incorporated a rich bronze tone throughout the space.
Image credit: Marriott International
Playing on the connection to nature, the seventh floor outdoor deck encompasses an outdoor heated pool with intricate tile work inspired by French parterre patterns, which influenced the formal gardens of Philadelphia. This section of the hotel is lined with mosaic tiles imported from Italy, giving the hotel an amplified, luxurious feel. Floral patterns are sprinkled throughout the outdoor WET deck and connect guests to the WET Bar inside. In addition to the bar, guests can enjoy a drink in one of several outdoor cabanas near the pool, gather around the fire pit, or relax in front of the outdoor fireplace. Social events include a night in the secret garden, defined by topiary hedges, containing illuminated busts of Maria Antionette and Ben Franklin, who spent time in Versailles when he was the ambassador of the United States, as a twist to formal landscaped gardens. This floor also includes an AWAY Spa, and two fitness centres, one with an outdoor deck for yoga and stretching.
Image credit: Marriott International
In addition to the provocative design experience of the W brand, the 460 guestroom Element is an extended-stay hotel designed for today’s active travellers looking for clean, light, and airy guest rooms with sustainability-focused philosophy, in-room kitchens, and spa-inspired bathrooms. Guestrooms are equipped with Westin Heavenly Beds addressing the wellness and balanced lifestyle expectations of the guests. Pets are also welcome with their own beds, treats, eco-friendly clean-up supplies, and more. The second level of the podium includes a fitness centre, common lobby, business centre, and dining area for healthy breakfast and evening receptions. A Bike-to-Borrows programme is also provided.
Balancing sustainability and luxury were top of mind for both hotel brands as the W/Element hotel is seeking USGBC LEED Certification. The building includes many sustainable design features, most notably is the use of infrared sensors in each guestroom to reduce energy consumption when rooms are vacant. Other factors include LED lighting throughout, low flow water faucets, toilets and showers, and a green housekeeping policy. Greater than 12 per cent of all building materials include recycled content, more than 20 per cent were sourced locally, and in addition, all interior building materials have low VOC content.
Wynn Las Vegas has unveiled plans for new luxury accommodations with a new look and extensive design evolution led by Todd-Avery Lenahan that will transform more than 2600 guestrooms. Here’s what we know…
Wynn Las Vegas has unveiled details of a new room concept that will transform its luxury guest accommodations across Wynn Las Vegas and Wynn Tower Suites. Currently under construction and scheduled to be completed by June 2022, the project is the largest and most extensive design evolution ever made to the tower’s 2,674 guestrooms, suites, elevator lobbies, and resort tower corridors.
“Wynn sets the standard for luxury experiences and unparalleled service by continuously evolving to meet and exceed the needs of our guests,” said Brian Gullbrants, President of Wynn Las Vegas. “Our thoughtful and intuitive new room design provides a more integrated in-room experience, giving guests greater control and choice over how they wish their room to function as they relax, enjoy, work, and entertain during their stay.”
Image credit: Wynn Las Vegas
At its heart, the new guestroom design intends to give travellers a sense of escapism that feels instantly comfortable and familiar. Rooted in a polychromatic palette of soft hues, layers of pattern and texture abound. Each room is highlighted by wood accent walls, a range of functional and atmospheric illumination, luxurious textiles and linens, and accents of natural stone, decorative metal, and original artwork.
New furniture, fixtures, lighting, and artwork – all exclusive to Wynn Las Vegas – were either custom designed by Lenahan or commissioned from a diverse collective of global master artisans. Focal points include a dramatic four poster canopy bed exclusive to the Wynn Tower Suites, a collection of commissioned artworks consisting of refined, modern pieces, as well as a lighting design created to enhance the ambient experience both day and night.
Image credit: Wynn Las Vegas
“As guests’ needs and tastes evolve, we are constantly advancing details that not only meet but exceed their discerning tastes,” said Todd-Avery Lenahan, President and Chief Creative Officer of Wynn Design and Development. “Our redesigned rooms are equal parts warm and dramatic, intimate and sophisticated. The guestrooms are meant to be your personal space while we are hosting you and are designed to be a respite, an exhale at the end of your day.”
Image credit: Wynn Las Vegas
Each guestroom, from the standard 59 square-metre Wynn Resort King to the 169 square-metre Wynn Tower Suite Salon, offers a retreat-like environment and features a bespoke iteration of the new theme, which is decidedly more residential. Although individual touches have been created to suit differing room layouts, the most notable changes include a reconfiguration to the washroom in the standard guest room to introduce separate vanities and double the storage space; an expanded dressing area with mirrored walls and upgraded closet with new wardrobe; and an extended multi-purpose table in the main living room for working and dining. Additional power and data ports and advanced touchless in-room technologies complete the project.
Image credit: Wynn Las Vegas
Under the direction of Todd-Avery Lenahan, the new guestroom design propels the resort’s signature style ethos of elegance, artfulness, and comfort into a new era of artistic expression. Over the past months, Lenahan debuted original designs including the instantly iconic supper club, Delilah at Wynn Las Vegas, a lavish cinematic masterwork; The Cocktail Collection on the Lake of Dreams, including Overlook Lounge, Aperitifs & Spirits, Bar Parasol, and Aft Cocktail Deck; and the resort’s newest restaurant, Casa Playa, an energetic confluence of coastal Mexican architecture and timeless cultural iconography.
Case study: CTD Architectural Tiles adds flavour to new London restaurant
CTD Architectural Tiles has partnered with Natalie Weavers Interiors to create a tasteful design scheme for a new Lahpet restaurant in London’s vibrant West End…
CTD Architectural Tiles worked closely with interior commercial designer Natalie Weavers Interiors on the new project which will provide a second outlet for Lahpet, a popular restaurant offering authentic Burmese cuisine. The interior design scheme is naturally inviting, with light wood and concrete finishes complemented by the warm pink hues of the walls and the use of green foliage. The commercial tile package features options from the Tint, Traffic and Medley by Ergon ranges, and was devised to provide both aesthetic appeal and durability to meet the demands of a busy London restaurant.
Image credit: CTD Architectural Tiles / Kathrin Werner
The classic matt finish of the rectangular Tinte tiles gives the walls of the restaurant a striking textured feel and has been specified in shades of soft pink and dramatic black. The larger format, unglazed porcelain Traffic tiles in dark grey provide further contrast and interest to the broad wall areas. The floor of the restaurant has been styled using the Rock tiles from the Medley collection. As well as offering excellent slip-resistance, the stylish tiles offer a contemporary interpretation of a classic Venetian Terrazzo design.
CTD Architectural 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: CTD Architectural Tiles / Kathrin Werner
Cove expands in Europe with new properties in the Netherlands
Next generation serviced apartment brand Cove has announced its expansion into Europe, beginning with the Netherlands, with the opening of ‘Cove – Centrum’ situated in The Hague, and a conversion of Amsterdam-based serviced apartments ‘The Wittenberg’ to ‘Wittenberg by Cove’…
With the changing work-life balance, Cove has emerged in response to the need for a different kind of accommodation and a new way of being. The trademark spacious apartment concept combines thoughtful design with future-facing technology, embodying the notion of flexible living to enable life in all modes. Since launching in 2021, Cove, an edyn brand, has continued to grow its portfolio of properties, proving its place as the next generation serviced apartment brand. With locations across key cities in the UK including Liverpool, Nottingham, Manchester and Cardiff, openings in the Netherlands will follow its November 2021 opening of Cove – Landmark Pinnacle, the brands flagship location in London’s highly sought-after Landmark Pinnacle development in Canary Wharf.
“We are thrilled to announce Cove’s expansion into mainland Europe so soon after its launch in 2021,” said Stephen McCall, CEO, edyn. “The opening of ‘Cove – Centrum’ and ‘Wittenberg by Cove’ conversion is a great milestone in our journey that signals both our intent on the continent as well as further investment in our belief that guests are increasingly looking for flexible, thoughtfully designed accommodation – regardless of whether they’re travelling for work or leisure.”
Image credit: Cove
Designed to cater to the always-on traveller, Cove’s expansion into Europe will build on the brands success in the UK, with ‘Cove – Centrum’ offering 121 thoughtfully designed apartments, while ‘Wittenberg by Cove’ will provide 115 one- and two-bedroom apartments, all of which include private Wi-Fi, fully fitted kitchens and living rooms, as well as large kitchen tables to accommodate work and leisure.
Image credit: Cove
Image credit: Cove
Located in the heart of The Hague, ‘Cove – Centrum’, the brands landmark property in mainland Europe, opened last month. Comprising 112 studio apartments, six large studio apartments and three accessible studio apartments, ‘Cove – Centrum’ serves as a base for business travellers, as well as leisure guests and families seeking more spacious, comfortable accommodation. This new opening also includes a 250 square metre lobby that features a stylish lounge and co-working space, 24-hour reception, as well as a communal laundry room, car parking and bicycle hire.
Situated in the city’s busiest shopping district of Grote Markstraat, ‘Cove – Centrum’ is only a stone’s throw from a host of great restaurants, a local market and is a short bike ride away from the city’s most popular beach. Housed in the iconic De Passage building, designed by architect Bernard Tschumi, the interiors reflect the brand’s contemporary sophisticated aesthetic, with soothing colour palettes, walnut floors and bespoke furniture featured throughout.
Image credit: Cove
Initially launched as an independent extended stay brand within the edyn umbrella in 2018, The Wittenberg has been brought into edyn’s Cove brand. Situated in the green and tranquil Plantage district of Amsterdam’s east side, known as the cultural garden of the city, the properties peaceful canal-side setting is ideally located just a 15-minute walk away from Amsterdam’s main train station and a short walk from the local museums and parks, as well as the many bars and restaurants that line the canals crisscrossing the area. Located in a historic building, dating back to 1722, the property has been tastefully converted into modern residences while still preserving the ethos, charm and character of the original building.
Image credit: cove
Image credit: Cove
All the 115 apartments have beautiful canal and courtyard garden views, and ‘Wittenberg by Cove’ offers studios with non-compromised functionality, one-bedroom apartments with striking traditional Dutch interiors, two-bedroom apartments with elegant minimalist design and three-bedroom mezzanine apartments that embrace and enhance the building’s timeless features. The property also provides communal spaces in the form of an honesty bar, gym, co-working area, two courtyards and a large garden. Possessing stylish yet practical interiors that work with the unique features of the building, the finished design is a comfortable, homely and light-filled space.
Meeting in London’s leafy Richmond Park ahead of 60-mile bike ride around the Surrey Hills, Editor Hamish Kilburn and Dale Atkinson, Founder, Rosendale Design discuss blurring boundaries in hospitality, the new meaning of wellness and the value of relationships in interior design…
Holding a dictaphone while trying to maintain an aerodynamic position while on a road bike is a first for me. But when interior designer Dale Atkinson, Founder of Rosendale Design, and I both discovered cycling as a common ground/hobby, when we caught up recently at MEET UP London, it was only ever going to be a matter of time before we would both find ourselves in the saddle and fighting for slipstreams while confronting epic climbs.
That glorious day came sooner than I thought. As April creeped into May – on a balmy spring morning, I arrived in Atkinson’s hometown of Richmond with the ambitious aim to conduct an engaging interview on two wheels. “I love exploring this area. Despite the fact that I live here, I am always taken aback by how much there is to be inspired by,” Atkinson said warmly as we clipped in to start our 60-mile adventure. “Seriously, it has it all. The architecture of old stately homes, such as Ham House – and Petersham Nurseries is on our door step. The blossoming Isabella Plantation, with its vibrant colours! And Kew Gardens is just around the corner. [As a designer], I can find inspiration everywhere I turn.”
Image caption: In 2014, Dale Atkinson founded Rosendale Design. Since then, the interior designer has worked on many hospitality and residential projects that eloquently and meaningfully challenge conventional approaches to design. | Image credit: Rosendale Design
Aware that interviewing Atkinson on busy roads while cycling would be a unwise idea – even by my standards – I challenged myself to get the full low-down from the interior designer – from his time at Foster + Partners and other studios to now nurturing his very own success story of a studio – in the time it took us to complete our warm-up laps around Richmond Park, which if you didn’t know is a cycling haven where the traffic obstructions largely consist of wild deer and other cyclists. And there was no better place to start our interview than in the present moment. As we made our way past Richmond Gate, I wanted to learn more about Atkinson’s most recent project.
Hamish Kilburn: Having seen some of the photos of your work at Hamptworth Golf Club, how and why is it becoming acceptable to blur the boundaries in design between hotels, members clubs and even residential?
Dale Atkinson: I think nowadays, it is not acceptable, but necessary, for country clubs, members clubs and hotels to be able to offer as many amenities as possible to retain the customers within the property and extend their time, and thus spending.
Image caption: Render of the new arrival experience at Hamptworth Golf Club. | Image credit: Rosendale Design
Image caption: Render of the new F&B experience at Hamptworth Golf Club. | Image credit: Rosendale Design
Members clubs have for some time provided their members with spaces to work and have meetings from, but they also provide great socialising facilities and in some cases rooms to stay overnight. But not everyone has access, or can afford, to join these clubs. Now, many establishments, including hotels, want to follow suit and provide these facilities with a similar ambiance.
With many working from home, the pandemic really kick-started an onslaught of home improvements, and many wanted to recreate environments where they can escape.
“Each project gives me a new lease of energy.” – Dale Atkinson, Founder, Rosendale Design.
HK: Honestly, what’s been the highs (climbs) and the lows (descents) since setting up your own studio in 2014?
DA: Undoubtedly, the pandemic would take top spot for the low point, as it would for many! But I must confess, in retrospect, it also gave me the opportunity to learn how to be more malleable as a company. We really did have to carefully navigate issues daily.
The high point, to be truthful, happens with every new project! Each project gives me a new lease of energy. For me, it is all about the people and I love working closely with, especially our clients, and getting to know them as people. Right now, we are again working with Badrutts Palace, in St Moritz, and they are such an amazing team to work with. It is an honour to know we pleased them so much with our first collaboration just before the pandemic. Most of our clients are returning and some recommend us to friends and family. For me, the personal aspect is always far more fulfilling, it is why I do what I do!
HK: Considering where we are and what we’re doing (speeding down Broomfield Hill at pace), it would be remise of me not to bring up wellness. In your eyes, how has this mega trend taken on a whole new meaning since 2020?
DA: Well, I think there has always been a focus on physical wellness or mental wellbeing but in the last couple of years a wholistic approach has really come to the fore. This has also reinforced our connection with nature, which is also driving sustainability. Those buzzwords get mentioned a lot, but they are all so tightly interwoven.
With most of us experiencing 2020 in the confines of our houses, the first lockdown in particular was a real shock to the system, and mental wellbeing was highlighted.
HK: Your portfolio is glued together by the solid relationships you form with your clients. Just how important is that element of your business?
DA: I really love what I do, and I consider myself very fortunate, but this is solely because of the amazing people you meet along the way.
I keep in contact with many clients long after the project completes. For example, I have known Michelin-star chef and restauranteur Jason Atherton and his family for 10 years. This decade-long relationship developed into an understanding and, ultimately, a trust that he bestowed onto me when he asked me to design his family home.
After completing Atherton’s house, we were approached by the CEO of Burberry to design their home. The family are very down to earth and wanted a space that was a family hub and one where they could entertain friends both inside and out in the expansive garden.
Image caption: One of Dale Atkinson’s passion projects, among many, has been designing the CEO of Burberry’s house. | Image credit: Rosendale Design
HK: What’s been the biggest lesson you have learned since starting your own business – and knowing what you know now in this industry, would you do anything differently if you could turn back the clock?
DA: The biggest lesson I have learned is the value of relationships, not only with clients, but the building team and even design team. If everyone is onboard working together and enjoying themselves then you get to the end and feel so much better. I hear stories of some people who believe taking a hardline keeps people on their toes and increases productivity, but I don’t see it. I’m far more willing to go above and beyond for someone I respect – I think it is human nature.
The other lesson I learned, and is just as important, is to believe in yourself and your instincts. Listen to the small voice inside – its there for a reason. Also, there are times you really need to sell an idea to a client that you believe in. If they see your belief and determination then nine times out of 10, the client will trust you. Once they sense a lack of belief, it can all unravel.
Image caption: The guestrooms inside The Stafford Hotel were designed by Dale Atkinson and his team, following the studio’s sucess
DA: One thing I learned about you recently was that you were a lighting designer before becoming an ‘interior designer’. What’s the biggest pitfall designers can fall down when they don’t have the budget for a lighting consultant?
DA: It was always my intention to study the properties of light before setting up on my own. I worked at a lighting design consultancy for a couple years until I was asked to join the team at Foster + Partners.
I do feel that there are many that do not fully understand the properties of light, which is, put simply, one of the most important mediums we work with. When I was studying at the Bartlett, I focussed on this.
In general, lighting designers can help bring a space to life by creating layers within the scheme, considering both artificial and natural light. I feel this sets Rosendale Design aside from the others, as we can provide tailored concepts but the client does not need to hire a lighting designer, and can save a considerable amount.
Following my quick-fire catch-up with Atkinson, it was time to put down the microphone and safely head out towards the countryside, where the climbs were real, to practice what we preached when it came to wellness.
Image caption: Multitasking, Editor Hamish Kilburn and interior designer Dale Atkinson wrapped up the interview and headed out for an inspirational cycle, which took them on an adventure around the Surrey Hills to return to Richmond Park where they soaked up the colourful display inside Isabella Plantation. There are worse ways to spend a Friday.
For me, it was beyond refreshing to speak to an interior designer in their own territory, while doing what we both loved. By taking a bit of risk – I mean, I could have ended up on somebody’s windscreen in the making of this memorable interview and experience – stepping away from my desk and the emails to seek inspiration in nature, I have realised that relationships in this arena can indeed be fuelled by pedal power, banter and a cheeky mid-ride glass of fizz. After all, it’s not all work and no play.
Following NEWH UK Chapter’s Top ID Event, which took place inside London’s Roca Gallery, on March 31, Rita Bancroft explores the wellbeing qualities of networking…
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the World Happiness Report, which uses global survey data to report how people evaluate their own lives in more than 150 countries worldwide. Over a century of research has proven how crucial social connection is for our well-being. One of the most remarkable changes seen during COVID-19 has been the global upsurge in benevolence. In every global region, there have been large increases in the proportion of people who give money to charity, help strangers, and do voluntary work. Altogether the global average of these three measures was up by a quarter in 2021, compared with before the pandemic.
The concept of networking and benevolence is nothing new to NEWH, as these are the building blocks on which the NEWH was founded. The association is a leading networking group for the hospitality industry, providing student scholarships, education, leadership growth, recognition of excellence, and business development opportunities. This year NEWH UK Chapter celebrates its 20th Anniversary.
Christine Granger, Associate at Indigo Art is the new Events Director for the NEWH UK Chapter. The UK’s diary is packed with events designed to raise scholarship funds. Chrissie could not be more excited about the year ahead and said, “now everyone is getting busier, we recognise people are more selective on the events they choose to attend, which is why NEWH has such a diverse programme for the year ahead. There is something for everyone. Whether its hotel visits, a postcard auction, or our 20th anniversary party – there are so many reasons to meet, so we can all feel good and do good.’ Hotel Designs agrees, and were delighted to invite the three 2021 scholarship winners Emily Marzocchi, Bianca Tirca and Gintare Rapoport, to our Brit List awards last year and will be supporting the NEWH throughout 2022.
Image credit: NEWH
The most recent event was the prestigious Top ID Awards, held at the Roca Gallery on March 31 2022. The accolade of TopID is determined by considering both the quality of a firm’s work and the support and dedication they have provided to the NEWH membership and events. Winning practices are celebrated internationally across the NEWH global network. This year’s UK Chapter winners were SparcStudio, THDP and AD Associates.
Each winner recognised the value of designing relaxing hospitality spaces, focussed on enhancing wellbeing, whether that is creating a welcoming ambience, or a new spa and gym space. The annual Top ID Awards also serve to remind us how vital it is we interact as an industry, celebrate design, and create opportunities for the next generation.
Hotel Designs is delighted to support a calendar of events designed to reconnect those of us working in the hospitality industry, and in doing so, support the next generation by raising scholarship funds for students studying interior design and architecture.
SHVO and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts have announced the restoration of Miami Beach’s most storied property, The Raleigh. A landmark in the heart of Miami’s vibrant Art Deco district, the project will feature three distinct components designed by renowned architect Peter Marino…
SHVO, the New York-based, culture-defining real estate development and investment firm, and ultra-luxury global hospitality brand Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, have announced the next chapter of the iconic Miami Beach property, The Raleigh, with a highly anticipated revival and restoration. the three components designed by Peter Marino include a 60-key hotel managed by Rosewood, entirely restored and elegantly modernised with ultra-luxury service and amenities; Rosewood Residences Miami Beach, a newly constructed 17-storey oceanfront tower featuring 44 residences and timeless architecture; and a private member’s club offering beachfront dining and leisure.
“As the steward of Miami’s most iconic property, The Raleigh, I am thrilled to partner with preeminent luxury hotel brand, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, and world-renowned architect Peter Marino to reimagine and secure the rich legacy of The Raleigh, creating a new, unparalleled hospitality experience in Miami Beach,” said Michael Shvo, Chairman and CEO of SHVO. “We are excited to introduce the hotel as well as the residences at The Raleigh, which offer the unique opportunity, for the first time ever, to live on property.”
Image credit: SHVO / DBOX
Acclaimed American architect and frequent SHVO collaborator Peter Marino is helming the design and restoration of the property in collaboration with Miami-based Kobi Karp Architecture, engaging celebrated artists and craftsmen to imagine an elegant and authentic contemporary design. Keeping The Raleigh’s distinct Miami history in mind, The Raleigh’s famed gathering places, the Martini Bar and Tiger Room, will be restored and reborn with an eye for both Miami’s historic Art Deco elegance and its modern roots.
“At Rosewood, we are committed to preserving historical gems that truly embody their destinations, while also breathing new life into the properties,” said Sonia Cheng, Chief Executive Officer of Rosewood Hotel Group. “Our commitment to the local community is to ensure that The Raleigh honours its legacy for locals and visitors to once again relish this long-cherished property.”
Image credit: SHVO / DBOX
Originally constructed in the ’40s by Miami architect Lawrence Murray Dixon, The Raleigh will be complemented with the addition of its two historic neighbours, the Richmond and South Seas Hotels, with each building’s historic Art Deco facade restored and integrated within the ultra-luxury hotel, in line with Rosewood’s guiding A Sense of Place philosophy. SHVO purchased The Raleigh, South Seas, and Richmond Hotels in 2019 with Deutsche Finance America.
Working closely with the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board, SHVO’s comprehensive and meticulous restoration plans are now underway and include Miami’s most iconic swimming pool known for its curvaceous design and tropical foliage, designated the most beautiful pool in America by Time Magazine.
Image credit: SHVO / DBOX
“This fresh, historic restoration and renovation of The Raleigh joins a private beach club with a Latin beat and elegant residences of demure black, white and ivory,” said Marino. “This mixture is the best Miami cocktail that I can imagine.”
The contemporary new tower adjacent to the historic Raleigh hotel will house Rosewood Residences Miami Beach featuring 44 private homes with unobstructed ocean views and prime ocean proximity. The tower’s facade, inspired by Marino’s ongoing architectural commissions for Chanel, features white columns and black mullions that create rhythm and movement while prioritising large windows for maximum light, air, and ocean views. In the interiors, a calm material palette featuring artisan plasters, hand-painted millwork, and noble stones with impeccable detailing create a serene and elegant place for living. The residences are accessible via private porte-cochere and two dedicated residential lobbies featuring art and furnishings curated by the architect.
IHIF 2022: hospitality ready to seize opportunities
The global hospitality industry is ready to embrace opportunities, innovate, improve profitability and take action on sustainability and staffing according to leaders speaking at the opening day of the industry-leading event, the International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF)…
Day one of IHIF 2022 saw the core focus of people, planet and profit covered in a raft of dynamic sessions attended by over 2,400 forward-thinking investors, owners and developers. Although the impact of Covid-19 on the hospitality industry was highlighted throughout the day’s sessions, the key message was that despite the impact of the pandemic the industry is now forging ahead with more resilience, collaboration, creativity and vision.
“We are thrilled to be back in Berlin for such a cerebral global event,” said Alexi Khajavi, Group President, Questex Travel and Hospitality. “IHIF 2022 is a unique platform for staging announcements and launches, brokering partnerships and networking across the hospitality spectrum as well as challenging and inspiring stronger thinking.”
Image credit: IHIF / Simon Callaghan
Questex CEO Paul Miller, who opened the conference in Berlin with Alexi Khajavi, President Travel and Hospitality, said the Covid-19 pandemic had given hospitality ‘fresh perspectives’ on business and that it was in a prime position to move forward after this pivotal time.
In the first discussion – CBRE Capital Talks: Hotel Capital Markets Update – chaired by Kenneth Hatton of CBRE, major investors discussed opportunities presented by the pandemic, such as the increase in availability of office and retail stock. The Ukraine war is also fuelling uncertainty, warned Coley Brenan of KSL Capital who, with fellow panellist Christopher Oka of Angelo Gordon concluded with a plea for the industry to drive sustainability. Further sessions throughout the day made it clear that the industry must drive sustainability with ESG policies now at the heart of many investment and operational decisions.
Image credit: IHIF / Simon Callaghan
In KPIs for ESG in Hospitality Investment, panellists, including Catherine Dolton of IHG and Inge Huijbrechts, Radisson Hotels, discussed the KPIs for taxonomy compliance while Ufi Ibrahim, CEO Energy & Environment Alliance and her fellow panellists in Sustainable Operations: How to Operate Sustainably and Profitably, urged hoteliers and investors to start making changes now.
Ibrahim, who set out to get investors on board with her ESG mission from the start, said: “Regulation is here and we need to take action, but it is important that action is meaningful. The industry has been damaged by greenwashing so don’t promote something unless it is genuinely making a difference.”
Innovation and the need to be different was a key theme running throughout the day’s discussions. At Adjacent Spaces, the think-tank for hospitality’s innovators and game-changers held alongside IHIF, Stephen McCall, CEO Edyn said the pandemic had given operators the impetus to be more disruptive.
“We don’t have data from the last two years but intuitively we do things that feel right,” said McCall. ” Sometimes you have to take a punt and model a future you want.”
This was mirrored by Natalia Kolotneva from La Salle Investment Management in the Adjacent Spaces session Investing in Hybrid Hospitality, as she urged operators to be innovative: “Be proud of the products you are developing and develop products people want to use. Be more nimble, more creative, more forward looking.”
One aspect linking all areas of discussion and the industry was the conversation around ‘experience’, highlighting that customer’s expectations are changing, with new customer groups demanding more transparency, creativity and flexibility – a topic that will be explored further in The Big Conversation – an interview with Accor CEO Sebastien Bazin on Thursday 5 May.
Other highlights to come include an award ceremony and Q&A with IHIF Lifetime Achievement Award winner, former Best Western CEO David Kong and sessions covering people, innovation, investment and more.
IHIF, an event that Hotel Designs is a proud media partner of, takes place in Berlin on May 3 – 5.
Live roundtable: Intuitive and conscious hotel development
Taking the conversation around sustainability and conscious development to the top, Editor Hamish Kilburn, in association with HDR, delivers a roundtable discussion inside The Beaumont Hotel London, to honestly air the challenges and opportunities when it comes to design and architecture’s role in hotel development…
It’s sad that overused ‘buzzword’ terms such as ‘sustainability’ and ‘ethical design’ have become diluted in an industry that has had to battle against a greenwashing culture. For years, I have spoken to designers, architects and suppliers about their passion to design the right way, but have suffered from innovative concepts being thrown out due to them not being deemed feasible.
In 2022, though, the ability to design and develop more meaningfully has become easier, thanks to a collaborative approach adopted by the industry – or forced due to social pressures – as many start to understand the path towards a circular economy. With these real conversations filtering into all elements of hotel design and development, Hotel Designs, in association with HDR, decided to bring together a handful of interior designers, architects and a developer about to start work on a new project, to explore intuitive and conscious hotel development to understand what’s next.
Hamish Kilburn: Are conversations you’re having between designers, architects and clients more open in 2022 than they have been in previous years regarding challenges and constraints during the design process?
Mark Bruce: Absolutely, it’s very open from our experience – and that’s probably the most enjoyable element of working in the hotel design sector is the boundless collaborations, whether that be with the interior designer, the building owner, the operator, the developer and main contractor. No one person can have a great idea, and I think that most of the projects we are working on are examples of that statement, where there have been great minds at the table, with different skills and specialties, from day one.
Over the last few years, some of the projects that are arriving on the market are exceptional, and with more complexities, such as cost and sustainability incentives, that collaborative approach is required. Sometimes, there are up to 30 consultants on a project, which can only result in a positive evolution in hotel design moving forward.
Matthew Voaden: I think the difficulty we always had, working on MEP, is that we were always brought into the project too late to make any changes to the foundations. Now, though, we are having conversations at concept stages, meaning that we can ensure the solutions we put forward are achieved, especially when implementing a cradle-to-cradle philosophy.
Donovan Burn: Even in our office, we ensure that the whole team who are working on these developments – from design to operation and everything in between – sit together in order to encourage a consistent level of communication in order to discuss, early on, the challenges and to come up with solutions together.
HK: Are your clients more aware and passionate about designing consciously when it comes to sustainability and ethics when it comes to specifying products?
Jonny Sin: We can sit here and say ‘yes’ but some of the projects we are working on, sustainability is not the focal point, which is a shame, but this is the reality of the situation. It’s therefore important to respectfully push those aspirations around sustainability and ethical design forward at the beginning of the project to try and steer clients in the right direction.
Image credit: The Beaumont / ZACandZAC
MB: Depending on who your client is, it can be a challenge. However, I would say that, emotionally (taking out commercial interests), clients want to design consciously. I have worked on a few projects now where the client has approached us with perhaps not an understanding but certainly clear aspirations of what they want to attain, which is certainly a refreshing shift.
I was surprised when quite a commercially driven client was adamant for us to achieve the best we could across the board in terms of energy usage and sustainability. It turns out, she had spent the last few years home-schooling her children, and they started to ask her what she was doing with the buildings she is creating to make them thoughtful. The challenge is that everyone has the desire to make these changes, it then comes down to justifying the commercial value, and this is where engineers come in, who can prove the return; spending more money in the construction can significantly increase the full life of the building.
David Mason: There was a lot of greenwashing, at first, from hotels. Everyone now, though, is becoming savvier and there’s a greater understanding across the industry on what that greenwashing looks like. Young consumers, a new generation of travellers, want to see the eco credentials of buildings and businesses, so it’s harder to make claims without backing it up with data.
MB: In the last year, I would say, there has been an evolution among authorities. When you put in for pre-application, there will be questions where there were not before. And that has been useful for our clients to think about things like water usage and energy from day one.
Image credit: Marylebone Lane Hotel / EPR Architects
Another part, I find useful is the investors and the funders who have their own obligations in terms of what they are doing as a business to be more ethical. There are so many other pressures that are putting sustainability high up on the agenda.
Veronica Givone: All of this is much easier when approaching a new-build hotel because there are more tools available on those projects, allowing investors to be more aware of the collaborative ways and solutions put forward by designers and architects.
The problem, in my opinion, is when you approach a heritage building and there is an awareness but there is also a large cost to implement such mechanical elements. This is when we often must reach a compromise, not necessarily respecting what all parties would like, in order to satisfy the commercial aspect of the project. In my opinion, the government should stand in to influence and help developers and investors to preserve existing structures.
HK: It’s interesting, because the perception is that renovating a heritage building is more sustainable than creating a hotel in a new-build property, but that is not always the case when, much of the time, the cost to be fully sustainable in such a project is not realistic. Would you say then that there’s more of a desire, among clients, to work on new-build structures, where engineering and mechanical elements can be easily added in the foundation of the project to reduce energy and water consumption?
VG: There are more surprises along the way when designing hotels in heritage buildings. Even a project that I have been working on since 2018, which is now on site. Last year, when demolishing started, they discovered new and unexpected challenges. These discoveries impact the design, architecture as well as all the processes including mechanical and operations.
DB: As a developer, yes, new builds are easier to manage. The redevelopment side of heritage sites is the unknown – you just don’t know what you’re going to run into, and that has an adverse effect on the design and what you can and can’t do, which leads to delays.
DM: New builds allow you to look at the lifecycle of the building, which is another way to really push the sustainability agenda. We clipped an office building into a hotel and came into various challenges there due to ceiling heights and changing how the building works. More and more, now we are looking at the flexibility of a space, to understand how it could be converted in years to come.
DB: We are about to start on a new project, Dolphin Square in Pimlico. For myself, the location is great – just off the River Thames. The aim of the project is the bring it back to what it was, and there’s something unmatched about doing that. Of course, we expect to run into challenges along the way, but the site’s heritage will become its strength.
MB: From an architect’s point of view, we have a healthy balance between new-builds and heritage buildings. I agree, you must approach each one very differently. You know pretty much everything that’s happening in a new build, whereas heritage sites can lead to adversity. However, what we find is that, commercially, there are pros and cons. For example, in hotel projects sheltered inside existing buildings, the programme becomes smoother because you are not knocking a building down and starting from scratch. Don’t get me wrong, everybody wants a new build to ensure their MEP systems work beautifully, but in a heritage building you’re sometimes able to open the hotel a bit sooner. What we find with projects in the heritage buildings is that you need to have a fantastic team, full of people who know what they are doing.
Image caption: The OWO Whitehall, designed by EPR Architects, which will contain the first Raffles hotel in the UK | Image credit: Grain London
Paul Scriven: The Whole Life Carbon approach is finally driving this. Local Authorities, especially in major cities, such as London are questioning all demolition and new-build projects on a life cycle basis. The embodied carbon, measuring emissions associated with materials and construction processes throughout the whole lifecycle of a building, approach is key to the success of our planet’s future.
VG: This comes back to collaboration and open communication, which makes working on these projects more enjoyable!
JS: And, I would say, getting rid of the blame culture, so that when something comes up, everyone is working on a solution together.
HK: What innovative solutions are being used to reduce energy consumption and carbon used when designing hotels?
JS: I think it is about designing buildings with circular potential. The biggest problem here is that many materials are not suitable for reuse as they were not designed for deconstruction. An approach we always take when designing a hotel is to try and retain as much of the existing building as possible.
Take the Beaumont for example, the façade is Grade II listed which meant we had to retain it, but on the new extension to the building, a project we are currently working with HDR on, the façade is not listed, so there was no requirement to keep it. Technically, it would have been much easier to demolish and re-build, but we made a conscious decision to preserve the façade, which is significantly better for the environment.
PS: Sustainability is at the heart of the design and operation. An integrated design complete with successful delivery via a dedicated Sustainability Champion has proven successful when we are delivering projects. In addition, there’s a heavy reliance on contractors to drive the sustainable agenda especially when considering value engineering.
DM: I’ve heard some calls for sustainable consultants to be part of projects, but we need to understand first how they are measuring this to accurately understand the true data behind the sustainability credentials.
MV: We have these conversations a lot, but our job is to take the discussion into implementation. Every project we work on, we end up providing a shopping list of engineer services we can offer, but you must have the client on board and understanding. Now, I would say that we are still talking a lot more than doing, but hotels are, generally speaking, behind the curve.
DM: Commercial offices have been doing this for quite a lot longer, perhaps because they are rentable spaces, but that sector is clearly setting a benchmark.
DB: Design certainly plays more of a role in hotel development; it’s key in such a wider range than simply aesthetic. The design of anything these days needs to be flexible to accommodate our changed behaviour as consumers.
“In our corner of the industry, looking at MEP, a vast array of technologies are being used and considered.” – Paul Scriven, Energy & Sustainability Director, HDR.
MB: Clients are becoming further informed [from sectors such as commercial offices] about sustainable alternatives, when specified and considered cleverly, don’t have to cost the earth. From a hotel side, the conversation I think we are ahead of the curve on is wastage. Hotels have historically generated a huge amount of waste. Even luxury hotels in central London are having conversations between all departments about how to significantly reduce waste, and the details they are going into is inspiring.
MV: It’s a governance situation as well. In the UK, we use BREAM which looks at how buildings are constructed, but we don’t tend to use LEED, which focuses more on operational cost as well as how the building operates. Those standards have started to creep in thanks to the ESG agenda, and that will hopefully start to determine factors early in the design process to reduce carbon footprints.
PS: In our corner of the industry, looking at MEP, a vast array of technologies are being used and considered. For example, low and zero carbon technologies; mass, form and building envelope optimisation, mixed ventilation, advanced LED lighting and controls, smart rooms, adaptable ventilation, reclaim of waste and innovative heat and cooling systems.
HK: The fact that everyone is talking about this is such a leap forward. The other thing that has inspired me recently, is hearing from experts such as yourselves that no one has all the answers, yet, and only through a collaborative approach can we find solutions.
MB: That is the exciting part. We are all having these conversations much more than we were before. The learning curve that we are all on, is understanding what happens to materials in the future, which has allowed us to make much more intuitive decisions, backed by research.
Inspired by the beauty and simplicity of Japanese craftsmanship, Hilton’s first LXR Hotels & Resorts branded hotel in Asia Pacific, ROKU KYOTO, is honoured for its elegant design concept by Singapore-based interior design studio BLINK. We took a closer look at the elegant resort nestled at the foot of the Takagamine mountains in Japan…
ROKU KYOTO became Hilton’s first LXR Hotels & Resorts branded hotel in Asia Pacific when it opened its doors in autumn 2021. This luxury label is only given to the finest five-star properties in alluring locations around the world, so BLINK had a responsibility to ensure that this project showcased the spirit of the brand and the essence of its destination.
Image credit: ROKU KYOTO / BLINK / Ben Richards
Named after the time-honoured artisan tradition of paper making, ROKU KYOTO was inspired by the beauty and simplicity of Japanese craftsmanship. In line with this design ethos, BLINK strived to weave the local aesthetic into every aspect of the resort’s interiors, from the arrival lobby and pavilion-style dining area to the wooden tea lounge, the serene spa and of course, all 114 contemporary guestrooms and suites which range from 50 to 110 square metres in size and all with an inherent sense of minimalistic grace.
Image credit: ROKU KYOTO / Blink / Ben Richards
This tranquil sanctuary also blends seamlessly with its surroundings, which have influenced artists for centuries. By embracing natural materials such as bamboo and wood, and using glass walls and panoramic windows to frame breath-taking views of the forested hills and the Tenjin River from all areas of the resort, ROKU KYOTO feels at one with the environment.
“We are thrilled to win the KOHLER Bold Design Award for ROKU KYOTO, which is one of our most important projects to date,” said Clint Nagata, Founder & Creative Partner, BLINK Design Group.”As the first LXR branded resort in Asia Pacific, we knew that Hilton and the owners were seeking a one-of-a-kind design concept – a resort that would stand out from the crowd while also blending into the landscape. We took inspiration from Kyoto’s rich heritage, organic beauty and Zen philosophy to create a concept that is both authentic and elegant, while also being cutting-edge and contemporary.”
Image credit: ROKU KYOTO / Blink / Ben Richards
The Kohler Bold Design Awards is one of the most prominent design competitions for hospitality, residential and commercial property professionals in Asia Pacific. It serves as a platform to showcase the top talents in their field and the winners are selected by a jury of renowned international designers and independent experts. The ‘Travel: Resort’ award achieved by ROKU KYOTO recognises the project’s positive contribution to hospitality design and the advancement of the guest experience.
Main image credit: ROKU KYOTO / Blink / Ben Richards
James Latham launches cutting-edge digital surface specification platform
With the number of specifiers embracing online design solutions likely to grow over the next decade, James Latham, decided to meet this demand directly by digitally enhancing the selection process with the launch of its powerful new online surfacing specification tool, the Digital Showroom Platform…
James Latham, one of the UK’s leading and most forward-thinking distributors of timber, panels and decorative surfaces, has announced the launch of its powerful new online surfacing specification tool, the Digital Showroom Platform. The Digital Showroom immerses specifiers in a realistic, virtual catalogue of its decorative surfaces range where 1,400 surfaces are brought to life as hyper-realistic 3D, interactive animations.
The digital trend was recently evidenced in NBS’ Digital Construction Report 2021 , which found almost 70per cent of specifiers are now predominantly using digital tools for design tasks, particularly product selection. Following two years of in-depth audience research and back-end development, Latham’s Digital Showroom is directly responding to the architectural and design community’s rapid move to online channels for material selection. Significantly, the platform offers exploration, selection, sampling and direct engagement with Latham’s expert design consultants, all in one location.
“For over 260 years, we’ve prided ourselves on pioneering the very latest innovations to meet the requirements of our customers, enhancing their work and enabling them to deliver exceptional results,” said Andrew Wright, Managing Director at James Latham. “Part of this is continual engagement with our various audiences, understanding their unique challenges and how we can provide the solutions.”
Image credit: James Latham
Latham’s Digital Showroom takes the selection experience to the next level, offering the same experience of visiting a physical showroom, and more. Developed specifically for specifiers, it allows for maximum creativity, enabling users to mix and match almost any scheme, style or palate. Furthermore, with access to hyper-realistic, interactive 3D models of over 1,400 of the distributor’s surfaces and finishes it will take the user on an intuitive journey, to explore every surfacing possibility across a single, or multiple, projects.
Users will initially be greeted by a user-friendly selection process, broken down into three alternative paths: a Guided Search – refining products by intended use (e.g. kitchen worktop), type (e.g. laminate), colour and finish, a Visual Search – users can scroll through a wide range of decors and then click to view a curated selection of products similar to the chosen theme, and a Quick Find – users can go straight in, building a custom search using a wide range of descriptor tags to hone down a specific product type or brand. Once a preferred surface has been selected, the user is taken to a dedicated page where they can see the material, colour and finish expertly rendered, as mentioned above, in a realistic, interactive 3D animation. The selected product can be viewed from any angle, under a number of lighting conditions to get an authentic impression of texture or grain. Most importantly, in an increasingly remote-working landscape, specifiers can do all this from any location, at a time which suits them, helping them meet the project brief through seamless, painless material selection. In the evolving age of online specification, the Digital Showroom is bringing James Latham, and its extensive collection of premium surfacing brands as close to the architectural, design and fit-out community as possible.
Despite the wholesale move to digital, James Latham’s market research found specifiers were still keen to receive a similar experience to the physical showroom in an online iteration. As such, beyond the presentation of the distributor’s decorative brand portfolio and its user-friendly sampling service, the Digital Showroom also offers a facility to directly engage with James Latham’s dedicated team of surfacing consultants remotely. Following sample ordering, users will have the opportunity to book a virtual meeting, with a showroom manager, with time slots designed to fit around the busiest schedule. Here specifiers can discuss the samples and their properties with an expert who can advise on the perfect choice, whatever the brief.
Adding further value to the experience, the Digital Showroom also offers regular updates on news and events as well as a compendium of its entire bank of CPD seminars, covering all manner of surface design and specification topics. The Digital Showroom complements James Latham’s suite of powerful assets including its technical information hub, NBS Source integration, CPD seminars and Carbon Calculator, as well as its physical depots and showrooms.
James Latham 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.
5 minutes with: Eric Jafari, CDO & Creative Director at edyn
With IHIF currently taking place in Berlin, Hotel Designs took the opportunity to catch up with Eric Jafari on a slightly less formal note, looking beyond the brand in a quick-fire round of questions…
Eric Jafari along with edyn, has made an indelible and undeniable mark on the hospitality and hotel design scene, with a strong design message and a mission of connectivity and locality. With IHIF providing the more serious backdrop, Jafari will be taking the knowledge and insight from his experience in building brands under the edyn banner to the stage, in the Pitch your Brand panel discussion. In the meantime, this quick-fire conversation was more personal than pitch, and kicked off with a ‘where in the world’ question that led seamlessly into a paradigm shift!
Hotel Designs: If you had to live anywhere in the world – excluding where you live now – for one year, where would it be?
Eric Jafari: I love London and would always pick it, but if London is off the cards, I’d pick Tokyo. I have never been, but I have discovered that the more foreign the environment, the greater my personal evolution. I recognise that for many, one would assume somewhere sunny and tropical but with respect to where I am currently in my personal journey in life, I am more concerned with personal growth than I am in escapism. I am interested in having my paradigm challenged. I have read a fair bit on Japanese culture / design and the premise of ‘ikagai’ and I’m interested in exploring this first-hand over an extended period of time. I would try to summarise what this means but couldn’t do it justice. For readers that are interested, feel free to look it up!
I would also love for my British kids to be immersed in a completely foreign culture like Japanese one. It would be incredibly formative for them.
Image credit: edyn
HD: Biggest bugbear when checking in to a hotel?
EJ: I have many: music, food, design, etc. If I had to pick one, it would be a soulless experience. When I visit a city, I want a hotel that reflects the essence of that locality. I don’t want a cookie-cutter replica of an experience that I have had elsewhere. Staying in a hotel abroad, even for business, is an opportunity for me to be exposed to something different, something foreign, something beautiful – maybe even something uncomfortable.
Anything but bland and predictable.
Image credit: edyn
HD: Where in the world would you like to open a hotel, if budgets/planning was not an issue?
EJ: It would be in Marrakech, Morocco. Marrakech is a sensory wonderland steeped in culture, beauty and history and yet seems to be missing the type of lifestyle resort that one would expect there to be. Gypset hot spots such as Tulum and Mykonos have drawn a considerable amount of design inspiration from Morocco and yet Morocco appears to lack a comparable experience of its own. I would love to one day take my learnings from Locke, birch and my travels abroad and incorporate them all into an immersive lifestyle ecosystem that connects the urban traveller with Moroccan magic. I am hopeful that it’s only a matter of time before this happens.
Image credit: edyn
HD: What was your first ever job?
EJ: My first real job was selling books door to door to put myself through university. During my summers in university, I worked 80-hour weeks to save enough money to take fall quarter off so that I could go backpacking across a foreign part of the world. It was an incredible experience because I was relocated with other college kids to a different US state (often somewhere rural) and exposed to a different way of life than that to which I was accustomed. I came to the quick realisation that my reality was not everyone’s reality and that one’s setting defined one’s outlook – and that many were prisoners to this outlook without realising it.
By contrasting this foreign setting (in the US) with the foreign settings (China, Peru, etc.) that I was exposed to whilst backpacking abroad, I found that I learned just as much through my work and travels as I did in university – if not more so.
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With Locke Hotels falling into the edyn brand portfolio, Hotel Designs is excited to be hosting MEET UP North, at Whitworth Locke in the heart of Manchester on May 19, 2022. The theme of the event will be ‘development in the North’ in line with the Manchester – and other Northern hotspots, such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Leeds and Birmingham – being hives of hotel development.
The Twenty Two opens its doors on Grosvenor square
Located on Grosvenor Square, The Twenty Two with the help of designer Natalia Miyar Atelier, has reimagined an Edwardian manor and transformed it into a Westside hideaway for the creative and the curious – here’s what we know…
The position of The Twenty Two plays an integral role in the property’s spirit and philosophy. Sitting on the corner of North Audley Street and Grosvenor Square, the hotel is located in one of London’s most central spots, effortlessly becoming a half-way meeting point for East and West London. With an all-day restaurant and private members’ club being part of the destination on Grosvenor Square, speaking to the brand’s core ethos, the hotel aims to become London’s living room for both local residents and international guests alike.
Image credit: The Twenty Two
Drawn to the Parisian feel of the building’s exterior, proprietor Navid Mirtorabi’s realisation of the project began six years prior to opening and has been the driving force for the creative vision from the outset. Mirtorabi chose to partner with Natalia Miyar Atelier to bring his vision to life, on what will be her first hotel. They looked to 18th century classical French design to inspire the property’s interior, reinterpreted for the modern-day through rich, playful textures and custom upholstered pieces. This has influenced choices at every level; minor details such as gold fringing and velvet piping to statements like bevelled mirrors that dance with both gleaming natural daylight and warm reflections in the evening glow.
Image credit: The Twenty Two
“My ambition for The Twenty Two was to create a space where the creative and the curious, in London and globally, can come together and feel welcome; a living room of sorts where guests feel inspired and at home in their surroundings.” said Navid Mirtorabi, Proprietor of The Twenty Two.
Image credit: The Twenty Two
The Restaurant, open to the public, presents an all-day menu of British classics with a Mediterranean twist, spearheaded by Executive Chef Alan Christie, previously of Arbutus and restaurant group Picture. Christie has developed breakfast dishes to be an interpretation of modern-day classics as well as lunch and dinner menus that will change seasonally and feature a variety of dishes, boasting of the best seasonal produce.
“I wanted to create a restaurant where the menus flow harmoniously from breakfast to lunch to dinner,” said Alan Christie, Executive Chef at The Twenty Two. “A menu made up of dishes that evoke a subtle, comforting familiarity, some light and fresh, some indulgent, but all executed to the highest standards and with the best quality, seasonal ingredients.”
The private space of The Club is split across the ground and lower ground floor and features four exclusive spaces, reserved for patrons and hotel guests only: The Living Room and outdoor terrace overlooking Grosvenor Square, The Dining Room, The Music Room and The Vault Bar.
“Our vision is to instil a more playful side to Mayfair,” said Darius Namdar, Managing Director. “We want everyone who passes through The Twenty Two to experience exceptional service, be greeted with a smile and, most importantly, feel welcome and accepted, whilst enjoying the best hospitality London has to offer.”
Image credit: The Twenty Two
In addition to the public restaurant and private club spaces, the beautifully designed and reimagined Edwardian Manor shelters 31 guestrooms and suites, including a Mews house. With its design for the creative and the curious, and inventive mix of public and private spaces, The Twenty Two looks set to make its mark on the burgeoning boutique scene in London as it opens its doors as a new luxury lifestyle destination.
Exclusive report: circadian lighting and its effects in design
The latest Hotel Designs LAB report, sponsored by Franklite and powered by Arigami, explores circadian science and recent technologies that are enabling a new chapter in wellness and hospitality…
Hotel Designs has released a report that contains an investigation into the positive wellness qualities of circadian lighting. The 14-page document, entitled Circadian Lighting Design, includes analysis and comments from leading experts from in and outside the parameters of hotel design and hospitality.
The contributors were Professor Charles Ceizler from Harvard University; Ari Perala, Founder of Arigami; Paul Robinson, Project Manager at Franklite, Wojciech Miiller, Laboratory and Technical Supervisor at Franklite; Dr Helga Schmid, Author and Founder of Uchronia and artists Sara Bozzini and David Kepron.
The research looks into how colour temperature can be used in hospitality settings to improve moods, increase or decrease energy and optimise sleep performance. In addition, the study highlights the latest technology in lighting design and LED testing. Decorative lighting brand Franklite, which won Best in Tech at The Brit List Awards 2021, contributed to the research, publishing its knowledge on tunable lighting, while also allowing researchers to explore the brand’s very own in-house testing equipment.
Read the full report here:
Driven by science and new research, the aim of the report is to offer interior designers, architects, hoteliers, technologists and hospitality brands the confidence to include circadian lighting in their designs. Using several lighting case studies and examples of ‘next-level design thinking’ around the wellness benefits of circadian lighting, the research is intended to be a meaningful resource that will help the industry steer itself forward as wellness mega trends evolve.
Franklite 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 – and/or sponsoring a wellness report, please email Katy Phillips.
That philoxenia feeling: checking in to xenodocheio Milos
xenodocheio Milos has opened as the first luxury boutique hotel falling under the banner of renowned Greek restaurant, estiatorio Milos. The 43-key hotel, in the centre of Athens, has taken the brand’s baton as it prepares to carry the inspiring Milos story into its next chapter…
You cannot escape history when in Athens – as you walk through the city, your path is punctuated by small yet perfectly formed churches and cobbled pavements, not to mention the odd slightly weathered-looking Doric column. But what is also evident is that there is a lot more to Athens than the Acropolis as the city displays a vibrant combination of the traditional and the contemporary. It is this unique mix of local and international, simplicity and luxury, traditional and contemporary that the architects and designers of the recently opened xenodocheio Milos explored at every level. Following its arrival, the hotel invited Hotel Designs to step inside and enjoy a curated and well-designed Athenian ‘home from home’ experience.
The thread running through the brand ethos as well as the hotel design is the concept of philoxenia – the sacred art of making a stranger feel at home – and it is the attention to detail and individuality within each space that allows for a personalised experience, which surely is the ultimate luxury. By embracing the neo-classical bones of the original structure, and then layering elements of design that both reflect and elevate the location, the designers have translated the estiatorio Milos philosophy from the menu onto the moodboard, making for a cohesive experience throughout both the hotel and the restaurant as a destination.
Image credit: xenodocheio Milos
With Syntagma square to the side and the Acropolis on the horizon, xenodocheio Milos has made its mark on what is arguably the perfect city-centre location. And it’s not all ancient history. The hotel is within striking distance of a thriving contemporary cultural scene with more than its fair share of boutiques and galleries – not to mention a fabulous Greek pastry shop that was irresistible despite a hearty hotel breakfast – that is fast making Athens a designer destination.
It is this comfortable juxtaposition of the ancient and the modern that has been translated by the architecture studios A1 Architects and Divercity Architects from the facade of the hotel though to the layers and lighting within. With a footprint spanning two sympathetically restored buildings, the gap between the buildings is bridged with a subtle, contemporary glass fronted structure. This design reference is again replicated on the additional floors, and makes a reflective statement of its own.
Image credit: xenodocheio Milos
There is a boutique intimacy from the moment you walk in, and that concept of Greek philoxenia that is again becomes apparent. Journeying out of reception, a space punctuated by bold graphic splashes of blue and understated design, and into the 43-key hotel, your journey through the hotel is directed by contrasting levels of light. From the double volume of the entrance and the restaurant both with dramatic statement lighting, to the more cocooning and subdued passageways which finally open into guestrooms filled with natural light. All the guestrooms have been designed facing onto the front of the building to maximise the natural light of the city, and as you step out of the public space into the privacy of the room you are greeted by the sunshine which not only lights the room and but shifts design gears throughout the day.
Image credit: xenodocheio Milos
Image credit: xenodocheio Milos
With interiors by Divercity Architects and Carole Topin, the guestrooms and suites all reference the location primarily through the use of materials, championing locally sourced marble and wood. While the colours of the Aegean inform the palette, the minimal lines avoid any cliches. Again it is about juxtaposition; simplicity and luxury, minimalism and comfort through attention to detail. Detail which extends to the individuality of all guestrooms and suites, each with its own configuration and flavour.
Image credit: xenodocheio Milos
There is an inherent generosity in the design – the underlying feeling of the entire xenodocheio Milos experience is that it is about optimising space and comfort rather than room numbers. You can walk into the shower – beautifully clad in the locally sourced white Dionysus marble – with room to dance, should that be your thing. In contrast, the guestrooms are full of bespoke textures and the warmth of wood. The classic lines of the Greek oak table in the room allows for workspace, if you insist, but it is also the perfect place for a private dinner along with a lighting setting that provides restaurant ambiance in the privacy of your room.
Again lighting is a key feature running through the room design with an inordinate attention to detail, from task to ambient through to statement feature lights ensuring that guests can easily – functionality being key to good design – apply mascara, read a book, or sip on a glass of Greek wine!
Image credit: xenodocheio Milos
In addition to the 43 guestrooms, the hotel shelters a spa and a fitness centre, both of which deliver the quality and understated luxury that fits seamlessly with the rest of the design. The spa provides a restorative respite after a day in the city, and rather than being about trends or wellness gimmicks, is about the power of the personal interaction in combination with locally sourced product and attention to detail.
In addition there are private spaces both within the hotel and on the terrace for events and meeting should guests require. A private dining space on the mezzanine level of the restaurant is on the agenda, where guests will be able to enjoy both the privacy of the space along with the trademark Estiatorio ambiance.
Image credit: xenodocheio Milos
Having explored the city and restored the body, it is time to feed the soul in what is essentially the design axis of this hotel as xenodocheio Milos has positioned itself as a gastronomic hotel experience in the heart of Athens, with the ground floor and mezzanine home to the newest fine dining destination restaurant in the estiatorio Milos portfolio. With restaurants in seven locations spread across two continents, chef Costas Spiliadis’ culinary legacy has returned to its roots in Athens, and with its focus on culinary excellence, unparalleled service and premium Greek wines, guests are in for truly authentic epicurean adventure at this luxury destination in downtown Athens.
Image credit: Image credit: xenodocheio Milos
The light and the volume of the design underpinning the restaurant makes a strong statement, paired with a unique design narrative where the values of hospitality, authenticity, and precision are celebrated. The space has been designed to hero the food, a beautifully designed backdrop for the simple yet extraordinary gastronomy to excel. Again lighting is integral to the design, with a combination of strong statement and natural light bouncing off the white reflective surfaces and textures. On entering the restaurant your eyes are immediately drawn up to the bespoke ceiling artwork by the Greek sculptor Dimitris Fortsas – always look up!
Image credit: xenodocheio Milos
Image credit: xenodocheio Milos
Inspired by the timeless minimalism of the Cycladic art and the lightness and rhythm of the harp, a sculptural staircase – a key feature designed by Divercity Architects, links the ground floor to the mezzanine. The grandeur of the height, the strength of the architecture all in combination with that white on white palette clearly references the historical architecture of Greece while allowing the food and inimitable xenodocheio service to be the hero.
Image credit: xenodocheio Milos
xenodocheio Milos has opened its boutique doors onto what can only be described as a burgeoning boutique scene in the city – Athens is coming out of a period of financial crisis which was swiftly followed by the pandemic, but is emerging from all of that as a creative power with a vibrant design culture. It is a city that is standing up and getting noticed as a destination rather than a stop over to a designer island holiday. It is within this ongoing narrative of the boutique hotel scene in the city that xenodocheio Milos is making a bold statement – one that is all about considered luxury, about embracing the whole while elevating the elements, it is about creating that Athenian home-from-home imbued with the spirit of philoxenia..
Jumeirah Group has further expanded its international portfolio with the debut of its first stunning, contemporary resort in Indonesia. We stepped inside Jumeirah Bali for a closer look…
World famous for its captivating beauty, Bali is often referred to as the last paradise on earth due to its breathtaking natural surroundings, and now Jumeirah Bali has opened its doors, inviting guests to experience its tropical modernism amid lush greenery and exquisite Indian Ocean vistas. Located in the Pecatu region at the south-west of Bali, the all-villa luxury resort sits gracefully on the beach area of Uluwatu – one of the most coveted locations on the island. Inspired by Hindu-Javanese culture, the spectacular resort provides an unsurpassed destination for anyone seeking to reconnect and find inner balance, while soaking in the stunning natural surroundings.
Image credit: Jumeirah Group
Sheltering spacious villas perched atop the limestone cliffs, the resort offers 123 villas in one- and two-bedroom configurations, as well as a four-bedroom Royal Water Palace, all featuring sublime tropical views of the Indian Ocean and mesmerising lush green natural beauty of Bali. Each villa features a private pool and outdoor living area with an open pavilion overlooking the sunset horizon or a landscaped tropical garden for guests to indulge in a spiritual, secluded, and soulful experience. The resort also provides guests with exclusive access to a private beach framed by the natural landscape offering a quiet enclave to relax.
Image credit: Jumeirah Group
Reminiscent of Geoffrey Bawa’s ‘tropical modernism’ style, Jumeirah Bali’s indoor-outdoor architecture is designed to create a seamless flow between the architecture, interior, and landscape, blending indigenous building materials with contemporary and luxurious comfort, to transport guests to an authentic Balinese haven of understated elegance with an opulent touch.
Building on Jumeirah Group’s reputation for providing exceptional dining experiences, guests can indulge in three signature restaurants and bars overseen by Master Chef Vincent Leroux, each offering awe-inspiring views across the island’s crystal blue waters and sunset panoramas. Hugging the dramatic terrain, again with those views, is Akasa Gastro Grill which is scheduled to open in June, and will present guests with a unique culinary experience using ancient cooking methods and techniques. A resident DJ and specialist Mixologist complete the scene, providing the perfect spot to relax and enjoy those spectacular sunsets over delicious creations. Located on the ocean front, all-day dining spot Segaran focusses on Balinese and South-East Asian cuisine with a ‘farm to table’ philosophy. Finally, Maja Sunset Pool Lounge will serve as an ideal evening spot to enjoy an end of day cocktail by one of the infinity pools overlooking the vast ocean.
Image credit: Jumeirah Group
With an array of wellness activities to help guests on their quest to find inner-balance, Jumeirah Bali will also welcome Jumeirah’s award-winning Talise Spa. Currently the resort has two private treatment rooms in operation and will be launching the full spa experience, complete with the only traditional Turkish hammam on the island, in July. Talise Spa offers world-class treatments by expert spa therapists, including holistic facials, healing and energising massages, cleansing scrub treatments, and stress-release therapies based on ancient Balinese techniques and traditional herbal preparations.
Guests can also choose to participate in guided meditation and Yoga classes for an all-encompassing holistic retreat hosted by Jumeirah Bali’s resident Master Yogi, utilise the modern fitness centre or enjoy invigorating hiking experiences to immerse themselves in the splendid natural surroundings.
Jumeirah Bali is committed to sustainable practices, featuring the most advanced desalination system in the world. The resort also supports the local community through the Jumeirah Uluwatu Foundation, dedicated to the wellbeing of the Balinese people.
Silversea Cruises has unveiled the latest insight on its fleet’s 11th ship, Silver Nova – scheduled for delivery in 2023 – and built with a revolutionary asymmetrical design…
The asymmetrical design of Silver Nova will be a first for the cruise line, with the ship offering guests a new level of outdoor space for an unprecedented openness to the destination. This, along with a reimagined and outward-facing pool deck, an al fresco dining area and a sky bar that offers panoramic views from the ship’s aft, takes cruise ship design up a notch.
“Silver Nova represents the next iteration of Silversea’s unique take on luxury, with an entirely new design approach that will enhance our guests’ cruise experience,” said Roberto Martinoli, Silversea’s President and CEO. “With her outward-facing, asymmetrical layout and her all-new outdoor venues, Silver Nova will offer our guests a brand new way to connect and engage with each destination. Moreover, with her groundbreaking environmental credentials, Silver Nova will strengthen our position at the forefront of sustainable cruise travel.”
Image credit: Silversea Cruises
The Pool Deck on decks 10 and 11 will be the primary outdoor areas in which guests can relax, refresh and socialise, with ample space for the 280 sunbeds. The horseshoe-shaped pool area will occupy a generous space on the starboard side of the ship, giving unobstructed views onto the destination from the swimming pool, the adjacent pool bar, and the sunbathing areas. At 130 square metres, the main pool is larger than any previous ships, and is reimagined with a new layout, wide entrance steps, and more shallow waters in which guests can sit. Deck 10’s pool bar offers a centralised hub for socialising, day and night. Silver Nova’s uppermost level, deck 11 forms an amphitheatre-shaped structure with the deck below and will offer guests a quieter, more intimate space for relaxing, again with expansive views over the destination and out to sea. At its centre, overlooking the ship’s port side, extends an all-new infinity edge whirlpool, aptly named The Cliff Whirlpool.
Image credit: Silversea Cruises
The design includes the introduction of two new food and drinks venues on deck 10. The Marquee is the first of the pair, positioned towards the ship’s aft on the port side and enjoying views out to sea. The al fresco dining venue will welcome up to 220 guests, incorporating The Grill and Spaccanapoli, two of Silversea’s existing signature venues which offer guests the cruise line’s trademark ‘hot rocks’ culinary concept and arguably the best pizza at sea, respectively. Due to its proximity to the swimming pool, The Marquee will welcome guests in a relaxed atmosphere, serving casual fare by day and offering dinner under the stars by night.
The second of the two new food and drinks venues, The Dusk Bar is a brand new open-air sky bar that provides an elegant space for up to 70 guests to enjoy a drink, with 270-degree panoramic views from Silver Nova’s stern.
Image credit: Silversea Cruises
Among her eight dining venues, Silver Nova will offer guests a selection of Silversea’s signature restaurants on decks three and four, albeit enlarged and reimagined with enhanced designs. The largest of the restaurants, La Terrazza will seat 340 guests and will feature a vibrant new colour palette. Floor-to-ceiling windows will surround the restaurant’s interior space, offering dramatic views to connect diners with the destination, while its outdoor terrace will be larger than ever. A guest favourite, Atlantide will seat 270 guests on deck three as the ship’s second largest restaurant, complete with a new interior design. Silversea’s signature French restaurant, La Dame, will be more spacious than ever on deck four, with an enlarged capacity for 70 diners and higher ceilings. Taking inspiration from the world’s best sushi restaurants, Kaiseki will maintain its minimalist, sophisticated aesthetic, welcoming up to 40 guests on deck four. More information on Silver Nova’s extensive culinary offering will be released soon.
As well as incorporating a new design approach for the industry’s leading cruise line, Silver Nova will push boundaries in ultra-luxury cruise travel with pioneering sustainability credentials. She is set to become the world’s first low-emissions cruise ship with advanced hybrid technology that utilises fuel cells, emitting zero harmful emissions while in port, which is an industry first.
With Greece continuing to lead the pack when it comes to hotel openings this month, May sees the full range of hospitality offerings; from bijoux island resorts to boutique city getaways, along with an impressive Frank Gehry designed multi functional development in Los Angeles…
As summer feels tantalisingly close, it is difficult not to be distracted and focus entirely on sun loungers and sand, but looking beyond that particular horizon, there remains a lot of movement on the boards with new openings, seasonal openings and re-openings. Having identified some key trends in the industry earlier this month when discussing the changing shape of public areas, the importance of making an independent and unique design statement, even within an umbrella brand identity, is clearly born out in this months offerings.
Lesante Cape – Zante, Greece
Image credit: Lesante Cape
Shining a luxurious spotlight on the isle of Zakynthos, Lesante Cape is located within the historic Akrotiri village, yet uniquely with access to a private beach. The village-style resort will comprise 55 suites and 10 villas inspired by the traditional architecture of yesteryear, whilst neutral colours, natural fibres and local art will be at the heart of the soothing interiors. Sheltering three restaurants headed by Greek culinary marvel Aggelos Bakopoulos, the resort promises to be a culinary destination as much as an island retreat. For those who are seeking complete tranquillity during their holiday, Armonia wellness centre will provide a relaxing refuge for treatments and therapies harking back to ancient Mediterranean healing practices, whilst a dedicated Agora is the heart of the village with its artisanal shops, taverna and cultural museum.
WunderLocke – Sendling, Munich
Image credit: Locke Hotels
Opening with the aim to disrupt the Bavarian capital with a hospitality concept unlike any other in the city, WunderLocke will feature 360 spacious studio apartments, a large co-working area, meeting and event spaces, workout studio and outdoor heated swimming pool. In addition, the hotel will shelter four food and drink destinations conceived by the founders of revered local Michelin-starred restaurant, Mural. The new concept – Mural Farmhouse – will include an urban farm that will supply fresh herbs and vegetables to a farm-to-table concept, and rooftop cocktail bar with panoramic views of the Bavarian Alps.
WunderLocke will be a destination for locals, holidaymakers, and business travellers alike, providing a new creative hub in South-West Munich for the city’s burgeoning undercurrent of artists, creatives, and tech entrepreneurs. The hotel has been designed by acclaimed studio Holloway Li, which also completed Bermonds Locke in London, in September 2020.
Conrad Los Angeles – Los Angeles, California, USA
Image credit: Conrad Hotels & Resorts
The new Conrad Los Angeles will be part of Related Companies’ mixed-use development, The Grand LA, designed by Frank Gehry, and located in downtown Los Angeles. Expanding the Conrad portfolio in America, The Conrad Los Angeles will be stamping its designer footprint within The Grand LA – located in the heart of Grand Ave. Arts, this multi-functional mixed use development is set to become a paradigm-shifting place to live, stay and visit.
The Grand LA will include more than 5,000 square metres of retail and dining space, more than 400 residences and a large, vibrant public plaza with a series of landscaped, open terraces that will host free arts programming throughout the year, including live concerts. The 28-storey hotel will shelter 305 contemporary guestrooms with bold design, as well as a spa, elevated indoor/outdoor lobby with sweeping views of the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a 16,000 square foot rooftop terrace complete with a private pool deck overlooking downtown LA.
Aman New York – New York, USA
Bar & Terrace
Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy, Aman New York celebrates Aman’s philosophy of creating sanctuaries beyond commonplace notions of luxury, whilst paying homage to the building’s striking architecture and significant history.The hotel will shelter 83 guestrooms, as well as restaurants, a garden terrace and bar with 7000 square feet of outdoor dining space, private members club, three-floor Aman Spa, Jazz Club and Wine Room.
Housed in The Crown Building, a landmark in Manhatten since 1921 – and formerly the first home of Museum of Modern Art – the building has undergone a monumental transformation, which has seen it fully restored to its original splendour and imbued with the spirit of Aman.
Nous, Santorini – Santorini, Greece
Nous Santorini is a luxury resort hotel with unique character which is expressed through both the interior design and exterior landscape, which blends the island’s history with contemporary flair. It aims to be a move away from mass and speed, towards space, experiences, connections and slowness. It also marks the first move out of the city and onto the islands for YES! Hotels, and will showcase what has become the brands trademark boundary pushing design in which art plays a pivotal role. While the design is in a large part inspired by the local landscape and ancient culture, it will include bespoke art from contemporary artists. At Nous Santorini, design and luxury is about creating a contextual experience for guests by embracing and presenting the local topography, produce, arts and culture. The design draws on local architectural genres with the suites built in a characteristic staggered style which fits seamlessly into the local landscape.
ON Residence Hotel – Thessaloniki, Greece
The lights at the historic Olympos Naoussa have been turned back on as Thessaloniki welcomes, not only a legendary restaurant that brings back the glamour of a bygone era, but also a unique hotel that aims to redefine luxury hospitality in Greece’s co-capital. A true seafront jewel in the heart of the city, with unobstructed views of Thermaikos bay, ON Residence marks a new chapter for the TOR Hotel Group, one of Greece’s most established hospitality firms, operating since 1925. The iconic restaurant, Olympos Naoussa, was the heart of Thessaloniki’s jet-setting society for decades, acting as a favourite hangout for celebrities and politicians such as former prime ministers George Papandreou and Constantine Karamanlis, Giscard d’Estaing and many more, until its closure in the mid-90s.
“Now, Olympos Naoussa returns to the city of Thessaloniki. Our vision to revive the historic restaurant, and together with the Tornivoukas family, to create a hotel destination of unparalleled beauty and a high level of service is close to completion,” said George Chryssikos, CEO of Grivalia. “We are certain that all visitors will love and embrace it, as we did from the first moment.”
Six Senses Loire Valley, France
Image credit: Six Senses Hotels & Resorts
Just more than a 90-minute drive south of Paris is the breathtaking Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage region renowned for historic chateaux, medieval towns, fine wines, great food and unspoiled landscape. At the heart of the region sits the village of Saint-Laurent-Nouan, which will be home to Six Senses Loire Valley. Made up of 88 guest suites and villas, accommodations are clustered as enclaves in the woodland landscape and built alongside streams and waterways. In addition, provision is being made for 70 residential villas, which will be offered for private ownership.
With both food and wellness being key to the brand, a Six Senses Spa will be an integral part of the resort and in addition to the menu of signature specialties, this is also the setting for a medicinal garden where plants and herbs will be grown for inclusion in locally-inspired treatments and Alchemy Bar workshops. Adjoining this will be the main organic kitchen garden and Earth Lab, the centre for guests to learn about the resort’s conservation initiatives.
Jumeirah Bali
Image credit: Jumeirah Bali
The Jumeirah Group has announced the opening of this all-villa luxury resort, Jumeirah Bali, located in the stunning Pecatu region at the south-west of Bali. The resort sits gracefully on the beach area of Uluwatu – one of the most coveted locations on the island. Inspired by Hindu-Javanese culture, the spacious villas perch on the limestone cliffs, all overlooking a private beach framed by the natural landscape. The resort shelters 123 villas in one- and two-bedroom configurations, as well as a four-bedroom Royal Water Palace, all featuring inspired tropical views of the Indian Ocean and the mesmerising lush green natural beauty of Bali. Each villa features a private pool and outdoor living area with an open pavilion overlooking the sunset horizon or a landscaped tropical garden.
Reminiscent of Geoffrey Bawa’s ‘tropical modernism’ style, Jumeirah Bali’s indoor-outdoor architecture is designed to create a seamless flow between the architecture, interior, and landscape, blending indigenous building materials with contemporary and luxurious comfort, to transport guests to an authentic Balinese haven of understated elegance with an opulent touch.
The Twenty Two
Image credit: The Twenty Two
Sitting on the corner of North Audley Street and Grosvenor Square, the hotel is located in one of London’s most central spots, effortlessly becoming a half-way meeting point for East and West London. With an all-day restaurant and private members’ club being part of the destination on Grosvenor Square, speaking to the brand’s core ethos, the hotel aims to become London’s living room for both local residents and international guests alike.
Drawn to the Parisian feel of the building’s exterior, proprietor Navid Mirtorabi’s realisation of the project began six years prior to opening and has been the driving force for the creative vision from the outset. Mirtorabi chose to partner with Natalia Miyar Atelier to bring his vision to life, on what will be her first hotel. They looked to 18th century classical French design to inspire the property’s interior, reinterpreted for the modern-day through rich, playful textures and custom upholstered pieces.In addition to the public restaurant and private club spaces, the beautifully designed and reimagined Edwardian Manor shelters 31 guestrooms and suites, including a Mews house. With its design for the creative and the curious, and inventive mix of public and private spaces, The Twenty Two looks set to make its mark on the burgeoning boutique scene in London as it opens its doors as a new luxury lifestyle destination.
And finally for the month of May, having started this list in Greece it feels appropriate to head back there with the final offering on our list of VIP openings…
Casa Cook Samos, Greece
Image credit: Casa Cook Samos
Casa Cook Samos is the newest hotel to join the Casa Cook collection. This 128 guestroom adults-only retreat, will offer the Casa Cook trademark laid-back luxury in one of the Mediterranean’s most historically-rich surroundings. Inspired by traditional Greek houses, or Kamares, found in Samian villages, the architecture is down-to-earth and inclusive. The historic concept of a Grecian village has been embodied in the modern space, where the hotel’s infinite swimming pools act as the town centre of each small ‘neighbourhood’ within the hotel.
The earthy textures and colours that make up the space are inspired by the local land and its organic elements: the abundant greenery echoes the island’s fertile vegetation with palms, pines, agave and wild olive trees; while the endless pools of water throughout mimic the landscape’s countless waterfalls, rivers and shores. Natural, unrefined tones from local leather, wood and stone melt into more contemporary elements like smooth terrazzo to create a modern-luxe space that is still an ode to the land’s roots.
Since you’re here…
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UNILIN Panels continues to add both new designs and improved delivery options,ensuring that the HPL collection and MFC range can be accessed with ease…
UNILIN continues to provide furniture manufacturers and fit-out companies with surfaces suitable for both horizontal and vertical applications. The versatile collection offers a fine mix of natural and contemporary looks, ranging from the strikingly authentic Master Oak, through to the daring new Weave design, with a perfectly on-trend suite of Unicolours included along the way.
“The UNILIN Decorative Range offers furniture producers, fit-out specialists and interior designers an unrivalled depth of offer,” said John Bradley, UNILIN Panels. “Whatever the project in hand, there’s plenty of scope to create interior spaces which are beautiful yet innovative, with long-lasting and hardwearing surfaces. Through Panelco, we’re ensuring that this great looking collection can be accessed with ease, backed by the excellent customer service of one of the UK’s best panel suppliers.”
Panelco provides next day delivery and a range of services including bespoke machining and quick and easy samples. Through a fleet of over 50 vehicles and a centrally located 1,000,000ft2 warehouse in Stoke on Trent, it serves customers right across the UK.
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.
With the industry-leading event the International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) taking place in Berlin on May 3-5, the countdown to IHIF 2022 starts, and we give the lowdown on the key areas being covered by the event…
With a core focus of people, planet and profit, this year’s conference brings together forward-thinking investors, owners and developers from over 80 countries to discuss hospitality’s current state. With this as a framework, there are five key areas being covered by the event.
“Our powerful programme of events, talks, discussions and networking opportunities is all set to be delivered at IHIF 2022,” said Alexi Khajavi, Group President, Questex Travel and Hospitality. “I am thrilled to be welcoming hospitality professionals from around the globe to communicate and learn and I know that our delegates and supporters are equally excited about attending what will be a valuable experience for all.”
Take it from the top: IHIF is the place to meet and hear from hospitality’s global leaders. Find out what makes them tick, the major trends they’re watching and the challenges they face in unmissable sessions, including The Big Conversation: Experience, Innovation, Profit with Accor Chairman and CEO Sebastien Bazin on Thursday 5 May, and How to Break All the Old Rules with Lifelong Hotelier David Bowd, Founder and Chief Executive of Salt Hotels on Wednesday 4 May. Later that day, hear from Federico J. González Tejera of Radisson Hotel Group, Dillip Rajakarier of Minor International and Larry Cuculic of Best Western in CEO Panel: Leadership for the Future.
Help solve the skills crisis: With hospitality in the midst of a talent shortage and ‘people’ one of the core themes for IHIF this year, it will be tackling the challenges head on through the session The People Issue: Addressing the Talent Shortage on Thursday 5 May.
“I am looking forward to a fruitful discussion on how the sector can make itself more appealing as a career choice to people, including what is needed from the industry in terms of education, training, and other in-work benefits,” said Dimitris Manikis, President for Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa (EMEA) at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, who will speak with Mark Essex from KPMG, Andrea Belfanti from ISHC, Chris Mumford from Cervus Leadership Consulting and Laura Benoumechiara of Louvre Hotels Group.
Get the inside track: Learn about the latest hotel opening and innovations from around the industry from those implementing them. New hotel management agreements being signed at IHIF include Yiti Nikki Beach Resort, Four Seasons Muscat and YOTEL Lisbon. Meliá Hotels International will also be talking about its recent openings in Vietnam and its new Gran Meliá luxury hotel, Villa Le Blanc in Menorca while aparthotel operator YAYS will talk about its expansion with the recent opening of YAYS Opera Antwerp.
IHIF Tech Hub Sponsors Cloudbeds, will showcase their new book More Reservations, Happier Guests: The Ultimate Guide for the Modern Hotelier, to give hotel owners and operators valuable insights and strategies to increase reservations, streamline staff operations, and create better guest experiences.
Stay ahead of the latest trends: From investment opportunities to implementing new ESG policies (tapping into those profit and planet themes) IHIF is a hotbed for the latest trends. Discover what the business of hotels will look like in 2022 and beyond in Decoding the Data: A Deep Dive on What the Future of Hospitality Investment Looks Like on Wednesday 4 May, while Finnbar Cornwall of Google looks at the key trends informing current traveller behaviours in a session on Thursday 5 May.
Trading in a more sustainable fashion is the aim of many hotel owners and operators today, making the session How to Operate Sustainably and Profitably, led by Maribel Esparcia Pérez, Founding Partner of the European Sustainable Hospitality Group, essential for anyone wanting to put the planet first. Those seeking further insights should seek out patron sponsor Cheval, who will also be sharing the results of its hospitality future survey at IHIF.
Check out the alternatives: Running alongside IHIF on Wednesday 4 May is Adjacent Spaces, the think-tank for hospitality’s innovators and game-changers. Taking place at The Pullman Hotel Berlin Schweizerhof, the event will discuss adjacent concepts, including co-living, co-working, student accommodation, serviced apartments and senior living, and explore the opportunities they present for investors and the wider industry. Sessions include Investing in Hybrid Hospitality; Serviced Living: What’s Next for Aparthotels, Student Accommodation & Co-living and Live, Stay, Work. Trends and Innovations.
IHIF, an event that Hotel Designs is a proud media partner of, takes place in Berlin on May 3 – 5.
Main image credit: Four Seasons Melbourne / Beulah
New York-based design firm Stonehill Taylor has unveiled the new interiors for the recently opened Marriott Knoxville Downtown which pays homage to the city and embraces the local surroundings…
The recently opened Marriott in Downtown Knoxville, owned by Rockbridge, has been re-imagined and designed by Stonehill Taylor, bringing – and reflecting – renewed energy to the city. The exciting makeover of the property, a former Holiday Inn, includes a newly painted exterior with accents of colourful murals, new expansive guest room windows, all with a focus on shining a spotlight on Knoxville’s maker culture by showcasing the work of local artisans.
Image credit: Stonehill Taylor / Joe Thomas
In refreshing the hotel’s entrance sequence and lobby, Stonehill Taylor punched up the existing ceiling by applying pyramid-style tiles and introduced a woodblock feature wall to reference the careful hand of the maker. A re-clad large format tiled double-sided fireplace and strategically placed metal portals create architectural moments, drawing the visitor further into the reception area. To the left of the space is the great room, arranged with a host of seating groupings and communal tables.
Image credit: Stonehill Taylor / Joe Thomas
Beyond the reception area, a statement metal and glass door lead to the hotel’s concierge level M-Club which continues the handcrafted experience. Inside the lounge, an open pantry and kitchen concept features custom touches, like Carrera-inspired porcelain walls and slate blue gray millwork. An interior window brings in natural light to the M-Club.
Image credit: Stonehill Taylor / Joe Thomas
A grand staircase leads to pre-function areas and two ballrooms that offer more than 13,000-square-feet of event space. The bigger ballroom is outfitted in a traditional fashion, while the smaller one features expansive windows and doors leading to the patio outside for views of The World’s Fair Park. This light-filled space conveys an industrial aesthetic, with concrete floors and semi-exposed ceilings.
Image credit: Stonehill Taylor / Joe Thomas
As guests walk to their room, they encounter artwork and carpeting in the corridors that reference the glassmaking process. Inside the guest room, they are greeted by headboards and casegoods that contrast dark and light wood tones, and dark blue carpets with motifs and textures that pick up on glassmaking tools and patterns. As they slide open the barn door to the bathroom, they’ll discover an accent wall covering that’s reminiscent of the wavy, moire-like appearance of old glass.
In characteristic style, hospitality-focused architecture and interior design firm Stonehill Taylor has taken a contextual approach to the design of this hotel, referencing inspired and distinct reflections on the project’s location, space, history, and culture.
Main image credit: Marriott International / Joe Thomas
GROHE X: taking communication experiences beyond the screen
A year after successfully launching the first digital content platform created by a brand in the sanitary industry, GROHE has expanded its brand experience into a hybrid format, creating GROHE X to inspire the design community of the future by curating inspiration and information…
The pandemic saw many of us accelerate digitalisation; it was essential to help us stay connected. Taking this onboard to create a virtual environment with GROHE X, allowed GROHE to continue interaction with customers and beyond. However, it remains fundamental that relationships are built on in-person connections, by learning from one another and experiencing new things together. Now, with people eager to engage in physical encounters again, GROHE X has expanded, and GROHE are delighted to introduce the GROHE X Brand and Communication Experience Centre in Hemer, Germany, combining a virtual event location, showroom and five state-of-the-art studios for training and content production.
Image credit: GROHE
Equipped with the latest technology, the new studio is perfectly primed to create all forms of content from practical how-to installation videos to insightful panel talks aimed at industry professionals. Bringing the industry and partners even closer together, are the GROHE X Motion Trucks, acting as mobile satellite studios bridging the physical and digital world. Complete with a stage and large LED screen, each truck enables local content to be pre-produced or streamed live to the digital GROHE X platform, truly bringing together all avenues of experience.
In its first year, GROHE X amassed around half a million visitors online, demonstrating the value a digital communication platform brought to the audiences, and received multiple awards from renowned experts in the communications and marketing industry, including the Red Dot Award for Brand & Communication Design 2021 in the category “Digital Solutions”, amongst other accolades.
With the launch of the new Brand and Communication Experience Centre, GROHE X now has a physical home. Hybrid events and experiences are on the rise and an important way to keep communication open; it’s an opportunity to create something which is far-reaching yet closely connected.
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.
Editor checks in: ‘suite’ juxtapositions in hotel design & travel
Editor Hamish Kilburn has taken the rough with the smooth this month to explore the attraction of opposites in hospitality – and how these situations can influence evolution in hotel design…
I touched down in Florence with a rocket full of energy flowing through my body – since being able to legally board flights again, I haven’t quite managed to shake off the novelty of international travel. So, claiming my boyfriend as hand luggage, or my editorial assistant (depended on who asked), I arrived in Tuscany to review COMO Castello del Nero, a hotel sheltered inside a 12th century castle that I had intended to check in to in 2020, before I even knew my partner existed. And, like all quality things in hotel design, and in life that I am reluctantly realising, it was worth the wait.
“You might say that it was a well-earned break for someone whose job over the last two years largely consisted of finding the loopholes from country to country to keep the pulse of our hotel reviews flowing throughout that dreadful time that hospitality history, I hope, will forget.”
Image caption: The museum-like bedroom in one of the few heritage suites that are sheltered inside COMO Castello del Nero. My review of the hotel goes live in May. | Image credit: COMO Hotels & Resorts
We arrived, and both instantly fell in love with the hotel’s pace, its people, the food and of course the design, which was yet another masterpiece from Italian designer, Paolo Navone. The significance of the hotel’s arrival, with it being the brand’s first property in Continental Europe, was unescapable. So, too, was the experience considering it was mine and partner’s first trip away together. You might say that it was a well-earned break for someone whose job over the last two years largely consisted of finding the loopholes from country to country to keep the pulse of our hotel reviews flowing throughout that dreadful time that hospitality history, I hope, will forget. Between 2020 and 2021, it was all trial and error, to be honest. And by that, I mean establishing who in my black book of contacts from around the world qualified as a ‘journalist’ and who would most likely use the opportunity to drink the minibar dry.
Days after arriving back in London, following our long weekend exploring new running trails in the Tuscan hills in-between getting acquainted with the sommelier – minibars are over rated – I found myself head locked in a day full of back-to-back meetings. Before charging through the underground barriers to get to my next engagement, I checked my phone and had received an email from the always smiling Ivaylo Lefterov. It read: “You’re good to go with the story!” The big, juicy exclusive that the developer was referring to was to unveil that Six Senses Hotels & Resorts had been confirmed to operate Svart, the world’s first energy-positive hotel, positioned at the foot of a glacier in Norway that is slated to open in 2024. The press release was scheduled to be sent out a day later, but Six Senses had given Lefterov the nod 24-hours prior. Knowing the value of the story, which we have been following from concept, I made the decision to make myself late (late) for the next meeting, and I sat in a corner of Bond Street, laptop on thighs, to publish the article – they can’t say our job is all glamour and no substance – which became the story of the week, perhaps even month!
Image caption: Just a few days ago, Six Senses Hotels & Resorts was confirmed to operate Svart in Norway, which opens in 2024. | Image credit: Snøhetta Plompmozes Miris
My point is that much like my role, hotel design is, too, full of pre- and often misconceptions. From what I hear, and what I’ve personally experienced, designers are not divas (well, the majority of them at least), and they don’t all order champagne at every meeting (just on Thursdays and when the job completes). And, as far as I’m aware, there’s often a seamless relationship between designer and architect – and whoever else is collaborating on a project. I love watching alliances form, innovation amplified and unconventional ideas form to shape this industry. These three factors fuel the people who are leading it forward. Our recent podcast episodes, panel discussions, roundtables and Hotel Designs LAB reports, within which we have explored the new era of luxury, sensory design’s role in hospitality, sustainability beneath the surface,modern design in heritage buildings and the science driving circadian lighting, I hope, are published examples of how people within our industry are really helping to score these topics into formally unwritten narratives.
> While you’re here, why not listen to the latest episode of DESIGN POD?
Life working in this arena is varied, subjective and full of a plethora of solutions to any one problem. It’s true, no day – even hour – on the editorial desk is ever the same. Any member of our team can be checked in to somewhere fabulous one morning and by lunchtime they are in a different city, far from home, exploring a factory to understand how products from the hotel they’ve just come from are made, which happened to me this month and created a completely different perspective over the project.
Leaving April fondly behind us, we at Hotel Designs are now focusing our attention on May, and the many events on the horizon, including MEET UP North, IHIF and Clerkenwell Design Week. Bounded by drinks and the canapés, we will find the time to explore what is arguably the ultimate juxtaposition in hotel design; indoor and outdoor spaces working in harmony. By doing so, we aim to unlock new conversations around wellbeing and wellness in hotel design and uncover how projects’ challenges and differences can in fact become their greatest strengths. After all, opposites can indeed attract.
Want more hotel design news and features?
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!
Panel discussion: sensory wellness in hospitality design
With the theme ‘Inspiring Creativity’ given centre stage at the recent MEET UP London, Editor Hamish Kilburn and panellists Tom Middleton and Ari Peralta challenged pre-existing concepts and inspired new ideas around sensory wellness in hotel design…
It was both significant and optimistic that the first MEET UP London to have taken place since 2019 – hosted by Hotel Designs at sheltered inside the Minotti London showroom – was themed ‘inspiring creativity’. With the world recharging its engines, following two of the strangest years in hospitality history, it feels as if innovation is travelling faster through the industry than ever before. The wellness and wellbeing mega trends inspired the topic, and the installations, that Hotel Designs put in the spotlight ahead of the networking event.
Before more than 300 industry professionals were taken on their very own sensory journey at MEET UP London, with the aim to demonstrate the power of sound, colour and smell, I caught up with sound architect Tom Middleton and wellness expert Ari Peralta, both of whom where unable to make the event in person to explore their installations and understand the power of sensory design in 2022 and beyond.
Middleton, an award-winning composer, wellness architect and sensory design technologist, discussed and demonstrated the mood-enhancing and wellbeing properties of spatial sound, combined with scientifically designed imprinting scents to elevate interior design, by delivering a personalised sensory arrival experience.
Meanwhile, Peralta, who is Founder of Arigami, showcased the power of colour on our emotions using cutting-edge, deep learning technologies and generative graphics. Peralta unveiled the ‘colour bath’ in a corner of the showroom, with the aim to reset the senses.
Image credit: MEET UP London / Hotel Designs
Image credit: MEET UP London 2022
MEET UP London was full of energy, sound and conversations unlike any other. The dates for MEET UP London 2023 will be announced shortly. Time is running out to book your tickets for MEET UP North, which takes place in Manchester on May 19.
The Munich-based Ruby group recently opened its first hotel in Geneva, Ruby Claire. It is the group’s second hotel in Switzerland, following the opening of Ruby Mimi in Zurich last year…
Less than a month old, Ruby Claire, the newest design hotel of the Munich-based Ruby Group, has been taking its guests on a journey around the world. The hotel concept has taken its inspiration from Geneva’s significant historical role in the cooperation of peoples, with more than 100 international organisations based there, including one of the four United Nations headquarters. The hotel reflects the richness of world cultures throughout by including diverse design references through the inclusion of elements such as pottery and weaving in the hotel’s public areas.
Image credit: Ruby Hotels
“There are many five star hotels in Geneva, but so far no real lifestyle hotel,” said Nicolas Sabatier, Manager Ruby Claire. “I am therefore pleased that we are now closing this niche with the Ruby Claire, and see us as a game changer.”
The 24/7 bar on the seventh floor is decorated with countless lamps and lanterns of different styles. Two rooftop terraces surround the lounge, providing a tranquil green oasis above the hustle and bustle of the pedestrian mall in the middle of Geneva’s old town.
Image credit: Ruby Hotels
Image credit: Ruby Hotels
The 211 guestrooms sheltered in the new Ruby Claire extend over six floors, at 4,200 square metres above the Passage Malbuisson, between Rue du Rhône and Rue du Marché. For the first time ever, Ruby has combined three buildings, which were built between 1900 – 1993 and previously used as office space. The guestroom come in a range of sizes with appropriately descriptive labels, starting with the smallest NEST which has approximately 14 square metres of space, moving into LOVELY and larger WOW options, with the spacious LOFT guestrooms of up to 28 square metres being the most generous. The rooms of Ruby Claire also feature the open washstand, the glass rain shower, fresh white walls, and wall panelling made of cherry wood. A unique design element is the macramé above the bed.
The hotel also follows Ruby’s Lean Luxury philosophy: a location in the heart of the city, top design, and high-quality amenities with the essentials. And it does so affordably by consistently dispensing with the superfluous and non-essentials.
Cala, a new project by House of Form in Scottsdale Arizona, is located in the Senna House, a Hilton Curio Collection. The restaurant is designed to complement the cuisine as it transports you out of the desert and onto a beach in the mediterranean…
Named after a tiny beach cove street, Cala Road in Mallorca, with impressive views of the Mediterranean Sea, Cala is the dynamic vision of Clive Collective, a hospitality and lifestyle concept that works on a combination of a love for cutting edge design, unique architecture, and memorable experiences. The restaurant, located in Scottsdale, Arizona, has an interior aesthetically designed to complement the modern coastal cocktails and cuisine.With celebrity chef, Beau MacMillan, at the heart of the concept, and interiors by House of Form, this space is set to become both a design and a gastronomic destination for locals and travellers alike.
Image credit: Kevin Brost
House of Form, a boutique hospitality design firm, specialises in creating memorable spaces and meaningful experiences through the design process.With this project, a F&B space sheltered within Senna House, the team at House of Form has created a space that will transport guests as soon as they walk in. Using layers of tones and natural textures,the interior both reflects its Arizona location, and immerses guests in the mood of the mediterranean.
Image credit: Kevin Brost
Image credit: Kevin Brost
The space was designed to reflect the merging of two worlds: the sanded, textured desert and the fresh and airy coast. To complement the chef’s fresh cuisine, the design incorporated lighter wood tones, neutral textures and materials that reflect its location and the coastal environment. The lime wash walls give the space a subtle depth without making the space feel busy or overwhelming. The handcrafted terracotta pots, native to Arizona, are displayed in repetitive and elongated limewashed arches at the entrance,feeling as if you are stepping from a southwestern desert onto a European beach.
The largest Pullman in Europe unveils 4-year transformation
New additions to the recently reopened Pullman Paris Montparnasse include a fresh style, a ‘power fitness’ room and Europe’s first Skybar and the highest open-air rooftop bar in Paris, towering above the city at 115 metres high…
The flagship property within Pullman Hotels & Resorts’ portfolio, Pullman Paris Montparnasse, has reopened following a four-year renovation. The hotel, which is sheltered inside a 115-metre, avant-garde skyscraper designed by Pierre Dufau in 1972, is the brand’s largest property with a total of no less than 957 guestrooms and suites.
Image credit: Arnaud Laplanche
Image credit: Arnaud Laplanche
Design duo Benjamin Clarens and Yann Martin, the founders of CUT Architectures, were the masterminds behind the reimagining of the hotel, to emerge from under its dust sheets as a modern and innovative place. The design scheme consists of an open-plan environment that is decidedly different from the straight, linear architecture of the Montparnasse neighbourhood.
Image credit: Arnaud Laplanche
The studio’s vision has created concentric spaces, where areas intended to facilitate interaction alternate and interact with places meant for relaxation. And it’s this approach that is evident in all corners of the hotel – from the lobby with its circular ceilings to the detail of each guestroom lights and the large structure in the Grand Ballroom.
Image credit: Arnaud Laplanche
Spanning the eighth to the 32nd floors, each guestroom and suite offers a spectacular view over the city. Accessible via long corridors with retro-futurist lighting, make full use of their generous dimensions. Inside, the studio has achieved a weightless feeling of freedom and fluidity. The assemblage of bespoke furniture, using materials such as terrazzo and walnut veneers, paired with an earthy colour scheme brings the hotel up to date.
Image credit: Arnaud Laplanche
Elsewhere in the hotel – 115 metres above the city – is Europe’s first Skybar, which is the highest open-air rooftop bar in Paris. Meanwhile, closer to the earth, the hotel shelters two culinary concepts: Umami Burger, which occupies the second floor, and Fi’lia, which is described as an honest, authentic and generous take on Italian dining.
Image credit: Arnaud Laplanche
In collaboration with Bergman Design House, the 200 square-metre fitness studio is as innovative as it is design savvy. With plans to add a spa in 2023, the space is currently kitted out with high-tech urban equipment, the wellness space has been designed to reference a cross-fit studio layout, with a mini athletics circuit, rack of weights, skipping ropes, punching bars and stationary bikes.
Image credit: Arnaud Laplanche
The hotel, which stands as the brand’s flagship property in and among more than 140 properties worldwide, now features a design scheme that can deliver an inspiring, energising and enriching experience for modern travellers checking in.
Breaking ground on Populus: America’s first carbon positive hotel
A collaboration between real estate developer Urban Villages, and architecture and urban design practice Studio Gang has started construction on Populus, a hotel in Denver Colorado that plans to be both an architectural landmark and a milestone for sustainable travel…
Real estate developer Urban Villages is at the forefront of sustainable hospitality at a time when consumers around the world are recognising and standing up to environmental challenges that impact our lives and economy, and travellers are increasingly wanting to positive difference to the places they visit. To design Populus, Urban Villages partnered with architecture firm Studio Gang, due to their shared commitment to sustainability and inspiring approach to creating spaces that connect between people with each other and their environments.
Slated to open in late 2023, the 265 key hotel will include a rooftop restaurant and bar offering spectacular views of the mountains and city skyline, distinct retail destinations and event spaces, and an iconic Aspen tree-inspired design by Studio Gang. Urban Villages is developing Populus to be carbon positive thanks both to its sustainable design and construction features as well as a substantial ecological effort offsite, including an initial commitment to planting trees that represent over 5,000 acres of forest – offsetting an embodied carbon footprint and removing additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Image credit: Studio Gang
“To truly impact our earth, carbon neutral developments are no longer enough. Populus will be entirely carbon positive starting with its construction and continuing through to its ongoing operations while acting as a vibrant social centre for locals and visitors,” said Grant McCargo, Urban Villages’ Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Environmental Officer, and Partner. “Not only will Populus be the country’s first carbon positive hotel, but it will be a stunning architectural landmark by Studio Gang that will forever alter Denver’s skyline and contribute to the architectural legacy of the entire Mountain West.”
With real estate’s impact on the environment intensifying, and buildings in the United States currently accounting for 45 per cent of greenhouse emissions in the country, which includes the development of new hotels, Urban Villages is responding to this immediate crisis, in part, with Populus, which will surpass its carbon footprint by implementing green practices derived from extensive research and scientific studies. Urban Villages has calculated the carbon footprint of Populus and made a long-term commitment to be carbon positive. Instead of purchasing untraceable carbon credits as many others do, Urban Villages is accomplishing Populus’ carbon positive status by proactively planting and growing trees to make a tangible impact.
Populus will also minimize its carbon footprint in the development stage using low-carbon concrete mixes, high-recycled content materials, maximising structural efficiency, using fewer finish materials, minimising waste, and more. This considers every stage of the building process, beginning with the origin of materials, as well as the carbon footprint of creating and transporting them. Populus’ ongoing operations will also be carbon positive, so that the hotel’s overall use (operational carbon) along with every guest stay will be offset in addition to the building’s embodied carbon.
Image credit: Studio Gang
Inspired by nature, Studio Gang’s design for Populus was informed by studying the characteristic patterns found on Colorado’s native Aspen tree – Populus Tremuloides – an instantly recognisable symbol of the state. The building’s distinctive windows echo the ‘Aspen eyes’ while also designed to perform efficiently in Denver’s varied climate. The texture and rhythm of the façade is optimised to the program inside, with ‘lids’ over each window extending slightly outward to shade the interior of the building and improve energy performance. These ‘lids’ also neatly channel rainwater to keep the façade of Populus looking continually clean and bright.
Image credit: Studio Gang
“Improving the resiliency of our cities has never been more urgent—and it includes reducing carbon emissions as well as strengthening community bonds,” said Jeanne Gang, founder of Studio Gang. “We’ve designed Populus to be a new destination in downtown Denver that combines these environmental and social ambitions. With its distinctive aspen eye windows, the building cultivates a lively pedestrian scene in its neighbourhood, while simultaneously connecting you with views of the natural wonders beyond the city limits. The windows and façade are also tuned for high environmental performance—self-shading, insulating, and channeling rainwater—as part of the architecture’s larger green vision.”
On the interior, the windows changes in size to reflect the public or private nature of various spaces, with windows up to 30 feet high at the building’s base that frame entrances and views into the lobby and amenity spaces. Inside the guestrooms, hotel guests have immersive mountain and city views through windows, which also become occupiable, transforming into seats or desks that further connect occupants with the outdoors. The result is a stunningly beautiful, sustainable design that is deeply connected to nature and its surrounding neighbourhood.
AXOR Futures: a discussion on design & conscious luxury
The second AXOR Futures has gone live, drawing on the experience of creators, designers and philosophers. The conversation between Philippe Starck, Anne Lise Kjaer, Chung-Yi Yang and Rebecca Weigold dug deep into the concept of conscious luxury, sustainability, and its implications for the design process…
Hansgrohe Group’s design brand AXOR recently launched its digital platform AXOR Futures with the aim of promoting discussion and offering insight into new ways into new ways of thinking about societal influences on interior design.
The most recent of these was the second event in the series and addressed long-lasting design and conscious consumption with guests speakers Philippe Starck (Architect, Creator and AXOR Design Partner), Anne Lise Kjaer (Futurist and Founder Kjaer Global), Chung-Yi Yang (Partner ACPV Citterio Viel),) and Rebecca Weigold (Team Leader Green Company Initiative, Hansgrohe Group). The discussion was introduced and moderated by Anke Sohn Head of Global Brand Marketing AXOR.
“Resources here on earth are finite, unlike the multitude of our ideas, desires and aspirations,” said Sohn. ” This also means that our attitude towards design is changing. We want it to be meaningful and long-lasting. Our primary goal is to combine our outstanding designs with excellence in manufacturing and innovative technology to create products that last a lifetime. Promoting conscious consumption and long-lasting design is our contribution to a more sustainable world. And in this spirit, we have always designed beyond time and are entering into a new dialogue with creative minds from around the world.”
Image credit: AXOR
The contributions from everyone on the panel took us through several of the key issues being grappled with in the design world across the board. Introducing the concept, Kjaer, a renowned futurist and author who has lectured at Cambridge university and MIT, and speaks regularly at events such as TEDx, touched on questions of changing values and lifestyle, and how a more considered approach to design can harness these changes into a more long term – and a more sustainable – outcome. “The true value of things will be extremely important” said Kjaer. ” We need better products, not more products”
Taking the conversation more directly into the built environment, partner at the architecture studio, Partner ACPV Citterio Viel, Chung-Yi Yang discussed the need to improve the quality and use of interior and exterior spaces. Looking at sustainability from an architect’s perspective Yang emphasised the importance of water conservation in projects, as well as the regenerative aspects of her discipline. “Building can make the world a better place” stated Yang. ” Architecture and interior design have an enormous amount of regenerative potential, and a resource like water is too valuable not to be used in the best possible way.”
Image credit: AXOR
Designer Philippe Starck has been collaborating with AXOR for more than 20 years, and the first range designed by the designer remains as relevant today as it did when it was launched. Thus the concept of design longevity became central to a discussion on sustainability. This was made clear by Starck who asserted that good design is in fact about creating nothing superfluous. It is about respecting and understanding the function of an object and working in collaboration with engineers and technicians to ensure that all of the functionality is part of the design. Starck went on to discuss his belief in the importance of uniting luxury and ecology with aesthetics—an ongoing process that not only includes his previous work with AXOR, but importantly will remain an important part of all upcoming projects.
Finally the conversation concluded with some input from Rebecca Weigold, an expert in environmental management who works at the Hansgrohe Group, where she advises departments and project teams on implementing social and environmental sustainability. During her conversation with AXOR’s Anke Sohn, Weigold spoke about the brand’s eco-design guidelines and ecological commitments moving forward. Weigold emphasised the need for a holistic business model when taking on sustainability. “Production must be as green as possible,” said Weigold. ” The social perspective of sustainability needs to be considered with social conditions in manufacturing being part of the solution.”
As moderator Sohn drew the conversation to a close, what is clear is that design needs to be both considered and long lasting for it to be sustainable. While these conversations are important, conversations need to inform action, not only of design, but on every level of the manufacturing, marketing and distribution process. Designers, architects, engineers, cannot look at their individual corners of the process in isolation, everything is interconnected, and now more than ever we need to address design holistically.
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.
Blurring the boundaries: tiling the great outdoors
Tiles can offer an inspired solution for transforming outside areas, with a range of applications from flooring to feature walls, and pools to bars. In this article Mark Hillier, specification manager at leading commercial tile supplier CTD Architectural Tiles, discusses the key considerations for using tiles to create a beautiful yet practical outdoor space…
The concept of extending inside living and public spaces to the outside is becoming an increasingly popular design trend, with more and more hotels opting to create a seamless flow between the indoors and outdoors. Indoor-outdoor tiles offer the ideal solution for this design solution; whereas in the past separate tiles would be required for the different spaces, these tiles can be used in both environments. With a varied range of these indoor-outdoor tiles available, the Matter collection by Zyx in particular is proving popular thanks to its range of applications, colours and shapes.
Image credit: CTD Architectural Tiles
When designing for public spaces like hotels, safety plays a key role in choosing flooring. Selecting outdoor floor tiles is no exception to this, and it’s vital to select a product which offers a minimum anti-slip rating of PTV36 (Pendulum Test Value) to ensure minimal risk. There is now a huge variety of anti-slip outdoor floor tiles available on the market, suitable for any project, style and budget – meaning there’s no need to compromise on safety or aesthetics.
Choosing outdoor floor tiles with a high slip resistance is particularly important for areas likely to be regularly exposed to wet conditions, whether that’s an outdoor pool or simply an uncovered space likely to be affected by rain. Porcelain-based tiling tends to offer the highest PTV ratings, but it’s always best to discuss ratings for specific tiles with your representative. As well as providing maximum safety, porcelain tiles are not affected by the elements, making them the ideal material for those outdoor spaces and ensuring that they will be enjoyed by guests for many years to come.
Image credit: CTD Architectural Tiles
Whether it’s for a luxury pool, bar area or feature wall, tiles are the perfect way for a hotel to make a real design statement. Outdoor swimming pools tend to be a natural focal point, but that doesn’t mean the space can’t be taken to the next level. Tiles can elevate a leisure pool when the designer opts for visually interesting tiles rather than the traditional plain blue, with collections such as Matter, Aqua and Nubia guaranteed to turn heads.
Bar areas and feature walls are another great way to incorporate tiles into an outdoor space designed to impress guests, with almost endless options when it comes to shapes, colours and patterns.
Image credit: CTD Architectural Tiles
With many guests likely to be escaping the stresses of everyday life during their stay, creating calm spaces within a hotel is becoming an increasingly important design choice. This principle can be applied to a hotel’s outdoor areas, and tiles can be a valuable tool in evoking a sense of calm. The soothing effect of being outdoors can be emphasised through choosing neutral floor tiles designed to look like concrete or cement, while calming shades of blue and green are a popular choice for outdoor feature walls.
Similarly, the use of wood-effect floor tiles is a great way to create a serene outdoor environment thanks to its links to nature. CTD Architectural Tiles recently started supplying the Cortina collection, which comprises wood-effect tiles inspired by the use of timber in the Alps and Dolomites – and what makes this collection stand out even further is that the tiles can be used both indoors and outdoors, creating that sense of calm that flows from the inside out.
CTD Architectural 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.
BREAKING: Six Senses to operate Svart hotel in Norway
The highly anticipated hospitality project at the foot of a glacier in Norway that will become the world’s first energy-positive hotel, known as Svart, will be operated by Six Senses. Having followed the project closely since early concept stages, here’s what Editor Hamish Kilburn knows…
Standing ‘weightlessly’ at the foot of a striking glacier – and with its aim to become the world’s first energy-positive hotel and in the process setting new standards in carbon-neutral transformative travel experiences – it’s unsurprising that much has already been written about the highly anticipated opening of Svart, which until now we were under the impression would be stand as an independent hotel. Well, dropping somewhat of a plot twist, Six Senses Hotels & Resorts has confirmed that it will be the official operator of the hotel – and rightly so, considering the brand’s unapologetic stance on sustainable tourism and conscious hospitality.
“Building a unique environment through cutting-edge design and superior craftsmanship comes with clear obligations,” Ivaylo Lefterov, Svart Development Director, told Hotel Designs. “Creating a sustainable destination through an optimised resort operation requires us to collaborate with the right partner. “Six Senses shares the same ethos and ambition, to redefine bespoke travel through technological innovation, carbon-neutral approach, ground-breaking design, and an exceptional guest journey.”
Image credit: Six Senses Hotels & Resorts
Designed structurally by Snøhetta, the 94-key Six Senses Svart will combine a futuristic design, led by interior design studio, Space Copenhagen, and technological innovation with earthy, organic materials that will use the latest embedded energy.
The hotel, which will be poised on poles above the crystal-clear waters of the Holandsfjorden fjord, at the base of a glacier, aims to raise awareness of the possibilities of regenerative travel and the importance of the polar region, in partnership with the local community. Innate to this project, and an integral part of its DNA, is the commitment not to compromise the fragile and pristine glacial surroundings or the property’s beauty and quality. The major design pillars of Six Senses Svart are environment and nature, sustainability, technological innovation, wellness and mindfulness, which have been integrated in tandem because they all directly impact each other.
Taking its cue from the ‘fiskehjell’ (an A-shaped wooden structure for drying fish) and the ‘rorbue’ (a coastal fisherman’s cabin), Six Senses Svart will be constructed on poles, dissolving the boundary between land and fjord, ensuring minimal land impact and seabed disruption. The circular form is tactile, creating a feeling of openness and perpetual consciousness of nature as it gives the building a transparent appearance. The happy side effect is its ability to collect energy from the roof and offer panoramic views and privacy with the expanded distance between rooms.
Superior craftsmanship will bring nature inside to form the modern and sustainable Scandic interiors, with corridor space filled with fun and quirky artwork, artefacts, and landscape follies, charting local heritage and creativity to bring a smile to the face.
Pioneering wellness is central to the Six Senses DNA, and this is an opportunity to innovate further, with each guest room becoming a wellness concierge through the Svart Touch concept. Non-invasive, touchless technology will adapt the room to the guest’s state of mind and health, providing intuitive options to evoke a deeper sense of wellbeing.
The hotel is the first building to be designed and built after the highest energy efficiency standard in the northern hemisphere. It will harvest enough solar energy to go back into the system, covering the hotel, adjacent operations, boat shuttle, and the energy needed to construct the building – rendering it independent from the power grid. Such energy-positive buildings could deliver 89 per cent of the 45 per cent decrease in emissions required to reach the scenario where global warming is limited to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. As such, Six Senses Svart is the northernmost implementation of the Paris Agreement, demonstrating that carbon neutrality can be not only feasible in a sophisticated development at an eco-sensitive site, but can also be profitable.
It will also be self-sustaining, complete with its own waste and water management, recycling, and renewable infrastructure. The team will work with existing sustainable fishing and farming operations and engage local like-minded suppliers for the restaurants and bars.
“To enhance the vision of Svart, we have established a Net Zero Lab, a vehicle for developing and take to market the technology created by us in joint effort with Six Senses to reach the common goal for net-zero travel,” added Jan-Gunnar Mathisen, CEO of the project’s owner and developer. “This means the guest journey will have zero environmental impact from start to end. The mission is to achieve common ground for all stakeholders pushing the technology to the next level to benefit Svart and the industry at large.”
The concept of a ‘stay’ will be redefined from a passive or static experience to an immersive and purpose-driven journey. There is a two-way expectation as truly reciprocal wellness and sustainability cut both ways. Guests are welcomed into breathtaking nature to enjoy unplugged exploration and signature standards such as Eat With Six Senses, Sleep With Six Senses and Grow With Six Senses, the brand’s edutainment program for younger guests created around the six dimensions of wellness.
Image credit: Snøhetta Plompmozes Miris
Image caption: Six Senses Hotels & Resorts was confirmed to operate Svart in Norway, which opens in 2024. | Image credit: Snøhetta Plompmozes Miris
Guests can lounge in the Experience Center, where materials will be light and raw, with local fabrics to tie ”the space to the place”. The Alchemy Bar will highlight the rich history of regional healing techniques by turning local flora and fauna into pampering scents and scrubs. As a centre for engagement and innovation, the Earth Lab will serve as the sustainability outreach space, showcasing “lifecycle living” initiatives on and off the property. There will also be a Svart Design Lab, which will act as an incubator for innovation and education, for guests to understand how new technologies can bring the sector closer to carbon neutrality as part of a cradle-to-cradle hospitality offering.
The Marketplace will be the anchor, zero-waste dining venue, where the lines between food storage, prep, and dining are blurred to create an inviting and active environment. No one will bat an eye at anyone catching and cooking their own fish. Six Senses filters and bottles its own drinking water throughout its properties, and Six Senses Svart will offer water and more to the door to reach its plastic-free goals.
Wellness at Six Senses is not confined to the four walls of the spa or fitness centre. It is part of an integrated experience. It is something that is always present, and nothing that guests have to engage in, if they choose not to. Instead, experts will guide guests on the path to well-being, however far they want to go. From effective fixes from compression boots to vitamin IVs in the biohacking lounge to all-round fitness in the sensory treatment suites. Six Senses Svart will cover the full gambit of integrated wellness, with state-of-the-art equipment and wearable technology assimilation, integrating a specially developed “Svart Touch” concept that will further elevate the brand’s pioneering wellness approach.
On summarising the project’s mission, Ivaylo Lefterov said: “Six Senses Svart is redefining the travel experience through technological innovation, ground-breaking design, and exceptional guest wellness journey by creating a carbon-neutral visionary destination where we can showcase the core pillars of what modern hospitality design and operation can achieve.”
While we have to wait a little longer than expected for Svart to finally open its doors – having given the industry a lesson is teasers over the last few years – the power of collaboration and meaningful hospitality development – from operation to design and architecture – is what is fuelling this project to go down in the history books as a timeless example of exemplary hotel design, and we will continue to follow progress eagerly as Six Senses Svart emerges from its drawings and flourishes into a unique fixture on the international hotel design scene.
Main image credit: Svart Development/Six Senses Hotels & Resorts
Product watch: 4 new collections from Christopher Hyde
With the aim to launch innovative products that sensitively reflect the brand’s DNA, Christopher Hyde has unveiled four new collections that will make a statement in any interior design scheme…
Having excelled at manufacturing luxury luminaires for an extensive range of interiors for more than 25 years, lighting brand Christopher Hyde has showcased some of the finest designs within the eclectic classic and contemporary collections, with a specific focus on the Middle Eastern market – think statement lighting. Not only has the brand unveiled new ranges, ideal for this market, it has also invested in a new sales manager in the region. Cue the arrival of Tiziana Greco, with 20 years’ experience in various high-level roles who has managed many projects in the Interior Design industry working with high-end, luxury lighting and furniture brands within the GCC and Far East markets.
Back to the products, though, the St James chandelier is a 20-light oval centre piece with a crystal cut vase in the centre. Finished in antique french gold with clear bohemian crystal drops. A luxury reception or living area would be the perfect space for a chandelier of such grandeur.
Image credit: Christopher Hyde
The Empire Collection, meanwhile, is ideal for the more classic and ornate design style. The collection includes a crystal wall sconce and flush ceiling fitting on superbly cast solid brass frames finished in french gold. The finely detailed arms and wreath are hand cast using a traditional ‘lost wax’ method.
The Lucerne is a contemporary statement luminaire suitable for any contemporary interior. This pendant is manufactured with adjustable satin brass arms and bubble glass. With the option to alter the pendant’s height prior to installation clients can customise this luminaire to suit any ceiling height.
Image credit: Christopher Hyde
And finally, the Kamakura is a beautiful, cultural wall light finished in polished brass and is perfect for all interiors. The unique design of this wall light lends itself to that of a piece of art.
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.
Conrad arrives in Sardinia, marking brand’s debut in Italy
The highly anticipated Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia has opened, marking the luxury brand’s debut in Italy – combining a pristine natural location with high-end interiors by Studio Marco Piva to create an exclusive oasis on the picturesque Sardinian coastline…
Situated on a prime location along Sardinia’s coastline, Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia overlooks Chia Bay and is nestled between the golden sands of both Monte Cogoni Beach and Dune di Campana Beach. Sheltering 107 guestrooms, the resort offers a secluded retreat for travellers seeking total ease and relaxation along with exclusive guest amenities and privileged access to all that the larger Chia Laguna Resort has to offer. The hotel opening is significant. Not only does it mark the brand’s inaugural opening in Sardinia, but it also marks the brand’s first hotel in Italiy, and also represents Conrad’s expanding global portfolio of distinctive hotels and resorts.
Image credit: Conrad Hotels & Resorts
“We’re thrilled to introduce Conrad Hotels & Resorts in Italy as the latest marquee opening for the brand following notable openings in Shanghai and Tulum early this year,” said Dino Michael, Senior Vice President and Global Category Head, Hilton luxury brands.”Located in a destination famous for its turquoise coastline and picturesque mountainous views, Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia will provide our highly discerning guests with authentic, impactful experiences through Conrad’s renowned purposeful and passionate service.”
Perched on the southern-most tip of the Mediterranean island, the resort is surrounded by all the awe-inspiring natural beauty Sardinia has to offer. Sand dunes, coastal flora and fauna and pink flamingos give way to both Monte Cogoni and Dune di Campana, renowned as Italy’s most beautiful beaches and found on either side of the resort. These spectacular vistas with hues of natural green and blue are visible from every corner of the property, with guestrooms, suites, restaurants and pools all boasting panoramic views across the iconic bay and lagoon. Chia is a protected habitat to wildlife and is home to countless species as well as wild herbs such as mint, rosemary and thyme which often fill the coastal air with their aromatic scent.
Image credit: Conrad Hotels & Resorts
The surrounding natural beauty is reflected in the property’s interior thanks to a unique design concept by Studio Marco Piva – Milanese masters of hospitality design. Inspiration comes from the hotel’s elevated coastal location above the bay with natural materials and neutral tones featured throughout resulting in a harmonious blend of elegance and Mediterranean simplicity. The approach combines contemporary design with local materials such as Sardinian ‘Biancone di Orosei’ marble, a calcareous rock derived from ancient coral and fossils that has a subtle sandy hue. These locally sourced rocks were used to create terraces, seamlessly blending the resort into its surroundings. The hotel lobby features elements of the Sardinian culture, inviting guests to fully experience the location’s cultural background with details such as wall coverings of traditional Sardinian fabrics and furniture decorated with ropes, representing the destination’s nautical roots.
Image credit: Conrad Hotels & Resorts
The hotel is designed to offer something for families and couples alike, with the guestrooms divided into two areas to reflect this, with dedicated swimming pools, private gardens and pathways alongside two restaurants to suit every palette. La Terrazza serves a menu of Mediterranean and international cuisine in an interactive setting where guests can observe the cooking process alongside panoramic views from the al fresco terrace. Sa Mesa is set in an olive grove, and features local specialities with a contemporary twist, offering foodies an authentic experience under the twinkling Mediterranean night sky.
The hotel shelters an on-site Conrad Spa which serves as calm haven with an extensive treatment menu and a rooftop solarium with breath-taking views overlooking the entire resort and surrounding landscapes can be enjoyed from a series of pools.
Expanding the Conrad portfolio in America, The Conrad Los Angeles will be stamping its designer footprint within The Grand LA – located in the heart of Grand Ave. Arts, this multi-functional mixed use development is set to become a paradigm-shifting place to live, stay and visit. The Grand LA will include 176,000 square feet of retail and dining space, more than 400 residences and a large, vibrant public plaza with a series of landscaped, open terraces that will host free arts programming throughout the year, including live concerts. Additionally, within walking distance of Conrad Los Angeles are some of the city’s most prominent cultural venues, creating a natural synergy with the neighbourhood’s art destinations including The Broad, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Museum of Contemporary Art, Grand Park, Colburn School and The Music Center.
Image credit: Conrad Hotels & Resorts
“The Grand LA is thrilled to host Hilton’s first Conrad property in California,” said Rick Vogel, Senior Vice President at Related Companies. “Conrad is one of Hilton’s high luxury brands for the Epicurean traveller in search of culture, arts and dining, which is aligned with The Grand LA’s landmark destination as the epicentre for arts and culture in LA. We look forward to welcoming Conrad Los Angeles’s first guests when The Grand LA opens in 2022.”
Image credit: Conrad Hotels & Resorts
“Conrad Hotels & Resorts is the ideal brand to complement the suite of offerings at the Grand LA with our promise of bold design and exceptional, passionate service, aimed at creating memorable experiences for our guests,” said Nils-Arne Schroeder, Global Brand Head, Conrad Hotels & Resorts. “We look forward to elevating the level of luxury hospitality in the destination next year with the opening of our first Conrad hotel in California and seeing the immersive cultural experiences at Conrad Los Angeles come to life for travellers and the local community.”
Image credit: Conrad Hotels & Resorts
The 28-story hotel will shelter 305 contemporary guestrooms with bold design, as well as a spa, elevated indoor/outdoor lobby with sweeping views of the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a 16,000 square foot rooftop terrace complete with a private pool deck overlooking downtown LA. Guests will enjoy locally inspired culinary experiences through dining outlets featuring expansive lounges and outdoor amenities that embrace California’s outdoor culture, all while staying true to Conrad’s commitment to wellness and sustainable travel. The luxury property will also offer 12,000 square feet of meeting and event facilities with integrated technology capabilities as well as a state-of-the-art fitness room for guests.
DesignLSM unveils renovation details from Heythrop Park
With Heythrop Park Hotel set to open in the summer, award-winning design agency DesignLSM is well underway with its latest project: renovating the front of house and F&B areas at the prestigious Grade II listed property…
Set within 440 acres of parkland, Heythrop Park, recently acquired by Warner Leisure Hotels, is set to open later this summer with a completely evolved aesthetic celebrating the historic architecture and founding owners of the estate. Appealing to the existing loyal Warner guest as well as attracting new visitors, DesignLSM has undertaken a strategic and creative position on the vast project, focusing on three key principles to enhance the overall guest experience – relaxation, exploration and entertainment.
Image credit: DesignLSM
Renowned for its beautiful architecture, stunning gardens and rolling rural estate, Heythrop Park, located on the edge of the Cotswolds, was originally built for the 1st Duke of Shrewsbury in 1706-1711 and was one of the first estates to marry the interior with the exterior, ensuring that it captures the remarkable vistas on offer. Paying homage to the baroque era, but keeping the modern traveller in mind, DesignLSM have created a distinctive design narrative for the property that runs across the sprawling estate, taking influence from the Duke’s Grand Tour in Italy and his close working relationship with his architect Thomas Archer; alongside design inspiration woven in from the subsequent owner – Thomas Brassey.
Image credit: DesignLSM
Having a wealth of experience, most recently designing Gaucho’s new Glasgow restaurant and The Al-chemist’s Spinningfields Bar , with Searcys’ St Pancras Champagne Bar refurbishment amongst many others currently in hand, the DesignLSM team have bridged the gap between the Grade II listed 18th century charming manor house and the contemporary extension – creating an engaging aesthetic that runs through the whole Estate; including The Orangery, six lounges, three restaurants, two bars, a ball-room and theatre. Each space has its own design identity that encourages a journey of discovery for guests.
Image credit: DesignLSM
The Market Kitchen restaurant with its soft colour palette, fresh biophilic patterned upholstery and wall paneling was inspired by the traditional kitchen garden, while the Brassey Bar, echoes Thomas Brassey’s love of engineering and background in the railways, housing traditional industrial patterns and materials – think dramatic beamed structures, metal detailing, rich leather banquettes, and intimate lighting.
“This has been a tremendous project for DesignLSM,” said Holly Hallam, Managing Director of DesignLSM. “We have worked closely with Warner Leisure Hotels from the very beginning – offering our strategic expertise to curate the proposition, creating and defining several new F&B concepts as well designing a new narrative and an immersive interior design across all of the front of house rooms in this grand Estate – influenced by, and respecting its historical roots, whilst bringing it forward into a new era of enjoyment and adventure.”
Each space, while having its own unique design DNA, compliments the architectural language of the property as a whole, delivering atmospheric and inviting spaces with a contemporary feel and elegant grandeur – encouraging a sense of welcome, comfort and continued exploration. Being the latest in a stunning series of design achievements, Heythrop Park looks set to be a forward thinking and vital edition to DesignLSM’s groundbreaking hospitality portfolio.
Kohler introduces AR experience in its latest launch
Moving beyond the boundaries of the showroom, Kohler has launched a limited edition creative AR experience, immersing architects and designers in its latest launch which celebrates the new Statement & Anthem showering collection...
Bathroom brand Kohler has launched a hybrid concept that, in true Kohler fashion, extends boundaries using meaningful design and technology. The concept will allow designers to experience the showroom virtually, by offering digital and physical touchpoints through a Statement & Anthem sculpture, which reflects the colours and finishes of the new collection. With an accompanying QR code, designers can be transported to a virtual world.
Sounds great, but how does it work? To facilitate this process, and putting the R(eality) into AR, gift boxes containing the sculpture, product codes and portal QR code have been sent to members of the architect and design community. Once the sculpture is configured and the QR code scanned, the user is transported to a virtual world where they can explore different spaces of wellbeing inspired by the stunning design cues of the new Statement Showering Collection and Anthem Digital & Mechanical Controls. The physical pieces create an immersive experience for architects and designers, and encourage Kohler’s creative audience to touch and feel the various materials, admire the unique shapes and forms, and build their own configurations.
Image credit: Kohler
Image credit: Kohler
Image credit: Kohler
The spatially-aware, mobile and webAR browser experience enables participants to step inside a 360° virtual space to explore three beautiful landscapes that showcase Kohler’s products. Within these landscapes, participants can find and interact with a life-sized, animated, abstract sculpture inspired by the physical sculpture, as well as rotate, pinch and zoom in to examine the details.
Architects are also able to leverage their own physical environments and transform them into interactive playspaces by virtually walking around, examining the product from all angles, and taking in their surroundings. Each sculpture is accompanied by high-quality product cards containing imagery and helpful specifying information.
“We understand our audience of global architects, designers, developers and hoteliers gains so much more from an experience that can be seen, felt, and appreciated in the context of a physical environment,” said Angela Zahn, Kohler Kitchen & Bath Group Director of Global Campaigns and Channel Marketing. “Therefore, the creative team landed on a concept that was both transportive and grounded, while embracing the constraints of a remote setting in a thoughtful, sophisticated, and innovative way.”
Through this immersive hybrid experience, architects and designers can discover the endless ways Kohler products can bring a sense of harmony and revitalization into their designs and create their own spaces of wellbeing.
Kohler 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.
Product watch: Vintage Camelia & Delta Geometric from Skopos
Skopos Fabrics has launched two new designs this month, as it continues its celebrations to mark its 50th Anniversary…
Skopos, the fabric brand that is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has just dropped two new designs; Vintage Camelia and Delta Geometric.
Camomile Lawn, first launched in 2006, was the perfect blend of classic glamour and contemporary sophistication launched under the Jamasque Label. The label was inspired by historical themes, floral imagery, archive prints and weaves. Timeless designs, including florals, vines, a decorative paisley scroll and soft striped designs, partnered in the original pattern book, with sumptuous accents, portraying the romance of English country life. The collection comprised of 5 printed and 1 woven design, all linked together by colour. ‘Camelia’ was inspired by a surface printed floral wallpaper document dating back to the late 19th Century. The original design was larger in scale and was interpreted for flatbed screen printing using hand separation techniques.
Revisiting this design, Skopos has decreased the scale and looked at an interpretation which marries vintage colours and contemporary tones. Vintage Camelia has been developed for our Anniversary collection. The design is now digitally printed, therefore in alignment with the original surface print technique, allowing the graphic block-printed outlines to remain. Vintage Camelia has also been re-imagined in a modern colour palette, ideal for today’s trend for maximalist interiors.
Image credit: Skopos
Delta was an early Skopos geometric design, originally launched back in the mid 70s. Known as ‘Design Number 14’, it was part of a range of large-scale geometric designs, appearing in a brochure, aimed at the hotel and leisure market.
Originally screen printed by hand, in a single colour, the design has been reduced in size from the previous Delta design, translated into a soft tonal, two-colour design and digitally printed on our upholstery velvet, Varese, giving a luxurious twist to the original drape fabric.
Designs for April are available on any of the brand’s standard print base-cloths. Both designs are being offered in two colourways for immediate order.
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.
The Pinch, a new luxury boutique hotel in Charleston
Developed and designed by Philadelphia-based hospitality company, Method Co.,in partnership with New York-based Morris Adjmi Architects, The Pinch has opened its doors, continuing the brand’s mission of blending high-end, boutique hotel experiences with modern conveniences…
Located in the heart of downtown Charleston on the bustling intersection in the Ansonborough neighborhood, The Pinch is situated in a prime location just steps away from high-end retail shops, a vibrant dining scene, the College of Charleston and close to historical attractions. With a rich history, Charleston today is a beautifully preserved architectural and historical treasure, home to a thriving hospitality spirit that can be felt throughout its welcoming, romantic neighborhoods, preserved architecture, and the resurgence of a thriving cultural and art scene. Taking cues from the existing building’s architecture, which are part of the National Register of Historic Places, The Pinch draws inspiration from the building’s rich past and city’s preservation efforts over the years, establishing a place that elevates hospitality through soulful design, and cultivates a deep respect for heritage.
Image credit: MethodCo / Daniel Olosovsky
Image credit: MethodCo / Matthew Williams
Housed in two original Victorian-style structures dating back as early as 1843, alongside one newly constructed building, the new property has been thoughtfully transformed into a boutique hotel experience, featuring 22 luxury guestrooms and suites, and three residences that are available for stays of 30 days or longer. Each of The Pinch’s luxury accommodations are a mix of king and loft rooms, one- and two-bedroom suites, and residences. While there are subtle variations and unique configurations in each room, including private balconies and a landscaped terrace, all feature a full kitchen with marble or black walnut countertops, Italian marble farmhouse sinks and unlacquered brass taps by deVOL, BlueStar ranges, and custom cabinetry.
Image credit: MethodCo / Matthew Williams
The bathrooms all feature unlacquered brass Waterworks fixtures, hand-painted terracotta Moroccan floor tiles, luxurious walk-in showers with Clé Zellige tiles, and black walnut vanities with honed Arabescato Calacatta stone. All rooms, suites, and residences include washers and dryers and ample closets. The Lequeux-Williams House penthouse residence features an open concept, separate king bedroom, spacious living and dining area with a working fireplace, as well as a private veranda overlooking Ellis Alley.
Image credit: MethodCo / Matthew Williams
Image credit: MethodCo / Matthew Williams
Built to age gracefully, bespoke finishes layer the minimal, soulfully designed rooms, including lighting from Santa & Cole, Original BTC, Allied Maker, and handmade open-fired raku style ceramic glazed lamps by Aaron Poritz. Artwork throughout The Pinch includes etchings, graphite, and paintings by Lucas Reiner, lithographs by David Salle and Kelsey Brookes, paintings by Fausto Rossi, in addition to a collection of photography and artwork by various artists.
Image credit: MethodCo / Daniel Olosovsky
Image credit: MethodCo / Matthew Williams
Furnishings in the hotel are an eclectic mix of classic and contemporary, and include armchairs from Lawson-Fenning, lush velvet sofas by Interior Defined, and a collection of custom pieces by Aaron Poritz & Morris Adjmi through their FurnitureWorks studio. Wallcoverings throughout are by Lewis & Wood and Farrow & Ball, and vintage rugs were curated in collaboration with Old New House. Throughout The Pinch is an assortment of vintage found objects, living plants and books.
Image credit: MethodCo / Matthew Williams
The hotel will feature two restaurants coming later this summer: a cozy oyster & cocktail den, and a full-service destination restaurant with a vibrant outdoor cobblestone courtyard. Both restaurants will showcase beverage programs that feature quality-driven craft cocktails along with a curated list of local beer and an extensive wine selection with a focus on French and European producers.
The Pinch is the second hotel to open outside of Philadelphia for Method Co., the visionaries behind the hospitality concepts of Wm. Mulherin’s Sons, HIROKI, ROOST Apartment Hotels and Whyle. The Pinch will continue the brand’s mission of blending high design, boutique hotel experiences and the extended stay model, along with creating thoughtful and distinct culinary concepts, to bring a new level of service to Charleston’s hospitality scene.
Inspired by the city’s imperial history, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of Rosewood Vienna. Slated for the summer, the opening marks the luxury brands fifth European property, and is a collaboration between A2K Architects, BEHF Architects and interior designer Alexander Waterworth…
Making its mark in the heart of one of Europe’s most historic cities, Rosewood Vienna is set to provide visitors with an authentic, original, and personalized travel experience inspired by the destination’s local culture and international spirit. The hotel is surrounded by Vienna’s best shopping, restaurants, and some of its most significant sites and attractions. In keeping with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts’ A Sense of Place philosophy, guests at Rosewood Vienna will be immersed in the timeless grace, elegance and imperial flair that has been the hallmark of Vienna for centuries.
Image credit: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
“I am very excited to welcome Rosewood’s dedicated family of guests to Vienna and showcase all of the beauty and history that our city has to offer through the unique Rosewood point of view,” said Alexander Lahmer, Managing Director of Rosewood Vienna. “Rosewood Vienna is a tribute to the Viennese way of life and will be the focal point of the city’s vibrant and ever-evolving hospitality scene—where culture, cuisine and cosmopolitanism meet. As with all Rosewood hotels, we are committed to the philosophy of honoring the time-honored sensibilities of Vienna’s spirit while also incorporating a modern feel and best-in-class amenities.”
Situated in a historic 19th century building, Rosewood Vienna is a collaboration between A2K Architects, BEHF Architects and interior designer Alexander Waterworth. The end result is a hotel that marries historic charm and European Belle Époque architecture with modern interiors and timeless sophistication. The property’s 99 guestrooms and 27 suites have been designed with a thoughtful combination of lush textures, artistic touches, and the latest technological conveniences.
Image credit: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Considered the crown jewel of Rosewood Vienna, the property’s 1,800 square foot Presidential Suite offers the ultimate in luxury, featuring unparalleled dazzling city views, a master bedroom, a separate living room, kitchen, entertainment area, and eight-person dining room. Each room has its own individual character, yet they are all united by a harmonious, neutral colour palette accented by subtle colour contrasts, reflecting the property’s style of mixing the old and the new. Every detail has been meticulously selected to create an optimal experience for entertainment and relaxation. Using a skillful interplay of different materials such as marble, wood, brass fixtures and patterned fabrics, the design nods to the imperial glamour of Vienna’s past while speaking to the tastes of today’s affluent explorer.
Image credit: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
The hotel will shelter a variety of dining options which will pay tribute to the culinary roots of the Austrian capital while incorporating Rosewood’s brand-standard levels of service and modern culinary interpretations. The property’s light-filled top floor offers fine dining menus showcasing both European and Austrian cuisine in a variety of spaces. Soon-to-be announced concepts include a casual atmosphere in the property’s ‘show kitchen’ and an upscale brasserie in the property’s main dining room, which includes an adjacent terrace and garden oasis. The property’s food and beverage offerings also include a private dining room, which can be booked for intimate gatherings or used as an event space for larger groups. Classic cocktails with an innovative twist will be served in the hotel’s intimate rooftop bar, designed by interior designer Kroenland.
Image credit: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
An elegant event space inspired by a grand apartment once located in the heart of the city, Rosewood Vienna’s Pavilion is home to a spectacular space with versatile amenities and a capacity of up to 120 people for social events and business meetings. The Pavilion includes three lounges that feature state-of-the-art technology and flexible floor plans with natural light that showcases the building’s splendid architecture. Rosewood Vienna looks to establish itself as the leading setting for both private and professional occasions in the heart of the Austrian capital.
On the wellness front, Sense, A Rosewood Spa, that will present intuitive, locally inspired offerings that promote the well-being of both the body and mind. With an unparalleled view of Vienna, the spa offers five treatment rooms, a ‘social suite’ and a hydrotherapy relaxation room, as well as an extensive selection of treatments and therapies. The spa’s design features clean architectural lines, stone and carved wood elements, and a soothing color palette chosen to convey a tranquil experience.
Image credit: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
The new Rosewood Vienna, situated on Petersplatz, one of the most famous squares in Vienna’s Old Town, will be the brands first flag in Vienna. It joins the portfolio that includes iconic properties such as Rosewood London, Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, and Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel.
IHIF puts conscious hotel development on the agenda
With the biggest names in hotel ownership and investment set to descend on Berlin next month for the International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) there is one area that will be high up on the list of discussion points – ‘conscious hospitality’…
The focus on environmental and socially-conscious business practices is growing, so it is hardly surprising that many hotel companies are keen to develop new and existing brands in a more conscious and intuitive way and are paying greater respect to the environment and communities they operate within. So while investment certainly remains at the event’s core, a number of sessions will further the conversation around ‘conscious hospitality’ at next month’s IHIF.
IHG Hotels & Resorts, which will be supporting the forum in a number of ways, says caring for its people, communities and planet has been ‘at the heart’ of what they do for many years. Last year it launched Journey to Tomorrow – a 10-year action plan of clear commitments to drive change – and has adopted many sustainable practices. Conscious development is certainly at the heart of its growing brand Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants which has implemented over 100 practices to make its hotels, restaurants, community and world a better, more sustainable place.
Image credit: IHG/Kimpton Hotels & Resorts
While Kimpton is expanding at pace, with 75 open hotels and a 35-strong pipeline, it treats every property it opens around the world as an individual brand. It taps into the elements of each property’s design and the brand’s design ethos to offer guests ‘a richer, more authentic and playful travel experience’ while drawing inspiration and respecting its location to ‘inspire a more meaningful, heartfelt stay.’ Kimpton Mallorca, due to open this summer, for example, has been built with materials sourced from the island, including the local Zarci stone, while the company has worked with local architects, suppliers and artists to bring its inspired design to life.
A similarly thoughtful approach has been adopted by Hyatt International, whose president and CEO Mark Hoplamazian is speaking at IHIF on Wednesday, May 4 in a session titled Reflections on Hospitality Investment, Mergers and Acquisitions. For Hyatt, it is about open conversations with all parties and ensuring everyone’s needs are met. This holistic approach extends to design also.
“We take a flexible and thoughtful approach to working with our owners and franchisees, forming meaningful relationships to, firstly, create hotels which modern travellers are looking for and, once open, to maximise the financial outcome at each hotel,” said Peter Norman, SVP Development EAME/SWA at Hyatt International EAME, LLC. “Our international teams of experts are there to support our owners and franchisees as they move into pioneering projects in the areas of sustainability or food and beverage, and our dedicated design unit helps them to implement intelligent design and technology whilst keeping the guest experience front and centre.”
This conscious approach is not only being led by hotel companies. As Gabriel Escarrer, CEO of Meliá Hotels International, which created a pioneering in-house carbon footprint measuring program in 2007 and is aiming to achieve the ‘A’ level in the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) Climate Change in 2024, says, guests will come to expect these conscious moves.
“Changes in society and in travellers’ habits and expectations will make it critical for companies to adapt to the new ecosystem: more sustainable companies and destinations and digital immersion, not only regarding digital distribution, sales and marketing, but creating a digital or hybrid guest experience at the hotels as well,” said Escarrer. “I also think that travellers will demand brands that have ‘soul’ and strong links with destinations, too.”
A number of sessions will further the conversation around conscious hospitality at IHIF, and linking sustainable practice with investment is the focus of the panel discussion on Wednesday 4 May; Deep Dive: KPIs for ESG in hospitality investment, where Catherine Dolton, chief sustainability officer and vice president, Global Corporate Responsibility, IHG and Xenia Zi Hohenlohe, chief executive, Considerate Group will be among those providing insight.
Debunking one of the most significant perceived obstacles for stakeholders, Maribel Esparcia Pérez, Founding Partner of the European Sustainable Hospitality Group will be leading a session on How to Operate Sustainably and Profitably. This session precedes another pivotal discussion on Wednesday 4 May on Green Finance, a concept that looks at the prospect of how cheaper debt financing for sustainable hotels could create value.
IHIF, an event that Hotel Designs is a proud media partner of, takes place in Berlin on May 3 – 5.
Updating brassware can have a huge impact on the design of a bathroom and adding colour takes this a step further. To respond to a growing demand for coloured bathroom brassware that will stand the test of time, Roca has expanded its range of finishes…
Ona is Roca’s latest launch, a complete bathroom collection inspired by the Mediterranean. One of Ona’s most striking elements is a tap with a distinguishing look, conceived by Benedito Design. It represents the perfect balance between design, technology, and sustainability. The brassware range includes deck-mounted and built-in basin mixers and coordinating wall mounted and built-in options for showers and baths.
Image credit: Roca
Image credit: Roca
The Ona brassware collection is available in chrome and two Everlux finishes – titanium black and rose gold. The sophisticated Everlux finish has excellent durability and is obtained by means of an innovative PVD process. This is where ionization of metals and noble gases are combined to create a fine metallic coating. This coating, based on extremely hard metals such as titanium or zirconium, is uniformly deposited over Roca’s high-quality galvanized chrome plating, resulting in a surface with extreme hardness and extraordinary resistance to scratches, impacts and cleaning agents. Moreover, as this is a purely physical technique, the Everlux finish is developed without using harmful chemicals during the production process thus protecting the environment.
Roca’s T-1000 Round thermostatic mixers are also available in chrome and PVD titanium black. Designed for maximum safety and comfort for everyday use, the collection features a minimalist and modern design to ensure it will blend harmoniously into any setting and pair seamlessly with other Roca PVD coloured ranges. Roca also has matching wastes and accessories to provide a fully coordinated look throughout the bathroom.
Ona brassware is a truly versatile range with its slim body and flat rectangular handle. Also available in a classic matt black finish, Ona provides a full complement of options to suit any bathroom décor. Carelia, also available in matt black and chrome is a smooth-body, contemporary design collection, which features a soft turn handle and pan handle lever in the elegant basin mixer model. Carelia offers a wide range of options, including basin mixers and deck-mounted bath mixers.
To complement the coloured sanitaryware and brassware, Roca also has coloured accessories so designers can achieve a fully coordinated look. The new Ona collection includes a pack with countertop elements (tray, container, soap dispenser and tumbler), available in three colours to perfectly match the furniture. Roca’s Tempo collection of contemporary bathroom accessories is also available in rose gold, titanium black, brushed titanium black and chrome to match the PVD finishes.
Roca 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.
Going public: 5 trends shaping the design of hotel public areas
With debate around public spaces in hotels ongoing, both on a design as well as a functional level, we take a look at some of the key areas and how they are changing the shape of the hotel experience from the minute we make a grand, or should that be an understated, entrance…
The public space in any hotel is where the designer makes the opening comment. It tells the story of what is to follow behind closed doors, and as such is key to the brand narrative. Theses spaces are influenced by social trends, and in some cases can even lead in breaking established patterns within the hospitality design industry. The key debates broadly within the sector are visibly put into practice in these spaces. We thought we would take a look at some of these conversations and identify how they are being translated into the design and function of the public spaces.
Image credit:
The Arrival experience is all about making a statement, setting the tone. There are increasingly high design expectations, and the public space in a hotel is at the forefront of this. It needs to make an impression the minute a guest steps through the doors, if not before. In some cases the space needs to translate to social media platforms, while in others it might be all about privacy and discretion. As hotels move away from the brand standard approach, fabulous and idiosyncratic design is no longer the realm of the small boutique hotel but is being integrated into designs across the board. The 25hours brand is one example that prides itself on its ‘if you know one you know none’ approach, making each hotel an independent and unique design statement. On the other hand you have luxury hotels EDITION keeping a certain amount of design coherence running through their locations but still providing unique immersive designs.
Image credit: 25hours Hotels
Technology in public spaces can cause division and debate; while for some the more connected and seamless the hotel experience the better, while others want a complete break from the day to day demands of technology that can be overwhelming. In the public hotel realm it is surely a question of balance. The balance between connectivity and connection is key as hotels face the apparent contradictions between technology, and that ever important human contact that can define a hotel experience. If properly harnessed these two views are not as contradictory as it would seem – while technology reduces the need for contact and can make things seamless and even faceless, the flipside of a curated use of technology is the potential for increased space for true public areas. Instead of a large amount of space being taken up by what is essentially admin, this space can be used to connect in real time with real people over a coffee or a cocktail, or, with any luck, both.
Credits: Bergman Design House / Falconer Chester Hall
Getting ready to launch its first hotel in London, The Other House, making bold claims about disrupting the hospitality sector, seems to encapsulate the new attitude towards technology in hospitality. Despite all the noise around the new era of luxury suggesting a paired back, even removed, stance on technology, it is central to The Other House as they will be offering guests a downloadable app that offers personalisation and control through on-demand access to hotel-style services. The software, which, if seamless, meaningful, discreet and easy to use, will become a revolutionary element of the hospitality experience at The Other House. Its all about that balance between connectivity and connection…
Image credit: room2
Sustainability of course needs to be considered on every level, but how does this translate directly into the public spaces of a hotel? As customers increasingly base decisions on shared values , these values need to be visible in, and part of the fabric of the public spaces. With room2 claiming to be the worlds first fully net zero hotel, it is clearly setting the benchmark , and we are sure it won’t be the last. This is a great example of how sustainability has been integrated into the building, the design, the use of space, the materials used to decorate that space, with the entire focus of the hotel being on providing guests with a local hospitality experience, with flexible public spaces, that connect people and invite them in on the basis of shared values and concerns.
Image credit: Yotel
Flexibility and the notion of the wfhotel is another industry buzzword that is making its mark on the public spaces in hotels. These spaces are increasingly becoming places to spend time in, to work, to relax, to socialise, to shop. Because of this, and contrary to what many people thought would emerge from the covid-19 pandemic, we are seeing an increase in the public spaces along with an increase in demand and flexibility.
Image credit: Edmund Dabney
Locke Hotels have built the brand around this notion of flexibility – describing the public spaces as ‘equal parts gallery, lounge, coffee shop, retail concept and living room, the space beckons to the street and is as welcoming as it is inscrutable’.
Looking at how Wellnesstranslates into the public spaces, again the demands of the guest as consumer are high. Not only are hotels expected to put wellness on the agenda and make it available for guests, it is increasingly expected to be embedded into the structure and function of the design with concepts like biophilic design becoming as mainstream as cocktails with a side of kombucha.
Image caption: Render of the rooftop that will open in SIRO Boka Place, designed by Atellior. | Image credit: SIRO
SIRO Boka Place is one of the newest and clearest examples of just how integral concepts of wellness have become, with the entire hotel experience and concept developed around immersive wellbeing. Starting with the name… S-strength I-inclusive R-reflection O-original. With this in mind, the public areas will be designed to emphasise the social aspects of wellbeing, while on a more literal level the design will feature elements like leather bleacher style seating in these public spaces which reference a sport stadium aesthetic. Wellness is considered on every front in this design, and it is not just about jumping onto a state-of-the-art Pelaton, but also about what materials are used, and how they are used.
Taking things onto a slightly more esoteric level, Six Senses Douro Valley explores colour and sensory design in relation to wellness and takes the conversation into relatively unchartered waters. Harnessing colour, gastronomy and technology opens the wellness playing field in the realm of hotel design right up!
Image credit: Lore Group
Now more than ever, the idea of shared values, of community, is being made tangible in the public spaces of hotel. One Hundred Shoreditch illustrates this, as local identity and an immersive experience are the order of the day and brand identity is now balanced on being able to provide locale. The public spaces provide that interface between hotel and community so the shift is no longer to create a barrier but to provide an interplay. Again referencing One Hundred Shoreditch, designer Jacu Strauss has made a point of opening up the public spaces, of blurring of line between in and out. It is important that the hotel is seen to be part of the community. To achieve this, on a literal level the coffee hatch punches a hole in the wall and breaks down the inside outside divide, while on a slightly more subtle note, the public spaces like the restaurant and bar reflect the surroundings and the divide between guest and community shifts
What is very clear is how interdependent all these concepts are, and it is in fact the interplay between them that defines the public spaces and sets hotels apart. Increasingly the demands being made on public spaces in hotel design have all of these within them but it is a matter of emphasis. It is not a question of if, but of how visible – how much technology, wellness, flexibility we see in the public spaces as these boundaries shift and reflect the accelerated changes that we are seeing impact on every aspect of hotel design.
Case study: Bette shower trays star in The Randolph Hotel
The recently launched, The Randolph Hotel by Graduate Hotels in Oxford, has undergone a comprehensive refurbishment with Bette glazed titanium-steel shower trays featured in the hotel’s 151 guestrooms and suites…
Graduate Hotels is a hand-crafted collection of hotels based in dynamic university-anchored towns across the U.S. and U.K. Each hotel pays homage to the heritage of its unique town through cultural nods to the local community. An Oxford landmark in the heart of the city, the Randolph Hotel joins the Graduate Cambridge, to launch as the first UK hotels in the Graduate Hotels collection.
The design details for the Randolph Hotel include bold hues and architectural elements inspired by the hotel’s heritage, and locally inspired art which tells the stories of Oxford’s past. The extensive renovation included all of the common spaces, the lobby and guest rooms, including a spa with treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi.
Image credit: Bette
The bathrooms feature the Bette Ultra shower trays from Bette. They are made from fully recyclable, durable and easy to clean glazed titanium-steel, and are available in a wide range of sizes. To complete the bathroom redesign they were selected in 14 different sizes to suit the individual bathrooms at the hotel.
“The refurbishment of the Grade II listed Randolph Hotel by Graduate Hotels in Oxford called for the guest bathrooms to be fully renovated,” said Karen Van Eeden,Interior designer and Director of Upperworth Studios. “All bathrooms were changed to have walk-in showers instead of shower over baths. The team decided to use Bette shower trays due to their durability and high quality, important for any hotel specification. Although standardisation of sizes was our preferred choice, it helped that Bette shower trays come in so many different sizes, to suit every room type.”
Bette is a specialist in bathroom products that are made of a special metal in a unique manufacturing process: titanium steel sheets are shaped under high pressure and then finished with a thin coating that is related to glass. This composite material is perfect for the bathroom as it is skin-friendly, hygienic, durable and robust.
Bette 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.
On fire: how Vakkaru Maldives rebuilt its restaurant in 10 days
Following a devastating fire that destroyed one of the restaurant and bars at Vakkaru Maldives, General Manager Iain McCormack made it his mission – against all odds on a tiny island in the middle of the Indian Ocean and with limited resources – to rebuild the Lagoon Bar in just 10 days. He told Editor Hamish Kilburn how he managed it…
It was the perfect hospitality storm. On December 14, 2021 (nine days before Christmas), in the peak of high season, Iain McCormack, General Manager of Vakkaru Maldives was awoken early in the morning, in London following his return from attending the ILTM travel show in Cannes by a phone call. The wake-up call he received was the news that the Lagoon Bar, which sat on stilts over the water at Vakkaru Maldives, had caught fire. “At first, I thought it was a prank,” he tells me. “That was until I watched the full force of the flames on FaceTime, which quickly caught my attention immediately and I leaped out of bed!”
Image credit: The fire that broke out at Vakkaru Maldives was captured on phones from the hotel’s employees. | Image caption: Vakkaru Maldives
Vakkaru Maldives lies within the UNESCO biosphere reserve of Baa Atoll. It’s a secluded reef island that boasts powder-soft white san, deep-blue holes and house reef with unique marine biology. Prior to the fire, the Lagoon Bar, just one of many F&B facilities on the island, was a vital organ for the hotel; a stylish overwater venue with an open-air lounge area. It featured a Teppanyaki table where the chef would prepare dishes from, as well as demonstrating an exciting experience of flying knives and flames. It also sheltered a sushi and sashimi bar, which offered an array of fresh fish – many from the Maldives waters. McCormack describes the atmosphere as “sophisticated yet laid back.”
Image caption: On December 14, 2021, a fire broke out at the Lagoon Bar at Vakkaru Maldives. | Image credit: Vakkaru Maldives
In short, the hotel is a paradise island; the perfect destination for travellers to escape to over the holidays, which only made the event that year more devastating for McCormack and his team, who were trained to handle such unfortunate events, but never thought they would have to action the protocol, as McCormack explains. “We have a fire team at the resort as well as our own Island fire truck at the station. We take fire safety very seriously with our team carrying out regular training sessions.
“This was the first time the team have had to control a fire of this magnitude. The head of Security and Management were called immediately and took action according to our procedures. The priority was to evacuate all guests and team members as the fire broke out during our lunch service. The fire team moved quickly and the hoses had started in no time.
“The resort released a statement to guests, partners and to the general public, assuring that there were no injuries and that the situation was under control.” – Iain McCormack, General Manager, Vakkaru Maldives.
“There was a good sense of team effort from the restaurant staff who tried to contain the fire using extinguishers, reducing the spread and damage. Many other team members rushed to assist with several climbing onto the walkway roof section to remove the dry thatch which was the main cause for the intensity of the fire.
“Their quick thinking and heroic actions helped save the Sushi and Teppanyaki sections of the Lagoon Bar. Thankfully, we had no injuries and everyone involved is safe and well.
“The MNDF (the Maldives National Defence Force) was notified of the fire and came straight away to carry out their investigation. The following day a representative arrived from the Insurance Company and conducted their own independent investigation and damage assessment. The resort released a statement to guests, partners and to the general public, assuring that there were no injuries and that the situation was under control.”
Once the fire had been extinguished, and the situation with guests managed as best as it could be, McCormack’s focus turned towards rising from the ashes with an ambitious plan to restore the restaurant as quickly (and safely) as he could. “First, I immediately arranged an emergency meeting with all head of departments via Zoom, as I was still at home in the UK, he says. “My priority was to have minimum disruption for our guests. The Lagoon Bar was our main focus as that was where guests meet and arrive for pre-dinner cocktails, sunset drinks and enjoy a night cap whilst listening to the sounds of our resident DJ, DJ Anna.”
Image caption: The new Lagoon Bar features unique lounge areas, and has a ‘laid-back luxury’ vibe. | Image credit: Vakkaru Maldives
McCormack instructed the team to set up Vakku Beach as the temporary sunset cocktail bar in order to minimise guest disappointment – and introduced a complimentary cocktail hour at 18:00 as a gesture of appreciation to guests for their understanding.
“The next thing was to book myself on the next flight back to the Maldives, having to arrange a fast-track rapid test – just to complicate the normally easy process,” he adds.
The next morning, McCormack arrived on the island and immediately went to inspect the Lagoon Bar. “The general consensus was that we wouldn’t be able to repair the damage during the high season and would likely have to keep the area closed until our low season in May,” McCormack shares. “However, I felt strongly that we’d be able to reconstruct the damaged buildings quickly and hopefully operate again as normal as soon as possible. We already had a construction team at the resort who were completing a roof extension on another restaurant. Along with their team leader, we assessed the situation and I asked if it was possible to clear the site of the debris and re-build within the next 10 days… You should have seen his face!”
All that was in front of the team was a completely burnt down restaurant. “The entire roof, structure and supporting pillars were all destroyed, McCormack adds. “The bathrooms were in ruins. The kitchen, gone. The bar, non-existent. The flooring tiles, destroyed. The front deck area, charred.
“Being optimistic, I said: ‘If they can build a hospital in China in 48 hours, we can rebuild a bar and restaurant in 10 days!’ The contractor said he would do his best – looking back, he had an amazing ‘can-do’ attitude! He split his force into two teams; team A working 08:00 – 20:00 and team B, who worked 20:00 – 08:00.”
Image caption: The fire destroyed the restaurant’s structure, including its thatched roof, floor and furniture inside. | Image credit: Vakkaru Maldives
McCormack arranged for a structural engineer to fly to the resort the following day to carry out an assessment for pressure testing, making sure the actual structure was in-tact and safe. Everything was given the green light and they were able to start the re-building immediately. “The first thing was to erect a screen so guests from the Amaany Restaurant and the beach could not see the fire damage and the re-building works,” McCormack explains.
Despite the optimism, McCormack was also realistic and knew that all the will in the world would not enable him to re-build the restatuant exactly as it was. “It would have been impossible to re-build a fully-equipped kitchen as this requires at least three to four months,” he says. “So the plan was to re-open the Sushi/Sashimi bar and the Teppanyaki table, offering a reduced but good selection from our normal menu.
“For the bar, we had recently built a ‘service bar’ at Vakku Beach so we simply moved this over in order to reduce the time of rebuilding a new bar. Instead of replacing the charred floor with new tiles, I opted to fill the area with sand to create a beach feel which worked really well.”
It was during this time, every hoteliers’ worst nightmare, that allowed McCormack to witness the power of collaboration, as he explains. “The engineering team were fantastic, working hand-in-hand with the contractors, helping to install new wiring for all the hotel electrics, building new panels and cabinets, installing lights and re-building the new service area, wash/store room and a new guest bathroom.
“The contractors did an impressive job building a new roof and bar area, connecting it to the existing restaurant area. The overall finish was exceptional, especially based on the timeframe. You would never have known that there was a fire here.”
Image caption: Vakkaru Maldives is a lush tropical habitat located within the crystal clear waters of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Baa Atoll. | Image credit: Vakkaru Maldives
One of the most testing elements of this process was the logistical pressure. The hotel’s attraction from travellers – it being a far-flung destination cut-off from the outside world – became its weakness. “We were fortunate to have a good number of materials on the island already as we were just about to build a new Yoga Pavilion on Vakku Beach,” McCormack explains. “I decided to postpone this project and shifted all the materials and the construction team to focus on the Lagoon Bar re-construction. Equipment that needed replacing such as glassware, cutlery, crockery, lights, speakers, amplifiers were all flown in from Dubai. Other equipment such as refrigeration units and electronics for our IT system were found in Male and all other construction materials were locally sourced. Being creative, I also collected some furniture from other outlets and areas around the island to set up the Lagoon Bar, until the new furniture arrives in May.”
In 10 days, following a huge commitment among engineers, contractors and staff of the hotel, the Lagoon Bar had been rescued and by December 27, the restaurant and bar was back in full action. “Agents and guests – especially those who were with us when the incident happened – were amazed at how quickly the Lagoon Bar was rebuilt and re-opened. In fact, I did very well out of this as I had bets with several guests that it would be re-opened and we’d be serving them cocktails on 27th!”
Image caption: The hotel has authentic interior design characteristics throughout the property, which combine local charm with contemporary touches | Image credit: Vakkaru Maldives
The reconstruction was intended to be a temporary fix in order to get the hotel through the high season, with the plan then to rebuild the bar with a refreshed style and design to improve it from what it was before. “The issue I have,” McCormack explains, “is that the so-called ‘temporary re-construction’ was built to such a high standard that it would be a shame to demolish it and re-build again. So now we are looking at ways to maintain what was built and create something even more special. We’d like to have an observatory deck with a high spec telescope for star gazing, add an infinity pool to create a cool beach club feel and hopefully add specially designed Sushi and cocktail bars too.”
What happened at Vakkaru Maldives was a traumatic event that, without the intervention, skills, training, protocols and passion behind its rescue, could have had far-reaching consequences. As McCormack puts its, “accidents are inevitable but it’s how we react, respond and recover that is crucial.” The team at the hotel had several meetings after the incident to air learnings from the fire. “This doesn’t stop with the fire team but for all team members working and living on a remote island,” McCormack concludes. “It’s not too dissimilar to being on a cruise ship – safety for our guests and team is paramount. We have elevated the fire awareness to all team members as well as fire training ensuring they too can respond and react with more confidence to avoid extensive damage and injuries wherever possible.”
Today, the hotel remains on travellers’ bucket list, flourishing as a lush, tropical destination where privacy and personalised service combine to create authentic and one-off travel moments, with a range of accommodation types to suit modern traveller demands.
> Since you’re here, why not catch up on the latest episode from DESIGN POD, the contemporary podcast for all design and architecture enthusiasts?
Product watch: a new seating collection by O’Donnell Design
Dedicated to true craftmanship, O’Donnell Design has recently launched a curated, bespoke seating collection, manufactured to the highest quality standards, incorporating great comfort with beautiful designs...
O’Donnell Design is a fourth-generation family business with over 120 years of experience, and their West Cork Irish roots date back to 1902 when John Reen, great grandfather of the current Managing Director, Aodh ODonnell, made a chair from a local ash tree. The designs adapted with the years, and in the 1970s the company manufactured a range of teak and oak furniture which was exported to the USA, Canada and the UK. During that period the Danish system of furniture making was perfected, which is still the company standard today. For the last 25 years, O’Donnell Design have focused on hotel bedroom furniture and have developed a reputable reputation within the hospitality design field.
Today, the company operates from a well laid out manufacturing facility in Skibbereen, West Cork which is equipped with state-of-the-art technology in machinery and is staffed by skilled craftsmen. Production processes are especially planned, tooled and integrated to answer the need to work with a wide range of materials from solid woods to veneers and inlays, laminates and foils. The factory is often asked to rise to unprecedented challenges by some of today’s foremost designers, seeking solutions to incorporate unusual design details using metal, glass, lighting, marble, granite in the manufacturing process, which is always a challenge the company are ready to rise to.
Image credit: O’Donnell Design
Image credit: O’Donnell Design
Developed using the finest manufacturing practices, authentic materials and a steadfast commitment to quality, the new range is handcrafted using kiln-dried hardwood timbers and the frames are guaranteed for 10 years of lasting assurance. Using old fashion techniques, including mortice and tenoning, rest assured the new seating collection will stand up to the stresses of any contract environment.
As a design inspired, client focused, Irish manufacturer, O’Donnell provides exceptional quality, combined with a value proposition in all their manufacturing projects, whatever the brief or size. It is a brand based on integrity rather than fashion in order to provide a contemporary and balanced approach whilst maintaining the original design request.
O’Donnell Design is a 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.
Goccia by Gessi makes a strong statement in the bathroom
Italian brand Gessi has collaborated with designer Prospero Rasulo to create the Goccia range – an elegant and innovative bathroom solution…
The relationship between brand and designer has given birth to a range that is not only undeniably stylish, but is also a pioneer of a sustainable message and of a new product concept by Gessi. The Goccia range is characterized by an innovative and sinuous shape that perfectly fits any environment. With its soft and elegant lines and its ecological awareness, it is a pioneer of a new and revolutionary concept of water and bathroom design, as the lines between bathroom and living spaces blur.
Image credit: Gessi
Integral to the Goccia range is an eco-friendly awareness that is expressed not only through its organic shape, but also in the technology incorporated into the design to reduce water consumption by around 50 per cent. The design is characterised by a charming aesthetic which draws on the natural beauty and flow of water that is made visible in its silhouette. Its elegant lines allows Goccia to naturally cross the borders of the bathroom area and seamlessly enter the bedroom and living room spaces by becoming as much a decorative accessory as a functional necessity. Water acquires a modern and relaxing allure, enhanced by the special drop shape that evokes charm and elegance without sacrificing efficiency.
Image credit: Gessi
Image credit: Gessi
All the products in the range are characterised by a natural elegance, which allows them to be stylishly integrated into both private and public spaces. The smooth, familiar shapes of the silhouette make your private wellness area cosy, modern and relaxing. The innovation of Gessi’s creations is not just in the shape, in the lines and in the sustainable message, but also in the finishing process.
Gessi 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.
With the ever-increasing demand to transform workplaces into inviting and home-like environments, Moooi Carpets have introduced a carpet tile collection with the aim of bringing the beauty of Moooi Signature designs into the contract market…
Moooi Carpets constantly take on the challenge to explore and challenge the limits of products and materials in design. The new Tile Signature range has developed a range of designs with a unique colour penetration which stands up to wear in high traffic areas, and provides a new carpet solution for the high demands made by the contract market. With a wide range of products – area rugs, broadloom and tiles – available in various unique Signature Designs, clients can now use a versatile mix in design and material, to bridge between hard and resilient flooring. The Tile Signature collection offers even more possibilities than before, and will transform spaces with an incomparable look and feel to suit the required productivity, task, mood and energy of the space and its users.
Image credit: Moooi Carpets
The carpet tile solution allow the exclusive collection of Moooi Signature designs to be used in in high traffic areas , while at the same time, benefitting from the significant sustainable advantages and the versatility of carpet tiles. The result of this collection brings new design opportunities and creates unique Moooi patterns that transform any space into a beautiful, exciting and inspiring atmosphere. The Signature Tile collection contains an extensive assembly of 25 unique and breath-taking designs created by Moooi Carpets’ designers like Marcel Wanders, Edward van Vliet, Front, Kit Miles amongst others. All designs are carefully chosen by Moooi Art Director Marcel Wanders, and tested extensively on the two carpet tile shapes and all different tile materials.
Image credit: Moooi Carpets
The carpet tiles can be ordered in four carpet qualities; a low pile polyamide, a soft yarn polyamide, a structura and a flatweave. Some of these materials are already known and used extensively within the Moooi collections. The introduction of the structura and flatweave provide a new, durable loop pile product, suitable for high traffic areas in the contract market.
Carpet tiles offer a number of practical benefits compared to broadloom. The tiles are easier to install and transport, as the laser-cut tiles are supplied in compact boxes, with each box containing tiles for approximately five square metres of cover. The tiles are also easy to maintain and replace because of the compact tile size. With increased durability, there is also less waste than broadloom at time of installation. The end result is a practical and efficient surface that is permanently antistatic, while being excellent for noise reduction.
Image credit: Moooi Carpets
the carpet tiles can provide a more sustainable solution being durable and hardwearing, and therefore reducing the need for constant replacements. If neccesary, single tiles can be replaced in certain areas, making a more efficient solution which is better for the environment. The tiles are laser cut directly from broadloom carpet rolls minimizing waste and thus reducing the impact on the environment. All Moooi Carpets Tiles are made in Europe using 100 per cent CO2-neutral wind energy, and contain no bitumen, PVC, Latex or other environmentally hazardous substances. Where possible some of the designs are backed with a material made of 100 percent recycled PET material.
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.
The St. Regis San Francisco unveils a vibrant redesign
The St. Regis San Francisco working with design firm Chapi Chapo has recently completed an elegant update of its guestrooms, meeting spaces, and lobby, along with a reimagined bar by Blacksheep as part of the multi-phase property redesign…
The St. Regis San Francisco, situated in a 40-storey architectural landmark designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, originally brought the St. Regis elegance of design to the city when it opened in 2005. The luxury hotel, sheltering 260 guestrooms has long been recognised for its ideal location, bespoke services, exquisite art collection, and timeless elegance.
Located in San Francisco’s SoMa neighbourhood and part of the Yerba Buena cultural corridor, The St. Regis San Francisco is the premier hotel for arts and culture enthusiasts. The Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) is located within the property’s ground floor, and SFMOMA, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Union Square, Oracle Park, Chase Center, the Ferry Building Marketplace, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, and Moscone Convention Center and more are located within blocks of the property.
“The St. Regis San Francisco prides itself on being ahead of the curve, and the reimagined interior spaces reaffirms its position as one of the most art and design-focused properties in the world,” said Roger Huldi, General Manager of the hotel. “We’re excited for guests to experience the fresh interiors, new ambiance, and beautiful art.”
Image credit: Marriott International / St Regis
In keeping with the hotel’s celebrated art collection, the design refresh integrates new pieces in the reception, bar, and dining spaces. The Blacksheep team graced the reception area with enlivening touches, such as a signature contemporary chandelier, metal detailing, and the curved framing of a decorative wall installation that mirrors the sweeping forms of the main bar. Intimate seating encourages conversation. In the dining area, a dreamy landscape titled ‘Mountain Mist’ by Janie Rochfort reflects a unique watercolour style, rich olive greens and lighter pinks, that captures the fluid colours of a sunset reflecting off San Francisco’s hills. Much like the artwork in reception, Rochfort’s painting illustrates a distinct sense of place, from the misty fog to the robust surrounding geography that contribute to San Francisco’s distinctive character.
Image credit: Marriott International / St Regis
The reimagined St. Regis Bar experience creates a welcoming atmosphere that epitomizes Northern California luxury, with rich textures and soft metallics that pay tribute the city’s unique vistas. The award-winning London-based design firm Blacksheep imbued the space with a colourful, lively, and stylish personality designed to captivate the imaginations of travellers and locals alike. The characteristics of the region, from the city’s rolling hills and cable car lines to the mountain ranges and serene landscapes of Napa Valley, informed Blacksheep’s design.The mood is light in the main bar, where a sweeping brass trellis inspired by the city’s iconic trolley lines rises overhead from the back bar before forming a series of beautifully illuminated display boxes and floating glass shelves. The bar’s illuminated backdrop, visible through the large windows, is artfully placed to capture the gaze of guests in the lounge and to beckon passersby. Dark green and dusty rose-pink upholstery is set off by sharply defined black furniture legs. Custom tables with sculptural stone bases and brass detailing add contemporary touches in counterpoint to the modern noir ambiance, with traces of the past suggested by the bar’s sophisticated shapes and millwork.
Image credit: Marriott International / St Regis
The newly refreshed ultra-luxe guestrooms and suites uphold the modern sophistication and rich heritage that are the hallmarks of every St. Regis address while capturing San Francisco’s unique innovative spirit, rich history, and natural beauty. Toronto-based Chapi Chapo Design, a prominent, multidisciplinary design firm whose principals were instrumental in the original design of the hotel, imbued the guestrooms and suites with new energy by leveraging new customised furniture, exclusive to the hotel, and thoughtful choices in colour palette and materials. Headboards, picoted with rich leather paneling suggestive of a luxury sports car interior, house outlets that power the sophisticated technological upgrades. San Francisco’s iconic hills and valleys are subtly referenced in the wall covering’s soft curves, while California’s glorious panoramas, as captured by landscape photographer Ansel Adams, are visible through layered smoked desk glass.
Image credit: Marriott International / St Regis
Honouring the California Gold Rush of 1849 that put San Francisco on the map, a colour palette of silver, copper and iron adds an alluring luster to the rooms’ ambience. These subtle references to San Francisco’s history are balanced by distinctive, custom 3D computer graphic applications created by Christo Saba. The artwork by Saba pays homage to the innovative spirit of San Francisco with subtle visualisations of past luminaries and today’s tech industry giants.
Image credit: Marriott International / St Regis
In addition to the guestrooms and suites, the redesign by Chapi Chapo also enhanced The St. Regis San Francisco’s 15,000 square feet of meeting and event spaces, creating sophisticated yet approachable areas designed to facilitate conversation and collaboration. Both the meeting and event spaces and new bar are designed to make guests feel a sense of belonging, whether visiting the city for the first time or longtime San Francisco residents.
Main image credit: Marriott International/St Regis
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