HOSPITALITY EXPERIENCE & DESIGN
ACE HOTEL – SYDNEY • K-STUDIO • HOTEL MARCEL – NEW HAVEN
CONTENTS ISSUE 103 084
HOTEL REVIEWS
076
Ace Hotel
056
Inhabit Queen’s Gardens
062
Sydney
London © Patricia Parinejad
Chateau Denmark
071
Wilmina
076
The Standard
084
Hotel Marcel
088
Six Senses
094
Kalesma
100
Zulal Wellness Resort
108
London Berlin
100
Ibiza
New Haven Shaharut © Salva Lopez
Mykonos Qatar
056
FEATURES Meeting...K Studio
038
Meeting... Marriott International
044
Fresh from putting his work into context at the inaugural Sleeper Sessions, the co-founder of architecture and design firm K-Studio delves deeper into the art of crafting architectural experiences.
As Marriott celebrates its 95th year in business, CEO Tony Capuano discusses how the company plans to capture the entire travel wallet, providing experiences that go beyond just bed-and-board. © Anson Smart 003
CONTENTS ISSUE 103 FEATURES
094
The Hotel of Tomorrow
117
AHEAD
131
Sleeper Sessions
138
Spotlight... Paolo Moschino
144
The Gettys Group takes to the metaverse for the latest edition of its global think-tank, discussing the future of hospitality design and service aboard a virtual airship. From an eco-friendly no-walls, no-doors retreat nestled in the Balinese jungle to an artistic haunt in downtown Brooklyn, the AHEAD Asia and Americas shortlists showcase the very best in hospitality experience and design.
© Amit Geron
038
The hospitality industry descends on Mykonos for the first Sleeper Sessions, where an immersive programme journeys from Ancient Greek architecture through to modern day design. Having built a reputation in the retail and residential sectors over the past 26 years, Paolo Moschino Ltd is making its mark on hospitality.
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REGULARS
© Seamus Payne
062
147
© Jack Hobhouse
004
Check-In
024
Drawing Board
026
The Lobby
047
Business Centre
120
Furniture
147
Uniforms
160
Specifier
163
Check-Out
178
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RH.COM/CONTRACT Six Senses Ibiza, Spain Winner of two AHEAD Europe Awards (2021)
Sleeper _ 20220520_outline.pdf 1 2022/5/20 下午5:02
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outdoor luxury
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Aquina Collection
DESIGNED IN BRITAIN
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INTERCONTINENTAL LYON – HOTEL DIEU. FRANCE Studio Jean Philippe Nuel.
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WELCOME
ON THE COVER Ace Hotel, Sydney © Anson Smart
Taking Care of Business
A
sk anyone in the midst of the pandemic as to whether
and Sleeper will be there to reconnect: you can find the team
they would ever attend a large-scale event again and
hosting panel discussions and conducting on-stage interviews,
I can guarantee the answer would likely have been
sharing insight from hospitality leaders; we’ll be walking the
a resounding no. Being packed into an airless convention
aisles of trade shows, on the lookout for new product launches;
centre and meeting-and-greeting with a handshake aren’t
and celebrating the best in hospitality experience and design
particularly appealing when a highly-contagious virus is at-
at our AHEAD ceremonies, taking place in Singapore, New
large, leading to questions over the future of business travel.
York, Dubai and London.
Along with the mass-cancellation of trade shows and
So although technology is good for replacing some forms of
conferences, many hospitality groups imposed outright bans
communication, it’s becoming increasingly clear that there’s a
on overseas travel, meaning everything from roundtables to
need and an appetite for in-person events. The age of business
tête-à-têtes pivoted to an online format. In-person client
travel isn’t over, but it is evolving, which is exactly the
meetings were no longer possible and site visits were halted
thinking behind Sleeper Sessions. It may have been considered
altogether; plenty of designers have recounted tales of
foolish to develop a networking event at a time when face-
selecting FF&E or putting the finishing touches to a hotel
to-face meetings were’t possible, but we were steadfast in
project via video call.
our belief that there’s no substitute for in-person encounters,
But all is not lost. Although business travel has been slower
particularly in the creative industries. However, we sensed
to return than leisure, the recent slate of events catering to
that there was a shift in mindset, and people no longer wanted
the hospitality community show that there’s appetite for in-
to return to their former business travel habits. So having
person meet-ups. The International Hospitality Investment
listened to our community, we set out to do things a little
Conference in Berlin was back to its pre-pandemic best,
differently, creating an event that champions healthy body,
attracting 2,400 professionals, while Salone del Mobile in
healthy mind. Many of the break-out events took place on al
Milan exceeded expectations drawing over 262,000 visitors
fresco terraces, while uplifting activities such as sketching,
across the six days – crowds that were unthinkable just 12
pottery and yoga accompanied a programme of talks and one-
months ago.
to-one meetings. In all, it made for an event that takes care of
The return of such events is reflected in hotel performance
personal wellbeing as well as taking care of business.
too, with major cities reporting their highest occupancies mid-week rather than at the weekend, signifying increased corporate demand. And if you’ve tried booking a hotel room in London on any given week-night in recent months, then you’ll have a sense of the upturn. Looking ahead, the autumn events calendar is just as busy
Catherine Martin • Managing Editor
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H Y B R I D b y C H E L S OM EDITION 27 CHELSOM.CO.UK
GUEST BOOK
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076
062
© Anson Smart
088
© Robert Rieger
076 Grüntuch Ernst Architects
056 David Flack
088 Dutch East Design
062 Nadira Lalji
Since founding their own studio in 1991, Armand Grüntuch and Almut Grüntuch-Ernst have built a portfolio of projects spanning residential, office and educational institutions. Their latest venture however, sees the husband-andwife team become hoteliers, taking on the ownership and operation of a former courthouse and prison in Berlin, and transforming it into a place of tranquillity. A decade in the making, Wilmina combines sensitive architectural interventions with historic preservation to create an oasis in the city.
“We weren’t given a set of rules, instead we travelled and experienced many Ace Hotels, and saw that the focus was always on community engagement – that experience became our brief,” says David Flack of his design scheme at the newly-opened Ace Hotel Sydney. Having founded Flack Studio in 2015, the creative collaborated with Atelier Ace and Fiona Lynch Office to help redefine the local understanding of what a hotel can be, envisioning a collection of spaces that encourage togetherness.
Founded by William Oberlin, Larah Moravek and Dieter Cartwright, New York-based branding and interiors studio Dutch East Design has built a reputation for its artistic approach to hospitality. For its most recent hotel project, the firm partnered with architect and developer Becker + Becker to convert a Marcel Breuerdesigned landmark in Connecticut, reimagining the Brutalist building as a Bauhaus-inspired hotel in which every piece of furniture and fixture was considered for its sustainability credentials.
“We engaged in a more ecological construction process, ensuring that next to no waste was sent to landfill, as well as using organic materials, and collaborating with local suppliers and artisans,” says Nadira Lalji, co-founder of Inhabit Hotels on the design approach for the group’s second property in London. Building on its successful debut, the eco-conscious operator called on architecture firm Holland Harvey and interior designer Caitlin Henderson once more, converting a row of Paddington townhouses into an urban wellness retreat.
021
FRONT DESK @SleeperMagazine
EDITORIAL
DESIGN
FINANCE
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Design Manager David Bell
Finance Director Amanda Giles
Production Dan Seaton
Group Financial Controller Sarah Healey
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d.seaton@mondiale.co.uk
Assistant Editor Ben Thomas
b.thomas@mondiale.co.uk
Editorial Assistant Eleanor Howard
e.howard@mondiale.co.uk
Editor-at-Large Guy Dittrich
PORTFOLIO
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Commercial Lead Kirsty Studholme
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CHECK-IN
Kimberley Cohen The co-founder and Artistic Director of Maisons Pariente takes a fantasy break at a private island near Zanzibar, where a remote retreat celebrates the locale.
Where are you?
Describe the hotel, your room and the view...
And what’s on the menu?
On a private island off the coast of Zanzibar.
The architecture uses local materials and creates
The menu is about sharing. There are different
a sense of privacy, while the interior design is
starter options such as salads and croquettes,
How did you get there?
simple yet comfortable with barefoot luxury
while the main is a whole grilled fish. For
We took Air France’s La Première service direct
in mind. Our room overlooks white sand and
dessert, we are served an enormous platter of
from Paris to Zanzibar, where a convertible
clear turquoise water with the most incredible
fresh fruit and a warm chocolate soufflé.
Mercedes-Benz G-Class is waiting; for the final
sunrises, and we have bicycles to make our way
leg, we take the resort’s speedboat to the island.
around the island. In the morning there are yoga
Would you like something to drink with that?
and pilates classes, and in the afternoon we
The most delicious wine.
Who is there to greet you on arrival?
go scuba diving directly from the hotel beach
Richard Branson.
and discover the most amazing sea life. After
What’s in the mini-bar for a night cap?
a day of activities, we test out the treatments
M&M’s and Haribo candy.
And who’s at the concierge desk?
at the hotel’s spa located in a treehouse, before
Monsieur Gustave H of course, from Wes
heading for dinner. At night, the island lights
What’s on your nightstand at bedtime?
Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel.
up like a scene from a fairytale, it’s magical.
A tablet with a local music playlist.
Who are you sharing your room with?
Who designed it?
Would you like a newspaper in the morning?
My husband.
Robinson Crusoe.
No, just a programme of activities for the day.
Is there anything you would like waiting for
What’s the restaurant and bar like?
What toiletries would you like to freshen-up?
you in your room?
There are three restaurants to choose from; my
Tata Harper products for the face and body, and
Music is playing and there’s a selection of
favourite is Sand Bar on the beach – diners must
Sisley for the hair.
chilled local beers and fresh fruit. There’s also
be barefoot to enter. It serves freshly-caught
a plan of the different activities I can experience
grilled fish with a choice of seasoning. Later
Early morning alarm call or late check-out?
during my stay.
on, a local band plays and guests and staff come
Late check-out.
together, there’s a great ambiance. Bath or power shower? Who are you dining with this evening?
Bath.
I love music, so singers Celine Dion, Nina
NOTABLE HOTEL PROJECTS Lou Pinet, Saint-Tropez; Le Coucou, Méribel; Le Grand Mazarin, Paris; Crillon le Brave, Provence www.maisonspariente.com
024
Simone, Lauryn Hill, Marvin Gaye and Whitney
Full English or continental breakfast?
Houston are at my table.
A generous buffet.
Who’s manning the stoves?
Swimming pool, spa or gym?
My late grandma, Mamie Poupée – she used to
Spa.
make the best dishes.
DRAWING BOARD
Eco-Wellness Resort DAKHLA
Global architecture firm Scott Brownrigg has revealed its vision for a new eco-wellness and sports tourism destination on the Atlantic coast of the Sahara in Western Morocco. Developed for investment firm ESE Capital, the 2.9km2 resort seeks to enhance Dakhla’s reputation as an international tourist destination by offering a range
introduce infrastructure that supports existing expat
of luxury experiences including a Michelin-starred
communities through the creation of 1,400 jobs, a new
restaurant, spa facilities and an events space, as well
hospital, international primary school, business and
as art galleries, an equestrian centre and activities like
management school, and a multi-faith building.
hang-gliding and zip-wiring.
“We have been deliberate in our design moves to
Connecting the desert and the sea, the project
ensure we place – and generate – similar and equal
synthesises traditional passive Moroccan techniques
value on the waterfront and desert environment,”
in response to climate whilst maintaining a clear
explains Neil MacOmish, Board Director at Scott
contemporary
Visitor
Brownrigg. “The response is to put climate and culture
accommodation is scattered along an existing sandbar,
– not just architecture but art, agriculture, language
its form untouched to allow for the continuous and
and the genius loci – front and centre, and to generate
natural change in shape.
an authentic, rich experience with a local economy and
architectural
language.
As well as appealing to tourists, the project will
ecology that is of international significance.”
DRAWING BOARD
DRAWING BOARD
Pillows Maurits at the Park AMSTERDAM
Pillows Hotels is on track to open its seventh
“We are adding the hotel to the park; usually,
property with Pillows Maurits at the Park in
it is the other way around,” explains Uri Gilad
Amsterdam. Debuting in Q4 2022, the 88-
of Office Winhov. This is particularly evident in
key development will occupy a 20th century
the hotel’s new wing, where different types of
university building that has been given a new
windows connect indoor with outdoor, and old
lease of life by Dutch architecture firm Office
and new have been intertwined harmoniously.
Winhov and interior designers Studio Linse.
is also being applied to the interiors, which,
Oosterpark, the nearby Tropenmuseum and
according to Studio Linse founder Paul Linse,
Artis Amsterdam Zoo, the hotel will comprise
channel “noble simplicity” through tactile
a fine-dining restaurant helmed by rising star
materials and a warm, earthy colour palette.
chef Floris van Straalen, a brasserie, two bars, a private lounge and several meeting spaces.
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Operator: Pillows Hotels Architecture: Office Winhov Interior Design: Studio Linse www.pillowshotels.com
028
The consideration of the building’s heritage
Drawing inspiration from its position in
Guestrooms range in size from 16-50m2 and fuse Parisian elegance with Dutch sophistication,
Office Winhov has envisioned the property
setting an understated, inviting tone that is
as an indispensable part of the neighbourhood,
offset by specially commissioned works from
with over 4,000m2 of parkland being returned to
native artist Raphaël Hermans.
the people of Amsterdam through the removal
“We couldn’t find a more fitting way to
of existing partitions and fences. The open
celebrate our fifth anniversary than to return to
invitation extends to Oosterpark’s gardens
Amsterdam, the city where it all started, with
and feathery friends, thanks to nesting boxes,
the first five-star property in our portfolio,”
feeding areas and an aviary to protect birds.
says Loes Dingemans, CEO of Pillows Hotels.
W W W.V I N C E N T S H E P PA R D.C O M
DRAWING BOARD
Le Meridien KUNMING
Rocco Design Architects (RDA) has revealed designs for the second OCT headquarters in Kunming, a mixed-use project featuring a Le Meridien hotel, contemporary apartments, office space, a floating exhibition hall and a sky lounge. Currently under construction, the vertical garden structure comprises two towers flanking a central void with floating public spaces – including a soaring triple-height, fully glazed exhibition hall, a social club, conference centres, and hanging outdoor gardens – cantilevered off the towers, lending the complex its distinctive H-shaped silhouette. Occupying the lower floors, the hotel faces east while the apartments face west to establish a sense of privacy from one another, as well as offering unique views out over the surroundings. Where the east tower meets the ground, the mullions peel away from the building to form the roof of the hotel lobby and a restaurant. The base of the residential tower meanwhile is defined by a low-slung glasslined commercial space that projects into an adjacent park, anchoring its edge. With core design principles surrounding sustainability and ecological integration, the towers’ façades are designed as green walls, supporting climbing plantings and creating a green presence on the skyline, while the hanging gardens bring outdoor access to the upper floors, incorporating nature as central to the experience of the building.
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: Kunming OCT Investment Operator: Marriott International Architecture: Rocco Design Architects Interior Design: Wen Ge Space Design Landscaping: Sichuan De Lan Landscape Planning & Design www.rocco.hk
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New Signature Design Crystal Spin C R A F T YO U R O W N S PA R K L I N G L I G H T I N G I N S TA L L AT I O N
DRAWING BOARD
Aman Beverly Hills
Aman has been appointed as the flagship
Bangkok (2023) and Aman Miami Beach (2024)
operator for the One Beverly Hills development
joining the portfolio over the next two years.
CALIFORNIA
in California. Comprising a hotel, branded
“The announcement of Aman Beverly Hills
residences and members’ club, the project is
further demonstrates our commitment to this
expected to welcome its first guests in 2026.
strategy and long-term vision,” says Chairman
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: Alagem Capital Group, Cain International Developer: AECOM Operator: Aman Architecture: Gensler, Foster + Partners Landscaping: Rios www.aman.com
032
The properties will form part of the wider
and CEO Vlad Doronin. “Staying true to our DNA
17.5-acre project, situated at the intersection
and the Aman lifestyle, Aman Beverly Hills will
of Los Angeles’ Wilshire and Santa Monica
capture the legacy and heritage of the brand
Boulevards, less than a mile from Rodeo Drive.
while connecting our guests with a new urban
One Beverly Hills will involve the revitalisation
environment. We look forward to delivering
of disused land to create a unified proposition
another world-class hospitality destination
focused on health and wellbeing, surrounded
on our continued mission to curate hotels and
by botanical gardens that showcase native plant
residences of architectural distinction.”
species. As with Aman Nai Lert in Bangkok,
Aman Beverly Hills will be the brand’s fifth
which will be set within the capital’s Nai Lert
property in the United States. It currently
Park, Aman Beverly Hills will be the centrepiece
operates Amangani in Wyoming’s Jackson Hole
of the new urban green space.
and Amangiri in Utah’s Canyon Point, with
Aman has evolved its positioning in recent
developments in New York and Miami Beach
times to bring its lifestyle offer to the city,
to follow soon. The company’s global portfolio
with Aman New York (August 2022), Aman
includes 34 resorts and hotels in 20 countries,
Residences Tokyo (2023), Aman Nai Lert
15 of which are within or close to UNESCO sites.
PARIS | NYC | LOS ANGELES | MEXICO CITY
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DRAWING BOARD
Ostrava Tower
Czech architecture firm Chybik + Kristof
and surroundings while retaining privacy.
(CHK) has unveiled plans for Ostrava Tower,
Echoing the region’s industrial heritage and
CZECH REPUBLIC
a 56-storey skyscraper in Ostrava’s city
utilitarian architecture, the development also
centre. Along with a rooftop café, restaurant
expands outwards to offer panoramic views
and bar, which will be open to the public, the
from its sky garden, while simultaneously, level
development will also include a luxury hotel.
zero connects the lobby to a new public square
Due for completion in 2027, the 98,000m2 site
that has been designed in a way that correlates
responds to the rejuvenation of the city and its
to the scale and purpose of the interior spaces.
social needs, underlining the studio’s dedication
CHK purposely envisioned the two widest
to rehabilitating the area and activating
venues – the lobby and sky garden – as
surrounding public spaces.
recreational areas, inviting locals and tourists to
The X-like shape of the structure and its diagonal geometry unifies the entire building,
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Developer: RT Torax Group Architecture: Chybik + Kristof www.chybik-kristof.com
activate the public spaces. Additional facilities include offices, retail and a congress centre.
allowing the different levels of publicly
“Rethinking the typology of the skyscraper
accessible functions and private facilities to
and its function to serve the public and activate
act in harmony. Shifted on its own axis, the
the urban environment, one of our core
design of the new skyscraper also comprises
missions was to create a positive social impact
a complex set of alternating walls that create
in the heart of Ostrava,” says Michal Kristof,
generous living space, while a glass façade
Co-Founding Architect at Chybik + Kristof. “Our
supports its mixed-use nature, providing
intention was to create a simple but powerful
residential apartments with vistas of the city
form that acts as a beacon into the city centre.”
© Chybik + Kristof
034
CO LLECTION SO N AR _ DES I G N BY PAT R I C I A URQ UI O L A L AUFEN 1892 | SWI T Z E R L AN D
DRAWING BOARD
The Raleigh
New York-based real estate development and
Taking cues from Marino’s commissions
investment firm SHVO has partnered with
for Chanel meanwhile, the new tower’s façade
MIAMI
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts to write the next
features white columns and black mullions that
chapter for iconic Miami Beach property, The
evoke rhythm and movement, as well as large
Raleigh. Located at 1775 Collins Avenue in the
windows for maximum light, air and ocean
city’s Art Deco district, the reimagined retreat
views. Inside, a calming material palette with
will comprise three distinct components
artisan plasters, handpainted millwork and
designed by architect Peter Marino.
noble stones will create a serene living space.
The hotel is set to be entirely restored and
“Our renovation joins a private beach club
modernised with 60 guestrooms and suites,
with a Latin beat and elegant residences of
while a newly constructed 17-storey oceanfront
demure black, white and ivory,” says Marino.
tower will house 44 residences, and a private
“The mixture is like the best Miami cocktail.”
member’s club offers beachfront dining.
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner / Developer: SHVO Operator: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts Architecture: Peter Marino, Kobi Karp Architecture Interior Design: Peter Marino www.rosewoodhotels.com
036
Originally constructed in the 1940s by
Marino is helming the redesign in close
architect Lawrence Murray Dixon, The Raleigh
collaboration with Miami-based Kobi Karp
will be complemented by the addition of its two
Architecture, enlisting a team of artists and
historic neighbours, the Richmond and South
craftsmen to envision the contemporary
Seas Hotels, which were acquired by SHVO
scheme. Keeping the hotel’s history in mind,
and Deutsche Finance America in 2019. Each
gathering places the Martini Bar and Tiger
building’s Art Deco façade is set to be revived
Room will be reborn with an eye for Miami’s
and integrated within the hotel in line with
Art Deco elegance as well as its modern roots.
Rosewood’s A Sense of Place philosophy.
Meeting… Dimitris Karampatakis Fresh from putting his work into context at Sleeper Sessions in Mykonos, the co-founder of architecture and design firm K-Studio delves deeper into the art of crafting architectural experiences. Words: Guy Dittrich • Portrait Photography: © Strange Company
O
ver the course of several meetings, both
Karampatakis. “They stretch out to stitch themselves into
on video call and in real life, Dimitris
the surrounding landscape so it’s difficult to define the
Karampatakis talks of his overriding joy
boundary between what is internal and what is external.”
for life and about taking pleasure in the
The buildings may blur boundaries but the drawings are
simple things. Such humility, along with
astonishingly clear, making for easily understood projects.
his charm and humour, make him more
“We use a holistic approach that allows us to apply it to
and more engaging. Down-to-earth yet ambitious, Dimitris,
any scale,” Karampatakis continues, meaning that complex
along with his brother Konstantinos, officially co-founded
works can be treated as a collection of smaller studies.
K-Studio – a multi-disciplinary architecture and interior
This elemental method to composition is illustrated by
design practice based in Athens – in 2010, having started
Helios, the restaurant at Four Seasons Astir Palace in Athens.
their first projects six years earlier. The output of K-Studio
Here, the architectural components of the existing Modernist
is one of increasingly crafted architectural experiences
hotel up the hill are treated figuratively by Karampatakis as
informed by tradition, enriched by materiality and inspired
a series of drawers, which are pulled out and allowed to drop
by contemporary life.
down on top of the restaurant plan. “There is a nakedness
The brothers studied together at The Bartlett, part of UCL
to Modernist architecture, in which construction techniques
in London. “The university’s makers studio idea resonated
and materials can be seen for what they are,” expands
with Konstantinos and I,” says Dimitris, adding that setting
Karampatakis. At Helios, the existing trees and rocks were
up their own shop didn’t best-please their father, who was
respected and built around, whilst a pergola connects spaces
keen that the boys join his construction business. But it was
and different floor heights separate them.
this idea of making that saw lots of small building sites in the garden grow into a hands-on approach.
K-Studio’s hands-on, Bartlett-style approach is illustrated in an apparently simple technique for providing shade at one
The practical nature of K-Studio’s methodology is seen
of its earlier projects Alemagou, a Myconian restaurant on the
in the clarity of its axonometric, 3D perspective drawings.
windier, north side of the Greek island. The vernacular way
The physicality of the earth and site are drawn along with
of shading pergolas is with horizontal layers of local grass.
the direction of prevailing winds, the arc of the sun and the
K-Studio reinterpreted this by hanging the grass vertically,
views. On top comes the so-called hardscape design with
retaining the shading benefit and local connection but adding
various layers of the construction – the walls, paths, pergolas
the rhythm of the island’s winds to rustle the grass. A similar
and pools. “We design buildings that unfold, describes
development of this wind-inspired idea is seen at beach bar
039
© Georg Roske
© Yiorgos Kordakis
© Claus Brechenmacher & Reiner Baumann
MEETING…
At Alemagou (far left), Casa Cook Chania (left) and Dexamenes Seaside Hotel (bottom) linear architecture and materiality take centre stage
Barbouni, a raised timber construction in front of Marriott’s The Westin and The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort at Navarino Bay. Here, the pergola is strung with suspended canvas flag strips that provide shading but also a kinetic art installation in the breeze. The effect does not come by chance. “We used various materials and weighting techniques, and by hanging the prototypes across the studio we found the best solution,” explains Karampatakis. The central Athens studio is home to some 70 staff, who exude a collectiveness perhaps created by the camaraderie of a weekly ‘diet’ of
“We design buildings that unfold. They stretch out to stitch themselves into the surrounding landscape so it’s difficult to define the boundary between what is internal and what is external.”
through 5,000 years of ancient and classic Greek architecture – Minoan, Cycladic, Classical, Byzantine, Ottoman – right up until the Neoclassical, Art Deco and Modernism eras. He explained that the variety of architectural styles is due in part to the huge diversity of the country’s geographies. Modern Greece has a coastline of almost 14,000km with around 6,000 islands and islets, and 4,000 mountains that cover over 80% of the land. Karampatakis also put the studio’s work in context, starting with Plane House on the island of Skiathos, where a series of striking
lunchtime yoga, kick-boxing and HIIT training.
horizontal elements are inserted into the
Healthy bodies, healthy minds. Creative minds
hillside. Explaining how common this style
too. Whilst the studio’s focus is on hospitality
of architecture is in the region, Karampatakis
projects, including restaurants in London,
almost apologises for the linear override,
Detroit and New York, there is an extensive
jokingly referring to a maxim of his former
body of high-end private residential projects
tutor and first employer Will Alsop, “if in
plus a smattering of commercial, cultural and
doubt, go straight ahead”. Subsequent projects
retail spaces.
show K-Studio’s identity developing as more considered, connected and crafted.
Published in 2020, its monograph entitled ‘Experience’ presents a number of key projects
Newer projects include two on Mykonos, with
from the last decade. Amongst them are three
Kalesma reflecting all three attributes. A series
hotels that have been recognised with wins at
whose comments included: “Dexamenes
of 25 standalone suites in bright white blocky
AHEAD Europe. These came in consecutive years
respects both its past and its surroundings. The
volumes, with a typical Cycladic vernacular
starting in 2018 with Vora, a boutique hotel
reuse of materials and space allows the hotel
style, cascade down the hillside overlooking the
that tumbles down the side of the Santorini
to evolve and continuously grow. There is no
Aegean. By contrast are dark, moody interiors
volcano. The next year saw Dexamenes Seaside
embellishment. Just a celebration of truth.”
by Vangelis Bonios of Studio Bonarchi. The
Hotel win best Suite and in 2020 came Domes
The studio’s monograph also includes a
forthright praise for K-Studio’s partner on
Zeen Chania, a Modernist village in Crete that
project that helped put K-Studio on the map,
this project and others with whom they have
took home the Resort accolade for its true
Scorpios Mykonos – a harmonious collection
worked, and are always quick to complement,
sense of place. Dexamenes went onto win both
that includes a bar and lounge, open-air
is another of admirable feature of Karampatakis.
the Creative Conversion Award and Ultimate
restaurant, and beach and event venues spread
Nearby, lost amidst the narrow lanes of
Accolade at AHEAD Global 2020.
across a steep and rocky site that together
Mykonos Old Town is the transformation
Dexamenes sits on an unspoilt stretch of
cleverly reimagine the agora – or meeting space
of a former open-air cinema into an upscale
coastline in the western Peloponnese and is
– of Ancient Greece. “A total experience that
restaurant, Nōema, also part of the Scorpios
the extraordinary adaptive reuse of a derelict,
submerges the visitor from the masterplan to
group. Delicious re-interpretations of classic
industrial building. Abandoned wine storage
its every little detail”, says the book.
Greek dishes using locally sourced and preserved
facilities had been left untouched since the
Guests of Sleeper Media’s meetings forum,
ingredients are served under the stars. Around
1920s until K-Studio breathed new life into
Sleeper Sessions in May 2022 were fortunate
a central courtyard, the surrounding structures
them. The brutality of the existing structures
enough to experience Scorpios on the final night
have been re-purposed into private dining areas,
and their austere functionality have been
of the event. An event that was kickstarted by
a retail space that includes signature clothing
transformed into a place of calm and comfort.
Karampatakis’ opening keynote presentation,
line Prao, and an urbane, deep-set bar. A bar
The passionate video submission of the project
for which he was tasked with putting Greek
that makes use of its dried herbs and botanicals
by Karampatakis won over the AHEAD judges,
design into context. The full house was taken
in the creation of new spirits with purpose.
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MEETING…
“We try to go beyond form follows function. We consider the emotional experience of being somewhere. It’s about form follows emotion.”
The conversion of an open-air cinema into an upscale restaurant, Nōema is configured around a central courtyard with private dining areas, a retail space and a bar that uses dried herbs and botanicals
Besides its regional portfolio of hotels and
Riviera at Asteria Glyfadas is another project
the like are travel-related projects such as
that builds on an existing development. This
the Aegean Airlines lounges at Athens and
time from the 1950s when, in an attempt to
Thessaloniki airports, as well as the new
reinvent the identity of Greek Tourism, several
Mykonos airport itself. Here, parochial touches
Modernist architects were commissioned to
such as the triangular wall openings – a
construct a project mainly from wood. “This
reimagination of traditional Greek dovecotes –
gave us the chance to design a fairly large resort
inform the building’s exterior.
on one level,” explains Karampatakis of the new
Upcoming work is wide in its scope, from
One & Only property. “A great challenge, and an
the mountains to the city. In something of a
important exercise towards building with less
departure for K-Studio is Manna, an inland
concrete.” Further afield are new hospitality
project in the Arcadia region of the central
projects in Tenerife, Thailand and Panama, as
Peloponnese. At an altitude of 1,500m above
well as residential work in Doha and Israel.
sea level and surrounded by woodland, its
K-Studio does the hard yards. Designing
ambitious owners have enlisted K-Studio to
appropriately for the location. As a practice, it
bring a contemporary touch to a former 1940s
feels responsible to understand in-depth the
sanatorium. Heading to the southwest coast of
natural features of the site or existing building,
the Peloponnese meanwhile, all 99 rooms at
which then allows the firm to respond in a
Mandarin Oriental Navarino Bay have sea views
contextual way that doesn’t just follow the
and planted roofs, with the project – due to
age-old mantra. “We try to go beyond form
open in Spring 2023 – building on the Barbouni
follows function,” concludes Karampatakis.
restaurant for owner and developer Temes.
“We consider the emotional experience of being
Just south of the capital on the Athenian
somewhere. It’s about form follows emotion.”
© Claus Brechenmacher
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WWW.GOMMAIRE.COM
Meeting… Marriott International As Marriott celebrates its 95th year in business, CEO Tony Capuano discusses how the company plans to capture the entire travel wallet, providing experiences that go beyond just bed-and-board. Words: Ben Thomas
PROFILE Tony Capuano CEO Marriott International
When Sleeper sat down with Tony Capuano last
long-term consideration,” Capuano confirms,
September, the Marriott CEO was cautiously
adding that the company aims to expand its all-
optimistic about the state of the hospitality
inclusive platform into coastal and mountainous
Having overseen Marriott’s global design team in his previous role as Group President of Global Development, Design & Operations Services, Tony Capuano has brought his expertise to the position of CEO, spearheading the growth of the company’s resort and all-inclusive portfolios in recent years.
sector, noting that the corporation was taking
regions across Southern and Eastern European
things day-by-day, week-by-week. Fast forward
markets like Croatia, as well as some areas in
ten months and the watchful approach remains,
South Asia. “I ran our development function for
with steady progress being made in both the
a while and used to tell people that our growth
leisure and business markets. “We’re encouraged
strategy was simple; we listen to our customers,
on a macro-basis about the resilience of travel,
where they want to visit and for what type of
and from a more granular perspective about the
purpose, whether that be holidaying at a luxury
pace at which pricing power has come back,” he
coastal resort with friends and family or taking a
explains, sipping an espresso in the Presidential
one-day business trip. Our goal is to capture their
Suite at The Westin London City – Marriott’s
entire travel wallet and every trip they make.”
Now, the industry veteran has revealed his ambition to give Marriott a presence across all sectors, from safari lodges to luxury yachts.
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1,000th opening – having just flown in from
With this in mind, Marriott has announced
Washington. “After the last two major shocks
plans to enter the safari segment next year,
Recent Openings: Cosme, A Luxury Collection Resort, Paros; The Madrid Edition; W Rome; The Westin London City
to travel and tourism, those being the Great
signing an agreement with Baraka Lodges for
Recession and the post-9/11 period, it took four
a 20-tent dwelling in Kenya’s Mara National
to five years for rate to come back, while here
Reserve. Operated by JW Marriott, the resort will
Upcoming Openings: The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection (Q3 2022); The St Regis London (Q1 2023); JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge, Kenya (Q3 2023)
it’s only taken two. So that’s great news for us.”
focus much of its efforts on the conservation of
DIVERSE DEVELOPMENT
the land and the Masai community through a programme of cultural activities and learnings –
Such recovery has enabled Marriott to sharpen its
something Capuano believes is crucial given the
focus on some of the projects that had been in
shifting mindset of guests: “Today’s travellers
the works pre-pandemic, including the growth
are more focused on acquiring experiences than
of its resort portfolio and entrance into the all-
acquiring goods. When we talk to customers
inclusive space, within which it now counts 30
about their aspirational experiences, high on
properties almost entirely in the Caribbean and
that list is an African safari, so it was a natural
Latin America region. “We don’t make strategic
growth of our portfolio to venture into that space.
growth decisions based on what is happening
Looking ahead, I expect we will continue to
today or over the next quarter or two; it’s a
strengthen our brand offering in the segment.”
MEETING…
Another submarket that Marriott has its eye
that engages with the locations visited along the
to ensure they understand the breadth of the
on is branded residences, with Asia Pacific now
route. “At 623ft long and with only 149 cabins,
portfolio and the distinct brands that sit within
one of the world’s fastest-growing regions for
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection is a product
it. “Marriott Bonvoy is the mother brand if you
the sector, led by significant development in
that will have some inherent advantages,”
will,” explains Capuano. “It’s also a platform for
Vietnam. Despite longer gestation periods and
according to Capuano. “In destinations like the
developing business adjacencies, to help not just
supply chain challenges, the operator is pushing
Grand Cayman, where we recently re-launched
with hotel stays but the entire trip experience.”
ahead with its strategy in the hope that an influx
our Ritz-Carlton hotel after the islands were
of demand will be created once China opens its
closed for two years, the tourism ministers are
This train of thought aligns neatly with Marriott’s
borders for outbound travel. “We’ve got a robust
keen to attract our vessels due to the way they
steadfast ambition to explore new avenues over
pipeline and want to be prepared,” says Capuano,
have been programmed around community.”
the coming months, and while unpredictability
noting that 2024 will be a big year for Marriott’s
Naturally, the operator will also look to expand
remains a concern, Capuano is determined to
branded residences in Vietnam, with the opening
its portfolio of port-side stays, again feeding into
bolster the portfolio. “I’m often asked when
of a 4,200-key dual-branded residential and
the idea of a one-stop-shop for travel.
the market will return to normality. That’s the
officetel in Ho Chi Minh City, as well as the debut of The Ritz-Carlton Residences in Hanoi.
PRUDENT PARTNERSHIPS
magic question and I wish we had the answer,” he concludes. “All I can say is that based on the
Where it doesn’t make sense to develop its own
recovery we’ve seen in submarkets around the
services, Marriott is partnering with industry
world, we have a high degree of confidence that
The broadening of the company’s horizons
leaders to enhance the travel experience. In
during this year we’ll continue to close the gap
goes beyond the traditional hotel model too,
the US for instance it has teamed up with
on 2019 levels.”
reinforcing an ambition to be present in a variety
Uber, meaning members can earn points when
of sectors. This summer will see The Ritz-Carlton
ordering food deliveries or requesting rides. And
brand take to the seas with a new yacht collection
for travel insurance, a collaboration with Allianz
that aims to combine the touchpoints of its
Partners makes for seamless hotel bookings via
land-based hotels with the freedom of sailing
Marriott.com and the iOS version of its Bonvoy
the ocean. Feeding into a wider trend for hotel
app. “From an aspirational perspective, we want
brands to create seamless travel experiences that
people’s travel exploration to start on the app,”
transport guests from door to door – without
says Capuano, noting that the company hopes
the need for multiple bookings – the yachts,
to foster a sense of community by ramping up
much like Marriott’s safari programme, are
efforts to communicate more effectively with its
being geared around a more conscious itinerary
160 million Bonvoy members – the goal being
SETTING SAIL
“Today’s travellers are more focused on acquiring experiences than acquiring goods.” 045
City Collection by Christophe Pillet
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THE LOBBY
Live Better Supporting biodiversity is high on the list of demands for
Pasteur Mutualité, comprising a hotel with a restaurant and
most – if not all – new urban developments, with more
bar, co-working spaces, a conference venue and showroom,
organic and eco-friendly architecture sprouting up across the
though its main objective is to support professionals in
planet as cities look to improve their environmental footprint.
discovering and testing the latest innovations in healthcare.
In Paris, Villa M is helping to do just that.
So it seems fitting then that the building itself is abundent
Designed by Philippe Starck, French-Brazilian architecture studio Triptyque and landscaping practice Coloco, the building
with plantlife – widely-regarded as being beneficial for both psychological and physical wellbeing.
is clad in a lightweight structure that supports a vast vertical
“Villa M gave me the opportunity to do what I always
garden, where ferns, shrubbery and creepers have been
wanted, but couldn’t do with design,” says Starck. “Where
encouraged to grow around the floor-to-ceiling windows.
design can embellish life, it cannot save it. Here, I had the
The façade fronts a mixed-use development from Groupe
honour to work on a machine around life, a vital machine.”
THE LOBBY
The Levenverse Following its debut in Manchester, lifestyle hotel brand Leven is venturing into the virtual realm with a new plot in Decentraland.
This time last year, few of us had even heard of
talent through collaborations, exhibitions and
the metaverse, but thanks to some high-profile
pop-ups – the venture will offer a platform for
endeavours, there’s now a discernible curiosity
makers, creators and innovators to showcase
about the fictional universe, particularly in the
their work through commissioned NFTs and
world of hospitality.
digital experiences. Furthermore, virtual
Millenniun Hotels and CitizenM were amongst
wellness sessions will be linked to real-world
the first operators to enter the virtual realm,
programming, while cryptocurrency will provide
while Dubai-based design studio Roar purchased
scope for elevated e-commerce.
two plots for use as a showroom and gallery.
into a reality, every industry disrupted by the
the leap is Leven, a lifestyle brand launched
digital era will feel its impact,” says Leven co-
by Wellbrook Hospitality and Branco Capital.
founder Joshua Senior. “We believe the potential
Following its real-world debut in Manchester
for creative hospitality brands is limitless and in
last November, Leven has announced it will
building the Levenverse, we will be one of the
open a second site in autumn – this time in the
first lifestyle brands to blaze a digital trail in the
Fashion Estate of Decentraland. Billed as The
early metaverse.” He concludes: “We have some
Levenverse, the concept aims to bring together
exciting partners lined up as we connect our real-
likeminded people in an immersive virtual hotel
life presence with the online world, launching a
environment, expanding on Leven’s physical
digital amenity space for our customers. We’re
property to reach a broader global audience.
excited to push traditional boundaries, bring the
In keeping with the spirit of the brand – known for supporting local creative and artistic
048
“As the Metaverse evolves from a sci-fi concept
The latest hospitality innovator to make
Leven brand to new audiences, and explore the opportunities that the digital future holds.”
NANA designed by HANNE WILLMANN – Handmade in Germany by FREIFRAU MANUFAKTUR GmbH – www.freifrau.com
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THE LOBBY
© Studio KHF
In the Driving Seat B’mine Hotels takes valet parking to new heights with the introduction of CarLoft at its new Frankfurt property.
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In the modern world, valet parking has become
their lodgings. Inside, where interiors by Geplan
a highly convenient service that enables hotel
Design showcase a soothing colour palette
guests to simply drop their keys at reception on
of cream and caramel, guests can relax in the
arrival before getting on with their day, safe in
spacious lounge, kicking back on bespoke Rolf
the knowledge that their vehicle will be there
Benz furniture such as the shapely Freistil 173
when they return. But what if travellers could
armchair or the Freistil 136 sofa with its generous
park directly outside their guestroom, and better
seat depth.
still, fully charge the battery during their stay?
“I was approached by CarLoft about a joint
Enter CarLoft, a patented lift system conceived
project more than ten years ago, and during our
by German architects Manfred Dick and Johannes
collaboration the idea took shape for a simple
Kauka, which enables cars to be transported to
building structure with only a few room types,”
the upper levels of a multi-storey building.
says Cord Glantz, Managing Director at Geplan
Applying their innovation to large-scale
Design. “The rooms offer everything that guests
hospitality projects, CarLoft has now partnered
need, with well thought out furniture by Rolf
with B’mine Hotels to introduce the system at its
Benz complementing the concept superbly.”
new Frankfurt Airport property, where 40 of the
As B’mine Hotels expands its portfolio across
241 guestrooms are kitted-out with the system.
Germany and into Europe, the brand hopes
Once a driver pulls-in to one of the loggias
to incorporate the CarLoft concept at further
– each illuminated in coloured LEDs to add
sites. And with door-to-door experiences in
interest to the façade – the CarLoft whisks them
high demand, the collaboration is expected to
up to their guestroom, bypassing the queue at
accelerate in the future, putting travellers well
reception and delivering weary drivers directly to
and truly in the driving seat during their stay.
www.sanipexgroup.com
Sleeper Chosen adverts.indd 1
6/23/22 2:13 PM
A
s analysts raise their forecasts to reflect
of generating memorable experiences beyond
stronger-than-expected performance,
four walls. As part of the Great Upload that saw
the signs point to a long-awaited
fashion, retail and tech companies enter the
post-Covid recovery for the hotel industry.
metaverse, hotel operators are now exploring the
Operators are reporting full houses, designers
potential for shared digital environments to open
find their drawing boards populated with a slate
up new streams of engagement and interaction.
of ambitious new projects, and investors are
The sector now finds itself at the edge of this new
loosening their belts and looking for the next
experiential realm of technology, but beyond the
big thing to get behind. All in all, the mood is
buzzwords, what will this mean for guests?
one of invigorating optimism. While this return to regular programming is
THE NEW METROPOLIS
more than welcome, the last few years haven’t
The form and function of urban space is in
been without consequence, the reverberations
flux, as nomadic workers eschew the office
of which will be felt for decades to come. As
and a cost-of-living crisis sees many city-zens
such, if the market wishes to move forwards,
reconsider their place in the new metropolis.
then developers, operators and designers will be
In this reimagined setting, hotels can reinvent
Great Things Will Grow As the hospitality industry rebounds, organisers of HIX – London’s Hotel Interiors Experience event – reveal the key themes set to be explored at this year’s show. Words: Kristofer Thomas
required to navigate the waters of innovation; be
themselves as anchors for entire communities.
this the blurred lines of work, play, live and buy
The city hotel is no longer just a base to explore
or the proliferation of communal digital meta-
from, but how can designers work to authentically
concepts. This challenge will be monumental,
address both local and global demands?
but the rewards will be an evolved hospitality medium that is both resonant and robust.
As the entertainment industry has so lucratively
Will Grow, a reminder that for all the disruption
demonstrated, subscription-based services are
of the 2020s so far, the hotel has demonstrated
the future for any business with ambitions of
a remarkable ability to adapt and evolve. This
worldwide scale. Regular payments to access a
thinking will be explored across two days of talks,
service not only guarantees a certain amount
installations and social sessions at London’s
of profit during periods of instability, but also
Business Design Centre in November, bringing
encourages more frequent use and consistent
the hospitality design community together to
engagement. In the lifestyle sector especially,
celebrate the concepts set to redefine the guest
guests are turning away from the impersonal
experience. Here’s three of the big issues that
exchange of transactional models in favour of
will be top of the agenda:
something more personal. And for hotels, this has
DIGITAL FRONTIERS
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SUBSCRIBE & SURVIVE
The theme of HIX 2022 then, is Great Things
resulted in a surge of members’ clubs and global passes that allow access wherever, whenever.
When Covid-19 saw guests unable to visit
As operators push to generate an organic sense
hotels in person, the industry was forced to
of community among disparate guests, what
think outside the box and find a new means
strategies will win the doubters over?
P
eople. Planet. Profit. Those were the words
on the guest: “If you truly want people to give a
on everyone’s lips at the International Hotel
great experience front-of-house, then you have
Investment Forum (IHIF) in May, with
to be able to offer the same back-of-house.”
industry leaders gathering in Berlin to explore
The ‘planet’ focus meanwhile was a topic of
the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
discussion throughout the two-day programme,
Attended by 2,400 delegates ranging from
with leaders making a passionate plea for more
investors and owners to developers and operators,
sustainable practices, both throughout the build
the event was back to its pre-pandemic scale –
and development process and in operations.
itself a sign of renewed optimism – while talk
Rapidly rising energy costs and ambitious targets
was very much focused on looking forward,
for net zero have propelled sustainability into the
rather than back.
spotlight once again, but the drive for doing better
The overarching theme of People, Planet,
for the planet came with a warning. “Regulation
Profit was covered across panels and interviews
is here and we need to take action, but it is
on both the main IHIF stage and as part of the
important that action is meaningful,” explained
Adjacent Spaces programme, and although there
Ufi Ibrahim, CEO of Energy & Environment
was no denying the impact of Covid-19, many felt
Alliance. “The industry has been damaged by
People. Planet. Profit. Hospitality leaders take to the stage at IHIF to discuss the environmental, social and governance factors that are now at the heart of decision-making. Words: Catherine Martin
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that the events of the past two years has given
greenwashing so don’t promote something
them a fresh perspective.
unless it is genuinely making a difference.”
The topic of ‘people’ has long been on the
Making up the final strand of IHIF’s theme,
agenda in the hospitality industry, but is now
‘profit’ was covered in a variety of ways, most
more prevalent than ever owing to current staff
notably in the efforts being made to drive a return
shortages. Attracting and retaining talent is one
to profitability. Adapt, innovate and evolve was
of the greatest challenges hotels are now facing,
the mantra shared by many of IHIF’s speakers
leading to a call for change in hours, pay and
this year: Soho House Group’s Nick Jones stated
perks. David Bowd, co-founder of Salt Hotels
that people want “a hybrid version of the life they
– which also runs its own hospitality school –
had before the pandemic” and hospitality will
explained that increased competition on the job
have to evolve to survive, while Sharan Pasricha,
market has led to interviews becoming more of a
co-CEO of Ennismore, said that its hotels are
two-way conversation, with the employer being
adapting to the needs of the guest by offering
asked what they can offer in terms of company
flexible check-in and -out times.
culture and career development. Bowd also
Tying the key themes together and emerging
pointed to the design of back-of-house facilities
as the buzzword of the event was ESG, with the
– which rarely see the same attention as the guest
Environmental, Social and Governance factors
spaces – as an area for improvement in helping
now said to be considered in every decision. That
to attract people. He stated that hospitality
Accor CEO Sébastien Bazin acknowledged ESG to
should follow the lead of major tech companies
be more important than brand standards, is a
when it comes to the workspace, adding that an
clear indication that the hospitality industry’s
employee’s job satisfaction has a positive impact
focus is very much on people and planet.
The Factory Collection | Ramón Esteve
VONDOM.COM
Ace Hotel SYDNEY Designed to channel Seventies suburbia, Ace’s new Surry Hills haunt is redefining the local understanding of what a hotel can be. Words: Mandi Keighran • Photography: © Anson Smart
A
t the edge of Sydney’s creative Surry Hills neighbourhood, the historic Tyne House brick factory on Wentworth Avenue has been transformed into a
much-anticipated destination that looks set to redefine the harbour city’s perception of hotels. Wander inside and guests are greeted by an inviting space that combines home comforts with Seventies style and hints of Australian Modernism – think sumptuous caramel leather sofas, lush staghorn ferns adorning raw brick walls and formwork concrete, a library of books on Australiana, and a menu that champions local wine and produce. While Sydney isn’t known as the kind of city where locals frequent hotels for a drink, the opening of its new Ace Hotel is changing that for the better. The first Ace property in the Southern Hemisphere is a collaboration between Atelier Ace, Flack Studio and Fiona Lynch Office. The result epitomises the now-familiar Ace vibe, with an impressive collection of spaces that encourage togetherness while recognising the history of the site and celebrating a uniquely local perspective. “Atelier Ace has a lot of trust when working with designers,” explains David Flack, founder and Principal of Flack Studio. “We weren’t given a set of rules, instead we travelled and experienced many Ace Hotels, and saw that the focus was always on community engagement – that experience became our brief.” The team decided to approach the project in the same way they would a residence, by creating a home rather than a conventional hotel. In doing so, they wanted to challenge the way Australians engage with hotels, crafting a communitydriven space that would appeal to locals and guests alike.
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Designed by Flack Studio, the ground floor is anchored by all-day restaurant Loam, which brings together natural woods, planting and shades of green
Perhaps the clearest expression of this is the Lobby Bar & Lounge, which opens directly out to Wentworth
record boasting Afro-Cuban jazz rhythms.
Avenue and beckons passers-by through inviting
In every aspect of the design, there’s a clever nod
spaces that evoke both the great Sydney pubs of the
to the history of the site and Australia itself. In the
Seventies and suburban Australian family kitchens.
1820s, the plot was the location of Australia’s oldest
“We didn’t design specifically for the public or hotel
kiln, which is reflected in the colourful bespoke
guests, but rather as spaces that would continually
ceramic reception desk and handmade clay signage
draw people back and feel great to spend time in,”
throughout. The building itself dates back to 1916 and
Flack confirms. The main bar sits alongside a ground-
was originally the factory and distribution centre for
floor restaurant, Loam, while a laneway-style café
a major pharmacy, a fact playfully referenced in the
opens onto Foy Lane at the rear of the property.
name of the Good Chemistry café. Even the colour
Each of the 257 guestrooms are also designed to feel like home. “They have a familiarity to them
palette has been inspired by a watercolour by First Nations artist Albert Namatjira.
that allows people to drop their guard,” says Flack.
“We started our design process by imagining the
“They’re non-precious and warm.” In practical terms,
emotion of Australia,” Flack recalls. “We also spent a
this translates to carpet-wrapped sunken lounges,
lot of time researching the building and its rich past,
cosy beds with tartan blankets and timber bedheads,
which helped us to create storylines that we could add
hand-glazed ceramic tiles and acoustic panelling with
to through design.”
a softly industrial aesthetic.
058
generated – say, ‘spin it and trip to Havana’ for a
This approach carries through to the top floor of
In typical Ace style, there are in-room guitars and
the 18-storey hotel, which is home to a soon-to-
record players with a selection of vintage vinyl curated
open rooftop restaurant and bar, Kiln. Led by Chef-
by Michael Kucyk of Efficient Space. Each record is
Partner Mitch Orr and designed by Fiona Lynch
labelled according to its sounds and the feeling
Office, the restaurant again draws inspiration from
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the site – most notably in the columns, which
This kind of collaboration with Australian
are wrapped in Belgian linen patterned with a
artists and creatives is another recurring
splattered pigment created from the original
theme throughout. As well as interior design,
stone, bricks and ceramics that were removed
Flack Studio curated the extensive collection
from the building during construction.
of contemporary Australian art, with work by
From the rooftop restaurant, Sydney reveals
Tony Albert, Glenn Barkley, Karen Black, Julia
itself in subtle and unusual ways. Rather than
Gutman, Nadia Hernandez, Joanna Lamb, James
the dramatic harbour views that the city is so
Lemon, Nell, Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran and
well known for, Ace Hotel Sydney celebrates
many others. Soon, the hotel will also play host
a different perspective – a single sail of the
to an artist-in-residence programme, in which
Sydney Opera House glimpsed through high-
a local creative will exhibit their work at the
rises; Central Station’s handsome sandstone
Good Chemistry café.
façade and the train tracks snaking through
And it’s this sense of community and
the city; and a layered, Mondrian-style grid of
togetherness that characterises not only Ace
skyscraper windows.
Hotel Sydney, but the entire global collection
Of course, it wouldn’t be an Ace Hotel without
of ten outposts from Palm Springs to Tokyo.
the lobby retail space. In a tradition that dates
“Working on this project was a dream,”
back to 1999 and the brand’s original property
concludes Flack. “We started as a large group
in Seattle, one of the signature items is a
of strangers, and in the end, created something
bespoke robe designed specifically for the new
that is truly unique for Sydney and Australia,
Sydney outpost by Australian sleepwear label
becoming family and friends along the way. It’s
Deiji Studios and featuring motifs by Sulman
our new home when we’re in Sydney.”
Art Prize-winning artist Jason Phu.
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EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Developer: Golden Age Group Operator: Ace Hotel Architecture: Bates Smart Interior Design: Atelier Ace, Flack Studio, Fiona Lynch Office Art Consultant: Flack Studio Main Contractor: Hickory Group www.acehotel.com
Any color, any time, any place
GERMAN HOSPITALITY TRADITION Since 1985
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Inhabit QUEEN’S GARDENS – LONDON An evolution of its Paddington predecessor, the second Inhabit hotel is a paragon for environmental and socially-conscious hospitality. Words: Ben Thomas • Photography: © Jack Hobhouse
T
he brainchild of hotelier Nadira Lalji and her cousin Rahim Lalji, Inhabit Hotels made quite the impact when it arrived on London’s hospitality scene in 2019,
introducing what was described as ‘urban wellness’ to the British capital with a concept centred around health, social connection and environmental responsibility. Three years later, with wellbeing and sustainability at the forefront of people’s minds following the pandemic, the brand has planted a second flag in London, just a stone’s throw from its debut on Paddington’s Southwick Street. Following the success of the first property, the Lalji family turned to familiar faces for the renovation of several neighbouring townhouses on Queen’s Gardens, re-enlisting architecture firm Holland Harvey and interior designer Caitlin Henderson to transform the 19th-century crescent. While the design tenets, wellbeing ethos and environmental initiatives carry through from Inhabit Southwick, the new outpost has been moulded to capture a slightly different demographic thanks to its larger, and in some cases interconnected family-friendly rooms. “The hotel is an evolution of the original, with generous public spaces and almost twice as many guestrooms,” says Maria Gutierrez Vargas, Senior Architect at Holland Harvey and Project Lead. “We used this as an opportunity to drive the core brand ideas into every element of the property.” Infusing such ideas into the fabric of the Grade II-listed Victorian buildings was helped by the fact that much of their original character had been stripped out during previous refurbishments, meaning Gutierrez Vargas had something of a blank canvas to work with and could be bolder in her
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Channelling calm and tranquillity, guestrooms incorporate plantlife and soothing tones such as sage green, while technology has been tucked out of sight
approach. The first task was removing a large concrete
peaceful ambiance. “We diverted from the first hotel
staircase that had historically led to a restaurant in the
by adding more impactful hues, especially in the
basement and divided the main lobby area in two. The
guestrooms, where we strived to make each unique.”
second was to increase the ceiling heights to reveal the
Across both the public and private spaces, a
original windows in all their glory, reinstating a sense
strive towards sustainable hospitality knits the
of grandeur that feels appropriate even alongside more
entire scheme together. The team took advantage of
contemporary interiors. The overhaul continued into
lockdowns to develop the design, looking for ways to
the structure’s stucco render and ironwork, which
integrate nature in the materials, furniture and fit-out
were repainted in fresh, neutral colours, while the
– Gutierrez Vargas and Henderson were able to source
roof was repaired to allow for modern plant equipment
more sustainable products, including Rén chairs by
and photovoltaic panels that feed into the brand’s
Stellar Works for the public spaces, which align with
sustainable vision.
the hotel’s colour scheme, material requirements and
The resulting hotel is anchored by an open-plan
responsible ethos. There’s organic mattresses from
lobby that teems with life during the day, encouraging
Naturalmat, and sustainable Vegan Down duvets,
guests to leave their rooms while drawing in the local
mattress protectors and pillow protectors by The
crowd, which Gutierrez Vargas confirms was a key
Fine Bedding Company. The pair also oversaw the
driver in the design. “We made the ground floor feel
installation of water and air purification systems
as welcoming and inclusive as possible,” she explains.
within the infrastructure of the hotel, and built on
“The lounge, bar and dining spaces all blur into one,
the East-meets-West style that defines the brand.
with the reception tucked away in the far corner.”
“We engaged in a more ecological construction
When visitors do want to escape, there’s a library
process, ensuring that next to no waste was sent
stocked with thought-provoking reads, while the
to landfill, as well as using organic materials, and
158 guestrooms offer sanctuary, rest and relaxation
collaborating with local suppliers and artisans,” says
through a scheme that channels calm and tranquillity.
Nadira, who called on social enterprise Goldfinger
Technology has been concealed – or removed
– which teaches carpentry and design skills to
altogether where possible – meaning phones can be
disadvantaged people – and art curators Culture A
tucked away out of sight in the bedside tables, while
to help bring the interiors to life, having previously
TVs are hidden behind bespoke cabinets, and lighting
joined forces with the firms at Southwick Street.
controls are simple and intuitive. For the bathrooms,
Demonstrating that luxury design can, and should,
Gutierrez Vargas rethought the layout entirely, in
be people- and planet-positive, Goldfinger produced
some cases bringing the vanity unit or bath into
bespoke joinery in the public areas and guestrooms,
the guestroom itself to create a generous sense of
as well as introducing ethically crafted homewares
space, and in others using frosted glass partitions to
from Kalinko and Studio 306 cushions from Aerende,
introduce natural daylight whilst retaining privacy.
which are made by people recovering from or living
“Our goal was to maximise light, incorporate plants
with a mental illness. In a similarly collaborative style,
and employ soothing colours,” Henderson reveals,
Culture A teamed up with Somerset House Studios
adding that salmon, terracotta, sage green and denim
and Makerversity to source works by artists like Anne
were amongst the tones introduced to achieve a
Mette Beck, whose multi-textural installation is a
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On the ground floor, an open-plan lounge, bar and dining space blur into one, encouraging guests to leave their rooms while also drawing in the local crowd
focal point in the lobby. The consultants also
for, but the process by which we got to that end
commissioned light drawings by Hugo Dalton
point,” Gutierrez Vargas recalls. “In the future,
that encourage guests to consider nature from
the carpet can be removed and sent back to
a new perspective, and opted for Freya Bramble
the manufacturer to be recycled again, as can
Carter’s tactile ceramics in the guestrooms.
the bathroom tiles. We considered the whole
Ceramics play an important role downstairs
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lifecycle of every single product specified.”
too, with some salvaged from the previous
Beyond the hotel’s impact on the planet,
property during the building’s transformation.
Nadira wanted the experience to positively
Highlights include a new fireplace crafted from
impact the guest’s health and wellbeing. As
Granby Rock – a bespoke, 70% recycled terrazzo
such, a workshop with a biophilic design expert
– by Granby Workshop, a social enterprise and
was established from the outset as a means of
ceramics manufacturer based in Liverpool.
educating the entire team on fostering a closer
“Our goal was to partner with as many social
connection to nature through interiors. The
impact collectives and sustainable businesses as
bespoke reception table, a sustainably sourced
possible,” Henderson explains, with Gutierrez
oak piece resembling pebbles, for instance,
Vargas adding that obtaining eco-friendly
went through several iterations before the
materials was fundamental throughout the
owner was satisfied with its form. “Without
design process, whether that meant sourcing
Nadira’s vision, the design wouldn’t have had
carpets made from recycled fishing nets, tiles
these elements of surprise or nods to the natural
crafted from 45% recycled content, or crushing
world,” says Henderson.
up the original reception desk to form a feature
Nadira’s eco-conscious ethos also feeds into
fireplace in the lobby. “It wasn’t just the finished
the hotel’s wider offering, from The Kitchen at
product that we needed to consider our impact
Inhabit – a 70-cover, plant-based restaurant
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conceived in collaboration with Devon-based
creating inclusive cultures. “These themes
health retreat Yeotown– to Inhale, a soon-to-
are all front-of-mind for me personally and I
launch spa and wellness brand that hosts daily
hope they not only benefit our teams, but also
activities such as vinyasa flow, Hatha and yin
contribute to an improved guest experience,”
yoga, as well as bespoke sleep rituals designed
says Nadira, who reveals that plans are in
in collaboration with natural skincare brand
motion for Self Space to provide an on-demand
Gaia. “I find exercise and guided meditation,
counselling service to hotel guests in the
even in the shortest bouts, beneficial to my
months ahead.
wellbeing,” Nadira confirms, noting that the
With two sites up and running in London,
new brand will align with her own personal
the next step for Inhabit is to venture beyond
values. “Given the onslaught of new initiatives
British shores, though the owners are enjoying
being introduced in the wellness sector, we are
a much-needed break after what has been a
incorporating fresh ideas into our development
five-year process from concept to completion.
programmes.”
“Following the launch of Queen’s Gardens, we
One such idea builds on an ad-hoc mental
are taking a deep breath,” Nadira concludes.
health workshop, Self Space, that Inhabit
“That said, other cities like Berlin and Paris are
debuted at its Southwick Street property in
firmly on our radar.” So too is a rural retreat,
2019 to help tackle loneliness. The group is
with the family contemplating what would be a
now expanding its initiative to build a mentally
departure from its current focus on spaces for
healthy workplace through sessions on how to
personal restoration in urban settings. Given
set work-life boundaries, combatting imposter
the popularity of its hotels in the capital, there’s
syndrome, forging connection, navigating
no doubt that an addition in more bucolic
burnout, being agile in times of change and
surrounds would be just as well received.
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner / Developer: Precis Group Operator: Inhabit Hotels Architecture: Holland Harvey Interior Design: Holland Harvey, Caitlin Henderson Lighting Design: There’s Light Art Consultant: Culture A Graphic Design: Studio AS-CC Main Contractor: County Contractors Project Manager: Chandler KBS www.inhabithotels.com
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15.06.22 10:02
TIMOROUS BEASTIES Surreal and provocative design for interior spaces
Moire Damask Foil Wallpaper
Glasgow +44 (0) 141 337 2622
London +44 (0) 20 7833 5010
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www.timorousbeasties.com
Chateau Denmark LONDON CAW Ventures enlists Taylor Howes to revive a set of historic townhouses on Denmark Street, honouring the hedonistic musical heritage of the Sixties with punkish attitude. Words: Matt Turner • Photography: © Mel Yates
D
enmark Street was the epicentre of
in collaboration with the British Phonographic
London’s rock’n’roll scene throughout
Society; a relaunched 12 Bar club venue; licensed
the Sixties. Over the preceding decades
busking points; and Tattu – the first of several
it had established a reputation as Britain’s
new restaurants planned for the site.
equivalent to Tin Pan Alley in New York City,
Consolidated Developments have worked with
thanks to the numerous music publishers that
London-based architects Orms to transform the
called it home. As guitar shops and studios
St Giles Circus district, which greets travellers
gradually colonised the street, many of the
departing Tottenham Court Road tube station
most famous pop stars of the era rehearsed and
from the newly constructed exit for the
recorded in its townhouses.
Elizabeth Line. The firms had to work with great
Now, a new project is hoping to put the
precision and considerable difficulty around the
location back at the heart of the music and
transport infrastructure, much of it still under
entertainment world, with the launch of the
construction as Outernet took shape.
Outernet London – a multi-media development
To walk along Denmark Street today, still
combining The Now Building, wrapped in four-
dotted with many music stores, is to take a
storey 8K LED screens; an as-yet-unnamed
tour along a living, breathing rock’n’roll hall
2,000-capacity subterranean music venue;
of fame. Number 4? That would be where the
and Chateau Denmark, a new hotel concept
Rolling Stones recorded their debut album at
split across the upper floors of the historic
Regent Sound Studio. Number 9 – home to
buildings along the street, as well as newbuild
the La Giaconda café, where David Bowie and
elements constructed as part of the wider
Jimi Hendrix often hung out. The Sex Pistols
development. Other elements of the Outernet
even lived above Number 6 in the Seventies,
include a free-to-use recording studio, created
recording their early demos in the basement.
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Each apartment fuses dramatic design features, from black leather flooring to dark, Gothic furniture and a Skull Damask wallpaper by Timorous Beasties
Chateau Denmark sees the upper floors of
and mansion buildings. Design details include
these notable addresses converted to hotel
lighting by Chelsom and Northern Lights, as well
apartments, with other rooms housed in the Now
as evocative wallpapers by Timorous Beasties,
Building. In total there are 55 Session rooms
House of Hackney and Pierre Frey. Original
and apartments across 16 buildings, all exuding
timber beams combined with dark panelling
distinct design features inspired by the history
add to the Gothic feel, while bespoke rolltop
of the Soho location. Interior designers Taylor
baths by Hurlingham are deep red or gold, and
Howes have mined the rich seam of British pop
a sculpted fireplace atop a marble plinth is
culture through the decades, describing the
embellished with twisting serpent motifs.
overall narrative as one “where punk rock and
Working its way around the complex layouts
vintage gothic meet modern psychedelia with a
and heritage status of the historic building,
timeless grandeur”.
Taylor Howes has created surprises at every
It’s obvious upon arrival that this is no
turn. In the smaller rooms, hidden doorways
ordinary hotel. Guests are greeted in the street
lead to compact powder rooms. Maxi-bars
by BTLRs, a reimagined take on the traditional
reflect the more-is-more approach, with an
butler dressed in unmissable customised
array of artisanal spirits and bar-kit that would
couture uniforms by Studio 104. There’s no
put many full-scale cocktail establishments
lobby or reception area as such, though a lounge
to shame. Beds range from gold-trimmed
bar will open at Number 13 later this year, and
to graffitied, while bold colours and rounded
rooms are accessed via discreet doorways along
furnishings complement the aesthetic. And a
the streetfront rather than the usual corridors.
deliberately provocative art collection curated
The apartments occupy a collection of
by Artiq features a range of artists and creators,
Grade-II listed townhouses, a mews house
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including Magnus Gjoen and Radek Husak.
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The larger apartments by contrast have open-
experiences dotted along Flitcroft Street, which
plan layouts, and a punkish attitude evident in
takes its name from British architect Henry
their black leather flooring, spiky furniture –
Flitcroft. Located just off Denmark Street, the
made by Andy Thornton to a bespoke design for
short but storied avenue – itself a haunt for
Taylor Howes – and tartan blinds referencing
recording studios and music shops, many of
the skirts that became a signature element of
which remain operational to this day – overlooks
the punk look. Antique chairs and headboards by
the St Giles-in-the-Fields Church, with its
maximalist furniture designers Jimmie Martin
revival set to celebrate the Palladian masterpiece
are emblazoned with graffiti-style slogans.
and its weathered, Gothic stonework.
The duplex mews house situated behind
Chateau Denmark has been led by CAW
Number 6 Denmark Street meanwhile has been
Ventures, a new hospitality company established
designed in tribute to its former residents the
by well-known industry figure Carrie Wicks –
Sex Pistols, with the Murphy bed against the
latterly of Firmdale Hotels and Annabel’s private
wall and a DJ-friendly sound system suggesting
members club in London – and hospitality
this is as much a party pad as a place for a quiet
consultant Alan Petrie. With a black book to
night’s sleep. A Vivienne Westwood rug directly
envy, no doubt Wicks will plug the project into
references the hedonism of the era, while in true
the capital’s entertainment industry, so that it
punk spirit, the apartment has been turned
becomes a go-to for press junkets and album
upside down with the living space now located
launches as well as overnight stays. Inspired
upstairs, featuring Johnny Rotten’s storied
by “the street where nothing is done by half
caricatures of his fellow bandmates.
measures”, this is a hotel that fully delivers the
Coming soon to the development in something of an encore moment will be a series of dining
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anarchic energy and “rare hustle” that put its location on the map of musical history.
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner / Developer: Consolidated Developments Operator: CAW Ventures Architecture: Ian Chalk Architects Interior Design: Taylor Howes Lighting Design: Light IQ Art Consultant: Artiq Main Contractor: Cord, Skanska, 8 Build Project Manager: Gardiner & Theobald www.chateaudenmark.com
Wilmina BERLIN Grüntuch Ernst Architects convert a former courthouse and prison into a place of tranquillity, making sensitive interventions while retaining traces of the past. Words: Catherine Martin • Photography: © Patricia Parinejad (unless otherwise stated)
hen it comes to adaptive reuse, there
W
There was talk of the cells being used as
are – in theory – few better building
storage units, but Grüntuch Ernst Architects had
types to convert to hotel-use than
grander ideas. “The investor soon lost interest,
a prison, with the floorplate already neatly
but our curiosity only grew,” continues Armand,
divided into individual cells that could serve
adding that they found financing and decided to
as guestrooms, and open-plan public spaces
develop the property themselves.
that are equally suited to destination dining or events spaces.
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Following the acquisition, the duo became more and more enamoured by the group of
Of course, in practice, adaptive reuse projects
buildings. “We sensed this ambivalence; there
are rarely straightforward, and making a
was a feeling of trepidation because the prison
detention centre feel like an inviting place to stay
was still evident, but it also had something
is no mean feat, as Grüntuch Ernst Architects
enchanted, almost fairytale-like about it,”
discovered during their transformation of
explains Almut. “The courtyard was completely
a former courthouse and prison in Berlin’s
overgrown and so quiet – the only thing you
Charlottenburg district. Having initially been
could hear was birds chirping. It was a place
commissioned by an investor to develop the
of tranquility beyond the bustling Kantstrasse
site, husband-and-wife team Armand Grüntuch
and had an emotional power that we wanted
and Almut Grüntuch-Ernst found a sprawling
to uncover.”
ensemble of buildings that had lain dormant for
This air of tranquility extends to every space,
decades. “Its volume was enormous but there
from the lobby to the guestrooms. Though
was little space to use,” explains Armand. “The
it could have been a very different story had
walls were incredibly thick and the windows too
Grüntuch Ernst not taken risks. They had
high, yet the building was listed so couldn’t be
originally hoped to get a major operator on
torn down. In short, it was beset with problems
board, but felt they couldn’t find the right
that couldn’t be solved immediately.”
match for their vision. “We kept being told that
© Robert Rieger
077
© Robert Rieger
In guestrooms and public spaces, the aesthetic is one of serenity, with natural, high-quality materials set against a neutral colour palette
078
we would have to market the eeriness of sleeping in a
we tried to hold back as much as possible through
prison, but that’s exactly what we didn’t want,” notes
targeted intervention.”
Almut. And so they decided to go it alone, juggling
As such, the imposing red brick walls remain, now
their endeavour with a variety of projects for clients, as
painted internally in off-white for a lighter touch. The
well as raising a family. In all, Wilmina has been over
well-worn stairwells and wrought iron balustrades
a decade in the making, with its acceptance into the
are also intact, as are the original window casements
Design Hotels collective a testament to the originality
complete with vertical steel bars – an unmistakable
of the concept.
reminder of the past. Perhaps the greatest indicator
While Grüntuch Ernst Architects didn’t want the
of the building’s former use is on reaching the
hotel to be gimmicky, they were conscious not to erase
guestrooms, with the solid steel doors of the prison
all traces of the prison. “The design process was a
– complete with bolts and now fitted with keycard
dialogue with the existing building as a material as
access – providing a memorable arrival experience.
well as a cultural resource,” explains Almut. “In our
The interventions that have been made are
architectural strategy, we defined authenticity as an
sensitive and considered. The windows for example –
honest compromise between historic preservation and
previously just small openings above eye-level – have
adaptive reuse, and within that process, we explored
been extended downwards to allow for more natural
how to expose the historic traces to the guest.”
daylight and views into the courtyard below. The
Armand continues: “We approached the project
most significant architectural intervention however
with a certain humility; it raised not only aesthetical
is in the removal of the roof over the cell block,
questions, but ethical and cultural ones too. For
now home to the 44 guestrooms. This has allowed
example, how much of the past should remain visible?
for a single-storey extension and the addition of a
How much intervention is necessary and appropriate?
spacious penthouse suite as well as a sauna and, come
The site itself was so dominant and formative that
summer 2023, a rooftop swimming pool served by its
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The four-storey atrium combines historic details such as well-worn wrought iron balustrades and original cell doors with contemporary interventions
own bar. A section of the roof has also been replaced with glazing to create what is one of the most captivating features of the hotel; the four-storey atrium bound by the guestroom corridors – where prisoners once filed back to their cells – is now a splendid lightwell, enhanced by clusters of Bocci’s spherical glass pendants suspended at differing heights. Inside the guestrooms, which include a cosy two-cell configuration and a larger version made from the joining of three cells, the aesthetic is one of serenity, with natural, high-quality materials set against a neutral colour palette. Timber floors and oak furniture are accompanied by framed plantlife, lovingly made by children of the Grüntuch family. “It was important to us that the rooms not be decorated with superficial opulence, but rather radiate a certain lightness, calm and openness,” says Almut. And in an ongoing dialogue with the building’s former use, some rooms bear scars of the past, such as graffiti etched into the wall, often only discovered by chance rather than being made into a feature. There are pockets of quiet throughout the public spaces too, such as seating areas at the end of corridors for a moment’s solitude, and a lounge bearing the same soothing aesthetic, where guests can cosy up by the fireplace and help themselves to complimentary snacks and fruit juices from the pantry. The main dining offer meanwhile comes in the form of Lovis, housed in a separate building that was formerly
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the prison’s outdoor exercise yard. The red
outdoor areas, feeding into the desire to create
brick façades of the surrounding buildings wrap
a contemplative retreat. In the central courtyard
the perimeter of the restaurant, while large
– which every guest passes through on their
panoramic windows replace the gates and a new
way to the guestroom block – vast swathes of
roof has been inserted high overhead, lending
asphalt have been replaced with shrubs, hedges
an almost ecclesiastical feel. The roof itself is
and perennials, transforming the once-sombre
bathed in darkness, allowing the lighting to
space into an oasis. “We unsealed large parts
take centre stage; supplied once again by Bocci
of the courtyard, created a garden and planted
– who used part of the site as a showroom
greenery on all the roof surfaces,” confirms
up until its redevelopment – the canopy of
Armand. “This has created a surprising island
lights twinkling above is like a scene from a
of nature in the middle of the city block.”
fairytale. And the cuisine is equally memorable
Alongside the hotel, in a former courthouse
in both presentation and taste, with chef Sophia
facing the street, there’s also an arts and culture
Rudolph serving contemporary German dishes
space known as Amtsalon, and Grüntuch Ernst
made using regional produce.
Architects have plans to add long-stay
There’s also a newbuild section to the
apartments too, making full use of the site
restaurant that connects the court and prison,
that even locals weren’t aware existed. “The
though the use of bricks removed from elsewhere
detailed, sensitive transformation makes the
on site belies its newness. This addition allows
forgotten place a special experience in Berlin,”
for an enclosed courtyard planted with ferns,
concludes Almut. “Guests can now find a retreat
vines and an old birch tree, making a focal point
at the Wilmina that does not lead to isolation
for those seated outside the main dining room.
in the sense of punishment, but in the sense
Greenery plays a key role in the hotel’s
082
of reward.”
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owners: Armand Grüntuch and Almut Grüntuch-Ernst Architecture and Interior Design: Grüntuch Ernst Architects Building Services: Ingenieurbüro Weltzer Structural Engineer: GTB Berlin, Studio C Landscaping: Atelier le Balto, Christian Meyer Landscape www.wilmina.com
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It’s here. The ultimate upgrade to your guests’ sleep.
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The Standard IBIZA Behind a gleaming white façade, Standard International celebrates the energy of Ibiza, with interiors that recall the playful, bohemian spirit of the island. Words: Agnish Ray • Photography: Courtesy of Standard International (unless otherwise stated)
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un, sea and sand spring to mind when
Officer Verena Haller calls the “freeness of
talking about Ibiza, but while admiring
living” of its Seventies heyday.
the designer furniture and decoration by
The hotel was conceived by acclaimed Spanish
Bruno Munari, De Sede and Jasper Morrison at
designer Lázaro Rosa-Violán, with interiors by
the latest hotel to open in the Old Town, it’s
Oskar Kohnen in collaboration with Standard
clear that a new kind of hip – more urban,
International’s in-house design team. Their
global, curated – has arrived on the island.
concept celebrates the energy that originally
The Standard Ibiza has already been called
attracted so many to Ibiza, with references
“the sexiest hotel in Europe” and stars are
to the signature styles of the era – Flower
flying in from near and far for a stay. The
Power makes an appearance, as do psychadelic
67-key property – which adds to the group’s
patterns and bold use of colour.
existing portfolio in the US, Thailand, London
The look is most prevalent at Jara, the ground-
and the Maldives – is championing music,
floor restaurant that opens out onto the lively
fashion and fun, while also looking to draw a
Vara de Rey boulevard, where residents and
more sustained kind of tourism to a destination
holidaymakers stroll in the sun. “We wanted
otherwise famed for fleeting summer thrills.
to create something for the neighbourhood,
Located in a former cinema, the interiors are spacious and airy. There is a cool white
allowing locals to come and have their morning espresso at the hotel bar,” explains Haller.
backdrop throughout, from the bedrooms to the
The space is filled with an eclectic mix of
building’s gleaming façade, while lush plants,
decor, including vintage furniture, a hotchpotch
bright fabrics and colourful lighting elements
range of cushions that Haller’s team scavenged
recall the playful, bohemian spirit of Ibiza –
from flea markets and wall murals by Bogota-
what Standard International’s Chief Design
born artist Nicolás Villamizar. Lighting pieces
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Interiors are spacious and airy, with a cool white backdrop, lush plants and colourful lighting elements that recall the playful, bohemian spirit of the island
along the bar are inspired by Verner Panton’s 1968
lifestyle,” says General Manager Christoph Venus
flowerpot pendant lamp, with shades crafted from
Antuña. “At night we like to move and dance.”
fabric found on the island.
doubt that cutting-edge fashion is at the top of The
from sea bass with red and green mojo sauce to rice
Standard Ibiza’s agenda too. This is also clear from
dishes like paella; there are plump prawns sizzling in
the staff uniforms, custom designed by SMR Days, the
garlic and a tangy tomato tartare with capers, mustard
London-based studio specialising in effortless holiday
and radish. The drinks menu includes organic local
wear and employing Indian craft traditions such as
wine made from Malvasia grapes, and three homemade
kantha embroidery, ikat weaving and leheriya dying.
variations of the Hierbas Ibicencas liqueur – Ibiza’s traditional herb-based digestif.
The studio’s bespoke capsule of handwoven cotton garments includes relaxed shirts and flowing kaftans
Diners at the rooftop bar Up enjoy views across the
designed with ajrakh block printing. “They’re more
Old Town and 16th-century castle while tucking into
hippy, floaty and sexy than what we normally do,”
Mexican-style dishes like shrimp tacos, cochinita
explains Gautam Rajani, one of the practice’s three
pibil and a flavoursome aguachile, along with several
co-founders, all of whom have visited Ibiza for years.
tequila-based cocktails. The rooftop also features a
“We looked to reflect the spirit of the island.”
15m swimming pool and hosts a spirited brunch event with live music every Sunday.
While the party spirit shines through in the public spaces, guestrooms are more pared-back in their
The venue made a splash with a star-studded launch
approach, designed as havens away from the buzz.
party in May, with a 500-strong crowd swaying to a
Natural materials such as timber, linen and jute make
performance by Róisín Murphy, former frontwoman
for a calming palette, while splashes of colour come
of Moloko, in between DJ sets by Maurice Fulton and
from the soft furnishings.
Benji B. “Music is an important part of The Standard
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The sharply-clad glitterati in attendance left no
Jara’s menu features varied Mediterranean dishes,
For Standard International’s first European property
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after London, the Balearic bastion of joy and
guest services team; Sheila Martínez came from
freedom seemed a logical choice. “If you want
Pacha Group and Berni Morales is accredited
to expand in Europe, opening a hotel in Ibiza
by the Clefs d’Or concierge association. Other
makes total sense,” says Venus Antuña, who
experiences on offer include jeep tours, yacht
previously ran two properties in his home city
outings and hot-air balloon rides.
of Barcelona and spent a stint in Brazil with
Unlike many of the island’s hotels that run
Palladium Group; he first came to Ibiza to work
for just the warmer months, The Standard will
at nightclub-cum-hotel Ushuaia, before joining
welcome visitors year-round, gambling on a
The Standard last November.
steady enough influx of travellers beyond the
He says that, following the first year of the
peak season. Around three-quarters of the
pandemic, 2021 was a surprisingly good summer
hotel’s staff are natives, according to Venus
for Ibiza’s hotel occupancy and F&B revenue. He
Antuña, who argues that the 12-month opening
attributes this to the fact that holidaymakers
contributes to a more sustainable local economy
felt brave enough to travel but still exercised
by providing stable jobs for residents.
caution while abroad; and with nightclubs
Offering a place to stay across the year is also
still closed, hotels reaped the benefit of those
part of shifting Ibiza’s image from a summer
looking to enjoy Covid-safe experiences.
party hotspot to a more serious destination. “It’s
If the return of Ibiza’s clubbing scene this
only the clubs that are closed during winter,”
year means partygoers are flocking back to the
Venus Antuña points out, whereas experiencing
island in droves, The Standard is well prepared.
the island’s history, culture and natural beauty
Its connections to venues like Pacha, Ushuaia
are for every season. While rejoicing in laidback
and Pikes mean guests get access to the best
Balearic living, it seems this new property also
parties in town, thanks to the expertise of the
points to a new way of experiencing it.
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Operator: Standard International Architecture and Interior Design: Standard International in-house design team, Lázaro Rosa-Violán, Oskar Kohnen www.standardhotels.com
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DESIGNERS & MANUFACTURERS OF WORKSPACE FURNITURE Part of the
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21/02/2022 10:23
Hotel Marcel NEW HAVEN Becker + Becker converts a Marcel Breuer-designed landmark in Connecticut, partnering with Dutch East Design to reimagine the Brutalist building as a Bauhaus-inspired hotel with sustainability at its core. Words: Ayesha Khan • Photography: © Seamus Payne
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arcel Breuer had the privilege of being one of the
East Design. In the short time they were given to mobilise
most adored students of Walter Gropius, founder
– the firm was first contacted in early 2020 and delivered
of Bauhaus – the German art collective and school
the project in early 2022 – Dutch East Design planned the
that galvanised modern art, design and architecture as we
hotel’s 165 guestrooms – including a whopping 35 room
know it. When Gropius fled Germany in 1937, he brought
types – all public spaces and signature restaurant BLDG,
his protégé with him, and together they enjoyed a prolific
for which it also developed the brand identity. Dutch East
career in America, teaching at Harvard University and
Design’s modus operandi was to be as responsible as
building iconic structures as Germany languished under
possible in the sourcing and installation of every piece of
Nazi rule.
furniture and fixture that came into their remit. “We were
Much like his adored predecessor, Yale-educated
extremely specific in selecting vendors and the materials
architect and developer Bruce Becker compiled his own
they used,” explains co-founder Larah Moravek, adding
assemblage of creatives to fulfil a long-held dream: save a
that platforms such as Mindful Materials and Mind Click
Breuer landmark from demolition and re-purpose it into
were a useful resource in assessing the origins of items.
a bustling, burgeoning hotel. “It’s not environmentally
“90% of the lighting was custom-designed by us, but
responsible to construct new buildings,” says the ardent
we also worked with suppliers like ELA, HB and Rich
sustainability advocate. “It seemed like a good project
Brilliant Willing to source fixtures that could be wired
for me, but it was definitely daunting. The difference
for Power over Ethernet,” Moravek adds, referring to the
between building a hotel and an apartment block is like
solar-cell-compatible wiring system that was installed
chess and checkers. There are so many things you have
in the entire building.
to get right for it to work.”
be antithetic to the austere modular concrete façade.
for Hotel Marcel, which sits within Hilton’s Tapestry
“When we first came to site, we were very intimidated,”
Collection. The first was to respect and honour the
Moravek recalls. “Stepping through the doors, we felt
elegantly simplistic design ethos of his predecessors,
it was important to create a space that was intimate and
before surpassing sustainability initiatives – the building
welcoming. We wanted to carve out a palette that was the
is soon the be awarded LEED Platinum status, and is
softer underbelly to its exoskeleton.”
America’s first net zero hotel – becoming a test case for future developments.
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Aesthetically, the strategy was for the interior to
Like Gropius, Becker had his own set of mantras
Retaining the original triangular jet mist granite tiles and stairs of the reception, Dutch East Design complemented
In bringing his vision to life, Becker enlisted the help
the heavy materials with soft, light woods, earthy shades
of Brooklyn-based interiors and branding agency Dutch
of brown and orange, and soft sheer drapery. In an homage
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Dutch East Design’s strategy for the interiors was to be antithetic to the austere concrete façade, using natural woods and an earthy colour palette
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to the building’s original materiality, they also added
women who studied there, saying that they couldn’t
Bauhaus-inspired terracotta tiles to provide warmth.
understand the third dimension, so they were pushed
In the sunken lobby lounge and at BLDG, the rigour
into two-dimensional works,” Kraemer explains. “I
of the hotel’s Brutalist concrete 5ft-tall window bays
thought, ‘well, wait a minute, these women need to
suddenly become welcome pops of warmth and light
be celebrated!’ Like in many cases with women of that
clad in warm oak, while in the guestrooms, the team
time who were overlooked, it was later discovered
contended with the narrow 10ft typical room width
that they were doing things like industrial design
that the precast window modules dictated, by creating
and furniture design.” In celebration of Anni Albers,
a modular kit of parts. Closets, headboards, side tables
perhaps one of the most notable female Bauhaus
and desks are all deftly built-in to give the illusion of
artists, whose medium was textile, Becker solicited
space that belies the compact footprint. Each piece
Brooklyn-based quilter Cory Emma Siegler. Tying
of millwork is crafted to a tee, reflecting the same
the sustainability initiative into her work, Siegler
masterful techniques employed by students of the
produced quilted montages for the guestrooms using
Bauhaus. Breuer’s iconic steel framed Cesca chair
old fabric samples donated by Dutch East Design to
is an essential feature of every room, while modern
create Bauhaus-inspired, upcycled works of art. Other
additions come in the form of furniture by Stellar
notable players in Becker’s symphony of female artists
Works and sleek bathroom fittings by Kohler.
were Celia Johnson – who made a film about women
Also crucial to the project was Kraemer Sims Becker,
in the Bauhaus – and Howardena Pindell, one of the
Bruce’s wife and a celebrated fine artist. Her mission
first black women to receive a Master of Fine Arts
was to integrate meaningful art pieces into the project
degree from Yale.
as possible, tying infinite threads between the women
But perhaps the most valiant task in this great
of the Bauhaus and modern art in America. “The
renovation story was Bruce Becker’s ambition to
Bauhaus made an unflattering comment about the
convert the entire 110ft structure’s fossil-fuel-powered
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infrastructure to solar energy. “We have a one
Lotta, Vice President of Architecture & Design
megawatt-hour battery in the building, which
at Hilton Global Design Services, explains:
is the equivalent of 15 Tesla batteries,” he says
“Our collaboration fans the creative flames
as he opens the door to a room that stores the
of our partners to tell a unique story through
energy generated by some 1,000 solar panels –
design and architecture. We are thrilled to
more are planned. “We are currently generating
partner with such visionary teams to imagine
about 372kw of energy; the building is actually
how Marcel Breuer himself might transform
using 207kw, so this is a net positive day, and
this historic building into a hotel in 2022,
it isn’t even noon yet!” he confirms, illustrating
with an understanding of today’s guests. The
the stats through an app on his phone. “It’s
preservation of the Brutalist architecture icon
more important that buildings be all-electric
and its transformation into a hotel that evokes
than net zero, because as the city electrical
the spirit of 1969 were essential to preserve the
grids become 100% renewable, your building
record of Modernist evolution.”
will be carbon-neutral.” Becker certainly walks
As Becker gets into his brand-new Tesla Model
the talk; his own home is 100% solar-powered
S and drives off onto the adjacent highway, he
and he even enlisted California-based Maxwell
passes the large concrete block that once stood
Vehicles to convert a gas-guzzling Dodge Ram
dark and vacant in a non-descript Ikea parking
shuttle van into a fully functional EV to serve
lot. But it is now his concrete block, shining
as the hotel’s house car.
as a welcoming beacon and a fine example of
For Hilton Worldwide, the project is a
the forward-thinking, conscientious spirit that
major step in its ambitions towards net zero
once drove Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer,
hospitality, whilst adhering to the individual
and now drives him in a constant crusade to
design credentials of Tapestry Collection. Vito
improve architecture.
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner / Developer: Bruce Redman Becker, Kraemer Sims Becker Operator: Hilton Worldwide Architecture: Becker + Becker Interior Design: Dutch East Design Lighting Design: Focus Lighting Procurement: Canoe Hospitality Main Contractor: Consigli www.hotelmarcel.com
Six Senses SHAHARUT Israeli businessman Ronny Douek makes his hospitality debut in the Negev desert with a restrained resort inspired by the Nabateans. Words: Emma Love Photography: © Assaf Pinvhuk (unless otherwise stated)
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n hour’s flight south from Tel Aviv, Israel’s landscape couldn’t be more different. The arid Negev desert makes up more than half the country’s total land
mass and its most southerly point – the Arava Valley, which borders Jordan – has only 5,000 inhabitants. It’s here, in this remote region, with spectacular views of the Edom mountains, that Israeli businessman Ronny Douek has opened his first hotel: Six Senses Shaharut. “I have a strong affinity with the desert and was looking for many years to build a property here,” he explains. “At one stage I took a helicopter to see a piece of land on the Ramon Crater, but there was an existing development and I wanted somewhere totally isolated. On that same flight, the pilot told me about another 64 acres, which already had permission for a hotel – something that can take 10 to 15 years for approval.” He bought the land in 2008, spent the first four years securing planning and then another nine on construction before eventually opening the hotel in 2022, with the worst of the pandemic over. Taking inspiration from the nomadic Nabateans, who some 2,000 years ago would camp on the Incense trade route from the Persian Gulf to Gaza – they also carved Petra from the sandstone cliffs – Douek knew that he wanted the resort to blend in with the surroundings. He asked students from the architecture department at Jerusalem’s Bezalel University to prepare a white paper setting out their proposals, then ran a competition for local architects. “I asked the students to take into consideration our aim of reflecting the traditional Nabatean way of life,” he recalls.
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Artefacts and artworks are on display throughout the resort, including decorative plates by artist Rachel Elimelech Urbach in the spa’s relaxation space
“I wasn’t looking to build a monument, I wanted to
of building materials. “We invested in materials that
create something that integrated into the landscape.”
weren’t necessarily the cheapest, but the best from
The tender was won by Tel Aviv-based Plesner
an ecological and traditional point of view,” he
Architects, who came up with the idea of constructing
confirms, referring to the fast-growing eucalyptus
the 60 villas and suites by chipping out limestone
wood for the pergolas, reclaimed teak rescued from
and flint from the cliff so that from a distance, they
boats and buildings for the doors, and the tadelakt
are barely visible. The first two years were spent
plaster technique for the internal walls and floors of
excavating, then artisan families from the Palestinian
the rooms.
city of Hebron hand-chiselled the stones that are used
This level of effort extends to the lighting too: “The
for everything from the low walls around the terrace
sky is amazing at night and we didn’t want to disturb
of the bar and restaurant to the amphitheatre, where
it, so we created lighting that faces into the property
musicians from the nearby artists enclave of Shaharut
rather than outwards,” Douek reveals. “I did a lot
comes once a week to play the guitar at sundown.
of testing, standing on hills around the periphery to
“The design inspiration is the compelling infinitude
make sure that there was no light pollution.” Even
of the desert,” says Daniela Plesner, Partner at Plesner
the uniforms by Fashionizer – which has its own
Architects.“We wanted the stones, patterns, textures
sustainability initiatives, chiming well with the Six
and colours to be omnipresent, resulting in architecture
Senses ethos – are considered, as is the bedding,
that is woven in with the natural elements. Preserving
comprising organic mattresses by Naturalmat. Now
the spirit of the place was the primary design principle
the resort is up and running, eco measures include
of this resort.”
composting food waste, a zero plastic policy and using
Another of Douek’s concerns from the outset was
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a palm grove to absorb all grey water.
sustainability – the hotel is the first in Israel to achieve
The suites and villas range in size from 58-644m2,
LEED certification – resulting in a considered selection
the largest being a three-bedroom Private Reserve
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© Amit Geron
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with its own spa treatment room, gym and
Feigin and the Great Rift Valley Relief, made
al fresco dining spaces. All have a similarly
from recycled cement and sand by Ilana Aviv,
restrained decorative style that reflects the
which spans the walls of the Experience Centre.
natural surroundings, with cosy wool rugs and
Alongside desert activities like hikes,
earthenware wall sconces by Mabua Studio,
e-biking trails and off-road 4x4 adventures, the
as well as a cream tasselled wall hanging that
other key pillars of the resort are the cuisine
covers the television by textile artist Erez
– a combination of Israeli and Mediterranean
Nawi. Sliding glass doors make the most of the
influences served with herbs and vegetables
mesmerising desert view beyond, and in the
from the onsite organic garden – and the spa
bathroom, brass taps add a warm accent to the
with its Alchemy Bar, outdoor yoga programme,
limestone sink.
and green-tiled swimming pool enveloped by
Artefacts and artwork are on display
rows of perfectly formed archways. Douek’s
throughout the resort, from a collection of
future plans include adding solar panels and
ancient camel saddle carpet bags – the hotel
gaining permission for another category of
has its own camels, which guests can ride –
glamping-style guestrooms.
to a framed Yemenite wedding dress in the
Whatever he does though, his commitment to
relaxation area of the spa and embroidered 18th-
causing minimal disruption to this expanse of
century Ottoman prayer carpet in reception.
desert remains. “The challenge has always been
“I visited Rajasthan and bought many objects
not to disturb what was already here. It took a
from there, while textiles are from the Ottoman
big effort not to be present,” Douek concludes.
Empire and Istanbul,” says Douek. New pieces
“From outside, the hotel looks very modest;
include decorative plates by artist Rachel
we’re not trying to impress, we’re trying to
Elimelech Urbach, glass vessels by Maayan
embrace. That’s the story of this place.”
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: Ronny Douek Operator: Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas Architecture: Plesner Architects Interior Design: Ronny Douek Uniforms: Fashionizer www.sixsenses.com
Fashionizer, has worked with Six Senses for nearly 10 years, providing uniforms for all the group’s spas. The Six Senses Shaharut introduced a new chapter in the collaboration when Fashionizer was invited to create the hotel uniforms as well. Fashionizer aligns all its couture design with the values of the client and the context of each property to create uniforms that are part of the narrative of the place. Sustainability and environmental impacts are also top of the agenda.
Why not find out what the Fashionizer team can do for your staff image.
www.fashionizer.com
info@fashionizer.com
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Kalesma MYKONOS K-Studio and Studio Bonarchi bring their innate knowledge of Greek culture and design to the Cyclades, creating a hotel that is in tune with its surroundings. Words: Guy Dittrich Photography: Courtesy of Kalesma (unless otherwise stated)
P
erched atop a steep, rocky spur on the southwest tip of Mykonos, just a short boat ride from the sacred island of Delos, Kalesma – which translates to ‘invitation’
in Greek – is home to 25 suites that combine beautifully curvaceous white volumes with cool, dark interiors linked by a private terrace and pool. This seamless duality between the architecture of K-Studio and interiors of Studio Bonarchi expands to include vernacular and contemporary elements, as well as a limited materials palette of contrasting textures. The overarching experience is one of true luxury – space, tranquillity and thoughtful design, from masterplan to details. Straddling the peninsula and looking down over Ornos Bay, the estate was home to the grandparents of siblings Sofia and Makis Kousathanas, who are co-owners alongside Aby Saltiel, with whom they also own two restaurants in Athens. Planning began some seven years ago, with K-Studio and Studio Bonarchi – both based in the nearby Greek capital – engaged from the start. And it shows. “The experience of each space was carefully planned,” explains Studio Bonarchi founder, Vangelis Bonios, of the organic process between the two firms. “The architecture was developed to be in tune
© Salva Lopez
with the surroundings,” adds Dimitris Karampatakis, cofounder of K-Studio.
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In response to the bright exteriors, interiors are cave-like with dark ceiling beams and flooring, while natural textures such as linen and rattan add warmth
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Karampatakis takes up the historical story of
two parts of every suite are built with a slight
how when couples got married, they built their
taper to the external walls, feature curved
first home as the start of a village, to which
edges and are covered in white render. The
more and more buildings were added around
tapered walls mean shorter – and cheaper –
the main communal space, or plateia, as life
ceiling beams, while the round edges are easier
progressed. At the western end of Kalesma’s
to achieve. And the render comes from local
plateia is the aloni, a traditional stone circle
limestone. All speak to the humble origins of
for threshing wheat, which has been retained
this former farming-fishing island.
and restored. Centred in its middle is a firepit
Suite entrances are protected from the
and sitting around the flames, watching the sun
relentless prevailing northerly winds by
dip behind Delos, is a magical moment. Magical
courtyards, or avlis, where doors are intentionally
but there by design. The design, or rather
misaligned. Equally, small windows set high in
masterplanning of K-Studio. Karampatakis
north-facing walls funnel a manageable wind
explains: “The moment is captured by aligning
through each residence. Pergolas with sweet-
the main axis of the palatia along the sun’s
smelling jasmine also provide shading at larger
east-west path.”
openings and thick walls are sustainable in
The hotel village comprises cube-like volumes
moderating temperature. The entrance avli
supported by drystone wall terraces, which step
of each suite includes an outdoor shower and
down the hill following the contours of the land.
direct access to the super-sized bathrooms with
The drop between terraces is sufficient for each
large, semi-sunken tubs.
suite to have its own private pool and sea view.
Joining the bath and bedrooms are atriums
The construction elements also follow many
leading to verandas with dining areas and
of the island’s vernacular fundamentals. The
private pools. Some of the larger suites include
www.jardinico.com
© Vangelis Paterakis
Stone, marble and plaster feature prominently throughout Kalesma, while the curves of the exterior are repeated inside at the meeting of walls and floors
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outdoor kitchens too. The atrium walls are
lining the narrow streets of nearby Mykonos Old
made from open breeze blocks of a triangular
Town. Other notable marble work is seen in the
form, typical of local nesting towers for pigeons,
two under counter mini-bars – one for wines
which throw out unusual shadow patterns.
and the other for complimentary soft drinks –
The interiors meanwhile illustrate the
that feature book-matched stone doors. The
duality of Kalesma. In response to the bright
same treatment for bedside tables speaks of
exteriors, the dark interiors are like “elegant
quality and longevity.
caves” according to Bonios. Dark casework is
Much of the stone used was sourced from the
seen in headboards, ceiling beams and window
nearby island of Tinos and whilst the materials
and door frames. Solid wood shutters at the
palette may be concise, there is further contrast
full-height French doors ensure total blackout,
in texture. Circular stone dining tables are both
essential for early sunny mornings and given
smooth and hammered. So too are the stone
the sheer white linen curtains. Linen is part of
basins. Even the bathroom mugs by German
the limited materials palette and is used to add
brand Blomus are matte on the outside and
opacity to the shower cabins by sandwiching it
glazed on the inside. A high level of attention
between panes of glass.
to detail and consistency in application.
Stone, marble and plaster also feature
“The interiors show the coexistence of
prominently, while the curves of the exterior
contemporary and traditional values,” explains
are repeated inside at the meeting of the walls
Bonios. A decorative element of wheat sheaves
and floors – a radius of perfect proportions. A
in the entrance avli that references the threshing
similarly curvaceous and sturdy cantilevered
circle are opposite the automated sliding glass
vanity, underlit with LED striplighting, has a
doors to the hotel proper. Within the cocoon
stone inlay made from the same dark stone
of the suites, a large mirror pivots away from
D i s cove r how your C ontrac t Pr oject ca n be susta ina ble with high per for m a nce at fer r ei r ad esa.com
© Yiorgos Kordakis
the wall to double as a flatscreen TV. Control is
monolithic stone slabs that step around large
via an iPad, which also regulates lighting and
existing rocks. A lengthy lap pool welcomes
air-conditioning. Sliding doors reveal ample
guests, whilst the adjacent mirror pool links
hanging space plus yoga mats and chrome
the wood-lined lobby and retail area with the
weights, and beneath the lobby is a gym kitted-
bar and Pere Ubu restaurant, which specialises
out by Technogym. The luxury of detail and
in mezze dishes and shared meals. All these
surprise within in a local envelope.
areas are indicative of the Cycladic rhythm of an
Local
connection
is
indoor-outdoor way of life. And whilst the bar,
furniture
restaurant and its show-grill are shaded by a
commissioned by Bonios, which makes up some
pergola, there is also indoor dining. Just behind
80% of all furnishings. Just looking at lighting
the kitchen is a terraced garden where vines
alone, bespoke bedside lamps with leather and
are developing, and a small church beautifully
metal detailing are reminiscent of a horse’s
hand-decorated with religious imagery
bridle, and wall lamps in the lobby feature
reinvented in a contemporary way. Nearby, two
decorative horsehair elements. The local area is
spacious villas complete the development.
complemented
by
through bespoke
design
called Alogomantra, the place of the horses, and
Once an island with limited prospects,
the hotel’s visual identity features Camargue-
Mykonos today is attracting a wealthy tourist
style horses and a logo, also embroidered into
crowd who will appreciate the virtues of
the pillowcases. Of the remaining lighting,
Kalesma. At all levels, its considered geometries,
the off-the-shelf pieces include lamps from
layout and luxury interiors are enticing. Even
Christian Liaigre and from Lumina, the sleek
more they feel so of the place, harmonious and
Daphine lamp family by Tommaso Cimini.
connected, allowing the natural beauty of the
The public areas of Kalesma are reached up
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Cyclades to shine through.
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: Sofia Kousathanas, Makis Kousathanas, Aby Saltiel Architecture: K-Studio Interior Design: Studio Bonarchi Lighting Design: CPLD Main Contractor: Azas Construction www.kalesmamykonos.com
bdbarcelona.com Gardenias collection by Jaime Hayon contract@bdbarcelona.com
Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som QATAR A new wellbeing resort in the Middle East combines the sacred design proportions of Axel Vervoordt with an elemental elegance that references Qatari heritage. Words: Neena Dhillon • Photography: © Don Loriezo
F
rom its location on the northern Qatari coastline, Zulal appears as if a mirage on the horizon. The same could be said of the sea that travels out for miles across the
site’s mangrove beach, producing a lunar landscape as the Gulf waters retreat, only to transform into a more familiar scene when the tide returns. Just as Al Khasooma Beach – home to migrating flamingos – plays tricks with the imagination to create intrigue and wonder at the natural landscape, so too does the geometric majesty of Zulal’s built environment. This is the first wellness destination from Msheireb Properties – Qatar’s premier real estate developer – designed to be a game-changer in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) by foregrounding Traditional Arabic & Islamic Medicine (TAIM) in a bid to establish it alongside other ancient healing practices such as Ayurveda & Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), while reintroducing the wisdom regionally to new generations. The expertise of Thailand’s Chiva-Som – which has avoided venturing into new territory for more than 27 years, until now – adds wellbeing gravitas. This mission also feeds into Qatar’s National Vision 2030, under which environmental and human development are two of the key pillars. State-led Qatar Foundation, parent of developer Msheireb Properties, recognises that health
108
109
Rooted in the sacred proportions of design, the resort’s Qatari stone entrance centres around a circular pool representing the circle of life
110
is a cornerstone of human development, so
would walk their camels for miles to this very
to encourage local families to engage with
spot to drink.
wellbeing from an early age, Zulal divides into
Spread over 9.6 hectares, the 280,000m 2
two properties immediately upon arrival. On
destination references traditional Qatari
one side, visitors find Zulal Discovery dedicated
building materials and techniques, with sand,
to families, and on the other, the adults-only
salmon and off-white stone and render creating
Serenity. Neatly, the Qatari stone entrance, with
dwellings that enclose gardens and courtyards,
its circular pool, discreetly supports this guest
whether water- or plant-filled. The architecture
journey while also giving a visual hint of the
partly delivers a sense of wellbeing through
internal spaces set to unfold.
voluminous spaces. Vervoordt’s additions to
Renowned Belgian designer Axel Vervoordt,
the interiors lend intimacy to the hierarchy of
who has a track record with the Qatar
spaces, closing openings to generate passages
Foundation and whose work on this project
while injecting different atmospheres to areas
has contributed significantly to Zulal’s story
of the masterplan, according to their function.
and soul, explains more: “With the round
Set against a foundational and organic
water acting like a circle of life, complemented
backdrop of rough-hewn stone, woods, metal
by a stone-framed opening that provides the
and glass, the resort features a collection of
first glimpse of the ocean and sky beyond, our
artworks, with some dating back to BCE and
idea was that the horizon should appear like
others very much 21st century. These sculptures,
a window of the void. This is the Japanese
paintings and textiles guide visitors through
concept of Ma, which literally means framed
a passageway and down a gently lit staircase
emptiness.” Appropriately, Zulal translates as
to an arresting space – the House of Wisdom,
‘pure water’ and local myth has it that Qataris
which also doubles as an informal lobby. At the
Award-winning outdoor furniture
Teak – Stainless Steel – Aluminium
www.teak.com
Taking its name from Iraq’s ancient centre of learning and intellect, the House of Wisdom features a library with a handwoven rug from Queen Elizabeth’s own collection
112
centre of this soaring room is Anish Kapoor’s
creative Sadaharu Horio – a former member of
early sandstone sculpture, Void.
the Gutai art movement. To ensure a connection
Considering the choice of Kapoor, Vervoordt
to the destination, the resort has also partnered
says: “Our central cube, made of Qatari stone, is
with Yousef Ahmed, a pioneer of Qatar’s modern
undeniably a place for rest, peace and meditation
art movement.
– one that holds a powerful message. Conceived
As opposing forces, an alluring Tea House
and constructed in dimensions of 1 x 1 x 1 as a
and a smart Apothecary act as bookends for the
symbol of the first act of universal creation, the
cube while another boundary flows seamlessly
number one belongs to humanity and so the
into a library stocked with 2,500 tomes. This
cube represents a welcoming gesture as a source
is where the House of Wisdom takes its name
of energy, wisdom and healing.” He continues:
– from Iraq’s famed ancient centre of learning
“Within the cube, Kapoor’s strong and silent
and intellect, associated with the Golden Age
work embodies his ability to give body to the
of Islam. “For me, a library is an essential part
void, like an abyss or glimpse into infinity. It’s
of a house, but this can also be the case in a
an ideal concept for meditation.”
resort,” Vervoordt reveals. “It’s the room where
Other highlights of the collection, as selected
knowledge, wisdom and education reign, where
by Vervoordt, include a large painting by
different cultures meet, and where science,
Mexican artist Bosco Sodi, whose work “is as
philosophy, art, history and biology interact.
close to the forces of nature as one can be”
Our library, a warm, inviting place where guests
according to Vervoordt; a white marble sculpture
can sit at the table and read for hours, takes on
by Belgium’s Dominique Stroobant selected for
more meaning at Zulal because mobile phones
its precision and sensuality; and playful and
are not allowed in the public spaces.” As an
spontaneous cuttings of paper from Japanese
inviting addition to the monumental reading
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table, a handwoven rug from Queen Elizabeth’s
leather seating, while fine-dining venue Acacia
collection now finds a home here.
is a tonal play on grey, with light and shadow
Much like the understated character of the
used to sophisticated effect. It is the attention
Qataris, colour and pattern are used sparingly
to the smallest of details that belies the design
across the resort. The 74-treatment room
simplicity of Zulal Serenity, from the Safran
wellness centre features teal-coloured doors
Paris plates in Acacia – exclusively engraved
and woven lamp pendants to gently reference
with their own unique mangrove design – to
the local fishing community, while pebbles
the leaves of the Al-Sidr tree imprinted on the
act as natural borders in the hydrothermal
external walkways.
area, which also pairs striated marbles with
Rooted in Qatari heritage as well as the
lattice-work screens. With multiple wellbeing
sacred proportions of design associated with
and beauty modalities catered for at Zulal, it
Vervoordt’s team, Zulal Serenity cossets and
is the Qur’anic courtyard gardens that serve as
liberates visitors in equal measure through a
a unifying thread. Edibles and plants feature
confluence of intriguing and textural spaces that
heavily in TAIM prescriptions; fittingly, the
never forget the landscape in which they sit.
gardens are abundant with balancing, cleansing,
The natural landscape itself plays a pivotal role
moisturising and medicinal species from
in wellbeing practices from Earth-grounding
jasmine and olives to papaya and pomegranates,
walks to sustainability-learning activities for
tuberose to aloe vera and arrowroot.
families. All together, this connection to Mother
Forming the F&B offering of Serenity, all-day
Nature, heritage and healing means that Zulal
Al-Sidr restaurant invites light and air through
Wellness Resort is a considered an inspirational
its gentle curves and floor-to-ceiling windows,
destination for visitors intent on engaging with
complemented by Moorish tiling, screens and
their wellbeing in the Middle East.
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner / Developer: Msheireb Properties, a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation Operator: Chiva-Som Architecture: Goco Hospitality Interior Design: Axel Vervoordt, HBA Main Contractor: Al Sraiya Trading & Contracting Company www.zulal.com
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Clockwise from top: NoMad London, Marylebone Lane Hotel, The Hoxton Shepherd’s Bush, The OWO / Raffles London and The Ned.
We are proud to have played a part in the conversion and restoration of some of London’s most significant hospitality projects including the The Ned and NoMad; and look forward to the launch of our latest of these schemes The OWO / Raffles London along with the unveiling of our new build Hoxton Shepherd’s Bush and Marylebone Lane Hotels.
The Hotel of Tomorrow The Gettys Group takes to the metaverse for the latest edition of its global think-tank, discussing the future of hospitality design and service aboard a virtual airship.
What will the next generation of hotels look like?
city hotels, combining the traditions of ancient
How will they function? And what are the most
healing with technology-enhanced, multi-sensory
pressing challenges for the hospitality industry?
elements in an environment tailored to the needs
The Hotel of Tomorrow (HoT) – a global think-
of tired travellers.
tank launched by Chicago-based design and
In all, the eight-month collaboration brought
consulting firm The Gettys Group – seeks to
together more than 200 members – including
answer such questions.
representatives from Marriott International,
Having focused its efforts on developing
Hilton Worldwide and IHG – both in-person
responses to the pandemic during the 2020
and digitally to discuss and deliberate the topics
edition, this year’s HoT concentrated on some
at hand, culminating in three virtual reality
of the challenges that hospitality professionals,
gatherings and a closing summit aboard a custom-
technology experts and product developers are
built airship in the metaverse. More than 800 ideas
facing at present, from automation, personalisation
were generated through the process, six of which
and modularity to visualisation, sustainability,
have now been revealed (see overleaf).
wellness and community. Words: Ben Thomas
© OBMI and Envoy
“We hope that we started or extended important
In a change to its traditional format, the 2022
conversations within the participating companies
programme enlisted 25 partners to determine
around ESG, technology’s place in hospitality
the subject of conversation, with hotel operators,
service and design, and the stewardship of
architects, designers and product manufacturers
hospitality within their communities, not to
chosen for their expertise and unique perspective.
mention health and wellbeing beyond the obvious
In addition, an international design competition
applications and integration,” explains Ron
entitled the HoT Ed Challenge was held with
Swidler, Chief Innovation Officer at The Gettys
universities and research groups, gathering the
Group, who leads the think-tank with a passion
thoughts of eight forward-thinking teams. The
for pioneering ideas. “We also hope that we
winning project, devised by a group from Haaga-
helped foster new relationships and collaborations
Helia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki,
between members of the HoT community, and
targets underutilised areas within hotels, tapping
inspired the next generation of hospitality leaders
into Finnish culture and tradition to create
to see our industry as one that is ready for their
immersive experiences. Billed as Spa-X, the
integration and innovation.”
concept is envisioned as a sanctuary within busy
www.hotel-of-tomorrow.com
2.
© The Gettys Group Companies and Envoy
3.
© Sweet Supply Co and Envoy
1. ROBOTIC RESET
2. SENSE & SATISFY SUITE
3. A(R) WORLD IN PLAIN SITE
Robotic Reset (pictured on previous page) is
Championing personalisation, the Sense & Satisfy
An augmented reality overlay accessed
a flexible guestroom solution that integrates
suite anticipates the needs of its occupants through
through any smart device, A(R) World
automated and retractable furniture, as well
biosensors that monitor wellbeing, interacting and
in Plain Site is a data-driven system
as robot-delivered elements to meet changing
communicating via voice commands and holography.
that enhances hospitality experiences
guest needs. Smart furnishings incorporated
An anti-gravity sleep and mindfulness chamber
by offering select information, from
in the walls, floors and ceilings allow
observes vital signs and adjusts light intensity,
weather and air quality updates to hotel
residents to exercise, dine, rest and work
audio, temperature and air quality accordingly, while
programming. The information is also
within the same space, with the bed rising
an integrated smart window provides entertainment
available in a guest’s chosen language and
into the ceiling when not in use to provide
through AI-sorted data. Dietary requirements are
legibility scale.
room for exercise equipment. The concept
taken care of via waste analysis, and there’s even a
also features lounge seats that emerge from
holographic pet for those in need of a companion.
the floor to accommodate social gatherings.
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THE RESULT: A personalised experience that serves
THE RESULT: A more efficient, dynamic
each guest individually, meaning they depart feeling
living environment aided by automation.
better than when they arrived.
THE RESULT: An entire layer of real-time and purposeful data accessed through a traveller’s own device.
THE HOTEL OF TOMORROW
4.
6. © RC Aradio and Envoy
5.
© Kevin Richards and Envoy
© Milliken and Envoy
4. RESTORATIVE RESORT
5. REBUILDABLE BUILDINGS
6. ENERGY CENTRE HOTEL
The Restorative Resort concept makes
A mechanised meeting room constructed using
Energy Centre Hotel is a building model
better use of under-utilised swimming
modular and mobile components, Rebuildable
that anticipates advances in localised energy
pools with the introduction of self-
Buildings can be assembled and dismantled via
collection, storage and distribution. The
contained, mini-lodging units. Developed
robotic automation. Programmed in advance, the
structure comprises a flexible, translucent
with the popularity of glamping in mind,
stage, tables and banquet chairs self-configure,
and photovoltaic skin tasked with absorbing
the mobile, prefabricated modules provide
while a modular chandelier can be encoded to
solar energy, which is then stored in the
a private retreat for two or even a small
assume a variety of shapes and visual effects, and
building’s basement and distributed to
group. Powered by solar energy with
holographic table monitors convey screen data from
neighbouring properties. The mixed-use
temperature controlled via geothermal
the stage to the viewer. There’s even a robot to set
development also twins with a virtual model
technology, they offer a unique guest
the tables.
to track and display real-time information
experience in a biophilic setting.
THE RESULT: A highly adaptable meeting
about the actual building performance.
THE RESULT: A new guest suite that
space, reset by automation, that utilises modular
THE RESULT: A hotel that better serves its
capitalises on indoor/outdoor spaces for
components to help reduce and reuse waste.
surrounding community through the supply
retreat and restoration.
of clean energy.
119
Construction Pipeline Global Hotel Groups Marriott International has the largest pipeline in the world, according to new data from Tophotelprojects, with the USbased group counting 993 four- and fivestar projects in the works, amounting to a total of 208,286 rooms globally. Since its acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 2016, bringing the number of brands in its portfolio to 30, Marriott has continued to grow in all regions, though over 50% of its pipeline is in China and the USA, with the cities of New York, Xian and Sanya amongst the hotspots. Hilton Worldwide, meanwhile, is the second most-active group globally, with the greatest concentration of projects in New York and Nashville, followed by Dubai and London. For Paris-based Accor, construction pipelines are focused on Europe and the Middle East & Africa, where the group takes the top spot by number of projects. The cities of Dubai, Paris and Doha count the greatest number of Accor projects under construction, with Riyadh and Jeddah also in the top ten. Hyatt has its greatest concentration of projects in Asia Pacific, and IHG paints a similar picture with China being a key target market. And finally, Radisson Hotel Group is making headway in Europe and the Middle East & Africa, with the Radisson Blu brand set to debut in locations across the UK, Italy and Romania.
Tophotelprojects is a data service to support the design, build, furnishing and operation of hotels worldwide. For more information visit: www.tophotelprojects.com
120
AMERICAS
Projects Rooms
1
2
3
4
5
MARRIOTT 389 71,124
HILTON 329 51,775
HYATT 122 24,573
IHG 118 17,072
ACCOR 79 12,734
1
2
3
4
5
ACCOR 181 28,512
MARRIOTT 112 19,344
HILTON 103 15,990
IHG 95 15,794
RADISSON 65 12,134
EUROPE
Projects Rooms
MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA
Projects Rooms
1
2
3
4
5
ACCOR 129 33,699
MARRIOTT 100 23,318
HILTON 91 21,652
RADISSON 57 11,491
IHG 49 14,456
1
2
3
4
5
MARRIOTT 392 94,500
HILTON 282 61,681
IHG 278 61,781
ACCOR 228 50,125
HYATT 185 41,355
ASIA PACIFIC
Projects Rooms
BUSINESS CENTRE
THE GLOBAL PICTURE At a global level, Marriott International has the largest pipeline with 208,286 rooms across 993 projects. This is followed by Hilton Worldwide with 151,098 rooms (805 projects) and Accor with 125,070 rooms (617 projects). Honing in on individual brands, five of Hilton’s brands appear in the top ten, while Hyatt is ramping up development for Hyatt Place, and IHG for Hotel Indigo.
993 805 617 540 364
Projects
Projects
Projects
Projects
Projects
BRAND
PROJECTS
ROOMS
Hilton Hotels & Resorts
136
35,724
Hilton Garden Inn
122
21,779
Hampton by Hilton
110
15,967
Marriott Hotels & Resorts
106
29,709
Hyatt Place
94
15,806
Hotel Indigo
93
16,306
DoubleTree by Hilton
91
19,767
Courtyard by Marriott
80
14,440
Home2 Suites by Hilton
78
11,381
Holiday Inn Express
75
11,589
Data in this report is extracted from the Tophotelprojects database and includes only four- and five-star hotel projects. 121
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2022-06-08 10:36 AM
BUSINESS CENTRE
The intelligence source for the hotel investment community
Jo&Joe plans Chinese growth
Also in 2020, Country Garden signed a partnership with serviced apartment specialist
built out more than 66m2 of floorspace. Net gearing stood at 45% at the end of 2021.
Ennismore, Accor’s lifestyle division, has
Oakwood to launch a new localised brand,
Wyndham, meanwhile, continues to build
signed a partnership agreement that could see
Oakwood Beluxs, across China. The pair have
on its position as China’s largest international
more than 1,000 Jo&Joe branded hotels pop up
targeted 100 properties by 2030. Oakwood had
hotel franchisor. It has more than 1,500 hotels
across China. The move could take the lifestyle
previously expanded its eponymous brand in
across the country trading under 11 of its 20
brand to a scale not yet seen for anything in
the country, and currently has 11 sites in China.
brands, and finished 2021 with 153,800 rooms
the segment. It is the latest in a series of such
In early 2021, Funyard agreed a strategic
deals with Chinese group Country Garden, all
partnership with Minor International, aiming
promising to help deliver international hotel
to grow its Anantara, Avani, Oaks, Elewana,
HA PERSPECTIVE
brands into the market.
Tivoli and NH brands across mainland China.
By Chris Bown: It is the breathtaking scale and
Accor and Country Garden say they have
No number targets were mentioned as the deal
pace of development that never ceases to amaze.
worked together previously for several
was signed. Ji Hongjun, president of Funyard
But, by and large, partnerships with local Chinese
years, “on hotel projects involving premium
Hotels & Resorts, commented: “The pandemic
developers look to be delivering for the international
hospitality brands”. And, with 500 hotels across
is further accelerating the process of the Chinese
brand groups.
Greater China, Accor has also used partnership
economy shifting toward the domestic market.
Country Garden/Funyard looks to be a good
agreements to drive growth, notably with
This means new opportunities in domestic
partner, already delivering for Hilton at a pace
Huazhu, which is delivering Ibis and Mercure
tourism and hospitality. We and Minor Hotels
that should give others confidence that it can get
hotels across the country.
are both convinced that China’s resort market
developments under way. The group appears to
is full of potential.”
have created its Funyard hotels division as a sensible
Country Garden, and its two-year-old hotel
in Greater China.
subsidiary Funyard, already have extensive
Reporting in January 2022, Funyard stated:
connections with international hotel brands,
“In just over a year since its establishment, it
But will Funyard have the resources to keep
effectively giving it several options when
has managed and prepared about 260 hotels and
delivering hotels? That exposure to the Chinese
considering a hotel development.
more than 55,000 guest rooms, covering seven
residential market is the biggest worry for the future.
major regions including South China, Central
Country Garden appears in the top three of Chinese
China, East China and Southwest China.”
real estate developers alongside Evergrande, which
In mid-2020, Country Garden and Hilton signed a strategic partnership under which
diversification away from residential real estate.
Country Garden would deliver up to 1,000
Hilton’s arrangement with Country Garden
in recent months has hit the headlines for all the
Home2 Suites across China. At the time, the
is a second successful partnership in China.
wrong reasons. Evergrande defaulted on debts last
pair were already collaborating on a half dozen
In 2014, the group signed a deal with Chinese
year, in a failure that has had knock-on effects for
hotels that Country Garden was developing.
partner Plateno to grow the Hampton brand
its peers, including their ability to tap international
“We know from our success with several
across the country. That agreement survived
dollar-denominated debt markets.
existing properties that Country Garden is one
Plateno being merged into the larger Jin Jiang
Concerns over Country Garden’s debt levels and
of the strongest players in the Chinese property
group. By 2020 the pair celebrated the signing
residential market exposure led ratings agency Fitch
market,” said Alan Watts, Hilton’s president,
of 500 projects, and extended the management
to downgrade the company to negative in early April
Asia Pacific. “We are thrilled to continue
license agreement to 2034. They set fresh goals
2022, noting “decreasing contracted sales and sales
working with them to introduce a new Hilton
of signing more than 1,000 properties and
collection since 3Q21, as well as a declining profit
brand to China and realise our shared vision to
opening at least 400 hotels in China by 2024,
margin of the sector. Country Garden has been
build more than 1,000 Home2 Suites together.”
and today have 250 Hamptons listed as open.
able to access the capital market, but the difficult
As of April 2022, Funyard reported it had
Country Garden has been established for 30
funding access and operating environment for
signed 150 contracts to develop Home2 Suites
years, and is a Hong Kong listed company with
Chinese property developers adds to uncertainties.
sites across the country, with nine listed as
a substantial residential development business
The company’s leverage is higher than that of most
trading and a further nine listed as coming soon
in China as its leading division. In the year to
investment-grade peers.”
on the Hilton’s booking website.
2021, it delivered sales of RMB558bn, having
Hilton, Accor and Minor will all be hoping Country
123
Garden can shake off its woes and keep building
the weaker growth outlook there is now the huge
and by uniting Hyatt and AMR Collection’s
hotels.
change in geopolitics that makes autocratic regimes
complementary luxury all-inclusive portfolios
like that in the PRC much less attractive to Western
into the Inclusive Collection, we’re bringing
HA PERSPECTIVE
interests. There is a decoupling under way, and it
them world-class services under one portfolio
By Andrew Sangster: This story builds on another
would be a brave individual that claimed they know
with more all-inclusive resorts than ever.”
that painted a gloomy picture of the long-term
how far this will go. China looks unlikely to start
prospects in China. I say gloomy only in that the
sharing Western values anytime soon.
previous outlook had been so bullish: now it is much more moderate.
China will remain a significant market for hotels but not quite yet at the level of North America or
programme, enabling members to earn and burn points at a broader range of resorts.
There are two issues with growth in China:
Europe, particularly for non-Chinese brands. The
At Accor, the group has launched a multi-
whether it will happen to the extent envisaged and
Western global major hotel brand companies need
branded All-Inclusive Collection, building on its
whether it will be profitable. Even when I was more
to start reframing their growth ambitions with more
experience with the Rixos brand. Rixos claims
bullish on China prospects, I had doubts about the
of a European lens. Europe is an already established
market leadership in Turkey, the Middle East
incredible numbers being talked about. But these
market, albeit one where they have struggled to
and Central Asia, with 24 resorts open and
have been largely confounded. The openings have,
make as much headway in.
a further 26 signed. Now, it will add similar properties under the Fairmont, Sofitel, Pullman,
pretty much, happened. Typically, these master development deals create a flurry of interest for both the brand and the developer – which suits both parties – but then quietly fail to deliver on promises. But the fanfare does its job by
Sunbeds out for an inclusive summer
Swissotel and Movenpick brands. “The post-Covid travel market is witnessing a renewed desire for leisure stays,” said Gaurav Bhushan, CEO Accor lifestyle & entertainment
helping to secure debt and land opportunities, even
Hotel groups are waking up to the value of
and Co-CEO of Ennismore. “Accor’s strategic
if rarely to the extent that the bullish projections can
the leisure customer, reformatting their offer
decision to double down on the all-inclusive
be met. Except, it seems, in China. Will it be so again?
as resort business is set to boom through
segment, the fastest growing sector in this
I’m not so sure. Property developers in the PRC are
the coming summer. Major players are also
market and build upon its success with Rixos,
facing an existential crisis. Evergrande is just part of
responding to an uptick in consumer demand
capitalises on this opportunity.” Accor will
the story and there are many chapters to come in the
for all-inclusive holidays after two years of
look for opportunities in Europe, Middle East
property meltdown.
travel restrictions. Accor has just announced
Africa, Turkey, Asia and Central America and
There is much scepticism about official statistics
plans to develop a multi-brand collection of all-
the Caribbean, aiming to get to 100 all-inclusive
on the scale of the problem with independent
in resort offerings, while Hyatt is shuffling its
resorts within the next five years.
economists typically painting a much gloomier
portfolio after the acquisition of Apple Leisure.
Hyatt’s Apple acquisition has fundamentally
picture. The unofficial sources suggest that property
The leisure boost was also evident in first
shifted the Hyatt business, as was evident
development and related industries account for as
quarter figures from Minor International, and
in first quarter results, which CEO Mark
much as 30% of Chinese economic output and this is
from Spanish groups Melia and NH.
Hoplamazian presented with barely a mention
likely to contract to represent 15%. In most Western
At Hyatt, a new Inclusive Collection has been
of city centre hotels. The figures were, he said,
developed economies the property sector is more like
pulled together, giving guests a clear choice for
“the strongest demonstration yet of how Hyatt
10% of GDP.
those who prefer to pay an all-in price for their
is evolving as a fundamentally stronger and
Optimists will point out that the Chinese
stay. The collection pulls together six recently
better positioned company,” with transient
Communist Party is seeking to boost domestic
acquired Apple brands, with Hyatt’s existing
leisure now responsible for around half of
demand, moving away from mostly export-driven
Ziva and Zilara brands, plus a new brand yet to
current business.
growth. This will certainly boost hotel demand
launch, Vivid.
within China.
124
Over coming months, the AMR properties are also being brought into Hyatt’s loyalty
“Our
customer
base
and
portfolio
In total, the collection amounts to 107
concentration allow us to realise a consistent
Whether the CCP succeeds in shifting its growth
properties, both in the Americas and across
rate premium in this environment. The strongest
model from exports to domestic demand is
Europe. Amy Weinberg, Hyatt’s senior vice
demonstration of that was March and April,
questionable. Most likely there will be a significant
president for loyalty, brand marketing and
where we achieved a system-wide average rate
growth slowdown with the current 5% or less a year
consumer insights, explained the rationale:
of USD195 and USD199, respectively, the two
growth being the new normal, rather than the 10%
“We heard from our guests and members that
highest ADR months in Hyatt’s history.” With
plus enjoyed in the past few decades. Coupled with
they are looking for more all-inclusive options,
around 80% of earnings generated within the
BUSINESS CENTRE
Americas, the group benefited from the earlier
HA PERSPECTIVE
look forward to expanding our venture soon in
recovery of those markets, he acknowledged.
By Chris Bown: Leisure has returned faster than
locations such as these.”
“We have reached a new phase in this recovery,
business, that is clear – but its return has also
Cairn director Aneil Handa told Hotel Analyst
where actualised performance and future
encouraged hotel groups to refocus on what looks to
the joint venture “is a co-investment platform
bookings clearly validate our own confidence
have the best opportunity, and right now the lagging
- it enables us to have more firepower. And the
in the future. ALG is trending significantly
business and group segment is far less in favour than
aim is to create institutional assets”.
ahead of our expectations in every measurable
prior to the pandemic. Is this a fundamental shift in
The group, which reported revenues of
dimension. We’re making quick and meaningful
focus? Maybe for the next couple of years at least, as
GBP91.2m in the year to April 2020, operates a
integration progress and foresee reaching our
the world of business works out whether work from
number of food and beverage venues alongside
2023 earnings target significantly ahead of
home remains a thing, and online meetings shrink
its hotel portfolio, and is a major operating
schedule. We told you when we closed the deal
back as a phenomenon.
platform with around 3,000 staff. Eleven
that we expected to be able to demonstrate a
Meanwhile, Hyatt’s acquisition of Apple looks
properties operate under its Cairn Collection
low double-digit multiple by the end of 2023.
to have been a brilliant deal – either by luck or
banner, while there are also hotels under
We’ve already done it.
judgement, the timing could not have been better
Marriott, IHG, Accor and Hilton flags.
“It’s going to be difficult for me to moderate
and the buyer is enjoying far more upside than they
Cairn’s last major growth step was in 2016,
my enthusiasm, because the data is quite clear.
ever expected. And thanks to a war in Europe that has
when it acquired five hotels from the Hotel
The embedded ADR in our Q2 bookings for the
brought spiking inflation, consumers are coming to
Collection, with funding support from long-
AMResorts business is up 22% over 2019 levels.
love the assurance of all-inclusive pricing.
term banking partner HSBC.
And if you look at the Americas, outside of ALG
Cairn has previously joint-ventured with
for Hyatt, our leisure-focused business is up
Starwood Capital, rebranding one of its assets
38% in rates for Q2 bookings.” Spanish leisure resorts are also bouncing
Investors back operators
to provide a launch vehicle for Barry Sternlicht’s Treehouse brand in London. Cairn agreed in 2019
back, allowing CEOs to finally look forward
Investors are lining up to back UK hotels,
to refurbish its St Georges Hotel in Langham
with confidence. At Melia, CEO Gabriel Escarrer
confident that the market is returning strongly,
Place, to create the 95-room launchpad for a
Jaume commented: “The full recovery of resort
and setting aside short-term economic worries.
brand Sternlicht promised would be “a hotel
hotels is now expected, with a record-breaking
PGIM Real Estate has agreed a joint venture with
that revels in the fun of it all and doesn’t take
Easter in Spanish resort destinations and the top
Cairn Hotels, with the two working together
itself too seriously”. Having reopened after the
tourist destinations in the Mediterranean - we
on new acquisitions. And private investor
pandemic, the hotel is now trading well and in
expect a summer season with a higher RevPAR
Mactaggart Family & Partners has doubled down
May had its best month to-date.
and average rate than 2019.”
on its hotel commitment, buying the Sleeperz
Melia has been growing its business with travel
business and priming it for expansion.
Handa said Cairn had kept all its hotels open during the pandemic, enabling it to retain core
agencies and tour operators, particularly via its
Privately held Cairn, which currently operates
management teams and exploit blue collar
MeliaPro.com channel. The company has linked
33 hotels across the UK, is gearing up to
business from essential workers. That business
with almost 56,000 travel agency partners, and
acquire more properties. It has set up a new
demand has stayed strong, and in May the
has more than 131,000 travel agents signed up
arms-length division, Madison Cairn, to work
group averaged 80% occupancy.
to its Melia Rewards programme. In its earnings
with PGIM as a co-investor, as it seeks out
Madison Cairn intends to look at both
report, NH Hotels noted a strong rebound in
acquisition targets. The pair have already picked
standing assets in need of upgrading, but
the leisure market since mid-February. First
off their first acquisition, an as-yet unnamed
will also cast an eye over new developments,
quarter occupancy averaged 55%, growing to
hotel in Brighton.
perhaps providing funding to unlock stuck
70% in March. For April, NH said RevPAR across
“We are delighted to be working with the
projects. Cairn’s experience managing hotels
Spain as a whole beat the 2019 comparable. In
Madison Cairn team, who are one of the most
under a variety of major brands, as well as on
Italy, occupancy reached 54% in March, while
experienced operators in the sector,” said
their own, provides options when repositioning,
in Benelux the figure improved to 47%. “The
Charles Crowe, managing director and head of
said Handa.
Easter break, when we revisited pre-Covid
UK transactions at PGIM Real Estate. “We share
And seasoned hotel investor Mactaggart
levels, and the excellent trend in bookings,
their conviction that the prospects for selected
has acquired a majority stake in niche brand
lead us to believe that 2022 will mark a full
good-value domestic leisure markets have
Sleeperz, buying out investors Costain and
recovery,” said CEO of NH, Ramon Aragones.
strengthened in light of recent events, and we
Connection Capital. The deal gives it control of a
125
BUSINESS CENTRE
budget hotel chain with sites in Cardiff Dundee,
place to trade. Having successfully integrated some
the exploration of differentiated investment
Edinburgh and Newcastle - which it plans to
substantial assets from its Hotel Collection purchase
strategies. Higher risk and lower liquidity are trade-
expand quickly. Mactaggart already owns the
back in 2016 and 2017, Cairn clearly knows what
offs for opportunities that offer better returns.
Resident brand, which itself has four London
needs to be done to turn a newly purchased hotel
Investing in hotels and other forms of operational
hotels, one in Liverpool and a pipeline site in
into a profitably trading asset. It has visibility across
real estate have historically been perceived as higher
Edinburgh due to launch in 2024.
the branded landscape, from Holiday Inn to Indigo
risk relative to more established real estate asset
and DoubleTree, as well as knowing how to operate
classes. But the changing dynamics of real estate
some substantial standalone properties.
investment, where occupier markets are in a higher
“Sleeperz is a different but complementary guest product and investment strategy, alongside our Resident Hotels platform, and
With PGIM sitting alongside, it’s ready to go. But
state of flux than usual, notably in retail and office,
underlines our faith in the hotel sector and
it shares the same challenge as investor Mactaggart
is helping to change attitudes to other so-called
city-centre hotels in particular,” commented
as it seeks to expand Sleeperz and The Resident: all
alternative real estate segments.
Mactaggart CEO William Laxton.
that’s needed now, is to find suitable acquisition
The Sleeperz brand is set to come under
targets at the right price.
the management of seasoned hotelier David
it does right now.
Orr, who leads the Resident and recently
HA PERSPECTIVE
piloted the brand’s Covent Garden hotel to win
By Andrew Sangster: It used to be the preserve of
Tripadvisor’s best UK hotel award for 2022. “We
private equity to enter the market by buying up a
look forward to engaging with property owners
platform, adding to it and then exiting. But longer-
and institutions as well as securing sites direct
term money is now keen on platforms too, seeing
as we expand the brand,” commented Orr.
them as the way to buy-in expertise to make further
“There are aligned values and synergies between
investments in operational real estate.
Sleeperz and The Resident as a platform, as well
PGIM published a whitepaper at the end of March
as significant differences, and this brand gives
outlining its own thinking. Called ‘New Frontiers,
us the opportunity to access more destinations
finding the untapped opportunities in alts’ it said:
in the UK.”
“Private alternatives have the potential to unlock
Also hoping to tap into a market where investment funds are looking for major
substantial yields and longer-term credit protection over comparable public assets”.
hospitality assets are the owners of London’s
Back in 2020, PGIM also predicted that big
Hard Rock Hotel. Starwood Capital and
institutional asset managers might be a suitable
L+R jointly own the 1,017-room asset, with
home for investment styles that were previously done
Bloomberg reporting JLL and Eastdil Secured
by independent and niche investment managers.
have been hired to seek out potential buyers.
The relative outlook for hotel and operational real estate investment has rarely looked as benevolent as
The multi-affiliate model (sometimes called
However, any sale would also have to take
multi-boutique) combines the benefits of size with
account of the lease on the building, currently
independence. The appeal of this approach explains
held by GLH, who engineered the rebrand to
why the big names of investment are now dabbling
Hard Rock. The index linked lease has a break
in the ponds of hotels and other operational real
in 2031 but according to a recent assessment
estate asset classes.
by agents, is overrented to the extent that, as
PGIM’s deal with Cairn is also interesting in that
of February 2021, the leasehold interest had a
it combines what might be seen as a single family
value of minus GBP31m.
office with an institutional investor, albeit via a separate entity on an arms-length basis. Similar
126
HA PERSPECTIVE
combinations seem a likely outcome of the current
By Chris Bown: As with so many other UK hotel
environment.
businesses, Cairn suffered brutal losses during the
Equity valuations are close to all-time highs,
pandemic. But as one of those that kept on trading,
particularly in North America, but also in Europe. The
it is benefitting from the upturn as customers
highest inflation since the 1970s and rising interest
return but, more importantly, it has the staff in
rates is creating market volatility which encourages
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
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BUSINESS CENTRE
1.
2.
3.
4.
Performance benchmarking for the global hospitality industry 1. London
3. Jeddah
Occupancy 72.0% ADR GBP151.42 RevPAR GBP108.98
Occupancy 64.4% ADR SAR901.40 RevPAR SAR580.62
2. Berlin
4. Sydney
Owing to increased business travel and an influx of tourists through the Easter holidays, April 2022 saw London’s hotel industry report its highest monthly occupancy since February 2020. Daily occupancy stayed above 60% throughout the month, with the exception of Easter Monday (50.2%). The highest occupancy level was recorded on Tuesday 26 April (83.7%) indicating a return of corporate demand.
Berlin’s hotels reported their highest monthly occupancy and room rates since late 2019 according to preliminary data for May 2022, with music, sporting and trade events amongst those attracting travellers. Occupancy was the highest since November 2019, though it is still 6.7% lower than the pre-pandemic comparable (May 2019), while ADR and RevPAR exceeded 2019 levels.
Occupancy 77.9% ADR EUR114.19 RevPAR EUR88.90
128
As religious tourism rebounds and hotel developers look to new opportunities across Saudi Arabia, Jeddah has reported its strongest performance since September 2019. But despite the gains, each of the KPIs are still significantly lower than the pre-pandemic comparables from May 2019 – occupancy (-6.4%), ADR (-29.4%) and RevPAR (-33.9%).
Following Australia’s reopening of international borders, hotel performance in key markets is showing signs of improvement. According to data for May 2022, Sydney hotels reported steady occupancy, while room rates fell slightly from the prior month. The highest daily occupancy for the month (82.8%) came on 28 May, the first Saturday of Vivid Sydney, a city-wide music and light festival.
Occupancy 65.1% ADR AUD233.96 RevPAR AUD152.32
STR provides premium data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights for global hospitality sectors. For more information and to subscribe visit: www.str.com
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Octagon Point 5 Cheapside London EC2V 6AA www.adassociates.london
AHEAD, the Awards for Hospitality Experience and Design, has revealed this year’s finalists for the Asia and Americas regions. From an eco-friendly no-walls, no-doors retreat nestled in the Balinese jungle to an artistic haunt in downtown Brooklyn, both shortlists demonstrate the wide variety of hospitality experiences on offer today, as well as the quality and originality of architecture and interior design concepts. This year also sees the introduction of a Sustainability award, open to hotel projects that have demonstrably followed principles of sustainability through the entire design-and-build process, from masterplanning and construction to fit-out and FF&E selection, as well as in day-to-day operations. “We first attempted to get a Sustainability category off the ground ten years ago, but at the time there weren’t
enough hotels that took the issue seriously enough to warrant an award,” explains Awards Director Matt Turner. “That has changed in significant measure now and we will be looking at our potential winners in forensic detail; beyond the usual certifications to company culture, operational policies and guest experience as well as design details.” Projects will be assessed by a panel of industry experts – chaired in Asia by Troy Hickox of Galaxy Entertainment Group, and in Americas by Gary Dollens of Hyatt Hotels Corporation – who will take into account both creative excellence and commercial viability. The winners will then be announced during live ceremonies in Singapore and New York, with owners, operators, architects and interior designers all in attendance. To secure your spot, tickets are available via the Sleeper Media store.
www.aheadawards.com
HOTEL CONVERSION Crystalbrook Kingsley – Newcastle, Australia Crystalbrook Collection / EJE Architecture / Suede Interior Design Osborn House – Bundanoon, Australia Adam Abrams / Linda Boronkay Design Studio / Mac Design Studio Shangri-La Shougang Park – Beijing, China Shougang Group / Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts / Lissoni Casal Ribeiro Six Senses Fort Barwara – Rajasthan, India Espire Hospitality / Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas / Panika / Abhikram / Mitchell & Eades / ASA Design India
B A R , C LU B O R LO U N G E
HOTEL NEWBUILD
BKK Social Club at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River – Thailand Country Group Development / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / Hamiltons International / AvroKO
Hyatt Centric Melbourne – Australia Little Group / Hyatt Hotels Corporation / Architectus / Hecker Guthrie
Argo at Four Seasons Hong Kong – China Sun Hung Kai Properties / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / AB Concept The Aubrey at Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong – China Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group / Wilkinson & Cilley / Silverfox Studios Tease at The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon – Thailand King Power International / Standard International / Hayon Studio
Sanya Sumei Skyline Coast Boutique Hotel – Shenzhen, China Sanya Sumei Skyline Coast Boutique Hotel / Songhua Liu / Chunlei Zhao / GS Design Taoxichuan Hotel – Jingdezhen, China Jingdezhen Taoyi Culture Development Co. / Hyatt Hotels Corporation / David Chipperfield Architects / AIM Architecture The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon – Thailand King Power International / Standard International / Hayon Studio
E V E N T S PA C E S
H O T E L R E N O VAT I O N & R E S T O R AT I O N
Crowne Plaza Hangzhou Science City – China Hangzhou Aux Real Estate Co. / IHG / Interscape Design Associates
Canopy by Hilton Xi’an Qujiang – China Xi’an Qujiang Cultural Industry Investment Co. / Hilton Worldwide / Infinity Junction Design / HBA
Hilton Singapore Orchard – Singapore OUE / Hilton Worldwide / DP Architects / Avalon Collective W Osaka – Japan Sekisui House / Marriott International / Nikken Sekkei / Tadao Ando Architect & Associates / Concrete
Finolhu – Baa Atoll, Maldives Seaside Collection / Muza Lab Hilton Singapore Orchard – Singapore OUE / Hilton Worldwide / DP Architects / Avalon Collective
W Xiamen – China Powerlong Real Estate Holdings / Marriott International / Tongji University Architecture & Design / HBA
Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay – Singapore UOL Group / Pan Pacific Hotels Group / FDAT Architects
GUESTROOMS
L A N D S C A P I N G & O U T D O O R S PA C E S
Buahan – A Banyan Tree Escape – Bali Banyan Tree Holdings / Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts / Gede Kresna / Ramawijaya International Design / Studio Tana
Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape – Bali Banyan Tree Holdings / Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts / Gede Kresna / Ramawijaya International Design / Studio Tana
Hotel Indigo Inuyama Urakuen Garden – Aichi, Japan Nagoya Railroad Co. / IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan / KKS Group
Patina Maldives – Fari Islands, Maldives Pontiac Land Group / Capella Hotel Group / Studio MK27
Hotel Indigo Suzhou Grand Canal – China Longfor Properties Co. / IHG / UA Studio 7 / HBA
Roku Kyoto, LXR Hotels & Resorts – Japan Tokyu Land Corporation / Hilton Worldwide / Tokyu Architects + Engineers / 10 Landscape Associates / Blink Design Group
Roku Kyoto, LXR Hotels & Resorts – Japan Tokyu Land Corporation / Hilton Worldwide / Tokyu Architects + Engineers / Blink Design Group
V Villas Phuket – Thailand MGallery by Accor / Studio Gronda / OBA Architects
AHEAD
L O B B Y & P U B L I C S PA C E S
S PA & W E L L N E S S
Hilton Singapore Orchard – Singapore OUE / Hilton Worldwide / DP Architects / Avalon Collective
Joali Being – Bodufushi, Maldives Gurok / Autoban / Atolye4n
Hyatt Regency Koh Samui – Thailand Samui Vipat Co. / Hyatt Hotels Corporation / The Office of Bangkok Architects / August Design Consultant / P Landscape Co.
Flow at Patina Maldives – Maldives Pontiac Land Group / Capella Hotel Group / Studio MK27
Shangri-La Shuogang Park – Beijing, China Shougang Group / Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts / Lissoni Casal Ribeiro W Osaka – Japan Sekisui House / Marriott International / Nikken Sekkei / Tadao Ando Architect & Associates / Concrete
The Ritz-Carlton Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands – Male, Maldives Pontiac Land Group / Marriott International / Kerry Hill Architects / WATG Away Spa at W Osaka – Japan Sekisui House / Marriott International / Nikken Sekkei / Tadao Ando Architect & Associates / Concrete
LO D G E S , C A B I N S & T E N T E D C A M P S
SUITE
Buahan – A Banyan Tree Escape – Bali Banyan Tree Holdings / Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts / Gede Kresna / Ramawijaya International Design / Studio Tana
Presidential Suite at Hilton Singapore Orchard – Singapore OUE / Hilton Worldwide / DP Architects / Avalon Collective
RAAS Chhatrasagar – Nimaj District, Rajasthan Walled City Hotels / Nikhilendra Singh / Studio Lotus Silky Oaks Lodge – Mossman, Australia Baillie Lodges / Gary Hunt / Pike Withers SUJÁN Sher Bagh – Rajasthan, India The Sujan Life / AndBeyond / Anjali and Jaisal Singh
RESORT Joali Being – Bodufushi, Maldives Gurok / Autoban / Atolye4n Roku Kyoto, LXR Hotels & Resorts – Japan Tokyu Land Corporation / Hilton Worldwide / Tokyu Architects + Engineers / Blink Design Group The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands – Male, Maldives Pontiac Land Group / Marriott International / Kerry Hill Architects / WATG The Standard, Hua Hin – Thailand Sansiri / Standard International / Onion Architects / Shelley Kwok / Studio Freehand
R E S TA U R A N T Estate at Hilton Singapore Orchard – Singapore OUE / Hilton Worldwide / DP Architects / EDG Design Man Wah at Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong – China Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group / Wilkinson & Cilley / Silverfox Studios Jampa at Tri Vananda – Phuket, Thailand Montara Hospitality / Habita / Arsomsilp Community and Environmental Architect / AvroKO Peacock Alley at Waldorf Astoria Xiamen – China Xiamen Paragon Real Estate Co. / Hilton Worldwide / Aedas / AB Concept
The Beach House at Patina Maldives – Maldives Pontiac Land Group / Capella Hotel Group / Studio MK27 André Fu Suite at The Upper House – Hong Kong, China Swire Hotels / André Fu Studio Extreme Wow Suites at W Osaka – Japan Sekisui House / Marriott International / Nikken Sekkei / Tadao Ando Architect & Associates / Concrete
HOTEL CONVERSION Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel – Los Angeles, USA The Kor Group / Proper Hospitality / Omgivning / Kelly Wearstler Hotel Saint Vincent – New Orleans, USA MML Hospitality / Zach Kupperman / Christian Strobel / Jayson Seidman / MetroStudio / Lambert McGuire Design Pendry Chicago – Illinois, USA Montage International / Rodina / Booth Hansen / Studio Munge Rosewood São Paolo – Brazil BM Empreendimentos / CTF / Rosewood Hotel Group / Jean Nouvel / Philippe Starck
B A R , C LU B O R LO U N G E
HOTEL NEWBUILD
Nearly Ninth at Arlo Midtown – New York, USA Quadrum Global / Gerber Group / Marvel Architects / Meyer Davis
Ace Hotel Brooklyn – USA Bond Street Lessee / Ace Hotel Group / Stonehill Taylor / Roman and Williams
Panorama Room at Graduate Hotel Roosevelt Island – New York, USA AJ Capital / Call Mom / Stonehill Taylor / Parts and Labor Design Desert 5 Spot at Tommie Hollywood – Los Angeles, USA Relevant Group / Ten Five Hospitality / Hyatt Hotels Corporation / Steinberg Hart / Studio Collective / Bernadette Blanc The Pool Club at Virgin Hotels New Orleans – USA The Buccini/Pollin Group / CallisonRTKL / Virgin Hotels / Mathes Brierre Architects / Logan Killen Interiors
Casa Silencio – Oaxaca, Mexico El Silencio Holdings / Casa Silencio / Alejandro D’Acosta / Martina D’Acosta Etéreo – Riviera Maya, Mexico GIM Desarrollos / Auberge Resorts Collection / Migdal Arquitectos / Meyer Davis Hotel Terrestre – Oaxaca, Mexico R&B+K Constructora / Grupo Habita / Taller de Arquitectura X / Fernanda Romandia & Diana Backal
E V E N T S PA C E S
H O T E L R E N O VAT I O N & R E S T O R AT I O N
1 Hotel Toronto – Ontario, Canada Mohari Hospitality / SH Hotels & Resorts / The Architects Alliance / Rockwell Group
Fairmont Olympic Hotel – Seattle, USA Tamarack Capital Partners / Fairmont Hotels & Resorts / Accor / MG2 / Lázaro Rosa-Violán / Parker-Torres Design
Montage Big Sky – Montana, USA Lone Mountain Land Company / Montage Hotels & Resorts / Hart Howerton / BraytonHughes Design Studios
Park Lane New York – USA The Witkoff Group / Highgate / PBDW Architects / Yabu Pushelberg
The Langham – Boston, USA Great Eagle Holdings / Langham Hotels International / Dyer Brown / Richmond International
The Newbury Boston – USA Highgate / New England Development / Jeffrey Beers International / CBT Architects / Champalimaud Design / Ken Fulk / Major Food Group
Tommie Hollywood – Los Angeles, USA Relevant Group / Hyatt Hotels Corporation / Steinberg Hart / Studio Collective / Bernadette Blanc
The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman – Cayman Islands Dart Enterprises / Marriott International / Champalimaud Design
GUESTROOMS
L A N D S C A P I N G & O U T D O O R S PA C E S
Ace Hotel Brooklyn – USA Bond Street Lessee / Ace Hotel Group / Stonehill Taylor / Roman and Williams
Habitas Bacalar – Mexico Habitas
Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans – USA Two Canal Owners / Woodwards Interests / Carpenter & Company / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / Cambridge Seven Architects / Bill Rooney Studio / BRSS Studio Habitas Bacalar – Mexico Habitas Rosewood Sand Hill – California, USA Rosewood Hotel Group / NicoleHollis
Hacienda AltaGracia – Costa Rica Gencom Group / Auberge Resorts Collection / The Friedkin Group / Garnier Arquitectos / Nina Gotlieb / Greenplan Playa Viva – Juluchuca, Mexico David Leventhal / Playa Viva / Nomadic Resorts / Jorg Stamm / Regenesis Rosewood São Paolo – Brazil BM Empreendimentos / CTF / Rosewood Hotel Group / Jean Nouvel / Philippe Starck
AHEAD
L O B B Y & P U B L I C S PA C E S
S PA & W E L L N E S S
Ace Hotel Brooklyn – USA Bond Street Lessee / Ace Hotel Group / Stonehill Taylor / Roman and Williams
Habitas Bacalar – Mexico Habitas
El Prado Hotel – California, USA Ferrado / The Ness Group / Crestline Hotels & Resorts / Carrasco & Associates / NicoleHollis Etéreo – Riviera Maya, Mexico GIM Desarrollos / Auberge Resorts Collection / Migdal Arquitectos / Meyer Davis Fairmont Olympic Seattle – USA Tamarack Capital Partners / Fairmont Hotels & Resorts / Accor / MG2 / Lázaro Rosa-Violán / Parker-Torres Design
Hotel Terrestre – Oaxaca, Mexico R&B+K Constructora / Grupo Habita / Taller de Arquitectura X / Fernanda Romandia & Diana Backal Piaule Catskill – New York, USA Piaule / Garrison Architects Awana Spa at Resorts World Las Vegas – USA Genting / Hilton Worldwide / Marnell Companies / Rodrigo Vargas Design
LO D G E S , C A B I N S & T E N T E D C A M P S
SUITE
Arcana – Ontario, Canada Arcana / Leckie Studio Architecture + Design
Willow House at 1 Hotel Toronto – Canada Mohari Hospitality / SH Hotels & Resorts / The Architects Alliance / Rockwell Group
Inness – New York, USA Taavo Somer / Post Company / CBSK Ironstate / Michael Barry / Lee Pollock / Dutton Architecture / Miranda Brooks Piaule Catskill – New York, USA Piaule / Garrison Architects Playa Viva – Juluchuca, Mexico David Leventhal / Playa Viva / Nomadic Resorts / Jorg Stamm / Regenesis
Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort – USA Blackstone Group / Hilton Worldwide / PHX Architecture / Virserius Studio Rosewood São Paolo – Brazil BM Empreendimentos / CTF / Rosewood Hotel Group / Jean Nouvel / Philippe Starck Rooftop Suite, The Modern Wing at The Drake Hotel – Toronto, Canada The Drake Hotel / Drake Hotel Properties / Diamond Schmitt / DesignAgency / +Tongtong
RESORT Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort – USA Blackstone Group / Hilton Worldwide / PHX Architecture / Virserius Studio
TRANSPORT
Etéreo – Riviera Maya, Mexico GIM Desarrollos / Auberge Resorts Collection / Migdal Arquitectos / Meyer Davis
Aqua Nera Aqua Expeditions / Studio Noor / DJC Studio
Habitas Bacalar – Mexico Habitas
Ponant – Le Commandant Charcot Ponant / Stirling Design International / Jean-Philippe Nuel Studio / Jean-Michel Wilmotte
Zadún, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve – Baja California, Mexico Grupo Questor / Marriott International / Abax / Uribe Krayer
R E S TA U R A N T The George at Fairmont Olympic Hotel – Seattle, USA Tamarack Capital Partners / Fairmont Hotels & Resorts / Accor / MG2 / Lázaro Rosa-Violán Dowling’s at The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel – New York, USA The Carlyle / Rosewood Hotel Group / tonychi studio Seneca Trattoria at The InterContinental San Diego – USA CH Projects / AvroKo Primo at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando – USA Craig Lovett / Trinity Investments / Marriott International / Baker Barrios Architecture / Dutch East Design
Vidanta Elegant Grupo Vidanta / Rockwell Group Celebrity Beyond Royal Caribbean Group / Celebrity Cruises / Tom Wright / WKK / Kelly Hoppen CBE
20 SEPTEMBER 2022
6 OCTOBER 2022
10 NOVEMBER 2022
18 NOVEMBER 2022
ANDAZ – SINGAPORE
WEYLIN – NEW YORK
W THE PALM – DUBAI
EVOLUTION – LONDON
EVENT SPONSORS
www.aheadawards.com
C O M P L E T E R E N O VAT I O N O F T H E H I S T O R I C G R A D E I I L I S T E D B O W S T R E E T M A G I S T R AT E S ’ C O U R T I N T O A L U X U R I O U S B O U T I Q U E H O T E L .
Working in close collaboration with the professional team, BECK are delighted to have been the main
contractor on NoMad London. To find out more, please contact Vanessa Budd: vbudd@beckinteriors.com
138
EVENTS
Sleeper Sessions 10-12 May 2022 MYKONOS The hospitality industry descends on Mykonos for the first-ever Sleeper Sessions, where an immersive programme journeys from Ancient Greek architecture through to modern day design. Words: Ben Thomas • Photography: © Strange Company
A
rchitecture and design have been
for specifiers and suppliers to share ideas
by Sleeper’s Editor-at-Large Guy Dittrich,
synonymous with Greece since ancient
and collaborate on active hotel projects. The
which saw design visionaries and thought
times, when landmarks such as the
event was first announced in the midst of the
leaders from across the region and beyond take
Acropolis of Athens rose to form monumental
pandemic, when it became increasingly apparent
to the stage for debates and deliberation; Sync,
citadels, with their distinct structural and
that the sector was in need of a new style of
a meetings schedule powered by an algorithm
decorative features going on to
event, one that would serve their business needs
matching specifiers with suppliers; Sustenance,
and take care of their wellbeing.
a celebration of authenticity and connection
influence
structures in the modern-day. While the mainland is home to temples and
The resulting Sessions has been designed
through local crafts and artisanal activities
amphitheatres, the Cyclades are better known
around connection, with scheduled meetings
like yoga, pottery and sketching; and Social,
for their whitewashed houses and blue-roofed
that enable delegates to do business on a more
bringing people together in informal settings
churches, with the island of Mykonos a striking
intimate scale, and a programme of artisanal
to strike up new friendships.
example of this architectural style. Nicknamed
experiences that get the creative juices flowing.
The Symposium programme saw the notion
The Island of the Winds due to the seasonal
For the inaugural event, attendees headed
of old meets new emerge as the overarching
gusts that whip up over the Aegean, the island
to the south of the island to Royal Myconian,
theme of conversation, a narrative that took
has gained popularity in recent years, with
where suites cascade down the hillside towards
attendees on a journey from Ancient Greek
tourists flocking to visit its famous windmills,
the crystal clear waters of Elia Beach. “Well, we
architecture through to modern day design. The
sandy shores and ever-growing collection of
made it!” said Matt Turner, Sleeper’s Editor-
voyage began with an insightful presentation
beach clubs, bars and restaurants.
in-Chief, as he welcomed the crowd from the
from Dimitris Karampatakis of Athens-based
As such, the island has become a hotspot
hotel’s Sunset Terrace against a sparkling
K-Studio, who put contemporary hospitality
for investment, welcoming dozens of luxury
Aegean backdrop. “Even during the darkest
in context by discussing the inspiration
hotels. In the past, the market has primarily
days of the pandemic, we were steadfast in our
for his landmark projects across the South
been dominated by local operators and small
belief that real-life hospitality events would
Mediterranean, from Kalesma in Mykonos to
independents, however major international
return, holding more intrinsic value than virtual
Dexamenes Seaside Hotel in Kourouta, winner
players are increasingly entering the mix,
alternatives. But we also felt that people were
of the AHEAD Global Ultimate Accolade in 2020.
seeking out prime seafront sites to plant their
going to want to do things differently.”
Speaking on Dexamenes, Karampatakis
flags. A fitting destination, then, for the first
Elevating the traditional conference format,
explained how his studio transformed the
instalment of Sleeper Sessions – a bi-annual
the Sleeper Sessions agenda was split into four
former wine factory into a hospitality venue,
design forum that provides a new opportunity
elements: Symposium, a talks programme hosted
complementing the brutality of the derelict
139
Celebrating authenticity and connection, the Sleeper Sessions programme incorporated talks, scheduled meetings and networking opportunities as well as artisanal activities such as sketching and pottery
structures with contemporary interventions:
and Katja Margaritoglou of Block722 Architects
meetings over the course of the two days.
“If a project has a story and layers of meaning,
revealing how they use materiality to link old
Amongst those in attendance were design
there’s immediately an attractiveness to it. A
with new. Telling all of the design process for
directors and specifiers from hotel groups
renovation usually involves returning to the
The Royal Senses and Numo Ierapetra, both
such as Edyn, Hilton Worldwide, Marriott
glory days of a property, but with Dexamenes
in Crete, Tsoutsikou explained how “the local
International, Six Senses and Puro Hotels, along
we aimed to retain much of the original site.”
way of life and human connection were the
with leaders from design practices including
Applying a philosophical lens later that
most important sources of inspiration” when
David Collins Studio, Anarchitect, Kelly Hoppen
afternoon, philosopher and author Massimo
selecting materials, with humble and modest
Interiors, AvroKo and Martin Brudnizki Design
Pugliucci discussed why Stoicism – which
finishes offset by sophisticated solutions – or
Studio. Meanwhile, the suppliers represented a
teaches the development of self-control
“smooth with rough, detailed with simple”
wide range of product categories and services,
and fortitude as a means of overcoming
as Tsoutsikou put it – to create interesting
with bathroom manufacturers like Laufen and
emotions – is experiencing a renaissance post-
contrasts. Margaritoglou, whose portfolio
Kohler, furniture-makers RH and Stellar Works,
pandemic and how it can benefit architects and
includes the newly opened Casa Cook Samos as
and fitness equipment brand Technogym
designers. “Stoicism is about redirecting our
well as Olea All Suite Hotel in Zakynthos, also
showcasing their latest collections.
inner dialogues to make them more rational,
uses contrast by fusing her own mixed heritage
Enabling
reasonable and efficient – creating a serene
– a result of growing up in Sweden with a Greek
conversation
mindset,” he revealed, before sharing anecdotes
father and Finnish mother – to generate multi-
appointments, the Sustenance workshops –
from his books The Stoic Guide to a Happy Life
faceted schemes: “When living in Sweden, I
led by yoga teacher Anastasia Kalargyrou,
and The Quest for Character, which reinterpret
wanted to visit Greece and discover its culture,
philosopher Massimo Pugliucci, pottery master
life lessons given by Epictetus – a philosopher
and now after 24 years here, I want to discover
Iasonas Damianos and Caroline Smith of Urban
and former slave in Ancient Greece – and
more about Scandinavia. It’s an ongoing
Sketchliner – explored the lessons that could
provide leadership ideas.
journey, but I’ve come to realise that much of
be learnt from ancient times and why the world
my work draws on my personal background.”
is returning to basic pleasures in light of the
Moving through the years, day two of the
140
delegates beyond
to
continue
their
the
one-to-one
Symposium focused on today’s world, with
Slotted between the Design Dialectics
global pandemic. And when evening fell, drinks
talk of how leading studios are reviving the
sessions, a quick-fire overview by Caroline
receptions, dinners and further networking
ancient techniques through their projects. Titled
List of Tophotelprojects delivered insight on
opportunities allowed guests to catch up with
Design Dialectics, the two-part conversation
Greece’s pipeline, signifying the growth that
industry colleagues over local fare.
began with Maria Vafiadis of MKV Design
is yet to come. List began by presenting data
In something of a full-circle moment, the
– whose projects include The Romanos at
on global markets, before shining the spotlight
closing party was held in the rustic surrounds
Costa Navarino, Mykonos Riviera and Electra
on Greece’s construction pipeline, pointing to
of Scorpios – a modern interpretation of the
Metropolis in Athens – and Ria Vogiatzi of
the 53 projects – accounting for 6,945 rooms –
ancient Greek agora, designed as spaces to
Elastic Architects, which counts Browns Hotels,
currently on the boards, which include Banyan
galvanise the artistic, spiritual and social life of
Aman and Sir Hotels amongst its clientele. “We
Tree Varko Bay and One & Only Aesthesis as well
their community, much like Sleeper Sessions
use history as inspiration but in a considered
as Mandarin Oriental Costa Navarino and Raffles
itself. With the sun setting over the horizon,
manner, especially in Greece,” said Vafiadis.
Mykonos. Of the properties in the pipeline, 22
delegates gathered to enjoy a Greek feast cooked
“It’s all translated in the details.” Vogiatzi
are set to open before the end of this year, while
by chef Alexis Zopas and his culinary team, in
agreed, adding that “with every new hotel, we
a further 12 will arrive in 2023. Honing in on
what was a fitting end to a memorable debut.
examine which aspects of the vernacular should
key markets, Athens (7 projects) and Mykonos
be integrated or translated through our design,
(6 projects) have emerged as the hotspots for
Photography from the event, together with a mini
whether that be via architecture or interiors.”
new development.
documentary shot and edited by Strange Company,
Part two of Design Dialectics then delved
Projects were the subject of conversation
further into the resurgence of historic practices,
during the Sync schedule too, which saw each
with Constantina Tsoutsikou of Studio Lost
attendee given a minimum of 15 pre-selected
can be viewed online.
www.sleepersessions.com
EVENTS
141
“The line-up of speakers at The Lobby is on a different level. They are rich in ideas, thought-provoking and inspirational.” Jane Moyses, Director of Projects and FF&E – Hilton Worldwide
23rd August 2022 Villa Copenhagen – Denmark Welcome to The Lobby! The Lobby is an inspiring hospitality event with a focus on the Nordic countries. We bring the industry together to tackle key challenges affecting our planet and its people, offering attendees the opportunity to drive change in a meaningful way. The Crowd Meet the coolest crowd from Europe’s hotel world. We learn from each other – it’s as simple as that! The Lobby is a nourishing get-together where we network and exchange ideas for a better, more conscious hospitality industry. The Programme 22nd August 6pm-11pm Meet the Speakers – Exclusive Networking Location: Vipp Garage Sponsor Workshop During the Exclusive Networking Event, we host a workshop in which the sponsors discuss their sustainability efforts in forthcoming hotel projects. The specific subjects will be selected by friends of The Lobby, who are decision-makers from the European hotel industry.The workshop will be documented and the conclusions handed out to all guests.
23rd August 9.30am-5pm The Conference Location: Villa Copenhagen Throughout the day, speakers will include Serdar Kutucu of Slow; concept artists Riklin Brothers; Catherine Dolton of IHG; Werner Aisslinger of Studio Aisslinger; Cédric Etienne of Studio Corkinho; Marco Lemmers of Conscious Hotels; architect Reiulf Ramstad; and Guillaume Charny-Brunet of Space10, all of whom will discuss the environmental and social challenges faced and their impact on the hospitality industry in the years to come. After party 7pm-11pm Location: The Audo Stay in touch with regular updates on The Lobby website and social media channels. @thelobbycph
Book your ticket and get more info at www.thelobbycph.com
2022 Speakers
Serdar Kutucu CEO – Slow
Riklin Brothers Concept Artists – Zero Star Hotel
Catherine Dolton Chief Sustainability Officer – IHG
Werner Aisslinger Founder and Designer – Studio Aisslinger
Cédric Etienne Founder and Designer – Studio Corkinho
Marco Lemmers Founder and CEO – Concious Hotels
Reiulf Ramstad Founder and Architect – Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter
Guillaume Brunet Co-Founder – Space10
MEDIA PARTNER
HEADLINE SPONSORS
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© Massimo Listri
144
SPOTLIGHT
Retail to Residential to Resorts Having built a reputation in the retail and residential sectors over the past 26 years, Paolo Moschino Ltd is making its mark on hospitality. Words: Ben Thomas
hen Paolo Moschino arrived in London
W
Villa Igiea was a milestone property in more
village to come with a garden. Like in Milan,
at the age of 23, having completed a
ways than one, marking Paolo Moschino’s first
the hotel will be complemented by a series of
Political Science degree in Florence,
major foray into hospitality, as well as the
serviced apartments, which are set to feature
little did he know that his plan to reside in the
much-awaited restoration of Palermo’s most
homely interiors that deliver a true sense of
British capital for just a few months would later
famous Art Nouveau palazzo. Collaborating with
place. “Our ethos is made up of two overarching
turn into a lifelong career in interior design.
Olga Polizzi, Deputy Chairperson and Design
criteria: the location and the personality of the
The Italian creative began his profession at
Director of Rocco Forte Hotels, Moschino and
client,” Vergeylen reveals. “Of course, we have
the Nicholas Haslam showroom in Belgravia,
Vergeylen were sensitive in their approach to
our design toolbox and library of inspiration,
which he ran for four years before purchasing
the property, respecting its history, character
but getting under the skin of clients is key.”
the company in 1995, when Haslam left to
and atmosphere rather than taking away from
And do Paolo Moschino products find their
establish NH Studio. Soon after, his partner
the existing structure. “It’s a Grade II-listed
way into every project? “Only if they work with
Philip Vergeylen – who himself had worked in
building and considered iconic, but we didn’t
the scheme,” says Moschino. “Otherwise, we
financial services prior to fulfilling his dream
need to be told that, we felt that responsibility
have a bank of products from everywhere.”
of becoming a designer – joined the brand and
and had a world of inspiration,” they explain.
expanded its reach into the residential sector,
That bank now includes furniture, lighting
Having received positive feedback for the
and accessories from Palecek, which Paolo
scheme at Villa Igiea, the studio is looking to
Moschino Ltd exclusively distributes throughout
Since then, the pair have grown the retail
repeat their success in Milan, where Vergeylen
the UK and Europe. Having first discovered
portfolio, wholesale department and design
is overseeing the renovation of a former Baglioni
the American manufacturer six years ago, the
studio worldwide, with Moschino directing
property as well as the conversion of a palazzo
company now works closely with its partners
product development and Vergeylen leading
into a hotel and serviced apartments – the latter
across the Atlantic to source one-off products
the design studio. Despite their individual roles,
channelling a residential feel through vintage
for the showrooms in West London, as well as
Moschino confirms that all decisions taken
furniture. “Our renovation project in Milan
larger quantities for hospitality clients.
are mutual: “We’ve been working together
is completely different to Villa Igiea,” says
“There’s a symbiosis between all sides of
for so long that everything is now shared,”
Vergeylen. “First of all, it’s a city hotel and not
the business, so sometimes we design bespoke
he explains. “Business is our life, so the job
a building of any character; there is no book to
pieces in-house and other times we look
does not finish at six o’clock, it’s 24 hours-a-
read on its heritage, so we used Milan and its
elsewhere,” Vergeylen concludes. “We’re also
day.” This level of drive has seen the partners
fashion district as inspiration. We invented the
involved in lots of projects – both residential
venture into another new industry during recent
personality based on the location.”
and hospitality – and have three shops, so it
completing an apartment lauded by the press.
makes us much freer to explore the market.”
times, transferring their residential expertise to
The locally-inspired approach is being applied
hospitality with a number of projects in Europe.
in Portofino too, with one of the company’s
It’s this freethinking ethos that has seen Paolo
“Our first hotel was Villa Igiea in Sicily, which
residential clients appointing the duo to revive
Moschino journey from retail to residential and
we completed last year, and that has opened the
a charming boutique hotel on the seafront,
now to resorts. And the journey isn’t over yet.
door to further projects,” says Vergeylen.
which is the only property of its kind in the
www.paolomoschino.com
145
SPOTLIGHT FURNITURE
Furniture-makers take to Salone del Mobile and Clerkenwell Design Week to showcase their new launches for the hospitality market.
Carl Hansen & Søn Wishbone Chair (CH24) To celebrate more than 70 years of collaboration between Hans J. Wegner and Carl Hansen & Søn, the company is now expanding its partnership with London-based designer Ilse Crawford to include the 1949 Wishbone Chair in nine new matte colours that are eco-friendly, water-based and resilient. The shades champion plants, minerals and the soil that make up the raw beauty of the Nordic landscape, and can be used both individually or in harmony with each other. “Colours are so closely related to our emotions and mood,” says Crawford. “And we believe that these subdued tones will help create a warm, relaxed and natural environment.” www.carlhansen.com
SPOTLIGHT
2.
1.
3.
148
4.
1. Vincent Sheppard Norma Lounge Chair
2. Rolf Benz Rolf Benz 976
3. Laskasas Hector Armchair
4. Janua Basket
Vincent Sheppard spent several years developing the Frida lounge chair to achieve the perfect expression and optimal comfort before launching an indoor version entitled Norma. Available in dark oak, Norma brings together tactility with a sense of lightness and Scandinavian design aesthetics. The chair has a distinctive design that unites the dark stained oak and tactile rope, while its sturdy legs and a rounded frame support a generous seat made of tightlystrung rope. The Norma lounge chair also comes with the option of a cushion, which is shaped to the curves of the seat for additional comfort without compromising on design aesthetics. www.vincentsheppard.com
Rolf Benz expanded its product portfolio at Salone del Mobile with a versatile bistro table that combines elegant aesthetics with flexible functionality. Designed by Cologne-based studio Kaschkasch, Rolf Benz 976’s reduced style makes the table suitable for a range of hospitality and residential settings. The central element comprises three solid wood table legs that are invisibly connected to each other, combining to form an elegant and stable basis. Measuring 75x70cm, even in small spaces, the bistro table can be used with up to three chairs. Made in Germany, the bistro table is available in natural oak, stained black oak or American walnut. www.rolf-benz.com
Established in Porto in 2004, Laskasas is known for creating handmade furniture, upholstery and metalwork pieces for residential and commercial projects around the world. The products are manufactured using the expertise of craftsmen with decades of experience in operating its factory in north Portugal – one of the few remaining places where time serves quality and attention to detail. The company’s new Hector Armchair features a solid body structure combined with deep buttoning on the back to evoke a warm sophistication that contrasts with the metal feet on the legs. Laskasas designs are fully customisable with over 100 options to choose from. www.laskasas.com
German furniture manufacturer Janua has expanded its Basket collection to include a high table, low dining, console, mirror and sideboard. As the name Basket suggests, special attention is paid to the substructure, which gives the table a basket-like appearance. The basket struts, arranged at seemingly random intervals are different for each table and are precisely adapted to the shape and size of the respective basket. Through the use of natural materials, each table also has a strong individuality as no stone is like the other and each tree has its own natural features. Founded in 2005, Janua is a focused on creating timeless pieces rather than following trends. www.janua-moebel.com
SPOTLIGHT
2.
3.
1.
150
4.
1. Wehlers R.U.M Chair
2. Stellar Works Stay
3. UniFor / Molteni Group Principles
4. Table Place Chairs Kite Lounge
Wehlers, a Danish sustainable furniture brand that creates dining tables and chairs from waste materials, has launched in the UK. Designed by C.F. Møller, the R.U.M Chair – which stands for ReUsedMaterials – is made from various waste products including old computers, printers and car equipment, which has been sorted, cleaned and granulated before being melted into dark plastic to create the furniture. The company operates on the principal of a circular economy, meaning all the materials used in the production of R.U.M. can be 100% recycled for new Wehlers furniture. To distribute in the UK, the company has partnered with Innermost Plus. www.innermost.net
Stellar Works has unveiled Stay, its second collaboration with Italian architect Michele De Lucchi. Available in all standard wood finishes from Stellar Works’ signature collections, the dining table has a round top and is constructed from four pieces of wood that seamlessly join in the centre with a refined bevel edge design. The legs branch into two pieces, reminiscent of a tree but also ensuring stability. The chair comprises individual components, including a four-leaf clover seat, which is finished by hand to make each piece entirely unique. During production, the wood grain direction has also been controlled to highlight the natural material used. www.stellarworks.com
UniFor, a company of the Molteni Group specialising in workplace furnishing solutions, has presented Principles – developed in collaboration with international architecture firm OMA. The collection comprises more than 100 elements that can be configured in limitless ways for working in groups or independently. One such family, the spines of the collection, includes straight and curved partition panels that can be joined together to form individual pods for private calls and focused work, or semisecluded nooks for smaller meetings. Another family comprises ring-shaped sofas and soft islands that allow for more informal interaction. www.unifor.it
Commercial and hospitality furniture producer Table Place Chairs offers a complete design-led contract range, from sofas and modular seating to tables and interior objects, all with countless customisation options. Kite Lounge is a classic lounge chair with a retro feel, featuring a powder-coated metal frame that contrasts with distinctive upholstery. The industrial-grade flute lounge chair is also built for endurance, providing years of stylish yet practical performance. To customise the chair, interior designers can choose from any standard RAL powder coating colours for the steel frame, as well as any fabric or leather upholstery on the seat and back. www.tableplacechairs.com
Barbican, London
CLARKSON ROPE ARMCHAIR
making places for everyone_ outdoors
@tableplacechairs / +44 (0)330 1222 117 tableplacechairs.com
SPOTLIGHT
2.
3.
4.
1.
152
1. Kettal Altar
2. Minotti Horizonte
3. Expormim Cask
4. Ethnicraft Oak Eye Dining Chair
Furniture manufactuer Kettal presented a series of new product collections at Salone del Mobile in Milan, including the Altar table. Iconic Spanish interior designer Miguel Milá first conceived the Altar table in the mid-Sixties as an altar for his own wedding. It later became a table for everyday use, but was never produced. As if he were a master craftsman, Milá designed this piece based on the art of simplicity and efficiency. Its shape hides its complexity, yet at the same time reveals the wood’s own character, giving it life and prominence. The table’s constructive logic makes it strong enough in terms of structure, but formally a beautiful piece. www.kettal.com
Consistent with Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan’s design philosophy, the Horizonte modular seating system is the result of a clear architectural vision: a rigorous shape, raised 7cm off the ground thanks to a recessed plinth in matte black varnished metal, which gives the sofa a special feeling of suspension. The upholstered elements – seats, backrests and armrests – are located on the platform and have been conceived as large cushions with bold proportions and a strong personality. Pocketed springs inserted in variable-density polyurethanes meanwhile allow the memory of the shapes to be maintained and the seat to return to its original form. www.minotti.com
Norm Architects have been working on the principles of restraint and refinement since 2008, so Expormim called on them to deliver a collection with the purest lines and the fetching beauty of classic designs. Inspired by classical roundshaped furniture, the Cask collection comprises a sofa, loveseat and ottomans centred around two circular pieces of rattan. The dynamism that the two circumferences give to the structure is mollified by the temperance of the colour palette, although the wide range of available rattan finishes and textiles can also make the furniture pieces bold and cheerful to fit the mood of a more contemporary atmosphere. www.expormim.com
With sleek, angular front legs and flowing smooth connections, Ethnicraft’s new Eye Dining Chair is a solid wooden seating design that takes its name from its curved backrest, which is reminiscent of a winking eye. Designed by Alain van Havre, the chair is crafted from solid oak with a hardwax oil finish, with its subtle elegance and stylish edge versatile enough to enhance dining, hospitality and workspaces alike. The collection also received two awards in this year’s IIDA/ HD Expo Annual Product Design Awards, which honours innovation, environmental sustainability, functionality, and aesthetic or technical advancements in the hospitality industry. www.ethnicraft.com
T’ALPH table designed by Philippe Allaeys for marta; & Ellie chair designed by Allan Nøddebo for Feelgood Designs info@martaonline.eu • www.martaonline.eu
SPOTLIGHT
1.
2.
3.
4.
154
1. Morgan Kaya
2. Gervasoni Brise
3. PS Interiors Calma
4. L.Ercolani IO
Morgan has introduced two new dining chairs, expanding on the relaxed luxury of its Kaya collection. First launched as a trio of lounge chairs in 2019, Kaya embodies a contrast between the soft informality of simple, tailored upholstery and the clean geometry of a crafted timber frame. A range of options allow interior designers to tailor the dining chairs to realise their creative vision, starting with a choice of a slatted or cane back. The frame can also be specified in a variety of finishes, such as walnut, oak or ash. Finally, designers can add a lively splash of colour, neutral sophistication or irresistible tactility to the chairs through customisable, fitted upholstery solutions. www.morganfurniture.co.uk
Designed by Spanish creative David Lopez Quincoces, the new Saia upholstered furniture collection comprises sofas, armchairs and a dining chair. With balanced lines, Saia is born from a classic idea reinterpreted in a contemporary key. The name Saia, meaning skirt in Portuguese, illustrates its distinctive feature: a removable cover that falls light and elegant to the ground and adheres to the structure of the sofa, emphasised and designed by a discreet piping that defines the shape. Saia also recalls the elegance of the female figure; the armrests with their slight downward curvature invite users to be embraced and enveloped by maximum comfort. www.gervasoni1882.com
Calma is a light, casual, indoor and outdoor piece combining elements of a hammock and an upholstered armchair. The most characteristic feature of Calma is its comfort; the canvas works as a suspended sling that adapts to the body, whilst the soft upholstery allows for a relaxed position in which the head can be rested. A comfortable chair with an expressive stainless steel structure, Calma is also stackable, boasts HPL armrests and a Dryfeel foam that allows water to pass through. It can also be equipped with a footrest. Black or white frames are available with a range of fabric colour options in highly resistant acrylic or polypropylene fabrics from September. www.ps-interiors.co.uk
IO is a collection of coffee and side tables that take inspiration from the earth’s solid foundations. The sinuous profile and rounded, plank-like legs create a continuous, uninterrupted silhouette from top to bottom, while a homogenous, unblemished surface is perfect for displaying books, magazines and various design objects. Designed by Lars Beller Fjetland, the collection is available in pale ash and rich walnut timber, with the elemental warmth of wood a soothing complement to IO’s refined profile. The ash variation is offered in nine bespoke finishes, including a natural option and the new Modern Tones series by Christian Møller Andersen. www.lercolani.com
bespoke hotel bedroom furniture
Hilton Hotel, Glasgow
Made in the UK | since 1997 info@curtisfurniture.co.uk | 0113 248 0605 | www.curtisfurniture.co.uk
Curtis Furniture SPACE Nov_Dec.indd 1
21/10/2021 11:10
SPOTLIGHT
RH RH Contemporary
156
Furniture manufacturer RH has unveiled RH Contemporary, the company’s most compelling new brand launch to-date, representing a level of design and quality unseen before outside of to-the-trade showrooms. Imbued with craftsmanship, the curated collection spans furniture, lighting, textiles, art and décor. Grounded in clean lines and organic forms, timeless materials and refined execution, the brand defines a new minimalist design language, bringing together some of today’s most dynamic contemporary designers, from Ryan Korban and Joris Poggioli to Neeru Kumar and Dina Nur Satti. They join current RH artisans including Ann Marie Vering, Victoria Sala, Nicholas and Harrison Condos, Jonathan Browning, John Birch, Alison Berger, Piet Boon, Charlie Zagaroli and Jan Te Lintelo. The collection also marks the introduction of new partnerships with Italian upholstery houses and British textile company Holland & Sherry. With a fresh point of view on contemporary living, the exclusive pieces meld the timeless
beauty of Italian travertine from ancient quarries outside of Rome, lacquered burl, wire-brushed American white oak, rare arabescato marble and hand-carved Spanish alabaster with the sophistication of sand-cast brass and handapplied plaster. All are encompassed within a sleek yet warm palette of cream, camel, burnt caramel and bronze. “RH Contemporary represents the latest evolution of the RH brand as we continue to build a platform for the most forward-thinking people in our industry,” comments Gary Friedman, RH Chairman and CEO. “Through these collaborative partnerships and our own authentic lens, we are proud to introduce one of the largest fully integrated collections of luxury contemporary furnishings in the world.” RH Contemporary is showcased in a 320page Source Book, dedicated website and immersive physical experience debuting at RH San Francisco, The Gallery at The Historic Bethlehem Steel Building. www.rhcontemporary.com
Suppliers of contemporary interior and exterior furniture and lighting Head Office, 11 Cecil Road, Hale, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA15 9NY T +44 (0) 161 926 9398 www.ps-interiors.co.uk sales@ps-interiors.co.uk
SPOTLIGHT
2.
1.
3.
158
4.
1. Cappellini Litos
2. Formitura Sugarplum
3. Feelgood Designs / Marta T’Alph Table
4. Ligne Roset Valmy
Italian furniture manufacturer Cappellini has expanded the Litos sofa system, conceived by German designer Sebastian Herkner, with the introduction of new angular seating elements and terminals, widening the possibility of configurations in voluminous compositions that fit any kind of context. The irregular and rounded shapes of the seats are a clear reference to the rocky Salento coastline in Italy, hence the name of the collection itself. The sofas are equipped with removable covers in a selection of fabrics and leathers from the Cappellini collection. A series of free cushions, made from fibre and feather, can also be placed at will for maximum comfort. www.cappellini.it
Two years ago, Esti Barnes, the founder and Creative Head of luxury rug company Topfloor by Esti, set out to create Formitura – a new brand offering furniture in contemporary shapes with clean lines and dreamy colours, each piece being practical and built to last. The collection comprises four multipurpose designs, available in 10 versatile colours. The Sugarplum seat, for instance, contains a removal storage bin, or when flipped over, serves as a casual seat or mini table. Made in Italy, each piece is crafted using polyurethane foam and polyethylene, making them comfortable, soft, lightweight and easy to clean, as well as recyclable. www.formitura.com
Feelgood Designs is a Melbourne-based furniture manufacturer focused on natural materials, innovative design and quality. Following requests for a new style of bistro table for the hospitality sector, the brand is now distributing the T’Alph table, pictured here with the Ellie Chair. Designed by Philippe Allaeys, the table features an American walnut veneer top on a solid leg and black powder-coated steel base. Available in two sizes – bistro dining and low dining for two – the piece complements all of Feelgood Designs’ chairs and lounge chairs in natural rattan, dark grey or black. Marta has been the exclusive importer and agent for Feelgood Designs in Europe since 2013. www.martaonline.eu
Established in 1860, family-run furniture company Ligne Roset is renowned for its artful collaborations with both established and up-and-coming talents in contemporary design. The Valmy armchair, conceptualised by Ramy Fischler, was initially envisioned for a pared-down, relaxing, comfortable hotel guestroom. Complete with a black lacquered steel base, the chair is injected with polyurethane foam, whilst the exterior is clad with polyester quilting. Valmy is available in nine different fabrics and leathers including Steelcut Trio 3 woven wool, a three-dimensional surface that resembles small pyramids or steel points with precise expression. www.ligne-roset.com
The worlds first super boutique hotel, The Londoner, by EE Smith Contracts
2 5 M O R R I S R D, L E I C E S T E R , L E 2 6 A L T E L : 01162 7 0 694 6 W W W. E E S M I T H .CO. U K S O C I A L @ E E S M I T H CO N T R AC T S
SPOTLIGHT UNIFORMS
Fashionizer Couture Uniforms Fashionizer specialises in the design and supply of high-quality uniforms for exclusive hotels, luxury spas and resorts, offering a 360 degree service from design to consultancy, manufacture and delivery installation. The company’s focus on bespoke design is complemented by a range of high-quality stock hotel and spa uniforms in natural fibres; fabrics are sourced in Europe, where the company also manufactures its garments. Since its launch in 1993, Fashionizer has designed and supplied uniforms for hotels and spas in more than 40 countries, including The Ned, The Belmond Cadogan, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, The Prince Akatoki, London and The Merrion Dublin. “More and more, leading hotels need to differentiate themselves from their competitors, and exclusive hotels need
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Day Seven Functional Workwear distinctive uniforms,” says founder, Debbie Leon. “This is why Fashionizer’s focus is on creating uniforms that are unique to each property, in harmony with the location and the brand and are designed with specific operational and climatic requirements in mind.” Fashionizer has a strong commitment to sustainability, reduction of environmental impacts and supply chain integrity; its specialist spa division has a successful track record for spa uniforms made from proprietary sustainable materials. The spa collection includes both a stock offering and bespoke solutions such as the one used by Six Senses spas for the past 10 years. Most recently, Fashionizer has also designed the hotel staff attire for the Six Senses Shaharut. www.fashionizer.com
Founded by Australian designer Molly Kent during her time in Osaka, responsibly-designed bespoke uniform label Day Seven provides hospitality venues with hardwearing uniform pieces including shirts, jackets and aprons, as well as elegant pants, shorts and jumpsuits. Taking inspiration from Japanese design aesthetics and driven by Kent’s belief that there should be a greater focus on staff comfort and workplace wellbeing, the made-toorder service is dedicated to producing items that are breathable, odour-defying, comfortable and functional while at once stylish and unique. “Staff are the first and last point of contact for customers; they’re the walking, talking brand,” explains Kent, who herself has over 10 years of experience in both front- and back-of-house. “They deserve to feel comfortable, confident, appreciated and respected at work. At Day Seven, we seek to help hospitality achieve this.” www.dayseven.com.au
SPOTLIGHT
Emile Rassam Image Clothing
Studio 104 104 Collection
Since 1949, Emile Rassam has set out to change the world, one design at a time. Through fashion-forward designs, the full-service uniform-maker has transformed hotel lobbies and corridors into its own catwalk, dressing everyone from housekeepers to receptionists, spa therapists to waiters. As such, every garment produced by the company takes on a life of its own, embarking on a journey to complement the character and interiors of the hotel, and act as an adornment for the wearer. Emile Rassam prides itself on creating designs that are distinctive and make a lasting impression; it is passionate about delivering on quality, service and attention to detail, with every piece of clothing generated from extensive research, development and creativity before going into production. Based in Lebanon, the company counts Fairmont, Four Seasons, Rosewood and Anantara amongst its clients, and also works with airlines and restaurants. “To us, wardrobe design is a matter of brand experience,” says the firm. “We understand that every touchpoint tells customers something about the philosophy and values of an organisation. Image clothing is a crucial part of this communication. So, as image and identity consultants, our mission is to get every last detail right.” www.emilerassam.com
Studio 104 has experienced a meteoric rise since launching the 104 Collection, a house-designed uniform range that allows clients to tailor to their individual brand. Specifically targeted at the luxury sector, the 47-piece series was conceived to accommodate a wide selection of brand styles and locations, with an eclectic palette of colours and materials catering for both traditional and contemporary hotels in varying climates. In line with the bespoke ethos of the company, each client is invited to customise the uniforms to meet their own needs at no extra cost, meaning no two uniform designs are the same. Recent collaborations have included Chateau Denmark in London, which challenged Studio 104 to create a uniform that combines punk rock and vintage gothic with modern psychedelia. Never ones to shy away from a strong creative brief, Studio 104 developed a stand-out uniform range for the hotel, playing with gender norms and high levels of theatricality. Other hotels already equipped with Studio 104 uniforms include NoMad London, Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay, The Fife Arms in Scotland, and The Beaumont in London, with many more major brands in the pipeline to launch in Q3 and Q4 of this year. www.studio-104.com
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Laufen Il Bagno Alessi Launched during Milan Design Week as part of an installation by architecture firm Snøhetta – which created five graphic representations, inspired by fluid and organic forms to offer an overview of futuristic scenarios – the latest evolution of Laufen’s Il Bagno Alessi collection has been designed by Stefano Giovannoni and is the result of a collaboration with Italian company Alessi. The update to the longstanding range sees its forms lightened thanks to the use of Laufen’s patented Saphirkeramik material, which makes it possible to produce washstands and basins with soft shapes that appear to be almost weightless. Experimenting with the ceramic solution, Giovannoni has envisioned basins with rounded forms in different
sizes – such as 450x380x170cm and 700x380x170cm – that reinterpret the iconic Tuna washbasin, whose long, organic figure has been accentuated through the use of a slim profile. Available in the countertop version, or built-in with a ceramic border, the product perfectly aligns with the cabinet on which it is placed. Another important new feature is three variations of finish and colour – notably a matte finish in white, black or coffee – for all pieces, including the toilet and bidet. Rounding out the series is a new freestanding bathtub made with Sentec, a mineral composite that offers a velvety, sensual surface, as well as a WC with a rounded cover, and earthy wooden cabinets with geometric lines. www.laufen.com
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CASE STUDY
Creative Matters The Ritz-Carlton, Mexico City Creative Matters has been offering floorcovering solutions to the hospitality industry for over 25 years, working on a wide spectrum of projects, be that large or small, luxurious or practical. The Toronto-based studio’s signature designs and environmentally conscious production expertise has seen it supply a variety of hotels in 28 countries around the world, from crafting a vibrant hand-tufted carpet for the lobby at Faena Hotel Miami Beach, to producing 128 hand-knotted rugs for The Shinola Hotel in Detroit. The brand’s latest assignment was to supply carpets for the presidential suites, ballroom and corridors at The Ritz-Carlton in Mexico City, as well as rugs for the hotel’s 97 guestrooms. Complementing the Mexican-inspired interiors by Chapi Chapo Design, the rugs play off Mexico’s ancient smoke ritual through a pattern that swirls elegantly across the oval-shaped piece. The background is in loop pile while some of the details in the foreground are intricately crafted in raised cut pile. In addition to its dimensions, the use of Prism Nylon adds an elegant sheen. www.creativemattersinc.com
Preciosa Crystal Spin Crystal Spin by Czech manufacturer Preciosa is a flexible lighting concept that shifts within a space through shape and sparkle. Its linear design features two important parts in terms of structure and design: first are the crystal cylinder components, with designers able to choose the rod, colour and finish to create the style and artistry they desire; second, Crystal Spin’s frame is not simply a functional support and can be shaped and finished as one wishes, allowing it to be installed in atriums and skylights. The collection is inspired by the Arctic sky, glowing with the polar light’s colourful swirls, while its cylinders are handcrafted from the finest Bohemian crystal that results in natural variants which accentuate the beauty of the crystal and light. Part of Preciosa Lighting’s Signature Designs portfolio, Crystal Spin is also completely customisable. www.preciosalighting.com
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Q&A
Abdallah Massaad and Leonardo De Muro RAK Ceramics As RAK Ceramics unveils a new design hub in London, the company’s CEO and Vice President discuss why differentiation is the key to its hospitality offering. How would you describe RAK’s approach to design? AM: The DNA of our company is to use the latest technology and raw materials to create unique surfaces and sanitaryware products. When we collaborate with designers, we give them the freedom to imagine and reinterpret our vision by thinking outside the box. How do you select the designers you work with? AM: Our internal design department studies the fashion sector and its trends, before contacting people with our vision and requirements. We find that designers from the fashion world help us to design collections from a completely different perspective. What sets you apart from other brands in the industry? LM: We are not a tile manufacturer nor a sanitaryware company, we are a full solution-provider. Rather than selling single items and products, we sell lifestyle concepts to clients with specific needs, whether that be for a boutique property or a large-scale hotel. Why did you decide to open a new showroom in London? AM: As our portfolio expands, we wanted to showcase all of our products within a central design hub, where architects, designers and project specifiers can come and experience what RAK Ceramics has to offer in person rather than via digital platforms. What are today’s architects and designers looking for? LM: They are looking for new ideas and solutions for their projects, as differentiation is key in the hospitality market. That’s why we are constantly working to identify what is missing within the industry. How important is sustainability to your design approach? AM: When designing any new product, we analyse the materiality, usage and water-saving properties, as well as creating a list of pre-set conditions for external designers. Our clients are also requesting products that stand the test of time, especially hotels. What’s next for RAK in the hospitality sector? AM: We are always looking ahead so while our design hub has just opened in London, the journey will not end there. As a group, we are focusing on standing out in the hotel sector through our three key pillars of sustainability, technology and innovation. www.rakceramics.com
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EVENT
Heimtextil Next Horizons
Presented during Heimtextil 2022 as part of a trend theme curated by agency Spott Trends & Business, Stijlinstituut Amsterdam and Londonbased studio FranklinTill, Next Horizons is made up of four concepts that address sustainability and resource conservation within design.
DEEP NATURE
Deep Nature is a long-term relearning process that gives the ability to rebalance the natural world for a regenerative future. Its colour scale has a harmonious and soft expression suitable for untamed patternmaking, with a calm, tonal and earthy approach resulting in mouldy, herbal tones and delicate hues of blue and rouge.
HYPER NATURE
Hyper Nature is about reconnecting with nature through technology using responsive materials, technical fibres, fluid patterns and microscopic structures. Both bright and lucid colours – as well as blurred nuances of green and grey – are inspired by bioscience, while reflections and artificial light create new perceptions of nature-based shades, with salmon and light raspberry amongst the highlights on show.
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BEYOND IDENTITY
Beyond Identity addresses the future with powerful defiance toward existing norms, leaving identity in flux. The trend works with recycled synthetic fabric, vintage silk and satin, natural-coloured textiles and new cellulosebased textiles, while the colour scale – formed via an uncontrolled colouration process – includes muted grey, pastels and pale khaki.
EMPOWERED IDENTITY
Empower Identity is about creating sustainable cultural connections and renewing artisan sources of inspiration in a collaborative way. Recycled and heritage textiles are combined with craft techniques like tufting, embroidered appliqué and cross-stitch, while primary colours – accompanied by sparks of coral and a greyed lilac – resemble their pigment origins. www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com
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Duravit Soleil by Starck Designed by Philippe Starck with refined lines and relaxed aesthetics, Duravit’s Soleil range comprises washbasins, toilets and tubs that bring a natural softness to the bathroom space. The form of the washbasins – which come in three sizes, as well as a matching semi-pedestal and furniture, above-counter and built-in undercounter options – is evocative of dunes shaped by the wind, with gentle contours that subtly transition into an easy-to-clean tap platform. The toilet meanwhile features Duravit’s Hygieneplus technology and a soft-close lid that can be gripped without the user having to touch the seat or ceramic, while an attuned water flow creates a vortex that guarantees a flushing action that uses 4.5l of water. Completing the collection, the bathtubs are available in both built-in acrylic and freestanding models, including a 1600mm oval option. The built-in tubs have a specially shaped recess for the head and are offered in single or two-seater options. www.duravit.com
Timorous Beasties Totem Damask As an abstract pattern discipline representing order, harmony and beauty, damask dates back to the early Middle Ages and boomed during the Victorian period, when the invention of the Jacquard loom – automated with a system of punched cards – made weaving faster and cheaper. Bringing the pattern to more contemporary environments, Totem Damask by Timorous Beasties is a kaleidoscopic synthesis of arabesques, splats and florals structured through a geometric digital stem. Yet, for all the exuberance and intricacies it embodies, the pattern dispenses with a horizontal repeat, so that the single 10m repeat can be installed randomly without compromising its unity. Totem Damask comes in nine colours – including Pine Forest Green, or custom colourways upon request – as a standard 170g/m2 non-woven wallpaper, or can be printed as a 460g/m2 vinyl wallcovering. www.timorousbeasties.com
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LATE SUMMER GET TOGETHER
6TH SEPTEMBER 2022, 12:30 - 6PM
Reconnection is back for the third time to enjoy the end of the summer and celebrate our industry at the Kia Oval Terrace London An invite only event please RSVP by 19th August 2022 to: reconnectioneventlondon@gmail.com Please advise if you have any dietary requirements
Come along for an afternoon of jazz, drinks and a BBQ overlooking the famous Kia Oval cricket pitch.
Sponsors
Partners
www.reconnectionevent.co.uk
live Jazz BAND
SPECIFIER
Acquabella Chrea Unveiled at KBB earlier this year, the new Chrea range from Spanish bathroom brand Acquabella comprises a bathtub and basin with an ergonomic design that optimises comfort and practicality. The soft rounded shape offers a fluid look that is complemented by the countertop basins, which themselves are moulded to deliver a contemporary aesthetic. Chrea is made from Dolotek, a resin and mineral material renowned for its high technical performance. The result is a super smooth, impactresistant anti-bacterial surface in the purest of white shades. www.acquabella.com
Crown International Bespoke Service Crown International combines craftsmanship with the latest technology and trends, developing new materials, elements and styles on a daily basis. Pushing the boundaries of what is technically and aesthetically possible, the brand creates solutions that meet individual clients’ needs, whether that be mirrors, hardware or accessories like wooden trays, coffee boxes and remote-control holders. The interplay of space, materiality and colour are key to Crown’s approach to product design, with these aspects combined for both its stock and bespoke collections. www.crowninternational.com
Sanipex Group / Bagnodesign Alpine Organic materials like marble continue to be popular for the bathroom space, an area that has become a private sanctuary where hotel guests can boost their sense of wellbeing. To meet this demand, Sanipex Group UK’s Bagnodesign brand has released the Alpine collection – a stylish and durable marble countertop and wash station suitable for all spaces. Crafted by master artisans, each piece offers 18 different slab finishes, while clients can choose from a freestanding, wall-mounted integrated basin, or countertop configuration to create their own signature style. The Alpine look can be also complemented with Bagnodesign’s Sestriere range, which features mixer handles and washbasins in marble finishes. www.sanipexgroup.com
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Unique lead source and sales tool for hotel suppliers
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Q&A
Lasvit x Yabu Pushelberg Cirrus Yabu Pushelberg take to Milan Design Week to launch an impressive nine new collections for various manufacturers; here, they discuss their third collaboration with Lasvit. How would you describe your relationship with Lasvit? Glenn Pushelberg: We love working with Lasvit because we can be truly creative without fear of our designs being stifled. Leon Jakimič, the founder, has an incredible passion for experimentation. George Yabu: What I like about Lasvit is that they take chances and don’t take themselves too seriously – they love visual puns too! When you started designing Cirrus, what was the original design brief from Lasvit? GY: Following the success of our lighting collections for Lasvit, they asked us to create modular ornamental screens. We don’t usually like modular pieces, but decided to take on the challenge. GP: The result is Cirrus, a glass screen system brought to life by panes of clouded glass affixed to a freestanding vertical rail, giving the impression of layered organic shapes floating in space. When we began working on the collection, we realised it would be perfect for one of our upcoming retail projects, Printemps in Doha. What was the inspiration behind Cirrus? GP: Whether people are in a store or a hotel, they want privacy but also like to have the option of seeing what’s around them. I think there’s a real emotional desire around this translucent screen – it’s like being amongst the clouds. Usually we make our products from metal or wood, but to do something out of glass its quite ethereal. We worked with blue and a neutral taupe but also experimented with other colours and notions. We’re just getting started with Cirrus – the colours could change like a patchwork, almost like the Cipher series. That potential gives it the opportunity to grow and for other designers to use the product to enhance their spaces. How has your experience as interior designers helped with designing product? GY: Designing interiors first has served us well and led to many collaborations. When we’re designing a product, we can’t help but think about our own projects and how we would use the pieces in real-life. If we approach it that way, then we know the product can do the same for other designers’ projects. www.lasvit.com
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Great things will grow The hotel is back
IMAGE CREDIT: SOFACOMPANY
Expo. Talks. Installations. Social. Be a part of it: www.hixevent.com
HIX GGWG 236x275mm.indd 1
The everchanging design experience that makes hotels incredible www.hixevent.com @HIXevent HIX-event HIX_event
27/06/2022 16:35
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Vondom The Factory Designed by Spanish architect Ramón Esteve for Vondom, The Factory is the first of the furniture brand’s new collections to be crafted from more sustainable materials and sensitive fibres. Comprising a modular sofa, armchair, lounger and side table, together with a lamp, coffee table, high table, chairs and room divider, the series draws its inspiration from New York’s cast-iron architecture, in particular neighbourhoods like SoHo or Tribeca. As such, pieces are characterised by their aluminium profiles and deployé mesh, which contrasts with upholstered cushions to give a warm and friendly touch to the pieces. The range was presented at Milan Design Week, where Vondom focused on sustainability. www.vondom.com
Barlow Tyrie Horizon Elegantly simple, modern and stylish, the Horizon lounger by Barlow Tyrie combines the warmth of a solid teak frame and legs with strong yet sleek Textilene sling. For optimum comfort, the backrest adjusts to several positions while small, concealed wheels on the bottom of the back legs aid positioning. The allweather Textilene sling is available in Charcoal, Titanium, Platinum and Pearl, with an adjustable sunshade offered as an optional accessory to protect the face from strong sunlight. For more than 100 years, Barlow Tyrie has manufactured luxury outdoor furniture that fuses quality and style, maintaining the highest standards in materials, manufacture and aftercare service. www.teak.com
CASE STUDY
Schlüter-Systems East Quay, Somerset Schlüter-Systems recently applied its expertise to East Quay, a mixed-use project in Somerset commissioned by social enterprise Onion Collective and led by architects Pearce+Fægen. A fully tanked waterproofing solution was required given the artwork on display above and below the building’s accommodation pods, while the design elements required for each pod meant that floor build-up also had to be considered, with Schlüter-Systems stepping in to provide the specifications. Waterproofing was taken care of with the help of uncoupling membrane Schlüter-Ditra, while other products used included linear drains for two of the pods and a point drain for the DDA-compliant wet room within the third pod. www.schluter.com
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WHERE CRUISE DESIGN COMES TO LIFE 250 EXHIBITORS | INSPIRING CONFERENCE PROGRAMME | UNRIVALLED NETWORKING OPPORTUNITES
SAVE THE DATE 30 NOVEMBER – 1 DECEMBER | EXCEL LONDON
www.cruiseshipinteriors-europe.com SUPPORTING BRANDS
ADVERTISING INDEX ISSUE 103
AD Associates
130
Kalmar
081
Aliseo
061
Kohler
093
Laskasas
053
Laufen
035
Astro Barlow Tyrie
012-013 111
BD Barcelona
107
Ligne Roset
018
Beck
137
Luteca
033
Mandarin Stone
113
Chelsom
020
Cosentino
127
Manutti
Creative Matters
122
Naturalmat
002
Crown International
179
Palecek
146
CSIE
175
Paolo Moschino
Curtis
155
Point
046
Dux
083
Preciosa
031
EE Smith
159
PS Interiors
157
014-015
RAK Ceramics
115
EPR Architects
116
Reconnection
169
Fashionizer
99
RH Contract
Emile Rassam
010-011
016-017
006-007
Feelgood Designs
153
Roca
067
Ferrerira de Sa
105
Sanipex
051
Freifrau
049
Schluter Systems
129
Gommaire
043
Stellar Works
Gresham
087
Table Place Chairs
Hamilton Conte
005
The Lobby
Hector Finch
037
Timorous Beasties
070
HICAP
176
Tina Frey
180
HIX
173
Tophotelprojects
Hurlingham
075
Tribu
023
Interihotel
167
Tuuci
162
Jardinico
103
Vincent Sheppard
029
JC Hospitality
149
Vondom
055
Jung
069
008-009 151 142-143
171
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CHECK-OUT
One Night in Ferris
In celebration of Vienna’s landmark Ferris wheel, Superbude transforms one of the fairground ride carriages into a hotel room.
Reinventing the wheel isn’t a phrase designers
meal in the Ferris wheel’s gourmet cabin also
would particularly want associated with their
forms part of the experience.
work, but this is exactly what Laura Karasinski
In bringing the 10m2 space to life, Karasinski
and Gerd Zehetner set out to achieve when
and Zehetner united the worlds of Wiener
they were asked to create a unique experience
Riesenrad and Superbude, fusing past and
at Wiener Riesenrad – Vienna’s Giant Ferris
present to create a place where time feels
Wheel. To mark the 125th anniversary of the
suspended, much like the wagon itself. Taking
fairground ride, the designers were tasked with
inspiration from the practical-yet-cosy interiors
transforming one of its carriages into a hotel
of Superbude’s guestrooms, furnishings include
suite – or ‘Room with a View (for real)’ as it is
a custom-made bed alongside vintage chairs
billed. The initiative comes from hotel and hostel
and lamps, as well as an old-fashioned record
operator Superbude, which held an international
player and television set – all of which will be
competition offering winners a chance to stay in
repurposed when the installation ends. Adding
the installation. Those triumphant were rewarded
a splash of colour to the carriage, illustrations
with a two-night stay in the city, spending time
by Julia Presslauer decorate the walls, with
atop the 212ft structure as well as at Superbude’s
the designer channelling the wheel’s heritage
Birdhouse, a nest-like room that hangs over the
through a contemporary lens. In this case at
façade of its Wien Prater property. A three-course
least, reinventing the wheel was just the ticket.
© Akos Burg
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Crown - bathroom accessories & more.