Mix Interiors 198 October 2019 - Hospitality Supplement by Mix_Interiors

Mix Interiors

HOSPITALITY inspiring hotel, restaurant & bar interiors

EAT

DRINK

STAY

hospitality | october 2019

welcome

elcome to Mix Interiors’ new hospitality supplement – a triannual periodical focusing on hotel, bar and restaurant design and property. At last month’s MixInspired seminar in London we looked at the next generation workplace, and we can certainly see the hospitality industry changing to suit the needs of a newer generation too, as expectations for new technology and better experiences become more and more prevalent. However, is there really much difference in generational expectation? I would prefer a ‘press for champagne’ button – a la Bob Bob Cité – or a chat with a bot instead of calling customer services, I know our Editor, Mick, would prefer human interaction. Either way, a great experience requires a combination of a beautiful space and excellent service (human or robot!). Who wouldn’t want that?

In this inaugural hospitality supplement, our resident property expert, David Thame, discusses the renaissance of the downtown hotel, as investors find new opportunities in the industry, and we take a look around the new Hard Rock Hotel at Marble Arch – a very British-centric update for the classic brand. We also look ahead to Mix Design Collective, and talk with the hospitality experts from our line-up of nine design practices taking part in December’s event. Finally, if you have a hospitality project you’d like to shout about, do get in touch – we’re always on the lookout! Chloe Petersen Snell chloe@wearemixgroup.com

contents UPFRONT In case you missed... 4

FEATURES Revolution downtown hotels 6 Hard Rock Hotel london 12 FOCUS Mix Design Collective 16

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upfront | in case you missed...

arcade food theatre Design studio Macaulay Sinclair has designed the interior for London’s Arcade, a unique all-day food theatre. The studio, which is well-known for designing interiors of high-profile brands including Hawksmoor, Dishoom and Caravan, has worked collaboratively with Arcade to create a contemporary yet contextual design for Centre Point’s mid-century modernist space. Originally designated as a bus garage, the Grade II listed modernist 12,500 sq ft space offers stunning views of St Giles Square, with full storey-height glazing and retractable doors. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by an ovular shaped central island bar, cast using concrete panels

<< resembling the floor, giving the impression the form has grown

from it organically. The feature bar has a black marble counter with mid-century inspired light fixtures, sitting underneath digital artwork from Marco Brambilla. Mid-century materials were selected to complement Centre Point’s iconic architecture and heritage, while each kitchen brand concept has it’s own unique Arcade material palette. Finishes of terrazzo, marble, formica, marmoleum and polished concrete contrast with each other against the building’s listed features, including tiled piloti columns, monochromatic mosaic floor tiles and a central stone staircase. Contract and bespoke furniture as well as original mid-century classic pieces were sourced to complement Arcade’s eclectic furniture collection. A bespoke lighting gantry suspended from the building’s concrete ceiling soffit illuminates each food theatre kitchen and dining spaces. www.macaulaysinclair.com

the hoxton, southwark The Hoxton, Southwark has now opened its doors on Blackfriars Road, with 192 rooms, welcoming communal spaces and a seafood rooftop restaurant, Seabird, complete with incredible views of the city. The eighth property in the series, The Hoxton, Southwark sees the brand back on familiar ground with its third hotel in its birthplace of London. The Hoxton first opened its doors in Shoreditch in 2006, followed by Holborn in 2012, and has since been rolled out globally, with creatively designed openhouse hotels in neighbourhoods around the world, including Paris, Amsterdam, New York, Portland, and Chicago. The Hoxton, Downtown LA will follow later this year. Perched on the 14th floor of the hotel, rooftop restaurant Seabird (pictured) is a destination in itself, playing host to London’s longest oyster list, an impressive marble bar, and those amazing city views. To bring Seabird to life, The Hoxton partnered with Premiere Enterprises, founded

hospitality | october 2019

<< bob bob cité A perfect example of marmite design, Bob Bob Cité from BradyWilliams Design opened earlier this year, revealing the much-anticipated ‘brasserie for the 21st century’, in collaboration with Leonid Shutov, the owner of sibling restaurant and Soho institution, Bob Bob Ricard. Set in the landmark Leadenhall Building, by acclaimed architects Rogers Stark Harbour & Partners, the restaurant is inspired by key elements of the original Bob Bob Ricard design, while creating a completely new vision – minimalist in approach, the execution gives a contemporary twist to maximalist design. Inspired by 21st century design and the future of aviation, Bob Bob Cité is a space unlike any other. Rosewood marquetry panelling was crafted onsite and installed as complete pieces by specialist joiners, Stan Tarver, and bespoke banquet seating was covered in beautiful tactile leather from Andrew Muirhead & Son. Over 12 kilometres of mirror-polish steel trim, weighing over five and a half tonnes, accent the Japanese inspired bookbinding paper-clad walls throughout the space. The instantly recognisable ‘Pressez pour les Champagne’ button activates a table number illumuminated throughtout the space, and in an homage to its London home, tickertape wraps the facade of the restaurant and internal dining rooms. Shayne Brady, Co-founder of BradyWilliams commented, ‘Bob Bob Cité is an iconic forward-thinking design aesthetic, a true collaboration with Leonid Shutov, creating a space that will change the way that people think about restaurant design – where ultra-camp meets ultra-luxury.’ We couldn’t have said it better ourselves! www.bradywilliamsstudio.com

by James Beard, and award-winning duo Joshua Boissy and Krystof Zizka of Brooklyn hotspot, Maison Premiere. Seafood takes centre stage (quite literally) with an impressive raw bar piled high to steal the show, while the menu draws inspiration from Portuguese and Spanish cuisines. Ennismore Design Studio is responsible for the interiors throughout the hotel, with the open plan communal spaces drawing inspiration from Southwark’s eclectic, industrial past. Tiling patterns and textiles echo the shapes seen in the architecture of the neighbourhood, with additional quirky theatrical touches reflecting the prominence of Southwark’s local theatres. A mix of antique and bespoke furniture, found throughout the hotel, has been sourced from British makers and super-sized greenery on the ground floor makes an impact on arrival. Overall, an excellent addition to the Hoxton portfolio. www.ennismore.co.uk

Discover a bathroom collection with many facets: villeroyboch.com/antheus

hospitality | october 2019

REVOLUTION How a property investor switcheroo is going to change your hotel world. WORDS: DAVID THAME

he money men and women that run the UK’s private equity, pension funds and insurers used to shun hotels. Whilst they were happy enough to lunch deliciously in Claridges or The Dorchester, the idea of seriously investing in UK hotel property gave them a nasty case of indigestion. Hotels were regarded as one step away from restaurants, and restaurants are proverbially good places for investors to lose money fast. Thousands of beds, tens of thousands of bookings, the whims of tourists, the weather…the list of reasons not to get involved with hotel property was endless. So, on the whole, they left them alone. Today investors’ view of hotel property has undergone a complete 360 degree turn. Hotels, once regarded as the very definition of a real estate nightmare, are now welcomed as the very definition of secure, long-term income. UK hotels are

a £20 billion goldmine. As that massive re-think percolates through the real estate industry and into hotel operation and design, it is going to change hotels forever. So come to Birmingham, where the change in institutional attitudes is soon to be visible on hustling, bustling New Street. M&G Real Estate, the property arm of the mighty Prudential insurance empire, has long owned one of the shopping street’s many large and largely unused office blocks. King Edward House, which totals 62,000 sq ft, was once the latest in office floorspace but has since become stranded on a largely retail pitch, whilst the office market has moved decisively west. Now M&G have shelved plans for offices and plan to convert it into a 259-bed boutique hotel. ‘We see real opportunity in repurposing this building to react >>

feature | downtown hotels

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Some, like Aprirose, are taking their involvement far deeper than merely owning a building and finding an operator. Rather, they plan to operate the hotels themselves .

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to an undersupply of hotel accommodation in the city centre and to help support a thriving local economy,’ M&G Real Estate Retail Development Manager, Will Gerrish, says. ‘Advanced discussions are underway with a boutique hotel operator seeking its first Birmingham presence and we look forward to being able to share more details about them and their ambitions for Birmingham in due course.’ Coached in the language of the business press release, the M&G announcement seems unspectacular. But the fact that a fund of Prudential’s stamp is getting schmoozy with hotel operators is the stuff of revolution. M&G are not alone. Far from it. Some, like Aprirose, are taking their involvement far deeper than merely owning a building and finding an operator. Rather, they plan to operate the hotels themselves. This summer, the real estate investor launched its own hotel operating platform. The platform will initially be operated in conjunction with leading hotel operator, Kew Green Hotels, who will provide systems and support whilst the new service is established. Aprirose’s hotel assets already total 25 under a number of international brands from the major franchises, including Hilton, Marriott, Accor, plus its own QHotels brand. Aprirose’s QHotels are currently undergoing significant asset management and modernisation, with the rebrand of seven of the hotels, and the launch of 5 Doubletree by Hilton and 2 Delta by Marriott.  Tim Shearman, Chief Executive at Aprirose Hotels, explains: ‘The creation of our own hotel operating platform will allow us to recruit industry leading talent and drive value for our clients. By initially

hospitality | october 2019

LEFT The new Victoria Gate Hotel, Leeds, planned by Hammerson

working with the experienced Kew Green Hotels team, it will allow us to hit the ground running and offer a seamless and bestin-class service to our customers.’ In other words, this is a long-term play, which envisages national and international growth. Meanwhile, more traditional real estate businesses like Hammerson are re-allocating assets away from retail (a sector in turmoil) and into hotels, which in comparison seem like a remarkably safe bet. Their new ‘City Quarters’ concept will replace their focus on shopping centres. The first plans for Birmingham and Leeds include hotel towers (14 storeys in Leeds). Elsewhere, the hardest of hardcore private equity is also funnelling funds into hotels. UBS Asset Management, a business not known for its indulgence in fads or its casual lets-give-this-a-try approach to investment, has bought the 73-bedroom Edinburgh Travelodge for £9.4 million. It provides them with a yield (e.g. return on their investment) of 5.25%, appreciably more than alternative homes for their money, and forms part of a growing long-income hotel portfolio. Talk to UBS and the reason for the revolution in investor attitudes becomes clear. Howard Meaney is Head of UK Real Estate at UBS-AM. He explains: ‘We’re looking for long-term secure revenue streams with upward-only index-linked rent increases, and those are rare now in most sectors of the property business, but not hotels. And the beauty of hotels is that we can assess their covenant status. Because there are some very strong brands in the hotel sector, like

Travelodge and Premier Inn! Our fund is defensive about cash flow. It is long-dated secure income.’ Travelodge has a lease that runs until 2042 (with the option to extend to 2047) with five-yearly uncapped RPI linked upwards only rent reviews. In property terms, that makes the hotel an absolutely red-hot property. According to Howard, the huge and complicated customer base of the hotel sector – precisely the factor that used to horrify property investors – is now its appeal. In short, the hotel sector stands on many legs (or sleeps on many backs) when other types of floorspace (like an office block) depend on one or two or a handful of occupiers. More occupiers equals a safer bet, they think. Investors do have some anxieties. They worry that hotel operators are concealing income from hotel food and beverage operations (income that ought to be part of the rental calculations). And they worry that hotels need expensive and regular refurbishments, meaning headaches about depreciation. But those long hotel leases, with their upward only rent reviews, are so precious that these are problems they are prepared to overlook. And even if the bottom suddenly fell out of the hotel market (and they are sure it won’t), investors like UPS take comfort from the huge value of many hotels’ city centre sites. ‘Sites like the Edinburgh Travelodge could have been residential development, and that gives us a high level of comfort. That kind of knowledge is really important to us. You have to look at the residual value of the property.’ >>

feature | downtown hotels

The about-turn in investor attitudes is fuelling the mighty brand-expansions of the leading budget and mid-price operators. The UK hotel industry saw the opening of 15,500 new hotel rooms in 2018, representing a 2.4% increase in UK hotel supply, with 2019 expected to add another 19,000 or more. So say Knight Frank, whose Head of Hotels, Shaun Roy, says that the tsunami of money now flowing into the hotel property sector is not going to ease. ‘The hotel sector is undergoing robust levels of development activity, despite the continued uncertainty that Brexit brings,’ Shaun explains. ‘This is occurring both in London and the UK more generally and is particularly evident in those markets that have a diverse business mix, with a thriving leisure market such as Edinburgh, Birmingham and Brighton. ‘There are clear opportunities for investors in the hotel sector nationwide at the development stage, which presents a long-term strategy providing a guaranteed stream of secure income.’ According to Shaun, investors in the hotel sector see the kind of gold-plated leases they can no longer find in other sectors. ‘Investors used to think ‘Oh God, hotels equal lots of customers, which will be difficult to deal with’ and now they think ‘This looks like safer income because it is diversified’. This is a big shift in mindset and really significant.’ Hotels offer investors a chance to buy into valuable downtown real estate knowing that they still have the option of diversifying into city apartments, or offices, if values in those sectors make it worth their while. In short, hotels pay well today and promise liquidity tomorrow. What’s not to like?

REVOLVING DOOR WHAT’S IN & WHAT’S OUT IN HOSPITALITY PROPERTY The aparthotel sector has come of age. Aviva Investors has acquired the freehold interest in a central London aparthotel scheme. The 22-storey tower at Commercial Road, Aldgate, will provide 190 apartments alongside facilities including a gym, café, private restaurant and coworking space. The asset will be operated under ‘The Gate’ brand and is expected to be ready for guests in early 2020. The Aviva deal sees them sell-on the lease to a nearby local council, providing Barking & Dagenham with a long term income – useful at a time when local government income is being squeezed. The fact that the aparthotel sector is regarded as an asset-class safe enough for both Aviva and a notoriously risk-averse buyer like a local council, is a mighty tribute to its appeal. •

Moreover, investors eyeing up the city living market (including the burgeoning build-to-rent sector) see hotels as a way to de-risk their residential schemes. ‘Towers are expensive to build. A few years ago you might have built a tower and entirely filled it with apartments. Today, instead of 200 apartments you could do 100 apartments and a hotel. That kind of mixed use feels safer,’ Shaun says. The revolution in hotel property wrought by investors is not over yet. The dynamics which drove money into hotels is now driving it into other hospitality-linked enterprises, from aparthotels to coworking. ‘They have looked at Airbnb and watched the disruption, and they have learned from it a lot more about what customers want. And what they want is their own private space but also the option to work or mix sociably if they want to. So we’re seeing a lot of boundary-crossing ideas mixing coworking space, hotel space, apartment space, creative space,’ says Shaun. ‘For now, we’re hearing more noise about boundary-crossing development than reality, but it is certainly true that the hospitality industry has begun to engage with what people want. Airbnb was a wake-up call.’ Thanks to the investors, who heard that call loud and clear and are now looking at funding the plethora of responses, the hotel revolution is far from over. • For additional content, visit the Mix Interiors website: www.mixinteriors.com

MAKING SPACES INTO STANDOUT PLACES www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/flotexcolour

creating better environments

feature | hard rock hotel

hospitality | october 2019

ROCK FORMATION The former Cumberland Hotel site at Marble Arch has been transformed into the predictably spectacular Hard Rock Hotel, choosing award-winning architecture and interior design practice Scott Brownrigg to pay homage to the iconic brand. words: mick jordan

o, there we were, looking for a real standout performer for this ‘festival’ of hospitality design. We wanted an international, instantly recognisable, ‘rocking’ brand. When, as luck would have it, our friends at Scott Brownrigg alerted us to their project for the new Hard Rock Hotel in London’s famous West End, we knew we had our headline act. The exciting new scheme has seen the Cumberland Hotel transformed into the Hard Rock Hotel London, situated opposite Marble Arch, just a stone’s throw from the top of Oxford Street and Park Lane. Scott Brownrigg were appointed to consider the primary entrance and ground floor guest experience – which hits you from the moment you reach this historic venue. The classic hotel concierge uniform, for example, has been updated to include a cool oversized bowler hat and a fantastic rock’n’roll montage print on the back of the waistcoat, while the equally classic luggage trolleys here feature contemporary Union Jack prints. We enter the brilliant, vibrant entrance, where we meet up with Scott Brownrigg’s Director of Hospitality, David Mason. ‘We’ve essentially opened up the whole of this ground floor, to create one big space,’ David tells us. ‘This is the only current hotel where the café is integral to the lobby. The hotel is not grade listed, but is in a conservation area – which was fortunate – however we had to be careful with the signage and the frontage. Still, this is a famous vista – looking out onto Marble Arch – so it had to be suitably impressive.

Hard Rock has a very strong brand – and is instantly recognisable. We worked closely with Hard Rock and established a look that would work for London – so we’ve stripped things right back and introduced more muted colours. ‘Obviously, the scheme had to be music related, but we approached the project from a completely different angle, which was far more abstract. We didn’t want to go down that obvious route of ‘this is music’ and putting records on the wall. Instead, we based it around the design cues of music, fashion and the history of the building and London; if you look at the front of the bar, you can see that it reflects a ruffle from the Elizabethan era. So we wanted to tie in music, fashion and the history of the building and London. ‘The central bar is actually based on the idea of a master disc dropping into a record player – the kind of record player you might have had at home in the 1970s! We wanted to keep everything open so that, no matter where you’re stood, you can still see the central bar. Then the display cases for the memorabilia are suspended from the walls to create this ‘larger than life’ guitar fret board, which runs along the entirety of the wall here. The entrance itself, with all the mirrors, is a nod to that grand arrival, with all the lights and the cameras flashing. ‘We worked closely with Nulty Bespoke to create the drumstick lights, which sit above the check-in area. They worked with us on all of the lighting design here – so the lights above the central bar can change colour during happy hour and can also rotate, so it looks like an actual disc is spinning.’ >>

case study | hard rock hotel

Above: Concierge desk and Hard Rock memorabilia

The memorabilia – which is of course synonymous with the Hard Rock brand – includes costumes and instruments from global music superstars past and present, ranging from Nicki Minaj and One Direction through to Ozzy Osbourne and Eric Clapton. Incidentally, the artist formally known as the Cumberland Hotel boasted guests including Jimi Hendrix, Madonna, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan and Buddy Holly ‘We have Freddy Mercury’s childhood piano on display,’ David points out, ‘while Jimi Hendricks stayed here and actually wrote one of his songs here and we have those original lyrics, which were even written on Cumberland Hotel headed paper! ‘This is a massive brand – and the brand following is absolutely huge. The team here have an amazing energy – they absolutely live and breathe the brand. ‘This is a 1,000-bedroom hotel. For glh Hotels, who operate the hotel, there was very much a tried-and-tested way to bring people into the building, through check-in and up to their rooms. It was very operations-led from that point of view. The hotel stayed operational throughout the entire build – which is quite a feat!’ Scott Brownrigg’s design comprised the check-in, the Hard Rock Café, the Rock Royalty Lounge for VIP guests, a cocktail bar and the central GMT bar, and all the other associated facilities within the Hard Rock Café brand. As David said, the design concept derived from the deconstruction of music and fashion, and all the layers that go into the creation of music, fashion, architecture and art – with a smart, contemporary nod to London and its heritage running throughout. The scheme demanded an awareness of the 4* London market, to not only meet the client’s high design expectations, but to also attract ‘Hard Rockers’

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Obviously, the scheme had to be music related, but we approached the project from a completely different angle, which was far more abstract

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hospitality | october 2019

Below: The cocktail bar, separate from the central GMT bar Bottom: Rock Royalty Lounge

and new clientele alike, in what is an extremely competitive market. David mentioned the Rock Royalty Lounge a little earlier and, as we head to the back of the open ground floor space, we get an opportunity to experience just a little bit of how rock royalty lives. ‘If you are a Rock Royalty member you have your own check-in and your own lounge, ‘ David shows us. “There was a very particular brief for the space. It had to have a really strong identity – very much part of the Hard Rock brand – but still refined, contemporary and to that 4* standard. Everything in here is pretty much indestructible as well – in true rock’n’roll style!’ We move back into the busy main bar space and through to the café, where David points out one quirky but clever piece of multifunctional design. ‘They have live music here five nights a week,’ he reveals as we walk over to the stage area. ‘Then, in the morning, the edge of the stage is transformed into where they serve your buffet – it even has warmers built into it. ‘This is of course a very old building – it was a bit of a dinosaur when we first looked at it and it did need quite a bit of work. We had to soundproof everything so that no sound went through to the floors above. The acoustics here are absolutely amazing – those speakers on the stage are stadium quality, apparently!’ ‘This was so much fun to work on. It was a really collaborative process and also so great to work with two established, high profile brands – Hard Rock International and glh Hotels – to create this landmark destination in the heart of London.’ •

focus | mix design collective

MIX DESIGN COLLECTIVE As December’s Mix Design Collective looms, we take a closer look at three of the design practices taking on the challenge, all of whom have a special affinity for designing incredible hospitality spaces.

FUSION BY DESIGN The SOCIAL experience at Mix Design Collective will consider the first element of any bar, restaurant or workplace social setting – a place for visitors to fuel-up, socialise and relax. Established in 1998, Fusion By Design has created incredible projects for some of the biggest brands in the leisure and hospitality industry. Currently working on a multitude of exciting projects, the practice is in the completion stages of a design in Bristol called The Bristol & Bath Rum Distillery, as well as the new café facility at the Bombay Saphire gin distillery, working alongside GWP architects. What was the inspiration for your experience at Mix Design Collective? ‘For our experience at Mix Design Collective we were inspired by one of our office’s favourite things – tea! We took the approach of brainstorming the concept theme amongst the whole team. Discussing what excited us, we wanted a concept idea that was loose enough to relate to a variety of visitors, but also epitomised Fusion By Design as a company. And nothing is better than a good Yorkshire brew! ‘We’re excited to be involved in Mix Design Collective – we work across the whole of the UK and especially in London, so it will be a pleasure to work alongside and engage with our fellow Northern design community.’

1. Time to Par-Tea! 2. IVC Distruptive Path 3. Knightsbridge Coupe 4. Knightsbridge Climb 5. Plants supplied by Oasis Plants

Where do you think hospitality design is headed? What trends do you see? ‘Hotel design is experiencing a move towards front of house areas that are more than just a lobby or a bar. This is the direction a lot of our hospitality clients are heading, even outside of the hotel sector. They desire venues that can be accessed across the day by a varied client base, making their offer an all day one. In one of our latest projects in Bristol, we have spaces that provide teaching and educational experiences as well as standard bar and dining facilities. This expands the offer even more.’

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hospitality | october 2019

KKA INTERIORS

1. Frandsen Benjamin Lamp 2. Shaw Contract, Concrete+Composed LVT 3. Shaw Contract, Suited collection, Houndstooth Saffron 4. Feature wall made from recycled materials 5. Ocee Chair

KKA will be designing the RECHARGE experience, focusing on how the use of sustainable, emotive decoration and soft fabrics will contribute to the bedroom of the future. KKA Interiors is an internationally noted and award-winning practice, whose recent work includes Hilton Garden Inn Hotel at Silverstone Racetrack and the LFC Anfield Megastore, as well as luxury student accommodation Tru Student and Boho – featuring slides, swing seating and reclaimed caravan music rooms. What can we expect from your RECHARGE experience? ‘Our design for Mix Design Collective explores sustainability and its importance on a commercial scale. We aspire to reinvent the traditional hotel room concept and create an oasis where one can find themselves exposed to experiences that allow recharging and resurgence of creative potential. ‘We welcomed the opportunity to challenge our creative thinking through our involvement with Mix Design Collective. This exciting venture has enabled us to develop and push our boundaries through an experimental platform.’

What do you see as the current trends are in hospitality design? ‘Material palettes, including raw terrazzo and soft pastel shades, offset with intricate metalwork, are evident in the hospitality sector. However, user experience has become the main priority, including personality and connectivity through design. In 2020, spaces will become more tactile and immersive, with more emphasis on sustainability and social consciousness.’ There’s been a real emphasis on using hotels for community integration – ie. the front of the hotel becomes a coworking space. Do you think this is the way things are heading? ‘Yes, completely – and not only in the hospitality sector. We are currently exploring this important subject from a sociological point of view with Oxford Brookes University. People’s approach to work and life has changed over recent years, which is reflected in this shift.’

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focus | mix design collective

KONCEPT ID For the first ever bathroom-focused experience at Mix Design Collective, Koncept ID will create a VR experience around the theme of INVIGORATE, showcasing the future of design presentation. Visitors will be immersed in three virtual reality concepts, challenging the idea of traditional tactile showrooms. 2019 has been a very busy year for the practice, with several large projects including the Majestic in Harrogate, the Novotel Hotel and Radisson Red in Liverpool, Malmaison Manchester and the Ruby Hotel in Clerkenwell all in full swing.

What has been your inspiration for this project? ‘The ability to use VR meant we could take the invigorate concept anywhere in the world, and we had so many great concepts. After a group brainstorm session, we decided to run with three options. We are full supportive of the Northern design scene, and an opportunity to be involved with an incredible emerging technology was interesting to us as a team. ‘In hospitality at the moment we are seeing a lot of adaptable spaces – be it the bedroom or public spaces. Clients want to engage with all the spaces, whether they are working, relaxing or entertaining – the freer and easier it is for the user, the better!’ •

To find out more about all of our Mix Design Collective designers and product partners, and to register to attend for free, visit: www.mixdesigncollective.co.uk

FORM FOLLOWS PERFECTION

Setting oneself apart from the masses. Gratifying the need for uniqueness. Striking out in a new direction. This is the mission statement of AXOR MyEdition. Clear, linear design sets the stage for personal fulfilment. For oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own creativity. A personal statement. In perfection. axor-design.com

RAKINO designed by Tim Rundle