AHEAD

NoMad London scoops an impressive five awards in Europe as the industry comes together for a Blitz Kid-inspired evening to celebrate the best in hospitality experience and design.

Following a pandemic-induced hiatus, AHEAD Europe returned to Battersea Evolution in November for a New Romantics-themed ceremony held in collaboration with Global Sponsor RH Contract. In keeping with the popular ‘Black Tie With A Twist’ dress code, the community of developers, operators and designers in attendance were asked to wear their Blitz Kid attire to celebrate the best hotel designs across Europe in style.

Having met and mingled with their industry peers, guests were invited into the ballroom, where Awards Director Matt Turner welcomed everyone before introducing Christopher Webb, Chair of the judging panel and Vice President of Architecture & Design at Hilton Worldwide, to share some opening remarks. “This year, we have seen breathtaking restoration and newbuild projects, as well as awe-inspiring architecture delivered with a true and bold sense of place,” said Webb to the 700-strong audience. “We have also seen emerging hospitality concepts, unique one-off projects and exquisite retreats, all awakening our spirit of wanderlust once again. There has been a continued trend for specialisation too, be that the finest theatrically-designed bars, a handcrafted cabin for two, or perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime suite with panoramic views overlooking Europe’s finest capital cities. So, lets celebrate this wonderful and unique year of design that I know made myself and the other judges both dream and smile again.”

The awards portion of the event kicked off with Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett MBE, who took to the stage to present the Outstanding Contibution Award to husbandand-wife Robin and Judy Hutson, founders of The Pig Group. In just ten years, the pair have taken their restaurants-with-rooms brand from one property in the New Forest to eight across the UK, changing the way designers and hoteliers view country house hotels in the process. What makes the couple so deserving of the accolade is their investment in the business, and not just from a financial perspective. Both are heavily involved in each project from start to finish – with Judy responsible for the design and maintenance of the new properties, and Robin managing renovations and long-term strategic growth.

From a luxury cabin with panoramic views of the Tuscan hills to a Swedish lighthouseturned-boutique-hotel on a remote rocky islet, originality reigned supreme across the rest of the awards. Winners were announced by AHEAD’s loyal line-up of sponsors and supporters, with those victorious on the night getting their hands on a bespoke crystal glass trophy designed by Lasvit. JUDGING PANEL Alba Biedermann – Design Hotels Chris Penn – Birch Hotels Christopher Webb – Hilton Dennis Irvine – Richmond Intl Federico Toresi – Accor Geraldine Dohogne – Beyond Design Henry Reeve – IHG Iype Abraham – Edwardian Group Annalyn Hood – Design Hotels Jason Wischhoff – Minor Intl Linda Boronkay – Linda Boronkay

Design Studio Matthew Seal – Marriott Intl Richard McConkey – UDS Stefan Rier – Noa* Tina Norden – Conran + Partners

BAR, CLUB OR LOUNGE / VISUAL IDENTITY

GUESTROOMS

HOTEL NEWBUILD

BERTIE’S BAR AT THE FIFE ARMS – BRAEMAR Artfarm / The Fife Arms Hotel / Russell Sage Studio

Kicking off the ceremony was the Bar, Club or Lounge award, which went to Bertie’s Bar at The Fife Arms Hotel. The glamorous whiskey bar, named in King Edward VII’s honour, emulates storytelling through its authentic design with “no detail left aside, from the personalised whiskey bottle to the logo and bill slip.” Later in the evening, The Fife Arms also took home the prize for Visual Identity. According to one judge, the hotel establishes a “stunning sense of place through colour, tone and iconography that seamlessly relates to the holistic design approach”, while another praised the “playful yet classic” design concept with great attention to detail.

VILLA COPENHAGEN – DENMARK Nordic Hotels & Resorts / Krook & Tjader / Universal Design Studio / Goddard Littlefair

Villa Copenhagen won over judges with its guestrooms, envisioned by Universal Design Studio. Inspired by the building’s Neo-Baroque style, the context of local architecture and artworks by Danish master Vilhelm Hammershøi, the studio created 381 rooms across the property’s five floors. Unique for a project of its size, the hotel houses over 55 room typologies, all designed to give a sense of subtle beauty, quality and timelessness. Described by the judges as “calm, elegant and beautifully designed”, the guestrooms boast a clean aesthetic with an “effortless and exquisite” design.

HOTEL MILLA MONTIS – MARANZA, ITALY Oberhofer / Roland and Franziska Oberhofer / Peter Pichler Architecture

With new projects popping up across the region, Hotel Newbuild has become an increasingly competitive category. So, what made Hotel Milla Montis stand out to the judges? Conceived by Peter Pichler Architecture, the hotel is a contemporerary reinterpretation of the region’s vernacular architecture, as well as the classic wooden barn. One member of the judging panel used the words “poetic, tactile, confident and authentic” to describe this unique newbuild, while another applauded the studio’s work as “an unbelievable piece of architecture” that interacts well with the surrounding nature.

HOTEL RENOVATION & RESTORATION

OKU IBIZA – SPAIN Westfort Capital / Oku Hotels / MG&AG Architects

For this renovation and restoration, Oku Hotels enlisted father-son-duo MG&AG Architects to transform the former Casa Cook building and its neighbouring plot into Oku Ibiza. Comprising a trio of low-rise grey concrete structures, the hotel eschews the all-white aesthetic synonymous with the island, instead favouring raw and natural materials. “Although they are very modern buildings, we wanted to create a natural look; when you see the architecture from a distance it doesn’t stand out,” Miguel Garcia Quetglas told Sleeper. The panel applauded the hotel’s tactility, describing it as “excellent and incredibly consistent in its clear, contemporary language.”

SPA & WELLNESS / LANDSCAPING & OUTDOOR SPACES

SIX SENSES IBIZA – SPAIN Beachbox Hotelco / Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas / Jonathan Leitersdorf / Nova Ingenieria

“When people leave Ibiza, what do they need? Another holiday. So we wanted to create a place where people leave feeling recharged,” explained architect and real estate developer Jonathan Leitersdorf in the last issue of Sleeper. Successful in its mission, the ultra-luxury wellness-focused retreat deservedly took home the award for best spa and wellness facilities. And it wasn’t just the resort’s wellness focus that impressed the judges, with its landscaping and outdoor spaces also receiving an accolade for its “seamless integration of local plants and trees” and focus on sustainability.

LODGES, CABINS & TENTED CAMPS

CASA OJALÁ – TUSCANY, ITALY Casa Ojalá / Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco / Beatrice Bonzanigo

The Lodges, Cabins & Tented Camps category first became highly competitive in the AHEAD MEA awards. Now other regions have stepped-up their game, so much so that the category has been introduced to AHEAD Europe for the first time. Scooping the inaugural trophy was Casa Ojalá, a luxury cabin in Tuscany that offers a “360-degree guest experience in glamping” with a “true connection with nature”. The judges were “fascinated” and “impressed” by the unique concept’s mechanical system, which allows guests to effortlessly control their comfort and privacy with the pull of a cord.

RESORT

SUITE

NEW CONCEPT

CERVO MOUNTAIN RESORT – ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND Cervo / Mls Architeckten / Dreimeta

Following an eight-month renovation that commenced in Summer 2020, the updated Cervo is a reconceived haunt for the modern nomad where sustainability, connection to nature, and a glocal experience reign supreme. Redesigned by Dreimeta, the remodelled spaces are a modern interpretation of the Alpine lifestyle, with a decidedly more outward-looking perspective of the world. “Quirky, responsible and nestling beautifully in its landscape”, the judges concluded of the resort, which offers “a different type of luxury” that focuses on sustainability and its connection with nature.

HERBS VILLA AT EKIES ALL SENSES RESORT – HALKIDIKI, GREECE A+P Efstathiadis / Agarch+ Architects / Fytron Landscapes / Alexandra Efstathiadou

The Europe Suite category comprised a host of strong contenders, but there could be only one winner. So, how did the Herbs Villa beat off the competition? Located in the Ekies All Senses Resort complex, the suite embodies everything the hotel has to offer. Spread across two levels and accomodating up to four guests, the 80m2 villa offers an interesting mix of “local and contemporary, texture and architectural elements,” a combination that the judges perceived to be both original and authentic.

PATER NOSTER LIGHTHOUSE – HAMNESKAR, SWEDEN National Property Board Sweden / Toplite Invest / Stylt Trampoli

The judges were totally in awe of Pater Noster Lighthouse, located on the remote island of Hamneskar off the west coast of Sweden. A former home for generations of lighthouse keepers, today the historic site offers an alternative take on luxury hospitality for experience-seeking travellers. Design agency Stylt Trampoli has converted the landmark into a guesthouse that combines Sweden’s nautical beauty and unique surroundings, with the judges defining the unique and unconventional concept as “exceptional” on all levels.

EVENT SPACES / HOTEL CONVERSION / LOBBY & PUBLIC SPACES / RESTAURANT / HOTEL OF THE YEAR

NOMAD LONDON Sydell Group / Bow St Hotels / NoMad / EPR Architects / Roman & Williams NoMad London was the biggest winner of the night, taking home an impressive five awards including Hotel of the Year. Situated in Covent Garden opposite The Royal Opera House, the first international NoMad property takes residence in the Grade II-listed building formerly occupied by Bow Street Magistrates Court and Police Station. The landmark transformation, carried out by EPR Architects and Roman & Williams together with main contractor Beck, earned the award for best Hotel Conversion in the region. The NoMad Restaurant headed up by Executive Chef Ashley Abodeely, took the second F&B accolade for its “clever use of space, which gives guests a great arrival experience”, while the attention to detail throughout the hotel meant NoMad was also triumphant in the Lobby & Public Spaces category. Judges praised the shared areas for “providing guests with an intriguing journey of discovery with a series of individual spaces leading to one another.” According to the panel, the interiors make the best use of the floorplan, with every area from the lobby to the library “well-appointed”. The original courtroom, now the Magistrates’ Ballroom, has been re-imagined as a formal space with two adjacent private dining rooms and a separate bar. When picking their Event Spaces winner, the panel applauded the “exceptional” décor, describing the venue as “punchy, provocative and dramatic”. The judges were so bowled over with NoMad London that it scooped the most coveted award of the evening, the AHEAD Europe Hotel of the Year. “NoMad London is a masterclass in creating a complete experience,” commented the panel. “Every space delights, delivering spectacular design and a wonderful sense of theatre.”

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