Hotel Designs

    NEWS AND ANALYSIS FOR HOTELIERS, DESIGNERS AND INDUSTRY SUPPLIERS

    Bathroom specialist Utopia Projects rounds up ISH 2019

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    Bathroom specialist Utopia Projects rounds up ISH 2019

    To kick-start our month of putting bathrooms under the spotlight, Utopia Projects reviews ISH 2019 by sharing its highlights of the show… 

    In March, the world’s largest bathroom and heating trade fair, ISH, took place in Frankfurt Germany. With the exhibition taking place every two years, ISH this year attracted around 190,000 visitors all in search for the latest innovations. We took a handful of our clients across for the event to see what some of the world’s leading bathroom manufacturers had on offer.

    The most evident trend across many of the manufacturers was digital products with integrated home automation. As with many industries technology is becoming increasingly important, and it is clear that this will be a big feature in forthcoming bathrooms. It was great to see colour feature heavily in many of the displays, with several brands presenting various colour options within their ceramic ranges; Villeroy & Boch, Roca and Laufen ranges were all offering strong and subtle tones for sanitaryware.

    Including colour into your bathroom is a fantastic way to put a twist on the monochromatic trend that has been sweeping the interior design world for the past few years. A popular colour choice was black; a bold way to create a sultry and high-end space. Colour accents didn’t stop there either, with many of the manufacturers beginning to increase their special finishes beyond just taps, to shower heads, wastes and accessories. Brands such as Gessi and Victoria & Albert have introduced strong metal finishes within their brassware collections, which will create some drama in public area specifications. Having a wide array of finishes to choose from allows every element of a bathroom to be personalised to specific taste. This is due to the Brassware ranges on offer being now being in such a wide variety of finishes.

    “Using large format solid surfaces, such as quartz, is becoming quite popular.”

    Seamless design was another trend which we saw beginning to come through, and using large format solid surfaces, such as quartz, is becoming quite popular. These bespoke solid surfaces offer infinite design possibilities allowing every bathroom surface to be manufactured from one material, with minimal joints, creating a visually stunning design.

    From all the brands displayed at ISH, a stand that really stood out to us was Gessi. This was due to their fantastic designs, not only for their products. The stand was innovative and eye catching, helping you envision how you can push boundaries for design. Gessi’s themeing for its stand was seemingly avant garde, yet on trend, following the popular outdoor-indoor trend in terms of rain showers, deep basins and large plants to finish.

    Dornbracht and Alape took a very different approach to their stand, but was nonetheless as enticing. Both of their approach was subtle in comparison, teasing you into wanting to see and know more about the products. A final stand we were inspired by was by Roca. The company displayed their products as complete rooms allowing us to see variation in products as well as visualise them from a designers prospective. The video demonstration we watched on the stand of one of the mirrors showed us how futuristic and advanced the technology of a simple product can be, which is very exciting from a design point of view. We also saw that Emco is offering a lighting system which can be fully customised, even down to the shaver mirror and mirror cabinet, by one switch, to create mood and ambiance for a totally unique bathroom experience.

    A final point we found interesting whilst at ISH was something which is very prominent in society today. Taking the theme of sustainability in its stride was GROHE, which launched products following a close look at consumer behaviour. By launching no less than 500 new innovations, the company’s new collections challenges conventional design of bathroom products and offers sustainable solutions designed to give consumers the ability to take better control. Roca also talked about how it is appealing to make its showers more environmentally friendly. The company plans on integrating digital showers into hotels in order to offer an incentive for users to take shorter showers for discount on future hotel stays. Multiple companies, not just Roca, are interested in monitoring how we consume water in homes, hotels and businesses, resulting in a large impact on the environment.

    In conclusion, ISH once again gave an impressive demonstration of its importance for German and international visitors and exhibitors. The next ISH will be held in Frankfurt am Main from March 22 to 26, 2021.

    Utopia Projects is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

    Main image credit: Messe Frankfurt/ISH 2019

    Leading designers and architects spoke at the inaugural IDAS

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    Leading designers and architects spoke at the inaugural IDAS

    Taking place yesterday at Hilton London Tower Bridge, the Interior Design & Architecture Summit sheltered some interesting debates for designers and architects – all of which looped back to the elephant-in-the-room topic, sustainability in our hotels and cities…

    The sold-out inaugural Interior Design & Architecture Summit (IDAS) took place yesterday at the Hilton London Tower Bridge.

    The event, which allowed visionary designers and architects the ability to meet face-to-face with key-industry suppliers, included a speakership programme curated with the aim to put relevant topics under the spotlight.

    IDAS 2019 started with an engaging presentation by Constantina Tsoutsikou, the Creative Director at HBA London, who discussed ‘Playfullness & Personality in Hospitality Design’. In addition to referencing key projects to exemplify her points, Tsoutsikou made reference to creative boundaries of modern designers. “Many designers have forgotten how to sketch by hand,” she told the audience. “If we rely on computers then we have forgotten a skill that is very valuable.”

    “The reality is that the brief from hotels, investors and operators is never – or very rarely – to build a sustainable hotel.” – Constantina Tsoutsikou, the Creative Director at HBA London

    Joining the visionary on the sofa, editor Hamish Kilburn followed the presentation with a live Q&A and it became clear that sustainability was to be a dominating topic to be explored throughout the day. “The reality is that the brief from hotels, investors and operators is never – or very rarely – to build a sustainable hotel,” Tsoutsikou explained. “When consumers start choosing hotels on this credential then developers will follow, and this is happening slowly.”

    The designer explained how an ‘open window’ approach during projects – ensuring that the hotels on the boards evolve with ideas and themes throughout from concept to completion – has allowed her and her team to really inject each property they touch with ample personality and, of course, apt sense of place. “Take Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, for example. It has a dutch soul,” she explained. We enriched the level of comfort in the atrium by creating ‘islands’, each providing a distinct experience within the Axis Lobby: reception, lounge library, tech lounge and cocktail bar. Each area is defined by a carpet with a design inspired by the sediment-laden islands and waterways between coastal dunes on the southern coast of the Netherlands.

    From one inspirational creative to another, Yasmine Mahmoudieh was invited to take the second speaker session of the day, exploring Hotels of the Future. Following extensive research into the changing behavior of modern hotel guests, Mahmoudieh explained how she has seen – from both a design and an architecture point of view – a large demand in creating intelligent flexible spaces. Mahmoudieh explained that the hotels of the future will house all facilities – for working, living and socialising – under one roof. “New ways of living and working are being developed all over the world,” she said. “Therefore, the need for social interaction has never been as prevalent. It is partly due to social media and the alienation and the loneliness, especially young people feel.”

    Returning back to the theme of responsible design, Mahmoudieh, when joined on the sofa by Kilburn, started to highlight the importance of sustainability in architecture and explained the value of finding new eco-friendly materials. “I-MESH, for example, is an innovative material invented to assume a leading position in the field of solar protection indoors/outdoors,” she said. “Its physical, technological, formal characteristics together with its high aesthetical potential makes it eligible as a proper architectural material. It outclasses metallic grids for its design versatility and sustainability; it’s an easily custom made mesh in line with the architectural thought, with the story of the commissioning client, with the brand.”

    Following an afternoon of face-to-face meetings with suppliers from the likes of Marco Corona, Hamilton Litestat (recommended supplier), Mitre Linen (recommended supplier), Gessi (recommended supplier), Cole & Sons and many more, the audience gathered for the final session of the day. In the panel discussion entitled ‘The Rising Ceiling of Creativity’, Kilburn was joined on the sofa by Moritz Waldemeyer (lighting designer and recommended supplier), Charles Leon (architect and Past-President, BIID), Gilly Craft (interior designer and President, BIID), Yasmine Mahmoudieh (interior designer/architect) and Robin Sheppard (CEO of Bespoke Hotels). Looking at the creative boundaries faced currently by the industry as well as ‘futuregazing’ towards the hotel room of the future, the panel debated consumer behavior, sustainability in design and how to create authentic installations within hotel design.

    Following the success of yesterday’s event, details around next year’s IDAS will be announced shortly.

    Media Partner: Future Constructor & Architect

    Media Partner: Treniq

    Meet Up North: Early bird promotion expires today

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    Meet Up North: Early bird promotion expires today

    There are now just a few hours remaining for designers, hoteliers, architects, developers and suppliers to take advantage of Hotel Designs’ early bird promotion for Meet Up North, which takes place on July 1 at Hotel Gotham, Manchester…  

    The early bird promotion for Meet Up North 2019 ends today!

    On July 1, leading designers, architects, hoteliers and key-industry suppliers are expected to gather at the hotel’s exclusive members-only rooftop bar, Club Brass, for drinks and canapés above the city.

    The VIP lounge on the 7th floor of the hotel was chosen as the venue for Meet Up North after editor Hamish Kilburn described Hotel Gotham as Manchester’s decadent playground in his interactive hotel review that was published last year.

    Suppliers: £99 + VAT (£150 + VAT after early bird offer expires after April 30).
    Designers, architects and hoteliers: £10 + VAT (£20 + VAT after early bird offer expires after April 30).

    If you are a supplier to the industry and would like to attend Meet Up North, click here.
    If you are a designer, architect or hoteliers to the industry and would like to attend Meet Up North, click here.

    There are various sponsorship opportunities and packages available for Meet Up North. If you would like to discuss these with our team then please contact Zoe Guerrier by either emailing z.guerrier@forumevents.co.uk or calling 01992 374059.

    Agenda for Meet Up North 2019

    18.00:
    Welcome drinks

    18.15: 
    Canapés are served

    18.30:
    Opening address by Editor, Hamish Kilburn

    18.45:
    Headline speaker: Tom Lindblom, Principal and Hospitality Leader at Gensler (London)
    Title: Hospitality is way more than hotels

    19.15 – 21.00:
    Networking

    The inaugural Meet Up North took place last year at King Street Townhouse and was attended by more than 200 designers, architects, hoteliers and key-industry suppliers.

    About Hotel Gotham

    Hotel Gotham is sheltered in what is arguably the city’s grandest properties and is an exclusive city-centre sanctuary, previously a bank that was designed in 1935 by none other than architect Edwin Lutyens.

    The hotel, which opened in 2015, prides itself on offering a modern and comfortable experience in a unique and luxurious environment, with exquisite service all within a bespoke private club in the heart of Manchester.

    Main image credit: Hotel Gotham

    Editor Checks In: April ‘19

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    Editor Checks In: April ‘19

    Everyone is talking about Milan…

    Italy’s city of the future, which is also its fashion, culture and design quarters, thrives in between Gothic architecture. The fast-paced metropolis of Milan comes alive in April for what is seen as the largest design event in the calendar, Milan Design Week. Leading designers, architects and journalists from all corners of the world descend onto the city. Visitors are warned pre-show by the festival guides to expect the unexpected – and each year, companies come to premiere new collections. Over the six days, everyone is talking about Milan.

    But with all the pre-event noise in the world, nothing could have prepared us for what came next. Having attended the annual event now for five years running, the British designer Tom Dixon decided it was time to make his permanent mark on the city. Instead of exhibiting in the traditional way – on a stand at Salone del Mobile – he opened a restaurant and showroom in time for this year’s activities, allowing visitors the ability to browse the studio’s products in an active context.

    Witnessing the constant stream of ideas, launches and collaboration announcements made the week an incredible time to be curating the content on the editorial desk – albeit remotely at times. Salone del Mobile recorded 386,236 attendees, over the six days, from 181 different countries. That is what the Italians would regard as a ‘successo’.

    Back on home soil, last month I was fortunate enough to check in to what was one of last year’s most anticipated hotel openings. The University Arms in Cambridge, designed by The Brit list 2018’s Interior Designer of the Year, Martin Brudnizki, is a jewel in the heart of a city riddled in history. Taking an aptly earnest approach (when in Cambridge), we published the interactive hotel review after speaking with both Brudnizki and John Simpson from John Simpson Architects who were the visionaries behind the reinvention of the heritage hotel that now shelters a modern soul.

    As the sun sets on yet another incredible, immersive and influential Milan Design Week, I am reminded that there’s never a dull day in the life of a design editor (I’m writing this in between seminars at the inaugural Interior Design & Architecture Summit (IDAS)). There’s optimism in the air and London, which has been at the centre of the world’s attention recently for putting the magnifying glass on climate change, is calling for more to be done in terms of building sustainable cities and hotels around the world. As we gear up for Clerkenwell Design Week , will sustainability dominate the talks and sessions as it has at IDAS? Well check out our recently published pre-event guide identifies the major product launches to look forward to.

    During May, Hotel Designs will be putting Bathrooms and Bars & Restaurants under the spotlight. If you would like to contribute to these topics, please do not hesitate to email me.

    Editor, Hotel Designs

    PREVIEW: Creating flexible spaces inside Seattle Redmond Marriott

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    PREVIEW: Creating flexible spaces inside Seattle Redmond Marriott

    Paradigm Design Group has unveiled flexible designs for one of its latest hospitality projects, the Seattle Redmond Marriott…

    Construction began in Q1 of this year to complete the Seattle Redmond Marriott, which is slated to open in Q4 of this year.

    Responsible for the interior design/renovation of the hotel’s public spaces, including the MClub, lobby, great room and bar, as well as selecting new finishes for the pre-function/meeting space, was Paradigm Design Group.

    The firm approached the project with the goal to cohesively integrate the hotel’s culture and surroundings into the overall design.

    Achieving a modern, North West interior, Paradigm Design Group implemented clean lines, light wood, and modern lighting. The design even subtly nods to the Wild Salmon that are plentiful in the adjacent rivers, as well as the beautiful parks and forests in the area.

    Located just minutes away from the Microsoft Main Campus, Paradigm Design Group was inspired to bring modern technology into the hotel’s design. The firm will implement a high-tech component to the Seattle Redmond Marriott, introducing modern Tech Pod chairs and various communal tables suitable for guest interaction, both social and work.

    PRODUCT WATCH: Chelsom’s Lunar from Edition 26 collection

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    PRODUCT WATCH: Chelsom’s Lunar from Edition 26 collection

    Lunar is one of the signature ranges from Chelsom’s latest collection, Edition 26…

    Inspired by Art Deco designs of the elegant table lamp, Lunar by Chelsom, exudes timeless elegance that would look at home in any interior.

    Available as part of a wider collection of coordinated wall and floor lighting, Lunar features heavy stone bases and backplates sit within curved metal surrounds finished with glass globes secured with threaded metal rings to ensure safety and durability. Finish options include Brushed Brass with Natural stone and Opal glass as pictured in addition to Satin Black with Grey stone and Smoke glass.

    Please call 01253 831400 or send an email to sales@chelsom.co.uk for further information.

    Chelsom is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

    UK’s first vineyard hotel opens in South Wales

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    UK’s first vineyard hotel opens in South Wales

    The UK’s first vineyard hotel has opened its doors in Hensol in South Wales. Llanerch Hotel is the result of a £2m investment by Ryan Davies, owner of Llanerch Vineyard…

    Comprising of just 26 rooms and suites, the Llanerch Hotel has opened in South Wales as the UK’s first vineyard hotel, situated quite literally in the heart of the vineyard.

    “To become the first vineyard hotel in the UK is a fantastic achievement for the team at Llanerch,” said Ryan Davies, owner of Llanerch Vineyard. “Across Europe, wine hotels are very popular and we wanted to bring that unique experience to south Wales.”

    Davies took over the vineyard, which is one of the oldest in Wales, in 2010 with the aim to replicate the successful wine tourism models he had seen whilst working in vineyards in New Zealand and Australia, where vineyards are tourist attractions in their own right, offering restaurants, weddings and events, in addition to traditional wine tasting and vineyard experiences.

    Since then, Llanerch has become the largest commercial vineyard in Wales and attracts visitors from around the world with its award-winning restaurant and bar, unique marquee and lodge wedding venues, on site cookery school owned by Angela Grey and wine tasting and vineyard tours.

    Davies added: “We have had a number of B&B rooms available at the vineyard since 2010, but as the business grew, so did the demand for accommodation at Llanerch. The popularity of Cardiff, which is just 20 minutes away, as an events destination for everything from rugby to high profile concerts has also pushed up demand for high quality accommodation in south Wales.

    “This has been a vision for Llanerch for many years. We have managed every aspect of this project – the biggest we’ve ever undertaken – ourselves to ensure that the hotel offers the highest quality and that every detail has been thought about, from luxury in-room products to maximising the spectacular scenery enjoyed by every room.”

    Large, modern guestroom which overlooks green vineyards

    Image credit: Llanerch Hotel

    The superior rooms at Llanerch Hotel are 42 sq ft and include a super king size bed with a large sofa and living area and a luxury ensuite bathroom with shower.

    The four suites, located in each corner of the hotel, are over 45 sq ft and include a bedroom with super king size bed, as well as a large living room with sofas and a seating area, which can be separated by a partition, and a luxury ensuite bathroom with shower.

    The vineyard’s existing courtyard rooms, set in one of the vineyard’s original stone outbuildings, have also been fully refurbished in keeping with the new hotel.

    Each room has a large widescreen smart TV, allowing guests to stream from their own devices, a Nespresso coffee maker and kettle and luxury interiors, including Welsh wool blankets, made at Pembrokeshire’s traditional woollen mill Melin Tregwynt, and art by local photographer Andy Stoyle.

    Main image credit: Llanerch Hotel

    Rosewood to open luxury hotel in Ningbo

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    Rosewood to open luxury hotel in Ningbo

    Rosewood has unveiled drawings for a new luxury hotel in Ningbo, China, which is slated to open in 2024…

    Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has announced that it will continue to strengthen its presence in China with the opening of Rosewood Ningbo in 2024. The latest project adds to Rosewood’s growing pipeline in China’s ‘megacities’ including Guangzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu and Shenzhen, further expanding the brand’s established presence in Beijing, Sanya and the recently opened Rosewood Hong Kong.

    Rosewood Ningbo is an example of the brand’s selective approach to strategic growth with unique and highly differentiated projects in locations that are finely attuned to the next generation of ultra-luxury travellers. One of China’s oldest cities, Ningbo has both a storied international trading history and a contemporary culture of dynamic innovation that combined provide a perfect backdrop for Rosewood’s newest project. “Ningbo is a vibrant city attracting a growing wave of young entrepreneurs and technology companies and is at the heart of innovation in China,” says Sonia Cheng, chief executive officer of Rosewood Hotel Group. “Combined with its rich history, the destination makes an ideal choice for Rosewood’s growing presence in China. Rosewood Ningbo will join its sister properties across China to create a rich collection of distinct and unique properties for our affluential explorer guests to access the rich diversity of China’s local cultures.”

    Rosewood Ningbo will be the main anchor of the integrated property complex Ningbo New World Plaza, a CNY15 billion worth project encompassing 100,000 square meters, in the city’s central business district of Sanjiangkou (Three Rivers Junction), owned by New World China Land. Developed in three phases, Ningbo New World Plaza will comprise Rosewood Ningbo, the latest K11 Art Mall, K11 Atelier offices, high-end residences and the first art park in the city.

    Rosewood Ningbo will be ideally situated at the city’s junction of three major rivers and two prominent commercial axes, at the intersection of Zhongshan Road East and Jiangdong Road North. The area will be a new green landmark for the city with Ningbo New World Plaza designed as an eco-friendly environment with key sustainable concepts, including a bioretention pond, a rain-water garden, permeable pavements and ecological rooftops. Within walking distance from the hotel, guests will be able to access Ningbo’s bustling city life at the adjacent commercial districts of Heyi Avenue and the shopping area of Tianyi Square, with its multiple entertainment and dining venues. Rosewood Ningbo will be a perfect springboard from which to experience the city’s many historical attractions, such as Chenghuang Temple, Baoguo Temple, Tianfeng Pagoda and Tianyi Pavilion. Rosewood Ningbo will occupy levels 43-56 of a striking mixed-use high-rise tower. The hotel’s 185 guestrooms and 15 oversized suites will feature unobstructed views of the urban landscape.

    Complementing the hotel’s guestrooms, generous and versatile spaces for meetings and events will be a hallmark of Rosewood Ningbo, including a 1,125-square-meter grand ballroom and other meeting facilities totaling an additional 1,055 square meters. Five innovative food and beverage venues promise an exciting addition to the dynamic local gastronomical landscape. The hotel will also feature Sense, A Rosewood Spa, an urban haven to unwind from the hustle and bustle of the city, on the 55th floor. An indoor pool and a fitness centre will complete this sanctuary of wellness for holidaymakers and business travellers alike.

    Rosewood Ningbo will join a growing collection of distinctive Rosewood properties in Asia including Rosewood Phnom Penh, Rosewood Bangkok, Rosewood Phuket and Rosewood Luang Prabang. Upcoming locations include Taipei, Yangon, and Hermana Mayor.

    More than USD 500m raised for new hospitality fund dedicated to Sub-Saharan Africa

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    More than USD 500m raised for new hospitality fund dedicated to Sub-Saharan Africa

    In a region that offers robust growth opportunities, the fund raised by Kasada Capital Management will target both greenfield and brownfield projects in Sub-Saharan Africa… 

    Sub-Saharan hospitality investment platform Kasada Capital Management has reached a first close on its maiden fund Kasada Hospitality Fund LP with equity commitments of more than USD 500 million.

    This is in line with a first announcement disclosed in July 2018 by Katara Hospitality and Accor who are respectively contributing USD 350 million and USD 150 million.

    “This is the best structure to address the needs of the region” – CEO, Olivier Granet

    The hospitality market is currently one of the most promising and yet underserviced sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa where growing economies and emerging middle class are creating high-growth markets that are left largely untapped. “There is an incredible opportunity ahead to try out an innovative hospitality investment platform in the region,” said CEO Olivier Granet.”While in other parts of the world such initiatives are already thriving, they do not exist with critical size and integrated structure in Sub-Saharan Africa. The time is now for bold strategies to be implemented. Thanks to Accor and Katara’s support we benefit from a unique competitive advantage supported by a strong portfolio of brands enhancing our ability to raise debt efficiently from local banks and international financial institutions. This is the best structure to address the needs of the region, develop attractive products and reach critical mass quickly to take a leadership position. I believe that our team of professionals combining experts from project financing to hotel management all with a solid local knowledge is exceptionally well placed to succeed.”

    The first platform of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa, Kasada Capital Management intends to bridge the gap between the local hospitality market players and international investors. The team is co-led by Granet and David Damiba, CIO and Managing Partner who collectively have more than 50 year’ experience in the hospitality industry. They will put in place a unique team of professionals combining world class experience from the hospitality industry, private equity and financing sectors underpinned by track record in the African market.

    Kasada believes its positive social impact is key to becoming the number one sustainable hospitality fund dedicated to Africa. Co-investments with local partners will support local job creation and further local business opportunities throughout the hospitality value chain, from investors to constructors and equipment suppliers.

    Main image credit: Max Pixel

    GROHE continues to demonstrate sustainability commitment

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    GROHE continues to demonstrate sustainability commitment

    GROHE has launched a number of innovations that save energy, water and materials as the company continues to keep sustainability an integral strategy…

    GROHE has presented a record number of new solutions that help save water, energy and material resources, many of which were unveiled at ISH last month. These serve to underline the importance of sustainability in all areas of product design and functionality, and production processes.

    In addition to quality, technology and design, sustainability is an integral and crucial part of GROHE’s corporate strategy. It is integrated into all products and processes and shapes the daily actions of employees worldwide. The global brand consistently pursues a 360-degree sustainability approach that incorporates the entire value chain, partners, customers, suppliers, employees and contribution to society in equal measure. At GROHE, sustainability also means responsibility – responsibility for people and the environment.

    GROHE products that are embracing sustainability

    Individual water management on the go: The new generation of the GROHE Sense water security system provides full transparency of water consumption and energy costs thanks to the new GROHE Sense app. By entering their water and energy prices, customers can receive a precise list of costs based on their water consumption. This not only ensures full control over the valuable resource of water, but also offers the opportunity to adapt user patterns and to use water more consciously.
    Regional differences in water quality are becoming obsolete: The GROHE Blue Pure tap, which will be available in the UK later this year, offers state-of-the-art filter technology, delivering tasty water directly from the tap. In addition, in regions with poor water quality, previously non-potable water becomes drinkable. While the production of one litre of water in plastic bottles requires up to seven litres of water, GROHE Blue Pure works with just the actual water which has been drawn off.
    Shaping the future of water sustainably: GROHE’s 3D metal-printing process is not only a revolution in terms of design, but also a particularly resource-saving method of manufacturing taps. During production, it is possible to use components such as spouts and handles in a significantly slimmer way, using less material.

    Infra-red technology helps minimise water wastage

    The Bau Cosmo E range offers infra-red tap technology for the home, a cost-effective solution that ergonomically delivers water only when the motion sensor is activated, benefitting all households from young families to older couples wanting to future proof their home. Not only do infra-red taps have added hygienic benefits, but GROHE’s Bau Cosmo is affordable as well as ensuring that water wastage is minimised. Through GROHE’s EcoJoy technology, water flow is limited to 5.7 litres per minute, helping to save water while guaranteeing an optimum user experience.

    More transparency: The new tap in the GROHE Plus range, available from Summer 2019 in the UK, uses a digital display to inform users about the exact water temperature and to make them aware of how often hot water is being used. This promotes responsible use of the valuable resource of water and helps to save energy.

    Valuable insight into GROHE’s sustainability highlights

    GROHE EcoJoy technology which is incorporated into a number of its tap and shower ranges can reduce water consumption by up to 50 percent. The intelligent GROHE Sense and GROHE Sense Guard water security system avoids wasting water by detecting leaks early on and by shutting off the water supply in the event of a broken pipe. The system’s new generation now also makes it possible to use it in multi-family homes, drastically reducing water damages in 90 percent of the real estate market. Aside from water-saving, GROHE has also carefully considered how it can reduce other vital resources. With the development of its Sensia Arena shower toilet which promotes the gentle yet hygienic washing with water, the need for toilet paper is completely eliminated. The annual consumption of toilet paper per person is about 15kg on average, yet with products like the Sensia Arena, the pressure on this precious resource would be greatly alleviated.

    Former Metropolitan Police headquarters transformed into luxury hotel

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    Former Metropolitan Police headquarters transformed into luxury hotel

    The historic landmark building, which was developed by Galliard Construction, has been transformed into The Great Scotland Yard Hotel, a 153-key luxury lifestyle hotel…

    The former Metropolitan Police headquarters in London’s Whitehall has been converted into the 153-key The Great Scotland Yard Hotel, which is operated by Hyatt under the group’s Unbound Collection brand and was developed by Galliard Construction.

    Working in association with Galliard’s in-house team along with HBA, and EPR Architects, The Deluxe Group was appointed to manufacture and fit all front of house areas, for the high-end hotel, including double height vestibule, grand entrance lounge, concierge, main cocktail bar, palm court style lounge, whiskey bar/clubroom, signature restaurant, library, gymnasium, 120-seater main conference room/ballroom, meeting rooms and function/private dining rooms. The firm also produced the luxury hotel’s sample bedroom, as part of the multi-million-pound development, which is expected to open later this year.

    The bespoke joinery project, which was worth £5.5 million was completed in just six months, with all work completed on schedule and within budget.“We are delighted to have been part of the team which has sympathetically developed this building to give a classic period interpretation, reflecting the immense history of such a landmark site,” Commented Colm Connolly, Director of The Deluxe Group. “We used the highest quality, detailed joinery and luxury finishes throughout all front of house and public areas, with individually themed areas providing a stylish homage  to the crime and policing history of the building.”

    “Our commitment to delivering the best in bespoke joinery with the greatest attention to detail and client servicing, ensured the finished project was a true reflection of the client’s vision.”

    Luxury public area

    Image credit: Great Scotland Yard Hotel

    Constructed in 1910, the iconic Edwardian building served as the Royal Military Police headquarters and the British Army Recruitment Office. It later became the Ministry of Defence Library until 2004.

    The famed landmark is known for its rich history, providing guests the opportunity to stay in the location where Metropolitan police pursued some of the country’s most notorious criminals, including Jack the Ripper and the 40 Elephants all-female crime syndicate. Reflecting on this, the distinct historical character of the building has been preserved throughout the renovation, including maintenance of its original façade.

    Main image credit: The Great Scotland Yard Hotel

    PRODUCT WATCH: Thermostatic shower valves from Crosswater

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    PRODUCT WATCH: Thermostatic shower valves from Crosswater

    Making a statement, Union by Crosswater welcomes thermostatic shower values into the Vanguard Collection… 

    Challenging the traditional concept of bathroom fittings, the UNION collection from Crosswater has been engineered to provide unparalleled functionality and designed to make a statement.

    Presenting Italian artisan brassware craft at its finest, each piece is cast, precision machined, polished and perfected to offer an elevated bathing experience.

    The latest addition to Crosswater’s luxury Vanguard collection, UNION offers a complete range of brassware that includes basin mixers, bath fillers, and an exposed valve with kit and shower head. A premium selection of thermostatic shower valves has also been introduced to the range, which includes multi-flow options for those looking to control additional outlets such as a handsets and body jets.

    Designed for the individual, UNION is available in five signature finishes that are offered across the entire collection. Timeless bright Chrome and Brushed Nickel work to add a touch of industrial elegance to bathrooms, whilst those seeking a design statement can opt for the on-trend Brushed Brass and Brushed Black Chrome finishes. For an added design detail, the shower valves are offered with a choice of Lever or Wheel handles, and for those with a penchant for bold colour, there’s also a Red option, which is designed to coordinate with the high-shine Chrome finish. All five unique surfaces are complemented alongside distinctive knurled detailing that is expertly machined as accents onto each individual piece in the collection.

    Transforming everyday bathing into an extraordinary experience, UNION takes inspiration from the industrial era and brings it boldly into the 21st century. Smart on the inside, each piece in the collection is manufactured using the most advanced brassware engineering techniques and the latest in cartridge and thermostatic valve technology to offer complete water flow control. Intuitive, high performing and built to last, the stunning UNION brassware collection is guaranteed to command attention in any bathroom.

    Crosswater is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

    Main image credit: Crosswater

    First integrated resort in the Maldives to open in June

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    First integrated resort in the Maldives to open in June

    Crossroads project, which will span a 7km-long lagoon and nine islands in the Maldives, will open in June 2019 and will become the largest integrated resort in the Indian Ocean…

    Crossroads Maldives has announced that it will be welcoming guests from June 2019, set to be the first integrated multi-island resort destination of the island nation.

    Said to be one of the most comprehensive investment tourism projects to have been undertaken in the Maldives, the project will include the highly anticpated openings of Hard Rock Hotel Maldives and SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton.

    At the heart of the Emboodhoo Lagoon, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives will inject music-infused energy, engaging experiences and feel-good vibes into the Maldives. The resort will fuse tropical atmosphere and contemporary design, topped with curated music memorabilia and a regionally inspired twist. 178 expansive family suites, chic beach villas and unspoilt one and two-bedroom overwater villas lie in wait, alongside show-stopping activities and brand-signature amenities that will bring the signature Hard Rock experience to the Maldivian atolls.

    SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton, meanwhile, will offer guests something different, with a personalised journey from start to finish. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed with the chance to create their own bathroom amenities using natural ingredients from the resort’s Aroma Lab, a place to synchronise with the resort’s signature scents of Relaxation, Refreshment, Rejuvenation and Energy. An Aroma Specialist is on hand to explain the benefits of each scent and the precise techniques used to mix the ingredients. Using this knowledge, guests then are able to handpick from a selection of twelve scents, including cedarwood, lavender and rosemary, combining several of these to create their own delectable bathroom amenities. Once guests are settled, they are invited to drop by Snap: Snack Box and pick up complimentary refreshments.

    Render of green shack-like guestroom in the Maldives

    Image credit: Curio by Hilton

    198 spacious guestrooms, beach villas and overwater villas are dotted across the tropical island, surrounded by al fresco spaces, spacious interiors and personalised comforts, all created with an eclectic yet artisanal touch. Located within walking distance to The Marina @ CROSSROADS, the resort is ideal for families, couples or friends looking for a unique escape.

    Crossroads Maldives, a multi-island integrated leisure and entertainment project, will aim to redefine holidays in the Maldives and transform the Greater Malé Region when it opens. In addition to the new hotels, the project will feature a luxurious 30-berth yacht marina, 11,000 square metres of retail space and world-class facilities such as Café del Mar beach club.

    Main image credit: Curio by Hilton

    GESSI launches bathroom showers inspired by ’90s Hi-Fi systems

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    GESSI launches bathroom showers inspired by ’90s Hi-Fi systems

    Hi-Fi by Gessi unites design and technology in a contemporary and original collection, perfect for furnishing the bathroom as a room of wellness, beauty and living well, according to the brand philosophy…

    With the creativity that distinguishes it, Gessi has created a product to “play” with the water in the search for its rhythm, through a selection system of functions, flow and thermostatic shower mixer that has the aesthetic of a 1990s stereo system.

    A bit vintage, a bit futuristic, the new button operated embedded or external Hi-Fi systems are the right compromise between sophisticated technological research, minimalism and functionality. Pressing “play” allows guests to do just that – play, and with the product. Gessi brings its sound, its lightness and vitality to the home-from-home hotel with a pinch of irony that is already a promise of happiness.

    The stereo-inspired shower unit

    Image credit: GESSI

    The Gessi Hi-Fi System shower columns, with its linear design, overturns the concept of the column, hybridising it with the typical form of the shower panel, but with totally external installation, without embedded elements. The column/panel section, in 4 mm thick glass, like the shelf, is offset from the latter, and contains the thermostatic controls, with a highly sophisticated architectural effect. Available with rainfall, waterfall and directional shower kit functionality, these sculptural wellbeing objects are also equipped with a handshower attacked with a magnetic and variable position system.

    GESSI is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

    Main image credit: GESSI

    Clerkenwell Design Week 2019 launches and new designs to bookmark

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    Clerkenwell Design Week 2019 launches and new designs to bookmark

    Ahead of Clerkenwell Design Week, which takes place from May 21 – 23, Hotel Designs takes a closer look at some of the major product launches and new designs to look forward to… 

    Now that the sun has set on Italy’s capital following yet another successful Milan Design Week, Hotel Designs is looking ahead to identify many of the major product launches and new designs that are expected to be unveiled during Clerkenwell Design Week.

    Set across seven exhibition spaces, CDW venues include Fabric, The House of Detention, St James Church and Spa Fields. Each venue reflects the unique nature of the culturally rich area, with leading UK and international companies exhibiting and launching new products between May 21 – 23. From luxury interiors to innovative lighting, emerging talent and the best of British brands, the exhibition spaces at CDW encompass every facet of design.

    British Collection

    British Collection is located in the Crypt of St James’s Church and showcases designers from all over the UK. For the fourth year, quality materials, design excellence and craft techniques will be championed in the striking setting. Iconic British furniture brand, ercol will exhibit its new VON collection by Icelandic designer based in New York, Hlynur V. Atlason which caters for three areas – work, home and play. Following an evident rise in apart hotels, Kitchen designers Pluck will launch Spoke, a new modular shelving unit inspired by Victorian bamboo furniture available in 11 laminate colours including a new palette of fresh yellow laminate with intense fumed oak.

    Benchmark, the powerhouse of British craft will be presenting new upholstered versions of the OVO collection designed by Foster + Partners in an ebony finish. Hand & Eye Studio, meanwhile, will present the O-Beam, a highly versatile light that suits a myriad of spaces with a unique texture inspired by ceramics. Other renowned names in the British furniture industry exhibiting include Brixton-based cabinet makers West & Reid, Forest & Maker and Nathan Furniture.

    Image credit: Adam Dale

    Design Fields

    Situated at the northern end of Clerkenwell, Design Fields in partnership with Kitchen Architecture showcases leading furniture, lighting and product design from around the world. Kitchen Architecture’s new outdoor kitchen range by Roshult’s is a unique interpretation of cooking and socialising outdoors. Italian furniture brand Tacchini has chosen to showcase PASTILLES in collaboration with Studiopepe at CDW for the UK launch. The collection comprises of small armchairs, ottomans and coffee tables, with soft, enveloping shapes that bring back childhood memories of sweets. This year sees Bauhaus taking centre stage for its 100 year anniversary and Thonet will celebrate all things Bauhaus at CDW. The company will present new interpretations of the side table series MR 515 by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and a new colour concept for the iconic Coffee House Chair 214, both by Studio Besau Marguerre. Other exhibiting companies include Danish company True North Designs, La Cividina and Ondarreta from Spain and SilentLab, all displaying innovation and clever use of technology in their designs.

    Light

    The former cold-store turned nightclub, Fabric aptly hosts Light, an exhibition dedicated to top international lighting brands within its cavernous brick vaults showcasing spectacular stand-alone installations. Exhibitors include NOVE lighting, which specialises in contemporary products using only natural, sustainable materials including cork from Portugal. Award-winning British brand Bert Frank will also present new lighting designs.

    Swedish company ateljé Lyktan will present new lighting for both outdoor and indoor use, whilst Austrian based company XAL will present its revolutionary MOVE IT SYSTEM. Other exhibitors include Graypants, John Hollington Design, Lomas Furniture, Syska and ARKKI by Lovi.

    Two women looking at lighting stand at exhibition

    Image credit: Sophie Mutevelian

    Elements

    Design is in the detail – and details are showcased at Elements which brings together a leading selection of ironmongery, hardware, switch plates and architectural accessories within a street-market style pavilion on St John’s Square, becoming a go-to destination for designers looking for the perfect finish.

    This year, Australian brand TIRAR will showcase beautifully tactile solid timber door furniture designed and made in Sydney, whilst Harbrine will launch Geo hardware, inspired by geometric forms in classical architecture. Designer Doorware will present the multi award-winning Monte Timber Collection. English ironmongers The Beardmore Collection will showcase contemporary products, whilst their master pattern maker will demonstrate the lost-wax casting process for visitors to witness one of the oldest forms of metal working. Aston Matthews will be exhibiting for the first time, showcasing a diverse range of taps and shower fittings including the Acme collection in scuffed brass and Alto in bronze. Other exhibitors confirmed for Elements include Dowsing & Reynolds, Hamilton Litestat (Hotel Designs’ Recommended Supplier)and Carrson International among others.

    Detail

    For fine craftsmanship and high glamour, Detail at The Order of St. John celebrates the most prestigious names in luxury interiors. The venues crypt, cloister garden and church are the perfect setting for the finest designs. This year at Detail, Sinclair Till will present Swedish company Kasthall’s latest rugs and carpets. Bespoke wallcovering company, Muraspec will present new products including the Eternity textile and Everglades grasscloth collection. Arte have created the Vanguard collection, inspired by abstract art from the 1950s. The company has also collaborated with Moooi to create a luxurious wallcovering collection, Extinct Animals, which first launched at Maison & Objet earlier this year. Each pattern is inspired by characteristics of one extinct animal from Moooi’s Museum of Extinct Animals. Anna Hayman Designs will present maximalist, luxury homeware inspired by the Bloomsbury movement and the Biba era of the swinging sixties. Other exhibitors include Danish furniture brand Cane-Line, Samuel Heath, Artwood and Altfield.

    Platform

    Platform showcases new design talent in the infamous surroundings of The House of Detention, a former remand prison which opens for the public during CDW. Junction Fifteen  will make its first appearance at CDW to showcase their new Morf Collection, a contemporary furniture collection made using sustainable materials and local craftsmanship. Trouping Colour’s latest exhibtion will showcase uncovered design talent chosen by a guest curator. Gwendoline Porte Design will present a modular concept RAILS, inspired by the form of railway tracks and the concept of ‘journey’. These limited edition functional sculptures are playful, graphic and ergonomic. They can be stacked on top of one another to form a column, multiplied to form a hexagonal, or separated to become a stool, chair, coffee table or side table. INTARC Design will showcase a modular furniture solution which allows for individual or collaborative working environments within a flexible working space, whilst Takumi Woodwork takes inspiration from Japan to create  handcrafted wooden furniture. Monkey Puzzle Tree will also be presenting a selection of unique designs in collaboration with fine artists. The business has a strong social conscience, paying the artists a generous royalty and supporting British manufacturing. Other exhibitors include Arte&Stili, Olenka, Pete Hill Designs, Decimal Design and Glas Design.

    Image of colourful door on a church with the numbers 66 written

    Image credit: Alistair Ramage

    Project

    Set within the beautiful grounds of St James Church, Project brings together a leading selection of contract furniture and surface brands from around the globe.  Project’s first outing was so successful it was extended to cover two linked pavilions and will be even bigger for 2019. AllSfär, a brand dedicated to improving workplace wellbeing will showcase a new range of acoustic products including Muffle and DIFFUSE, an innovative range of modular acoustic furniture. Sixteen3 will present a carefully curated collection of upholstered seating, both new and established. Flooring company Modulyss will present a range of carpet tiles for the contract market, whilst Hawk Furniture will exhibit at CDW for the first time, launching two new products perfectly suited to modern workspace interiors. Other exhibitors include Guialmi, Burgess Furniture, aeris, Amtico and Rigg.

    In addition to the pop-up appearances, there are also, as ever, an abundance of new showrooms that are expected to arrive in Clerkenwell including Optelma, Vescom, Fredericia, Workstories, Duravit, Abstracta, Piemme Industrie Ceramiche S.P.A, Haiken Ltd, Savile Row Projects, Parkside and JPMA Global. New Clerkenwell resident, Fredericia will officially launch new pieces by the Danish American designer Jens Risom, in the UK for the first time during CDW. Luxury lighting brand Bert Frank will also open its first showroom in EC1 during CDW.

    Hotel Designs is a proud media partner for Clerkenwell Design Week 2019. The team will be on the ground during the event – and if you would like to arrange a meeting, please tweet us @HotelDesigns.

    Main image credit: Sophie Mutevelian

    ‘Fittest hotel in the world’ to arrive in New York

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    ‘Fittest hotel in the world’ to arrive in New York

    Fitness and lifestyle brand Equinox will open its first hotel in June. The 212-key luxury property will throw open its doors in the heart of New York City…

    Equinox, a lifestyle brand that is widely known for its high-end premium membership gyms around the world, will open its first hotel in June. The 212-key flagship hotel, designed by architecture firm Rockwell Group, will be the first of many Equinox-branded properties to open with the aim to disrupt the luxury hotel landscape.

    The brand’s first ever Equinox Hotel will open in Hudson Yards, and is said to be a true culmination of Equinox’s brand promise that will redefine travel as the world knows it. “We have obsessively pursued our enduring mission of life maximisation, becoming iconic by bringing luxury to a place where none existed,” the brand explains in a press release. “Now we are redefining luxury experience once again as a seamless extension of a life well-lived, elevating fitness, culture, and community for those who rest and play as hard as they work. The result is a place that matches the scale of our ambitions and the ambition of the very people for which we built it.

    “Equinox is uniquely positioned to define an emerging category that is disrupting the industry.” – Chris Norton, CEO of Equinox Hotels

    “In hospitality, lifestyle hotels have grown up and luxury hotels have gotten younger in their outlook and experience,” said Chris Norton, CEO of Equinox Hotels, in a statement. “Now, as health becomes the new wealth, Equinox is uniquely positioned to define an emerging category that is disrupting the industry.”

    The hotel’s guestroom features include what the brand describes as “the ultimate sleep chamber”, complete with total soundproofing, a total-blackout window system, CocoMat all natural fibre mattresses, and Scandinavian-style duvets that enable temperature regulation. In true Equinox fashion, each guestroom will come with a foam roller, yoga mat, blocks and straps, whilst the mini bar contains a juice press and magnesium-based sleep supplements.

    Render of atmospheric room

    Image credit: Equinox

    The overall design of the brand’s debut hotel transcends hospitality and elevates the art and science of fitness. From the moment guests arrive, and throughout their stay, they are promised to be immersed in a world of infinite possibilities, including access to a membership-based co-working community space located within the building. Designed to amplify comfort, creativity, and productivity, the hotel is described as an ideal place to meet and connect. Extraordinary environments and thoughtfully chosen elements come together at Equinox Hotels, reimagining how guests move, eat, sleep, work, and live.

    The brand’s debut hotel in New York City will be followed with properties opening in Los Angeles, Santa Clara, CA, Chicago, Seattle and Houston.

    Main image credit: 35 Hudson yards via Related-Oxford

    AKARYN Hotel Group expands international arm

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    AKARYN Hotel Group expands international arm

    Intimate luxury hotel specialist, AKARYN Hotel Group, has unveiled plans to launch idyllic Aleenta mountain retreat in Bali and stylish waterfront akyra resort in Hoi An, Vietnam…

    AKARYN Hotel Group, Thailand’s home-grown luxury boutique hotel specialist, is preparing to spreads its wings and move into international markets for the first time, with the launch of its pioneering hospitality brands in Indonesia and Vietnam.

    In the coming months, two of the group’s much-loved hotel concepts will make their international debuts. Aleenta, the original barefoot luxury brand that first launched in Thailand in 2004, will be introduced to Bali, Indonesia’s “Island of the Gods”, and akyra, the trend-setting boutique brand, will arrive in Hoi An, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed port town in central Vietnam.

    Aleenta Retreat Bali will be a spiritual sanctuary in the island’s mountainous north, an hour’s drive from Ubud. Designed in a classical low-rise Balinese style, this serene wellness retreat will feel a million miles away from the busy tourist resorts in the island’s south. Nestled in the lush, jungle-clad hills, this exquisite hideaway will allow guests to relax and reconnect with each other in paradise. The 50 rooms will be large and luxurious, whilst also exuding authenticity and being equipped with the latest amenities.

    A spa village and yoga resort, Aleenta Retreat Bali will feature an extensive Ayurah Wellness centre, where guests can unwind with an array of soothing treatments, including traditional Balinese massages and natural therapies. An outdoor yoga area will overlook reflective ponds and a fitness centre will allow guests to enjoy an invigorating workout in paradise.

    A choice of restaurants will focus on fresh, organic ingredients, while the Pool Bar will serve refreshing drinks during the day and after dark. Local handicrafts will be available at the Galleria boutique, and guests will have plenty of opportunities to head out and discover the local area, including Ubud, Bali’s cultural capital. Aleenta Retreat Bali will also provide an elegant setting for weddings and functions, with a choice of indoor or alfresco event spaces.

    “Aleenta was our first brand and our pioneering resorts in Phuket and Hua Hin have become hugely popular among guests,” said AKARYN Hotel Group’s Founder and Managing Director, Anchalika Kijkanakorn. “Every Aleenta property is designed to reflect the timeless charm and character of its destination, featuring large living spaces and world-class facilities while also operating in harmony with the environment. Aleenta Retreat Bali will be a fantastic addition to our portfolio; secluded, spiritual and sensual, this sublime sanctuary will allow guests to discover the true essence of the Island of the Gods.”

    Image credit: Akaryn Hotel Group

    Also opening its doors in 2019 will be akyra Hoi An, unique waterfront resort nestled midway between Hoi An’s historic town centre and golden China Beach. Located on the banks of the Thu Bon estuary, this low-rise boutique retreat will be accessible either by car or by boat and many of the 110 stylish rooms and pool villas will sit on the water’s edge.

    Guests can soak up this stunning setting with a morning yoga class, a spa treatment at the Ayurah Wellness centre, a dip in the onsen or a workout in the modern fitness centre. Alternatively, they can simply plunge into the inviting outdoor infinity pool. Young guests will be kept entertained at the kids’ club, and all ages can discover delectable Vietnamese and international cuisine at a choice of two restaurants and a pool bar.

    akyra Hoi An will provide the perfect balance between cultural exploration and tropical relaxation; the enchanting port town of Hoi An, with its diverse heritage and alluring architecture, is just a short distance away, while the golden sand and azure sea of Vietnam’s central coast is also easily accessible. It will also provide a spectacular setting for events and dream weddings.

    “With its peaceful and picturesque waterfront setting, halfway between the city and the sea, akyra Hoi An will allow visitors to discover everything this charming destination has to offer. Guests who have experienced akyra’s hotels and resorts in Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai will be familiar with the brand’s trend-setting style. We look forward to introducing guests to a new era of contemporary, cutting-edge hospitality in this idyllic location,” Anchalika added.

    AKARYN Hotel Group currently operates a collection of captivating boutique hotels and resorts across Thailand, including Aleenta Hua Hin-Pranburi, Aleenta Phuket-Phang Nga, akyra Beach Club Phuket, akyra Manor Chiang Mai, akyra Thonglor Bangkok and the most recent addition to its portfolio, akyra TAS Sukhumvit Bangkok. The group will continue to introduce its luxurious and personalised style of Asian hospitality to even more destinations across the region in the months and years ahead.

    Floral interior design trends to fall in love with for SS19

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    Floral interior design trends to fall in love with for SS19

    Ahead of the inaugural Interior Design & Architecture Summit next week, VIP Buyer Delegate Partner TRENIQ has identified some of the major SS19 floral interior design trends…

    2019 has announced floral maximalism as an emerging trend and a big favourite among designers. In the wake of such verdicts, we can’t help but rejoice. What’s not to love about lovely and luscious floral designs stealing the limelight in what could otherwise be a boring set up?

    To commemorate this trend, TRENIQ has put together a few big ways in which you can bring this trend into hotel design projects. Be it a cosy nook in a living room or a large splash in a dining area, there is a floral design for everyone, it seems.

    On the dining table

    Floral interior decor available only on Treniq

    Quintessentially speaking, cutlery is the most effortless item in every household. Everyone finds comfort in the good old white China, while some are adventurous enough to opt-in deeper hues of cobalt, teal and mustards. But floral cutlery? Now that’s a trend setter right there! We love this Spring inspired brunch tableware in Mandarin rose, for it is both elegant and classy while being fun and quirky.

    Pile on the accessories

    Floral interior trends on Treniq

    One of the easiest tried and tested ways to bring in the trend is by piling on printed cushions on a neutral sofa. Not only does it bring to life the whole room and the sofa itself but it also adds a fun and refreshing touch to any decor plan.

    Binge on floral luxe

    Floral interior trends on Treniq

    Not all florals are bold, quirky and effervescent, some are regal, royal and elegant too. This room is a delightful blend of fun colours against soft Persian floral designs that are a classy variation to a usual bold look. The soft prints are an ode to a palatial interior set up.

    A carpet of flowers

    Floral interior trends on Treniq

    We love how rugs have taken on a rather interesting personality off late. These floral variants to the otherwise classic looks are absolutely refreshing and a tad bit unusual. Pair these with gorgeous floral artwork on the walls and you have for yourself a winner of an interior design.

    Treniq  is an international interiors network where you can buy or sell luxury interior products, discover design professionals, connect and build relationships, trade using easy and efficient tools. Create your free trade account today or contact us for more information at customercare@treniq.com.

    Main image credit: Pexels

     

    Dorsett Hospitality International partners with Sony World Photography Awards

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    Dorsett Hospitality International partners with Sony World Photography Awards

    Dorsett Hospitality International has partnered with the Sony World Photography Awards this year to support local talent and art globally…

    The Sony World Photography Awards kicks off with an exclusive exhibition in London at Dorsett Shepherds Bush opening on May 9, giving guests and visitors the opportunity to experience a selection of award-winning images carefully curated by Dorsett Hotels.

    The Sony World Photography Awards is a global platform celebrating the best imagery and photographers worldwide. The exhibition at Dorsett Shepherds Bush, London will showcase 15 award-winning images from the Awards’ Open competition and National Awards programme. The exhibition will continue across Dorsett Hotels located in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and China.

    Catering to millennials, post-millennials, professionals, and well-travelled guests, Dorsett Hospitality International is a proud ambassador and supporter of local talent and art in each of its locations across the world. Each award-winning image has been carefully selected to support local talent in Dorsett Hospitality International locations through the brand’s Dorsett Discoveries programme, which offers guests access to the hottest events, happenings and dining spots in each city. Award winning photographers include Rachel Yee Laam Lai from Hong Kong, Albert Tan

    Chee Hiang from Singapore, Michael Chee Yen Chuan from Malaysia and Pan Jianhua from Mainland China amongst others.

    “We are a proud supporter of the Sony World Photography Awards and we are delighted to be the sole official hotel partner worldwide, giving guests and visitors the opportunity to connect with such a prestigious collection across our hotels internationally,” said Dorsett Hospitality International’s Executive Director and President, Winnie Chiu. “Aiming to achieve our brand promise – stay vibrant – the synergy between the Dorsett Hotels brand and Sony World Photography Awards highlights our passion for contemporary art and photography.”

    With 54 hotels and a global presence across 27 cities, Dorsett Hospitality International offers priceless travel experiences worldwide, embracing art and culture in every city.

    Produced by the World Photography Organisation, the internationally acclaimed Sony World Photography Awards are one of the most important fixtures on the global photographic calendar. Across its four competitions (Professional, Open, Youth and Student) and National Awards programme, the Awards offer photographers unparalleled opportunity to showcase their art to a global audience, with past winning and shortlisted artists enjoying career-boosting benefits such as gallery representation, exhibitions and publishing deals.

    The full 2019 Sony World Photography Awards exhibition featuring all winning and shortlisted images will launch at Somerset House on April 18 and will run until May 6, 2019. For anyone who misses the main exhibition in London, visit Dorsett Shepherds Bush from May 9 to discover a selection of award-winning images from around the globe.

    Dorsett Discoveries: Sony World Photography 2019 exhibition with Dorsett Hotels schedule:

    • Dorsett Shepherds Bush, May 10 – 26
    • Dorsett Singapore, June 7 – 23
    • Dorsett Kuala Lumpur, July 5 – 21
    • Dorsett Wanchai, August 2 – 18
    • Dorsett Shanghai, August 31 – September 15

    Main image credit: Dorsett Hospitality International

    7 outdoor products that are changing the hotel design landscape

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    7 outdoor products that are changing the hotel design landscape

    To mark Hotel Designs’ focus on Outdoor Style, the editorial team have identified outdoor products that are vastly changing the landscape of hotel design…

    There’s no doubt about it, the way in which guests consume their hotel experience is changing, and quickly. With this drastic in the demands of modern travellers, which is largely being led by the evolution of social media and technology, hotels are striving to create statement areas many of the public areas.

    One way in which to do this is to create arresting outdoor spaces. Whether its bringing the indoors outdoors, shading a statement infinity pool or creating mini escapes in the landscape, it seems as if anything is possible in landscape architecture and style – and here are just some of the products that are leading the way in outdoor style.

    1) Tuuci Equinox Cabana

    Cabana at the end of an outdoor swimming pool

    Image credit: Tuuci

    TUUCI Equinox Cabana structures effortlessly transform any patio, poolside or outdoor landscape into open-air living rooms. The structure’s sleek modular design is built to custom specifications; shape, size, finish, walls, seating and lighting options. The outdoors never felt more luxurious.

    Its lighting option for the TUUCI Equinox Cabana is marine-grade, LED, and features two lights per beam. Suitable for hotel demands, the TUUCI Equinox Cabana has a number of added features available, including a power outlet option to plug in electronic devices or charge by USB.

     

    2) ÖÖD House – Round Wood of Mayfield 

    Reflective structure in the middle of greenland

    Image credit: ÖÖD House – Round Wood of Mayfield

    The ÖÖD house – a stunning, 18 sq/m mini home clad in mirrored glass which blends to its natural surroundings – has been added to Round Wood of Mayfield’s collection of high end outdoor structures.

    Originally envisaged as a “pop up” hotel guest room or Airbnb pad by Estonian company ÖÖD, it is now exclusively distributed and assembled by the timber and landscape specialists across the UK.

    The stand-alone living space for both commercial and domestic clients, which also make ideal office spaces, guest accommodation or even yoga studios, blends beautifully into any setting courtesy of the striking insulated glazing that covers the front and sides.

    Round Wood of Mayfield is one of Hotel Designs’ Recommended Suppliers. 

    3) Gina Collection, JANUS et Cie 

    Sleek designed outdoor furniture on patio

    Image credit: JANUS et CIe

    Created exclusively for JANUS et Cie by the renowned Italian design icon Piero Lissoni, the Gina collection is characterised by sensuous contours and sleek lines, precisely executed in harmonious proportion. The collection’s  Gina Recamier recently received the 2019 Red Dot Award for outstanding design and is just one example of many on the furniture market that is allowing designers to bring the interior, cosy feel in outdoor spaces.

    4) Glammfire fireplaces

    Red seating around low fire

    Image credit: Glammfire

    From the pleasure of any outdoor space, the Circus brings comfort through its fiery warmth and convenient seats; which can be conveniently stored around the central unit and can easily endure outdoor conditions. Ideal for small-size hotels, the products allows guests to hang out as if they were with friends and family around a cosy fire.

    5) Pedrali Soul Outdoor

    Image credit: Pedrali

    Soul Outdoor is a new, special evolution of the original version made in bent wood and launched by Eugeni Quitllet last year. The inspiration is the same that the Catalan designer defines as “a link between the concrete and the abstract, between the real world and that of dreams, between past and future… the unspoiled state of creation”. An armchair able to express an idea of uncontaminated and pure creativity, defined by its soul.

    A curved aluminium tubular frame, with classical shapes but solid proportions, clasps an ergonomic seat in shaped teak slats, almost like an embrace. The contrast between the two outdoor materials and the aesthetic result of the aluminium shininess make this armchair innovative and original. The lines of Soul Outdoor are accentuated by the fluidity of aluminium, which ensures strength and lightness, while presenting a strong visual impact.

    6) Outdoor Poufs, Tribù

    Modern and contemporary outdoor scene

    Image credit: TRIBÙ

    TRIBÙ’s eye for detail is evident from the accessories this luxury brand has designed to make your terrace extra cosy. This year irresistible poufs steal the show. They are available in luxurious textured outdoor fabrics, but also in outdoor leather. Thanks to the three dimensions with different heights you can make some beautiful combinations. Ideal as an extra seat or side table. Thanks to the special filling you can leave them easily outside, even if it rains.

    7) Case Study: Soho House White City

    Jungle-like interiors on terrace

    Image credit: Soho House White City House/Modern Garden Company

    Set in the former BBC headquarters, Soho House White City House is the newest and largest members club and hotel in London. Modern Garden Company were specified to create a striking outdoor area. Distinguished by its sleek modern design, Cubola is an elegant shade with a slender frame and tilting fabric roof that offers protection against low evening sun, as well as allowing rainfall to run off.

    The frame is made from high grade aluminium, joined with specially developed internal corners which guarantee perfect stability, they also ensure that nuts and bolts are hidden from view. The aluminium frames are powder coated producing a very durable finish, available in two standard colour coatings, white and anthracite, although almost any RAL colour can be chosen as part of a special production.

    Safety features for the Cubola include a wind sensor, which will retract the Cubola if the pre-set wind speed is exceeded, other options available include rain and sun sensors.It can be installed both freestanding or attached to building walls, and is available with sides to create partially enclosed sides/outdoor rooms.

    Main image credit: Round Wood of Mayfield

    Hyatt Regency Beijing Shiyuan opens in nature retreat

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    Hyatt Regency Beijing Shiyuan opens in nature retreat

    The newly opened Hyatt Regency Beijing Shiyuan connects guests with the rejuvenating beauty of nature near the Great Wall…

    Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the opening of Hyatt Regency Beijing Shiyuan, located in the vibrant Yanqing District of China’s capital city. Yanqing is known as an imperial retreat, surrounded by scenic mountains, rivers and wildlife.

    These nature elements have influenced the interior design of the property to create an energising experience from the moment guests arrive. Just steps away from the International Horticultural Expo 2019, the hotel provides guests traveling for business or leisure a seamless, intuitive experience as they connect with who and what matters to them most.

    The hotel features 283 contemporary guestrooms, including 19 suites, two Diplomat Suites and a Presidential Suite. Starting at 430 square feet (40 square meters), most guestrooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Expo Park and garden views, while nearly 90 percent of the guestrooms also offer a private balcony. Complimentary Wi-Fi, a 55” SMART TV and Bluetooth stereo are available in all rooms.

    Image caption: Hyatt Hotels

    Guests can savour enticing cuisine infused with Northern China flair and fresh local ingredients at the hotel’s two signature dining outlets. Mirroring a rustic mountain village, Xiang Yue Chinese restaurant showcases authentic local favorites along with Cantonese, seafood and other regional Chinese specialties. Market Café’s lively culinary marketplace serves specialties from East to West, prepared in an open kitchen. Meanwhile, the cozy Lobby Lounge is an ideal gathering place for casual meetings and refreshments overlooking the outdoor garden.

    “We are very excited by the opening of the first international hotel in the Yanqing district and sincerely appreciate the trust and support from our owner, Beijing Horticultural Expo Investment and Development Co., Ltd.,” said Stephen Ho, president, Greater China, global operations, Hyatt. “As a new landmark of northwest Beijing, the hotel looks forward to welcoming local and international guests to discover the history and nature of Yanqing.”

    Hyatt Regency Beijing Shiyuan offers seamless, personalised, high-touch experiences for meetings and social events of all sizes. The hotel features a 10,225 square foot (950 square meter) Regency Ballroom, six multifunctional meeting rooms, and a 5,382 square foot (500 square meter) manicured lawn, suitable for weddings and other outdoor celebrations. The hotel’s meeting spaces compliment the facilities of the adjoining Beijing World Horticultural Expo Park, offering an endless array of possibilities for meeting and event planners.

    Main image credit: Hyatt Hotels

    Interior Design & Architecture Summit becomes sold-out event

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    Interior Design & Architecture Summit becomes sold-out event

    Starting as it means to go on, the inaugural Interior Design & Architecture Summit becomes sold-out event with 11 days to spare…

    The highly anticipated inaugural Interior Design & Architecture Summit, which takes place on April 29 at London Hilton Tower Bridge, is now sold out.

    The event, of which its meet-the-buyer concept was born from the success of Hotel Summit, will allow leading designers and architects the ability to meet face-to-face with leading suppliers as well as enjoying a quality speakership programme, curated exclusively by Hotel Designs.

    The full list of suppliers attending is as follows:

    Ideavit, Marca Corona, Graphica Display, Tribu, Atlas Concordem, Hamilton Litestat, Timage, Wandsworth, KKDC, Bisque, Aqualisa, Project Blinds, Domkapa, Portview Fitout, CP Parquet, James Alexander, Majestic Showers, Sox Furniture, O’Donnell Funiture, CTD Architectual tiles, Gessi, North Made, Moleta Murno, Covers, Hand & Mouth, ITC, Natural Flooring, Cole & Son, Versa Wallcoverings, Wood Flooring & Accessories, Mitre Linen, Sofa.com, Muzeo, Bridgeman Images, Edmund Bell & Co.

    Interior Design & Architecture Summit is a one-day event, designed to connect senior executives working within the sector with product and service suppliers for face-to-face meetings and business networking.

    The Summit aims to support the design and architecture sector with a unique platform to help create long-lasting and mutually beneficial business connections.

    For those who are attending, the full agenda for the day can be accessed here.

    Despite the event now being sold-out, there are still spaces available for both suppliers and delegates wishing to attend Hotel Summit, which is specifically organised for senior professionals who are directly responsible for purchasing and procurement within their organisation, and those who provide the latest and greatest products and services within the sector.

    How to register for Hotel Summit

    If you are a supplier to the hospitality industry looking to meet top hotel professionals, contact Jennie Lane at j.lane@forumevents.co.uk– or click here to book your place.

    If you are a hotelier and would like to attend the Summit, please contact Liam Cloona on l.cloona@forumevents.co.uk – or click here to book your place.

    MEET UP NORTH: Headline Speaker announced

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    MEET UP NORTH: Headline Speaker announced

    Tom Lindblom, Principal and Hospitality Leader at Gensler (London), has been confirmed as the Headline Speaker for Meet Up North, which takes place at Hotel Gotham, on July 1, 2019…

    Hotel Designs has confirmed that Tom Lindblom, The Brit List 2018 finalist from Gensler, will be the Headline Speaker at Meet Up North, which takes place this year at Hotel Gotham’s rooftop bar on July 1, 2019.

    Carrying the light theme of ‘creativity outside the capital’, the event aims to bridge the gap in the north between designers, hoteliers, architects, developers and key-industry suppliers.

    During his talk entitled ‘Hospitality Is Way More Than Hotels’, Lindblom will share selected projects and his understanding and appreciation for unique opportunities that the hotel sector is currently experiencing. “I am looking forward to a lively session to exchange ideas about the very dynamic hospitality market – all in the fantastic Hotel Gotham,” Lindblom told Hotel Designs. The architect’s presentation will explain how statement hotels can have the power to change the perspective of an entire destination. Closer to home, he will review hotspots in the UK that are seeing/or will see significant growth in hotel investment. Lindblom will also briefly summarise ideas and trends the Gensler Research Institute has uncovered with our Hospitality Experience Index – EXI.

    As well as being Principal and Hospitality Leader at Gensler, Lindblom also teaches and lectures on architecture, lighting design and museum design. He recently sat down with Hotel Designs’ editor, Hamish Kilburn, where he granted the publication with an exclusive look inside the inner workings of the architecture firm. “We are really excited that Meet Up North is returning to Manchester for the second year running and I am delighted to welcome Tom as our headline speaker for this event,” explains Hamish Kilburn, editor of Hotel Designs. “His unquestionable knowledge and his unteachable charm enables Tom to effortlessly cut through the noise in order to participate in conversations and debates that actually go on to make a difference on the international hotel design scene.”

    Early bird tickets now available

    Between now and April 30, 2019, early bird tickets for the event are available to purchase:

    Suppliers: £99 + VAT (£150 + VAT after early bird offer expires after April 30).
    Designers, architects and hoteliers: £10 + VAT (£20 + VAT after early bird offer expires after April 30).

    If you are a supplier to the industry and would like to attend Meet Up North, click here.
    If you are a designer, architect or hoteliers to the industry and would like to attend Meet Up North, click here.

    There are various sponsorship opportunities and packages available for Meet Up North. If you would like to discuss these with our team then please contact Zoe Guerrier by either emailing z.guerrier@forumevents.co.uk or calling 01992 374059.

    The inaugural Meet Up North took place last year at King Street Townhouse and was attended by more than 200 designers, architects, hoteliers and key-industry suppliers.

    About Hotel Gotham

    Hotel Gotham is sheltered in what is arguably the city’s grandest properties and is an exclusive city-centre sanctuary, previously a bank that was designed in 1935 by none other than architect Edwin Lutyens.

    The hotel, which opened in 2015, prides itself on offering a modern and comfortable experience in a unique and luxurious environment, with exquisite service all within a bespoke private club in the heart of Manchester.

     

    Main image credit: Hotel Gotham

    Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese unveils hotel design by Jean Philippe Nuel

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    Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese unveils hotel design by Jean Philippe Nuel

    The redesign of Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese is said to be an elegant Roman retreat, fusing La Dolce Vita heritage with modern French art de vivre…

    Located in the heart of Rome, Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese will reopen on July 1 2019, unveiling extensive renovations by contemporary architect and interior designer, Jean-Philippe Nuel.

    Situated on a quiet street in the epicentre of Rome, this former 19th century Roman palazzo lies within walking distance of some of the city’s best-known cultural landmarks and parks, including the Trevi Fountain, Villa Medici and the Spanish Steps. Evoking the feel of a Roman home, guests will appreciate the hotel’s relaxed and laid-back atmosphere and the sense of being truly immersed in the essence of this picturesque Italian city.

    The hotel will offer 78 guestrooms and suites, with the unveiling of larger suites, a new fitness centre and new well-being programme, and three large event rooms. Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese will also be home to Settimo, an elegant rooftop lounge and restaurant, offering panoramic views overlooking the picturesque Villa Borghese gardens and St. Peter’s Basilica. Adorned with eclectic furnishings and lush green interiors, Settimo will provide a botanical escape on the seventh floor and will serve contemporary Roman cuisine using locally-sourced ingredients. Paying respect to local mastery and heritage, while highlighting the personality of the hotel’s Executive Chef, Giuseppe D’Alessio, signature dishes will incorporate traditional Roman culinary styles such as ‘cucina povera’ and ‘Tripolina’.

    Image credit: Accor Hotels

    Jean Philippe Nuel’s chic redesigns will combine the heritage and classicism of ‘La Dolce Vita’, with the modernism and design of French ‘art de vivre’. The hotel entrance will feature an iconic display of chromatic counterpoints and vibrant colours, creating a modern lounge with a classical feel. Guest rooms will also exhibit an iridescent ceiling masterpiece, creating the illusion of the bright sky above.

    At Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese, guests will feel instantly at home, with dedicated and personalised attention through thoughtful gestures and delightful surprises. The hotel will feature a dedicated candle ritual, inspired by the lighting of the streets of Paris during the reign of Louis XIV, which provided citizens with a sense of welcoming and safety. At sunset, the hotel will light giant candles outside the entrance to welcome guests back from their evenings out touring the city, accompanied by atmospheric music.

    The ‘home away from home’ atmosphere with personalised wellness and fitness therapies with the SofitelFIT Wellness Programme, and the Sofitel MyBed Sleep Menu, a signature in-room service, transform the bathroom into a private sanctuary with luxurious options for relaxation. Guests can choose between two complimentary baths – a therapeutic Soothing Bath that invites a lazy soak with calming essential oils, or a Bubble Bath that injects fun into the bath time experience. Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese also provides guests with personalised bathrobes to enhance the bespoke nature of the experiences.

    The French ‘joie de vivre’ and the Roman ‘carpe diem’ of the renovated hotel will create a uniquely sophisticated, yet simple and contemporary experience where desires are magnified after a day of exploring the historical Roman streets.

    Main image credit: Accor Hotels

    Checking in to University Arms, Cambridge

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    Checking in to University Arms, Cambridge

    Combining the best of British interior design and architecture, the University Arms in Cambridge is an effortless reflection of old and new. Editor Hamish Kilburn checked in to the Franklin Suite – and spoke to the leaders behind the project – to unearth the fascinating design story that’s written inside…

    In the race for luxury in tier two cities around the United Kingdom, Cambridge city centre’s lack of statement hotels doesn’t exactly rank it highly among others.

    Despite the city being riddled in history and context, substandard independents remain firm, not willing to set themselves aside from others in regards to design. But amidst the unimaginative and limited hotel scene, things are changing and there is one property in particular that is shaking up the competition to become one of the UK’s best luxury hotels. Cue the monumental unveiling of University Arms, Cambridge.

    Image credit: University Arms, Cambridge

    The 193-key hotel, which started life in 1834 as a coaching inn, reopened its grand doors in August of last year as interior designer Martin Brudnizki’s first full completed hotel project in the UK. “Cambridge has a really rich story that’s not just academic,” Brudnikzi told Hotel Designs. “It has a flourishing art scene – Kettle’s Yard is a haven for modern British art – and a food scene that’s worth investigating further. Of course, the architecture is wonderful and really quite awe-inspiring, however the city also has a unique sociable atmosphere. With it being small, you easily feel part of the city even after just a few days.”

    Click here for interactively view room no. 201, the Stephen Hawking Suite | Image credit: ACT Studios

    Following a number of large fires that broke out in the hotel, the most recent in 2012, University Arms closed in 2016. Working on the architectural restoration project from concept to completion, the team at John Simpson Architects were briefed to create new guestrooms, public areas, a gym and functional back-of-house spaces. “In terms of architectural language, the brief was to create a timeless appeal,” John Simpson from the architecture firm told Hotel Designs. “We wanted to create an architecture that honours the traditions and creates an aura that is present in so much of the historic buildings in the city.”

    While the hotel’s shell was on the boards, Brudnizki and his team took the mass of inspiration from the history and culture around the city and infused it into thoughtfully curated interiors. “I always knew we wanted to create a hotel that reflected the academic heritage of Cambridge, whilst also feeling fun and approachable,” added Brudnizki. “The hotel is in the perfect location for university parents to stay at when visiting children or for those visiting the city for a weekend break. With this in mind, we created a hotel that combined academic references – the tie-patterned carpets, suites named after famous academics and the restaurant that feels like a college dining room – with comfort and elegance.

    Guests now enter the hotel through an extravagant Porte Cochere entrance. “This element of the design references the scale style of the neighbouring Downing College, highlighting the historic association the hotel always had with the university,” Simpson added.

    Image credit: University Arms, Cambridge

    The large lobby is complete with two striking chandeliers that hang above both the minimalist check-in area and the concierge desk. On the walls, art curated by Adam Ellis hangs on chains and has been inspired by Cambridge’s roots, its past heroes and heroines and its many eras of charm. A poster-style piece “The Man in the White Suit” next to the lifts suggest that this hotel has been designed by and for the modern traveller to enjoy.

    Upstairs, the corridors and guestrooms include nods at every turn to the heritage of the city. For example, the carpet that leads to the guestrooms and suites has been designed to replicate colour and style of the original Cambridge College tie. Each of the suites are named after a significant individual who had a relationship with the city and the interiors represent the character of the personality. The Franklin Suite, for example, was named after Rosalind Franklin, an English Cambridge-graduate chemist who made contributions to the understanding of the molecular structures of DNA, RNA, viruses, coal, and graphite. The terraced suite located on the top floor includes literature about Rosalind Franklin that sit in a modern setting. “We wanted to make sure what we designed wouldn’t feel out of place or context,” added Brudnizki. “With this in mind, it was important for us to work closely with John Simpson, who is an expert in classical architecture, as well as the local area. The best way for us to achieve this was through carefully selecting artwork that rooted the project to Cambridge and that would tie the narrative together.”

    In all the rooms, which come in four categories, attention to detail is immediately evident. The ‘do not disturb’ signs are shaped as bookmarks, while the writing desks – think ink quill and paper rather than emails – were inspired by the traditional student desks that are finished with coloured leather tops.

    Click here for interactively view room no. 907 | Image credit: ACT Studios

    The bathrooms in the suites, complete with underfloor heating, are both stylish and lavish. Victoria + Albert baths positioned by the windows, accented with gold legs, create an immediate statement – as do the gold shower fittings from Vado. The walls, meanwhile, have been painted in the same light blue that is associated with the city, keeping the interiors balanced and tame in all the right places.

    If the lobby lounge area is described as the heart of the hotel, the guestrooms the brains, then the soul is quite rightfully reserved to the bar and restaurant located on the ground floor. Brudnizki’s masterful hands have created a welcoming environment that has attracted not only guests but also loyal locals. Guests entering for dinner or to have a drink at the bar enter via a separate entrance to those staying at the hotel. “They still arrive at the front of the building, through grand doors, so there is a sense of occasion and not a sense of separation,” explains Brudnizki. “The bar itself includes a spacious lounge area, with mixed seating and larger tables to encourage communal imbibing. During the day you can use the bar as a place to work or even enjoy an afternoon tea. Whilst at night it becomes a great place to sit back with friends and enjoy drinks before dinner in parker’s Tavern next door.”

    Image credit: University Arms, Cambridge

    The public areas overlook Parker’s Piece, a large plot of grass that is rumoured to have been where the rules of Football Association emerged from (probably over gin and tonics). The library, which, when pushed, Brudnizki admits to being his favourite area of the hotel, is a clever blend of indoor/outdoor interiors, designed to be light, bright and open for all.

    It’s refreshing to see an upscale hotel in Cambridge bravely achieve what no other hotel in the area has managed to; take on the history and heritage of the city and seamlessly blending into the architecture and the fabrics. Through true collaboration between MBDS and John Simpson Architects – both of which were winners at The Brit list 2018 in their categories – University Arms is now a timeless gem, in a league of its own operating in a modern city with a storied past.

    Main image credit: ACT Studios

    Hyatt to develop design hotel at Japan’s historic racing circuit

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    Hyatt to develop design hotel at Japan’s historic racing circuit

    Plans have been approved for an Unbound Collection hotel by Hyatt to be developed at the Fuji Speedway, marking the brand’s entrance into Japan… 

    Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with Towa Real Estate Co. Ltd., an affiliate of TOYOTA Group, to develop a 120-key hotel at the Fuji Speedway, Japan’s historic racing circuit.

    Slated to open in 2022, the project will be the first in Japan under The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand and the first hotel in the world to be built by Towa Real Estate.

    “We are excited to see The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand in Japan for the first time with a project at Fuji Speedway, an iconic destination for motorsports fans across the globe seeking a luxury experience,” said David Udell, group president, Asia-Pacific, Hyatt Hotels Corporation. “As we look to expand Hyatt’s brand footprint in Japan, we are excited to be entering into a management agreement with TOYOTA group company, Towa Real Estate, as it builds its first-ever hotel.”

    Hotel amenities will include multiple fine dining restaurants and bars, as well as indoor pool, fitness center, spa and natural onsen hot-spring bathing facilities. The hotel interior will feature a car museum with an innovative presentation of the site’s attractions that showcase the historic significance of Fuji Speedway. Items such as rare historic automobiles and other museum-worthy collections will provide an unconventional experience that guests would expect from The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand.

    “It is deeply gratifying and encouraging to us to have been able to enter into this agreement with Hyatt, which has a history of providing exceptional quality and service to guests in a wide range of cities,” said Masao Ukai, president, Towa Real Estate Co. Ltd. “This luxury hotel will be an integral part of a motorsports-themed entertainment area with Fuji Speedway at its core. Together, Motorsports Village and The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand will provide guests with environmentally conscious and unconventional experiences as we aim to make motorsports more accessible and entertaining.”

    In the foothills of Mount Fuji, the hotel’s Fuji Speedway location will offer guests convenient access to motorsports events and the upcoming Motorsports Village facility, currently under development by Towa Real Estate in concert with the hotel development.

    Situated on the grounds of Fuji Speedway, the hotel will offer unsurpassed views of Mount Fuji, in addition to housing a Motorsports Museum. The site’s immediate proximity to the Oyama Parking Area Smart Interchange, scheduled to open in 2021, will make the hotel’s location accessible to guests arriving from remote areas by car.

    The hotel will feature approximately 120 tastefully designed guest rooms and suites of at least 484 square feet (45 square meters) each, a flexible banquet room of 5,381 square feet (500 square meters), and a 2,152 square foot (200 square meter) conference room. These extraordinary facilities will position the hotel as an ideal venue for story-worthy meetings and events.

    Main image credit: Hyatt

    FIRST LOOK: The Wild Hotel arrives in Mykonos

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    FIRST LOOK: The Wild Hotel arrives in Mykonos

    The Wild Hotel in Kalafati Beach, designed in collaboration with Alexandros & Filippos Varveris and Sofia & Matina Karavas, will open in Mykonos in May 2019… 

    Located on a picturesque cliffside over Kalafati Beach, The Wild Hotel, owned by Interni, will offer a design-led retreat, featuring 40 suites and villas inspired by the colours and lines of traditional Grecian architecture.

    Set in a natural amphitheatre, the hotel is home to an infinity pool with views across the Aegean Sea, a private beach for residents and a restaurant – The Taverna – serving classic dishes from the Cycladic Islands. The Wild Hotel is a collaboration of design between Alexandros & Filippos Varveris and Sofia & Matina Karavas, who are both co-owners and architects of the project.

    The Wild Hotel offers an unparalleled location on the island of Mykonos; situated on a tip of the island which remains raw and pure, the hotel is situated next to a tiny beach-front village once inhabited by the bravest fishermen of Mykonos, referred to as ‘the wild ones’ by locals. The village is now a tranquil, picturesque port that imbues the area with a rich Cycladic history.

    Raw luxury pool

    Image credit: The Wild Hotel/Yiorgos Kordakis

    Spring 2019 will also see the launch of Ftelia Beach Club, the sister of The Wild Hotel, located on the opposite side of Mykonos Island in the much-loved Ftelia Bay. Ftelia Beach Club will showcase the designs of up-and-coming Italian architect Fabricio Casiraghi. The club’s aesthetic was inspired by the famous resorts of the 60s and 70s in Southern France and coastal Italy, seamlessly blending Mykonos’ buzzy cosmopolitan vibe with the natural beachfront surroundings. Ftelia Beach Club will offer a Mediterranean menu with an emphasis on local produce.

    Image credit: The Wild Hotel/Yiorgos Kordakis

    “We are excited to announce the opening of The Wild Hotel and Ftelia Beach Club on the island of Mykonos and we are confident that both properties will bring something new and dynamic to the island,” said Alexandros Varveris, Owner and founder of Interni Group. “We have already established our brand with Interni Restaurant, and are excited to watch Interni grow on the beautiful island of Mykonos.”

    With these two new properties, The Wild Hotel and Ftelia Beach Club, Interni Group aim to merge the traditions of the island with new cosmopolitan thinking to offer something fresh and different for Mykonos.

    Main image credit: Yiorgos Kordakis

    London’s first hotel unveils new lobby design by Olga Polizzi

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    London’s first hotel unveils new lobby design by Olga Polizzi

    Brown’s, a Rocco Forte Hotel, has unveiled the new British springtime-inspired floral front lobby, which has been designed by Olga Polizzi…

    Since opening in 1837, Brown’s, which is London’s first hotel, has always been at the forefront of design and, in this latest unveiling, Olga Polizzi, Director of Design for Rocco Forte Hotels pays homage to Brown’s British heritage and illustrious legacy through the exquisite décor and ornately crafted patterns of its new reception area.

    The piece de resistance of the new front hall is the hand painted wallpaper featuring whimsical wisteria, created exclusively for Brown’s by renowned British Interior Designer and Artist, Adam Ellis.

    Olga Polizzi, the creative mind behind the design process commented: “I wanted to convey the quintessential English garden feel in a fun and playful way. The oversized wisteria, the bright colours and strong patterns are an ode to spring in the United Kingdom and make the front hall interesting and joyful.”

    The harmonious palette of blue and mint green hues combine to create a residential-style space where guests are welcomed to their home-away-from-home. The new front hall also features a signature belvedere glass roof that brings an abundance of natural daylight into the centre of the space.

    “The new Belvedere glass roof has flooded the reception with light and added a sudden skyward view,” said Polizzi. “The concierge team also now have their own reserved area where they can attend to guests in private.”

    Stuart Johnson, Managing Director of Brown’s Hotel, said of the new design: “Olga Polizzi has triumphed once again in completing the final piece of the jigsaw and remodelling the entire ground floor, with an opulent space and feeling of a walk through an English country garden.”

    The new front hall follows a larger restoration of Brown’s. The signature Donovan Bar exudes luxury with rich green velvety tones and the restaurant Beck at Brown’s boasts playful foliage patterns. Both spaces were renovated in 2018, and collectively furnish a stunning new look for the entire ground floor.

    The front hall celebrates a fresh new approach to welcoming guests whilst continuing Brown’s legacy of being London’s original luxury hotel for more than 180 years.

    Mandarin Oriental announces new hotel in Istanbul

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    Mandarin Oriental announces new hotel in Istanbul

    Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced that it will manage a second luxury hotel in Istanbul, Turkey…

    The hotel group Mandarin Oriental has announced that is will unveil a 158-key luxury hotel and residences within three standalone towers that is slated to open in 2022.

    One of the towers will house Mandarin Oriental Etiler, Istanbul with 158 guestrooms and suites and 16 serviced apartments.

    The remaining two towers will house 251 luxurious Residences at Mandarin Oriental. UNStudio from Amsterdam has been appointed as the master planner and architect.The hotel will have three restaurants and bars, and a selection of adaptable meeting spaces with outdoor areas and terraces, ideal for hosting both business and leisure events. There will also be a spa and fitness centre, offering the Group’s award-winning signature wellness programmes as well as locally inspired treatments.

    The hotel will have both an indoor and outdoor swimming pool.The Residences at Mandarin Oriental will feature some of the most exclusive homes in the city, providing owners with extensive private gardens and impressive views of the Bosphorus. Owners will also enjoy Mandarin Oriental’s legendary service and direct access to the hotel’s facilities.  In addition, there will be a full suite of bespoke resident facilities, including two outdoor swimming pools with city skyline views, a fitness centre and six beauty treatment rooms.The owners and developers of the project are Astaș Holding A.Ş and Yapi & Yapi.

    This is the Group’s third venture in Turkey with Astaș Holding A.Ş who is the owner of the Group’s two other Turkish properties – the award-winning Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum and Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, Istanbul which is scheduled to open in 2020.

    “We are delighted to be announcing a second Mandarin Oriental property in Istanbul, together with an exciting luxury residential project. We look forward to extending further the Group’s presence in one of the world’s most historic and vibrant cities,” said James Riley, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental. “Operating two complementary hotels in a single city is something that the Group has already done successfully in Hong Kong and will soon do in London. We believe there is room for more than just one Mandarin Oriental hotel in certain select destinations around the world.” he added. “Having strengthened our successful collaboration with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in Bodrum, and through the upcoming opening of Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, Istanbul it is our intention to establish this second Istanbul property, uniquely located in the prestigious district of Etiler, as one of the world’s most impressive addresses.

    The project is slated to cater to a discerning clientele who enjoy this legendary city so rich in history and culture, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia,” said Astaș Holding A.Ş, and Yapi & Yapi’s Board of Directors.

    Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has grown from its Asian roots into a global brand, now operating 32 hotels and six residences in 23 countries and territories, with each property reflecting the Group’s oriental heritage and unique sense of place. Mandarin Oriental has a strong pipeline of hotels and residences under development, and is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.

    NH Hotel Group unveils hotel room of the future

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    NH Hotel Group unveils hotel room of the future

    The innovative concept of The Mood Room allows guests to customise their guestroom using a tablet to control lighting, music, curtains and temperature to suit their emotions and specific needs…

    NH Hotel Group, Signify and CYBEROBICS have launched Mood Room, the “room of the future”, at NH Collection Berlin Mitte, the first hotel to feature the concept since a pilot project at NH Collection Madrid Eurobuilding in Spain and now featuring new fitness options.

    This follows technology expert Jason Bradbury’s hotel review with Hotel Designs where he identified future hotel design trends, one of which was intelligent rooms.  Designed around three parameters – personalising guests’ experience, connected technology and sustainability – Mood Room enables guests to regulate the lighting, music and temperature to adapt the mood to their own tastes. Using only the touch of a tablet, guests can choose between six main pre-set modes and 19 moods to help them sleep, work and relax better, and enjoy a unique technological experience.

    “Digitalisation is already an intrinsic part of everyday life in many areas,” said Maarten Markus, Managing Director Northern Europe NH Hotel Group. “Hotels must not be left behind; we need to be even more determined to open the way to change, testing out new services and solutions and offering them to our customers. With the introduction of Mood Room in our offering, our Northern Europe business unit now has a magnificent new easy-to-operate product, making a hotel stay an even more pleasant experience”.

    “Guests can choose between six main pre-set modes and 19 moods to help them sleep, work and relax better, and enjoy a unique technological experience.”

    For Signify, too, this partnership is an excellent example of how interconnection is generating entirely new models in the hotel industry: “The four Mood Room at the NH Collection Berlin Mitte are like a window into the future”, says Karsten Vierke, PR Manager of Signify in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. “Smart lighting and interconnection are becoming the order of the day at home and at work. Naturally, these changes should not suddenly stop at the hotel door. For me, a really satisfactory hotel stay involves a combination of good service, atmosphere and convenience. By working with our partners in climate control, lighting, music and fitness, we’re showing how smart technology and automation can create a whole new hotel experience.”

    One of the new and distinctive features of the Mood Room at the NH Collection Berlin Mitte is the sports and exercise settings provided by fitness and lifestyle brand, CYBEROBICS. By selecting the “Set the Tone” mood, guests can interface with CYBEROBICS’s workout exercises, choosing between four different fitness videos: Yoga Power, Six Pack Attack, Quick Fit or Just Relax. Again, the system chooses the right type of lighting and mood for the occasion.

    For Oliver Schulokat, CEO of CYBEROBICS, the Mood Room ties in perfectly with the new move towards ‘on-demand fitness’: “Digitalisation will have wide-ranging consequences for the way people train in the future to improve their physical fitness,” he said. “Our goal is to promote with CYBEROBICS that evolution, making fitness available to even more people and in this way turning it into a natural part of their everyday lives. That’s why CYBEROBICS covers all areas of life—at home, at work and in the hotel when we’re away. We see the NH Hotel Group as a generator of innovation in the hotel industry, using digitalisation to take its guest experience to a whole new dimension. At this point we are seeing many points of contact with CYBEROBICS’s vision. We’re therefore very happy to be launching this partnership”.

    The Mood Room project, presented for the first time at the NH Collection Madrid Eurobuilding, has taken sustainability, connectivity and customer experience into account as key factors. Thanks to Philips RoomFlex, the Mood Room™ has become a totally individualised stay experience. Philips RoomFlex is a fully programmable system for controlling lighting in the hotel rooms, which can be easily integrated into the sensor technology and other systems, such as heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, visual protection and booking software.

    Spotlight On: May’s features announced

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    Spotlight On: May’s features announced

    Hotel Designs has officially dropped its May editorial features, which are Bars and Restaurants and Bathrooms… 

    Throughout May, Hotel Designs’ Spotlight On features will look at two highly topical features, namely Bars & Restaurants and Bathrooms – both areas of which are transforming drastically in order to cater to modern travellers’ demands.

    Bars and Restaurants

    Colourful and lavish restaurant

    Image credit: Dukes Dubai

    With Gastronomy evolving to be a major travel trend, the design of a bar and of a restaurant has never been so important. Hotels are recreating and reopening these areas to become just as much of an experience as checking in or walking into a stunningly designed guestroom or suite. Instagrammable moments can now be captured in a design hotel’s dining areas, once a space reserved for guests-only, which is now desired to be the life and soul of the city open for all to enjoy.

    Bathrooms

    Modern bathroom in a shell of wooden structures

    Image credit: Kaldewei

    With our highly regarded Recommended Suppliers, we will explore, post-ISH, the heavily congested arena of bathroom design. Will colour finally find its way into the modern bathroom, and will the bathroom spa become a popular choice for designers who want to recreate amazing spaces? We will go beneath the surface to uncover all the hottest bathroom trends and we will try to discover what the hotel bathroom of the future will look like.

    If you wish to find out more, or know of a product that we should be talking about, please contact Zoe Guerrier on 01992 374059 or z.guerrier@forumevents.co.uk

    Main image credit: The Cow Hollow Hotel, Manchester

    Hilton expands its presence in Morocco

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    Hilton expands its presence in Morocco

    Hilton expands its presence in Morocco with opening of Hilton Tangier Al Houara Resort & Spa…

    Set on a pristine beach, Hilton Tangier Al Houara Resort & Spa has opened, marking the group’s third property in Morocco. With its upscale accommodations, beachfront location and extensive range of leisure facilities, the resort is an oasis for relaxation and rejuvenation. The 304-key Hilton Tangier Al Houara Resort & Spa is located within a protected national park, offering direct access to five kilometers of idyllic white sandy beach.

    Tangier, a cosmopolitan port-city on the Strait of Gibraltar is the embodiment of culture with its UNESCO sights and nearby attractions, such as The Kasbah. Famous for its year-round pleasant weather and beautiful beaches, the city is seeing increasing numbers of visitors every year.

    “Morocco is a flourishing tourism destination which welcomed more than 12 million visitors last year,” said Rudi Jagersbacher, President, Middle East, Africa, and Turkey, Hilton. “We are delighted to be expanding our footprint in the country and hope this will continue to support the Moroccan government’s tourism ambition to make Morocco one of the top 20 tourist destinations in the world by 2020.”

    Spread across an impressive 850m², the hotel’s eforea spa is equipped with state of the art treatment rooms, a beauty salon, hairdresser, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and a 24/7 gym. For those looking to perfect their swing during their stay, the hotel offers two spectacular golf courses alongside a Golf Academy.

    In addition, The hotel boasts 4,500m² of flexible event space with capacity for up to 1,400 guests. The hotel offers 15 flexible meeting rooms as well as two pillarless ballrooms. With an expansive foyer that leads to an outdoor terrace, the space is ideal for hosting coffee breaks, cocktail receptions and buffets.

    Meanwhile, the culinary experience is said to be at the heart of the hotel with the hotel boasting a total of five restaurants and bars.

    Boasting 304 exquisite guestrooms and suites, including 50 apartments, all guestrooms feature a blend of Moroccan and international design touches with private balconies overlooking either the Atlantic Ocean or 11 hectares of garden.

    “We are excited to introduce Hilton Tangier Al Houara Resort & Spa to our growing brand portfolio,” said Vera Manoukian, senior vice president and global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts. “The opening of this property highlights our commitment to expanding in key destinations across the world, in the world’s most sought-after destinations for guests who know that where they stay matters.”

    With more than 585 hotels across six continents, Hilton Hotels & Resorts properties are located in the world’s most sought-after destinations for guests who know that where they stay matters. This particular opening marks a significant growth in North Africa.

    Main image credit: HILTON TANGIER AL HOUARA RESORT & SPA

    New bathroom designs join Crosswater’s affordable Essentials Collection

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    New bathroom designs join Crosswater’s affordable Essentials Collection

    For more than 20 years, the Crosswater brand has been associated with quality bathroom solutions. Its new Essentials collection continues this strong tradition by presenting a range of modern and stylish products at an affordable price point. 

    The latest designs are brought together to offer customers a top-to-bottom product offering that makes choosing a bathroom suite and fittings simple, without ever compromising on quality or function.

    From user-friendly sanitaryware solutions and brassware designs for bath, basin and shower, to those all-important finishing touches, Essentials combines everyday functionality with on-trend appeal to ensure that each product meets the demands of the modern bathroom.

    Smarter product design and efficient manufacturing processes conform to and exceed required British and European quality, performance, safety, sustainability and water-saving regulations. This dedication and confidence ensures that you can enjoy a genuine Crosswater experience at an approachable price point.

    Joining the Essentials collection for 2019 is a new range of brassware, sanitaryware and towel warmer designs:

    NORTH – Contemporary brassware with signature Matt Black and Chrome finishes

    Catering to the increase in demand for statement bathroom brassware, the new North collection is offered in a trend-led Matt Black finish. The range includes basin monobloc taps in three size options and a thermostatic bath / shower mixer with additional handset. A classic Chrome finish is also available.

    NOVA – Modern form with everyday functionality

    Simple lines and gently curved edges are brought together in the new Nova brassware collection. With practicality at its core, this simple yet modern selection of basin and bath taps is designed to complement the choice of Essentials sanitaryware.

    KAI TOWEL WARMERS – A warming bathroom solution

    The new range of Kai towel warmers offers a suitable heat output for every bathroom size, from large family suites to small cloakrooms. Choose from classic Chrome or contemporary Anthracite finishes across four width and height options to ensure your space is warm and your towels are toasty.

    KAI S TOILETS – Designs for every modern bathroom

    A combination of style and function, Essentials toilets are all made in Europe to the same exacting standards. The new Kai S WCs come in a range of both close-coupled and back-to-wall designs, all complete with soft-close seats; the close-coupled option comes with an ‘Eco-flush’ function.

    KAI BASINS – Quality materials and design for everyday practicality

    Manufactured using the latest casting techniques, each Kai basin is produced in durable vitreous china and available in a range of designs and installation formats. Six new designs join the collection, including a compact corner style and smart inset option for pairing with a coordinating furniture unit.

    Crosswater is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

    JO&JOE opens in Paris with longest house-warming party

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    JO&JOE opens in Paris with longest house-warming party

    The design hotel in Paris “where youth hostels meet hotels” opens with interiors by global architecture and design studio PENSON…

    After first launching in 2017 in the city of Hossegor, JO&JOE has opened a hotel that shelters its disruptive design concept in Paris. The brand, which was launched by Accor in 2016, is described as a “a vibrant living space, a home that is open to the external world and designed to meet the expectations of Millennials and all those who value sharing, spontaneity and experience”.

    JO&JOE is a hybrid hospitality concept, a mix of hotel and hostel, called Open Houses, offering a completely fresh experience in terms of design, dining options, service and customer experience.

    JO&JOE Paris has developed its interiors with global (UK based) architecture and game-changing design studio PENSON. At the Open House of Paris Gentilly, street art is everywhere thanks to the work of nine local and international artists who have covered the walls with their creations.

    The rooms at the hostel-like hotel are split into three categories: Together (dorms), Yours (private hotel-like guestrooms) and Cabins (Private space with access to communal bedrooms and restrooms).

    For launch of the new property, the brand is hosting what it is calling “the longest house-warming party with events taking place between April 25 – June 6.

    By 2020, the hotel aims to have launched Open Houses in London Budapest, Glasgown, Paris, Rio de Janero and Rome.

    JO&JOE welcomes everyone in its engaging and vibrant Open Houses, offering a completely fresh experience in terms of design, dining options, service and customer experience.

    Main image credit: JO&JOE

    LIVE FROM MILAN: Mario Bellini granted Salone del Mobile’s Special Award

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    LIVE FROM MILAN: Mario Bellini granted Salone del Mobile’s Special Award

    The Italian designer and architect was awarded the Special Lifetime Award during Salone del Mobile. Milan…

    The Salone del Mobile.Milano has celebrated its 58th edition with an evening at Palazzo Marino during which it has presented a Special Lifetime Award to Mario Bellini, the multifaceted and innovative Milanese designer, many of whose furnishings and objects have become icons capable of anticipating or revolutionising taste and style.

    The award has been made in recognition of his creativity and talent, as a plaudit for his ability to translate ideas and projects into products, initiatives and architecture, and as a thank you for his huge contribution to the Salone del Mobile through his collaboration with so many exhibiting companies.

    The official motivation for the award is as follows: “For the genius with which he has conceived both design masterpieces and great pieces of architecture For the consistency with which he has built his work and the story of Italian design For his tireless desire to innovate and explore new frontiers For his constant dialogue with the business world For his generosity in his relationships and for having always believed in and supported his city, Milan For his contribution to the Salone del Mobile through his collaboration with the many, leading companies for whom he has designed iconic products that have helped forge the history and the success of the event.”

    Modern table

    Image credit: Mario Bellini, Grand Canyon Oak Design

    The evening, one of the many climaxes of Milan Design Week was a perfect occasion for thanking the exhibiting companies for their productive and organisational commitment, which has, yet again, gone into making the Salone a unique experience, and for paying tribute to all the designers and people who do their utmost to make Milan the most attractive place in the world for an entire week. During the show, Bellini has been presenting his latest creation, the tables ”Canyon and Grand Canyon” produced for Oak Design.

    Main image credit: Diego Ravier

    £5.5 million transformation for Edinburgh city centre

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    £5.5 million transformation for Edinburgh city centre

    Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre to add 25 new rooms as part of major refurbishment…

    Managed by the UK’s leading independent hotel management company, RBH, the Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre is about to undergo a £5.5 million refurbishment.

    The hotel’s existing 161 bedrooms have already been refurbished to ensure today’s smart travellers enjoy all of the amenities they are used to.

    And the Edinburgh property has also received extensive remodelling to its lobby and public areas, with over £350,000 spent upgrading its facilities to Holiday Inn Express’ new Generation 4 standards.

    The refurbishment programme does not stop there, with an extension featuring a further 25 brand new bedrooms, also following the Generation 4 concept, set to be added to the property by mid-July this year – taking the total rooms available to 186

    The substantial investment will see the new rooms feature large beds with padded, noise reducing headboards, as well as flexible work and rest corners where traditional desks are replaced with comfortable, ergonomically designed multi-use tables and chairs that can be easily moved around the room.

    “The transformation of Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre really gives us an edge when it comes to providing excellent city centre accommodation, and is proving to be a very exciting time for the hotel,” said Stephen Harron, Divisional Director for RBH. “The bedrooms and public areas have been completely revamped, along with the installation of air conditioning and high speed IHG connect complimentary WIFI throughout the building, ensuring we can offer the best in guest experience, whether staying in Edinburgh for business or leisure.”

    Edinburgh is currently the UK’s most desired destination for hotel investment and development, and last year reported higher room occupancy rate – at 83 per cent – than anywhere else in Europe.

    Morgan’s latest art installation portrays colourful ‘confusion of the world’

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    Morgan’s latest art installation portrays colourful ‘confusion of the world’

    Ahead of Clerkenwell Design Week 2019, Morgan unveiled ‘Alive in the Human Hive’, an art installation in its London showroom created in collaboration with artist David Shillinglaw… 

    Last week, contract furniture design studio and manufacturer Morgan welcomed artists, interior designers, visionaries and the press to an exclusive viewing of its new art installation by David Shillinglaw at its Clerkenwell showroom.

    Celebrating the spirit of collaboration and imagination, Morgan has been sharing its showroom with artists since opening in 2014, transforming the interior’s blank walls into thought provoking galleries and colourful canvasses.

    Entitled ‘Alive in the Human Hive’, the new installation is a dynamic, large scale mural alongside a selection of Shillinglaw’s recent artworks.

    Image credit: Morgan

    “We all suffer and celebrate: appetites and desires, fears and misfortunes,” he said when describing his work. “How can I paint a picture of the world? The local and global landscape. Planet Earth is a place so strange, so full of beauty and wonder, mistakes and confusion. This confusion is very important to me, it feeds me and my work.”

    The artist brings his energetic imagery to the Clerkenwell showroom for a second time, ever growing his relationship with Morgan. Since graduating from Central Saint Martins 17 years ago, he has been commissioned by Converse, The Dulwich Picture House and agnès b.

    Beyond the UK, he has exhibited in galleries from Japan and China to The Gambia and Turkey. Evading categorisation, Shillinglaw’s work includes small handmade books, paintings, album covers and set design.

    The installation will be on display throughout Clerkenwell Design Week, providing an eye-catching backdrop to an exciting series of events and product launches.

    Morgan is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

    Main image credit: Morgan

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘Queer Frontiers’ launches 2019 exhibition & programme

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    EXCLUSIVE: ‘Queer Frontiers’ launches 2019 exhibition & programme

    ‘Queer Frontiers’, which was set up in 2018 by ARTIQ, launches 2019 exhibition & programme for LGBTQ+ artists…

    Queer Frontiers, founded in 2018, was set up by leading art consultancy ARTIQ as an expression of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community globally, with a particular focus on profiling the work of LGBTQ+ artists and raising awareness of issues important to the community.

    Last year – for the first ever Queer Frontiers event –  ARTIQ took over a pop-up space on Old Compton Street during, and with the support of, Pride in London, to provide a platform for and showcase the outstanding talents of a diverse range of international artists, with all artworks available for sale and profits given to LGBTQ+ charity London LGBTQ+ Community Centre.

    This year, Queer Frontiers is back, bigger and better than ever, with the exciting news that the event will be sponsored in 2019 by specialist insurer and arts supporter Hiscox. Artworks this year will be sold in aid of the event’s partnering charities, Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT) and Switchboard, and the event will once again take place during Pride in London week.

    ‘‘We are absolutely delighted to welcome Hiscox on board as the new event sponsor this year,” said Patrick McCrae, CEO of ARTIQ. “As a business, our whole ethos is about bridging the gap between the creative and business worlds. This event, with the new support of Hiscox, is a perfect embodiment of that.”

    “Celebrating Pride wherever you are means different things to each of us”, added Richard Watson, Group Chief Underwriting Officer, Hiscox. “We’re looking forward to seeing all the artists bringing it to life in the exhibition and beyond.”

    The 2019 event will feature a week-long exhibition in central London from July 4 to 10, open to the public, alongside arts programming, including a life-drawing workshop for the young people AKT supports and a panel discussion with Creative Industries Federation.

    To kick off proceedings, ARTIQ has released its call-out for artworks to be submitted for inclusion in the exhibition/event, with a final submission date for artworks of midnight, 13th May 2019. Artworks – to be submitted by LGBTQ+ artists and allies – could take any form, from paintings and photographic work to sculptures or screenprints. For 2019, ARTIQ invites entries that celebrate our shifting world and growing awareness around notions of pride, community, and social progress. This could include works responding to the themes of diversity, inclusion, equality, creativity, optimism and kindness. Artists can elect either to give 50 per cent or 100 per cent of the sale of each artwork to our partnership charities, as they see fit, with ARTIQ foregoing all usual commission or fees. Further submission details are available here.

    Full exhibition details:

    Thursday July 4 – Wednesday July 10
    ARTIQ & Hiscox present: Queer Frontiers, 8-10 Brewer St, Soho
    OPENING TIMES
    Thursday July 4: 10am-5pm (charity workshop 12-2pm)
    Friday July 5: 10am-5pm
    Saturday July 6: 3pm-5pm (Pride party)
    Sunday July 7: 10am-5pm
    Monday July 8: 10am-5pm
    Tuesday July 9: 10am-5pm (charity workshop 12-2pm)
    Wednesday July 10: 10am-3pm

    Art consultancy ARTIQ, which celebrates ten years in business this year, encourages businesses to embed creativity into their cultures, harnessing the power of art to improve wellbeing, enhance experience and promote the values and character of their business or brand. To date, ARTIQ and its clients have paid out over £3million to artists, makers and arts institutions. The company also founded and co-sponsors The Graduate Art Prize, now in its seventh year in 2019, which promotes the best young artistic talent emerging from Britain’s colleges and universities.

    Christopher Hyde Lighting launches two twists on hotel lighting

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    Christopher Hyde Lighting launches two twists on hotel lighting

    Christopher Hyde Lighting, based at the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, has added  two new products to its contemporary collection…

    Christopher Hyde Lighting, which has more than 25 years’ experience in providing lighting for a wide range of interiors, has unveiled two new lighting products that are suitable for a wide range of interior scenes and styles.

    A new handmade pendant ‘The Lucerne’ is a satin brass adjustable frame incorporating LED with bubble glass. “This exciting new piece is great for over tables and bars and will compliment and be a talking point for any interior,” said the brand in a press release.

    Meanwhile, the dynamic collection of the ‘Granada’ and ‘Seville’ lights has captured a different take on the Christopher Hyde Brand. With inner finishes available in gold, silver and copper leaf these lights are given added luxury.  This exciting collection comes with LED lighting technology.

    LEDs are the most energy-efficient bulbs. They use 90 per cent less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs and can pay for themselves through energy savings in just a couple of months. They are customised to fit the clients’ needs and any interior.

    Christopher Hyde Lighting is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

    Main image credit: Christopher Hyde Lighting

    CASE STUDY: Surfaces in flexible working areas

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    CASE STUDY: Surfaces in flexible working areas

    Creating a fresh new look for its offices and stores, Belgian supermarket giant, the Colruyt Group, has turned to UNILIN, division panels, to help it complete the circle and repurpose its old retail and office interior fittings…

    The family-owned Colruyt Group is famed for its sustainable approach to retailing and is active in many initiatives positively impacting its entire supply chain.

    As part of its drive towards a circular, sustainable approach – that it sees just as important as competitive pricing – the retailer has placed reuse high on its agenda. So, when it came to creating a fresh new look for its offices, it turned to its long-running relationship with UNILIN, division panels, to see what could be done:

    “Our current chipboard is 100 per cent circular,” explains specification director, Christof De Poorter. “Comprising 85 per cent recycled wood, the remaining 15 per cent is sourced from thinning and waste flows from the timber industry. We save an average of 5,000 trees per day and reduce CO2 emissions by some 1.2million tonnes a year.”

    Colruyt Group took this circular process one step further, delivering its old panels and shelves directly to UNILIN, so that they could be recycled and returned for use in its new offices. UNILIN undertook a sophisticated cleaning process involving a range of technologies including NIR (near infared), sifting, induction and magnetism, before working them into new Evola panels to be used within the retailer’s offices. Selecting H720 BST White Birch and 625 BST Silicon, Colruyt has selected a look that’s fresh, yet easy to maintain and resistant to the knocks of modern working environments. More importantly, it has brought new transparency to the materials it specifies.

    “We sense just how important sustainability is to our customers and our circular approach helps them to take action,” continues Christof De Poorter. “Colruyt’s approach and commitment to taking every step possible to become more sustainable shows that consumers are no longer buying just a product, they place a great deal of importance on the complete production chain.”

    Colruyt is not the only company to take advantage of UNILIN’s circular chipboard production with more and more organisations looking for positive actions on sustainability to increase transparency and gain competitive advantage.

    UNILIN is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

    Main image credit: UNILIN

    LIVE FROM MILAN: Inside Tom Dixon’s new restaurant and showroom

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    LIVE FROM MILAN: Inside Tom Dixon’s new restaurant and showroom

    British designer Tom Dixon has gone beyond the exhibition hall at Milan Design Week by unveiling his latest collection of products in the studio’s new permanent restaurant… 

    After five years of exhibiting in the traditional way during Milan Design Week, British design studio Tom Dixon has opened a new restaurant and showroom called The Manzoni in Milan to display his latest collection.

    The new space has pre-opened and will reopen after the show as a permanent epicentre for guests to view the studio’s latest lighting, furniture and accessories collections.

    Aptly named The Manzoni after the Italian novelist Alessandro Manzoni, the new 100-cover restaurant has been created by Dixon’s Design Research Studio.”With the city being so active and engaging right now, it is the right time to forget being temporary and build something permanent,” said Dixon. “Just like in London, we don’t think it’s enough to just have a showroom. We need a place where people slow down and experience our products in a live setting.”

    Operating as the designer intends his products to be promoted – by being used and handled – The Manzoni is a living and breathing showroom and restaurant, which will be styled in true Tom Dixon style – think reimagined simple shapes, clean and crisp colours and even an immersive green jungle.

    “The Manzoni is more than a restaurant,” says Dixon, “It is also an experimental space, a theatrical backdrop.” The concept was created so that guests to the restaurant can browse before they dine while showroom visitors can grab a bite to eat before of after browsing the latest products within the season’s collection. Visitors to both the restaurant and the showroom will be able to see the studio’s products in an active context.

    Main image credit: Tom Dixon Studio/The Manzoni

    St Regis opens “curated mansion” in Hong Kong

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    St Regis opens “curated mansion” in Hong Kong

    Renowned interior designer André Fu completes his latest project, St Regis Hong Kong, located in the vibrant district of Wan Chai…

    An ode to the cultural diversity and timeless elegance of Hong Kong, The St. Regis Hong Kong has opened and is described as a curated mansion which has been realised through the masterful lens of designer, André Fu.

    Design elements throughout the hotel seamlessly combine classic luxury with modern sophistication, incorporating signature details which pay homage to Hong Kong’s rich culture and heritage.

    “Hong Kong has always been one of the most attractive destinations for global luxury travelers, and the St. Regis brand is synonymous with timeless luxury and impeccable standards of hospitality,” said Henry Lee, Chief Operations Officer and Managing Director, Greater China, Marriott International. “We are very glad to add The St. Regis Hong Kong to Marriott International’s strong luxury portfolio in the market. The St. Regis Hong Kong represents the very best of the St. Regis brand, with its distinctive design, exquisite fine dining and truly exceptional service.”

    Designed for business travellers and culture seekers alike, the 27-storey property boasts 129 appointed guestrooms and suites featuring warm and inviting touches throughout. A residentially-inspired retreat in the heart of Wan Chai, guestrooms at The St. Regis Hong Kong feature wood flooring and accents infused with understated Asian sensibility, deep soaking bathtubs and expansive windows with sweeping views of the harbour and city. The hotel is also home to a heated swimming pool and poolside bar, as well as a health club with a spa treatment room and other luxury amenities.

    Image credit: Marriott International/St St Regis

    The St. Regis Hong Kong also introduces two exceptional dining concepts to the region with L’Envol and Rùn, each spearheaded by award-winning chefs. At L’Envol, guests can indulge in French Haute cuisine created by chef Olivier Elzer who has accrued a remarkable 18 Michelin stars throughout his career to date. The hotel’s signature Cantonese restaurant, Rùn, is led by renowned chef and winner of the Silver Award in the 2012 Best of the Best Culinary Awards, Hung Chi-Kwong. Famed for his contemporary interpretations of Cantonese cuisine, Chi-Kwong’s restaurant will serve innovative takes on traditional Cantonese fare.

    The Drawing Room is an all-day eatery with views of the Terrace. Meanwhile, the St. Regis Bar is a contemporary bar for after-hours digestifs.

    The St. Regis Hong Kong is also an all-encompassing events destination with approximately 12,000 sq. ft. of event space across five venues. The sophisticated Astor Ballroom, with its cathedral high ceiling design, is perfectly suited for grand-scale events; while the Rockefeller Room is a versatile space for corporate meetings or more intimate affairs.

    The hotel’s opening follows Marriott’s plans to open more than 30 luxury properties this year.

    Main image credit: Marriott International/St Regis

    LIVE FROM MILAN: The story of LAUFEN captured in installation

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    LIVE FROM MILAN: The story of LAUFEN captured in installation

    LAUFEN has told its story at the FuoriSalone, Milan, through the eyes of the New York-based studio Snarkitecture: from the clay to the finished ceramic product, an installation reveals the key to LAUFEN’s success…

    During the FuoriSalone 2019, Laufen has presented an installation by the visionary New York-based group Snarkitecture, a creative, original way of narrating the company, on the borderline between art and architecture.

    The location is Teatro Arsenale, in a building that dates back to 1272, at Carrobbio, inside the 5Vie district in the historical centre of Milan, now an avant-garde hotbed of cultural initiatives.

    “The term innovation has many meanings, and all of them become fundamental for us at Laufen,” said Alberto Magrans, Senior Managing Director, LAUFEN. “Beyond our extensive focus on a technological plane, we believe it is important to grow along a path of multi-level research, interaction with stimulating creative counterparts, cultural influence open to a wide spectrum of the world of design and the arts. Collaborating with eclectic personalities and visionary artists like Snarkitecture gives us an opportunity to look at our history, our experience in a new perspective, to live it through new codes of interpretation, with constant reference to our true identity.”

    At the entrance to the large space set aside for MATERIALMESSAGE, visitors have been immersed in a sort of canyon, whose walls face off in a dialogue of vivid contrasts: to the left, a mountain composed of 198 tons of raw clay, the same material that is stocked every day in the company’s warehouses, to become the basis of all manufacturing and to te right, a monumental three-dimensional construction composed of 701 Laufen washstands in SaphirKeramik.

    Walking through the ravine visitors were able to experience the extraordinary difference between the raw material, in an imposing grey mass, impressive in terms of weight and volume, and the finished industrial product, perfectly designed, always identical, bright white, ultra-light, with a very pure, smooth surface and amazingly limited thickness. To underline these contrasts, Snarkitecture designed a theatrical illuminated scenography with a dramatic passage leading to a secondary installation of two other important protagonists: a large vat of vibrant slip, a mixture of clay and water, representing the first passage of the process of ceramic workmanship, and a video projection that reproduces sequences, sounds and images of the manufacturing.

    MATERIALMESSAGE portrays the intrinsic power of a simple material like clay, capable of giving form to excellence when crafted in an impeccable way. The connecting link is the winning formula of Laufen, which blends knowledge, experience, technological innovation, design and fine workmanship.

    Laufen is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

    Main image credit: Laufen

    Mercue Brighton Seafront Hotel completes £3m refurbishment

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    Mercue Brighton Seafront Hotel completes £3m refurbishment

    Mercure Brighton Seafront Hotel has undergone a £3 million-pound transformation of its 116 guestrooms and communal spaces…

    Led by local interior designer, Helen Hooper, Mercure Brighton Seafront Hotel haws completed the interior design renovation, which included all 116 guestrooms and public spaces. The redesign of the nineteenth century hotel encapsulates the perfect blend of exquisite Regency splendor, with a dash of quirky Brighton charm.

    As a listed building, no structural changes have been made, but the bespoke refurbishment has introduced modern décor throughout, with elements of Brighton’s rich history seen in every room.

    “The bespoke carpet is set to make waves, as design inspiration was taken from the ripple effect of the tide going out from the sea.”

    A colour palette of inky blues and welcoming whites has transformed the lounge and reception area. The bespoke carpet is set to make waves, as design inspiration was taken from the ripple effect of the tide going out from the sea – which is only a few yards away from the hotel’s doorstep. The lounge has been transformed into an impressive gallery showcasing the finest creations from local artists, really putting Mercure at the heart of Brighton’s buzzing art scene.

    “The modernisation of the hotel will make the Mercure a thriving cultural hub for guests, the artwork that can be seen all around the hotel shows how proud we are to be a part of the busy Brighton community,” commented Iain Lindsay, General Manager at Mercure Hotel Brighton Seafront. “We are so happy with how the refurbishment has gone and we are looking forward to welcoming guests, old and new, and hearing their thoughts on our new look hotel.”

    The updated cocktail bar and restaurant is unrecognisable with splashes of jewel colours sapphire, emerald, and amber adorning the walls. It’s not just the furnishings that have been given an update, a new food and drink menu will also be launching that reflects the culinary delights that can be locally sourced in and around Brighton. Taste buds will tingle with diners choosing from many delicious options on the menu from the Chef’s signature locally caught fish and chips, battered in Harveys Beer (brewed in Lewes), to the Brighton Deli Burger, made with Sussex Cheddar – for those with a sweet tooth finishing up with the signature Brighton Rock Knickerbocker Glory.

    The bar front has become the new home to pieces from the iconic West Pier, which were salvaged from the fire that destroyed it almost two decades ago. The restaurants ceiling has been restored to its original height of just over three meters, making it a decedent room to sit back relax and enjoy drinks, dinner or an indulgent afternoon tea.

    Guests of Mercure will step into a seaside wonderland in the newly refurbished bedrooms. The new throws, curtains, carpets and bespoke furnishings provide a fresh and modern look. The 16 sea view rooms have been updated with a plush grey silk effect décor, beautiful glass and brass chandeliers and antique mirror glass on the desk and bedside tables.

    Main image credit: Mercure Brighton Seafront Hotel

    Managing Director of The Lanesborough confirmed as speaker for Hotel Summit

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    Managing Director of The Lanesborough confirmed as speaker for Hotel Summit

    Managing Director of The Lanesborough, Marco Novello, has confirmed that he will speak at Hotel Summit, which takes place at Heythrop Park, Oxfordshire, on July 8 – 9… 

    One year on from succeeding Geoffrey Gelardi as the managing director of The Lanesborough, Marco Novello has confirmed that he will be a speaker at Hotel Summit, which takes place at Heythrop Park, Oxfordshire on July 8 – 9.

    Novello, who was a finalist at The Brit List 2018, will address the audience at The Summit with a 15 minute presentation on himself and where he is at one year into his role. He will then join editor Hamish Kilburn on stage for a live Q&A, which will focus the conversation on Marco’s plans for the future, how trends dictate what a hotel should offer and the importance of wellness – even in the centre of London where space is limited. The pair will also discuss how The Lanesborough blends technology into its interiors, the importance of a strong relationship between hotelier and interior designer and the challenges that come with being one of London’s most prestigious hotels.

    Kilburn, who reviewed the hotel when it first reopened in 2015, said: “We have never had a speakership programme like it for Hotel Summit, and it is such an honour to announce that Marco will join us at this year’s event in its new home at Heythrop Park. Marco is a one-of-the-kind managing directors who, with his incredible team, manages to keep one of London’s most prestigious hotels current and relevant to the luxury market by effortlessly and sensitively reacting to key travel and luxury trends. Marco’s modern vision was exactly what The Lanesborough needed when he was appointed last year, and I look forward to discussing his and the hotel’s journey ahead.”

    How to register 

    If you are a supplier to the hospitality industry looking to meet top hotel professionals, contact Jennie Lane at j.lane@forumevents.co.uk– or click here to book your place.

    If you are a hotelier and would like to attend the Summit, please contact Liam Cloona on l.cloona@forumevents.co.uk – or click here to book your place.

    Rendering of beachside project

    Corinthia Hotels to debut in the Middle East

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    Corinthia Hotels to debut in the Middle East

    Corinthia Meydan Beach Dubai, which is slated to open in 2020, will be Corinthia Hotel’s debut property in the Middle East…

    Corinthia Hotels has announced that it will open the brand’s first hotel in the Middle East. Due to launch in 2020, the contemporary beachfront hotel marks the beginning of ambitious expansion plans by the hotel group. Corinthia Meydan Beach Dubai will be located on the prestigious JBR beachfront, reflecting the enriching brand values for which Corinthia is known.

    Rendering of beachside project

    Working in partnership with Meydan Group, Corinthia Meydan Beach has been designed as a new beachfront resort and destination that will aim to reflect both the bliss of the beach and the excitement of the city.

    “The energy, vision and quality of resources assembled for this project by Meydan means that this hotel is in the enviable position of offering the market something fresh and new.” – Matthew Dixon, Area Managing Director Middle East, Corinthia Hotels

    Situated within Dubai Marina, overlooking a pristine stretch of white sand, the 55-storey hotel will be home to 360 guestrooms and suites. This beachfront landmark will be complete with cascading infinity pools, the region’s first ESPALife Spa and unforgettable culinary experiences. It’s also intelligently designed for spectacular views across to the Dubai Eye and Palm Jumeirah. Internationally renowned American design professionals AE7 have ensured each detail of the hotel has been meticulously considered to create a tribute to the region’s tradition of architectural grandeur and cultural traditions.

    Plush interiors in render

    Image credit: Corinthia Hotels

    “Corinthia Meydan Beach is an exciting addition to the region’s hospitality landscape, representing both a landmark milestone for us as a brand, and for Dubai,” said Corinthia’s Area Managing Director Middle East Matthew Dixon. “The energy, vision and quality of resources assembled for this project by Meydan means that this hotel is in the enviable position of offering the market something fresh and new; an interpretation of heritage, culture and service values that we feel have not yet been bought to the UAE. We are confident that this property will enhance the Corinthia brand in the region, brilliantly enhancing our existing portfolio.”

    The existing Corinthia portfolio features the flagship Corinthia London, as well as award-winning Corinthia Hotels in Budapest, Malta, St Petersburg, Prague, Lisbon, Khartoum and Tripoli. From city-centre hotels to coastal resorts, each one is connected by a strong Corinthia philosophy. Inspired by its Mediterranean, family-run heritage, the brand is dedicated to providing uplifting moments, unforgettable experiences and exquisite service.

    Main image credit: Corinthia Hotels

    In Conversation With: Harry Allnatt, Richmond International

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    In Conversation With: Harry Allnatt, Richmond International

    Following Hotel Designs’ public unveiling of its 30 Under 30 at Meet Up London, editor Hamish Kilburn catches up with one of the winners, Harry Allnatt from Richmond International, to discuss challenges and opportunities that come with being a young rising star of the industry…

    Among Hotel Designs’ celebrated 30 Under 30s, which were spectacularly unveiled at Meet Up London, is Harry Allnatt (29).

    A unique and talented young creative whose ability is most certainly not defined by his date of birth, Allnatt is a senior designer at Richmond International. Having been at the firm for eight years, he is now a vital team member who has worked on some of the company’s most important hotel and hospitality projects in recent years, including Four Seasons Hvar, Langham Boston, The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, P&O Britannia and many others.

    The foundations of Allnatt’s career started following an early admiration of design. He attended Nottingham Trent University to study furniture design having been inspired by the ethos of the likes of Jasper Morrison. “My goal at the time was more to be an architect and, in my head, furniture design was like mini architecture.” he says. “As part of the course, in 2009, I was encouraged to partake in a placement year. Before I knew it, I was working for an architectural practice in Milan that specialised in hospitality and high-end design.” It was at this point in his career when Allnatt’s curiosity took over. “Why stop there, I thought. I started to think about more than the pieces I was creating, to the room and space around the furniture,” he explained. “Milan certainly enriched my interest in furniture design, but the placement year also exposed me to so many new projects, which led me into the path of interior design.”

    As a result of his studies and the valuable experience he gained in the design incubator of Milan, Allnatt started to acquire a unique set of skills as a creative designer in order go beyond  decoration. “It’s actually really helped me to add value to projects, especially when required to design certain looks,” he said. “It also allows me to design interiors and furniture that is not just aesthetically pleasing, but that also meets operational standards – standing the the test of time and enabling staff to maintain excellent service.” An exceptional example of this is The Sterling Suite in The Langham London, which is frequently praised for its effortless functionality and timeless feel. Allnatt admitted to working on almost all of the six-bedroom suite’s casegoods and laughs: “I don’t think I could do that one again.”

    The plush Sterling Suite at Langham London

    Image caption: The Sterling Suite, Langham London

    Approaching every project around peoples’ movements and behaviors, Allnatt’s ethos is a tight fit for Richmond International, which is known for being a company that designs awe-inspiring hotels that are also practical spaces. “I’m inspired by stripping things back to discover what is necessary,” he says. “To me, that’s what makes a beautiful project – and it’s this approach that is now very relevant in interior design. If a space is designed to be used well, then it will enrich the overall experience of the people using it.” Allnatt’s explanation gives credence to the obvious shift in how modern design is perceived by those checking in; the knowledgeable and more aware consumer.

    Unchartered waters ahead

    With its prestigious reputation on the international hotel design stage, Richmond International was asked to repackage its luxury hotel visions onto the high seas. With the aim to modernise all spaces, the team, led by Director Terry McGillicuddy, were asked by P&O Cruises to redesign two new ships, Britannia and Iona. “Britannia was by far the most challenging project, purely because of the amount I had to learn and work out on the job,” explains Harry. “I learnt quickly about the regulations from Terry, P&Os incredible technical team and the shipyard. However, going from designing for land to designing for sea was a challenge, but I am so proud that we were one of the first hotel designers to really tackle a project of that magnitude at sea.”

    Simple, minimalist cabin on board P&O Britannia

    Image credit: P&O Britannia

    Following the success of both vessels, Allnatt, the retentive designer, is now a senior designer working on the firm’s next marine project, to create the interiors of a new luxury cruise liner of which the details are yet to be unveiled. “It really is like designing a city on the sea,” Allnatt laughs. “The beauty of it [designing cruise ships] is that we get to create so many different spaces – from the casinos to the theatres, cabins to bars.”

    The challenges for young designers

    Being young in an industry full of legends can be daunting, to say the least, which adds to weight on the shoulders of having to prove oneself as an individual. The somewhat right-of-passage feeling of unease and overwhelming responsibility that comes to us all in the start of our journey, was for Allnatt the time to stand out. “The industry is saturated with great designers, and the landscape is so subjective,” he explains. “Creating an identity and establishing yourself, inside and outside the company I believe is one of the major challenges that young designers have to face in our industry.”

    QUICK-FIRE ROUND

    Hamish Kilburn: What’s your favourite colour?
    Harry Allnatt: Blue, I love grey and all the different shades.

    HK: What’s been your favourite year so far?
    HA: 2018 was the year that shaped me the most. It’s been lovely having a local project in London and seeing it through from concept to site completion. Seeing something take shape on a daily basis has been very rewarding, but not without it’s problems.

    HK: What is your favourite hotel?
    HA: Rosewood London because it all ties together. The rose-bronze gallery from the courtyard entrance, the staff uniform… even the guest signage, which is an open book sitting on a plinth. There is an unmatched sense of discovery in this hotel. Details you notice makes the space more than just a good-looking luxury hotel.

    HK: Are there any shortcuts or secrets for getting ahead?
    HA: I wish I knew them. It’s as simple as working hard and soaking up information as a sponge. Being a designer is a lifestyle.

    HK: Where’s next on your travel bucket list?
    HA: I would love to go to the Amalfi Coast.

    HK: Who is your current design icon?
    HA: Tony Chi and Yabu Pushelberg. They both fool you into thinking a detail is simple, but the process of making something look simple is complicated. 

    Having worked on a variety projects, Allnatt is grateful to the company that supports him in becoming a rising star. “Without Richmond International I would not have been given these incredible opportunities to work on so many amazing projects,” he says while reflecting. “Working in collaboration with Vivienne Westwood’s team, for example, on the London West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, was an incredible experience. The aim was to merge fashion and design together, and during this project we created a feature console inspired by their prints and graphics – it was great!”

    Large and spacious public area of plush suite

    Image Caption: Penthouse of London West Hollywood

    The sensitive designer who sits before me is a knowledgeable leader who makes the most of the opportunities that present themselves – and is, as such, a worthy name alongside 29 others who deserves to be included in Hotel Designs’ 30 Under 30.

    Rendering of the Wet Deck, one of the hotel's two pools

    W Hotels announces second arrival in Bali

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    W Hotels announces second arrival in Bali

    W Bali – Ubud is set to bring a new level of W’s bold design to the cultural heart of Bali…

    W Hotels Worldwide has announced the signing of W Bali – Ubud, the brand’s newest W Escape, which is being developed in partnership with Indonesia’s Ruang Teknik Group.

    The expansion into Ubud marks the second W Hotel in Indonesia, following the opening of W Bali – Seminyak in 2010.

    Rendering of the Wet Deck, one of the hotel's two pools

    Positioned on a hilltop, deliberately oriented toward the morning sun rising in the east, and southwards over stunning, unobstructed views of the Tanggayuda Valley, W Bali – Ubud is expected to reinvent the dreamy Ubud experience with eclectic, surprising art and design set amongst a versatile vibe that is at once laid back and social.

    “Ubud is a hidden destination like no other, where legends and nature intertwine with everyday life to create a magical sense of adventure,” said Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide. “W Bali – Ubud is an exciting next step for us. We are applying a unique, vibrant sensibility to this hotel, one that has not been seen before on the island. W Bali – Ubud will combine the brand’s boundary-breaking approach to design with the rich cultural, spiritual and artistic influences of Ubud to show off the best of this incredible locale and all we’ve learned in the decade since W debuted in Indonesia.”

    The hotel’s design will redefine modern luxury in the destination, taking inspiration from social, historical and physical insights and embedding elements of each into the rooms and public spaces. Upon entering the hotel, guests will be immersed in modern interpretations of traditional Balinese art styles with works from local artists, that lead to breath-taking lounges perfect for soaking in spectacular jungle sunsets as sounds of cool beats drift through the air. The hotel will offer 100 inspired guestrooms, including 10 villas with private swimming pools and an EWOW suite (the brand’s take on the traditional Presidential Suite).

    As the brand’s newest W Escape, W Bali – Ubud will bring a bold new take on international cuisine with a Balinese twist to multiple on-site bars and restaurants. Traditional Asian flavors intertwine with international influences at the stylish all-day dining restaurant Morinda. Meanwhile, Synn, a specialty restaurant featuring the finest of Balinese and world cuisines will be an underground sensation, literally. The new restaurant is partially underground, opening towards a jungle cliff.

    “Bali’s hotel market continues to see strong growth and it remains a major destination in Marriott International’s footprint,” said Paul Foskey, Chief Development Officer, Asia Pacific, Marriott International. “We look forward to partnering with Ruang Teknik Group in introducing W Bali Ubud, the second W-branded hotel in this market.”

    W Bali – Ubud is slated to join the brand’s robust portfolio of more than 50 hotels around the globe, including the recently opened W Dubai – The Palm (February 2019), as well as the soon-to-open W Aspen, W Ibiza and W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island following Marriott announcing that it will add 30 new luxury hotels to its thriving portfolio this year.

    Main image credit: Marriott International/W Hotels

    LIVE FROM MILAN: Minotti unveils 2019 indoor collection

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    LIVE FROM MILAN: Minotti unveils 2019 indoor collection

    During Milan Design Week’s Salone del Mobile, Minotti has finally lifted the lid on its highly anticipated 2019 indoor collection…

    Hot off the heels of being at the centre of the action as the style partner for Meet Up London, Minotti has yet again raised the level of furniture design with the unveiling of its 2019 Collection during Milan Design Week.

    Collection after collection, year after year, Minotti’s unquenchable passion can be sensed from all corners of the design-hub city.

    For the 2019 Collection, the furniture company has conceived a new stylistic code, a new vision of the interior with surprising suggestions and atmospheres which play host to our new designs. Its intention is to provide food for thought in a surprising, creative, practical and dynamic way, to all those who choose our brand around the world.

    The new collection, coordinated by Rodolfo Dordoni with Minotti Studio, brings a new vision of the living area to life, in which seating systems and furniture outline structured spaces and reveal new geometries in a continuous alternation of curves and straight lines. The result is a surprising variety of compositional solutions featuring unexpected combinations of textures and materials.

    “Our partnership with designers with strong identities rooted in different cultures forge ahead with the 2019 Collection,” the company explains in its press material. “By seamlessly becoming part of the “Minotti project” they [the designers] have joined us in enhancing the new collection, so creating a renewed stylistic code with an international flavour.”

    Alongside Rodolfo Dordoni, the new collection welcomes the signature of Christophe Delcourt from France, Nendo from Japan and Marcio Kogan / studio mk27 from Brazil, also witnessing the début of Danish studio GamFratesi.

    Below is a handfull of the individual pieces in the collection:

    DANIELS – Christophe Delcourt design

    Comparable to a landscape design project, where carefully plotted combinations of elements create a new domestic scenery, the Daniels seating system redesigns the living areas with brand new compositions, in which regular curves and ellipses interrupt the linearity of the layouts, imbuing them with a more dynamic momentum.

    The seats are designed based on the concepts of full modularity and maximum comfort, and feature a single cushion. The vast design system also includes decisively large chaise-longue couches with curved seating areas.

    The frame of the back, and the combination of two different depths produces an effect in which the backrests appear to overlap, creating movement at the back which dispels the perception of the sofa as a continuous screen when set in the centre of the room, as well as making it possible to add the Clive console table, which further accentuates its motion.

    AMBER – Christophe Delcourt design

    With a design that develops a quarter, eighth and sixteenth of a circle into three-dimensional elements, the Amber low units give the impression of modular furniture with countless configurations, flaunting forms that twist and turn in the space.

    They are designed to stand alone or for use as part of an arrangement, as individual features or combined in seating systems, creating interesting contrasts between hard and soft materials that convey a dynamic effect to the various solutions.

    LAWSON – Rodolfo Dordoni design

    With the fluid line of its shapes and the equilibrium of its soft volumes, the Lawson seating system explores different types of seats, offering innovative solutions that push out the traditional style boundaries, ranging from small lounge armchairs to the larger easy chair, and even sofas.

    WEST – Rodolfo Dordoni design

    A faceting effect livens up and interrupts the cubism that sets the morphology of the West seating system apart from the clichés of modern design. Characterised by its suitability for use in a wide range of different contemporary and traditional arrangements, West also features glints of pure creativity, such as the chaise-longue, available in pentagonal or hexagonal form and the elements that stand out for their striking backrests in saddle hide, ergonomically shaped to rise and support the rear cushion.

    ANGIE – GamFratesi design

    A saddle hide element designs a wing that embraces the armchair, sustaining the frame like a sculptural bustier, characterised inside by the inviting softness of the seat and backrest. Behind the apparent simplicity of the design lies an advanced technological process used to make both the padding with different textures of foam and the saddle hide bustier, made using two different Baydur moulds, which perfectly follows the curved line of the armchair and available in Bordeaux, Ash, Dove Grey, Sage, Mud, Moka and Black colours.

    The GamFratesi studio, signing the design, worked on the idea of contrast, emphasising it and juxtaposing the stiff frame of the saddle hide element with the softness of the upholstered part, which can also be seen on the back, so setting the scene for interesting colour combinations of saddle hide and fabric.

    SHELLEY – GamFratesi design

    Distinguished by its elegant formal cubist shape, Shelley sports a linear geometry, enhanced by the presence of saddle hide and its accurate processing technique.

    Its characteristic alluring saddle hide volume hosts cushions covered in fabric and opens at the front on the sides to reveal the inviting seat, while the rear part accommodates the body in a soft embrace. The saddle hide also serves to bind the legs together, wrapping itself round them and allowing the top part to emerge, ending in a fine decorative detail with Black Nickel finish.

    The bearing frame reveals interesting shape solutions, such as the sloping front legs, slightly open at the sides or the tightness of the saddle hide at the base of the chair, which gradually loosens in an elegant tapering effect towards the exterior of the top part. Sartorial details, such as neat piping, define the edges of the cushions, with those of the backrest and armrest designed as three separate elements.

    SUITCASE LINE – Rodolfo Dordoni design

    The iconic cubic Suitcase armchair, designed by Rodolfo Dordoni in 1997, gets an overhaul in the 2019 edition of Suitcase Line, providing a contemporary take on the concept and geometric rigour of the original piece, characterised by new details.

    With the chrome feet that originally supported the armchair now removed, the volume sits on the floor and features four flawless strips in aluminium on the corners that provide a glimpse of the upholstery at the end. The strips are painted in an all-new Brandy colour finish that adds depth to the metal.

    As recalled by Rodolfo Dordoni, who designed it the same year he had started the collaboration with Minotti, “Suitcase was born as a declaration of intent, indicating the change that Minotti wanted to give to its new path. It was an armchair without particular features, without exuberance in form, minimal, but with a different interpretation. It was enough dressing it up, putting a dress on it to mark the subsequent phase of interpretation of the product. We have added new sensations to its lines, the same work we did on the shapes has been applied to the surfaces, too. This has been the strong intuition.”

    GRANT – Rodolfo Dordoni design

    A coloured top – in Mulberry, Olive, Rust and Smoke – that plays around with the transparencies and texture of the glass, treated using a special fusion process, is the distinguishing feature of the Grant coffee table.

    Made of metal, it has a one-piece crown-shaped frame in a polished Chrome or painted Black finish, with legs tapered towards the bottom.

    The tactile sensoriality of the top, with its slightly wavy surface characteristic of pieces in fused glass,  is contrasted by the plasticity of the forms, endowing a simple furnishing element with a sculptural feel.

    Minotti is an Italian company, established in 1948, with a solid reputation at an international level as an excellent expression of “Made in Italy” in the field of contemporary furniture design and ambassador of a classic-modern lifestyle in the residential and hospitality segments.

    Show-stopping LED illumination installation unveiled at One Bartholomew

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    Show-stopping LED illumination installation unveiled at One Bartholomew

    Signbox, the award-winning signage pioneer, has transformed a wall art concept into an LED illumination installation at One Bartholomew, London…

    Following the completion of Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol, the signage company Signbox has completed a complex neon bar code wall art concept into a show-stopping LED illumination installation at One Bartholomew, an iconic new Grade A office building in Barts Square in the City of London.

    Commissioned to deliver a CAT A signage project by architect, Sheppard Robson, on behalf of contractor, Mace Group, Signbox went on to devise a compelling solution for the architect’s ambitious bar code scheme that would create an exhilarating visual impact within the building’s vast, double-height reception space.

    One Bartholomew is a 12-storey, 221,000 sq.ft office building with stunning views over Barts Square, St Pauls and the City skyline and is owned by property investor, Helical plc. Its ground floor is now dominated by the remarkable installation that spells out the building’s name in bar code and the commanding presence of its unique neon composition has led to a remarkable transformation for users and visitors of this cutting-edge space.

    This was, however, to prove a demanding project, as Greg Bailey, Senior Project Manager at Signbox, revealed. “Creating a solution that would articulate the architect’s vision was not without its difficulties,” he explained. ‘The complex cabling and environmental factors had initially seemed insurmountable but, after much collaboration and feasibility research, our team devised a solution that would enable us to interpret and execute the scheme to achieve the desired impact.

    “The project was not without its physical challenges either – the installation was huge, weighing in at almost a metric tonne and measuring 15,000 x 3,000mm overall. Maintaining the physical integrity of the unit along with the elaborate lighting and cable systems that would support it, meant we had to come up with a highly imaginative approach to both the manufacture and delivery of this project.”

    The installation is suspended in front of a mechanically fixed stone wall cladding system and recessed lighting troughs were required to render the intricate LED cabling invisible. The lighting raft was also a substantial size – it was manufactured in aluminium in five, three-metre sections so it could be transported to the new building ready for assembly on site. The face elements of the bar code were fabricated from a specialist Perspex that would optimise the installation’s colour performance and impede any potential LED hotspots, while 3M translucent vinyls ensured the precise colour gradients could be achieved and present this ingeniously branded signage exercise to best effect.

    Indeed, such has been the impact of the installation on this City space, it has fast-become a referenced landmark for visitors to One Bartholomew, and also to those in its immediate vicinity where the illuminated bar code is projected across the interior space – and out onto the streets outside.

    LIVE FROM MILAN Foster + Partners and LG unveil world’s first rollable LED TV

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    LIVE FROM MILAN Foster + Partners and LG unveil world’s first rollable LED TV

    Architectural firm Foster + Partners has collaborated with LG to design and launch the world’s first rollable OLED TV during Milan Design Week…

    Launching during Milan Design Week, architectural firm Foster + Partners has unveiled the world’s first rollable OLED TV in reaction to the rising demand for discreet technology. Raising the bar in consumer technology, the new LG SIGNATURE OLED TV R, the world’s first rollable TV.

    The practice has designed the TV’s external geometry and finishes as well as playing an active part in creating specific internal mechanisms. The screen technology is set to redefine the idea of the television and the living spaces it occupies.

    “The design is a creative response to the challenge of creating invisible technology that is unobtrusive with a quiet sculptural presence,” said Mike Holland, Head of Industrial Design at Foster + Partners. “It dematerialises the screen, which can be automatically rolled in and out of a discreet minimalist rectangular enclosure when needed, offering a sense of liberation to design interior spaces.”

    The television is omnipresent in most living spaces, and with screen sizes getting bigger it often dominates a room even when not being used. The new LG OLED rollable screen allows freedom from walls and offers a sense of liberation to design interior spaces. It features a sculptural minimalist rectangular volume crafted from aluminium, which contains the rolling mechanism and integrated speaker, fronted by matching tonal fabric. The ultra-thin screen rises from the top of this box, supported by a sprung steel backing and slender arms. The minimal detail and simplicity of design allows it to become part of a variety of interior spaces.

    The stand will be on display at Tortona Zone, Superstudio Più from April 9th to April 14.

    Main image credit: Foster + Partners/LG

    Great Hotels of The World confirmed to speak at Hotel Summit

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    Great Hotels of The World confirmed to speak at Hotel Summit

    Pedro Colaco, the CEO of Great Hotels of The World, will join editor Hamish Kilburn  for an engaging seminar at Hotel Summit on how hotels can increase revenue by channeling bleisure trends… 

    Following an exclusive interview with Hotel Designs, Great Hotels of The World (GHOTW) has confirmed that it will speak at the up-coming Hotel Summit, which takes place on July 8 – 9 at Herythrop Park, Oxfordshire.

    The CEO of the company, Pedro Colaco will join editor Hamish Kilburn for the live seminar and Q&A entitled: How to increase revenue by utilising on blesiure trends. “I’m delighted to be a part of this year’s Hotel Summit representing Great Hotels of the World, discussing the importance of bleisure travel in today’s market,” said Colaco. “We believe that the lines between leisure and work are blurring, and will dominate the travel industry for years to come. Hence, we handpick the upscale hotels that we represent in the GHOTW portfolio to cater to this growing demographic of corporate travellers who expect more from their hotel experience, and advise our members on how to make the most of their offerings and market them proactively to fit the bleisure trend.”

    The topic was decided after a recent study by GHOTW concluded that 75 per cent of business travellers would extend their business trip for leisure purposes. The live session will explore how hoteliers can operate flexible working spaces that are suitable for both business and leisure travellers. The seminar will aim to identify ways in which hotel owners and managers can increase revenue.

    “Pedro’s knowledge and first-hand experience in transforming hotels into becoming beleisure gems is something that really inspires me to ‘go big or go home’ on this topic,” said Kilburn. “I am thrilled that Pedro and I are putting this topic under the spotlight for this session, and I am looking forward to hearing the conversations and debates ripple out of the seminar room.”

    The Hotel Summit is specifically organised for senior professionals who are directly responsible for purchasing and procurement within their organisation, and those who provide the latest and greatest products and services within the sector.

    A highly focused event that brings together hotel professionals and key industry solution providers, the Summit consists of one-to-one business meetings, interactive seminars and valuable networking opportunities; in less than two days!

    How to register 

    If you are a supplier to the hospitality industry looking to meet top hotel professionals, contact Jennie Lane at j.lane@forumevents.co.uk– or click here to book your place.

    If you are a hotelier and would like to attend the Summit, please contact Liam Cloona on l.cloona@forumevents.co.uk – or click here to book your place.

    LIVE FROM MILAN: Tarkett collaborates with Note Design Studio to unveil Formations

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    LIVE FROM MILAN: Tarkett collaborates with Note Design Studio to unveil Formations

    Tarkett and Note Design Studio have joined forces during Milan Design Week to collaborate on the installation Formations…

    Inspired by forms on multiple scales, an installation between Tarkett and Note Design Studio is described as an echo of archetypal design principles, a modern industrial material like no other and an iconic backdrop rich in history.

    During Milan Design Week 2019, Tarkett, which was an event partner for Meet Up London, together with Note Design Studio are exploring the creative possibilities of its new collection iQ Surface.

    Formations is an exhibition that questions notions of scale, by taking architectural archetypes and turning them on their head. Owning the space of the historic Circolo Filologico Milanese, the installation is a celebration and homage to how design language can be twisted into new creative phrases.

    Formations introduces the new sustainable vinyl collection iQ Surface – the first collection created for Tarkett by Note Design Studio. Made from 25.5 per cent recycled material, iQ Surface is designed not just as a flooring material, but as an architectural surface for walls and furniture too. In Formations, Note use the creative versatility of the new collection to explore notions of scale and colour blocking. By presenting material normally found underfoot in a startling new context, Note aims to provoke a powerful emotional impact on the public – and inspire architects, designers and other material specifiers to push the boundaries of material convention.

    Main image credit: Note Design Studio

    LIVE FROM MILAN: Pedrali unveils new collection

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    LIVE FROM MILAN: Pedrali unveils new collection

    Pedrali has presented its latest collection at Salone del Mobile during Milan Design Week… 

    Ten new products are currently being presented by Pedrali at the Salone del Mobile during Milan Design Week. The pieces are being unveiled alongside some of Pedrali’s more iconic collections, giving character to the Palace of Wonders.

    Soul Outdoor – pure creativity
    Design: Eugeni Quitllet

    Soul Outdoor is a new, special evolution of the original version made in bent wood and launched by Eugeni Quitllet last year. The inspiration is the same that the Catalan designer defines as “a link between the concrete and the abstract, between the real world and that of dreams, between past and future… the unspoiled state of creation”. An armchair able to express an idea of uncontaminated and pure creativity, defined by its soul.
    A curved aluminium tubular frame, with classical shapes but solid proportions, clasps an ergonomic seat in shaped teak slats, almost like an embrace. The contrast between the two outdoor materials and the aesthetic result of the aluminium shininess make this armchair innovative and original. The lines of Soul Outdoor are accentuated by the fluidity of aluminium, which ensures strength and lightness, while presenting a strong visual impact.
    The Soul original version, suitable for furnishing elegant and refined indoor spaces, has a solid ash frame combined with an ergonomic polycarbonate seat, which appears suspended.

    In January, Soul received the Special Mention of the German Design Award 2019 in the Excellent Product Design Furniture category.
    Materials: Soul Outdoor with aluminium tube frame Ø30 mm and seat with teak slats. Soul with solid ash frame and polycarbonate seat.
    Finishes: Soul Outdoor with polished, anodized or powder coated aluminium combined with teak seat with water-based oil treatment. Soul in bleached ash with a transparent or white seat; black ash with a transparent smoky grey or black seat; walnut stained ash with a transparent or white seat.

    Colourful scene with chairs

    Image credit: Pedrali Soul Outdoor

    HÉRA – fluidity of shapes
    Design: Patrick Jouin

    Wood – the ultimate natural raw material – is the inspiration behind Héra, the new armchair designed by Patrick Jouin for Pedrali. In true respect for the material Jouin chose to preserve it by purifying this design and presenting an extremely refined, fluid form.
    Available in ash or American walnut, this armchair embodies the concept of lightness, fusing it with comfort: the backrest, in three-dimensional bent plywood of 6mm thickness, has a remarkably elegant and ergonomic design, while its upholstered seat in polyurethane foam supported by elastic belts gives great cosiness.
    The rectangular-section legs with round edge display an attention to detail that makes this item particularly suited for use in some of the world’s leading hotels and restaurants.

    This armchair blends the Italian company’s know-how with the finest handcrafted joinery techniques; it is the result of years of interaction, research and close collaboration between the French designer and Pedrali.
    The wooden elements of the ash version of Héra are FSC-certified and finished with organic water-based paints. The use of raw materials sourced from certified forests and of water-based paints made principally from plant-derived resins is a guarantee of the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
    Materials: frame in solid ash or American walnut; three-dimensional bent plywood backrest of 6mm thickness; seat upholstered in flexible expanded polyurethane foam, with elastic belts.
    Finishes: bleached ash or American walnut; upholstery in fabric or leather.

    FOLK – now traditional chair
    Design: CMP Design

    Folk collection accentuates the quest for simplicity. Its friendly character, the warmth of ash wood, the soft and compact dimensions, human lines seamlessly convey the concept of a chair that speaks a universal language. The power of proportions is clearly evident in the time-tested forms, re-elaborated with the new possibilities offered by technology. A light, durable die-casted aluminium ring, becomes the structural and distinctive element which enables the piece to be easily disassembled for recycling purposes or to replace its components. The solid ash frame snugly embraces the aluminium ring that holds the seat, which is available in ash plywood, upholstery, or cane seat. This last version guarantees visual lightness and maximum durability thanks to the nylon yarn woven into the wicker material. The bent plywood backrest ensures total comfort and cosiness.

    The collection includes a chair and a barstool in two heights (650 and 750 mm) with a footrest.
    The wooden elements of Folk are FSC-certified and finished with organic water-based paints. The use of raw materials sourced from certified forests and of water-based paints made principally from plant-derived resins is a guarantee of the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
    Materials: frame in ash, ring in die-casted aluminium. Seat in ash plywood, upholstery or natural cane seat, with grey nylon yarn woven into the wicker.
    Finishes: bleached or black lacquered ash; aluminium, polished or powder coated in various colours. Fabric, leather or simil leather upholstery.

    Jamaica – Italian bohème
    Design CMP Design

    Designed by CMP Design, the name of this collection was inspired by Bar Jamaica in Milan’s Via Brera, a legendary hub for intellectuals and artists in the twentieth century. The elegance of this chair speaks of an age in which art,
    technology and the imagination came together to give a human face to the aesthetics of machines, reimagining a peaceful world with creative sociability.
    The result is a modernist collection which reworks the classic forms of the past with a contemporary edge by changing the ways in which traditional materials of bent plywood and tubular metal are used. In Jamaica, the warmth of the ash plywood used on the legs, with a variable tickness, and the shell, featuring a central lumbar support, is masterfully paired with the tubular steel backrest, which adds a subtle chromatic element and is more curved in the armchair version. The shell can be fully padded and upholstered in fabric, optimising the comfort of the seat and allowing numerous customised options. The wooden elements of Folk are FSC-certified and finished with bio water-based paints. The use of raw materials sourced from certified forests and of water-based paints made principally from plant-derived resins is a guarantee of our company’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
    Materials: legs and shell in ash plywood; steel tube Ø16 mm.
    Finishes: bleached or black lacquered ash; powder-coated steel, antique brass, black nickel. Fabric or leather upholstery.

    Image credit: Pedrali Jamaica

    ELINOR TABLE – a classy hug
    Design: Claudio Bellini

    The Elinor collection is the result of the collaboration inaugurated last year with Claudio Bellini, leader designer of the office furniture contemporary scene. Elinor table springs from a new perception of space; the concept brings to mind the soft, curving lines of the namesake executive chair, conveying a refined yet contemporary image. The result is a product with premium aesthetic credentials that meets the needs of a constantly-changing market. Designed to furnish contemporary office spaces and domestic settings, the Elinor table has a simple yet distinctive design, with carefully refined details. The base is formed of two moulded elements of fixed dimensions, made from rigid polyurethane foam and upholstered in genuine leather; they support a table top in ultra-thin 6mm solid laminate, with rounded lacquered MDF support beneath it which conceals the steel structure. The Elinor tables can be adapted; the two elements of the base can be positioned in several ways to create different geometric arrangements, allowing a variety of aesthetic results. These moulded elements, when arranged in an asymmetric way, donates lightness to the setting thanks to the space between them, by ensuring great stability. The table tops can be square (1500 x 1500mm) or rectangular (1100 x 2000mm, 1100 x 2600mm, 1100 x 3000mm), always feature soft edges.
    Also available with a central cable management for office environments.
    Materials: top in solid laminate; support in MDF, structure in steel; base in rigid polyurethane foam upholstered in genuine leather.
    Finishes: genuine or simil leather upholstery; tops in black, arabescato white or black marble Fenix, or in white compact full colour solid laminate.

    BUDDY SOFA – friendly spirit
    Design: Busetti Garuti Redaelli
    The successful Buddy collection expands its horizons, enriched with a new furniture solution: a two- and three-seater sofa designed for the living room at home, but equally suitable for waiting rooms, informal office meetings, or lounge areas in the contract and hospitality sector.
    While it still reflects the collection’s friendly, reassuring design, this sofa adds further comfort to the seat, thanks to a combination of four different densities of polyurethane foam supported by elastic belts, offering greater softness for a domestic environment in which one feels truly pampered.
    The sofa is incredibly versatile: not only is it available with or without armrests, but several seating modules can be positioned together. Available in two sizes: 2480 x 900 x 735 mm and 1800 x 900 x 735 mm.
    Version with removable covers available on request.
    Materials: fireproof polyurethane foam in four different densities, upholstered in fabric, leather or simil leather; steel frame, aluminium legs Ø25 mm.
    Finishes: powder coated aluminium or antique brass.

    TRIBECA LOUNGE – Fasten your seatbelt!
    Design CMP Design

    Tribeca collection gains new elements, highlighting its fresh, dynamic, colourful and playful side. A lounge chair and a two-seater sofa which, like the chair, armchair and stool, evoke the comforting echoes of the past, offering a modern reinterpretation of the classic Sixties patio chairs made from steel and woven cord.
    An outdoor icon, revisited through new materials: a webbing in vertically-woven extruded PVC with a nylon core that is truly durable, easy to clean and colourful, is combined with the solid tubular frame. Handcrafted with the highest attention to detail, this chair is incredibly soft and comfortable, and puts a contemporary twist on tradition with cutting-edge design and quality.
    Materials: steel tube frame Ø20mm powder coated for outdoor use, back and seat in woven extruded PVC with nylon core, UV resistant.
    Finishes: white, pink, red, terracotta, brown, blue, sage green.

    REMIND – between mind & heart
    Design Eugeni Quitllet

    “Remind, or call back to mind – a concept rendered in Latin by the word ‘re-cordis’, meaning ‘to pass through the heart”. (Eugeni Quitllet)
    Mind and heart have been both essential to create Remind: the heart in its creation and the mind in its production. While evoking the soft sinuous curves of wooden chairs from the late nineteenth century, Remind’s organic silhouette recalls “something never seen before”, a universal shape able to fit into any space and style of decor. The result is an innovative polypropylene armchair, in which each element is conceived to ensure total comfort and cosiness. The breathable texture makes it airy and even lighter. Made from injection-moulded polypropylene, the armchair is functional and versatile, perfect for both outdoor and indoor spaces.
    REMIND PIXEL: It’s time for creative flair and personalisation. Now, the perforated backrest of Remind can be decorated with tiny colourful pixels made from polypropylene, so anyone can become an artist by creating infinite patterns: a number, a letter of the alphabet, an object, or simply a dash of contrasting colour.
    Pedrali’s plastic furniture is made using premium raw materials and is recyclable and eco-compatible. Our polypropylene products are 100% recyclable, demonstrating the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
    Materials: single-material chair in polypropylene charged with glass fiber; polyopropylene pixels.
    Finishes: beige, sand, green, red, grey, black. Pink, red and black pixels.

    TAMARA – roaring Twenties
    Design Basaglia Rota Nodari

    To celebrate the tenth anniversary of its lighting collection, coinciding with the thirtieth edition of Euroluce, Pedrali presents Tamara, a lamp that successfully blends style and elegance. This new suspension light takes inspiration from the shape of the headlights of early twentieth-century automobiles, paying homage to Tamara de Lempicka, modernist painter, icon of elegance and charm, who in her famous self-portrait is behind the wheel of a green Bugatti. Made from aluminium powder coated in various colours, Tamara stands out for its soft form, in which fleeting, rounded yet angular lines combine to make a versatile product. The light produced provides direct illumination of the surface beneath; however, an opening in the upper section of the shade, and the convex profile of the closer in opaline polycarbonate, allows a delicate band of light to shine onto the ceiling.

    Tamara offers interesting compositions for geometric effects that give a unique look to any room.
    Materials: aluminium diffuser Ø180 mm; opaline polycarbonate closer.
    Finishes: powder coated aluminium with matte paint in various colours, or in satin brass or satin copper finishes; cable and ceiling rose available in black or white.

    ARKI-TABLE adjustable – a perfect balance
    Design Pedrali R&D

    Arki-Table optimises its ability to meet the needs of flexibility and functionality of most modern working spaces, with a new version with the height-adjustable top. Suitable for meeting rooms and work stations, this table is able to adapt to his users and their needs, making real the concept of smart and dynamic office.
    Two electric actuators, connected to a control unit and activated by two buttons placed under the top, move as one and allow to choose the ideal height of the top, from 740 to 1140 mm, to have maximum comfort during the workday.
    Available in white or black full colour versions, Arki-Table adjustable has an ultra-thin 6mm solid laminate top with central cable management with a cover (150 x 600mm), steel trestle legs and an extruded aluminium support.

    Top in solid laminate 6 mm in three dimensions: 1000 x 2000mm; 1000 x 2400mm; 1000 x 3000mm white, black or grey.
    Materials: solid laminate top 6 mm; steel legs; extruded aluminium support.
    Finishes: top in white full colour, black, in three different grey or in black Fenix.

    designjunction to return to Kings Cross

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    designjunction to return to Kings Cross

    The highly anticipated trade and consumer event, designjunction, will return to Kings Cross, London from September 19 – 22…

    designjunction, which annually arrives fashionably late for London Design Festival, will return to Kings Cross in London from September 19 – 22. The trade and consumer event, which last year for the first time in its history took place on the city’s Southbank and was attended by more than 27,000 visitors across five days, will present more than 200 global design brands across multiple King’s Cross locations surrounding UAL Central Saint Martin’s building.

    Following mass transformation to the area, King’s Cross is home to Coal Drops Yard, which is a shopping and restaurant district designed by architecture firm Heatherwick Design Studio. The area is now the home for 67 acres of inspiring businesses including Google, Universal Music Group and Tom Dixon Studio. With an annual footfall of approximately 20 million people, the area has become a vibrant cultural scene.

    Presenting the latest in cutting-edge design each year during the LDF, designjunction is described as London’s leading contemporary interior design show, facilitating connections between architects, interior designers, retailers and exhibitors. Encompassing the best in furniture, lighting, jewellery and home accessories, the event is a place for industry leaders to gather with the widest variety of influential and international designers.

    “We are absolutely thrilled to be returning to this vibrant, connected part of London, and to once again be working closely with King’s Cross,” said designjunction’s Director, Mark Gordon. “Coal Drops Yard has opened since we were last at this location, so there’s a whole new experience we can offer our visitors. This is an incredibly exciting year for designjunction and our return gives us the opportunity to continue working with the best designers in the industry to create fantastic installations.”

    Cubitt House will be the go-to-place to see more than 100 international furniture and lighting brands. The Canopy will shelter a curated mix of design-led products and high-end accessories to cutting-edge tech, jewellery, ceramics and stationary. Cubitt Park will become the discovery area, where the show will present the latest cutting-edge design alongside eateries, bars and installations.

    For eight years running, designjunction has attracted thousands of architects, interior designers, specifiers, retailers, buyers and consumers to its show doors. Each year its exhibitors make lasting connections with influential figures in the design industry, designed to create partnerships that are made to last.

    Main image credit: designjunction

    LIVE FROM MILAN: First images of Swedish Design Moves’ exhibition

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    LIVE FROM MILAN: First images of Swedish Design Moves’ exhibition

    The first images of Swedish Design Moves’ returning exhibition at Milan Design Week have been released…

    Inspired by sustainable materials and the complex relationship between nature and technology, Swedish Design Moves’ HEMMA gone wild has launched during Milan Design Week. The exhibition, which takes place until April 14 in the Brera Design District, is a sequel to the 2018 exhibition, HEMMA – Stories of Home.

    Curated and designed by Joyn Studio, HEMMA gone wild invites visitors to experience an abstract and playful vision of home, from hallway to living room and onwards through an unfolding scenography that showcases the best of Swedish design, drawn by curiosity and a mood of mystery. Home is a place of refuge and security – but it can also be a place from which to escape.

    “Swedish landscape represents where we are from but it is only one element of our story. It was important to us that this dynamic flow of influence be reflected throughout HEMMA gone wild”, said Joyn Studio.

    Image credit: Swedish Design Moves

    The exhibition explores the complex relationship that we have with home and the influences of both nature and technology as they shape our experience of living and our connectedness with the changing world around us.

    Just as a home is a reflection of a personality, all of the pieces within the exhibition have been selected for what they have to tell us and positioned with careful consideration to how they speak to each other. Among them are a number of the 82 new objects created for the Nationalmuseum’s NM& Collection – a unique collaboration between 32 Swedish designers and 20 manufacturers, unveiled late last year. These include the Curve lamp for the museum’s library designed by Front and produced by Zero, Sand dinnerware designed by Carina Seth Andersson in collaboration with Design House Stockholm, the Ateljé dining table designed by Matti Klenell (artistic director of the NM& project) and produced by Gärsnäs, and the Botero chair, also designed by Matti Klenell in collaboration with Peter Andersson and produced by Källemo.

    Other featured designers include Monica Förster, one of Sweden’s most acclaimed designers who is represented with her Retreat sofa for Fogia, which also brings pieces by TAF Studio and fashion designer Lars Nilsson who has collaborated with Vandra Rugs on a number of projects including Snö & Kol which brings Vandra Rugs to exhibit at Milan Design Week this year for the first time.

    “Swedish design finds its unique expression in deeply felt values of equality and accessibility paired with innovation and creativity – all reflected by the multitude of talented designers and brands invited to participate in this year’s exhibition in Milan“, said Michael Persson Gripkow, Brand & Strategic Marketing Officer at Visit Sweden and project manager for Swedish Design Moves.

    Sustainability is a driving influence for Sweden’s designers and manufacturers. Two leading design brands to highlight in this regard are Bolon, which launched in 1949 with rugs produced from textile waste and today uses 33 per cent recycled materials in its flooring products, and acoustic product producer Baux, which was founded on the belief that building materials should be sustainable, surprisingly functional and remarkably beautiful.

    In addition to these designers and brands, the breadth of design talent across furniture and lighting will be represented by established design brands Asplund, Blå Station, Gemla, and Tre Sekel and some of the country’s newest studios and brands: Massproductions, Myltha, Pholc and Studio Mia Cullin. Bringing Swedish design to every element of the home, other brands exhibited include Electrolux, office design brands EFG and Ogeborg, bathroom specialists Westerbergs, urban design company Nola and wood-fired bathtub manufacturer Hikki.

    Emerging talents throughout HEMMA gone wild will be accentuated by the inclusion of the work of students of Beckmans College of Design and HDK Academy of Design and Crafts and the winners of the Swedish national award for young designers (Ung Svensk Form), many of whom will show graduation and prototype projects.

    HEMMA gone wild is an exhibition of contrasting colour, light, material and sound as well as of feeling.

    Main image credit: Swedish Design Moves

    LIVE FROM MILAN: Zaha Hadid Design at ME Milan Il Duca

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    LIVE FROM MILAN: Zaha Hadid Design at ME Milan Il Duca

    Zaha Hadid Design has announced that its Milan Design Week will be anchored at ME Milan Il Duca hotel, where it will host a thoughtful exhibition featuring contrasting textures… 

    The ME Milan Il Duca hotel has collaborated with Zaha Hadid Design to host an exhibition during Salone del Mobile 2019 at Milan Design Week. In honour of the ME Dubai, due to open in December 2019 with its interiors designed by Zaha Hadid, ME by Meliá is dedicating the month of April to the architect and designer, continuing the hotel brand’s commitment to supporting excellence in design.

    Investigating the evolution of Zaha Hadid’s formal language, the “Zaha Hadid Design at ME Milan Il Duca” exhibition explores the interrelated fields of architecture and product design. As a singular composition, it presents a variety of works – limited edition furniture pieces, lighting objects, vases and other accessories – manufactured in materials that include glass, marble and ceramics.

    “Zaha Hadid Design at ME Milan Il Duca” is a celebration of the studio’s diverse repertoire of designs realised in collaboration with some of the world’s most renowned brands as well as Hadid’s signature collection.

    Fabrics and surfaces

    Image credit: MHI property

    The exhibition features:
    • Moon System Sofa for B and B Italia
    • ZH One Armchair for Cassina
    • Mercuric Collection, Tela Shelving and Malea Table for Citco
    • Serac Bench for Italian Lab
    • Lapp, Weave and Strip vases for Rosenthal
    • Cellular and Ribbon hand tufted rugs for Royal Thai
    • Aria Suspension Lamp for Slamp
    • Z-Chair for Sawaya Moroni
    • Crystal Architecture Collection for Lalique
    • Zaha Hadid Design Collection

    “Zaha Hadid Design x ME Milan Il Duca” exhibition is open until Tuesday 30 April 2019. Originally designed by Aldo Rossi, the ME Milan Il Duca hotel is located in Milan’s Piazza della Repubblica, at the heart of the action in Milan this week.

    Main image credit: Zaha Hadid Designs

    Al Faya Lodge: A boutique hotel made from stone and steel

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    Al Faya Lodge: A boutique hotel made from stone and steel

    Architecture firm Anarchitect was inspired by the desert location and opted to use raw materials to design the five-key boutique hotel…

    Located in Sharjah, the third largest emeritus that make up the UAE, Al Faya Lodge is a striking architectural gem that was developed by SHEROOT. The lodge-like boutique hotel sits on undisturbed desert, of which architecture firm Anarchitect used as inspiration when crafting it out of raw materials and earthy colours, resulting in a camouflaged hotel within the red sands and baron landscape.

    Embracing its heritage, the location of the lodge was formerly occupied by a clinic and grocery store in the 1960s, which were located next to one of the UAE’s first petroleum pumps.

    Now the three single-story stone constructions have been transformed, including the addition of a luxury spa and salt-water swimming pool. Featuring just five guestrooms, its contemporary feel combines aspects of its original features, blended together with luxe, minimalist modernity.

    image of seats by pool

    Image credit: Sharjah Collection

    Featuring a dining room, reception room, library and viewing deck, every aspect of the design looks to emphasise its surroundings. The guestrooms feature a skylight for star-gazing at night with a fire pit primed for recapping adventures.

    The boutique hotel, steeped in authenticity, becomes one of of the main components of the Sharjah Collection, a unique group of luxury lodges and boutique hotels.

    Main image credit: Sharjah Collection

    Inside a sustainable shipping container hotel in Chile

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    Inside a sustainable shipping container hotel in Chile

    The Winebox Valparaiso was created by local winemaker, Grant Phelps, who claims to have opened the city’s first sustainable hotel and winery to be made out of shipping containers… 

    Capturing one of Valparaiso’s most eye-catching architectural displays, The Winebox Valparaiso is a fully sustainable aparthotel and winery that is sheltered within 25 decommissioned shipping containers. 

    Self-designed by hotelier and winemaker Grant Phelps, the aparthotel and winery features 21 graffiti-styled guestrooms, two public terraces and even the city’s debut winery.

    Perched at the top of one of the city’s vibrant undulating hills, the aparthotel which opened last year offers panoramic views over the city. The industrial-like guestrooms are long, narrow and either offer porthole windows or larger terraces, both of which allow natural lighting to fill the space. Designed with young adults in mind who are seeking adventure, the interiors are fully sustainable and are complete with quirky and loud accents that reflect the city’s edgy graffiti qualities. Natural materials such as wood pallets have been used to create headboards and mirror frames, while recycled wine bottles have been used to create mood lighting.

    Phelps, who is as much the creator of the aparthotel as much as he is service provider, wishes to educate his guests checking in on living sustainably. In a hotel review conducted by the New York Times, he revealed that his vision of the hotel was inspired by the way in which “Christchurch used shipping containers to rebuild after New Zealand’s 2011 earthquake.”

    The hotel, which prides itself on offering alternative accommodation with attitude, is a disobedient take on modern hotel architecture. Throwing the rule book in the bin, The WineBox is anything but conventional as it attracts tourists to see the city from alternative lenses.

    Main image credit: absafilms/YouTube

    IN THE FACTORY with Knightsbridge Furniture

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    IN THE FACTORY with Knightsbridge Furniture

    To stitch together how Knightsbridge makes its contract furniture, editor Hamish Kilburn travels up to Bradford in West Yorkshire to step inside the modern factory that chooses to do things the traditional way…

    Priding itself on being 100 per cent British-made is something that has become somewhat of a unique selling point for contract furniture company Knightsbridge.

    Giving ‘in-house’ a whole new meaning, every item that has a Knightsbridge logo on it was conceptualised, sketched, prototyped and produced in the hearty West Yorkshire town of Bradford – and has been for 80 years.

    In an average week, around 700 items of furniture are made in the Victorian factory – and all pieces start as nothing more than a stacked load of timber or Birch plywood, which is imported from Russia and Europe. While many factories internationally have chosen to use automated machinery to carve their frames, Knightsbridge is among the minority that still, to this day, cuts its materials by the hands of skilled workers. “Many of our employees come through the apprenticeship scheme, which is something we are very proud of,” said Craig Weston, Operations Manager at Knightsbridge. “Because everything at Knightsbridge is handmade and hand-cut, the role in the factory therefore requires a very specific set of skills, which isn’t easy to teach just anyone.”

    Stack of timber

    Image credit: Knightsbridge Furniture

    As we walk from process to process, I notice that an arm of a chair starting to take form. “This is one of the most difficult pieces we make,” says Weston who points to the worker on the cutter who is meticulously carving out detailed incisions. “As a strategy, we ensure that we always have a higher stock of the items that are more complex to produce.” With high demand for Knightsbridge products and limited facilities, this is a resourceful method that reduces the possibility of delays in the manufacturing process.

    Contract chair in the process of being upholstered

    Image credit: Knightsbridge Furniture

    Once each frame is cut, sanded, assembled, tinted, polished and dried, it is then ready for the upholstery process. On average, it takes the team at Knightsbridge approximately one hour to upholster a typical sofa. As the demand in hotel interior design renovations increases, the company also offers a reupholstery service whereby it will reupholster any piece of furniture (even if it’s not a Knightsbridge product). The cluster of seamstresses working is impressive and the decision to keep a cap on fabric stock is reassuring. “To reduce waste and save space, we only stock as much material as we need in this area,” Weston explains. “What’s more, although we have colour and fabric options, we will match any colour the client wants.”

    Seamstress working

    Image credit: Knightsbridge Furniture

    Elsewhere in the factory, away from the main production line, is the design and development team. Led by Director Jason Brown, who lives and breathes by the ethos that you can’t turn down the volume on creativity, the soul of the factory is my home-from-from during my visit. “I have every furniture designers’ dream job, right?” laughs Brown. “It’s such a privilege being able to have all the tools, kit and skills to be able to prototype products in-house.” Brown is a man after my own heart who seems to wear many hats in his role. “The most obvious element to my role is that I sketch and design the future collections,” he explains. “But what most people perhaps don’t know is that my team, which is magic by the way, also have to provide the factory workers with all the technical drawings when we start producing a new product. As you can imagine, there is no margin for error in this department. We are always looking for new ways to be innovative, while being mindful of time, quality and cost for the overall business.” For Brown, like all great designers, thinking creatively and thinking commercially are difficult plates to spin at the same time. “It’s a challenge, but that’s why I love it,” he adds.

    Despite Knightsbridge having the ultimate in-house design dream team, led by a visionary who clearly leads within the pack, the company is also proud to work with outside influences when designing future products. The latest collaborations to come out the factory include the likes of John Coleman, Sean Dare, Jim Hamilton and David Fox.

    Knightsbridge is a modern company like no other. Proud of its heritage and confident to push boundaries, it seems as if this British-born company has all the materials, workforce and ideas – all stored under one roof – to lead the contract furniture market into another 80 successful years of business.

    Milan Design Week 2019: What’s on

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    Milan Design Week 2019: What’s on

    This week, hundreds of designers from all corners of the world will descend onto Europe’s soulful design hub that is Milan for the Salone del Mobile furniture fair, the Euroluce lighting show and other events happening within the city walls. Editor Hamish Kilburn cuts through the noise to identify what to bookmark over in Milan…

    Design lovers are arriving in Milan today to attend what is arguably the most significant event in the design calendar.

    From April 8 – 14, the Italian city  centre transforms into a creative hub that witnesses product launches, emerging trends, which this year are expected to be themed around health and wellbeing, bringing the outdoors indoors and creating closer human interaction.

    Salone del Mobile, which is arguably the main event of the week, will be split into three categories this year there are: Classic – Tradition in the Future, drawing on the values of tradition, craftsmanship and skill in the art of making furniture and objects; Design – products that transmit functionality, innovation and a great sense of style and finally xLux – the section you’ll want to spend most of your time at – the luxury section devoted to timeless objects in a contemporary key.

    Meanwhile, Euroluce the International Lighting Exhibition. The show, which has run every two years since 1976, presents the most innovative solutions in the field of light for interiors and exteriors.

    As the shows open their doors, here are a few events to bookmark:

    Sebastian Herker – Milan man of the moment

    Image credit: Sebastian Herkner/Freifrau

    Hot off the heels of becoming Maison Objet’s Designer of the Year, Sebastian Herkner is moments away from launching new products in Milan. On the both upcoming shows Salone del Mobile and Euroluce in Milan, the studio will showcase new products for brands like Ames, Dedon, Emu, Freifrau, Gloster, Pulpo and Thonet as well as designs for our new partner Vibia.  The studio will also present collections for Schönbuch, Wittmann and Zanotta.

    Turri – architectural furniture

    Image credit: Turri

    The furniture company has confirmed that it will launch a new collaboration with architect Daniel Libeskind who will be on the company’s stand at Salone del Mobile on Wednesday April 10 to discuss the new project with the company. Until then, the furniture company thats motto is ‘The Italian way to Beauty’ is keeping extremely tight-lipped about what we can expect.

    Swedish Design Moves – HEMMA goes wild

    Image credit: Swedish Design Moves

    Swedish Design Moves returns to Milan this year with HEMMA gone wild – a sequel to the 2018 exhibition, HEMMA – Stories of Home.

    Curated and designed by Joyn Studio, HEMMA gone wild invites visitors to experience an abstract and playful vision of home, from hallway to living room and onwards through an unfolding scenography that showcases the best of Swedish design, drawn by curiosity and a mood of mystery.

    Humanscale – Human touch

    Todd Bracher, long-time collaborator with Ergonomic leaders Humanscale, and Studio TheGreenEyl have designed an immersive, interactive experience. Bodies in Motion will invite visitors in to explore human movement, as represented through dramatic beams of light. The display can be seen in the historic vaults located under Milano Central Station, as part of the third edition of Ventura Centrale.

    USM

    The Swiss furniture innovator USM will be returning with their mega-structure at the Fair in collaboration with UNStudio. Visit their stand (A07/B06) in hall 20. If you’re visiting on Tuesday, CEO & Great-Grandson of USM’s founder Alex Schaerer will be on the stand, as will Ben van Berkel, UNStudio founder and Ren Yee, Head of Design/Strategies, UNStudio. If you would like an interview with Alex, Ben or Ren let us know and we will help make arrangements.

    Minotti 

    Returning to the fair, the Italian furniture company in familiar surroundings will launch its 2019 Collection of luxury and timeless pieces. The premium furniture brand, which was Hotel Designs’ Exclsuive Style Partner for Meet Up London, will unveil all on its stand. Minotti will premiew the new collection, coordinated entirely by Rodolfo Dordoni, which also includes some products designed by Christophe Delcourt. The collection is a return to its roots, but with a vision of the future, to innovate while staying true to our style and our traditions. The inspiration for a collection marked by an intriguing layering of influences and styles, for a timeless elegance that is nonetheless strikingly unexpected.

    Brodie Neill – Plastic in the ocean

    Image credit: Brodie Neill

    Following the sustainable Gyro table – a circular table featuring a top made from inlaid fragments of recycled ocean plastic, designer Brodie Neill will launch yet another public statement to highlight climate change. He will unveil a contemporary hourglass filled with microplastic instead of sand during Milan Design Week in order to highlight the issue of ocean plastic pollution.

    Nendo – Breeze of Light

    The Japanese studio Nendo will present a new lighting display entitled Breeze of Light. This installation, in collaboration with Daikin, evokes the sensation of a comfortable breeze by the movement of light and shadows, not actual air. A virtual flower garden is illuminated using 115 individually-controlled spotlights directing light on 17,000 flower-shaped polarising films. Changes in shadow intensity of the flowers produce the effect of a breeze passing through the garden.

    Tom Dixon

    Going against the grain, Tom Dixon took the decision not be showcasing products at Salone del Mobile. Instead, he’s opening his own restaurant and his furniture, lighting and accessories will feature throughout the restaurant’s dynamic mise en scene.

    Salone Satellite 

    Exhibition hall

    Image credit: Salone del Mobile

    As Hotel Designs continues to support young emerging designers, the Salone Satellite is to place to be if you want to discover new talent. Back for its 22nd edition, this year’s theme ‘Food as Design Objects is aimed to challenge designers to debate climate change and

    Ahead of the event, Claudio Luti, President of the Salone del Mobile, had this to say: “At this particular time of great success for Milan, it is important to consolidate the Salone del Mobile’s powersof attraction, offering its visitors not just a wide range of products, but, especially, opportunities for international interface and for reflection on the relationship between creativity and business.”

    Milan, the moral capital of a thriving design hub, has opened its doors as designers, architects flood in. The small city with a large personality is ready to witness many moments that are about to written and no-doubt go down in design history.

    Main image credit: Salone del Mobile

    SPOTLIGHT ON: Fabric interior design trends

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    SPOTLIGHT ON: Fabric interior design trends

    As part of Hotel Designs’ month of putting interior design in the spotlight, Mitre Linen breaks down some of the emerging trends in fabric design… 

    Sustainability, classic neutral tones and tactile fabrics are key themes in interior design this year. The hospitality industry continues to adopt an environmentally friendly approach to all aspects of business operations. Warm and understated palettes complete this trend, projecting a calming and relaxing atmosphere for guests, which can be augmented with a luxurious touch of velvet.

    Sustainability

    Recent research from Mitre Linen reveals that 75 per cent* of hoteliers believe that environmental initiatives are now expected by guests and the desire to be more ethical in source has reached furnishings, with sustainable fabrics increasing in demand.  The new Mitre Eco range was developed in response to exactly this business need. The soft 100% per cent organic cotton bed linen has a 200 thread count, while the duvets and pillows are filled with hollowfibre created from 100 per cent recycled plastic, redirecting plastics from landfills and oceans. Mitre Linen’s Eco duvets and pillows also complies with OEKO-TEX 100, certifying the range’s skin-friendly properties.

    Warm Neutrals

    The return to a classic neutral palette is a subtle shift from the dominance of cooler grey tones that have pervaded colour schemes in recent years.  Creating a warmer ambiance within a hotel, these colours offer a timeless and stylish touch.  Mitre Linen recently launched two new soft furnishing ranges: Deco and Tundra, to allow a larger choice of colourways for hoteliers wanting to update their rooms.

    Velvet Touch

    Texture has a striking impact in a room and there is no other fabric quite like velvet to impart an opulent feel. A velvet cushion or bed runner will immediately convey luxury and indulgence.  The rich colours of the Mitre D’Arcy range of velvet cushions complement this material perfectly and work well to add a touch of luxe to natural colourways.

    *Mitre connects research with 142 hoteliers conducted in March 2019

    Mitre Linen is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

    Main image credit: Mitre Linen

    Minimalist Muji opens first hotel in Japan

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    Minimalist Muji opens first hotel in Japan

    The Japanese retailer, Muji, opens its first hotel in Japan, Muji Hotel Ginza – and it’s a minimalist’s dream…

    Spread over six floors, the 79-key Muji Hotel Ginza designed by UDS has opened as the brand’s first hotel in Japan following the successful openings in Beijing and Shenzhen last year.

    Muji Hotel Ginza’s thoughtful design is true to the company’s sustainable principles, using upcycled materials such as flagstone of Tokyo’s tramway from 50 years ago and even the waste materials from ships.

    The 79 guestrooms all vary in size and are presented in nine categories. Designed to fill a gap in the market between luxury and mid-scale, the hotel’s interiors are true-to-form minimalist.

    Minimalist interiors - writing desk

    Image credit: Muji Hotels

    The interiors convey an atmosphere typical of Muji; natural materials, alongside upcycled products with a small number of rooms including traditional Japanese textiles. Fuji Hotel’s pricing structure remains the same throughout the year, regardless of seasons and holidays, which supports the brand’s commitment to fairness and affordable living as the hotel aims to become a base for visitors to enjoy a deeper immersion in Ginza and Japanese culture.

    “Great care has been taken to ensure that the room will restore travelers in body and spirit alike,” the hotel’s website states. The mattresses have been designed informed by posture research, while the lighting designed in order to aid sleep quality.

    The hotel opens together with the global flagship store Muji Ginza as the “anti-gorgeous, anti-cheap” alternative hotel.

    Main image credit: Muji Hotels

     

     

    SALT of Palmar opens in Mauritius as brand’s first hotel

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    SALT of Palmar opens in Mauritius as brand’s first hotel

    SALT of Palmar, the first hotel in a new sub-brand from The Lux Collective, has opened in Mauritius…

    With a strong commitment to sustainability, SALT of Palmer opens in Mauritius. Setting the foundations for a series of planned openings within the SALT brand, the 59-key hotel introduces a new breed of hospitality for the culturally curious, challenging perceptions of often unexplored regions.

    The completely new sub-brand for The Lux Collective has been designed and created by branding agency & SMITH with aim to appeal to a younger generation – one that would celebrate the undiscovered beauty of destinations where travellers may hold preconceived ideas or would traditionally stay within the confines of a resort rather than exploring the local area.

    “The first SALT had to be in Mauritius. It’s our home, our love, and our pride and joy,” the hotel’s website states. “Its colours, stories, customs, sounds, and flavours form a brilliant, heady mix that is impossible to ignore or forget. If you experience it. ”

    “Every element of the SALT experience is rooted in the island culture.”

    Inviting guests to continue this journey of exploration, the hotel offers its guests a guidebook called ‘This is Mauritius’ when checking in. Working in close collaboration with locals, the illustrated book is full of tips and advice for discovering the island’s hidden gems, including maps of where to go in Port Louis, the best sunrise spots, or where to listen to live music.

    Back at the hotel, every element of the SALT experience is rooted in the island culture, from the handwoven baskets in each room created by a local craftswoman to the curated menus of seasonal produce and the opportunity to visit a house near the resort to learn how to make rum the Mauritian way.

    “Every SALT hotel will have its own farm to provide guests with menus designed around what is in season.”

    No endless buffets, no bath menu, no single-use plastics

    At the heart of the SALT identity is a brand-wide commitment to sustainability. In addition to prioritising fair trade, organic and non-toxic produce, and limiting energy use, waste and emissions, every SALT hotel will have its own farm to provide guests with menus designed around what is in season and nothing more.

    “For Mauritius, the common perception is endless images of white sandy beaches under cloudless blue skies, perfect for honeymooners drinking cocktails or having dinner for two on the beach,” said Rachel Smith, Creative Partner at & SMITH. “From our past visits to the island, we knew the island had so much more to offer and could attract a different audience.

    “It’s bursting with vibrant experiences – from brightly coloured houses to bustling markets and the most amazing street food culture. Also, the waterfalls and greenery of the inland are just as beautiful as the beaches. There are so many reasons to step outside the resort and explore Mauritius, so we wanted to create an identity that captured the vitality and depth of the island, and invited travellers to explore on their own.

    SALT of Palmar in Mauritius is the first property within the brand portfolio, with plans to open the next hotel in Wolong, China.

    Laura Ashley guestroom

    Coventry hotel to rebrand as a Laura Ashley Hotel

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    Coventry hotel to rebrand as a Laura Ashley Hotel

    The Chace Hotel, in Coventry, will after major refurbishment become a Laura Ashley Hotel…

    Laura Ashley Hotels today announced it is expanding its portfolio with the addition of The Chace Hotel, in Coventry.

    The 66-key hotel is undergoing a major refurbishment to bring it in line with Laura Ashley brand standards. The elegant new interiors will showcase the Laura Ashley Home range and its exquisite, high-quality inherently British fabrics and furnishings throughout.

    Laura Ashley guestroom

    The Chace Hotel is a striking example of Victorian architecture, surrounded by three acres of attractive landscaped gardens. Original features of the building, such as the ornate fireplace and mullioned windows, create a sense of grandeur in the oak-panelled reception area. The grand sweeping staircase leads upstairs to the new beautifully designed Laura Ashley bedrooms.

    The deluxe Laura Ashley bedrooms are designed to infuse a sense of tranquillity and with an effortless style, drawing inspiration from the hotel’s Victorian heritage. Carefully selected colours and fabrics complement each other to create an elegant space in which to relax and unwind. Classic Laura Ashley design adorns every surface, from plush cushions and floor-to-ceiling drapes to statement lighting and stylish mirrors.

    The portfolio, which also includes The Belsfield Hotel, Windermere, and is soon to include Burnham Beeches Hotel in Buckinghamshire, aims to offer guests an authentic home from home experience against the backdrop of the Laura Ashley Home range in characterful properties in the UK.

    Chris Bowron, Hotel Manager of The Chace Hotel, said: “We’re delighted that The Chace Hotel will be joining the Laura Ashley Hotel portfolio. A thorough refurbishment is underway using the Laura Ashley Home collection’s beautiful range of décor, fabrics and soft furnishings. It is an exciting time for the hotel, and we are excited to offer our guests a whole new experience.”

    The Chace Hotel is already home to the Laura Ashley The Tea Room, which opened in October 2018 and is the newest addition to the tea room portfolio.

    Duravit launches personal touches with Viu and Xviu

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    Duravit launches personal touches with Viu and Xviu

    The Viu and XViu series from Duravit, both giving the modern bathroom a personal touch, feature V-shaped profiles in Champagne Matt to introduce an individual and unmistakable design statement…

    Duravit and sieger design present a complete bathroom range – Viu ceramics and XViu furniture plus matching bathtubs – which exudes forward-looking design. The post-industrial elegance of the pieces emerges from the interaction of soft, organic forms with a precise geometric detailed finished.

    A sharply defined contrast arises from surfaces that combine the finest ceramics, glass and metal with matt lacquers or high-quality woods.

    The new range includes the entire bathroom: the washing, bathing and toilet area. Significant design features and special details re-occur throughout and are the defining elements of the harmonious interior design.

    The highlight is a washing area based on the patented Duravit c-bonded technology. The exterior is a strict rectangle, while the interior features gentle organic curves with a spacious inner basin and generous shelf. The edge running along the tap platform continues creating an outer line. The subtle detail of the horizontal overflow within the basin underlines the horizontal alignment of the external shape. The ceramic on the inside is reminiscent of the softness of water.

    Some surprising details: The white ceramic cover of the push-open valve is flush with the inner basin in the open position. The prominent contour of the supporting metal console with its V-shape profile in elegant Champagne Matt or avant garde Black Matt creates dynamic interest. Uniquely individual combinations can be created thanks to the glass shelf which is available in four colours.

    From a different angle, the three-dimensional feet of the metal console are visually transformed into fine lines. This level of perfection extends to the smallest detail. The acrylic panelling on the underside of the basin conceals the fixing structure, cables, and connecting hoses, with the result that the elaborate technology, for example for the D.1e electronic tap, does not impact the design.

    Fully glazed from beneath, the Viu washbasins, available in five sizes, as well as a handrinse basin, are also ideally suited as individual solutions. Their shape follows the design of the c-bonded washbasin.

    The alternative variants for the washing area, with furniture washbasin, built-in washbasin, or above-counter washbasin and matching vanity unit with pull-out compartment or two drawers, feature striking V-shaped lateral aluminium profiles.

    These are also available in Champagne Matt and Black Matt and lends to the XViu furniture range’s striking contour. Tonal as well as contrasting options can produce different combinations. By using a variety of materials including a range of high-quality real-wood, lacquer and décor finishes you can create a wealth of stylish collections from “Silver” to “Dark”.

    Door variants in semi-transparent smoked glass are available for tall and semi-tall cabinets, which have technically correct subtle, smooth hinge straps for a soft opening and closing of the doors.

    The mirrors and the mirror cabinets with their fully-mirrored sides reflect the individual design language of XViu. The models fitted with a sensor switch offer dimmable lighting and the variant with icon control on the mirror surface, a first for mirror cabinets, also features the ambient light mode and colored light switching function: at a luminosity of more than 300 lux, the light color can be continuously adjusted from 2,700 (warm light) to 6,500 kelvin (cold light).

    Heating is available for all mirrors and a standard feature for icon variants.

    A further highlight of the XViu series is the free-standing bathtub, which creates an eye-catching centerpiece. Here, too, the prominent metal frame with the familiar V-shaped profile comes in Champagne Matt or Black Matt as a contrast to the high-gloss white acrylic.

    It supports the free-standing bathtub (two sizes: 160×80 cm and 180×80 cm), which is a precise rectangle when viewed from above. It has an ergonomic and organic free form interior, with a precise finish and perfect aesthetics. It subtly integrates the outlet, which underlines the sophisticated design.

    The interplay of the basic geometric shape, with precise lines and optimized gentle inner shape
    is a key feature of the toilet in the range. Metal push buttons positioned on the sides allow the removal of the seat cover, making cleaning easier.

    The technically-demanding realisation of the open flushing rim thanks to improved Rimless® technology ensures outstanding flushing performance. SensoWash Slim is available as an option for the toilet. The combination with the Duravit A2 electronic actuator plate and matching wall-mounted element provides operating comfort of the highest standard.

    The new D.1 and D.1z faucets, along with the electronic D.1e variant, perfectly match the design. The XViu bathroom programme is available in 34 finishes and combines well with the ceramic series VeroAir, ME by Starck and P3 Comforts. Viu ceramics can also be combined with the XSquare, L-Cube and Brioso furniture series.

    Duravit is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

    Timothy Oulton unveils lavish SS19 collection

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    Timothy Oulton unveils lavish SS19 collection

    The luxury design company, Timothy Oulton, which prides itself on being an authentic and daring source of energy and inspiration, unveils its SS19 collection… 

    Driven by a burning desire to create experiences that touch people in a significant way, while living by the motto that “life is better with a bowler hat”, Timothy Oulton has unveiled its SS19 Collection , an assortment of items that have been designed with the idea that truly authentic materials and human-scaled design have the power to change how people feel.

    With the belief that great creativity is both enduring and yet perennially fresh, the SS19 collection sees Timothy Oulton bring its authentic handcraftsmanship approach to a gamut of new visceral and richly sensorial materials, which include seleneite crystals, printed velvets, sheepskin, deep handfinished leather and reclaimed Edwardian parquetry. “I like good design, whether traditional or modern,” Oulten said in press material around the collection. using original time-honoured techniques, the studio prides itself on using only the best traditional methods in its products.

    The newly unveiled collection includes an update on Timothy Oulton’s innovative lighting range. Continuing last season’s foray into natural minerals and rocks is the Selenite collection of pendants and sconces. For the large Selenite pendant, more than 560 individual crystals are affixed by hand to create a dramatic stalactite-type effect.

    “We look for the most authentic, sensory materials and then think how best we can use it.” – Timothy Oulton

    Meanwhile, the Inception mirrors – now available in three separate sizes – give a nod to the ’70s. Inspired by the era’s infinity mirrors, each Inception piece lights up to reveal a seemingly endless line of reflections, appearing smaller and smaller as they fade into the distance. When turned off, it becomes an elegant, everyday mirror.

    Timothy Oulton's Speakeasy Monaco Bar & City

    Image credit/caption: Timothy Oulton’s Speakeasy Monaco Bar & City

    “It always starts with the materials first, we look for the most authentic, sensory materials and then think how best we can use it,” said Oulton when commenting on the inspiration behind the new designs. “Great interiors have the power to change how you feel, so whether it’s down time or entertaining, it’s about engaging the senses and feeling alive. That’s an energy that we try to embody in all our products, and it was very much the driving force behind our 2019 Collection.”

    Among the stand out pieces is the eye-catching Studio Sofa, an addition to the Metro collection, which can now be finished in Acid Jungle velvet fabric, which is, as Oulton describes: “an expression of modern-urban cool”. The new fabric, which depicts a jungle scene against a night-time backdrop, is deliberately not pattern-matched, meaning that no single item within the collection is the same.

    Also new to Metro, is the smart and sophisticated City armchair, a leather swivel chair that can transform any room into a multifunctional space. And the rugged yet elegant new Milano chair, with its minimalist oak frame and luxuriously thick leather, is the perfect way to inject style into an urban apartment. The Milano takes its cue from the Italian design movement of Rationalism and in particular the work of Gruppo 7, a group of architects who wanted to reform Italy’s architecture in the 1920s to strike a balance between classicism and industrially-inspired design. The Milano chair embodies the movement’s simplistic yet well engineered furniture with its clean lines and modern, comfortable sit.

    Building on the ruggedly refined palette of the Loft range, Timothy Oulton introduces for the first time the Buck’dN Brok’n leather onto the Westminster Button sofa, its classic Chesterfield model. Previously featured on the iconic Saddle Chair, Buck’dN Brok’n is characterised by its deep scores and scratches that evoke an aged and storied life. The idea of a life well lived is also embodied by the new Edwardian collection, featuring tables and mirrors fashioned from reclaimed parquetry oak and mahogany that originally formed the floors of Edwardian dance halls in the UK.

    A warm, weathered oak frame and luxuriously thick leather bring a relaxed and welcoming feel to its minimalist silhouette. Milano is perfectly suited to
    contemporary interiors and evenings by the fire, just make sure the whisky’s ready nearby.

    Extending the range of Timothy Oulton’s offering, the collection changes gears with the wildly luxurious long-haired Yeti Sheepskin, newly available in black and brown. Yeti is showcased on the rustic new Cabin bench, inspired by the cosy feel of traditional forest cabins, and the Trio chair, a creative reinvention of a traditional slipper chair with generous proportions.

    Timothy Oulton's Loft Vignette3 Cabana Yeti

    Image credit/caption: Timothy Oulton’s Loft Vignette3 Cabana Yeti

    While the new collection’s dynamic accessories arguably takes centre stage, the company is also dedicated to produce sustainable items with its Noble Souls collection, which launched last year. Including three sofas within the collection, all of which have different profiles, the feather-filled sofas come in a variety of fabric finishes.

    With more than 40 galleries around the world – from New York to Hong Kong to Sydney, and a flagship in Chelsea, London – Timothy Oulton continues its plan of opening new stores in great cities around the globe, with recent additions including Seoul and Abu Dhabi.

    In addition to launching innovative products, the studio has also been responsible for the completion of hospitality projects such as 1880 members’ club in Singapore, The Blue Room at the Los Angeles Athletic Club, and Glazebrook House Hotel in Devon, England.

    The latest collection from the brand is a refreshing insight into the mind of the visionary behind the brand. Oulton’s journey, which started in 1976 when he set up his first boutique antiques shop that was owned by his father, has led him to become one of the industry’s most creative individuals. Continuing tradition, each Timothy Oulton piece in the SS19 collection is inspired by the past, but reconceived from a modern perspective, producing yet another uniquely authentic collection that further pushes the boundaries of interior design.

    Main image credit: Timothy Oulton’s Metro Collection Studio Sofa with Acid Jungle velvet fabric 

    Faloria Mountain Spa Resort reopens in the Dolomites

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    Faloria Mountain Spa Resort reopens in the Dolomites

    In Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy’s most glamorous mountain destination, the newly renovated Faloria Mountain Spa Resort combines comfort, modernity and tradition, which together arguably defines a new model in hospitality in the Dolomites…

    In its own words, Faloria Mountain Spa Resort is: “Charming hospitality in the heart of the Dolomites”. The historical hotel in Cortina, which gave its first glimpse of its new design concept last year, has reopened following an expansion and renovation.

    Establishing a new benchmark in the hospitality of the entire Alpine region, the hotel features new guestrooms, a spa covering over 1000 sqm, a gourmet restaurant and new common areas. It now reopens with the aim to allow guests to live an unforgettable experience in accordance to the highest international luxury standards. The project architect Flaviano Capriotti, has designed an environment inharmony with the surrounding landscape, where Alpine tradition meets contemporary accents.

    Contemporary guestroom

    Image credit: Faloria Mountain Spa Resort/Andrés Otero

    The new guestrooms offer guests an exclusively refined environment, where the charm of mountain furnishings is combined with a contemporary touch. The rooms are wide and bright spaces, with huge windows to enjoy an enchanting view of the Dolomites. The parquet, boiserie and tasteful details lend a delightful domestic flavour, without forgoing refinement and exclusivity.

    The bed headboards are designed with botanical drawings of the local alpine flowers, selected from the Florae Austriacae atlas, written by the botanist Nikolaus von Jacquin in the 18th century. The botanical theme then becomes a common thread throughout the SPA, the common areas and the restaurant.

    The Faloria Spa Resort opens a new wing, and internal restyling designed by Italian architect Flaviano Caprioti.

    Image credit: Faloria Mountain Spa Resort/Andrés Otero

    The new SPA Area, the largest in the entire Alpine region, is a veritable jewel. A surface area of more than 1000 square metres, where guests can enjoy a unique sensory journey with 25-metre long semi-Olympic pool, sauna, ice fountain, calidarium, vitality pool, chilling out areas and private treatment rooms. The Spa offers an emotional experience targeting all levels of perception: visual, tactile, olfactory and emotional for a regenerating holiday. Materials and colours recall larch woods, the stone of Dolomite rocks and the green of lake water, so that guests feel they are immersed in the nature of Cortina.

    Main image credit: Faloria Mountain Spa Resort/Andrés Otero

    On Her Majesty’s service: Mitre Linen awarded renewal of Royal Warrant

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    On Her Majesty’s service: Mitre Linen awarded renewal of Royal Warrant

    Mitre Linen has announced that it has once again been awarded Her Majesty The Queen’s Royal Warrant…

    Mitre Linen, one of the country’s leading suppliers of bed linen, bedding, towelling products and soft furnishings to the hospitality industry in the UK and beyond, is delighted to announce it has once again been awarded Her Majesty The Queen’s Royal Warrant.

    “I am absolutely thrilled to share the news that Mitre Linen has again been granted a Royal Warrant, which is a testament to the outstanding customer service and quality products the company is renowned for,”Nisbets Group CEO Klaus Goeldenbot said. “I congratulate the team at Mitre for all their hard work in earning this great honour from the Royal Household of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”

    Based in Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales, Mitre Linen has proudly held HM The Queen’s Royal Warrant since 1955.  As Royal Warrants are reviewed every five years, this now confirms that Mitre Linen will hold the honour until 2025.

    Mitre Linen’s General Manager, Kate Gough said: “Our team work so hard to ensure we meet the high levels of quality and service required to earn this honour, so we are really proud to be recognised in this way.”

    The company has a reputation for quality and reliability, and supplies its extensive range of products to the hospitality, leisure, education, healthcare and laundry industries worldwide.

    By embracing innovation, Mitre Linen has remained at the forefront of design and product developments in the field of textiles for over 70 years.  Recent developments have included the launch of its Eco range of bedding and towelling, made from ethically-produced, recycled and organic products.

    The company was established in 1946 in Wardrobe Place by St Paul’s Cathedral in the City of London. The name ‘Mitre’ comes from the elaborate headwear the bishop of the church wore. Mitre was first awarded a Royal Warrant in 1955. In 2000, the company relocated to Wales. In 2016, Mitre Linen was acquired by Nisbets Group.

    Mitre Linen is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

    In Conversation With: Pedro Colaco, CEO, Great Hotels of The World on bleisure

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    In Conversation With: Pedro Colaco, CEO, Great Hotels of The World on bleisure

    With the global rise in bleisure travel, one company and its members are more equipped than ever before to cater to the demands of modern business travellers. In light of this, and ahead of leading a panel discussion on the topic, editor Hamish Kilburn caught up with Pedro Colaco, CEO of Great Hotels of The World, to find out why independent hotels need to rethink their business facilities in order to maximise on every opportunity…

    The saying goes: “Turn your wounds into wisdom”, which is a slightly dramatic term that, in short, means learn from your experiences. One man who built his empire on this motto – albeit it learning from other brands’ wounds but very much his own bleisure travel experiences – is Pedro Colaco, the CEO of Great Hotels of The World (GHOTW). Colaco is also the founder and CEO of tech company Guest Centric, which completed the acquisition of GHOTW last year, and with it brought valuable digital experience. Having spent years seeing hotels getting it wrong, Colaco decided to help GHOTW’s members get it right. “How many times have you checked in to a hotel late at night, perhaps because of a delayed flight or whatever, you were hungry and tired but there was no food?” Colaco rhetorically asks. “Welcome to the glamorous life of yesterday’s business travel,” he laughs.

    As we skip the small talk and start discussing the current landscape of the hotel development, both in our element identifying great independent hotels as well as off-the-grid hotspot locations around the world, I wonder what Colaco’s definition of a ‘great’ hotel is. “For us, in terms of our memberships, we work with larger hotels in the bleisure segment in order to bring as much value to them as we can,” he explains. “A GHOTW hotel needs to have something special about it, whether that is a cinema, a theme park or simply just a great rooftop pool or bar.”

    Establishing shot of Atlantis The Palm

    Image credit/caption: Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai, one of GHOTW’s members

    It strikes me that becoming a member of GHOTW is something that should be seen as a prestigious complement, an accolade celebrating potential if you like. “Take Dubai, for example. There are many incredible hotels within the city, and more opening every day, but we want to ensure that we do not have too many hotels within one region,” Colaco explains. “Therefore, we have to think strategically and hand-select the independent hotels that we can best help to take to the next level.” In essence, a hotel can only become part of the GHOTW portfolio if it meets the company’s criteria and if Colaco and his team genuinely believe they can help. “One of the large segments that we provide in terms of marketing is MICE,” adds Colaco, which makes sense considering the facilities from Guest Centric that it can lean on.

    “A staggering 75 per cent of business travellers want to extend their stay for leisure.”

    The company, which provides global hotel sales and marketing services, recently shared the results of new headline-grabbing survey that it led. The study showed a staggering 75 per cent of business travellers want to extend their stay for leisure. What’s more is that of the 75 per cent, more than two-thirds would turn their work trip into a holiday while staying in the same hotel. “Long gone are the days when business travellers had to stay in soulless business districts,” explains Colaco. “I’m sure you will agree that modern business travellers want check in where the action is. Independent hotels are born in a place and live in a place, and it’s that personality of each property that we want to capture and amplify to the world of prospective business travellers.”

    Luxury spa with detailed wallcoverings

    Image credit/caption: The spa at Al Bustan Hotel & Spa Beirut, one of GHOTW’s members

    QUICK-FIRE ROUND:

    Hamish Kilburn: I have just given you a large sum of money, and you are only allowed to use it to build a hotel. Where in world would this hotel be?
    Pedro Colaco: Oh my gosh, for me? How generous! A desert island somewhere. It would be very simple – I think there is a lot to be said about ‘undertourism’. My hotel that you have so kindly given me the funds for will be a hidden gem away from the noise. In all seriousness, watch this space for new travel trends celebrating going back to basics!

    HK: Where’s next on your travel bucket list?
    PC: Patagonia, Iceland and the Polar Circle to see the northern lights. I have to visit all these places before I die, but getting the time off to explore these wonders is mission impossible!

    HK: What’s your biggest bugbear in this industry?
    PC: Some hoteliers’ lack of attention detail with technology. Modern travellers are connected and demand instant gratification. I think many hoteliers fall behind by adopting gimmicks without having considered whether or not they will help the guests’ experience.

    HK: You clearly travel a lot, what is the one item you cannot travel without?
    PC: My razor! You asked…

    HK: Has there been one person who you can identify as an inspiration to your journey in this industry?
    PC: That’s difficult, there are so many people who inspire me. From a business point of view alone I have had many great mentors. Honestly, there is not one single person I can mention.

    HK: Looking back, is there anything that you would have done differently?
    PC: Oh lots! Are you kidding me? But you learn from your mistakes and I have no regrets!

    “GHOTW has the technology and the commitment to help our members compete on a global scale.” – Pedro Colaco, CEO, Great Hotels of the World

    With the experience and technology from Guest Centric, the resources that GHOTW has at its fingertips are impressive, to say the least. “It’s hard to be an independent hotel in today’s market as more and more hotel groups launch lifestyle brands in tier two cities,” says Colaco. “However, GHOTW has the technology and the commitment to help our members compete on a global scale.”

    Modern, contemporary lobby area

    Image credit/caption: The lobby of Altis Belem Hotel in Lisbon, one of GHOTW’s members

    For me, in the little time I have had to get to know one of the many masters behind the brand, it’s clear that Colaco likes to work within a team in order to support the underdogs in our industry, the independents. In doing so, he and his team of experts are helping local businesses within the hotel industry to not only survive, but also to thrive. With recent news from the brand stating that it will receive more than €3,000,000 investment over the next two years in order to welcome new members from around the globe, GHOTW – a company that cares – just became greater!

    Gleneagles to redesign its famous restaurant

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    Gleneagles to redesign its famous restaurant

    The redesign of The Strathearn restaurant at Gleneagles is being led by Ennismore Design Studio and was inspired by the golden age of railway travel…

    With the aim to bring back the glamour and decadence of fine dining experiences of the 1920s and ’30s, Gleneagles will in May 2019 unveil the relaunch of its famous restaurant, The Strathearn following a design transformation by Ennismore Design Studio.

    The space – which has welcomed a host of famous faces over the decades, from Vivien Leigh, Sir Laurence Olivier and Sir Sean Connery, to John Travolta, Bob Hope and Her Majesty The Queen – is to unveil a new look inspired by an era when glamorous socialites would travel in style from London to Gleneagles to enjoy summer seasons of country sports and decadent dining.

    The new designs will celebrate that elegant spirit through a setting that evokes the theatre of the outdoors, the beautiful flora and fauna of Scotland. The creation of a stunning mosaic-floored orangery will offer beautiful views of the estate and the Ochil Hills across the seasons, while a new stage for musical performances will complement the elegance and drama of the rich décor – evocative of first-class carriage journeys in the early twentieth century.  A new kitchen-style breakfast servery will also double up as an occasional private dining space – breathing fresh life into the area that housed Gleneagles’ kitchen in the 1920s.

    “After years of meticulous planning, 12 months of interior design work and four months of careful renovation, we can’t wait to unveil the beautiful new look in May.” – Sharan Pasricha, CEO of Gleneagles and Ennismore

    Dinner at The Strathearn will be an even more decadent affair, with traditional gueridon service from bespoke dining trollies bringing excitement and energy to the room as a selection of classic dishes are finished at the table. Personally attending each table, the team will add a theatrical flair to the evening, as they effortlessly carve Scottish smoked salmon, prepare and dress a salad, or flambé a ‘Steak Strathearn’ on request.

    “As one of the final strands of our three-year design transformation, the renovation of The Strathearn restaurant was always going to be one of the most important phases of all,” said Sharan Pasricha, CEO of Gleneagles and Ennismore. “After years of meticulous planning, 12 months of interior design work and four months of careful renovation, we can’t wait to unveil the beautiful new look in May.”

    “Originally known simply as ‘the Dining Room’, the restaurant has been a destination for decadent dining and lively celebrations since Gleneagles first opened nearly 100 years ago. It’s been cherished by generations of guests, so we didn’t want to radically change the fabric of the space or the spirit of the experience. Instead, we wanted to take the essence of The Strathearn and turn up the volume. By amplifying all the elements that are so well loved – the elegant décor, the history, the lively atmosphere, the culinary theatre and the exceptional food – the team has brought back the vibrancy, energy, playfulness and glamour of fine dining experiences a century ago.”

    The Strathearn will be overseen by Restaurant Manager, Daniel Greenock, who has moved home to Scotland having honed his craft at Marcus Wareing’s Michelin-starred restaurant at the Berkley Hotel and the world-renowned three Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park in New York.

    Now under new owner Ennismore, Gleneagles has enlisted the skills and expertise of some of the UK’s most acclaimed designers including David Collins Studio, Timorous Beasties, Macaulay Sinclair, Goddard Littlefair and Ennismore’s own in-house design studio – with the aim to create designs and spaces that celebrate the rich, glamorous heritage and beautiful architecture for which the hotel is famed.

    The latest redesign announcement follows Gleneagles’ Conor O’Leary winning Hotelier of the Year at The Brit List 2018 for his unmatched leadership style.

    Main image credit: Gleneagles/Ennismore

    Serviced apartments hotel brand debuts in Munich, Germany

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    Serviced apartments hotel brand debuts in Munich, Germany

    H-Hotels.com opened the first hotel under its serviced apartment hotel brand in Munich…

    H.Hotels.com has debuted its first service apartment hotel in Munich. With the opening of both H2 Hotel Munich Olympiapark and H.omes Serviced Apartments in Munich, the hotel group now boasts properties in six locations in the metropolis of Munich on the river Isar.

    The opening of the aparthotel, which represents the first establishment in the Serviced Apartment brand from the hotel chain, follows a rise in demand for serviced apartment-styled accommodation.

    The size of the 105 modern and stylishly furnished apartments varies from 18 to 29 square metres within the categories of Comfort, Superior and Business. They are equipped with high-quality box-spring beds, air conditioning and multi-media screens. All apartments have a small but functional kitchen featuring a fridge with freezer compartment, microwave, coffee machine, kettle, dishwasher, cookware and crockery, as well as a full bathroom offering underfloor heating and a rainforest shower.

    “The 465 rooms, styled in a modern way, offer high-quality beds, air conditioning and flat screen TVs for the best entertainment.”

    With its innovative design and functional space concept, H2 Hotel Munich Olympiapark is a solution for city-hoppers, families, groups and business travellers. The 465 rooms, styled in a modern way, offer high-quality beds, air conditioning and flat screen TVs for the best entertainment. For families and groups, H2 Hotel Munich Olympiapark offers comfortable four-bed and six-bed rooms. Bathrooms are equipped with underfloor heating, revitalising showers and a separate WC. The heart of the new H2 Hotel is the H2 Hub. With an island offering fresh food and an open kitchen, the H2 Hub serves a wide selection of seasonal salads, pasta, burgers and pizza 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All dishes can be ordered to go.

    “With our new H.ome Serviced Apartments in Munich, we are meeting the demands of the future. Guests appreciate the private atmosphere of our apartments but don’t need to compromise on the hotel standards they expect if they desire them,” explains Alexander Fitz, CEO of H-Hotels AG. “With a total of six hotels, we now have a very strong foothold in Munich.”

    Alongside H2 Hotel Munich Olympiapark and H.ome Serviced Apartments Munich, the H2 Hotel Munich Exhibition Centre, H4 Hotel Munich, H+ Hotel Munich and the recently opened HYPERION Hotel Munich all belong to the Munich portfolio of H-Hotels AG, with a combined total of 1,511 rooms.

    Regal London secures planning permission for aparthotel in Whitechapel

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    Regal London secures planning permission for aparthotel in Whitechapel

    Regal London has secured planning permission in Whitechapel for a 68,795 sq ft, 14-storey aparthotel…

    Developer Regal London has been granted planning permission for an aparthotel at 73-77 Commercial Road, Whitechapel. Operated by Dublin-based Staycity, through its ‘Wilde’ brand, the project is being developed by Regal London and designed by Dexter Moren Associates.

    The planning approval comes while demand for luxury hotels in the Whitechapel area rises as a result of the new transport line, The Elizabeth Line, slated to open in Autumn 2019. A long-term lease of the property has been agreed between Regal London and Staycity. Iceni Projects provided the planning consultancy to Regal London and Staycity.

    The property will be the second ‘Wilde Aparthotel by Staycity’ in London, following the opening of the first on The Strand in March 2018.

    When complete, the Wilde Aparthotel will occupy 68,795 sq ft over 14-storeys and offer 156-bed accommodation, with each studio or one-bed apartment having its own kitchen facilities, as well as in-room technology including a 43” flat screen smart TV and touch control panels for lighting and air conditioning.

    Onsite facilities will include a 24-hour reception, guest lounge, fitness room, weekly housekeeping, laundry room, and a café open to both guests and the general public, providing active frontage onto Commercial Road. There will be a chamfered corner at the junction of Greenfield Road and Commercial Road to maximise footfall and provide an engaging public realm directly outside the site.

    “Staycity’s second Wilde offering is set to become a valuable asset for local professionals, the residents of East London and guests alike, said Simon De Friend, Joint CEO, Regal London. “Tower Hamlets’ vision for Whitechapel, alongside the pending arrival of Crossrail, has spurred regeneration along Commercial Road. New residential and commercial offerings are continuing to emerge, attracted by the proximity to the City and Old Street as well as the thriving arts and culture scene.

    “Wilde is the latest chapter in Whitechapel’s transformation and as Regal London’s first purely leisure project, it signals a milestone in the company’s strategy to pursue more hotel-led developments in the capital.”

    Neil Short, Staycity Development Director, London said: “This letting demonstrates that Staycity is an increasingly viable alternative to office and residential uses in central London. Commercial Road is a great fit for our Wilde brand with its close proximity to the City as well as hipster East End haunts, making it ideally placed for both business and leisure customers. Well served by rail and tube services guests will also benefit from the new Elizabeth Line opening in nearby Whitechapel station in 2019.”

    The project is due to break ground in summer 2019 and the hotel is expected to be complete by 2021.

    Meet Up North: Headline Exclusive Partner announced

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    Meet Up North: Headline Exclusive Partner announced

    Hamilton Litestat has been confirmed as the Exclusive Headline Partner for Meet Up North, which takes place at Hotel Gotham on July 1, 2019…

    Following the announcement yesterday, which unveiled the details around Meet Up North, British manufacturer Hamilton Litestat has been confirmed as the event’s Exclusive Headline Partner.

    The technology accessories lighting solution company, which sponsored The Brit List 2018 and Meet Up London 2019, will attend the event that will be attended by the industry’s leaders and visionaries.

    “The decision for Hamilton Litestat to become the Exclusive Headline Partner for Meet Up North was one that was made following the success of its previous networking events, including Meet Up London last week,” said Gavin Williams, Head of Marketing at Hamilton Litestat. “We look forward to being in Manchester with the team from Hotel Designs in order to promote our brand and our innovative products in the north to designers, hoteliers and architects.”

    This year’s Meet Up North will take place at Hotel Gotham’s Club Brass rooftop VIP lounge on July 1.

    Early bird tickets now available

    Between now and April 30, 2019, early bird tickets for the event are available to purchase:

    Suppliers: £99 + VAT (£150 + VAT after early bird offer expires after April 30).
    Designers, architects and hoteliers: £10 + VAT (£20 + VAT after early bird offer expires after April 30).

    If you are a supplier to the industry and would like to attend Meet Up North, click here.
    If you are a designer, architect or hoteliers to the industry and would like to attend Meet Up North, click here.

    There are various sponsorship opportunities and packages available for Meet Up North. If you would like to discuss these with our team then please contact Zoe Guerrier by either emailing z.guerrier@forumevents.co.uk or calling 01992 374059.

    Main image caption: The Hamilton Litestat team attending Meet Up London as Exclusive Headline Partners

    Sekers’ Kielder collection captures ’50s era with distinct modern twist

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    Sekers’ Kielder collection captures ’50s era with distinct modern twist

    Sekers has announced the launch of Kielder, a versatile textured weave suitable for contract upholstery…

    Incorporating a multi-colour looped yarn, Kielder by Sekers captures the essence of the heavy bouclé fabrics typical of the 1950’s but with a modern performance.

    Available in a palette of 20 multi-colour shades ranging from sophisticated earth-toned neutrals to zesty brights, Kielder is the perfect addition to any contract interior.

    “Kielder is supplied with a crib five flame retardant backing and a Martindale abrasion performance of 100,000 rubs.”

    Incorporating FibreGuard, an advanced finish that helps protect the fabric against spills and stains without having to resort to specialist cleaning, Kielder resists the toughest of stains, including red wine and ballpoint pen.

    Supplied with a crib five flame retardant backing and with a Martindale abrasion performance of 100,000 rubs, Kielder meets all relevant UK, US and IMO standards for upholstery. This textural semi plain is perfect for the most demanding upholstery application and the ideal choice for the commercial hospitality, leisure and marine markets.

    Sekers is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

    Meet Up North 2019: Manchester venue announced

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    Meet Up North 2019: Manchester venue announced

    Hotel Designs has announced that it is taking its successful Meet Up networking event concept to Manchester’s Hotel Gotham on July 1, 2019… 

    Following the success of Meet Up London last week, Hotel Designs has announced that its Meet Up North networking event will take place at Manchester’s Hotel Gotham on July 1.

    Leading designers, architects, hoteliers and key-industry suppliers are expected to gather at the hotel’s exclusive members-only rooftop bar, Club Brass, for drinks and canapés above the city.

    The VIP lounge on the 7th floor of the hotel was chosen as the venue for Meet Up North after editor Hamish Kilburn described Hotel Gotham as Manchester’s decadent playground in his interactive hotel review that was published last year.

    “If Hotel Gotham is the King of King Street, then Brass is the jewel in the crown,” says Hotel Gotham on its website when describing the members-only rooftop bar.

    “We have decided to return to this vibrant city, which is full of raw creativity at every corner, due to popular demand in addition to the recent increase in hotel investment in the city, especially in the luxury market.” – Hamish Kilburn, editor, Hotel Designs.

    “There is arguably no greater venue that is more relevant for this year’s Meet Up North event than Hotel Gotham,” Kilburn commented on the announcement. “With the hotel group imminently about to expand its luxury arm even further in Manchester, with the highly anticipated opening of The Brooklyn, Hotel on the cards, Hotel Gotham shelters everything and more we need in order to make this event the best Meet Up North yet. We have decided to return to this vibrant city, which is full of raw creativity at every corner, due to popular demand in addition to the recent increase in hotel investment in the city, especially in the luxury market.”

    Early bird tickets now available

    Between now and April 30, 2019, early bird tickets for the event are available to purchase:

    Suppliers: £99 + VAT (£150 + VAT after early bird offer expires after April 30).
    Designers, architects and hoteliers: £10 + VAT (£20 + VAT after early bird offer expires after April 30).

    If you are a supplier to the industry and would like to attend Meet Up North, click here.
    If you are a designer, architect or hoteliers to the industry and would like to attend Meet Up North, click here.

    There are various sponsorship opportunities and packages available for Meet Up North. If you would like to discuss these with our team then please contact Zoe Guerrier by either emailing z.guerrier@forumevents.co.uk or calling 01992 374059.

    The inaugural Meet Up North took place last year at King Street Townhouse and was attended by more than 200 designers, architects, hoteliers and key-industry suppliers.

    About Hotel Gotham

    Hotel Gotham is sheltered in what is arguably the city’s grandest properties and is an exclusive city-centre sanctuary, previously a bank that was designed in 1935 by none other than architect Edwin Lutyens.

    The hotel, which opened in 2015, prides itself on offering a modern and comfortable experience in a unique and luxurious environment, with exquisite service all within a bespoke private club in the heart of Manchester.

     

    Image credit: Hotel Gotham


    Main image credit: Hotel Gotham

    Nobu Hotel Los Cabos opens

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    Nobu Hotel Los Cabos opens

    The opening of Nobu Hotel Los Cabos marks the hotel group’s debut into Mexico…

    Officially open today, Nobu Hotel Los Cabos, debuts 200 stylish guestrooms and suites. Both WATG and Studio PCH have blended Japanese minimalism with locally sourced Californian raw materials, such as custom furniture pieces, wood-soaking tubs, teak and stone materials, shoji-inspired closet doors and Japanese inspired lanterns.

    The first Nobu Hotel in Mexico, perched beachfront on the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula, houses elegant meetings and event spaces, a luxurious spa with Natura Bissé products and, what all Nobu Hotels must have…a spectacular Nobu Restaurant and Bar with ocean views, making this the third Nobu restaurant in Mexico.

    Light and bright public dining area

    Image credit: Nobu Hotel Los Cabos

    The natural growth of Nobu Hospitality, built on service, image, and reputation, offers the complete spectrum of hotel, restaurant and residence management for unique projects around the world.

    Founded by Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper, with operations spanning five continents, the Nobu brand thrives in the world’s capitals as the ultimate destination lifestyle experience.

    Also set to open in 2019 are properties in Barcelona and Chicago, with Warsaw recently announced for 2020.

    Main image credit: Nobu Hotel Los Cabos

    Why UK hotel investment is booming

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    Why UK hotel investment is booming

    Real estate professionals from Fieldfisher believe that the low sterling exchange rate is why UK hotels have becoming more affordable, while Colliers  International UK identify mass investment in tier-two cities…

    Despite the political landscape of the UK hanging in the balance at the moment, hotel development experts and real estate professionals have identified that UK hotel investment is booming, with a major focus on tier two cities.

    European law firm Fieldfisher, which represents hotel developers such as Dominvs Group, Easy Hotel, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, Morgans Hotels and Searni Hotels as well as their investors has identified some of the reasons why UK hotel investment is performing particularly strongly at the moment.

    The low exchange rate, the genuine shortage of stock in real estate investment sector and the rise in budget brands are among the main factors identified by the firm and real estate experts Fieldfisher.

    Paul Houston, a real estate partner and head of the hotels and leisure practice at Fieldfisher, has produced announced a comment on why UK hotel investments in particular are performing so strongly at the moment – although we are also seeing very strong growth in Spanish hotels as well – which is partly to do with innovation in the sector and offering new kinds of services tailored to the needs of business travellers and guests on tight budgets.

    In a statement, Houston said: “The hotels and leisure sector is very buoyant at the moment.

    “The low sterling exchange rate has made UK hotels that much more affordable – both for tourists to stay in and for international investors to build – and because hotels are prime real estate, they are good investments for people who want long-term capital growth.

    “The genuine shortage of stock in the real estate investment sector has led institutions to look at alternative asset classes and hotels have been one of the main beneficiaries. Where funds would have traditionally invested in office, retail, logistics or industrial assets – they will now look at hotels.

    “Hotels are also fighting back against the big accommodation sharing sites with more budget brands. They are re-engineering the hotel offering with more basic, more affordable accommodation which often provides a better, more consistent product than alternative short-term rentals  – which is important for business travellers. And there is a lot of business travel happening right now.

    “The acquisition of a hotel may be a pure property transaction, but quite often hotels sit within a corporate wrapper, meaning the transaction involves the full gamut of property, finance, franchising, employment, tax and corporate legal matters – which is good news for advisers to this sector.”

    The comment from the law firm follows another report that was published this from Colliers International UK Hotels Market Index highlighted that Edinburgh remains the number-one location for hotel investment.

    Marc Finney, head of hotels and resorts consulting at Colliers International, stated: “The UK hotel market adds about 10,000 new rooms each year and this has increased in pace recently, with almost 18,000 new rooms expected to open in 2019. This leaves hotels as a rare bright spot in a property market that is facing challenges in other sectors.”

    The top 10 UK spots for hotel investment and development are as follows:

    1 Edinburgh
    2 Belfast
    3 Liverpool
    4 Chester
    5 Bath
    6 London
    7 Glasgow
    8 Brighton
    9 Cambridge
    10 Leeds

    To have your say on this topic, please tweet us at @HotelDesigns.

    Hotel Designs’ 30 Under 30: Winners announced

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    Hotel Designs’ 30 Under 30: Winners announced

    Hotel Designs’ unveiled the winners of its 30 Under 30 initiative at Meet Up London on March 28, 2019…

    40 shortlisted 30 Under 30 finalists were among the more than 200 interior designers, architects, hoteliers and key-industry suppliers who gathered at Minotti London on March 28 for Meet Up London. The event, which was Hotel Designs’ first networking event of the year, witnessed the unveiling of Hotel Designs’ 30 Under 30.

    Speaking at the event, editor Hamish Kilburn said: “I have to say, as a young design editor, I support this initiative with every fibre in my body. Throughout this whole process I have been so impressed to see such interesting in-house schemes in leading design and architecture firms in order to give credit to the rising stars of our industry. But I have been as impressed with individuals going it alone and really proving themselves to be creative geniuses.”

    Below are the final winners who have been listed in alphabetical order.

    Adam Crabtree
    Studio: Chelsom Lighting
    Role: Technical Engineer

    Adam Crabtree works closely with the sales and projects team to develop solutions for all bespoke lighting enquiries. As a fundamental part of the Technical team Adam is involved in development of the project all the way from design concept stage to final product installation.

    Projects:

    • Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park, London
    • Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
    • The Peninsula Hotel, London
    • Le Meridien, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
    • Great Scotland Yard
    • One Aldwych
    • Plan B
    • Puro Lodz
    • Six Senses, New York

    Ali Bacon
    Studio: The Gettys Group
    Role: Senior Project Designer

    Ali Bacon is a dynamic and talented designer who creates thoughtful, memorable places for The Gettys Group’s diverse hospitality clients. She brings more than a decade of experience designing for commercial clients, and her wide-ranging expertise in hospitality, retail, and multi-family residential applications can be found in projects throughout the country and beyond.

    Projects:

    • The Blackstone, Autograph Collection, Chicago, IL
    • Hotel LeVeque, Autograph Collection, Columbus, OH
    • White House Napa Valley Inn, Napa Valley, CA
    • Hilton Portland Downtown, Portland, OR
    • Claridge House, Chicago, IL
    • World of Wine, Porto, Portugal
    • Hyatt Centric City Center, Sacramento, CA
    • Sheraton Ft. Worth, TX

    Anya Gordon Clark
    Dexter Moren Associates
    Role: Interior Designer

    The most important feature of Anya Gordon Clark’s personality as an interior designer is her desire to create non-banal spaces with a strong mark of her personality along with unstoppable wish to learn new and improve her existing skillset.

    Projects:

    • Avon Gorge Hotel
    • Vintry & Mercier hotel

    Catherine van der Heide
    Studio: HASSELL
    Role: Interior Designer

    Catherine van der Heide puts a key focus on a project’s complexity to extract a meaningful and bespoke narrative. As an interior designer at HASSELL, Heide has collaborated on a diverse range of projects throughout the UK, South East Asia and Australia.

    Charlotte Roe
    Studio: WISH London
    Role: Interior architect

    Since joining WISH London last year, Charlotte Roe has become an invaluable team member who has contributed to the successful design of a variety of projects. Working primarily in the hospitality and commercial sectors, Roe has immersed herself in all aspects of interior design from concept to completion.

    Charlotte’s passion for current trends and fine detail has shown through in a recently completed high end commercial project based in Windmill Street, Fitzrovia.

    Projects:

    • The Nadler Hotel, Covent Garden

    Daniela Anedda
    Studio: M Studio London
    Role: Interior Designer

    Daniela Anedda gained a Bachelor degree in Architecture at the University of Cagliari, Italy, and then moved to London in 2016 to study Interior Design at KLC School of Design. During her course, she had the opportunity to work for the Lelievre showroom where she could deepen her knowledge about fabrics and schemes and have a first glance of the interior design world. With M Studio London she now works on high-end residential and commercial projects, following all stages of the design process.

    Projects:

    • InterContinental, Porto

    David Jelensky
    Studio: M Studio London
    Role: Interior Designer

    David Jelensky moved to the UK in 2011 to enrich his abilities at University Campus Suffolk, studying Interior Architecture & Design. As an innovative designer, passionate about architecture and design, he is characterised by precision and exquisite attention to detail creating elegant technological designs representing purity, sophisticated use of materials, environmental responsibility. This has been captured through his successful design projects as he was rewarded by first class in Bachelor of Arts, Interior Architecture and Design. His skills has been enriched in London and Dubai working on high-end residential and hospitality projects.

    Projects:

    • InterContinental, Porto

    Gina Langridge
    Studio: WATG
    Role: Designer

    Gina Langridge is an ambitious and passionate designer who utilises design as a tool to create exciting human experiences. She strives to design spaces that harmonise within the landscape setting, delivering the best possible design solution for both client and guest.

    Langridge has experience working on a wide range of projects throughout the UK, Europe, Australasia, and the Middle East. She has a solid grounding in the design of tourism and hospitality facilities, and her involvement in hugely successful renovation projects has strengthened her construction experience.

    WATG has a robust internal leadership programme, providing a voice and a platform for our young designers to flourish. As one of WATG’s brightest rising stars, Langridge has been selected to take part in the 2019 programme for her excellent communication skills, strong self-awareness and a passion for excellent design.

    Langridge is a leader of tomorrow and has been successful in exceeding expectations at every turn.

    “Gina is a talented and astute landscape architect. She has been involved in the design and delivery of some of our most memorable recent work, including refurbishments, which are extremely difficult to deliver,” said John Goldwyn, Vice President, Director of Planning & Landscape, WATG. “Gina demonstrates the perfect blend of skill in client focus and attention-to-detail that hospitality projects require.”

    Gioia Corrada
    Studio: M Studio London
    Role: Interior Designer

    Gioia Corrada gained her degree in Interior Design at IED in Milan and then a Master’s degree at Polytechnic of Milan. By the end of her studies, she had learnt how to manage projects, be a team player and to work to high standards with attention to detail. Gioia went on to work for a Design and Architecture studio in Milan which gave her the chance to work on a project for the Salone del Mobile in 2014. After moving to London, she joined M Studio in March 2018 to pursue a career in the world of Interior Design and get a first-hand insight into the world of high-end luxury design.

    Harry Allnatt
    Studio: Richmond International
    Role: Interior Designer

    Harry Allnatt, a product and furniture design graduate, joined Richmond in 2011 following a placement year in Milan as part of his degree, which resulted in steering his career direction towards interiors in the hotels and hospitality sector.

    With a strong eye for detail, Harry enjoys challenging the norm to achieve sophisticated design solutions on many complex projects.

    Allnatt has consistently shown creativity, responsibility and an unwavering level of commitment which has resulted in our recognition of his skills, rapidly progressing him to the position of Senior Designer.

    Projects:

    • Langham Boston
    • Cosmopolitan Las Vegas
    • P&O Britannia
    • Four Seasons Hvar

    Jen Lees
    Studio: HBA London
    Role: Interior Designer

    Jen Lees found her passion for interiors whilst successfully completing her BA (Hons) in Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern Design degree from Leeds Arts University. Throughout her studying, Jen created a number of her own personal collections, aimed at the interior design sector, gaining a wide understanding of the importance of innovation and originality within design.

    After exhibiting her degree show at New Designers 2016, she began her internship placement year at HBA London, working on a variety of global luxury projects. Now a Designer, with a strong focus on FF&E specifications, she applies her eye to detail and knowledge in material culture to create dynamic and fresh aesthetics to suit every client’s vision, whilst still pushing the boundaries of design to form a unique space.

    Projects:

    • Amadria Park Capital Zagreb, Croatia
    • InterContinental Munich

    Jodie Hatton
    Studio: Brintons
    Role: Designer

    Jodie Hatton was one of the designers at Brintons behind the award-winning collaboration with design studio Timorous Beasties. Unlike most other carpet manufacturers, Brintons designs and develops all of its own looms and supplies carpet to both commercial and residential markets globally.

    Projects:

    • Kimpton Fitzroy London
    • Holland Casino, Rotterdam
    • D&D London

    Jordyn Dickson
    Studio: The Gettys Group
    Role: Designer

    Designer Jordyn Dickson is a native of Chicago’s north suburbs. She draws interior design inspiration from trends in the world of fashion, and — as a talented musician herself — she spends most of the day plugged into artists like Kurt Vile to fuel her creativity.

    Dickson holds a degree from the CIDA-accredited design program at Indiana University.

    Projects:

    • Hampton Inn Public Area Prototype Refresh,
    • Hilton Worldwide
    • Hampton Inn Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
    • Holiday Inn Orlando – Disney Springs, FL
    • TownePlace Suites Colorado (5 locations)
    • Residence Inn Deerfield, IL
    • Fairfield Inn San Diego, CA

    Josh Piddock
    Studio: Project Orange
    Role: Architect

    Josh Piddock completed his RIBA Part 2 at Sheffield School of Architecture in 2015 and joined Project Orange later that summer having travelled India in between. He completed his Part 3 at the University of Bath and fully qualified as a RIBA chartered Architect in 2017.

    Piddock is currently working on an exciting custom build project in Norfolk, amongst other early stage projects in the office, whilst outside office life most of Josh’s time is taken up in the renovation of his flat in Hackney and in entering architectural competitions with his self-confessed wacky ideas.

    Projects:

    • My Fortune Guntur, India
    • The Park Hotel Bangalore
    • NHOW London
    • Room 2, Southampton.

    Kate Jarrett
    Studio: Scott Brownrigg
    Role: Interior Designer

    Kate Jarrett is a creative young designer who thrives in all elements of the design process, from initial concept to project management and site installation. Having joined Scott Brownrigg in 2016, she has excelled in winning the respect of every client she works with. Jarrett has worked closely with glh Hotels and Hard Rock in delivering the public areas for the exciting new hotel located in London’s Marble Arch. She has also been intrinsic in creating a fun, young and Instagram-able hot spot and destination 10th floor bar on the edge of Leicester Square. A key strength is Jarrett’s all-round ability to communicate extremely well with clients, design team, consultants and contractors, with an end goal to produce an exceptional and innovative final product.

    Projects:

    • GLH Hotels
    • Hard Rock Hotel London

    Kayleigh Jones
    Studio: Brintons
    Role: Designer

    Kayleigh Jones joined Brintons in 2016 as the result of a close working relationship between the carpet manufacturer and Birmingham City University’s (BCU) School of Fashion and Textiles. Impressed by the originality and inspiring nature of her material concepts, the Brintons panel had no hesitation in awarding the prize to  Jones, a graduate of BA (Hons) Textile Design (Constructed Textiles), for her project ‘Puff, powder, Gloss – cosmetictactility’ which was influenced by the seductive materiality of cosmetics. Following this, Brintons decided to offer the young designer the opportunity of joining their busy design department.

    Lauren McEwen
    Studio: Goddard Littlefair
    Role: FF&E Designer

    Lauren McEwen began her career with a five-year stretch at David Collins Studio, establishing herself as an FF&E specialist, with standout schemes for luxury hospitality projects including the Delaire Graff Estate in South Africa and the award-winning Gleneagles Hotel. McEwen was also involved in the design of the public spaces at the prestigious Ritz-Carlton Residences, housed within Ole Scheeren’s Maha Nakhon tower in Bangkok, Thailand, one of the most architecturally significant developments in the region. The project won several major awards including the ‘Best Luxury Condo Development’ at the Thailand Property Awards.

    McEwen joined Goddard Littlefair in 2018, which has also challenged her ability to design within budget, another constraint the studio believes makes designers become more creative.

    A committed advocate of craft, McEwen regularly keeps up to date with the latest techniques, visiting workshops and factories to reinforce her understanding of how things are made.

    Projects:

    • Delaire Graff Estate
    • Ritz-Carlton Residences, Bangkok
    • Gleneageles, Scotland
    • Hilton Vienna
    • Grosvenor Hotel, London

    Lisa Liu
    Studio: WATG
    Role: Architect

    Lisa Liu is a RIBA and ARB qualified architect, with a Master’s degree from London’s distinguished Bartlett School of Architecture. Born in China, raised in New Zealand and now living in the UK, Liu has a diverse understanding of culture and locale, which is showcased throughout her work.

    Having worked on a variety of land-uses; mainly hospitality, residential, and commercial projects; throughout Europe, Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East, she’s contextual within her design process, bringing the local surroundings into the heart of the project. Lisa has been involved in the design and delivery of some of our most memorable recent work.

    “Lisa is a very talented architect, with great design skills. She has designed some of our most outstanding hospitality projects, and has a great sensibility for context and local culture” Nic Jacobs, Vice President, WATG.

    Her advanced technological skills have allowed her to become a leader in emerging digital programmes at WATG. She has been a trailblazer in the use of the innovative software, particularly Grasshopper, and is able to use these tools, alongside her impeccable design skills to create a fantastic project.

    Liu is a natural leader and an incredible asset to WATG and the architectural profession. We look forward to watching this talented individual grow and flourish.

    Mahesh Parekh
    Studio: ARA Design
    Role: Junior Designer

    Mahesh Parekh’s culturally rich background and his travels back home in India have placed him in a strong position for a colourful career in design.

    Working his way up the ladder from an intern at ARA Design to now being a junior designer, Mahesh has grown into a confident young creative member of the team who has proven his skills in a number of projects, one of which is Isrotel Hotels.

    Marion Pierru
    Studio: Wilson Associates
    Role: Junior Designer

    Marion Pierru is a Junior Designer at the Wilson Associates’ Paris office, leveraging nearly five years of professional experience in the architecture and design industry.

    Prior to joining the Wilson Associates team, Pierru was with George Wong Design, where she worked with clients such as Hyatt’s Hotel Louvre in Paris. Having won the opportunity to be on the design team through a student design competition, the Hotel Louvre project sparked Marion’s passion for the hospitality industry and became the catalyst for the career that has followed in the years since. Marion has also worked on projects such as the renovation of Un Hotel Trait D’Union and Baton Rouge Pigalle in Paris.

    At Wilson Associates, Pierru assists in all phases of a project’s design. With the approval of the project manager and design director, she prepares a preliminary budget and purchase estimate, secures product samples, and creates specification books and presentation boards. As a primary contact with the purchasing agent, Marion prepares FF&E specifications to adhere to the client’s budget and the overall design direction for the project. At Wilson Associates, Marion works with the design team in Paris on projects across the globe and locally, including the Hotel Scribe in Paris and a range of properties for luxury brands such as Park Hyatt, Carlton and Jumeirah.

    Nicola Brook
    Studio: Nicola Brook Design
    Role: Director

    With more than eight years’ experience in the superyacht interior design sector, Nicola Brook recently set up her own firm, a human-centred interior design and creative consultancy studio based in London. Nicola is looking to broaden the studio’s portfolio into hotel design, believing that this fast-paced sector has many close links to the superyacht market which shaped her creative vocabulary.

    Omar Nakkash
    Studio: Nakkash Design Studio
    Role: Co-founder, Designer

    Omar Nakkash launched NAKKASH Design Studio which specialises in contemporary designs and furniture sourcing as well as designing signature commercial spaces such as Nourish and Parlour Boutique. Nakkash, who is based in Dubai, made his debut as a solo product designer with Trinity, a sculptural table lamp, at the Beirut Design Fair 2018.

    His ability to look past design for aesthetical purpose and more for functionality made him a strong candidate in Esquire 100, which is described as “a list of men and womden who have helped the publication become the voice of the modern man.”

    Patrick McCrae
    Studio: ARTIQ
    Role: CEO

    This year, Patrick McCrae celebrates the tenth anniversary of ARTIQ, the art consultancy he first launched in 2009 to bridge the gap between the art and business worlds and to promote fair pay for artists.

    Today, ARTIQ is one of the UK’s leading art consultancy, working with an extensive client base throughout the EMEA to bring outstanding art and experiences to businesses and brands and to push barriers constantly in terms of what art can achieve and who it can reach and engage with.

    Projects:

    • Gleneagles, Scotland
    • Sessions House
    • Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik
    • Mode Aparthotel Arc De Triomphe
    • The Principal Edinburgh Charlotte Square

    Rebecca Quickfall
    Studio: Diamond Interiors
    Role: Interior Designer

    Formally a designer at Jasper Sanders + Partners, Rebecca Quickfall is a burgeoning talent defined by energy and enthusiasm, as both studios will agree.

    Quickfall was an integral part of helping bring Jasper Sanders + Partners’ projects to life. Her creative and thoughtful contribution to every project gives clients the confidence that the solutions are right for their business.

    Designing for people and creating valuable experiences that are not just intelligent spaces, Quickfall thrive as part of a team and believe collaboration is essential to good design.

    Rosalynn Youdan
    Studio: Jestico + Whiles
    Role: Designer

    Immediately after graduating with a first-class honours degree from Falmouth Rosalynn Youdan joined Jestico + Whiles in 2014 and has since played a pivotal role on several unique hotel and hospitality projects across the globe.

    Her wide experience at Jestico + Whiles also includes the award-winning micro-brewery and pub Shilling’s Brewing Co. in Glasgow, which graced the cover of FX magazine in 2018, and the latest venture for etc Venues at London’s historic County Hall.

    With experience in cruise liner design Youdan was lead designer for areas of Iona, the first of the next generation of ships for P&O. The ship launching in 2020 is set to be the largest cruise ship to be built exclusively for the British cruise market, with capacity for 5,200 guests and more than five speciality restaurants

    Projects:

    • InterContinental Hotel Tbilisi
    • Old Spitalfields Market
    • Ted & Muffy Boutique
    • Shillings Brewing Co.
    • London County Hall
    • Hard Rock Hotel Malta
    • Hard Rock Hotel Berlin
    • Project Gala Cruise Ship
    • W Hotel Edinburgh
    • Hotel Palace Lucerne Switzerland
    • Hotel Titlis Palace Engelberg
    • W Marrakesh

    Sarah Murphy
    Studio: Jestico + Whiles
    Role: Architect

    Sarah Murphy joined Jestico + Whiles in 2014 after graduating from the University of Manchester with a First-Class Honours degree in Architecture.

    Throughout her time in the practice she has been studying to qualify as an Architect and is currently undertaking her Part III.

    Her architectural design background has been reinforced through the wide range of hotel and hospitality projects in which she has played a key role. Murphy has formed invaluable connections with the extensive design team and with self-determination remains close to the project to ensure the final product is as faultless as it can be.

    Murphy is currently leading design of key areas of the design of Titlis Palace Hotel, a beautiful grande dame hotel in a mountainous area of Engelberg, Switzerland,  nestled below the shadow of Mount Titlis.

    Projects:

    • Paul Street Hotel, London
    • Odeon, Shaftesbury Avenue, London
    • Hard Rock Hotel Malta
    • Hard Rock Hotel Berlin
    • Hotel Palace Lucerne Switzerland
    • Hotel Titlis Palace Engelberg

    Scarlett Supple
    Studio: Soho House Design
    Role: Senior Interior Designer

    Scarlett Supple has now been working in the industry for seven years.

    It was during her second year as an interior designer that led the design of the main farmhouse, 5 cabins and 2 of the main barns at Soho Farmhouse in Chipping Norton. She said of the project: “The architects and I worked closely to develop a design that was true to the existing features of the space and celebrated the local materials as well as designing bespoke furniture and lighting that made each area unique.”

    Arguably, her largest achievement since joining Soho House Design in 2015 was leading the design of Soho House Mumbai. “My time was spent designing bespoke fabric, with inspiration taken from traditional Indian motifs and patterns, working with local craftsman developing bespoke furniture and lighting as well as working with external developers and suppliers to ensure a successful opening of our first Soho House in Asia,” she said.

    Projects:

    • Soho House West Hollywood
    • Soho House Greek Street
    • Babbington House
    • Soho House Mumbai
    • Soho House Paris

    Simona Mirón
    Studio: Gensler
    Role: Architect

    Simona Mirón taps into her boundless creativity to design unique and contemporary hotel environments – providing design expertise on projects from concept through to completion – for some of the most challenging clients not just in the Europe but also in Saudi Arabia, Malta and North Africa among others. Mirón is currently leading on the design of a complex 5* Hotel in the Middle East that’s part of a $300 million redevelopment. Her responsibilities include providing design expertise, collaborating and coordinating with 11 consulting firms in order to develop solutions that embody her client’s vision and needs.

    Her growth within the profession over the last few years has been a joy for her colleagues to observe. Tom Lindblom, Hospitality Leader and Principal at Gensler comments: “Simona has developed a very strong design language for hotel and hospitality design. She makes the very important connection between master planning and architecture to create holistic designs for our clients on projects in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Her combination of clear design thinking, team spirit, amazing computer skills, and relentless work habits allows Gensler to continue to make innovative and successful projects. We look forward to great things for Simona.”

    Achievements:

    Leading the design of 5* Hotel that’s part of a $300 million redevelopment in the Middle East.

    Winner of Europan 13, biennial competition for young architects under 40 years of age to design innovative urban design schemes across Europe, out of 1,862 entries across 15 countries for her Stavanger Project.

    Winner of Gensler’s Design Excellent Award which celebrates the company’s most innovative projects.

    Stephanie Riedl
    Studio: B3 Designers
    Role: Interior Architect

    Stephanie Riedl’s career began in Stuttgart, Germany, where she gained her Bachelor of Arts in Interior and Architectural Design in 2016. During her studies Steph carried out a number of internships covering interior design, carpentry and residential design consultancy.

    Riedll began working for Dittel Architects in Stuttgart after completing her studies and worked on a number of interior and branding projects. She then moved to G20 Architects where she freelanced and assisted in the design of a new build hotel.

    Upon moving to London in June 2017, Steph joined B3 Designers; an award-winning interior design and branding studio specialising in restaurants, bars and hotels.

    Most recently, Riedll also assisted with the design and attended the opening of the recently refurbished Champions Bar & Restaurant at the Marriott Hotel in Frankfurt.

    Yosola Akinwumi
    Studio: HBA London
    Role: Junior Designer

    From a young age Yosola Akinwumi has always been mesmerised and taken inspiration from the built environment she is surrounded by and her educational paths have guided her in the pursuit of her architecture dreams.

    She studied Interior Architecture and Design at Nottingham Trent University, which gave her the opportunity to complete a year’s internship with HBA London. After completing her university degree, Akinwumi joined HBA London as a Junior Designer in 2016, fast expanding her skills in technical drawings and FF&E design. She continues to evolve in her design knowledge and flair, creating tailored design solutions. Since working with HBA London, she has been involved with projects in the Middle East, China, Maldives and Europe.

    Projects:

    • Waldorf Astoria, Doha
    • Luxury Collection, Doha
    • Raffles Hotel and Residences Istanbul

    The full gallery of Meet Up London, where the 30 Under 30s were unveiled in spectacular fashion, can be accessed here.

    Water fountains made up by Laufen toilets

    Laufen unveils new aesthetic and functional take on the bathroom

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    Laufen unveils new aesthetic and functional take on the bathroom

    For this year’s ISH in Frankfurt am Main, Laufen put the spotlight on design and hygiene along with highly functional and sustainable bathroom solutions…

    Laufen has developed new possibilities for its SaphirKeramik, one of the most exciting bathroom material innovations of recent years. This particularly slim-profile and robust material has revolutionised the conventions of bathroom design, kick-starting a trend towards a lighter styling with a more pronounced graphic aesthetic.

    Water fountains made up by Laufen toilets

    Laufen is now working with the fourth generation of SaphirKeramik, showcasing in addition to its form and aesthetics some inspiring new possibilities for this material. Now that the Swiss bathroom brand has perfected the industrial process used to manufacture SaphirKeramik, it is able to offer new takes on the humble washbasin and even new applications for it, for example double washbasins in single-washbasin sizes, washbasin bowls with an integral overflow, or freestanding washbasins with a minimal footprint – new ideas that are simply unthinkable with conventional ceramic bathroom products.

    To implement its design ideas, Laufen works with internationally celebrated designers such as Marcel Wanders, Patricia Urquiola and Konstantin Grcic. The result? Stunning yet practical everyday products for the bathroom environment that offer designers and architects exciting new opportunities when it comes to creating high-end bathrooms.

    Laufen is building on the success of its shower toilets with a new version that focuses very much on the user benefits and concentrates on keeping the user interface as efficient as possible.

    Image credit: Laufen

    Taking responsibility for the future

    It goes without saying that Laufen is also taking responsibility for the company’s impact on people and the environment, because the rational use of water and recycling wastewater are fundamental to our future and represent significant challenges and opportunities. To this end, the bathroom products manufacturer has begun a fruitful cooperation with EOOS to develop the Austrian design company’s revolutionary proposal for a new kind of waste-sorting WC (developed for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) into a marketable product. At ISH, Laufen presented this ground-breaking innovation that is set to revolutionise the sanitary industry and relieve pressure on the existing wastewater infrastructure in fast-growing cities all over the world.

    Laufen has also formalised its responsibility for its use of resources and environmental impact in a new environmental product declaration (EPD). For this, the company has completed certification of the environmental quality of its complete ceramics range across all of its Central European manufacturing plants in accordance with ISO14025, EN15804 and EN16578.

    The connected bathroom

    Laufen is also busy developing trendsetting new bathroom networking and digitalisation ideas. In this area, the bathroom specialist is focusing on public and semi-public sanitary areas, where networked concepts bring the greatest benefits. The company now offers a complete solution for networking electronic washbasin faucets and urinal and shower controls in public facilities. And when it comes to incorporating elegant and discreet digital functionality in private bathrooms, true to form, Laufen has successfully combined technology with aesthetics.

    In addition, the company has been working on improving and expanding its existing range, adding new products and new options in just about every area in its bid to offer bathroom designers more freedom and bathroom users superior benefits and greater choice.

    Product innovations

    The New Classic by Marcel Wanders

    The New Classic is a new bathroom collection by Laufen. The celebrity designer Marcel Wanders was engaged to re-interpret classical styles using the material SaphirKeramik. Every item included in the ensemble brings together the designer’s flair and creativity with Laufen’s mastery of raw materials. The New Classic range encompasses washbasins, bowl washbasins, toilets, a bidet and bathtub, faucets, mirrors and accessories, as well as furniture. This individualistic collection won the iF Design Award 2019 for its sensual combination of aesthetics and function.

    Image credit/caption: The New Classic in collaboration with Marcel Wanders

    Cleanet Navia

    The Cleanet Navia shower toilet focuses very much on user benefits and concentrates on keeping the user interface as efficient as possible. With its compact design, simple functions and attractive price, it is suitable for a very broad market. The Navia features the tried-and-tested intuitive operating concept, with a side-mounted controller for the standard functions plus an app to access the full functionality that Laufen previously developed for its popular Cleanet Riva shower toilet.

    Sonar by Patricia Urquiola

    When it originated Sonar, Laufen focused in particular on exploring the formal scope for new bathroom solutions afforded by SaphirKeramik. The expressive Sonar bathroom collection thus features novel washbasin designs that are simply not possible using conventional bathroom ceramics. Already the winner of an iF Design Award, the collection now offers even greater variety thanks to the addition of more washbasins, WCs, a bidet, a new bathtub and a suite of bathroom furniture, again created by Patricia Urquiola.

    Image credit/caption: Laufen’s Sonar in collaboration with Patricia Urquiola

    Val by Konstantin Grcic

    Compact and demanding bathrooms call for intelligent equipment solutions, to make best use of the restricted space without appearing cluttered. The new SaphirKeramik washbasins that Laufen co-developed with designer Konstantin Grcic for the Val bathroom collection take on this challenge in a new and innovative way, concentrating particularly on compact and demanding bathroom layouts.

    Kartell by Laufen

    A 1970s revival is currently sweeping the fashion and furnishing markets – and entering the bathroom as well. But nobody is calling for a renaissance of the harsh colour schemes and frenzied contours that defined the decade – it took many years to rid the world of the final excesses of taste that flourished back then. The modular colour concept and timeless, simple design vocabulary of Kartell by Laufen represents a modern approach to bringing colour into the bathroom while observing the enduring principles of good taste. And with new options available, the possibilities of expression offered by this popular bathroom collection are now greater than ever.

    Palace

    Palace is a timelessly elegant bathroom classic for hotels and architect-designed bathrooms. The collection already enjoys an excellent reputation for problem-solving, flexibility and practicality, and Laufen is consolidating this reputation with the new pre-packed products. These new products include the Palace Slim Packs, comprising a washbasin and vanity unit, and the Palace WC Packs, which bundle every component required for installation in one handy packaged unit.

    Base for Ino

    Laufen has extended its popular Base bathroom furniture range, bringing out new vanity units for the Ino washbasin collection. The now more extensive furniture range is timelessly simple and graceful. The collection features Laufen’s trademark attention to detail in carefully thought-through functionality, high-quality materials and an up-to-the-minute colour scheme.

    Leelo

    With Leelo, Laufen has added to its existing mirror offer to create a flexible collection of mirrors that bring comfort and light into the bathroom. Leelo features a range of sizes and versions, each of which matches individually with a variety of bathroom designs and ambiances. Because of its understated styling, Leelo can be combined with all of Laufen’s bathroom series and bathroom furniture ranges.

    The New Classic faucets by Marcel Wanders

    In his creations for the new faucet line The New Classic, Marcel Wanders finds the perfect balance between an innovative design and an archetype for a cosmopolitan and diverse lifestyle – and takes the bathroom user on a journey to a bygone age. This versatile and technologically advanced range comfortably covers every bathroom requirement.

    Sense faucets

    A confident and gracious silhouette is the dominant design feature of the new Laufen Sense bathroom faucet line. With its extremely precise design vocabulary, the complete faucet range cuts an impressive figure, both in the private residential property and in the premium hotel and hospitality sectors.

    Innovations

    The Save! waste-separating WC
    The Austrian design studio EOOS, Eawag (the Swiss Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology) and Laufen have joined forces to develop the ground breaking Save! urine-separating WC that is set to revolutionise the user interface in sustainable urban water management thanks to a new kind of passive separation technique. The Save! waste-separating WC is the next step in a concept developed by EOOS and Eawag with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as part of the ‘Reinvent the Toilet Challenge’.

    Laufen Advanced Control

    Laufen’s Advanced Control concept improves hygiene, reduces response times, enhances services and decreases water and energy consumption, thus saving costs in public and semi-public washrooms. Starting from summer 2019, a cloud solution that networks smart washrooms and transfers data to building management systems will also be available.

    Bespoke design

    Specially developed tailored products feature precisely the sort of special sophistication in design and functionality that gives high-end interiors their unmistakeably individual character. This is why Laufen has been busy developing its know-how and production capacity to be able to provide bespoke solutions in the bathroom too. To this end, the company works closely with designers and architects all over the world who are looking for a customer-tailored solution for a building project. The most recent example of this is Omniturm in Frankfurt am Main, for which Laufen worked closely with the architects and project managers to develop special bespoke vanity units.

    Laufen’s new products and innovations were showcased on its spectacular stand in Hall 3.1, Stand B51, for which the company has employed the talents of internationally renowned Swiss architects Andreas Fuhrimann and Gabrielle Hächler. The two architects have been instrumental in creating a stand that reflects the roots of the Swiss brand while making it clear from the moment one sets foot inside that Laufen is one of the most influential bathroom fixtures and fittings companies in the world.

    Laufen is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

    Pete Doherty and The Libertines

    Pete Doherty and The Libertines to open seaside hotel

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    Pete Doherty and The Libertines to open seaside hotel

    The Albion Rooms hotel and studio, which will be operated by Pete Doherty and The Libertines, is slated to open this year…

    In one of the most unlikely turn of events for the British hotel design industry, Pete Doherty from The Libertines has spoken out about opening his first hotel in Margate, Kent.

    Best known for heading up The Libertines, dating fashion icon Kate Moss and becoming one of Britain’s most controversial musicians of all times, Doherty spoke to Channel 4.

    Pete Doherty and The Libertines

    “They didn’t pay me for a couple of gigs, and before I knew it I had a six-part share in what’s turned out to be a studio, a hotel and a place to live,” he told Channel 4 News in a pre-tour interview.

    Whispers about The Libertine’s becoming hoteliers first emerged in the headlines last year when the band shared a video on social media. The Victorian five-storey hotel, with feature 10 guestrooms, was considered one of Britain’s worst hotels before Doherty and his bandmates purchased the property.

    In a press release, the hotel was depicted as having been “Inspired by the celluloid cohabitation antics of the Beatles and the Monkees.””

    The band purchased the property for a reported £500,000 and now plan to transform the space to include 10 individually styled guestrooms with in Doherty’s words “Music playing all day”.

    The press release continued: “Carl, Gary, John and Peter had been looking for a creative home: a living art space, a Warholian factory, with guestrooms, a bar and studio. The band members have already made themselves at home, and have commenced writing their fourth studio album, and will be inviting fans and the world’s press to play a part in the creative process.”

    The hotel is expected to open this year, although an official opening date is yet to be confirmed. In addition, there has currently been no indication on whether or not the band will lean on an interior design firm to complete the project.

    Main image credit: Twitter/ 

    Meet Up London ’19: In pictures

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    Meet Up London ’19: In pictures

    Hotel Designs’ Meet Up London, which took place on March 28 2019, provided an evening full of celebrations…

    More than 200 of the industry’s finest attended Meet Up London held at Minotti London’s showroom on March 28 for Hotel Designs’ first networking event of 2019. New to this year, the evening included the final of Hotel Designs’ 30 Under 30, while also publically cutting the ribbon for the unveiling of its new website. Here is the official gallery of the evening.

    #MEETUPLONDON19

    Please feel free to share any of the above on social media with the hashtag #MEETUPLONDON19
    Instagram: @HotelDesigns | Twitter: @HotelDesigns

    Hotel Designs’ next Meet Up in the calendar is Meet Up North, which takes place in Manchester on July 1. More details to follow. 

    Exclusive style partner: Minotti London

    Exclusive headline partner: Hamilton Litestat

    Event partner: Tarkett

    Gifting Partner: Aslotel

    The Lowry Hotel, Manchester, unveils images of new presidential suite

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    The Lowry Hotel, Manchester, unveils images of new presidential suite

    The £700,000 renovation of the luxury hotel, The Lowry in Manchester, was led by The Brit List award-winning design firm Goddard Littlefair…

    Amidst the increase in luxury hotel development in Manchester, The Lowry Hotel is upping the ‘luxury stakes’ once again by unveiling the first look at its newly renovated Presidential Suite, designed by Goddard Littlefair and the largest both currently available or planned in the city.

    The renovations totalled £700,000 and include a complete reconfiguration and redesign of the space, an enlarged dressing room and a new bespoke marble bathroom. The suite also includes a fully equipped kitchen, large bathroom with a double steam shower and free-standing bath, super king size bedroom, a walk-in dressing room and lounge plus a dining room for up to eight people. There is also an additional second bedroom and with adjoining bathroom.

    Image of stylish, modern guestroom. Geometric headboard and views over Manchester

    Image credit: Gareth Gardner

    The floor-to-ceiling windows offer views across the river Irwell and Manchester’s skyline, and the room also comes with a mini grand piano, two in-room bars, two smart TVs and an Amazon Alexa. As well as complimentary valet, luggage management, personalised welcome drinks and in-suite check in, guests can take advantage of a butler, on-site hairdresser, endless beauty treatments, Tesla hire, private chef or personal trainer whilst staying in the luxury suite.

    “We drew inspiration from Manchester’s industrial history and in particular from cotton, weaving and the city’s industrial forms, geometry and heritage.” – Goddard Littlefair

    Renowned interior designers Goddard Littlefair, Interior Designers of the suite, commented on the inspiration behind the design: “‘This was a special and prestigious project for us, showcasing the first of our new designs for The Lowry Hotel. We drew inspiration from Manchester’s industrial history and in particular from cotton, weaving and the city’s industrial forms, geometry and heritage, including the shape of Trinity Bridge over the River Irwell, directly outside the hotel. We were also inspired by Lowry’s own colour palette, as the artist famously kept to a base palette of only five colours, mixing them to achieve tonal shades that nonetheless stayed within a distinctive overall range.

    Marble-lined shower area plus freestanding bath

    Image credit: Gareth Gardner

    “The new design has a residential feel, with light and bright tonal colours used for the walls, curtains and carpets, offset by darker joinery, geometric-patterned fabrics used for cushions and curtain trims for added visual interest. Colours range from rich bronzes and burnt oranges to off-whites and textured blue-greys. Special joinery features include four sets of double screens around the living and dining areas to help zone the space and a bespoke dining table for eight with a feature veneer inset pattern.

    “The bedrooms and bathrooms feature timber slatted walls, which mirror on the opposite wall, whilst the bathroom also has feature walls in luxurious, richly-veined marble. The main bedroom features a bespoke, contemporary version of a four-poster bed, in a room where the colours become softer, more muted and restful. The stunning dressing room, with a large, anthracite velvet ottoman at its centre, is dominated by a tiered feature light, made of threads and inspired by Manchester’s cotton production history.”

    Soft interior decor. Geometric wall partitions within the suite and a baby grand piano on the right.

    Image credit: Gareth Gardner

    In homage to the hotel’s namesake, L.S Lowry, a selection of art has also been chosen for the room by ARTIQ. Kate Terres, Head of Operations at ARTIQ, commented: “The collection at the Lowry presented an exciting opportunity for us, because it is rare for hotels to be named after celebrated artists.  In curating the collection with Goddard Littlefair, ARTIQ pulled specifically on L.S. Lowry’s recognisable palette of charcoals and dark reds against pale smoky backdrops. Alongside these distinctive tonal elements, the curation draws on the shapes evoked by Manchester’s solid industrial architecture of the twentieth and twenty-first century – examples of which can be viewed from the Presidential Suite – as well as heavily abstracted figures that draw on Lowry’s matchstick figures.

    “The collection is comprised of painting, sculpture, photography and print, with an emphasis on varied and rich textures that range from highly polished stainless steel – representing the industrial subject – to thickly modelled paintings incorporating found elements. Examples of large format photography depicting an abstracted industrial narrative contrast with the delicacy of the works by artist Kelly M. O’Brien. Kelly’s mixed-media practice involves burning paper and layering with inserts of gold leaf and, for The Presidential Suite, focuses on a linear radiating pattern that recalls the bridge architecture viewed from the window as well as playing with a high/low contrast of material. Also in the collection is work by artist Laetitia Rouget, whose playful series focuses on simplistic line drawings of the human in thickly pulled paint – a modern interpretation of Lowry’s matchstick men.”

     The luxury Lowry Hotel also boasts six Riverside suites, an additional 164 guestrooms, a spa, bar and The River Restaurant.

    Main image credit: Gareth Gardner

     

     

     

    Industrial modern bathroom

    Adding statement with floor-standing mixer taps

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    Adding statement with floor-standing mixer taps

    Crosswater’s contemporary, industrial-like floor-standing taps are a functional way to add statement in the bathroom…

    Add a statement element to freestanding baths with Crosswater’s contemporary collection of floor standing mixer taps. Impressive in design yet innovative in function, the British brassware specialist offers a style to suit every individual preference, from streamlined and simple, to sculptural and multi-functional.

    Industrial modern bathroom

    Expertly manufactured in plated brass, each tap in the range has been crafted with the utmost precision to ensure a bathing experience that is both luxurious and practical for everyday use. Introduce designer flair to your bath time with the floor standing filler taps from the signature Union and MPRO collections. Combining contemporary good looks with the latest in water flow control, the striking form of these latest designs will create a feature centrepiece in any bathroom scheme. For a multi-functional option, choose from Crosswater’s selection of dual-outlet bath / shower mixer designs that come complete with an additional handset, making hair washing and rinsing an effortless experience.

    In a continued effort to support the reduction of water waste, many of Crosswater’s luxury bath fillers come with WRAS-approved status*. A mark of approval from The Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) demonstrates that an item complies with the high standards sets out by water regulations. Any bathroom product that holds this accreditation is guaranteed to not cause waste, misuse, undue consumptions or contamination of the water supply, therefore offering customers peace of mind. Over 200 of Crosswater’s products proudly wear the WRAS badge, including a superior selection of showerheads, valves and basin taps.

    *For more information on WRAS-Approved products visit the website.

    Crosswater is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

    Main image credit: Crosswater

    Editor Checks In: March ’19

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    Editor Checks In: March ’19

    Reviewing March: here’s to the future…

    One of the many treasures of being a young design editor comes the morning after the night before. Waking up fresh-faced, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed wouldn’t be possible if I didn’t feel as if what we achieved last night at Meet Up London was nothing short of being exceptional!

    Ever since I arrived at Hotel Designs in May of last year, I have taken tremendous pride in the fact that I have the tools and the ability to help open up the integral relationship between our readers and our brand.

    While the industry gathered at Minotti London for Meet Up London last night, I realised that our relationship opened up even wider when we welcomed a large handful of our industry’s rising stars. With the aim to bridge the age gap in international hotel design, we announced our 30 Under 30, which is made up of incredible talent. From those quickly climbing the ranks within leading design and architecture firms to others who are bravely going it alone to set up their own studios, all finalists in our 30 Under 30 have proven themselves to be creative geniuses.

    Although by the contents of our newly unveiled 30 Under 30 the future is looking bright, it was put upon James Soane from the London School of Architecture to address the elephant in the room when looking into the future of hotel design as he took the stage as our headline speaker at the event. “The hotel industry has a great opportunity to demonstrate alternative sustainable ways of designing, living and adapting,” he said during the engaging presentation. Soane’s passion balanced with knowledge took what could have been seen as a dry lecture and turned it around to be an alluring and healthy debate with great relevance.

    “Welcome to the new Hotel Designs.”

    While we are on the topic of talking about great opportunities, welcome to the new Hotel Designs. On a fresh website, all of our conversations, opinions, news and features are open for all to enjoy. This new platform is the result of the largest rebrand the title has ever seen. Our new slogan, “defining the point on international hotel design,” shows that we are prepared more now than ever before to cut through the noise in order to give our readers quality, relevant and engaging content.

    To mark the new era of Hotel Designs, we’ve dedicated the first sentence of our new chapter to a true design icon. Isle Crawford, the founding Editor-In-Chief of Elle Decoration turned award-winning interior designer, said in a recent Netflix documentary Abstract: The Art of Design: “Design thrives on restrictions.” Crawford has metaphorically cut the silk ribbon by being the subject of the first article to be published on the new website.

    And now it’s time to put all of our visions and ideas into practice. Subscribe and join us on our journey, complete with regular check ins, as we take international hotel design up a notch or two.

    Editor, Hotel Designs

    Hotel Designs launches into a stylish new era at Meet Up London 2019

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    Hotel Designs launches into a stylish new era at Meet Up London 2019

    The hotel design industry’s finest gathered at Minotti London last night for Meet Up London, Hotel Designs’ first networking event of 2019, which unveiled many causes for celebrations…

    London was at the centre of the design world once more last night, as hundreds of designers, architects, hoteliers and key-industry suppliers descended on city’s Fitzrovia district for Meet Up London.

    Providing the perfect stage for Hotel Designs’ first networking event of the year, Minotti London opened its showroom doors to the sea of leaders and visionaries who attended the event.

    Among the guests were young designers, directors and principals from studios such as Richmond International, Conran & Partners, WATG, Jestico + Whiles, ARA Design, Scott Brownrigg, Gensler and many more.

    Unique to this year’s format, Meet Up London hosted the final of Hotel Designs’ 30 Under 30 initiative. All 40 shortlisted finalists were invited, courtesy of Hotel Designs, following the title’s aim to help bridge the age gap in international hotel design. “Tonight’s concept, and its very important theme, has evolved in order to make our networking events more relevant to our audience,” said editor Hamish Kilburn who made the sofas of Minotti his stage for the evening. “Since the success of The Brit List 2018 Awards last year, we have decided to lightly theme each of our networking events. Tonight, it is about celebrating and profiling young designers and architects who are proving themselves to be true leaders in the making, if not so already.”

    Following the unveiling of the final 30 Under 30, the evening’s programme gave guests a sneak peek of Hotel Designs’ new branding and website ahead of its highly anticipated launch that was announced today. “I am delighted that we are turning this page so publically here this evening in order to start our new chapter.” explained Kilburn. “Our new slogan is: ‘Defining the point on international hotel design,’ and we believe that events like these that are attended by so many of you, our readers, do just that.”

    Meet Up London continued with an engaging talk from the London School of Architecture’s Director of Critical Projects, James Soane. Aptly entitled Repairing The Future, Soane’s presentation captured the audience’s attention and imagination into understanding how we can, as a collective creative industry, design and build better cities and hotels. “Are you doing what you believe in and are you practicing what you preach” Soane asked the audience. “Or are you just preaching what you would like to practice? Design can make the world a better place. It has a lot to do with equality and the future.”

    [easingslider id=”32321″]

    Attendees were then able to use the evening as a networking event to catch up with like-minded industry experts, while also learning about the latest products on the market from suppliers such as Hamilton Litestat (exclusive headline partner), Tarkett (event partner), Minotti London (style partner), Crosswater, Brintons, Laufen and many more.

    Ensuring that no guest left empty handed, gifting partner Aslotel supplied all attendees with a generous goody bag that included a selection of its luxury amenity products.

    The full gallery of the evening – and the details for Hotel Designs’ next networking event, Meet Up North – will be announced shortly.

    BRITISH STYLE: Questioning design like Ilse Crawford

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    BRITISH STYLE: Questioning design like Ilse Crawford

    To launch the new chapter of Hotel Designs, Hamish Kilburn investigates how one woman, her editorship and her questions over convention helped to change modern international hotel design by challenging the very foundations it sits on…

    Every now and then, the world is introduced to a design icon who, through making their visions into reality, helps to shift attitudes by challenging conventional forms.

    For Ilse Crawford, the founding Editor-In-Chief of British Elle Decoration, the design world was somewhat lacking reference of everyday movement when she decided to step into the shoes of her designer readers.

    In 1997, a decade on from founding British Elle Decoration, Crawford asked the world to “liberate your senses and change your life” when she published her first book, Sensual Home, which mapped out how the living environment can engage us sensually as well as visually from the perspective of sight, sound, taste, touch and smell. And was, for Crawford, the start of a new journey.  “Writing the book was the ‘ah-hah’ moment, because it wasn’t the current understanding of design,” she explained in the Netflix documentary, Abstract: The Art of Design. “The days of being a two-dimensional person were over.”

    The defiant leap from narrator to creator came one year later after she signed off as Editor-In-Chief. Having completed her mission to launch a contemporary magazine for a wide audience, Crawford worked for Donna Karan and getting her hands dirty, she became a maker. Crawford’s first hotel interior design brief was presented to her immediately after she left Elle Decoration when she was asked to convert a stately home for Nick Jones of Soho House into what we now know of as Babington House. “Nick originally wanted this place to look and feel like a stately home, but I was very clear that that’s the last thing it should be,” Crawford explained in Abstract: The Art of Design. “My proposal was that it should be a very informal place where you could just treat as if it was your own, like a family house of a friend where the parents had gone away and left the key the drinks cabinet.” Breaking the rules of the time, Crawford’s design stole the headlines and her journey as an interior design began.

    “The project saw the transformation of a former industrial building in the Meatpacking district into a 27-key design hotel.”

    From the rural British countryside to the bustling scene of Manhattan, Crawford’s skillful and sensitive approach was called upon to create the first outpost of Soho House outside the UK. The project saw the transformation of a former industrial building in the Meatpacking district into a 27-key design hotel, including bars, a restaurant, cinema and rooftop pool. Soho House New York opened to become the definitive third space for the transatlantic media crowd.

    Her aim as an interior designer is to put human needs and desires at the centre of all that she does. Working in commercial and residential design, and blurring the lines between both, Crawford has changed many environments for the better of those who use them. Ett Hem Hotel was a conversion project of a former arts and crafts building. The 12-key guesthouse is described by Crawford as “a place to stay for the modern traveller, a home-from-home, where flexibility of space and function is central to the hotel’s operation,” she says. “There is no division between front and back of house – anything can happen anywhere at any time.”

    Residential style in the hotel

    Image caption/credit: Ett Hem Hotel. Interiors by Ilse Crawford

    As someone who truly lives and breathes the industry in which she used to curate on the pages of Elle Decoration, Crawford wears many hats as a modern designer. In her own admission to Interior Design magazine, she confessed that “the line between my work and life is thin to non-existent.”  Working from her London studio, which is directly below her home, Crawford’s knowledge in interiors has allowed her to extend her portfolio to include product design. The Sinnerlig Collection for IKEA includes 30 pieces of of furniture, lighting and tabletop collection. “They explore natural materials and are simple,” Crawford explains on her website. “They are helpful, background pieces, not showstoppers.” Tactile materials such as cork, ceramic, glass, seagrass and bamboo appealed in the design concept because they felt as good as they looked.

    “Maison&Objet awarded Crawford the prestigious title of Designer of the Year 2016.”

    The Together Table was another design that challenged existing products on the market. Confronting the design of conventional four-cornered tables, Crawford simply rounded the edges of the table, which as a result naturally invited people to move around it more freely.  The Ilse Sofa was the result of a collaboration with British furniture brand George Smith. The height and depth of the product’s arms and back were calculated and tested to ensure that the sofa supports as many sedentary habits of modern life. “We like to think of it as a room within a room,” Crawford explains when describing the tactile experience.

    Beige modern, long, thin table

    Image caption/credit: The Together Table by Ilse Crawford

    Two years after she was awarded an MBE in recognition for her work in design, Maison&Objet awarded Crawford the prestigious title of Designer of the Year 2016. Since then, the modest designer has continued to evolve the hospitality landscape with completing projects such as The Lounge Plaza 66, Cathy Pacific’s iconic airport lounge in Hong Kong and the warm and inviting home-from-home that is Bukowskis.

    Crawford’s philosophical visions to challenge the norm leaves a clear path for young designers who aspire, like her, to make a difference through design. As the founder of the department of Man and Wellbeing at the Design Academy Eindhoven, Crawford’s mission as a visionary is explained on her website as “nurturing a new generation of students to always question why and how their work improves the reality of life.” Her philosophy to improve the future through considered design is what makes her the leader she undoubtably is today. Her work – and her working style – is a simple, effortless reflection of the questions she asks of the designs of today and the possibilities that are garnered by second guessing what the future should look and feel like.

    Crawford, an ever-evolving icon of British and international design, has metaphorically cut the ribbon to launch Hotel Designs’ new website by being the subject of the first editorial feature of the title’s new era. The newly launched slogan “defining the point of international design” is a pledge from the editorial team to its readers to cut through the noise to publish conversation starters that will filter into many debates on the hotel design scene that we all know and love. That conversation starts here, with a question that Crawford asks herself when confronted with a new project: “How can design strategically make things better?”

    Main image credit: Ilse Crawford/StudioIlse

    Accor’s Aparthotel brand Adagio arrives in London

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    Accor’s Aparthotel brand Adagio arrives in London

    Hotel Designs attended the official launch party of Aparthotel Adagio London Brentford last night, which marked the brand’s official arrival in London, UK… 

    Adagio has celebrated the opening of its first London property by hosting a show-stopping party that was attended by more than 150 people.

    The 100-key Aparthotel Adagio London Brentford, which informally opened in October of last year, is located just a few miles from London’s main airport Heathrow and is the fourth hotel within in the brand to open in the UK, with more in the pipeline.

    “This is an important milestone for us, with many more openings in the UK to be announced,” said Karim Malak, CEO of Aparthotels Adagio at the event. “Our target is to have 20 properties in the UK by 2023.”

    Aparthotels Adagio London Brentford’s public spaces have been created as an open area for guests to meet and collaborate. Each apartment offers a fully equipped kitchen, spacious bedroom and living area with a flat-screen smart TV. Guests also have access to a bar, virtual concierge, fitness centre, laundry facilities, business services and onsite parking.

    Image credit: Accor/Adagio

    The West London property is part of Brentford’s Kew Eye Tower GWQ development. The aparthotel is the fourth UK opening for the brand following launches in Edinburgh, Birmingham and Liverpool. The aparthotel brand is planning further properties in London Stratford, Leicester (opening by the end of 2019) and Glasgow (opening by the end of 2020).

    The opening of Aparthotel Adagio London Brentford emerges as part of the brand’s strategy to open 10 new hotels this year and to double the amount of properties it has within its portfolio by 2023.

    Hotel Designs will be investigating the rise of aparthotels when it puts Hotel Concepts under the spotlight in August. If you would like to contribute to this topic, please get in touch with the editorial team.

    Main image credit: Accor/Adagio

    Elivi Skiathos to unveil new rooms and suites

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    Elivi Skiathos to unveil new rooms and suites

    Elivi Skiathos has announced that 56 Grace Rooms and Suites, three new restaurants, and a Kid’s Club will be added to the hotel in time for season opening on April 26, 2019…

    Opened for the first time last year in June, the father-and-daughter-run luxury hotel is building on the success of its first season by expanding its accommodation offerings.

    Elivi Skiathos is comprised of three separate areas, ELIVI Xenia Hotel in the main area of the resort, ELIVI Nest Rooms, Villas and Suites elegantly spread among olive groves, and, as of 2019, 67 secluded ELIVI Grace Rooms & Suites set on the beach.

    The Grace area of the hotel will grow from 11 rooms to 67. The elegant, new Double Supreme Deluxe Rooms and Junior Suites will boast either long balconies, hot tubs or private plunge pools.

    The hotel, which is perched on a hilltop on the Pounta Peninsula overlooking the Aegean Sea, was developed in collaboration between the family and Vivi Nathanailidi. The property is surrounded by an area of natural beauty beside a wildlife refuge, forest and lagoon – and roaming black swans – which became a large reference in the interior design as well as the branding of the hotel.

    “A new beach bar will also take its bar offering up to seven.”

    ELIVI Skiathos will also grow its food offering to five restaurants: fine-dining restaurant Leda & The Swan; Hagoromo Sushi Bar and Asian restaurant; the cosy Nest Greek Fish Restaurant serving traditional, fresh Greek seafood and meze; Grace Restaurant serving Mediterranean and Italian cuisine; Nest Breakfast Restaurant reserved exclusive for guests of the Nest area of the hotel. A new beach bar will also take its bar offering up to seven.

    With families being a key market for Elivi Skiathos, the hotel is also pleased to introduce a Kid’s Club for 2019 with more details coming soon.

    Two outdoor swimming pools on either side of resort stretch into the glistening Aegean Sea below and four of the most picturesque white-sand beaches on Skiathos are all within walking distance, offering mattress thick sunbeds and beach waiter service.

    Main image credit: Elivi Skiathos

    SPOTLIGHT ON: Vaughan unveils timeless wall lights for guestrooms

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    SPOTLIGHT ON: Vaughan unveils timeless wall lights for guestrooms

    The lighting experts at Vaughan has recently unveiled a series of wall lights available in three different finishes… 

    Vaughan have recently designed a collection of wall lights specifically for guestrooms called the Malden and Medway reading lights.

    Vaughan’s recently unveiled reading lights are perfectly suited for directional bedside lighting. The products are available with either a stepped backplate (Malden) or flat backplate (Medway) and come in a choice of three finishes; brass, bronze or nickel finishes with optional covering in brown or black leather.

    With a highly flexible and adjustable goose neck arm with an LED spot, the Malden and Medway reading lights have quickly become an essential requirement of a guestroom.

    In a recent project, Vaughan assisted with decorative lighting for the stunning transformation of the beachside hotel, Carbis Bay Hotel near St Ives, Cornwall. Vaughan supplied a collection of Vaughan products perfectly suited for the light and spacious bedrooms with sea views and one of the key products in every guest room were the Malden and Medway reading lights.

    For more information on the Vaughan collection, please contact the contract sales department – contract-sales@vaughandesigns.com

    Vaughan is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

    Hyatt announces brand growth in the U.S.

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    Hyatt announces brand growth in the U.S.

    Hyatt’s brand growth will include new hotels opening in Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee and Austin, Texas…

    Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced significant growth in the U.S. for its Hyatt Centric brand portfolio, including development plans to build Hyatt Centric hotels in downtown Memphis, Tenn., downtown Nashville, Tenn., and downtown Austin, Texas.

    Designed for a growing segment of savvy explorers seeking shareable moments to inspire others, the Hyatt Centric brand currently has 26 properties across 11 countries, including Chile, France, India, Japan, Spain and more.

    “We couldn’t be more pleased to see the Hyatt Centric brand grow and offer millennial-minded guests an opportunity to explore dynamic domestic destinations,” said Vice President, Global Brands, Heather Geisler. “Within the walls of each new property, guests will find a social space to connect with others and a launch pad to go out and explore all that the community has to offer.”

    Hyatt Centric Beale Street

    The 227-room Hyatt Centric Beale Street will be developed through a joint venture between affiliates of Hyatt and Carlisle Hotels, Inc. The hotel will be developed within Carlisle’s One Beale Street mixed-use project, to be located at the intersection of Beale Street and Front Street, just one block east of the Mississippi River and Riverside Drive.  In addition to 227 guestrooms, Hyatt Centric Beale Street Memphis will feature a rooftop lounge, offering breathtaking views of the city’s skyline and Mississippi River, as well as a ground floor lobby containing the hotel restaurant, bar and fitness center. Just off the lobby, guests will also enjoy an open-air courtyard with an outdoor swimming pool and fire pit, plus more than 14,000 square feet of meeting and event space located on the other side of the courtyard within the historic Wm. C. Ellis & Sons Ironworks and Machine Shop. Hotel construction is slated to begin in the second quarter of 2019, with an anticipated opening date by the end of 2020. Local Memphis design house, HBG Design, has been engaged for the hotel project.

    Hyatt Centric Downtown Nashville

    Hyatt also announced a joint venture with C. B. Ragland of Nashville to develop Hyatt Centric Downtown Nashville, a 252-room new build with a restaurant, bar, amenity deck with a rooftop pool, 4,500 square feet of meeting and event space and 4,000 square feet of leasable retail space. Expected to open in Q2 2021, the hotel will be managed by Hyatt. Hyatt Centric Downtown Nashville will be located within the entertainment district of Music City, one block from Ascend Amphitheater, three blocks south of the city’s famed lower Broadway and four blocks from Bridgestone Arena and Nissan Stadium. Adventurous guests will be within walking distance of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Tennessee Performing Arts Center and the Ryman Auditorium.

    Hyatt Centric hotel in downtown Austin

    The 233-room Hyatt Centric hotel in downtown Austin will be a new build, wholly owned by Hyatt. Centrally located on Congress Street, the hotel is expected to open in mid-2020 and will be near the State of Texas capitol building. A passionate team with local expertise will recommend to guests shareworthy experiences all along Congress Street, a must-stroll for visitors and locals alike.

    “We are excited to introduce the ‘in-the-now’ Hyatt Centric brand to the iconic southern cities of Memphis, Nashville and Austin, connecting guests to the heart of the action so they never miss a moment of adventure,” said Stephen Kallaher, vice president, corporate development, Hyatt. “Hyatt looks for locations that are consistent with its objective to grow in strategically diverse destinations where our guests want us to be. These dynamic, historic cities certainly accomplish that goal, and great developers like Carlisle and C.B. Ragland will help make our Memphis and Nashville projects even more special. With the three new Hyatt Centric hotels, we look forward to offering new and distinct lifestyle hotel experiences to the residents and visitors of these cities, World of Hyatt members and Hyatt’s loyal group of meeting and event planners.”

    These developments are in addition to recently announced Hyatt Centric hotels in Los Angeles’ Koreatown neighborhood, near Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia and near downtown Portland, Ore. Further expanding the Hyatt Centric brand’s global footprint, these developments will join newly open hotels in Midtown Atlanta; Bangalore, India; Goa, India; Lima, Peru; Brickell, Miami; and Santiago, Chile.

    Main image credit: Hyatt Hotels

    New Skopos decorative upholstery fabrics

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    New Skopos decorative upholstery fabrics

    Recommended Supplier Skopos launches new decorative upholstery collection featuring a maze-like relief twist… 

    Soft, meandering upholstery fabrics with a subtle vintage look and elegant decorative feel, Amaze is the most recent upholstery quality to join the Skopos portfolio. Aimed at hospitality and leisure interiors, the collection adds a simple decorative finishing touch, without being too elaborate or ostentatious.

    The collection of 22 SKUs is produced using tactile chenille yarns, with a ‘maze’ design textured relief twist. The palette is a sophisticated mix of heritage colours.

    Amaze (pictured) has been specifically designed for contract furniture and is back-coated to Crib 5 (BS5852) and achieves IMO standards, ensuring its suitability for marine and all contract environments. Amaze achieves 100,000+ Martindale rubs, providing longevity in high traffic areas, meeting the needs for severe contract.

    With more than 45 years’ specialist experience, Skopos provide high-quality flame retardant fabrics and soft furnishings to the contract market.

    Defining the signature styles of many flagship hotels and cruise-liners, Skopos are dedicated to design, service and best performance. Our full service or fabric only option provides choice for our customers, with expertise in design, make-up (curtains, cushions and bedding), fitting and installation. Our Bespoke design and colour matching service provide the opportunity to create unique solutions.

    The Amaze collection officially launches in Spring, with samples available immediately.

    View the Amaze collection on the Skopos website:  skoposfabrics.com

    Skopos is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

    Main image credit: Skopos

    Design icon Adam D. Tihany to design Seabourn’s next ships

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    Design icon Adam D. Tihany to design Seabourn’s next ships

    The designer behind Four Seasons Dubai DIFC, The Beverly Hills Hotel and One & Only Cape Town has been invited back by Seabourn to design the interiors and exterior guest areas of its two new purpose-built luxury expedition ships… 

    Following on from Hotel Designs’ insight into the cruise industry within the series Hotels At New Heights, Seabourn has contracted

    design legend Adam D. Tihany to create the indoor and outdoor guest areas of its two new ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition ships, being built by T. Mariotti and due to launch in June 2021 and May 2022 respectively.

    The designer was the creative force behind the luxury yacht-inspired interiors on Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Ovation, the line’s two newest ships, which have been welcomed to the fleet to wide acclaim. He also designed interiors for The Grill by Thomas Keller restaurant on Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn, and Seabourn Quest.

    “Adam’s creative and artistic talents have proven to be a wonderful match for Seabourn, his work on our two newest ships has won high praise from our guests,” said Richard Meadows, Seabourn’s president. “Expedition travel stirs a passion to venture to remote places, first discovered by explorers and the adventurous.  The interiors of our new expedition ships need to feel connected to these destinations through the design and materials. We’ve spent many hours collaborating and Adam is creating an inspiring design concept that feels completely suited to the remote destinations expedition travellers want to visit whilst, at the same time, retaining the contemporary, relaxed, luxurious ambiance our guests love and expect.”

    Tihany has created iconic hotel, restaurant and cruise interiors around the world, including The Beverly Hills Hotel, The Breakers Resort in Palm Beach, Belmond Hotel Cipriani in Venice, The Four Seasons Dubai DIFC, The Joule in Dallas and The Oberoi New Delhi. He was one of the first designers to collaborate with celebrity chefs, creating signature restaurant interiors for culinary stars including Thomas Keller, Wolfgang Puck, Daniel Boulud, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Charlie Palmer, Heston Blumenthal and Pierre Gagnaire.

    For this latest project with Seabourn, Tihany will develop a design vision for the entire vessel including multiple expedition spaces and lounges; all categories of luxurious guest suites, a variety of dining venues; Spa & Wellness with Dr. Andrew Weil; outdoor deck areas; and the innovative and popular Seabourn Square multi-purpose space. Tihany’s Product Design arm is also designing a bespoke furniture collection for the expedition ship.

    “We are thrilled to join Seabourn on this exciting next chapter of expedition cruising,” said Tihany. “Drawing on the call of adventure and the spirit of daring exploration from across the ages, the new ship’s design will define ultra-luxury for the contemporary expedition traveller.”

    With his recent work with Seabourn and other Carnival Corporation brands, Tihany has become a leading name in the cruise industry.

    As a known expert in hospitality, Tihany frequently lectures at universities and conferences around the world and currently sits on the advisory board of Israel’s Design Museum Holon. He served as Art Director of the Culinary Institute of America and is a former member of Pratt Institute’s Board of Trustees.

    As the newest overall ultra-luxury fleet in the industry, Seabourn’s intimate ships offer key elements that set the line apart: spacious, thoughtfully appointed all-suite accommodations, many with verandas and all 100 per cent ocean front.

    Main image credit: Tihany Design

    Kimpton brand arrives in Asia

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Kimpton brand arrives in Asia

    Kimpton Da An Hotel has opened its doors in Taipei, marking its entrance into Asia…

    Kimpton Da An Hotel brings a new luxury hotel offering to modern Taipei (Taiwan). With its unique location in the heart of the Da’an District and an elevated, sophisticated design, the hotel opens as an urban sanctuary for the laid-back luxury traveller.

    Kimpton Da An is ideally located in the heart of Taipei city, allowing guests easy

    access to local cafes, boutiques and galleries, while providing a welcoming environment decorated with artwork from local artisans. The hotel features 129 rooms and has been designed by Neri & Hu, the winner of MASION&OBJET Asia in 2015, a prestigious design accolade. Once guests enter the hotel, the lush greenery and sophisticated water installation, coupled with custom lighting, immediately offers guests a sense of calm.

    Kimpton Da An will enjoy Kimpton’s signature perks such as in-room yoga mats and a Morning Kick-Starter, as well as tea and coffee served in the lobby living room to energize guests. Guests can also take part in wellness morning yoga on the rooftop, free fitness and wellness classes or explore the city with complimentary bicycles.

    Home to The Tavernist restaurant, its culinary experience provides diners with contemporary dishes coupled with local touches and innovative cooking methods. The Tavernist embraces Taiwan’s organic movement and works closely with local farmers and food producers. The restaurant is led by Chef James Sharman, who has travelled to countless countries with his team and has sought inspiration from local cuisine around the world. To him, The Tavernist offers a place where guests can discover something new while feeling at home.

    “As the world’s largest operator of lifestyle hotels, the luxury lifestyle hotel segment is a key IHG focus,” said Jolyon Bulley, CEO of IHG Greater China. “We’re delighted to bring the Kimpton brand to Taiwan, one of the most renowned destinations in Asia. Today’s opening marks another milestone for the brand, as it pushes the boundaries to bring design-led hotels and heartfelt, human service to more guests around the world.”

    IHG currently has 6 hotels operating under four brands in the Taiwan market including, Regent Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts and Holiday Inn Express, with another 6 hotels in the pipeline. In the next few years, Kimpton is slated to open new hotels in Shanghai, Beijing, Sanya, Tokyo and Bali.

    The brand, which currently operates more than 60 hotels and 80 restaurants and bars across the United States, Canada, Europe and the Caribbean is also due to open a further five properties in Shanghai, Beijing, Sanya, Tokyo and Bali. Last November, the Kimpton Fitzroy became the first UK opening in London, with more in the pipeline.

    Main image credit: IHG/Kimpton Hotels

    SPOTLIGHT ON: IHG pilots new lighting technology

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    SPOTLIGHT ON: IHG pilots new lighting technology

    The new lighting technology that is being piloted by IHG is designed specifically to help guests sleep better…

    InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has partnered with Healthe® by Lighting Science, a global leader in innovative LED lighting solutions, to pilot the use of state-of-the-art circadian lighting to help guests sleep better while travelling.

    Crowne Plaza® Atlanta Airport will be the first IHG property to install the JOURNI™ Mobile Task Light in guestrooms. Designed using Healthe®’s patented GoodDay® and GoodNight® spectrum technologies, JOURNI allows access to the alertness and focus-enhancing spectrum during the day, and then easily change to the warm, sleep-enhancing spectrum at night. This versatile, dual-spectrum luminaire can help you to effortlessly bring energy-efficient, circadian lighting right to your hotel room.  Ultimately, JOURNI also helps to regulate the body’s circadian rhythm or 24-hour internal body clock which effects important biological functions such as sleep, hormone levels, body temperature and metabolism.

    Committed to investing and leading the way in the latest innovations and technologies to help guests sleep better, IHG already has programs in place across its brands based including:

    • Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts Sleep Advantage™ Programme has been designed to improve the quality of sleep during hotel overnights, improving the quality of the following day. The bed linens provide unbelievable softness and the programme’s unique This Works aromatherapy line contains pure essential oils that help the customer to recover from the day’s stress and to sleep more soundly.
    • EVEN® Hotels lighting profiles allows guests to change the colour of the lighting in their rooms to blue, red, green or yellow to either energise or relax
    • The Holiday Inn® Pillow Menu gives guests the option to choose between a varied range of pillows, from firmness to type and even filling

    “At IHG, we want to make sure our guests are getting the best night’s sleep possible across our 5,600 hotels and portfolio of more than 15 brands,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Global Guest Experience Shared Services, IHG. “We are continually testing ways we can enhance the guest experience, loyalty and ultimately, owner value. Our circadian lighting technology pilot is the latest example of the work we are doing to innovate the guest experience. We’re excited to be the first hotel company to pilot Healthe®’s JOURNI product and are already working on what’s coming next.”

    Main image credit: IHG

    Heritage Bathrooms blends eras to create the wow factor in the bathroom

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    Heritage Bathrooms blends eras to create the wow factor in the bathroom

    Heritage Bathrooms’ bold mix and match styling of the Victoria Suite has been recognised as one of the stand out images at this year’s Best of Houzz Awards…

    The inspirational design and interiors from Heritage Bathrooms put a spotlight on the statement design, which is a stunning example of how to blend old and new interiors styling.

    This look is on trend and full of character, creating a beautiful and timeless space that your guests will simply want to while away the hours during their stay. As evidenced by the Houzz-awarded design, it looks beautiful paired with bold, Baroque floral wallpapers.

    In honour of this trend, Charlie Williams, interior designer at Heritage Bathrooms, shares her top five tips on how hoteliers can create stunning bathroom spaces for guests by blending traditional and contemporary design.

    Image credit: Heritage Bathrooms

    Work with prints & patterns

    Elegant florals and bold botanical wallpaper prints can bring a traditional twist to even the most ultra-modern of bathroom suites. This image of the Victoria Suite by Heritage Bathrooms, which featured in Houzz’s Best of 2019, is a beautiful example of how patterned wallpaper can be used with a standard basin, toilet and fitted bath to create a sleek and charming look.

    Alternatively, traditional pieces, such as a Victorian style high-rise basin, can be off-set with on-trend geometric patterned tiling. Classic chequer board tiling is also guaranteed to bring a timeless aesthetic to any style of bathroom suite.

    Heritage Bathrooms is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, click here.

    Main image credit: Heritage Bathrooms

    Top 5 stories of the week

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    Top 5 stories of the week

    From an ibis insight to the three-year growth strategy for Marriott International, Hotel Designs has published some pretty juicy stories over the past five days. Editor Hamish Kilburn breaks down the headline-grabbers as he selects the top five stories of the week… 

    I feel as if we are almost bidding farewell to an old friend, as this will be the last ‘Top 5 stories of the week’ to be published on the current website.

    In the same week when the team at Hotel Designs HQ put the finishing touches onto the new site before launching on March 29 at 12.00 (GMT), there have been many major stories that the title has broken. Here are the top five stories of the week.

    1) In Conversation With: Damien Perrot on defining ibis Hotels’ new design era

    Modern Scandinavian room with flexible living spaces

    Image credit: FGMF/ibis hotels

    The world’s most iconic budget hotel brand is undergoing a major redesign following the growing demands of the modern traveller. To understand all the design details of the new generation of ibis Hotels, Hotel Designs sat down with Damien Perrot, Senior Vice President, Design Solutions for Accor, to find out more about how the new ibis was conceived in three separate designs.

    Continue reading.

    2) Meet Up London – March 28

    With less than a week to go until the industry pour into Minotti London’s fabulous showroom in Fitzrovia for Meet Up London, we have released the latest names of who will be attending.

    Continue reading.

    3) Editor of Hotel Designs confirmed to speak at Independent Hotel Show Amsterdam

    As a proud media partner of the Independent Hotel Show Amsterdam, Hotel Designs has announced that it will take an active role in the two-day exhibition that takes place on May 8 – 9 with its editor now confirmed to moderate a unique and engaging panel discussion.

    Title: Designing for Bleisure
    When: Wednesday May 8
    Time: 17.00 – 17.45
    Where: Hotel Vision Stage, Amsterdam Rai Hall 5
    Moderated by: Hamish Kilburn, Hotel Designs
    Panelists: Hans Meyer, Zoku and Rob Wagemans, Concrete

    Continue reading. 

    4) Marriott International announces three-year growth plans

    Image credit: Marriott International

    Marriott International has presented the company’s three-year growth plan, which includes opening more than 1,700 hotels around the world, at its meeting with institutional investors and security analysts at the New York Marriott Marquis.

    Continue reading.

    5) Rosewood Hotels arrives in Hong Kong

    Rosewood Hong Kong has opened as a magnificent new ultra-luxury property in the heart of the Victoria Dockside district on the shores of Victoria Harbour. Situated on one of Hong Kong’s most significant waterfront locations in Tsim Sha Tsui – Kowloon’s dynamic, culturally compelling heart – the property is set to become a grand icon for the city, celebrating the area’s role as Hong Kong’s new creative and cultural epicentre.

    Continue reading.

    ! NEW WEBSITE INCOMING !

    Launching on: 29.03.19 at 12.00pm (GMT)
    Head over to our Hotel Designs Instagram channel for all the updates.

    If you would like to contribute to new content for Hotel Designs, please contact the editorial desk. April’s features have been announced as Interior Design and Outdoor Style. 

    FEATURE: “Industrial bathrooms are here to stay,” say bathroom experts

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    FEATURE: “Industrial bathrooms are here to stay,” say bathroom experts

    Following ISH this month, PR and marketing firm Esprit breaks down why industrial bathrooms are not going anywhere soon in international hotel design…

    Historically a 20th Century style, the industrial trend has a new look and feel.

    No longer relegated to offices or loft style apartments, industrial design elements can be seen all over the home even in the bathroom.

    “This somewhat harsh, gritty, uniquely urban, style has evolved.”

    The original industrial trend has been around for years; but this somewhat harsh, gritty, uniquely urban, style has evolved.  The most obvious aspects such as rough textures, weathered surfaces, concrete, exposed brick and pipe work can look a little harsh in the home.  The use of muted and matt colours, such cool greys, blacks and anthracite work well, helping to achieve a “softer” Industrial look.

    The use of metals including steel and aluminium, in both product design and construction, sets the scene, whilst dim lighting and brushed metal drains with matching bathroom accessories completes the industrial vibe.

    Image credit: Kaldewei

    The versatile, Nexsys Shower Solution is an innovative, award-winning four-in-one system which can be installed immediately, there are 17 different surface colour options including Cantania Grey Matt and City-Anthracite Matt, these can then be combined with five different waste channels variants.

    The delicate filigree design of the free standing Miena washbasin made from a single layer of Kaldewei’s superior steel enamel perfectly complements an industrial style bathroom, due to its simplistic form and shape.

    The industrial look in the bathroom can be further enhanced with a radiator from VASCO.  Providing a combination of energy efficiency and warmth VASCO radiators are available in variety of contemporary colours and textures; including Metallic Grey, Grey Aluminium, Anthracite Grey and Slate Grey.

    Select from edgier, textured radiators such as the Bryce or the Carre which can be supplied as a curved radiator and further endorses this trend with its narrow bar design.

    Image caption: Happy D2 from Duravit

    Dark, industrial colour accents never fail to impress. By adding a contemporary, monochrome element, AQATA’s Matte Black Collection is a new addition to their successful Design Solutions range, available on DS400 shower screens and DS440 double entry shower screens. As well as matte black profiles and steady bars, there are also three glass patterns; grid, horizontal and border designs available.

    In collaboration with sieger design, Duravit’s latest Happy D.2 Plus series reflects current industrial trends in colours, design and finishes. The above-counter washbasins striking individuality comes from the new striking two-tone colour variants of Anthracite Matt and glossy White. The colour concept of Happy D.2 Plus extends to toilets and bidets, with the interior of the toilets finished in glossy Anthracite for optimum hygiene.

    Duravit’s Stonetto shower tray is designed to give the appearance of stripped back, water–worn stone, available in lighter shades, when used in anthracite or concrete gives the bathroom an edgier industrial feel.

    Image of various industrial products from the range

    Image credit: Unidrain

    Finally, for maximum impact, Unidrain’s award-winning Reframe Collection brings together the finishing touches to an urban bathroom with their Scandinavian inspired designer accessories including; soap shelf, towel bar, toilet brush. The Reframe Collection mixes sleek design with metallic tones, available in five different colours including; Black, Copper, Brass and Brushed and Polished Stainless Steel.

    Hotel Designs will be focusing the spotlight on the bathrooms this May and is currently acccepting editorial ideas. To submit your news/feature ideas, please email the editorial desk.

    Main image credit: Aqata

    Rosewood Hotels arrives in Hong Kong

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    A new global icon for Rosewood Hotels & Resorts is established at the most distinguished address in its home city of Hong Kong…

    Rosewood Hong Kong has opened as a magnificent new ultra-luxury property in the heart of the Victoria Dockside district on the shores of Victoria Harbour. Situated on one of Hong Kong’s most significant waterfront locations in Tsim Sha Tsui – Kowloon’s dynamic, culturally compelling heart – the property is set to become a grand icon for the city, celebrating the area’s role as Hong Kong’s new creative and cultural epicentre.

    The opening of Rosewood Hong Kong is a defining milestone for the group, solidifying its stature as one of the world’s most dynamic hotel brands and a leader in global style.  This showpiece of the brand’s highest aspirations epitomises Rosewood’s essence and represents the complete manifestation of a differentiated and modern expression of ultra-luxury hospitality.

    Exterior of hotel

    Image credit: Rosewood Hotels

    From the brand’s inception 40 years ago as a fine private home that opened its doors to guests, each Rosewood hotel continues to be guided by A Sense of Place® philosophy and the concept of the hotel as a living canvas celebrating artistry in all its forms.  This spirit reaches its zenith at Rosewood Hong Kong.  Guests can experience the first urban outpost of the brand’s pioneering wellness concept; gastronomic innovation showcasing locally grown and artisanal ingredients; masterworks by the world’s most highly acclaimed artists; and supremely stylish, residentially natured gathering and living spaces – all within a masterfully designed and meticulously curated journey in architecturally bold environs commanding the harbour.

    “The site is the former Holt’s Wharf, dating back to 1910.”

    Rosewood’s opening in Hong Kong marks the evolution of another meaningful historic legacy.  The site is the former Holt’s Wharf, dating back to 1910, which subsequently became New World Centre, a lifestyle magnet for the city in the 1980s, which holds a unique place in the hearts and minds of local residents as a place of discovery and wonderment.  New World Centre – a proud expression of Hong Kong’s evolution – was the creation of Dr. Cheng Yu-tung and Dr. Henry Cheng, the grandfather and father (respectively) of Rosewood Hotel Group Chief Executive Officer, Sonia Cheng.

    “With Hong Kong evolving from a business and financial centre to become a true global cultural capital, I wanted to create an iconic property that not only showcases the city’s rich history but also reflects its bright future,” says Cheng. “New World Centre was conceived as my grandfather’s ultimate gift to Hong Kong, a celebration of its progress, vibrancy and spirit.  I hope that Rosewood Hong Kong enhances this legacy and helps fulfill his and my father’s vision for the city that they loved. Rosewood Hong Kong sets bold new benchmarks for design, guest experience, cuisine, and culture. Our ambition is to create a new world standard for ultra-luxury hospitality and a focal point of the vibrant Hong Kong lifestyle, reflecting its incredible dynamism, style and diversity.” 

    The Kohn Pedersen Fox-designed, 65-storey exterior pays homage to the city’s impressive verticality.  Renowned hospitality designer who designed the London property Tony Chi of New York studio tonychi has created an immersive experience for a new age of elevated residential hotel living. An homage to Rosewood’s origins as an aristocratic manor, Chi has conceived the entire hotel as a “vertical estate” which incorporates significant green spaces and outdoor areas throughout.

    “More than 80 per cent of Rosewood Hong Kong’s rooms boast standout harbour vistas.”

    Masterful and important art throughout the property includes works by internationally acclaimed artists Henry Moore, Damien Hirst and Bharti Kerr, as well as China’s Wang Keping and homegrown Hong Kong artist Wilson Shieh. Significant works are juxtaposed with an eclectic, whimsical approach to decorative arts throughout the hotel.

    More than 80 per cent of Rosewood Hong Kong’s rooms boast standout harbour vistas, with the remainder featuring verdant Kowloon Peak views overlooking the fabled Lion Rock and scenic mountains. Generous “salons” on each guestroom floor from the 24th level up feature carefully selected objets that reflects Hong Kong’s richly layered past.

    “For me, Rosewood Hong Kong is the majestic ‘estate on the harbour’ that pays reverent homage to the great founding family that built and operates it, and also the legacy of its surrounding community,” says designer Tony Chi. “Having designed Rosewood London — an elegant mansion in a royal city — and being in the process of refreshing The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, in New York, an iconic residence in Manhattan’s Upper East Side; there’s a remarkably rich and overarching sense of continuity and a sense of place that binds all these properties together.”

    Generous space and residential luxury are the hallmarks of Rosewood’s 322 light-filled guestrooms, which start at 53 square metres and include the Grand Harbourview Rooms, boasting panoramic views of Hong Kong Island. Elevated homely comforts include curated interior details, considered amenities, generous marble bathrooms with a freestanding soaking bath, separate, freestanding vanities and twin showers, as well as spacious walk-in closets.

    Rosewood Hong Kong is home to the highest number of suites of any Hong Kong luxury hotel and also some of the largest.  The 91 suites, starting from 92 square metres, offer carefully curated stays, bespoke services, and inspired interiors. Suite guests enjoy exclusive services including access to Rosewood’s Manor Club executive lounge, personal butler service, monogrammed pillow cases and robes, and personalised amenities from arrival to departure. On each floor, the 123-square-metre Grand Harbour Corner Suites offer glittering panoramic harbour views from every vantage point.

    Rosewood Hotels Cafe

    Image credit: Rosewood Hotels

    In addition, Rosewood Hong Kong features 18 of the most outstanding signature suites in the metropolis, each with its own unique character. The crowning jewel amongst them, the 1,000-square-metre Harbour House boasts spectacular views from private sky terraces on the 57th level and unique décor and design. Enhancing the lavish interiors, a garden oasis features harbour view sun decks and private lap pools.  Located on the same floor, the Harbour House and Garden House can be combined, offering an entirely private five-bedroom retreat complete with state-of-the-art private gym.

    Extended stays will be catered to by 186 exclusive Rosewood Residences, set to launch this Spring.  Uniquely designed for longer-term stays, the Rosewood Residences will offer a separate private entrance and dedicated club facilities, including an indoor swimming pool and private fitness centre, along with a host of special services and amenities for guests.

     

    Main image credit: Rosewood Hotels