Sleeper September/October 2018 - Issue 80

SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2018 SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2018 W W W. SLEEPERMAGAZI N E.COM

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The Middle House

Priya Paul

Bikini Island & Mountain Hotel

Swire’s House Collective lands in Shanghai with an east-meets-west scheme by Piero Lissoni

The leading lady of India’s boutique hotel sector talks form, function and having fun

The team behind 25hours Hotels set their sights on reinventing the leisure sector

Because good design demands simplicity. ™

British lighting design since 1997 astrolighting.com

Inside Sleeper SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2018

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Hotel Reviews

Features

Cover Story

074 Bikini Island & Mountain Hotel

052 Meeting… Priya Paul Having ushered India’s hotel industry into the 21st century with her pioneering visions of modern hospitality, Priya Paul – Chairperson of The Park Hotels – talks form, function and having fun.

122 The Middle House Shanghai Landing in China’s most cosmopolitan city, the fourth property in Swire’s House Collective features an east-meets-west design scheme by Piero Lissoni. The hotel’s lobby is dominated by six-metre-high Murano glass chandelier made in Venice, set against a backdrop of traditional Chinese tiles in green ceramic.

Port de Sóller 083 The Alex Dublin 091 White City House London 099 Tortue Hamburg 107 The Chedi Luštica Bay 113 Villa Suites at Son Brull Mallorca 116 Red Suite at Andaz Liverpool Street London

066 Brand Standards…

Autograph Collection Marriott International’s fastest-growing soft brand continues its upward trajectory with the launch of three new independentlyminded hotels on California’s Golden Coast.

Location Report 119 Shanghai 122 The Middle House 133 Capella Jian Ye Li 140 Bulgari 148 Amanyangyun

Departments 028 Check In 034 Drawing Board 060 Brand Standards Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts 159 Business Centre 167 Events AHEAD 183 Events Sleep + Eat 193 Product Profile Bathrooms & Amenities 211 Product Profile Art & Sculpture 219 Specifier 242 Check Out

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‘IT’S LIKE HAVING THE WHOLE WORLD OF DECORATION AT MY FINGERTIPS’ LORENZO CASTILLO

ACCESS THE MOST LUXURIOUS NAMES IN INTERNATIONAL DESIGN

design centre LONDON

120 SHOWROOMS | OVER 600 INTERNATIONAL BRANDS | ONE ADDRESS

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OUTDOOR FURNITURE | LIGHTING | UPHOLSTERY | CASE GOODS | BATH FURNITURE & FIXTURES RH.COM/CONTRACT

THE PROJECT FOR THE MINOTTI BUILDING CONCEIVED FOR THE 2018 COLLECTION. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, THE GARDEN BAR WITH THE LIBRARY; THE SIX FLOOR BUILDING WITH THE SUITES AND THE GLASS HOUSE WITH THE LOUNGE, THE RESTAURANT, THE BAR AND THE POOL AREAS.

A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON HOSPITALITY. Minotti’s attitude to think about living solutions, rather than focusing only on single products, finds its distinctive expression in Hospitality.

Minotti brings its contemporary spirit and multidisciplinary approach to convey its international lifestyle to top-of-the-range hotels and residential projects.

The company vision finds its way in a realistic architectural project that emphasizes the quality of good design furnishings and their flexibility in customization, in order to meet the highest functional, technical and safety requirements of the Hospitality industry.

Thought as a rationalist framework, defined by the contrasts between black and white and between volumes and transparencies, the building recalls the Japanese and Scandinavian design philosophies thanks to its rarefied and minimalist atmosphere.

Arranged with lobby areas, lounges, bars, restaurants and a penthouse, the project accommodates an unusual winter garden, framed by a transparent glass box, as well as an oasis to relax outdoor and by the pool. Offering suggestions and visual cues for meaningful settings, the aim of the concept is to showcase the variegated ensemble of the new products while creating a connection between the 2018 Collection and an architecture immersed in greenery.

THE OLIVER LOUNGE TABLE BY RODOLFO DORDONI AND THE TAPE ARMCHAIRS BY NENDO IN THE LOUNGE-BAR OPEN ON THE POOL CREATE A SENSE OF LIGHTNESS AND INFORMAL ELEGANCE.

THE LOUNGE AREA SURROUNDING THE WINTER GARDEN IN THE GLASS HOUSE. THE AREA IS ORGANISED INTO ISLANDS TO CREATE COSY CORNERS FOR CONVERSATIONS OR INFORMAL MEETINGS. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, TAPE ARMCHAIRS BY NENDO, SHIELDS COFFEE TABLES BY RODOLFO DORDONI, GRANVILLE SEATING SYSTEM BY CHRISTOPHE DELCOURT.

THE BAR OPEN TO THE GARDEN IS CONCEIVED FOR THE GUESTS’ LEISURE. THE RUSSELL SEATING COLLECTION BY RODOLFO DORDONI WITH ITS ENVELOPING LINES AND THE MIX OF COFFEE TABLES CONVEY A CASUAL ATMOSPHERE.

A Liquorice-tinted wooden flooring alternates with medium-grey concrete slabs, while the natural light enters through the full-wall windows, which are outlined by minimal framings.

For an unexpected and contemporary mood, far from decorative excesses.

The interiors and exteriors are inhabited by design pieces, carrying a firm personality, which are taken from the 2018 Indoor and Outdoor collections, then customized with specificities to meet the needs of the Hospitality sector.

Even though the individual furniture pieces reflect the signatures of the various international designers from Rodolfo Dordoni to Christophe Delcourt, from Nendo to Marcio Kogan, the collection is strongly coordinated to harmonise together the multiple languages and express the codes that define the Minotti identity.

VIEW OF THE POOL AREA FACING THE GLASS HOUSE.

BY EDC 77 MARGARET STREET - LONDON W1W 8SY T. +44 020 73233233 - SALES@MINOTTI.CO.UK

The Quadrado modules can be combined to design organic compositions. The suspended square platforms follow the scheme of the traditional teak duckboard used in the yachting world to facilitate the outflow of water.

TO EXPERIENCE NATURE AND RELAX BY THE POOL, THE QUADRADO MODULAR SYSTEM BY MARCIO KOGAN / STUDIO MK27 DESIGNED FOR OUTDOOR LIVING.

minotti.com/hospitality

hospitality@minotti.it

AP_Sleeper_MOGADOR.indd 2

01/09/2016 10:09:33

Welcome

A

t Sleeper, we take pride in being at the forefront of the hospitality industry, covering the most interesting hotel openings worldwide, spotting trends and cultivating relationships with the global design community.

Following the launch of Supper in 2016, I’m delighted to announce the release of our newest publication focusing on style in travel. Where Sleeper and Supper look to static hotels, Starboard concentrates primarily on the design and development of cruise ships, but also other mobile forms of hospitality such as river boats, sleeper trains, aeroplanes, and the forthcoming advent of commercial space shuttles.

It’s been an exciting journey, and there’s certainly no shortage of new projects on the boards. Our first issue features previews of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, marking the hotel brand’s entry into the cruise sector; Celebrity Edge, an ultra-modern vessel due to set sail later this year; and Scarlet Lady, the first cruise ship from Virgin Voyages with interiors by Tom Dixon, Concrete and Roman & Williams – none of whom have designed a cruse ship before. There are also reviews of Seabourn Encore designed by Adam Tihany, and Belmond Andean Explorer – South America’s first luxury sleeper train.

While there’s undoubtedly similarities between hospitality and transport design, each industry has its own set of challenges and opportunities. What they do share, is a belief that the journey is savoured as much as the destination. As a result, hotel groups are strengthening their brands through investment in non-traditional models, bringing their signature elements to boats and private jets to compete with the more conventional hospitality transport operators.

With that in mind, we’ve also introduced a new transport category to AHEAD, recognising exceptional design and experience of mobile forms of hospitality. The first region to go live with the category is Asia, where a number of groundbreaking vessels have taken to the waters, tracks and skies in recent years. In 2017, East Japan Railway launched the futuristic Shiki-shima train featuring 17 luxury suites and a culinary programme devised by a Michelin-star chef. And the Trans-Siberian Railway – connecting Moscow with the Russian Far East – has announced a record US$10 billion makeover, which will see upgrades to the track and stations along the route, as well as its carriages.

In the cruise sector, Royal Caribbean’s much-anticipated Quantum of the Seas has set sail from Shanghai, marking the operator’s first ship designed specifically with the Chinese guest in mind. And on a smaller scale, Minor Hotels is soon to offer river cruises between Thailand and Laos on a new 13-cabin luxury barge as part of its partnership with Mekong Kingdoms.

These are the types of transport models our AHEAD Asia judging panel will be assessing over the coming months, so if you’ve been involved in the design of such a vessel, you can enter online before 28 September. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Singapore in March 2019, along with land-based hotels in a variety of other categories.

In the meantime, if you would like to receive the first issue of Starboard, please register online at www.sleepermagazine.com/starboard.

Catherine Martin | Editor

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Guest Book

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© Brett Boardman

MITCHELL HOCHBERG

SIR TERENCE CONRAN

KERRY HILL

SHALINI MISRA

As President of Lightstone – a privately held real estate compa ny w it h assets i n r e s i d e n t i a l , h o s p i t a l i t y, com mercial and retail – Mitchell Hochberg oversaw the launch of Moxy Times Square, the brand’s first venture in New York City. His latest project, Moxy Chelsea, is a macroamenity lifestyle hotel that reimagines the urban jungle, blending botanically-inspired design with Italian romance.

Founding acclaimed practice Conran + Partners, as well as retailer Habitat and London’s Design Museum, Sir Terence Conran has enjoyed a long, distinguished career as one of Britain’s premier designers.

Having transformed the former Great Eastern Hotel London as his first major hotel project in 2000, Conran has returned to create the philanthropic Andaz Red Suite for Bono and Bobby Shriver’s Red foundation.

As the designer behind some of Tropical Asia’s most ambitious resorts including The Datai Langkawi, Aman Tokyo, and Taiwan’s The Lalu Hotel, renowned Australian architect Kerry Hill defined the region’s hospitality aesthetic for a generation of guests. Passing away this year at the age of 75, one of Hill’s final projects saw him combine old and new at Shanghai’s Amanyangyun for a transformative experience.

Following her Great Exhibitioninspired design for Decorex’s 40 th anniversary champagne bar in 2017, Shalini Misra has now set her sights on creating a nightclub installation as part of Sleep + Eat’s roomset competition. Drawing on the bright colours, bold and playful patterns and pop music of the 1980s, the designer will pair nostalgia with new technologies to present a hedonistic escape within Olympia London.

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Four Seasons, Tokyo – Mood Collection by Studio Segers

Living the good life outside.

Love it, live it, share it. www.tribu.com

TRIBU_ADV_SLEEPER_GB_236x275_FOURseasonsTOKYO.indd 1

11/04/18 15:53

P O R T FO LI O

Front Desk EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Assistant Editor Editorial Assistant Editor-at-Large

Matt Turner – m.turner@mondiale.co.uk Catherine Martin – c.martin@mondiale.co.uk Kristofer Thomas – k.thomas@mondiale.co.uk Ben Thomas – b.thomas@mondiale.co.uk Guy Dittrich

A DV E R T I S I N G Advertising Manager Advertising Sales

Rob Hart – r.hart@mondiale.co.uk Charlotte Goodlass – c.goodlass@mondiale.co.uk

AHEAD Global Sponsorship

Lorraine Jack – l.jack@mondiale.co.uk

EVENTS & MARKETING Brand Director Events Manager Events & Marketing Co-ordinator Data & Circulation Co-ordinator Content Manager

Amy Wright – a.wright@mondiale.co.uk Melanie Page – m.page@mondiale.co.uk Millie Allegro – m.allegro@mondiale.co.uk Eliot Ramshead – e.ramshead@mondiale.co.uk Molly Dolan – m.dolan@mondiale.co.uk

DESIGN Design Manager Production

David Bell – d.bell@mondiale.co.uk Zoe Willcox – z.willcox@mondiale.co.uk

FINANCE Finance Director Group Financial Controller Group Credit Controller Accounts Assistant

Chairman

Strawberry Studios, Watson Square, Stockport, SK1 3AZ, UK Tel: +44 (0)161 476 8390 www.sleepermagazine.com

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Damian Walsh

Retail cover price (where sold): £7.95 Annual subscription rates (6 issues): UK: £65.00 | Europe: £85.00 | RoW: £110.00 Subscription records are maintained at Mondiale Publishing Ltd Sleeper (ISSN: 1476-4075 / USPS: 21550) is published bi-monthly by Mondiale Publishing and is distributed in the USA by RRD/Spatial. Pending periodicals postage paid at South Hackensack, NJ. Send address changes to Sleeper, c/o RRD, 1250 Valley Brook Avenue, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071, USA. Mailed by Spatial Global | Printed by Buxton Press

OUT NOW From the publishers of Sleeper and Supper, Starboard is a new publication focusing on the design and development of mobile forms of hospitality such as cruise ships, river boats, sleeper trains, aeroplanes and space shuttles.

To receive your complimentary copy, register online at www.sleepermagazine.com/starboard

When MIRRORS Matter

MOON DANCE product concept + design: sieger design

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Š Jenny van Sommers

Tom Bartlett WALDO WORKS

Having completed the interior design scheme for a new aparthotel in London, Tom Bartlett takes a fantasy break in the rugged landscape of Ireland’s west coast.

Where are you?

Connemara, on the west coast of Ireland.

How did you get there?

In a small plane piloted by my friend, flying into Galway out of Northolt, having driven there from London in a flash. The six-seater wends its way through air traffic control, over Wales and into Ireland to land at Clifden. There’s a hamper, dogs and friends in the back. We jump into a Land Rover and head along the bog road to the mountains of Roundstone; it’s unusually clear and absent of rain, but there is knitwear involved.

Who is there to greet you on arrival?

An oyster cart and my son.

the lower slopes of a mountain, with drystone walling, a turf roof and glass wraparound. It has extraordinary views across the landscape towards the Atlantic. The lower floor houses the public areas where the furniture is handcrafted, the lighting is discreet, and the fabrics and objects reflect the colours and textures of the beaches, moors and hills.

My room is clad in stone, with an ultra simple but hugely generous bathroom carved from Connemara marble. There’s a peat fire, a large bed facing the view and a cosy seating area. There’s no TV, but the best internet streaming for my iPad. Who designed it?

Carlo Scarpa and Andrée Putman, with a touch of John Fowler to ensure that everything is extremely comfortable.

And who’s at the concierge desk?

There was the most amazing red-headed lady at the front desk of The Mercer in New York, who always struck me as the best concierge I ever met.

She dealt with a very embarrassing situation with such aplomb we both found ourselves in fits of giggles and were firm friends for the rest of her tenure there. She also made things magically appear before I had even asked for them.

What’s the restaurant and bar like?

The barman is a local elder, sharing stories while pouring Guinness. There are others from around the area, and the atmosphere is inclusive and worn.

Best of all, it serves the best martini this side of New York. The restaurant is dimly lit and simple, serving delicious food made from local ingredients on hand-potted china.

Who are you sharing your room with?

Melinda Stevens, my favourite travel companion who is so curious about places and people it always leads to an interesting experience.

Who are you dining with this evening?

Melinda Stevens – we are sharing a room after all; my late dog Olive; Vogue’s former Deputy Editor Emily Sheffield; and actor Tom Mullion.

Describe the hotel, your room and the view...

The hotel is a 20-room stone building cut into

Who’s manning the stoves?

Rosie Sykes the brilliant no-nonsense chef. She’s

Name: Tom Bartlett | Position: Founder and Director, Waldo Works | www.waldoworks.com Notable hotel projects: The Laslett, London; Rockwell East, London (2018)

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a genius at developing relationships with the best producers, and cooks in a way that allows the ingredients to shine. It’s warming, unpretentious and irresistible.

And what’s on the menu?

Taking note from Rosie’s The Sunday Night Book, we eat comfort food that’s uplifting and joyful. We start with brown shrimps marinated in whisky, followed by local lamb served on a bed of buttery black cabbage with crumbled black pudding.

There’s just enough room for a slither of fruit tart and a dollop of thick cream.

Would you like something to drink with that?

We’ll stick to Guinness.

What’s in the mini-bar for a night-cap?

Whisky with peat water from the stream outside.

What’s on your nightstand at bedtime?

My iPad, and Rachel Cusk’s Kudos, the last in the trilogy I am waiting to read.

Would you like a newspaper or magazine in the morning?

No, I have my iPad. Full English, continental or something different?

Very, very good coffee in vast quantities, a boiled egg and The Dusty Knuckle Bakery’s light-as-afeather potato sourdough.

See Hoxton on our stand at Sleep + Eat 2018.

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22/08/2018 11:28

Mercury Tower M A LTA

Zaha Hadid Architects has revealed its design for Malta’s Mercury Tower, a twisting structure set to house a boutique hotel.

Occupying a spot at the heart of the island’s tourist hub Paceville, the project will see the renovation and redevelopment of the existing Mercury House, and the establishment of a distinctive newbuild architectural statement. Comprising residential apartments and an as yet unnamed boutique hotel, the project is set to breathe new life into a site that has been derelict for 20 years.

Working with Malta’s leading conservation architect, heritage elements dating back to 1903 – including Mercury House’s original façade and two underground vaults – will be repurposed as integral parts of the new development. The façade will be restored to its original height, whilst the remaining historic interiors will be used as gathering spaces and entranceways. The new development will stand behind this façade, defining the original structure as the focus of a new public piazza.

With the refurbished house at its base, the 24,500m2 project will incorporate civic amenities such as retail spaces and dining venues, whilst the hotel itself is aligned at street level to integrate with Paceville’s existing urban fabric. Conceived as two volumes stacked vertically, the lower nine levels will house apartments whilst the upper 19 storeys are rotated to orient the hotel’s guestrooms towards the Mediterranean for optimal views. Elsewhere, the transitioning floors of 10, 11 and 12 accommodate public spaces, a lobby and an outdoor pool deck.

Avani KOTA KINABALU

Avani Hotels & Resorts has signed a management contract for its second property in Malaysia.

Kinabalu. KK is a well-known business and leisure destination, and Avani Kota Kinabalu Hotel will put guests in the centre of everything.”

Set to open as part of a mixed use development incorporating retail, office space and condominiums, guests will have access to a host of further dining and entertainment options, whilst more adventurous activities can be found on surrounding islands of Manukan, Gaya, Sulug and Sapi.

Avani Kota Kinabalu Hotel will join a portfolio of 23 Avani hotels in 15 countries including recently debuted properties in Australia, New Zealand and Laos. Avani currently has 13 new hotels in the pipeline set for locations such as Melbourne, Dubai and Bangkok.

Avani Kota Kinabalu will mark the brand’s second property in the federal constitutional monarchy of Malaysia following the opening of Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort.

Situated in the capital city of Malaysia's Sabah state, the 378-key newbuild will feature a rooftop pool and bar, 855m² of meeting and event space and an all-day dining restaurant.

Set in close proximity to Kota Kinabalu airport, as well as cultural landmarks including the Mount Kinabalu UNESCO World Heritage Site and Kinabalu National Park, the hotel will seek to reflect the mixture of old world charm and cosmopolitanism present in the surrounding city.

Alejandro Bernabé, Vice President of Operations for Avani Hotels & Resorts, comments: “We are excited to expand our Malaysia portfolio with this second property, and especially to have it in Kota

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Con s te l lat io n fro m C h e l so m For fur ther information email: marketing@chelsom.co.uk

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19/04/2018 16:56

Moxy Chelsea NEW YORK

Marriott International and Lightstone have revealed plans for Moxy Chelsea, the third Moxy-branded hotel in New York.

lushly planted conservatory. Designed by Rockwell Group, the series of casual dining spots are bathed in natural light and emphasise the presence of nature, whilst the 349 guestrooms by Yabu Pushelberg are filled with whimsical details and show careful consideration of space and functionality.

This will be Lightstone’s second Moxy hotel opening in New York City following the successful launch of Moxy Times Square, while Moxy Downtown – from Tribeca Associates – is set to open in the coming months. “Moxy Chelsea brings a fresh vibrancy to the historic Flower District, where culture and commerce converge,” says Mitchell Hochberg, President of Lightstone. “It’s set to become a destination where visitors and locals can connect in a natural and inclusive way. Like Moxy Times Square, Moxy Chelsea offers guests affordability, without any sacrifice to style or comfort.”

Occupying a 37-storey tower designed by Stonehill Taylor, the newbuild hotel reimagines the urban jungle, blending botanically inspired design with Italian romance. In a nod to the foliage-strewn streets of the Flower District, the architecture juxtaposes an industrial façade with a glass atrium revealing vertical gardens within.

Guests enter the hotel through an abundantly overgrown flower shop, located alongside alongside a pasticceria, café, and lively indoor/outdoor ristorante that infuse timeless Italian elegance with a modern sensibility. The second floor blends numerous live/work/play spaces designed to transform over the course of the day, including a bar, meeting studios, co-working lounge, pizza oven terrace, and a

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MIRAGE

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13/07/2018 13:21:07

Miami Produce Centre FLORIDA

Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has revealed its design for Miami Produce Centre, a major development bringing together hotel, office, residence, education and urban farming elements.

these could be used as environments for growing food whilst also forming vantage points for expansive views over the city.

Designed with large industrial-sized floorplates to provide maximum programmatic flexibility, the project marks the latest in a series of BIG hotel design proposals that include Audemars Piguet Hôtel des Horlogers – a Swiss project connecting skiers to their rooms by way of sloping corridors – and The XI, a luxury mix of condominiums and accomodation with amenities curated by Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas. Also set to land in Miami is the BIGdesigned Grove at Grand Bay, a set of luxury condominiums housed within a pair of twisting towers. In recent years Miami has developed a contemporary architectural language emphasising brise-soleil-style balconies and cool white palettes, with both Miami Produce Centre and Grove at Grand Bay visually responding to this movement.

Situated in Allapattah, an industrial district of Miami, the 125,000m2 development will see the newbuild centre sat atop elevated columns above a series of warehouses. The existing warehouses will in turn house new facilities including restaurants, retail venues and a school, whilst the areas between these structures are set to be transformed into public spaces and landscaped gardens.

The four structures present in initial renderings will form the perimeter of the site, with each housing a different offer – one for offices, two for residences and the last for the hotel portion of the development. Rooftops will double as outdoor spaces, suggesting that

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W SYDNEY

W Hotels Worldwide has announced its re-entry to Sydney with a 593-key hotel designed by Hassel, due to open in 2020.

property will be a game-changer for Sydney and an absolute market leader when it comes to luxury hotels in the city.”

Part of The Ribbon development set to transform the city’s skyline and Central Business District, W Sydney will sit alongside new residences, an IMAX theatre, 10,000m2 of public space and 1,799m2 of retail space. The hotel marks the third W in Australia, alongside 2018’s W Brisbane and the forthcoming W Melbourne, also slated to open in 2020.

“Sydney – with its glamorous energy, cultural diversity and statement architecture – is the perfect match for W Hotels,” adds Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide.

“Wherever my travels take me, I am asked again and again when W is returning to Sydney, and I am thrilled to finally be able to answer the question.”

Built and developed by Grocon and funded by Greaton Group, W Sydney will feature a mix of guestrooms, suites and serviced apartments, as well as a restaurant, two bars and signature elements including the Wet Deck pool terrace and Away Spa. A grand ballroom will provide space for conferences and social occasions, whilst a gym and 925m2 of events space complete the offer.

“The boundary breaking approach to luxury from W Hotels is a worldwide phenomenon, and there is no better city than Sydney to shake off convention and shake up the way it’s always been done,” comments Richard Crawford, Senior Director Hotel Development, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific, Marriott International. “The

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PROJECT: HOUSTON MARRIOTT DESIGNER: CAROLL ADAMS GROUP PURCHASER: LOONEY ASSOCIATES WWW.STUDIO- AT.COM

Kimpton FRANKFURT

InterContinental Hotels Group has revealed Frankfurt as the next location for Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, marking the brand's German debut.

Kimpton Frankfurt can expect Kimpton’s signature bold and playful design, luxury, personalised service and truly local feel.”

Kimpton Frankfurt forms part of the city’s Four Frankfurt development, being led by Groß & Partner. Taking the form of a highrise tower at the heart of the central banking district, the completed development will include office, residential and retail space alongside the hotel element. Designed by UNStudio, the mixed-use project will host 5,000 people for business and residential purposes.

Nikolaus Bieber, Managing Director of Groß & Partner, comments: “With the signing of Kimpton Frankfurt, the Four Frankfurt receives another point of attraction that will enrich and upgrade the downtown area. Kimpton Frankfurt in Junghofstraße will be a special experience, not only for hotel guests enjoying the city skyline but also for local restaurant and bar visitors.”

Set in a listed building on Junghofstrasse in Frankfurt’s city centre, the luxury boutique hotel will comprise 155 guestrooms, fitness facilities meeting space and a host of F&B outlets. Along with signature restaurant there are also plans for a sky bar and dining venue on the roof terrace. The building's classic 1950s lobby will be restored and serve as the main entrance to the hotel.

Kenneth Macpherson, CEO of Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa at IHG, explains: “Being one of Europe’s largest financial hubs, Frankfurt is a key location for us and this signing is a great milestone in Kimpton’s European expansion. Guests staying at

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St. Regis Hotel and Residences at St. George’s BERMUDA

Marriott International has announced that its first St. Regis property in Bermuda will open in 2021.

architectural standpoint, the building, its geometry, function and traditional styling punctuated with modern accents is meant to honour Bermuda, with a harmonious blend of history together with modern luxury fitting for a St. Regis property.”

Comprising three buildings, the hotel is inspired by the Bermudian vernacular and will be woven into the gently sloping site with structures stepping down in height to frame Fort St. Catherine.

Private balconies adorn each guestrooms for tranquil moments of respite, whilst as yet unnamed dining venues will enhance the offer.

“Staying loyal to the character and culture of the places where we design is at the core of who we are as a masterplanning, architecture, and design firm,” Kulig concludes. “This is particularly true in Bermuda, where OBMI has such a long and rich history designing cultural appropriate architectural designs.”

Designed by architecture firm OBM International and developed by Hotelco, the 122-key Achilles Bay hotel will include a spa, casino, swimming pools, 90 condominiums and a Robert Trent Jonesdesigned 18-hole golf course. Set within a UNESCO World Heritage site and nestled between the historic forts of St. Catherine and Albert, the US$120 million project will seek to convey the island’s style of elegant living whilst preserving heritage elements.

“We sought to ensure the property reflected Bermuda’s unique architectural style while adding contemporary elements that further deepen the luxury experience and add value to the overall guest experience,” explains Doug Kulig, CEO, OBMI. “From an

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MEETING

Priya Paul Having ushered India’s hotel industry into the 21st century with pioneering visions of modern hospitality, Priya Paul – Chairperson of The Park Hotels – talks form, function and having fun.

Words: Guy Dittrich | Photography: © Shamanth Patil J (Unless stated otherwise)

I

t is shortly after my interview with Priya Paul, and there’s a knock at the door, behind which waits a courier and the delivery of a heavy parcel. Inside is a gold box printed with the words ‘ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY’, and within that a beautiful black linen-covered case, holding a glossy book celebrating fifty years of The Park Hotels. It’s a statement piece with extracts from Living – The Park Hotels’ magazine – and tells of bold invention, change, risk-taking and fun. It is the proud reflection of an owner who has driven the business, with precise acumen, determination, charm and humour, to become a globally relevant collection of design-led hotels. And it was in recognition of this monumental achievement that Paul received the Outstanding Contribution Award at the 2018 AHEAD Asia ceremony in Singapore.

We meet in the lobby of Plaza Athénée in Paris, just a short walk from her sister’s apartment where she is staying. Looking fresh and elegant, she greets me with a warm smile. I first met Paul in London around the turn of the millennium to discuss her needs with Design Hotels, of which six The Park Hotels are long-term members. She had struck me as a very charming and intelligent woman – demanding but a listener. This has not changed. Claus Sendlinger, who oversees Design Hotels, confirms this: “Priya is extremely smart. Funny, with a great sense of humour.”

The eldest of three children, Paul knew from the age of 10 that she wanted to work in the family business. The Park Hotels was founded in 1967 with the opening of The Park Kolkata, the name of the group drawn from the Park Street address of this first property. “Growing up in Kolkata, I’ve known our first hotel since I was born,” she explains. The hotels are today part of an Apeejay Surrendra Group which also includes significant interests in shipping, tea and real estate. The hotel side of the business now comprises seven The Park Hotels, eight mid-range properties branded Zone by The Park Hotels, and the newly launched The Park Collection, a cluster of smaller heritage properties.

Paul went to the women’s liberal arts school, Wellesley College, Massachusetts, whose alumni include Madeleine Albright and Hillary Clinton. “It was very unusual for Indian girls to study abroad at that time but my father didn’t differentiate between son and daughter,” she remembers.

Wellesley offered some flexibility in its initial classes, and so Paul meandered amongst a variety of subjects before ultimately settling on her economics major.

After graduating, she started working in the New Delhi hotel under the tutelage of her father. “He would spend with me one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening, every day. I was doing everything from sales calls to selling pastries. Things were terrible

“I did not go to hotel school, so I was able to question the status quo. Why can’t things be different?”

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Above: The adults-only Park River Baga Goa combines boutique sensibilites with a programme of local art

when I joined. Occupancy was only eight rooms of 149. Those were hard lessons in how to build a business,” she recalls. In contrast, the group’s year-round average occupancy now hovers around 95%.

By 1990 she was acting General Manager of the New Delhi hotel, then in its third year, when her father died. “I knew how the hotels worked so I was put in charge of all three. My father had just started the renovation of Kolkata so I took that in hand,” Paul continues before breaking off to chat amiably with our waitress in French – she spent some time studying in Paris.

The early nineties were a time of economic liberalisation and growth for India, and the successful transformation of The Park Kolkata was the starting point for the group’s repositioning. “By that stage I had seen what Schrager had done at The Royalton, and that was very influential. I did not go to hotel school, so I was able to question the status quo. Why can’t things be different? We came up with these products that were fun and relaxed,” she explains.

Western? “Yes, contemporary. Launches were a lot of fun, with music and bands. Direct marketing was cheeky. We shook up the market.”

She pauses a moment before offering: “Hotels are very much a product of their leader, so a lot of my own passions and interests are translated into the projects.” These passions range far and wide, with Paul initially selecting the music, before eventually handing over to her DJs. She still co-creates with her chefs, and has a keen interest in

art. “I’ve always had a creative side,” she muses. “Going to art shows and buying paintings for the hotels with my father. I did fine art when I was younger and understand Indian arts and crafts.”

The art interventions throughout her portfolio are numerous, and often form the roots of each property’s design story. At Kolkata, chakra colours are seen in different areas of the hotel. In Delhi the elements of fire, water, earth and air colour the scheme, whilst Bangalore features the shades of India’s landscapes. The colour palettes are vivid and resonate well with her local audience. “I think India is about colour and spice. It is very important to our identity,” she observes. Mid-conversation, images come through to her phone of a work in progress in Bombay. “Is that orange?” she asks. “I don’t remember ordering an orange rooftop pool!”

The analogous use of colour is complemented by locally commissioned art, which further guide the hotels. “As a guest I like some idea of the place I’m in, so we work with designers to develop a story. Something local interpreted in a contemporary way,” she elaborates. The managed hotel in Indore, which is only one of two owned by another party, has a subtle rose palette reflecting the horticulture and perfume production of the region, whilst in Chennai, the heart of Indian cinema, interiors by HBA Los Angeles are arranged in the style of film sets, with posters and memorabilia signalling the site’s former life as a Bollywood studio.

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Above: Zone by The Park Raipur is part of a collection of mid-price offers in fast-growing secondary and tertiary Indian cities

Whilst her home country plays a prominent role in the design direction of her projects, so too do it’s people, an element of the brand highlighted by Paul’s focus on community. “We should be looking after our neighbourhood,” she says in reference to a co-operation agreement with the Delhi government to light Jantar Mantar, a collection of architectural astronomy instruments dating to 1724, situated adjacent to the hotel.

Training programmes are run in all properties, whilst The Park Hotels Navi Mumbai has a school attached – the Apeejay Institute of Hospitality – which runs a public degree course. “Another good way for us to give back,” she notes.

Paul’s palpable energy is apparent as we dive into design. “Good design for me is a bit of form, a bit of function and a bit of fun,” she offers, before continuing “and thought provoking.” When I mention concerns over property maintenance, she nods, adding, “I have high design ideals, but I have to be realistic and recognise the returns I can get in India.” Such aspirations can overshadow the practicalities of working in India’s unforgiving climate. Paul contends that she doesn’t make things easy, as there is little replication in design. “You don’t

know whether things will work unless you try them,” she argues.

And to her credit, this is exactly what she does. “I need designers who can take risks with me,” she states. Her first appointment of Conran + Partners at The Park Bangalore was based purely on the studio’s work in the London restaurant scene. They had done little hotel work at that time. Subsequently the firm has worked on several of the group’s hotels, as has Project Orange. There’s a theme of loyalty and renewal here. And it is not just with overseas designers that she works.

The Park Visakhapatnam features a new tower created by Sandeep Khosla Associates. Product designer Gunjan Gupta of Wrap Studio designed the interiors of the A2 restaurant at The Park Chennai, chosen for her fresh perspective and approach, and at The Park Hyderabad – with 270 guestrooms marking the group’s largest property – over 25 local designers were enlisted.

“I try to involve many different voices, especially on the design side. I like teams, and to participate.” But Paul also acknowledges her strength, stating: “I am not afraid to make bold decisions.” An attribute confirmed by James Soane, Director of Project Orange, who describes the times they had to agree to disagree: “This is not design

“I try to involve many different voices, especially on the design side. I like teams, and to participate.”

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Above: One of the city’s first boutique hotels, The Park Bangalore features a poolside bar and lounge

by committee, and there is very little backtracking, as she remembers her decisions.

Priya is the only hotelier client who knows all the details.”

Soane helped Paul develop a new brand, Zone by The Park Hotels, which allows for expansion into fast-growing secondary and tertiary Indian cities with a mid-price offer focused on an aspirational audience. This brand has the essence of The Park Hotels but is a kit of common elements arranged differently at each location.

The first eight hotels opened in just three years and there are 15 more under development.

The group has since taken a more boutique direction with the launch of The Park Collection, a series of independent managed hotels. “This allows us to do some interesting projects that are quicker to market,” Paul explains of these 20-40-key heritage properties in fascinating places. The first two are in Goa – The Park Calangute and The Park Baga River, both with 28 rooms. Recently opened is The Denmark Tavern, the oldest hotel in India, in Serampore, West Bengal.

The refurnished building has a bakery and café, courtyards and six high-ceilinged suites managed under an operational agreement with the local government. “All I am missing is a mountain experience,”

she muses, though something tells me it won’t be long before such a venture is in the works.

Of the future, Paul believes that hospitality is a young person’s business, with a constant need for reinvention. As for her legacy, she pauses for almost the first time to draw breath whilst thinking. “What is my legacy?” she considers this question momentarily, discounting any grandiose idea of room count or portfolio size, before settling on: “I would like people to enjoy what we have created. For all of us at The Park Hotels, creativity is in our DNA. Design is not just designing spaces that are creative and thought provoking; it’s also about designing anything but ordinary experiences for our guests.”

Paul has won countless awards for entrepreneurship and services to industry; she is the trustee or chair of numerous boards and councils, but crucially she has introduced a new standard for hotels in India.

From the black book inside the gold box, an extract of the foreword by Paul reads, “creativity and innovation are ingrained in our DNA, for our guests this means being continuously delighted by luxury hospitality which is Anything But Ordinary.” Worthy words from a truly extraordinary woman.

“I would like people to enjoy what we have created. For all of us at The Park Hotels, creativity is in our DNA.”

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© THG Paris

Bath & Art de vivre

Les Ondes collection Gilles & Boissier Monceau bath Studio THG Paris

www.thg-paris.com

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Modern Classics BA N YA N TR E E H OTE L S & R E SO R T S

With seven properties opening this year, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts is set for buoyant expansion, its 50-strong portfolio projected to rise to 80 by 2021.

Words: Neena Dhillon

Iconic architecture, sweeping landscapes and interiors that respond to local context have established Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts as one of Asia’s most recognisable luxury groups. This hasn’t been achieved by following the crowd, rather by tapping into lifestyle and cultural legacies in both familiar and lesser-known destinations. “We’ve never been trend-driven,” states Dharmali Kusumadi.

“That’s why resorts such as Banyan Tree Phuket have become classics.”

Dharmali Kusumadi Senior Vice President, Projects & Business Development – Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts Based in Singapore, where he heads the group’s design and architectural arm, Dharmali Kusumadi oversees regional offices in Bangkok, Shanghai and Mexico as well as business development activities worldwide.

From Indonesia, he joined the company in 1991 and has since been involved in creating the award-winning design philosophy of Banyan Tree and Angsana hotels. More recently, he has had a hand in the group’s newest brands: Cassia, bridging the gap between hotel and apartment living; and Dhawa, aimed at the casual and contemporary mid-market.

Making an Impression Banyan Tree’s flagship brand encapsulates the romance of travel, with sanctuary and authenticity positioned as cornerstones of the experience. For Kusumadi, the trick is to ensure new locations are translating these ideas into their design DNA through informal brand guidelines, as he explains: “In a guestroom, the bed is like an altar so we’ll orientate it towards an incredible view. When there’s not one available, it’s our job to inject some romance.

For example, pool villas in Phuket feature glass-enclosed guestrooms surrounded by water.” One of the newest Banyan Trees is found in Kuala Lumpur’s Pavilion complex. Exclusive and tranquil with just 55 keys, the property’s generous bedrooms are equipped with picture windows, the majority facing out to the Petronas Towers.

The same principle applies to bathrooms: “We don’t specify sizes of the room or the bathtub – this is site-driven – but we do ensure there are separate his-and-hers vanities, wardrobes and occasionally WCs,” notes Kusumadi. “In Kuala Lumpur, there are sexy freestanding and sunken tubs that maximise views. Bedrooms become more than places to sleep, and bathrooms deliver something beyond privacy and convenience.”

Just as integral to the guest experience is a sense of arrival. China’s ancient city of Lijiang is framed by the Snow Mountain range, towards which the Banyan Tree

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lobby faces, eliciting a ‘wow’ moment. In fact, the project team has calculated equations to ensure each villa has a sightline towards the landmark. A second consideration is that the peak disappears into cloud for four months annually, so another focal point is essential. Kusumadi says: “Our hero image is the arrival pagoda and internal courtyard, elements we can consciously plan for while creating the requisite drama.”

Local Context “It’s popular for hotel brands to talk about sense of place but this has been our concern from the outset,” reflects Kusumadi. “It’s not always easy to implement, particularly when you have up to six properties in the same province.”

Expansion in China has called for research into different tribes, allowing the operator to carve a distinct identity for multiple resorts in Yunnan. Whether Naxi or Dai is the springboard for inspiration, colours, symbols and fabrics associated with the tribes are interpreted into interiors.

New opening Banyan Tree Anji, meanwhile, plays with the shape and form of bamboo, its interiors reflecting the external landscape, while tea culture forms another reference point. Local context can be dug from a variety of sources but whatever the choice, it must then equally inform artwork.

Tapping into the independent spirit of the group’s Cassia brand, both Phuket and Bintan properties have turned their walls into a feature of the destination, with street artists reflecting local culture in the public spaces.

“Artists Rukkit and TikkyWow have their own followings among millennials, so by having them illustrate cultural aspects of southern Thailand, Phuket’s hotel lobby has

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been featured in selfies from day one,” Kusumadi notes.

Banyan Tree uses art as a tool to carve a sense of place across its brands, partnering with local universities and schools to unearth emerging talent. Briefs are also provided to consultants to ensure that art is reflective of the best local media, whether that be black ink painting in China or lacquer in Vietnam.

Architecture requires more flexibility, since local forms don’t always scale up successfully to the size of Banyan Tree and more so Angsana resorts, which can have up to 500 keys. But by picking up on architectural facets of the vernacular, Kusumadi’s team has evolved distinctive resorts to be at-one with the surroundings. Ever practical, he adds that in locations such as the Maldives, devoid of their own original language, the group has employed a tropical style responsive to climatic conditions.

Land Ahoy Never deterred by land deemed too risky by others, Banyan Tree has created integrated resorts in areas that have taken on renewed tourism appeal. It started in the early 1990s with Phuket, where acid-soaked ground from a disused tin mine was rehabilitated through

reforestation, breathing new life into the lagoon-studded landscape. Since then, hectares of land accessible by sea or covered in unruly vegetation have been acquired in Vietnam and Bintan, both now home to at least two of the group’s branded resorts. Other parcels such as Huangshan or the Seychelles hold promise for further development through the addition of a second hotel. “We’re happy to open sister properties on the same site, because we can cater to two different markets with one operational team,” Kusumadi explains.

Considerations for land acquisition include factors such as distance to airports, plot size and potential. Guests of Banyan Tree Lang Co benefit from a near-private oceanfront, unusual in Vietnam where all beaches are public, since the bay can be accessed only by boat.

the sequence, hand over to a project team, and then step in once more for the postoperational side of things,” he confirms.

Presented in the past with incredibly creative concepts, Kusumadi has at times sent firms back to the drawing board: “You’ll say, look that’s really nice, but who are we catering for in this hotel?” he recalls with a smile. “There’s no point having a gorgeous open-plan bathroom if the property is going to be visited by Chinese tour groups, in which case it’s common for strangers to share rooms.”

While Kusumadi’s team comprises architects, designers and engineers, such is the evolving scope of its responsibilities that it is content to jointly develop design with firms who understand fundamentals such as back-of-house. Knowledge of building regulations and construction methods, brought to the table by local studios, is integral to the successful execution of projects.

The team also works to ensure that properties under the Banyan Tree umbrella keep up with market expectations, whether that’s including wedding pavilions, future-proofing rooms for new technology, or making the most of engineered building materials new to the industry.

“We’ve never been trend-driven. That’s why resorts such as Banyan Tree Phuket have become classics.”

Briefing in Partners As the operator has grown, its business model has expanded to include its own ownership interests as well as management of resorts, hotels and residences. Kusumadi leads a 60-strong in-house team who partner regularly with interior design and architecture firms. “We’re involved in conception and briefs at the beginning of

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Sense and Sustainability By carefully preserving or uncovering the potential of sites in Asia, the operator has established a reputation for its ecological sensitivity. Nature is considered an asset, so taking care of trees, coral and landscapes is part of the business model.

For its own sake, though, sustainability doesn’t take precedence over guest comfort. “The rainshower gets ever bigger, which doesn’t conserve water, but we offset usage by recycling the resource for irrigation or the flushing of toilets,” explains Kusumadi. “In other instances, we’ve chanced upon sustainable solutions – take the Maldives, where we realised the best way to achieve low-impact construction was through a partial pre-fabrication method.”

the addition of balconies and reorientation of the pool deck to become sea-facing.

Rather than rely on a cliché of blue and white, the accent colour is green to reflect Corfu’s hills. Austria is another European addition, with Angsana Grossgmain landing in Salzburg by 2021. Despite some thinking of Banyan Tree as an inherently Asian concern, new properties reflect their sense of place while transplanting the group’s culture. “Our owner in Austria wanted a typical Asian spa, but by borrowing subtle features such as the play of light from lanterns in corridors, you can create an atmosphere without something as obvious as a Buddha painted on a door,” concludes Kusumadi. “In Austria, we have dug deeper than Mozart for design inspiration, unearthing a Celtic spiral symbol that originated there – yet isn’t unfamiliar to Asian culture either.”

There are plans afoot for a flagship launch in Columbia and, further ahead, the operator is looking at Switzerland and Madagascar with interest. The intention is a global reach. Perhaps, fittingly though, it is worth concluding with a mention of Banyan Tree’s forthcoming resort in Singapore, slated for 2023, a site that gives the group its first-ever presence on home turf.

We’re happy to open sister properties on the same site because we can cater to two different markets but with one operational team.”

Home and Beyond With 10 destinations in the pipeline apiece for the Banyan Tree and Angsana brands, plus the ramp-up of Dhawa, the operator has its hands full over the next three years. Growth comes from China as well as non-Asian regions. The first property of 2019 is set to be Angsana Corfu, a conversion of an existing hotel that has required

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28/03/2018 14:38

Exactly Like Nothing Else AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION

Marriott International’s fastest-growing soft brand continues its upward trajectory with the launch of three new independently-minded hotels along California’s Golden Coast.

Words: Catherine Martin

Autograph Collection launched in 2010 and is one of Marriott International’s three soft brands.

It comprises upper upscale and luxury, independent hotels in major cities worldwide.

As of Q2 2018, the brand has 153 hotels open, accounting for 32,876 rooms, and 77 properties in the pipeline, bringing a further 12,146 rooms to market.

Autograph Collection average performance as of December 2017 Occupancy 75.4% ADR US$211.21 RevPAR US$159.27

Since its launch in 2010, Autograph Collection has celebrated individuality, bringing one-of-a-kind hotels to guests seeking a stay with a story. With a tagline of ‘Exactly Like Nothing Else’, properties in the portfolio are selected for their rich character, stand-out design and experiential offer. There’s no cookie-cutter approach or rigid set of brand standards to adhere to, rather hotels are independent, maintaining their own name, logo and identity while benefitting from the booking engine of the world’s largest hotel group.

RISE OF THE SOFT BRAND Autograph Collection is one of three soft brands from Marriott International, the others being Design Hotels and Tribute Portfolio, both inherited as part of the merger with Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Soft brands in general are growing at an alarming rate, with all the major players now offering independently-minded hotels in a bid to cater to an increasing desire for experiential hospitality. Hilton Worldwide has Tapestry Collection and Curio, Hyatt has The Unbound Collection, and in 2017 Wyndham Hotel Group launched The Trademark Hotel Collection.

Marriott is arguably one of the trailblazers however, having recognised early on that guest preferences were evolving. Speaking to Fox News shortly after the launch of Autograph Collection, Arne Sorenson, President and CEO, Marriott International, said: “We think there’s a group of traveller that we don’t have today and they’re probably attracted more towards independent hotels than to branded hotels. People travel for different reasons and stay at different places at different times, but we think we can capture a customer that we don’t get much of today.”

This belief has served Marriott well over the past eight years, with key performance indicators for yearend 2017 showing average occupancy of 75.4% and RevPAR of US$159.27. The group has also announced

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plans to grow its three collection brands by nearly 50% by 2019. “Marriott is now able to offer more choices than ever, especially for owners and guests who prefer an independent hotel experience,” Sorenson said at the time.

“We doubled our portfolio of independent hotels with the acquisition of Starwood and significantly increased our global footprint. The growth projected for the next few years underscores the demand Marriott is seeing for more customised, local experiences.”

Despite it’s inability to roll-out in the typical way, Autograph is one of Marriott’s fastest growing full-service brands, expanding from a base of five hotels in 2010, to – at the last count – a portfolio of 153 properties open with a further 77 in the pipeline. The reach is global, with members including The Stones Hotel in Legian Bali, Pier One at Sydney Harbour and Habtoor Grand Resort in Dubai along with European properties such as The University Arms in Cambridge, Cotton House Hotel in Barcelona and Domes of Elounda in Crete. The bulk of the portfolio is in North America however, where the likes of Hotel EMC2 in Chicago, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and The Lexington Hotel in New York contribute to a 20,000-strong key count across the continent.

The state of Florida has the highest concentration of Autograph Collection hotels, while California has been something of a breeding ground for the brand of late, seeing the addition of three new properties this year alone. The new supply – Lido House in Newport Beach, Westdrift in Manhattan Beach and Hotel Republic in San Diego – isn’t so much of a deliberate push in the state, but more opportunistic, and coincidental that all three should debut within months of one another. Dotted along

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California’s Golden Coast, the new additions are a great showcase for Autograph Collection, and earlier this year, Sleeper joined Marriott on a road trip to experience the brand first-hand.

THE HUMAN TOUCH Autograph Collection has had strong interest from the franchise community since its launch, and the passion of the owner is at the heart of each individual property. This is particularly true at Lido House, where Robert Olson, founder of R.D. Olson Development, was personally involved in every aspect of bringing to hotel to life. The self-made entrepreneur has worked with Marriott for decades, having developed a number of properties for the Courtyard and Residence Inn brands across California and beyond. But Lido House is different.

Located in Newport Beach, a seaside city in Orange County, the newbuild hotel is set on the site of the former city hall, close to retail and dining hub Lido Marina Village. It’s also a short boat ride away from Olson’s house. For Olson, affectionately known as Bob, the new venture is the most rewarding hotel he’s ever developed, its look and feel very much a personal reflection of the

Above & Opposite: At Lido House, The Mayor’s Table honours the site’s city hall roots, while five individually designed cottages follow a coastal theme

man himself. “Lido House is a place that has been fully inspired by its surroundings, reminiscent of my own home on Balboa Island,” he says. “This is a passion project in every sense of the word; Lido House is a place where the very best of Newport Beach comes together in one sophisticated celebration.”

Living so close, Olson felt he had a responsibility to make the hotel a place for the community as much as for visitors. As such, the grand opening party was a local affair, with Newport Beach residents top of the guest list, and musical entertainment provided

by Aloe Blacc, an internationally-known singer who grew up in Orange County. The celebration was clearly a proud moment for Olson, one that saw him personally seeing to the needs of hotel guests as well as rubbing shoulders with locals.

style venues suitable for product launches or trade shows. It’s not typically what you would expect to find in a Marriott property, but such facilities were an important addition to meet the needs of the surrounding community – home to creative commerce companies such as Skechers, as well as MBS Media Campus, the studio where James Cameron’s Avatar sequels are being filmed. “With the opening of Westdrift, Manhattan Beach finally earns a new hotel worthy of its sophisticated surroundings,” says General Manager Stephanie Bauer. “The spirit of the Autograph Collection brand reflects a true sense of place, and the mashup of Manhattan Beach between business and beach proves an exciting, enviable muse.”

At Hotel Republic in San Diego, the local connection comes in the form of the F&B programme. Located in the heart of downtown’s civic district, the 258-key property has partnered with San Diegobased hospitality firm The Patio Group to create three distinct dining venues: Topside Terrace Kitchen & Bar, a rooftop bar and lounge; Trade, a chic cocktail bar and restaurant; and Patio Marketplace, a quick-service casual, streetside café. The Patio Group operates a number of restaurants and private dining events spaces across the city, each with its own identity yet guided by the same culinary values of sourcing sustainable, seasonal, quality ingredients and cooking them with care. It is this philosophy that the group brings to Hotel Republic. The three venues are overseen

THE LOCAL CONNECTION A connection with the surrounding community is also at the heart of Westdrift, a little further up the coast in Manhattan Beach.

Named after the westerly winds that famously swept sand across the Manhattan Beach boardwalk, Westdrift features 393 coastalinfused guestrooms as well as leisure facilities such as a gym, outdoor swimming pool and 9-hole golf course. It also has an entire floor – spanning 35,000ft 2 – dedicated to events spaces, with 18 meeting rooms, a ballroom, garden terrace and three industrial-

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Above: The lobby at Westdrift is inspired by Manhattan Beach Pier, with towering columns that reference the time-worn supports beneath the local landmark

by Executive Chef JC Colón, who has worked with several of San Diego’s top hospitality groups. When he’s not in the kitchen dreaming up new flavour combinations, Colón can be found out front, picking produce from the farmers’ market truck that stops by daily. The nearby farms that supply the hotel are listed on the menu, further enhancing the local connection and helping to create a hotel with a sense of place.

property, the firm’s President and CEO Jennifer Johanson revealed that the design was based on the fictitious tale of a fisherman who brought the heritage of the East Coast to Newport. It is a refined celebration of Southern California’s coastal lifestyle, with public spaces extending outside for an indoor-outdoor feel.

Johanson worked closely with Olsen, who had a clear vision of how the hotel should look and feel. “It was very much his dream that the hotel reflect his personal home,” she explains, adding that the team took countless trips to Olsen’s house for inspiration. “There are a lot of similarities between the two. The wainscot is exactly the same height, the paint colours are from his house, the vaulted ceiling of the private dining room is of the same proportions, and there’s a rug that is literally from his house, he had someone bring it over,” she continues. “It’s an extension of Bob’s living room; it’s very personal.”

Lido House has three distinct F&B venues, its signature restaurant being The Mayor’s Table. Honouring the site’s city hall roots, the scheme takes on a more masculine style with the use of dark woods, steel and glass along with industrial light fittings. There are plenty of nautical touches however, with trinkets such as model boats and mermaids dressing the shelves. The hotel’s crowning glory is Topside, a rooftop bar that overlooks the hotel’s lawn and pool, and out to the harbour beyond. It’s the ultimate spot for a post-

STORIES THROUGH DESIGN Reflection of place and mark of craft – signature moments and experiences unique to each property – are core pillars of the Autograph Collection, coming together to create hotels with personality. The third, and arguably most important, is design.

While Lido House, Westdrift and Hotel Republic share the same coastline, the design of each is markedly different. Lido House has been designed by WATG; its scheme inspired by the quaint cottages of Cape Cod. The architectural character is defined as ‘Newport Beach nautical’ – a West Coast interpretation of the East Coast Cape Cod style – with brick, shingle siding and shuttered windows accompanying a rooftop turret, the silhouette of which forms the hotel’s brand identity.

The look continues through to the interiors, designed by California-based studio EDG. Joining Sleeper for a tour of the

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R E D E F I N I N G C O N T R A C T I N T E R I O R S PA C E S S T Y L E L I B R A R Y C O N T R A C T. C O M

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Above: Hotel Republic in San Diego features an urban coastal palette with natural woods and neutral tones

beach soirée, with open fire pits, festoon lighting and a cosy VIP snug within the turret.

Guestrooms are designed to represent a ship’s cabin – albeit more spacious – with millwork framing the bed and TV, and a palette of navy and brass. For longer-stay guests, Lido House has five residential-style cottages, each the creation of a different local designer and boasting it’s own private entrance, rooftop patio and 1,300ft 2 of living space.

EDG was also responsible for the interior design scheme at Westdrift, a former Marriott hotel that was in desperate need of a refurb. The scheme here takes on elements of the east coast too – Manhattan Beach was founded by a New Yorker – but has a very different vibe to Lido House. “It was a great opportunity to be able to design two Autograph Collection hotels at the same time,” says Johanson. “Both are considered coastal themes, but Newport has a very different feel to Manhattan Beach, so we wanted the hotels to have a totally different feel.”

The lobby design is based on Manhattan Beach Pier, with a custom-made driftwood check-in desk framed by towering columns that reference the time-worn supports beneath the local landmark.

The columns feature leather and metal accents to represent water staining while wood and mesh screens reference the nets of local fishermen. The restaurant, Jute Coastal Bar + Kitchen is named

after the raw fibre often used to make rope, with its design scheme featuring woven chairs and string flags. Large-scale water paintings

by Sausalito photorealist Eric Zener line the walls of the lobby, a smaller version of which can be seen in the guestrooms alongside a sun-washed palette, natural textures and splashes of blue.

At San Diego’s Hotel Republic, converted from a W Hotel by ownership group RP SCS WSD Hotel, the design story is more energetic, in line with the district’s new lease of life as a social and business hub. San Diego-based Bluemotif Architecture and Los Angeles interior design studio Forchielli Glynn took cues from downtown’s urban coastal palette to furnish the property, employing neutral tones, natural leathers and coffee tables fabricated from reclaimed solid elm beneath driftwood chandeliers hanging over the lobby.

The openings of Lido House, Westdrift and Hotel Republic mark a significant milestone in the expansion of Autograph Collection in California. That three hotels along the same stretch of coast have such different stories to tell is a credit to the design teams involved. And there’s more to come from the brand, as it’s revealed the state will welcome six more Autograph Collection members in the coming years. While the locations and design concepts are yet to be announced, one thing’s for certain; each will remain true to the brand promise of delivering an experience exactly like nothing else.

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Bikini Island & Mountain Hotel PORT DE SÓLLER

The team behind 25hours Hotels set their sights on reinventing the leisure sector, with an affordable yet inspiring concept nestled within Mallorca’s Tramuntana mountains.

Words: Catherine Martin | Photography: Courtesy of Design Hotels

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ome people have a knack for tapping into the zeitgeist, creating concepts – in this case hotels – that resonate with a new generation of traveller. Christoph Hoffmann is one such example, having co-founded the dynamic 25hours Hotels brand that has undoubtedly been a game-changer in lively urban locations across Europe. And now, the hotelier and his trusty team are at it again, this time shaking up the leisure sector with an affordable, lifestyle-oriented brand with personality, expected to rollout in resort destinations in the coming years.

With 25hours Hotels ramping up development following a strategic partnership with AccorHotels – Dusseldorf, Cologne, Paris and Frankfurt will make their debut in 2018 – it’s a wonder the team has time to launch a new brand, but Hoffmann has long had his eye on the leisure sector. “We were always intrigued by creating a new concept in the leisure segment,” he explains. “We believe there’s increasing demand for an affordable yet inspiring product with a relaxed attitude in destinations with heart and soul.”

The inaugural property of Bikini Island & Mountain Hotels opened in Port de Sóller in July, perched above the horseshoe-

Above: In a departure from the local style, the design scheme is characterised by a bohemian aesthetic, inspired by laid-back Balearic living

shaped bay on the northern shores of Mallorca. While Hoffmann is at pains to point out the venture is independent of 25hours Hotels – a move that has enabled it to join Design Hotels, now under the Marriott International umbrella – there are naturally similarities between the two. “We didn’t copy-and-paste but there are common denominators,” he confirms. “There’s a strong focus on public spaces and gastronomy, and a mindful concept that gives the guest the feeling of being part of a tribe. At the same time, we don’t want to appear too serious, so there’s a twinkle in the eye with everything we do.”

Responsible for injecting that twinkle is Executive Partner Christian Zenka, working closely with Armin Fischer of German studio Dreimeta. Having designed 25hours Hotels in Munich, Hamburg and Vienna, Fischer is well-versed on Hoffmann’s penchant for places with character, and at Bikini Island & Mountain Hotel, the brief was no different.

Dreimeta’s remit involved the exterior and interior refurbishment of a Bauhaus-inspired hotel built in the 1970s, which had undergone several renovations over the years. “The building’s exterior has been completely transformed,” says Fischer of the somewhat uninspiring property that once stood. “Pine planks were used to clad the façade, slender steel railings replaced the concrete balustrades, and the rooms were fitted with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors,” he continues.

“These doors were positioned further inwards to create more space on the balconies, providing guests with a private outdoor retreat.”

Guestrooms range in size from 18-32m2 and come in a variety of types, from the entry-level Garden Room with access to a shared terrace, to the Bay Suite with a private balcony large enough for a hammock or daybed. The interior footprint of the bay-facing rooms has intentionally been reduced to make way for a larger balcony – angled to maximise the views – creating an indoor-outdoor feel.

In a departure from the local style, the design scheme is characterised by a bohemian aesthetic, inspired by laid-back Balearic living.

“The leitmotif of Bikini Island & Mountain Hotel is the hedonistic lifestyle of hippies. Their peaceful protests and campaigns for nuclear disarmament were key sources of inspiration,” Fischer explains. “The flower children and all the facets of their artistic creations served as a basis for the design concept,” he continues, adding that the hotel caters to the gypset, while paying homage to its surroundings.

A joyful blend of colour, pattern and natural materials features throughout, with the extensive use of wood seen in the guestrooms; framing the bed, fronting cupboards and wardrobes, and in the form of wicker furniture and rattan lampshades. Many items were produced locally in Mallorca, but there’s touches of hippie from freespirited destinations such as Bali and India, where the team scoured

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Above: In Neni, some 300 brightly coloured ceramic pots overflowing with plants are suspended from macramé hangers

markets for unique finds. Shell chandeliers and multicoloured rugs by Deniz Karyüz support a return to handcrafted pieces, while environmentally-friendly products include I Love Eco Essentials bathroom amenities, and the brightly patterned beach bags printed with eco inks by Spanish brand Wouf – available for complimentary use during a stay or for purchase at the hotel’s own boutique. Other neat features include a movable textile artwork to conceal the TV when not in use, and a series of hooks running the length of the room, from which to hang pool towels or the ‘Life is Better in Bikini’ straw hat. Pillows are emblazoned with the words ‘make love, not war’, while the peace sign is painted boldly on the ceiling. The iconic symbol also makes an appearance in the swimming pool, where

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Above: Pine planks were used to clad the façade while the iconic peace sign makes an appearance in the swimming pool in Bisazza mosaic tiles

artisans spent days laying the floral tribute in Bisazza mosaic tiles.

Flower power is celebrated in the lobby too, with a psychedelic mural depicting a colourful swarm of butterflies, birds, and flowers

by Berlin-based artist Olaf Hajek. And a vinyl room caters to the hippy way of life, encouraging guests to lounge cross-legged on rugs while nodding to the beat of their favourite record.

The hotel’s F&B offer includes Pikkini Bar, a spacious poolside deck on multiple levels, where the aluminium pergola of the previous hotel has been dismantled to make way for more natural sun protection in the form of a slatted wooden canopy and straw shades. Up on the fourth floor, Donkey Bar – decorated with kitsch straw donkeys – is the perfect spot for a sundowner on the terrace. Both concepts have been masterminded by Joerg Meyer, the bartender behind Le Lion in Hamburg, widely recognised as one of the world’s best bars; his Gin-Basil Smash is a must-try.

The restaurant meanwhile comes courtesy of Haya Molcho, whose hugely successful Neni concept can be found in a number of 25hours Hotels. Here, Molcho has combined Balagan home-cooking with

Mediterranean ingredients to bring a new twist to her trademark dishes. Sharing plates include popcorn falafel, sakuska and chicken shawarma, as well as hamshuka – the hotel’s own version of the Neni hummus. The decor is equally impressive and perhaps the design team’s greatest feat. Inside, an open kitchen has been added as a focal point for winter dining, while outside, a formerly enclosed terrace has been opened up to reveal magnificent views of the bay and mountains. A straw-covered pergola brings shade from the heat of the sun, while potted vegetation acts as natural dividers to create intimate hideaways. Above, some 300 brightly coloured ceramic pots overflowing with plants are suspended from macramé hangers in a striking display.

Bikini Island & Mountain Hotel is the type of place that caters to the weekend-breakers as much as the all-inclusive crowd seeking a more authentic experience. It’s early days for the brand, but the industry would be hard pressed to find a comparable offer that has the know-how and financial backing to rollout. With Hoffmann and Zenka at the helm, it’s certainly a compelling offer.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT: 114 guestrooms | 1 restaurant | 2 bars | Private dining room | Swimming pool, fitness terrace, sauna | www.bikini-hotels.com Owner / Developer: Porto Soller Immobilien | Operator: Bikini Island & Mountain Hotels | Architecture: Luis Moranta Sastre; Dreimeta Interior Design: Dreimeta | FF&E: Freiraum

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Famous for their outstanding diversity of pattern, Scottish design duo Timorous Beasties present their third collection with Brintons, Craigend. Named Craigend for not only the road name of the Glasgow Timorous Beasties studio and birth place of the collection, but also inspired by the Old Gaelic word Creag meaning rock.

The collection is inspired by textures and surfaces found on the ground including sand dunes, stone moss and aerial views of landscapes, all reimagined in Brintons special blend of 80% wool and 20% nylon. With Craigend, Timorous Beasties have called upon their fascination with the often brutal beauty of the natural world as well as taking aesthetic inspiration from different crafting methods including paint, ink and fabric.

Suitable for a wide variety of hospitality applications including hotels, casinos, cruise ships and airports, each Timorous Beasties Craigend Collection by Brintons design can be customised and is woven to order in a full range of specifications.

Whichever direction is chosen, Brintons’ highly skilled design team will help to adapt the concept to ensure it matches the creative brief perfectly while complying with all the practical requirements.

W W W. B R I N TO N S . N E T Š Copyright Brintons Carpets Limited 2018. Brintons is a trademark of Brintons Carpets Limited. Timorous Beasties is a trademark of Timorous Beasties Limited.

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The Alex DUBLIN

O’Callaghan Hotel Group enlists 21Spaces to breathe new life into a boutique hotel on Dublin’s Merrion Square.

Words: Ben Thomas | Photography: © Ruth Maria Murphy

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errion Square is often referred to as the heart of Georgian Dublin; renowned for its redbrick houses and famous former residents – from Anglo-Irish novelist Oscar Wilde to poet W.B Yeats. A former industrial area lined with factories and a network of tramways, the historic district has seen a demographic shift of late, with Twitter moving its European headquarters into Cumberland House and fellow tech giants Facebook and Google mooring in the nearby docklands. In response, O’Callaghan Hotel Group has collaborated with Dublin-based interior architecture and design consultancy 21Spaces on a top-to-bottom redesign of The

Alex, one of three adjacent properties it plans to refurbish as part of a €30million renovation of its city portfolio.

Opened in 1997, the former O’Callaghan Alexander Hotel quickly established itself with business travellers due to its close proximity to Pearse Station and the Luas light rail system, yet over the years lost its connection with the cultural and historical past of its surroundings.

Reinterpreting historic influences, particularly from the 1950s, 21Spaces worked with local craftsmen to create bespoke interiors that resonated with the past, while at once reflecting the changing pace of life in the capital.

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Above: The Alex’s dining area has been reconstructed into smaller zones and takes on a more refined aesthetic

“We were tasked with the challenge of refurbishing a hotel, which, although surrounded by sister hotels, needed to have a strong individual identity,” says Jean Delaney, Senior Interior Architect at 21Spaces. “Our brief was to define what this identity would become, and simultaneously accommodate the demographic shift in this area of Dublin. A key part of the process was working with local craftsmen, focusing on integrating Irish design as much as possible as a means of re-linking the hotel back to its surroundings.”

The design process began by moving the hotel’s entrance to the centre of the façade, where guests arrive under a theatre-style lighting canopy, as well as installing a series of floor-to-ceiling windows to flood the ground level with natural daylight. To one side, a library and co-working space responds to an increasing need for hot-desking and features two long tables equipped with in-built sockets and desk lamps from Anglepoise. Fashioned from solid walnut by craftsmen in Belfast, the desks display natural markings and are finished with raw metal legs for an industrial touch.

Tucked beneath, school-style chairs are crafted from walnut, while an adjacent banquette upholstered in Kvadrat’s dark blue-green textured fabric runs alongside. Newspapers hanging from hooks on the wall nod to hotels of old, and small circular steel tables from Danish brand Gubi – inspired by the work of Irish interior designer

Arlene McIntyre – are set against a backdrop of vertical veneer pencil panelling. Finishing the space, character-adding chairs blend light pink seat cushions with electric blue arm rests, while a floor-to-ceiling bookcase runs the length of the lobby with perforated polished steel panels and layers of horizontal LED lights.

“In an effort to generate more of a community feel within the hotel and provide opportunities for people to host informal meetings, we installed long co-working style tables within the lobby area,” Delaney explains. “We also focused on developing different seating and dining arrangements within the ground floor space, helping to cater for more formal gatherings too.”

In the reception area, floor tiles draw inspiration from geometric designs, as do softly coloured triangular stained-glass panels that separate the arrival desk from the adjacent Steam Café. Opposite the counter, characterised by its brass top and walnut base, seating configurations from Stockholm-based Färg & Blanche and bespoke rugs handmade in Dublin by Rugs for Design accompany artworks from Luke Stevenson that reflect Ireland’s natural landscape and wildlife, while a customised ticker-tape sign above the lifts echoes the defunct tramline that once operated next to the hotel, evoking the feeling of waiting on a station platform.

“One of the key drivers behind our design was to get the space to

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Above: Dusty pink walls are employed throughout, while Roberts speakers and rotary dial telephones reinforce a wittingly old-fashioned style

function better as a whole,” adds Delaney. “The original design had lots of dead ends and dark corners. It had poor connectivity with the street, and therefore little presence within the neighbourhood.”

The Alex’s dining area has been restructured into smaller zones and takes on a more refined aesthetic, that of a gentlemen’s club, albeit softer. Combining Mid-Century opulence with industrial elements, the restaurant contrasts dark turquoise and maroon velvet banquettes with soft pink and blue textured fabric seating; the latter finished with details that reference the uniforms traditionally worn by train drivers. Bespoke black lighting tracks and pendant fixtures, specially commissioned from designers in Toronto and Copenhagen, complement dark timbers, pastel tones and brass accents that adorn the bar and silk-upholstered wall panels.

21Spaces completed the ground level reconfiguration by converting the hotel’s original entryway into a fast-moving outlet that serves coffee from local artisan roasters, Cloud Picker. Catering to the local office crowd, Steam Café focuses on natural materials, craftsmanship and a deliberate use of tactile surfaces; its pared back design featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, ash timber clad walls and doors alongside black and steel pendant lighting and fixed tables crafted from recycled milk bottles. In keeping with its curving wall panels, the coffee shop’s service counter combines rounded forms with brass skirting, while a

slim bowed banquette flanks the space and is again upholstered by Kvadrat, this time in moss green – another subtle reference to the Emerald Isle.

“The Alex’s design is focused on taking abstract design cues and establishing a dialogue with the cultural and aesthetic history of this location,” Delaney continues. “Our goal was to marry these sources of inspirations into an artful space that would be both intriguing and inviting. Local influences, from 1950s architecture to tramlines that used to line the streets nearby, informed and inspired the bespoke detailing throughout.”

Continuing the fluidity of the ground level, 105 guestrooms and suites make use of handcrafted walnut wardrobes and leather headboards from O’Donnell Furniture Makers in Cork, bed throws from Foxford Woollen Mill and Jellyfish lamps from Artinox. Dusty pink walls form the backdrop of the scheme, along with pencil panelling replicated in fluted water glasses, while retro Roberts speakers and rotary-dial telephones reinforce a wittingly oldfashioned style. In the bathrooms, showerware from Dornbracht and powder-coated enclosures from Matki are coupled with amenities from fashion designer Paul Costelloe.

John Henry Boyle, founder and Director of 21Spaces, concludes: “The refurbishment of The Alex could not have been better timed.

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Left: Guestrooms make use of leather headboards from O’Donnell Furniture Makers in Cork and bed throws from Foxford Woollen Mill

The demand on a central location and the demographic shift following the relocation nearby of multi-national companies has meant that since the redesign, The Alex has become a busy and lively all-day destination.”

As the first of three collaborative projects for O’Callaghan Hotel Group and 21Spaces, The Alex resonates with the past whilst catering for the 21st century guest, fusing industrial heritage and 1950s design cues with innovative space planning to achieve the playfulness and flexibility desired by the current generation. Up next is the Mont Clare in Dublin and Eliott Hotel in Gibraltar, where the design team hopes to accomplish a similarly authentic result.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT: 122 guestrooms | 1 restaurant | 1 bar | 3 private events and meeting spaces | www.thealexdublin.ie Owner / Operator: O’Callaghan Hotel Group | Interior Design: 21Spaces | Main Contractor: Parson Building Services

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Taking inspiration from one of Lucian Ercolani’s archived designs – the 427 Chair, which was originally launched in 1956, the new VON collection by Hlynur V. Atlason offers a response to this design that is fit for the 21st century.

Reflecting an increasing fluidity between the modern home, workspace and hospitality settings, VON is a part of the evolution of how we see furniture design in the present day.

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White City House LONDON

Soho House has taken design cues from the 1960s heritage of the BBC’s former headquarters at White City for its latest opening.

Words: Matt Turner | Photography: © Simon Brown

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t opened three years earlier than the speech in which he famously coined the phrase, but the Television Centre at White City is a building that could have been forged in the ‘white heat’ Harold Wilson hoped would create a new Britain founded on technological innovation and scientific progress.

As the home of the BBC from 1960 onwards, it was from here that Doctor Who adventured through space and time, Blue Peter presenters buried their first time capsule, and Arthur Dent hitchhiked his way around the galaxy. Its iconic structure, designed by architect Graham Dawbarn in the shape of a question mark, housed the latest

broadcasting equipment and was described at the time as ‘the largest, best and most carefully planned factory of its kind in the world’.

In its central courtyard, a sculpture of Helios, Greek god of the sun, by T.B Huxley-Jones, was erected to symbolise the radiation of TV around the world.

But ironically it was technology, to some degree, that prompted the BBC to announce the planned closure of the building at White City some fifty years after it first opened. By 2010, TV cameras had shrunk considerably in size and it was considered just too big for the Beeb’s needs. Its asbestos-filled architecture was no longer fit for

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Above: Guestrooms feature terrazo-topped tables, mid-century furnishings and fabrics from original BBC supplier Tibor

purpose. Political pressure to reduce the running costs of the BBC meant selling such a large chunk of London land was an opportunity the broadcaster could ill afford to ignore.

Its purchasers, Stanhope Plc., acquired the site in 2012 for £200m, announcing a mixed-use scheme, masterplanned by AHMM and Morris+Company to provide offices, apartments and studios as part of a wider £8bn regeneration of the White City area. At the heart of their plans was an ambition to attract the media and tech industries with a members club and hotel from anchor tenant Soho House which opened in April 2018.

Described as “a sensitive interpretation of the historic BBC Television Centre, paying homage to the history of the building and giving it a new life as a space for creatives to eat, drink meet and relax in the various spaces,” White City House includes two floors of club space, a rooftop pool and bar, cinema, screening room, 24,000ft2 gym, and 45 bedrooms within the building’s original Grade-II listed central ring.

Design Director Linda Boronkay has taken the era when the Television Centre first opened as her cue, with a brief to “imagine you were designing the BBC back then, but now...”

“We watched lots of 1960s TV and movies, but we didnt want to be too literal,” says Boronkay. “The influences aren’t immediately obvious but they should feel familiar.”

A mid-century modern aesthetic pervades throughout. Grade IIlisted elements have been sensitively integrated with a mix of vintage and bespoke furnishings as well as contemporary finishes and details.

The ground floor is open to the public, housing restaurant, lounge and bar The Allis as well as check-in for the hotel and club facilities above. Originating at Soho House Chicago this is the first outing for the Allis concept in the UK. Dark polished plaster walls and paintedout exposed services give the space a studio feel. The ‘atomic dots’ – a famous feature of the original façade, have been replicated on the barfront. A reversed glass artwork, created by Archie Proudfoot in homage to the famous BBC ‘Test Card F’ dominates one wall. In the lifts, circular motifs in the wooden panelling hark back to those seen in the Tardis.

Other subtle nods to the building’s former life include timber fluting as seen in the original BBC reception, and a terrazzo styled resin flooring with embedded brass discs that wraps around the entire main ninth floor club level. Fabrics and upholstery include 1950s graphic designs recreated by fabric house Tibor (who originally supplied textiles to the BBC), and 1960s inspired floral patterns on the sun loungers around the rooftop pool.

Throughout the building the design team have worked with the doughnut-shaped layout. On the ninth floor the bar is set in the middle of the room to maximise the dramatic views over West

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Above: Inspired by the Mad Men era and Palm Springs, the rooftop pool brings an air of Californian modernism to West London

London. Bespoke dividing joinery has been kept low and open, allowing light to filter through the spaces. Back of house bar and kitchen areas have been treated with the same level of detail as the member’s spaces so that they could be left visible through openings in the timber and glazed panel walls. Members-only spaces include a games room with a large Billiards table, and a rug again inspired by the BBC test card design, adjoining a bar with comfortable seating and more brass-inset terrazzo flooring. A glazed terrace filled with foliage leads out from the main bar, further enhancing the connection between indoors and out.

The large open kitchen serves an ‘East-meets-West’ menu, with Asian inspired food, healthy plant-based dishes and Soho House favourites. The space has a small stage for performances which can be curtained off. Artworks honouring TV presenter and artist Tony Hart adorn the walls.

Studio 8 on the eighth floor is a space for member events, featuring a backstage green room, an open kitchen and bar and an outdoor terrace, furnished with Sixties-style lights and furniture, and a patterned resin floor.

The 45 bedrooms, split over the second and third floors of the Grade-II listed Helios building, are accessed via sweeping curved corridors, with signage inspired by the famous italicised capitals of the font that once graced the façade. Each room has George Nelson Bubble lamps, retro-style telephones by Wild & Wolf, mid-century Terrazzo tables and reading lights, fluted timber wardrobes and modernist wooden minibars, with original exposed concrete support beams on the ceilings. The bathrooms have circular patterned tiles inspired by historic BBC designs, and are stocked with the full range of Cowshed products.

The 2,100m2 gym, the largest to-date in the Soho House portfolio, sits in the basement, with fitness equipment, studios and a 17m swimming pool clad in a triangular ceramic tiles, with steam room, sauna and hammam, as well as a juice bar. Despite its subterranean location, large staircase windows feed natural light to the space.

Also located in the basement, Electric Cinema White City has two screens, each with rows of velvet armchairs, footstalls and cashmere blankets. Dark blue 1960s patterned geometric carpets and velvet walls envelop the space.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT: 45 guestrooms | 2 restaurants | 6 bars | Cinema, games room | Gym, swimming pool | www.whitecityhouse.com Owner / Operator: Soho House & Co | Interior Design and Branding: Soho House Design | Art Consultant: Kate Bryan

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Tortue HAMBURG

The distinctive designs of David Chipperfield, Stephen Williams, Kate Hume and Joyce Wang come together in a new hotel anchoring Hamburg’s Stadthöfe development.

Words: Catherine Martin | Photography: Courtesy of Design Hotels (unless otherwise stated)

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ermany is something of a hotbed for Design Hotels, boasting more member properties than any other nation. In terms of new hotel development, the country continues to be one of the most attractive markets in Europe, but with a proportion of the pipeline falling into the often staid corporate sector, it’s little wonder that appetite for independent, design-led properties is on the rise.

With its charming old town, redeveloping waterfront and the striking new Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg is high on the to-visit list for travellers heading to Western Europe. It has also been the subject of significant investment in recent years, with the riverside

Hafen City project said to be the largest inner-city development on the continent. Further inland, spanning the Bleichenfleet canal, a smaller development has been taking shape to revitalise a stretch of townhouses along Stadthausbrücke. The 100,000m2 site – known as Stadthöfe – comprises eight buildings and four courtyards and is being developed by local firm Quantum Immobilien to create a new urban quarter with retail, hospitality, private residences and office space. Amongst the bistros, cafés and boutiques that will eventually breathe new life into the stately ensemble of buildings is Tortue, a 126-key hotel with its own distinct F&B offer.

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Left: Designed by Kate Hume, Bar Bleu is an intimate cocktail lounge in which walls are clad in vivid peacock-blue felt Previous Page: Guestrooms feature wallpaper produced by Little Own Design and luxurious mattresses from Hypnos

The hotel’s namesake – a brass tortoise – marks the entrance to the property, beckoning guests through a vaulted passage that opens up to the Treppenhof courtyard, accessible to the public for the first time in over 100 years. From here, the historic and newbuild structures are indistinguishable, so well do they integrate with one another.

Behind the original brick façade, guestrooms and public spaces wrap around three sides of the courtyard, the heritageprotected elements ably restored by David Chipperfield Architects. Hamburg-based Stephen Williams Associates meanwhile has worked on the project with Quantum since 2008, masterminding the entire architectural scheme and collaborating on the interiors.

The remit also involved the spatial planning of the property, which Williams has cleverly devised as a series of spaces, some of which only reveal themselves on exploration through the hotel. Bar Noir for example, is located in the bowels of the building and has the ambiance of a speakeasy with its leather upholstery, low-level lighting and brass detailing. And hidden behind the lobby is Bar Bleu, an intimate cocktail lounge in which walls are clad in vivid peacock-blue felt. The interiors – here and in the lobby, brasserie and guestrooms – have been designed by Kate

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© Yvonne Schmedemann Fotografie

Hume, who was responsible for the residences at Elbphilharmonie. Hume’s signature eclectic style, classic detailing and bold use of colour is evident throughout, with the lobby and its striking cobalt blue carpet setting the mood.

Guestrooms take on the elegance of nearby Neuer Wall, an upmarket shopping street characterised by its colonnades and Neo-Classical architecture, with high ceilings accentuated by cornicing, and oak parquet lining the floor. “There are three different colour schemes but a consistent design story throughout,” explains Hume. “We intertwined themes of geometry and flowers, particularly in the beautiful custom wallpapers.”

The wallpapers, produced by Little Own Design, range from a pattern of vibrant coral-coloured vines crisscrossing upwards, to a captivating chart of the night sky and its constellations, reminiscent of Schinkel’s set design for The Magic Flute.

“I chose a crisp white, pale blue and charcoal palette, with touches of gold,

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© Yvonne Schmedemann Fotografie

Above: Joyce Wang Studio’s surreal Mirror Room, where overlapping copper rods are reflected by a mirror wall to kaleidoscopic effect

silver and classic marble,” Hume continues, referencing the ebony casegoods and geometric rugs in shades of grey. “Bright red, lilac and cobalt details add a splash of colour,” she notes of the velvet armchairs and signature checkered poufs handmade specially for Tortue. The tortoise also makes an appearance, this time in the porcelain base of the bedside lamps. Additional lighting is finished in brass to bring a warming touch. Bathrooms meanwhile are clean and contemporary, with Kartell by Laufen ceramics, Zuchetti faucets and amenities created by Mark Buxton for La Bottega.

The French brasserie, Tortue’s all-day dining offer, has an altogether different vibe, described by Hume as more masculine, akin to the ageold dining rooms of central Europe. “The colour scheme is racing green, dark timber and charcoal, with classic brass rails, ceiling detail and low-hanging lighting,” she explains. “Booths with privacy curtains are combined with velvet and leather banquettes, or you can sit on a petite Viennese club chair at an intimate table for two.”

Across the courtyard, a second restaurant nods to the kooky tale of a French woman parading these parts with her rare tortoise. Designed

by Joyce Wang Studio, Jin Gui – meaning golden tortoise – is a Tibetan-inspired eatery that takes diners on a multisensory journey.

Ornate screens by the entrance give way to the main dining room, where rich, jewel-coloured upholstery is inspired by Tibetan costume, and bold wallcoverings pay tribute to the Himalayan nation’s indigo dyeing techniques. Wang also collaborated with local graffiti artist Vassili to create a relief portrait in which the imagery has been chiselled into the plaster and brick walls.

Distinctive archways framed in metal create a series of intimate alcoves, leading to a 12-seater private dining room in which a striking chandelier takes centrestage beneath an undulating copper ceiling.

Deeper into the restaurant still is the surreal Mirror Room, where overlapping copper rods are rotated towards a vanishing point and reflected by a mirror wall to mesmerising kaleidoscopic effect.

Completing Tortue’s dynamic F&B offer is the soon-to-open rooftop bar, with views out to the river Elbe. It is the final piece of what is hoped will be a new social hub for Hamburg’s emerging Stadthöfe quarter.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT: 126 guestrooms | 2 restaurants | 3 bars | 3 meeting rooms | Gym | www.tortue.de Owner: Ärzteversorgung Niedersachsen & Sachsen | Developer: Quantum Immobilien | Operator: HGH Hotelgesellschaft | Architecture: David Chipperfield Architects; Stephen Williams Associates | Interior Design: Stephen Williams Associates; Kate Hume; Joyce Wang Studio; Einrichtungshaus Bornhold

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The Chedi LUŠ TI C A BAY

GHM continues its expansion of The Chedi, the latest property opening within a mixed-use development on Montenegro’s Adriatic coast.

Words: Abigail Lowe | Photography: © Predrag Vuckovic (unless otherwise stated)

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ontenegro is having a moment. Not a stamp-your-feet like a toddler mid-rage kind of moment, but rather a monumental coming of age. Slowly, surely, and with increased assuredness, it’s stepping out from the shadow caused by its separation from Serbia in 2006, finally forging its own path. Unsurprisingly, people are taking note. Enticed by stretches of untouched coastline, an array of indescribable blues and the warm hospitality of its people, investors from around the globe are suddenly turning their eye towards this diminutive Balkan nation, General Hotel Management among them.

In fact, such is the resounding confidence in this region that last

month, the group opened an acclaimed Chedi venue there – marking what is only its second European outing.

The Chedi is a key proponent of Luštica Bay, a mixed-use development on the Montenegrin Adriatic coast. At the centre of the staggeringly large project – that in the coming years will become a fully functioning town with restaurants, bars, a school, medical facilities, and housing for locals – the hotel has been designed to attract deep-pocketed, yacht-owning tourists; a shiny jewel in the crown of a project that will benefit both residents and tourists. The five-star resort takes pride of place in the marina and evokes all the

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Above: Guestrooms and public spaces feature furniture from Burgess, SNS Group, Riva 1920 and Bontempi

glitz, glamour and underlying serenity that in the past would be more relatable to the Algarve, or maybe even the south of France.

That’s no surprise from a brand like Chedi, famed purveyors of luxury while remaining standard-bearers for integrated, localised living. The word ‘chedi’ itself refers to a setting where one is able to find peace – and that can be found in abundance at The Chedi Luštica Bay, despite the leaning towards understated opulence. There may be lavish touches simmering beneath the surface, but this is a hotel that’s been designed to fit snugly among the elements, a contemporary re-imagination of Montenegro’s rich and varied heritage.

Its architecture is the vision of TVS Design and draws from the characteristic qualities of the nation’s coastal villages. The collection of buildings are irregular in composition, with materials that convey a sense of old-world construction. Interiors meanwhile have been designed by GG & Grace, an agency specialising in luxury hospitality and high-end commercial projects. “Our brief was to create an atmosphere that ensured guests felt relaxed as soon as they arrived,” explains founder and Creative Director Gauthier Guillaume. “But respecting the natural environment, tradition and history of the country were also at the core of our objectives – we carefully studied local influences and prudently integrated them in subtle ways to the design.” Indeed, there are echoes of the craggy coastline at every touchpoint. Natural wood for the furniture and

partitioning combines with local stone, cerulean soft furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows channelling the kaleidoscopic blues outside to evoke a sense of Montenegrin coastal living.

The lobby, for instance, is awash with seaside references. Fabrics come in shades of sand and fawn with a soft but textured finish, furnishings from brands including SNS Group, Riva 1920 and Bontempi sing with hints of wind-blasted wood, and azure-hued hanging glass installations from Atelier Mel hang languidly above the reception desk, waiting patiently to catch a blast of that quintessential sea breeze. “The Chedi has a harmonious relationship with the landscape and a strong connection to the sea,” adds Guillaume. “The palette was designed so the senses relaxed and drifted off with the coastal surroundings.”

This dreamy, salt-kissed theme spreads throughout the hotel’s 111 guestrooms, of which 60 are condos. Splashes of aquamarine and pastel shades illuminate a predominantly subtle palette in the bedroom, while in the bathroom it’s all granular ceramic tiles, cleanlined, grey-flecked marble and luxurious bathtubs. Suites come with kitchenettes and a seating area, some have balconies overlooking the gently lapping bay below; others, mountain views. They’re marvels of indoor-outdoor living; spaces in which nature is seamlessly reflected in the composition while continuing to paint its own constantly evolving canvas just beyond the window.

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Above: The Spot focuses on Asian cuisine served on an alfresco terrace that spills out onto the bustling promenade

This synchronised relationship between building and environment was mirrored in The Chedi’s construction, which included multiple green methods and energy saving technologies to ensure it – along with all Luštica Bay buildings – would slash the current regional energy consumption by a third. “The hotel was designed to fit as much as possible among existing terrain conditions,” explains Spomenka Sotra, Luštica Bay’s Senior Construction Manager. “But in addition, the hotel’s southern orientation, use of renewable green energy, natural ventilation, centrally maintained waste and sewage, LPG use and LED lighting all help to keep our carbon footprint to a bare minimum.”

An innovative use of outdoor space was also employed. “The site feels inviting,” adds Sotra. “We’ve maximised our use of patios, decks and natural clearings so we need less indoor square footage – and that in turn means you get all the psychological and physical benefits of being outdoors.” That’s true – you certainly feel the essence of this ethos while splashing around in the marina-facing infinity pool, or dining on the one of the hotel’s two light-filled restaurants – The

Restaurant, with its all-day Mediterranean fare, and The Spot, which focuses on Asian cuisine served on an alfresco terrace that spills out onto the bustling promenade.

And there are myriad other ways to slip into the relaxed, Montenegrin way of life. The Lobby Bar, complete with its own fire pit is a great place for a drink before hitting the promenade; the Rock Beach Bar, built on the hotel’s specially-made stretch of beach just a short walk from the hotel, is the perfect spot to cool down in the searing midday heat; and The Chedi Spa offers deeply relaxing treatments in a setting characterised by warm wood and ceramic walls, textured flooring, a gentle colour palette and sleek, sculptural furniture that reflects natural forms and shapes.

It’s rare to see a new hotel development living in such harmony with its surroundings, but at the red-topped Chedi Luštica Bay, the design team has pulled it off with ease, creating a property that serenades guests with the sweet song of Montenegro. The trick here is that it’s slick and luxurious enough to make them stick around, while still hinting quietly at the magic that lies beyond.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT: 111 guestrooms | 2 restaurants | 2 bars | Ballroom, boardroom | Spa, gym, swimming pool | www.chedilusticabay.com Owner / Developer: Besix; Orascom Development Holding | Operator: Luštica Bay; General Hotel Management (GHM) | Architecture: TVS Design Interior Design: GG & Grace | Landscaping: Green Factory

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Villa Suites at Son Brull

on Brull, on the outskirts of Pollensa, is widely recognised as one of Mallorca’s leading boutique hotels. Owned and managed by the Suau family, it is surrounded by more than 30 hectares of land including vineyards and a three-centuries-old olive grove. Its atmosphere is one of almost monastic tranquility and grown up sophistication. So the addition of two new family villas this summer has had to be carefully considered. It’s not so much that children were not welcome previously, but certainly parents would want them to be on their best behaviour, and other guests could be forgiven for hoping that they be seen more than heard.

These new two-bedroom accommodations have thus been located at a discreet distance from the imposing 12th century monastery building that houses the main hotel, primarily to offer privacy and seclusion. Nestled into the surrounding idyllic gardens, they are built from the traditional drystone walling seen throughout the Mallorcan countryside, and blend seamlessly into the landscape. Living roofs camouflage the villas into the vineyards and private gardens. It is a peaceful rural setting for guests looking to disconnect and get back to nature.

Each villa suite spans 100m2 inside, with over 130m2 of surrounding private terrace and gardens in which to relax. Interiors are by Spanish architect Carme Pinós, who was enlisted to build on the work of Ignacio Forteza, co-founder of Mallorcan design practice Forteza

MALLORCA

Spanish architect Carme Pinós has worked with owners the Suau family to complete the addition of two villa suites and a spa at Mallorca’s celebrated Son Brull Hotel.

Words: Matt Turner | Photography: Courtesy of Son Brull

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Paricio, who converted the former monastery to a hotel in 2003. The design follows Son Brull’s signature style, with furnishings of natural wood and textiles in soft colours and textures. Local artwork adorns the walls throughout, including pieces created by a young member of the Suau family.

Each offers two en-suite bedrooms, with the master bedroom featuring a king-sized bed, double bath and rain shower. The second bedroom offers twin beds, which can also be re-arranged into a second king-sized bed, as well as a rainshower. Overall, there is a feeling of light and elegance, of flowing spaces and connection to the outdoors.

A spacious and open living room in each villa features a cosy fireplace, B&O television, Google Chromecast, Nespresso coffee machine, fully-stocked minibar fridge and Wi-Fi. Each also has its own private outdoor lap pool, heated to 24c – a valuable addition for families with young children, as the hotel’s main pool is only available to guests over the age of twelve.

The addition of the new suites is just the latest in a series of additions and enhancements being introduced to the property. Earlier this year, a new spa opened, complete with contemporary design elements in wood and stone.

Facilities include an indoor water circuit pool, jacuzzi, sauna, Hammam and a yoga and meditation room offering complimentary

daily group yoga. Conceptually, the spa is based around the four elements with a particular focus on getting back to nature and reconnecting with the earth. Using dark colours and contemporary furniture, it has a sense of timelessness where guests are grounded in a peaceful silence. Replacing the original spa and larger in size, the new development comprises three treatment rooms, including one for couples, with the scent of local flowers and herbs wafting in from the gardens outside. All overlook the beautiful countryside and hills of northern Mallorca.

Treatments have been developed using products created with the essence of Opuntia Ficus – a species of prickly pear which is as much as feature of the Mallorcan environment as the oranges and lemons which infuse the bathroom amenities.

At the highly acclaimed Restaurant 3/65 and its more casual U-Bistro, chef Rafael Perelló uses the best local and seasonal produce to reinvent authentic Mallorcan cuisine. The farmland surrounding Son Brull cultivates a delicious variety of organic crops including oranges, lemons, figs, almonds, artichokes and tomatoes. Fish is caught that day in the Bay of Pollensa. Salads are picked from the garden. Reinforcing this connection with the local terroir, inside the old monastery’s former olive press from the 19th century is a bar where guests can enjoy the hotel’s signature wine Negre Son Brull, created from grapes grown in its own vineyard.

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Andaz Red Suite at Andaz London Liverpool Street

s the site of his first prominent hotel project – then The Great Eastern Hotel – Andaz London Liverpool Street holds a special place in Sir Terence Conran’s heart. Now operating under a different name – though retaining many of Conran’s aesthetic calling cards from the renovation in 2000 – the property has welcomed its old friend back to design the Andaz Red Suite and highlight the work of Bono and Bobby Shriver’s Red HIV awareness foundation.

Marking the second in a series of Andaz suites by leading designers promoting the charity’s work in Africa – the first being Jonathan Adler’s Andaz West Hollywood Suite – Conran’s design marries a spectrum of red hues with a catalogue of noteworthy details.

Comprising a bedroom, living area and a spacious bathroom kitted out by Laufen, highlights include a Karuselli lounge chair in crimson leather, a bespoke open-face cabinet stocked with souvenirs, a centrepiece sofa in fuchsia, and the custom Unravel carpet designed

by Deidre Dyson. Elsewhere, two suspended halo lights represent the charity’s founders, whilst artwork curated by Dais Contemporary and a smattering of beaming Rankin portraits – depicting those the foundation has helped over the years – punctuate the scheme.

“It has been a dream for me to be involved with the building once again,” Conran explains. “I am proud to have collaborated with the Andaz brand and Red on a suite design that will give guests a great deal of pleasure while doing a great deal of good in the world.”

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Sir Terence Conran returns to his first hotel project twenty years later to create a suite with philanthropic purpose.

Words: Kristofer Thomas | Photography: Courtesy of Andaz

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SHANGHAI In a city of contrasts, newbuild skyscrapers and restored heritage buildings sit side-by-side to form a new wave of luxury hotels.

Words: IJ Miu

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Photo: Courtesy of Bulgari Hotels & Resorts

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Winters. “Shanghai remains the financial centre for China and is therefore hugely aspirational for local leisure travellers and an essential destination for commerce. It’s still early days for The Middle House but as a group we have seen our China [mainland domestic] business grow. Hong Kong started with 15% nine years ago and it is now 30%. Chengdu is 85% domestic, and Beijing has steadily grown from a base of 40% ten years ago.”

Bulgari, The Middle House and Capella all have on-site long-stay residences open or planned, catering to the market of foreign top executives working in Shanghai. This in turn has lead to a rise in attendant industries – everything from import-goods supermarkets to international schools.

The city’s government recently released a 2035 civil and environment action plan, capping permanent residents to 25 million, but increasing the resident foreigners from the current 170,000 to 800,000. It’s also predicting 14 million annual overseas tourists by 2035. According to the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, last year saw 8.7 million overseas arrivals, a figure dwarfed by the number of domestic tourists, which was 318 million.

The rise of the affluent middle classes is a key demographic change that is so attractive to developers and this is fuelling the hotel boom, especially with mixed-use developments of which Capella, The Middle House and Bulgari are all parts.

“As retail has saturated and high-end tenancies are increasingly difficult to secure, office and hotel mixed-use concepts in Puxi CBD are favoured,” notes Winters, referring to the older, western side of the city. “Whilst operating returns to owners may take several years to materialise, the asset appreciation is a more compelling reason to build; however, with occupancy being the developers’ biggest metric of success, this means that ADR is still under-value for the product on offer. The premium hotel market was over-supplied but despite that, there was not anything niche, intimate and luxurious like The Upper House in the city. Since the Expo, the city is unrecognisable as a travel destination and I believe our timing is right to be opening now.”

And looking at Shanghai’s new hotel landscape, he’s clearly not the only one who thinks this.

s China continues to flex its mighty economic muscles on a global stage, Shanghai, the Middle Kingdom’s commercial capital, can also be regarded as the world’s boomtown. A legacy of its hundred-year colonial history is that it has been in a good position to grow into the modern business hub between China, Asia and the rest of the world, and where business leads, tourism follows.

The last big hotel boom was eight years ago ahead of the 2010 World Expo, which provided the catalyst for tourism growth. New players included Park Hyatt, which at the time was the world’s highest hotel in the world’s second tallest building. Fast-forward ten years and the city’s second modern hotel expansion is taking shape. Openings in the last 18 months include W, Bellagio, St. Regis, and Sukhothai, plus Tadao Ando’s Hyatt Regency Shanghai Jiading and The Edition. Further openings this year include the 336-key InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland, an ambitious project that has been built inside a former quarry with 16 floors beneath ground level and two underwater.

However, a ramification of this new supply is in HR, and the ability to find staff at all levels from a local pool of experience much smaller than in the West. But from the international and domestic traveller point of view, as well as the buzz it creates in the city’s F&B scene, this sudden growth in high-end hotel capacity is very exciting indeed.

Recent legislation changes including foreign ownership of Chinesebased companies and a new six-day transit visa on arrival have helped growth too. But the real push isn’t international. The huge rise in high-spending domestic tourism shouldn’t be underestimated; a World Travel & Tourism Council report stated in 2017 that tourism in Shanghai was 86.5% reliant on domestic demand.

Of the four hotels in this report, only The Middle House comes from a company based in Greater China (Swire Hotels) and so has seen the city’s hotel industry transformed at close quarters over the last decade. Dean Winters, its Group Director of Operations, is bullish that the huge increase in rooms across the city, especially at the luxury level, can be sustained long term.

“The affluent middle class is still growing within China and domestic visitor arrivals to the city continues to be strong,” agrees

SHANGHAI IN NUMBERS

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RevPAR (USD)

ADR (USD)

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H1 2018

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8.7%

12.3% Source: STR

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The Middle House SHANGHAI

Featuring a dramatic design scheme by Piero Lissoni, the fourth property in Swire’s House Collective lands in China’s most cosmopolitan city.

Words: IJ Miu | Photography: © Edmon Leong

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hanghai’s current hotel boom continued this spring with the opening of Piero Lissoni’s The Middle House. The two towers it occupies form part of a Swire co-owned development that includes office blocks, a shopping mall, the world’s largest Starbucks and the city’s new Sukhothai hotel. Wong & Ouyang Architects designed the masterplan and footprint of the whole complex, while Lissoni Associati was in full charge of the hotel’s design; there was no competition – Swire commissioning on the strength of his studio’s previous hotel work.

The entrance journey for the hotel is signposted by bamboo planting and two walls of green bamboo-motif tiles along the driveway in front of the building. The hotel’s exterior façade features a series of rounded aluminium louvres, which provide shade and privacy while creating a textured aesthetic that visually distinguishes it from surrounding developments. Looking up at them, the two towers are a little foreboding, clad in dark grey aluminium, a colour that Lissoni remembered from past visits to China and the roof tiles used on old buildings.

Guests arrive at the hotel’s glass box entrance that leads into a green-tiled room dominated by a six-metre-high, 3,760-piece chandelier created by Fabiano Zanchi. The effect is dictionarydefining ‘dramatic’.

“I’m interested in connecting east and west and there are two different worlds at play here in this green room,” Lissoni explains.

“You have the special ceramics on the wall made in China, and then there is this Murano glass chandelier made in Venice. I wanted to represent the honourable connection between west and east, between Venice and China, between glass and ceramics and in a romantic way, Marco Polo was very much in my mind.”

From here, the L-shaped lobby and reception area opens up, decorated in muted tones with an informal collection of large homely sofas, tables and lights, which in design terms allude to the hotel’s tagline of ‘Our House, Your Home’.

Lissoni took inspiration from the city’s rich heritage of craftsmanship and culture, marrying his minimalist style with classical Shanghainese elements. The majority of furniture has been

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This Page: In the public spaces, bespoke furniture designed by Lissoni sits alongside key pieces from Stellar Works

designed by Lissoni and made bespoke for the project, with the exception of a few classic and original Scandinavian designs in guestrooms – chairs and small tables – including some from Saarinen. Other pieces come courtesy of Stellar Works and continue the theme of east-meets-west.

This combining of different design languages is important to Lissoni: “I have been fascinated by the classical, traditional materials from China – we found the best artisans and materials such as the tiles – and then I also redesigned some Chinese furniture with my western eyes. I like to be in China, but at the same time I reinterpret what I see. This level of ‘contamination’ is present in all our projects, and in Shanghai too. I like the idea of cultural contamination because it reflects the way our world has been influenced – in a good way!”

Upstairs, the hotel’s main restaurant, Café

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Left: Short- and long-stay guestrooms feature a wooden screen between the bedroom and living areas with a hexagonal motif that Lissoni refers to as technological bamboo

Gray Deluxe, comes from long-term F&B collaborator Chef Gray Kunz. It’s a handsome space using the same bamboo tiles, this time in black, with Richard Winkworth paintings on the walls and a long sweeping terrace that provides outdoor space.

Guestrooms meanwhile showcase Lissoni’s European eye: full length day-drapes on the windows, dark wood floors with rugs, ceiling pendant lights, floating sofa-benches and glasswalled bathrooms stocked with Claybrook tap- and bathware. These elements are offset with artwork from young Chinese artists, backlit screens, and modern reinterpretations of traditional Chinese furniture including oriental-style nightstands. The thick brocade cord of a master light switch hangs from the ceiling bedside, which is referred to as ‘Mr Goodnight’ and is a practical alternative to the problem of searching around for a small bedside table button.

Across from the hotel is the 14-floor residence building, with 102 short- and long-

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Above: Lissoni’s trademark use of sleek, bold lines and clean silhouettes extends to the spa, housed in the basement

stay apartments. Here the approach is much more low-key. There’s a ground floor Italian restaurant with a front-facing patio rose garden, and once inside the front lobby, the drama of the hotel’s chandelier is replaced by a surprisingly thin, sweeping three-floor staircase.

“Whenever I design something around the world, if I have to connect floors, I love to incorporate staircases – they are my signature,” says Lissoni. Here he’s made use of a self-supporting spiral structure clad on the outside in black metal and on the inside in oak. It’s a perfect complement to the brick walls – thin shikumen grey bricks found in Shanghai’s old lane houses, but assembled here in a modern design.

The residence rooms are similar in tone to the hotel guestrooms, but feel more open and Sino-influenced. This is due to a sliding wood screen between the bedroom and living areas with a hexagonal motif that Lissoni refers to as technological bamboo. He notes: “Being a guest in a hotel is different from being a guest in an aparthotel; here you have to feel much more at home when you open the door. So the layout – the entrance, kitchen, living room and bedroom – is more like a house. I used the same materials, but in a lighter more familiar way; in the hotel they’re used in a more dramatic way.”

The residence building also contains two restaurants: the ground floor Italian, the only interior space not designed by Lissoni – instead done by the F&B team – and a first floor Chinese restaurant with an upstairs lounge.

The spa, gym and pool are housed in the basement of both buildings, connecting them. Here exterior stone materials are used for the internal walls and natural light floods the large plunge pool at one end, while the adjacent 33-metre swimming pool is placed within a much darker set of hues.

“When you’re in Shanghai, you notice that the light during the day is not sensual, instead you get this strange milky light. So I tried to provide some sensuality in the space with candles, lamps and the dark atmosphere. The darkness in my mind is not heavy, rather it’s sophisticated and gives an atmospheric feeling. I’ve used darkness to control the city’s natural light otherwise everything becomes completely flat.”

This acknowledgement and recognition of the quality of the city’s light is indicative to the thought, detail and design Lissoni has imbued into this project.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT: 111 guestrooms | 3 restaurants | 2 bars | 1,114m2 events spaces | Spa, swimming pool | www.themiddlehousehotel.com Owner / Developer: Swire Group | Operator: Swire Hotels | Masterplan: Wong & Ouyang Architects | Architecture and Interior Design: Piero Lissoni

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Capella Jian Ye Li SHANGHAI

Capella Hotel Group takes over an estate of traditional Shikumen lane houses to open the city’s first all-villa urban resort.

Words: IJ Miu | Photography: © Courtesy of Capella Hotel Group

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Shanghai’s Former French Concession is a beautiful architectural remnant of colonialism; a mix of pre-war European-controlled districts that remains a startling counterpoint to the city’s high-rises and modern urban vistas. European town planners and architects brought their own aesthetics for villas, parks, lanes and even trees – the thousands of London planes planted throughout the area give many streets a distinctly Parisian air – and the municipal arrondisement effect is heightened by countless boulangeries and the many French nationals who still live and work in the city.

In amongst these leafy streets is a tranquil estate of traditional lane

houses, which have been meticulously restored as Capella’s all-villa urban resort. Originally overseen by Jaya Ibrahim, the Indonesian designer died in 2015 with the renovation still unfinished, and so the long-running project was amended and finalised by Bangkok-, Shanghai- and Singapore-based Blink Design Group.

“After Jaya passed, we had already come to an understanding about managing his firm style under the Jaya brand, before merging it into Blink,” explains Clint Nagata, Blink’s founder and co-CEO. “He was a good friend of mine and we knew we had to make sure that his legacy was maintained with this project, one of his last hotels. There

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Above: Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire is a long, barn-like space bound by walls of traditional grey Shikumen bricks

are also two others we are working on – The Ritz-Carlton Jiuzhaigou and Jumeirah Thousand Island Lake.”

Built in the 1920s by real estate company Foncière et Immobiliere de Chine for French expatriate workers, the Jian Ye Li estate is a fine red-brick example of the local Shanghainese Shikumen lane houses that still exist in the older parts of the city.

In the 1940s it became a local block, eventually housing up to 1,000 people until earmarked for redevelopment in 2005 as a US$108.6 million mixed-use residential co-venture with Portman Holdings. At one point there was talk of demolishing the buildings, which by then were reduced to a shell, without modern plumbing or proper electricity. However, Kokaistudios was brought in to lead the architectural restoration, renovating and redesigning the lane houses into luxury guest accommodations. After extensive research, the studio developed a strategy that maintained the architectural features while altering the internal layout.

Fast forward to last year and the estate, now operated by Capella, features over 200 two-storey houses turned into guestrooms, residences and public and hotel-use spaces with the street-side storefronts and some lane houses also let out to other businesses – from restaurants to art galleries.

The property’s central courtyard is expertly landscaped with a green wall on one side, ground planting complementing the brick buildings and an old water tower at the far end. Capella’s twin star logo welcomes guests outside the reception building – a relaxed double-height space – and is repeated on the die-cut keycard holders.

Each townhouse – now designated as a villa measuring up to 251m2 – is entered through a large security gate into a small, high-walled courtyard. The front entrance itself is a pair of old style wooden patio doors that open straight into the reception room.

The interior space was remodelled to divide the original three storeys into five staggered levels. Taking the stairs up, there is the entertainment room with minibar and television, then the bathroom, the bedroom and at the top, a roof terrace.

“Jaya was a master of colour and you can see this in the front room,” explains Nagata. “The warm greenish grey wall panels and subtle gold silk finished fabric help to create a refreshed palette.” The dark wood floors and silk wallpaper complement a central white marble and bronze table with surrounding furniture. “Every piece is bespoke,” he confirms. “Our scenario concept was a house of a very well travelled Asian gentleman who has lived in the west collecting art and furniture during his travels.”

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Grand Central Hotel, Belfast | RPP Architects | Parrott Photography Ulster Carpets, Unit 1 Compton Courtyard, 40 Compton Street, London, EC1V 0BD Tel: 020 7017 0040 | Email: uclondon@ulstercarpets.com

Above: Thanks to skylights, the spa is a bright space with cast scalloped plaster walls and Venetian stucco

There’s a 19th century European stateliness to the interiors with commissioned artwork and accessories inspired by China – including the two wooden lattice doors, one trompe l’oeil the other leading to the staircase and guest bathroom. “The screens are oak wood stained to look like walnut and were specially designed for Capella, the pattern carried throughout the hotel in various forms and scale,” notes Nagata. This motif is repeated upstairs in the bedroom’s sliding door for the walk-in cupboard, whilst in the middle of the room is a freestanding bed facing the window and couch with a resting wooden Chinese Kangji table.

The bathrooms feature Hansgrohe, Suncoo, Kaldewei and Duravit fittings, a mix due to the property’s long gestation and redevleopment period. The floor and wall finishes were already in place, so Blink could only work on the vanity to create some design cohesion with the rest of the rooms.

The spa was the area Blink did the most work on, being finished last December, six months after the hotel opened. A tricky construction, the end result is an airy Tardis-like space, entered through a lane

house, but with a basement floor that, thanks to skylights, remains a bright space with cast scalloped plaster walls around the stairwell and Venetian stucco used elsewhere.

Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire is the hotel’s sole dining room playing to its geography with custom marble patterned floors combined with French doors and a mix of Chinese and western furniture. The long barn-like space ends in a brick wall using the traditional thin greyß Shikumen bricks.

It’s these bricks that give the property real character. Eschewing the design theatrics of many other new hotels in the city, Capella is proudly low-rise with a residential allure making it feel very homely. And what you lose in high views, you gain in grounds with landscaping and gardening.

“My favourite corner of the hotel is the secret garden, which runs along the west wall of the property,” Nagata says. “Overall I feel we have carried on Jaya’s legacy. From the intimate scale of the rooms, to the fact that there is no grandiose lobby or vast restaurant, the whole property feels… quaint.”

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT: 55 guestrooms | 1 restaurant | 1 bar | 2 meeting rooms | Spa, gym | www.capellahotels.com Owner: Shanghai Hengfu Investment & Development | Operator: Capella Hotel Group | Architectural Restoration: Kokaistudios Interior Design: Jaya International Design; Blink Design Group | Lighting Design: Relux & Relux | Landscaping: Xuhui Landscape Development

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Bulgari SHANGHAI

Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel blends the distinctive Italian refinement of Bulgari with rich layers of Shanghai history.

Words: IJ Miu | Photography: Š Tommy Picone

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ike all fashion hotels, the move into hospitality for Bulgari is an exercise in brand extension. Walk through the ground floor entrance of the newly opened Bulgari Shanghai and the first thing you see is the display cabinets of jewellery and timepieces, recalling the luxury brand’s core business. Of course there’s an on-site jewellery store, as well as a boutique and chocolate workshop, plus all around the hotel are advertisement prints from the company’s archive – the charming illustrative nature of which lends a heritage aspect to the decoration.

However the hotel isn’t just pushing its own on-brand messages, it also does a good job of imbuing spaces with an unmistakeable sense Italianness. The hotel’s limos are Maseratis and custom furnishings are by B&B Italia, Maxalto, Flos and Flexform. In corridors, framed black-and-white high-society photographs imbue a feeling of La Dolce Vita, while the elevator TVs screening clips from Hollywood films with actors in Bulgari jewels are an entertaining diversion.

Opened in June, this is the jewellery and luxury goods brand’s sixth hotel, coming nine months after Beijing. As with all previous Bulgari hotels, design duties have been handed over to Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel.

Balancing nature, contemporary design and heritage architecture, the hotel comprises two buildings, the first of which is a 48-storey tower forming part of OCT Group’s Suhe Creek development, a

riverside urban revitalisation project masterplaned by Foster+Partners.

Guestrooms and restaurants occupy the top eight floors of the building while the rest is earmarked for residences and potentially office space.

From afar, the tower with its huge ‘BVLGARI’ wordmark on the rooftop is the first indicator of the brand’s presence.

Directly opposite and at dramatic contrast to the tower is the former Chamber of Commerce Shanghai, a 1916 Neo-Classical building restored in collaboration with United Design Group’s Office for Urban Renewal. It now contains the hotel’s period ballroom, a wine cellar, Chinese fine-dining restaurant and a whisky bar.

Original features including the entrance mosaic, oak flooring and the ballroom’s proscenium stage have been renovated and attended to with custom-designed chandeliers and carpets. The rather bijoux Chinese restaurant on the second floor is laid out with marble tables, white leather banquettes, custom-made Maxalto chairs with walls of turquoise silk and black lacquer panels. The adjacent Whisky Bar has a matching ivory onyx bar and spirit cabinet wall, which with the leather Maxalto armchairs and Flos lamps gives it a very gentleman’s club atmosphere.

In front of this building is a driveway that beautifully mirrors the outlines of the windows and columns with embedded lighting strips, the paving merging into the garden. The hotel’s landscaping is a particular highlight and feels a direct reference to the courtyard

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Left: Occupying the heritage building, the Chinese restaurant is laid out with marble tables, white leather banquettes, custom-made Maxalto chairs and walls of turquoise silk and black lacquer panels

of the Milan palazzo property, with its use of a lawn and European planting scheme. Then to one side, behind a high brick wall is the secret architecture ace – a long quiet driveway reaching towards an imposing 1920s archway that will act as the VIP entrance.

The pervasive Italian feeling is also present in the hotel’s main F&B offerings on the 47th floor, the first of which is Il Bar with an imposing copper and mirrored steel oval bar counter reflecting the teak floors and ceilings. This space leads directly into the similarly styled leather and steel Il Ristorante Niko Romito, which has a cooler, more aloof atmosphere with pendant lights from Murano’s Barovier & Toso, and double height floor-to-ceiling windows. Upstairs there’s La Terrazza, a stunning rooftop bar where cabanas, teak decking and lush planting play second fiddle to the view.

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Above: Skylights flood the swimming pool with light through a teak louvered ceiling

The views from the 82 guestrooms, given their height, are spectacular too – especially looking over the Creek, towards the Bund and the modern high rises of Pudong’s Central Business District. It’s one of the few hotels to offer views of the whole river and both banks.

So how does one design a bedroom to compete with such views?

In Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel’s case, surprisingly well. Firstly, all of the rooms are spacious. The 400m2 Bulgari Suite may take the limelight with its refined interiors and runway-lengths of Pakistani green onyx in the bathroom, but even the smallest rooms – measuring in at 53m2 – feature the same custom Italian-made furnishings, tabletops finished in Tuscan Calacatta marble, dark oak floors, glass and bronze mesh screens, Navona travertine bathrooms and, rather fantastically, televisions that rise out of bespoke cabinets, entirely disappearing when not required. The few aspects of local Chinoiserie present are the silk, velvet and gold thread embroidered bedhead panels and black lacquer cupboards. Bulgari-branded finishes can be found in the casually draped cashmere bedspread as well as the bathroom amenities.

Downstairs, the 2,000m2 Bulgari Spa is finished in varying textures of grey Vicenza stone. At the teak lined reception is an oval copper counter, a smaller version of the one in Il Bar, and once inside, the amenities are extensive: eight treatment rooms; steam, sauna and relaxation rooms; gym, yoga and pilates studios, plus manicure, barber and hairdresser facilities.

Skylights flood the incredibly handsome swimming pool with light through a teak louvered ceiling. On one side sits a row of cabanas draped in white fabric, on the other are seating arrangements backed with a generous planting scheme. Adjacent, in a travertine stone cavelike space, is a large vitality pool with a striking mosaic scheme that nods to the patterns found in Rome’s Terme Di Caracalla public baths. It’s an example of that sense of Italianate place being found in the small details as well as the glaringly obvious.

And as such with this property, Bulgari and Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel have not only succeeded in providing Shanghai with a new luxury hotel, but also with the city’s de facto Italian cultural consulate.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT: 82 guestrooms | 2 restaurants | 4 bars | Ballroom, 2 boardrooms | Spa, swimming pool, gym | www.bulgarihotels.com Owner: OCT Group | Operator: Bulgari Hotels & Resorts | Masterplan Architect: Foster+Partners | Restoration Architect: United Design Group Interior Design: Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel

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Amanyangyun SHANGHAI

Kerry Hill combines old and new for Aman’s fourth Chinese property, creating a transformative experience amidst historic villas, courtyards and camphor trees.

Words: Guy Dittrich | Photography: Š Sui Sicong (unless otherwise stated)

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irst impressions matter, something Kerry Hill was always keenly aware of in his work. As the frenetic density of Shanghai passes by, the traffic eventually easing up to make way for more greenery, a final turn reveals the late architect’s ordered arrival sequence to China’s fourth Aman property, setting the tone for the transformative experience within.

Hill’s name has long been synonymous with Aman, but this one is special. “It is a project that embraces an incredible vision,” he explained shortly before his passing last month. Marking one of the renowned architect’s final projects, its intelligent design channels the vision of Chinese philanthropist, owner, investor and developer Ma Dadong. At his nearby private pavilion, Ma met with Adrian Zecha, the former owner of Aman, back in 2009 and together they set up a joint venture that saw this hotel finally open in 2018.

The story goes back quite some time though, as is typical of Aman (the five lodges of Amankora in Bhutan took 15 years to be realised).

In 2002, plans for a dam were approved some 700km southwest in Jiangxi Province, meaning the cultural centre of Fuzhou would be flooded, along with vast forests of camphor trees typical of this rural area. Fuzhou is Ma’s hometown and historically hosted an elite and well-educated literati whom, having passed imperial examinations, would be selected for courts in the various capitals of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Ma formulated a grand plan to rescue as many of

the ancient villas as he could, as well as a forest’s-worth of camphors.

One cannot fail to respect the ambition of this endeavour, a mission that began as a pure conservation project with no commercial directive. Ma managed to rent land in the Minhang District, some 24km southwest of Shanghai, and brought the trees and villas here by road. To survive the journey the trees were harshly cropped; “they had a severe haircut,” in Hill’s words. Some weighed over 50 tonnes, their trunks measuring up to five-metres in diameter, whilst the forest’s crowning jewel, the Emperor Tree, dates back 1,000 years.

A Shanghai botanist claimed they would never live; yet the survival rate has been 80%. The ancient villas meanwhile, were meticulously documented, drawn and photographed before being dismantled and brought to Shanghai, now forming the hotel complex.

Consider the logistics of such an undertaking. Ten temporary bridges were constructed, some of which were swept away by landslides; road levels in tunnels were lowered to ensure the larger trees made it through; and tollbooths were demolished to allow temporary free passage, rebuilt only after the convoy passed. The trees were uprooted from their nursery to their current positions lining Amanyangyun’s lake, whilst the 13 antique villas, along with 24 new Ming Courtyard Suites, are arranged in two parallel wings. A further 13 original structures double as private residences, complete with basement gallery spaces, wine cellars and underground bunkers.

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Above: Nanshufang is a cultural centre offering a transformative experience centred on self-development

Bordered on two sides by water, the grid of streets are lined with historical structures creating a village-like feel. The newbuild segments of the main hotel are more open, watching across lawns to the lake.

These include the impressive symmetry of Hill’s entrance, which leads in to the magnificent scale of the screened lobby, as well as an IMAX cinema and ballroom adjacent. To one side of the lobby, across a small lawn surrounding the ancient Emperor Tree, are two cultural centres; one focusing on younger guests whilst the other, Nanshufang, offers a transformative experience centred on self-development via the ancient Chinese rituals of calligraphy, music, flower arranging, tea and incense ceremonies. At the far side is a series of beautifully simple steel-columned linkways, passing alongside mirror ponds and leading to food and beverage pavilions and the spa complex.

The spa is built around a tranquil gravelled garden. At 2,840m2, there’s plenty of room for ten treatment facilities and two expansive spa suites. Between large glass-walled exercise studios sits an indoor 20-metre swimming pool, whilst a sister pool – 28.5 metres long and heated – sits out at the front of the complex with views over sweeping gardens landscaped by Dan Pearson Studio and the lake beyond.

Along the lawns are placed a series of sizeable box-like pavilions, each home to Chinese, Japanese and Italian restaurants, a lounge bar, and two smaller venues – one for retail, the other a cigar lounge.

The duality of the resort is obvious, and visible from the heritage

villas through to these new glazed pavilions, their beauty lying in the manner of their integration, a respectful modernity realised by Hill’s eponymous Kerry Hill Architects (KHA).

KHA has worked to reassemble the Ming and Qing dynasty villas, both between 200-500-years-old, whilst inserting newbuild contemporary architecture at the same time. The courtyard layout of the villas, for example, is duplicated by surrounding walls of light grey Chinese sandstone. Interiors are finished in wood, stone and bamboo, and modern bathrooms are introduced via seamless island components and freestanding stone tubs to KHA’s design. The other main interventions are sensitively positioned perforations in the external façades – varying from large window reveals to a grouping of small-scale slot cut-outs – allowing light to enhance the splendour of these antique homes, illuminating camphor and Chinese pine, ornate stone carvings and intricate detailing.

The restored villas feature one to four bedrooms, and all but one incorporates newly constructed separate wings housing contemporary suites. Here, free from adornment, interiors offer the calmness and tranquillity that came with Hill’s demand for exactitude and authenticity – the right materials in the right manner delivering the authentic; an immersive spirit that respects the local culture, yet is still relevant to a demanding global clientele.

These suites are lined with close-edged oak panelling and flooring

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This Page: Guestroom and villa interiors are finished in wood, stone and bamboo, and modern bathrooms are introduced via seamless island components and freestanding stone tubs to KHA’s design

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Above: Amanyangyun’s five dining venues include Chinese restaurant Lazhu, with a semi-private dining room

with shadow gaps to white plasterwork. The brushed elm loose furnishings, all designed by KHA, are upholstered in cool slate fabrics, whilst thresholds, bath and basin surrounds are clad in black Hebei granite. The spacious bathtub is in enamelled steel by Bette, with brassware by Vola in a copper finish.

The two-bedroom Antique Pavilion is situated in a restored villa and features views of the camphor woodland, with access to the private garden and swimming pool, while Ming Deluxe Pavilion rooms are nestled in the newly built wing of the restored villa with antique surroundings and spacious modern living.

Suites are arranged around a pair of small courtyards, one with a square reflection pool at its heart. Steeply pitched roofs hold narrow skylights at their apex, drawing in light even on dull days, and are complemented by light fittings produced by Lighting Planners Associates in collaboration with KHA. There are further dramatic plays on light derived from the huge variety of screening throughout the property, one of Hill’s

specialities, inviting the sun to mingle with a variety of patterns that change throughout the day. “Those in brass have bevelled edges to accentuate the effect of the cast shadows and to give the screens a three dimensional appearance,” explains Isabelle Vergnaud, Project Interior Designer at KHA. The deep sandstone linkway walls are cut with impactful angular slots, and, in the huge volume of the main reception, aromatic wood screens by Nanmu have been created from materials reclaimed by Ma. There is an evident cohesiveness to the project, from the absolute and total quality, to the generous volumes and reflecting water ponds, to the repeated use of screens and courtyards. Together they form an experience of sanctuary and serenity, a coming together of modernity and tradition. It would have been easier to copy aspects of the antique villas – the upturned wings of their tiled roof corners, the storytelling details of the stonework, the organic patterns of the wood screens – but with Hill’s intuitive creativity you get both the old – the caringly modernised villas – and the new. A perfect legacy.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT: 24 guestrooms and 13 villas | 3 restaurants | 1 bar | Banquet hall, cultural centre | Spa, 2 swimming pools | www.aman.com Owner / Developer / Investor: Shanghai Guyin Real Estate | Operator: Aman | Architect of Record: Ecadi | Interior Design: Kerry Hill Architects Interior Design of Record: BHD Synthesis | Lighting Design: Lighting Planners Associates | Landscaping: Dan Pearson Studio

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THE INTELLIGENCE SOURCE FOR THE HOTEL INVESTMENT COMMUNITY

Hilton looks to conversions Hilton Worldwide said that it would be looking to growth in conversions to drive expansion as development activity slowed in the group’s domestic market.

The company said that it expected to maintain its net unit growth targets, aided by the buoyant transactions market.

Chris Nassetta, president and CEO, said that, in the US “supply numbers are going down in the next couple of years. But the good news is the world’s a big place. As much as things are slowing down here, there’s still tremendous opportunity for us in other parts of the world, notably in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and clearly in Asia Pacific”.

The company said that total signings were on pace to increase more than 40% year-on-year for the full year in the EMEA region, with conversion signings across the globe up more than 60% on the year.

The group’s pipeline totalled over 360,000 rooms at the end of the quarter, representing 9% year-overyear growth and 41% of existing room base. Hilton remained on track to deliver roughly 6.5% net unit growth for the full year.

Feeding into this was the busy transactions driving a better environment for conversions, with Nassetta describing the debt markets for existing assets as “incredibly fluid”. He added: “Debt markets for new construction are much more limited. Cost to build

has gone up at a high rate. So, what do people do? They want to be active transactionally.”

Nassetta said: “Conversions are a big focus in a tightening lending environment. Year-to-date construction costs have gone up 7% or 8%, so, you have cost going up in an environment where lending standards have tightened, and while revpar is growing, it’s not growing enough to keep up with that.

“The whole market’s going to go down in terms of signings, so we’re going to be relatively flat in the US. I think this year will be the peak in supply in the US, so we’re benefiting from the laws of economics when demand is growing better than supply. I think that’s going to continue for a period of time. How long? We don’t know, but certainly we feel confident about this year.

And honestly, we feel confident about the setup going into next year.”

Nassetta described the US as “still benefiting from the post-Tax Reform world where a lot of cash is going back into the system, a lot more investment is occurring, corporate profitability is growing, and companies are spending more money”.

Nassetta’s comments were supported by HotStats’ figures for June, which reported an 8.5% increase in profit per room, due to an increase in revenue as well as a reduction in costs. This was the fifth consecutive month of profit growth at hotels in the US and the yearon-year increase in GOPPAR was second only to April, when profit increased by 9.1%.

Rooms revenue was fuelled by a 0.7-percentage point increase in room occupancy, to 83.3%, as well as a 3.2% increase in achieved average room rate, which hit USD210.45.

Pablo Alonso, CEO, HotStats, said: “The Federal Reserve raised its outlook for economic growth in the USA in 2018 in June, to 2.8%, from 2.7%, as economic activity has been rising at a solid rate this year.

“This has been reflected in the performance of hotels in the US, which have had an excellent period of trading in H1 2018, with the market seemingly going from strength to strength. Hotel owners and operators will be keen to see such growth continue for the remainder of the year and beyond.”

Looking ahead, Hilton forecast system-wide revpar growth of 3% to 4% for the full year across its portfolio. In the US it forecast revpar growth of 2.5% to 3.5% for 2018, against 3.5% in the second quarter.

Revpar in Europe grew 6.3% in the quarter, around 100 basis points ahead of our expectations, with full year revpar growth in the mid-single-digit range “as strong trends across Continental Europe are somewhat tempered by softer transient performance in the UK”.

Full year adjusted Ebitda was expected to reach USD2.07bn to USD2.1bn, representing a year-onyear increase of 9% at the midpoint.

HA Perspective (by Katherine Doggrell): And so President Trump’s tax cuts are continuing to provide a fillip to the economy, despite the clouds gathering on the debt-

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laden horizon, and this has kept performance trickling along – even if other of Trump’s actions have meant an increase in construction costs.

Nassetta confirmed that the “bulk” of the conversion deals would of course be franchises, and the CEO made much of the distribution cost efficiencies hotels would get in return for their franchise fees, “because the traditional independent hotel becomes very – not all, but most – very heavily reliant on OTA business, and they pay a lot higher exchange rate than we do”.

Analysts were less inclined to share the thrill of cheap pipeline expansion and raised concerns over how many conversions were being done. With fees lighter than management contracts, volume would be required, raising competition with groups such as Marriott International with 30 brands (we continue to await Hilton’s new urban micro-brand).

Nassetta said that conversions as an overall percentage of net unit growth were still towards the lower end of the range, looking back to 2009 and 2010, coming out of “the Great Recession”, where conversions were around 40%.

Nassetta agreed that more conversions were more likely in a downturn “because when times get much tougher, people look for shelter”. He reassured analysts that the group had a more mature development strategy than in latter years and he didn’t expect conversions to go above 30%.

The good news for Hilton is

that President Trump is reportedly planning another round of tax cuts, as the mid-terms loom, which may not be any good for long-term debt, but might just keep the froth intact.

Additional HA Perspective (by Andrew Sangster): There is little doubt that Hilton has one of the strongest growth engines out there.

Its Net Unit Growth (NUG – who doesn’t like a new acronym?) is a robust 6.5% and set to stay in the target range of 6% to 7%.

The conference call with analysts became bogged down with discussion on pipeline and in particular the level of conversions.

But in mature markets, conversions are going to be a big source of growth.

Hilton is right to point out that its ability to grab market share in the key area of new development is second to none and maintaining leadership here is going to ensure it is an attractive prospect for conversions.

So why are owners and developers picking Hilton? Nassetta said the first reason is market share: Hilton has the scale to truly drive the top line. The second reason, described by Nassetta as “a very close second”, is distribution costs.

This latter is in turn also a function of size.

Given the importance of scale, Hilton cannot afford to let Marriott get too far ahead. While Hilton is more than adequately holding its own in organic growth, it is going to need M&A to catch-up with Marriott.

Nassetta confirmed on the call

Hotels, said at the time: “We at Minor Hotels are thrilled to be entering the UK market and are proud to partner with such a respected industry leader. Our strategic joint venture will build upon Minor Hotels’ history of operating signature restaurants within our hotels and in thirdparty locations. We look forward to working with Jeremy and Chris to expand the Corbin & King portfolio in the UK and key international markets.”

Preliminary June data for London from STR described higher occupancy but lower rates, with revpar increasing by 1.6%. June was London’s first month with a year-over-year occupancy increase since May 2017, but was also the fourth month in a row with an ADR decrease after 16 straight positive months in the metric STR analysts noted that market demand was boosted by various concerts throughout the month, with favourable weather conditions also helping hotel performance.

Although rates were faltering, confidence has remained high in the capital, particularly in the luxury end of the market. In June, Abil Group, which owns four luxury hotels in India, acquired a site in Trafalgar Square from BlackRock UK Property Fund for close to GBP90m, with plans to redevelop the property into a five-star hotel with 210 to 230 rooms, with an additional investment of over GBP80m.

Amit Bhosale, managing director, said: “London as a destination ranks in the top three choices when

that he now has both Blackstone and HNA off his share register.

This presents the opportunity to mount a significant takeover. For the full year, Hilton is expecting to hand back to shareholders between USD1.8bn and USD1.9bn. This is already some firepower. Plug in a rights offer for the right deal and Hilton can take out one of its global major rivals.

Hyatt would be perhaps the most logical move but IHG must also be tempting.

The Beaumont marketed as investors look to luxury Grosvenor property group has put The Beaumont hotel on the market, reportedly looking for up to GBP120m.

The move is hoping to tap into residual optimism in the London hotel market, despite faltering performance.

The site is managed by Corbin & King, which relinquished the leasehold of the hotel in 2016, two years after it opened, having run into financial issues thought to relate to the opening costs of the luxury site, which features an Antony Gormley sculpture in one of its suites.

It is not known whether Corbin & King will retain the hotel. The group is currently looking to expansion after Minor acquired a majority stake for GBP58m at the end of last year, a stake previously held by Graphite Capital.

Dillip Rajakarier, CEO, Minor

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one is considering global expansion.

This is an exciting opportunity for us as Trafalgar Square is a globally recognised location and has the potential to build a world-class luxury hotel.”

Gary Witham, director in the hotels team at Savills, which acted for Abil, said: “The London hotel market continues to attract a wide range of overseas investors with the city providing attractive long term income prospects. As the first purchase for our client, 5 Strand makes an excellent choice providing the opportunity to create a leading purpose built hotel in a tourist location that is recognisable to a global audience.”

Savills reported that overseas investment into hotels in London totalled GBP1.06bn last year, an increase of 17.7% on 2016.

Institutional capital investment into hotels also grew 6.8% to GBP370.7m in 2017, the highest level of investment from this buyer type for over 10 years, according to the firm.

According to CBRE Hotels, the existing London five-star supply was 18,541 keys (106 hotels, with the five-star confirmed pipeline – final planning, in construction) of 1,621 keys, or 18 projects. This would result in a 8.7% increase in London’s five-star room supply in the next three years, not including 5 Strand.

In the Westminster pipeline, there were 10 five-star confirmed developments, of 976 keys, which would result in a 9.4% increase in Westminster’s five-star room supply in the next three years, not

including 5 Strand.

Joe Stather, associate director, CBRE Hotels, told Hotel Analyst that London luxury hotel performance was experiencing some headwinds, with revpar down 0.4% year-on-year for year-to-date April 2018.

He said: “However, the ‘London Luxury’ average occupancy remains at circa 80% on a 12-month moving average, which is incredibly strong relative to other capital cities and would suggest that there is room for additional high-end hotel supply in the city.”

For those existing hotels, the market is likely to be strong. The Times suggested that a number of overseas investors have shown an interest, with the Barclay brothers also mooted for a bid.

HA Perspective (by Katherine Doggrell): That the other shoe is dropping in London is not in doubt.

John Webber, head of business rates, Colliers International, told us that, with the wider economy showing the strain in the capital, performance was likely to be hit.

This strain was, he felt, also likely to mean growth in the sharing economy, as more home owners looked to bolster their income.

Not something which is likely to bother the luxury end of the market as, although the increase in hotel supply is expected to mean a softening of performance, the allure of owning a luxury London hotel remains strong, and a multiple award winner like The Beaumont is unlikely to be on the market for long.

Whether Corbin & King remains at the property will come down in part to the aspirations of new shareholder Minor International, now also big in NH Hotels. The global operators, in addition to the global investors, are likely to be sniffing around the property, which would slot very pleasingly into one of the many luxury soft brands.

Now that Corbin & King can also present an expanded distribution case, it is that much more likely to retain it.

be onto a winner. Of course, it also risks extracting the worst and combining these.

Serviced apartments continue to rise The serviced apartment sector continues to move from alternative to mainstream, growing stronger market presence, stronger brands and attracting more funding.

Positive numbers have led to what consultants HVS call a “boom”, with supply across Europe adding up to 20,000 units being delivered over the next five years. Operators are buoyed by a strong 2017 which saw revpar increases across the region.

The near doubling of pipeline numbers in a year illustrates “investors and developers see true potential in the sector,” said Magali Castells of HVS. “Brands are looking into consolidating their presence in those markets where they are already present, as well as expanding into new locations.”

New brands to the sector include Staycity’s premium Wilde brand, with its first opening in London, while Yotel is coming to market with Yotelpad. Supercity has refreshed its brand, along with Go Native, now renamed Native.

Serviced apartment operators are increasingly signing management agreements on properties, now accounting for 42% of the market, while franchise represents 28% and leases 16%. The shift away from leases “reflects the growing

Additional HA Perspective (by Andrew Sangster): It is worth contrasting the performance of Corbin & King with another celebrity restaurateur outfit, D&D London. Back in 2006, D&D, together with Blackstone, sold what is now the Andaz in Liverpool Street.

The former Great Eastern was a huge success for D&D and caused them to think about becoming hotel property developers rather than restaurateurs. But reality dawned in the form of the 2008 recession and their hotel ambitions were limited to running the South Place instead.

What the experiences of these restaurateurs shows is that developing hotels is a very different business to restaurants, despite the superficial similarity. There can be little doubt that hotels have moved towards the higher fashion and celebrity content of restaurants but the importance of the underlying real estate investment still dominates.

If Minor can blend the best bits of both industry segments it will

161

importance of using more flexible and dynamic operating structures that sustain the rapid expansion needs of brands,” said Castells.

The sector continues to see demand and supply growth, across the world. STR says 2018 has seen “significant” demand growth, led by South America where it is up 7.6% in the year to date, while the figure is 5.3% for Africa, 4.3% for Asia and 3.3% in Oceania. Developers are responding, with supply up too, albeit trailing demand growth in all regions except the Middle East.

The demand figures feed through into revpar growth, up 24.3% in South America and 22.2% in northern Africa. Across Europe, revpar growth averages 3.6% so far this year. Occupancy levels remain strong, varying from just over 70% in Singapore, to 77% in Australia.

Researchers at JLL note that while current stock in the UK and Ireland may have been growing strongly, up 13% over the last two years, serviced apartments still account for just 3% of room supply, well below the 8% seen in the mature US market. And while STR has recorded a modest fall in average room rates for the UK this year, it still sits at GBP119.86 while occupancy has averaged 75.9%.

Those figures, say STR, rank against an average GBP87.53 and 73.7% for the overall industry, including hotels.

While the sector is fundamentally growing, expect some short-term challenges as new supply works into the market. STR says revpar is likely to weaken in Edinburgh, London and Glasgow as new

developments launch. London will see 1,100 rooms added to the serviced apartment stock in the next year or so, while in Glasgow, the development pipeline represents 184% of existing stock, with a figure of 158% for Manchester.

And an indicator of the potential for growth is the recent acquisition of SACO, the UK’s number two operator, by Canadian private equity investor Brookfield. Brookfield followed Starwood Capital into serviced apartments, with the latter making a GBP200m acquisition of a portfolio in London, in 2015.

Notes JLL: “Private equity has been the most prominent buyer in the serviced apartment sector, due to familiarity with operational risk, so they are continuously seeking capital enhancing opportunities and new developments.”

While being the second largest market in Europe with 11,400 units, Germany is a largely unbranded landscape, with 75% of the stock reckoned to be unbranded. Derag Livinghotel, the market leader, has 27% of the market, followed by Adina with 16%. The brands are moving in, often exploiting sites for dual branded developments that place their serviced apartment brand alongside a hotel brand, offering operational efficiencies.

The Frankfurt pipeline includes, for example, a Moxy and Residence Inn, and a Staybridge alongside an Indigo hotel.

JLL conclude: “We expect the

serviced apartment sector to grow at a quicker pace than hotels over the next few years. The sector is set to expand to the rest of Europe, as more travellers desire a flexible, homestyle travel accommodation.

Hotel operators and investors are capitalising on this demand which drives a much higher margin than traditional hotels.”

for that) serviced apartments now increasingly stand alongside hotels on booking platforms, and get selected for short stays. The ability to use overnighters to fill in the gaps between longer staying guests, helps ensure high occupancy figures consistently.

Growing recognition of the concept is helping those actively developing their brands gain access to better sites, and to easier sources of capital. Are we yet at the point where any of those growing brands starts attracting buyers, in the form of major hotel groups?

HA Perspective (by Chris Bown): At the recent Serviced Apartment Summit, CEOs in the serviced apartment space looked a happy bunch. Revpar is growing strongly, demand is high, funders and landlords have now “got” the serviced apartment concept. The big challenge appears to be fighting mainstream hotel groups for the best sites; that’s a big change from a couple of years back, when their main rivals were residential developers.

While still, in absolute terms, a small part of the accommodation market, serviced apartments are growing their percentage of the market, with a strong pipeline of developments across Europe, led by growth in the UK. And the hotel groups are eyeing some of the prize.

IHG is pushing its Staybridge brand into more cities, while Marriott and Hyatt are working with sector specialist Cycas to start putting flags on the European map.

Thanks to a broader consumer expectation about overnight accommodation (blame Airbnb

Additional HA Perspective (by Andrew Sangster): While it is true that serviced apartments are booming they remain a niche segment. The 20,000 units over the next five years is certainly proportionally faster growth than traditional hotels but traditional hotels are going to add a lot more properties than that in this period.

Innovation in terms of product is helping serviced apartments compete more effectively in obtaining suitable property. Smaller room sizes while still delivering on the essential amenities has made it possible to earn returns that are comparable with traditional hotels on a per square metre basis.

Serviced apartments have significantly lower running costs meaning higher profits than hotels, although the trend towards shorter length of stay is increasing costs

albeit still well below hotels that typically have to offer more F&B and higher levels of service.

The challenge is that as serviced apartment become more mainstream they will also be less distinct from hotels. And indeed, hotels are copying some of the trends of these extended stay upstarts such as offering more communal activity.

Similar things are happening with other niche accommodation segments like hostels, albeit in most cases they are not yet as established as serviced apartments. Ultimately, we will start talking about a generic hosted accommodation segment.

Hotel Analyst is the news analysis service for those involved with financing hotel property or hotel operating companies.

For more information and to subscribe visit: www.hotelanalyst.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 8870 6388

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24.07.18 12:57

London Following a record-breaking H1 in 2017, hotels in the UK capital have seen some performance declines recently, mainly due to strong ongoing supply growth.

The end of 2017 marked a 28.9% increase in hotel room inventory over 10 years.

The 2012 Summer Olympics led to a major ramp-up in supply, which generally sat between 0-2% in years prior. From 20112013, supply growth increased by 3-4.5% each year.

Even with continued supply growth, hotels have maintained considerable performance, showing resilience through 2017’s terror attacks. And in H2 2017, the ‘Brexit effect’ started to wane as the pound climbed back in value against the dollar, though there is still uncertainty for what the future holds, even two years after the referendum.

Marginal declines in occupancy and rates in 2018 are partly due to a strong basis of comparison with last year. The market posted consistent growth through July 2017, with levels starting to drop off in the last few months of the year. Supply growth has generally outpaced demand from month to month, and June marked the first occupancy increase for any month of 2018 so far, boosted by unseasonably warm summer weather as well as a series of highprofile music concerts.

Performance H1 2018 Occupancy 79.6%

RevPAR GB£141.16

-0.4%

-1.0%

+8%

ADR GB£112.32 -1.4%

Existing room inventory by 2020

Looking ahead, London remains an investment hotspot, as supply growth is set to continue. According to AM:PM, STR’s online hotel supply and pipeline platform, nearly 12,000 new rooms are set to join the market by the end of 2020.

STR is the source for premium global data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights, tracking 8 million rooms worldwide. www.str.com

Rooms +11,619

Rooms in April 2018 139,004 Rooms in 2020 150,623

Hotels +93 Hotels in April 2018 1,600 Hotels in 2020 1,693

www.aheadawards.com

AENA FORUM

14 NOVEMBER 2018 – THE MEYDAN HOTEL, DUBAI

SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED As excitement builds for AHEAD MEA in November, the finalists have been announced. Nominated projects include a Cape Town boutique in a converted grain silo, an eco-lodge in Rwanda and a customisable urban hotel in Dubai. AHEAD MEA will take place at The Meydan Hotel, Dubai on 14 November 2018, during Dubai Design Week.

BAR, CLUB OR LOUNGE

RENOVATION, RESTORATION & CONVERSION

EVENT SPACES

RESORT HOTEL

GUESTROOMS

RESTAURANT

LANDSCAPING & OUTDOOR SPACES

SPA & WELLNESS

LOBBY & PUBLIC SPACES

SUITE

Flair No.5 at The Ritz-Carlton DIFC – Dubai, UAE Noépe at Park Hyatt Dubai – UAE Seventy Seventy at Park Hyatt Dubai – UAE The Willaston Bar at The Silo – Cape Town, South Africa

Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait Burj Alshaya – Kuwait Mondrian Doha – Qatar Nest Co-Working Space at Tryp by Wyndham Dubai – UAE The Bulgari Resort – Dubai, UAE

Al Bandar Rotana – Dubai, UAE Form Hotel – Dubai, UAE One & Only Le Saint Géran – Mauritius The Renaissance Downtown Dubai – UAE

Five Palm Jumeirah – Dubai, UAE Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa – Amman, Jordan InterContinental Fujairah – UAE Kempinski Hotel Muscat – Oman

Five Palm Jumeirah – Dubai, UAE Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait Burj Alshaya – Kuwait The Renaissance Downtown Dubai – UAE The Silo – Cape Town, South Africa

LODGES & TENTED CAMPS

Bisate Eco Lodge – Ruhengeri, Rwanda Duba Plains Camp & Duba Plains Suite – Okavango Delta, Botswana Little Mombo Camp – Okavango Delta, Botswana Qorokwe Lodge – Okavango Delta, Botswana

Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel – Cape Town, South Africa One & Only Le Saint Géran – Mauritius Sealine Beach, A Murwab Resort – Mesaieed, Qatar The Silo – Cape Town, South Africa

Five Palm Jumeirah – Dubai, UAE Kempinski Hotel Muscat – Oman The Bulgari Resort – Dubai, UAE The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Wadi Desert Hotel – UAE

Brasserie du Park at Park Hyatt Dubai – UAE Little Miss India at Fairmont The Palm – Dubai, UAE Roots Kitchen by Parlour at Form Hotel Dubai – UAE Salt & Pepper at Al Bandar Rotana – Dubai, UAE

Bulgari Spa at The Bulgari Resort Dubai – UAE The Silo Spa at The Silo – Cape Town, South Africa The Spa at Five Palm Jumeirah – Dubai, UAE Willow Stream Spa at Fairmont Amman – Jordan

Al Naseem Tented Beach Pool Villa at The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah Al Hamra Beach – UAE Bulgari Suite at The Bulgari Resort Dubai – UAE Presidential Suite at The Renaissance Downtown Dubai – UAE The Penthouse at The Silo – Cape Town, South Africa

URBAN HOTEL - NEWBUILD

Form Hotel – Dubai, UAE Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport – Kenya Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait Burj Alshaya – Kuwait The Renaissance Downtown Dubai – UAE

19 NOVEMBER 2018 - PARK PLAZA WESTMINSTER BRIDGE LONDON

15 MARCH 2018 - ANDAZ SINGAPORE

12 JUNE 2018 - FAENA FORUM

14 NOVEMBER 2018 – THE MEYDAN HOTEL, DUBAI

SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED The final ceremony in the current AHEAD cycle, AHEAD Europe will take place on 19 November at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London.

Featured in this year’s shortlist is an 18th century manor, cubist guestrooms in a village set-up, and a rooftop nest offering wellness with a view.

Winners will join previous international winners to compete in a global ceremony in January 2019.

BAR, CLUB OR LOUNGE

RESORT HOTEL

EVENT SPACES

RESTAURANT

GUESTROOMS

SPA & WELLNESS

HOTEL RENOVATION & RESTORATION

SUITE

LANDSCAPING & OUTDOOR SPACES

URBAN HOTEL - CONVERSION

LOBBY & PUBLIC SPACES

URBAN HOTEL - NEWBUILD

Club Bar at White City House – London, England Fitz’s at The Principal London – England The Cobbler at 1898 The Post – Ghent, Belgium The Whiskey Room at Roomers Munich – Germany Waeska Bar at The Mandrake – London, England

Downtown Camper by Scandic – Stockholm, Sweden Hôtel de Crillon – Paris, France Ochil House at Gleneagles Hotel – Auchterarder, Scotland The Hoxton Paris – France The Principal London – England

1898 The Post – Ghent, Belgium Downtown Camper by Scandic – Stockholm, Sweden Hotel Sanders – Copenhagen, Denmark The Hoxton Paris – France Zallinger – Saltria, Italy

Gran Hotel Inglés – Madrid, Spain Hôtel de Crillon – Paris, France Hôtel Les Roches Rouges – Côte d’Azur, France Hotel Sanders – Copenhagen, Denmark The Principal London – England

Adare Manor – Limerick, Ireland Bikini Island & Mountain Hotel – Mallorca, Spain Hotel Seehof – Natz-Schabs / Naz-Sciaves, Italy Sir Joan Hotel – Ibiza, Spain The Mandrake – London, England

Nobu Hotel Shoreditch – London, England Puro Hotel Gdańsk – Poland The Hoxton Paris – France The Mandrake – London, England The Principal London – England

Casa Cook Kos – Greece Hotel Seehof – Natz-Schabs / Naz-Sciaves, Italy Istoria Hotel – Santorini, Greece Niehku Mountain Villa – Riksgränsen, Sweden Vora Villas – Santorini, Greece

Dancing Anchor at Puro Hotel Gdańsk – Poland Izakaya at Roomers Munich – Germany Neptune at The Principal London – England The Birnam Brasserie at Gleneagles Hotel – Auchterarder, Scotland The Paris Club at 25hours Hotel Das Tour – Düsseldorf, Germany

Alpine Spa at Bürgenstock Resort – Switzerland Downtown Camper by Scandic – Stockholm, Sweden Hotel Seehof – Natz-Schabs / Naz-Sciaves, Italy Sense, A Rosewood Spa at Hôtel de Crillon – Paris, France Wellness Corales at Royal Hideaway Corales – Tenerife, Spain

Belmond Venice Simplon-Orient-Express – Various Locations Nobu Hotel Shoreditch – London, England Sanders Apartments at Hotel Sanders – Copenhagen, Denmark Suite Bernstein at Hôtel de Crillon – Paris, France The Zetter Hotel – London, England

1898 The Post – Ghent, Belgium Stamba Hotel – Tbilisi, Georgia The Hoxton Paris – France The Mandrake – London, England The Steam Hotel – Västerås, Sweden

25hours Hotel Das Tour – Düsseldorf, Germany Nobu Hotel Shoreditch – London, England Sir Joan Hotel – Ibiza, Spain The Orient – Jerusalem, Isreal QO – Amsterdam, The Netherlands

MARCH 2019

JUNE 2019

SINGAPORE

MIAMI

14 NOVEMBER 2018

19 NOVEMBER 2018

THE MEYDAN HOTEL DUBAI

PARK PLAZA WESTMINSTER BRIDGE LONDON

Organised By

Headline Sponsor

Trophy Sponsor

Foundation Sponsor

Global Sponsors

Event Sponsors

Partners

Supporting Partner:

Music Consultant

www.aheadawards.com

Digital Partner

Site By

CAYONO DUO /CAYONOPLAN /PURO WASHBASIN

A ‘PERFECT MATCH’ IN

BATHROOM DESIGN

Visit Kaldewei at Stand B40

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R o ca

Dedar

EUROPE’S LEADING HOSPITALITY DESIGN SHOW The authority in hospitality design, Sleep + Eat is where pioneering products meet the latest design trends across hotels, restaurants and bars R e g i s t e r f o r yo u r p a s s a t w w w. s l e e p a n d e a t eve n t . co m

2 0 - 2 1 N OV. 2 0 1 8 O L Y M P I A L O N DO N

Events T H E M E E T I N G P L AC E F O R T H E H O S P I TA L I T Y I N D U S T R Y

6-9 SEP

7-11 SEP

16-18 SEP

16-18 SEP

Bond Disenotel Panama City www.bondevents.com Maison & Objet Paris www.maison-objet.com Index Dubai www.indexexhibition.com The Hotel Show Dubai www.thehotelshow.com

16-19 SEP

16-21 SEP

18-21 SEP

19-22 SEP

Decorex London www.decorex.com Focus/18 London www.dcch.co.uk Habitat Valencia www.feriahabitatvalencia.com 100% Design London www.100percentdesign.co.uk

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20-23 SEP

24-25 SEP

26-27 SEP

2-4 OCT

Designjunction London www.thedesignjunction.co.uk SAHIC Medellin www.sahic.com Hot.E London www.europehotelconference.com AHIF Nairobi www.africa-conference.com

16-21 SEP

Focus/18 Returns

19-22 SEP

FOCUS/18

Focus/18 will return to Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour in September for six days of programming including more than 100 experiential sessions, workshops and conversation under the unifying theme of colour. The event will bring the design community together across 120 showrooms, presenting the work of 600 international brands.

This year’s Conversations in Design series features influential figures and emerging talents, including Veere Greeney and Nina Campbell, Timothy Corrigan, and Allegra Hicks in conversation with photographer Miguel Flores Vianna, as well as discussions with Fran Hickman, David Bentheim, Karen Howes and Rachel Chudley – who will share their stories, ideas and creative visions.

Meanwhile, following the launch of its new magazine Starboard, Sleeper Editor Catherine Martin speaks to Andy Yuill, Director of SMC Design; Ariane Steinbeck, Managing Director of RPW Design and Emma Masters, Associate, Richmond International to discuss the challenges and opportunities of designing hotels on water, and find what seafaring vessels can learn from their static, landlocked counterparts.

Elsewhere in the Design Centre, Kit Kemp and her Firmdale team will create a Caribbean guestroom suite for the Turnell & Gigon at Home pop-up showroo, Patrick Frey will discuss the design legacy of his grandfather René Prou in the Pierre Frey showroom, and Michelle Ogundehin will explore the Designer Interpretation series alongside Mark Moussa, founder & Creative Director of Arterior. www.dcch.co.uk

The Future is Bright 100% DESIGN

100% Design is set to shake up its traditonal format with two new features, 100% Futures and 100% Forward, focusing on emerging designers in the fields of innovation and furniture design. Held at London Olympia, this year’s event will also introduce 100% Build London – a dedicated show for the construction and architectural industries – alongside its core exhibition covering Interiors, Kitchens, Bathrooms and Bedrooms.

100% Futures, spearheaded by Max Fraser, will shine a light on emerging designers under the theme ‘Designing for London’ across travel, technology, wellbeing, public spaces and sustainability. The programme will also share designs from other cities, looking at ideas around the future of city-living and designing for urban centres across the world.

Meanwhile, 100% Forward has been curated by journalist Barbara Chandler to highlight eight rising design talents across furniture, lighting and textiles – each championed by an established industry figure who carved his or her career during the first decade of 100% Design.

Running concurrently, Talks With 100% Design returns with a series of inspiring sessions, reflecting on the changing landscape of London’s creative communities. Thomas Heatherwick is set to discuss the vision for Olympia London alongside Yoo Chairman John Hitchcox, Trevor Morris from SPPARC Architecture and Heatherwick Studio’s Eliot Postma, while Dezeen will host a live panel session with Yoo Creative Directors Marcel Wanders and Kelly Hoppen. www.100percentdesign.co.uk

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REFINED, REIM AGINED AND OPEN FOR REGISTR ATION. Beauty needs space to flourish. From 16 – 19 September Decorex presents a blank canvas onto which exquisite design is curated, debated and observed.

Save the date to join influential designers behind the finest interior projects in the world at Syon Park, London. decorex.com/register 8082 Decorex ad 275x236+3mm.indd 1

29/06/2018 11:03

16-19 SEP

Blank Canvas

Made in Spain

DECOREX

HABITAT

18-21 SEP

Feria Habitat Valencia returns in September with a programme centred on design, architecture and the contract sector. On the agenda, an exhibition at cultural centre Las Naves will pay tribute to Valencian designer Pedro Miralles, who pioneered modern design in Spain during the late eighties and early nineties, while other initiatives honour Alicante-based creative Mario Luiz. Feria Valencia’s central mall will present the Ágora nude lectures, a series exploring the link between craftsmanship, designers and contemporary life, with sessions including roundtable discussions on 3D printing. Elsewhere, a Contract Forum will host presentations on renowned design practices and operators; The Official College of Architects of the Comunidad Valenciana will be given a dedicated venue to create a themed bookshop and workspace; and the sixth National Designers Congress will be held at Feria Valencia’s Events Centre.

www.feriahabitatvalencia.com

Decorex has invited four British interior designers to explore a central theme of ‘Blank Canvas’ in the main entrance of its 41st edition at Syon Park. Henry Prideaux, Simone Suss, Maddux Collective and Brian Woulfe will each create sitespecific installations that tell the stories behind their development as designers.

Each will produce a vignette that represents their journeys, featuring items, colours and patterns that have influenced and inspired them along the way.

Meanwhile, London-based interior design firm Lambart & Browne has been tasked with giving the Decorex bar a fresh direction and to create an evolution of the champagne-style venue featured in previous years. Inspired by the expression ‘bon viveur’ – derived from the French phrase ‘bon vivant’ meaning one who lives well, the practice will fashion a colonial-style bar serving botanical cocktails.

Elsewhere, a seminar programme will feature insight from Jeffrey Beers, Sebastian Cox, Christiane Lemieux, Emilio Pimentel-Reid and David Mottershead, who will define the essential elements of establishing and maintaining a creative identity by exploring how top interior creatives build brands, while Matteo Bianchi, Jo Hamilton, Staffan Tollgard and Katharine Pooley will offer an interior designer’s take on product design.

Also new to this year’s event are the In The Making areas, where artisans and craftspeople will unveil how products are made, finished and decorated.

Highlighting materials and design processes, participants include Londonbased interior designer Shalini Misra, British wallcoverings brand Lincrusta, and Artisan Collective – who will host a group of designers and showcase skills such as furniture making, upholstering and wood-carving.

As the opening destination of London Design Festival, Decorex will present over 400 exhibitors, including Ferreira de Sá Rugs, Lasvit, Harrison Spinks and THG Paris, while contemporary craft furniture brand Another Country will showcase its work at the event for the first time. www.decorex.com

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11-15 NOV

Well-equipped for 2018 EQUIPHOTEL Taking place at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles in November, EquipHotel has bolstered this year’s Design Hub with a series of new trend studios, including Studio18 – a 3,000m2 pavilion offering insight into hotel and restaurant design across three floors – and Signature Space, a fullyfitted bar designed by Alnoor and Eric Lentulo of Etendart Studio for meetings and mini-conferences. The week-long event will also present hundreds of product launches across five different exhibition areas, and is set to attract more than 500 industry experts to its conferences and debates.

www.equiphotel.com

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05/09/2018 16:55

Sleep + Eat ROOMSETS ANNOUNCED

Sleep + Eat reveals the design teams behind this year’s hotel roomsets, along with the unexpected brand partnerships that will inspire their concepts.

R

esponding to the recent trend of lifestyle brands entering the hospitality space, Sleep + Eat has tasked four internationally renowned design studios with creating this year’s Sleep Set concept rooms, inspired by a theme of collaborating with unlikely brand partners. HBA London is working with the Natural History Museum; Denton Corker Marshall is tackling West Ham United Football Club; Yasmine Mahmoudieh has paired with Penguin Books; and AB Concept is collaborating with Maison Pierre Hermé Paris.

Innovative and engaging, these sets will be based on each brand’s aesthetics and values and will seek to facilitate new and imaginative ways for visitors to interact with the pairing.

As part of its evolution, Sleep + Eat is also expanding its interactive offering to include the Eat Sets – three more installations based on F&B spaces, namely a restaurant designed by Echo Architecture, a café from 3Stories and a nightclub by Shalini Misra.

The yearly programme – tasking designers and architects to interpret a common theme as a series of interactive hotel spaces – affords participants the opportunity to showcase their creative skills and expertise, and guests the chance to view unique demonstrations of emerging concepts. Previous themes have included 2016’s channeling of the Science of Tribes, and 2017’s exploration of loyalty.

This year’s sets will be developed solely around the brand collaborations lined-up, allowing each studio involved to follow where the idea takes it as opposed to working to the common, unifying directives of previous years, with more variety and deeper conceptual explorations the intended result. Participants will compete for the Sleep + Eat Set awards, with the winners of each category announced on the event’s final afternoon.

“The Sleep Sets are the ultimate in giving design firms free license to be innovative and thoughtful, to reflect an aspect of the world in a hotel room and to nudge the design conversation forward,” explains Mark Gordon, Sleep + Eat’s Brand Director. “This year will undoubtedly be exciting – four international practices, each matched with a much-loved non-hotel brand and challenged to translate the essence of their brand into a guestroom. I’m sure, the Sleep Sets will be a must-see for all our visitors.”

Sleep + Eat will take place from 20-21 November 2018 in the National Hall, Olympia London. The Sleep Sets will be located on the mezzanine level of the hall whilst the Eat Sets can be found on the ground floor. www.sleepandeatevent.com

183

SLEEP SET

SLEEP SET

AB CONCEPT

HBA LONDON

Maison Pierre Herme Paris

Natural History Museum

Ed Ng and Terence Ngan have taken inspiration from Fetish – one of celebrated French patissier-chocolatier Pierre Hermé’s seasonal collections – to develop the sensual and provocative Fetish Suite, a safe haven for guests to indulge in their guilty pleasures.

Throughout a space of coquettish hide-andreveals, a sense of voyeurism will be created through the use of frosted or reflective mirrors and hidden spaces, adding to the experience as visitors journey through the room.

Awakening the curious explorer in us all, HBA London will be inviting visitors to discover the unexpected in the most immediate of surroundings. Stimulated by the beauty of the natural world and the importance of a connection with it through design, the set will encourage the uncovering of treasures, the examination of exciting specimens and the drive to learn.

184

DuraSquare: Now with the new bathroom furniture series XSquare.

The exact and precise edges of the DuraSquare bathroom series blends perfectly with the latest furniture collection XSquare designed by Kurt Merki Jr. Handle-free fronts, striking chrome proďŹ les and 28 furniture ďŹ nishes enable an individual bathroom design. Co-ordinating mirrors feature a touch-free control panel for demisting and light or dimming functions. www.duravit.co.uk and pro.duravit.co.uk

UK_Sleeper_XSQ_001_236x275.indd 1

18.07.18 16:49

SLEEP SET

SLEEP SET

YASMINE MAHMOUDIEH

DENTON CORKER MARSHALL

Penguin Books

West Ham United Football Club

Inspired by literary themes of happiness, love and wisdom, Yasmine Mahmoudieh has created a narrative for her Sleep Set based on three different Penguin Books from diverse authors and varying points in history: Plato’s The Symposium, Selected Poems of Rumi, and Elizabeth and Her German Garden by Elizabeth Von Arnim. Each area within the room set will take its cue from a specific book, bringing leitmotifs to life and giving thoughtful visual expression to canonical written material.

To belong to West Ham United is to belong to a community deeply entrenched in history and ritual; a group of unique individuals unified in a collective by moments in time – this is the driving force behind Denton Corker Marshall’s Sleep Set design. Exploring the transition between collective and individual space whilst reflecting on the history and ritual of the club, the studio’s concept will offer moments to engage and reflect, creating new personal experiences for each guest.

186

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EAT SET

ECHO ARCHITECTURE Restaurant

Taking on the concept of multisensory dining, Echo Architecture will transport visitors to the Cornish seaside, combining physical design with intelligent lighting, soundscapes and olfactory stimuli. The restaurant setting draws inspiration from the landscape of Cornwall and the atmosphere will change with the time of day, creating a range of experiences that returning visitors can enjoy.

EAT SET

SHALINI MISRA Nightclub

With the recent demise of many clubbing venues in the UK, Shalini Misra aims to provide people with a place to party.

Inspired by the bright colours, bold and playful patterns and pop music of the 1980s, the designer will pair nostalgia with new technologies to present a hedonistic escape within the Sleep + Eat event. Expect glossy surfaces, neon colours and compelling optical illusions.

EAT SET

3STORIES Cafe

3Stories will challenge guests with a familiar play on the traditional British café concept, updating the iconic model to fit the new age of digital sociability and transposing luxury materials into an everyday space. In the spirit of ‘the caff’, the designers will work to foster a sense of community for Sleep + Eat’s exhibitors and attendees, displaying constantly updating, unfiltered communication on a café style menu board for all to see.

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Suppliers of contemporary interior and exterior furniture.

Head Office, 11 Cecil Road, Hale, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA15 9NY T +44 (0) 161 926 9398 www.ps-interiors.co.uk sales@ps-interiors.co.uk

Even more radical.

Produced by

2017 Finalists Professional Finalists Le Colline Micro-Climate Incantate by NetworkResort of Architecture* Vertical Autonomous Travel Suite by Aprilli Design Studio Play Design Hotel Aquaponic Experience Hotel by Varinot & Varinot Architectes

Official Partner

Living the Till

Student Winner 2017 Student Winnerby Daniel Cryszczon and Michal Witalis Room Extension Solution

Hyperloop Hotel

Founding Sponsor

Student Honorable Mention 2017 Student Mention Floating Hotel by Honorable Tam Dinh

Garden House

Innovator Level Sponsors

Visionary Level Sponsors

Now in our 11th year, Radical Innovation—

an openInnovation competition that callsforforvisionaries new hotel Radical is a platform from concepts—will morea ideas than around the globe. showcase For more than decade, we have ever before. challenged designers, hoteliers, and students alike to pioneer compelling ideas in travel and hospitality. Join Join us atYork the New onfinalists October 4 us in New City asMuseum this year’s present their game-changing concepts live and compete for a hear why their concepts have the power to $10,000 grand prize.

change hospitality. A grand prize winner will be selected by a live vote from our audience of hotel October 3, 2018 developers, owners, executives and designers.

The New Museum Save the date New York City

4 October 2017 | New Museum | New York

www.radicalinnovationaward.com radicalinnovationaward.com

Shaping water naturally since 1968

Celebrating 50 years and beyond Watch our original stories at vola.com FS1 Free-standing bath mixer with hand shower VOLA UK Ltd.- Highfield House - 108 The Hawthorns - Flitwick MK45 1FN - Tel.: 01525 720 111 - sales@vola.co.uk - www.vola.com VOLA International Studio - 32-36 Great Portland Street - London W1W 8QX - Tel: 020 7580 7722 - sales@vola.co.uk - www.vola.com

The bigger, the better B AT H R O O M S & A M E N I T I E S

As guests continue to search for seamless hotel experiences, designers turn their attention to open-plan bathroom layouts.

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pace, and how we use it to best effect, is as much an interior design concern as any other. With the in-room guest experience continuing to be defined by the bathroom, open-plan layouts and more spacious schemes are on the rise, with walk-in wet rooms, generous bathtubs and ever-larger showerheads growing in popularity as a way to meet guest expectation.

Traditionally associated with the five-star sector, larger and more luxurious bathrooms are now making their way into standard and select-service guestrooms. While water usage, particularly when it comes to statement showerheads, is an ongoing concern, hoteliers

are offsetting with other green initiatives such as the use of waste water to flush toilets.

Meanwhile, walk-in shower enclosures and wet rooms have become popular in opening up private quarters to create a more spacious look and feel, whilst fewer dividing walls and the use of glass partitions are helping to construct fluid living environments flooded with airiness and natural light.

Though the concept is not for everyone, particularly in the Asian market where many are concerned over the loss of privacy, open-plan layouts are certainly revealing new depths in the world of hotels.

GROHE Atrio Grohe’s Atrio is a series of taps that combine slim bodies with crossed handles to achieve a pared back aesthetic. Comprising 35 products, the collection is available in two Grohe Spa colours – SuperSteel and Brushed Hard Graphite – as well as the original Chrome colour2. The taps feature an integrated jet regulator to ensure a constant and flat flow of water, and make use of ergonomic handles for manually mixing cold and hot water – which can be rotated for added flexibility. www.grohe.co.uk

DURAVIT XSquare Designed by Kurt Merki Jr., the XSqaure range from Duravit includes cabinets and vanity units featuring quadrant shaped chrome profiles, handle-free fronts and tip-on technology – allowing drawers to open and close gently. Available in 28 finishes including matte light blue, concrete grey, satin matte aubergine and a linen décor, the series can be combined with the DuraSquare, Vero Air, ME by Starck and P3 Comforts ceramic collections for a cohesive scheme. www.duravit.co.uk

KOHLER Modern Life Modern Life from Kohler comprises a WC and sink, both created with hygiene and easy cleaning in mind. The rimless design of the WC enables each flush to reach the entire inner bowl, while the edge of the sink flares slightly to allow the basin to be wiped clean with one movement. Kohler’s CleanCoat technology glaze is also applied to the toilet’s ceramic, ensuring liquids bead up on the surface to prevent the growth of stains and water spots. www.kohler.co.uk

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HANSGROHE MyEdition Axor has marked its 25 year anniversary with the launch of MyEdition, a collection of taps created in collaboration with Stuttgart-based studio Phoenix Design. The series comprises nine products, including pieces for washbasins, bidets and bathtubs, which can be chosen from 15 Axor FinishPlus glazes, two glass options and five materials: metal, wood, marble, leather and porcelain. MyEdition also features PowderRain spray, which uses six openings per nozzle to transform spray into micro droplets and create a gentle cocoon of water. www.hansgrohe.co.uk

THG PARIS System French bathroom atelier THG Paris has launched three new collections in collaboration with designers Arik Levy, Gilles & Boissier and Stéphanie Coutas. Showcased at Milan Design Week, System by Arik Levy brings together precious metals, architectural profiles and contemporary inspiration. The collection features marble and crystal accents within a sharp profile, combining modern shapes with the designer’s technical approach for a fluid tap that evokes the movement of water. www.thg-paris.com

AQATA Matte Black

Antrax IT has installed its Tubone radiators at Hotel Adriatic in Rovinj, using the two- and three-paired elements models to echo the hotel’s interiors. Designed

by Andrea Crosetta, the series can be mounted vertically or horizontally, and is made up of an oval ring crafted from a six-centimetre diameter tube. Tubone comes in 200 colours, and is available in an electric version.

The latest addition to Aqata’s Design Solutions series, Matte Black combines matte finished profiles and steady bars with glass patterns, which are offered in three designs; grid, horizontal and border. The patterns are applied to the glass before its toughening process meaning they are easy to clean, and can be fitted to the brand’s DS400 shower screens and DS440 double entry models. Each screen is suitable for power showers, and can be used in conjunction with shower trays or wet rooms.

www.antrax.it

www.aqata.co.uk

ANTRAX IT Hotel Adriatic

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APAISER Zen Australian manufacturer Apaiser has unveiled Zen, a range of baths, basins and butler’s trays inspired by the repetition of patterns found in Moorish design. Seeking to balance hard and soft lines, as well as geometric and architectural elements, Zen takes cues from vaulted ceilings, Karesansui gardens and the delicacy of Japanese ceramics, using pared down aesthetics and a rhythm of raked concentric circles to make reference to waves and rippling water. www.apaiser.com

BETTE Forest Bette has taken inspiration from nature to create a new colour for its glazed titanium-steel baths, washbasins and shower areas. Forest, which features shades of green, brown and violet, gives the brand’s bathtubs a sculptural character that changes depending on the angle of falling light. Like Bette’s other rangesß of standard and matte options, the new colour will offer durability, strength and easy-care, as well as scratch and UV resistance. www.bette.de

BLUEPRINT CERAMICS Flat & Fizz

The Mawi bathtub comes as built-in or freestanding models; the latter version featuring a relax area with four cushions for maximum comfort. Incorporating a new control system with chromo and Bluetooth functions, it has an enhanced hydro-massage offer with Filo jets and SkinSublime – a process that fills bath water with oxygen-rich micro bubbles.

The Flat & Fizz collection from BluePrint Ceramics combines plain block colours with textured effects to create a series of wall tiles characterised by contrast. Available in 750x300mm formats with a glossy finish, the tiles make use of a widespread palette of colours and shades, while textured options afford a bubbly fizz effect.

www.glass1989.it

www.blueprintceramics.com

GLASS1989 Mawi

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NOVA2 BATH ACCESSORIES The NOVA2 series is available in the six FROST finishes: Universal Brushed, Perfect Polished, Original Copper, Modern Gold, Classic Black and Pure White. The NOVA2 series is designed by Bønnelycke mdd.

Consistent details such as the shadow edge between the mounting surface, and the product compliments the discreet and complete series. All elements are interpretations of the meeting between the stringent form, and the cylindrical form - this is quite apparent on the hooks for the system. The products are made from stainless steel 304. With a refined sense of simplicity, technical details and stylish fit, has managed to combine aesthetics and function in one and create a range of quality products that will adorn any project.

2018_08_02 Frost-Ann-236x275.indd 1

www.frost.dk

02/08/18 11.31

LAUFEN Sonar Laufen has collaborated with Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola to create Sonar, a series that introduces the third generation of its SaphirKeramik material. Incorporating floor-standing and wall-mounted washbasins, as well as a bathtub crafted from Sentec ceramic, the series explores the functional and decorative properties of SaphirKeramik, with washbasin bowls featuring three-dimensional textures that can be selected as an optional alternative to traditionally smooth surfaces. www.laufen.co.uk

FROST Unu Wash Table The Unu Wash Table from Frost can be customised according to specified drawings, while laser cuttings for pipes and mixers are also available on request. Featuring a shelf load of 80kg, the table is complemented by the brand’s Round Mirrors, which feature slender-edged profiles and are powder-coated in black or white. The Nova2 bathroom accessories, meanwhile, have been designed by Bønnelycke MDD and come in six finishes including original copper, modern gold and pure white. www.frost.dk

TUBES Elements

Expanding its original Oberon collection to include three new bathtubs, Villeroy & Boch has launched a series of models with central outlets for the first time.

Oberon 2.0 comprises a built-in bathtub in two sizes as well as a space-saving rear wall model, which is supplied with a coloured panel that can be customised in a selection of Sikkens, NCS and RAL shades.

The Elements range from Tubes is characterised by a lightweight aluminium structure of just 28mm thickness. Sculpted in rectangular and squared shapes, and available in water or electric versions, the collection’s square models can be installed vertically and horizontally, and distribute heat evenly using a finned back plate. For additional functionality, a co-ordinated element featuring an electric towel warmer can be combined with the radiating unit.

www.villeroy-boch.co.uk

www.tubesradiatori.com

VILLEROY & BOCH Oberon

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INFO@SANIPEXGROUP.COM INFO@SANIPEXGROUP.COM

RITMONIO Taormina Comprising basin mixers, built-in mixers and showerheads – the former offered with or without a handle lever – Taormina from Ritmonio champions user functionality. Available in six finishes including brushed black chrome and gold, the body of the mixer evokes the shape of the Ancient Theatre of Taormina’s columns, while its gentle lines refer to the shores of the Mediterranean. The range also features water saving qualities such as eco limited flow, which produces less than nine litresper-minute and encourages responsible usage. www.ritmonio.it

VOLA Round The Round Series from Vola, featuring the hand-shower T60 and shower rail T65, brings together circular and cylindrical forms inspired

by Arne Jacobsen-designed taps from 45 years ago. The hand shower comes with a standard flow of 12 litres per minute, and is also available in a water-saving model with a flow of 7.5 litres-per-minute, while the shower rail can be attached to the wall with a circular fixing – matching and adjacent to the round hand showerhead. www.vola.com

SANIPEX GROUP Monroe

Victoria + Albert’s Barcelona 2 and 3 bathtubs follow the same aesthetic as the original Barcelona model, but make use of more compact dimensions and a void space underneath for waste plumbing. The models can be co-ordinated with the Barcelona 48, Barcelona 55 and Barcelona 64 freestanding basins, and are offered in seven different exterior finishes.

The latest collection from Sanipex Group’s Bagno Design brand, Monroe comprises solid bronze basins, illuminated or nonilluminated mirrors, and metallic drawers in golden Oro and Platinum with oak veneer Carbone countertops. The countertops range in size from 710-1810mm, and can be partnered with 700mm or 900mm drawer units. Meanwhile, the double-drawer freestanding option – a 900mm unit available in both Oro and Platinum – is completed with a matte black leg.

www.vandabaths.com

www.sanipexgroup.com

VICTORIA + ALBERT Barcelona

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HIGHLINE FLOOR DR AIN | CUSTOM

A S C A NDIN AV I A N T RE AT F OR YO UR B AT HR O OM Scandinavian design is known worldwide for its cool minimalist look.

Now it makes wonders for the bathroom, giving you an almost invisible drain.

The only thing giving the drain away is a narrow opening between the tiles where the water flows away. The rest of the drain is hidden beneath the tiles providing your bathroom with a unified look. The groundbreaking drain is called HighLine Custom and is designed and developed by the Scandinavian award winning brand Unidrain. www.unidrain.com

CLAYBROOK STUDIO Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Claybrook Studio has collaborated with designer Joyce Wang at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London, creating a series of built-in bathtubs for selected guestrooms. The practice designed over seven variations of its bespoke model to fit the different room layouts of the hotel, as well as a two-part system for assembly on-site. Four-hole tapware was installed on the deck of the bathtubs, while an invisible magnetic access door was also integrated to facilitate maintenance. www.claybrookstudio.co.uk

PERRIN & ROWE Hoxton Hoxton from Perrin & Rowe includes a bath-shower mixer, shower set, basin mixer and accessories such as a robe hook and towel rails.

The collection features three finishes; chrome, nickel and pewter, with four other glosses such as satin brass and 24-carat plated gold available on order. To control water temperatures, Perrin & Rowe uses a thermostatic shower valve for its bath-shower mixers, while a wax cartridge is used to thermostatically monitor Hoxton showers. www.perrinandrowe.co.uk

ROBERT WELCH Burford

Comprising a waste channel, sloping support, sealing and enamelled shower surface, NexSys from Kaldewei is a four-in-one installation-ready system. The narrow waste channel features a brushed stainless steel cover, while the shower surfaces are offered in a range of size options for maximum flexibility. Like other Kaldewei bathroom solutions, the system is 100% recyclable.

The Burford range of bathroom accessories from Robert Welch includes mirrors, towel rails and a glass shelf as well as shower baskets, robe hooks and toilet roll holders – all of which are crafted from mirror-polished 18/10 stainless steel. Defined by soft square shapes, the collection is resistant to rust and corrosion, unlike chrome, and can be easily maintained.

www.kaldewei.co.uk

www.robertwelch.com

KALDEWEI NexSys

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TECE TeceFilo A new addition to Tece’s range of flushplates, the TeceFilo electronic urinal cover plate is available in stainless steel, glass and plastic, and features anti-fingerprint coating. The system is also equipped with an infrared sensor that detects the user to automatically trigger flushing, and is programmable with special functions to ensure hygienic and energy-saving usage. Glass and plastic versions can be fitted using a separate installation frame for complete flush integration, while stainless steel models have a maximum projection of seven millimetres. www.tece.com

UTOPIA PROJECTS The Royal Lancaster Utopia Projects has worked with interior designer David Morris on The Royal Lancaster as part of its 50 th anniversary renovation, supporting the design, supply and aftercare of its bathrooms. Three years in the making, the project included 12 room type specifications, each of which was thoughtfully planned by taking the housekeeping staff to the manufacturers to examine specified products and demonstrating the advantages of different items to the maintenance team. www.utopiaprojects.co.uk

UNIDRAIN HighLine Custom

German manufacturer Aliseo has introduced Interface, a battery powered facial recognition mirror that lights as the user approaches. The mirror’s facial sensor activates a translucent acrylic edge LED lighting system to produce an amber glow, while its foldaway arm with integrated vertical slot adjustment makes it suitable for more compact bathroom spaces.

Unidrain’s HighLine Custom floor drain features a flat base on which tiles can be laid, making it a discreet yet functional solution for shower cubicles and wet rooms.

Available with or without a frame, the drainage unit below the floor is manufactured from stainless steel, while patented wall flanges also help to prevent water damage.

www.aliseo.de

www.unidrain.com

ALISEO Interface

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AMENITIES

ICON GUEST SUPPLY Dispenser One Dispenser One is a tamper and theft-proof liquid dispenser, featuring an interchangeable cartridge in an aluminium and ABS shell. www.madebyicon.com

DECOR WALTHER Just Look

GROUPE GM Caudalie

Just Look by Decor Walther features motion sensor technology and an auto on-off function, allowing the mirror to illuminate as the face approaches and switch off as it moves away. The series is available with chrome, matte black and matte white finishes.

Collaborating with skincare brand Caudalie, Groupe GM has created a bath range inspired by its VinothĂŠrapie Spas and the Fleur de Vigne scent.

www.decor-walther.de

www.groupegm.com

KING OF COTTON Argan Meadow King of Cotton has entered the amenities market with Argan Meadow, a 100% organic range from its new luxury bath and body care brand Spa Essential. www.kingofcotton.com

TINA FREY DESIGNS Resin Bath

LEFROY BROOKS Mackintosh

Featuring hand-sculpted shapes and leather cord details, the Resin Bath series includes a wastebasket, tissue box, soap pump bottle and vanity tray.

Lefroy Brooks has launched a series of Art Deco accessories to complement its Mackintosh faceted spouts. Manufactured using polished silver nickel and black ceramic, the designs reference the brand’s archive of historical hardware, and feature angular details attached to stepped, octagonal back plates.

www.tinafreydesigns.com

www.lefroybrooks.com

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THE NEXT GENERATION OF DISPENSERS HAS ARRIVED A highly customisable system with a sophisticated modern design, tamper and theft proof coupled with a smart and quickly interchangeable inner cartridge bottle. Available as a table top or wall mount version, optionally with an invisible air fragrance application.

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“There are no rules, and those are the rules.”

— Jim Henson

“Art is not a plaything, but a necessity” — Rebecca West

“Expel” by Tamsen Hall © Kalisher

kalisher.com

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Art Decade ART & SCULPTURE

Operators are on the look-out for experiences that create an emotional connection, but has the perfect solution been hung on their walls all along?

Words: Kristofer Thomas

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ttracted more to emotional resonance than what is perhaps viewed as the staid, traditional hotel, a generation of guests now making its first travel bookings has urged operators to reconsider exactly what goes into their properties. Great effort has been made to appease the rise of the anti-consumerist consumer, be that through grand design statements, partnerships with wellness gurus, or outings, expeditions and journey-style itineraries. Seeking to provide guests with memories that will stick with them long after check-out, hotels now co-opt emerging technologies, borrow from the latest self-care teachings and adopt programmes that will both

contribute to the wider property in a coherent, suitable manner whilst enticing those guests who prefer memory to material.

However, whilst sustainable cooking workshops, yoga classes and themed events come and go, the perfect means to create the type of genuine emotive impact these offers seek to generate has been hiding in plain sight all along.

“Access no longer controls who can see great art; it’s everywhere,” explains David Winton, President of Kalisher, a North Carolinabased hospitality-specific art curator. “For the guest, it means they have a moment of joy and connect with the experience through art

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“Access no longer controls who can see great art; it’s everywhere. For the guest, it means they have a moment of joy and connect with the experience through art and design. For us, it means we’ve helped tell the story of the hotel.”

David Winton, Kalisher

and design. For us, it means we’ve helped tell the story of the hotel,” he says of the practice’s work.

Be it the 2,700-key Park MGM Las Vegas, with its carefully planned network of familiar Vegas visuals, or Paradiso Ibiza with its in-house art department and residency programme, art – and this includes sculpture, digital and forms beyond painting – plays a major role in contemporary hotel projects of all shapes and sizes, whether guests notice or not. With an established, historic power to stay with its audience, a strong foundation of art can work to solve the experiential crisis whilst also contributing to the wider design scheme with visuals and notions that tell the story of both property and brand. As such, hotel art curators are in demand, and the lines between gallery and hotel are blurring. “Art complements and completes the design narrative now,” Winton adds.

This narrative, a form of experience itself, is perhaps the most important element a guest seeking less tangible pleasures can engage with. Temporary by nature, hospitality has it difficult in terms of lasting impressions, but by connecting a property’s artistic programme to ideas central to a locale, a brand’s values and a hotel’s identity, curators can guide a true experiential offer.

Companies such as Resource Décor stock an expansive collection of art in a wide variety of categories, allowing designers to choose individual pieces they see as complementary to the scheme.

Alternatively, curators like Muzeo can work to generate an entire room’s worth of artistic details, as the French practice did for Four Seasons Hotel Ten Trinity Square, working with 4BI & Associates’ founder Bruno Moinard – the designer of the hotel’s guestrooms – to match his own abstract artwork with float mounted frames and additional work reflecting shades of the scheme.

At Four Seasons Papagayo on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, Kalisher searched out a centrepiece that would complement and tie together Meyer Davis’ interior scheme whilst contributing a genuine sense of place. Collaborating with textile designer Paulina Ortiz, the result is Interwoven Shells – a sizeable sculpture constructed from pulpcovered hemp threads woven through a metallic skeleton, its earthy tones recalling the gulf’s geography.

Similarly, at Hilton Des Moines, in the dry, landlocked state of Ohio, Kalisher worked with Susan Chrysler on the property’s sculptural touchstone, a piece that would at once tell guests everything they needed to know about the hotel’s aesthetic – a scheme indebted to movement – and convey a moment of unique meaning.

The resulting Azurre, an aluminium and Plexiglas statement piece exuding geometry and motion, hangs above the landing staircase, creating an intelligent juxtaposition; the water-inspired work at odds with its surrounding landscape, but memorable for this reason.

Likewise, commissioned by Copenhagen’s boutique Hotel Sanders, London-based studio Dias Contemporary sought to marry inspiration drawn from local features such as a nearby theatre with elements of owner Alexander Kølpin’s personal biography. As such, a series of expressionist works on paper by Elke Sada, responding to both the notations of classical music and Kølpin’s former life as a ballet dancer, is joined by reflections on 20th century cubism by Lily Ludlow in a nod to a celebrated period of Danish art.

In Paris, Atelier 27 has curated the art programme for Hotel Lutetia as part of an extensive renovation and relaunch; the local touch of the studio’s founders Joséphine Fossey and Florence Lipszyc adding an extra layer of substance to the interior scheme. Pairing traditional painted work with ephemera including a library of 5,000 books,

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Above: At Arizona’s The Phoenician, Eaton Fine Art tapped into culture, history and the hotel’s interior scheme to curate a programme rooted in narrative

the programme balances the values of the client with the desires of guests to encounter, if not material possessions, then materials with the power to leave a mark.

Likewise, at Hans’ Bar & Grill, the restaurant within 11 Cadogan Gardens Hotel in London, designed by Goddard Littlefair and Reardon Smith Architects. Artiq commissioned collage artist Rebecca Jewell to create a series of works combining the artist’s own inspiration – cultural museum collections, bird specimens and artefacts – with the restaurant’s identity, the space taking its name from Sir Hans Sloane, a natural historian whose collection led to the founding of The British Museum. Creating a strong visual and intellectual link between the space and its art, the curation process here ties together experience, history and aesthetics for a design that can speak to guests on multiple levels.

“A hotel’s art program provides a sense of place and acts as a window into the culture of the property’s location and history,” explains Gwendolyn Mesa, Director of Projects at Eaton Fine Art, whose programme for The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona, brings together textural elements of the interior space with the work of local artists and sculptures both realist and figurative. “Our creative team researched the culture and style of The Phoenician’s location – both past and present – and used this information, in combination with the textures and patterns of the interiors, to drive our narrative

for the artwork. The pieces displayed at The Phoenician reflect the overarching story in which the property is deeply rooted.”

In art’s ability to depict identity and contribute to the emotional resonance of a property further lies a number of strategic benefits in terms of creating a series of different experiences for guests – often within the same location, or within the same brand. Curating work for AC Hotel New York Times Square, AC Hotel Oklahoma City Bricktown and AC Hotel San Juan Condado, New York-based firm Indiewalls sought to generate several tones within a singular brand.

The Times Square location features a selection of refined sculptures, minimalist pattern work and impressionistic canvases, indicative of the cosmopolitan surroundings, whilst the San Juan programme brings together more abstract vibes with a punctuation of sculptures shaped from materials like steel, porcelain and iron, channelling the connection to history and natural terrain that characterises modern day Puerto Rico.

“Art can even help distinguish between two hotels of the same brand in the same city,” muses Ari Grazi, President of Indiewalls. “In these cases, hotels will ask us to help them find artists in that specific neighbourhood. That could mean Williamsburg versus the Lower East Side in New York City, or Downtown versus Venice Beach in LA. A local art programme can transform the hotel into a hyper-local cultural learning experience for guests.”

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Above: Paulina Ortiz’s Interwoven shells at Four Seasons Papagayo draws from both Meyer Davis’ interior scheme and the surrounding Costa Rican terrain

This function has proved especially important in the case of CitizenM’s trio of London locations: Tower of London, Bankside and Shoreditch, the different districts requiring disparate programmes to signal their identity to receptive guests. CitizenM Tower of London features Andy Warhol’s playful pop-art portrait of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, playing to the tourist crowd expecting a touch of monarchy from a hotel in such close proximity to the home of England’s Crown Jewels. CitizenM Shoreditch contains an abstract depiction of local musician FKA Twigs by rising conceptual artist Alex Da Corte; the cool, edgy choice for London’s artiest area.

Bankside, meanwhile, opts for the sharp worldliness of Gavin Turk’s striking Large Red Fright Wig painting, a more urban offer which links to the artist’s nearby Nail sculpture, reinforcing a geographic connection. Noted for its artistic leanings, with the brand even publishing a handbook guide to some of more prominent pieces, the deployment of three very specific styles, movements and mediums ensures both a capable presence in the city and a range of experiences for guests to discover.

In Grazi’s words: “Hotels have always sought to expose travellers to experiences beyond what they normally get in their day-to-day, but a well-curated art programme signals to guests that the hotel is also a place for new experiences, discoveries, and inspiration through art.”

With the rise in prominence of hotel art, and the involvement of world-renowned figures including Antony Gormley (The Beaumont’s crouching man installation) and Damien Hirst (Faena Hotel Miami Beach’s gilded mammoth) the lines between hotel, gallery and museum are blurring. Lio Malca, owner of Tulum’s Casa Malca, uses his boutique hotel as a platform to showcase an extensive private collection, whilst Park Hotel Tokyo hosted a buying element of Art Fair Tokyo 2018, with 42 galleries using its guestrooms as spaces to present prized pieces – the route of individual spaces through the property allowing for themed areas and precise categorisation of the work.

Evolving from an element of the interior scheme to identity signifier to now the defining aspect of certain projects and brands, hotel art could be a key to unlocking a generation of guests seeking experience above all, and with the sale of gallery-esque brand 21c Museum Hotels to AccorHotels, the burgeoning art hotel model could be poised to break into mainstream consciousness.

“Decades ago hotel art was its own category,” Winton concludes.

“Because of limitations in printing technology at that time, it had its constraints. But now that’s all gone. The safety nets and training wheels are off; conversation-worthy and great art belongs everywhere.”

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information, accessible to our Clients at all times • Proven effective cost management with upmost quality through transparency

• Project management continuity from concept to completion • Knowledgeable and passionate consultants with years of industry knowledge and experience • Integral part of the team on site • Argenta is committed to our projects’ objectives • Argenta has the initiative to go the extra distance for our Clients

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COSENTINO UK- CENTRAL OFFICES Unit 10 Bartley Point/ Osborn Way/ Hook / Hampshire RG27 9GX/ HQ: info.uk@cosentino.com

Opplev den nye Feel the new fløyelsaktige velvety texture teksturen

Specifier P R O D U C T S & S E R V I C E S F O R H O S P I TA L I T Y D E S I G N

MUUTO Fiber Lounge Chair Featuring soft curves across a wooden and tubular base, Muuto’s Fiber Lounge Chair combines a low centre of gravity with an ergonomic form that embraces the body of the user. Bringing a touch of Scandinavian simplicity to open or intimate spaces, the Iskos Berlin-designed seat comes in a selection of upholsteries and is widely customisable in made-to-order options. www.muuto.com

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JUNG LS 1912 Designed to ensure that its cover finish flushes with the frame, enabling the toggle to become the standout design feature, Jung’s LS 1912 range emphasises the presence of its switch as a prominent aesthetic element.

The toggle is available in cylindrical, conical or cuboid forms, whilst finishes include classic brass, stainless steel, matte aluminium and varnished dark brown. www.jung.de

TARKETT Cementi Click Cementi Click is Tarkett’s click-assembled mineral flooring range constructed from authentic cement, which combines the look and feel of a ceramic floor with the on-trend interior aesthetic of exposed materials.

The click feature reduces both downtime and costs, with the design incorporating subtle marble and natural clay tone effects for an elegant architectural surface. www.tarkett.com

LOUIS POULSEN Flindt Wall Light Designed by Christian Flindt, Louis Poulsen’s Flindt Wall light is a circular, wall-mounted fixture that brings bold, sculptural illumination to settings both indoors and out. Sending a gentle glow out in multiple directions, the series is defined by a light egress from an opening in the top, whilst a portion of the beam is distributed up and back for an indirect profile of a half moon. www.louispoulsen.com

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News, music or alarm function: The Smart Radio offers unique listening pleasure at any time of the day.

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Pleasant sound.

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FURNITURE FUSION Master Collection Comprising a selection of side chairs and a bar stool in two heights, Furniture Fusion’s Master Collection marries clean lines and versatility, bringing together a simple four-leg lacquered steel frame and warm upholstery. Alternative finishes include black nickel, gold or rose gold, whilst the combination of veneered oak or pastoral walnut with Fenix can add a rustic touch. www.furniturefusion.co.uk

BURGESS A-Fold Table

MORGAN Pimlico

ALPI WOOD Alpi-On

Portable and lightweight, Burgess’ A-Fold Table is quick to install or fold down, making it ideal for functions and events. A unique folding mechanism secures the legs flat against the table top for minimal storage, with different styles including white, contemporary white and timber available. Individual tables can be linked together, and modesty panels can be added for comfort and cable fixing.

Comprising a spectrum of size options from small footprints to high-backs, Morgan’s Pimlico collection marries flowing lines with an oval seat pad. The tall sofa booth and lounge chair both offer practical acoustic properties and a form affording privacy, whilst lower options including deep, banquette and dining chairs are suited to communal use and socialising.

Featuring 12 types of surface panel, the Alpi-On collection of finished panels seek to create unique combinations of grain, colour and texture.

Double faced with a varnish finish, brushed or smooth, and with the option of additional borders, Alpi-On is currently available in white and sand, rosewood, Datuk ebony and walnut striped, responding to new flooring aesthetics and offering designers functionality and versatility.

www.burgessfurniture.com

www.morganfurniture.com

www.alpiwood.com

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ASTRO LIGHTING Kiwi Wall Light Constructed from die-cast zinc and complemented with a delicate glass shade, Astro Lighting’s Kiwi Wall light sees simple lines connecting a round base to an oval shade for a simple yet distinctive wall luminaire. Finishes include either a traditional plated chrome or warming polished copper. www.astrolighting.com

VASCO Mono The design of Vasco’s Mono, a minimalist heating solution available in 55 colours, takes inspiration from decorative art in that the components can be mounted separately, together at a distance or on an angle.

Individually controlled, the vertical aluminium sections can be widely customised. www.vasco.eu

ULSTER CARPETS Grand Central Hotel, Belfast Designing exclusively for Belfast’s Grand Central Hotel, Ulster has supplied over 12,000m 2 of bespoke carpets to enhance spaces from the property’s lobby to its 23rd floor Observatory Bar. Employing highly textured Axminster, the organic, abstract design adds a touch of contemporary luxury throughout. www.ulstercarpets.com

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INTERIOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

FIND OUT MORE AT LIVINGDESIGN.COM Brovägen 1, 18276 Stocksund, Sweden T: +46 8 755 17 65 info@livingdesign.com

ERCOL Flow Chair Designed by Tomoko Azumi, Ercol’s Flow Chair features a curved, flowing back created by steam bending premium timber. The seat is available in a variety of wood finishes and colourways including pale beech or rich dark walnut, and its profile allows it to be stacked in fours. Created around a series of sweeping lines, Flow can be paired with Ercol’s Ponte table or used as an occasional chair. www.ercol.com

TOPFLOOR Go-go

VIGHT Molar

MATER Rocker

London-based manufacturer Topfloor by Esti has entered the hospitality market with the launch of Go-go, a collection of machine-woven runners in wool and tencel. Comprising five designs with four standard colourways, the series is widely customisable and can be supplied as hand-tufted rugs. Founded by graphic artist Esti Barnes in 1998, Topfloor’s trademark designs champion surface carving and colour shading.

Vight’s Molar desk light is part of a tonguein-cheek, dentist-inspired family of lighting products. Featuring contrasting, pastelcoloured metal powder coated frame, the piece brings a touch of fun to interior schemes. Function-led, with adjustable height and angle, the range was developed in response to a demand for quirkier, more colourful environments.

Designed by Shawn Place, Mater’s Rocker series draws inspiration from West Coast indigenous art. Available in two finishes – white matte lacquered FSC-certified oak wood with Harness Whiskey leather and Sirka Grey stained FSCcertified oak wood with Harness Mustang leather – Rocker is constructed in Europe from oak and vegetable-tanned leather, and combines comfort with a sustainable style.

www.topfloorrugs.com

www.vight.com

www.materdesign.com

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SLEEP RECHARGE REVITALISE 16-19 September 2018 Stand K33

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NATURAL SLEEP COMFORT FOR THE HOSPITALITY MARKET For further information contact: Stephen Truswell Harrison Spinks Hospitality Sales Director Tel: 07741 312608 Email: struswell@harrisonspinks.co.uk www.harrisonspinkscontract.co.uk

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CASE STUDY

CASE STUDY

AD Associates

Havwoods

Crystal Mozart

The Athenaeum Hotel

London-based multidisciplinary firm AD Associates has worked with Crystal Cruises to reimagine th Crystal Mozart river vessel.

Designing the 154-passenger ship’s public spaces, as well as leading research and development support, the studio spent eight months transforming the former largest riverboat in Europe, the project encompassing art curation, lighting design and dressing.

Starting life as River Mozart and sailing for Peter Deilmann, Crystal Mozart is double the width of a typical European riverboat and navigates the wider locks of the Danube River between Passau, Germany and Budapest, Hungary. The vessel’s unique layout thus presented design challenges and creative opportunities in equal measure.

Crystal’s stripping of the ship to its steel before building it back up to comprise more spacious suites allowed AD Associates to instil a more land-based residential feel of a luxury hotel.

Combining an increased amount of light from the new layout with clean lines and layered depth, the studio has delivered an updated scheme in line with Crystal Cruises’ values whilst adding its own signature touches developed across a decade of specialising in marine projects.

Havwoods’ solid oak herringbone flooring has been chosen

by Kinnersley Kent Design to enhance the lobby space of The Athenaeum Hotel, a 146-key property in Mayfair, London.

Taking inspiration from the glamour and prestige of the hotel’s past – The Athenaeum was a hotspot for celebrity sightings in the 1970s and 80s – Kinnersley Kent Design instilled the building with its own take on Art Deco. Bringing a brand ethos of ‘stay individual’ to life through an eclectic mix of classic and contemporary British and European furnishings, the design is accompanied by the seductively dark finish of Havwoods’ planks.

Uniting the lobby, social spaces and a restaurant within a cohesive design vision, the flooring element both introduces a sense of contrast whilst complementing the rich palette.

Situated adjacent to Green Park, The Athenaeum Hotel was originally opened for business by the Rank Organisation in the 1970s. Now under private ownership, the property has this year undergone an extensive, multi-million pound refurbishment to update the public spaces as well as the 134 en-suite bedrooms and 12 luxurious suites. www.havwoods.co.uk

www.adassociates.london

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‘Dragonfly’ runner from the GO-GO Collection by Esti Barnes

www.topfloorrugs.com T: +44 (0)20 7795 3333

ANNUAL HOTEL CONFERENCE 10 & 11 OCTOBER 2018 H I LT O N M A N C H E S T E R D E A N S G AT E

Elevate to Innovate To register for the UK’s leading hotel conference, please visit

www.theahc.co.uk Readers of Sleeper are invited to join hoteliers, owners, operators and managers as well as investors, developers, designers, architects, consultants and tourism leaders for two days of unrivalled practical knowledge designed to add real value to your business operations.

An exclusive hotelier rate is available – notably discounted from the standard rate.

Please contact Rowan Scahill (rowan.scahill@theahc.co.uk) for further details.

Running for the 15th year and attracting over 850 delegates, The AHC is the leading event for the UK hotel industry.

Innovation is now inherent in our personal and professional lives as we encourage and expect enterprise, creativity and freedom in work and leisure. The hospitality industry stands to benefit from immeasurable opportunities facilitated by innovative concepts, technologies, design and experiences but often this is a baffling, complex and misunderstood world. The AHC will discuss, deliberate, converse and debate these subjects, as well as many more, across the two-day event amidst a back drop of multiple networking opportunities providing new contacts to enhance your network and give your business the tools to grow.

The AHC 2018 promises to consistently maintain an emphasis on delivering practical knowledge to add value to your hotel business.

We look forward to welcoming you to The AHC

Learn. Network.

Be Inspired.

@AnnualHotelConf #AHC2018

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19-22 SEPTEMBER 2018 OLYMPIA | LONDON

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Baths. Shower Trays. Basins.

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DERNIER & HAMLYN IS A BRITISH COMPANY SPECIALISING IN BESPOKE CONTEMPORARY AND HERITAGE LIGHTING DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE.

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Around the world in 29,166 days 700,000 HEURES, VARIOUS LOC ATIONS

If you subscribe to the presumption that hotels are fixed and static, locked in place to specific locations, then Thierry Teyssier, founder of 700,000 Heures, is sorry to inform you that this line of thought is being hastily erased. “The world is too rich to settle for trips which all look alike,” Teyssier muses of his project, a wandering hotel of sorts that ups sticks every six months or so for pastures new. “It’s time to invent a new way to discover the world, which is more authentically connected to people and cultures, more enriching and more humane for all.” And invent he has, curating a series of accommodations in disparate spots across the globe to temporarily house the project on

its rolling travels. Planned stops include a traditional Khmer house in Cambodia’s temple-laden Angkor region, the expansive dunes of Brazil’s Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, and the tranquil olive groves of Salento, Southern Italy. At the end of each itinerary, the project packs its belongings into a collection of over 100 leather trunks to send onwards. Borrowing its title from the average time each human spends on Earth, Teyssier seeks to create an ongoing series of moving experiences, both figuratively and literally. With a troupe of modern guests seeking out experience-driven travel, 700,000 Heures could prove a perfect antidote to conventional models.

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D E S I G N PO R T R A I T.

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