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    David mason interview - scott brownrigg | Hotel Designs

    A young designer’s interview: Q&A with David Mason, Director, Scott Brownrigg

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    A young designer’s interview: Q&A with David Mason, Director, Scott Brownrigg

    In the second interview in an exclusive series between Hotel Designs and NEWH UK Chapter, that aims to bridge the generation gap between designers and architects, editor Hamish Kilburn moderates an interview between young designer Marissa Miltiadous and David Mason, Head of Hospitality at Scott Brownrigg…

    David mason interview - scott brownrigg | Hotel Designs

     It’s a hard-knock life being a young designer in the current climate. Jobs for juniors are scarce, while opportunities for students entering the workplace are few and far between. However, it’s not like we haven’t been here before ­– meaning that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

    David Mason, Head of Hospitality at Scott Brownrigg encountered a similar start to his career to that of today’s students. In the ‘90s, when Mason was optimistically graduating from university, somewhat naively expecting life to fall into place, the UK was heading into a recession. In short, the landscape for young designers looked pretty bleak. Determined to stay in the design profession, Mason took a role with a graphics company and through hard work, a bit of luck and saying ‘yes’ to almost every opportunities that would strengthen his portfolio, Mason found himself on the radar.

    Following stints at Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, Fox Linton Associates, Woods Bagot and consulting independently, in 2016 Mason found ‘his people’ at Scott Brownrigg, entering the studio first as a Project Director, and later (in 2018) became a Director.

    Now heading up the hospitality division at the company, he agreed to take part in our next young designer’s interview, this time with Marissa Miltiadous holding the mic, a post-graduate Part 1 designer who, in 2019 won an NEWH scholarship for her ‘studio of fresh thought’ concept.

    Marissa Miltiadous: When did you first realise you wanted to be an interior designer?

    David Mason: As a youngster, I enjoyed building things and I had an innate creative side. My parents were super supportive and let me follow my dream.

    Interior design is so far from being just about decoration. I learned this when specialising in interior design at college. I then received an undergraduate degree from University of Birmingham. Looking back, it’s been an amazing and long journey, full of exciting and unexpected moments that have kept me on my toes and always growing.

    “Young designers should not be disheartened by rejection.” – David Mason, Head of  Hospitality, Scott Brownrigg.

    I graduated in 1993, just as the nation was in the throes of recession. It was a terrible time to enter the market but determined to stay in the design field which I loved I worked as a graphic designer. Two years later I went back to university to study for my masters and then, off the back of that, I applied to London firms. The rest is history. I recognise the hardest part is the first step. Young designers should not be disheartened by rejection, it can often be luck and timing. Interior projects are fast moving and we often need more people should a number of projects go live at the same time. The industry is opening up, albeit slowly, but it is still showing encouraging signs of recovery from the pandemic.

    Hamish Kilburn: What about you, Marissa?

    MM: I was 14 years old when I realised that I wanted to be an interior design ­– there were signs younger. [As a child], I would constantly move things around to make spaces look more exciting. I didn’t register at the time that I had a passion for how spaces looked. When I went to university it all fit and I was able to channel my natural instinct towards colour and take my passion further.

    MM: What lessons did you learn when entering the workplace?

    DM: To be honest, it’s a constant learning process. Every day is different. The most significant lesson I learned as a young designer was understanding that university only sets you up so far but the job is very different in the workplace. My university experience was about pushing students creatively. Our job, in reality, is hard. We are responsible for a lot of components and that’s what makes it great.

    When you are design student, you don’t necessarily see the bigger picture. And then, when you enter the workplace, you have to all of a sudden see the large canvas.

    Purple lighting in large, swanky bar in London

    Image caption: Hard Rock Hotel London, designed by Scott Brownrigg | Image credit: Roberto Lara Photography

    MM: How does Scott Brownrigg help young designers get the recognition they deserve?

    DM: We celebrate our designers as part of a collaborative team. We include junior designers in our meetings ­– especially during lockdown with the use of seamless software to keep the team together. We also like to include our research and development team in many of our conversations so that we are always moving forward. Internationally, we present our work to our peers, and allow everyone the opportunity, regardless of job title, to have their input. That way, we ensure that everyone is part of the process.

    We welcome opinions and everyones voice. We encourage these opinions. That’s where discussion leads to great design – and that, in my opinion, is how we can grow as designers.

    MM: What is Scott Brownrigg’s approach to sustainability?

    DM: It’s a massive topic for our industry – so much so that we actually have a sustainability and wellness team within our business to keep us on track. It’s always on our agenda. There’s still an outlay for the client – we work on research to ensure that it’s beneficial for the client. For some clients, sustainability is an absolute must and many recognise It goes beyond towel washing and removing miniatures from the bathroom. It’s much larger and starts earlier. We look at carbon-neutral building practice and analyse key factors and requirements to bring down our impact.  Being a multi-discipline practice, we have an advantage because we closely with our architects. We are finding that there’s a mutual synergy between everyone involved in our projects to produce buildings that have been designed consciously.

    The more that this develops, the more the client starts demanding sustainable approaches, the quicker the costs will come down and that in itself will allow for sustainable design to be much more achievable. You have to get the client on board from the beginning. If you can take the client on a journey with you it allows them to see the the benefit for all.

     

    MM: What advice would you give to designers beginning in their careers, particularly now during the pandemic.

    DM: Let’s face it, you have been locked away, and that’s not natural. You should be clawing at the walls to get out to see and experience hospitality again – and that should not be limited to what social media wants you to see.

    When I started as a junior designer, we read books, flicked through magazines and then went to see the latest new bar and restauarant openings and the spaces that inspired us ­– even if that meant just ordering a soft drink at the bar because we had no money. So, my advice would be to go and see everything and soak it all in again. As a result, it will not only broaden your mindset but also give you more to play with when it comes to interview. With everything opening back up again, it’s such an interesting time for hospitality and if you want to be part of designing the next era, you have to experience what is happening now!

    Also, I know it’s hard at the moment, but keep applying for jobs! When I interview people, I want to know who they follow and who (and what) they are inspired by. People often can’t answer it, which surprises me.

    Another big bugbear is when people don’t research our company. Do your homework. Visit the website, go see our projects. Ultimately though, don’t give up, it will happen.

     

    MM: What challenges do you see impacting the industry? 

    DM: For me, during the pandemic there were so many articles about where hotel design is heading – and a lot of them were quite negative. As far as I am concerned, now is such an exciting time for the design industry! Think about it… the festival of design post-war. They built the southbank and created this movement towards new development and design in the wake of a major depression. Now is the time to think completely outside the box. In a blink of an eye, our perspectives have changed. We made lockdown work; we adapted and now that we are coming out of lockdown, we can re-write design and what was ‘the norm’.

    MM: What projects are you currently working on?

    DM: We are working on a number of hospitality projects with two of our hotels about to start on site.. It’s great timing as it gives our team the opportunity to see the project develop, from demolition, 1st/2nd fix to completion. It’s the only way for the team to see  a hotel come together and truly understand what they are drawing. Site knowledge is invaluable, and lessons learnt will be carried through to future projects .

    We have also just started on two master plans, one of which will be a major mixed use development with a hotel, ballroom, conference facilities, spa and F&B outlets  as well as an experiential project & hotel with a well known lifestyle brand.

    MM:  Finally, tell me something about yourself that others may be surprised to know about you?

    DM: I am grade two on the violin (you asked…)

    > Since you’re here, why not read our first interview in this series, between James Ingram and James Dilley?

    Main image credit: Scott Brownrigg

    Anti-slip Sense from Bette

    Product watch: Bette to unveil ‘what’s next’ at HIX Event

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Product watch: Bette to unveil ‘what’s next’ at HIX Event

    Spoiler alert… German bathroom manufacturer Bette, which creates design-led baths, shower trays and washbasins with the future in mind, will be showcasing its latest innovations on stands U39 and U40 at HIX Event…

    Anti-slip Sense from Bette

    On its main stand at HIX Event, U39, bathroom brand Bette will be showing its ground-breaking development, the BetteAir, which is the world’s first glazed titanium-steel shower tile. With the BetteAir, Bette completes the evolution of the shower tray into part of the bathroom floor. BetteAir integrates so perfectly that it is hardly noticeable and, at only 10mm high, the BetteAir can be glued directly to the screed like a conventional tile. Durable and easy to clean, the BetteAir has all the advantages of a tile without any of the disadvantages. It is available in eight sizes from 900 x 900 to 1400 x 1000 mm and in a choice of 31 colours.

    Orange room featuring a Bette Air shower

    Image credit: Bette

    Also on the main stand will be the ellipse shaped freestanding bath, the BetteEve Oval Silhouette and a range of Bette washbasins. All in glazed titanium-steel and with a 30-year warranty.

    Bette also has a secondary display area at the show, U40, where it will be showing its revolutionary, almost invisible anti-slip surface, BetteAnti-Slip Sense. BetteAnti-Slip Sense can be used on both shower trays and baths in its gloss finish glazed titanium-steel. It is easy to clean, comes with a 30-year warranty and works when the shower tray or bath become wet.

    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 – hence the name “glazed titanium steel”. This composite material is perfect for the bathroom (it is skin-friendly, hygienic, durable and robust), and Bette uses it to make its baths, shower areas, shower trays and washbasins.

    > Since you’re here, why not read about how Bette managed to reduce price of built-in washbasins?

    Bette is one of our recommended suppliers and regularly feature 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: Bette

    Minimalistic living room interior with concrete walls, arc shaped window, a coffee table and two white armchairs near it. 3d rendering.

    Industry insight: Statement interior lighting

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Industry insight: Statement interior lighting

    Design inspiration starts with that one magnificent statement piece, a piece that reflects your remarkable personality and style. Christopher Hyde Lighting offers just that – collections of luminaires designed and manufactured to make a statement…

    Minimalistic living room interior with concrete walls, arc shaped window, a coffee table and two white armchairs near it. 3d rendering.

    Whether it be a modern living area in a luxury New York apartment or a spacious entry way in a private residential home nestled between boulders along the coastline, Christopher Hyde manufactures one-of-a-kind luminaires to suit any interior using only the highest quality materials. The majority of our fittings are made from solid brass with up to 18 different finishes.

    The classic collection consists of more traditional and ornate luminaires, whilst the contemporary collection comprises minimalist designs made from carefully sourced traditional materials such as genuine solid brass, crystal, luxury Italian leather, glass, chinette and linen giving each fitting a modern highly refined design. These traditional materials also add texture and depth to any space.

    The Houston Collection which consists of a spiral chandelier, five light pendant and wall light, might have a minimalist design but the fittings within this collection are nothing short of grandeur. The multi-level spiral shaped chandelier with six shades extends significantly from the ceiling, whilst the five light pendant has an expansive diameter with a shorter drop, making it ideal for lower ceilings.

    Manufactured with a nut-brown painted stem, finished in polished nickel with stone or dark grey coloured chinette shades this collection would fit perfectly in architectural surroundings with a muted colour palette. This collection would complement wood built-in cabinetry or detailed art due to its more minimalist design.

    Houston 2 light wall light

    Image credit: Christopher Hyde Lighting

    Vaulted or recessed ceilings either in an entry way or staircase would be the ideal location to showcase the spiral shaped chandelier. The six shades at multi-levels adds texture and dimension to the vast space. It is important to view a space in its entirety and the spiral shaped chandelier will definitely draw the eye upwards allowing the viewer to take in the opulence of the space.

    Coming down to eye-level, the Houston wall light would perfectly frame a tufted linen headboard or provide sufficient illumination and balance amongst detailed art pieces and prints in the form of a collage which would make for an interesting feature in a hallway or bedroom.

    A core principle at Christopher Hyde is to provide additional technological features to its beautifully designed, individual, decorative luminaires. This dedicated LED technology in the design of a traditional candle lamp produces the same light output as a traditional tungsten candle lamp and contributes significantly to energy efficiency with an 80 per cent saving using only 11W. With this technology customers also have the option of including dimming capabilities on several of our most popular, one-of-a-kind luminaires.

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

    Main image credit: Christopher Hyde Lighting

    A dramatic bar inside RG Naoxs

    Inspired by nature: RG Naxos unveils fresh look

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Inspired by nature: RG Naxos unveils fresh look

    Design studio THDP has completed an extensive renovation inside RG Naxos, set in Giardini Naxos. The new look was inspired by nature to draw out the best of Mediterranean culture…

    RG Naxos, located on the shores of Giardini Naxos in Sicily, Italy, emerges following a major interior revamp sheltering a cohesive interior design narrative that sensitively celebrates the destination’s culture to re-establish itself as a modern hospitality masterpiece.

    A dramatic bar inside RG Naoxs

    Giardini Naxos, founded in 734 BC by colonists from Chalcis in Euboea, was the first Greek colony in Sicily. Ancient Naxos was destroyed in 403 BC, and the centre that rose in its place in the Middle Ages became a thriving fishermen’s village. In the late 19th century elegant villas were built, used as holiday mansions by the upper classes.

    The Greek heritage that remains in Sicily can be seen in the architecture of a few very important buildings, but today it is regarded a popular seaside resort. With its distinct identity and its various cultural and religious events that take place throughout the year, Giardini Naxos is a natural tourism hotspot.

    While the natural beauty of the location made it an interesting place to visit, it was the fashion house of Dolce & Gabbana that arguably put Sicily on the fashionista map, and spread the island’s crafts worldwide by incorporating iconic Sicilian images in its bold prints like the colourfully decorated horse cart, ripe lemons and oranges. This was an early inspiration for the interior design concept created for the hotel by THDP, the London based interior designer and architectural practice with a team of 50 per cent British and 50 per cent Italian designers (the best of both worlds). The design team consisted of Nicholas J Hickson and Manuela Mannino (Founders of THDP) and Simone Bretti (design) and Francesca Benedetti (architect).

    Making a sensitive nod to the destination’s history and modern culture, in order to inject apt sense of place, the interior design studio THDP decided to centre the concept of its design for the hotel around the location’s unique topography. “Inspired by the natural beauty of the volcanic beaches, the sea, mount Etna’s super-natural presence and the features of the island of Sicily, the vision was to bring them into the centre of the hotel,” explained Benedetti. “By adding local decoration, artworks and colours, the goal was to add character – a deep sense of authenticity and a refined and resort-based palette of natural tones with touches of colours of the sea.”

    Detailed local research guided the narrative of the entire  project, commencing with the refurbishment of the main public areas – the lobby, lobby bar and guest check-in area – before retouching the F&B areas, including the main restaurant and the pool dining and bar spaces.

    The lobby was a large and open space, which was previously decorated in a heavy baroque style. “The concept from the outset was to re-activate this space, giving it a new heart and focal point – and to be appealing to both guests and to walk-in locals,” said Bretti. “From concept stages, we considered adding a new lobby bar to the centre of the space, being both a visual anchor but also dividing the space and making it feel more intimate.” With the new layout smart workers and leisure guests can meet using a polyvalent area which can hosts all thanks to the different typology of seating. The style is elegant and authentically Mediterranean with sea colours and Taormina’s stone colours melting indoor and outdoor colour palette.

    Lobby/lounge inside RG Naxos

    Image credit: Giorgio Baroni

    The reception has been inspired by the Sicilian attitude of welcoming and it has been translated in three large reception desks with dark grey lava top fabricated by Nero Sicilia.  The rear feature wall is tiled with hand-painted local tiles by La Fauci. The accent decorative lights are from Aromas del Campo and are of copper and rattan, thus from the very beginning of their journey the guest is surrounded by an authentic and local experience.

    The restaurant, Panarea, has materials, features and shapes that remind guests of antique craftsmanship, incorporating hand painted tiles in the niches at the entrance with traditional motifs from La Fauci.  The buffet area has screens featuring irregular but geometric shapes hanged from the ceilings that recall ancient Greek terracotta jars. The artisan tributes continue on the walls covered with a braided woven leather cowhide effect inspired by ancient Greek sandals.

    Contemporary restaurant inside RG Naxos

    Image credit: Giorgio Baroni

    La Sciara Restaurant’s design, meanwhile, has been inspired by the existing wallcovering of lava stone: the space has the darker tones echoing those of the Mount Etna volcano, the dark ominous stone is counterpointed by the vibrant blue and red glazing – recalling colours of the sea at night, foreboding, dark yet attractive and welcoming.  The metalwork in the restaurant is a rich copper tone, accented by rich blue lacquers, and the table top feature rich glazed textures applied with glass onto the lava stone, all by Nero Sicilia. The entire space naturally calls to mind dining in a more elegant and finer restaurant.

    The Fluido Bar is located on the pool terrace, just outside La Sciara Restaurant offering breathtaking panoramic views of the Mediterranean sea and the unique grey volcanic sandy beaches. The pool bar is characterised by a contemporary, indoor-meets-outdoor styled residential look and feel. The walls are finished in a cement-coloured panels by Cosentino, the bar top is white Dekton and the bar front is feature tiles in raw and glazed lava stone by Nero Sicilia.

    A light and bright bar outside RG Naxos

    Image credit: Giorgio Baroni

    The bar serves pre-dinner aperitifs with signature cocktails, open to guests and locals, the ambition is to become a destination bar for the hotel adding to its local night scene. The seating is part dining, part informal lounge sofas with outdoor furniture by Etimo & Varaschin. The flooring is a grés-tiling from Gruppo Florim, who also provided the surround to the pool and its interior. Large ecru umbrellas offer shade to the guests during the summer times. THDP created a warm garden style lighting effect, selecting outdoor weathered wall fittings by Aldo Bernardi and suspended light by Faro Barcelona.  The large pergola and pavilions are custom designed and supplied by Corradi.

    > Since you’re here, why not watch a panel discussion on bathroom design that THDP’s Nick Hickson participated in recently?

    The hotel emerges from one of the most difficult periods in hospitality history wth a fresh look and feel, which will no-doubt take it – and the destination – into a new era that puts emphasis on craft, authenticity and simply travelling for longer.

    Main image credit: Giorgio Baroni

    Lanserhof in Sylt bathroom and suite

    Lanserhof to open first island hotel in Spring 2022

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Lanserhof to open first island hotel in Spring 2022

    Lanserhof, Europe’s leader in innovative health, has announced that it will open its first island hotel in 2022. Located in Sylt, the 55-key luxury hotel will be designed by internationally renowned architect Christoph Ingenhoven, and will shelter a cutting-edge wellness experience under a contemporary roof. Here’s what we know…

    Lanserhof in Sylt bathroom and suite

    Arriving in 2022 in Sylt – AKA the ‘Hamptons of Germany’ – Lanserhof, a leading brand in innovative health, has unveiled that its debut island hotel will feature just 55 rooms and shelter design by internationally renowned architect Christoph Ingenhoven.

    Sylt, an island in the Frisian archipelago in northern Germany, has long been treasured for its famous healing climate and restorative sea air, which can provide significant relief for allergy and respiratory disease sufferers. Reachable by air via Düsseldorf year-round, with just 15,000 inhabitants, the island offers 40 kilometres of fine sandy beach and three shifting sand dunes, the only ones left in all of Germany. Set on UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Wadden Sea, Sylt is home to some of the continent’s most astonishing wildlife and flora and fauna; whale watching is possible during the summer months while harbour porpoises can be spotted off the coast year-round.

    Render of shoreline at Lanserhof Sylt

    Image credit: Ingenhoven Architects

    Lanserhof Sylt, a €120 million project more than five years in the making, will offer the brand’s signature approach, which combines cutting-edge diagnostics with natural healing methods, overseen by Medical Director and Cardiologist Dr. Jan Stritzke, a specialist in cardiological rehabilitation for acute and chronic illnesses. “At Lanserhof Sylt, the magic of a new beginning can not only be felt but experienced,” explained Dr. Stritzke. “Surrounded by the unique and ever-present nature of Sylt, the new health resort awaits guests in a place where modern, flowing and natural architecture radiates tranquillity and at the same time combines modern cutting-edge medicine with the help of state-of-the-art equipment and alternative naturopathy. The natural and traditional combined with the new and modern are thus reflected in both the architecture of the resort and at the same time in the medical concept. This is something very unique. For this new Lanserh of experience we have built a great team of physicians, therapists, sports and nutrition scientists and beauticians. I can’t wait to introduce it to our guests.”

    Wellness pool inside Lanserhof Sylt

    Image credit: Ingenhoven Architects

    Housing 55 rooms and suites beneath Europe’s largest thatched roof, the resort will have a combined guest area of more than 20,000m2. In addition to the main building, the resort will feature two interconnected saltwater indoor and outdoor pools complete with counter-current system and a five-story freestanding spiral staircase centrepiece. A continuous glass facade, the largest on Sylt, will give the impression that the thatched roof floats above, giving the property a weightless character that blends seamlessly into the rolling dunes and landscape beyond.

    Render of luxury bedroom inside Lanserhof Sylt

    Image credit: Ingenhoven Architects

    The guestrooms range upwards in size from 39m2 double rooms and all feature their very own private balcony cut into the thatched roof of the building. These balconies are the first of their kind, creating an abundance of light within the room while providing a tranquil spot for guests to enjoy the healing sea air amidst panoramic views of the sea and sand dunes ahead. Selected rooms will feature beds with innovative FreshBed technology to ensure the perfect night’s sleep, in addition to a unique, human-centric lighting concept to keep guests in harmony with the natural biorhythm.

    The hotel has been constructed using entirely sustainable, non-emitting materials. The design finds inspiration from the surrounding area and climate, as well as in the construction of Frisian houses, which typically feature low storeys, glass, wood and thatch. Natural, curved shapes mirror the island’s sand dunes, while a pared-back aesthetic featuring wood, earthen tones and organic materials allows the magnificent setting to take centre-stage.

    The timeless, unique nature of Sylt in combination with the new, modern Lanserh of property with its flowing, corner-less architecture has a health-promoting effect on body, mind and soul, just like the traditional naturopathy and state-of-the-art cutting-edge medicine contained in the Lanserhof Concept.

    Main image credit: Ingenhoven Architects

    Exterior of Grantley hall

    Case study: Designing lighting & audio inside Grantley Hall Hotel & Spa

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    Case study: Designing lighting & audio inside Grantley Hall Hotel & Spa

    Local custom integrator Clever Association worked with Grantley Hall Hotel & Spa to complete the design and installation of perfectly integrated lighting and audio control automation within the bedrooms and communal areas, inside and out. By specifying Sonance Landscape Series systems, the design team were able to ensure the experience of luxury extended to outdoor areas in order to keep up with modern traveller demands…

    Exterior of Grantley hall

    It’s all very well designing a beautiful interior space that cleverly injects biophilic design, but in order to create a truly cohesive language between inside and outside, designers should consider a dimentional approach to the look and feel of the space by considering the lighting as well as sound. For Grantley Hall Hotel & Spa, in order to do this trend justice, with a meaningful approach, the property called upon a supplier that could seamlessly elevate the entire consumer journey. By doing so, the Grade II listed building has proved that heritage buildings and technology can indeed work in harmony.

    Situated on the outskirts of the Yorkshire Dales near Ripon on 30 acres of stunning woodland, parkland and grounds, and complete with its very own English-Heritage listed Japanese garden, the hotel is set to become one of the UK’s leading luxury hotel and spa retreats, immersing guests in complete luxury and relaxation. Many of the Georgian characteristics of the stately home have been preserved, but the 47 beautiful bedroom suites, spa, gymnasium, event spaces and nightclub also benefit from ultra-modern technologies. Local custom integrator Clever Association worked with Grantley Hall to complete the design and installation of perfectly integrated lighting and audio control automation within the bedrooms and communal areas inside and out.

    All bedrooms are kitted out with a high-quality audio system, allowing guests to access their own music or stream from the hotel’s music library. Luxury Lutron lighting control, also present in the bedrooms, offers guests the ability to tailor lighting to their own needs and mood. In addition, Lutron Homeworks lighting is installed in all communal areas, ensuring the ideal light level at any given time. Similarly controlled by hotel staff, high quality audio extends to hospitality areas immediately outside the hotel.

    The interior design project, which included Grantley Hall’s new ‘Three Graces Spa’ and innovative ‘ELITE’ luxury gym and wellness centre, answered the brief with thanks to the intuitive automation of both lighting and music distribution throughout the hotel to create the perfect ambience in any space at any time of day, season or specific occasion. As a result, staff are able to spend more of their time looking after guests while energy wastage is minimised, and the guest experience is enhanced by the magic of flawless touch control.

    Grantley Hall - outside pool

    Image credit: Jonty Wilde

    Clever Association’s Anthony Gallon takes up the story: “We contacted Grantley Hall after we’d heard about its plans through the business grapevine. They were keen to use local companies so that helped our pitch. Grantley Hall is one of the biggest installations we’ve managed to date, but as with every project, the key objective was to deliver an impeccable standard of work within budget. Part of our competitive tender involved making sure that the client had all the demonstrations they needed to inspire confidence in the quality and performance of our work, in harmony with the hotel’s luxury ethos.”

    When it came to designing the luxury al fresco area, the team required a reliable brand that’s products were tech savvy. “We approached Habitech for the outdoor audio elements required to cover extensive areas along the West Terrace including The Orchard, where a substantial sailcloth marquee covers a drinking and dining area,” explained the studio.

    Grantley Hall, Sonance speaker“Similarly, a contemporary extension, including the ‘ELITE’ luxury gym and wellness centre and ‘Three Graces Spa’ complex, called for superior and consistent outdoor audio coverage. The design demanded long cable runs, super discreet aesthetics, full range sound quality, the capacity for high SPLs without distortion (although the systems are rarely driven hard) and excellent intelligibility at background levels. In other words, we needed to deliver the quality of audio definition that uninitiated hotel guests would notice. The Habitech team recommended the flagship Sonance Landscape Series speakers and Sonance amplification for the job, providing a custom design and SPL map for each area. In each case we used a mix of LS6TSATs, smaller LS4TSATs and LS12 in-ground subs either discreetly buried at the periphery or hidden within strategically placed planters. Landscape Series sats and subs also surround the spa’s pool area.

    “Overall, we’re very proud of what we have achieved at Grantley Hall. This was a big project, which required integration precision, effortless ease-of-use for staff and guests, and absolute reliability. The systems, including the outdoor audio elements, are helping to fulfil our promise to Grantley Hall by working discreetly and beautifully, and the hotel is happy with our work. And we’re grateful to the team at Habitech for its design backup and product performance, which has been consistently excellent throughout our long partnership.”

    Equipment specified:

    • Sonance SLS LS6TSAT satellite speaker x 18
    • Sonance SLS LS4TSAT satellite speaker x 24
    • Sonance SLS LS12T in-ground subwoofer x six
    • Sonance DSP-2-150 amplifier x five
    • Sonance DSP-2-750 amplifier x two

    > Since you’re here, why not read a case study from Sonance on how the brand fitting out the audio inside The Hendrick’s Gin Palace?

    Sonance 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: Jonty Wilde

    Christopher Hyde montage

    Introducing the debut bathroom lighting collection by Christopher Hyde

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Introducing the debut bathroom lighting collection by Christopher Hyde

    Having excelled in manufacturing luxury luminaires for an extensive range of interiors over the past 25 years, Christopher Hyde Lighting has recently unveiled its first bathroom lighting collection, which celebrates both classic and contemporary lighting possibilities…

    Christopher Hyde montage

    In the past year, Hotel Designs has showcased some of the finest designs within the prestigious Christopher Hyde Lighting’s classic and contemporary collections. Last year saw the launch of an exquisite bathroom collection, a first for the lighting brand. Whilst designed with bathrooms in mind, the collection of wall sconces has the versatility to be used in any space.

    The Roma and Naples wall sconces have a minimalist, sleek design, available in antique bronze and polished nickel. Whist the Amalfi features a gorgeous spherical cut-out this wall sconce is a fine example of how two finishes, polished nickel and french gold can be used together. The design lends to that of art décor which will make a great statement piece in the bathroom.

    Influenced by nature, the Vieste and Vernazza both feature an intricate leaf detail. Each wall sconce in this collection has been designed to include an opal glass shade. The use of the glass shades makes these sconces fit for purpose in every bathroom zone except zone 0. With 18 different finishes to choose from you can be assured that your bathroom will have that added touch of originality.

    Recently Christopher Hyde has been working on new product designs and is excited to include these luminaires to the eclectic collections. The Christopher Hyde Lighting team based at the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, are always available to offer expert advice.

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

    Main image credit: Christopher Hyde Lighting

    Hotel design | luxury pool in Langham Jakarta

    A capital move: Langham arrives in Southeast Asia

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    A capital move: Langham arrives in Southeast Asia

    The Langham, Jakarta has opened its doors inside a stylish and contemporary 65-storey building in the heart of the city, marking the brand’s bold debut property in Southeast Asia…

    After years of anticipation, The Langham, Jakarta has officially opened in Indonesia’s capital city. The slick 65-storey hotel is strategically located within the new prestigious complex of District 8 at SCBD (Sudirman Central Business District) in close proximity to the city’s most important financial, cultural and entertainment centres. 

    Hotel design | luxury pool in Langham Jakarta

    “The opening of this beautiful hotel in Jakarta is the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication to delivering the very best product, facilities and service in this international gateway city,” said Brett Butcher, Chief Executive Officer of Langham Hospitality Group. “Partnering with Indonesia’s premier developer Agung Sedayu Group, we have been able to create something truly remarkable to welcome our guests to one of the very best hotels in the world. We are taking luxury to new heights and I couldn’t be prouder to include The Langham, Jakarta to our collection.”

    Designed by the Singapore-based Smallwood Reynolds Stewart Stewart (SRSS), The Langham, Jakarta embodies classical design elements, effortlessly fusing glamour with urban sophistication.

    Upon entering the arrival lobby on the ground floor, all eyes are drawn towards the magnificent chandelier depicting 3,000 fluttering crystal butterflies, some of which are suspended by intricate wire work. Titled ‘Haven’ by Lasvit, the renowned designers of dazzling bespoke light installations from the Czech Republic, the chandelier takes its inspiration from the Indonesian rainforests where butterflies fly freely thereby creating an ethereal aesthetic in the remarkable space.

    Image credit: Langham Hotels & Resorts

    The elaborate construct of Haven is evident in the beautiful champagne-coloured lattice that is reminiscent of a Monarch butterfly’s wings. On the 62nd floor at the Sky Lobby, a second but no less dramatic 10-metre high chandelier, also by Lasvit, commands the attention and admiration of the guests. All other senses will be mesmerised by the curated collection of art throughout the hotel showcasing the finest works from Indonesian artists, painters and photographers which include John Martono, Hanafi, Jumaldi Alfi, Jay Subyakto, and Chaerul Umam.

    The Langham, Jakarta shelters 223 guestrooms with majestic floor-to-ceiling windows offering spectacular views of the city, state of the art in-room entertainment complemented by smart technology, opulent marble bathrooms featuring rain showers and free standing soaking bathtubs.

    Poised to be highly sought after by luxury aficionados, the elegantly appointed 336-square metre Presidential Suite features a spacious living room and dining area ornamented with contemporary furnishings. The dominant use of the highest-quality materials and craftsmanship is evident from the intricate wall panels, sculptures, paintings and timeless artefacts that tastefully adorn each room.

    Other highlights of the impressive suite include an Italian-marble bathroom with an oversized bathtub, twin vanities and separate spa bath, bespoke amenities, an outdoor terrace with panoramic views of the city. Fitness enthusiasts, meanwhile, can take full advantage of the in-suite gym with a trainer on demand for private sessions; attending to the guests’ every whim with personalised yet discreet service is a dedicated 24-hour on-call butler service.

    The Langham Club lounge at the hotel’s 59th floor is designed as a sanctuary for guests who prefer a discerning level of comfort with panoramic and unobstructed views of Jakarta. The Club lounge will offer complimentary food and beverage presentations and will feature a writer’s corner, a reading library and private arrival and departure facilities with dedicated butlers for personalised service.

    The Langham, Jakarta - Club Lounge

    Image credit: Langham Hotels & Resorts

    The Langham, Jakarta features exceptional celebrity restaurant partnerships that include Tom’s by Tom Aikens, the culinary maestro who has guided his restaurants to accolades by the Michelin Guide. T’ang Court, inspired by its Three Michelin starred Cantonese restaurant namesake at The Langham, Hong Kong, will make its debut in Southeast Asia and world-renowned Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto from New York City will satiate gourmands with haute Japanese cuisine at Morimoto.

    LANGHAM JAKARTA, Toms restaurant

    Image credit: Langham Hotels & Resorts

    The Langham, London was the first hotel that served afternoon tea in 1865 and since then, guests continue to cherish this afternoon indulgence at all The Langham hotels around the world. In Jakarta, The Langham’s afternoon tea legacy continues at Alice where guests may bask in the beautiful environs at the grand dining emporium. And for those familiar with the Artesian at The Langham, London – recognized as the World’s Best Bar for several years – will be delighted to know that its latest outpost will be at the dazzling rooftop of The Langham, Jakarta.

    For those seeking a respite and needing a recharge of the body and mind, Chuan Spa will provide treatments inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) philosophies in a serene, meditative setting. The 670 square metre (7,211 square foot) spa will offer private treatment rooms as well as a fully-equipped fitness centre and Jakarta’s highest indoor infinity pool with spectacular views of the city.

    The Langham, Jakarta will be the new iconic venue for social events, weddings, high-level conferences and luxury product launches. Showcasing more than 2,100 square meters of flexible space, including a magnificent 688 square meter ballroom and a beautiful outdoor garden, there are an additional 11 meeting rooms that may be configured for events requiring different capacities.

    > Since you’re here, why not read about the new design scheme inside The Langham, Boston?

    The hotel opening is just the beginning of an exciting journey for Langham Hospitality Group, the umbrella company of The Langham Hotels and Resorts and Cordis Hotels brands. The group currently has more than 30 projects currently either confirmed or in a developed stage of negotiation from Asia, Europe and North America to the Middle East.

    Main image credit: Langham Hotels & Resorts

    Modern bathroom | In-Wash In-Tank ROCA

    Product watch: Roca unveil next gen of shower toilets

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Product watch: Roca unveil next gen of shower toilets

    Bathroom brand Roca has launched its latest innovation in shower toilets. The In-Wash with In-Tank combines maximum intimate hygiene and greater freedom of installation…

    Modern bathroom | In-Wash In-Tank ROCA

    A modern bathroom not only stands out for its state-of-the-art technology, it also offers functionality, harmony and comfort.  The In-Wash In-Tank toilet from Roca meets all three requirements and also provides technology and design, without compromising on its main function: bringing a total hygiene experience to the WC.

    With Roca’s In-Tank technology you can forget about the cistern, as the water tank is integrated into the WC. The Soft Air injection system propels water towards the upper section of the bowl providing a full, effective and quiet flush. Its two simultaneous water outlets, tornado and cascade, guarantee a stronger flow with minimum water consumption. The entire bowl is thoroughly cleaned thanks to the Rimless Vortex design that removes the inner rim and provides a 360º flush.

    The state-of-the-art technology and design of In-Tank is combined with the ground-breaking hygiene of In-Wash®. The WC that washes you with water, features a front and rear wash to guarantee the full hygiene experience.

    Contemporary bathroom In-Wash In-Tank (ROCA)

    Image credit: Roca

    The In-Wash nozzle can be adjusted to reach the most delicate areas thanks to its oscillating massage, also providing gentle drying. To guarantee its total disinfection, the removable nozzle cleans itself before and after each use and includes an extractable tip that can be easily removed for more in-depth cleaning.

    User-friendly

    As in other Roca Smart Toilets, the remote control and the side panel are very intuitive and allow the adjustment of the water and air temperature, as well as the position of the nozzle. This WC with integrated cistern also features two push buttons to opt for a full or a partial flush, for greater water savings. In the event of a power failure, this Smart Toilet guarantees up to two full flushes by using the side button. Available in wall-hung and floor standing versions, the In-Wash with In-Tank features SOFT AIR technology which ensures optimal flushing no matter the water pressure.

    Easy cleaning

    The bowl of the In-Wash® with In-Tank® features the new Supraglaze enamel, exclusive to Roca, which allows any residue to slide right off and hinders the build-up of dirt. A third layer that, applied on top of the existing enamel, provides a totally waterproof, shiny and easy-to-clean surface, maintaining the excellent performance of traditional enamels in terms of durability and hygiene.

    Simple installation

    Offering a hassle-free installation and easy maintenance, In-Wash In-Tank does not require a frame and can be therefore installed wherever you want. Without a separate conventional cistern or built-in installation system, the WC offers better use of space within the bathroom and greater design freedom. For installers, fitting the In-Wash with In-Tank is simplified as it just requires a water outlet and a conventional power connection.

    “We are incredibly excited to be launching the In-Wash with In-Tank,” comments David Bromell, Head of Marketing at Roca. “The individual technologies offer so much in their own right, but by combining them, we’ve been able to take a significant step forward in the smart toilet category. In-Wash with In-Tank furthers our vision of genuine innovation, with intuitive and thoughtful use of technology, to deliver a product with exceptional functionality, design and convenience.”

    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.

    Main image credit: Roca

    Industry insight: Best hotel flooring options

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Industry insight: Best hotel flooring options

    With hotels expecting to stand the test of time, in function as well as aesthetics, choosing the right flooring for each area is integral. Luxury Flooring are on hand to offer a guiding light on which materials work best…

    What is the first thing you notice when you arrive at your hotel? Is it the extravagant chandelier draping over the front desk or the parquet style floor in the front lobby? Exceptional design starts with a floor, especially in places where you want to impress your guests.

    The lobby

    The lobby is the first thing your guests walk through when they enter your hotel, and often form their assumptions on what the rest of it looks like. Give your guests a memorable first impression with Luxury Vinyl Tiles. LVT comes in a variety of imitated materials ranging from wood, stone and tile. Along with styles such as parquet, chevron and herringbone, that show class and versatility.

    The Lobby at The Londoner hotel

    Image caption: The lobby/lounge inside The Londoner | Image credit: Andrew Beasley

    Serve your guests with parquet style luxury vinyl tiles. Parquet flooring first graced the palace of Versailles in 1684, France, and became increasingly popular throughout Europe. The flooring style was installed in grand homes of the wealthy and could only be installed by skilled craftsmen. It’s durable, water-resistant which is a perfect fit for a lobby with it being incredibly bust 24/7.

    This floor is made to look modern with a traditional twist, you can go in any direction with its unique pattern. Minimalistic hotel? Pair a light, parquet LVT with light-coloured walls and taupe furnishings to give your lobby an airy feel. Or if your hotel is on the traditional side, opt-in for a dark, chocolate brown LVT with daring red and royal green interiors.

    The bedroom

    The bedroom is the one room where guests can relax and wind down. At the end of the day, they want to come back to a room that’s cosy and comfortable, right? One of the first things they do is take their shoes off. And with the floor being the first thing they touch, it’s important to provide them with luxury and comfort.

    Image credit: Plaza 18/Philip Vile

    Solid wood; prized for its elegance, beauty and individuality. The material graces grand halls, statement lobbies and penthouse suites, making it one of the most luxurious flooring choices out there. Solid wood flooring is becoming increasingly popular in the hotel industry, especially with it being installed in more bedrooms. Parquet style flooring is making a statement in Parisian hotels and slowly shifting across Europe with its versatile and expensive design.

    Solid wood comes in a variety of colours and statement patterns ranging from herringbone, chevron and parquet. Pair these floors with cashmere-coloured sheets and soft linen curtains for a space that’ll teleport you to a sanctuary in the Maldives. For a city vibe, industrial-like décor and open-brick walls will look effortlessly stylish against chocolate brown oak.

    Solid Oak is a hard material, so make sure to dress it with soft rugs. Add gowns and slippers for extra comfort and luxury, you want to make sure your guests feel at home!

    The bathroom

    The bathroom is the one room in your hotel room that needs to be stylish and practical. Stylish bathrooms have taken the interior world by storm by having brass accents, limestone walls, smart showers and toilets. But the main thing hoteliers need to consider is the flooring.

    A cool, contemporary bathroom inside golf resort in Palm Springs

    Image credit: PGA National Resort & Spa

    The best option for bathroom flooring in hotel rooms is stone vinyl tiles. They are durable, water-resistant and have good gripping properties. Stone vinyl tiles are modern and come in a wide range of colours and styles while imitating the natural look of stone. If you want to achieve a rustic look with authentic tile, then go for colours such as ambient grey or blue slate.

    Every floor is catered for every hotel, it just depends on what kind of hotel you’re in. If you’re a chain and want an all-rounder, LVT flooring is the one for you. If you own a mini or boutique hotel, solid and engineered flooring are more desirable options. It all just depends on how many people stay with you.

    Main image credit: W Hotels

    Hypnos Chillington Sept 2021_10879 1

    Sustainability & comfort combined: A new mattress collection from Hypnos

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Sustainability & comfort combined: A new mattress collection from Hypnos

    Experts in sustainable luxury, British bed maker Hypnos Contract Beds unveiled the next chapter of its sustainable story with the launch of its new ethical Origins collection for the hospitality sector at this year’s Independent Hotel Show. Editor Hamish Kilburn writes…

    Hypnos Chillington Sept 2021_10879 1

    With up to three-quarters of hotel guests willing to spend more per night to stay in a hotel that demonstrates authentic green credentials, The Hospitality Origins Collection by Hypnos Contracts Beds arrives right on cue. It represents a new era of sustainable sleep solutions for the sector, providing hoteliers with a truly eco-conscious bed for their guests.

    No new comer to unveiling sustainable solutions in the industry – with its carbon-neutral certification and eco-packaging solution – the brand’s latest collection is a harmony of conscious design with supreme comfort.

    Hypnos Chillington Sept 2021_9983_9982 - for social

    Image credit: Hypnos Contract Beds

    We’re told that the collection comprises of three luxury, durable mattresses. The first model, launched at the Independent Hotel Show last week is the Woolsleepers Elite – a hand-finished pocket sprung mattress, featuring 11 layers of sustainable comfort with each mattress including more than eight full fleeces of 100 per cent British wool. Considered a super-fibre, as well as being naturally antibacterial, wool is also incredibly breathable, responding to natural fluctuations in body temperature by wicking away moisture, making it a perfect material for beds.

    Upholstered in beautiful unbleached, naturally fire-retardant woven cotton and viscose ticking, the mattress also benefits from 1,400 ReActivPro™ pocket springs and 3,000 Adaptiv™ springs that are designed to evenly distribute weight across the expanse of the bed, flexing to individual body shapes for optimum support and personalised comfort for hotel guests. 

    Encompassing Hypnos’ decade long commitment to responsible sourcing and manufacturing, The Hospitality Origins Collection is a reflection of the company’s commitment to working only with likeminded ethical partners to ensure the provenance, authenticity and traceability of all materials. By only using wool from Red Tractor assured farms, hoteliers and those specifying for hotel projects can be confident that Hypnos is working with sheep farmers who are committed to animal welfare and regenerative farming and know that Hypnos is paying them a fair price, on time, something many brands don’t do. 

    Hypnos also supports farming communities around the world through CottonConnect and the Better Cotton Initiative, with education and training ultimately leading to reductions in pesticides and water usage.  And their certified factories have met the Global Recycled Standard to ensure materials have been collected and recycled responsibly so they don’t pollute our seas and lands.

    “With a rise in hoteliers opting to incorporate more natural elements into their properties through the use of biophilic design – which has become more important over the last 18 months, we are incredibly excited to share our latest vision which has once again pushed the boundaries for sustainable sleep,” Carolyn Mitchell, Sales and Marketing Director at Hypnos Contract Beds, told Hotel Designs. “Our aim is to support hoteliers by providing a luxury, ethical sleep solution. Our robust sustainable beds will appeal to consumers who’s environmental principles are increasingly driving their booking decisions.

    “Through The Hospitality Origins Collection, we are continuing to champion sustainable, ethically sourced British materials and working with partners including Red Tractor Food and Farming Standards to ensure high levels of animal welfare and land management. The collection ensures that every part of the supply chain is accounted for ensuring that everything from the farm to the factory floor is as sustainable as it possibly can be.”

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

    Main image credit: Hypnos Contract Beds

    An airy dining area inside One&Only Portonovi overlooking pool and sea

    MINIVIEW: Inside the first One&Only resort in Europe

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    MINIVIEW: Inside the first One&Only resort in Europe

    Perched on the dramatic Adriatic coastline, One&Only Portonovi marks the luxury hotel brand’s arrival in Europe. Inside, it weaves pristine mountain terrain and medieval history into a modern design, imagined by Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA). Editor Hamish Kilburn explores…

    An airy dining area inside One&Only Portonovi overlooking pool and sea

    Located in the charming village of Portonovi, on Montenegro’s stunning Adriatic coastline, One&Only’s first resort in Europe is an ultra-luxurious escape in a truly unique corner of the world. Its close proximity to the Montenegro’s town of Tivat and the historical city of Dubrovnik, Croatia, gave the interior designers at Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) a plethora of sources of inspiration in order to create a meaningful sense of place inside the 113-key hotel.

    Hotel Design | Exterior of One&Only Portonovi

    Image credit: Rupert Peace

    With architecture and initial concept design by Denniston Architects, HBA collaborated to craft the interiors and bring the space to life. Drawing inspiration from the regions stunning natural scenery and traditional monastic architecture, HBA creates an understated, modern design that celebrates the resort’s key asset – sweeping vistas of the fjord-like Boka Bay.

    Being the design firm’s very first One&Only resort and HBA Singapore’s first project in Montenegro, particular care was taken to adapt to regional expectations in both design and process. Helping to bring this outstanding project to fruition were HBA’s design departments – Illuminate Lighting Design, CANVAS Art Consultants, HBA Graphics, and SOCIAL F+B – who together channeled the company’s core principle of championing local culture and tradition within a modern design that resonates with the global elite.

    A breathtaking view of the idyllic Boka Bay instantly captures the gaze of guests when they enter the resort’s reception, giving a profound air of exclusivity and bliss to the space. An ambience of royalty exudes from the room with elements of monastic architectural heritage. Barrel vaulted ceilings in a shimmering platinum tone finished with wood marquetry encompass the space, along with aged, tumbled stone walls and floors. Two oversized hearths flank the attached lobby lounge, completing the traditional castle aesthetic.

    A high-ceilinged marble lobby with leather furniture

    Image credit: Rupert Peace (styled by Florence Rolfe)

    This medieval feel is woven into a contemporary tapestry with modern European decorations, detailing and contemporary artwork, adding soft touches of playfulness to offset the formality. Above the heads of guests as they enter hangs an opulent canopy of hand-blown glass in smokey, amber tones fixed to a frame of intertwining branches forming the shape of a mimosa tree, from which Montenegro’s eponymous national flower sprouts. This nod to regional culture is repeated in the drapery that dramatically frames the vistas of the bay, with a mimosa-inspired floral motif and asymmetrical layering of sheers adding a sense of theatre. At the centre beneath the canopy of mimosa lighting sits a striking boulder sculpture crafted in likeness of the region’s dramatic topography of jagged cliff edges and jutting rocks.

    From the reception, guests can venture over to Caminetti, the resort’s intimate bar to relax in its comfortable and luxurious surroundings. Drinks are ordered from a burnt terracotta bar upholstered in leather furnishings and enjoyed in comfortable seating surrounded by natural walnut millwork and stained wood furniture. The space channels the grandeur of the lobby area with grigio marble floors surrounded by columns cladded in backlit art depicting a forest scene. Warmth is diffused through the cool grey colour palette with copper tones and a grey shagreen leather in the fireplaces, Maya Romanoff wood marquetry wall coverings and accents of antique brass. 

    A modern luxury bar inside One&Only Portonovi

    Image credit: Rupert Peace (styled by Florence Rolfe)

    Moving on from the lobby, guests continue on an artistic journey across the rugged landscape of Montenegro; while waiting in the lift lobby, they can busy themselves by admiring the dramatic artwork depicting a hiker trekking through the majestic cliffs and mountain ranges that sit at the resort’s doorstep.

    Exuding a sense of residential welcome, One&Only Portonovi’s beautiful guestrooms offer a luxurious home-away-from-home experience. A cozy and romantic ambience is communicated through a warm colour scheme of natural wood flooring and millwork with strokes of grey and burnished bronze.

    Each room is fitted with fireplace that straddles the bedroom for an added air of opulence. Windows designed to maximise the mesmerising views of the bay serve to unify the indoor and outdoor spaces, fostering an open, exhilarating feeling. In the bathroom, no effort has been spared to encourage relaxation: an extended lounge space homes a comfortable window-side daybed and central chaise lounge. But the true element of surprise and awe lies within the daybed, which, upon request, can be magically converted into a couples’ tub, designed to face the blissful panorama of shimmering Adriatic waters.

    Bathroom inside One&Only Portonovi that overlooks sea and mountains

    Image credit: Rupert Peace (styled by Florence Rolfe)

    The resort shelters various destination restaurants, which together offer a wealth of choice in cuisine, style, and experience. La Verandah serves up a delicious menu of traditional Montenegrin dishes for both buffet and a la carte settings. To emulate the relaxed and open atmosphere of this dining concept, the design adopts a crisp, Mediterranean colour scheme, with dark indigo blue textures and lacquered panels juxtaposed with antique bronze detailing in the light fixtures. The laser-cut grey Carrara marble tiles lining the floors bring to mind the rich stone patterns seen in traditional regional architecture. Surrounding the tables, seats woven in alternating dove-grey fabric and deep caramel and chocolate leather upholstering are arranged.

    For a taste from the other side of the Adriatic Sea, guests can indulge in the refined Italian flavours offered at Sabia, a restaurant headed by renowned Michelin-starred chef, Giorgio Locatelli. The interiors were designed by SOCIAL F+B, an HBA department, in collaboration with the celebrity chef, who chose a light, fresh colour palette with warm sand tones to reflect the elegant, modern menu. The neutrals used throughout the space are accentuated with accents of seafoam blues and dove greys. A colourful light fixture hanging above the bar features hand-blown glass containing grains of sand, conjuring up images of a warm day at the seaside.

    SOCIAL F+B was further tasked with the design of the innovative pan-Asian fusion restaurant Tapasake Club, a space exuding an atmosphere as lively and exciting as its cuisine. Concrete flooring is marbled with meandering metal inlay, mimicking the craquelure of ‘wabi-sabi’, a traditional Japanese aesthetic that celebrates beauty in imperfection. A warm and luxurious feel is cultivated through the use of artisanal bronze and dark mahogany detailing on the raked spatulata plaster ceiling and naked red brickwork in the walls. Complementing this golden, autumnal colour palette are neutral fabrics with olive and orange accents and ombre aqua sheer wall partitioning separating the dining tables. Behind the live edge wood bar counter are a row of amber glass display shelves showcasing the intriguing choice of liquors on offer.

    A luxury suite with balcony that overlooks sea

    Image credit: Rupert Peace (styled by Florence Rolfe)

    Completing the wellness experience, the Chenot Espace is a world-renowned health and wellness centre within the resort. The spa area features silver travertine marble walls with a honed finish and washed grey oak floors, along with a burnt orange and grey fabric scheme.

    Hotel Design | Arches inside a luxury spa and pool area

    Image credit: Rupert Peace (styled by Florence Rolfe)

    From the spa’s lavish hammam baths, tiled with a shimmering gold mosaic framed by traditional Turkish stone, to the expansive indoor pool and a room crafted from grigio marble walls and dark grey non-slip simulated stone tiles accented with copper and antique bronze details, this area has been designed, utilising the senses, to take wellness to the extreme. A spray of sunset tones in the glass mosaic surrounding the pool light niches casts a warm shimmering aura through the water. 

    > Since you’re here, why not read about One&Only Mandarina?

    The arrival of One&Only in Portonovi was described by the team at HBA as a ‘labour of love’. As a result of deep research and development mixed together with intuitive design that speaks the local language, the designers have created a timeless escape that carries the One&Only brand into new territories.

    Main image credit: Rupert Peace (styled by Florence Rolfe)

    Modern fireplace in contemporary setting

    Sculptural warmth: Fireplaces with form as well as function

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Sculptural warmth: Fireplaces with form as well as function

    Handcrafted, iconic and sculpted for maximum aesthetic and function affect, the emblematic fires from FOCUS have turned up the heat in the international hospitality design arena…

    Modern fireplace in contemporary setting

    FOCUS, which was founded more than 50 years ago and has been pushing boundaries ever since, is renowned for its emblematic fires which have been exhibited in leading museums of the world including the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

    The dramatic suspended flues with pivoting hearths are instantly recognisable by their sculptural shape. These award-winning fires are so often specified for their form as much as their energy efficiency and heat functionality. All fireplaces from FOCUS – whether lit or unlit – are iconic in their designs, which are handcrafted from highest quality steel by artisans in the South of France.

    There are more than seventy designs in the FOCUS collection and each and everyone is a masterpiece in its own right. Suitable for installation in a vast range of projects from ski lodges, spas and boutique hotels to luxury five-star establishments, FOCUS fires add a certain dash of French panache. FOCUS has installed their sculptural fires throughout the world in a large variety of hotels from Nordic cabins to Australian beach resorts; from retreats in the Baleriacs to a converted railway hotel in Holland, every region has an approved partner to ensure the highest standard of service. FOCUS is recognised by the architectural and interior design community who regularly specify the fires for their projects.

    Contemporary villa with masterpiece fireplace

    Image credit: FOCUS

    Odourless and with zero particle emissions, the new gas models can be installed in reception areas of large hotels, restaurants and establishments open to the public. Equally the new Ecodesign Ready wood-burning fires with closed glazed hearths offer high energy output meeting the very highest standards and regulations across Europe.

    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.

    Main image credit: FOCUS

    Hamish Kilburn, Marie Soliman, Tom Middleton and Mark Bruce on stage at Independent Hotel Show

    Show review: Independent Hotel Show 2021

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Show review: Independent Hotel Show 2021

    Following 18 months of uncertainty, the Independent Hotel Show 2021 did what it does best; it brought people back together to re-connect, re-think and re-consider what the future for the indy hotel looks like. Editor Hamish Kilburn, speaker at the show, was there to soak it all in…

    Hamish Kilburn, Marie Soliman, Tom Middleton and Mark Bruce on stage at Independent Hotel Show

    Leading figures on the UK independent hospitality scene emerged from their bunkers this week to attend the Independent Hotel Show 2021. Exhibitors and visitors alike were not quite sure what to expect when they entered the doors of Olympia London after a year of empty lobbies followed by the double-blow of staff shortages in the wake of Brexit. But once in the hall, with natural Autumn light flooding into the arena, familiar and friendly faces started to appear and harmony was restored.

    The highly anticipated show, which like all trade events last year was forced to find virtual alternative routes to keep the industry reconnected during lockdown, was on a mission this year, it seemed, to cut through the noise in order to shelter meaningful conversations that packed a punch and allowed the live audience (a novelty that no moderator took for granted) to explore topics from a slightly different perspective.

    Among the 200 carefully curated hotel suppliers at the event, there were a number of exciting new launches on the show floor including a range of innovative technology services.

    Clockwork Marketing unveiled its new DIY marketing suite GuestNet; eviivo announced a number of new digital partners, expanding the platform’s range of bespoke offerings for hoteliers; FCS announced the European launch of its latest application FCS1 – an all-in-one web and mobile solution that elevates the way hotels can run operations, and TigerTMS launched iPortal – an affordable, app-less solution which provides branded hotel information, services and guest engagement by scanning a QR-code.

    The event also hosted the UK debut of the Cloudbeds Hospitality Platform, which offers independent hoteliers greater efficiencies in bookings, payments and accounting, channel management, marketing and more.

    Innovation on display

    The Innovation Stage, in partnership with eviivo and dressed by sofa.com, was elevated by an eight-metre-wide mural created especially by art studio Aster Muro, highlighting a continued commitment to integrating art and design into the fabric of the event.

    The Innovation Stage’s extensive seminar programme saw packed sessions across the two days of the show and covered subjects including the evolution of sensory hotel design, the effective use of customer data, tackling recruitment and retention challenges and much more.

    Hotel Designs’ first panel discussion on sensory design, with interior designer Marie Soliman, architect Mark Bruce and sound expert Tom Middleton, struck a chord with hoteliers who used the session to understand how they could set themselves aside from other hotels by taking a three-dimensional look at their design and hospitality in one. What made the topic particularly exciting was that the panel themselves were currently in early stages of using new sensory ways to elevate guest experience in the hotel projects they are working on.

    Hamish Kilburn, Marie Soliman, Tom Middleton and Mark Bruce on stage at Independent Hotel Show

    Image credit: Independent Hotel Show

    Gareth Banner, Managing Director of The Ned and panellist on ‘The Membership Model: Creating A Lifestyle Brand session, commented: “It’s great to be back at a live event after so long. When you’re in the hospitality business there’s no substitute for being with people, whether that’s customers, vendors or industry colleagues, and it’s very encouraging to see such good numbers here.”

    The show’s Social Business Space, designed by Aorta, hosted a number of campfire-style sessions during the event, allowing guests to network with and learn from their peers in an intimate, informal and productive environment and covering topics such as hotel marketing, staffing challenges, kickstarting city hotels and retaining domestic tourists.

    Peter Hancock FIH MI, outgoing Pride of Britain Hotels Chief Executive and Independent Hotel Show Ambassador, commented: “Such a delight to find the Independent Hotel Show back in business after our prolonged period of forced hibernation. I’m thrilled by how many people have come here and how excited they are about mixing with other hoteliers, learning from each other and learning from the experts that we’ve brought into the show.”  

    Celebrating success

    Monday October 4 ended with a joyous industry celebration, as guests celebrated the return of face-to-face events and the reconnection of the hotel community. The evening’s festivities kicked off with the celebration of the Good Hotel Guide’s ten Cesar Award winners. The Independent Hotel Show Awards were announced, with Joanne Taylor-Stagg FIH MI, General Manager of The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences securing Independent Hotelier and Anna Sirba, Operations Manager at Salcombe Harbour Hotel, awarded GM of the Future, in partnership with The Master Innholders.

    Juris Dubrovskis, Executive Housekeeper at The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences, was additionally named ‘One to Watch’ by the judges, for his ‘tenacity, drive and passion for hospitality’. The evening concluded with a surprise additional award for industry veteran Peter Hancock, as he was given Outstanding Contribution for his lifetime’s work in the hospitality industry.

    The morning of Tuesday October 5 saw The Power Breakfast hosted by Freemotion from iFIT, an exclusive morning session which welcomed independent hoteliers to hear renowned restaurant critics Fay Maschler and David Ellis discuss what goes into creating an exceptional hotel restaurant experience and taking a deep dive into modern restaurant trends and challenges.

    Serena von der Heyde, Owner of Georgian House Hotel & Victoria House Hotel, commented: “I loved the show. I thought the panel discussions were the best and most relevant that they’ve ever been. The Power Breakfast discussion was brilliant – informative and funny. Missing a year has reinforced my belief that the Independent Hotel Show is the most important event in my calendar.”

    Seminar at Independent Hotel Show

    Image credit: Independent Hotel Show

    Both the Social Business Space and The Suite were designed by Aorta, led by Managing Director Frida Rush, with both spaces featuring salvaged architectural materials, bespoke furniture and unique interior finishes, enveloped by the grand industrial presence of Olympia London.

    During the event, organiser Montgomery Group announced the launch of new digital platform IH Connects, a free resource for hoteliers to source new suppliers and keep up to date with industry thought leadership, webinars, research and more. The platform will host on-demand seminar content from the two days of the show and will continue to host innovative sessions and vital industry debates throughout the year.

    The Independent Hotel Show will return to Olympia London on October 4 – 5 2022 for its 10th edition.

    Main image credit: Independent Hotel Show

    Unidrain bathroom inside the Admiral hotel in Copenhagen

    Case study: Designing unique bathroom solutions inside Copenhagen hotel

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    Case study: Designing unique bathroom solutions inside Copenhagen hotel

    Bathroom brand Unidrain came up with innovative solutions to future-proof a four-star hotel in Copenhagen’s bathrooms…

    The majority of the globetrotting visitors to the four-star Admiral Hotel in Copenhagen have little or no knowledge of its extremely colourful history.

    Unidrain bathroom inside the Admiral hotel in Copenhagen

    Originally built in 1787 as a warehouse by Danish companies involved in the slave trade, it was in the fore of the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801 and served as a combined hospital and mortuary for the desperate people of Copenhagen when the British bombed the Danish capital in 1807.

    With such a dramatic background the historic building on Toldbodgade was certainly deserving of its most recent renovation. This spanned several years and Unidrain have played an important role in this process.

    “The renovation has taken several years. When a building as old as this one is to be renovated, there is no such thing as a standard solution. Every aspect has to be adapted to the building,” explains Lasse Lyck, Unidrain’s technical manager.

    Planning to prevent water damage – Unidrain has assisted the hotel with the renovation of 366 bathrooms.

    “Renovating bathrooms in a centuries-old building can have disastrous consequences if incorrect solutions are chosen or the drains are installed incorrectly. Unidrain advised the hotel on its options and limitations regarding the bathroom renovation from very early in the process,” explains Unidrain’s architectural adviser Dennis Bagge.

    “Water damage is extremely difficult to correct in a building of this age, so it’s important to choose the right solution from the start. At Unidrain, we advise on both the technical aspects and the design, and we also give a physical demonstration of how our various products are to be installed, so they can see what is needed and why,” he explains.

    Special design solution makes shower screens invisible

    In most instances our products are manufactured to standard measurements, but when the need arises, we are able to customise the products to the customer’s special wishes. This was the case with the bathrooms at the Admiral Hotel.

    “To achieve the best results, both the shower screens and drains differ by a few centimetres from the standard measurements. It might not sound like a lot, but it makes a big difference to the project and to the customer,” says Lasse Lyck.

    It’s not just their measurements that our linear drains and shower screens for the historic hotel diverge from the standard. Working closely together with the hotel, we developed a completely new design solution.

    “The hotel bathrooms are relatively small, so it was important to install shower screens which could barely be seen, which we managed to do,” says Lyck.

    Unidrain’s shower screen is usually fastened to the floor and the tiled wall using a visible U-profile, but it is now mounted directly in the tiled floor and in the tiled wall, without any visible fittings.

    “The shower screens and the rail render the screens pretty much invisible. This makes a small bathroom feel more spacious, it was the perfect solution,” explains Lyck.

     

    Hyatt Centric brand debuts in UK with Cambridge opening

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    Hyatt Centric brand debuts in UK with Cambridge opening

    The opening of Hyatt Centric Cambridge, situated in the same sustainable development of Turing Locke, marks the brand’s arrival in the UK. The 150-key hotel has been designed by AvroKO to reflect the destination’s storied history. Editor Hamish Kilburn explores…

    Envisioned by the same interior design studio, AvroKO, that was responsible for the creation of the recently opened Turing Locke, Hyatt Centric Cambridge also shares the same postcode as the new aparthotel. Both hotels have recently opened their doors inside the new sustainable development in the neighbourhood of Eddington, but as far as the design narrative goes, both hotels stand alone offering something different.

    The milestone opening of Hyatt Centric Cambridge marks the debut of the brand in the UK (and the 10th Hyatt hotel in the country). Situated just outside the centre of Cambridge, renowned for its leafy parks, magnificent architecture, picturesque River Cam and stunning historic centre, the 150-key lifestyle hotel provides the perfect launchpad for adventurous travellers to explore the buzzing city, which is sharply becoming somewhat of a hotspot for hotel developers.

    Located two miles northwest from the city’s historic heart, guests can explore the quaint cobbled streets or enjoy an afternoon punting on the River Cam, passing by stunning University colleges.

    Set around a central courtyard, the hotel’s modern, inviting architecture and interiors, designed by Stirling Prize-winning architects dRMM, reflect the destination’s storied history. The social lobby features floor-to-ceiling windows flooding the space with bright, natural light, and modern furnishings with natural, wood finishes. A carefully curated selection of artworks nods to the scientific history of Cambridge, adding vibrant flashes of colour to the communal spaces.

    “We are thrilled to open the doors of Hyatt Centric Cambridge. Cambridge is one of the most iconic cities in the UK thanks to its magnificent architecture, university buildings and historic centre. The hotel’s location allows curious guests to make the most of what the destination has to offer,” said Martin Newbould, General Manager, Hyatt Centric Cambridge. “We are excited for our guests to enjoy the hotel’s array of facilities including our distinct bar, restaurant and coffee shop, which offer savvy travellers share-worthy experiences.” 

    A blue large bedroom inside the Hyatt Centric hotel in CambridgeThe 150 chic guestrooms mix understated grandeur with art deco touches. Warming mustard velvets mix with bold, calming blues, all complemented by rich walnut wood touches. 57 guestrooms offer a stunning courtyard view, 30 of which are deluxe rooms offering an even more spacious stay. Rooms include a selection of thoughtful amenities, featuring a flat screen television with Bluetooth capabilities, an alarm clock radio with Bluetooth pairing, Bee Kind bath amenities, cosy bathrobes and more.

    F&B

    Four distinguished dining options offer a diverse mix of international cuisine, using local produce from established Cambridge brands. Guests can kick-start their morning at KOTA’s coffee shop, with artisan baked goods, third-wave coffee from Saint Espresso roasted on-site, as well as revitalising juices and smoothies.  

    KOTA restaurant will focus on the Finnish concept of charcoal cooking and community dining; catering for guests and locals throughout the day with fresh, bright brunches leading into light daytime dining, and a chargrilled evening menu complemented by botanical cocktails.

    Public areas of Locke/Hyatt Centric Cambridge

    Image credit: Edmund Dabney

    The Dutch offers classic cocktails with a twist, serving lip-smacking flavour combinations inspired by exotic drinks from all corners of the globe. Guests can indulge in delicious light bites and sharing platters including cured meats, British cheeses and antipasti.

    The seasonal roof terrace is the perfect spot for a sundown and provides unparalleled views to match. Created by the team of mixologists, guests can sip on imaginative, botanical cocktails which mix aromatics, fresh infusions and shrubs. The menu also includes a selection of refreshing craft beers all from local breweries, as well as nibbles and small bites.

    Meeting and event space

    Guests can make the most of the comfortable co-working area, which offers free Wi-Fi and all the hotel’s amenities on hand. Two adaptable meeting rooms, spanning 44sqm and 24sqm, boast large windows and high-spec audiovisual equipment for meetings, conferences and events for up to 30 people.

    The seasonal roof terrace will also cater for larger events, hosting up to 150 guests for drinks receptions, presentations, networking and many other social gatherings.

    The hotel also includes a fitness centre offering state-of-the-art equipment and free weights, so guests can maintain their healthy lifestyle whilst on the road.

    Main image credit: Edmund Dabney

    A flamboyant interior design scheme inside the lobby of golf resort in Palm Springs

    Designing the golf resort for tomorrow’s hotel design scene

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    Designing the golf resort for tomorrow’s hotel design scene

    PGA National Resort & Spa (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) recently partnered with hospitality design firm KTGY Simeone Deary Design Group to conceptualise ‘the golf club of tomorrow’, breathing new life into the iconic resort’s guestrooms and main public spaces, which will be completed in January, 2022…

    A flamboyant interior design scheme inside the lobby of golf resort in Palm Springs

    Golf resort getaways abroad are a bucket-list experience for many, and while the courses are typically exceptional, the resort itself is often lacklustre with uninspiring and outdated design.

    To confront these conventional, often rigid, hospitality spaces, PGA National Resort & Spa (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) invited hospitality design firm KTGY Simeone Deary Design Group to re-imagine the golf club and resort of tomorrow.

    Hotel design | Porto Cochere at PGA hotel in Palm Springs

    Image credit: PGA National Resort & Spa

    To do this, according to Lisa Simeone, Principal at the design studio, the team immersed themselves in research to fully understand the current state of today’s golf clubs in order to create the golf club of tomorrow. Through a deep-dive into current challenges – memberships and competition, how to appeal to the tried-and-true golfer, the non-golfer, and what new generations are looking for – the team set out to break the mold of the typical club and showcase what a real-and-relevant golf resort can-and-should look like.

    With an overarching understanding established, designers researched additional details – beginning with the resort’s home of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Founded in 1960 by visionary John D. MacArthur, Palm Beach Gardens was a city planned and fashioned to be one with nature. Conceptualised to be a true garden city, a mighty Banyan tree was established as the city’s symbol and centre. Leaning into three major pillars revolving around this location – the era of the 1960’s, the planning of the “Garden City,” and resort life of Southern Florida – designers set their space plan layouts and design vision into motion.

    Crisp black, white, and poppy striped cabana curtains and a tented arrival awning creates a flawless entry sequence to the grand lobby. Here, a traversing path to the left leads to a private check-in area, guest elevators, and a sundries juice bar. To the right, guests find their way to the signature restaurant and specialty chocolatier shop.

    Hotel design | contemporary reception desk inside golf resort in Palm Springs

    Image credit: PGA National Resort & Spa

    Designers raised the main lobby area up two steps, truly elevating the space and making way for two sunken semi-circular, decidedly 60’s conversation pits in two corners of the swanky space. A central floating bar, the lobby’s focal point, sits against the windowed backdrop of silhouetted palm trees. Underfoot, flooring of exotic marble in shades of purple, pink, and green – is full of movement. This unique stone not only sets off the bar footprint but rises to become the bar face and top – a truly monolithic centerpiece.

    A loud and bold interior design scheme inside golf resort in Palm Springs

    Image credit: PGA National Resort & Spa

    The back bar, made of glass and twisted metal, is a soaring interpretation of a Banyan tree. Set against these architectural elements sit many and varied colourfully modern seating groupings. From blush pink endless leather sofas punctuated with fringed, lush green pillows to bentwood rattan chairs decked in tribal-inspired fabrics, to high-gloss root tables and lanky tubular metal lounge slings, each selection plays up a vibrant social vibe.

    Elevator corridors take a decidedly tropical turn as over-scale hibiscus flowers and lush fern leaves adorn walls while beachy, pastel corals and pinks stipple the hallway’s custom runner. In the guestroom corridors, an amalgam of sunset creams, hot corals, and persimmon is set against lime and lush green lead to guestrooms of respite and repose.

    Hotel designs | A large suite with rattan bed and plush furniture

    Image credit: PGA National Resort & Spa

    Cool tones and clean lines are “de-rigueur” for these warm-climate retreats set in perfect counterpoint to public areas. Keeping with the 60’s modern-tropical concept, guestrooms are relaxed-yet-posh residential-like escapes. Custom, vintage-inspired wallcoverings, plush area rugs, thickly-upholstered headboards with moody bedside lighting, mid-century style soft seating, and lacquered and caned case goods come together to create a collected look within a palette of soft sepias, greys, taupes, greens, corals, pinks, bright white and charcoal brown.

    The reimagined interior spaces blend a 1960’s vibe with an old-Florida aesthetic, inspired by the area’s foliage and rich history. The result is a hospitality experience that’s playful, inclusive and luxe, delighting golf-lovers and travel enthusiasts, alike.

    Main image credit: PGA

    Independent Hotel Show Awards 2021

    Independent Hotel Show Awards 2021 – and the winners are…

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    Independent Hotel Show Awards 2021 – and the winners are…

    The winners have been announced for the 2021 Independent Hotel Show Awards, which took place on the first evening of the show that was held at Olympia London…

    Independent Hotel Show Awards 2021

    On October 4, the industry gathered at Olympia London to experience this year’s highly anticipated Independent Hotel Show Awards, which for many reasons, was about celebrating UK hospitality’s true leaders and visionaries.

    Joanne Taylor-Stagg FIH MI, General Manager of The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences secured Independent Hotelier, while Anna Sirba, Operations Manager at Salcombe Harbour Hotel, was awarded GM of the Future, in partnership with The Master Innholders. Juris Dubrovskis, Executive Housekeeper at The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences, was additionally named ‘One to Watch’ by the judges, for his ‘tenacity, drive and passion for hospitality’.

    The judges for both awards were some of the industry’s most respected hoteliers and hospitality professionals hailing from iconic independent hotels and vital industry institutions.

    Taylor-Stagg has overseen multi-million-pound refurbishments, worked on acquisitions and refinancing deals and has a passion for progressing and nurturing young talent. She played a pivotal role in setting up the inaugural IHG Academy helping the young and long-term unemployed return to work and recently worked with Dr Hilary Cooke to create Master Innholders Developing Additional Skills (MIDAS) in response to the exodus of young talent from the industry due to Covid-19.

    She commented: “I’m very proud, not only of our achievements but of everything that the industry has done through the most challenging of times. Thank you very much for this, but I would like to share it with all my fellow nominees.”

    Sirba has successfully taken part in two luxury hotel pre-opening projects, is a Member of the Institute of Hospitality and a Certified Associate member of HOSPA, and commented: “I’m extremely honoured, I still can’t believe it, I can’t thank my team enough for supporting me. It’s been really tough but also amazing and without my team I wouldn’t be here – thank you very much!”

    David Morgan-Hewitt FIH MI, awards judge and Chairman of the Master Innholders, said: “The GM of the Future Award was created by The Master Innholders to champion the next generation of hotel leaders and is designed to celebrate those who go the ‘extra mile’ to demonstrate their commitment to becoming a future leader.

    “Anna and Juris both embody these qualities and share a great passion for the hotel industry. On behalf of The Master Innholders I congratulate them on their awards and extend a well done to all finalists who demonstrated such a high standard of entry.”

    Elena Attanasio, Event Director for the Independent Hotel Show, presented by James Hallam, commented: “Huge congratulations to our 2021 award winners. This year’s event is a vital celebration and chance to reconnect as a hospitality community. Both Joanne and Anna have demonstrated their passion for this fantastic industry and are hugely deserving of these accolades.”

    Outstanding contribution

    A surprise addition to the evening’s accolades was an Outstanding Contribution award for long-standing Independent Hotel Show Ambassador and industry veteran Peter Hancock FIH MI, outgoing CEO of Pride of Britain Hotels.

    David Noble, Managing Director – Hospitality and Leisure at James Hallam, announced the award, saying: “This is an award given to a person to reflect their contribution to the hotel sector. It isn’t given every year, but this year there is one person that deserves special recognition.

    “Our winner was made an honorary Master Innholder in 2014, something I know he holds dear to his heart. He is also an honorary St Julian scholar, a brilliant Ronnie Corbett impersonator, a Freeman of the City of London and the list goes on.

    “He is a wonderful human being, and his sparkle will leave a legacy in the hotel sector for many years to come. It is my great pleasure to introduce you to the winner of the Outstanding Contribution award. It is the one, and only, Peter Hancock.”

    Hancock said: “I was absolutely thrilled and surprised to receive the Outstanding Contribution award at the Independent Hotel Show. It was such a lovely tribute. When you get to the end of your career, a little pat on the back can go a long way to making you feel good about it and to receive the award in front of such a distinguished audience at the show meant a great deal to me and I shall cherish it forever.”

    Learn more about the award winners on the Independent Hotel Show website. The Independent Hotel Show will return to Olympia London on 4-5 October 2022.

    Main image credit: Independent Hotel Show Awards 2021

    Hotel Designs | A pastel pink bathroom - Crosswater Infinity furniture

    Infinite bathroom furniture ideas from Crosswater

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    Infinite bathroom furniture ideas from Crosswater

    Infinity, Crosswater’s new bathroom furniture collection, is focused on client customisation. Seamlessly blending practicality and functionality, the new range gives interior freedom with plenty of design possibilities, as bathrooms become much more than just practical spaces…

    Hotel Designs | A pastel pink bathroom - Crosswater Infinity furniture

    Modular, smart, and stylish, Infinity is a wall hung storage collection that provides the ‘perfect bathroom furniture collection’ by  Crosswater. Whether clients want optimal organisation, exposed shelving, or luxe coverings to conceal endless clutter, Infinity boasts an extensive number of design combinations that result in beautifully bespoke cabinetry at an off-the-shelf price.

    The Infinity design journey is surprisingly simple, requiring just four steps:

    Step one: Choose your base

    Available in matt white, windsor oak, matt black, storm grey matt, and white gloss, the Infinity vanity unit comes in six sizes, ranging from 500mm to 1400mm. Each size unit has a specific configuration, providing a different combination of drawer units and shelving units.

    These combinations allow customers to choose a unit that will best suit their bathroom needs or desired aesthetic, whether that’s prioritising drawers to hide skincare essentials or opting for more exposed shelves to display decorative accessories. There is also the option of a pull-out drawer, a great choice for those wanting quick and easy access to every inch of storage space.

    Step two: Pick your worktop

    Calm neutral colours in modern bathroomThere are six worktop sizes available that match any base unit configuration. With a choice of three colours, carrara marble effect, polar white, and windsor oak, each worktop is crafted from a hard-wearing solid surface material that is easy to clean and impenetrable to dust, dirt, and bacteria.

    Step three: Select your handles

    Four handle finishes are on offer, including chrome, matt black, brushed brass, and brushed stainless steel. In addition to complementing the contemporary bathroom unit, these handle finishes will perfectly match Crosswater’s extensive brassware options.

    Step four: Finish with a tile front

    Image credit: Crosswater

    Available in three finishes, carrara marble effect, marquina marble effect, and cement effect, the tile front is the showpiece of the Infinity unit. Designed to replicate natural materials for a truly authentic aesthetic, each tile varies slightly in its tone, pattern, and colour. For the indecisive shopper, Crosswater recommends investing in all three tile fronts, enabling a quick and simple design update whenever the bathroom needs a refresh.

    > Since you’re here, why not read about the Artist collection from Crosswater? 

    Crosswater, Headline Sponsor of The Brit List Awards 2021, is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Crosswater

    Hotel Designs | A mint and soft pink tonal tiles in the kitchen

    Surface design trend: Tonal tiles in all shapes & sizes

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    Surface design trend: Tonal tiles in all shapes & sizes

    As we pivot into a new design season, we take a look at CTD Architectural Tiles’ latest tonal collection, which is right on trend…

    As interior design schemes in the commercial and hospitality sectors become more adventurous and demanding in terms of aesthetics, interior designers, architects and developers are calling for a breadth of co-ordinating product choice when it comes to surface design.

    Hotel Designs | A mint and soft pink tonal tiles in the kitchen

    Offering its customers true design value and flexibility, CTD Architectural Tiles boasts a vast and varied product portfolio comprising of numerous co-ordinating collections, ensuring project briefs can be achieved with ease. Corresponding colour palettes, textural contrasts and pattern arrangements can work in harmony across different collections, producing schemes that deliver both style and practicality.

     

    The Varadero patterned hexagon tile collection and the colourful Poitiers range are often specified thanks to their corresponding tones. From the cool mint hues and soothing blue shades to more neutral greys, the collections pair effortlessly. The contrast in the finish from glossy to matte and pattern to plain colour ensures the completed scheme will have the ideal balance of character and style whilst still co-ordinating exquisitely.

    Inspired by the warmth and colours of the Mediterranean, the BOW and Terra collections complement each other exceptionally well. The soft terracotta tones of Terra, available in a range of formats for a variety of layout options, and the pops of colour and curved shape of the BOW tiles provide the perfect solution for walls and floors in hospitality, commercial, retail and residential projects alike.

    Hotel Designs | Minimalist design of room with tonal design scheme

    Image credit: CTD Architectural Tiles

    Enhance a scheme by adding complementary colours and patterns to these ranges through the popular Poitiers and Varadero collections. For an effortless earthy palette with a hint of inspiration from nature, introduce a deep green and soft blues to the clay tones of Terra, or for a more daring approach, combine tonal variations of pink and red with a neutral grey base for a statement scheme that’s guaranteed to add wow-factor.

    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

    Yi-Zhen Twenty2Degrees

    Meet Yi-Zhen Jones, Associate at twenty2degrees Design Partnership

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    Meet Yi-Zhen Jones, Associate at twenty2degrees Design Partnership

    Recently promoted, Yi-Zehn Jones is shaking things up inside the creative and forward-thinking design studio we all know and love, Twenty2Degrees Design Partnership. Following the completion of The Fellows House in Cambridge, the interior designer sat down with editor Hamish Kilburn to explain what working life is like inside one of London’s leading design firms…

    Yi-Zhen Twenty2Degrees

    There are few hotel design studios who can tell a story quite like Twenty2Degrees Design Partnership. Led by Joe Stella and Nick Stoupas, the duo are known for keeping the party alive (throwback to the negroni tap that was displayed and fully functional at their set at Sleep & Eat 2019) while also driving the industry forward. Having completed hotels such as The Dixon, The Artisan and Hilton Bankside (among others), the design studio secured its place in the hospitality design history books.

    Recently, the completion of The Fellows House in Cambridge, which shelters a deep narrative I described in my review as “a history, chemistry, literature and art lesson packaged up in one unforgettable hospitality experience”, put the design firm front and centre as the city becomes a major hotel development hotspot. When researching the designers who were behind this sharp project, I came across interior designer Yi-Zhen Jones, who has recently been promoted as Associate at Twenty2Degrees. Move over, lads, Jones’ taking the reins and leaving her mark…

    Lobby area inside The Fellows House

    Image credit: The Fellows House, Cambridge

    Hamish Kilburn: What’s it like working for a cutting-edge design firm like twenty2degrees?

    Yi-Zhen Jones: Before I joined twenty2degrees just over two years ago, the majority of my experience was with global architectural & design firms which was a good learning opportunity. Now, as part of the twenty2degrees’ team, I am working in a specialist practice with an international hospitality portfolio of the highest level where we have the depth of hospitality expertise to work on varied projects and I can learn from and engage with people who really understand everything it takes to design a great hotel.

    More than this, the directors really encourage everyone’s engagement and ideas. We are a small, very collaborative team which means there is a sense of freedom and creative expression but at the same time of personal responsibility. We all have our areas of expertise but we can pitch in and help each other out wherever necessary – we have a great team. We work hard but we are also able to maintain a great balance between work and personal life which is strongly encouraged by the directors. Twenty2degrees has been a refreshing change of pace.

    HK: Can you explain your new role – how does it differ from your former role – at the design studio?

    YZJ: “My role is evolving. As senior designer, I was involved in almost all the projects at some point – that’s the nature of a boutique firm, we are all hands-on. Now, as associate, I am more deeply involved in certain projects and taking on more of the decision making, but always in consultation with the directors.

    HK: What projects have you recently completed – and what are you currently working on?

    I have been working on The Fellows House Cambridge, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton which opened in June. It is an apartment-style hotel designed to offer a home-away-from-home, infused with the legacy of the university fellows and the cultural soul of Cambridge. The question for us had been how to achieve this without being too literal and while the design narrative is sometimes thought-provoking, it is also playful and layered to feed guest curiosity.

    Currently, I am busy on Hyatt Regency projects in London, Paris and Nairobi, as well as the Marriott Brussels and a new Kempinski in Cameroon. We have an incredible variety of projects and there is never a dull moment.

    HK: You recently participated in a panel discussion with us on sensory design, which will be published shortly. Why as an industry have we not given this topic the same attention as we are currently giving it?

    YZJ: I think perhaps that the pandemic has something to do with this. We have spent 18 months enduring lockdowns which on the one hand deprived us of new experiences but on the other gave us the space to connect with our senses. As a result, people are now more aware about the benefits of sensory stimulation.

    QUICK-FIRE ROUND

    HK: Name one trend you hope that never returns?
    YZ:     Designing for Instagram

    HK: Name one hotel brand that is impressing you as a real disrupter on the hotel design scene?
    YZJ: Birch

    HK: Where’s next on your travel bucket list?
    YZJ: Simple. A trip home to New Zealand to have a proper Christmas on the beach again when travel restrictions are eased

    HK: What’s one thing people would not know about you?
    YZJ: In my former life as an artist I was quite a prolific cross-stitcher

    HK: Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?
    YZJ: Still doing what I love, designing great hotels!

    HK: As a woman in a leadership position, what more can we do to practice (not just promote) equality in our sector?

    YZJ: I consider myself lucky at twenty2degrees where people are judged by their talent and contribution to the business. However, I do think diversity in all its forms as well as gender equality need to be addressed in our sector and that this is a challenge that needs to be made to everyone in leadership positions. The more voices that are represented and heard the better and more interesting our industry will be.

    HK: Young designers are struggling at the moment – what advice would you give young professionals?

    YZJ: Keep your creative spark alive, whatever it takes, and don’t become disheartened. Actually, it was quite a difficult marketplace when I graduated with my master’s degree. It took me the best part of a year to find my first full-time placement and then another year before I started working on hospitality projects. Ultimately, if you are interested and determined, you will break into the industry.

    Main image credit: Twenty2Degrees Design Partnership

    Urmia from Sekers

    Product watch: The URMIA collection by Sekers

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    Product watch: The URMIA collection by Sekers

    Sekers announces the launch of URMIA, a smooth, soft sheen satin blackout which is available in a refined palette of 13 colourways, featuring a range of neutrals and bold blue tones…

    Urmia is a four-pass blackout which prohibits light from entering the room, it also provides insulation against hot and cold temperatures and protection against sunlight damage.

    Urmia from Sekers

    Available in regular width at 140cm and wide width at 295cm, Urmia is suitable for all aspects of the contract market. This sophisticated fabric is washable at 71 degrees Celsius thus making it suitable for healthcare applications.

    Urmia is a contract fabric that can be widely used across marine, hospitality, leisure and workplace environments, meeting all relevant UK and USA standards for curtains, this lustrous collection makes the ideal choice for a designer specifying for the contract market.

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

    Main image credit: Sekers

    Hotel design | 60's inspired living room inside Turing Locke

    Locke opens hotel in sustainable development in Cambridge

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Locke opens hotel in sustainable development in Cambridge

    Locke, the pioneering lifestyle aparthotel brand from edyn, opens its ninth property. Turing Locke, a new 180-key hotel, is situated in the heart of Cambridge’s sustainable new development, Eddington….

    Hotel design | 60's inspired living room inside Turing Locke

    The opening of Turing Locke, in the heart of Cambridge’s sustainable new development, Eddington, marks the continued international growth of Locke (by edyn), which has opened four locations in London, Dublin and Munich so far this year.

    “The aparthotel seamlessly combines mid-century design choices with modernist flares.”

    Named after the revolutionary computer scientist Alan Turing, the aparthotel comprises 180 stylish apartments (including one- and two-bedroom apartments, up to 74sqm), which each feature Locke’s signature fully fitted kitchens, living and dining space – ideal for extended stay guests. The aparthotel also includes a restaurant, cocktail bar, coffee shop, retail space, co-working area, gym, meeting and events space for up to 150 guests, along with a seasonal rooftop terrace and central landscaped courtyard.

    Designed by Stirling Prize-winning architects dRMM, with interiors by the globally renowned design firm AvroKO’s London studio, Turing Locke takes its design cues from the avant-garde movements established in Cambridge. The aparthotel seamlessly combines mid-century design choices with modernist flares, set against a calm and cosy colour palette of greens, pinks and teal.

    Hotel designs | A soft and contemporary bedroom, with wooden headboard and insect art

    Image

    Turing Locke will serve as a focal point for the new community of Eddington, which has been developed by the University of Cambridge as an exemplar of sustainable living. Sustainability has been a central focus in the construction and design of Turing Locke, which features on-site renewable energy sources, biodiverse landscaping, and responsibly sourced furniture, lighting, and timber – as well as 200 cycle parking spaces and 20 electrical vehicle charging spots. These measures have reduced the development’s carbon emissions by 20 per cent, and targets BREEAM Excellent certification. As part of a brand-wide initiative, Locke has partnered with climate positive procurement consultancy Dodds & Shute to source timber, furniture, and lighting from responsible suppliers. As a result, Locke has offset 116.53 tonnes of carbon emissions – equivalent to protecting 4,307 trees. 

    “Our ambition is to create a new community hub in Cambridge and establish Eddington as one of the City’s most exciting new destinations.” – Stephen McCall, CEO, edyn.

    “Turing Locke marks our ninth Locke opening, and a milestone in our commitment to sustainability,” said Stephen McCall, CEO of Locke’s parent company edyn. “It has been an honour to work alongside the University of Cambridge to create our new home in Eddington, which has enabled us to take significant strides towards becoming a more sustainably conscious business. Our ambition is to create a new community hub in Cambridge and establish Eddington as one of the City’s most exciting new destinations, where locals and visitors alike can meet, work and exchange ideas.”

    Working with locally-renowned partners to create two new food and drink destinations – KOTA and Dutch – Turing Locke will firmly establish Eddington as the new hotspot in Cambridge, creating exciting opportunities for existing local businesses.

    A contemporary walkway into soft pink living room

    Image credit: Locke

    KOTA expands across three areas of the building, including a restaurant, seasonal rooftop terrace and coffee shop. The main restaurant and courtyard area specialises in lazy brunches, barbequed flavours, cocktails and craft beer; while the coffee shop serves third wave coffee roasted in-house by London-based roasters Saint Espresso, alongside juices and light bites. On the seasonal roof terrace, KOTA showcases an innovative cocktail menu and small plates.

     Dutch features an extensive cocktail menu alongside expertly sourced spirits, wines and beers, plus locally sourced platters of British cheeses and cured meats and salads, tortillas and tapas-style small plates.

    A permanent art installation by local artist, Fiona Curran, emboldens the courtyard space, which aims to connect the rich history of Cambridge with its progressive future by drawing on references from archaeology and astronomy. The destination will also host an evolving cultural programme, which will include regular talks, workshops, exercise classes and more, and will be available to attend to locals and guests.

    Turing Locke co-habits the building with the new 150-room Hyatt Centric Cambridge – Hyatt’s tenth hotel in the UK and the debut of its lifestyle brand Hyatt Centric in the country. Turing Locke and Hyatt Centric Cambridge share the courtyard space and all communal areas, including the food and beverage offering at the hotel.

    Main image credit: Locke

    Harrods new Hair & Beauty Salon (1)

    Case study: Creating club-like wellness experience inside Harrods

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Case study: Creating club-like wellness experience inside Harrods

    Beverley Bayes, Creative Director at Sparcstudio speaks to Hotel Designs about the new luxury design concept inside Harrods’ ‘completely remangined, modernised and elevated’  luxury spa offering…

    Harrods new Hair & Beauty Salon (1)

    Sparcstudio is known and respected for creating spectacular spa and wellness experiences that are unlike any other. From Cottonmill Spa at Sopwell House to The Spa at South Lodge, the team’s effortless ability to create a tranquil setting while challenging conventional approaches to wellness design has set new standards on the hospitality scene globally. Therefore, for those who have experienced these spaces, it was only a matter of time before the studio landed its next major project.

    London’s famous department store Harrods, which was founded more than 170 years ago, recently decided to revamp its look and feel – and part of the grand plans was to completely reimagine the brand’s spa offering. The launch of the Hair & Beauty Salon marked the final phase of the brand’s beauty business transformation, led by Director of Beauty Annalise Fard, to become one of the world’s largest beauty destinations. “We worked collaboratively with award winning creative design studio, Sparcstudio on the beautiful redesign of our new Hair and Beauty Salon at Harrods,” Fard commented. “Sparcstudio is renowned for producing incredible five-star spa and wellness facilities and we felt they would be the perfect fit for this momentous project.”

    The new game-changing 16,985 sq. ft. Hair & Beauty Salon space offers customers a refined beauty and wellness experience, an element that has long been a part of the iconic store’s DNA, with Harrods’ first ‘Hairdressing and Manicure Department’ having opened in 1894.

    For the redesign of the newly reimagined Harrods Hair & Beauty Salon, the designers wanted to instil a unique ‘sense of place’ with design details that create a ‘club-like’ feel that were uniquely ‘Harrods’.

    Drawing inspiration from archive photos of previous incarnations of the beauty treatment areas in the store, the hairdressing area also includes a hair extension library, luxury backwash area with a conditioning bar, as well as a more private ‘Salon Privee’  with five hair-stations and its own backwash area.

    The extensive treatment zone has 12 rooms with its own oval deco inspired waiting lounge, plus an ‘Eye Zone’ suite for brow and lash services. All zones are supported by a large reception/check-in zone, cloakroom and customer washrooms.

    Harrods new Hair & Beauty Salon - Hairdressing Rotunda

    Image credit: Julian Broad

    Space-planning with an organic flow

    A key element of the scheme’s success is the flow of the overall space-planning. “We created an organic flowing feel to the circulation designed to enable customers passing through to have glimpses into the various zones whilst retaining privacy for treatment spaces,” Bayes told Hotel Designs. “Deco-style ‘portals’ herald the entrances with a sweeping walkway, leading through to the curved check in and reception zone.”

    Customers entering from the Technology department pass through a ‘Galleried Walkway’  formed from a series of illuminated arches with full height digital flat screens displaying curated salon imagery and promotions. There are views through to the ‘half-moon’ shaped Eye zone reception with six luxurious lash and brow pods fanning out from the greeting desk at the centre. The ‘Salon Privee’ is accessed via a private corridor off this space, with its own circular waiting area, hair stations and luxury of the backwash zone.

    The Salon’s dedicated hairstyling space, the Hairdressing Rotunda, features new stations that are spaced out in a curved central seating area, inspired by the salon’s original 1982 design. Paying homage to the Salon’s heritage and bringing back a sense of sophistication and iconic glamour was a key focus, whilst also offering privacy for guests and their stylists to chat away freely, we wanted to create a Sense of ‘Theatre’ for customers and hairdressers alike.

    The perimeter windows were opened to provide natural light and installed with bespoke leather window seats providing mid-treatment break out spaces for customers with views from the 5th floor location over Brompton Road & Hans Crescent below, providing a connection to the Knightsbridge creating a true ‘Sense of place.’

    Inspired by traditional Japanese head spa rituals, which the Harrods beauty team discovered in Tokyo, the unique room offers guests a rejuvenating ‘facial for the scalp.’ Guests are encouraged to lie back on Yume fully extending backwash beds, relax and enjoy a soothing head massage. The space has calming music and soft, ambient lighting (concealed within faceted panels which wrap around the walls and ceiling).

    Members’ club meets spa

    In order to create a real sense of luxury, and a ‘club-like’ feel, great attention was paid to the detailing of all customer ‘touchpoints’, from the panelled cloakroom lined with archive prints of Harrods hair and beauty areas of the past, to the oval shaped deco panel lined treatment  and eye zone waiting areas. These incorporate bespoke rugs inspired by vintage ’30’s designs and curved leather banquette sofas with roll back rests inspired by 1920’s international style furniture. Bespoke light-fittings formed in Alabaster, glass and brass add further to the club-like ambience.

    12 treatment rooms, including body, facial, waxing and dedicated laser rooms are accessed from an oval shaped corridor, lined with fluted plaster and illuminated brass lined door surrounds. A number of treatment rooms are curve ended and all have built-in guest seating and wardrobe, bespoke Alabaster wall light fittings, fluted cabinetry and chalk ash wall panelling offset with warm copper mirror.

    Sparcstudio 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: Julian Broad

    Hotel Design | Hilton hotel in Porto - a contemporary spa

    Hilton Porto Gaia opens inside former port warehouse

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Hilton Porto Gaia opens inside former port warehouse

    Portugal’s second Hilton Hotels & Resorts hotel has opened. The 194-key hotel, situated in the Porto district, occupies a renovated former port warehouse in Vila Nova de Gaia…

    Hilton Porto Gaia has opened, which marks Hilton Hotels & Resort’s second property to arrive in Portugal – and it’s a beauty!

    Hotel Design | Hilton hotel in Porto - a contemporary spa

    “In partnership with Sabersal — Promoção Turística e Imobiliária, S.A., we are thrilled to open Hilton Porto Gaia, our second Portuguese property under our flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand,” said David Kelly, Senior Vice President, Continental Europe, Hilton. “Though modern in style, the former port warehouse still retains the original shape in keeping with the area’s architecture, connecting guests to the history and culture of Vila Nova de Gaia through its unique design elements and locally inspired drinking and dining options. This opening solidifies our commitment to Portugal, Hilton Porto Gaia being the first in a series of new openings that will see Hilton’s portfolio more than double in the coming years.”

    A 40 million Euro project development project preserved the property’s classic shape and structure, whilst substantial refurbishments took place influenced by the building’s unique character. Drawing on Porto-Gaia’s rich heritage, the hotel’s interior has been styled by the award-winning Portuguese designer Nini de Andrade Silva to offer contemporary comfort and sophisticated design throughout the eight floors and 32,000-square-meter space. The hotel’s rooms have also been designed with the building’s history in mind, and many offer excellent views of the Douro River and the historic centre of Porto-Gaia.

    With a range of drinking and dining options, guests can enjoy the hotel’s two bars and restaurant, the latter of which is headed by celebrated chef Hugo Portela. Portela takes his inspiration from authentic local cuisine, interpreted with a modern and contemporary twist using locally sourced ingredients. The building’s two bars are an extension of this concept, with areas dedicated to artisan coffee prepared by specialist baristas and to the art of mixology, with signature cocktails that can be enjoyed with a panoramic view over the banks of the Douro River.

    The hotel’s wellness centre, meanwhile, spread more than 1,100 square metres, emphasises ‘slow beauty’, a holistic approach to the body, mind, and spirit. Guests can relax in dedicated rest areas and take advantage of the heated indoor pool, which references the building’s port wine history with its garnet-toned design. The space also hosts a dynamic fitness centre, with a fully equipped gym open to the public, and a stylish studio ideal for the practice of yoga, pilates and clinical pilates.

    Hilton Porto Gaia also offers more than 2,200 square meters of dedicated conference, event and meeting rooms. The extensive meeting space features a magnificent ballroom that can host up to 600 people and an impressive auditorium, which comfortably accommodates 350 attendees and is equipped with the latest technology, including a lift stage.

    Main image credit: Hilton

    Hotel Designs | Liquid Layers collection by Moooi in minimalist room

    At one with nature: Liquid Layers by Moooi Carpet

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    At one with nature: Liquid Layers by Moooi Carpet

    Hotel Designs has identified a common thread between the latest collections launched by Moooi Carpets: nature and the organic natural world. But it is one fluid range, Liquid Layers designed by Claire Vos, that has made quite the splash…

    Hotel Designs | Liquid Layers collection by Moooi in minimalist room

    Bringing the outdoors in is the interior design trend that just keeps on giving. For Moooi Carpets, the rise in demand for biophilic design has allowed its design team to create interesting and vivid carpet collection.

    Most recently, one new range from the brand has particularly sparked designers’ interest as it’s inspiration comes from looking beyond what we see on the surface. Cue the launch of Liquid Layers, designed by Claire Vos and conceptualised by objects of nature morphed and liquified into new patterns.

    What happens when you deconstruct the shapes and colours found in nature and morph and liquify them into new patterns? Imagine a carpet collection inspired by the objects of nature, in which each design highlights a different mineral or organism, such as the marlstone, a tulip, or a pebble. Well, in the Liquid Layers collection, nature becomes fluid.

    For this colleciton, Vos created a design technique where the possibilities are infinite, resulting in a unique approach towards pattern design surprising layer by layer.

    The carpets are available in shapes organic and round. Carpets Tulip and Agate come in the shape organic; an unexpected round overlapping shape, very different from traditional carpets. Carpets Marl and Pebble are round and provide softness to angular spaces and gives minimalist interiors character.

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

    Main image credit: Moooi Carpets

    Preziosi Lifestyle Rock (2)

    The latest innovative surfaces from RAK Ceramics

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    The latest innovative surfaces from RAK Ceramics

    Leading ceramics brand RAK Ceramics unveiled its latest tiles and sanitaryware collections at Cersaie, one of the largest ceramics exhibitions. Hotel Designs gathers all the details and shares its editor’s picks…

    Preziosi Lifestyle Rock (2)

    RAK Ceramics unveiled its latest tiles and sanitaryware collections at Cersaie, in Bologna, Italy.

    The brand continues to provide its customers with ‘Room for Imagination’ and presented a complete collection of innovative new tiles, sanitaryware and complementary bathroom furniture and accessories. Displayed on one single stand (Pad 30 stand C58 – D57), RAK Ceramics, continues to establish itself as the world leading ceramics  lifestyle solutions provider.

    > Since you’re here, why not read RAK Ceramic’s article on lighted surfaces in hotel lobbies?

    Natural marble tile collections

    Through-body veining is a RAK Ceramics innovation that enables natural marble veins to pass through the entire thickness of an unglazed porcelain slab with breath-taking results.

    Thanks to innovative printing technology, pattern repetition is kept to a minimum and the delicate lines throughout the slab surface appear random and natural. From floors to wall surfaces and kitchen worktops, the effect is particularly dramatic when the product is used over large areas, with RAK-Preziosi being just one example set to be shown at Cersaie.

    Preziosi Lifestyle Ocean

    Image credit: RAK Ceramics

    Inspired by the elegance of marble, RAK-Preziosi has a smooth to the touch finish and a distinctive patterning that make this porcelain surface a stand-out backdrop feature wherever it is used.

    The epitome of luxury and sophistication, this maximus marble collection is also available in the trend-setting open book effect in a huge range of sizes, thicknesses and design solutions and can be chosen in several colours, including Green, Ocean, Pearl, Rio and Rock.

    “We are proud to present our new collections at Cersaie 2021, especially at such an extraordinary time,” Abdallah Massaad, Group CEO, RAK Ceramics commented. “Cersaie is an essential event on our marketing calendar and one of great strategic importance for RAK Ceramics. In recent months we have put all efforts into strengthening our positioning as a lifestyle solution provider by developing new collections for bathroom floors, surfaces, large-format tiles, sanitaryware and accessories, all of which are perfectly coordinated.”

    Designer bathroom collections

    Among the many RAK Ceramics bathroom sanitaryware solutions to be shown at Cersaie, a highlight will be RAK-Valet. Designed by Patrick Norguet, the collection brings together the creative flair of the French designer and the manufacturing quality of RAK Ceramics.

    • The RAK-Valet collection, available in matt and glossy finishes, features thin-profiled washbasins, a generously sized, luxurious bathtub and sanitaryware with elongated lines.
    • The RAK-Valet collection is completed with details such as metal legs and towel rails or the functional and highly elegant little ceramic shelf, yet another design triumph by Norguet.
    • RAK-Valet also co-ordinates perfectly with some of the most successful furniture ranges by RAK Ceramics, such as the newly released RAK-Joy Uno cabinets and mirrors.

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

    Main image credit: RAK Ceramics

    Styling Bregje Nix

    Show preview: Workspace Design Show 2021

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Show preview: Workspace Design Show 2021

    In just over one month, Workspace Design Show will open its doors, welcoming the commercial interiors community to discover and discuss tomorrow’s places of work at London’s Business Design Centre from November 4 – 5 2021…

    As the summer comes to an end and people return to their offices, what better time to look ahead to a show which will bring together the latest products in the sector, celebrating the creativity of workplace design.

    Styling Bregje Nix

    After a year and half of working from home, we are in a moment of transition. Companies are considering the most appropriate ways to work right now, going beyond the pure productivity-orientated goals of old, with a greater emphasis on health, safety and wellbeing of staff.

    According to Microsoft’s 2021 Annual Work Trend Index, 66 per cent of businesses said they were considering redesigning physical spaces to better accommodate hybrid work environments. Meanwhile, nearly three quarters of Gen Z want more opportunities to collaborate with colleagues face-to-face and the chance for career development and mentoring within the physical office space should not be underestimated.

    The Workspace Design Show offers a great opportunity to explore these key themes in our new working normal. The demand for inspiring office spaces is evidenced by the quality of exhibitors at the event. Humanscale is launching a new version of its Liberty Ocean chair, which uses two pounds of recycled fishing nets, a material widely regarded as the most harmful type of plastic. Also featuring at the show are the new DESSO® Serene and Serene Colour collections from Tarkett, launched this year and designed specifically to apply a much-needed human touch to workplace interiors. The subtle patterns of DESSO Serene and Serene Colour take creative cues from the serenity of watercolour paintings.

    Office chairs overlooking coastal views

    Image credit: Liberty Ocean chair by humanscale

    The Workspace Design Show’s talks programme features a range of high profile thought leaders including May Fawzy, Founder of MF Design Studio and Director at BIID, Katrina Kostic Samen, Head of Workplace Design at KKS Savills, Claire Ness, Inclusive Design Lead at HMRC. A range of topics will be discussed over the two days, including sustainable design models, how acoustics are transforming productivity and the impact of office design on brand identity, design for diversity and inclusivity.

    One of the best features at the WDS is the VIP lounge designed by Rainlight, built by AASK US and curated by Obolife. The lounge is designed to represent the ephemerality of our world, which has been enhanced by the recent year of remote working and our increased reliance on digital communications. The design also reflects the way the outside world is brought into our homes in a way that we never have before experienced. The lounge will be realised in raw aluminium profiles and expanded metal mesh. These are 100% recyclable materials and do not contain any harmful coatings or use any harmful processes.

    The WDS team is also working with a renowned lighting designer on a beautiful entrance feature to enhance visitor experience. Lauren’s vision for the welcoming experience to the show plays on the theatrical nature of the cinematic world; heavy drapes creating a luxurious and moody backdrop, waiting for the main feature to begin in excitement and anticipation.  Replacing the fabric materials with lighting, in connection with the use of clever programming, will create this same wondrous world for all to view and enjoy. Collaborators: Lauren Lever, Design Director at Minoux Lighting Design, products by PROLICHT X Tom Dixon.

    Over at the leisure area, inhibitions and insecurities will be washed away, allowing for open conversations and collaboration. Workspace Design Show wanted to create an area that encourages conversation and interaction. This area is designed and curated by family run fit-out and furniture firm Spaces Taylored and commercial office specialists Seven Hills Workspace.

    Attendees also might notice a live, brightly coloured feature as they explore the Workspace Design Show. WDS exhibitor, Square Mile Farms are showcasing one of their innovative Farmstands, and it’s growing ultra-fresh veg and herbs! They’ll be harvesting the produce grown in this hydroponic growing tower on day two and making it available to attendees.

    As autumn approaches and the return to the office continues, the countdown is on to a wealth of workspace innovation at the very first Workspace Design Show.

    Main image credit: Serene Collection by Tarkett

    Hotel Designs | matt black fireplace in modern lounge with yellow seating

    Introducing the next gen of modern fireplaces

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Introducing the next gen of modern fireplaces

    Adding modern drama and context to a contemporary interior design scheme, FOCUS has launched the new glazed GYROFOCUS fireplaces, with an ‘Ecodesign Ready’ closed hearth, which fully compliant with regulations that come into force on January 1, 2022…

    Hotel Designs | matt black fireplace in modern lounge with yellow seating

    Imperceptible at first glance, the glazed GYROFOCUS has a new and unique curved glass window that protects the environment without altering the original design – a huge technological feat for Focus, which remain at the forefront of fireplace innovation.

    > Since you’re here, why not read about the gas GYROFOCUS?

    Keeper of the flames

    The new design includes all the advantages of a real fire are preserved without the risk of sparks flying thanks to the ingenious frameless sliding glass window that fits seamlessly into the hearth. This allows for a perfect view of the wood burning fire with its flickering flames, all with the added benefit of energy efficiency.

    Hotel Designs | Modern lounge with black matt fireplace

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    Compliance

    The new Glazed GYROFOCUS is compliant with all new legislation concerning wood-burning appliances coming into force early in 2022. However, FOCUS has been pushing boundaries since 2015; it has implemented the strictest regulations complying to the highest environmental levels including a four-star 4 Stelle rating in Italian environmental regulations, one of the most demanding in the world.

    Energy efficiency

    Despite the product challenging conventional approaches in fireplace design, the new innovation remains extremely straightforward to use. Thanks to the regulation of the air supply at the base of the opening, it is very easy to adjust the power of the fire and choose low or high intensity options. A key positioned on the duct also helps conserve the fireplace’s energy and maintain heat in the room.

    Original design

    More than 12 months of research and development, alongside extensive testing, were necessary to develop the Glazed GYROFOCUS whilst ensuring the original design remained intact, including its ability to pivot at 360°. FOCUS continues to impress with its technical prowess in converting its designs to newest and most advanced standards while respecting the aesthetics of its models.

    The GYROFOCUS is a prestigious design created in 1968, which has become an international classic and the symbol of the brand.  This model is taught in a school of architecture and was voted La Cosa Più Bella Del Mondo (the most beautiful design in the world) by Italians. It was exhibited at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. The glazed GYROFOCUS now completes the GYROFOCUS collection of wood, gas and outdoor models.

    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.

    Main image credit: FOCUS

    A subdued design scheme inside Ace Hotel Sydney guestroom

    Ace unveils design details for its debut hotel in Australia

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Ace unveils design details for its debut hotel in Australia

    Atelier Ace has announced that Flack Studio is the primary design partner for Ace Hotel Sydney, which will open in 2022. The 264-key hotel will be housed inside the site of one of Australia’s first ceramic kilns – we wonder where the designers will source their inspiration from…

    A subdued design scheme inside Ace Hotel Sydney guestroom

    Muti-disciplinary interior design and architecture firm Flack Studio, founded in 2014, has been announced as the primary design partner for Ace Hotel Sydney, which, when it opens in 2022, will mark Ace’s first stake in the southern hemisphere.

    With a ground floor restaurant, bar and cafe in the hotel’s communal lobby and a restaurant and bar on the rooftop, Ace Hotel Sydney will invite the ready rhythm of Surry Hills inside — an active commons for culture, commerce, art and community. The hotel itself will be housed in the area’s historic Tyne House brick factory — the site of one of Australia’s first ceramic kilns.

    “Though its culture and character are all its own, we’ve always felt a strong a affinity with Australia — its intrepid optimism and renegade spirit resonates with Ace’s roots on the Pacific Coast of America,” said Brad Wilson, President, Ace Hotel Group. “We love the country’s distinctive brand of modernism, particularly in the use of local organic materials, and were lucky enough to find a perfectly modernist partner in Flack Studio. David’s eye for colour and space is completely singular — a dream design collaborator for our first hotel in Australia.”

    “Flack Studio embraced organic materials to create spaces honest to this history.”

    Inspired by the rich history of Surry Hills and the warm, cinematic colour palette of the Australian landscape, the design of Ace Hotel Sydney acts as a call and response with the city’s past — superimposing its eras and evolutions in a contrast of natural textures and tones. From the razor gang wars and underground liquor trade of the 1920s and 1930s, the modernist art boon of the 1960s and through to the Gay Solidarity Group protests of the 1970s, the neighbourhood has long served as home to the most trailblazing and resilient voices of modern Australia — a culture coalesced from Surry Hills’ vibrant migrant communities. Flack Studio embraced organic materials to create spaces honest to this history — from the acoustic textural straw walls of the hotel’s guest rooms to the striking ochre red off-form concrete staircase in its lobby.

    A respect of craftsmanship is threaded throughout the building, with many of its furnishings, artworks and interior details created uniquely for this project. Guestroom furniture, joinery and lighting have all been carefully custom designed by the design studio, with textile-adorned window seats designed to invite conversation in each space.

    “Surry Hills has been home to so many culturally important movements and people, and has always been a home for creatives and migrating cultures,” added David Flack, Founder and Director of Flack Studio. “We wanted to preserve the creative, slightly renegade energy of the space since its origins as one of Australia’s early brickworks. We were committed to creating a warm space that brought together Australia’s cultural history with Ace’s unique, community cultivating approach to hospitality.”

    > Since you’re here, why not read about the opening of Ace Hotel Brooklyn?

    Still to come… Ace Hotel Sydney will be announcing the full details of its food and beverage program — including the additional design partner for the rooftop restaurant and bar. Stay tuned for further details in the coming months.

    Main image credit: Anson Smart

    Image of klink weights on table

    How fitness brand Klink is taking on the hospitality industry

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    How fitness brand Klink is taking on the hospitality industry

    With fitness, wellness and wellbeing all high up on the agenda for modern travellers, a major challenge for interior designers and brands is working out how to cater to these demands while also utilising space. Cue the arrival of Klink, a new modular fitness solution designed for the future hospitality arena. Editor Hamish Kilburn meets Nikita McCoy, the brand’s Founder, to find out more…

    Image of klink weights on table

    If ever there was time for people from outside the conventional parameters of the industry to emerge with new, revolutionary ideas and concepts, it is now. Post-pandemic, the industry has re-opened with a new perspective, in search for purposeful solutions to ensure brands remain at the front of the curve of new trends and behaviours around how people travel and use hotel space.

    Image of detachable weight on table

    Image credit: Klink

    Although, we are learning (and narrating) as we go, we do know that guests checking in to hotels have spent more than 18 months locked in to the confides of their own homes – working, living and exercising within their own space – which has no doubt changed guests’ behaviour on a generic level.

    So, with change whistling through the crisp Autumn, I met up with with Nikita McCoy, an NHS nurse who had the revolutionary idea to launch Klink, a new brand that is setting a new standard across the fitness scene by offering something entirely different for the premium hospitality industry.

    “I felt there was a need for more compact, stylish equipment.” – Nikita McCoy, Founder, Klink.

    Stacked Klink weights

    Image credit: Klink

    Hamish Kilburn: So, Nikita, tell us more about how Klink was born…

    Nikita McCoy: Klink was born over the first lockdown; right at the beginning on the Covid-19 Pandemic. While hiring equipment from our local gym, I felt there was a need for more compact, stylish equipment. I wanted to have something simple to use, good quality while also practical. Being an engineer, my husband soon started to work on this after I brought the idea to his attention. His [engineering] flare enabled us to bring this hazy vision to life very quickly. Working on our design was a positive distraction to the reality of Covid-19 during lockdown, especially as I was working as a nurse at this time.

    HK: Are the days of small, compact hotel gyms (that are constantly congested) over for the bleisure (business/leisure) traveller?

    NM: Gyms will always have their place, as they are a positive space to be in. For us, it is about aiding an effective workout with high quality equipment in an environment that is suitable for the user. I believe that Klink would be a great addition for any premium wellness space, especially in a hotel suite or guestroom where a people can have easy access to their own equipment to use within their own time. In-room equipment is something more hoteliers are investing in. Exercise equipment should be as much of an essential as a mini bar!

    HK: Tell us more about the technology behind Klink – how do the mechanisms work?

    NM: Klink is patent pending and our modular system sets us apart from the rest. We have unique locking technology that isn’t only effective but also easy to use. The simplicity of our mechanisms is in keeping with our brand. Twist it, click it, lift it!

    “All our components are manufactured and sourced from UK businesses, and this is something we are extremely proud of.” – Nikita McCoy, Founder, Klink.

    HK: Why was it so important for the brand to keep all aspects of design and manufacturing local?

    NM: After recently starting our own engineering business in 2018, we fully understand the importance of local manufacturing. All our components are manufactured and sourced from UK businesses, and this is something we are extremely proud of. It’s more important now than ever to support and grow our own economy. I also like building working relationships with other UK-based manufacturers and suppliers and seeing what we can do together to achieve business goals.

    HK: In your opinion, what is driving the demand for wellness and wellbeing in the luxury hotel market?

    NM: The pandemic has changed so many aspects of our world. Health is very much at the forefront physically and mentally. Individuals seek out exercise more so now than ever. The hotel environment is a great way to relax, recharge and wind down but that doesn’t mean exercise has no place. Hoteliers are engaging in this shift change and aiming to provide their guests with in-room personal workout spaces. A lot of individuals enjoy exercise as a way to start and boost their day. This should not be compromised and accessed easily. No hotel would want bulky fitness equipment cluttering rooms. Therefore, it’s essential that it flows with the theme of the space – the design of the products need to be sleek and functional. Klink ticks all these boxes.

    “We are proud to have the only marine-grade quick-release, adjustable equipment on the market at this time.” – Nikita McCoy, Founder, Klink.

    HK: Why are Klink products ideal for both the luxury hotel market and the marine industry?

    NM: Klink products have their place in many different settings. Ideal for the home where space is a premium and the customer would like a large variation of weights without a rack of dumbbells. In the luxury hotel market we can provide what we enjoy the most and bespoke our equipment to brand and utilise our custom storage solutions. Klink is functional and aesthetically pleasing and can fit into any luxury interior design theme.

    Regarding the marine industry, we can bespoke manufacture all of our Klink range in 316 stainless steel also known as marine grade steel. In doing so, we offer extra corrosion protection against the elements. We are proud to have the only marine-grade quick-release, adjustable equipment on the market at this time. We are a perfect fitness addition to the yacht world. Add some of quirky colourful storage cases to secure your equipment and you have an ideal space saving solution.

    HK: What’s next for Klink?

    NM: As a new company, we are focusing on brand awareness and guiding our product into the areas it belongs. We have some exciting collaborations to come and look forward to showcasing how versatile and fantastic our product is. There’s much more of Klink to come in the days ahead, so watch this space!

    Klink 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: Klink

    Pool at the Fjordgaarden

    Touring Denmark through bathroom design

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    Touring Denmark through bathroom design

    When taking a tour of a city like Denmark, people tend to be drawn to places of interest, art, museums, great restaurants and in the countryside we tend to head to beach or the forest – but what about fabulous bathrooms? You may notice a key component in all of the below bathrooms listed…

    Pool at the Fjordgaarden

    During lockdown, we took a virtual tour of one of our bathroom suppliers’ homeland and were delighted that Unidrain’s HighLine Custom drains can be found not only in the most prestigious hotels and spas, but also in the the quaint, the quirky and some of the most unique and interesting places too. Although we have many to choose from, we’ve selected three of our favourite projects to share with you:

    #3 – Fjordgaarden

    Close-up of pool at Fjordgaarden

    Image credit: Fjordgaarden

    This recently refurbished hotel with its Nordic inspired spa features 90 of Unidrain’s High Line Custom drains, yet so uniquely have they been incorporated into the design they blend perfectly into the overall décor and style of the room. With its huge windows, wood panelling, sand and lyme grass; the space manages to feel open yet inviting at the same time.

    #2 – The Audo

    Close-up of shower at The Audo

    Image credit: The Audo

    It’s all about perspective. To take a century old, large, bold red building sitting on corner and turn it into an amazing creative space, takes imagination and creativity, which is exactly what transpired with The Audo. It is now a contemporary head office, showroom, restaurant and boutique hotel with a small number of individually and uniquely designed rooms; where the bathrooms feature HighLine Custom drains.

    #1 – Nobis Hotel Copenhagen

    All hotels cover the practical requirements but the best do so with efficiency then add personal touches and elegance with style. Nowhere is this more apparent than in a hotel bathroom. The secret is in the choice of materials and tailor-made solutions and 100 of the bathrooms in the Nobis Hotel show that Unidrain must be one of their ‘secret’ ingredients. The shower cubicles are enclosed by enclosed by a sleek sheet of glass; the water falls from the oversized shower head bouncing on the tiles beneath, before disappearing into the bespoke drain.

    > Since you’re here, why not read an interview with Unidrain’s Head of Design, Kenneth Waaben?

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

    Main image credit: Unidrain

    The lobby inside Pan Pacific London

    Case study: Creating a biophilic design scheme inside Pan Pacific London

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    Case study: Creating a biophilic design scheme inside Pan Pacific London

    If you have managed to poke your head through the doors of the recently opened Pan Pacific London then you will have noticed the hotel has created a calming first impression that fuses together a paired-back, dare we say minimalist look and feel with modern hospitality. The brand behind the biophilic design scheme is Leaflike…

    The lobby inside Pan Pacific London

    First impressions count, especially on the congested and competitive London hospitality design scene. Fast-becoming East London’s most popular wellness hotels, Pan Pacific London is on the doorstep of world-renowned locations yet also home to its own inner world. 

    Planters and contemporary starcase in lobby of Pan Pacific

    Image credit: Pan Pacific London

    Setting the tone immediately upon arrival, the lobby shelters earthy and warm tones creating a modern and paired back home-from-home scene. Meanwhile, accents of colour and personality come from carefully placed Singaporean rainforest and British woodland plants, dotted around the entire public areas within the hotel, that were provided by biophilic design experts at Leaflike. “This is one of the most rewarding projects we have worked on because of the alignment between our businesses regarding sustainability,” Brandon Abernethie, Head of Design at Leaflike told Hotel Designs. “We cannot wait to help more hoteliers achieve their goals.”

    The Sustainability Solution included the following eight items:

    • Extra green and healthy hydroculture system
    • Increased carbon dioxide removal
    • Unique recycled planters
    • Orchid rejuvenation program
    • Leaflike herb system, for decoration and cooking
    • Recycled glassware
    • Preserved moss feature displays
    • Personal green certification for Pan Pacific London

    As the partnership progressed Leaflike was introduced to the interior design Yabu Pushelburg, and received the final interior design concept.

    “While the guestrooms reference the calm of English and Asian gardens, the public areas will draw from the wild energy of the forest, to inspire a striking yet timeless atmosphere,” added Abernethie.

    The solution

    The design includes all areas of the hotel; bedrooms, lounge, kitchen, dining and private dining rooms, bar, reception lobby, galleries, lift lobbies, meeting rooms, rest rooms, gym and terrace areas, supplying:

    • More than 300 sustainability sourced preserved plants
    • More than 300 recycled planters
    • More than 450 live planting displays

    Some highlights of the final plants installed include:

    • Floor standing planting display with bun moss to reflect Singaporean rainforest interweaved with British woodland theme
    • Bespoke hand-crafted planters made from recycled materials
    • Use of sustainable preserved planting where live planting wasn’t a possibility
    • Plants: Strelizia nicolai tuft, Aglaonema Stripes and Philodendron selloum, to name a few

    The results 

    Pan Pacific and Leaflike, in harmony, believe they are a leading example for supplying and installing a truly sustainable planting solution throughout the hotel.

    All products are supplied with sustainability in mind and include:

    • Recycled and upcycled materials
    • Healthy hydroculture planting
    • Orchid rejuvenation program
    • Leaflike herb system, for decoration and cooking
    • Recycled glassware
    • Preserved moss feature displays
    Pool inside Pan Pacific London

    Image credit: Pan Pacific

    Leaflike, sustainability in every project

    The brand is on a quest to help customers with sustainable options. Leaflike green walls can also be made with sustainable materials including natural moss from woodland floors and recycled timber from builders pallets. The company started a 40/40 initiative, planting 40 trees a year which in turn will provide 40 tonnes of carbon reduction over the next 40 years. Additional initiatives are being considered for next year to encourage customers to purchase sustainable products.

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

    Main image credit: Leaflike

    Terrace from hotel, overlooking New York

    Room with a view: Inside Margaritaville Resort Times Square

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    Room with a view: Inside Margaritaville Resort Times Square

    In the heart of New York, shining brightly in one of Manhattan’s famed tourism hotspots, Margaritaville Resort Times Square is a contemporary hotel designed for both locals and travellers alike. Hotel Designs takes a look inside…

    Terrace from hotel, overlooking New York

    Located at 560 Seventh Avenue, New York City’s new Margaritaville Resort Times Square —complete with an outdoor pool— cuts a striking silhouette in the city’s skyline.

    The 32-storey, 234-key hotel, designed by leading architecture and interior design firm Stonehill Taylor with interiors by The McBride Company, boasts several food and beverage concepts, including a rooftop bar and retail space on the ground and below-grade floors that extend underground for 30 feet.

    Asynagogue will also be housed within the building to replace the worship space that was formerly on-site within the previous building belonging to the Parsons School of Design. This storied site was originally owned by the synagogue for the Garment District. On the ground floor is an entrance to the double-height synagogue occupying two floors of the building’s cellar.

    The building’s façade is covered in a glass curtain wall with a setback on the southern elevation to allow for the pool terrace. The entrance, which is marked by a marquee, leads to a retail space on the first floor, and elevators that take you to the hotel lobby on the fifth floor, where Joe Merchant Coffee and Provisions offers coffee, grab-and-go quick bites, and merchandise.

    Rooftop pool in New York

    Image credit: Chris Snipes Photography

    The lobby is outfitted with a fireplace on the adjacent outdoor terrace, which houses the License to Chill Bar, and a set of stairs leads downstairs to the pool on the fourth floor, as well as the indoor/outdoor Land Shark Bar & Grill. The second and third floors are occupied by the Margaritaville Restaurant, which is accessible by an escalator on the ground floor.The guestrooms sit above these main public spaces, through floor 28, with mechanical functions on floors 29and 30.The 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar spans the top two floors, floor 31 and 32, with terraces that offer striking views of Times Square.

    > Since you’re here, why not read a roundtable that Stonehill Taylor participated in, on raising the floor in lifestyle design?

    Main image credit: Chris Leary Photography

    A modern living room overlooking the sea

    Product watch: A look at what’s new from Franklite

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    Product watch: A look at what’s new from Franklite

    Gather round because Franklite, shortlisted for Best in Tech category for The Brit List Awards 2021, has just dropped new, innovative and modern product ranges that launched this month, as we continue to put the spotlight on lighting. In continuation of the well-received Catalogue 26, these new product ranges, each with their own variations, have been added to the Catalogue 26 supplement…

    A modern living room overlooking the sea

    Over the last few months, the team at lighting brand Franklite have been working tirelessly to design a range of products that are not only functional and efficient, but also beautiful and creative.

    The Shell, a nautical inspired design matt black openwork pendant with a black cable suspension. This exceptional pendant will complement a space with coastal elements and wood tones such as shiplap wall panelling.

    The Kasteel range is so unique with its twisted metalwork arms. These dark, antique bronze fittings with brushed brass candle tubes consists of two and three light wall brackets along with larger five, eight and 15 light fittings. The four light fitting is supplied with a chain suspension which can easily be converted to a flush fitting suitable for low ceilings.

    Country,Kitchen,Interior.,3d,Design,Concept,Rendering

    Image credit: Franklite

    Meanwhile, the Diva range is exactly that, extravagant! Chrome finish fittings surrounded by rectangular crystals with a mass display of crystal glass spheres as a base. This magnificent range includes 11, 15 and 20 light fittings and matching wall bracket. When lit, the colour temperature and reflection of the lamps creates very distinctive ambiences.

    Diva lighting chandelier by Franklite

    Image credit: Franklite

    The brand has also added new designs to its most popular ranges, the Taper, Perdita, Philly and Wisteria. Providing customers with more product choices. The Taper range now includes wall brackets, floor and table lamps. A phenomenal 21 light spanning 1,2m in length has been added to the Wisteria range.

    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, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Franklite

    Panorama suite at Six Senses in the desert

    Exploring the newly opened Six Senses Shaharut

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    Exploring the newly opened Six Senses Shaharut

    Fitting seamlessly into this austere landscape the Six Senses Shaharut, Israel’s first luxury property in the Negev Desert, manages to combine an extreme luxury that fits seamlessly into the equally extreme environment out of which it organically emerges. Pauline Brettell writes…

    Panorama suite at Six Senses in the desert

    With its secluded setting, Six Sense Shaharut sits on the edge of a dramatic cliff with panoramic views of the Negev Desert and invites guests to immerse themselves in this environment while enjoying traditional desert hospitality and rich Nabatean history.

    Two_Bedroom_Pool_Villa_Bedroom_[9461-ORIGINAL]

    Image credit: Six Senses

    Made up of 60 bespoke suites and villas, including one three-bedroom retreat, the resort spreads itself out across the lunar landscape. There is of course a signature Six Sense spa, offering guests a rejuvenating retreat while keeping sustainability as its core value. Fully rejuvenated, you can also choose from a range of curated experiences, from an immersive Kibbutz visit to a stargazing session, camel treks through the Negev or floating in the Dead Sea. This is a breathtakingly beautiful and truly authentic desert experience that will be sure to satisfy any pent-up wanderlust.

    The design of Six Senses Shaharut has been uniquely inspired by the nomadic structures found in the Negev Desert. The suites and villas are nestled into the ground and designed to take advantage of the Negev’s natural beauty, while minimising the impact on its surroundings. Combined with the integration of sustainable processes and technologies, the structures seamlessly blend in with the desert landscape. Moving inside, the furniture and fittings have been sourced from local artisans to complement the unique weathered rock formations and use natural stone, wood, and copper. Using both local and reclaimed materials, each piece, and each suite, has its own story to tell.

    The Six Senses Spa offers six (yes there is a pattern emerging) treatment rooms, a variety of wellness programs, along with the Alchemy Bar for mixing botanicals. There are Visiting Practitioners specialising in Chinese medicine, osteopathy, energy healing and more. The resort has two wonderful pools, including a freshwater infinity pool with desert views and a bar serving refreshing juices – from locally sourced ingredients of course!

    While the spa is all about rejuvenating, the resort ethos is all about sustainability. On site, the Desert Activity Centre incorporates Six Senses’ Earth Lab scheme, showcasing the resort’s approach to sustainability in its efforts to reduce consumption. All sustainability work and community development happening around the property and in the region are on display here, and guests are even able to learn a few take-away life hacks that will enable them to be more eco-conscious when they get back home.

    indoor pool at six senses

    Image credit: Six Senses

    For guests looking for more than some sustainable pampering, the resort is also home to camel stables, lush gardens, and an open-air amphitheatre hewed into the natural terrain and transformed into a Six Senses ‘Cinema Paradiso’ beneath the stars.

    A crafted restaurant that fits in with the design scheme of the Six Senses hotel

    Image credit: Six Senses

    The food on offer at the resort is a mix of Israeli and Mediterranean cuisines which embrace the Six Senses culinary philosophy – fresh, local, and seasonal food, harvested from the resort’s own organic garden or from local farmers at the nearby kibbutzim. From fresh Mediterranean fish, roasted beetroot, almonds, raw tahini, Samar date honey, and olive oil to Tabun smoked lamb ribs, freekeh and garden kale, the food on the menu at Six Senses Shaharut is an integral part of this desert experience. Guests can also request a private chef for in-villa dining or venture out on an authentic Bedouin dining experience by Chef Amir Kalfon, paired with the region’s best wines, a fire pit, and the opportunity to catch a glimpse of a Nubian ibex.

    Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, which is part of the IHG Hotels & Resorts family, manages 16 hotels and resorts and 25 spas in 19 countries under the brand names Six Senses, Evason and Six Senses Spas, and has signed a further 31 properties into the development pipeline. 

    Main image credit: Six Senses

    Product watch: Sekers launches the WABI SABI collection

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    Product watch: Sekers launches the WABI SABI collection

    Sekers has launched WABI SABI, a versatile collection of two textured jacquards; Kinshuku and Fushin…

    Fabrics brand Sekers’ latest collection was inspired by Japan’s age old philosophy that is known as ‘Wabi Sabi’ which can be understood as an appreciation of the beauty that can be found in imperfections.

    This state of mind allows for the celebration of the marks caused by passing time and encourages one to believe that something becomes more beautiful as it grows older, fades and as a result acquires new charm. With this in mind, Kinshku is a luxurious geometric L-shaped, design with a textured base and Fushin is a complementary semi-plain with subtle line markings which create depth and an elegant aged finish. Available in a bold palette of 22 colours, ranging from deep purple to burnt orange and brilliant blues, Wabi Sabi is a great choice for contract upholstery and accessories.

    Supplied Crib 5 with a Martindale abrasion performance of 40,000, Wabi Sabi meets all relevant UK, American and IMO standards for upholstery. Wabi Sabi is a handsome addition to any interior and is the ideal choice for the marine, hospitality and leisure markets.

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

    Main image credit: Sekers

    Newmor projects and David Johnston

    Made in Wales: Celebrating a new chapter for Newmor

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    Made in Wales: Celebrating a new chapter for Newmor

    In an exclusive and well-timed interview with Hotel Designs, David Johnston, Managing Director of wallcovering company Newmor, meets editor Hamish Kilburn to explain more about the Welsh brand’s new look…

    Wales is famous for its rugged coastline, mountainous National Parks and elegant language. Beyond the beautiful beaches, the Welsh people are also known as some of the friendliest – which set a comfortable tone for my latest interview.

    Newmor projects and David Johnston

    What, in all honesty, I was not aware of was that Wales, a modest country that has more sheep than people, is also home to the UK’s largest independent commercial wallcovering manufacturer.

    Established in 1967, Newmor (one of Hotel Designs’ recommended suppliers) is privately owned and proud to be family-run to this day. Its roots may be local but the company’s presence on the international hotel design scene is anything but restricted. The brand operates in more than 70 countries worldwide through a vast network of international distributors and regional sales offices.

    Now in its mid-50s, Newmor has earned the right to go through something of a transformation – so it was a great time for me to catch up with David Johnston, the brand’s Managing Director, who through his 24-year career at the brand has been able to see the brand’s operations from various perspectives. “I became Managing Director just over two years ago and I believe my journey from the factory floor to senior operational and commercial management has given me a unique insight and appreciation of what we do,” explains Johnston. “In my previous role, as commercial director, I extended Newmor’s reach in international markets, and as Managing Director I have been able to put in place an infrastructure to build on that – so now is absolutely the right time to refresh our branding.

    “Our relaunch allows us to bring a focal point to the brands core values in colour and design as well as renewed appreciation in its heritage.” – David Johnston, Managing Director, Newmor.”

    When looking at the general landscape – and considering the enormous culture shift our industry has recently endured – it’s an apt time for any brand to consider a new look. But for Newmor, pre-pandemic, the idea of development and evolving with the industry has always been a focus. “I think it’s important to highlight that the rebrand has been a culmination of three to four years development,” says Johnston. “We took a hard look at ourselves and what we wanted to become both as an employer in the local area and as well a key supplier to the global interiors market. Our relaunch allows us to bring a focal point to the brands core values in colour and design as well as renewed appreciation in its heritage.

    “The brand firmly believes that design, pattern, and colour have the power to change how people feel in an interior space.”

    Newmor designs and manufactures its products at its own facility in Welshpool. The business is a family business in every sense as the brand’s skilled workforce have decades of experience. And from talking to David, it’s clear that the brand firmly believes that design, pattern, and colour have the power to change how people feel in an interior space. As experts in design and manufacturing, the team’s vision is to celebrate pattern and design in commercial installations globally, whilst reducing life cycle cost and the impact on the environment.

    And by looking at the company’s capabilities and ambitions, Newmor is well placed to provide solutions suitable for any project or budget. There are thousands of designs and colour options within its portfolio, a dedicated design team to create custom solutions, all backed up by an impressive warehouse of stocked wallcoverings – a facility that has been invaluable in a post Brexit world.

    Image caption: Newmor Bespoke wallcoverings at Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas. | Image credit: Newmor

    Image caption: Newmor Bespoke wallcoverings at Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas. | Image credit: Newmor

    I asked Johnston to give me 10 words to describe Newmor. He came back with this: “Innovative, creative, approachable, authentic, adaptable, specialist, reliable, durable, agile and UK made. “I believe these ten words encapsulate the business’ values and ethics accurately and signifies the customers journey when working with us,” he adds.

    Whether it is large format bespoke digital prints, fully fire rated durable fabric-backed vinyl wallcoverings, an array of printable films or creating write and wipe walls, Newmor has the capability and infrastructure to supply the most demanding commercial sectors. And it’s the third word, ‘approachable’ that, despite a modern makeover to its brand, keeps Newmor a much-valued recommended supplier.

    Newmor 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: Newmor

    Ep 8 DESIGN POD

    LISTEN NOW: Art’s role in design – a DESIGN POD special

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    LISTEN NOW: Art’s role in design – a DESIGN POD special

    Calling all design and architecture enthusiasts, the latest episode of DESIGN POD has dropped! Listen now to episode eight of the podcast for all designers and architects on-to-go to find out what happened when editor Hamish Kilburn and co-host Harriet Forde met Patrick McCrae, CEO and founder of ARTIQ, a brand on an unapologetic mission to towards equality in art and beyond…

    Ep 8 DESIGN POD

    Episode eight of DESIGN POD is now available to listen to on all major podcast platforms. In this episode, which is in association with Bathroom Brands Group, editor Hamish Kilburn along with co-host Harriet Forde investigate art’s role in design. To do this, the duo welcome Patrick McCrae – some might say the king of the art scene in the UK – onto the Minotti London sofa to explore more about ARTIQ’s mission towards equality.

    Before we started to really understand art’s role in this eclectic arena, it was integral in the conversation to understand ARTIQ’s role when it comes to creating exceptional spaces around the world. “We tend to work a lot with designers and architects as a triumvirate team to pull together at times quite complicated art schemes to help articulate a design narrative.”

    Minus one or two hilarious moments, the conversation with McCrae was fuelled largely by his undisputed passion to create an equal arena for all emerging talent within the creative industry. “I set the company up when I was 21,” he said. “Often, creativity is seen as a hobby and therefore it is not paid properly. It’s not uncommon for artists to work for exposure and not cash. I set this business up to show that the journey of an artist can be economically viable.”

    Listen to the full episode below:

    Main image credit: DESIGN POD/Hotel Designs

    Cheila Gibbs portrait

    Women leading hospitality: An interview with Cheila Gibbs

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    Women leading hospitality: An interview with Cheila Gibbs

    Cheila Gibbs’ one-stop hub for hospitality concept development was built while she was working for the best hotels and restaurants in London. As part of Hotel Designs’ continued efforts to support women in hospitality and design, editor Hamish Kilburn finds out more about how Gibbs has challenged conventional approaches – in business and in hospitality…

    Cheila Gibbs portrait

    When meeting with Chelia Gibbs, one of London’s leading hospitality consultants, I was not so interested to follow the gender narrative. Instead, I wanted to know more about how Gibbs, despite set-backs, set new standards in hospitality and business when creating her brand.

    Gibbs’ concept was built while she was working for the best hotel and restaurants in London. She identified a gap in the market for good operators in London and worldwide. Building an impressive roster, Gibbs’ first A to Z project was Terry Venables’ La Escondida Hotel in Spain, resulting in the nomination of one of the 15 best new hotels in the world within its first year of trading.

    Since then, the brand has successfully opened, managed and transformed some of the most talked-about restaurants, hotels and members clubs, including Bistro du Vin, Soho House’s Dean Street Townhouse, The Laslett in Notting Hill and Daios Cove in Crete (among others).

    Hamish Kilburn: Throughout your career, who were your biggest inspirations?

    CG: I take inspiration from and have had the privilege of working with some incredible females in this business. From Anne Golden, Carrie wicks, and the founders of All Bright – Debbie Wosskow and Anna Jones, but my first mentor was Joyce Schneider when I opened the Marriott in Indianapolis.  They provided me with guidance on many situations based on their experience within the work environment. They understand ‘how things really get done’ within the company and have the ability and knowledge to jumpstart networking relationships, and most importantly, how to balance motherhood and work. I am extremely lucky to have several amazing people around me that inspire me daily.

    My teams; they must keep my pace, wake when I do, sleep when I do, act before I think, and are always on top of their game. I have a deep appreciation and genuine love for those that surround me.

    Also, my husband – he truly grounds me and provides me with the encouragement and space I need to be a pioneer in hospitality consultancy.

    A modern, green and light bar and restaurant

    Image credit: Allbright

    HK: As a leader in your business, how do you set the tone for the team?

    CG: My business style is to be a coaching leader. Someone who can quickly recognise their team members’ strengths, weaknesses, and motivations to help each individual improve. I assist team members by setting goals and providing regular feedback with challenging projects. I find it helpful to have clear expectations and create a positive, motivating environment for my team.

    Unfortunately, this style of leadership is often one of the most underused styles – largely because it can be more time consuming than other types of leadership but I find it the most advantageous for both myself and my team.

    HK: Over the years, have you encountered any barriers to your success or growth as a female in your field?

    CG: Through the years I have learned to put myself first so that I can be better for the days that roll into weeks and months, where days off are never an option. Sadly, and like many others, I have had to deal with prejudice, discrimination, and sexism, but I have never allowed that to define me, and it is a battle I believe I overcome with grace.

    Being a man or a woman is not a factor in determining your commitment, knowledge, or understanding of a business or personal success. A fail-safe strategy to get ahead is to be flexible, open, and honest to what you can commit to. You do not get to be the best without being organised, assertive, and realising that your best resource in a business is the people around you. Your teams can be your biggest threat or your greatest blessing.

    In the past, people wondered if I could lead and hold my own as a woman in business. This underestimation of my abilities became a secret weapon in my arsenal for success. I remember starting on a multi-million-pound hotel & restaurant opening, sitting at the head of the table with 20 burly builders all looking perplexed; within the first five minutes of me speaking, they knew I had earned the right to sit there.

    “Raised by an African mum, I grew up surrounded by assertive women.” – Cheila Gibbs.

    When a woman speaks her mind and is assertive, she is likely to be labelled as ‘aggressive’ throughout her career, and I have experienced that first-hand. To be honest, initially I thought this was a positive description of my performance. I took it to mean that I was a go-getter and that my colleagues and managers appreciated that I had a mind of my own. Raised by an African mum, I grew up surrounded by assertive women whom I viewed as role models. As time went by however, it became clear to me that the term ‘aggressive’ has a negative connotation, especially in London.

    I have never backed down from being ‘aggressive’ or as I prefer to call it – ‘direct’ in business.  Having ambition and speaking with authority are not aggressive acts. Yes, I have a direct communication style paired with a positive attitude and much respect for those who work with me, and I am proud of what we have achieved together.

    HK: What’s helped you build confidence? 

    CG: We must always remember that no one is perfect. Even the most confident people have insecurities, and there is no one alive who hasn’t made a mistake. Don’t let one wrong turn, or even a few of them, make you think you don’t have what it takes to achieve your goals and reach your desired success.

    HK: What’s the greatest risk you’ve undertaken?

    La Escondida with Terry Venables. It was Create Generate’s first project. We were in a different country, with a different language, different rules, and most definitely a different mentality and I was so young, but eager for the challenge. It could have gone so wrong but thanks to a lot of research, hard work and determination we created a concept and executed it in the best way possible. La Escondia was nominated as one of the 15 best new hotels in the world within its first year of trading – something I am very proud of.  As they say, with great risk often comes great rewards.

    HK: Do you have any advice for those looking to be different in a congested luxury hotel market? 

    Believe in yourself and in your dreams. Do not think you have less of a chance as a woman to achieve what you want, whatever the position you are aiming for. Just keep going towards your goal, never give up. Hard work and persistence pays off!

    > Since you’re here, why not read about the women who are pioneering a new wave in motel hospitality and design?

    Main image credit: Chelia Gibbs

    ROKU KYOTO exterior

    LXR Hotels makes its debuts in Asia Pacific

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    LXR Hotels makes its debuts in Asia Pacific

    Designed to reflect the traditions and tranquillity of Kyoto in Japan, ROKU KYOTO has opened. The hotel joins Hilton’s collection of independent, luxury hotels and marks LXR Hotels’ arrival in Asia Pacific…

    ROKU KYOTO exterior

    Following the brand’s arrival in the Seychelles earlier last month, LXR Hotels & Resorts, one of Hilton’s three distinctive luxury brands, has opened its debut property in Asia Pacific.

    Situated beneath the breathtaking panorama of the majestic Takagamine mountains in northern Kyoto, ROKU KYOTO is nestled within the 28.6-acre Shozan Resort Kyoto, a luxury enclave home to some of Kyoto’s most notable and idyllic Japanese gardens, historic architecture and authentic tea houses. The hotel is also located within walking distance from the famed Kinkaku-ji “Golden Pavilion” and other historic temples, such as the Koetsuji Temple and the Genkoan Temple. 

    Image caption: The guestrooms and suites Infuse both traditional Kyoto design and modern Japanese aesthetic in calming earthy tones. | Image credit: LXR Hotels

    Image caption: The guestrooms and suites Infuse both traditional Kyoto design and modern Japanese aesthetic in calming earthy tones. | Image credit: LXR Hotels

    Paying homage to the Takagamine area’s rich history, which was also the source of water for washi papermaking, the hotel has been designed by the international design firm, BLINK Design Group, to reflect an artist’s residence. Guests can discover the multi-faceted expressions of traditional Japanese art as they explore the hotel, from exquisite lacquerware at the entrance, bamboo art pieces in the restaurant, ceramics artefacts in the spa, to karakami decorative paper in the guestrooms. 

    “The 114 thoughtfully designed guestrooms offer a peaceful sanctuary that depicts the beauty and simplicity of Japanese materials and craftsmanship.”

    Infusing both traditional Kyoto design and modern Japanese aesthetic in calming earthy tones, the 114 thoughtfully designed guestrooms offer a peaceful sanctuary that depicts the beauty and simplicity of Japanese materials and craftsmanship. Overlooking rich natural landscapes, guests can feel connected to the wonders of Kyoto’s storied culture and resplendent nature that evolves with the seasons.

    “Welcoming LXR Hotels & Resorts in Asia Pacific marks a key milestone in our expanding luxury footprint in the region, complementing the award-winning Waldorf Astoria and Conrad brands to offer the full spectrum of luxury experiences here,” said Alan Watts, President, Asia Pacific, Hilton. “We are thrilled to partner with Tokyu Land Corporation and Tokyu Resorts & Stays Co., Ltd. to bring the LXR brand to Kyoto, one of the world’s most alluring destinations. I am confident that ROKU KYOTO will deliver a bespoke experience of Kyoto and fully immerse travellers in the unique charms of the city, attracting both domestic and international travellers once it is safe to travel again.” 

    Named after the Tenjin River, the restaurant TENJIN shelters French-style dishes made from the finest locally sourced seasonal ingredients. At the Chef’s Table within the restaurant, guests can witness first-hand the art of cooking by the masterful chefs as they present an exclusive seasonal course menu served with a special technique, inspired by the history and culture of the Rinpa school.

    Image caption: The restaurant, where Japanese design meets French cuisine. | Image credit: LXR Hotels

    Image caption: The restaurant, where Japanese design meets French cuisine. | Image credit: LXR Hotels

    The grounds on which the hotel was built was historically a renowned artisan colony where the classical Rinpa school of Japanese painting was founded around 400 years ago by Hon’ami Koetsu, a Japanese artist, poet, calligrapher, tea master, and landscape designer, considered one of the greatest and most influential artists of the 17th century. Rinpa played a significant role in nurturing important artists and craftsmen over the years and had a strong influence on the development of traditional Japanese art and culture. 

    “ROKU KYOTO is a true representation of the LXR brand, and showcases a unique travel experience native to Kyoto, its location, history and tradition. – Tatsuaki Takana, Managing Director and Head of Wellness promotion unit, Tokyu Land Corporation. 

    “We’re extremely pleased about the opening of ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts, and are excited to partner with Hilton again following the successful launch of KYUKARUIZAWA KIKYO, Curio Collection by Hilton in 2018,” added Tatsuaki Takana, Managing Director and Head of Wellness promotion unit, Tokyu Land Corporation. “ROKU KYOTO is a true representation of the LXR brand, and showcases a unique travel experience native to Kyoto, its location, history and tradition. Tokyu Land Corporation’s mission remains unchanged through the pandemic, to work with the right partners to offer the highest standard of personalised service to our guests, while delivering comfort and safety to ensure their satisfaction and loyalty.” 

    “LXR Hotels & Resorts feature a network of distinctive, best-in-class luxury hotels that thrive independently yet are unified by their unrivalled commitment to personalised service with each property providing a truly local and captivating experience,” said Feisal Jaffer, Global Head, LXR Hotels & Resorts. “The highly-anticipated opening of ROKU KYOTO is the perfect addition to our expanding portfolio and an important brand milestone as the inaugural LXR property in the region. The hotel provides guests with authentic and meaningful experiences of the local area. These experiences are visible through the cultural threads that are woven through every part of the hotel⁠ — from the architecture and design to culinary experiences and experiential immersions that remain true to the destination’s history and heritage.” 

    Image credit: LXR Hotels

    Image credit: LXR Hotels

    Meanwhile, the spa offers a selection of spa therapies and treatments that celebrate Japan’s healing traditions, offering an oasis of tranquillity and calm. Guests may also enjoy an original blend of aromatherapy oils infused with the essence of ‘Kitayama sugi’, a Japanese cedar tree native to the northern Kyoto area. 

    Tom Middleton, Sound Architect

    Tom Middleton: “Sound in design is finally being taken seriously”

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Tom Middleton: “Sound in design is finally being taken seriously”

    Ahead of joining editor Hamish Kilburn on the Innovation Stage at the Independent Hotel Show for a panel discussion about sensory design on October 4, Tom Middleton speaks to Hotel Designs about the role of sound design in sleep performance, hospitality and design…

    Tom Middleton, Sound Architect

    Tom Middleton is no stranger to the Hotel Designs brand. The sound architect is a true polymath who wears many hats in the hospitality industry. He is  a pioneering electronic musician, an award-winning sound designer, a DJ and producer, a certified sleep science coach, trained in mental health first aid, and is Co-Chair on the AFEM Health Group.

    In his music career, which took place prior to his journey in wellness and wellbeing, he toured the world and performed to millions, observing the positive affects of sound while sharing the stage with the likes of Mark Ronson, Lady Gaga and Kanye West.

    Most recently, while the industry became fuelled by collaborations, Middleton began exploring sound’s role in other arenas. In addition to working with leading brands, designers and architects, last year he joined an exclusive panel discussion with Hotel Designs LIVE that started the conversation around sensory design in hospitality.

    Further to this insight, Middleton is preparing to join a panel discussion, moderated by editor Hamish Kilburn, at the Independent Hotel Show that will direct the narrative towards how hotels can use the senses in a new era of authentic hospitality. Before that session, we spoke to the sound architect about sleep performance.

    Hamish Kilburn: How did you first become interested in the topic of health, wellness and sleep in relation to music?

    Tom Middleton: Initially from honest feedback from composing pioneering ambient music in the ’90s. People reported using our music to help them relax, sleep, give birth (and – voted best album for ‘the bedroom’!) and even process trauma.

    At the peak of my career touring with a relentless international travel schedule my sleep became severely disrupted. I trained as a sleep science coach to better understand sleep architecture and hygiene and then integrate science to inform music designed to help address human problems such as de-escalating anxiety and stress, improving sleep, boosting productivity and performance.

    I’m currently on a neuroscience and psychology of music Masters program to deepen my knowledge in this fascinating area that can add tremendous and measurable value.

    HK: How has the ‘functional music for wellness’ industry evolved in recent years?

    TM: As a pioneer in this area, I’ve been gratefully observing exponential interest, investment and growth in this area of functional music with more and more apps, platforms and experiences delivering wellness and health focused solutions.

    I am delighted that the sleep music I have designed for the #1 mindfulness app Calm is helping millions sleep better every night. Beyond domestic and hospitality sectors, I’ve personally expanded into providing science-based, bespoke music, sounds and sound rituals for functional beverages, functional skincare, mobility, workplace, education and healthcare… and it won’t be long before we get to space travel.

    Calm bedroom with pastel interior design scheme

    Image credit: Unsplash/Collov Home Design

    HK: Are you seeing growing interest in sound design from hotels and hospitality businesses?

    TM: It’s finally starting to be taken more seriously, but still a way off the perceived value of say interior and lighting design. It’s taking a long time, as the industry is still stuck in the mindset of background music playlists, mostly as an afterthought and always for the lowest possible price.

    For our business it has never been busier with many projects in various stages of development, and we’re looking at retrofitting solutions as well as more future-facing connected/IoT/integrated smart sensory room solutions.

    HK: What makes good sound design for a hotel environment?

    TM: Taking a ‘humans first’ approach to design – thinking about everyone using the space is so important. A multi-sensory, integrated, congruent, considered, empathetic design approach. Aligned with the core values, and complimentary to the interior and F&B, appropriate to emotionally connect with the guest personas.

    Designers should think about the human/guest journeys and the micro moments experienced within environments that could be enhanced with surprising, delightful, beautiful, engaging, magnetising, useful, or therapeutic sound-scaping.

    HK: What feedback has there been from consumers so far?

    TM: So positive! It’s wonderful when someone says, ‘I had the best night’s sleep’, or ‘it helped reduce my anxiety and stress levels’, or hearing it helped someone focus before a meeting.

    One fun aspect that gained a lot of talk on TripAdvisor was the soundscapes I designed for the lifts within Yotel New York. The challenge was that lifts are enclosed spaces, where guests often feel awkwardly silent. The solution was to take cultural cues from New York’s theatre district, classic TV, film and musicals. As a result, we were able to transform this typically uncomfortable 15 seconds avoiding eye contact to pure delight and joy as a positive memory was triggered – think Pink Panther theme tune or the Pinball Song from Sesame Street – as people walk out of the lifts smiling, chuckling or humming along.

    “Science shows that sound, music and noise reduction strategies can all help you sleep better.” – Tom Middleton, Sound Architect.

    Yotel Times Square, New York

    IMage

    HK: Why should hoteliers invest in sound design?

    TM: If hotels are selling sleep, then ensure you can deliver the promise of the best sleep ever. Science shows that sound, music and noise reduction strategies can all help you sleep better.

    A congruent, focused wellness strategy for sound, integrated with the other sensory elements, tuned or personalised for the specific environment, time, geographic location and the people using it will add measurable value to a hospitality experience and boost the bottom line.

    It’s now a matter of corporate social responsibility to put the mental, physical and emotional health and wellbeing, as well as entertainment and performance, at the forefront of guest experience.

    Tom Middleton, Hamish Kilburn, Mark Bruce (Director, EPR Architects) and Marie Soliman (Co-Founder, Bergman Interiors) will join the Innovation Stage at the Independent Hotel Show on October 4 to discuss, in depth, the sensory experience in hotel design and hospitality.

    Main image credit: Tom Middleton

    Person in factory eating

    Editor checks in: The unethical merry-go-round in design I want to jump off

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Editor checks in: The unethical merry-go-round in design I want to jump off

    Somewhere between furious and frustrated are where editor Hamish Kilburn’s emotions currently sit after learning about the inexcusably unethical design processes behind many products that are in demand of being specified in hotel design projects globally. But will the industry wake up to realise the human cost of a low-priced product?

    Person in factory eating

    Interior designers are taught and trained to create consciously; to look beyond aesthetics, to consider elements such as materiality and sensory touchpoints, in order to transform empty shells into meaningful spaces. By doing so, students arguably hold the key to unlock hospitality’s innovation and future. The initiatives I have seen emerge recently from young designers – most noticeably when judging the Accor Design Awards – are a breath of fresh air. Some are equally completely unrealistic, which is why, in their raw and brilliant state, they should be nurtured for when technology, behaviour and society inevitably catches up (which they will).

    Something changes, though, when a student enters the workplace. Firstly, they start getting paid fairly for their efforts. As a result of being part of something far larger and greater, the freedoms of having ownership of a project in its entirety are, however, lost. That void is filled with hurdles you simply cannot simulate, no matter how many modules you take, such as outrageous client demands, brand standards, and your creativity feeling, at times, somewhat muted. If you are a young designer in this position, I’m afraid it is just part of the process, and in relation to other graduates who are struggling to find the first step on the ladder, you are winning. Perhaps, tough, I can offer you some words of wisdom that may or may not help you on your journey. They come from a close friend of mine who recently shared these strands of advice with a colleague of his who was about to embark on a new chapter in their career.

    His advice was:

    • Nobody likes a drama-queen. You might be dying on the inside but try to come across as cool and in control and you will be admired by everyone.
    • Think about the ‘now, next and future’ – carve your plans into these categories and give each one equal attention.
    • Stand your ground when you really believe in something.
    • Balance art with science. Art alone will divide people. Science alone is cold and lacks emotion.
    • Nobody will argue with the data (mostly)

    There were actually more than five (at least 15 points in total) but I digress, which wasn’t but should’ve been his next top tip of what not to do. For the purpose of this piece, I want to focus my attention on the fifth statement: “Nobody will argue with the data (mostly)”.

    Well, it has come to my attention recently – in fact, like you, I have been aware about it for a while but ignorantly let it sail past my radar without any action or comment being taken – that some manufacturing processes, in this rule-lacking race to bring down the price of products, are deeply and abhorrently unethical. I would like to say that they’re not adhering to ethical standards and/or guidelines, but the truth is that there are no such parameters currently in place. “Blame the brands,” some may argue, but even the companies using these factories that offer a good price are, sometimes with the best intentions, blinded – or choose to shut their eyes – so cannot focus the lens on the social and human costs behind these deals.

    One gentleman who is all too aware of the damage that can be caused by moral-abandoning factories is Chris Stimson, the Co-Founder of lighting brand Well-Lit, which I now champion and will amplify hard because of its unapologetically clear stance on ethical manufacturing. I was hosting an exclusive roundtable, exploring this very topic with Stimson and a handful of leading lighting designers, when relayed to us his up-close and personal account with factories that treat their staff badly – he has been arrested three times before (think fly-on-the-wall, Panorama eat-your-heart-out kind of content)!

    “I freely admit that I spent the early years of my lighting journey on the wrong side of ethical manufacturing. I knew plenty about lamps, but nothing about the people who made them, or the real conditions in most Asian factories.”, he said. “I made lots of ignorant and naive errors – until I personally witnessed exploitation in factories making bulbs for western brands.

    “Unfortunately, sustainability and ethics aren’t quite the same thing. A brand can tick every box for the climate and the circular economy, and still act in ways that most consumers would find entirely unacceptable.”

    Sadly, as briefs become more specific, deadlines become tighter and budgets have to work harder. Therefore, the demand for cheap specification in this fast-turn-around society takes precedent. As a result, this is one area of the interior design arena that will unfortunately continue to fall into what will soon be disrepair. The people who suffer most will be the people working in the factories, often hundreds of miles away from their families, who have little to no choice but to accept the disgraceful working conditions that are sheltered in some of these factories that many well-known brands with deep pockets for PR and marketing use, perhaps unaware of the truth that is locked from view.

    To all brands, internationally, that are currently using marketing tools to amplify ethical, feel-good messages: I urge you to consider thoroughly which factories you decide to partner with. Ask difficult questions. Become a nuisance. Demand the data to back up the grand statements you will undoubtedly receive when hearing about care of and working conditions for the factory workers. This is the only way to separate quality craftsmanship from cheap labour. Even then, with the best will in the world and by asking all the right questions, brands can be lied to and fed misinformation.

    As designers, I believe it is your duty to challenge manufacturers and brands – and if you have access, then also the manufacturing process behind products.

    However, even with the best will in the world, you will get so far before you find a black hole of information. This is why it is so important for brands to know what happens under the roofs of the factories that are producing their products – the more information you can gather in this area, the better equipped you will be to help create an ethical design landscape that doesn’t sacrifice the welfare of people over price (and quality).

    It’s a difficult yet important road to travel for the greater good of design and humanity, but it is not all doom and gloom. I am pleased to see that brands are, it seems, working hard to amplify craftsmanship and authentic design. In a recent roundtable I hosted, I learned that Ennismore is only interested in working with brands that can prove their products have been made ethically. Perhaps, I hope, the tight-knit design team at the studio is setting the tone for others to follow.

    Editor, Hotel Designs

    Main image credit: Unsplash/JKN

    A wallcovering of palm trees infront of modern sofa and warehouse setting

    Sneak peek: New AW/21 wallcovering collections from Arte

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Sneak peek: New AW/21 wallcovering collections from Arte

    To celebrate this month’s spotlight being cast on wallcoverings, Hotel Designs gets the low-down on the latest collections from wallcovering brand Arte. Editor Hamish Kilburn explores the new patterns that take design notes from culture, craft and the natural world around us…

    A wallcovering of palm trees infront of modern sofa and warehouse setting

    As well enter September – arguably the most integral month of the year when it comes to trend forecasting – designers are on the search for something new, collections that highlight and celebrate true innovation and creativity.

    Right on cue, Arte has unveiled this year’s AW/21 collection, and following our sneak peak, the theme of nature as well as craft is fully alive within these selections of patterns. Here’s my editor’s pick, showcasing just a selection of what’s fresh from the Belgium brand.

    Décors & Panoramiques

    Blue and green tropical wallcovering

    Image credit: Arté

    For AW21, the brand has expanded its Decors & Panoramiques collection with an additional five designs, including lush, painterly tropical scenes, Greek mythology-inspired prints and an homage to the ancient Indian Odishee dance as seen in the Odisha Dance print. From velvet soft silks and bouclé fabrics to sophisticated linen effects, these eye-catching designs will make a statement in any room.

    Gitane

    Tibetan tigers, traditional woven baskets from Zimbabwe and the beautiful Italian flower fields all feature within the Gitane collection exuberant wallcoverings that will take you on a journey around the world. With maximalism at its core, the collection includes seven designs depicting awe-inspiring scenes and eclectic patterns in a rich colour palette of earthy tones, pastels and neutrals.

    Costura

    Costura draws its inspiration from traditional craftsmanship with textiles as the starting point. All designs are formed with needle and thread. They are translated into motifs with striking stitching and impressive patchwork. Diagonal lines and surprising prints alternate in this unique collection based on handicraft.

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

    Main image credit: Arte

    Häfele UK hotel room

    Industry insight: “Vital services add value to industry recovery”

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Industry insight: “Vital services add value to industry recovery”

    While the hotel sector is in the midst of a defining era, Paul Smith, Head of Specification Sales at Häfele UK, believes that economic instability, pandemic recovery and tighter budgets are driving great change…

    Häfele UK hotel room

    Due to recent cultural shifts and strains, operators are creating lean, agile business models that ensure customers receive the same high levels of service they expect, but with more efficient processes in place.

    Jobs that have been preserved during the last two years of turbulence will, inevitably, be stretched to cover different roles within a hotel. And as a result, many operators are implementing technology and using their trusted suppliers to help attract customers through their doors.

    Thankfully, there is a wealth of products that work in a complementary fashion to make the experience of staying in a hotel a personal, tailor-made and technologically advanced experience.

    For example, access control systems like Dialock enable a guest to check in and out at their convenience, gain access to a building’s facilities and secure items within furniture in their room, using approved third party apps such as Hotelbird. It works seamlessly in connection with lighting systems like Loox, which are triggered to come on once a user gains entry to their room and can be adapted – in both colour and intensity – to suit the guest’s mood and need.

    Meanwhile, sliding doors can be tailored to open at the touch of a button on a smartphone to provide a guest access to different rooms and amenities within a space. Operators can programme their own level of access, enabling them to maintain control over spaces that are prohibited from public access. These activities require less staff intervention and therefore save teams time, which can be put to greater use.

    However, bringing all these systems together under one roof requires an expert eye; the knowledge of a team that understands your building type, function and who will use it, all while ensuring you remain compliant with building and construction industry standards and regulations.

    Häfele’s team of specification experts work closely with architects, contractors and hotel operators, helping to bring their ambitions to life. Whether it’s a refit of an outdated scheme, which aims to make long term time and cost savings, or a new development set across multiple locations over several years, we’ll embed ourselves to your vision and recommend the best products and services for your needs.

    The 150+ years of experience in our Projects team means we know what can be put into a space to make it more functional. After listening to and understanding your brief, our specification team will provide a specification schedule, which is tailored around you and easy to follow. The functionality of your space will be prioritised; it’ll be compliant to all relevant regulations, your fire safety strategy, accessibility and egress.

    We’ll supply CAD drawings, images and BIM assets where available to your design team to help them bring together each of our different systems – Dialock, Loox, sliding door gear, architectural hardware and more – to one complementary scheme. Once all parties are happy, we’ll then introduce additional, valued services to continue making the process streamlined and cost-effective. Häfele to Order, for example, was created to save time, minimise ordering errors, and improve efficiency on-site and during the installation process of lots of our products. All your components can be specified to exact size, quantity and finish, which are then cut, assembled, packaged, labelled and delivered to your specific requirements.

    From minimalist design schemes to luxe fit outs, and from boutique, independent facilities to mass market settings which must be consistent in their look and feel, our service provision is built on our experience within the industry and the close relationships we hold with those working on hospitality and leisure projects every day. Our packages of assistance are designed to support every level of the supply chain, from the architect at initial consultation and design phase, to the installer delivering the fit out and, ultimately, the hotel operator who benefits from their space being a functional, effective place to work and reside. We’re here to be a part of everyone’s team, to ensure your refit or fit out achieves everything it needs to.

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

    Main image credit: Häfele UK

    Rock Galpin and his new collection of furniture

    Rock Galpin: “My new furniture collection is like a human hug”

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Rock Galpin: “My new furniture collection is like a human hug”

    A few years and a pandemic after editor Hamish Kilburn first put forward Rock Galpin as the designer that furniture brand Morgan should work with next, the collaboration has reached a milestone with the unveiling of the Lugano Collection. Ahead of its official reveal this week, Kilburn exclusively caught up with Galpin and Morgan to find out more…

    Rock Galpin and his new collection of furniture

    I’m stood in Clerkenwell, a site myself and fellow design enthusiasts are familiar of. Although the streets are almost empty and the lights in many showrooms are switched off (for now) – it all looks so different post-pandemic – Dallington Street has a pulse running through it. There’s excitement in the September air as the Morgan showroom is about to shelter the official unveil of a new furniture collection. The Lugano Collection, designed by legendary furniture designer, Rock Galpin, has taken years to perfect – and London Design Festival 2021, four years since I first met the designer himself, is the perfect time (and place) for such an occasion.

    It’s more than just another product launch affair for me. Believe it or not, I was the one who connected the brand with the designer a few years ago, before there were signs of a cultural shift – and planting a seed is all the credit I shall I claim with this collection. Following a few emails, the creative flair from both sides came together in harmony, with the aim to create a comfortable masterpiece for the brand to confront a new hospitality era.

    Ahead of the official unveil, which takes place later this week, the team have kindly offered Hotel Designs the exclusive interview, for us to understand how this partnership evolved following our most meaningful introduction (to date)…

    Hamish Kilburn: First things first, Rock, talk us through how this collection’s themes came about…

    Rock Galpin: Personally I believe that the ‘quality of the experience’ of a design, of a product such as this, has become increasing more and more important. I believe we are now looking for design that serves us on a much higher level, beyond utilitarian needs, where greater levels of comfort, increased quality of experience of use, control, even empowerment with a more ethical stand point will enable a more meaningful outcome.

    “The collection took shapes from simple wrap around forms that hug you – like a human hug.” – Rock Galpin.

    To bring this back to the collection, the starting point for me was a simple one; to focus on comfort and what I associate with it. Warmth, being wrapped up, hugged, softness around, smoothness, soft forms and materials that we connect with, deriving from nurture and to be nurtured. The collection took shapes from simple wrap around forms that hug you – like a human hug. The frame supporting the user in a kind of protective nurturing cradle, with crafted paddle like legs extending up the sides and back. 

    Two armchairs in the new Lugano furniture collection

    Image credit: Morgan

    As the forms and pieces started to take shape we looked further at materials and colour-ways from inspiration found in nature, one was beach pebbles, which particularly resonated with the collection for me. The experience of being on a beach and searching for that perfect pebble, that fits your hand beautifully, feeling so smooth and warm, with such beautiful colours… almost feeling like it was part of you. This in way is what I have tried to connect with and draw from in the collections typological design development, whilst retaining a certain definition.

    HK: What were the major challenges when designing this collection?

    RG: Creating a collection that somehow felt fondly familiar but that was also has its own unique personality, whilst potentially being timeless in appeal, is always and exciting challenge and demanding balance to try to get right. In addition there were some interesting challenges with the new method of manufacture in how the elements needed to come together to create one of the main benefits of the collection in interior schemes, that being to offer three distinctly different elements; back/arm rest, seat pad and frame giving many configurable different options, allowing interior designers further possibilities to express their signatures styles, whilst from a sustainable perspective increasing the products operational lifespan, by the option of high wear parts replacement.

    Four armchair furniture pieces in the new collection

    Image credit: Morgan

    HK: What was it like finalising this collection while not only dealing with time zones, but also while confronting a pandemic?

    RG: I am certainly the type of person and designer who enjoys working closely, hands on, with clients throughout the whole process, so it was certainly challenging finding ways to communicate particularly with the fine complexities in artistic and design refinement, and ergonomics when there could be no direct contact in the Pandemic lock down. In addition with different timezones and the fact that the week ends and starts on different days in both countries does slow communication down a little, but we’ve found ways to address this. 

    HK: We have followed your work for a while now, but what’s different about this collection?

    RG: My work, is quite often centred around human behaviour and experiences, with aspirations to push the boundaries of how our material world, in this case furniture can shape an improved life, with exciting materials, processes and technologies. This collection was a little different for me, in a sense that it was far more about a stripped back, more deeply routed project about connection with ‘us’, nature and timelessness. A more timeless collection that celebrates comfort, modern elegance and craftsmanship but one that also take takes a purposeful step forward.

    Quick-fire round with Erin Johnson, Design Manager, Morgan

    HK: In a sentence, describe the Lugano Collection?

    Erin Johnson: Lugano is a collection of dining and lounge chairs, inspired by the idea of ‘nurture’, interpreted through form and balance between individual elements and material compositions.

    HK: Tell us more about the name of the collection…

    EJ: The collection is named after Lake Lugano, located in southern Switzerland’s Italian Ticino region. Lake Lugano reflects the floating quality of the chair’s seat which, along with the body, floats within the timber frame that cradles them.

    HK: What three words would you use to describe working with Rock?

    EJ: Vision, perfection, clarity.

    HK: Can we expect more collaborative collections by Morgan and Rock?

    EJ: We thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with Rock on the Lugano collection. Rock strives for perfection, which is a quality we admire and try to embody ourselves. He challenged us to look at structure and strength of different construction methods, looking at the relationship between frame and body in ways we’ve never explored. So yes, we’d be very open to working with Rock again on future collections.

    HK: As a furniture designer, what have you learned throughout this collection with Morgan?

    RG: Every project is always an incredible learning process and this project has been no exception. From understanding Morgan’s perspective, the team’s passion for design, their in-house craftsmanship to the limitations and streamlining skills necessary for production to reach beautifully balanced product collections, much has been learnt. It’s a pleasure to work with a manufacturer, such as Morgan, who is prepared to take the time a design really needs to take to create the best outcome, from overall concept to the smallest subtle detail and pricing. 

    HK: What can we expect next from you?

    Well I am sworn to secrecy, but there is wind of a new collaboration or two, working on some exciting new furniture projects with some very interesting materials and processes. 

    In stark contrast I have also been working on an incredibly challenging project for The Ministry of Justice over the last two years, to design and develop an exciting collection of beds for prison cell use by in mates in UK prisons. The collection is currently being prototyped by The Ministry of Justice.

    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.

    Main image credit: Rock Galpin/Morgan/Ed Reeve 

    Red lobby inside the first Canopy by Hilton property in Spain

    First Canopy by Hilton hotel opens in Spain

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    First Canopy by Hilton hotel opens in Spain

    Situated in the heart of the capital city, Canopy by Hilton Madrid Castellana has arrived in the Azca neighbourhood with a focus on cultural hospitality and contemporary design that speaks the local language…

    Red lobby inside the first Canopy by Hilton property in Spain

    The vibrant lifestyle brand that takes inspiration from local neighbourhoods, Canopy by Hilton, has official arrived in Spain, with the opening of Canopy by Hilton Madrid Castellana.

    Since your here, why not read our review of the UK’s latest Canopy by Hilton hotel?

    The property, owned by Hotel Investment Partners (HIP), is located in the financial district of the city. It is one of a trio of European openings under the Canopy by Hilton brand this year, following the summer opening of Canopy by Hilton Paris Trocadero, and the soon-to-open Canopy by Hilton London City.

    “This stylish hotel truly emanates the iconic city of Madrid, offering travellers an authentically local experience. Our third opening in the Spanish capital in the last year and Spain’s first Canopy by Hilton, we’re excited to launch yet another enticing option here in Spain for travellers visiting from across the globe, including the more than 118 million members of our award-winning Hilton Honors guest loyalty program,” said David Kelly, Senior Vice President, Continental Europe, Hilton. “This opening is a further statement of our continued commitment to the Spanish hospitality market, as well as our growing confidence in a strong recovery for the tourism sector in the months and years to come.”

    The theme of ‘Red’ Madrid underpins an interior design scheme that embraces popular “Madrileño” culture from the forefront of design. The project was masterminded by the studio of interior designer Jaime Beriestain and takes inspiration from the city itself — as the cradle of cañí [traditional Madrid] culture — to produce a space by everyone and for everyone, in the words of Madrid’s unofficial hymn. The 314-key hotel, with 12 meeting rooms, has a distinct local look and feel, creating a comfortable environment for business and leisure travellers alike.

    “We wanted to create an airy, open space, without barriers so that people could meet, see and be seen,” explained Beriestain. “For me, Madrid symbolises the colour red; it is a place where passion reigns and different, connecting cultures converge. That is why it is so important to offer the city a space that reflects that philosophy, a place to connect and meet — that is the concept behind Canopy by Hilton Madrid Castellana.”

    Following the comprehensive refurbishment of the building’s interior, the hotel was planned as a setting to be lived and enjoyed. Airy, open spaces greet the visitor in a lobby — which creates an ambience conducive to conversation. The lobby is dominated by Canopy Central, a gastronomic meeting point where visitors can enjoy a specialty coffee or food prepared from healthy, local ingredients.

    On the mezzanine, locals and visitors mingle at Planta Z, a spectacular terrace where you can enjoy fun street food-style dishes with live music. The menu is focused on delicious, fresh and healthy cuisine, designed to be shared and combined with the extensive cocktail menu. A new casual meeting place in the capital for residents and visitors to experience the unique ‘Madrid vibes’.

    Pool terrace at Canopy by Hilton Madrid

    Image credit: Canopy by Hilton

    Hotel guests can also enjoy the exclusive pool terrace with views of Madrid’s rooftops and skyline – a typically romantic Madrid scene. To complete this ‘local experience’, the hotel welcomes all guests with violet sweets in their rooms, a souvenir that no visitor to Madrid should miss.

    There are currently 31 Canopy properties open around the globe and 29 under development across 16 countries and territories. 

    Main image credit: Canopy by Hilton

    Writers Room inside Park Hyatt Toronto

    Park Hyatt Toronto unveils new design inspired by ‘striking seasons’

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Park Hyatt Toronto unveils new design inspired by ‘striking seasons’

    Park Hyatt Toronto has re-emerged on Canada’s vibrant hotel scene, with a fresh interior design from Studio Munge that combines luxury guestrooms with world-class F&B outlets and a rooftop lounge that will take your breath away…

    Writers Room inside Park Hyatt Toronto

    Hyatt Hotels and Oxford Properties have announced recently the re-opening of the restored Park Hyatt Toronto hotel. Long considered one of Toronto’s most iconic addresses, the property now offers deeply personalised and engaged service as the cornerstone of the hotel’s revival.

    The re-imagined Park Hyatt Toronto combines luxury, sophistication, and glamour with a distinctive nod to Canadian heritage, art deco, and literature. The hotel collaborated with world-renowned designer Alessandro Munge of Studio Munge, who drew inspiration from Canada’s striking seasons and natural landscapes to bring this experience to life. The luxurious property offers an elevated home-away-from-home experience with purpose and style through modern materials and soothing colour schemes.

    “We are proud to welcome guests to the restored Park Hyatt Toronto hotel, with exceptional personalized service at the heart of every touchpoint,” says Bonnie Strome, general manager, Park Hyatt Toronto. “The remarkable transformation was thoughtfully crafted to provide unparalleled luxury experiences across culinary, arts and culture, travel and design.”

    Rooted in celebrating the sophistication of the arts, the hotel features a significant permanent art collection highlighting spectacular pieces from renowned Canadian and indigenous artists. A new public art sculpture “Rendezvous” by renowned Canadian artist An Te Liu, forms a vivid and iconic tableau establishing the hotel as a singular destination. “Dead Ringers”, a large-scale tapestry in the lobby by Canadian artist Shannon Bool, sets the tone for each guest’s enriched and immersive stay.

    The 219 guestrooms – including 40 luxurious suites – artfully balance residential comfort with contemporary design.

    The unrivalled presidential suite located on the 14th floor includes a welcoming foyer, a chef’s pantry and dining room, a study and living room grounded by a stone-clad fireplace with champagne metal accents. The stone-tiled bathroom is a lavish wellness sanctuary featuring a contemporary double vanity, glass-enclosed double rain shower, and a free-standing soaker tub overlooking Yorkville.

    The immersive journey continues at Joni, a new culinary destination inspired by the spirit of Toronto’s vibrant arts and culture scene, harmonises casual bistro dining with contemporary cooking techniques and focuses on fresh and flavourful ingredients.

    The return of the iconic rooftop cocktail bar, now known as Writers Room, pays homage to the history of literary legends that shared moments in the Park Hyatt Toronto hotel. This clever interpretation of a classic cocktail bar reflects the bar’s historical significance as a gathering spot for great minds as they take in the unparalleled Toronto skyline views.

    In addition, and to feed new wellbeing demands from modern travellers, a spa and wellness destination is expected to be unveiled at a later date, welcoming guests to an escape from the surge of city energy.

    Main image credit: Hyatt Hotels

    Line-up of speakers for Festival of Hospitality

    Festival of Hospitality to host discussion on ‘value vs stars’

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Festival of Hospitality to host discussion on ‘value vs stars’

    As consumers start to align themselves with values and are driven by the need for authenticity and experiences, how does the hotel market need to adapt? A Festival of Hospitality panel discussion taking place on September 22 aims to explore…

    Line-up of speakers for Festival of Hospitality

    Following a hospitality futures seminar from Philippa Wagner where she looked at the consumer shifts that are shaping the hospitality industry, Festival of Hospitality will continue this discussion with a number of brands, hoteliers and investors.

    In the Values v Stars panel, which takes place on September 22, the team will pick the brains of our expert panel at both luxury and lifestyle levels to understand how they are reacting to these value shifts – whether or not their consumers are demanding a variety of experiences, and how this affecting their brand offer, their spaces and communities, as well as how they see the market evolving in the future to engage new, sophisticated travellers.

    On the panel:

    • Clare Lusher, the new Marketing Director, Birch Community, which has become known as one of the great successes of 2020 that has created a membership and guest experience around lifestyle that feels both luxurious and considered.
    • Christopher Cribb, Peninsula runs more than 35 projects globally for the brand.
    • Maurice Petignat, Cedar Capital Partners – an investor who is working across the world looking at which brands and spaces to partner with that will resonate with new customers.
    • Mikail Goek, The Mandrake – having worked in both the F&B, private members club and most recently Mandrake creating boutique lifestyle experiences, Mikail will bringing an amazing.

    Main image credit: Festival of Hospitality

    Public areas inside Graduate hotel in Cambridge

    Making an entrance: Can Graduate Hotels’ debut in the UK settle a legendary rivalry?

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Making an entrance: Can Graduate Hotels’ debut in the UK settle a legendary rivalry?

    Graduate Hotels has made a bold entrance in the UK with the opening of two hotels in Cambridge and Oxford. Editor Hamish Kilburn explores the tension, the design details and what this means for the two locations that have been at war since 1209…

    Public areas inside Graduate hotel in Cambridge

    Having just returned from Cambridge, I find it difficult to include ‘Cambridge’ and ‘Oxford’ within the same sentence. I say this because in one of the city’s, Oxford is referred to as ‘the O word’ – I can only imagine what Cambridge is known as in Oxford… That’s right, the two universities – both of which pride themselves to be the most prestigious academic institutions in the world – share one thing in common, aside from their ability to churn out Nobel Prize winners; they both share their mutual (un)healthy rivalry towards one another. Since 1209, when the the University of Cambridge was founded, the history books have painted the two establishments as enemies, which has in the past – many, many years ago – even resulted in murder.

    Making what I am comfortable to describe as the boldest debuts in 2021 (so far), Graduate Hotels, a collection of handcrafted properties in university-anchored cities across America, has opened its first set of hotels in Europe in… yes, you guessed it… Cambridge and Oxford. Graduate Cambridge and The Randolph Hotel by Graduate Hotels have officially opened their doors for overnight stays with food and beverage outlets to follow later this month.

    Inspired by the world-famous academic reputation and unique traditions of the cities and universities, both Graduate Hotels properties offer design rooted in storytelling, distinct food and beverage experiences and a range of programming and events with local partners hosted year round. Crafted for local neighbours and students, regional alums and weekenders and international travellers alike, the hotels both seek to celebrate the dynamic communities they are positioned within.

    “Our team is humbled to be launching the Graduate Hotels brand in two of the most historic and prestigious university communities in the world,” said Ben Weprin, Graduate Hotels founder and CEO. “The legacies that these iconic destinations represent drive the ethos of what inspires us to create memorable spaces to be enjoyed for generations to come. We look forward to welcoming global travellers for a uniquely Graduate experience in these centuries old, one-of-a-kind cities.”

    Graduate Hotels has partnered with restaurant developer, White Rabbit Projects to launch all food and beverage outlets at Graduate Cambridge and The Randolph Hotel by Graduate Hotels. White Rabbit Projects is behind some of the most exciting hospitality concepts in the U.K. including Kricket, Lina Stores and Island Poké. With input from local suppliers throughout the regions, the range of culinary offerings will encompass restaurant, bar and café concepts.

    Inside Graduate Cambridge

    Positioned along the idyllic banks of the River Cam, the 148-key Graduate Cambridge is surrounded by the University of Cambridge, within walking distance of several colleges, and a stone’s throw from the city’s best restaurants, bars and shops. The hotel has undergone a complete interior renovation that includes all rooms, common spaces, fitness club and pool. A ground floor conversion has seen the addition of a café and bar, as well as the renovation of the full-service restaurant, which opened on September 10.

    Public areas inside Graduate Cambridge

    Image credit: Graduate Hotels

    Led by Graduate Hotels’ in-house interior design studio, the hotel’s design incorporates the history of the city, making the river the focal point with various accessible views, especially in the lobby bar. Colour palettes, patterns and textures in the public areas reflect the green surroundings of fields and the pastoral English countryside. With the punting boat rentals located just outside, the design brings local inspiration into the hotel, with life-size punting boats incorporated in the bookshelves in the lobby, a statement installation by local craftsmen.

    The lobby is also home to a hanging DNA installation to celebrate Rosalind Franklin, a pioneer in the development of DNA at the University of Cambridge. The guest rooms see splashes of “Cambridge Blue.” Key design details include wallpaper depicting school gates, bedside built-ins reimagined as punting boats, whimsical lamps in the shape of a penny coin, as well as striking wood and leather desks to give the rooms a studious feel. Bathrooms feature scenic pastoral wallpaper and mirrors in the shape of the university crest.

    The Randolph Hotel by Graduate Hotels

    Located in the city’s cultural epicentre, The Randolph Hotel by Graduate Hotels is within close walking distance to the University of Oxford and its iconic colleges, including Trinity and St. John’s. The hotel is also close to St. Giles Street, as well as the world-famous Radcliffe Camera and Ashmolean Museum. The design of the 151-key hotel takes inspiration from the university’s history, paying homage to its storied innovators and alumni. The hotel has undergone a complete renovation across all of the common spaces, the lobby and guest rooms, which includes a spa featuring treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi, all of which will open in autumn 2021.

    The hotel has relaunched with comprehensive interior renovations throughout all of the guest rooms, the lobby and common spaces. Led by Graduate Hotels’ in-house interior design studio, the design details at The Randolph Hotel by Graduate Hotels include bold hues and architectural elements inspired by the hotel’s heritage and locally inspired art which tells the narratives of Oxford’s past. In-room art includes paintings of Oxford alumni and well-known author and playwright, Oscar Wilde, and a painting of the famous ‘Steamboat Ladies’ (1904-1097), tells the story of a group of more than 700 women who travelled by a steamboat ferry to obtain degrees at a time when their own universities withheld graduation from female students.

    Founded by CEO Ben Weprin in 2014, Graduate Hotels currently has 30 U.S. locations in addition to the two new U.K. properties. Owned by Adventurous Journeys (AJ) Capital Partners, Graduate Hotels’ properties in Oxford and Camdbridge join AJ Capital’s growing portfolio of hotels throughout the U.K. AJ Capital additionally owns and operates Marine & Lawn, a collection of bespoke hotels in the world’s most distinguished golfing destinations. The inaugural properties recently launched with Rusacks Hotel in St Andrews, Scotland and Marine North Berwick in North Berwick, Scotland, and will be followed by Marine Troon in Troon, Scotland.

    Main image credit: Graduate Hotels

    Beverly Hills Hotel Cabanas.Champalimaud Design (1)

    LA dreams: The Beverly Hills Hotel unveils new design scheme

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    LA dreams: The Beverly Hills Hotel unveils new design scheme

    The legend that is The Beverly Hills Hotel has unveiled its latest redesign. The hotel, known as the ‘Pink Palace’ that has been the star of many movie sets, now has 11 new poolside retreats, designed by the masterful team at Champalimaud Design. Editor Hamish Kilburn has more…

    Beverly Hills Hotel Cabanas.Champalimaud Design (1)

    Steeped in Hollywood history, the pool at The Beverly Hills Hotel has always been home to glamorous starlets, movie icons, and the location for many classic films.

    Now, having just completed a restoration of its private cabanas by world renowned interior design firm, Champalimaud Design – the same team that was behind the redesign of the hotel’s sister hotel, The Dorchester – The beloved ‘Pink Palace’ moves gracefully into a new and contemporary era. It now provides a new generation of guests with modern day luxuries in a setting reflective of Hollywood’s golden age. The design studio has sensitively led the masterful redesign of all 11 poolside retreats.

    “What distinguishes The Beverly Hills Hotel from all others is its magical history. Through time it has been the destination of movie stars and socialites, kings and queens,” says Alexandra Champalimaud, Founder & President – Champalimaud Design. “Vivacious and brimming with life, there is a particularly strong culture around the swimming pool and cabanas. The cabanas hold prime seats to a mesmerising show of beautiful people wading in clusters, chatting in groups as laughter permeates the air. You sit with your family, surrounded by beauty and laughter, and you watch as the amazing show goes on.”

    Beverly Hills Hotel Cabana and Pool

    Image credit: Dorchester Collection

    The newly refreshed cabanas convey a welcoming residential feel while paying homage to the hotel’s iconic design elements. Admiring the storied history of the hotel and pool area in particular, each space is imbued with a nostalgic sense of Hollywood glamour. The design team have created a distinct atmosphere that builds up from the details: basket weave on the chairs, terrazzo on the coffee tables, and bright candy pink throughout the space. Establishing an even deeper sense of place, the design studio had sourced beautiful peach pink tables from a local Los Angeles designer, Bend. Adorned in pink and white interior striped awnings, guests in the cabanas find themselves immersed in all the fun and exclusivity that Beverly Hills has to offer.

    The most notable design feature in the cabanas is the pink Martinique banana leaf wallpaper made by CW Stockwell. The pink is a new colourway, re-introduced from the company’s archives to complement the original green of the hotel’s interiors. This is the first time the hotel has installed this iconic wallpaper since the original installation in the 1940s. The wallpaper is featured in The Fountain Coffee Room and in all of the hallways of the hotel, 5½ miles to be exact. With its distinctive colours, large bright leaves, and waving banana palms, it remains internally and intrinsically connected to the hotel, and has developed a type of celebrity status amongst designers and guests alike.

    Main image credit: Dorchester Collection

    Virtual roundtable - ethical lighting solutions

    Virtual roundtable: Ethical lighting solutions

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Virtual roundtable: Ethical lighting solutions

    With the aim to put ethical lighting – and not just sustainability – under the spotlight, Hotel Designs’ latest virtual roundtable welcomes Chris Stimson, Founder of lighting brand Well-Lit, and a handful of leading designers and lighting experts to explore ethical product design. Editor Hamish Kilburn writes…

    Virtual roundtable - ethical lighting solutions

    For years now, the buzzword that is ‘sustainability’ has been a constant tone; a consistent and unavoidable noise ringing in the ears of every designer, architect and hospitality professional – like tinnitus. Despite the topic remaining important and in its infancy regarding us seeing real change, in order to really clean up our act when it comes to designing consciously, it is not the only subject we need to consider and, if needs be, expose.

    To really one day achieve a totally ethical arena for designers, architects and hotel professionals – we live in hope here on the editorial desk – we must also place product design under the spotlight. To do this, designers must not be afraid to question how raw materials are sourced as well as how each element of the product they are specifying is made. But how do we, as an industry, realistically achieve this when deadlines become tighter, briefs become narrower and so many other details need to be addressed on a project?

    In addition to advising designers to specify responsibly, after moderating the below roundtable discussion, I no longer believe it is acceptable for brands to be ignorant on how their products are being made. The reason why I say this is because the consequences of such naivety, which emerge thousands of miles away from the first-world problems we face in the western world, can be (and are) unequivocally devastating.

    Image caption: Susan Lake's lighting design, sheltered inside Yotel Edinburgh. | Image credit: Yotel Hotels

    Image caption: Susan Lake’s lighting design, sheltered inside Yotel Edinburgh. | Image credit: Yotel Hotels

    Many brands, both large and small, that currently manufacture their products in Asia are (knowingly or not) fuelling modern slavery. One man who has seen the human cost of unethical manufacturing is Chris Stimson, Founder of lighting brand Well-Lit, who inspired the topic of our Hotel Designs next roundtable.

    To panoramically explore ethical lighting solutions with might and purpose, we invited Stimson, along with a handful of designers and lighting experts, to discuss just how bad the problem currently is.

    On the panel:

    Hamish Kilburn: Chris, why is ethical lighting so high up on your agenda? 

    Chris Stimson: It’s based on my own experience. Previously I was based in China, and worked as a sourcing agent for western brands that were looking for manufacturers. Before LED bulbs for domestic homes were known, I was watching the research, travelling to trade shows and meeting the people who were developing the technology. I successfully connected the manufacturers with brands – and that went well for about two years.

    Then in 2010, there was a dramatic shift in the market as mass production entered, and the price of LEDs and what manufacturers could achieve fell. I was literally told over night to halve my prices or I would be out of a job. It was during that time when I witnessed things that rocked me to my core; I saw things that could not be unseen. Over the period of just six months I realised I facilitated it. I was part of the problem, so I decided that I was in a position to do better. And this is how we started the lighting brand Well-Lit.

    Well-lit light bulbs

    Image caption: Well-Lit are one of the few lighting brands that is actively ensuring that the manufacturing process to make its products and components is ethical.

    HK: As lighting experts and designers, how aware are you all about non-ethical practices when it comes to manufacturing?

    Charlotte Flynn: I’ll be honest, before we had an introduction with Well-lit, we were not aware of the unethical side of lighting manufacturing. It really was new to us. At least knowing that brands, such as Well-Lit, were willing to bring this forward was comforting, but it was also pretty unnerving to think that, despite working with brands who claim to be ethical and sustainable, we actually had no idea just how bad the situation was. The reality is that many designers are unknowingly specifying products that have been made in barbaric conditions.

    Metehan Apak: As designers, I think we have all noticed prices of products come down as demand rises. What cannot be ignored are the demands among modern travellers for sustainable design and hospitality. As a result, our clients are getting on board with our thinking to source sustainable and ethical products.

    Arianne Ghezzi: We do pay close attention to the suppliers we are working with. There are a few items that we really care about when specifying and that’s usually around what happens in the background. Clients start coming on board when they realise that these ethical decisions often end up saving money when it comes to running costs. More and more, I have seen, that clients are also asking about the lifecycle of products and the recycling qualities of each product.

    I also think that manufacturing tours are very usable for designers to understand how components are made and put together.

    Image caption: Ennismore recently set new standards to only work with brands that can prove their ethical value. | Image credit: The Hoxton Paris

    Image caption: Ennismore recently set new standards to only work with brands that can prove their ethical value. | Image credit: The Hoxton Paris

    HK: I can imagine, though, it is very difficult for designers who are working towards a brief for a space to be aesthetically pleasing while also remaining on budget and for the materials to be sourced ethically. Realistically, can all three demands be met?

    Susan Lake: It’s a very difficult tightrope that as designers we have to walk. We have to think about the larger picture but we also have to consider the budget, time and aesthetics. It’s reassuring to see that there are brands out there that do source and manufacture responsibly. Equally, it is our responsibility to really demand these credentials when we are specifying products. When it comes to ethics, though, to produce in an ethical way will naturally result in the prices going up.

    HK: How do you qualify what is ethical – and what is the human and social cost of unethically made lighting?

    CS: The situation around fast fashion really brought awareness to other industries. Even Apple – one of the world’s most recognised brands in the world – has huge problems with their manufacturing in Asia. For example, the brand launched a huge campaign about ethics and manufacturing. Well, on the day they released their press statement, a video emerged showing footage from inside a Chinese factory where the manager was throwing workers’ name badges on the floor for them to pick up at the start of their shifts. It’s incredibly difficult and if a brand like Apple is struggling then you can imagine how challenging it is for everyone else.

    “It’s almost like ‘made in China’ is a dirty phrase. And it usually is, but it doesn’t have to be. – Chris Stimson, Founder, Well-Lit.

    Image caption: Public areas inside Hotel Zeppelin, designed by Dawson Design Associates. | Image credit: Viceroy Hotels

    Image caption: Public areas inside Hotel Zeppelin, designed by Dawson Design Associates. | Image credit: Viceroy Hotels

    In terms of my own experience and what I have witnessed, the social and human cost of manufacturing [unethically] in my industry is devastating. I am seeing migrants working hundreds of miles away from their families for very low pay – sometimes even refused pay. The working and living conditions in and around these factories can be disgusting and dangerous. They are being made to work inhumane hours and their jobs are threatened on a daily basis because they can be easily replaced. I have seen what that can do so someone’s physical and mental health and it is disturbing. It destroys people, and yet it still doesn’t get spoken about.

    For a lot of brands, it’s almost like ‘made in China’ is a dirty phrase. And it usually is, but it doesn’t have to be. My beliefs are that we all live on the same planet and we should be treated equally. It is as important to discuss ethical sourcing as it is to highlight sustainability and carbon emissions.

    “Sustainability seems to be the key word in the briefs but trying to find out information on how the products are manufactured and the conditions of the factories is very difficult.” – Glenn Campion, Partner, LAPD

    Image caption: LADP Lighting Design's simple yet dramatic lighting scheme inside The Loft Restaurant. | Image credit: The Loft Restaurant

    Image caption: LADP Lighting Design’s simple yet dramatic lighting scheme inside The Loft Restaurant. | Image credit: The Loft Restaurant

    HK: In your experiences, are you being told the truth when brands tell you about their ethical credentials?  

    Glen Campion: Finding and measuring metrics and data on the ethical standards of manufacturers is nigh on impossible. It’s not something that is published. Sustainability seems to be the key word in the briefs but trying to find out information on how the products are manufactured and the conditions of the factories is very difficult. I think there is a lack of accreditations. The only one I am aware of is the Green Alliance but I know that doesn’t cover everything, so there is a long way to go.

    CS: That’s really important because there are no accreditations out there that define exactly what an ethical brand is. I can set up a brand tomorrow and convince a lot of people that we are doing everything the right way and it would simply not be true. The only time in my career that an organisation has really challenged me on what we do was when The Observer  were considering us for ‘ethical product of the decade’ in their ethical awards. They asked deep questions and requested evidence.

    For designers, it is almost impossible to know if you are purchasing sustainable or ethically made products, it really is!

    “It is impossible to find out in certain regions. We have tried, for years, and we can source about 85 per cent of our raw materials and then there is just a hole. – Chris Stimson, Founder, Well-Lit.

    HK: It seems that price is a pretty good indicator then. How much more expensive are ethically sourced lighting products?

    CS: When we designed the business, we asked how we could create an ethical product. We had to be a profitable, sustainable and ethical enterprise. By truly doing this, it became clear that there was no way we could afford large-scale PR or a large offices and teams in London. In fact, in 12 years, we have spent about £12,000 on marketing because every penny we have has to go into the design of the product.

    What’s more is that we need to present our products at competitive prices to our competitors otherwise we are out of the game. The challenges of running a business like ours is extraordinary when competing against the large brands with deep marketing pockets.

    Two big bulbs in lighting scheme for a bar

    Image credit: Well-Lit

    Glen was talking about supply chains and where raw materials come from. The truth is that it is impossible to find out in certain regions. We have tried, for years, and we can source about 85 per cent of our raw materials and then there is just a hole. Therefore, we cannot promote ourselves as a completely sustainable business – but we try everything we can to be as ethical and sustainable as possible, while being ahead of the technology curve when it comes to lighting innovation.

    I also don’t think you can be a sustainable business without being an ethical business. The real sustainability crime is the sheer amount of the low quality, often broken, bulbs that we shipped from China to the western world. If you think about the carbon footprint of these products that end up faulty and subsequently replaced with another bulb that has done the same journey, it’s not an ethical solution.

    We make everything by hand, and that gives us such a low failure rate. Yes, we suffer on the cost of that but there really is no other way for us to produce those products ethically.

    HK: Charlotte, how have your conversations changed with other brands since learning about what Well-Lit does?

    CF: When it comes to the supply chain of products, we have an in-house sustainability focus group. We set up a schedule and there are questionnaires sent out to our recommended suppliers about their supply chain of materials. And yes, we have seen the same, we manage to trace back materials half way and then it descends into a black hole. With lighting, Chris was the first to put this on our radar. We actually only work with Well-Lit at the moment because of our shared ethos around ethical sourcing.

    Obviously, we do have the benefit of being in-house so we are able to make those pledges and they are transparently communicated and understood among the whole team here. However, I believe we can set a tone for the industry to follow. It’s been really key to ensure that this, sustainability and conscious sourcing, is within our brand standards at Ennismore.

    HK: Why is more lighting not manufactured in the UK?  

    SL: It really does depend project by project. Some clients, depending on their clientele and demographic, are more focused on ethics and environment than others. Those clients are willing to pay more for the products. It is easier to trace back materials when the products have been made in the UK, but it is tough because all businesses need to think about their profitability.

    HK: Please tell me that brands can ethically manufacturer products abroad as well…

    CS: Yes, it can be done – our brand uses very good factories in China while also manufacturing in the UK. There are certain items that you simply cannot manufacture in the UK, such as bulbs, while also retaining a price point that anyone would touch. One of the things that gets missed out in topics like these is that there are brilliant crafts people in Asia who are doing brilliant things. In terms of both technology and the governmental support given to these creatives, they are some of the best people in the world and yet their reputation is being tainted by the result of greed and poor quality mass production of products.

    In terms of being able to manufacture in China, there is a lot of trust that come into it. There are just two or three factories that I would use because of genuine shared values when it comes to the manufacturing process and human ethical standards. The most important element for us is that the workers are passionate and buy into the products they are producing. If they are benefiting from the products they are creating, then they will produce better quality products. This ultimately results in a product that has more longevity.

    HK: How has this situation become so out of control?

    CS: In my experience, most LED bulb brands do not know what is happening. It’s not always that these companies don’t want to know but it’s more that they just assume everything is happening the way they think it is. The sourcing process for most companies is to meet suppliers while travelling to trade shows, perhaps stay on to visit a factory where samples can be made and prices can be agreed. They might do a factory inspection but a lot can be hidden and this process, in my experience, can be highly manipulated and deceptive.

    HK: What can designers do to make the industry more ethical?

    CS: Ask difficult questions and demand hard evidence. For suppliers, these questions should be directed towards the factories they are working with. Suppliers should know about the living and working conditions of the workers who are in these factories.

    GC: I’ll be honest, when it comes to specifying, over the last 10 years the decisions from clients have been driven by cost. The choices on the lighting projects I have been involved in are around supply costs. There are so many components in lighting schemes that need to be measured and presented, so weighing them up against another product that is ethically sourced is not often asked for. It would be great, however, to promote ethical sourcing and really help to educate the industry on the effects of unethical manufacturing.

    HK: I think you’re right, the more companies that put forward good, solid evidence around ethical production of products, the more the industry will naturally demand this being an essential. Ultimately, if all suppliers looked deep into their supply chain and if all designers were more inquisitive about the products they are supplying then the healthier the industry will become on a global scale.

    Main image credit: Hotel Designs

    Accor hotel room on top of mountain

    The sky is the limit: Germany’s highest hotel room

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    The sky is the limit: Germany’s highest hotel room

    Accor, in a bid to raise awareness of its ALL – Accor Live Limitless campaign, has installed a glass box that contains a fully-furnished hotel room on the top of Germany’s highest mountain. But you can’t stay here (not yet anyway)…

    Accor hotel room on top of mountain

    Calling all stargazers, Accor has recently unveiled an entire hotel room at the top of the Zugspitzplatt, the highest mountain in Germany. But not so fast, it’s not actually possible (yet) to spend the night here without trespassing. Instead, the installation has been created to highlight the brand’s ALL – Accor Live Limitless campaign. Still, it’s a pretty interesting hotel concept that the editorial team at Hotel Designs identified recently.

    Travellers who who make their way up to the glass construction will, as a result, be rewarded as an ALL newcomer with 500 points on their personal ALL account, redeemable at their next stay in one of Accor’s hotels.

    The interior design scheme inside the glass structure includes real hotel furniture that comes from the Accor brand Novotel, with which the hotel group started more than 50 years ago. 

    Many are now calling for the hotel group to actually make this installation a real-life experience, but only time will tell whether or not sleeping under the stars at altitude will become the next unparalleled travel trend.

    Main image credit: Accor

    citizenM paris champs elysees

    citizenM opens hotel on Champs-Élysées in Paris

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    citizenM opens hotel on Champs-Élysées in Paris

    Talk about changing  up the narrative… the street of traditional luxury gets a french kiss from affordable luxury – citizenM Paris Champs-Élysées, designed by Concrete Amsterdam, becomes the brand’s fourth hotel in the City of Light…

    The multi-award winning, Dutch hotel-and-lifestyle brand citizenM is returning to Paris to open its fourth hotel – on one of the world’s most famous avenues. 

    citizenM paris champs elysees

    From September 2021, citizenM Paris Champs-Élysées joins its three sister hotels in the French capital – making it the first city with a quartet of citizenM hotels . Overall, this is citizenM’s 15th hotel in Europe – and 23rd globally – since 2008.

    citizenM Paris Champs-Élysées, the hotel brand’s 15th property to open in Europe, stays true to the brand’s promise of ‘affordable luxury for the people’ – serving it up, as usual, in a triple-A well-connected location. This one is centered almost precisely between Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde. On the doorstep: luxury shopping and dining on Avenue de Champs-Élysées, two metro stations, Galeries Lafayette, Grand Palais, Petit Palais, countless restaurants and boutiques, and much more. The location is ideal for tourists and business travellers visiting Paris for both short and long stays. 

    a blue sofa and red furniture inside citizenm in Paris

    Image credit: citizenM

    Over approximately two years, the existing 1970s building on Rue la Boétie had been redesigned and converted into a modern 151-room citizenM hotel, with the help of long-time collaborators and architects Concrete Amsterdam, who took part in Hotel Designs LIVE this year. Approximately a quarter of the rooms on the front facade have a view of Rue la Boétie and a slice of Avenue de Champs-Élysées. The rest of the rooms are arranged in a U-shape around a peaceful ground-floor courtyard with greenery and comfortable outdoor seating. 

    To get to the rooms, guests enter via a designer living room – citizenM’s signature space and everyone’s favourite hangout – passing a commissioned wall mural by Lucky Left Hand (French artist Steven Burke) on their way. In the living room itself, a spectacular Golden Age wallpaper by Ai Wei Wei will undoubtedly become one of the most photographed art pieces. It is best contemplated from one of the many cosy and colourful Vitra couches and chairs. Other notable art pieces in the living room include ‘Tauros’ by Sarah Morris, a lightbox by JR (Jean René), photo print by Frank Horvat, and Andy Warhol’s ‘Flowers’, as well as hand-picked pieces by Thomas Raat, Christophe Bucklow, David Salle and Jordan Wolfson, courtesy of the citizenM collection, which belongs to citizenM Executive Chairman Rattan Chadha.

    For that ‘just like home’ feeling, the living room has space for working and relaxing, hundreds of books, interesting objects, and a 24/7 kitchen in the centre. Known as canteenM, it serves 24/7 food, drinks and snacks – nearly all locally sourced – hot à la carte meals, craft cocktails and delicious coffee. The indoor canteenM bar/dining area expands onto the aforementioned inner courtyard with Parisian-style furniture. 

    When creating a new hotel, citizenM likes to include an element of surprise to keep all returning guests delighted. This way, the ‘affordable luxury’ experience is consistent around the world, but with a unique attraction at every location. citizenM Paris Champs-Élysées is the first-ever hotel with three outdoor spaces – the courtyard on ground level, the canteenM terrace, and an enchanting cloudM rooftop bar with a fresh, casual vibe. This spectacular park-style bar on top of the Champs-Élysées will serve a menu of delicious finger food, snacks, and bottled drinks (a variety of refreshing wine, beer, soda and spritzes). The cloudM bar – featuring views of the Eiffel Tower – will be open to the public, available for private hire, and stylishly furnished by Vitra.

    Upstairs, 151 rooms are designed especially to fit the existing building – and for ultimate relaxation. The most important things – the XL king-size bed, jungle-like shower, and entertainment – are all optimised for comfort, luxury and ease of use. Superfast Wi-Fi is always free, and the entire room ambiance (from lights and blinds to the temperature and TV) is controlled by the free citizenM app, or the MoodPad tablet. 

    For room art, citizenM hand-picked three French female artists – Marie Guillard, Elvire Caillon and Melodie Bachet – in collaboration with Starter, a creative agency run by Parisiennes Aurelie Dablanc and Anne-Marine Guiberteau. In every city it calls home, citizenM seeks out local artists to collaborate with and highlight their talent. 

    White contemporary bedroom

    Image credit: citizenM

    For the final touch to the true citizenM experience, the hotel ambassadors make the whole world feel at home. Every one of them is empowered to do what’s right for the guests, and prepared to take on any role – barista, concierge, housekeeping or receptionist. At citizenM, guests who need attention are never sent to ‘speak to someone else’, but instead receive genuine warmth and attention – deservedly noted in the many positive online reviews. 

    citizenM Paris Champs-Élysées hotel is open for bookings from September 2021. Together with the existing three locations – at Gare de Lyon, La Défense and Charles de Gaulle Airport – the quartet of Parisian citizenM hotels fulfills the needs of every visitor seeking affordable luxury in the City of Light.

    Main image credit: citizenM

    W Rome - Giardino Clandestino

    W Rome – celebrating the past, present & future of the city

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    W Rome – celebrating the past, present & future of the city

    Interior design studio Meyer Davis’ work is complete on W Rome, which opens in Italy’s capital as a contemporary hospitality experience that ‘oozes glamour’ throughout with traditional architecture melting into a modern design scheme… 

    W Rome - Giardino Clandestino

    It has been one of Europe’s most anticipated arrivals for quite some time, and now the time in approaching when we celebrate the opening of W Rome – a hotel that marries traditional architecture with cutting-edge interior design.

    King Street Capital Management is the lead investor and owner of W Rome. “Presently, the market has a tight supply of internationally branded hotels so we saw an opportunity to convert this historic office building, nestled in the heart of the Ludovisi district, into a marquis, luxury lifestyle hotel that showcases Rome’s rich culture and pays homage the building’s distinctive history,” said Paul Brennan, Managing Director at King Street Capital Management. “We brought together a highly qualified international team of partners including Omnam, Marriot, L22, Meyer Davis, renowned architects, interior designers and hotel operators as well as local contractors, F&B operators, local artists and chefs to establish this into the first W Hotel in Italy that highlights the city’s heritage to a discerning clientele.”

    Spanning two adjacent 19th-century buildings on Via Liguria with 162 guestrooms and suites, the hotel offers a prime location ideally situated near the famous Spanish Steps and fashionable boutiques of Via Condotti. It also boasts one of the city’s very few rooftop bars with panoramic views across the Eternal City. Meyer Davis has designed a portal where Rome’s past, present, and future effortlessly collide, and old contexts have unexpected pairings. From the juxtaposition of fabrics and surfaces to tempting textures, each detail of every space is intentional.

    In a city marked by immense historical heritage, W Rome will see an unapologetically Italian colour palette and patterning meet a layered blurring of different eras of standout design. 1970’s Italian glamour oozes throughout the property with traditional architecture melting into colour blocking and bold graphic patterns in hues of burnt orange, dramatic red and foliage greens. An eclectic mix of colourful furniture meets stone walls representative of the building’s past, whilst reflective surfaces bring a contemporary feel to the property.   

    Guests are welcomed into the hotel by the W Living Room, featuring a stunning skylight and a window of patterned glass allowing light to flood through the bright and airy open space. Eclectic seating areas are surrounded by elegant sculptural pieces of art, while black and grey marble flooring run throughout.  An intriguing, hand-painted mural wraps around walls that look onto chic reflective stainless steel welcome desk pods. The mural, painted by Italian artist Costanza Alvarez de Castro, is inspired by Roman gardens, and invites discovery by telling the story of the destination’s stunning geography. Transitional spaces are used as palate cleansers from room to room, while a digital gallery screen creates an immersive experience for guests, paying homage to Rome and its rich culture through images that unexpectedly change each time a guest passes through the area.  

    Boundaries are blurred between public and private spaces throughout the hotel. Guests are invited to discover the unexpected with a hidden door in the public bathroom that leads to the intimate Parlapiano, a secret garden. Inspired by Borromini Church, a traditional Italian stone church complete with kissing benches, lush foliage, topiary and water fountains, this space provides a tranquil escape within the hotel.

    With a bold yet calming colour palette, the 162 guestrooms and suites have been designed to make guests feel as though they have their own luxury city apartment. Open-plan living, and stylish design go hand-in-hand while materials naturally clash, with dark oak doors juxtaposed with highly polished brass decoration. 

    Image credit: W Hotels

    Local materials are used to tell the story of the hotel with traditional wooden herringbone patterned floors effortlessly blurring into modern marble as guests reach the bathroom, offering a thoughtful blend of both past and present throughout the space.  Wine red velvet curtains dress the guestroom windows from ceiling to floor creating a sense of bold luxury and a statement finish to the rooms. A selection of the guestrooms offer private balconies and terraces with iconic views of the city, some overlooking famous landmarks such as the Istituto Svizzero. 

    Providing a next-level glamorous experience, the property offers Extreme WOW Suites offering unparalleled urban gardens and expansive terraces, adding rare and much-sought-after inside and outside living. The suites’ décor sees historical Roman architectural elements mixed with cutting-edge in-room technology and custom designed modern furniture.

    Main image credit: W Hotels

    Product watch: D-Neo Monochrome by Duravit

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    Product watch: D-Neo Monochrome by Duravit

    D-Neo by Duravit is extremely versatile with its clear-cut styling; each individual piece will always appear to be perfectly positioned within the range…

    The new Oak Terra finish colour imbues the furniture with a subtle yet expressive effect. No matter what design trend is pursued for the bathroom as a whole, the holistic nature of the Monochrome world will always stand out.

    D-Neo is available in numerous design options, offering furniture that perfectly complements any bathroom. Circular mirrors from the Light + Mirror range provide indirect light that guarantees pleasant, optimum illumination of the washing area.

    The series is rounded off by the matching range of faucets, characterised by the unmistakable narrow, vertically positioned handle.

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

    Main image credit: Duravit

    Hendricks Palace

    Case study: Fitting out audio inside The Hendrick’s Gin Palace

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    Case study: Fitting out audio inside The Hendrick’s Gin Palace

    William Grant & Sons has unveiled a £13 million distillery expansion to create The Hendrick’s Gin Palace, designed to be a “playground for experimentation, invention and curiosity”. To really enhance the theme further, the brand called upon SONANCE when it came to creating an audio experience…

    Hendricks Palace

    The new facility boasts two still houses and features a walled garden that leads to a Victorian inspired palm house, which sits between two botanical hot houses planted with an array of unusual botanicals and flora from around the globe. The second floor hosts a new laboratory for Hendrick’s master distiller Lesley Gracie as well as a lecture theatre and a bar. Intended to “inspire curiosity, open minds and serve as a platform for invention,” according to Pamela Selby, the global brand director for Hendrick’s, The Gin Palace is located within the grounds of one of Scotland’s most prestigious grain whisky distilleries (Girvan) and distils every drop of Hendrick’s Gin consumed around the world. Visits to The Hendrick’s Gin Palace are by invitation only.

    The Challenge

    Working with William Grant & Sons and the Hendrick’s brand team, the challenge was to provide an ambience within The Gin Palace that would complement and enhance the ‘platform for invention’. It required the installation of a near invisible audio and entertainment system for the dedicated spaces without compromising the interior design elements but versatile enough to handle different functions throughout the building. The system extends to the bar area, lecture theatre, lab and specially designed restrooms, as well as the connecting hallways. Providing ambient sound and sleek design, the audio installation preserves The Gin Palace’s exclusive interior design quality. This building-wide solution enables high performance sound for presentations in the lecture theatre, ambient sound in the bar area and background music in the Lab, as well as distributed 4K video, wireless control of the system and BYOD facilities, allowing guests to present without the complications associated with certain technologies.

    Project requirements:

    • Adjustable audio levels in zones
    • 4K video distribution throughout
    • Futureproof wired and wireless technology infrastructure
    • Aesthetically complementary
    • High audio performance and install quality
    • Hardware and network security with remote monitoring
    • Best application of technology for design consistency and reliability.

    The solutions

    Professional audio integration by Lairds of Troon means more than merely filling a room with sound. It prioritises design elements so that the audio system and environment coalesce to create the right atmosphere, which heightens the senses without distracting from the designer’s aesthetic vision for the space. For over 10 years, the technicians at Lairds have continually refined the art of achieving audio fidelity in tune with room design, and for The Gin Palace we created an excellent result, deploying a combination of award-winning Sonance in-wall and in-ceiling speakers and custom built, colour-coded speakers from Gallo Acoustics. For video The Hendrick’s Gin Palace installation uses a 43” Sony TV framed with Vitualton mirror glass in the Bar area, connected to a 4K Wyrestorm 4×4 matrix video distribution system providing seamless integration and flexibility when choosing video sources. Day-to day in the lecture theatre, a discreet short-throw Epson EB-670 projector and 220 x 165 cm Celexon manual screen do not intrude on the classic early 1900s room design.

    “Lairds of Troon has worked with Sonance over a number of years to achieve excellent results for projects ranging from small residential to high end commercial builds,” explained Installer Mark Laird. “It provides a robust and reliable range that can accommodate any budget whilst still offering a quality that lasts for many years. Sonance amps and their architectural speakers make up the backbone of The Hendrick’s Gin Palace audio system.”

    Equipment:

    • Bar Area: 8 x Sonance VP66R
    • Lesley Gracie’s Lab: 4 x Sonance VP66R
    • Lecture Theatre: 6 x Sonance VP66R
    • Corridors: 16 x Sonance VP66R
    • WCs: Sonance VP66R
    • Bar area, Lesley’s Lab, Lecture Theatre,
    • Glasshouse, Corridors, WCs: 8 x Yamaha
    • Music Cast WXA50 Amps
    • Bar Area, Lecture Theatre:
    • Wyrestorm MX-0404-HDBT-H2A-KIT 4K video distribution
    • Lecture Theatre: Epson short throw projector and Celexon manual screen 220 x165 cm

    Sonance 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: Sonance/The Hendricks Gin Palace

    W Changsha

    W Hotels arrives in Changsha with futuristic design scheme

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    W Hotels arrives in Changsha with futuristic design scheme

    Bright, bold and playfully fun, W Changsha has arrived sheltering a ‘uniquely eclectic’ design scheme that modern travellers expect from the W Hotels brand. The hotel opening marks the first W in central China – and the brand’s eighth property in the country…

    W Changsha

    The future is now, according to W Hotels, which has lit up the capital and largest city in Hunan province, China, with the opening of W Changsha. Owned by the Hunan Yunda Industry Group, the hotel is strategically located in the buzzing heart of the city and reflects the bright spirit of the futuristic and multi-dimensional city with a provocative and playful design inspired by space travel.

    A red ceiling with tables and seats in public area of lobby

    Image credit: W Chenghsa

    “W Changsha marks the eighth W hotel to open in China, one of the most influential markets in both travel and business, and we’re excited to bring W Hotels to more destinations across the country,” said Tom Jarrold, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide. “Cities such as Changsha, with their future-focused residents and fast-growing millennial luxury market who crave the new and unexpected, are playgrounds of limitless possibilities for W.”

    Designed by the acclaimed Cheng Chung Design (H.K.) Ltd, W Changsha takes imaginative risks with daring new design forms celebrating Changsha’s rich heritage and modernity. In China, Changsha is also known as “Star City” and its name inspires the hotel’s design narrative featuring bold geometric patterns mixed with contemporary avant-garde artwork. Exclusively commissioned by the hotel, whimsical artwork such as the Schrodinger’s Cat series and the Zeta art installations explore the mystery of the universe through the W lens, creating unexpected encounters throughout the hotel.

    Upon arrival at W Changsha, guests are greeted by the iconic W logo, illuminated to resemble the surface of the moon. “Avenue of the Stars,” a mixed-media landscape combining digital, interactive, and sound art, transports guests to RUNWAY, a destination bar in the Living Room, the brand’s signature, socially driven spin on the traditional hotel lobby. Here, the “Pepper Man” sculpture invites guests to look up and marvel anew at the wonders of space within the context of Changsha’s local custom and culture.

    The hotel’s 345 guestrooms and suites offers modern luxuries and new-tech conveniences, with walls depicting planets, constellations, and discovery of the nebulae through a “meow eye cabin” LED screen emulating space exploration. From 26th floor to the highest floor on 28th, the triple-story Extreme – WOW Suite (the brand’s take on the presidential suite) incorporates more than 1,000 square meters of living and leisure space, including a private garden and a swimming pool, to make for a brilliant venue for private events amplified by the hotel’s signature service.

    After work or play, guests can kick-back by the reflection pool or make a splash at WET®, an expansive pool with a three-meter ‘Space Cat’ sculpture. The 24/7, fully-equipped FIT fitness centre offers weights and cardio as well as heart-pumping dance classes to burn calories before the celebration begins again. For guests who live by the brand’s ‘Detox.Retox.Repeat’ philosophy, AWAY SPA awaits to restore and revive their glow.

    “We are thrilled to debut the W Hotels brand in central China and mark another symbolic step for us as we continue to expand our luxury portfolio into new markets across the country,” said Henry Lee, President, Greater China, Marriott International. “As domestic travel continues to pick up tremendous momentum, we are bringing new and exciting brands such as W to the country’s emerging leisure destinations.”

    W Changsha is the latest W Hotel to arrive onto the global hospitality scene, which comes parallel to the brand marking its arrival in Rome. With now nearly 60 hotels, the W brand continues to defy design and hospitality expectations by breaking the boundaries and norms of traditional luxury wherever the iconic W sign lands.

    Main image credit: W Hotels

    Roca tap

    Product watch: Roca introduces new colours to brassware collections

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Product watch: Roca introduces new colours to brassware collections

    Bathroom brand Roca continues to innovate with its brassware portfolio thanks to the introduction of two new finishes to its stunning Insignia and Naia ranges. Complete with Everlux finish, the two new additions are now available in on-trend rose gold and brushed titanium black – the perfect finishing touch for any bathroom in an era where colour is king (or queen)… 

    Roca tap

    The sleek, modern design of both the Insignia and Naia brassware by Roca already makes them a popular choice among designers, however with the introduction of two new colours, the possibilities are now pretty much endless. The addition of the rose gold adds a pop of subtlety – think chic colour – whereas the brushed titanium black adds a touch of sophistication and contemporary, industrial style.

    With a square handle and a round body, Naia has a minimalist design, with a perfect combination of cylindrical and square geometric shapes to complement a variety of bathroom decors. It is available in a range of heights to suit a variety of basin styles including vanity, in-countertop and on-countertop.

    With its soft profile and slim side handle, Insignia features gently curved lines and a sleek, elegant aesthetic. Insignia is a modern, single-lever brassware collection, that’s ideal for bathrooms with a clear urban design.

    Both ranges feature Roca’s Cold Start technology to ensure the flow starts with cold water and hot water systems are only activated when the handle is turned to the left. This not only saves CO2, but also reduces consumers’ energy bills. Naia and Insignia are available in a variety of basin (different heights available), bidet and shower mixers, along with matching bath fillers.

    David Bromell, Head of Marketing at Roca comments: “The extensive Roca brassware portfolio continues to evolve with innovative designs and contemporary finishes, providing a broad range of solutions, but with homogenised commitment to quality, functionality and environmental responsibility. The addition of these two new coloured finishes, further enhances our existing collections with an on-trend yet enduring design, that appeals to a wide market.”

    The Insignia and Naia brassware collections also come with Roca’s innovative Everlux finish – a PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coating which has excellent durability as well as being resistant to scratches and impacts.

    The sophisticated Everlux finish is obtained by the innovative physical vapor deposition (PVD) process via the ionization of metals and noble gases, which 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. Through this process, Roca has been able to offer multiple combinations in the creation of sophisticated and highly resistant bathroom spaces.

    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.

    Main image credit: Roca

    Hotel Designs becomes media partner for Festival of Hospitality

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    Hotel Designs becomes media partner for Festival of Hospitality

    The inaugural Festival of Hospitality takes place this month across London with the aim to bring the hospitality industry together. Right on cue, Hotel Designs swoops in to help amplify the purposeful venture that will shelter many conversations, authentic networking experiences and forward-thinking initiatives – everything we believe in as a brand…

    The Festival of Hospitality, which is quick to state that it is “not your usual industry conference,” launches this month, and everyone is welcome! The month-long programme of fun, free events have been developed and curated by the industry itself. Everyone is welcome to attend, with specific activities for the Next-Gen as well as senior professionals. “

    “It has always been our goal to align ourselves with meaningful campaigns that help to elevate the hospitality industry and the people who work in it to make the arena creative and forward-thinking,” said editor Hamish Kilburn. “Karen Wiley and Katie Tobin, the duo from Always Thinking who are leading the Festival of Hospitality, are innovatively and seamlessly giving the industry what it needs (and wants) following a challenging few years and we are so delighted to help amplify their work.

    “What’s more, I am delighted to be moderating a panel discussion on October 6 that will specifically highlight a handful of rising talents and discuss the challenges fresh designers and hospitality professional face in this already congested industry.”

    As well as a great programme of headline events and tours, the festival wants you, the hospitality community, to get involved. Whether you’ve got a new project that you’d like to showcase or an interesting point up for discussion, the team can include your event in the schedule and help to share it with the right people.

    “We’re really excited to have the support of Hotel Designs as media partner for the inaugural Festival of Hospitality,” added Katie Tobin, Director, Always Thinking. “We are big believers in collaboration, partnerships and sharing of knowledge, and we can’t wait to work with the Hotel Designs team to make this happen, reaching a wider audience and sharing the great content from the Festival wider.

    “The exciting, month long programme includes future hospitality trend seminars, panel discussions with operators, developers, investors and designers, and an opportunity to get personal tours of some of the great new hotel openings from the last 18 months by the project teams themselves. Check out the full programme and keep updated as new events are being added daily.” 

    Main image credit: The Londoner/Pan Pacific/NoMad London/Festival of Hospitality

    Lobby/lounge inside Pan Pacific London

    Pan Pacific London – a new luxury wellness hotel is born

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Pan Pacific London – a new luxury wellness hotel is born

    There is no doubt that Pan Pacific London was one of the most hotly anticipated hotel openings in London in 2021. With the hotel now open, following a spectacular opening party, it’s time to experience what luxury and wellness at new heights really feels like… 

    Lobby/lounge inside Pan Pacific London

    Following what has been a hard-hitting few years for the hospitality and tourism industry, it’s refreshing to finally see new hotels – properties we have been drawling over since their concept phases were unveiled – are starting to emerge in the ever-so-congested London hotel arena. Pan Pacific London was one of those hotels. In an interview with its architect, Mark Kelly from PLP Architecture, we learned the need for flexibility in today’s era of design and hospitality. “Architecture is an inherently flexible process – always evolving while constantly questioning and reinventing itself,” he said when discussing architecture’s role post-pandemic. “As such, it is well placed to respond to the current and seemingly ever-changing Covid crisis and, for that matter, other current and future global concerns such as the climate emergency.”

    Pan Pacific London is a fine example of a new hotel that was, prior to the Covid-19 crisis, already planning to take wellness in luxury into a new era. However, after hospitality’s months and months of forced hibernation, this hotel opens with a greater meaning and purpose for the wider luxury hotel landscape. This haven in the heart of the city fuses together architecture, contemporary design, boundary-pushing wellbeing, and leading destination restaurants and bars, with sincere Singaporean hospitality to create a lifestyle destination in London.

    Located in Liverpool Street, Pan Pacific London is on the doorstep of world-renowned locations yet also home to its own inner world. Sitting proudly in the landmark tower at One Bishopsgate Plaza, the hotel is situated near many of the city’s finest attractions including high-end shopping in Spitalfields, the Barbican cultural hub, and the stylish Shoreditch neighbourhood.

    What to expect inside

    Setting the tone immediately upon arrival, the lobby is minimalist with earthy and warm tones creating a modern and paired back home-from-home scene. Accents of colour and personality, however, come from carefully placed plants that were provided by biophilic design experts at Leaflike. “This is one of the most rewarding projects we have worked on because of the alignment between our businesses regarding sustainability,” Brandon Abernethie, Head of Design at Leaflike told Hotel Designs. “We cannot wait to help more hoteliers achieve their goals.”

    A minimalist lobby with plants

    Image credit: Jack Hardy

    The hotel has been created by esteemed design duo Yabu Pushelberg, who bring their signature style to the hotel sparked by the fusion of south-east Asian vibrancy and the refined elegance of traditional British design. A unique sanctuary in the middle of The City of London, modern lines and artistic flair run throughout the hotel’s public spaces whilst guest rooms offer a sense of peace and calm with curved walls and neutral colour palettes.

    Led by a team of seasoned industry veterans, Pan Pacific Hotels Group’s acclaimed attention to detail and a proactive approach to environmental sustainability and wellness can be seen in the 237 guestrooms and suites which offer some of London’s finest accommodation. The signature Pan Pacific Suite, for example, perched on the 19th floor, is the essence of luxury with spectacular views of city landmark, The Gherkin. 

    The guestrooms have been designed as retreats from the bustling city and feature a lighter colour palette offering peace and tranquillity to the private spaces while the omission of 90-degree angles in bedrooms and washrooms creates a gentle embrace where guests can seek rest and comfort.

    Custom headboards act as personalised art pieces, adding a layer of calm through the depiction of oak, elder, elm and maple trees while accessories introduce small bursts of colour and organic forms to reinforce the tonal and tranquil nature of each guestroom. 

    A guestroom with neutral tones

    Image credit: Jack Hardy

    For ultimate wellbeing, an innovative ChiliSleep™ Ooler Sleep Cooling System to aid better sleep via temperature regulation is available upon request, and rooms come complete with yoga mats and on demand virtual yoga sessions, as well as health-benefiting botanical planting.

    Integrating fitness, nutrition, treatments and mindfulness, the hotel is one of the first in London to include an impressive 1,083m² floor dedicated to holistic wellness, featuring an 18.5m infinity pool and the latest equipment from TecnoBody®, including the D-Wall and conditioning gym, making it one of the most technologically advanced facilities showcased by any hotel gym in the UK.

    In addition to high-performance training, aqua fitness in the hotel’s infinity pool is a unique addition to the wellbeing floor, along with mindful workshops and sustainable nutrition. Spa treatments infuse Western science and clinical research with South East Asian tradition of clean beauty focusing on result-driven relaxation techniques, pregnancy treatments, and personal grooming rituals.

    The F&B offering at Pan Pacific London is unparalleled, with each of its five venues incorporating unique elements of the flavour, diversity and elegance of modern Singapore. Led by multi award-winning Executive Chef Lorraine Sinclair and renowned Executive Pastry Chef Cherish Finden, the hotel’s Straits Kitchen restaurant, Ginger Lily bar and The Orchid Lounge drawing room delights guests with new and innovative flavours. The team are working closely with British producers, Nurtured in Norfolk, to grow their own high quality Asian ingredients as well as sourcing local produce to help minimise the carbon footprint whilst bringing authentic flavours to the table.

    Pan Pacific London offers a serene haven away from the hustle and bustle, with every element carefully crafted and tailored to offer one of London’s most complete contemporary and luxury hotel experiences. The panelled wood screens which wrap the ground floor reception have been carried up and throughout the wellbeing floor to create continuity. Tall ceilings lend an inviting feel to the space whilst the spectacular poolside fireplace and sofas create a homely feeling making guests want to relax and linger.

    Located at the top of the lobby’s spiral staircase, Straits Kitchen is an ode to Southeast Asia both through design and cuisine. Embracing a respectful approach to cooking inspired by heritage recipes, the menu at Straits Kitchen has been carefully crafted by the hotel’s Executive Chef Lorraine Sinclair working alongside Singaporean Group Executive Chef Tony Khoo and showcases the melting pot of cuisines represented in multicultural Singapore. Quirky, bold and bright, Straits Kitchen stands as a gem of the hotel, featuring two private dining spaces, custom dining tables and a custom wine-cabinet-as-art. Custom murals have been brought to life by En Viu which further enforce the restaurant’s Eastern influence, depicting Asian botanicals mirroring the unique flavours on the menu. The floor-to-ceiling glass windows offer guests unparalleled views of The City.

    Located on the first floor, The Orchid Lounge offers a uniquely sumptuous and serene Afternoon Tea from award-winning Executive Pastry Chef Cherish Finden. Cherish brings her unique flair for Asian flavours to the traditional British tea with the Singaporean-inspired Kopi Tiam, celebrating bao, dim sum and choux. 

    In addition to superb dining and dynamically designed guestrooms and suites, Pan Pacific London includes the most technologically advanced and largest ballroom in the area, accommodating up to 400 guests. The hotel also features an Event Emporium alongside a further nine innovative and flexible meeting and events venues, with a dedicated in-house events management team plus state-of-the-art technology, superfast WiFi and 5G receivers.

    The extensive 464sqm smart Pacific Ballroom has direct access from Bishopsgate Plaza via a glass escalator and elevator as well as direct access via the hotel. A custom Lasvit chandelier designed by Yabu Pushelberg hangs sumptuously above the expansive ballroom and is composed of floating crystal orbs creating a starry night’s sky under which any occasion may be celebrated.

    Main image credit: Jack Hardy

    lodge in a hill

    Case study: Szegzárd Lodge in the Hungarian wine region

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Case study: Szegzárd Lodge in the Hungarian wine region

    Deep in the Hungarian countryside sit a series of structures, which shelter a stripped-back interior design scheme that allows the materials – and killer views of undulating hills – do the work. To ensure luxury was not compromised, the designers specified Focus to add drama and warmth with contemporary fireplaces…

    lodge in a hill

    Szegzárd Lodge is spread across nearly two hectares of hillside in the Hungarian countryside. The estate includes small private woods, a vineyard, and a hundred-tree orchard. Each building’s wooden exterior with juxtaposing angular architecture blends into the landscape while providing all the necessary luxury amenities – this modern nomad style is complete with all the extras, including a heated pool, jacuzzi, outdoor shower and sun loungers. A magnificent treehouse is located high up in the small woods attached to the estate, which offers an unmatched hospitality experience. Don’t let the simple structure and paired-back design fool you, though. The hospitality experience is modern in its tech, catering to all traveller – and there are even charging points available for electric cars.

    The guest houses have been designed by Ep Studio architects: Tamás Fialovszky, Gergely Kenéz and  Katalin Varga and interior designer Péter Dudás.  The lodges are sunk into the hillside sitting on top of a solid concrete pedestal, which is combined with the light wooden roof structure. This combination of the two structures is quite common in agricultural architecture and allows the lodges to blend into the landscape.

    Fireplace in lodge

    Image credit: Focus

    The interior layout is quite simple – minimalist with a natural feel – with only sleeping and bathing areas being separated from the living spaces. According to the architects, “it was important to extend the interior towards the garden with covered and open terraces.” High quality natural materials were used throughout the construction most prominent of which is the larch structure, windows and shades.

    Inside, the compact Ergofocus fireplace is suspended adding drama, comfort and warmth (when required) to the space, complementing the natural interior. Made in France, by Focus, Ergofocus is one of its best selling fires and specified for hotel and hospitality projects.

    For more than 50 years, and across all continents, Focus has been shaking up the codes of design convention. The brand was the first company to move the fireplace away from the wall to the middle of the room, putting the fireplace centre stage. With its genuinely iconic fireplace, the Gyrofocus, Focus has entered into the realm of international design legends.

    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.

    Main image credit: Szegzard Lodge

    Ed Warner

    Ed Warner: “Accessibility is not a dirty word in design”

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Ed Warner: “Accessibility is not a dirty word in design”

    In 2021, it is shocking that new design-led hotels are emerging in the global hospitality arena without the same level of consideration when it comes to the design of accessible, disabled-access guestrooms and spaces. In a purposeful interview with Ed Warner, the Founder and CEO of Motionspot, editor Hamish Kilburn only hopes to raise awareness for stylish accessible design…

    Ed Warner

    You may or may not know this, but before I was the editor of Hotel Designs, I was part of the British Paralympic Sailing Team, working proudly between the years of 2009 – 2016 as a shore and tuning crew member for the wonderful Hannah Stodel, Stephen Thomas and John Robertson – AKA, the performance team.

    Looking back, it was an incredible experience for a 16-year-old who was driven by adventure – not much has changed really. There were so many moments that pivoted me into the lane that I am now in. For example, when I let slip that I wanted to be a journalist on a ferry from Harwich to Hook they helped me launch my first blog and called upon peers to help organise interviews with Paralympic legends in order to create a solid portfolio when it came to progressing further, which ultimately secured my place at university to study my passion and make it a career. I received a dreadful phone call once at the small hours in the morning, during a Paralympic qualifying event in Weymouth, about my beautiful cousin who tragically lost her life in a car accident. I was sharing a room with another athlete, Paralympic gold medallist Helena Lucas who was competing in the morning. Without any objection, she woke up and sat with me through the night. I felt terrible, and even worse knowing that Lucas could have really used those extra hours resting for her final race in the series. It’s not often as shore crew at an event you are the centre of attention. In short, though, that painful moment was when I realised that I was part of more than just a team; I was part of a family.

    And strangely, when I tell people about my experience working with this perfectly able – no, formidable – team, I get asked how it was possible to train with the Paralympic team without myself being disabled. I’m not judging the ignorance, because transparency is best for us to progress, but it is surprising to me how segregated in society people who have disabilities can become. During my years sailing with the squad, I witnessed very capable athletes who happen to have disabilities being treated extremely differently. I noticed, among other things, hotel facilities not being adequate, and the views, at best, from the windows from the ‘disabled rooms’ would stretch out onto the concrete car park.

    Five years after the team were forced to retire as sailing was, to much protest, taken out of the Paralympic programme for Tokyo 2020, my blood boiled recently when I noticed that the Team GB Instagram account, which has more than 491, 000 followers was not being used to promote the Paralympic Team GB athletes. Instead, the team were being amplified on the Paralympics GB account, which has just 46, 500 followers (more than 400,000 less than the Olympic Team GB account). Call me a modernist, but to really promote diversity and equality, isn’t Team GB just Team GB? What is the need for a second social media account if the aim is not to drive a wedge between the two events?

    I digress, however these anecdotes can very seamlessly be linked to the design and hospitality industry’s attitudes towards creating spaces that are accessible for all – practically as well as stylishly. Until recently, I think it’s fair to say that designing such spaces was seen through very limited lenses. Instead of enhancing a design scheme, hotels wrongly ticked a box in order to offer disabled-access rooms that were usually on the ground floor of the hotel without even a hint of design consistency and – in some extreme cases – only ‘accessible’ via the back-0f-house areas of the building – classy.

    Cue setting up my next interview, which is with a true pioneer and visionary (not terms I use lightly). Ed Warner, the Founder and CEO of design solutions studio Motionspot. In 2020, Warner and his team were an integral element in the design and completion of The Brooklyn in Manchester, which became the only UK luxury property that was truly accessible for all and has been named the most accessible hotel in Europe. The hotel’s unique design is leading the Gold Standard in accessible design, with 18 of the 189 rooms fully accessible offering both wheelchair access and ambulant accessibility and the first hotel in Manchester to offer ceiling track hoists for guests. 

    Since then, Warner and his team worked on the recently opened The Londoner to design accessible and stylish guestrooms and he was recognised in 2020 as one of the leading British interior designer when he was profiled in The Brit List 2020. What’s more, Warner has been shortlisted for the second-year running for Interior Designer of the Year at The Brit List Awards 2021 for his continued efforts to promote better design for everyone.

    Hamish Kilburn: Ed, it is a pleasure to see you again! Can you start with explaining to us what ‘accessible design’ is and why is it so important for the future of hotel design and hospitality?

    Ed Warner: Accessible design is about creating meaningful spaces that everyone can use, removing the barriers that create undue effort, stress and separation of people. Accessible design is more than a tick box exercise to comply with local regulations. Truly inclusive buildings are only built by considering the needs of all guests and staff with physical, cognitive and sensory impairments, including design for neurodiversity.

    “There are more than 14 million disabled people in the UK spending over £15.3bn on UK trips a year. Hoteliers who can make the right adaptations to their hotels will benefit.” – Ed Warner, CEO, Motionspot.

    There is a misconception it is just about wheelchair accessibility. Disability is diverse. Just eight per cent of disabled people use a wheelchair. We help people to think about what they are doing for wheelchair users and the other 92 per cent with many other types of physical, sensory and cognitive access needs too.

    Why is this important for the future of UK hospitality? It is a massive market! There are more than 14 million disabled people in the UK spending over £15.3bn on UK trips a year. Hoteliers who can make the right adaptations to their hotels will benefit from a significant boost in revenues and proven increases in RevPar and loyalty.

    HK: Why isn’t stylish accessible design on designer and clients’ radars? 

    EW: For many designers and clients, designing for access has traditionally been an exercise in covering ramps and wheelchair toilets. Some designers and operators have neglected it because they mistakenly believe  these rooms are not required (wrong, as 10 per cent of all new build rooms should be accessible). Previously the design options have not been aesthetically pleasing, so some designers have opted against making hotels more accessible.

    Image credit: The Londoner/Edwardian Hotels London

    In addition, many designers have steered away from the subject for a fear of getting it wrong. There is a misconception that access is complicated, but with the right advice at the right time it doesn’t need to be.

    Motionspot can help designers to turn high-level building regulations into practical guidance on layouts and finishes on the ground. We work constructively with the design team to achieve a beautiful balance between access and aesthetics so the accessible rooms blend perfectly with the design intent.

    As more great examples of accessible design become more prominent my belief is this will start to change.

    HK: Why is it so important for you to amplify this message?

    EW: We believe accessible rooms and hotel spaces should be inclusive for all guests and we feel it is important to prove to clients the social and financial benefit of getting access right. At Motionspot we give clients and their architects the right design advice and access to beautiful accessible products.

    Once aware of what is possible, the benefits of positive change generally follow. Delivering a better guest experience is always the goal and our work can help provide solutions that are a great experience, more likely to be recommended and in our experience generate more revenue. Given we have an ageing society we think it is likely that the requirement for accessible rooms is going to increase steadily in the coming decade and beyond.

    The inclusion and diversity agenda is becoming increasingly important for companies to address. It is a fast-paced and ever-evolving area and Motionspot can support businesses to not just meet minimum standards but surpass them and show themselves to be leaders in being an inclusive brand.

    Hotels like Hotel Brooklyn in Manchester are leading the way and showing that improving access can look amazing and improve the guest experience for all. As more and more examples break through to the mainstream, I think accessible design will become a key part of design decisions. At Motionspot, we hope that one day it will become industry standard to design all spaces to be accessible to everyone.

    HK: You were profiled last year as one of the top interior designers in Britain. This was due to your work on Brooklyn Manchester. Can you tell us more about this project?

    EW: Of course! Bespoke Hotels engaged Motionspot as access designers for their Hotel Brooklyn in Manchester. Working alongside the interior designers Squid Inc, we advised on every aspect of the hotel’s accessibility credentials to fulfil the vision of a beautiful and accessible hotel.  We also specified and supplied accessible products that perfectly blended into this design  scheme.

    The hotel features 18 wheelchair and ambulant accessible rooms, including two rooms with concealed ceiling track hoists which is a first-of-their-kind hotel accessibility feature (pic below). These devices are cleverly concealed within a lighting feature and are stored inside a specially designed compartment in the wardrobe when not in use.

    The En-suite bathrooms feature fold-up shower seats and matt black removable support rails which allow a room to be adapted to each guest’s individual requirements. Also installed were easy to operate lever tap and shower controls, accessible flush buttons and carefully selected floor and wall tiles that minimised glare and provided fully slip-resistant surfaces.

    Since opening, Hotel Brooklyn has won many plaudits, including recently The iNewspaper Staycation Hotel of the Year award.

    HK: Is it expensive to design these spaces to be accessible and stylish?

    EW: No, and if planned at an early stage, well designed access does not have to cost any more. This is a common misconception!

    Where it does become expensive is if a retrospective adaptation like a level access shower, platform lift or accessible reception area has to be installed because of a problem a disabled guest experiences so please think of it at the start of a new build of refurbishment!

    In our experience the commercial benefits of getting access right are significant. A great example of this is The White Horse Inn in Dorking.  When renovating this historic coaching inn, attention was paid to the design of the accessible bedrooms to ensure they would appeal to all. Subsequent room bookings have shown this investment to be very worthwhile: more than a 12-month period, the accessible rooms had a higher occupancy rate and RevPar and generated an additional £6,900 of revenue per year in comparison to a standard room.

    HK: It feels strange to me that in 2021, ‘accessible design’ is probably considered as an afterthought in many studios. Why is this? 

    EW: It is not taught as a compulsory module in interior design or architecture courses. This would radically change the industry if it were.  To try and change the tide, we provide CPD training to any architect or design studio wanting to learn more about inclusive design.

    We need the industry to help shout about good examples of accessible design to raise awareness of what is possible and it is great to see high-profile hospitality awards like The Brit List recognising accessible design.

    HK: What sets you aside from other design studios?

    EW: Motionspot is more than an access auditor. We don’t just uncover access challenges with buildings, we propose creative design solutions that make spaces more inclusive.

    We also design, manufacture and supply beautiful accessible products. Frustrated that there weren’t enough well-designed accessible products on the market that fitted our client’s design intent, we began designing and developing our own innovative solutions. Our range now includes hundreds of well-designed accessible fixtures and fittings for all environments. Every product is created in line with Motionspot’s ethos of design-led accessibility e.g. our removable grab rails and shower seats are ideal for the hospitality industry as they can be quickly added and removed between bookings depending on guest requirements.

    Main image credit: Motionspot

    hansgrohe FinishPlus

    FinishPlus by hansgrohe – unique in every sense of the word

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    FinishPlus by hansgrohe – unique in every sense of the word

    Bathroom design is all about personal style, and thanks to FinishPlus by hansgrohe it is even easier for designers to create a unique bathroom design scheme. Offering more choice, these finishes allow for complete customisation in the bathroom, regardless of size…

    hansgrohe FinishPlus

    With five distinctive finishes to choose from, FinishPlus by hansgrohe enables a variety of design options which enhance the bathroom style. The range covers everything, from matt black to matt white, brushed bronze and even the elegance of polished gold.

    All FinishPlus surfaces offer exceptional robustness, durability and scratch-resistance; the result of the exhaustive research and development of the wider Hansgrohe Group.

    What’s more, having investing significantly into its manufacturing facilities, FinishPLus products are now available on a short lead time. Saving both money and time, this gives installers peace of mind form the inception of the project, working to tight deadlines and schedules.

    FinishPlus is now available in several hansgrohe ranges, from the understated geometric design of Metropol to the softly tapered Talis E. Both ranges offer handles and spouts in numerous height options so that customers have maximum freedom to tailor their wash basin, shower and bathtub area. To create harmony throughout the bathroom, the effect of these vibrant shades is also available across the showering and accessories ranges. Many of these projects are also available as EcoSmart alternatives, which means they not only save water, but also save energy and running costs.

    As well as being a Recommended Supplier, hansgrohe is an Event Partner for The Brit List Awards 2021. The winners will be announced on November 3 at PROUD Embankment.

    Main image credit: hansgrohe

    Image of a guestroom inside The Londoner

    NOW OPEN: The Londoner – let’s take a look inside

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    NOW OPEN: The Londoner – let’s take a look inside

    The much-anticipated, first-of-its-kind, “super boutique hotel”, The Londoner, has officially opened its doors in the heart of London’s iconic Leicester Square. Costing a whopping £500m, will the new luxury hotel take the tourist trap of a piazza into a new, more refined era? Editor Hamish Kilburn poked his head through the door to find out…

    Image of a guestroom inside The Londoner

    Following years of speculation and rumours around exactly what the hospitality experience would be like inside, The Londoner has opened – and with it, we hope, it will take the worn-down and tired Leicester Square into a new era of luxury, while also shining as a wonderful example that luxury is not an excuse not to be sustainable, from architecture to hospitality sheltered inside.

    The Lobby at The Londoner hotel

    Image credit: Andrew Beasley

    From one of the UK’s largest family-owned hotel groups, Edwardian Hotels London, the hotel is the latest launch set to astound both Londoners and International guests with a staggering 350 guestrooms spread across 16 storeys and a subterranean series of spaces, creating one of the deepest habitable basements in the world. And yet, despite its size, the hotel, thanks to its intuitive design, still feels warmly intimate. 

    Designed in collaboration with world-renowned architectural designers Yabu Pushelberg, the opening marks a bold and pivotal moment in the return and scale of global hospitality, and an exciting ‘re-birth for Leicester Square’.

    Known as the ‘luxury urban resort’, The Londoner shelters a variety of rooms, suites, penthouses, two private screening rooms, an exclusive 24-hour residents’ space, an entire floor dedicated to wellness, expansive ballroom, private art gallery, wealth of meeting places, and a mix of several concept eateries. This includes the hotel’s signature Mediterranean restaurant, Whitcomb’s, plus a contemporary Japanese lounge bar with a rooftop terrace and fire pit named 8. To ensure there is something for everyone, the hotel even has its own neighbourhood bar, Joshua’s Tavern.

    Whilst super in scale, the hotel’s boutique approach and commitment to hospitality offers the highest levels of luxury with an experience designed to make every guest feel at home. As a brand-new opening in London, it is also important to note that The Londoner has employed pioneering methods of sustainable luxury, which exceeds the BREEAM Excellent category in building environmental and sustainable performance.

    Watch this space… full review coming soon.

    Main image credit: Edwardian Hotels

    TheHague_3

    Cove by edyn to arrive in The Hague in 2022

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Cove by edyn to arrive in The Hague in 2022

    Hospitality group edyn continues the rapid expansion of its serviced apartment brand Cove into Europe with a new acquisition in The Hague. Here’s what we know…

    TheHague_3

    Extended stay hospitality leaders edyn has announced the acquisition of a new asset in The Hague, which will become the first opening of its recently-launched serviced apartment brand, Cove, in mainland Europe.

    The asset will be converted into 121 serviced apartments, which will open in March 2022. The project will comprise a combination of studio and open plan one-bedroom apartments with fully fitted kitchens and will benefit from an updated design scheme throughout, representative of Cove’s contemporary sophisticated aesthetic. The building will also include 250sqm of lobby, lounge, and co-working area, providing informal workspace for groups or individuals.

    Located on Grote Marktstraat, one of The Hague’s most important shopping districts, ‘Cove – Centrum’ will serve a base of corporate clients, as well as leisure travellers and families seeking more spacious, comfortable accommodation. Set in the iconic ‘De Passage’ building, designed by architect Bernard Tschumi which opened in 2014, the serviced apartments will also benefit from extensive local shopping and dining options.

    The acquisition of ‘Cove – Centrum’ follows the recently announced ‘Cove – Landmark Pinnacle’; a £62.5m acquisition in London’s Landmark Pinnacle development in Canary Wharf, which is scheduled to open in November this year.

    “The signing of ‘Cove – Centrum’ marks a milestone in the growth trajectory of the brand, which we are excited to expand into mainland Europe just two months after launch,” said Steven Haag, Managing Director of Cove. “Not only does this signal our intent on the continent, but it also is our first conversion of an existing hotel to serviced apartments which we feel is an increasingly likely path for growth.

    “Flexible, thoughtfully designed accommodation that caters to both long and short stays has never been more in-demand, and the brand’s rapid expansion into Europe signals its relevance and appeal to investors, owners and travellers alike.”

    JLL acted as advisor to to seller in this transaction, and more information about the new property is expected to emerge soon.

    Main image credit: edyn 

    Hamilton Wide Rocker Switch

    Product watch: Hamilton launches new ‘Gray’ plate finishes

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Product watch: Hamilton launches new ‘Gray’ plate finishes

    Hamilton Litestat, an event partner for The Brit List Awards 2021, will showcase the breadth of its decorative wiring solutions for the hotel sector at the Independent Hotel Show, on October 4 – 5,  2021 at Olympia London. This will include the new ‘Gray’ plate finishes and USB-A&C charging devices…

    Hamilton Wide Rocker Switch

    On Stand 1464, the British brand Hamilton Litestat will display its latest on-trend metallic finishes, its vast design and finish capabilities, as well as solutions that deliver the functionality guests are demanding in today’s highly connected world.

    New standout finishes

    Hamilton’s latest on-trend ‘Gray’ finishes will be showcased at the Independent Hotel Show – Basalt Gray and Anthra Gray.  Inspired by Italian design trends, Basalt provides a teasing refractive aesthetic – grey base with a neutral cast and subtle bronze hue provides a warm, nature-inspired finish. Meanwhile, Anthra Gray, with a subtle granular finish, oozes volcanic strength and natural sophistication. Visitors to the show can collect free samples of the new finishes at Hamilton’s Stand, No. 1464.

    Hamilton's new Basalt Gray finish

    Image caption: Hamilton’s new Basalt Gray finish

    Additionally, a new insert finish has also been added to Hamilton’s popular Hartland range, which will also be on display. Alongside Black and White inserts, a new Quartz Grey finish has been added to Hamilton’s insert options.

    USB-A and USB-C – rapidly recharge

    Now a guestroom necessity, Hamilton’s latest solutions to rapidly recharge smart devices while your guests relax and recharge themselves will also be on show. Available in 11 finishes and four sleek and stylish designs, Hamilton’s combined 2.4A USB-A and USB-C dual switched sockets make them ideal for the latest devices as well as legacy smart phones and tablets. While USB-A offers charging of up to 2.5W, USB-C facilitates extremely fast data transfer of up to 10 Gbps and power transfer of 100W for speedy charging. This solution is perfectly placed either side of beds for guest convenience.

    Hamilton also offers a 18W USB-A and 45W USB-C Euro Module that delivers a superior rate of charge for high-capacity devices including the new MacBook Pro and iPad Pro. Ideally suited to positions at the desk area of a suite, the Euro Module can be fitted within a single plate or combined with other functional solutions within a multi-part bespoke plate. Supporting both legacy and long-term charging requirements, the Euro Module is in high guest demand and is a standout strength in Hamilton’s vast portfolio of products.

    Wide Rocker – classic with a twist

    Inspired by design trends in the Asian market and making a big impact in the hotel sector to welcome international guests, Hamilton’s Wide Rocker Switches will again be on show. The on-trend design is available in five Linea CFX collections, as well as Hartland CFX and Sheer CFX, and can be supplied in a range of finishes, including popular bronze and brass finishes. With 1, 2 and 3-gang switch configurations available, as well as 1-gang Push-To-Make (PTM), Double Pole and Intermediate Wide Rockers, these switches provide a functional solution with a stylish contemporary design twist.

    Made to order

    As a British family-run company, Hamilton has its headquarters in Bristol and it’s from here that it offers its bespoke service. It has the capability to cost-effectively produce custom-made plates to support customer requirements, including low volume requests. Configurations particularly suited to the hotel sector could include a plate featuring a Euro Module, Schuko Socket, American Socket, and double switched socket.

    As well as offering bespoke functionality, Hamilton offers bespoke plate finishes courtesy of its Paintable service. Switch plates and sockets can be powder coated to match RAL, British Standards or Natural Colour System references, ensuring that they perfectly match a wall design scheme, soft furnishings, or other design details. This hassle-free service is even offered on low volume orders, with Hamilton having increased its capacity due to the service’s popularity.

    Perception CFX – distraction-free design

    For hotels featuring bold statement wallpaper or mural walls, Hamilton’s Perception CFX is the ideal transparent wiring solution. The switch plates and sockets have concealed fixings and a clear snap-on front plate that houses an insert of a chosen wall covering, making them almost imperceptible. Seamlessly matching the wall covering pattern, they allow the room’s décor to sing and make an impact on the guest without distraction.

    Hamilton Litestat, which will be on Stand 1464 at the Independent Hotel Show, 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: Hamilton Litestat (Wide Rocker Switches)

    Hotel Designs LIVE: Social Spaces

    (In video) Hotel Designs LIVE: Social spaces in 2021 & beyond

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    (In video) Hotel Designs LIVE: Social spaces in 2021 & beyond

    The fifth edition of Hotel Designs LIVE was sponsored and broadcasted from the Minotti London showroom. The virtual event for the design, architecture and hospitality industry was rounded off with an engaging panel discussion with leading designers and developers that explored the future of social spaces – from arrival experiences to lobby lounges and F&B hospitality…

    Hotel Designs LIVE: Social Spaces

    With all the noise around ‘social distancing’ and regulations against human interaction, many of industry’s leaders believe that tomorrow’s hotel scene will be a celebration of human connection. While we are at the T-junction on the road out of Covid-19 lockdowns, editor Hamish Kilburn invited world-renowned designers and hospitality experts to understand challenges and considerations to bear in mind as we re- open the doors of hospitality, to be social, once more.

    On the panel:

    Making a nod to an early session, which explored sensory design, Kilburn kicked off the discussion by asking the panel how designers are utilising the senses in design to evolve social spaces. “The advantages of hotels is that you can offer different levels of stimulations through transition spaces as well as in social spaces,” explained Beth Campbell, CEO, Campbell House. “This helps to build the momentum and makes the experience even more meaningful.”

    Charlie MacGregor, Founder, The Student Hotel (TSH), joined the panel as an example of a forward-thinking hotelier, who was among the first to push hospitality into the lifestyle lane. “By making the lobby the beating heart of a hotel, you immediately set the scene – and energy level – for guests and locals alike who are arriving,” he said. “With Covid, we have seen this new generation of corporate travellers, where people are digital nomads and want to work as well as play in spaces.”

    The conversation logically went into the territory of creating subtle boundaries in public areas, which is a topic that has become high on the agenda since the Covid-19 pandemic, but also as public areas in lifestyle hotels are being designed to be multifunctional. “Lighting is becoming more and more important when it comes to curate these spaces,” He said. “As well as building spaces, you can separate them and change them as the day goes on. When designing these areas, understand the possible mise en scènes is paramount.”

    Here’s the full video of the panel discussion (on demand), which was produced by CUBE and includes Product Watch Pitches by Vaughan, Leaflike and Luxiona:

    The full recordings of all Hotel Designs LIVE sessions are available on-demand.

    Since you’re here…

    More than 40,000 readers per month enjoy the content we publish on Hotel Designs. Our mission is to define the point on international hotel design, and we are doing that by serving relevant news stories and engaging features. To keep up to date on the hottest stories that are emerging, you can sign up to the newsletter, which is completely free of charge. As well as receiving a weekly round-up of the top stories, you will also access our bi-monthly HD Edit –staying ahead of the curve has never been so easy!

    Click here to sign up to our newsletter.

    Crosswater Artist

    Crosswater introduces Artist – celebrating meaningful colour

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Crosswater introduces Artist – celebrating meaningful colour

    Artist is the new high-end bathroom collection from Crosswater, which partners style with performance to offer luxury bathroom solutions for all spaces. Let’s take a peek…

    Drawing inspiration from Scandinavian design, the modern Artist collection from contemporary bathroom brand Crosswater features curved silhouettes, softer styling, and natural wood elements to for a true hygge home.

    Crosswater Artist

    The centrepiece of the Artist collection, which cleverly injects meaningful colour into the bathroom, is the vanity unit, a contemporary storage solution that features a calming colour scheme, alongside a solid oak worktop. There are three different vanity unit sizes to choose from, each available in four finishes, Onyx Black, Cashmere Matt, Storm Grey, and Matt White. The soft-close, handle-free drawers can be fitted with two or four section dividers, allowing smart storage for the everyday bathroom essentials.

    Crosswater Artist in bathroom

    The vanity can either be installed as a wall-hung unit or assembled with coordinating height adjustable legs to create a more trend-focused feature in the bathroom. The legs are available in the same four finishes as the vanity unit – Onyx Black, Cashmere Matt, Storm Grey, and Matt White. For those that prefer more natural elements, the legs are also available in beech veneer.

    The solid oak worktop and beech veneer legs are crafted from sustainable sources and are specially designed with an anti-UV matt varnish to protect the wood from discolouration and fading.

    The Artist vanity unit is best pared with Crosswater’s new Nepi or Circus basins. Nepi, a clever inset basin that sits both above and below the worktop, is ideal for those that want the look of a minimalist countertop basin, without compromising on space. Alternatively, the Circus Countertop Basin in Brushed Brass is perfect for those wanting to make a statement. As for brassware, Crosswater’s new Glide II taps, available in Chrome, Brushed Brass, Brushed Stainless Steel, and Matt Black, provide additional elegance.

    To complete the look, the Artist collection also offers a back-to-wall bath, back-lit mirror, and a towel warmer that can double as additional storage space, thanks to optional oak shelves.

    Crosswater 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: Crosswater

    GROHE X

    GROHE wins Red Dot Award 2021 for GROHE X

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    GROHE wins Red Dot Award 2021 for GROHE X

    Digital platform GROHE X, which has attracted around 222,000 visitors since it launched earlier this year, wins Red Dot Award…

    Only a few months after its launch, which Hotel Designs was proud to be a part of, the digital experience hub GROHE X has been awarded the internationally renowned Red Dot Award Brands & Communication Design 2021 in the category “Digital Solutions“. Prof. Dr. Peter Zec, initiator, and CEO of Red Dot, emphasised the importance of digital solutions for the success of brands and companies, especially in today’s world.

    GROHE X

    “As an award winner, GROHE has proven that they think ‘outside the box’. The brand knows how to act quickly in times of crisis and use upheavals for new design approaches. In this way, they master important challenges and also make a valuable contribution to the further development of society.”

    The brand experience of today and tomorrow

    With GROHE X, LIXIL in the EMENA region has developed the first digital platform of its kind in the industry for its GROHE sanitary brand together with strong partners VOK DAMS, IBM and D’art. As a content hub tailored to the interests of industry target groups with zones dedicated to product, inspiration and know-how transfer alongside service-oriented offers such as tutorials and specialist events, and opportunities to connect with brand experts, GROHE X facilitates a unique user experience. Since its launch in mid-March this year, GROHE X has quickly proven to be a success. The current visitor numbers – currently 2,500 daily – prove that GROHE X is a successful creative solution that meets the communication challenges of both today and the future. GROHE X is thus seen as a driver of innovation in its own right, serving not as a replacement for traditional communication, but as a starting point for a new era of brand presentation and communication in the B2B world. GROHE X already presents itself as an alternative that is flexible enough to keep pace with the rapid developments in communication.

    “GROHE X is much more than a digital trade show replacement and the 35,000 visitors and 70,000 views in the first week alone have proven us right,” commented Jonas Brennwald, Leader LIXIL EMENA and Co-CEO Grohe AG. “The platform is designed to perfectly position our communication for the future. We are delighted that with the Red Dot award we have now also received international confirmation that we have created something that is not only well designed, but also an extremely successful brand communication tool.”

    Red Dot Award “Brands & Communication Design”

    With around 20,000 entries, the annual Red Dot Award is one of the largest design competitions in the world. Its origins date back to 1955 and the famous Red Dot award has long since established itself as one of the most coveted seals of quality for good design. From products, brand communication and creative projects to design concepts and prototypes, the Red Dot Award documents the most important trends worldwide.

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

    Main image credit: GROHE

    Product watch: Here’s what’s new from Arte

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    Product watch: Here’s what’s new from Arte

    In order to kickstart this month’s editorial spotlight on wallcoverings, Hotel Designs is taking a closer look at Arte’s collections that have launched over the summer…

    Arte is known for creating outrageously creative – and magnificent – wallcoverings. Since building its foundations in 1981, the brand can be found adorning the walls of both residential homes, as well as commercial interiors in more than 80 countries worldwide.

    Each year, an in-house team of experienced designers work on developing new collections, striving for perfection and trendsetting design whilst simultaneously surprising the design industry with what’s possible to achieve with wallcoverings.

    With the aim to continues to inspire and challenge, setting the bar for innovative design, Arte’s latest collections that were recently launched take ‘art outside the frame’ to a whole new level of detail.

    Mimic Moth

    Mimic Moth is an exclusive preview launching this autumn, ahead of the full collection (and third collaboration) from Arte x Moooi set to launch for SS22, inspired by new Extinct Animals. Like the current Moooi Wallcovering designs, this collection will be made from unexpected and luxurious materials. A collection in harmonious colours that brings joy and balance.

    This 3D wallcovering with a soft suede look is inspired by the Mimic Moth’s shape and habitat. The wallcovering’s design is made up of embossed Mimic Moths surrounded by their favourite flowers.

    Queen Cobra

    Queen Cobra is the next family member of the new Moooi Wallcovering collection, which follows the launch of Mimic Moth. The collection depicts majestic looking snakes that were called so because of their long coiling hairs resembling the hairstyle of Queen Tanjii of Kemet. According to old scriptures, the snakes were gold coloured and didn’t have scales. Their skin seemed made of dried grass.

    The wallcovering Queen Cobra is made from hand-woven sisal fibres, inspired by the Queen Cobra’s rhythmic curves and grassy habitat. The design comprises round overlapping shapes in a pattern with a hypnotic feel to it.

    Icons

    Icons is a versatile wallcoverings collection, featuring seven designs across a variety of heavier textures including shagreen leather and boucle fabric, as well as lighter options such as real rattan and silk imitation on non- woven backing. With a combination of geometric block patterns, floral motifs as well as plains in a palette of rich earthy colours, on matt and glossy finishes, designs can be easily combined in a single space to add depth to any scheme.

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

    Main image credit: Arte

    25hours-hotel-firenze-paola-navone

    25hours to arrive in Italy this September

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    25hours to arrive in Italy this September

    The first 25hours hotel in Italy will open in Florence this September, with anything-but-subtle interiors by Milan-based designer Paola Navone…

    The 25hours Hotel Piazza San Paolino occupies a central location in Florence, in the Santa Maria Novella district, which is among the most authentic and lesser-known neighbourhoods in the Italian city and a little off the beaten track.

    25hours-hotel-firenze-paola-navone

    The 171-key boutique hotel is situated in the former premises of Monte de ‘Pegni – the lending company of the Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze – and has its central core of 66 rooms in the original monastery next to the eponymous church of San Paolino. These hallowed halls are now imbued with fresh creative energy thanks to controlled demolitions, new building elements and restored areas. Enhancing the historic core is a new annexe boasting another 104 guest rooms with balconies, as well as the Casetta del Giardino, a small apartment with a private garden and pool. 

    Created by Milan-based designer Paola Navone and her team, the hotel was inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy and is brimming with light-hearted allusions to this legendary work: scenes from Hell and Paradise are playfully interspersed, offering an illuminating tour through Dante’s world of virtues and vices. Situated beneath the vast glass dome, the Restaurant San Paolino is the centrepiece of the hotel in the historical palazzo. Round about are a green courtyard garden, a classic Negroni bar and a typical alimentari – a grocery store for the neighbourhood and lively piazza that serves a small selection of food and drinks to suit the time of day.

    The San Paolino restaurant epitomises Italian cuisine, offering the best produce from all regions of the country, although Tuscany occupies a special place on the menu. Changing with the seasons, there are also a few dishes from designer Paola Navone’s personal recipe collection. Guests perusing the wine list will find exclusively curated recommendations from choice wineries in Tuscany. Dining beneath the glass dome at the centre of the impressive palazzo is meant to be fun – and the imaginative design merely adds to this experience. San Paolino is a great place to meet at any time of day, and the hospitality space expands into the playful courtyard garden during the warmer months.

    The Companion Bar at 25hours Hotel Piazza San Paolino appears both quintessentially Italian and strikingly international. Its signature products are bitter-sweet classics like Negroni, but include new interpretations that add a playfully seasonal touch to these flavours. The Companion Bar welcomes its guests from the aperitivo to the late-night drink and is establishing itself as a fixed star in the Florentine night life. The traditional ‘hole in the wall’, the buchetta del vino, allows guests to enjoy their glass of wine on the pavement in front of the establishment. Table bookings are not available, but personal advice from the bar crew certainly is.

    Alimentari actually just means ‘food’ in Italian. But the word is also used to describe neighbourhood corner stores selling groceries and everyday items. The 25hours Hotel in Florence has its own alimentari on the small Piazza San Paolino. Besides paninis, sandwiches and salads, it also includes a traditional-style wine shop offering a selection of local products and specialities for gourmets – ideal for a culinary tour through the world of Italian delicacies. The range was curated by S. Forno, a legendary local bakery, and all of the freshly baked products come straight from their ovens, of course.

    Main image credit: 25hours

    The Other House Club Flat Kitchen in blue and mustard

    Video exclusive: The making of The Other House (part 1)

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    Video exclusive: The making of The Other House (part 1)

    The first video in our exclusive concept-to-completion series with The Other House takes a tour inside what will soon be its first hotel – AKA, residents’ club. Editor Hamish Kilburn speaks to the brand’s CEO and the design team, which including Bergman Design House and architecture firm Falconer Chester Hall, to understand more about the design narrative that will be sheltered inside…

    The Other House Club Flat Kitchen in blue and mustard

    A new era of hospitality is on the horizon. The Other House is an innovative concept that we first explored earlier this year, which, right on cue, has raised some eyebrows recently. Since joining a panel discussion on ‘a new era of lifestyle’ at Hotel Designs LIVE in May, CEO & founder Naomi Heaton – a self-confessed newcomer into the hospitality arena who aims to disrupt conventional approaches to hotel design and development – has invited our cameras in to capture the concept-to-completion story behind brand’s first property. Sheltered inside Harrington Hall, a heritage property, The Other House South Kensington will offer 200 Club Flats – all of which will feature signature, fully fitted and contemporary design – for leisure travellers and corporate visitors alike. 

    With less than one year until the first residents’ club opens, here’s what we discovered when we took a sneak peek inside the building. During our access-all-areas visit, we spoke to Heaton about the pillars of the brand. In addition, we caught up with the architect at Falconer Chester Hall, Alastair Shepherd, who is responsible for carving out the body of the hospitality experience. And, to make things really interesting, we even made a visit to Bergman Design House to speak to Marie Soliman, the interior designer tasked to bring her sketches and renders to life, while sourcing as much as she possibly can locally and sustainably.

    Who’s who? 

    Elevating the traditional long stay and serviced apartment models, the new brand will combine beautifully designed apartments – complete with fully fitted kitchens, living and sleeping areas – with a private club exclusively for residents and members to relax and enjoy, complete with two bars, spa and fitness studio. For a local vibe, the bold public spaces will include a destination bar and all-day dining bistro (renders of these areas will be available shortly).

    While targetting an audience that is conscious and cares deeply about the environmental impact hotel development can have on the planet, sustainability was one of the first pillars for The Other House. “We take a sustainable approach to renovating existing buildings and is committed to making a positive impact on the community, our employees and the environment,” explained Heaton in an earlier interview with Hotel Designs. “Our residents will be a part of our environmental journey so they can make a measurable, personal difference. There will be a focus on health and wellbeing at all the guest touchpoints and we will be using, for example, recyclable packaging, healthy, sustainably produced food and British-made furniture.”

    With eight categories of Club Flats – Club Town, Club Garden, Club Courtyard, Club Mezz, Club Class, Club Vault, Club Turret and Club Access – the units range from 258 sqft (24sqm) to 581 sqft (54sqm), as well as two-, three- and four-bedroom options. The intelligent use of space revolves around the living area (rather than the bedroom) just as it does in the home, which was key for the brand to create a real sense of place and comfort.

    What’s more, despite all the noise around the new era of luxury suggesting a paired back, even removed, stance on technology is the way forward, central to The Other House will be 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. It will enable residents to manage their entire stay and experience; tailoring their hospitality journey to their own specific needs and requirements. As a result, the software will certainly answer to modern demands that are calling for more personalised experiences.

    For long-stay guests, The Other House will provide a new alternative to renting, offering any length stays, around the clock security, access to hotel style services and the very best of city living. The first of this type of accommodation that the UK has seen, it will also offer flexibility for residents to book in and out. With stays bookable from a day to a year, The Other House offers a stylish solution for those looking for a city base. And services such as clothes and luggage storage between trips makes it perfect for guests looking for a regular London pied-à-terre a few days each week.

    Establishing itself as a ‘one to watch’ on the glabal hospitality scene, with a forward-thinking concept and immersive design scheme, The Other House South Kensington is the first residents’ club to be launched. The brand is on track to open in other ‘villages’ throughout central London, including Covent Garden by 2023, before rolling out internationally. 

    In the next video in our exclusive concept-to-completion editorial series with The Other House, produced by CUBE, we will rejoin the development and design team ahead of the opening of the brand’s first residents’ club. In this video, we will explore more about the technology behind-the-scenes, as well as understand how the drawings, sketches and renderings have been brought to life. By then, we may also have more news and exclusive design details about the interior scheme behind the heavy doors of the brand’s second property in Covent Garden. 

    Main image credit: The Other House | Video credit: CUBE

    Hotel Designs LIVE: Surface Trends

    Hotel Designs LIVE: Surface design trends

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    Hotel Designs LIVE: Surface design trends

    The fifth edition of Hotel Designs LIVE, sponsored by and filmed from Minotti London, invited world renowned designers, architects and hospitality experts to, once again, define the point of hotel design on an global scale while keeping the conversation flowing throughout. The third session of the day looked at interior design surface trends…

    Hotel Designs LIVE: Surface Trends

    Trends… not the most popular word used by interior designers in the hotel design arena, but ignore them at your peril as we enter uncharted waters following the largest global cultural and behavioural shift the industry has perhaps ever experienced. Challenging conventional trend forecasts, for the third session during Hotel Designs LIVE, which was broadcasted from the Minotti London showroom on August 10, editor Hamish Kilburn invited a handful of interior designers from all corners of the design arena to discuss meaningful surface trends.

    Other sessions of the day included:

    • A design assault on the senses – watch now on-demand.
    • Designing the perfect nights’ sleep – watch now on-demand.
    • Social spaces in 2021 & beyond – this session will be available to watch shortly

    The third session of the day, which followed the panel discussion on sleep performance, went beyond colour schemes to identify real trends and talking points in surface design. More than ever, as a direct result of the Covid-19 crisis, surfaces have come under question in the debate around hygiene. But, in the exclusive panel discussion with leading designers and hospitality experts, we went beyond the clinical to explore interesting and vibrant surfaces – from paint and tiles to textiles and worktops – that give all areas of the hotel more personality and meaning.

    On the panel:

    The conversation started by addressing the elephant in the room. Kilburn wanted to know if there were products and materials on the market at the moment that answered both to the demands around sustainability as well as hygiene. “It’s actually quite difficult to achieve both,” explained George Couyas. “Let’s use paint as an example. Usually, when products are man-made to be durable, wipeable and hygienic, there is usually a process that results in the eco credentials somewhat diminishing.” Through his research, and day-to-day managing residential clients whose demands for eco have somewhat evolved over the last few years, a few brands have recently made it onto Couyas’ radar for being both sustainable and robust.

    Next, Kilburn introduced Beverly and Dereck Joubert, the founders of Great Plains. What sets this dynamic duo aside from other hoteliers is their pure involvement in all of their projects; they design and source everything – and having fulfilled a career filming wildlife for National Geographic, the pair have a unique stance when it comes to sustainable development and design. “Through 40 years of travel and understanding different cultures, we have been able to tell some really interesting stories through design,” explained Beverly Joubert. “What we also like to do is design using up-cycled materials. So, for example, near one of our camps we heard that wooden railway sleepers were replaced by concrete. It was a great opportunity for us and those sleepers have become the flooring in that camp.”

    Continuing the conversation around sustainability, but moving into the urban luxury arena, Shalini Misra agreed that re-using materials and items adds value to the overall design as well as the eco credentials of the project. “Every material can be sustainable if it’s a reclaimed version of it,” she said. “When it comes to hygiene, some materials are better than others. Bamboo, for example, is one of my favourites at the moment as it is highly renewable, very quick to grow and extremely versatile.”

    When it comes to extraordinary surfaces, Fameed Khalique who was described by the Financial Times as “the go-to supplier of exotic and experimental surfaces for walls, floors, ceilings and furniture,” has a library full of creative surface design solutions. “We have this reputation, and we do the odd exotic thing, but realistic the majority of the work we do is driven by the client and a problem we need to solve,” he said. “We are working with a designer in the middle east who wanted to use straw marquetry on a mass scale, which isn’t sustainable, nor realistic. So, we worked with the designer and found a solution that used sustainable wood to create a wood-veneer finishing that looked like straw marquetry but can be used on a large scale. Interestingly, that actually led to us launching a new collection utilising those materials and that design.”

    Here’s the full video of the panel discussion (on demand), which was produced by CUBE and includes Product Watch Pitches by Hamilton Litestat, Schlüter Systems, Mosaico and Milliken:

    The full recordings of the first session (A design assault on the senses) and the second session (Designing the perfect nights’ sleep) are now available to watch on-demand. The final session (Social spaces in 2021 & beyond) will be available to watch on-demand shortly.

    Since you’re here…

    More than 40,000 readers per month enjoy the content we publish on Hotel Designs. Our mission is to define the point on international hotel design, and we are doing that by serving relevant news stories and engaging features. To keep up to date on the hottest stories that are emerging, you can sign up to the newsletter, which is completely free of charge. As well as receiving a weekly round-up of the top stories, you will also access our bi-monthly HD Edit –staying ahead of the curve has never been so easy!

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    The Brit List Awards 2021 shortlist

    The Brit List Awards 2021: Shortlist announced

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    The Brit List Awards 2021: Shortlist announced

    The shortlist for The Brit List Awards 2021 has been announced, with more than 130 individuals and projects – the most finalists in the campaign’s history – selected across nine categories. The winners will be unveiled in spectacular style at the awards ceremony, which takes place on November 3 inside London’s famous cabaret venue, PROUD Embankment…

    The Brit List Awards 2021 shortlist

    Regarded and respected globally as the industry’s most widespread campaign to identify the leading interior designers, architects, hoteliers and brands, The Brit List Awards 2021 has unveiled this year’s shortlist, which includes more than 130 individuals and projects.

    The finalists, listed below, have been invited to attend The Brit List Awards’ annual award ceremony, which, following last year’s virtual affair, will take place live in the extravagant cabaret venue, PROUD Embankment. At the event, as well as the individual winners being announced, The Brit List 2021, a publication that will profile the top 25 designers, architects and hoteliers, will also be unveiled.

    The Brit List Awards is Hotel Designs’ the nationwide search to find the most influential interior designers, architects, hoteliers and brands operating in Britain.

    Now in its fifth year, The Brit List Awards is Hotel Designs’ the nationwide search to find the most influential interior designers, architects, hoteliers and brands operating in Britain. This year’s meticulous process began months ago when Hotel Designs opened up nominations and applications to its loyal readers. Since then, the expert judging panel have taken over to whittle down the shortlist as well as decide upon the individual winners.

    “As I cast my eyes down this year’s shortlist, I am reminded once more that Britain is, and will no-doubt remain, a major pin on the design, architecture and hospitality map.” – Hamish Kilburn, editor, Hotel Designs.

    “One only has to look at this year’s entries to be able to see that Britain is a melting pot for creative design and authentic hospitality,” explains editor Hamish Kilburn who will take the microphone on November 3 to host this year’s awards. “It’s sensational to see, despite obvious adversities, that the design, architecture and hospitality industry has risen to the challenge, once more, to present forward-thinking solutions in the global arena. As I cast my eyes down this year’s shortlist, I am reminded once more that Britain is, and will no-doubt remain, a major pin on the design, architecture and hospitality map. Here, on this tiny speck of land, we incubate innovation, nurture talent and amplify meaningful initiatives that challenge conventional approached to hotel design and hospitality.”

    Adding more sparkle to this year’s live awards ceremony will be the sponsors and partners. They are: Crosswater (Headline Partner), Hamilton Litestat (Event Partner), Duravit (Event Partner), Schlüter Systems (Showcase Partner), Leaflike (Decorative Partner), GROHE (Broadcasting Partner), NEWH (Industry Partner) British Institute of Interior Design (Industry Partner) and CUBE (Videography Partner).

    The shortlisted finalists for The Brit List Awards 2021 are: 

    Interior Designer of the Year

    NameStudio
    Alan McVittyM STUDIO LONDON
    Alex KravetzAlex Kravetz Design
    Beverley BayesSparcstudio
    Clare McDonaldDesign Command
    Clara MasonDexter Moren Associates
    Craig McKieBell & Swift Ltd
    Dale AtkinsonRosendale Design
    David MasonScott Brownrigg
    Dennis IrvineDennis Irvine Studio
    Ed WarnerMotionspot
    Fiona ThompsonRichmond International
    Geraldine DohogneBeyond Design
    Hamish Brown1508 London
    Hayley RoyHarp Design
    Henry ChebaaneBlue Sky Hospitality
    Hilary LancasterFusion Interiors Group
    Ilse CrawfordStudioIlse
    Jeremy GroveSibley Grove
    Jouin MankuJouin Manku
    Kirsty VanceI Am London
    Marie SolimanBergman Interiors
    Mark BithreyB3 Designers
    Neil AndrewPerkins&Will
    Nicholas J HicksonTHDP
    Ravi LakhaneyBailey London
    Robert AngellRobert Angell Design International
    Sally ProctorMajik House
    Samantha McCullochICA
    Sara BrowettSara Copeland Interiors Ltd
    Scott Torrance3DReid
    Simon KincaidConran and Partners
    Simon RawlingsDavid Collins Studio
    Solomija BoguszInterior Designer
    Suzanne GarudaGaruda Design
    Tina NordenConran and Partners

    Architect of the Year

    NameStudio
    Adam HallFalconer Chester Hall
    Alastair ShepherdFalconer Chester Hall Architects
    Alexandra BirmpiliKappa planning Ltd
    Ali AlammarAlamar Architects
    Amrit NaruADP Architects
    Ben AdamsBen Adams Architects
    Catarina Pina-BartrumLDS Architects
    Cathryn CrispRandell Design Group
    Christos PassasZaha Hadid Architects
    Doug Pearson3DReid
    Ed MurrayDexter Moren Associates
    Gordon Ferrier3D Reid
    Graham Barrjmarchitects
    Herbert LuiDexter Moren Associates
    James DilleyJestico + Whiles
    Jen Samuel3DReid
    Jonny SinReardonSmith Architects
    Julie HumphryesArcher Humphryes Architects
    Luke FoxFoster + Partners
    Mark BruceEPR Architects
    Mark KellyPLP Architecture
    Matthew SalterHGP Architects
    Metehan ApakDawson Design Associates
    Nicholas de KlerkTranslation Architecture
    Richard CouttsBACA Architects
    Richard HollandHolland Harvey Architects
    Sarah MurphyJestico + Whiles
    Simon WhittakerOrms
    Tom LindblomPrincipal, Architect
    Tony KhoTrehearne Architects
    Yasmine MahmoudiehYasmine Mahmoudieh Studio

    Hotelier of the Year 

    NameHotel
    Andrew HollettKettering Park Hotel and Spa
    Charles OakThe Londoner
    Conor O’LearyGleneagles
    David ConnellSouth Lodge Hotel & Spa
    Dominic SaulsQbic London City Hotel
    Edward WorkmanThe Newt
    Elli JafariThe Standard London
    Federico CiampiMayfair Townhouse
    Franck ArnoldSavoy, London
    Gareth BannerThe Ned
    Grace LeoThe Relais Henley
    Guillaume MarlyHotel Café Royal
    Hector RossThe Mitre, Hampton Court
    James ClarkeHilton Bankside London
    John Scanlon45 Park Lane
    Julian HudsonFellows House Cambridge – Curio by Hilton Collection
    Marie-Paule NowlisSofitel London St James
    Michael BonsorRosewood London
    Michael Mason-ShawHyatt Place London City East
    Murray WardSoho Farmhouse
    Olivia RichliHeckfield Place
    Paul BaylissHotel Brooklyn, Manchester
    Paul SkinnerDUKES LONDON
    Robin HutsonTHE PIG Hotels
    Sergio LeandroSea Containers London
    Simon MahonThe Grand York
    Stuart GeddesThe Lanesborough, London
    Thomas Agius FerranteThe Grove of Narberth
    Will AshworthWatergate Bay Hotel

    Best in Tech

    BrandProduct/project
    LutronAthena
    SONANCEPeninsula London
    Majik HouseAbsoluxe Suites
    GROHE/LIXILGROHE Plus
    FrankliteL11 Tuneable

    The Eco Award 

    BrandProduct/project
    Harrison SpinksThe Sprint Collection
    Hypnos Contract BedsVarious products
    LeaflikePan Pacific London
    GROHE/LIXILCradle to Cradle certified products
    Video TreeRe Charge
    CTD Architectural TilesThe Global Collection
    Yasmine MahmoudiehFlow
    Clarke & ClarkeEco Sustainable Weaves
    Ozone CleanOC Range
    Well-LitVarious products
    Barber OsgerbyAXOR One
    SiminettiSeasons Collection
    Silentnight Group HosptialityVarious products

    Best in British Product Design

    BrandProduct/project
    Newmor WallcoveringsHealthcare Collection
    FranklitePerry Range
    FrankliteL11 Tuneable
    Hypnos Contract BedsVarious products
    SMD Textiles, ILIVExotic Garden
    Edelweiss PianosThe Solis
    The Monkey Puzzle TreeMetamorphosis
    The Collective AgencySwell
    Ziad AlonaizyEileen Cabinet
    Dernier & HamlynBespoke lighitng for Nobu London Portman Square
    WandsworthThe Baton (and other) switches
    MorganRakino
    MorganKaya

    The Rising Star Award (new for 2021)

    NameBrand/Studio/University
    Adam WardaleMiddletons Hotel, York
    Aleksandra TredezThe Lost Poet (Cubic Studios)
    Matthew MagangaUniversity of Kent
    Sophie PiggotConcorde BGW Group
    Sarah YumaDexter Moren Associates

    The International Award (new for 2021)

    NameBrand
    Wilderness SafarisWilderness Safaris
    Bill BensleyBENSLEY
    DLR GroupMadinah Gate
    noa* network of architecturenoa* network of architecture
    YES.design.architectureYES.design.architecture
    Royal Mansour MarrakechRoyal Mansour Marrakech

    There is no shortlist for the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Hospitality Industry, which will be the final award presented at the exclusive ceremony.

    How to attend The Brit List Awards 2021 – the awards ceremony 

    All designers, architects and hoteliers that have been shortlisted will receive an email asking them to confirm their complimentary ticket to attend the awards ceremony on November 3 at PROUD Embankment. Outside of the shortlist, designers, architects, hoteliers and developers can purchase tickets here (£10 + VAT per ticket if purchased before September 10)*. Suppliers, and anyone else wishing to attend, can click here to purchase their tickets (£99 + VAT per ticket if purchased before September 10)*.

    *After September 10, tickets for designers, architects and hoteliers will inflate to £20 + VAT per ticket. For suppliers, tickets will inflate to £150 +VAT per ticket. There are limited number of tickets on sale, which will be issued out on a first-come, first-serve basis.

    Main image credit: The Brit List Awards 2021/Hotel Designs

    Independent Hotel Show Awards GM of the Future 2019

    Shortlist announced for Independent Hotel Show Awards 2021 

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    Shortlist announced for Independent Hotel Show Awards 2021 

    The shortlist has been revealed and public voting is now open for the 9th annual Independent Hotel Show Awards, which celebrate the highly skilled professionals working in the UK independent and boutique hotel sector…

    Independent Hotel Show Awards GM of the Future 2019

    The results of the Independent Hotel Show Awards, along with the winners of the Good Hotel Guide’s César Award, will be announced on October 4 on the Independent Hotel Show’s Innovation Stage.

    Across two days of judging, a panel of industry experts whittled down the nominees across two key categories: Independent Hotelier and GM of the Future, in partnership with The Master Innholders.

    The Independent Hotelier award recognises an excellent independent hotelier or hotelier partnership with a reputation for pushing boundaries and creating exceptional guest experiences.

    Since the Awards launched in 2012, the independent hoteliers recognised in this category have continued to drive change and innovation in the sector.

    Brenda Collin, EVP Europe, Preferred Hotels & Resorts and judge for the Independent Hotel Show Awards, said: “The caliber of entries this year was exceptionally high and therefore difficult choices had to be made.

    “Congratulations should be offered to all the nominees who, without exception, had given back in some way to society in addition to their day jobs. Our industry is so well served by exceptional people and these awards showcase the great leaders who will inspire future nominees.”

    The shortlisted hoteliers for the Independent Hotelier award are:  

    • Joanne Taylor- Stagg FIH, MI, General Manager, The Athenaeum Hotel and Residences
    • Charlie Luxton and Dan Brod, Co-Owners, The Talbot Inn, The Beckford Arms and The Lord Poulett Arms
    • Laurence Beere FIH, MI, Co-Owner, The Queensberry Hotel
    • Henrik Muehle, General Manager, Flemings Mayfair
    • James Thomson OBE, Owner, The Witchery and Prestonfield
    • Ross Grieve FIH, MI, Managing Director, Seaham Hall & Luxury Lodges

    The shortlisted nominees for GM of the Future, in partnership with The Master Innholders, are:  

    • Penn Chai, Room Division Manager, Castle Hotel Windsor
    • Kostadin Dimitrov, Front of House Manager, Hotel Brooklyn MCR
    • Juris Dubrovskis, Executive Housekeeper, The Athenaeum Hotel and Residences
    • Rachel Henley, Hotel Manager, The Fife Arms
    • Nathan Parkin, Operations Manager, Lakeside Hotel and Spa
    • Anna Sirba, Operations Manager, Salcombe Harbour Hotel

    Commenting on the GM of the Future award entries, The Master Innholders Chairman David Morgan-Hewitt FIH MI, said: “We received a large number of excellent applications, each showing great talent and passion for the hotel industry, which made it very difficult to select a shortlist of just six candidates. Each of those chosen displayed an exceptional level of involvement in the industry and the qualities of a good leader, and I would like to congratulate them on their well-deserved success.”

    Elena Attanasio, Independent Hotel Show Event Director, added: “After a tough 18 months for the hotel industry we’re thrilled to be announcing the shortlist for the Independent Hotel Show Awards.

    “Our shortlisted Independent Hoteliers have shown incredible strength and leadership in the face of adversity and our GM of the Future nominees should be celebrated for their enthusiasm, hard work and commitment over the past year. Now more than ever it’s important to recognise the exceptional hospitality professionals that make up the UK’s boutique and independent hotel sector.

    “We can’t wait to announce the winners of the Independent Hotel Show Awards at the event on 4 October and to see the hotel community all together, in person, once more.”

    For the Independent Hotelier award, the judges’ picks will be combined with a public industry vote to decide the ultimate winners. The judges were as follows:

    • Brenda Collin, Executive Vice President, Europe, Preferred Hotels & Resorts
    • Charlotte Evans, Group Publishing Director, Condé Nast Johansens
    • Christian Graf, General Manager, Middle Eight
    • David Noble, Director of Hospitality and Leisure, James Hallam
    • Fiona Duncan, Travel Writer, Sunday Telegraph
    • Juliet Kinsman, Sustainability Editor, Condé Nast Traveller
    • Peter Hancock FIH, MI, Chief Executive, Pride of Britain Hotels
    • Richard Fraiman, Chief Executive, The Good Hotel Guide
    • Simon Numphud FIH, Managing Director, AA Media
    • Sue Williams FIH, MI, General Manager, Whatley Manor Hotel
    • Susan d’Arcy, Hotels, Luxury Travel and Wellness Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times
    • Zoe Monk, Editor, Boutique Hotelier

    The judging panel for GM of the Future, in partnership with The Master Innholders, was as follows:

    • David Morgan-Hewitt FIH, MI, Chairman, The Master Innholders and Managing Director, The Goring
    • Tamsyn Mann, Regional People Manager, Cirrus Inns and 2019 ‘One to Watch’ highly commended GM of the Future
    • Elena Attanasio, Event Director, Independent Hotel Show
    • Sal Gowili FIH MI, GM of The Ritz London
    • Dr Hilary Cooke FIH MI, Director, Merlin Consultancy
    • Robin Hutson FIH, MI, CEO, Home Grown Hotels and Lime Wood Group
    • Wallace Vincent FIH, Executive Secretary, The Master Innholders

    Find out more about each of the shortlisted individuals and cast your vote at independenthotelshow.co.uk/awards.   

    The Independent Hotel Show, presented by James Hallam, takes place on 4-5 October 2021 at Olympia London. Register for your complimentary pass at independenthotelshow.co.uk. 

    Main image credit: Independent Hotel Show

    A guestroom inside M Social

    M Social arrives in Europe with hotel opening in Paris

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    M Social arrives in Europe with hotel opening in Paris

    Millennium Hotels and Resorts is marking the first outpost for the M Social brand in Europe, with the opening of M Social Hotel Paris Opera on August 31. The new lifestyle offering will merge the ‘elegance of the historical Parisian lifestyle with contemporary design, vibrant art and inviting rooms’ to create an enchanting retreat for guests to gather, work and discover all that Paris has to offer. Let’s take a sneak peek inside…

    A guestroom inside M Social

    Following the opening of M Social in New York’s Times Square earlier this summer, lifestyle hospitality brand M Social is about to open a new hotel in Paris. M Social Hotel Paris Opera, which will shelter 163 rooms, will become the brand’s debut hotel in Europe when it opens later this month. Located at 12 Boulevard Haussmann, the hotel is in the heart of Opéra making it within walking distance to some of the city’s most famous landmarks including the Louvre, the Sacré-Cœur and the Moulin Rouge. To cater to a new diverse community of travellers, EUR 5.4 million was spent on refurbishing the former Millennium Paris Opera into more contemporary lodgings.

    “People are in search of new and exciting experiences. M Social is all about creativity and passion. Combine this with the hotel’s central location and you have a winning formula to satiate travellers’ wanderlust,” said Mr Kwek Leng Beng, Executive Chairman of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Limited. “With Europe re-opening, this is an opportune time for us to introduce M Social to this key gateway city.”

    A hub for explorers, M Social Hotel Paris Opera features spaces that are designed to be accessible, comfortable and practical to guests’ needs with rooms that offer sweeping views overlooking the famous Boulevard Haussmann. The hotel is conveniently located near major shopping, art and cultural attractions of the Paris Opera district. Guests are guaranteed to experience Paris like a true Parisian in the heart of the city of lights escaping the hustle and bustle in timelessly stylish surroundings.

    Step back in time to 1920s elegance as soon as you walk through the revolving door into the hotel’s Art Deco foyer, made of marble surfaces, ornate chandeliers and a glass-roofed cupola. StudioCaid, the creative architects behind the newly renovated areas, describes the design concept as an exchange of styles that emphasises the contrast between classic and modern. They have incorporated into the design the artistic styles of the surrounding iconic infrastructures such as the Opera Garnier and the Louvre to create the “Hotel of Today”. Each room holds the history of Les Années Folles (in English “The Roaring Twenties”) and the future of M Social Paris. The newly renovated rooms allow guests to have an authentic Parisian experience within the comforts of today’s modern world. Accommodation choices range from cosy yet spacious Signature rooms that give views into the hotel’s peaceful inner courtyard to Grande Sweetie suites that offer separate living areas and breathtaking views of the Opera Garnier or the Sacré- Cœur.

    The M Social brand was launched in Singapore in 2016. Millennium Hotels and Resorts plans to grow the brand in more cities with strong character, to capture diverse stories and build up a vibrant and creative community. M Social Hotel Paris Opera is the fourth location for the brand with other outposts in New York, Singapore and Auckland.

    Main image credit: Millenium Hotels and Resorts

    Hotel Designs LIVE - Session 2

    (In video) Hotel Designs LIVE: Designing the perfect night’s sleep

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    (In video) Hotel Designs LIVE: Designing the perfect night’s sleep

    The fifth edition of Hotel Designs LIVE, sponsored by and filmed from Minotti London, invited world renowned designers, architects and hospitality experts to, once again, define the point of hotel design on an global scale while keeping the conversation flowing throughout. The second session of the day, sponsored by Silentnight Group, looked at how to create the perfect nights’ sleep. Grab a coffee and let’s begin…

    Hotel Designs LIVE - Session 2

    On August 10, designers, architects, hoteliers and developers from around the globe tuned in to watch the latest edition of Hotel Designs LIVE. The event, which first launched in June 2020 to keep the industry connected while keeping the conversation flowing, took place virtually – broadcasted at Minotti London’s Fitzrovia showroom, and included four engaging panel discussions with world-renowned hospitality and design experts on the following topics:

    • A design assault on the senses
    • Designing the perfect nights’ sleep
    • Design, beneath the surface
    • Social spaces in 2021 & beyond

    Following an engaging and energetic first session, which looked at sensory design and hospitality, the audience were invited in to find their inner zen as attention switched towards sleep performance. With new innovations and technology taking bold leaps as each day passes, the aim for this session was to explore the science behind getting the best nights’ sleep.

    On the panel:

    • Hannah Shore, Sleep Expert, (Session Sponsor)
    • Nathan Hutchins, Founder, Muza Lab
    • Ananth Ramaswamy, Project Architect, The Doyle Collection

    To introduce this meaningful session, it was integral for the audience to first understand the role of a sleep expert, which was highlighted in detail in a recent masterclass Hotel Designs hosted with Silentnight Group. “We obviously look into sleep and sleep research,” Shore said. “We also look at sleep personalisation, how sleep is affected in different scenarios – ultimately to establish how the mattress can help us to sleep better.”

    One term Shore uses throughout the session is ‘TLC’, which is an acronym for temperature, light and comfort; three areas she and her team look at when monitoring sleep performance.

    Also on the panel was Nathan Hutchins, a designer believes the team TLC is about the whole package. “TLC is about making people feeling good,” he said. “It’s about the entire environment of the hotel and the bedroom that we all create, from the bed to the architecture to the design, around leading guests into a sense of security and relaxation as they enter their hotel room.”

    Ananth Ramaswamy joined the panel wearing the Doyle Collection hat, which allowed the audience to use the brand as somewhat of a case study. “We design our bedrooms around sleep performance,” he explained. “We have eight hotels [in the collection], and all are sheltered in different architectural buildings. Sleep is a very important touchpoint and everything that surrounds the bed is very considered.”

    Here’s the full video of the panel discussion (on demand), which was produced by CUBE:

    The full recordings of the first session, A design assault on the senses, is now available to watch on-demand.  The other two sessions (‘Design, beneath the surface and Social spaces in 2021 & beyond) will be available to watch on-demand shortly.

    Since you’re here…

    More than 40,000 readers per month enjoy the content we publish on Hotel Designs. Our mission is to define the point on international hotel design, and we are doing that by serving relevant news stories and engaging features. To keep up to date on the hottest stories that are emerging, you can sign up to the newsletter, which is completely free of charge. As well as receiving a weekly round-up of the top stories, you will also access our bi-monthly HD Edit –staying ahead of the curve has never been so easy!

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    The Fellows House Cambridge Hotel Designs

    Checking in to The Fellows House Cambridge – one for the history books

     1024 640 Hamish Kilburn
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    Checking in to The Fellows House Cambridge – one for the history books

    Armed with a limited knowledge of Cambridge – but a deep connection to cycling and ingenious college pranks – editor Hamish Kilburn checks in to the city’s new hotel, The Fellows House – Curio Collection by Hilton. His time away from his desk to explore design firm Twenty2Degrees Design Partnership’ latest project sharply becomes a history, chemistry, literature and art lesson packaged up in one unforgettable hospitality experience…

    The Fellows House Cambridge Hotel Designs

    You don’t have to join a guided tour to know that the city of Cambridge is littered with history – and not all of it as pleasant as the innovative pranks from the ‘night climbers’. But I would thoroughly recommend that you go on one anyway (and ask for Tony Rodgers as your guide if you do). If nothing else, the entertainment value alone will etch the trip securely in your memory, while reminding you why Cambridge is a fascinating city. Alternatively, or in addition to, you could always give punting a go.

    In a mini metropolis that is home to some 20,000 students all housed within 31 separate and competing collages that make up Cambridge University (See, Tony, I did listen), it baffles me somewhat that the hospitality scene here is not rupturing the seams of the city wall. With all its deep historic events, winding tales of mystery and scientific breakthroughs, Cambridge is a hotel designer’s dream! But for whatever reason – perhaps something to do with land value and hoteliers not wanting to get too close to the next college prank – the city, in my informed opinion, is home to just a handful of exceptional hotels. And perhaps, to preserve itself as a place somewhat lost in time, it is better off that way.

    “We want everyone to experience Cambridge like a fellow and make the most of their time with us by feeling inspired and comfortably at home.” – Paavan Popat, Executive Chairman of The Fellows House.

    The latest jewel to emerge shelters an unmatched history, chemistry, literature and art lesson in one module. After much anticipation, The Fellows House Cambridge has opened its doors – and in doing so has created its own legacy by marking the first Curio Collection by Hilton to arrive in the idyllic city. “We are extremely proud of the final product,” said Paavan Popat, Executive Chairman of The Fellows House. “We want everyone to experience Cambridge like a fellow and make the most of their time with us by feeling inspired and comfortably at home.” And following that official statement, my journey began.

    Although the location is not slap-bang in the middle of Cambridge – however, the walk into the city centre takes less than 10 minutes and is a welcome way to find your bearings – the hotel design narrative is something of a treasure trove. Before guests have even stepped foot inside the hotel, the first nod to a Cambridge fellow can be seen. Two columns clad in patinated copper stand in Alan Turing’s legacy. On careful inspection – of course, any sculpture in the memory of Turing requires a great deal of thought – each of the columns are skilfully etched with mysterious text formatted like the Enigma code. However, this time, the codes hide famous quotes from Cambridge fellows for visitors to decipher at their leisure. The immersive experience begins, I thought as I went to check in.

    Image caption: The enigma column outside the hotel, in homage to Alan Turing, is the first indication that The Fellows House in Cambridge will shelter a deep design narrative. | Image credit: The Fellows House Cambridge

    Image caption: The enigma column outside the hotel, in homage to Alan Turing, is the first indication that The Fellows House in Cambridge will shelter a deep design narrative. | Image credit: The Fellows House Cambridge

    From here, guests glide into the lobby lounge, which is a reclined area that smells magnificent, where the interior design, led by masterminds at Twenty2Degrees, responds to the location and academic heritage, which naturally includes countless clever references to the fellows of the university. “We very much wanted The Fellows House to be a neighbourhood amenity – an exclusive hotel but with an inclusive ambience,” Nick Stoupas, Director of interior design firm Twenty2Degrees tells Hotel Designs. “Clearly, The Sage Café at the front of the hotel [next to the lobby] and with its own street entrance is very much about drawing in the locals.”

    Image caption: The Sage Cafe, with a separate entrance at the front of the hotel, is a light, bright and relaxing place where I sat for hours catching up on my emails. | Image credit: The Fellows House

    Image caption: The Sage Cafe, with a separate entrance at the front of the hotel, is a light, bright and relaxing place where I sat for hours catching up on my emails, as I am sure many locals do also. | Image credit: The Fellows House

    The power of art is extraordinary. No one knows this more than the art curators at Elegant Clutter, who were tasked to give a new layer to the interior design, which follows Twenty2degrees’ natural instinct to “design interiors that are original, yet true to brand, which are modern, infused with sense of place and a sense of fun, yet are seriously fit for purpose,” as Stoupas perfectly puts it. The body of art, therefore, is closely tied to the fellows that the name of the hotel marvellously celebrates. “When we were walking around the city on our first research trip, you could feel the history all around you,” explains Harry Pass, Creative Director at Elegant Clutter. “Cambridge is one of those locations which is overflowing with inspiration; it becomes more about what we have to consider ‘leaving out’ of the collection, as there is so much material!”

     

    The portrait of Davidson Nicol, Cambridge’s first African fellow, is one of the first pieces of art that caught my attention, and I struggled to move past it. Hung on the opposite wall is a modern installation of bicycles. However, the celebration of the city’s affinity to two wheels is not quite as you would imagine. The bike frames have been deconstructed and placed together and repeated to create an impression of constant movement, which is kind of wonderful in a modern hotel lobby that is, in its own way, conducting a constant flow of traffic.

    The Cipollino Ondulato Rosso marble to the reception desk is honed to striking effect and behind this a full-height pigeon hole cabinet of the kind once popular in the colleges. Each cabinet is labelled with a word in an old typewriter font, which on their own are nonsensical. Piece them together, however, and the form a poem by a Cambridge fellow.

    The materiality in the public areas is vast and just as considered as the artwork. Upholstery fabrics are tactile, with the rouge pink tone of velvet offsets the dark marbles and timbers. To complete the design, the modern orb-like chandelier from Chelsom, finished in brushed brass, is a welcome touch to a hotel lobby that has timeless style and character.

    Image caption: The colour pallete of the lobby/lounge and The Folio Bar is dark and rich to reflect that of a private memebers' bar. | Image credit: The Fellows House Cambridge

    Image caption: The colour pallete of the lobby/lounge and The Folio Bar is dark and rich to reflect that of a private members’ bar. | Image credit: The Fellows House Cambridge

    In truth, I spent the majority of my time in the public areas – and why wouldn’t you when an eclectic art collection and thoughtful design scene catches your eye and challenges your history knowledge from every perspective? That and I had a lot of emails to catch up on, which were comfortably answered while reclined in the leather chesterfield sofas next to large armchairs that have been playfully deconstructed as if to show the secrets of their inner craftsmanship.

    Moving further into this space, the seductive coating of design yet again draws guests in and provides subtle reveals through partially glazed panels and free-standing walls of spaces beyond as well as new reflections captured in distressed mirrored columns – a proficient way to create barriers without halting flow. At the far end of the space, another art masterpiece in aged copper rounds off the journey. It is an etching inspired by fellow C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, which emulates the printing blocks used to create the original book by scaling-up and reversing the process to create a mirror image. And, not be left out, is a recording from Winnie the Pooh, written by another fellow, A.A Milne, which plays in the public restrooms.

    Truly, every corner of the hotel’s public areas has been observed. Even the corridors, often forgotten spaces in hotels, have been utilised to keep the narrative of Cambridge and its fellows flowing. “Our references are very real but the way we have treated them is far from literal,” adds Stoupas. “We have layered these notes in a way that means returning guests and those who are staying for a long period of time will continue to discover new ideas and engaging stories.” They become an experience of Cambridge, if you like, putting the spotlight on brilliant minds interpreted through a design lens to encourage guests to look beyond what they already know.

    Past a pool table in the middle of the room – my kind of hotel – in the far end of the hotel is The Folio Bar, but don’t let the warm ambiance fool you into a false sense of security, because the cocktails, made to look like the results of chemistry experiments, are lethal.

    Image credit: The Folio Bar, where the design is strong and the cocktails are lethal. | Image credit: The Fellows House Cambridge

    Image credit: The Folio Bar, where the design is strong and the cocktails are lethal. | Image credit: The Fellows House Cambridge

    Designed to feel like a private members’ club – and it does so effectively with a warm and rich colour palatte with notes of deep reds and oranges – the lighting in this part of the hotel plays a major role. With little direct natural light available, the theatre of artificial lighting highlights feature elements, artwork and accessories, revealing luxurious finishes and creating a mood conducive to quiet conversations against the intermittent sounds of cocktail shakers.

    Nearest to the bar, an elegant cocktail cabinet displays glass drippers used to curate local drinks in-house but which would look as if they should be in a scientist’s laboratory. At the other end, there is a full-height bookcase accessorised with scientific curiosities, games and a collection of books by or about the fellows.

    The space is open and inviting. Where walls do exist, though, they have been designed to merge into artwork. For example, a free-standing wall alongside the bar hosts a “DNA Panel”, a celebration of the discovery of DNA by Cambridge fellows which, so the story goes, was modelled over a pint in the nearby Eagle pub. The double helix formation is carved and painted and the DNA profile of, I am told, the owner of the hotel itself is embedded into the piece as gold-painted strips. To the side of one of the lift lobbies, a faux aged brick wall has been created where the plaster has been made to look like it has “degraded in time” to disclose the college crests, painted as faded ghost signage.

    Adjacent to The Folio Bar – but far enough away to lock in different atmospheres – The Folio Kitchen comprises a large indoor conservatory-style space which opens onto The Fellows Garden where a terrace and The Observatory snug give guests the opportunity to wine and dine al fresco. While flowing directly from The Folio Bar, the restaurant offers a step-change in ambience with a light-filled space thanks to a large roof lantern over the main dining area and a fully glazed wall at one end. In one direction, the restaurant looks towards a buzzing open kitchen, in the other towards the courtyard garden. “Since this area is hidden from the street, it feels a little like a secret gem for those in the know,” adds Stoupas.

    The Folio Kitchen combines the contemporary and classic within a fresh and inviting colour palette. Walls and columns are clad in whitewashed brick and the accent colour is Cambridge Blue with punches of ochre orange in the leather upholstery. A Calacatta marble sharing table together with marble topped dining tables are elegant and sophisticated. They also provide a counterpoint to the traditional millwork of the roof lantern recess and the timber banquets as well as the geometric black and white tiling to the floor, all of which are a nod to historic Cambridge.

    Certain elements are drawn through from the rest of the public areas. Antiqued mirror continues to play an important role in capturing design vignettes and adding drama to the space while original artworks are key to the storytelling. For example, a romantic poem written nearly 100 years ago by a Chinese student and a leader of China’s New Culture Movement becomes a collection of framed love notes to Cambridge abstracted into handwritten texts, modern re-workings of Chinese symbols and laser cut lettering.

    The restaurant is refined, cosy and playful, aptly complementing the menu which features homely British classics served with a twist as well as a number of plant-based dishes, I couldn’t help by notice.

    We’ve come all this way – travelled through time, it feels – and we have not yet even mentioned the guestrooms – or apartments, I should say.

    The hotel houses 133 apartments, which are contemporary and pared-back – leaving room for guests to make their suite their own, which I think is a nice element. Pale timber floors and a monochrome colour palette are paired with marble topped tables and dark timber features and furniture. Accents of colour are introduced in the framed antique-style Cambridge maps which pay homage to alumni and fellows, Charles Darwin, Henry Cavendish, John Flamsteed and Siegfried Sassoon – but one can’t help but feel that the artwork in the rooms need to work harder to compliment the level of detail in the creative curated mix of art experienced elsewhere in the hotel. That’s not the say, by any means, that the rooms are not stylish, comfortable and extremely well specked, complete with Villeroy & Boch basins and WCs, Geberit flush plates and hansgrohe rainfinity showers.

    Prior to checking in to this hotel, Cambridge to me felt like an exclusive zone; reserved for students and the alumni who passed the entry exam and the famous interview process. Well, now, I have a new perspective and deeper understanding of the city’s rousing past, thanks to the opening of this contemporary hotel that fills in all the history gaps. In fact, I feel like I need to return to in order to discover more.

    Leaving Cambridge, less than 24 hours after I arrived, I feel as if I have somehow graduated from somewhere remarkable – and hotel that is both true to its roots while also being fully equipped to the new contemporary hospitality era that we are moving into – it even has a spa and gym. Until next time, The Fellows House Cambridge.

    Main image credit: The Fellows House Cambridge

    Two seats by hotel balcony

    IHG launches new luxury & lifestyle brand, Vignette Collection

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    IHG launches new luxury & lifestyle brand, Vignette Collection

    Hotel group IHG has  announced Vignette Collection as its new Luxury & Lifestyle brand, with hotels in Australia and Thailand the first to join the collection…

    Vignette Collection becomes the sixth addition to IHG’s brand portfolio in the past four years, taking it to 17 in total across nearly 6,000 hotels in more than 100 countries. The Collection further enriches IHG’s fast-growing Luxury & Lifestyle offer for both leisure and business travellers. 

    Two seats by hotel balcony

    IHG’s Vignette Collection will give owners of world-class independent hotels the opportunity to retain their distinctive identity, while benefitting from our global scale, Luxury & Lifestyle expertise, and powerful IHG Rewards loyalty programme. These exclusive properties in sought-after urban and resort locations will accelerate IHG’s growth and meet an increasing appetite from travellers for ‘one-of-a-kind’ stays. 

    Keith Barr, CEO, IHG Hotels & Resorts, commented: “Our new Vignette Collection gives IHG a compelling way to welcome world-class independent hotels into our brand family, combining each property’s distinctive identity with the power of our global scale. As our first hotels in Australia and Thailand both showcase, each property is as unique as the next, and all will be endorsed by IHG’s trusted reputation for quality. 

    “We’ve been strategic with the enhancements we’ve made to our luxury and lifestyle portfolio in recent years, which at more than 400 hotels and 100,000 rooms is the second largest in the industry. We’ve built on the heritage and global success of our InterContinental brand, with the rapid international expansion of Kimpton and Hotel Indigo, and acquisitions of Six Senses and Regent. We expect to attract more than 100 Vignette Collection hotels in 10 years, and the brand will be key to delivering our ambition of industry-leading net rooms growth.”

    Among the first hotels to join IHG’s Vignette Collection will be Hotel X, a 5-star hotel, dining and lifestyle destination in the centre of Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, Australia. Hotel X’s distinctive design and luxurious facilities celebrate this iconic Brisbane neighbourhood through ultra-cool art, Avant Garde lighting and exceptional views of the cityscape

    Thailand’s vibrant Pattaya Aquatique hotel will also be one of the first hotels to join the Vignette Collection. Working in collaboration with Thailand’s leading integrated lifestyle real estate group, Asset World Corporation Public Company Limited (AWC), the hotel is based in Pattaya’s Aquatique district, the city’s first iconic lifestyle destination. 

    “AWC feels honoured to be the first partner in Asia and one of the first globally to launch a hotel under IHG Hotels & Resorts’ new Vignette Collection,” added Mrs Wallapa Traisorat, CEO and President, AWC. “With the backing of IHG’s global systems and support, we are confident that our unique hotel, located in the vibrant and lively beachfront destination of Pattaya, The Aquatique, will appeal to all travellers seeking inspirational and exceptional experiences.”

    Whether it’s a city haven, sun-kissed resort, or beyond, IHG’s Vignette Collection will provide one-of-a-kind stays, with each hotel serving up a distinct service style and character.

    Owners of independent hotels and small chains are increasingly attracted to the opportunity to benefit from the scale, expertise and investment of a global hotel brand leader, such as IHG. Those joining IHG’s Vignette Collection will gain rapid access to world class revenue delivery and guest reservation systems, Luxury & Lifestyle expertise, our powerful IHG Rewards loyalty programme, and procurement savings. All of this will come without high upfront costs and each hotel will retain its distinctive identity.

    Alongside the significant owner benefits, Vignette Collection will meet the needs of travellers seeking exciting independent stay experiences, and provide a greater choice of outstanding destinations to earn and burn loyalty points. Nowhere is this more sought after than in Luxury & Lifestyle, where the desire for distinct experiences and unique service is permanent.

    Seamless conversions of high-quality, unique independent luxury and lifestyle hotels and small portfolios will further fast-track IHG’s growth in a market worth more than $100 billion, and where more than 1.5 million rooms globally are currently independent. Over the next 10 years, IHG expects Vignette Collection to attract more than 100 properties globally.

    Main image credit: IHG

    Render of suite overlooking city skyline inside W Philadelphia

    Now open: W Philadelphia – a racy love letter to the ‘City of Brotherly Love’

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Now open: W Philadelphia – a racy love letter to the ‘City of Brotherly Love’

    The highly anticipated wait for the arrival of W Hotels in the Philadelphia is over. The metropolis affectionately known as the ‘City of Brotherly Love’ has welcomed the opening of W Philadelphia to its glowing skyline…

    Located in the heart of downtown, W Philadelphia is housed with a 51-storey skyscraper, and its arrival is already being described as a celebration of the city’s street art, musical legacy and historic embrace of originality – as seen through the provocative lens of the W brand. 

    Render of suite overlooking city skyline inside W Philadelphia

    W Philadelphia is the first W-branded hotel to open in North America since W Aspen in 2019, and follows the unveiling of W Osaka, which, earlier this year, marked the brand’s arrival in Japan.

    “Philadelphia is the quintessential city for a W hotel – rebellious, unexpected and original.” – Tom Jarrold, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide.

    Embracing the same drive, grit and irreverence that sparked our nation’s revolution, the new hotel liberates the city’s traditional rules of luxury through its design as well as a lineup of local creative partners who authenticate and elevate every stay. 

    Render of lobby/lounge at W Philadelphia

    Image credit: W Hotels

    “Philadelphia is the quintessential city for a W hotel – rebellious, unexpected and original,” said Tom Jarrold, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide. “Its diverse neighbourhoods and rich history attract travellers from around the country and the world and we are excited to put our unique stamp on its luxury hotel scene.”

    From The Sound of Philadelphia and the city’s legendary 1970s nightlife scene to its famed urban grid richly juxtaposed with vibrant green spaces, the design of W Philadelphia is as rich and diverse as the city itself. Punctuated throughout the hotel is an extensive artwork collection, much of it exclusively commissioned by the hotel using the talent of local artists. From abstract murals celebrating urban gardens to oil and digital print portraits of the city’s most famous musicians of the past and present, the art of W Philadelphia is as thoughtful as it is thought-provoking. 

    W Philadelphia features 295 guestrooms including 39 suites, which feature floor-to-ceiling windows and breathtaking, panoramic city views. Nods to traditional Pennsylvania craftsmanship can be seen in entry way and bathroom tile patterns as well as Shaker-style chairs at each workspace. Illuminated in the guestrooms are the words of the Declaration of Independence, etched in graffiti font on a custom light fixture. The signature W Bed is made with a bespoke bedspread print – “Philly Toile” – featuring both modern and historical city icons. A throw pillow features the iconic Robert Indiana LOVE statue on one side and, for a playful twist, the word LUST on the opposite side. 

    Guestroom over looking the city of Philadelphia

    Image

    The hotel’s six suite categories feature oversized soaking tubs and ornate details including Danby marble and Chesterfield-style furnishings, as well as the only private guest balconies of any luxury hotel in the city. Local artwork imagined under the theme of “Collective Independence” is displayed in salon groupings inspired by the impressionist and modern art collections housed at the nearby Barnes Foundation. The WOW and Extreme WOW Suites push the unexpected even further with custom foosball and billiard tables as well as in-room DJ booths.

    Wow Suite at W Philadelphia

    Render credit: W Hotels

    Equally important to the design of a W is each hotel’s sonic identity. Shaping the sounds of W Philadelphia’s music activations is Joshua Lang, a multi-faceted artist with a background in design and music. In addition to spinning regular sets on property as resident DJ, Lang will book DJ talent with his distinct approach to curating the sound and vibe specific to the hotel’s social outlets: think soulful and loungey in the Living Room with funk and soul and high-energy and vibrant house and global dance music on the WET Deck. 

    The hotel features an eclectic selection of spaces for guests and locals to socialise as they unwind and indulge. First is the Living Room, with design inspired by the historic sunken gardens of Fairmount Park. By day, coffee from local artisan roaster Rival Bros. will be served in custom ceramics from Philadelphia-based houseware and design studio, Centerpeak, and, by night, craft cocktails curated by famed local mixologist Resa Mueller will flow. The focal point of the Living Room is a wall of hand-painted, custom ceramic skulls which draw inspiration from the Hyrtl Skull Collection at the nearby Mutter Museum and feature references to hip-hop, fashion and garden icons. 

    Tucked away behind the skulls and a two-way mirror, guests will find “Stevens’ Prophecy,” a salon adorned with artwork celebrating Hollywood and Philadelphia royalty, Grace Kelly. The name is a reference to the story of Grace Kelly’s high school yearbook superlative in which it was predicted she would become “a famous star of stage and screen.” The salon will soon feature its own specialty menu including small-batch as well as limited-run spirits.  

    On the 7th floor, the WET Deck features a heated, year-round pool with intricate, green and blue custom tile work inspired by French parterre pattern, while the WET Deck Bar is adorned with a large-scale, pixelated floral motif from floor to ceiling. All WET Deck Talent will wear custom uniforms from Philadelphia’s own Grant BLVD, a Black-owned sustainable fashion brand that upcycles vintage clothing.  Around the corner, guests will discover a lush green space known as the Secret Garden, where Illuminated busts of Benjamin Franklin and Marie Antoinette are tucked amongst the greenery for a modern twist on traditional garden design. The urban retreat will play host to local pop-ups and host live music performances where guests and locals can discover up-and-coming talent of the musically-driven city. 

    Located on the same floor, the AWAY Spa embraces socialisation with a lounge, beauty bar and DJ set-up for private events. AWAY features five treatment rooms inspired by the colour palette and joie de vivre of Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette as well as two large-scale wallpaper prints of Marilyn Minter’s provocative take on beauty and pleasure – Kicksilver and Goldkicker. 

    In addition to all of this, the hotel also has more than 45,000 square feet of event space inspired by the brand’s long-standing passion for music. It begins with pre-function space connected by a monumental grand staircase with a dramatic floating chandelier made of 10,000 gold coins as a nod to Philadelphia’s banking history. Alcove seating under the stairs shares space with a locally-produced skull sculpture, another reference to the famed Hyrtl Skull Collection and a signature iconography of rock n’ roll. Each of the 37 meeting rooms flow with natural light and high-design lighting concepts that create the feeling of private recording studios. Lastly, the sun-drenched-by-day Great Room features floor-to-ceiling windows, abstract floral carpeting as well as circular lighting fixtures and shimmering wall finishes that resemble the night sky during evening events. 

    Main image credit: W Hotels

    Richmond International reunites with P&O Cruises

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    Richmond International reunites with P&O Cruises

    London based hospitality design specialist Richmond International has revealed sophisticated and elegant interiors on board P&O Cruises newest ship Iona…

    The design vision for P&O Cruises latest ship Iona was to make ‘the sea the star’. Design firm Richmond International was tasked with creating an environment that brings the outside in, spaces where guests can retreat in comfort and where they are delighted every time they visit.

    The project includes the design of several spaces including the cabins and suites, Oasis Spa, The Limelight Club, The Club House, The Crow’s Nest, Ivory Suite, The Epicurean restaurant, and Ocean Studios cinema. Through carefully considered design, each space has its own distinct character and ambience that effortlessly blends into the next.

    “It was a pleasure to work with P&O Cruises again on this fantastic new project following the success of our work on Britannia,” explains Richmond International Director Terry McGillicuddy. “With Iona we have created an elevated guest experience through meaningful design touches that create a sense of luxury and sophistication.”  

    Cabins, suites and corridors

    Taking inspiration from the ocean, the cabins and suites reference the ship’s environment through subtle design touches. For example, the carpet pattern features nautical knotting and the circular mirroring and artwork playfully nod to traditional portholes. The use of light blue and sandy yellow tones throughout are a reflection of the sea and shore.

    The Conservatory Mini-suites on board Iona, which are a first for P&O Cruises, continue the theme of bringing the outside in with the introduction of an additional conservatory space. This area can be closed off from the main cabin or opened up to create a direct connection with the balcony and sea. The L-shaped sofa seating area offers an ideal setting for a morning coffee or pre-dinner drinks with stunning seascape views. 

    The premium suites, complete with a spacious lounge area and lavish marble-style bathroom, are characterised by their muted sandy tones and contemporary styling adopted to channel the spirt and elegance of luxury yacht design.

    In the corridors a directional-lined pattern is used on the carpet and feature panels have been introduced outside each room with a letter box for invitations and menu cards, integral lighting, and cabin number 

    The spa

    Spanning two decks, the expansive spa is a sanctuary of relaxation with an understated and refined aesthetic.  A timber ceiling feature, designed to reflect the movement and rhythm of the ocean, overlooks the reception. The connection with the ocean is also highlighted with the use of soft corners and light materials as well as ocean inspired tiling on the walls. 

    Timber panelling frames the treatment rooms. Most of these have comfortable window seats boasting ocean views through the large windows. In keeping with the nautical theme, the wooden screening and wall panelling also feature a flowing wave design.

    Spa areas include the thermal suite, complete with a large central hydrotherapy pool with massage jets and air recliners, a therapeutic sauna, sensory steam rooms and experiential showers, a gym, and a fitness studio.

    The Limelight Club

    The backlit bar and central stage area are the focal points in this intimate dinner and entertainment venue. The surrounding furniture and carpet follow a deep purple colour scheme, further enhancing the space’s sultry, exclusive ambiance. At the rear of the room several booths have been created each with their own decorative chandeliers.

    image credit: Richmond Internaitonal/P&O Cruises

    image credit: Richmond International/P&O Cruises

    The Club House

    The Club House is a multifunctional space, effortlessly moving from day to night, from a morning coffee spot with views across the ocean to an evening entertainment hub hosting comedy nights and live bands.

    A bright and inviting space, The Club House takes inspiration from spring colours with the use of botanical greens and yellows for the marble tables, furniture, and carpet. Around the upper seating area, a ceiling feature incorporates these colours into a pergola installation with a greenhouse feel.

     The Crow’s Nest and Ivory Suite

    The Crow’s Nest takes its inspiration from the high seas featuring naval references throughout, for example the use of brass metalwork and mirroring. Deep navy blues and metallic gold finishing bring a sense of sophistication and exclusivity to this bar area. The introduction of soft lines in the circular screens and carpet pattern also represent a musical influence; a nod to the entertainment that take place in this space.

    The multi-purpose Ivory Suite is adjacent to The Crow’s Nest and transitions seamlessly, using the same carpet pattern but with a cream base.

     The Epicurean restaurant

    Iona’s fine dining restaurant The Epicurean features floor to ceiling windows offering uninterrupted views. Taking centre stage inside the restaurant is the undulating ceiling achieved through panel work and lighting that reflects the movement of the waves. The rise and fall of the ocean is subtly mirrored in the variation of teals, creams and whites that are used in the carpet and artwork. 

    Ocean Studios

    With rich scarlet hues and bare bulb Hollywood lighting, this four-screen cinema complex is a true celebration of the great cinema era. Guests are guided from the foyer to the screening rooms by a lane of patterned carpet and lighting that is surrounded by a series of film posters.

    Main image credit: P&O/Richmond International

    What you need to know about Mosaico’s two new collections

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    What you need to know about Mosaico’s two new collections

    In the last 18 months, surface brand Mosaico has launched two new collections to its portfolio. Following the brand delivering an impressive Product Watch Pitch at our recent Hotel Designs LIVE event, we wanted to know more about the latest additions in the P-Saico and Cut Up ranges…

    Mosaico has launched two new ranges – and as well as being beautiful to look at they are also answering to the demands of modern travellers, which are calling out for tactile and interesting surfaces in hotel design.

    Firstly, let’s look at the new addition to the P-Saico range …. Melange! So named because the brand has mixed the existing P-Saico colourways to create four new dual toned options.

    The range is through body porcelain and so for use indoor and outdoor, wall and floor. And the range has LEED accreditation too so perfect when considering sustainability criteria.

    Image credit: Mosaico

    Then you can see the variation in the further two images from the new Melange collection, both in Plaster Coal. However, they look quite different due to the use of different coloured grout and it is amazing how this can change the dynamics and look of the decoration.

    You can see how the choice of grout colour highlights/outlines the patterns differently so it’s well worth considering how this can impact your scheme to create/add something quite individual.

    Then, the surface brand has just launched Cut Up!

    Image credit: Mosaico

    This is different to anything else the brand has as it has used incisions and applied textures to a larger slab creating divisions that break up the larger piece, as with the original concept of the mosaic format.

    The range is also through body porcelain and comes in four colourways. There are three modules with different detailing so Mosaico suggests fixing off bond to ensure no obvious repeat pattern and to mix the modules so the embedded textures appear more randomly across the installation, each installation can then be entirely unique. And of course, the choice of grout colour can dramatically change the finished look!

    There is something about the randomness of the decoration and the imperfect nature of this range allowing you to interpret it’s use to suit many schemes.

    As you can see, the brand is crafting new designs and diversifying from the regular mosaic format. With new shapes and materials, it hopes this inspires designers to integrate these new ranges as really interesting features, with a bit of a twist on mosaic, and with the help of your chosen grout colour, to fashion a really unique contribution.

    Mosaico are introducing new shapes and material, different to the regular square format we all know.

    Mosaico was a Product Watch Pitch Partner at Hotel Designs LIVE, which took place on August 10, 2021.

    Main image credit: Mosaico

    Modieus collage

    In conversation with the ‘rugtrepreneurs’ at Modieus

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    In conversation with the ‘rugtrepreneurs’ at Modieus

    Combining fashion with design to create some extraordinary carpet and rug patterns, Modieus is officially on the radar of our editorial team at Hotel Designs. Here, editor Hamish Kilburn catches up with the founders of the brand to understand more about the creative work that happens behind the scenes…

    Modieus collage

    Modieus is Dutch for fashionable, which makes sense when casting your eyes over the brands latest collection, Makers Mark. Established six years ago, the company is determined to be the most stylish commercial flooring brand in the southern hemisphere – we found there’s a lot more to them than just supplying beautiful carpets and rugs.

    Founder Xander Okhuizen (previously APAC Director at Brintons Carpets) and General Manager Daren Griffin (previously Head of Project Management PTY at Brintons Carpets) shared what they’ve learnt in their long careers in flooring, and how they differentiate themselves from other contract flooring brands. 

    Colour Blur - Modieus

    Image credit: Modieus

    Hamish Kilburn: What is the most important aspect of your business?

    Xander Okhuizen: People are the most important – nothing else. If people don’t want to work with you, you have nothing. We offer our clients a total solution and take all the stress out of projects.

    A lot of our competitors can get 90 per cent of a project right, but what really counts is getting the last 10 per cent delivered perfectly. That’s where Daren comes in because good project management matters.

    Daren Griffin: The projects we work on can take anything from six months to four years to complete. Our success comes from having processes in place and making sure everyone in the team understands what is expected. I review each project and ensure we are offering a commercially viable solution for both our customer and for our business. We also review every completed project; the whole team has visibility of costs and profit – yes even the sales team!

    HK: You must be the first management team that shares costs with their sales team, does that mean you discount a lot? 

    XO: No – quality has a price, we don’t aim to be the cheapest, we aim to be the best. And sometimes that means we walk away from projects.

    I tell my sales team not to “sell” – we don’t want lots of orders, we just want good orders. They must be brave enough to walk away from a project if it’s not good for our business. I don’t believe in giving empty promises – when we take an order, we keep our word. We have built excellent relationships with the Mills and have an amazing supply chain in place.

    DG: Design, Sales and Project Management work as a team and with total transparency on the success of every job. Everyone in the team has a fixed salary and Xander has ensured there is no ceiling on the bonus people can earn. I’ve been at Modieus for more than four years and it’s a different way of working that gets the best out of people (we even get our birthdays as extra holiday).

    HOTEL INDIGO ADELAIDE 1200X62811

    Image credit: Hotel Indigo, Adelaide / Modieus

    HK: Where does your expertise lie?

    DG: Modieus is based in Australia, but we operate in more than 15 countries internationally – we’ve supplied carpets from Greece to Brazil. Our core sectors are hospitality, airports, aged care, and offices. We supply any construction and any configuration from broadloom and rugs to entrance mats (which can trap up to 90 per cent of dirt entering a building).

    XO: Selecting the right flooring is vital – you never hear kids screaming in a carpeted airport. But smart design is also key – a well-designed carpet can last 20 years in heavy footfall areas. Our expertise is in supporting our clients to select the right specification and design for their project and managing the whole process from start to completion.

    Collage Colour

    Image credit: Modieus

    HK: What design trends do you see emerging at the moment (or don’t see evolving further)?

    DG: Tastes vary internationally, each country is different. Our designers have worked in multi-markets and have a limitless design capability. Even in Australia there are stark differences, for example Queensland is very bright and bold, compared to Victoria and New South Wales where palettes are much more muted.

    XO: One trend I don’t understand is white carpets in guestrooms. First impressions count, so a white carpet in a guestroom may look great as a concept but it is a housekeeper’s nightmare. People buy carpet every 10 years, but we sell it every day so it’s our job to tell hotel owners what will work best. We will never take the order if we don’t believe the specification is right.

    A green room with jungle-like carpets

    Image credit: Modieus

    HK: What’s the business outlook like?

    XO: It’s been a tough year for hospitality internationally. In normal times Australians spend more on international tourism ($65bn) than they do domestically ($43-45bn), so this has been an opportunity for some sectors.

    DG: You know you can physically fit the whole of Europe into Australia, right? Money isn’t leaving the country as many people are spending it on a domestic holiday or on home renovations. Business hotels are not doing as well, but we see country resorts, and pubs and clubs doing very well.

    XO: Central Business Districts in cities will evolve to lifestyle living – we are seeing this in Sydney already, where offices are being converted to residential apartments.

    Even though people are sick of zoom, I don’t see a full return to offices. People may work two or three days in the office, which will have an impact on office space. I don’t see companies needing 6 levels in a building when they can do with three, so these spaces will be repurposed for multi-use.

    I have a very positive outlook on life and business. Work hard, treat people well, do the right thing – I have built a business that I always wanted to work for, and I am pleased to have a great team around me to deliver our potential.

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

    Main image credit: Modieus

    We are Harrison Spinks, The True Bedmakers copy

    A message from ‘true bedmakers’ from Yorkshire

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    A message from ‘true bedmakers’ from Yorkshire

    Designed and manufactured in the heart of Yorkshire, Harrison Spinks has been handcrafting the perfect night’s sleep since 1840. But that’s not all, as editor Hamish Kilburn finds out…

    Harrison Spinks represents ‘the best in British manufacturing’, using only the finest in luxuriously natural and sustainable fillings, award-winning, 100 per cent recyclable pocket spring systems and in-house woven FR chemical treatment free mattress fabric. Each mattress is expertly handcrafted to order using time honoured skills, creating a sleeping experience for your guests which cannot be equalled.

    We are Harrison Spinks, The True Bedmakers copy

    World leaders in sustainable comfort innovation, the brand’s aim is to provide guests with not only the most comfortable and supportive but a healthy and environmentally sound night’s sleep. The team are the proud recipients of not one but two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in Sustainable Development and in 2019 gained a Carbon Neural+ accreditation.

    Harrison Spinks Handcrafting copy

    Image credit: Harrison Spinks

    From growing its own natural and sustainable fillings and rearing sheep for their woolly fleeces on its 300 acre North Yorkshire farm, to designing and manufacturing 100 per cent recyclable, glue free Cortec™ pocket springs and weaving 100 per cent FR chemical treatment free mattress fabric in-house, the brand’s team are described as ‘true bedmakers’.

    Launched in autumn 2020, the Sprint rolled mattress collection allows hoteliers to offer their guests an environmentally sound, comfortable and supportive night’s sleep. Each of the three models within the collection marries blends of sustainable fillings and innovative spring systems, helping to achieve the ideal balance of comfort, support and body temperature management. Alongside this collection sits the luxurious Signature Collection with pocket spring counts ranging from 3400 – 19750, delicate blends of sumptuous sustainably sourced fillings such as cashmere, silk and mohair work in harmony with its unique and 100 per cent recyclable Cortec™ spring systems and highly flexible contouring Micro springs. A world first and a new dawn for comfort technology, the revolutionary Cortec™ pocket springs feature in every Harrison Spinks Hospitality bed. Unique and ground breaking, these smaller and finer springs are the team’s secret to superior comfort. Contouring to your body with accuracy and precision, with the absence of glue meaning that not only is every spring system 100% recyclable but also each spring is able to work individually for maximum efficiency. Whichever model you choose your guests will experience the perfect night’s sleep.

    Since you’re here, why not read our review of The Cave Hotel, one of many hotels that shelters Harrison Spinks mattresses?

    Each Harrison Spinks Hospitality mattress is zero to landfill and 10 per cent recyclable. As a business we’ve committed to going glue, foam and FR chemical treatment free and this ethos runs through the brand’s entire hospitality range.  Driving change we pledge to recycle every mattress we produce that contains Cortec™ springs, in 2021 opening its mattress recycling plant, ensuring all the components are recycled through the appropriate channels. So not only will the guests sleep well, the hoteliers will sleep soundly too.

    Harrison Spinks 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: Harrison Spinks

    A large suite in Lisbon that is airy and has breakfast on the side

    Living like a local in Portugal – inside Lumiares, Lisbon

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Living like a local in Portugal – inside Lumiares, Lisbon

    The Lumiares, Lisbon is a five-star boutique bombshell, where the style is personal, not “corporate”, relaxed not “stuffy”, gives an authentic nod to Lisbon’s colour, culture and patterns. Editor Hamish Kilburn falls in love with Portugal again when exploring the city’s latest destination hotel…

    A large suite in Lisbon that is airy and has breakfast on the side

    The fully renovated hotel, which is housed in a former XVII century Palace in the heart of the city, has all the key amenities and facilities for business and leisure travellers who want to feel at home when away from home.

    The Lumiares’ philosophy is to highlight the authenticity and personality of Lisbon by collaborating with local Portuguese businesses to showcase ‘the best of Portugal’. Almost every item of furniture, artwork, textiles and room accessories has been conceived, designed and manufactured in Portugal, some within 500m from the hotel, which transcends a new take on ‘living like a local’.

    Guestroom - Lumiares Lisbon

    Image credit: Lumiares Lisbon

    The starting place for design and artwork within the 47-key hotel was the location. Perched on the central edge of Bairro Alto, the hotel is situated in a Lisbon quarter home to a bohemian mish-mash of everyday residents, artists and merchants’ studios, restaurants, quirky shops, lively bars and cafes; a warren of asymmetrical buildings with mismatched facades of varying heights and hues, its narrow streets and pavements cobbled in Lisbon’s iconic square paving stones.

    Rooftop of Lumiares Lisbon

    Image credit: Lumiares Lisbon

    Surveyed from above, the quarter forms a striking grid of patterns, light and dark; painted walls adorned with Lisbon’s beautiful hero colours – sky blue, rosy pink and warm ochre. These colours change and intensify throughout the day – creating yet more contrast as the unique, golden light of Lisbon turns to dusk. By day, the neighbourhood is sleepy and quiet, while at night it comes alive and becomes a place of contrasts. This is reflected in the bold black, white and brass-accented flooring in the lobby area, a bespoke collection of abstract and geometrical original artworks on display throughout the rooms, and a captivating sculptural brass chandelier dominating the building’s grand staircase.

    A gold and black and white open lobby in Lisbon

    Image credit: Lumieres Lisbon

    In design terms, day-to-night, light-to-dark transformation was brought to life to capture Bairro Alto’s topography of pattern and grids – choosing boldly geometric prints in the materials, fabrics, artwork and flooring, accented with the colours and golden light we see all around us. From the lobby’s bold black and white and brass-accented flooring, the colourful abstract original artwork of Maser to designer Beau McClellan’s captivating sculptural and cubic brass lighting installation in the hotel’s central stairwell, the unique character of the Bairro Alto quarter was central to the design theme.

    The hotel’s simple style, charm and character is described as a colourful love letter to Portugal – what a way to fall back in love with authentic travel again…

    Main image credit: Lumiares Lisbon

    3d illustration of modern hotel corridor .

    Milliken’s role in this new era of wellness

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Milliken’s role in this new era of wellness

    Following delivering a successful Product Watch Pitch at Hotel Designs LIVE, Milliken explain how its floor tiles can go beyond being just beautiful products in the new era of lifestyle and wellness…

    Milliken floor tiles help to create the wow factor and that Insta perfect first impression on arrival at a hotel.

    3d illustration of modern hotel corridor .

    The floor tiles that Milliken produce also have many practical benefits that set them apart from other flooring choices, such as sound absorption, reduced impact sound and improved well-being for those who work and stay in hotels and hospitality settings.

    They help reduce unwanted airborne noise and increase the sound absorption of the hotel space by using Milliken’s patented Comfort Plus cushion backing, along with high-performance fibre that reduces noise reverberation time and therefore softens echo. Milliken Comfort Plus cushion backing is particularly beneficial in reducing the nuisance of impact sound, such as the sound of passing footsteps down a hotel corridor.

    “We are able to support those hotels having a very bold design in some spaces together with a very tonal scheme in other areas of the hotel.” – Karen Burt, EMEA Strategic Accounts Director, Milliken.

    The brand’s clear focus on wellbeing and biophilic design are extremely beneficial in the design and specification of hotel interiors. Good, clean air quality is important to the guest experience and carpet can have a positive effect on improving indoor air quality. Gravity causes dust particles to fall to the floor and collect in the carpet fibre, reducing the circulation of dust in the air we breathe.

    Milliken’s global design studios can produce custom design on a very small scale which is a result of the patterning techniques that they have. “We have been seeing a real uptake in creative flooring – take the 25hours brand for example,” explains Karen Burt, EMEA Strategic Accounts Director, Milliken. “We are able to support those hotels having a very bold design in some spaces together with a very tonal scheme in other areas of the hotel.”

    close-up of colourful rug

    Image credit: Milliken

    Kate Collier, Marketing Communications Manager at Milliken, comments: “In terms of wellness, the acoustics come into play as well. We personally feel we fit really nicely into this new era of lifestyle because of the flexibility and the global nature of our brand. In the US, we are now seeing our hospitality team introducing more modular design in public areas. We’re also able to be more creative in our ‘vision lab’ so that designers can use our tools to establish the right look for the right project.”

    The brand’s carpet is engineered to the highest levels of specification. Selection of raw materials, robust design, development and manufacturing processes ensure superior quality, comfort, aesthetics and durability. Comfort Plus cushion backing ensures guest comfort and safety as well as protecting the carpet face from wear and can significantly extend its life.

    Milliken carpet is supplied in modular tile format. This offers many benefits over traditional broadloom carpet. Modular carpet creates less installation waste than broadloom carpet, as well as being quicker and easier to handle and install. This in turn reduces disruption and the possibility of hotel downtime. Maintenance is easier as is dealing with spills and damaged areas. With tiles, replacement of soiled, stained or damaged areas is fast and easy as one tile is simply picked up and another quickly swapped in.

    The Creo collection, Milliken’s latest hospitality carpet collection, has been designed with hospitality environments in mind. It’s inspired by Brazilian street art, featuring three vibrant colourways – Sao Paulo, Rio and Brasilia, offered in three lively pattern families – Avenida, Beco and Rua. The specifier can select the preferred pattern and colour combination for field, runner or rug combinations providing a multitude of design options.

    Milliken was a Product Pitch Partner at Hotel Designs LIVE recently, which took place on August 10, 2021.

    Main image credit: Milliken

    Sneak peek inside The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort and Residences

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Sneak peek inside The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort and Residences

    Designed by HBA Miami and Mac-Michaels Interior Design, with architecture by SB Architects, The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort and Residences is expected to open in spring 2024. Inside the elegant 166-room resort and 69 private luxury condominiums capture the natural beauty of the Gulf Coast and deliver a sense of relaxed comfort and barefoot luxury. Editor Hamish Kilburn gets a sneak peek inside…

    SB Architects, an international architecture firm celebrated for creating spaces that capture the history, culture, and context of each location, has revealed the design for The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort and Residences, a new resort community nestled in the beautiful white sands of the Gulf of Mexico.

    Arial view of site where The St Regis Longboat Key will be

    Image credit: SB Architects

    Situated on a barrier island outside of Sarasota, Florida, The St. Regis Longboat Key is scheduled to break ground this autumn and will deliver luxury seaside living with the amenities and service of a world-class, five-star resort upon opening in spring 2024.

    Developed by Unicorp National Developments, the elegant 166-key resort and 69 private luxury condominiums will be distinguished both for the property’s architectural expression and the level of luxury that the St. Regis brand will bring to the locale. SB Architects is working alongside Hirsch Bedner Associates Miami (HBA), Marc-Michaels Interior Design, and Enea Landscape Design to bring the vision to life.

    Render of bar in St Regis Longboat Key

    Image credit: HBA Miami

    Comprised mostly of glass, the buildings feature clean lines, fine detailing, and soaring floor-to-ceiling windows that draw in natural light and showcase stunning coastal views. “Our goal was to create a sense of relaxed comfort and elegance through contemporary design in both the resort and private residences,” said Pinar Harris, SB Architects’ Vice President and Principal. “Drawing inspiration from the existing landscape for materials and celebrating the pristine waters of the Gulf of Mexico through visual connections to the ocean, the design channels the spirit of the St. Regis brand through a timeless expression of barefoot luxury.” 

    An immersive experience begins the moment guests and residents arrive, as they enter through a canopy of jacaranda trees. Inside, an entry corridor enhances the view to the ocean through an immersive, barrel-vaulted digital ceiling, where ambient lighting reflects the sky’s spectacular sunset colours daily. Projectors display graceful birds across the ceiling intermittently, capturing a sense of movement and bringing the outdoor environment inside. 

    In addition to drawing inspiration from dance-like moments in nature, including the skillful flight of birds along the shore, the resort interiors by HBA honor Sarasota’s culture and history by gesturing toward the intersection of circus and dance. Sarasota is renowned for its performing arts – including The Sarasota Ballet – and for its circus heritage, owing to circus impresario John Ringling, who so loved Sarasota that he chose it for the winter quarters of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey. Showcasing a clean and natural palette of colours, the contemporary interiors leverage these local insights in subtle touches, such as rope-like chandeliers suspended from the ceiling; an oval-shaped ballroom inspired by aerial rings; and in the St. Regis Bar, a centre feature latticed like a circus cage rising into the ceiling.

    In the guestroom corridor, carpet patterns are reminiscent of local ocean currents while flowy drapes drawn over artworks and dramatic lighting add an element of theatrical surprise. Resort guestrooms and luxury residences offer unobstructed views of the ocean, with glass railings creating seamless connections between the outdoor living spaces and natural surroundings. Guestrooms feature wood paneling in the living area and subtle touches of color. Careful layering of materials, such as ceiling paneling with wood grain on the underside of the exterior balconies, complements the natural palette in the interiors and adds a sense of warmth to the architectural expression.

    Sophisticated hotel corridor rendering

    Image credit: HBA Miami

     The resort features a 20,000 square foot St. Regis Signature Spa, a salt-water lagoon with live fish and sea life, and an open-air Sunset Bar overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, in addition to a meandering drift stream, heated infinity edge pool, beachside event lawns, and business meeting facilities. The private condominiums – ranging from approximately 1,500 to nearly 6,000 square feet – comprise three six-story buildings and offer residents access to the amenities at St. Regis Resort & Spa, in addition to their own dedicated private amenities, including a waterfront pool and spa with a privacy sundeck and Resident’s Clubhouse featuring a world-class Wellness Center with meditation and yoga studios. Each residence will feature expansive terraces – some with infinity edge plunge pools – and a secured private access elevator opening directly into the residence.

    Main image credit: SB Architects/HBA Miami

    How Benholm Group created a ‘planted paradise’ inside a hotel room

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    How Benholm Group created a ‘planted paradise’ inside a hotel room

    ‘La Chambre Verte’ is the name of the new biophilic, ‘planted paradise’ that was created inside Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel by Benholm Group. Following presenting an insightful pitch at Hotel Designs LIVE, Adrian Byne, the Group’s Marketing and HR manager, takes us inside…

    At Benholm Group, we have pioneered the use of creative planting for interiors for more than 25 years; not only as eye-catching focal points, but also to promote the natural health benefits that being surrounded by plants can bring. We have long understood the value plants can bring to every environment.

    Known to us all as ‘‘biophilic design’, the use of plants in providing cleaner air and connecting us with nature, when coupled with natural light, certain colours, acoustics, and fragrances has long been proven to have a positive effect on both mental and physical wellbeing.

    This concept has now been brought to the forefront of luxury hotel design with our collaboration on ‘La Chambre Verte’ – a unique, immersive hotel room experience filled with lush planting and host of other delights. Located within Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel, our collaboration alongside other industry experts, including luxury skincare brand La Rue Verte and award-winning DJ Brian D’Souza, combined to create a multi-sensory, luxury bedroom spa experience incorporating biophilic plant design, CBD rituals, meditation and sound therapy.

    Echoing the practice of forest-bathing, an ancient Japanese process of relaxation, La Chambre Verte encourages guests to unwind in the green space of their hotel room, while observing nature’s beauty; to feel stress levels reduced happiness increased, and importantly, have a better night’s sleep.

    Our experienced design consultants were chosen to bring the room to life with lush greenery, to ensure that all plant species would thrive in the climactic conditions of the room and contribute to guests achieving the perfect night’s sleep.

    A sketch of a chaise lounge surrounded by plants

    Sketch credit: Benholm Group

    As part of the design process, we worked closely with the hotel to ensure that the room felt spacious and light, with plenty of floor space for ease of movement around the room. Overcoming certain challenges was a key part of this process, such as ensuring the room was always fully functional, being careful that plant installations did not damage the expensive wall coverings and furnishings, even down to the maintaining good sightlines to the TV!

    Hanging plants in a hotel room

    Image credit: Naomi Vance Photography for Kimpton Blythswood Square

    Our experienced design consultants carefully identified plants that have been proven to improve air quality effectively and combined these into an attractive jungle-like display that is both pleasing to the eye and creates a healthy, relaxing environment. Many of the plants have a useful information tag attached detailing its attributes in providing cleaner air – guests can even scan a QR code to order the plant for their own home or office.

    Lady touching plant in her hotel room

    Image credit: Naomi Vance Photography for Kimpton Blythswood Square

    Inside the room, trailing Ivy cascades down from a living wall panel above the bed, Monstera leaves and Palm fronds frame every view, and lush clusters of hanging, exotic plants purify the air and boost the immune system. Plus, our specialist maintenance technicians are all part of the scheduled housekeeping inside the room to ensure plants are kept healthy and vibrant.

    Man watering plants in hotel room

    Image credit: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

    To have the opportunity to work on a project which is designed to highlight the benefits of biophilia for mental as well as physical well-being has been a real joy, and we look forward to helping others in realising the potential of plants in their own spaces.

    Why not get in touch and find out how Benholm Group, a Product Watch Pitch Partner at Hotel Designs LIVE, can incorporate our vibrant variety of plants into your interior space? From offices to restaurants to luxury hotel rooms, being surrounded by plants will delight and revitalise.

    Main image credit: Naomi Vance Photography for Kimpton Blythswood Square

    Hotel designs LIVE senses

    (In video) Hotel Designs LIVE: A design assault on the senses

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    (In video) Hotel Designs LIVE: A design assault on the senses

    Watch, on-demand, our exclusive panel discussion that was broadcasted recently on the Hotel Designs LIVE platform. To launch the virtual event, which took place on August 10 at the Minotti London showroom, editor Hamish Kilburn welcomed world-renowned designers and hospitality experts to explore sensory design in hospitality (scroll down for full video)…

    Hotel designs LIVE senses

    On August 10, designers, architects, hoteliers and developers from around the globe tuned in to watch the latest edition of Hotel Designs LIVE. The event, which first launched in June 2020 to keep the industry connected while keeping the conversation flowing, took place virtually – broadcasted at Minotti London’s Fitzrovia showroom, and included four engaging panel discussions with world-renowned hospitality and design experts on the following topics:

    • A design assault on the senses
    • Designing the perfect nights’ sleep
    • Design, beneath the surface
    • Social spaces in 2021 & beyond

    During the editor’s welcome, editor Hamish Kilburn was joined with Anke Summerhill, Managing Director of Minotti London which was the event’s headline sponsor. The pair discussed what’s new in the Minotti 2021 Collection as well as exploring how recent cultural shifts will impact the social nature of hospitality while the panel for the first session of the day were preparing to go live in the virtual wings.

    The first session of the day, sponsored by bathroom brand GROHE, was inspired by a previous session that was broadcasted on the Hotel Designs LIVE platform, which looked at sound in design. Taking what he learned during that hour-long conversation with designers and architects, Kilburn was keen widen his perspective to discuss all of the senses in hotel design and hospitality. “Following that insightful session on sound’s role in hotel design and after reading a mountain of press releases recently that all reference sound, touch and even smell to evoke a deeper meaning of wellness and wellbeing, it feels fitting to position the editorial spotlight on the sensory experience for our next event,” Kilburn said when introducing the subject. “It also comes as the industry, albeit slowly, is starting to reopen and reconnect.”

    On the panel:

    • Damian Saint, Music Director – W Hotels Asia Pacific
    • Robbie Bargh, Founder, Gorgeous Group
    • Diana Espejo, Director of Technical Services (EMEA), Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas
    • Justin Wells, CEO, Wells International

    The conversation began with Kilburn asking the panel why only now we as an industry were starting to look at the benefits of sensory design in hospitality experiences. “I might challenge that, becasue I think in design, we have always been striving to extend the positive outcome for the end user,” explained Justin Wells, CEO, Wells International. “Take the retail sector, for example, which has been exploring sensory design for many years. Currently, today, there is a heightened awareness around reconnecting and with a higher demand for wellness and wellbeing it has perhaps amplified our appetite for understanding technology. As a designer and architect, I have always researched how we can create a better, more holistic approach – and sensory design is most certainly a way to achieve this.”

    To understand how a brand like Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas was utilising the technology around sensory design – and how the brand plans to inject their luxury wellness and wellbeing hospitality experience in an urban environment, Diana Espeja, Director of Technical Services (EMEA) for the brand explained: “The Six Senses brand is growing and the challenge was face is how we translate our core values into different environments. The beauty of this is that our pillars of wellness and sustainability are really universally applicable – so we are constantly challenging our consultants to think outside the box on how we can achieve this. We do use the sensory experience not only in our design, but we also like to create really unique moments for guests who are checking in. In Ibiza, for example, the energy was amazing – and we really wanted to inject this into the design and the hospitality. We are constantly evolving and there is not a formula that works across all of these destinations – you have to research the area.”

    Moving the conversation on, Kilburn then engaged with Robbie Bargh, a F&B experience consultant and the founder of Gorgeous Group, to better understand how sensory design can be utilised effectively in F&B spaces. “Telling stories is a fully immersive experience and to do this you have to use all of the senses,” he said. “Everyone gets obsessed by the way something looks, but actually when you get into it, the sound, smell and touch are all equally important to consider. And now, this is even more important.”

    Here’s the full video of the panel discussion (on demand), produced by CUBE, which includes Product Watch pitches from GROHE, Benholm Group, Utopia Projects and Franklite.

    The full recordings of the other three sessions (‘Designing the perfect nights’ sleep; Design, beneath the surface and Social spaces in 2021 & beyond) will be available to watch on-demand shortly.

    Since you’re here…

    More than 40,000 readers per month enjoy the content we publish on Hotel Designs. Our mission is to define the point on international hotel design, and we are doing that by serving relevant news stories and engaging features. To keep up to date on the hottest stories that are emerging, you can sign up to the newsletter, which is completely free of charge. As well as receiving a weekly round-up of the top stories, you will also access our bi-monthly HD Edit –staying ahead of the curve has never been so easy!

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    A reminder of the sponsors

    Headline Sponsor: Minotti London


    Collage of furniture and wallcoverings

    What’s in the spotlight this September on Hotel Designs?

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    What’s in the spotlight this September on Hotel Designs?

    This September, Hotel Designs is serving up a plethora of stories that will be dedicated to furniture and wallcoverings… 

    On the surface (excuse the pun) recently, due to the pandemic, there’s been a lack of activity happening the form of trade shows – and therefore, designers, architects and hoteliers have found it difficult to keep in the know of the latest products.

    Collage of furniture and wallcoverings

    This September, a month that we usually reserve for international design weeks and after parties, we are going to be bringing you our edit of the latest furniture pieces that should be on your radar as well as looking at this season’s wallcovering trends and hero collections.

    Furniture

    Although Milan Design Week’s Salone Del Mobile is still going ahead this year – albeit under a very different veneer of protocols than usual – we have decided to wait until Spring 2022 to attend the international festival, when hopefully by then we will be able to see and experience furniture brands in their true vibrant settings. However, in order to keep our global readers in the loop, we will be sharing highlights from Milan as well as looking at what’s emerging elsewhere in the world.

    Wallcoverings

    To be honest, it’s difficult to tell which trend or pattern will emerge next as there is so much, thanks to technology, that wallcovering brands can achieve these days. In order to cut through the noise, we will be presenting our edit on the latest and most innovative wallcovering collections to ensure are on your radar.

    If you are a supplier and would like to find out more about how you could feature in Hotel Designs, or know of a product that we should be talking about, please email Katy Phillips. 

    Main image credit: Minotti London/Arte

    The Brit List Awards 2021

    The Brit List Awards is a cabaret – early bird tickets now on sale!

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    The Brit List Awards is a cabaret – early bird tickets now on sale!

    The Brit List Awards 2021 will arrive in unprecedented style this year, as we prepare to take over London’s most famous cabaret venue, PROUD Embankment, for one night only on November 3! What’s more, early bird tickets have just gone on sale (but hurry as there are limited spaces available)…

    The Brit List Awards 2021

    Have you heard? This year, the climax to The Brit List Awards 2021 – AKA the awards ceremony – is a cabaret (old chum), and we want you to, in true Liza (that’s Liza with a ‘Z’) Minnelli style, ‘come to the cabaret’!

    On November 3, 2021, the design, architecture and hospitality community will gather at PROUD Embankment, London’s famous cabaret venue, for a night of frivolous celebration behind the red curtain to crown this year’s winners of The Brit List Awards 2021. 

    Image credit: The glamorous Jestico + Whiles ladies, Vitalise Katine, Sarah Murphy and rosalynn youdan

    Image caption: The glamorous Jestico + Whiles ladies, Vitalise Katine, Sarah Murphy and Rosalynn Youdan

    How to attend

    We have just released our ‘early bird’ tickets, which, if purchased by September 10, will allow designers, architects, hoteliers and developers to attend ‘the cabaret’ for just £10 + VAT per ticket – click here to secure. For suppliers and anyone else who does not qualify as a designer, architect, hotelier or developer, tickets purchased before September 10 are priced at £99 + VAT – click here to secure.

    But hurry! We have limited tickets available for The Brit List Awards 2021. After September 10, tickets for designers, architects, hoteliers and developers will be £20 + VAT. For anyone else wishing to attend, tickets will be priced at £150 + VAT.

    About the venue – PROUD Embankment

    PROUD Embankment is a majestic two-storied venue that is designed to host a spectacular array of shows and events. Complete with sumptuous otherworldly interiors, the venue will transform on November 3 as a playground for respected designers, architects and hospitality experts as The Brit List Awards 2021 comes to a close with the awards ceremony.

    Founded by the club owner and entrepreneur Alex Proud himself, the PROUD group started in 1998 with galleries. Since then, it has grown exponentially to become one of Europe’s leading photographic galleries and cabaret venues. From the historic and decadent feel, to its immersive interior design details such as a jungle-like photobooth gallery, PROUD Embankment is truly spectacular with a sense magic in the atmosphere, complimented soon with a sprinkle of Hotel Designs glamour.

    About the Brit List Awards 2021

    The Brit List Awards 2021 is Britain’s most meaningful design and hospitality awards ceremony. In addition to the individual awards up for grabs, the top 25 entries in the interior design, architecture and hospitality categories will be profiled in the prestigious The Brit List, Hotel Designs’ annual publication that references the top 75 most influential individuals in British design, architecture and hospitality.

    The shortlist for The Brit List Awards 2021 will be available shortly ahead of the winners being announced at the awards ceremony. We hope you can join us at the cabaret, old chum!

    Main image credit: Hotel Designs

    Pool at Four Seasons Lodge

    Hotel concepts: 3 hotel pools that will blow your mind

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Hotel concepts: 3 hotel pools that will blow your mind

    Editor Hamish Kilburn continues to enjoy this month’s spotlight on ‘hotel concepts’ by sharing three hotel pools that he discovered recently…

    Many would argue that the sign of a quality hotel can be measured by the quality of its pool – we’re talking more style over size.

    Pool at Four Seasons Lodge

    With my wellness hat on – in sync, I hasten to add, with modern traveller demands as we start to emerge from the pandemic with a hunger for wellbeing – I have been on a quest to find unconventional design pools – and here’s what I found.

    Villa Vedas at The Luxe Nomad

    It’s not strictly a hotel (forgive me) but Villa Vedas, which is exclusively managed by The Luxe Nomad, is a prime example of a property that decided to tear up the rulebook when designing its interiors. Villa Vedas is designed and engineered to feature a breathtaking 22-metre span without any supporting columns in order to provide an unobstructed view right through the property and out to sea. The villa itself represents approximately 1,800 square metres of construction, and is a modern architecturally designed home that is unique and unequalled, with many interesting design features, most of which have been meticulously fabricated on site. The property features a large living area, dining areas, a bar, a media or snooker room, and two bedrooms downstairs, and three bedrooms upstairs. The living area can be opened to benefit from the regular breeze off the ocean, or alternatively enclosed and air conditioned by deploying the Häfele glass sliding wall system, and turning on the Daikin VRV central air-conditioning system.

    “I am the Robin Hood of building. Not only do I clean Indonesia and help solve the worlds plastic problem, I feed the poor doing it.” – Designer Stuart Bevan.

    But that’s not all. The designer behind this wonderful project, Stuart Bevan, has recently taken a turn towards a sustainable future with an innovative approach to pool design and management. “I was also the builder and the local designer in collaboration with an Australian architect for Mrs Sippy Bali, Bali’s premier pool club that featured Bali’s biggest saltwater pool, Bali’s first and only high dive tower with 4m deep pool and the first pool in the world to to use my new newly developed 100 per cent recycled plastic pool finish. EcoLuxe is a beadcrete made from recycled water bottles. The average pool uses 150,000 water bottles. That’s 150,000 bottles off the beach, out of the rivers and landfill. I take plastic out of the system, not just recycle it. I swap rice with local villages, kilo for kilo to collect waste plastic for my product. It is taking Bali by storm! And  I am about to start international export. Indonesia only recycles two per cent of its plastic. I have an unlimited supply of raw material, only it needs to be hand collected. Hence my rice swap program. I am the Robin Hood of building. Not only do I clean Indonesia and help solve the worlds plastic problem, I feed the poor doing it.”

    The Spa at 45 Park Lane

    It’s impressive all on its own that 45 Park Lane, a luxury hotel that was once mistaken for sitting in The Dorchester’s illustrious shadow, has recently unveiled a new spa that now shelters the longest pool on Park Lane – the real estate alone in that leafy corner of London usually mean that spa facilities are limited in place for large revenue-generating F&B outlets. But against the odds, 45 Park Lane, which is part of The Dorchester Collection, can now boast itself as a place that nurtures both wellness and wellbeing in style. What makes this project even more extraordinary is the fact that the new spa is located underground, which created a challenge for designer  Jouin Manku and developer Clivedale London. The answer on how to bring the outdoors in was to adorn the walls with hand-placed mosaic tiles to inject a sensitive nod to biophilic design. The result is an enchanting space that feels far removed from the hustle and bustle of London.

    Four Seasons Safari Lodge

    It’s all in the location for our next property, which is strategically situated next to a watering hold in the Serengeti, Africa. Perched on a series of elevated platforms and walkways, the Lodge allows guests an unparalleled view of the local safari wildlife from the comfort of the pool.

    Main image credit: Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts

    Lobby inside Riad Elegancia

    Riad Elegancia, Marrakech – a traditional yet contemporary hotel

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Riad Elegancia, Marrakech – a traditional yet contemporary hotel

    Riad Elegancia in Marrakech is the latest addition to the Cenizaro Hotels & Resorts group – the 10th hotel to open in the portfolio – and sister property to La Maison Arabe in Marrakech, Morocco’s first boutique riad hotel which opened in 1998…

    Lobby inside Riad Elegancia

    Behind Marrakech’s towering pink walls, hidden in one of the Medina’s unsuspecting alleys close to the Bab Doukkala mosque and vibrant Jemaa el-Fna square, you will find Riad Elegancia. Following a major refurbishment in 2020, this charming 11-key truly boutique property offers one of the most authentic riad experiences in the city, whilst providing all the modern luxury touches of a five-star, boutique hotel. 

    Set over three levels and built around two patios, the building remains loyal to its Arab-Andalusian architectural roots. The riad’s interiors pay homage to true Moroccan craftsmanship, with traditional features running throughout the property including a magnificent chandelier hanging in the atrium. 

    Tiled lobby inside Riad Elegancia

    Image credit: Riad Elegancia

    Each one of the 11 en-suite rooms features a hand-carved or painted cedarwood ceiling, with nickel silver and chiselled copper features, smooth and shiny tadelakt (plaster), and colourful zelliges (Moroccan tiles) in geometric patterns.

    Painted with Morocco’s distinctive colour palette of Majorelle blue, yellow, pink and green, Riad Elegancia’s rooftop is a destination in itself. Up here you’ll find a sophisticated space to relax and soak up the panoramic views of the ancient Medina. 

    Pool at Riad Elegancia

    Image credit: Riad Elegancia

    The rooftop pool is heated during winter months for guests’ comfort. There’s also a sundeck, a Jacuzzi and a restaurant and bar area, both great spots from which to enjoy the city’s unrivalled sunsets over a cocktail and home-cooked food. 

    Dining at Riad Elegancia is an important part of the guest experience, with breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner served throughout the day. Meals are prepared by the riad’s resident female “Tabakha” (Moroccan chef) who combines Moroccan-inspired flavours with a hint of Mediterranean influences. Cooking classes are also available to guests wishing to bring a taste of the exotic back home.

    Head down to the basement level to find the riad’s beautiful “Espace Raha” Oriental Hamman & Spa, a peaceful sanctuary dedicated to beauty and wellbeing, and a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.

    The spa inside Riad Elegancia

    Image credit: Riad Elegancia

    Features include a traditional Moroccan hammam made from marble, one of the few riads in the city to offer this experience on site, plus two treatment rooms including one for couples, where therapists use natural, locally-sourced products. There’s also a relaxation area, a fitness room with the latest cardio and weight training equipment, and mats for rooftop Yoga.

    Despite the hotel being designed to reflect the traditional architecture and interiors that are typically found and celebrated in the city, the hotel is equipped for tomorrow’s on-demand modern traveller. High-speed Wi-Fi, air-conditioning and underfloor heating, for example, are additional and convenient touches designed to enhance the guest experience at Riad Elegancia, making this a great home away from home whatever the season or reason for travel.

    Riad Elegancia’s 24-hour concierge service delivers the same exceptional standards that guests can expect from all Cenizaro Hotels & Resorts and The Residence by Cenizaro properties across the world. From arranging airport transfers and Covid-19 PCR tests, to coordinating desert excursions and hot air balloon rides, the team is dedicated to making your stay in Marrakech as comfortable and hassle-free as possible.

    Guests of Riad Elegancia are also welcome to use the facilities at La Maison Arabe, only a short walk away, including access to the hotel’s exclusive country club and pool, set amongst olive groves just outside the city in the Palmeraie suburb.

    Main image credit: Cenizaro Hotels & Resorts

    SVART in Norway - hotel concepts

    Hotel concepts: Wild & wonderful hotel developments

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Hotel concepts: Wild & wonderful hotel developments

    To celebrate this month’s feature of ‘hotel concepts’, editor Hamish Kilburn puts some interesting hotel developments under the spotlight – some more realistic than others – that are currently on his radar…

    As with any brief to source new and truly innovative ideas, to find hotel concepts that were really going against the tide I needed to look outside what I already knew leading designers, architects and hospitality experts were currently working on.

    SVART in Norway - hotel concepts

    Recently, I was lucky enough to sit on the judging panel for the Accor Design Awards, an initiative that was launched by the hotel group in order to celebrate and champion young student designers globally. In doing so, the panel of judges were able to see, from the unmatched perspective of bold, fearless young designers who have not yet made a name for themselves, an unedited landscape of ideas that naturally challenged the conventional approach to design, architecture and hospitality. From hovering hotels to floating vessels, each idea was supported by solutions for the industry moving forward.

    Inspired by this year’s shortlist of finalists, I made it my mission to see what other hotel concepts are out there. From space hotels, to floating suites and a plethora of sustainable architecture concepts that will take hospitality into a new era, here’s what I found…

    NOMADish – a conscious floating hotel

    Our first hotel concept to look at in this feature was born out of that awards – and won not only the judges over but also the public. Manon Figuier, Victoire Datchary, Mathéo Maurel, Harold Loquillard from L’Ecole de Design Nantes Atlantique, whose project NOMADish provided an innovative solution that hit the three key goals: overall guest experience, element of surprise and delight, and consideration for social, economic, and environmental responsibility, won the first prize. They also won the Public Choice Award, voted for by the general public via our bespoke online award voting platform.

    The concept drawn up by the team of students allowed guests to shelter themselves in their own floating pod, that would allow them also to explore the city and never wake up to the same view twice. In addition to showcasing a new hospitality experience, the team also confronted sustainability by utilsing the power of hydrogen to fuel this approach.

    Tetra Hotel

    Tetra Hotel

    Image credit: Tetra Hotel

    No, the aliens have not landed (not yet anyway). Tetra Hotel is a concept drawn up by David Ajasa-Adekunle who has reimagined the ‘pod’ hotel in such an innovative way. His idea to build Tetra Hotel combined the use of symmetrical rows of rhombus-like geometric ‘pods’ that sit lining the banks of a glacial river in Iceland. According to other reports, every room will feature a multi-storey configuration, starting with a work area on the ground floor, moving through an entertaining space on the middle, and finally a top-floor bedroom and shower situated beneath an enormous skylight.

    SVART – the world’s first ‘energy-positive’ hotel 

    Image credit: Snøhetta/Plompmozes/Miris

    The 99-key Svart hotel, which we believe is still on track for opening in 2022, will incorporate stilted, circular design, and will be positioned atop of the Holandsfjorden Fjord, allowing guests to enjoying an unparalleled 360-degree view of the Svartisen Glacier. We have been privileged to follow this concept from very early development, to when it announced its interior design team – and more recently by inviting the team to speak on the Hotel Designs LIVE platform.

    To reach hefty sustainability goals, several cutting-edge design choices have been made. Architects working on the project first conducted an extensive mapping-out of how solar radiation behaves in relation to mountainous context throughout the year, in order to optimise energy output. The findings influenced the design of the hotel, with hotel rooms, restaurants and terraces strategically placed within a circular design to exploit the sun’s energy no matter the time of day or season.

    The hotel’s roof will be clad with Norwegian solar panels that were produced using clean, hydro-energy. This will further reduce overall carbon footprint, while energy-intensive building materials such as structural steel and concrete have been avoided as much as possible.

    The space hotel – will it happen?

    The Axiom space station hotel - interior design

    Image credit: Philippe Starck

    The space race is on, it seems. Following numerous rumours and ignored press releases, there seems to be a buzz in the air that space travel – and dare I say it hospitality – is not a question of ‘will it happen’ but more ‘when will it happen’. Sir Richard Branson recently flew to the edge of space on aboard a rocket-powered plane, 22 years after he created the Virgin Galactic brand that aims to fuel a brand-new tourism industry. Aside from moral questions regarding sustainability and whether or not there is a ‘need’ for space travel, it has undoubtedly floated the idea of space hotels on our radars.

    While the headlines were publishing Branson’s achievements, 250 miles above the earth in the wilderness of space, with cabins designed by the world-renowned Philippe Starck, the idea of Axiom space station, which is the brainchild of former NASA chiefs, is coming together and has a ‘launch date of 2024. Costing a reported $2 million, the Axiom station is intended to become the first ever free-flying, globally available private space station, which is planning to launch in 2024. Although its manufacturing requires space engineers, the interiors have been handed over to French industrial architect and hotel design legend Philippe Starck who will have the honour of designing the cabins inside – think “nest-like comfort” – that will frame panoramic views of our home planet below.

    GAIA hospitality concept

    Render of floating hotel in Dubai

    Image credit: AMA Design

    With the aim to design a hotel resort that offers guests an unparalleled at-one-with-nature experience, AMA Design has developed a hospitality concept called GAIA, a floating eco hotel that pushes boundaries to re-connect people with nature. The concept has been designed to fit into its context. Respecting its natural environment in a light and positive way whilst considering sustainable design and circular economy principles, the hotel fits into an emerging contemporary ‘Eco-Gothic’ style. Built from pre-fabricated lightweight composites from boat technology, finishes will be all natural such as bamboo and timber so that visitors are immersed in a natural environment framed with the sky and sea.

    Al fresco guestrooms

    a room in the middle of nowhere

    Image credit: Zero Real Estate/Appenzellerland

    We’re not over this trend, which we first highlighted this time last year following us identifying an undeniable demand for one-off travel experiences that allow travellers to be ‘at one’ with nature. Well, you can’t get more connected to the elements than this. New hotel concepts continue to emerge showing completely open-air rooms in the middle of nowhere. One of the developers that is leading the way is the aptly named Zero Real Estate. The theory behind the layout, with the bed being perched on a wooden platform, is that the natural landscape becomes the backdrop. Removing surfaces altogether to eliminate boundaries is a drastic strategy in the post-pandemic world, which will not work for everyone, but it certainly works to deepen one-off experiences for luxury modern travellers.

    Main image credit: SVART

    Exterior render of Tribe Budapest

    Accor signs first TRIBE hotel in Hungary

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Accor signs first TRIBE hotel in Hungary

    Hotel group Accor has announced the signing of the first TRIBE hotel in Hungary in partnership with Futureal, a leading real estate developer in CEE. The 250-key TRIBE hotel will open in Budapest, Hungary, at the end of 2023. The project is being described as a “major milestone” in Futureal’s operation as part of its new business line focusing on hotel developments…

    Exterior render of Tribe Budapest

    Accor is stepping up its ambition in the lifestyle market with the expansion of the TRIBE hotel brand in Europe. The Group has established a partnership with Futureal for the first TRIBE hotel not only in Hungary, but also in Eastern Europe. The new property will be located in the vibrant city centre in Kertész Street, one of the capital’s most frequented tourist areas. The construction work of the complex is expected to start at the end of 2021 with opening forecast for 2023.

    “TRIBE is an alternative lifestyle hospitality brand with modern, unique and urban spaces designed in collaboration with local designer,” said Frank Reul, Vice President Development, Accor Northern Europe. “The TRIBE brand aims to surprise travellers with an original, exciting and carefully curated experience that focuses on style rather than price, making it a leader in the design-led affordable luxury lifestyle sector. The vibrant capital of Hungary, and the 7th district, is perfect destination for this sophisticated and contemporary brand, and is sure to win the hearts of guest and locals.”

    The first TRIBE in Hungary will offer more than 250 rooms and spaces designed by the Puhl and Dajka Architects Studio to provide inspiring state-of-the-art technology and comfort. Guests and locals will benefit from a vibrant community experience including a sky bar with spectacular view and intimate atmosphere, bicycle rental, a fitness centre and a co-working office. Distinguished international design studios have contributed to the Hungarian hotel’s unique concept including DeSallesFlint Interior Design, as well as Nina Weinstein Lighting Design and Hilla Mayer Lighting Design. The investor of the hotel is Futureal Group, one of the leading real estate developers and investors in Central and Eastern Europe.

    TRIBE is Futureal’s first hotel development, further expanding the company’s diverse portfolio. Building on its vast domestic and international real estate development experience, Futureal is going to enrich the centre of Budapest with a high-quality, unique and competitive hotel.

    “Futureal is about to open a new chapter in its successful real estate operation of almost two decades as we are entering the hotel sector,” added Tibor Tatár, CEO of Futureal. “As a result of careful preparation, deep market research and planning, our latest business line can start with a remarkable project in Hungary. We believe that we have found the right partner in Accor to introduce an exciting brand to the local market, and to create a solid, long-term cooperation for realising further developments.”

    The hotel is expected to welcome its first guests in 2023.

    Main image credit: Accor

    Leaflike collage of biophilia in design

    First impressions: The importance of biophilia in social space

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    First impressions: The importance of biophilia in social space

    Following presenting an engaging pitch at Hotel Designs LIVE last week, Leaflike’s Brandon Abernethie discusses the importance of biophilia in social spaces to create a lasting and vibrant first impression…

    Leaflike collage of biophilia in design

    Creating the perfect arrival experience is something Leaflike has been doing in hospitality for more than 20 years.

    As specialists, we create a client proposal via a visualisation service, bringing the vision to life.

    Working with the likes of Savoy, Hilton Park Lane, London EDITION, Shangri-La Hotel and The View from the Shard, Leaflike transforms venues and provides a new arrival experience.

    Providing a connection to nature goes deeper than aesthetics. By injecting biophilic design into your interiors offers health, environmental and financial rewards in any space, especially at the entrance of a venue, the lobby, reception areas and entrance hall.

    These indicators suggest:

    • Higher levels of social connectivity, improved wellbeing and reduced stress.
    • Increased footfall to the venue, enhanced worker productivity and increased spend.
    • Increased biodiversity providing better infiltration and reduction of carbon emissions.

    Guests choose to visit and stay in hotels where they can rest and relax. Therefore, biophilia is such a key part of the design to achieve the right environment for guests to spend time, share their experience and ensure they return. Hotels can charge more per night for rooms with biophilia in the room, as well as a room with a view or greenery outside, green walls are used to hide unsightly features.

    Its interesting to see how Terrapin’s 14 patterns of biophilic design explores a holistic view or biophilic design and the human connection to the natural environment.

    Want to know more? Leaflike, which was a Product Pitch Partner at Hotel Designs LIVE recently, is hosting a webinar on September 9 with Guy Hilton, General Manager at Hilton Waldorf. To find out more, visit the website.

    Main image credit: Leaflike

    Independent Hotel Show 2019 Innovation Stage

    Speakers announced for Independent Hotel Show London

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Speakers announced for Independent Hotel Show London

    Independent Hotel Show London, presented by James Hallam, is returning with a bang as it announces an impressive speaker line-up for its ninth edition, taking place at Olympia London on October 4 – 5 2021. Hotel Designs, a proud media partner for the show, will also be taking part…

    Independent Hotel Show 2019 Innovation Stage

    The packed two–day seminar programme at Independent Hotel Show London will see a wide range of insightful content across the Innovation Stage, in partnership with eviivo and dressed by sofa.com, and the Social Business Space, designed by Aorta, along with new feature the Tech Solutions Bar presented by Hospa, which will provide objective, expert tech advice for guests at the show.

    Registration to attend Independent Hotel Show London is now open.

    Shot from last year's Independent Hotel Show London

    Image credit: Independent Hotel Show London 2019

    A highlight of the two-day programme will be a no-holds-barred session on ‘The Future of Hospitality’ hosted by Robert Richardson FIH, CEO of Institute of Hospitality. Panellists Chris Gamm of Springboard, David Taylor MI FIH of Lore Group, Julia Sibley MBE of The Savoy Educational Trust, Kathy Dyball of Caterer.com and Sally Beck of Royal Lancaster London will be setting the hospitality world to rights as they discuss retaining staff, strengthening the reputation of the industry and where to direct future resources and investment.

    “Editor Hamish Kilburn will be hosting the session entitled: Sensory Design: Imagining the Impossible.”

    Elsewhere in the programme, Juliet Kinsman, Sustainability Editor at Condé Nast Traveller will host an all-star panel for ‘ESG: Building A Sustainable Business Strategy’. Philippa Hughes of The Bull Inn Totnes, Sue Williams MI FIH of Whatley Manor Hotel, Will Ashworth of Watergate Bay Hotel and Another Place Hotel Collection and Beach Retreats and James Ghaffari, Director of Growth and Product, B Lab UK, will take a close look at what it truly means for a hotel to be socially and environmentally responsible.

    The Social Business Space designed by Aorta will once again be a hub of discussion, debate and learning, as hoteliers are invited to sit down and discuss topics such as rebuilding the urban city hotel, the rise of residences, creating a lifestyle brand and what it means to be an environmentally and socially conscious business.

    Independent Hotel Show Event Director Elena Attanasio commented: “The Independent Hotel Show programme is packed with content aimed directly at our audience of boutique, luxury and independent hoteliers. We know the specific issues, trends and challenges that affect our audience and work hard to provide practical, implementable thought leadership alongside more wide-ranging analysis and insight.”

    Other sessions on the Innovation Stage include:

    • City Kickstart: Reviving the Urban Hotel.While the entirety of the hotel and hospitality industry has been hugely impacted by the events of the past 18 months, city hotels have in many cases missed out on the benefits of the UK’s staycation boom. This session looks at how we can revive and revitalise the nation’s urban hotels.
    • Sensory Design: Imagining the Impossible. The smell, sound, taste and touch of a space have a huge influence on how it’s experienced. In this session, Hotel Designs’ editor Hamish Kilburn is joined by an expert panel to explore what’s possible in multisensory hotel design.
    • Through The Keyhole: How Well Do You Know Your Guests? Most independent hotels are gathering customer data in some form, but many don’t know how to effectively convert that raw information into insights, improvements and increased profits. This session will provide lessons and learnings from hoteliers who’ve made data work for them.
    • Blurred Lines: Changing the Hotel Framework.The hotel model is changing, and innovative hoteliers are exploring new ways of operating and new potential revenue streams. Join this session to hear how thinking outside the box can lead to countless possibilities.

    Sue Williams, General Manager of Whatley Manor, commented: “Independent Hotel Show is an essential event to attend if you wish to keep moving your business forward. So many inspiring speakers on relevant subjects that challenge us all. It is one of our industry events that I always prioritise in the diary.”

    Main image credit: Independent Hotel Show London

    A green-toned bedroom, with cork walls from Granorte

    Cork surfaces: An authentic way to welcome in nature

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Cork surfaces: An authentic way to welcome in nature

    NATURALS is a collection of elegant natural cork floors by Granorte for use in high-end residential and commercial interiors…

    A green-toned bedroom, with cork walls from Granorte

    Using a natural cork veneer and underlay with a strong and stable HDF core, NATURALS brings the unique natural aesthetic of cork in a floor with a high-performance construction that’s suitable for commercial use.

    “NATURALS is constructed with 80 per cent natural raw materials and contains no PVC.”

    At the heart of NATURALS lie eight decorative agglomerated cork effects such as Standard and Champagner that echo mid-century cork tiles and the expressive natural linear patterns of Linea and Split. Each is available in a range of colours ranging from white through to dove blue, terracotta, mocha and slate grey. The result is a collection of 28 cork floors that can be used to bring a unique natural aesthetic to projects.

    Paulo Rocha, Granorte, explains, “The calming influence of natural surfaces is well spoken about is being used to support wellbeing in all kinds of projects. From commercial offices to hotels, natural surfaces are a dominant theme, but not everyone wants a wood floor. NATURALS brings an organic aesthetic in a broad range of decorative effects that can lift natural palettes out of the ordinary.”

    Every NATURALS look is protected with Granorte’s WEARTOP® finish, a water-based PU lacquer that provides a durable and easy to maintain finish. Beneath, a cork underlay with Microban® antibacterial protection provides additional support, improved acoustics and underfoot comfort.

    The floor comes in 910 x 300mm planks featuring a commercially proven Uniclic® glue-free joint for floating installation. Made by Granorte in Portugal using waste cork from wine stopper production, NATURALS is constructed with 80 per cent natural raw materials and contains no PVC.

    Granorte is a Recommended Supplier. To keep up to date with supplier news, click here. And, if you are interested in also benefitting from being a Recommended Supplier, please email Katy Phillips.

    Main image credit: Granorte