HOSPITALITY EXPERIENCE & DESIGN ISSUE 88 WWW.SLEEPERMAGAZINE.COM
QUINTA DA COMPORTA – PORTUGAL • AHEAD WINNERS • JAO CAMP – OKAVANGO DELTA
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CONTENTS ISSUE 88
056
HOTEL REVIEWS
101
Quinta da Comporta Portugal
056
Crossroads 062 Maldives © Giulia Venanzi
Stock Exchange Hotel
072
Paramount House Hotel
078
Jao Camp
082
Manchester Sydney
072
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Native 088 Manchester
Market Street Hotel © Manolo Yllera
Edinburgh
Chapter Roma
101
Kafnu Alexandria
107
Rome
Sydney
088
095
© Keith Collie 003
CONTENTS ISSUE 88 FEATURES
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Meeting... Paul D. Taylor
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The Lobby
045
Following a year that saw Stonehill Taylor wrap up an iconic transformation and scoop two AHEAD awards, President and founding partner Paul Taylor talks creating hotels for the city that never sleeps.
From pop-ups to installations, The Lobby explores hotel life in all its forms.
Postcard Hotels
112
With its sights set on 50 openings in five years, The Postcard Hotel is seeking to shift the luxury hospitality paradigm in India and beyond.
AHEAD 128
The 2019 winners of AHEAD’s Europe and MEA programmes are announced at ceremonies in London and Dubai.
095
048
DEPARTMENTS Check-In 020 Drawing Board Business Centre
022 114
Events 125 © Robert Rieger
Floorcoverings 145 Specifier 157 Check-Out
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© Dana Allen
004
145
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Silhouette The new Indoor and Outdoor rug design by Jaime Hayรณn
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H Pavilion & Dots Spotlight by Kettal Studio Molo Sofa & Chaise longue by Rodolfo Dordoni Band Chair & Candleholders by Patricia Urquiola Half Dome Lamp by Naoto Fukasawa Geometrics Rugs by Doshi Levien
VISIT RH.COM/CO N T R ACT TO L EA R N MO RE.
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WELCOME HOSPITALITY EXPERIENCE & DESIGN ISSUE 88 WWW.SLEEPERMAGAZINE.COM
QUINTA DA COMPORTA – PORTUGAL • AHEAD WINNERS • JAO CAMP – OKAVANGO DELTA
ON THE COVER Quinta da Comporta, Carvalhal
2020 and Beyond
I
t’s hard to believe that just 20 years ago, ace existed only
On that note, we have also announced the dates and venues
as a playing card, indigo was described as a deep shade of
of our four regional awards schemes; AHEAD Asia will take
blue and W was just another letter of the alphabet. The
place on 12 March at Andaz Singapore; AHEAD Americas
past two decades have brought new brands, categories and
returns to Miami’s Faena Forum on 10 June; the AHEAD
concepts to the fore, along with a colossal rise in the number
MEA ceremony is at Caesars Forum Bluewaters Dubai on 11
of guestrooms. Back at the turn of the century, no-one had
November; and AHEAD Europe will crown its winners on 18
heard of the sharing economy, Marriott was celebrating its
November at Exhibition, a newly restored Grade II-listed space
2,000th hotel opening (it now boasts a 7,000-strong portfolio),
in White City London. Turn to page 42 for the info you’ll need
and millennial-minded hotels were still in their infancy, much
to enter and attend.
like the generation they would eventually serve.
Elsewhere in the portfolio, the next Sleepover will take place
As we enter not only a new year but a new decade, it
in Bali from 17-19 May, marking the first time the networking
seems as good a time as any to take stock, reflect on past
event for hospitality innovators has ventured to Asia. We’re
achievements and look ahead to the future. At Sleeper we’ve
delighted to reveal that we’ll be working with Ronald Akili and
been doing just that. In celebration of our 20th anniversary
his team at Desa Potato Head, an innovative creative centre
year, we’ll be producing some special content – both in print
where music, art and hospitality meet culture, wellbeing and
and online – exploring two decades of hospitality design. We’ll
sustainability for a new type of holistic experience.
also be hosting a series of talks, discussions and networking
We’ll be travelling to Bali in the coming weeks to explore
events throughout the year, and in line with Sleeper’s modus
the island and curate a programme that allows attendees
operandi to connect communities, we would like you to
to experience new concepts, identify future business
help shape the content. What topics or themes would you
opportunities and gain insight from those at the forefront of
like to see discussed? Should we be delving into the idea of
hospitality, design and travel – you can register your interest
transformational hospitality? Exploring the rising popularity
online at www.sleepoverbali.com.
of slow travel and how it will impact design? Or questioning
In the meantime, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank
whether the sector really is doing its bit to reduce waste?
you for your support over the past 20 years, and who knows,
Email us at sleeper@mondiale.co.uk or join the conversation
maybe in the next two decades we’ll be reporting on the first
online at @SleeperMagazine using the hashtag #Sleeper2020.
hotel in space.
The sessions will run in partnership with leading brands, hosted at showrooms, new hospitality spaces and major trade shows. Building on the success of recent ‘Heads-Up’ events in Dubai and London, exclusive brunch talks will also take place prior to all AHEAD ceremonies through 2020, with guests invited to hear from the judging panel, and meet with the design and development teams behind the shortlisted projects.
Catherine Martin • Managing Editor
015
DE SIGNS INSPIRED BY NATURE AND ENGINEERED TO MEET IT S RE SILIENCE
CELEBRATING TWO DE CADE S OF SHADE REVOLUTION
tuuci-sleeper-jan-2020.indd 2
1/8/20 11:20 AM
GUEST BOOK
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056
101
© Robert Rieger © Manolo Yllera
088
101 Marco Cilia Following a career jump from business and finance to hospitality, Chapter Roma owner Marco Cilia cut his teeth working under Anouska Hempel at Blakes London as GM, then Carlos Couturier and Moisés Micha of Grupo Habita as the duo launched Hôtel Americano. Having learnt the boutique ropes from some of the best, Cilia now applies his education to The Eternal City’s latest bolthole – a refined and minimalist project balancing industrial chic with detailed historic sensibilities.
088 Pablo Flack and David Waddington
Best known as the dynamic duo behind Bethnal Green’s Bistrotheque and Ace Hotel London’s Hoi Polloi, restaurateurs Pablo Flack and David Waddington will look to replicate their success in the capital with an adaptation of Bistrotheque for Manchester’s newly minted Culturplex. Occupying a Grade II-listed former warehouse alongside a Native aparthotel and an expansive range of programming, the new outpost channels the breezy vibe of the original whilst building an equally loyal following.
056 Miguel Câncio Martins
072 GG Hospitality
Designer turned hotelier Miguel Câncio Martins views architecture and design as the intersection between psychology, philosophy, science, economy, technique, precision and endless amounts of imagination. Having previously designed hospitality projects including Paris’ Bhudda Bar and Montreal’s W Hotel, he now channels this catalouge of concepts and an undercurrent of tradition throughout Quinta da Comporta, a sustainable boutique in the town he considers a home away from home.
Former professional footballersturned-hoteliers Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs first ventured into hospitality five years ago with the launch of Hotel Football, an upscale property inspired by the beautiful game that overlooks Old Trafford. Now, the ex-teammates have reaffirmed their love for Manchester, collaborating with Turkish design studio Autoban to transform the city’s former Stock Exchange into a boutique hotel that respects the history and heritage of the Grade II-listed building in which it resides.
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FRONT DESK @SleeperMagazine
EDITORIAL
DESIGN
AHEAD
Editor-in-Chief Matt Turner
Design Manager David Bell
Global Sponsorship Lorraine Jack
Production Zoe Willcox
FINANCE
m.turner@mondiale.co.uk
Managing Editor Catherine Martin
c.martin@mondiale.co.uk
Features Editor Kristofer Thomas
k.thomas@mondiale.co.uk
Assistant Editor Ben Thomas
b.thomas@mondiale.co.uk
Editorial Assistant Donna Salek
d.salek@mondiale.co.uk
Online Editor Richard Frost
d.bell@mondiale.co.uk
z.willcox@mondiale.co.uk
Production Sonam Diki
s.diki@mondiale.co.uk
Editor-at-Large Guy Dittrich Editorial Intern Eleanor Howard BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Rebecca Archacki
r.archacki@mondiale.co.uk
Finance Director Amanda Giles
a.giles@mondiale.co.uk
Group Credit Controller Lynette Levi l.levi@mondiale.co.uk
Brand Director Amy Wright
Accounts Assistant Kerry Mountney
Events Manager Lela Keighley
Accounts Assistant Idaira Canellas Gonzalez
Events & Marketing Millie Allegro
CORPORATE
l.keighley@mondiale.co.uk
r.frost@mondiale.co.uk
l.jack@mondiale.co.uk
EVENTS & MARKETING
a.wright@mondiale.co.uk
m.allegro@mondiale.co.uk
Data & Readership Hayley Redston
PORTFOLIO
k.mountney@mondiale.co.uk
idaira.c.gonzalez@mondiale.co.uk
Chairman Damian Walsh
POWERED BY
h.redston@mondiale.co.uk
Research Michael Stokes
m.stokes@mondiale.co.uk
Subscriptions
Rob Hart
r.hart@mondiale.co.uk
sleeper@mondiale.co.uk
Charlotte Gowing
c.gowing@mondiale.co.uk
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000
CHECK-IN
Joe Stella Having wowed the Sleep & Eat crowd with a dynamic and vibrant concept guestroom, twenty2degrees Creative Director Joe Stella sails to the Mediterranean to soak up the sun in a fantasy palazzo.
Where are you?
Describe the hotel, your room and the view...?
Who are you dining with this evening?
In a recently restored palazzo, on the grounds
An amazingly ornate renaissance building that
Anthony Bourdain, Ettore Sottsass, Nick Cave,
of a small private island in the Mediterranean
was partly decaying prior to its refurbishment and
the local wine maker, and of course my wife SJ.
and the weather is perfect.
has recently been restored with contemporary additions. The result is a blissfully harmonious
Who’s manning the stoves?
How did you get there?
balance of contemporary and Renaissance
My good friends from Sood Family take Italian
Sailed from the Sicilian coast on an Italian super
architecture. The island’s landscape is rugged,
cuisine to the next level and do fantastic pop-ups
yacht.
its contours and tones a feast for the eye; nearer
across London. They would be in their element
at hand, the palazzo’s enchanting gardens offer
here and would shine in this environment.
And who’s at the concierge desk?
just the right manicured touch surrounding the
Surprisingly, the actor Christoph Waltz. He has
main hotel building.
And what’s on the menu? The main course is freshly caught seafood,
a lead role in a new Wes Anderson film and is doing a stint on the island in order to get into
Who designed it?
barbecued over coal and paired with an unknown
character.
Hotel lobby and guestrooms by Wes Anderson,
bottle of chilled wine that was handed to me by
restaurants by AvroKO, cocktail bar and
a friend in Lisbon on a recent trip to Portugal.
Who are you sharing your room with?
dining room by Kelly Wearstler, contemporary
Followed by an Italian cheese and Australian
My wife, SJ. We have travelled far and wide
architectural additions by Neri&Hu, music by
honey degustation for desert and a boozy citrus
together, but are always drawn back to the
Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, and an eclectic mix
sorbetto cleanser. All accompanied with my
Mediterranean; the perfect Summer weather,
of art adorning the walls by Paul Insect, Mike
aperitivo of choice, a Stellaspritz – using one
the freshest food and the warmest of the people.
Ballard, Rebecca Horn & Kate MccGwire.
of the Stellacello Pompelmo liqueurs I concoct
Is there anything you would like waiting for
What’s the restaurant and bar like?
you in your room?
There are three restaurants at the hotel, but
What’s on your nightstand at bedtime?
Afternoon sunlight, a cool breeze, the sound
tonight we dine off-site in the Old Hop House on
I always have a small sketchbook on the
of the sea nearby, and freshly made mezcal
the estate. Its original circular structures seem
nightstand in case an idea springs to mind
margarita’s with pink grapefruit and lots of
to be similar to the Trulli you find in Puglia and
during the night. The most bizarre ideas come
chilli.
there is a raw, rustic appearance to the exterior.
at the most unexpected times.
myself.
However, when you enter you are met with a
NOTABLE HOTEL PROJECTS The Dixon Hotel London; Hyatt Regency Nairobi, Marriott Prague, Marriott Budapest www.twenty2degrees.com
space that contrasts the outside magnificently.
Would you like a newspaper or magazine in
Its recent refurbishment is both avant-garde and
the morning?
calm, designed yet unconventional. Light pastel
I ban reading the newspaper while travelling.
coloured, hand rendered walls are coupled with
Relaxing holidays and world news are kind of
warm timbers and soft, bright hand woven rugs.
an oxymoron.
Each circular space houses one large circular communal dining table in the centre, perfect
Swimming pool, spa or gym?
for sharing both a meal and stories.
An outdoor infinity pool with a majestic view.
021
DRAWING BOARD
Rosewood DOHA
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has announced a planned 2022 opening date for Rosewood Doha Lusail City, the brand’s first property in Qatar. Featuring 185 guestrooms, 173 serviced apartments and 300 residences, the project will be created in partnership with Arkaz Investment and forms part of the US$45 billion Lusail City development – a mixed-use scheme spanning 38km and four islands with 19 residential, entertainment and commercial districts. “Rosewood Doha and Rosewood Residences Doha will create a new and differentiated benchmark for ultraluxury hospitality in the region,” says Sonia Cheng, CEO, Rosewood Hotel Group. “We are honoured to be a part of Qatar’s ambitious vision and will be thrilled to see it realised in the coming years. This project represents our third outpost for the Rosewood brand in the Middle East; building on our unwavering dedication to innovation and service excellence, it exemplifies our strategy of thoughtful growth in the region.” Housed within two distinctive towers conceptualised by the Arab Engineering Bureau and Chief Architect Ibrahim M. Jaidah, the hotel will seek to respond to its surrounding environment whilst reflecting the cultural context of the uber-development it forms a part of. Amenities are set to feature eight culinary outlets including a bistro, lobby lounge, coffee shop, deli, three specialty restaurants, and cigar and entertainment lounges, whilst a 1,500m2 ballroom and multiple event venues will host a variety of functions. A signature spa and Manor Club executive lounge complete the offer. “We are delighted to join hands with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, renowned for its one-of-a-kind collection underpinned by its iconic A Sense of Place philosophy,” adds Aman G. Shahani, CEO, Arkaz Investments. “We are proud to showcase the rich culture of Qatar as well as our visionary and innovative ambition for the future through Rosewood’s uniquely sophisticated lens and become the new lifestyle destination for Lusail City and Qatar.”
DRAWING BOARD
Kisawa Sanctuary
Kisawa Sanctuary – a series of 12 luxury
weaving, thatching, carpentry and textile
bungalows set in a 750-acre stretch of
techniques – whilst the construction process
MOZAMBIQUE
Mozambique forest – has announced a summer
throughout will employ innovative 3D sand-
2020 opening date.
printing technology, commissioned specifically
Seeking to combine cultural celebration with
A standalone spa specialising in traditional
Island, the development will feature a
Chinese medicine – and contained within a
mixture of one-, two- and three-bedroom
structure with architecture inspired by the
accommodations individually housed within
island’s thatched houses and community
one-acre plots. Each will feature its own
buildings – completes the offer.
beachfront access, private swimming pool,
“My mission for Kisawa is to create a level of
shaded day area, outdoor kitchen, massage hut
hospitality and design that to my knowledge,
and pantry, whilst an F&B programme is set
does not exist today, a place that inspires feelings
to incorporate two beach clubs, a lagoon-style
of freedom and luxury born from nature, space
swimming pool, the Baracca beach bar, and a
and true privacy,” says founder Nina Flohr. “We
library and lounge.
have used design as a tool, not as a style, to
Intended as a light touch against the
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Developer: Nina Flohr, Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies www.kisawasanctuary.com
024
for this project.
environmental conservation on Benguerra
landscape, with deep connections to island culture and nature, the interior design scheme will incorporate the work of local artisans and materials – including traditional Mozambican
ensure Kisawa is integrated, both culturally and environmentally into Mozambique.”
DRAWING BOARD
25hours Hotel Paper Island COPENHAGEN
25hours Hotel Company has announced its
urban destination, with cultural institutions
second hotel in Copenhagen will open in
including the city’s Opera House nearby, and a
early 2024. Located in the city centre on the
new public park, waterfront cultural centre and
island of Christiansholm, the 128-key 25hours
promenade all in the works.
Hotel Paper Island will feature architecture
“At 25hours, food and drink should and must
by Cobe and interiors by Stylt Trampoli, the
play a central role,” Managing Director Michael
latter having previously designed the brand’s
End adds. “We’ll be working on Paper Island
Düsseldorf outpost in 2018. When complete, It
with both brand new and proven partners. As
will join 25hours Hotel Copenhagen in the city,
well as a restaurant and café on the ground
slated to open in 2021 with interiors by Martin
floor, a rooftop bar is also planned. At the
Brudnizki Design Studio and architecture by
moment, my favourite part is the two house
BBP Arkitekter.
boats in front of the hotel for which we are
“The only thing better than one hotel opening in a new city is two openings!” explains Florian
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Investor: Danica Developer: Nordkranen, Union Kul Operator: Accor, 25hours Hotel Company Architecture: Cobe Interior Design: Stylt Trampoli www.25hours-hotels.com
026
currently evaluating various concepts, including a sauna and bar.”
Kollenz, Chief Development Officer, 25hours
Further upcoming openings from the brand
Hotel Company. “We’re very proud to be
include properties in Florence and Dubai, both
working on the new hotel project with CØ P/S,
of which are set to open in 2020. 25hours Hotel
a consortium consisting of the pension fund
Piazza San Paolino has been designed by Paola
Danica and project developers Nordkranen and
Navone and occupies a former bank building
Union Kul.”
in the Tuscan capital, whilst 25hours Hotel
The project takes its name from the district’s former life as a storage place for the large rolls of paper used by Danish newspapers. More recently, the island has emerged as a popular
Dubai – the group’s Middle Eastern debut – will feature interiors by Woods Bagot.
Four Seasons, Megève – Mood Clubchair by Studio Segers
Living the good life outside. Love it, live it, share it. www.tribu.com
DRAWING BOARD
Shishi-Iwa House
HDHP – a social enterprise by HDH Capital –
House and CEO of HDH Capital Management. “His
has appointed Pritzker Prize-winning architect
design philosophy is defined by transparency, a
NAGANO
Ryue Nishizawa to design the second Shishi-
mastery of scale, and dismantling to create an
Iwa House. Set to open in 2021, the eight-
environment that eliminates borders.”
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Developer: HDHP Architecture: Ryue Nishizawa www.shishiiwahouse.jp
028
key property is nestled in the woodlands of
Featuring common areas including a library,
Karuizawa, a mountain resort in Japan’s Nagano
shared living rooms and kitchenettes, a tea
prefecture, where it will reside on the same
house, bath house and catering kitchen, the
street as its Shigeru Ban-designed predecessor.
project’s atypical architecture is intended to
Similar to the first, the project aims to provide
create different degrees of privacy, whilst a
guests with a sanctuary for reconnection,
series of hidden alleys and courtyards seek
fostering intellectual creativity whilst paying
to instil a sense of discovery. Gardens will be
homage to traditional Japanese residential
planted with hundreds of maple and cherry trees
architecture. Comprising a cluster of 10
whilst a collection of 17th-century silk screens
interconnected pavilions based on the shaku-
will complement the historic leanings.
kan grid system – prefabricated offsite and
“Nishizawa’s works are always beautifully
intended to yield minimal waste – the retreat
simple in ideas but extremely complex in
will be constructed primarily from locally-
execution,” Hoang adds. “We are thrilled that
sourced hinoki cypress wood.
the public will finally have the opportunity
“We are honoured to have Ryue Nishizawa
to stay in a retreat designed by Nishizawa,
as the master architect for our second project,”
marking the next development of Shishi-Iwa
explains Huy Hoang, Director of Shishi-Iwa
House collection.”
WHEN
GERMAN HOSPITALITY TRADITION Since 1985
www.aliseo.de
M IR R O R S
MATTER
DRAWING BOARD
SHA Wellness Clinic
SHA Wellness Clinic has revealed plans to take
connect the resort’s outdoor and indoor space
its integrated medical and holistic concept
for a seamless transition.
CANCUN
worldwide, with its second project set to land
Offering health programmes personalised to
in Mexico in 2021. Building on the success of
meet the needs of each guest, SHA Wellness
the original Alicante facility, the 100-suite SHA
Clinic combines scientific medical practice with
Mexico will be located in Cancun, across the bay
natural remedies, with elements of genetic,
from Isla Mujeres.
mental, lifestyle and nutritional healthcare also
Conceptualised by Mexican architecture
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: The Battaler Family Architecture: Sordo Madelano Interior Design: Alejandro Escudero Landscaping: Maat Handasa www.shawellnessclinic.com
030
present across the group’s efforts.
studio Sordo Madaleno and interior architect
Since 2008 and the launch of the first
Alejandro Escudero, the property will be located
project, the founding Bataller family have
in seven hectares of flora and fauna, and in close
overseen a long-term expansion strategy that
proximity to a white-sand beach. Incorporating
will subsequently see plans announced to open
the brand’s sustainability principals, the
properties across all continents.
construction process will employ predominantly
Following the Mexico launch, the group will
natural materials and renewable energy sources
prepare for the 2023 opening of SHA Emirates at
in order to minimise environmental impact.
Aljurf, a 120-key, AED6 million property in Abu
The interior scheme, meanwhile, will
Dhabi developed in collaboration with Imkan.
combine Mexican ceramics, marble, wicker and
With architecture overseen by MYAA and BSBG
locally-sourced fabrics for a calming aesthetic.
Concept, the property will further include 293
Landscaping by Maat Handasa will seek to
residential units.
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DRAWING BOARD
Hard Rock
Hard Rock International will expand its
Fuse Studios, the design will seek to bring the
European hotel portfolio with the 2023 opening
brand’s signature style to Prague’s Old Town
PRAGUE
of Hard Rock Hotel Prague, the company has
by way of distinctive elements such as the
announced. Adding to its 75-country brand
property’s feature wall – a 5,900ft2 soundwave
presence, the 523-key project will overlook the
of moving light spanning three floors by the
Czech capital’s Letna Park, bringing together
lobby bar – as well as a curated selection of
amenities including a rooftop swimming pool,
music memorabilia.
sky bar and Rock Spa as well as branded gym, retail, and event spaces.
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Developer: EP Real Estate Architecture: Pelčák a Partner architekti Prague Interior Design: Fuse Studios www.hardrockhotels.com
032
Elsewhere, the F&B programme is set to incorporate the Sessions restaurant as well as
“We greatly appreciate the opportunity to
the Constant Grind Coffee & Bar, serving light
work on this hotel with Hard Rock International,
bites through the day and doubling as a cocktail
which will be the operator and tenant of the
bar at night.
property,” says Michal Viktorin, Director of
“Prague is a striking favourite amongst
developer EP Real Estate. “It is undoubtedly
European capital cities and has experienced
a respected hotel chain that will complement
great development in its tourism industry in
the existing portfolio of Prague hotels. For EP
recent years,” adds Todd Hricko, Senior Vice
Real Estate, this is a key project in the domestic
President and Head of Global Hotel Business
market, which we have been paying maximum
Development, Hard Rock International. “Hard
attention to since the initial planning stage.”
Rock is honoured to announce the arrival of its
Combining architecture by Pelčák a Partner Architekti Prague and interiors by British firm
music-infused presence to this beautiful city following two years of work on the project.”
Ph Bernard Touillon
A l l A P ERTO by M at t e o T h u n & Antonio Rodrigue z
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MEETING…
Meeting… Paul D. Taylor Following a year that saw Stonehill Taylor wrap up an iconic transformation and scoop two AHEAD awards, President and founding partner Paul Taylor talks creating hotels for the city that never sleeps. Words: Kristofer Thomas • Portrait Photography: © Gerardo Vizmanos
I
t is Veteran’s Day in New York City, and the
to the sin city strip – alongside two finalist
annual 20,000-strong parade is halfway
places for their interior design scheme at the
across Chelsea by the time I reach the
Eliza Jane Hotel – a heritage project built within
Stonehill Taylor offices.
seven internally conjoined historic warehouses
On its route north from Madison Square
in New Orleans – and their work as architect
Park – walking a mile and change up Fifth
at the Moxy Chelsea, a 37-storey industrial
Avenue until they reach the Diamond District
greenhouse inspired newbuild, atop which the
and 46th Street – the procession will rarely find
ambitiously realised Fleur Room sits. A year
itself more than a few blocks from a hotel the
previous, the firm had taken home the Suite
firm had a hand in. The NoMad on 28th will see
award for its architectural work at The Whitby.
them off, with Moxy Chelsea located just a few
Later in the conversation, Paul D. Taylor,
minutes walk east. Ace Hotel unfolds on the left
President of Stonehill Taylor, will tell me that he
a couple of blocks later, so too St. Regis as they
faced a challenge when starting out, in that he
close in on St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Then The
had won no prizes at the time, and thus lacked
Whitby, more or less overlooking the finish line
the valuable networking and social currency
to play them out.
they provide. When I point to the veritable
Up in the office, we meet in a room showcasing a selection of trophies and awards the 87-person
haul behind us, he laughs, and explains “don’t worry, I saved those for later”.
firm has received. Amongst the highlights are
The Stonehill Taylor portfolio stretches from
a brace of AHEAD Americas awards from 2019;
Portland to Fort Lauderdale, and across the
one for the eponymous restaurant at NoMad
hospitality, residential, education and health
Las Vegas – where the studio translated its
sectors, though above all, it has become a
acclaimed concept for the original NYC project
specialist in New York hotels.
MEETING…
MEETING…
Moxy Chelsea channels the spirit of New York’s flower district by way of a greenhouse-esque façade in corten steel
Born and raised a couple of stops South in Greenwich Village, then educated over the river at the Pratt Institute, Taylor would have walked past the buildings that his company’s work would come to define often. If ever the term stomping ground was applicable in such a global industry, the veteran architect could lay solid claim to The Big Apple being his. At school, Taylor excelled in maths and science, whilst his artist parents oversaw more
“As a designer you’re now helping to identify the market and model as much as you are colours that match and the right set of curtains.”
to us. I’ve always been flexible working in a given situation and would never want to say this is what architects do, no more, no less – if it’s a great project we’ll go above and beyond.” At the Millennium Hilton restoration this meant overseeing board reports, insurance claims, consultancy recruitment and more on top of his role as a designer; an on-thejob education in everything else that goes into a hotel besides design. This fluency later
creative endeavours at home. Applying for his
saw him connect with Tim and Kit Kemp of
new school’s art programme in fifth grade,
Firmdale Hotels – advising the duo on suitable
Taylor’s mother was called in to explain why
Manhattan locations for the group’s US debut,
the ten-year-old had submitted an adult’s
The Crosby Street Hotel – then facilitate their
work as his own. For a while he saw himself
vision of fusing New York’s metropolitan spirit
a scientist, but success in a later competition
with Firmdale’s decidedly British flavour. Eight
had him reconsider. “Add math, science and
years later, when the Kemps returned to explore
art together and you get architecture,” a friend
the possibility of a follow up, Taylor’s firm was
had remarked. Completing a five-year college
an obvious choice for partner, and the special
programme in four, Taylor was a practicing
relationship bore its second fruit in The Whitby. Likewise, with Sydell Group Taylor oversaw
interior architect at 22, and hired by what was
the first NoMad hotel – working with designer
then Lundquist & Stonehill by 24.
Jacques Garcia to emulate Paris’ Costes Hotel
In an era when interior design was something of an afterthought, Taylor was tapped for
With Stonehill set to retire, and Taylor having
– then its Las Vegas counterpart that channels
his keen aesthetic eye, bringing a valuable
uncovered an exceptional niche, he found
elements of the original. An ongoing agreement
presence to the table that would see him
himself back home, ready to step back into
with Manhattan-based developer Lightstone has
holding a 50% stake in the firm upon Oliver
the firm and begin the impressive run of work
seen Stonehill Taylor design the architecture for
Lundquist’s retirement in 1986. Early success
that brings us to today. The studio became
five Moxy hotels in New York alone, subsequent
came in the form of a project for investor Harry
Stonehill & Taylor, before the ampersand was
to having played a large role in defining the
B. Macklowe, as production architect for the
dropped as part of a sleek 2017 rebrand. “It was
brand’s playful character. “As a designer you’re
interiors of what is now the Millennium Hotel
perfect because we could do the whole thing,”
helping to identify the business and model as
off Times Square. Disrupted by the savings and
he explains. “Covering both architecture and
much as you are colours that match and the
loan crisis, however, the project saw its investor
interiors allowed us to really think about the
right set of curtains.” he says.
go bankrupt, and Singapore’s CDL, who already
bigger picture and consider the experience.”
Two more Moxys are currently in the works in
and
Bowery and Brooklyn, but whilst differentiating
Hotel chain worldwide, snap up the site along
architecture departments – which work together
five identically branded hotels within the same
with a controlling interest in the Plaza Hotel. As
and independently across the studio’s slate of
quilt of urban fabric may sound like a daunting
the seemingly doomed hotel’s listed architect,
projects – Stonehill Taylor has forged close
task, each of the series has gone on to develop its
Taylor was called in by Chase Manhattan to
collaborations with hoteliers and developers
own coherent identity. The corten steel exterior
work on the property before it was handed over,
who value the breadth of the firm’s operational
grid and the greenhouse-esque façade cladding
then subsequently became the chain’s Master
scope. Beyond architecture and design, Taylor
Moxy Chelsea, for instance, remain a far cry
Architect when the transaction was complete.
explains that he and his company have long
visually from the neon dazzle of Moxy Times
A decade and 10 major projects later, Taylor
looked beyond the traditional responsibilities
Square, and even further from the bohemian
returned to New York having cut his teeth across
of what he refers to as the “capital A” architect.
Moxy East Village. Each bears the Moxy name
the country, with one of his final undertakings
“I have always taken a bigger role than
and level of service, though each demonstrates
in this role the restoration of the Millennium
asked,” he says. “At first it was how we made
a level of detail drawn from the locale that only
hotel in Lower Manhattan following 9/11.
business, but now it’s the reason people come
a New York native would be familiar with. This
had a controlling interest in the Millenium
Balanced
between
its
interiors
037
MEETING…
“There must absolutely be a sense that, in choosing a hotel, the guest is creating a key part of their overall experience.”
Having overseen the creation of the original NoMad for Sydell Group, Stonehill Taylor translated the celebrated concept to Las Vegas for a standout new addition to the strip
partnership in particular has afforded Taylor a
former JFK terminal, where the firm designed
vantage point from which to observe the habits
guestrooms and public spaces and worked
and values emerging across the incoming class
with a team of four other studios to transform
of younger guests.
the landmark structure’s function whilst
“Each generation is a little bit different from
simultaneously retaining, channelling and
the last, but also a little bit the same,” he notes.
continuing the spirit of its form. “That was a big
“There are two factors that will determine the
one,” Taylor smiles. “What we did there actually
direction of the hospitality industry. The first
plays into one of my favourite concepts from
is the high cost of real estate in urban contexts,
throughout my career – returning something
and the shrinking of room sizes this results
back to what it never was. TWA was never a
in – because if you cannot justify a project
hotel, so how did we achieve this? Well, the word
financially in this market then it will not be
authenticity is very tricky, and thrown around
made. The second is the hotel as a destination,
loosely these days, yet in those guestrooms
which it now must be in itself, and not simply
there are three authentic things Saarinen did
somewhere to explore a location from. There
– the womb chair, the tulip table and executive
must absolutely be a sense that, in choosing a
chair, which are still as contemporary as any
hotel, the guest is creating a key part of their
designer working today. He never knew it would
overall experience. When these ideas reach
be a hotel, but those spaces feel coherent, like
across to other price points there will be a drastic
they are part of the history and journey through
redefinition of what luxury really means.”
terminal.”
However, Taylor has perhaps already played
Indeed, a close reading of Saarinen’s vision
a part in this redefinition with the 2019 launch
in tandem with a deep-dive of TWA and jet
of TWA Hotel occupying Eero Saarinen’s iconic
age aesthetics resulted in one of the year’s
© Benoit Linero
038
E X C L U S I V E
C A R P E T S
A N D
R U G S
E X C L U S I V E
C A R P E T S
A N D
R U G S
LOOKIng through from the Looking Glass Collection
www.deirdredyson.com
MEETING…
© David Mitchell
A major reimagining of Eero Saarinen’s TWA Terminal at JFK airport saw the studio transforming the function of a landmark piece of American architecture whilst continuing its story
040
most talked about openings, with the firm’s
York’s hospitality scene and the firm itself’s
work ensuring what was never a hotel feels
more recent history. Whilst Taylor admits that
like it always has been. Within guestrooms,
expanding the studio’s slate of international
the studio’s own product designs sit alongside
projects could benefit their sustainability long
Saarinen’s to create schemes that recommence
term, business remains strong in New York, with
the building’s story as opposed to simply
the city recording the highest national levels
channelling it. Saarinen himself once worked and
in occupancy, ADR and RevPAR benchmarks
roomed with Taylor’s former boss, Lundquist,
through 2018, making it the best performer in
designing information packets for the OSS, a
the country – one that shows no signs of slowing
wartime intelligence agency and predecessor to
down. Designing a resort in the Bahamas would
the CIA. It may have taken a while, but the brief
certainly be nice, he acknowledges, however it
connection came full circle. “I was very proud of
is perhaps the many years that Taylor has spent
how our work feels sympathetic with the whole
traversing the streets directly below us that now
experience, whilst still allowing Saarinen to be
sees him a paradoxical expert in creating hotels
the hero,” he notes.
for a city they say never sleeps.
Though the project may differ vastly from
By the time I leave the office, the Veteran’s
comparable price points, TWA perhaps signals
Day parade has almost finished its march, the
a sea change, with guests ready to pay premium
route following a spine of prominent hotels that
rates to experience a unique kind of statement
trace both the manner in which the Big Apple’s
design. It may be a few more stops on the
hospitality landscaped has changed, and the
subway than Taylor is used to, though doubtless
hand in which our man in New York and his
opens a new chapter in both the contexts of New
studio have had in changing it.
www.leejohnmannphotography.com
+44 1444 258 928 www.alexander-rose.co.uk/commercial-furniture/
2020 DATES ANNOUNCED AHEAD ASIA THURSDAY 12 MARCH 2020 ANDAZ SINGAPORE
AHEAD AMERICAS WEDNESDAY 10 JUNE 2020 FAENA FORUM MIAMI
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Open for Entries: Until 31 January 2020 Criteria: For projects completed between November 2018 and December 2019
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‘Hyatt’s first UK opening for their Unbound Collection at Great Scotland Yard was a technically demanding project that sensitively transformed the Edwardian army recruiting office and its retained brick and stone façades into a vibrant and characterful hotel.’ Nick Rayner Director, EPR Architects
The Great Scotland Yard Hotel Whitehall, London
Unbound Collection by Hyatt
THE LOBBY
A Different Kind of Booking A new book from Design Hotels explores 25 trailblazing members that are rewriting the narrative of modern hospitality. Over the past 25 years, Design Hotels has been at the vanguard
the leading architects and designers of today, including Vincent
of original hospitality experiences, curating a global collection
van Duysen and Japan’s master of minimalism, Tadao Ando.
of independent, design-led hotels that go beyond the basic bed and board.
Tasked with capturing the character and visual identity of these properties were award-winning photographers Robbie Lawrence,
In celebration of its anniversary, the collective has released
Jake Curtis, Danilo Scarpati and Nacho Alegre, whose images are
The Design Hotels Book 2020, presenting in-depth profiles of
woven throughout a series of 16-page features that explore the
25 newly opened hotels that are reshaping the international
original concept, generative design and community relationships
hospitality landscape and changing the way we think about
of each hotel.
travel. From the converted wine tanks of Dexamenes Seaside
Within its pages, The Design Hotels Book also details the
Hotel in Greece to the immersive arts programme at Kazerne
individual properties that make up the entire collection, tracing
in the Netherlands, each property has established itself as a
the defining styles and movements from this era, as well as the
benchmark in the industry, emerging as a beacon for pioneering
visionaries bringing them to life. “These hotels stand out because
design, extraordinary engagement and communal development.
of the people behind them,” says Design Hotels CEO Peter Cole.
Groundbreaking architecture and thought-provoking design
“These are true originals, whose passion, sensibility and vision
unite the profiled hotels, a number of which have been crafted by
shine through in the minutest details of the guest experience.”
THE LOBBY
Suite Spot The makers of Nutella unveil a pop-up hotel that invites superfans to celebrate their love for the hazelnut-and-cocoa spread in new ways.
It is not uncommon for hotels to place destination
chef and TV personality Tanya Holland will infuse
dining at the heart of their concepts, but what
her modern Southern breakfast recipes with the
happens when a particular food item becomes
magic of the spread. Elsewhere, Dancakes – the
their true focal point, design inspiration and
famous pancake artist team whose creations have
all-encompassing raison d’être? Hotella Nutella
become viral sensations – will also be on-hand
of course! Ferrero, ‘The Makers of The Original
to teach fans how to make their own pancake
Hazelnut Spread’ have created a pop-up in Napa
designs that can be enjoyed with – you guessed
Valley inviting superfans of the delicacy to an
it – Nutella.
unforgettable bed-and-breakfast experience centred around the much-loved spread. Featuring larger-than-life jars of Nutella
allows fans to enjoy Nutella in new and different
and hazelnut-and-cocoa spread-inspired
ways,” says Todd Midura, Vice President of
furnishings, the concept follows in the footsteps
Marketing at Nutella North America, Ferrero.
of the Nutella Cafés in New York and Chicago,
“We hope our guests learn how to recreate the
giving Nutella-aficionados unexpected ways
magic of Hotella Nutella at home, giving them
to celebrate their love for the spread through
more opportunities to gather with friends and
immersive activities that highlight the best of
family to enjoy a special breakfast.”
the brand. This includes interactive breakfast sessions dreamed up by the Nutella Weekend Breakfast Chef Team, a panel of notable culinary talent. Iron Chef and Food Network celebrity judge Geoffrey Zakarian will show guests that breakfast for dinner has never been easier with Nutella, while
046
“Hotella Nutella reimagines the joy of the hotel stay with a special breakfast experience that
Although Hotella Nutella is only open to a few lucky competition winners, it may well inspire a sweet, new hospitality concept for the future.
W W W.V I N C E N T S H E P PA R D.C O M
VS_AdIssue88_JanFeb2020.indd 1
20/12/2019 15:50:59
THE LOBBY
More in Common Element Hotels debuts an innovative communal living room concept to foster opportunities for meaningful IRL connections.
A new study from Element by Westin shows
kitchen and living room areas, allowing them
that more than a quarter of Americans live in
to live as they do at home without having to
a different city than their childhood or college
compromise space, comfort or amenities. The
friends and family, and often depend on long trips
communal spaces range from 600-650ft2, while
to see each other. With this in mind, Marriott
each of the four adjacent guestrooms range from
International has unveiled its Studio Commons
250-280ft2.
concept, providing an innovative solution for
The Studio Commons layout debuted at the
groups looking to spend time together in a
new Element in Scottsdale in June 2019, followed
more private setting while still enjoying the
by Boulder, Colorado in July. Additional Studio
convenience of a hotel room.
Commons units are expected to be rolled out at
Element’s Studio Commons communal rooms
Element Hotels opening in Sedona, Sacramento,
are designed to appeal to a variety of different
Ontario and Minneapolis within the next year,
needs throughout the year – whether that
and are slated to be featured at all new Element
be friends and families travelling together to
Hotels signed after the first quarter of 2017.
celebrate special events such as a family reunion
“We all know that humans are inherently
or birthday party, or co-workers looking to
wired for connection,” comments Toni Stoeckl,
collaborate on a project.
Global Brand Leader, Element Hotels, and Vice
Anchored by four private guestrooms, travellers
President, Distinctive Select Brands, Marriott
can cook, collaborate and relax together in shared
International. “As a brand that has always been focused on helping travellers stay in their element while fostering a sense of community, Element Hotels’ new communal room concept enables travellers to come together and celebrate what’s most important to them – the relationships in their lives. Whether you’re taking part in a group bike ride or cooking a meal with your group in our fully equipped in-room kitchen, we hope this will give all our guests the chance to slow down, reconnect with the ones who matter and remind themselves about what they value as important.” Prior to this official roll-out, Element Hotels piloted its Studio Commons concept at Marriott’s first-ever pop-up innovation lab in Downtown Los Angeles. Underscoring the goal of continuously innovating the guest experience with an eye on design and technology, the interactive model hotel experience allowed the brand to crowdsource real-time feedback from industry professionals, hotel guests, associates and the general public. “Element Hotels is always looking for ways to continue to innovate in the longer stay space, so this new design concept is an exciting next step for the brand,” adds Aliya Khan, Vice President of Design, Global Design Strategies, Marriott International. “Through our research we learned that Element’s guests value being able to replicate their home environment while travelling, so separating their sleep and work spaces were particularly important with this new offering.”
048
Hotel The Ritz Carlton Berlin
Tapeรงarias Ferreira de Sรก, S.A. | Rua Ferreira de Sรก, 50 - Silvalde , 4500-629 Espinho | T:(+351) 227 333 070 | info@ferreiradesa.pt
THE LOBBY
Ink Tank Some guests will settle for a fridge magnet as
needle, Onnu has garnered acclaim as one of the
a means to remember their favourite hotel
country’s foremost tattooists. His sessions at
experience; a souvenir that can be carried through
Anantara Siam will be performed in the privacy
customs without much fuss then promptly
of a suite, with a ceremony to bless both art
forgotten during the un-pack. For others though,
and body, leaving the subject with a permanent
only needling a permanent reminder directly into
reminder of their stay.
their skin will suffice.
“We are honoured and thrilled to welcome Ajarn Neng to one of Bangkok’s most exclusive
to learn that Anantara Siam has their back –
addresses and to offer our guests an authentic,
possibly quite literally – as it gears up to welcome
once-in-a lifetime experience that is a
Sak Yant master Ajarn Neng Onnu to the hotel for
quintessential Thai tradition,” explains Daniel
private sessions through 2020. Also known as
Simon, the hotel’s General Manager. “Perfectly
bamboo tattoos, Sak Yant is the intricate process
blending an elegant location with an indigenous
of hand-engraving sacred cultural designs onto
experience, every detail has been carefully
the body with a traditional Khem Sak – a metal
considered to ensure the traditional sacred
rod passed between masters of the craft. Popular
tattoos are executed with the utmost care given
amongst Thai natives and Hollywood A-listers
to hygiene and comfort.”
alike, the designs often take the form of ancient
Whilst guests may not come away with magic
geometric patterns, prayer symbols or deity
powers, they will leave with a lifelong reminder
marks, with many believing the tattoos to hold
of their time at the Anantara flagship. With the
magical powers of luck, protection and fortune.
brand’s motto stating Life is a Journey, there can
With over 10,000 happy customers under his
© Paul Schirnhofer
Guests in the latter camp then, will be pleased
Karl Kool
be few more effective milestones than this.
© Tom Hoops
050
During his lifetime, Karl Lagerfeld’s indescribable creativity and extravagant lifestyle influenced creatives around the globe. Having overseen the transformation of Chanel into an international super-brand and dabbled in hospitality projects, the legacy of the fashion designer is now being immortalised by Oetker Collection in an exhibition curated by Kiki Kausch. Hosted by Brenners Park Hotel & Spa in BadenBaden, Karl Cool features a collection of works created especially for the event. Among the exhibitors are renowned contemporary artist Gregor Hildebrandt, international graffiti artist MadC, light designer Susanne Rottenbacher, and photographer Kiki Kausch, whose first work was in fact a portrait of Lagerfeld. “Our hotels are places of interchange,” comments Frank Marrenbach, CEO of Oetker Collection. “Creating space for unplanned encounters with contemporary art is also important to us. Now, we are taking the next step. Artworks can for the first time be experienced on our premises before appearing at exhibitions or galleries. Not only are the artists placing their confidence in us, but are presenting us with this magical moment.”
Switching in style The LS 1912 in dark combines high-quality material with classic technology. JUNG-GROUP.COM
JUNG_AZ_LS1912_Dark_236x275mm_EN.indd 1
17.12.19 14:57
THE LOBBY
Cabin Fever Neste releases the blueprints of the Nolla Cabin in a bid to encourage people to adopt a sustainable lifestyle.
While eco-tourism has increased in popularity
emissions and sustainability,” Falck explains.
in recent years, the question of accessibility
“Sharing the blueprints is a sustainable way to
remains; jetting from continent to continent on
bring this design to larger audiences.”
a polluting aeroplane is hardly conducive to a greener planet. When Finnish designer Robin Falck and
distinctive triangular window, tagging #MyNolla
sustainability consultant Neste launched the
on Instagram with a short explanation of what
Nolla Cabin in 2018 – a sustainably-constructed
they would use the cabin for.
A-frame structure the size of a small bedroom
“With the Nolla Cabin, we want to offer visitors
– the objective was to prove that modern luxury
the possibility to experience modern cabin life in
experiences do not have to take a toll on the
the realm of nature, with minimal emissions,”
environment. But for those uninterested in taking
Falck continues. “An ecological lifestyle does
a carbon-heavy trip to the Finnish island of
not only require giving up unsustainable
Vallisaari where the original prototype remains,
commodities, but also discovering modern,
the teams have partnered again for a competition
sustainable solutions that can be used instead.”
that instead brings the cabin to the guest.
There is a catch, however. Whilst winners will
With 12 sets of Nolla Cabin blueprints up for
be provided everything required to create their
grabs – as well as all the materials and tools
own cabin, it is down to them to both source
needed to piece together the structure’s plywood,
the local materials required and assemble the
pine and solar panel form – the competition
structure, with build time estimated at between
seeks to democratise the zero-emission push
2-7 days. But whilst this could see some put off,
and spread the word that sustainable living is in
who said saving the planet would be easy?
reach, even in locations where it seems unlikely. “The way we travel has a direct impact on our
052
All entrants need to do is post a picture of the scenery they would like to see from the cabin’s
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H
ospitality leaders descended on Mayfair
followed by the break-up of the EU (21%),
for Deloitte’s annual European Hotel
local resentment towards tourists (19%) and
Industry Conference in November, where
competition from new entrants (17%).
they were presented with the 2019 findings of
With the spotlight on the UK, Scriven confirmed
its delegate survey, in which over 110 senior
that Edinburgh tops the list of cities prime for
figures – including owners, lenders, developers
investment for the sixth year in a row, with
and investors – were asked to highlight key
Cambridge remaining in second place. He also
opportunities for growth in Europe and the UK,
revealed that Oxford has overtaken Manchester
as well as the challenges for the year ahead.
as the third most attractive regional UK city to
“2019 was expected to be another volatile year from both an economic and political perspective,”
invest in, following a saturation of the market in the Northern powerhouse.
said Andreas Scriven, Lead Partner, Hospitality &
Overall, there was growth expected for London,
Leisure, Deloitte. “That undoubtedly posed some
with 53% of respondents anticipating RevPAR
challenges for the hospitality sector, therefore the
gains of 1-3% in 2020. And though 42% stated
conference looked to discuss how we can make
that Brexit will have no impact on the capital’s
the impossible possible in 2020 and beyond.”
attractiveness for hotel investment, 68% felt that
Navigating the Impossible Deloitte reveals the hotspots for investment during its 31st European Hotel Industry Conference in London.
Scriven went on to present the results of the pre-conference survey, revealing that Amsterdam
with 65% foreseeing flat or negative RevPAR.
continues to be the most attractive city for hotel
Similarly, the UK investment horizon results
investment in 2020 for the fourth year in a
saw 34% of delegates predict the UK hotel market
row; Paris takes second place as London falls to
will hit a downturn in the next 6-12 months,
third position; while Lisbon climbs up to fourth
with a further 14% deeming it already in decline.
spot. The survey also found that traditional
In terms of capital, funds from Asia Pacific and
bank debt is expected to be the most common
domestic sources are expected to dominate in
source of financing, with European (54%) and
2020, with institutional investors (28%) and
North American (38%) investors set to drive
private equity (28%) forecast to be the largest
investment next year. However, funding from
source of financing into the UK hotel sector.
the Middle East and Northern Africa (27%) was also predicted to increase.
Concerns for the UK market centred around Brexit and the break-up of the EU (41%),
In answer to the all-important question of
a shortage of skilled labour (39%) and the
where we sit on the investment cycle, it was
weakening of the currency (26%), while almost
revealed that 50% believe the UK and Ireland have
half of respondents were apprehensive over a
hit the peak, while Greece, Portugal and Spain
lack of economic growth. Political tension was
were perceived to be markets on the upturn.
also seen as one of the biggest risks for the UK
When asked about the risks to the European
hospitality sector, with results up by nearly 15%
hotel industry over the next five years, delegates
on 2018, likely due to the survey being held in
flagged a lack of economic growth (66%) and
run-up to the UK’s 2019 general election.
political tension (22%) as their biggest concerns,
054
regional UK would be less appealing as a result,
© Helen Cathcart/Belmond
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Quinta da Comporta CARVALHAL Portuguese architect and designer Miguel Câncio Martins realises a long-held ambition of becoming a hotelier, opening a country retreat that respects the genius loci. Words: Emma Love • Photography: © Manolo Yllera
n hour’s drive south of Lisbon, the coastal region
A
For starters, there’s the entrance – or rather the lack of
of Comporta is a dreamy unspoilt landscape of rice
it. There is no flashy lobby, nothing really to indicate that
fields and pine forests, deserted sand dunes and
you’ve arrived other than a simple sign on a white wall and
crashing Atlantic waves. Until 2014, this entire area was
a small, thatch and wood reception gate house in the style
owned by the Espirito Santo banking family; now small
of a traditional fishermen’s hut where guests check-in. Even
parcels of land are slowly being sold, although there are
the car park is hidden away underground. “Mapping out the
still strict building restrictions to abide by. One such plot
main structure of the hotel it was clear to me that I wanted it
in the village of Carvalhal was snapped up by Portuguese
to be unveiled slowly,” explains Martins. “I wanted to make
architect and designer Miguel Câncio Martins (his past global
sure that arriving at the resort mimics what it’s like to arrive
projects range from the Buddha Bar in Paris to the W Hotel
in Comporta, where you only discover its best treasures as
in Montreal) who has finally realised his long-held dream
you gradually immerse yourself.”
of becoming a hotelier.
056
From reception, sandy paths and a raised wooden walkway
“Growing up, I spent many of my holidays with my family
lead down past a vegetable garden to the main central
in Comporta but there was nowhere to stay, so we always
terracotta courtyard where rice was once harvested and
had to go back to Lisbon at the end of the day,” he recalls.
beaten to extract the grains. Dotted about there are a handful
“For as long as I can remember I’ve had the idea of creating
of comfy sofas and wood-frame chairs under shady pergolas
a project that respects the ‘genius loci’ and slow lifestyle
but all eyes are immediately drawn to the slim, raised 40m
and identity of the village, by integrating everything that is
infinity pool with glass sides and racing green tiles, and
characteristic about it in one place.”
the rice fields beyond. Two vast, barn-like buildings – in
With Quinta da Comporta, a hotel with 73 guestrooms and
exactly the same position as the old grain stores – house
suites, plus four 300m2, three-bedroom wood and thatch
the restaurant and spa. Both are raised off the ground to
villas, which took three years from design to completion,
maintain the irrigation channels for the rice and made from
he has achieved it.
150-year-old reclaimed wood that was shipped over from
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Interiors follow a rustic decorative style with sisal rugs, wooden bed frames and wicker armchairs – all made by artisans
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Canada (it was also used for the soaring criss-
lights are replicated on a far larger scale in the
crossing beams that dominate each space).
restaurant, alongside raffia armchairs by the
Parallel to the pool at the back of the courtyard
fire in a pre-dinner drinks area and Portuguese
are two, low-slung white buildings, again in the
marble-topped tables. In the spa, stand-out
same location as the old warehouses, painted
design details include floor patterns painted
with typical Portuguese royal blue bands
by French artist Patrick Michel inspired by
and terracotta tiled rooftops which house a
traditional Arraiolos rugs; in the living room,
communal living space and the guestrooms. “I
clusters of brightly coloured woven ‘PET lamps’
used traditional shapes and forms to preserve
made from plastic bottles by Alvaro Catalan de
the visual identity of Comporta. The symmetric
Ocon steal the show.
position of the buildings reinforces the harmony
Throughout, the hotel celebrates its
and functionality that I always look for in
surroundings, from the vegetation (olive trees,
design,” continues Martins.
cactus, palms, herbs) that is typical of the region
Ranging in size from 42-113m2, the rooms
to the use of rice (a rice sake is in the pipeline,
and suites all have a similar, rustic decorative
as well as a range of own-brand spa products)
style; white walls with sisal rugs on smooth
and the just-picked figs from the garden that
concrete floors, wooden bed frames and wicker
appear as part of the buffet breakfast. Future
armchairs. Everything is designed by Martins
plans include a cinema, wine cellar and a kid’s
and made by artisans in Portugal. “As we have a
club, which all feel like lovely extras that won’t
connection to rice fields, which are also in Asia,
distract from what this authentic hotel is really
I have included some Asian touches too, such
about: staying true to the unique spirit of
as the ethnic patterned cushions and Balinese
Comporta.
bedside lights,” he continues. The Balinese
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EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Ownerr: Miguel Câncio Martins Architecture and Interior Design: Miguel Câncio Martins www.quintadacomporta.com
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8/29/19 10:27 AM
Crossroads MALDIVES In line with the Ministry of Tourism’s drive to diversify the accommodation offer in the Maldives, Singha Estate unveils the nation’s first integrated resort destination – an ambitious development spanning hospitality, retail and entertainment. Words: Neena Dhillon • Photography: Courtesy of Singha Estate
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S
erving as a maritime pit stop on the ancient Silk
far been developed: the first comprising the 11,000m2
Road, the Maldives once would have provided
Marina at Crossroads and its adjoining hotel, SAii
shelter to weary travellers navigating from east
Lagoon Maldives; the second occupied by Hard Rock
to west and vice versa. In this heyday of trading on
Hotel Maldives.
the oceans, cargo such as paper, gunpowder, porcelain
From the same family stable of businesses that
and spices was transported from China and South
includes Boon Rawd Brewery, Crossroads operates under
Asia via Arabia to Europe, with horses, wool, gold and
the hospitality arm of Thai real estate company, Singha
glass favoured on the return. Ship crews of different
Estate. Representing S Hotels & Resorts’ first flagship
cultures, charged with handling these precious
development of an integrated leisure destination, the
commodities, would have visited the Maldivian
nine-island complex spans the seven-kilometre-long
islands to take onboard new stocks and supplies while
Emboodhoo Lagoon and seeks to make the most of its
making repairs to their ocean-battered vessels. It is
accessibility, just 15 minutes by speedboat, from Malé
this historical legacy that Singha Estate’s multi-island
International Airport. Elaborating, Chief Operating
leisure and lifestyle destination taps into, positioning
Officer Thiti Thongbenjamas says: “With the benefit
itself as a modern meeting point for a new generation
of this location, we can attract potential new markets
of explorers in the 21st century.
such as groups of friends, MICE travellers and local residents as well as transit passengers. By reviving
A NEW PROPOSITION
the rich history of the Maldives as a destination for
In place of the traditional one-island-one-hotel norm,
people from all walks of life, we’re set to bring a new
the Thai developer has introduced an integrated resort
lifestyle concept to the islands while working closely
concept to the Maldives, one that aims to be the largest
with local communities to promote the culture and
of its kind in the Indian Ocean when complete. Out of
history of the nation.”
nine interconnecting reclaimed islands, two have so
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One of the main attractions for Maldivian residents
The Ritz-Carlton, Doha, furnished by SNS Group.
www.snsgroup.eu
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SAii Lagoon is emblazoned with quirky textiles and handpainted surfaces that reference a fusion of cultures
and transit passengers is the variety of tenants,
SAII LAGOON
approximately 70 in total, dotted around the marina,
Part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, the 198-room
including big-name dining options such as Café del
SAii Lagoon has been conceptualised by S Hotels &
Mar, Ministry of Crab and Hard Rock Café. Retailers
Resorts as an enhancement of the marina, offering
range from tea specialists to perfumers while an
an intimate, chilled-out hospitality experience at an
event hall is aiming to capture meetings, incentive
affordable price.
and wedding business. Additionally, there is a yacht
Emblazoned with quirky art, textiles, fabrics and
marina that can accommodate up to 30 luxury vessels.
handpainted surfaces that reference a fusion of
Tropical architecture with nods to a colonial aesthetic
cultures, the property speaks equally of a colonial
pervades the complex, where buildings are lent interest
past as conveyed by Portuguese tiling and shutters.
by hand-drawn paintings referencing the Maldives as
Landscaping and bespoke furniture weaves its way
a cultural melting pot.
around the restaurants and strategically positioned pool bar, while hints of Asia and Arabia combine in
SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT
an eclectic confluence of distinctive design, lifted by
Phase one of the project, part of a US$311.5 million
splashes of cerulean blue and sunshine yellow.
investment, has not been without its critics from an environmental point of view, with the initial stages
HARD ROCK HOTEL
of reclamation called out for carelessness. Since this
Linked to the Marina by a 450m bridge equipped with
early hiccup, however, Singha Estate has partnered
Bose speakers, the high-energy vibe of Hard Rock
with international agencies, local authorities and
International’s first Maldivian hotel is evident from
communities to ensure the sustainability aspect
the moment of arrival at the music organ-shaped
of construction, while the highly-respected Thai
welcome pavilion, with its drum-inspired reception
marine biologist, Dr. Thon Thamrongnawasawat,
booths. Guests are whisked up to the main resort block
has been appointed to lead on coral preservation and
and invited to slide down a water chute to collect a
regeneration initiatives as well as social education.
mocktail once safely across the pool. Activities galore
Picking up on the theme, Thongbenjamas outlines
on land, water and in the air keep the social and buzzy
how construction has followed the protocol of the
atmosphere of the self-contained property going
United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals
through day into night, when lighting and furniture
with efforts concentrated on “closely measuring the
changes create ambient mood shifts.
marine environment, reducing wet work and avoiding
Charged with designing the 178-key hotel,
discharge of grey water plus ensuring strict zero
Singapore-based Eco-id Architects collaborated with
waste to the ocean”. At the Marine Discovery Centre
an oceanography expert, the developer and Hard
– a facility that promotes environmental conservation
Rock to shape the manmade island, prioritising beach
and Maldivian local arts and crafts – interactive
frontage for public areas while carving out spaces for
storyboards and installations draw visitors into the
activity hubs and creating scenery vignettes. “Once
midst of an educational project focused on coral
the masterplan had been established, it was a case of
propagation while the resort’s two hotels use energy
working on architecture with a contemporary tropical
efficient LED lighting, waste management including
direction,” outlines the firm’s Director Carol Chng.
composting and organic gardens, as well as a heat
“The island then became a showcase for the curation
recovery system to power hot water.
of these building forms.”
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Interpreting the music ethos of the Hard Rock brand, Eco-id has infused a free-spirited quality into its vision, opting for airy and contemporary design
Interpreting the music ethos of the Hard Rock
Hard Rock,” describes Chng. “From the Boduberu
brand in its own way, Eco-id has infused a free-
tradition, we have extracted tactile elements such as
spirited quality into its vision, opting for airy and
the Maldivian mat, drum shapes, lacquer techniques
contemporary design over traditional Maldivian
and coir rope effects.” Around the resort, the art
thatched roof structures. “Our take is a composition of
of Maldivian weaving is expressed as diagonal and
clean forms without sacrificing light, ventilation and
graphic line motifs seen in tiling and panelling,
shade,” confirms Chng. “So you see white architectural
while rhythmic bands of colour characterise timber
massing shine in the sunlight, contrasting and
louvered screens and villa entrance doors. Drum
accentuating the blue and green hues of the water –
armchairs, rattan cocoon seating, rope-clad columns
like monuments to the rock-star lifestyle, they have a
and intricate multi-hued tile installations bring
rebellious design angle.” Alongside white concrete and
pops of bright colour into the scheme with vibrant
masonry, painted in ocean shades for overwater guest
paintings by Maldivian artist Shaff Oceans a common
villas, synthetic thatched roofs have been selected
feature in each guestroom. In combination with Hard
to respond to the climate and timber for curving
Rock’s trademark music memorabilia dotted around
overwater walkways.
public spaces, interiors are dynamic and youthful. “Memorabilia displays are juxtaposed with interior
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MUSIC AND MOVEMENT
colours, patterns and textiles – a blend of local
While the brand’s music DNA is an essential factor,
culture interpreted and abstracted with dialled-up
Maldivian culture has also been absorbed into the
energy,” explains Chng. “As music is synonymous
interior design approach, with the Boduberu another
with movement, we try not to keep things static.
key source of inspiration. “To us, the image of locals
Standout spaces include The Elephant & The
dancing to the rhythm of drums on the beach is
Butterfly, a pan-Latin restaurant and oceanfront pool
such a clear definition of music, the Maldives and
bar that pays homage to Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera,
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its plates of food purposefully contrasting the
BUILDING BIG, PROTECTING THE SMALL
rustic with the sophisticated. A playful ceiling
With the first phase of development now
fixture of suspended colour beads moves and
operational, Singha Estates has turned its
sways to make a group of butterflies materialise
attention to what’s still to come. The next
while gold and white mosaics accentuate
phase of Crossroads, which is due to open up
the same theme. Shaff Oceans’ memorable
a third island in 2022, will include a high-end
handpainted elephant wall mural took months
lifestyle resort comprising 80 spacious villas for
of refinement but is now an Instagram hit.
experiential travellers, built in partnership with
Elsewhere, Sessions – serving dishes inspired
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Myanmar’s Eco World Developer.
by contemporary global flavours – is a vibrant
While the project is monumental in both scale
all-day dining affair, and on a more sybaritic
and ambition, Crossroads is committed to its
note, Rock Spa makes an impression for its
mission of ‘building big, protecting the small’,
abstract architectural rendition of a wave
preserving the natural beauty of the Maldives
crashing on seashells. Finally, the largest guest
and enriching the lives of locals.
villa, appropriately named Rock Star, has been
“With Crossroads, we are making history,”
designed to redefine the tropical house party
commented Chutinant Bhirombhakdi, Chairman,
with its jukebox, tuk-tuk bar and carousel
Singha Estate, on the resort’s debut. “By being
shaped as a seahorse. “From masterplanning to
the largest integrated leisure and entertainment
architecture and interiors, the total composition
destination in the Maldives, Crossroads is going
is akin to putting notes together to form a
to redefine vacation experience in the entire
tune,” concludes Chng. “The vitality of Hard
Indian Ocean region, while also being deeply
Rock’s DNA is on display in every aspect of the
sustainable and considerate of its environment,
sensory experience.”
history and culture.”
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Developer: Singha Estate Operator: S Hotels & Resorts (SAii Lagoon); Hard Rock International (Hard Rock Hotel) Architecture and Interior Design: Singha Estate (SAii Lagoon); Eco-id Architects (Hard Rock Hotel) Landscaping: Topo Design Studio (Hard Rock Hotel) Lighting Design: Bo Steiber Lighting Design (Hard Rock Hotel) www.crossroadsmaldives.com
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10/12/2019 12:02
Stock Exchange Hotel MANCHESTER Football legends Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs team up with Autoban to transform Manchester’s former Stock Exchange into a boutique hotel. Words: Ben Thomas • Photography: © Bevan Cockerill
T
he names Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs will ring a bell with sports fans up and down the country, but mention them in the world of hotels and you may receive an
altogether different response. The former professional footballers – both of whom captained Manchester United to success, lifting a combined total of 54 trophies – first cut their teeth in hospitality five years ago with the launch of Hotel Football, an upscale property inspired by the beautiful game that overlooks Old Trafford. And the ex-teammates didn’t rest on their laurels – a trait perhaps inherited from celebrated manager Sir Alex Ferguson – drafting in hotelier Winston Zahra as CEO of GG Hospitality in 2018 and subsequently unveiling plans for the £20million conversion of Manchester’s former Stock Exchange, having acquired the historic Grade II-listed building in 2014. Situated in the heart of the city on Norfolk Street, the Stock Exchange was originally designed by architects Bradshaw, Gass & Hope, opening its doors in 1906 and continuing to trade until 1979, when it was eventually amalgamated into the London Stock Exchange. Since then, the Edwardian Baroque structure has been used as offices and more recently a restaurant, though its history and heritage have often been overlooked, something that Neville and Giggs were keen to reverse: “We knew the Stock Exchange well from when it was a restaurant, but it was only when we viewed it in its entirety
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The Boardroom Suite features heritage details such as marble pillars, wood panelling, stainedglass windows and an ornamental fireplace
that we realised the extent of the history there,” they
property – which has opened as a member of Relais &
recall, speaking at an exclusive pre-opening event.
Châteaux – with well-dressed bellboys ushering city
“Most people familiar with the building will know
dwellers into the aptly named Traders Lounge for a
of the domed ceiling above the old trading floor, but
glass of fizz before guiding them upstairs, where a
there are many other original features that will not
collection of 40 guestrooms across three categories –
have been seen, such as fireplaces, vaults and stained-
The Bradshaw, John Gass and Arthur Hope – honour
glass windows. For us, it was critical that this heritage
the architects who first envisioned the Portland stone
was protected and now sits at the heart of what we
structure. Reinforcing the connection to its trading
hope will be an exciting new concept for Manchester.”
past are two signature spaces – Suite Nineteen ‘0’ Six
Tasked with breathing new life into the former
and The Boardroom Suite – the first named after the
trading hub was JM Architects and Istanbul-based
year in which the Stock Exchange was inaugurated and
studio Autoban, the latter reimagining the interior
forming part of the newly constructed fourth floor,
spaces in a palette of subtle colours, pairing bespoke
the second located in one of the most historic and
furnishings with original surfaces such as marble, glass
architecturally preserved parts of the building.
and woodwork to channel the building’s deep-rooted
Accessed via a private staircase off the main lobby,
history. “Our design concept was built on paying
The Boardroom Suite occupies the original Stock
homage to the extraordinary heritage of the space,”
Exchange boardroom and features heritage details
say founders Seyhan Özdemir and Sefer Çağlar. “Much
such as marble pillars, an ornamental fireplace,
of the bespoke furniture for example, including the
stained-glass windows and an original vault. The
reception and concierge desks, were inspired by the
space can be extended via an interconnecting suite
former Stock Exchange’s cashier desks and resemble
and its own private terrace, while other areas include
the detail of a coin’s edge.”
a large lounge, dining room and walk-in wardrobe.
The narrative begins as soon as guests enter the
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At the heart of the hotel is The Bull & Bear, an
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87-cover restaurant headed up by Michelin-
of mouthwatering dishes such as Crispy Pig’s
starred chef Tom Kerridge. Housed beneath
Head with Celeriac Remoulade and Spiced
a striking domed ceiling on what was the
Date Sauce, Chicken Kiev with Maple Glazed
original trading floor of the Stock Exchange,
Butternut Squash, and B&B Profiteroles with
the dining room lends its name to the building
Soured Vanilla Cream – the latter brought up
in which it resides – which witnessed the ups
north by the chef after becoming a staple choice
and downs of bull and bear markets – blurring
for diners at The Coach, his illustrious pub in
the lines between elegance and informality
Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
with a refined colour palette that takes its cues
In addition to The Bull & Bear, Kerridge’s
from Manchester’s iconic worker bee, together
team is in charge of The Bank, offering bespoke
with carefully restored Edwardian architecture,
dining experiences for up to 16 guests, and The
elegant green banquettes and comfortable
Vault, catering to 120 covers for private events
leather armchairs.
and receptions. The Bank also hosts culinary
“We used British racing greens and brass
classes and has its own wine cellar, which
details, as well as various types and textures of
guests can enjoy while tucking into Kerridge’s
natural stone mosaics combined with patterned
award-winning cuisine.
parquet, to create a central focus under the
Having written their names in the history
dome,” add Özdemir and Çağlar. “On top of
books at Manchester United, Neville and Giggs
that, our blend of modern and traditional
have undoubtedly captured the hearts of the
craftsmanship is shown in the processed wood
Northern faithful once again, this time using
cladding used for the bar and couch seating.”
their entrepreneurial nous to revive one of the
On the menu, Kerridge’s signature style of refined British classics is on show in the form
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city’s most iconic sites, both in style and spirit.
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Winston Zahra Developer: Zerum Operator: GG Hospitality Architecture: JM Architects Interior Design: Autoban Art Consultant: Ruth Davies www.stockexchangehotel.co.uk
Paramount House Hotel SYDNEY A boutique hotel joins the mix of cultural and work spaces at the sensitively restored former headquarters of Paramount Pictures. Words: Mandi Keighran • Photography: © Sharyn Cairns
T
he Paramount Pictures building in the dynamic inner-
eating lunch, taking meetings and catching up over coffee. At
city neighbourhood of Surry Hills in Sydney was
night, when the café is closed, the designers wanted to avoid
originally built in 1940 and served as the home of the
the feeling of walking through a deserted space. “We came
film studio until the 1970s. In 2013, it began a transformation
up with the idea of a corridor of light to guide you through
into a thriving hub of new, creative businesses driven by
to the lobby and make the rest of the space fall away,” says
property investor Ping Jin Ng with the help of architects Fox
Herring. “At the end, you find a gleaming, copper-clad
Johnston. There is the Golden Age Cinema and Bar in the
desk. It was very important that visitors pause at that spot.
old screening room; The Office Space co-working floor; the
They’re served a local cider, wine or ice tea from taps on the
Paramount Recreation Club and Kiosk on the rooftop; and
reception desk, and have chance to relax. The hospitality is
the Paramount Coffee Project on the ground floor. And, the
in the people, but the architecture is also designed to invite
building’s newest tenant – the boutique Paramount House
that feeling.”
Hotel – fits right in with its neighbours.
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To this end, the lobby is filled with artwork curated by local
“The site is such an interesting microcosm of Surry Hills
gallery China Heights and changed seasonally, while natural
as a hive of creative businesses,” says Bonnie Herring,
light floods the space through a large skylight. The lift is
associate at Breathe Architecture, which oversaw the four-
wallpapered in a kitschy pink Hawaiian floral pattern – also
year project. “The Paramount House Hotel is interrelated
found on shirts in the reception gift shop – that highlights
with that whole tapestry.”
the relaxed, fun feeling throughout. It’s no surprise that
The actual site of the hotel is adjacent to the original
the hotel is the first offering from Russell Beard and Mark
Paramount House offices – an important heritage building
Dundon, with Ng – the team behind local café favourites
– in the old film distribution warehouse. The architects
Reuben Hills and Bondi Hall. “The hotel was a logical next
took inspiration from its Art Deco detailing and developed a
step for us after we were approached to do the Paramount
concept that explored how old and new would relate to each
Coffee Project café here,” says Beard. “Hospitality is the
other, such as in the way the chevron-pattern copper screen
focus – looking after people and being humble.”
sits over the robust original façade. “There was a contrast of
The accommodation offer comprises 29 guestrooms across
raw and honest materials with more delicate new materials,”
five room categories – Nook, Everyday, Sunny, Loft and Mack
says Herring. “Inside, there are a lot of exposed surfaces and
Daddy Suites – and because of the quirks of working within
structural elements that explain how the building came to
an existing building with an irregular plan, no two rooms are
be. We hope that the newer parts of the interior will patinate
the same. “We wanted to capture all the eccentricities of the
over time and become part of that narrative.”
heritage fabric,” says Herring. “I really enjoyed the process
Visitors to the hotel enter through the ground-floor café,
of stripping away what we decided was not productive for
which during the day is a busy hub of hotel guests and locals
the project and seeing what was there waiting for us. At
079
one stage, we were about to fit out a suite and
designers – the Japanese-style native blackbutt
we realised that there were beautiful brickwork
timber bathtubs are made by a craftsman from
areas when we pulled away plasterboard. So,
Coffs Harbour, furniture comes from family-
we decided to flip the switch and make these
owned company Jardan, Seljak merino wool
visible. These were really delightful moments.”
blankets are crafted from scraps sourced from
While every room is different, they almost all
Australia’s oldest wool mill, and French linen
have an outdoor space with plenty of greenery.
sheets are from Cultiver. Even the scent, from
The copper façade screen offers privacy without
Aesop, is Australian.
blocking the views or ambiance of the bustling
“A hotel for us should be about aesthetics,
inner-city neighbourhood. “If you come half
place and hospitality,” says Beard. “That’s
way across the world, you want to know that you
what we want when we stay somewhere, to
are in a particular place,” explains Herring. “In
feel like we are part of a community.” And,
Surry Hills, there are these bursts of greenery
Paramount House Hotel is about as far from
amongst the terrace houses and we wanted to
the anonymous hotel experience as you can get.
pick up on that.”
Anyone spending the night here will wake up
The rooms have been designed to make guests
knowing exactly where they are – tapped into
feel at home, with warm finishes and furnishings
the very fabric of Sydney itself – and when the
more likely to be found in a domestic setting
time comes to check-out, you will probably feel
than in a hotel – think stripped back brick
a little bit like a local.
walls, timber floors, exposed concrete ceilings and copper details. To give the hotel a strong sense of place, the designers sourced as much as possible from local Australian brands and
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EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owners: Ping Jin Ng, Russell Beard, Mark Dundon and Eden Elan Devloper: Citadin Architecture and Interior Design: Breathe Architecture Graphic Design: The Company You Keep Art Consultant: China Heights Main Contractor: Calida (hotel); Promena Projects (lobby) Project Manager: Artechne www.paramounthousehotel.com
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Jao Camp OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA Hoteliers Cathy and David Kays enlist Silvio Rech + Lesley Carstens for the rebuild of a Wilderness Safaris camp in the Okavango Delta. Words: Emma Love • Photography: © Crookes & Jackson
I
n northern Botswana, Maun is the jumping off-point for the Okavango Delta, a landscape of sprawling grassy plains that transform into lush, water-filled channels during
the seasonal floods. It was here that South African Cathy Kays and her husband David, who was born in Botswana, spent weekends camping with their children. That was until the Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Act of 1992 split the area into smaller concessions, which were then all privately leased. “Suddenly we didn’t have free access anymore,” recalls Kays. “We realised that the only way we could continue to visit was if we had a reason to be here, so we decided to go into the tourism industry. It was also the only way we could take part in conserving a very important part of the Okavango Delta.” The couple enlisted Johannesburg-based architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens (the roll call of previous camps they’ve designed includes Wilderness Safaris’ Vumbura Plains and Mombo in the Delta) to produce concept drawings for the management plan – which won the tender. “People were still in the stage of putting a tent on the ground whereas we came up with the idea of a Balinese long house,” continues Kays of the original camp, which opened in 1999 under the Wilderness Safaris tour operator umbrella. “I wanted the buildings to generate excitement and they definitely did that. The problem is that we are in a flood plain, so for six months of the year the building stands under water. It’s terribly bad for gum poles, which started to rot. In the last few years we knew we had to rebuild, so we went back to Silvio and Lesley and asked if they would do round two with us.”
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Palm frond tan leather floor lights and an installation of porcelain lily flowers hanging around a sun above the bar are both nods to the natural world
The camp’s second incarnation, which re-
is nature, specifically plants, which are threaded
opened last summer after an eight-and-a-
throughout in all kinds of ways, from the
half-month rebuild, is a complete departure.
rounded side tables and olive leather hanging
Instead of gum poles for the main space –
seats in one of the living areas that reference lily
which comprises the restaurant, bar and several
pads, to the leaf patterns in the tableware. “We
hang-out living areas – the Kays opted for steel.
collected leaves from the trees in our garden
The roof is artificial thatch, made partly from
at home in Maun,” says David. “Lesley froze
recycled plastic mixed to the couple’s colour
them and put them into the ceramics, which she
specifications, with artificial cape reed grass
and her team made; when they were baked the
and latte wood on the inside and fibre palm on
leaf disintegrated but it left the impression.”
the outside. The floor is composite decking and,
Palm frond tan leather floor lights produced
unusually for a safari camp, there are frameless
by Heino Schmitt Design, and an installation
glass stacking doors that can close off the bar
of opening-and-closing porcelain lily flowers
and restaurant area when the temperature
hanging around a sun above the bar, are just two
drops. “We’ve tried to keep the same feeling
more nods to the natural world. “When we came
of the original Jao but using materials that last
for our first visit this time, there was so much
longer. It’s a more sustainable approach, and
water and a profusion of lilies everywhere, so
also a sculptural one. The roof is like butterfly
we really wanted to use them,” adds Carstens.
wings with the steel as the tendons,” explains
Along the red balau boardwalk, there are five
Carstens of the structural element, which has
116m2 suites, plus a pair of two-bedroom 269m2
also been used for the floor-to-ceiling faceted
villas, ideal for families, which each come with a
fireplace and bar in the camp’s living area.
private guide and vehicle for game drives, a chef
One of the main inspirations for the new look
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and butler. They all have a similar layout and
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chic, handcrafted style: there’s a kitchenette
spa and gym, while the old furniture has been
with a slab of sandstone as the counter; a dining
re-purposed at another camp nearby.
area with a cedar table; and in the living zone,
Other stand-out features are the main round
a patchwork of raffia grass mats handwoven
pool with a decked seating area shaded by a
in Swaziland as a wall panel, accompanied
domed latte wood nest-like structure and the
by pieces such as a cork coffee table and grey
new tower by the entrance, which comprises
Karakul wool rug. “Everything is very tactile,”
a ground floor shop, and on the upper level,
says Carstens, who together with Rech, designed
a wine cellar, library and gallery. A two-
the furniture throughout the camp and worked
storey-high giraffe skeleton – displayed for
with mostly South African artisans to produce
educational purposes after dying from natural
it. “We’ve used honest materials and tried to
attrition – provides the wow factor, while a
keep the rawness coming through.”
series of prints from the National Herbarium in
In the bathroom meanwhile, two lily-shaped
Pretoria – botanical pressings made by Kays’
vanities manufactured by Iron Banister take
great-grandfather, botanist E.E. Galpin – sit
centrestage, as well as a custom designed tub
alongside black-and-white family photos and
with lily pad side tables, produced by Boutique
text that delve into the Kays’ past. “In the
Baths, which looks out to the plunge pool on
gallery, guests can learn about the history of
the terrace. Sustainability is a key factor too, so
the Kays but also the history of Botswana, as
the suites are subsequently cooled with Climate
their story lines up with different elements of
Wizard, an evaporative low-energy cooling
Delta,” concludes Carstens. This is a camp with
system and the entire camp runs on solar power
a deep family connection, where the incentive
– generated by over 600 panels. Rosewood from
for those staying here will surely be as much
the original Jao was re-used on the floors of the
about the architecture as the animals.
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Operator: Wilderness Safaris Architecture and Interior Design: Silvio Rech + Lesley Carstens Lighting Design: Darkroom Lighting Projects Landscaping: Landscaping Enterprises Project Manager: Errol Laing www.wilderness-safaris.com
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Native MANCHESTER Changing the face of long-stay accomodation, Native’s new outpost in Manchester pays homage to the city’s rich industrial heritage. Words: Donna Salek Photography: © Keith Collie (unless otherwise stated)
A
decade ago, the mention of serviced apartments would more likely inspire thoughts of a tired, halffunctioning residence rather than a swanky New York-
style loft. In recent years however, the sector has undergone a revolution, with a new breed of hybrids combining the comforts of home with the luxuries and services of a boutique hotel. This has led to a surge in popularity, so much so that in 2019, the sector enjoyed higher RevPAR growth than traditional hotels. New development is on the rise too – a report from HVS found that 23,600 units are set to open across Europe by 2022 – and amongst those adding to their portfolios is Native, a London-based operator that has recently expanded to the regions. 2018 saw openings in Glasgow and London’s Bankside, while 2019 brought a new northern outpost in the shape of Native Manchester. Nestled between the voguish Northern Quarter and
developing Ancoats neighbourhood, just a stone’s throw from Piccadilly train station, the new apartments occupy the upper eight floors of the Grade II-listed Ducie Street Warehouse, a red brick building dating back to 1867 that was once used to store cotton. “This has been an extraordinary opportunity to take one of the great icons of Manchester’s industrial past and turn it into a major cultural and social destination for the city,” comments Guy Nixon, who founded the company in 1998 having grown tired of extended stays in hotels during his travels as an investment banker. Responsible for overseeing this renovation was Londonbased studio Archer Humphryes Architects, a firm known
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© Felix Mooneeram
The ground-floor space – known as Cultureplex – is a multi-purpose, all-day hub for eating, drinking, working and socialising
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for transforming old buildings into hospitality spaces,
restauranteurs David Waddington and Pablo Flack,
such as Chiltern Firehouse, The Standard London and
the minds behind East London eatery Bistroteque and
Great Northern Hotel. In Manchester, Ducie Street
Ace Hotel London hangout Hoi Polloi, Cultureplex
Warehouse’s industrial heritage has been laid bare,
boasts a dynamic events programme as well as luxury
with the architects choosing to retain inimitable
gym BLOK, private function rooms, and its own little
characteristics, such as barrel-arched brick ceilings,
cinema – ‘Mini Cini’, if you will. For eating, drinking
cast-iron columns and an exposed skeletal frame – a
and lounging, there are three main spaces: Klatch – an
hangover from its former life.
artisanal coffee counter; Bistroteque – the northern
The ground floor is a voluminous, open space
foil of the original Bethnal Green institution; and
housing independently operated F&B outlet
the Lounge – a central space with a standalone bar
Cultureplex. “We wanted to do something spectacular
and communal tables. Heading Cultureplex’s interior
and recognised that hoteliers are rarely known for
design was Loren Daye, founder of New York design
operating destination F&B offerings,” notes Nixon.
studio Love is Enough. Daye took cues from Hoi Polloi
“In addition to creating uniquely spacious aparthotel
to create a ground floor design that harmonises with
rooms in this magnificent space, we set out to identify
the building’s industrial underpinnings and is adorned
an F&B operator that could bring the vast ground floor
with a neutral colour palette, terracotta features,
space alive by offering something truly unique to the
plenty of foliage and a mix of caramel-coloured and
Manchester market as well as our guests.”
dark grey seating.
Seamlessly stitching itself into the cultural fabric
For Archer Humphryes, uniting the ground floor
of the neighbourhood, it is best defined as a multi-
with the apartments above was crucial, and so the
purpose, all-day hub for eating, drinking, working
firm opted to introduce a glazed screen at first floor
and socialising, the likes of which exist in cities such
level providing sightlines up to the sky lights. “This
as London, but not so much in Manchester. Run by
allows for the building to be appreciated both in
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height and depth,” David Archer, co-founder of Archer
penthouses – the latter complete with mezzanine
Humphryes notes. “And for visitors to see, at once, the
levels and private terraces – each unit lending a
hotel atrium, and the ground floor activities bathed
distinctly homely feel. Modelled off the wave of loft-
in the gentle northern light from above.” Perhaps
living concepts developed in metropolitan cities over
the most impressive feature, the atrium exposes the
the last 40 years, in which industrial buildings are re-
building’s metal structure, which has charmingly
purposed with open-plan layouts, Native Manchester
been painted in a light blue shade, and also provides
fuses style with comfort. “We developed the brief
a glimpse into the goings-on of Cultureplex below.
around the quality of one’s environment within a
In defining the layout of the apartments, one of the
domestic setting,” Archer explains. “We wanted it to
key ideas was to reverse the arrangement of living
be as inviting as a home environment.” Solid, parquet
and sleeping accommodation, allowing the living areas
flooring, comfortable beds and bespoke furniture
to have windows with city views, direct daylight and
supplied by Conran appear alongside vibrant velvet
a greater amount of wall area left with the original
textures, lighting by Marset, fully furnished blue and
exposed bricks and jack arches above. The room
brass kitchenettes and black and grey bathrooms –
count has also significantly increased from the former
creating an interior scheme which oozes style without
property to provide greater flexibility. “The aim was to
being excessive.
allow rooms to be let together to provide larger living
Growing rapidly to meet market demand, Native’s
spaces as well as individual studios and one bedrooms
portfolio has expanded significantly over the last few
being arranged off shared lobbies to allow groups of
years and shows no sign of slowing. With further
rooms to be taken by families, friends or colleagues,”
developments planned across the UK, the operator will
continues Archer. The room sizes are still generous
continue to work with industry leading designers and
compared to industry norms, ranging from a mix of
architects to create boutique aparthotels that allow
studios, one-bedroom apartments and two-bedroom
guests to feel like true natives of the city they’re in.
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: Ares Management Developer: Styles & Wood Operator: Native Architecture: Archer Humphryes Interior Design: Archer Humphryes, Love is Enough (Cultureplex) www.nativemanagement.co.uk
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Market Street Hotel EDINBURGH Design Hotels welcomes its first member property in Scotland, where contemporary interiors with a local twist take centrestage. Words: Catherine Martin Photography: © Robert Rieger
s the UK’s most visited city outside
A
“We call our hotels local heroes,” explains
London, Edinburgh is widely regarded
Christa van Camp, Sales Director at Carlton Hotel
as one of the most attractive spots for
Collection, who helps develop new concepts for
hotel investment in Europe. In recent years, the
the group having worked with them for over 20
number of overnight tourists has soared, leading
years. “All properties in the group have their
to rapid growth, and notably, diversification, of
own identity based on location, environment
its accommodation offer. Adding to the mix of
and local history,” she continues. “With Market
B&Bs and guesthouses, new lifestyle brands,
Street Hotel, we wanted to create a new local
design-led aparthotels and even a floating hotel
hero, where location and history offer renewed
have opened their doors, and now, the city is
relevance to guests, resulting in a contemporary
home to Scotland’s first Design Hotels member.
hotel with a Scottish twist.”
Occupying a prime spot close to Waverley
The property’s location – on the border
Station, Market Street Hotel is a new addition
between old town and new – called for a
to Carlton Hotel Collection, a subsidiary of
solution that would harmonise with the
Foundation Group along with Glendola Leisure,
architectural greats that still stand, yet also
which operates a number of bars, restaurants
speak of a developing city. And so, JM Architects
and nightclubs across the UK. The parent
was brought in to transform a derelict site
company was founded by Peter Salussolia in
into a new, eight-storey building that would
1972, and takes pride in the individuality and
integrate into the streetscape and protect
sense of place of each of its 12 hotels, which
the historic Edinburgh skyline. Following a
range from a sensitively converted abbey in
rigorous analysis of the materials, proportions
Brussels, to a sports-club-with-rooms in the
and geometries of the surroundings, the firm
Dutch town of Mierlo.
designed a contemporary structure clad in
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The champagne lounge features a variety of seating options to suit every occasion
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traditional sandstone crowned by a folded rooftop of
the studio’s founder, Colin Finnegan. Delving into the
dark whinstone and glass. The materials, both here
archives, Finnegan found that the hotel sits on the site
and throughout the hotel, are predominantly from
of the former Nor’ Loch, a marsh at the foot of Castle
Scottish sources, and quite often have a tale to tell.
Rock that was once part of the natural defence of the
The cracked walls in the entrance lobby for example
old town. “We wanted to create a protective, almost
nod to the dried earth of the city’s former lochs,
fortress-like feeling within the hotel,” he notes. “The
while the sandstone of the façade was quarried from
ruggedness of the landscape was a key inspiration
within 90 miles of the site, ensuring a close geological
together with the pure materials of Scotland.”
match with the famous Craigleith stone used to build
This ruggedness can be seen in the coarse stone
Edinburgh Castle and nearby Holyrood Palace. “The
feature walls in the guestrooms, almost an exact match
hotel is steeped in history yet reflects the forward-
for the rocky crags beneath the castle, while tartans
thinking nature of Edinburgh,” van Camp confirms.
have been woven into the scheme in a variety of ways.
“The design scheme is inspired by local features and
Some applications are immediately noticeable, such
traditions reinvented in new ways, such as the Celtic
as in the soft furnishings and headboards; others are
imagery used in the hotel logo, or the individually
more subtle, like the oak flooring, laid to mimic the
designed tartans from a local weaving shop.”
chequered pattern. There are other local references too,
For the interiors, Carlton Hotel Collection once
including artwork depicting Edinburgh Castle and Nor’
again turned to FG Stijl, having previously collaborated
Loch as it was in the 1500s, and the floating fireplaces
with the team on the design of The Dominican in
in the lobby, their descending height symbolising the
Brussels, also a member of Design Hotels. “The brief
first five notes of Flower of Scotland, the unofficial
for Market Street was to create a destination hotel
national anthem.
in the heart of the city, with a strong connection to
Guestrooms meanwhile are a break from the norm,
local craftsmanship and the area’s history,” explains
almost Scandinavian in style with minimalist, clean
Mรถvenpick Hotel, meeting room
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lines and plenty of exposed timber. Solid
to-ceiling windows offering views across
surfaces in stone, glazed brick and oak –
towards the new town and a roof terrace for al
including sliding shutters in place of curtains
fresco dining. There’s a few cosy corners too,
– create a modern version of a Scottish fortress,
and a variety of seating options to suit every
while Arte’s Enigma 3D foam wallcoverings,
occasion, from Arne Jacobsen’s Drop Chairs to
soft wool upholstery and signature lighting
perch on while tucking in to a hearty Scottish
add warmth. The 89 rooms come in a variety
breakfast, to wingback armchairs for lounging
of configurations, from the entry-level Cozy
post-afternoon tea. Rather than a full service
rooms to the spacious Alba Suite with a bathtub,
restaurant, Carlton Hotel Collection has opted
fireplace and private outdoor terrace. All are
for a small plates menu, with dishes such as
designed with an ante-bathroom, in which
locally-sourced Ayrshire Pork Belly, Tweed
the vanity area is separated from the WC and
Valley Flat Iron Steak, and of course oysters, to
shower to become part of the guestroom, and
accompany the wide selection of champagnes
rightly so – the striking grey marble basins are
on offer.
a feature in themselves.
experience, the concept is intentionally
champagne lounge, perched over the city up
accessible to all. Champagnes start at
on the top floor along with check-in, where
£9-a-glass while the sharing plates are priced
arriving guests are treated to a glass of fizz
at around £6-9 per dish. It’s a savvy move in a
while the formalities are taken care of. Named
hospitality market that’s becoming increasingly
Nor’ Loft in honour of the former loch, the
competitive, and one that will surely keep
spacious lounge has been designed to take
guests coming back for more.
full advantage of its lofty location, with floor-
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While Nor’ Loft is undoubtedly an indulgent
The hotel’s crowning glory is of course its
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner / Operator: Carlton Hotel Collection Architecture: JM Architects Interior Design: FG Stijl in collaboration with Glintmeijer Design Studio Graphic Design: Guido de Jong Procurement: Project FF&E Main Contractor: ISG Fit-Out: Sharkey Project Manager: Leask www.carlton.nl
Luxury Hotel Collection
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Chapter Roma ROME A new chapter begins in the Eternal City with the opening of this streetwise, timeless and innovative city hotel. Words: Rachel Everett Photography: Courtesy of Design Hotels
ucked down a little side street in the
T
Cilia – formerly General Manager of Blake’s
Regola neighbourhood – a sleepy spot far
in London then Hotel Americano in New York
enough away from the crowds but still
– and South African interior designer Tristan
at Rome’s heart – is the 42-room, three-suite
Du Plessis are the dream design team behind
Chapter Roma. First impressions of this new
the property.
Design Hotels member are of a smart boutique
Cusping the Jewish ghetto, and a short walk
hotel with notes of industrial-chic, but within
from the historical magnets of Rome and
the 19 th-century building there is classical
bohemian Trastevere, every part of the hotel
elegance at every turn.
feels luxurious: from the stylish, warm-hued
“We are introducing a new hospitality vibe
communal areas through to the friendly service
in Regola with Chapter Roma,” says owner
and the refined, minimalist, guestrooms.
Marco Cilia, who made the jump from business
Blending classical opulence with more current
and finance to hospitality having learnt the
influences, this fusion brings to life spaces
boutique hotel ropes under Anouska Hempel,
including a restaurant, an organic food market
and Carlos Couturier and Moisés Micha of Grupo
and a luxurious lobby bar with a street slant.
Habita. “I was born here, and it is important
The building itself dates back to the 1800s,
that we put our guests in the Italian state of
and the design team have managed to retain
mind; protecting Rome’s design heritage while
its grandeur and history whilst putting a
celebrating the future with genuine and original
refreshingly modern spin on things. The
design, service, and F&B. With Chapter Roma
property is located on Viadi Santa Maria dei
we’re telling the first part of our story – we
Calderari, or the street of the blacksmiths, which
want to create a place where guests truly feel
Du Plessis has honoured by weaving a range of
like a local.”
metals and industrial elements throughout.
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Chapter Roma’s Lobby Bar is a breezy communal space with a distinctive graffiti mural by local artist Alice Pasquini
102
“We have created a lot of beautiful and
exposed brick walls, handsome velvet-bordered
engaging features in our design,” Du Plessis
beds, polished copper and brass finishes, black
offers. “But my favourite elements are the
metal touches and intricate wooden herringbone
existing age-old arches on the ground floor.”
flooring underfoot.
Here, the designer has used raw steel, brass,
The glamour and elegance of Chapter Roma’s
copper and bronze, adding an industrial touch
Mad Men-esque suite is equally impressive;
to the historic space, along with parquet floors,
it has three large rooms for living, ravishing
and Mid-Century Italian furniture. The dramatic
sleeping quarters with a charming balcony, an
setup is rounded off nicely with a palette of dark
alluring bathroom with gold taps, a terrazzo
green and rust, and a coat of soft touch velvets.
flecked floor, a huge shower space with a
A sassy city bolthole, everything has been
fragrant selection of La Bruket toiletries and
considered throughout the rest of the hotel too.
a seductive forest-green velvet lounge with a
Furniture designed by Tom Dixon, Seletti, Diesel
glossy cocktail bar area completing the set. Don
and Moroso can be spied once inside. Beyond
Draper would surely approve.
the arches, there’s a breakfast and bar area
“We wanted to create a design that stood out
with a bright and breezy spirit featuring classic
for its youthfulness, whilst still respecting the
Italian elements such as original high ceilings,
traditions of the city,” Du Plessis explains. “We
neat breakfast tables with co-working facilities,
used local craftsmen, materials and aesthetics
fabulous graffiti by local artist Alice Pasquini, a
for a large amount of the hotel and collaborated
dashing bar and a row of decadent sofas.
with young artists, furniture designers and
Guestrooms, meanwhile, are thoughtfully
lighting manufacturers – based both locally and
designed and meticulously executed. There are
internationally – to embed a spirit of rebellion
delightful, industrial-luxe double options with
throughout. The age of the building was both
103
inspiring and challenging, but the old walls
Retreating to guestrooms, a peek from the
and ancient layout made sure that each room
balcony takes you back to old, romantic Rome;
had a unique footprint, which has lent us the
the one where Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck
opportunity to create interesting room types.”
filmed Roman Holiday; where narrow, cobbled
Slipping into the social hub - the hotel’s
laneways lead to ancient piazzas filled with
breakfast and bar area - guests can choose from
markets, flowers, cafés and trattorias; where
an extensive continental buffet including Italian
independent makers create leather goods in
classics and other healthy options. A flexible
petite warehouses; where old couples linger on
layout allows guests to grab a cappuccino in the
park benches and have animated conversations
morning from the coffee station and an Aperol
on the street; where locals queue for the best
spritz from the bar at happy hour. Chapter’s
takeout pizza slices from Roscolio.
communal atmosphere is relaxed and club-
Design sensibilities aside, stepping out
like, with people pulling up their stools to chat
onto the picturesque streets, the beauty of
to the convivial staff at the bar or lounging on
this neighbourhood is not lost, and offers any
the sofas. The mixed crowd of millennials and
creative traveller a real glimpse into Italian life
older, well-versed trippers makes for some
in this part of town. Perhaps this is the Rome
interesting conversations come cocktail hour.
we all desire?
A restaurant is set to open in future, but in the meantime the newly-launched Market is a refreshing take on hotel dining, combining a salad bar, juice stop, coffee shop and grocery store in one. It’s a small space decked out in blonde wood and brilliant white tones.
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EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner / Developer: Marco Cilia Interior Design: Tristan Du Plessis www.chapter-roma.com
ai157832606716_Nicholas Haslam Sleeper Ad JAN.FEB 20 revA_TYPE.pdf
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01424 858060 | focus-sb.co.uk
Kafnu ALEXANDRIA Next Story Group continues its expansion of Kafnu, bringing the urban village concept to Sydney’s suburbs. Words: Mandi Keighran Photography: © TLT Productions
creative hub that combines co-working
A
“This is an interesting location in Sydney as it
space, social hangout, members club
has developed a lot over the past few years and
and boutique hotel, Kafnu is redefining
is on the belt between the city and the airport,”
hospitality. Launched in 2017 by Singapore-
says Simon Hall, General Manager at Kafnu
based Next Story Group, the concept takes the
Alexandria. “We are mainly targeted at people
best elements of hospitality spaces and social
who already live in the local community and the
communities to form an urban village for a new
hotel is for people travelling in for meetings – it
generation of creators.
is a unique element to a club like this.”
The first property opened in Taiwan in
The idea behind each Kafnu is to create
2018 and there are currently five locations –
a community inspired by a village, with
Taipei, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Bengalaru
everything a business or individual might need
and Sydney – with plans to expand into Sri
in one location. Kafnu Alexandria however,
Lanka soon. Some, like Kafnu Hong Kong, are
had the advantage of a much larger space than
located symbiotically in existing hotels; others
other venues. “This allowed us to carve out
– including the latest, which opened last year in
spaces for designated activities and provide a
the industrial suburb of Alexandria in Sydney’s
balance between private and public spaces and
inner West – have their own integrated boutique
between formal and casual areas,” says Darren
hotel. Kafnu Alexandria is a vast space, spanning
Edmonstone, CEO at Next Hotels & Resorts, who
3,000m2 over two levels in an industrial-style
oversees design and technical services at Kafnu.
building. It is described by the Kafnu group as
As a result, Kafnu Alexandria is home to
a community for a new generation of creators,
a variety of environments, from flexible
what they call hyphenates, or those defined by
offices and meeting areas, hot-desks and a
more than one area of interest or occupation.
brainstorming space known as the creative
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Kafnu Alexandria is home to a variety of environments, from flexible offices and meeting areas to a lounge with feature fireplace
108
cave, to high-tech media production rooms and
away and a central stair was introduced to link
a podcast studio. There’s also a virtual fitness
the two floors, both visually and physically,
centre, the Tonik Bar (which stocks over 20
and encourage community and interaction
Australian gins), a lounge with feature fireplace
between members. The interior fit-out reflects
and a quiet room equipped with an oxygen chair
the industrial surroundings of Alexandria, with
to promote wellness and meditation. Each of the
a neutral colour palette and natural materials
spaces are designed to be fully flexible; meeting
such as timber and glass, imparting a light and
rooms and offices feature moveable walls, the
spacious feeling throughout. Social areas are
fitness studio can be used for gaming and movie
designated through the use of colour – burnt
nights, and the lounge can be reconfigured into
orange and turquoise details for example, or
an event space for launches or workshops.
the green armchairs and camel sofas in the
“Finding the balance between designing quiet
lounge – and layers of texture. Plants also
corners, work areas and breakout areas was a
feature heavily. “We have a lot of natural light
challenge at first,” explains Edmonstone. “We
here, so wanted to bring in plenty of greenery,”
spent a lot of time understanding our members’
confirms Hall, noting the benefits of biophilic
needs and how they use spaces to work, rest
design principles.
and socialise. We also took learnings from other
It was also important for the design team
Kafnu properties in Hong Kong and Taipei to
to create a strong link with the surrounding
give us a better understanding on how our
area and the local community, to give visiting
members utilise the space.”
members a sense of place. “Given the creative
The in-house design team worked with a local
environment that Kafnu Alexandria connects to,
contractor to transform the existing building to
we reached out to local artists and suppliers,”
meet their needs. Part of the floorplate was cut
says Edmonstone. “We wanted to feature
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emerging and upcoming creatives and we were
their room. And in a further development to
really pleased with the result.”
the concept, the forthcoming Colombo property
Art Pharmacy Consulting was selected to
will incorporate a 164-key Next Hotel as well as
curate the artwork, with colourful murals by
unique sleep pods for guests who arrive early or
local street artists Micke Lindindebergh, Joi
require a late check-out.
Murugavell, James Lesjak-Atton and Ingrid
The driving force behind Kafnu Alexandria
Wilson featuring in the public spaces, while
was a vision of a creative village – and the design
whimsical works by Gillie and Marc – known
team has succeeded in bringing this vision to life,
for their animal-human hybrids in sculpture
creating a space that champions community and
and painting – grace the guestrooms.
the exchange of ideas. “Witnessing members,
In a notable upgrade from the Taipei property
whose paths would not normally cross,
– which offers single rooms and capsules –
collaborate and brainstorm together is really
Kafnu Alexandria boasts a 16-key boutique
satisfying,” concludes Edmonstone. “It means
hotel. Each room has been designed to pack in as
that we have created a space that is conducive to
much functionality for the business traveller as
conversation, free-flowing ideas and creativity.
possible. A clever, multifunctional frame houses
To us, that breeds success.”
a desk surface, large television screen that can be connected to a laptop, multiple charging ports, storage shelves and clothes hangers, making the most of the available space. There are also plans to introduce the virtual fitness classes that run in the main fitness centre, enabling busy travellers to fit in a quick work-out in
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EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner / Operator: Next Story Group Interior Design: Next Story Group in-house design team Art Consultant: Art Pharmacy Consulting Project Manager: SMLXL Projects ww.kafnu.com
Durable and beautiful
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Transformative Travel With its sights set on 50 openings in five years, The Postcard Hotel is seeking to shift the luxury hospitality paradigm in India and beyond. Words: Neena Dhillon
Picture Postcard Launched in December 2018 with three properties in Goa, The Postcard Hotel announced international expansion beyond its home base of India within the first year, opening in Bhutan and Sri Lanka at the end of 2019. On a mission to disrupt rules and set new standards in experiential luxury, the brand pillars include authenticity, immersive inclusions, superlative service and distinctive design rooted in the local vernacular. The Postcard Hotel network as of January 2020: 5 Hotels 50 Rooms 3 Countries
I
t’s no easy task to change narratives in an established
had established itself with people willing to pay prices
industry, but that’s exactly what veteran Kapil Chopra
that were, at times, higher than equivalent room rates
has set out to achieve with his own luxury hospitality
simply because they wanted the experience despite
venture, which he founded 13 months ago with a trio of
the uncertainty of service. We have had iconic resorts
intimate Goan properties. His vision for The Postcard
typically offering beautiful design and the same line-
Hotel revolves around innovation, nimble thinking and
up of facilities but not really tapping into innovation or
positive disruption. “We last saw big innovations in
experiential travel. So I asked what I could learn while
luxury hospitality over 20 years ago when Six Senses
recognising there was a niche to be filled.”
and Aman came along,” he says. “Since then, I feel that
Chopra breaks down the hospitality landscape
brands have largely stopped questioning, pushing the
into five broad categories: the first comprises basic
frontiers and evolving.”
lodgings; second, products with decent hotel rooms
His response to this perceived stagnation is a
but lacking service; third, existing luxury brands; and
collection of small characterful hotels in compelling
fourth, experiential providers such as Airbnb that aim
leisure destinations, targeting discerning travellers with
to let people live like locals. He sees The Postcard as
personalisation and immersive experiences designed to
the fifth, an amalgamation of distinctive hotels in
create memories and plug into local cuisine, wellness,
premium locations offering both experiential travel and
wildlife and lifestyles. In addition to the Goan hotels,
exceptional service. “I call it transformational luxury,”
all of which are converted heritage buildings, properties
he elaborates. “So when you stay with us, I want you
have since sprung up in Bhutan’s Thimphu Valley and
to leave with memories, whether that’s scheduling in
Sri Lanka’s coastal town of Galle. To reflect today’s
time for a consultation with an Ayurvedic doctor who
travel needs, each offers flexible check-in and check-
is willing to follow up with you at home and facilitate
out over 24 hours, breakfast anytime and complimentary
change. Or by taking you into the middle of the Arabian
beverage inclusions – as standard. The rest of the
Sea to catch the sunrise on a boat, or by inviting you to
experience is tailored to individual guest needs, with
learn how to cook a fish curry with a Goan housewife.”
an emphasis on slowing down time, harking back to a simpler era.
CULTURAL RICHES While The Postcard has already gone international,
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CARVING A NEW NICHE
Chopra sees his Goan hotels as just the beginning of
Drawing on 25 years in the business, including most
a regional portfolio that will exploit some of the 334
recently as President of Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, Chopra
villages making up the destination. “We have the
explains how he came to identify a gap in the market:
opportunity to position Goa as India’s equivalent of
“During my years with Oberoi, we’d seen significant
Bali,” he enthuses. “It has a magical confluence of
increases in occupancy and room rates, driven primarily
architecture, design, cuisine, music and history, with
by an Indian demographic. At the same time, Airbnb
the potential to become our cultural capital, but we need
BRAND STANDARDS
to change the narrative, elevating it back onto
are interested in addressing a medical condition
announced as a serene beach location in South
the high society circuit again.”
or taking preventative action. “Indians are
Goa where the 50 rooms and suites will be
Dotted from south to north, The Postcard’s
predisposed to obesity, insomnia, digestive
designed by Bill Bensley’s Bangkok-based
three hotels are under ten rooms each, ranging
issues and back problems so our Ayurvedic
atelier. Sandeep Khosla of Khosla Associates
from an elegant ancestral abode in the heritage
centre is able to provide relevant lifestyle
meanwhile has been drafted in to work on an
village of Moira to a colonial hideout set
prescriptions,” explains Chopra. “We want to
intriguing wildlife hotel in Karnataka while
among a verdant forest reserve in Velha and a
send you back a little more healthy and well.”
Luca Franco of Luxury Frontiers is the selected
Portuguese-influenced residential estate with
partner for two jungle resorts.
its own 350-year-old chapel, overlooking the
BULLISH EXPANSION
paddy fields of Cuelim. The restoration approach
Growing his team organically, Chopra is
strategy however, with The Postcard seeking to
has been sympathetic with Mangalorean tiles,
supported by executives including Senior Vice
own or manage more than US$1 billion of hotel
laterite and black Kadappa stone favoured in
President of Operations, Akanksha Lamba. In
assets within five years, be they conversions or
Moira, for example, because of their ability to
Goa, notable partners have included Akshat Bhatt
newbuilds. “To achieve our goal of 50 hotels, we
cope with monsoon conditions. Large courtyards
of Architecture Discipline and photographer JJ
will need to sign another six to seven properties
and balconies extend rooms out to the tranquil
Valaya whose black and white prints adorn walls.
annually and we’re on track to achieve this,”
exterior, where guests are invited to discuss
Outside India, The Postcard’s internal design
says Chopra. “The potential for The Postcard
their food requirements with the resident
team has worked closely with owners Kinley
Hotel extends beyond a single continent when
chef, who advises on the catch of the day and
Tshering and Tshering Zangmo in Bhutan, and
you consider the flow of outgoing tourists from
seasonal options before serving artisanal meals.
Dian Gomes in Sri Lanka to achieve architectural
India. Homegrown Indian hotel companies lack
At the Goan properties, you won’t be offered a
and aesthetic authenticity in each location.
a visible and strong presence in Europe so I see
India is only one part of the expansion
croissant, rather a poi bread. “There are over 20
There are at least eight more Indian hotels
immediate potential in France and Italy. But
ethnic breads in India, and we want to showcase
in the pipeline, some signed under long-term
who’s to say that a heritage property in Havana
this culinary heritage while thinking sustainably
lease arrangements or management contracts
is out of our reach? The key consideration
about our sourcing,” notes Chopra.
and a few owned by the company, including a
remains handpicked locations that allow us
Serious consideration has also been given to
property on the Arabian Sea and land parcels ripe
to deliver experiential and transformational
wellbeing. Based in-house, Ayurvedic specialist
for development in Kanha and Ranthambore.
holidays to luxury leisure travellers.”
Dr. Mubash Basheer consults with guests who
The first complete newbuild has already been
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2020 Hotel Construction Pipeline Whilst the 2000s may have proved more turbulent than expected, the hotel industry has remained resilient, holding strong in major destinations across the globe despite political, social and economic upheaval. With the early weeks of 2020 suggesting more uncertainty to come, we take a look at the global hotel construction pipeline and why the community has reasons to be optimistic.
EUROPE Projects: 513 NORTH AMERICA Projects: 708
MIDDLE EAST Projects: 270 SOUTH AMERICA Projects: 104 AFRICA Projects: 105
TOTAL PIPELINE 2020 Projects: 2,682 Rooms: 571,020
114
ASIA PACIFIC Projects: 902
BUSINESS CENTRE
When it comes to development hotspots, Dubai tops the list with 26,000 rooms expected to open this year alone. New York and London remain attractive to owners and operators, while Bali is the rising star, counting some 18 hotels in the immediate pipeline.
Taking a countrywide view, the USA and China lead the pack by a considerable distance, reflecting the current competition between the two global powerhouses. Elsewhere, the UK and Germany are the only European nations to appear in the top 10, showing the continued interest amongst hotel groups.
TOP 20 CITIES
TOP 20 COUNTRIES PROJECTS
ROOMS
USA
638
127,800
7,875
CHINA
407
101,363
33
6,299
UK
116
17,165
DOHA
23
6,024
GERMANY
109
16,135
PROJECTS
ROOMS
DUBAI
74
26,777
NEW YORK
34
LONDON
RIYADH
20
4,273
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
104
34,524
BALI
18
2,823
INDIA
65
10,393
CHENGDU
17
4,185
AUSTRALIA
64
12,187
ORLANDO
16
7,148
INDONESIA
62
10,389
LOS ANGELES
16
3,456
MEXICO
58
14,235
SHANGHAI
15
3,240
SAUDI ARABIA
57
23,154
MELBOURNE
15
2,988
THAILAND
52
12,020
NASHVILLE
14
3,452
VIETNAM
51
15,939
GUANGZHOU
14
3,448
JAPAN
40
8,652
BANGKOK
12
3,073
FRANCE
39
5,356
SANYA
12
3,021
MALAYSIA
35
9,760
WUHAN
12
2,811
SPAIN
30
5,439
MAKKAH
11
8,282
ITALY
30
3,775
SUZHOU
11
2,227
BRAZIL
29
5,168
PARIS
11
1,248
QATAR
27
7,032
LAS VEGAS
10
13,736
NEW ZEALAND
25
3,134
REGIONS PROJECTS
ROOMS
AFRICA
105
20,462
ASIA PACIFIC
902
211,316
EUROPE
513
82,484
MIDDLE EAST
270
79,434
NORTH AMERICA
788
162,280
SOUTH AMERICA
104
15,044
For more information on Top Hotel Projects and the hotel construction pipeline visit: www.tophotelprojects.com
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INDOOR & OUTDOOR FURNITURE - DECORATION GOMMAIRE.COM
BUSINESS CENTRE
The intelligence source for the hotel investment community
Radisson brushes up on its German
in Chemnitz to operator GS Star, which will
HA PERSPECTIVE
be branded as a Super8, and in the summer
By Chris Bown: It is clear that Radisson has decided it
signed Meininger to a development in Cologne.
needs to adopt a close partnership model to expand
Hotel groups are ignoring short term concerns
The group is an established commercial player,
in Germany. While it’s been successful leading
over economic conditions and strong pipeline,
albeit relatively new to the hotel sector.
the brands into central and eastern Europe, its
and doubling down on their commitment to
Meanwhile, Swiss investor Aevis Victoria has
growing portfolios in Germany and surrounding
made a significant second step in building its
countries.
hotel presence, buying a portfolio of eight hotels
It’s a similar approach to that which IHG has taken
Radisson has just announced it will accelerate
from Credit Suisse Real Estate Fund Hospitality.
with its multi-development agreements, looking
expansion of its Radisson flags in Germany,
The acquisitions include the InterContinental in
for a structure where leases can be signed - without
Austria and Switzerland. A strategic joint
Davos, and hotels under the Seiler brand.
appearing to be directly linked to the brand. What’s
peers have to date made greater headway in the substantial German market.
venture sees the group working with German
Integrated with the Victoria-Jungfrau
not clear, is quite how Radisson is standing behind
developer Fay Projects, and the newly created
Collection, which it bought in 2014, its
the newly formed Fast Lane, to give it the covenant
Fast Lane Hospitality as a manager of the
subsidiary Swiss Hotel Properties will now hold
strength to sign long leases.
properties.
an 896-room portfolio with rental income of
However, while a new company, Fast Lane is
The first fruit of the arrangement will be a
CHF20m a year. The group is also acquiring the
clearly using the DNA of GSH, an established player
Radisson hotel in Leipzig, where Fay is already
management businesses, giving it a platform
with principals that are pushing hard out of Germany
constructing a 224-room property. Fast Lane
with annual revenues of more than CHF135m.
to create a leading European third-party manager.
will take a 25-year lease on the property, which
Germany’s leading budget hotel brand, Motel
With aligned aspirations, the new partners could
should open in 2022. Fast Lane is headed by
One, continues its growth in the region, having
generate some traction. And having recently paid
Radisson’s Yilmaz Yildirimlar, alongside Simon
recently opened its first property in Poland, as
up for full ownership of the German brand Prizeotel,
Hubbeling and Thomas Kahl of Georgeous
well as adding a 250-room hotel in Munich-
Radisson should have eyes on the ground to spot new
Smiling Hotels.
Haidhausen, with both properties developed in-
hotel sites, as they come up.
Elie Younes, chief development officer at
house. An ownership shuffle in the summer saw
Radisson Hotel Group, explained: “The German
Proprium Capital Partners acquire the 35% stake
By Andrew Sangster: Germany does seem to be the
market is becoming increasingly versatile
in Motel One, held for the previous 12 years by
apple of most hotel brands’ eyes right now. And
and requires an unconventional approach
Morgan Stanley Real Estate Special Situations
yet there remain a number of significant structural
to accelerate growth. We look forward to a
Fund III.
challenges in the German market.
successful journey with our partners and to
Motel One’s latest performance figures
On the demand side, Germany still suffers from a
unlock value to various stakeholders through
for Q3 of 2019 did reflect a weaker German
comparatively low room rate compared to similar
this venture.”
market, with occupancy slipping 2% to 78%,
European countries, particularly with regard to the
GSH is an established multi-brand operator,
but overall revenues were up 11% year-on-year
major cities and the luxury market. Figures from
managing 90 properties in the DACH region,
to EUR146m; ebitda edged up to EUR48m. The
STR for YTD to September for luxury hotels show,
and is eyeing expansion into other European
group has 73 hotels open of which 51 are in
for example, Amsterdam at USD408, London at USD
markets including the UK and Netherlands.
Germany. The development pipeline includes
432, Paris at USD690 and Berlin at just USD239.
To date, it has concentrated on managing
16 more German properties, and nine outside
And on the supply side, Germany is predominately
franchised brands under the Holiday Inn family,
the country, while 20 of the 25 will be rented
a leased market, a big problem for most of the major
Hampton by Hilton and Wyndham’s Super8, as
assets. Foreign markets are starting to look
asset light hotel brands, and there is currently a big
well as operating a wider range of hotels under
more attractive, notes the company: “Because
building programme. Figures from TopHotel show
flags including Best Western and Choice.
of the overheated property markets and the high
229 hotel openings with 37,766 rooms planned for
Fay is active across many German markets,
number of hotels in the pipeline, there is a limit
next year against the 66 hotels opened planned to
having leased a number of hotel projects in
to how much sustainable growth can be achieved
open this year. For 2021, there are 186 new projects
the last year. It recently leased a new hotel
through new contracts at the moment.”
already underway.
117
It is the smaller groups and independents who
AJ was founded by CEO Ben Weprin in 2008,
deeply rooted in storytelling and each hotel
account for 677 of the planned 762 hotels in 2020.
and in 2014 the group launched its Graduate
celebrates the dynamic university community
International players include IHG with 33 Holiday
brand. The company has involved itself in a
it is positioned within. Graduate Oxford and
Inn Express in the works and Accor with 14 Ibis
range of projects, typically reusing historic
Graduate Cambridge will be no different - each
Styles. Marriott has 15 Moxy hotels in the pipeline.
buildings, and working alongside investment
hotel will speak specifically to the centuries of
Domestic German brands are strong: The Niu,
partners. It collaborated with Soho House on
university history and tradition that make its
an offering from Novum Hospitality, is looking at
that group’s Chicago members club, which
destination so unique.”
37 new hotels and Motel One, which already has a
opened in 2014.
strong foothold, is planning 12 hotels.
with each hotel’s locality. “From the moment
With the growth of third-party management
and cities with a strong university, linking hotels
we identify an opportunity, our team begins a
companies like Gorgeous Smiling Hotels, the
with the institutions and designing properties
thorough research process of the corresponding
proportion of international brands in the German
to reflect the locality. AJ also has a programme
community, including connecting with locals,
market ought also to grow. It is interesting, however,
to develop hotels alongside universities, aiming
interviewing alums and exploring the city itself
that many of these new operators are also choosing
to gain access to leasehold development sites.
to uncover the town legends, age-old stories
to develop their own offering and this is presenting
Currently, there are 25 Graduate hotels open
and beloved local haunts. It is through this
a challenge to the received wisdom of global brands
across the US, with a further 10 in the pipeline.
comprehensive process that we are able to create
dominating.
In the UK, Graduate acquired the DoubleTree
a hotel that is deeply personal to the people,
in Cambridge, which it will be converting and
places and things that call that destination
opening ahead of the Randolph in Oxford.
home.” Allen said the brand is looking to grow
Alongside its Graduate portfolio, AJ also owns
into “many more” other university towns and
six individually branded properties, plus hotels
cities in the UK in future.
Graduate leads lifestyle push AJ Capital Partners, the group behind Graduate
in Chicago and Nashville operating under
Hotels, has acquired two Macdonald hotels
Hyatt’s Thompson brand.
HA PERSPECTIVE
in the UK. The move helps the lifestyle brand
AJ’s move comes as another lifestyle hotel
By Chris Bown: As branding experts in consumer
secure a second UK site for its international
operator, Soneva, swapped private equity
products know, a strongly developed brand identity
expansion.
investors as it looks to scale up. The niche
that has provenance and connection is something
In Scotland, AJ has bought the Rusacks
company, which has three ultra luxury hotels
consumers will buy into, stay loyal to, and pay a
hotel in St. Andrews, where it plans a major
in the Maldives and Thailand, plus a yacht,
premium for.
refurbishment and expansion that will add 44
has KSL Capital Partners as a new backer. KSL
Now that approach is being used to create hotel
more rooms and a rooftop bar. In Oxford, it has
bought out early stage investor Sailing Capital,
brands that make a deeper connection with guests.
taken over the Randolph hotel, which it will refit
which exited after five years. Soneva has plans
But it requires taking risks, and spending a whole
as a Graduate.
for two further Maldives properties, based
lot more time and trouble on, to get to success. For
around its “no shoes” format.
both Graduate and Soneva, finding the right sites
The deal comes after Macdonald said earlier in 2019 that it was planning a portfolio deal to
Indian British hotelier Sonu Shivdasani and
sell 27 of its properties to private equity investor
his Swedish wife Eva launched Soneva in 1995.
The big groups know these lifestyle brands can be
Centerbridge Partners. The UK hotel group was
The pair’s properties have won awards, and
very lucrative, too. And they also know that, even
reported to be facing a refinancing deadline on
guests have their own butlers. Tina Yu of KSL
with the best care, they can go off the boil. So it made
GBP195m of loans from Lloyds Bank.
said of the investment: “We recognise the power
sense for Marriott to recently buy its W hotel in New
of the Soneva brand platform in the expanding
York, giving it the space to test out a refreshed W
market for luxury experiential travel.”
brand, without a worried landlord stressing about
Group deputy chairman Gordon Fraser hailed the disposals as a “superb deal for the business,
118
The brand works hard to create strong links
The Graduate brand seeks to locate in towns
and creating the right product can be challenging.
which allows us to reduce our borrowings
Phillip Allen, chief development officer,
significantly while we progress a number of very
international markets for AJ Capital Partners
And proving that it’s still possible to come up with
positive options for the refinancing.”
told Hotel Analyst: “The Graduate brand is
creative, lifestyle brands, there’s Barry Sternlicht and
occupancy or room rates.
BUSINESS CENTRE
Starwood Capital. The group launched its Treehouse
regions it was down 2.9%. Worst still was how it
before the year end in Chengdu, with two more
brand in London, and says it is now eyeing other
broke between the top 15 cities, down 0.6%, and
due in the spring, while a second Blossom Hill
potential sites around the UK. Who will buy in?
secondary, down 7.6%.
hotel will open shortly in Shanghai, joining one already trading in Beijing.
For Macdonald, the disposals will help reduce debt.
Macdonald’s latest disposal removes one of its
But selling the family silver? AJ is rumoured to have
properties that was in the top 15 locations (Oxford).
Deutsche, with 118 hotels, fits into the
looked at the whole 27 properties in the portfolio up
And Graduate is going to focus both properties
Huazhu portfolio providing just 4% of rooms,
for sale, before picking the two properties that suited
more closely on a niche, boutique or lifestyle, which
but 27% of revenues, and 9% of ebitda. “This
its approach.
has proved to be amongst the most resilient in the
is a deal size that is meaningful, but not too big
current profit downturn. The focus for Macdonald
for us as a first step of going international,”
remains sorting out its debt pile.
said Huazhu CEO Jenny Zhang. The move adds
By Andrew Sangster: There are a number of
brands Steigenberger, Jaz in the City, Maxx,
things going on at Macdonald Hotels which, taken separately, probably don’t amount to a lot. But combined, it begins to create the whiff of a company in trouble.
Huazhu grabs Deutsche to move upmarket
IntercityHotel and Danish budget brand Zleep, which DH bought a controlling stake in, less than a year ago. “The DH brands will have accelerated
In June, the company submitted its accounts for the year to March 29, 2018. These showed a loss
Chinese hotel group Huazhu has agreed to
expansion by leveraging Huazhu’s current
of GBP2.2m. This was just after its finance director
buy German group Deutsche Hospitality, for
strong presence in China,” promised Zhang.
Jason McBurnie left the board at the end of May.
EUR719m. The move will give fast-growing
“Secondly, Huazhu will successfully establish
McBurnie joined Almarose, the management wing
Huazhu a portfolio of upper end brands to grow
our initial footprint into Europe, Middle East and
of Aprirose, in November.
in China, and adds a foothold in Europe, the
Africa. Thirdly, we envision Huazhu’s loyalty
Middle East and Africa.
programme and our direct sales capability will
The biggest red flag is the move to extend the accounting reference period from the end of March
The deal sees Nasdaq-listed Huazhu buy all
help DH to strengthen their competitiveness
each year to the end of September (28th). There may
the shares in Deutsche, which was controlled
in their existing markets and also help the
well be a legitimate reason for this change but the
by the Egyptian Travco group. The acquisition
operation of their current hotels.”
timing looks, at best, unfortunate. The registration
will be funded by a combination of cash and a
of fixed charges by the Bank of Scotland earlier this
EUR440m bank loan.
Intercity, which already has a hotel in Qingdao, is expected to be the brand to be developed
Huazhu founder Qi Ji told analysts on a
fastest in China, followed by Steigenberger. “We
quarterly results presentation: “Our company,
anticipate the growth will exceed Germany in
The failure of the Centerbridge deal is hardly
will be a world-class global company only after
the midterm probably,” said Qi Ji.
going to be made up for by the Rusacks and Randolph
it has reached sufficient scale and strength in
The addition to Huazhu’s portfolio comes as
sales (the latter was a leasehold) and Macdonald’s
geographic areas also outside China.” But the
the group reported a softening Chinese market.
debt stack remains daunting.
year similarly doesn’t help how the company is being perceived.
challenge was, he said, the time it takes to
Occupancy across the portfolio slipped to 88%,
Gossip on the cocktail circuit suggests that a
build luxury and upscale brands, “that’s why
although average room rate, flattered by the
number of would-be buyers have kicked the tires of
we chose to enrich our luxury and upscale brand
movement of the portfolio gradually upmarket,
Macdonald and deemed it unroadworthy, or at least
portfolio through acquisition.”
was up 2.6%. Finance director Nee Chuan Teo
Huazhu has seen substantial acceleration in
reported an operating margin of 23%, but said
its pace of growth, and is currently opening an
this was 5% down year-on-year “mainly due
Knight Frank last month held a seminar on
average of more than five hotels a day, triple
to our investment in hotel development teams,
UK hotel trading performance. It made for an
its pace of a year ago. As at the end of its most
upscale hotels and IT capabilities”.
uncomfortable session if, like Macdonald, most of
recent quarter, the portfolio stood at 5,151
your hotels are outside of the UK’s top 15 markets.
hotels.
not worth the price being asked. A key reason being the current trading outlook.
“The focus of the next two years, we think right now it’s a kind of downturn, overall
Whereas for September year-to-date operating
The group is also busy growing its own
macro-wise, it is a challenging external
profit (GOPPAR) in London was up 1.3%, in the
upscale brands. Its first Joya property will open
environment,” warned Ji. But he said the DH
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BUSINESS CENTRE
acquisition would not deflect Huazhu’s growth
a year later, Zleep’s upgraded growth plans will be
plans: “China will still be the focus of our
turbocharged still further by the restless Huazhu folk.
growth because the development potential, and the speed of China is unprecedented compared
By Andrew Sangster: Huazhu is making its ambitions
to other geographies in the world.”
clear. The investor presentation at its third quarter results had a slide depicting how Marriott has grown
HA PERSPECTIVE
from having 90% of its rooms as domestic US in 1990
By Chris Bown: Huazhu, previously known as China
to being 63% domestic US in 2019. Today, Huazhu
Lodging, has grown amazingly fast in the Chinese
stands at 96% domestic China. The clear implication
hotel market, and incredibly is still accelerating its
being Huazhu sees itself as a rival to Marriott (and
pace, never mind acquisitions. Having set out its stall
most likely won’t take 30 years to grow overseas).
at the economy end of the market, the group started
The pace of openings at Huazhu has certainly
concentrating on growing its midscale and upscale
quickened, with three times as many rooms opening
brands over the last couple of years. And it’s not been
in Q3 2019 compared to Q3 2018. Its pipeline of
afraid to dispose of those properties that didn’t hit
unopened hotels is now 34% the size of hotels in
the mark.
operation, having grown from just 17% in Q3 2017.
Clearly, the experience of starting out Joya and Blossom Hill, the group’s luxury brands, has taught the Huazhu team that a bolt-on would give it much
The big push initially was with economy hotels,
better pace. And Deutsche looks to be a good fit,
started back in 2005 with HanTing. Then, in 2010,
with a similar outlook on management contracts, or
a second wave was started with the JI brand which
manachising as the Chinese like to call their version
today has 2,059 hotels with 400 planned to be
of hotel operating deals.
opened in 2020.
The deal also gives Huazhu a massive opportunity
The next wave is luxury and upscale. Exec
to market somewhere to stay overseas, to its millions
chairman and founder Qi Ji said on the conference
of loyalty programme members. The Chinese are
call that these segments require “richer stories and
coming - and they’ll be staying in IntercityHotels
service qualities”. The acquisition of Steigenberger
or Steigenbergers.
is meant to shorten any learning period.
The elephant in the room - and something no
At a 17.5 times ev / ebitda multiple (EUR700m paid
analyst asked about - is a fancy dress outfit being
against forecast ebitda of EUR40m for 209), Huazhu
worn by Sebastian Bazin. A joint venture with
considers the price reasonable. Just as important
Huazhu to grow Accor’s brands in China has led to
as the brands is the acquisition of multi-national
more than 300 Ibis, Mercure and Novotel properties
experience for the fourth wave of development,
coming into the market to date. Will the arrival of the
international.
DH brands deflect from the Accor brands’ growth?
Huazhu has just reached its 5,000 hotels
That’s probably a risk Accor will be ready to take,
milestone but it wants to reach 10,000 hotels in three
bearing in mind the pace that the Huazhu team
to five years. That Deutsche Hospitality development
works at. Nobody else comes close.
experience is going to be in demand.
And the person with probably the broadest smile, is Zleep’s Peter Haaber. Having set up the highly efficient Scandinavian economy brand, he was delighted to have DH buy in to the brand, taking a majority stake in January 2019. Less than
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The loyalty scheme is growing at a CAGR of 46% to hit 139 million by the end of the latest quarter.
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
Amu let with (u)phoria!™ Digital Print Technology
A different style of durability www.morberneurope.com
4.0 E34
Selected for Trends Space & Interior.Architecture.Hospitality.
UK The 10-year dynamic between hotel room openings and closures in the UK highlights the effect of key events in the market and shows a recent slowing in overall activity. The 2008 global financial crisis had a notable impact on the UK’s hotel inventory, as net openings reached just 291 for the year. While 13,221 new rooms were added, almost as many rooms closed during the same 12 months. Amid that period of financial uncertainty, occupancy decreased 2.8% to 69.3%, and ADR fell 6.0% to GBP74.47. Subsequently, RevPAR decreased 8.5% to GBP51.58, the largest decline for any year in STR’s UK database. However, with the London 2012 Olympics on the horizon, the market stabilised, and 10,000 or more new rooms entered the market each year from 2010 through 2012; the event year produced almost 19,000 additions. While 2013 reflected a post-Olympics hangover, with closing numbers outpacing openings, this was shortlived and the number of new rooms went up for five consecutive years between 2014 and 2018. Conversely, yearly closures have lessened considerably over the same period. A look at 2019 data (as of 15 November) shows that closures are on track for another year of decreases – just 571 rooms have closed so far – but the chasm between 2018 and 2019 opening levels currently sits below 6,000. While the number of closures will be the lowest for any year included in this analysis, the number of openings will probably be the lowest since the aforementioned 2013. From a performance perspective, the UK is trending towards another record year with occupancy at 78.3% through October and ADR at GBP94.76.
122
UK hotel openings and closures 2009 vs. 2019
2009 Openings: 13,221 Closures: 12,930 2019* Openings: 9,547 Closures: 571 *as of 15 November
STR is the source for premium global data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights, tracking 8 million rooms worldwide. www.str.com
BUSINESS CENTRE
Yearly room openings and closures since 2014 Number of rooms added Number of rooms closed
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
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Saga Cruises – Spirit of Adventure
Strategy & Concept Architecture & Interiors Identity & Wayfinding Artwork & Styling
606 Octagon Point 5 Cheapside London EC2V 6AA www.adassociates.london
EVENTS DIARY
13-19 JAN
17-21 JAN
27-29 JAN
4-8 FEB
IMM Cologne www.imm-cologne.com
Maison & Objet Paris www.maison-objet.com
ALIS Los Angeles www.alisconference.com
Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair Stockholm www.stockholmfurniturefair.se
6
FEB
11-13 FEB
2-4
MAR
4-6
MAR
Top Hotel World Tour London www.thpworldtour.com
Surface Design Show London www.surfacedesignshow.com
IHIF Berlin www.berlinconference.com
HI Design MEA Jordan www.hidesign-mea.com
8-13 MAR
8-13 MAR
11
MAR
12
MAR
London Design Week London www.dcch.co.uk
Light + Building Frankfurt www.light-building.messefrankfurt.com
Top Hotel World Tour Singapore www.thpworldtour.com
AHEAD Asia Singapore www.aheadawards.com
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EVENTS
Top Drawer 12-14 January 2020
Maison & Objet 17-21 January 2020
LONDON
PARIS
Returning to Olmypia London for three days in January, lifestyle trade
Paris-based forecasting agency NellyRodi has revealed the inspiration
show Top Drawer is set to present the latest ranges from over 1,500
behind the theme for Maison & Objet, which celebrates its 25th birthday
brands, as well as providing insight into current industry topics by
in 2020. Brought to life through an installation by designer Ramy
way of a dedicated talks programme.
Fischler, ‘(RE) GENERATION’ will decipher the desires and expectations
Looking ahead to the key trends that could shape 2020, the exhibition has continued its partnership with cultural strategy agency Flamingo for a second consecutive season, with the firm researching and identifying five key trends specifically for the show’s S/S20 edition.
affecting the economy, the environment, identities and migration. Meanwhile, Michael Anastassiades has been named as Designer of the Year, and will showcase a number of collections at the event
‘Playful Chromatics’ features a key colour of neo mint alongside
including all 16 of his Mobile Chandeliers. Having collaborated with
block colours that evoke modernity through bright mid-tones, while
the likes of B&B Italia, Herman Miller, Cassina and Bang & Olufsen,
‘Rare Bloom’ encompasses powerful pigmented florals grounded by
the Cypriot designer will speak on the topic of light and space as part
soft brown leathers, and ‘Refined Elementals’ channels minimalist
of the talks programme, which also features a session with Tristan
luxe through a subtle palette of neutrals, greens and blush.
Auer and Dorothee Meilichzon, hosted by Sleeper.
Meanwhile, ‘Serene Warmth’ juxtaposes warm and cool shade
Maison & Objet is set to attract over 85,000 visitors in January, with
colours in raw fabrics, rich prints, pale marbles and concrete, while
more than half of those hailing from outside of France. In tandem with
‘Unadorned Tactility’ features new interpretations of traditional
delivering insight on current hospitality trends, the five-day event
materials and techniques, with organic prints and textures layered
will showcase products from more than 3,000 exhibitors as well as
onto geometric shapes for a bio-futurist look.
www.topdrawer.co.uk
126
of an engaged generation that has grown up in a world of crises
promoting new brands and emerging design talent.
www.maison-objet.com
England Hospitality unfolds in space. Limitless opportunities open up. HoReCa at the world’s most important consumer goods trade fair is expanding. What’s more, from 2020 Hall 6.0 will offer a showcase for international innovations, a venue for a discourse of inventive gastronomy concepts and an exchange of trends.
Information and tickets at ambiente.messefrankfurt.com/horeca Tel. +44 (0) 14 83 48 39 83 info@uk.messefrankfurt.com
DU: 50.08.2019
2. . 1 1 — O 7. — 2O2S K O LO OD GO
70146-003_AM_HoReCa_Supper_242x281 • FOGRA 39 • CMYK • bs: 30.07.2019
the show
AHEAD MEA 13 November 2019 DUBAI
Gorgeous George scoops the top prize in MEA as the industry descends on Dubai to celebrate the best in hospitality experience and design. Words: Ben Thomas Event Photography: © Hyku Desesto
128
AHEAD MEA returned to Dubai for a third
example, we hosted a brunch event allowing us
consecutive year in November, bringing
to explore some of the themes and topics that
hospitality leaders together for an oceanic-
emerged from our shortlist. And over the next
themed ceremony at new venue Caesars Forum,
12 months we’ll be hosting more conversations
Bluewaters Island. Along with Global Founder
and talks under the SLEEPER 2020 umbrella –
Sponsor Grohe and a host of supporters,
a range of initiatives we are introducing in our
attendees were immersed in an evening of
20th anniversary year – to help share ideas and
nautical hospitality, with the dress code and
knowledge that drive the industry forward.”
dinner menu taking inspiration from both
This year’s competition attracted over 200
the waterfront location of Caesars and Wes
entries, representing some 49 projects from
Anderson’s cult film, The Life Aquatic. Aside
13 countries across the region, stretching
from the maritime merriment, the real captains
from Bahrain to Botswana, Cape Town in the
of the night were the hotels that triumphed,
south to Tunisia in the north, not to mention a
as well as the creative and operational teams
selection of projects from the UAE. There was
responsible for steering them to shore.
also a variety of hotel types, from a series of
Having met and mingled with their industry
ten nautical-inspired cabins in the Namibian
peers, guests made their way into the ballroom
desert to an intimate boutique channelling
for the main event, where Awards Director Matt
South Africa’s vibrancy and eclecticism.
Turner dived into proceedings with a look at
Each project was first assessed online to
the evolution of the awards, before providing
reach the shortlist stage, before the panel met
a glimpse of what’s to come in 2020: “As
at Bulgari Yacht Club in Dubai for a day of
AHEAD continues to grow we are developing
deliberations. Taking to the stage at Caesars
this platform in new ways. Earlier today for
Forum, Pallavi Dean, chair of the judging
EVENTS
panel and Creative Director of Dubai-based
standard in experience-led design” according to
the Year. The judging panel commended the
architecture and interior design studio Roar,
the judges. Other winners included Omaanda in
project for its compelling design, which in their
spoke of the criteria the judging process looks
Namibia for Guestrooms, The Merchant House
words “unites grandeur with the raw industrial
to, which includes operational efficiency,
in Bahrain for Lobby & Public Spaces, and
edge of central Cape Town”.
use of budget and space planning, as well as
hosts Caesars Bluewaters Island Dubai – which
aesthetics and guest experience. Dean then went
triumphed in the Event Spaces category.
Winners will now go head-to-head in their categories to compete against other regions,
on to praise the passion, professionalism and
Dubai’s new hotels struck gold across a range
with worldwide champions set to be crowned at
energy of her fellow judges, before handing over
of categories too, with The Spa at Mandarin
the next AHEAD Global edition in January 2021.
to Sleeper’s Editor-at-Large and host for the
Oriental Jumeira – designed by Silverfox Studios
evening, Guy Dittrich.
– applauded for “creating a journey with true
A full list of winners can be seen overleaf, while
Winners were revealed by AHEAD’s loyal
meaning” through its use of intricate and
photography of the event can be viewed online
line-up of sponsors and supporters, with victors
atmospheric detailing, while Zabeel House at
at www.aheadawards.com/mea.
getting their hands on a bespoke crystal glass
the Greens’ Lah Lah won best Restaurant, and
trophy designed by Lasvit. Four Seasons Resort
Bishop Design was victorious in both the Bar,
Seychelles at Desroches Island emerged as the
Club or Lounge and Hotel Newbuild categories
winner of the Resort and Landscaping & Outdoor
for Wavehouse at Atlantis The Palm and Studio
Spaces categories, with Eco-id’s scheme admired
One Hotel respectively.
for blending seamlessly with the surrounding
The big star of the night however was Cape
landscape using warm tones, exposed woods,
Town’s Gorgeous George – envisioned by
wicker furniture and raw materials. Meanwhile,
interior architect Tristan du Plessis – which
the award for Lodges, Cabins & Tented Camps
took home four awards including Renovation,
went to Shipwreck Lodge, which also picked up
Restoration & Conversion; Suite; Visual Identity
the New Concept trophy after “setting a new
and the highly-coveted AHEAD MEA Hotel of
129
BAR, CLUB OR LOUNGE Warehouse at Atlantis The Palm – Dubai, UAE Atlantis the Palm / Solutions Leisure Group DSA Architects / Bishop Design EVENT SPACES Caesars Forum at Caesars Palace Bluewaters – Dubai, UAE Meraas Holdings / Caesars Entertainment Corporation K/M2K Architecture & Interior Design GUESTROOMS Omaanda – Windhoek East, Namibia Zannier Hotels / Zannier Hotels Interiors HOTEL NEWBUILD Studio One Hotel – Dubai, UAE Vice Versa Facilities / Roya International Hazel Wong / Bishop Design
130
RENOVATION, RESTORATION OR CONVERSION Gorgeous George – Cape Town, South Africa Tobias Alter / Urbane Citizen Architecture / Tristan Plessis Studio LANDSCAPING & OUTDOOR SPACES Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island – Seychelles Albwardy Investment / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts One Degree North / Eco.id Architects LOBBY & PUBLIC SPACES The Merchant House – Manama, Bahrain The Merchant House / Campbell Gray Hotels Gulf House Engineering / Summit Interior Design LODGES, CABINS & TENTED CAMPS Shipwreck Lodge – Skeleton Coast, Namibia Journeys Namibia / Natural Selection / Trip Travel Nina Maritz Architects / Women Unleashed
EVENTS
RESORT HOTEL Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island Seychelles Albwardy Investment / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts Eco.id Architects RESTAURANT Lah Lah at Zabeel House by Jumeirah – Dubai, UAE Jumeirah Group / LW Design SPA & WELLNESS The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira – Dubai, UAE wasl Hospitality & Leisure / Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Design & ARchitecture Bureau / Silverfox Studios SUITE Gorgeous George – Cape Town, South Africa Tobias Alter / Urbane Citizen Architecture / Tristan Plessis Studio
VISUAL IDENTITY OF THE YEAR Gorgeous George – Cape Town, South Africa Tobias Alter / Urbane Citizen Architecture Tristan Plessis Studio / JANA + KOOS NEW CONCEPT OF THE YEAR Shipwreck Lodge – Skeleton Coast, Namibia Journeys Namibia / Natural Selection / Trip Travel Nina Maritz Architects / Women Unleashed THE AHEAD MEA HOTEL OF THE YEAR Gorgeous George – Cape Town, South Africa Tobias Alter / Urbane Citizen Architecture Tristan Plessis Studio / JANA + KOOS
131
EVENTS
Sleep & Eat
19-20 November 2019 LONDON Sleep & Eat returned under the guiding theme of Social FlexAbility to explore how hospitality design can pioneer new forms of connection. Words: Kristofer Thomas, Ben Thomas and Donna Salek Photography: © Rob Jones (Unless stated otherwise)
R
eturning to Olympia London for a second edition
THE EXHIBITION
following its expansion to include an F&B element,
Forming the largest section of the show, Sleep & Eat’s
Sleep & Eat 2019 brought the hospitality design
exhibition floor provided a platform for both established and
community together from 19-20 November for a look back
rising suppliers to highlight key new releases. Highlights
at the projects, trends and concepts that defined the year,
included bathroom manufacturer Laufen, who debuted the
as well as an assessment of the market landscape to come.
much anticipated Marcel Wanders collaboration The New
Cementing its reputation as a key date for hoteliers,
Classic – a range of sculptural fixtures with a cosmopolitan
developers, architects, interior designers and suppliers alike,
spirit constructed from the brand’s own Saphirkeramik
this year’s show orbited a central theme of Social FlexAbility,
material – and German water specialists Grohe, who
with each strand exploring ideas of disconnection in the
returned for a 14th year to present its groundbreaking 3D
technology age as well as the power of hospitality spaces
metal-printed taps. The lighting sector, meanwhile, was
to pioneer a remedy. Running parallel, the international
represented by a balance of experimental installations and
exhibition welcomed over 160 leading suppliers to showcase
classically inclined fixtures. London-based Cameron Design
the latest product releases and innovations, and was
House presented its bespoke Inari chandelier – a fluid,
complemented by a series of spaces designed to facilitate
intertwining form inspired by the Finnish lake of the same
networking and new connections.
name – whilst Astro Lighting exhibited its minimal Eclipse
“With the rise of electronic and social media, people are starting to disconnect from each other, both by accident and
and Fold lights, a pair of simple yet bold circular and linear designs respectively.
choice,” explained Mark Gordon, Brand Director of Sleep &
Elsewhere, soft furnishing manufacturer Ena Shaw
Eat, regarding the show’s guiding theme. “The challenge for
spotlighted its range of contract curtains, blinds and soft
hospitality designers will be to provide flexible spaces where
furnishings, and Alarwool its wide selection of premium,
users can activate the social experience of their choice. This
custom-woven wool carpets, which appear throughout
year, we asked our design collaborators to share their vision
the recently inaugurated The Standard, London. The
on how this might become reality in a hospitality setting.”
best of British design was on show at stands by furniture
133
EVENTS
manufacturer Morgan – who introduced the
THE CONFERENCE
“We think of ourselves as the intersecting
Kenyan forest-inspired Kaya collection – and
Curated this year by Supper Contributing
moment
Chelsom, where standout pieces from the
Editor Heleri Rande, the Sleep & Eat conference
programming, events and content, where it
expansive Edition 26 lighting range drew a
explored topics ranging from designing
all comes together in four walls. It’s not just
steady crowd of attendees.
hospitality experiences underwater to thriving
sleeping, working and eating.”
between
design,
hospitality,
in a data-driven world. The schedule kicked off
Closing out day one, Supper Assistant Editor
THE SPACES
with a discussion between Sleeper’s Managing
Jenna Campbell moderated the Bedrooms Are
Once again at the heart of the exhibition floor,
Editor Catherine Martin and Amar Lalvani, CEO
Boring panel, bringing together F&B experts
providing a place for delegates to network or
of Standard International, with the hotelier
from Shangri-La, The Langham, Rocco Forte
simply catch their breath, 2019’s Sleeper Bar took
tracing his journey from joining the brand in
and Marriott for a look at the new concepts
the form of a timber-clad counter surrounding
2011 to unveiling its UK debut in 2019.
guests can expect through 2020 and beyond.
a live tree. Designed by Michaelis Boyd, and
“Before I even went to my first day working
“At the end of the day, It’s not about latest
responding to the Social FlexAbility theme
at The Standard, I was already looking for a
trends, it’s about lasting trends, and we have
with a versatile, distinctive and guest-oriented
London location,” he recounted. “We saw the
to be careful about how much we cater to
concept, the bar drew inspiration from French
building and immediately thought that’s it –
the niche market,” noted Lydia Forte, Group
Author Jean Giono’s celebrated short story ‘The
that’s the one. A lot of people have said how
Director of F&B for Rocco Forte Hotels. “But
Man Who Planted Trees’ – a tale celebrating
they thought it was an ugly building, but the
we must also consider that this is the first time
the power of the natural environment. Having
history of The Standard has always been to
that five generations – all thinking in slightly
created an environmentally-conscious mix
take obsolete buildings and do something truly
different ways – are occupying the market, and
of elegant design and sustainable materials,
special with them.”
so flexibility is equally important.”
the tree was then adorned with a selection of
Concerning the design industry’s capability to
Kicking off day two, Christoph Hoffmann,
front covers from Sleeper’s two decade run in
combat loneliness and urban isolation, A Holistic
CEO and co-founder of 25Hours Hotel Company,
celebration of the magazine’s 20th anniversary.
Answer to Urban Living explored the ways in
took to the stage to discuss the ups and downs
Examining the theme from a different angle,
which hospitality design could alleviate both
of his brand’s journey – from moving beyond
the event’s VIP Room was designed this year
physical and psychological symptoms. “What
European borders to partnering with Accor
by Megre Interiors. Transforming the oak-
will ultimately keep people returning to these
Hotels. The charismatic CEO, who picked up
panelled Olympia Club Room into a vibrant
kinds of spaces is a sense of trust,” suggested
the Outstanding Contribution Award at AHEAD
floral-inspired space arranged to promote
Kayla Pongrac, Senior Designer at The Design
Europe 2019, began by stressing the importance
connection, Megre’s Gather concept featured
Agency. “It’s important in this urban context
of developing a brand rather than a hotel chain:
a lighting installation at its centre resembling
to give people something they can believe in, to
“We’ve always wanted to grow organically. It’s
a flickering fire, with the orbicular seating
integrate the local culture and vernacular, and
not about the sheer size of the company or
surrounding it referencing the gathering pits
adapt to what the whole city requires. In the
the number of hotels, it’s more about creating
around which humans have congregated for
case of shared spaces like co-working facilities
brand values and a common denominator,” and
millions of years.
in city locations this should be at the forefront
went on to divulge how the brand are working
of the design process.”
to inject the same DNA into each 25hours
Similairly, the Wilson Associates-designed Hub provided a dedicated networking and
Rande also sat down with Josh Wyatt, CEO of
property. “If we find the right energy and the
co-working space – the latter function a key
NeueHouse, a series of collaborative workspaces
right people, then a lot of our core elements and
feature in the new wave of increasingly flexible
set within iconic buildings including Los
the atmosphere we look to create will remain.
hotel spaces. Inspired by the form of a circle,
Angeles’ Bradbury Building and the original
One of the major parts of our DNA is to keep it
and laid out as a closed curve around which
CBS studio, for an inside look at how the young
alive through the staff,” he mused.
guests stood to face each other, The Hub made
brand has created an offer that balances the
extensive use of closed-loop recycled elements
human element with impressive returns.
A pair of complementary panels looking to the future of hospitality proved a significant
whilst furnishings and fixtures by Astro,
“The most important thing was creating a
draw, with only standing room available for a
Knightsbridge Furniture and Atlas Concorde
sense of dynamic community, where there was
discussion between Richard Coutts, Director of
added a contemporary edge.
always something happening,” Wyatt recalled.
Baca Architects, and Ben Fitzgerald, Operations
135
© Will Stanley
© Mark Luscombe-Whyte
EVENTS
Sleep Sets by Twenty2Degrees and Miaja Design Group brought the show’s theme of Social FlexAbility to life
Manager at CoreMarine, regarding the task
series of spaces in which six architecture and
we developed a flexible platform in place of a
of designing on, near or under water. Paying
design practices looked to demonstrate that
bed, which can rotate and adjust to the needs of
particularly close attention to his work creating
hotels, restaurants, bars and other hospitality
the occupant, and then built around that with
Under – a restaurant five and a half metres
spaces can be at the forefront of defining new
satellite functions that can be pushed away with
below the surface of the North Sea off Norway’s
environments and interior innovations
ease,” commented Managing Director, AnneMarie Sabatier.
coast – Fitzgerald explained that “a huge part
Inspired by the idea that no two guests are
of the experience is how little it disrupts the
the same, Twenty2Degrees developed a flexible
Taking on the first of this year’s Eat Sets,
environment surrounding it. Not only is it a
guestroom space for the social traveller, where
Name Architecture devised one continuous plane
restaurant experience, but a biological one
a motto of ‘Dance, Sleep, Work, Play’ was
in the form of a table, at which visitors could
too, and with this balance in place we can go
channelled through distorted riffs softened by
choose their social experience according to their
on to introduce sustainability and educational
plush fabrics, and warm timbers set against a
position. “The first idea that came to our mind
elements in the future.”
vibrant backdrop. “We started by thinking about
is the fact we don’t often face each other in
Speaking of the future, Above: Designing
adaptability and how to make the space social,
today’s dining spaces,” said Founding Director,
for Space, saw charismatic designer Johannes
organic and local,” commented Creative Director
Nathalie Rozencwajg. “To bridge the situation,
Torpe share his experiences collaborating
Joe Stella. “Our room concept is a metaphor
we decided to work with an ellipse rather than a
with members of the emergent space tourism
for that, because for us, social flexibility is all
round table, which creates different focal points
industry. “What fascinates us about space is
about bringing people together and having a
and distances between people.”
the desire to understand everything within and
good time.”
The sixth and final room set looked to spark
beyond it,” he suggested. “Thinking up these
Taking a similarly collective approach, Miaja
face-to-face interaction, with SpaceInvader
kinds of spaces has long involved creating the
Design Group chose to challenge the common
Design envisioning a bar without a bar, which,
universe they are possible in, but now, with
belief that social interaction is impaired at
through its layout and design, would become a
more and more companies stepping into the
the hands of technological devices, creating a
space for discussion. Speaking on the process,
market, it becomes a realistic proposition.”
guestroom that encouraged shared experiences.
John Williams, Founding Director, explained:
Closing the conference, Rande sat down with
“We wanted Elevation to be an experience and
“Everybody socialises in different ways. In the
a panel of designers to take a look at what sets
an opportunity to have a moment of quietness,
context of the bar, there could be groups of two
a true eco hotel apart, and whether guests can
which is what this world needs more and more,”
or ten, so maintaining that element of flexibility
still have a guilt free experience at a price point
founder Isabelle Miaja noted.
was key when developing the concept.”
that demands luxury. Chris Miller, Creative
Billed as the ‘Tradition of the Future’
Director for Design Group Italia, who oversaw
meanwhile,
guestroom
“What a fantastic two days!” Gordon
the interior design of The Retreat at Blue Lagoon
channelled the designer’s Scandinavian heritage
commented as the programme wrapped up.
in Iceland, noted of the project: “It’s in the DNA
through a light and warm scheme paying tribute
“Once again, Sleep & Eat has proved to be where
of Iceland to be sustainable and eco-friendly,
to nature, sustainability and organic materials.
the European hospitality design community
because the Blue Lagoon is part of a geothermal
“We all have various needs when it comes to
meets. Be it on our busy exhibition floor, at our
energy generating station, so there is no carbon
hotels, but if we can develop rooms that are
late-night party and new networking events, or
footprint. For us, it was more of a basic premise
adaptable and take a holistic approach, then I
in our best-attended conference yet, we were
for the whole project, so the journey was how
believe that we can design well for the guest of
delighted to see so many of the great and the
do we create a luxury experience in what is
the future,” she admitted.
good come together.”
essentially a lava field.”
Maria
Tibblin’s
Working with build partners Stilles, Hat Design constructed a guestroom that users
Sleep & Eat 2020 will take place from 17-18
THE CONCEPT ROOMS
could control and re-create, applying the
November, at London Olympia.
Social FlexAbility was brought to life most
same philosophy of integrating social hubs in
prominently as part of the Sleep & Eat Sets, a
public areas to the private space. “To do this,
www.sleepandeatevent.com
137
AHEAD Europe 18 November 2019 LONDON
Diversity reigns at the AHEAD Europe ceremony, with the best hotels of the year showcasing a wide variety of form, function, shape and size.
AHEAD Europe announced its winners at a block
to adapt within a shifting industry, as well as
party-themed ceremony in November, taking
the whirlwind rise of the playful brand. Its latest
over Battersea Evolution in collaboration with
opening – 25hours Hotel Terminus Nord – was
Global Founding Partner Grohe for a Brooklyn
also honoured with a statue in the Restaurant
beats-inspired celebration of the best hotel
category for the Dreimeta-designed Neni, where
designs across the continent. Taking the prize
vibrant art, pastel tones and feminine touches
for Guestrooms and claiming the prestigious
combine for an indulgent and social F&B space.
AHEAD Hotel of the Year statue, the night’s big
Diversity reigned across the rest of the interior
winner was the Palomba & Serafini-designed
prizes, with the film-themed Cinema Paradiso
Palazzo Daniele, a 158-year old aristocratic
at Puro Łódź Poland claiming the award for
residence masterly transformed with a balance
Event Spaces – where judges praised both the
of preserved history and modernist minimalism.
unconventional approach and its clearly defined
“Palazzo Daniele is truly different,” the
vision – whilst the regal elegance of Belmond
judging panel noted, “a unique and rare hotel
Cadogan’s light, airy and inviting lobby saw the
experience.”
London hotel and G.A Design take home the
The evening kicked off with the Outstanding Words: Kristofer Thomas Event Photography: © Sven Eselgroth
138
accolade for Lobby and Public Spaces.
Contribution award, and 25hours Hotel Company
Describing the space as having “a real sense
CEO Christoph Hoffmann taking to the stage to
of place throughout that perfectly matches
collect his Lasvit-designed trophy. Having led
the building’s architecture”, judges named
the group from a single property in Hamburg
Soho House Amsterdam’s lounge as the finest
in 2005 to a global portfolio of 13 hotels and a
Bar, Club or Lounge. Meanwhile, the leafy
partnership with hospitality heavyweight Accor
ambience of Can Bordoy’s signature garden –
today, the prize recognised Hoffmann’s ability
incorporating 70 different plant species – was
EVENTS
judged as the best example of a landscaped
“sophisticated and tasteful, where everything
hotel blending elements of retail, co-working
outdoor area.
from art and furnishings to beautiful landscaping
and hospitality, which took home the New
Representing the Greeks, Dexamenes Seaside
create a sense of complete coherence.” And in
Concept award, and the Jean-Phillipe Nuel-
Hotel’s oceanfront accommodation – set in an
the Newbuild category, it was Mollie’s Motel &
designed Ponant Le Champlain, which claimed
abandoned wine factory on Kourouta beach –
Diner – a nostalgic project in Buckland paying
victory in the Transport category. And last but
was named best suite, and described as “the
homage to the traditional American roadside
not least, the award for Visual Identity went
height of unpretentious luxury,” whilst further
diner – that took the prize.
to Norway’s Amerikalinjen, with Scandinavian
inland, the similarly rural Euphoria Retreat –
“Based on the quality of its simplicity, Mollie’s
Design Group’s branding identified as the
carved into the base of a Mystras mountain
deserves many more locations,” one member of
standout entrant thanks to its colourful,
– claimed the Spa prize for its “exemplarily
the panel surmised. Showcasing the wide range
succinct scheme that incorporates heritage
execution and ability to meet the varied health
of scale present in the shortlist, the expansive
elements of the former Norwegian American
needs of its guests.”
Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland – a 62-suite
Line offices the property occupies. Closing
Hotel Conversion went to The Langley, where
property built directly into an 800-year-old
out the night, AHEAD presenter and Sleeper
Dennis Irvine Studio transformed a Grade II-
lava flow and encircled by mineral waters –
Editor at Large Guy Dittrich congratulated the
listed stately Buckinghamshire home, restoring
took home the Resort Hotel prize, whilst the
ceremony’s winners, all of which will now go on
a sense of majesty to the 18th-century hunting
Lodges, Cabins & Tented Camps statue went to
to compete in their respective categories against
lodge with deft touches of baroque detail and
Manshausen 2.0, a collection of sustainably-
other regional winners from Asia, the Americas
historic accuracy. Elsewhere, it was Heckfield
constructed cabins on the banks of a Norwegian
and MEA as part of AHEAD Global in 2021.
Place – another Grade II-listed, 18th century
fjord that judges described as “a contemporary
home – that was named best Renovation
outdoor room created from natural materials in
A full list of winners can be seen overleaf, while
& Restoration, with judges praising the
a breathtaking location”.
photography of the event can be viewed online
collaborative efforts of interior designer BWT London and architects Spratley & Partners as
The
night’s
other
winners
included
at www.aheadawards.com/europe.
Copenhagen’s The Audo, a hybrid cultural space
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BAR, CLUB OR LOUNGE Soho House Amsterdam – The Netherlands Aedes / Soho House & Co. / Kentie & Partners / Soho House Design
RENOVATION & RESTORATION Heckfield Place – Hampshire, England Morningside Group / Heckfield Place Spratley & Partners / BWT London
EVENT SPACES Puro Łódz – Poland Genfer Group / Puro Hotels ASW Architekci / Superfutures
LANDSCAPING & OUTDOOR SPACES Can Bordoy Grand House & Garden – Palma, Mallorca Mikael Hall / OHLAB
GUESTROOMS Palazzo Daniele – Gagliano Del Capo, Italy Petrucci / Gabriele Salini / GS Collection Palomba & Serafini Associati HOTEL CONVERSION The Langley – Iver, England City & Country Hotels / Marriott International / Fredrick Gibberd Partnership / Veretec / Dennis Irvine Studio HOTEL NEWBUILD Mollie’s Motel & Diner – Buckland, England Mollie’s Motel / Soho House Design
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LOBBY & PUBLIC SPACES Belmond Cadogan Hotel – London, England Cadogan Estates / Belmond Blair Associates Architecture / G.A Design LODGES, CABINS & TENTED CAMPS Manshausen 2.0 – Manshausen Island, Norway Børge Ousland / Stinessen Arkitektur RESORT HOTEL The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland – Grindavik Blue Lagoon Iceland / Basalt Architects Design Group Italia
EVENTS
RESTAURANT Neni at 25Hours Hotel Terminus Nord – Paris, France Invesco Real Estate / Hua Kee / 25Hours Hotel Company Axel Schoenert Architects / Dreimeta
VISUAL IDENTITY OF THE YEAR Amerikalinjen – Oslo, Norway Fremtind Forsikring / Nordic Choice Hotels & Resorts / Kritt Arkitekter / Puroplan / Scandinavian Design Group
SPA & WELLNESS Euphoria Retreat – Mystras, Greece Evoikos / Euphoria Retreat / Deca Architecture Natalia Efremoglou & Partners / Ethnokat
NEW CONCEPT OF THE YEAR The Audo – Copenhagen, Denmark SpaceCo / Jonas Bjerre-Poulson & Nathan Williams
SUITE Dexamenes Seaside Hotel – Kourouta, Greece Karaflos D&SIA / k-studio TRANSPORT Ponant le Champlain Groupe Artemis / Compagnie du Ponant Vard Shipyard / Jean-Philippe Nuel
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION Christoph Hoffmann – CEO, 25Hours Hotel Company THE AHEAD EUROPE HOTEL OF THE YEAR Palazzo Daniele – Gagliano Del Capo, Italy Petrucci / Gabriele Salini / GS Collection Palomba & Serafini Associati
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ai15780485677_blackband.pdf
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03/01/2020
10:49
SPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT
Floorcoverings From recycled rugs to geometric tiles, we take a look at the latest innovations shaping the world underfoot.
Nanimarquina’s Shade collection is inspired by nature and blends two gradients in the same plane
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1. Looking Glass Deirdre Dyson
2. /Re/Purpose Jennifer Manners
3. Decorative Collection 2020-22 Egger
Inspired by the act of looking at and through glass, Deirdre Dyson’s Looking Glass collection comprises eight different carpet designs including Transparent – a reinterpretation of decorative shapes on a coloured vase; Light Between – a play on contrasting monochrome grading with the illusion of light; Slivers – stemming from a series of small flat discs of overlapping glass; and Looking Through – emulating the distortions of objects when looked at through a water-filled flask. Deirdre Dyson’s work as a fine artist has afforded her the skill of creating striking colour palettes and beautiful compositions, which enhance surfaces and complement a variety of settings. www.deirdredyson.com
Jennifer Manners’ /Re/Purpose collection of plush pile rugs – handcrafted from 100% recycled plastic – offers a luxurious yet eco-conscious solution to meet the need for hardwearing and stainresistant rugs. Discarded polyethylene components, which would otherwise find their way into the ocean or a landfill, are processed using heat and water to create a surprisingly soft and robust yarn. Its fine, matte appearance resembles that of wool, whilst its composition from plastic means that the rugs are resistant to dirt and strong cleaning products. Available in five designs with bespoke options of colour, size and pattern, the pieces are ideally suited for commercial projects. www.jennifermanners.co.uk
Building on the success of its current range, the new Egger Decorative Collection 2020-22 is the company’s largest product launch since 2017. The company revolutionises its portfolio every three years, and this cycle will see the range boast over 250 decors, including new textures, colours and woodgrains, with a specific focus on the latest design trends. New aesthetic options have been introduced to the popular Feelwood range, making the selection of woodgrain finishes more extensive than ever; high-end material reproductions of marble, granite and ceramic have been developed to meet demand; and newly added solid colours help achieve bold contrasts in design. The PerfectSense collection has also been refreshed, adding material decors available in gloss, matte and topmatt, as well as an increased range of matching and accent edging to achieve a high value look with minimal effort. In addition, Egger has further developed its digital services, set to launch this year, which will provide a means of bringing its collections to life and make it easier for designers and customers to make the right choices. “Our new collection will provide customers with the freedom to develop amazing design concepts knowing that Egger will provide high-quality products that will bring their ideas to life,” says Andrew Laidler, Director of Decorative Sales. www.egger.com
BREATHTAKING CARPETS ENGINEERED TO LAST
At the heart of our 200 year old brand is a genuine enthusiasm and pride for what we do. From palaces to hotels, restaurants to public buildings, convention centres to airports, over the years Brintons carpets have contributed to make the worlds’ most beautiful interiors.
Sleeper - Dec 2019.indd 1
www.brintons.net
We stay true to our core values, offering our customers an outstanding experience through exceptional products and a fantastic service. People who understand the importance of lasting value choose Brintons.
03/12/2019 12:27
SPOTLIGHT
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1. The Parlor Brintons
2. Shade Nanimarquina
3. Leather Flooring Alma
4. Ábaco Roca
The Parlor collection by Brintons takes its inspiration from traditional parlour games that Surrealist artists would play to pass the time and unlock their creative sides. The range features unique Axminister designs with surprising linear transitions, whilst glowing neon hues contrast with moody velvet textures, bringing to mind intimate social spaces such as public houses which hosted the greats of the literary and art worlds and have long held a strong sense of community. Each fully customisable Axminister broadloom design is woven in Brintons’ signature 80% wool and 20% nylon yarn blend, offering a combination of performance, longevity and comfort. www.brintons.net
Inspired by moments in nature where different colours blend together, Nanimarquina’s Shade collection is created through a complex technical process to achieve density, regularity and fluidity. Each rug demonstrates an elegant and simple design, where two gradients converge harmoniously in the same plane – one vertical and one horizontal – using six transitional, complementary shades. In 2019, the range was expanded to include a selection of outdoor rugs, which look and feel like the indoor version but are instead crafted from a PET fibre. This ensures that the surfaces are highly resistant to water, as well as any adverse weather conditions. www.nanimarquina.com
Made from leather that has been tanned, technically processed and finished for flooring use, the Alma Floor collection boasts water repellent qualities and is designed to age elegantly and develop an elegant patina. The leather range is available in a variety of colourways, embossed textures and tile designs, while the catalogue has been indexed with a guide to highlight which options are the best choice for different levels of footfall. Prior to being released, each of Alma’s leathers undergo independent testing to ensure that they are suitable to be used with underfloor heating and that they pass both wet and dry slip-resistance tests for hospitality settings. www.almafloor.co.uk
Combining versatility and functionality, Ábaco takes the nuances of cement to new levels, improving the structure with the durability of porcelain tiles. Conceived for use on both floor and wall, the range combines formats, colours and finishes for interior and exterior areas, highlighting its worn effect filled with micro-textures. Available in a wide colour range of neutral and rusty hues, the collection features decorative lines with reliefs and organic or geometrical effects. Available finishes include Natural, closer to crafted cement; Lapado, a resistant satin finish; and In&Out, a soft and highly anti-slip surface that can be applied to both indoor and outdoor settings as well as façades. www.roca.com
EYE-CATCHING GEOMETRIC DESIGN Oversized, isosceles triangles embellish the fabric of the new drapilux 809 series. Muted and smoky pastel and natural tones create an elegant semi-transparent fabric. Discover this series and other new arrivals on drapilux stand C 56 in Hall 8 at the Heimtextil trade fair. More at: www.drapilux.com
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09.12.19 11:41
SPOTLIGHT
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1. Fidelio & Ocha ICE International
2. Curio Newhey
3. Décor Amtico
4. Wall Rugs Stellar Works
For Fidelio and Ocha, ICE’s designers studied the archives of Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum, taking inspiration from the shape and scalloped edges of swan crockery to create a rug with a shell-like appearance and flared wave texture, crafted from a mix of wool and silk in soft colours. Ocha, meanwhile, takes cues from a teacup with a cream-coloured glaze; the design capturing fragility and strength through different shapes, colours and textures. The handpainted background of the rug also conveys the delicacy and craftsmanship of the cup, with a dark-to-light gradient complemented by flecks of gold, inspired by the japanese art of Kintsugi. www.rugs.nl
The Curio collection by Newhey combines a vintage look with a contemporary Ikat-like diamond pattern, featuring a handmade feel through its styling. Inspired by textiles that celebrate natural and authentic details, the series sits comfortably in both traditional and contemporary interiors. Crafted using Colortec technology at 4m wide and available in eight colours, Curio is suitable for heavy commercial use and high levels of footfall. Newhey’s efforts to increase sustainability have also seen it apply Evobac on its products, a highly sustainable backing material made from 100% recycled plastic, added using a hot melt carpet backing line. www.newheycarpets.co.uk
Amtico has introduced a range of Décor statement floors to its collection of luxury vinyl tiles. The 19 products have been crafted following research into traditional ceramic styles, resulting in bespoke, practical looks for commercial applications. The range consists of five key styles: Geo emulates traditional Victorian tiles in modern colourways, while Corona features complementary colours and repeating shapes, and Corona Black + White expresses the same traditional style in pure white and graphic slate. Elsewhere, Echo is a versatile geometric design in six colourways, and Marble is complemented by field or perimeter fill patterns. www.amtico.com
Drawing inspiration from various textures and patinas, the Wall Rugs collection by Stellar Works displays a series of balances and contrasts, creating interplays between rough and smooth, and light and shadow. The range interprets the intricacy of how surfaces age, such as old walls and buildings of different natures, mirroring fragments patination and texture for distinctive patterns of elegant colours, allowing the tactile walls to resemble soft floors. The rug names – Dune, Moon, Nude, Tundra, Midnight and Gold – channel the same sensuous mechanisms and constant flow of memories, reflecting a mood rather than a specific colour. www.stellarworks.com
Genuine leather floor tiles for luxury commercial and residential environments
Our brochure and samples can be ordered via our website at www.almafloor.co.uk or from visiting our London E1 Studio.
T: +44 (0)20 7377 0762 • info@almafloor.co.uk • www.almafloor.co.uk
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1. Talí Ferreira de Sá
2. Bespoke Service Havwoods
3. Wild Side Stark
4. Desert Lights Shaw Contract
The Talí design draws inspiration from the concept and form of a drum and the instrument’s ability to bring people together through rhythm and dance. Composed of mohair, the rug’s design process began working with the shape and volume of the drum, deforming and decomposing its elements into coloured spots. Talí is one of 11 styles in the brand’s recently launched Candombe collection, which ranges from abstract to classic designs, each able to be customised to suit bespoke projects. Founded in 1946, Ferreira de Sá produces handmade rugs thanks to artisans who share the same passion for bespoke carpets. www.ferreiradesa.pt
Havwoods Bespoke is a premium service created to assist architects and interior designers in achieving their desired effects, without compromising on style or quality. The service allows clients to build their ideal floor of any size, colour or pattern. Shade, texture, shape and width can be customised to match specific requirements, while changes can be made to stock products or entirely new products alike. Slip resistance, light reflection and other specifications and certifications can also be considered when working with the service, ensuring that the finished product meets both aesthetic and practical needs. www.havwoods.co.uk
Stark Hospitality and Contract has introduced a bold, impressionistic variation on animal print with its eyecatching Wild Side collection. Featuring designs that bring a playful, imaginative energy to interior spaces, the custom collection uses intricately hand-knotted and hand-tufted axminster carpet to introduce a desirable residential quality into hospitality settings, while the range’s versatility give designers greater choice when working within commercial spaces. Stark launched its Hospitality and Contract line in 2018 and has since grown into the sector with a series of new products and innovations. www.starkhospitalityandcontract.com
Created as Rockwell Group’s sixth collection in collaboration with Shaw Contract, Desert Lights is a new carpet and rug range drawing inspiration from the plants and geography of Southwest America; the hues and subtleties of desert light as it moves from dawn to dusk; and the sense of wellness associated with time spent in the desert. The rugs use two different construction methods: the first is a broadloom carpet utilising Tailor Tuft, the second making use of Canvas, a high-speed printed production process in stunning 76 dip high-definition. The rugs are finished with serged edges for a luxurious aesthetic. www.shawcontract.com
All our shown and mentioned decors are reproductions.
Egger PRO Laminate Aqua+ Make a splash www.egger.com/aquaplus
Water resistant laminate flooring from EGGER, available in 18 trend-led decors. The trend orientated collection provides a high quality, functional product for both commercial & domestic applications, suitable for steam & machine cleaning. Five times more resistant to water swelling than standard laminate, the flooring is well suited to bathrooms, kitchens, restaurants & bars. For more information contact us at EFPUKsales@egger.com
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03/12/2019 12:07:29
SPOTLIGHT
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1. Toundra Vincent Sheppard
2. Four Seasons Toronto Creative Matters
3. Vulcano Ark One
4. Lulworth Porcelain Mandarin Stone
The Toundra rug by Vincent Sheppard features a flat-woven structure and is available in three sizes, with three striking colour patterns bringing subtle shades to outdoor spaces. The high-performance collection comprises the Mist, Sunset and Sahara styles, each of which has been developed to complement a variety of furniture pieces and interior schemes. On top of that, the outdoor rug offers a soft texture underfoot, enabling guests to walk around comfortably witout shoes. Manufactured from durable polyester fibre and made to withstand rain, sun, snow and dirt, Toundra can be cleaned easily using a high-pressure water hose for a brand-new look. www.vincentsheppard.com
Made under fair trade conditions with certification from Swiss NGO Label Step, Creative Matters’ handcrafted products include original custom carpets, rugs and wallcoverings for hotels, cruise liners, luxury retail and commercial spaces. Manufactured using a variety of techniques according to the distinct requirements of each project – from matching specific aesthetics to meeting budgets and design specifications – its collections can be seen in properties such as Park Hyatt, St Regis, Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons, as well as on Royal Caribbean vessels and in luxury retail spaces including Bergdorf Goodman, Louis Vuitton and Gucci. www.creativemattersinc.com
Comprising a series of thermally treated floors, Ark One’s Vulcano collection serves as a suitable alternative to timber. The treatment of the wood is done in its own thermal chamber, without the use of any chemical additives, but purely with heat, wind and water. The series is available in three shades boasting darker colouring, whilst the swelling and shrinking behaviour of the wood has also been reduced, ensuring that Vulcano can benefit from an increased resistance to mould and other internal problems. All of the wood used by Ark One is ethically sourced, and, as part of its sustainability efforts, the company replants two trees for every one that is cut down. www.arkone.co.uk
Mandarin Stone’s collection of Natural Stone floors provide a timeless backdrop and an inherent natural beauty that stands the test of time. Choices in the range include limestone, marble, slate and travertine in an array of finishes and formats. Significant developments in digital image technology mean that man-made porcelain floor tiles can now replicate a wide range of other materials including wood, stone, concrete and metal amongst others. The brand recently launched a number of antique stone effect porcelains as a result, such as the Lulworth collection, which offers two shades – Buff and Grey – both available in 1cm interior and 2cm exterior options. www.mandarinstone.com
C R E AT E A S E N S E OF WONDER SA A DIYAT ROTA N A RESO RT & VILL AS, A BU DH A BI
· KCA INTER N ATIO N A L, DU BAI ·
Cruise ship lounge furnished by UHS International #MakeAStatement at Sea uhs-group.com | 0330 1222 400
SPECIFIER
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Anthology Volume 07 Anthology has introduced Volume 07, a collection of ten wide-width wallcoverings that explore human interaction with the natural world. Combining semi-plain, large and small-scale patterns, the series is curated to harmonise with the building in which it resides, amalgamating motifs and techniques with interiors of all tastes. Designs such as Brutalist Stripe and Ammonite highlight the contrast between old and new, while beaded embellishments create a distinctive, sophisticated texture. The range also features cork for the very first time. www.stylelibrarycontract.com
SPECIFIER
CASE STUDY
Kettal Joali Maldives Spanish manufacturer Kettal has collaborated with design studio Autoban to furnish the lounge and villa terraces at Joali, a five-star resort located on the island of Muravandhoo in the Maldives. Whilst devising the scheme, Autoban sought to fuse the indoor and outdoor spaces of the property with the exotic and idyllic landscape that surrounds it, using local materials such as bamboo and coconut fibre in line with the aesthetic of the island. The firm also created architectural elements based on traditional and artisanal techniques used by the
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craftsmen of the Maldives, and were particularly discerning when choosing the furniture, demanding it be both functional and movable. Blending naturally with the soul of the complex, Kettal’s pieces include the basket armchairs designed by Nanna and Jorgen Ditzel, as well as the Club armchairs and Cala dining chairs by Doshi Levien. Sofas from the Riva collection and dining tables from the Park Life range by Jasper Morrison also appear, as do the Mesh and Vieques tables by Patricia Urquiola. www.kettal.com
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CASE STUDY
SHOWROOM OPENING
Janus et Cie Raffles Singapore
VitrA Creative Hub
Janus et Cie has revealed details of its involvement in the sensitive restoration of Raffles Singapore. Tasked with spearheading the threephased refurbishment was New York-based studio Champalimaud Design, who, along with collaborators Aedas Singapore, Beca and Studio Lapis, chose to feature a number of Janus et Cie collections including Deauville II chaise lounges, black-and-white striped Inlaid side tables and Amalfi barstools and armchairs – the classic silhouettes of the Amalfi collection embodying the hotel’s timeless and uncompromising design. Located just steps away from the brand’s flagship showroom in the island city-state, Raffles first opened in 1887 and was declared a National Monument a century later by the Singapore Government. The property has, over the years, gained both local and international recognition as an oasis for the well-travelled, and is deeply valued for its historical significance and unique heritage. “There are few hotels in the world whose names have become virtually synonymous with the cities in which they are located – and none more so than Raffles,” says General Manager, Christian Westbeld. “The newly restored property will provide an experience like no other.” www.janusetcie.com
VitrA is set to open a new 5,600ft2 creative hub in London’s Clerkenwell this Spring, generating an experiential space for architects, designers and thinkers with dedicated areas for product specification, events and workshops. Located in the heart of the Clerkenwell Green Conservation Area, the development will occupy two floors of the Piercy & Companydesigned Turnmill Building, with the ground floor showcasing the brand’s collaborations with renowned creatives such as Ross Lovegrove, Sebastian Conran, Terri Pecora, and most recently, Claudio Bellini and Arik Levy. There will also be a seminar area for talks and an active brassware display, where visitors can experience VitrA’s basin taps in action. On the lower ground floor meanwhile, a specification area will demonstrate the brand’s catalouge of WCs and basins, as well as its range of tiles, flush plates and bathroom accessories. In addition to these showcases, an immersive 4D theatre will allow visitors to visualise and walk around their bathroom as they design it thanks to a virtual reality headset. www.vitra.co.uk
www.jardinico.com +32 (0)56 89 04 10 info@jardinico.com
SPECIFIER
CASE STUDY
Grohe Grohe Goes Zero Grohe has pledged to become the first sanitaryware manufacturer to achieve carbon-neutral production by 2020, stepping up its campaign with the ‘Grohe Goes Zero’ initiative. Having converted all five of its production plants worldwide – as well as the logistics centres in Germany – to run on green electricity in July 2019, the company will start the new fiscal year by offsetting unavoidable CO2 emissions through two compensation projects. “More than ever, manufacturers like Grohe are in demand to take on responsibility and strive towards more sustainability,” says Thomas Fuhr, CEO of Grohe. “For years now, we have been investing not only in research and development in order to produce intelligent, sustainable solutions, but also to a large degree in a resource-saving value chain. With ‘Grohe goes Zero’,
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we are now setting an example for the entire industry: we are actively addressing the CO2 challenge by increasingly avoiding emissions and, if this is not possible, compensating for them.” The initiative is linked to numerous measures taking place at the Grohe plants, promoting the long-term reduction of the carbon footprint and conserving resources. The brand has built a state-ofthe-art test laboratory in Hemer, Germany, while newly launched technologies such as the material-saving 3D metal-printing process further aid its sustainability efforts. As a result, Grohe has been able to increase its energy efficiency by 24% and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by around 40% since 2014, meaning that the brand has already exceeded its 2021 targets of 20% across both. www.grohe.com
Industry Experts in Interiors & Bespoke Joinery Setting The Standard Since 1897
Tel: 0116 2706946 25 Morris Road, Leicester, Le2 6AL www.eemith.co.uk Social @eesmithcontracts
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Focus SB The Kelly Hoppen Collection Focus SB has collaborated with acclaimed designer Kelly Hoppen for a debut collection of electrical wiring accessories. The eponymous range features five styles including Pinstripe: a plate that juxtaposes colour, shape and texture by setting clean metallic lines against a matte backdrop; Fifty Fifty, a subtly bright statement piece combining two alternating colour blocks that display harmonious contrast; and Dot, blending modern touches with details inspired by timeless jewellery. The Corner plate, meanwhile features geometric detail in the bottom right hand cedges and explores the architectural composition of triangles, and Plank embodies Hoppen’s modern design aesthetic, encompassing sleek lines and shadow details. www.focus-sb.co.uk
Dowsing & Reynolds Hepworth Featuring an ergonomic tapered profile, the Hepworth Contemporary Door Handles by Dowsing & Reynolds are constructed from hardwearing zinc and available in finishes including bold matte black, satin gold, classic silver or graphite. Developed with a range of interior schemes in mind, the piece has been designed as a versatile, detailed and complementary finishing touch to a scheme. The Hepworth can be purchased as a handle only, or with a key escutcheon plate to match. www.dowsingandreynolds.com
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AFTER OVER THREE DECADES OF SUPPLYING THE BEST BATHROOM ACCESSORIES, WATERBURY HAS BECOME SYNONYMOUS WITH QUALITY. WHEN THE BEST HOTELS IN THE INDUSTRY THINK QUALITY, THEY THINK WATERBURY. VISIT US AT SLEEP + EAT 2019 AT OLYMPIA LONDON 19TH -20TH NOVEMBER AND SEE OUR NEW RANGE AND MORE
TEL: +44 (0) 121 333 6062 FAX: +44 (0) 121 333 6459 W W W . W AT E R B U R Y. C O . U K
EMAIL: SALES@WATERBURY.CO.UK
STAND
E44
SPECIFIER
Bang & Olufsen Beosound Stage Bang & Olufsen has launched its first ever soundbar with the Beosound Stage, featuring an elegant frame available in natural aluminium, bronze tone or smoked oak, that runs all the way around its perimeter and houses a seamlessly integrated sensory control panel. The natural and bronze tone frames are made from a single piece of forged aluminium, resulting in no visible seams, while the smoked oak version features traditionally crafted dovetail joints, a detail typically seen in Scandinavian cabinetry. Beosound Stage also comes with Dolby Atmos, which heightens the soundstage to give the audio a three-dimensional effect. www.bang-olufsen.com
Vibia Pin Designed by Ichiro Iwasaki for Vibia, the Pin collection is defined by an interplay of geometric forms; lean lines pair with a bold, circular base and diminutive dome shade for a silhouette that recalls abstract symbols. Powered by an LED light source, its tips radiate a soft nimbus of light and, whether displayed individually or in customised combinations, Pin creates a striking architectural statement with a distinctly playful appeal. At Stockholm’s Grow Hotel, Pin lights are built into wooden headboards in the guestrooms and lend a delicate, organic sensibility to the streamlined décor. www.vibia.com
Tribu Elio Designed by Yabu Pushelberg, Tribu’s Elio collection is characterised by a softly rounded silhouette that draws inwards to create a cocoon effect. The chair is framed by natural teak that supports the seating shell primarily through the back legs, while the handwoven seats draw upward and inward to create a warm, intimate shelter, enhanced by the colours of woven Tricord rope. The weaving fuses heritage textile techniques with contemporary solution dyeing to create a material that mimics the gentle touch of light, while the rich gradient effect in the seat and backrest is achieved by weaving multiple colours of yarn into one strand. www.tribu.com
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THE VISUAL WORLD OF HOTEL DESIGN ... dive into the fascination!
www.TOPHOTELDESIGN.com
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Jung LS 1912 Toggle Switch The LS 1912 Toggle Switch by Jung is a reinterpretation of a classic design, developed in a modular fashion so that no screws are visible, neither in the cover plate that is flush with the bezel, nor in the switch itself. Matching its respective material, the toggle is available in a cylindrical, conical and cubic form, with chrome-plated brass used as the basic finish. Meanwhile, the LS 1912 design with a chrome finish features a cubic toggle, while for the brass classic, stainless steel, aluminium and dark variants, there is a choice between a conical and a cylindrical toggle. The switch can also be combined with all onegang to five-gang bezels from the LS range, including the LS 990, LS Design, LS Plus and LS Zero. www.jung.de
Ebb & Flow Horizon Danish lighting brand Ebb & Flow has re-introduced its Horizon range, building on the model’s popularity as a pendant with new versions suitable for both walls and ceilings. Designed by founder Susanne Nielsen, the statement lamp is made from mouthblown glass and finished with a gold or silver metal cover plate, as well as a solid metal fitting to the back of the lamp for both wall and ceiling installations. It also comes in three sizes and several colour options, making it suitable for a variety of interior schemes in hallways, restaurants and guestrooms. www.ebbandflow.dk
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THE SMALL BUT MIGHTY WORKHORSE
AVAILABLE AT:
SPECIFIER
Morgan Kaya Taking its name from sacred forests spread along 200km of the Kenyan coast, Morgan’s new Kaya lounge collection combines crafted timber frames, gentle curves and soft upholstery. As with a lush woodland, the chair’s frame finds strength in numbers, with individual timber sections kept small with multiple lightweight supports in place of a single, larger component. Technology also plays a crucial role in Kaya’s production, with the frame’s smooth, curving lines made possible by CNC machining, while any timber removed during its manufacturing process is used to help heat Morgan’s production facility with a biomass boiler. www.morganfurniture.co.uk
Marshall Headphones Acton II Voice The new Acton II Voice speaker by Marshall Headphones features three dedicated class D amplifiers that power dual tweeters and a subwoofer to deliver a well-balanced, powerful audio experience. The compact unit – the smallest of its kind in the Marshall lineup – also allows listeners to use their voice to play and control their music hands-free through Amazon Alexa, from selecting their favourite playlist or turning up the volume to teaching them a new chord progression on the guitar. With multi-room music on Alexaenabled devices, guests can also wirelessly play different songs in each room or play the same song throughout an entire space. www.marshallheadphones.com
Alexander Rose Surf Sunbed Inspired by the sea, the Surf Sunbed by Alexander Rose joins the brand’s well-established Cordial collection, manufactured using fully welded powder-coated aluminium frames, which are handwoven with Olefin marine grade rope in a traditional basket pattern. The rope features a thick rubber core, which adds strength and significantly reduces drying time, while the hidden wheels at the front of the sunbed allow for easy movement. The Surf model can either be used inside by the pool or outside, where it can withstand a wide range of weather conditions. www.alexander-rose.co.uk
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Architecture and design recruitment. By Dezeen.
www.dezeenrecruit.com
SPECIFIER
Morbern Europe Amulet Morbern Europe’s new slate of releases includes a selection of digitally printed fabrics available by the roll, including Amulet, Celebration and Americana, which are also suitable for outdoor applications. The coated fabrics not only cover but enhance and protect surfaces to exact design specifications, withstanding high seating traffic, rigorous cleaning and allweather environments thanks to a process of adding proprietary wear layers over the digitally applied ink. This enables the brand’s Martindale abrasion to meet 300,000 cycles and also provides greater bleach resistance. The colour palette and custom design options for the fabrics are also vast due to the firm’s ability to apply primary ink droplets, while the patterns are available in four different embossing textures for a wider choice of finish. www.morberneurope.com
Thomas Crapper Shevington Console Basin The latest addition to Thomas Crapper’s growing portfolio is the Shevington Console Basin, a statement piece featuring Rubenesque curved lines and freestanding legs. A unique and stylish bathroom design choice, the basin is manufactured from fine fire clay and measures 1,000m x 600m. It is available in zero-, one- and three-tap hole options for a variety of solutions and looks particularly striking when combined with the brand’s polished brass products. “The Shevington Console Basin has already received a lot of interest and we’re confident it will become a Thomas Crapper classic,” says Managing Director, Paul Dwyer. “The soft curves and flowing lines make it the perfect console basin for anyone who’s looking for that timeless luxury feel.” www.thomas-crapper.com
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Making the impossible possible www.deloitte.co.uk/ths Š 2019 Deloitte LLP. All rights reserved.
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SPECIFIER
Rocky Mountain Hardware Element The Element Collection – the latest range of art-grade bronze handles from Idaho-based Rocky Mountain Hardware – marries a series of minimal profiles with 12 hand-applied finishes for an elegantly simplistic piece of interior architecture. Comprising thumb-latch, entry, privacy, patio and passage models – and a choice of high polished bronze, dark silicon, darkened white, and medium finishing shades amongst others – the collection is compatible with all mortise lock functions. Crystal and glass knobs are also available on certain members of the collection. Employing old-world techniques in its production line, each Rocky Mountain Hardware product undergoes a 20-step process and touches no less that 30 hands on
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its way to completion. Founded in 1994, the company also manufactures solid hand-cast bronze architectural products including lighting, tile, bathroom and kitchen fittings, for both indoor and outdoor use. 2019, meanwhile, saw Rocky Mountain Hardware launch its debut technology product, RMHWireless, a fully customisable, bluetooth-enabled smart entry mortise lock. Incorporating keyless entry capabilities, the product can be combined with any lock entry set including grip-to-grip, grip-to-lever and more. “At Rocky Mountain Hardware, we continue to prioritise the importance of innovation, quality craftsmanship and superior customer service,” says Christian Nickum, the brand’s President. www.rockymountainhardware.com
2020 Vision: Redefining the Rules The International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) is the most influential and globally diverse meeting place for the hotel industry. Now in its 23rd year, IHIF continues to be the most influential and globally-attended meeting place for the hotel investment community.
The three-day event, attended by over 2,500 hospitality and tourism decision-makers from over 80 countries is the place where deals are done and important industry decisions are made. IHIF attracts a very senior gathering and among them nearly every major hotel chain CEO, influential global tourism ministers and the largest group of investors and hotel owners. Over 70 companies sponsor the event which is testament to the amount of business and new opportunities IHIF can deliver. Over 200 speakers take part in the educational programme, all chosen because they have something important to say and advice to give. IHIF focusses on delivering opportunities to anyone who currently operates within the hotel and tourism industry or who wants to do business in this sector, including: • Investors
• Lawyers
• Hotel Owners
• Designers
• Lenders
• Architects
• Hotel Chain CEOs and Executives
• Consultants
• Financial Advisers
• Timeshare Developers
• Real Estate Agents
• Tourism and Government Officials
@ihifevent @ihif_event The International Hospitality Investment Forum @IHIF_News #IHIF2020
Register today to benefit from three days of unrivalled networking opportunities, outstanding evening receptions, an exhibition and the very best educational programme.
Register today at www.ihif.com
Architectural Vision Panels
For Doors & Walls
Create a feelgood environment.
Complete glazing kits - Fire rated options - Easy installation
indoor • outdoor | residential • hospitality • commercial chairs • stools • lounge chairs • benches • tables info@martaonline.eu • +31 6 430 30 426 • www.feelgooddesigns.eu
North 4 Design Ltd T: 0208 885 4404 www.north4.com
ADVERTISING INDEX ISSUE 88 AD Associates AHEAD
124 042-043
Egger
153
Naturalmat
EPR Architects
044
Newhey Carpets
053 031
Ethimo
033
Nicholas Haslam
105
Albrecht Jung
051
Alexander Rose
041
Feelgood Designs
177
North 4 Design
177
ALIS
175
Focus SB
106
Perrin & Rowe
071
Freifrau
180
Preciosa
Gommaire
116
Restoration Hardware
Aliseo Alma 1938
029 151
094
077 010-011
River Bespoke
069
Roca
093
Ambiente
127
Hector Finch
Amtico
019
HI Design
Astro Lighting
002
ICON
087
Rocky Mountain
061
Beck Interiors
055
IHIF
176
Sleepeezee
099
SNS
065
142-143
008-009
Brintons
147
Janus et Cie
Burgess Furniture
159
Jardinico
161
Spradling
Chelsom Lighting
179
Jennifer Manners Design
144
Stellar Works Tapeçarias Ferreira de Sá
097 012-013 049
Creative Matters
081
Kettal
Deirdre Dyson
039
Ligne Roset
014
Top Hotel Projects
167
173
Living Design
109
Tribu
027
171
Deloitte
006-007
Mandarin Stone
100
Tuuci
016
Diamond Life Lighting Group
165
Marshalls
169
UHS
156
Drapilux
149
Morbern
121
Ulster
155
DuPont
111
Dezeen
EE Smith
163
Muzeo
025
Vincent Sheppard
047
Nanimarquina
005
Waterbury
165
CHECK-OUT
From Booth to Broadway
25hours Hotels and analogue expert Supersense launch a lobby recording booth that sees guests creating their very own vinyl records.
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Picture the scene: it is the wee small hours, and
production booth allowing guests to make their
you – a musician on the road – are fast asleep in
own customised LP, recording either directly
your hotel bed. The place is dormant but for a few
into the microphone or from a smartphone input.
stragglers at the bar downstairs, but suddenly
Users can personally create their own cover
you wake with a jolt; elated and confused in
art too, with the installation taking a distinctly
equal measure, a mercurial idea rolling around
DIY approach to hotel entertainment in hopes
your head. Inspiration has struck, but there is
of providing guests with a more memorable
no pen to write it down, no dictaphone handy to
souvenir than the classic t-shirt, fridge magnet
document the melody. You mash at your phone’s
or towel liberated from the guestroom.
notes in an attempt to preserve the outline, but it’s fading, then gone.
The booth joins a series of Supersense installations being rolled out across 25hours
Beyond just musicians, all creatives know the
hotels as part of the We Create Memories
feeling of letting that big idea slip by, but fear
programme, with other interactive relics
not – in one hotel in Vienna, this could soon be
including VHS tape players, typewriters, polaroid
a thing of the past.
cameras and more. And who knows – with the
Partnering with analogue concept store
touch of a button, the idea that got away could
Supersense, 25hours Hotel at MuseumsQuartier
be the next smash hit, and a few lucky 25hours
has installed Phonocut in its lobby – a vinyl
guests might be in for a room upgrade.
Bes p oke l i g ht i ng by C he l som Custom Lighting for the restaurant and bar at Alex, Lake ZĂźrich by Campbell Gray Hotels. Designer: Brady Williams.
chelsom.co.uk
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