Reinventing Cretan Hospitality

In the compact lobby area for instance, curvaceous furnishings and plants are set against a backdrop of books on David Bowie and the Bauhaus movement, which provide a subtle nod to the group’s Berlin origins. A Perspex lighting installation, its effect multiplied by a series of mirrors, stretches across the reception desk, down the neighbouring staircase and into the open ceiling void, connecting the ground floor to the basement bar below.

Within the space, a fireplace with a starburst wall installation and gold pendant lamps hanging above is surrounded by sofas and lounge chairs. It’s a flexible venue with moveable seating, open-plan areas for larger groups and more intimate nooks that can be separated by curtains to create privacy.

The rooftop bar meanwhile is all about the spectacular views over the London skyline. Arriving via gold-doored lifts, guests walk out onto a landing draped with metallic curtains and softened by eye-catching plant arrangements. The space has been designed to maximise the sights of the surroundings, with a long bar counter, open back-bar display and extensive outdoor terrace. The original Amano hotel in Berlin was very much a product of its bar culture, and as expected for the London flag, there is an extensive, well-curated cocktail menu. At weekends, live DJs take the energy levels up a notch.

“As a Berlin-based company, opening our first international property in London was always a natural step for us,” says Ariel Schiff, co-founder of Amano Group. “Like Berlin, London is a dynamic city known for its thriving nightlife and multicultural community. We felt the spirit of the brand would blend in well here, bringing with it a taste of our hometown.”

While the group currently has ten hotels in Germany – eight in Berlin, one in Düsseldorf and one in Munich, with new openings slated for Leipzig, Munich and Hamburg – rumour has it that its Covent Garden hotel may just be the first of several new openings planned for London too. EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner / Operator: Amano Group Developer: Excellion Capital Architecture and Interior Design: Woods Bagot Lighting Design: Nulty Art Consultant: Access Art Procurement: Parla Project Manager: Tower Eight Main Contractor: HG Constructions www.amanogroup.de

DESIGN DETAILS

RESORT

Lanserhof Sylt

At medical health resort Lanserhof Sylt in Germany, flowing, corner-less architecture by Christophe Ingenhoven seeks to provide a health-promoting effect on body, mind and soul, just like the traditional naturopathy and cutting-edge medicine offered at the property. Drawing inspiration from the locale and the construction of Frisian houses – which are typically low-rise with glass, timber and thatch – the resort features curved shapes that mirror the island’s rolling sand dunes, as well as a pared-back aesthetic and earthy tones that allow the setting to take centre stage. At the heart of its main building, a five-storey spiral staircase epitomises the concept with its sinuous shape, muted palette and low-level strip lighting that keeps guests’ natural bio-rhythm in check. “Our aim was to avoid any negative impact on the protected landscape and wildlife, creating a sustainable wellness complex where residents can recuperate and re-energise while being at one with nature,” say Ingenhoven Architects. “Organic materials without synthetic finishes and clean, minimal interiors are the building blocks of health-promoting architecture that focuses on the holistic recovery of residents.”

GUESTROOMS Cambridge Beaches

Channelling a sense of place is high on the list of any hotel project, especially one with a storied past like Cambridge Beaches in Bermuda. Originally opened in 1923, the property has undergone a complete renovation under the guidance of Phil Hospod from Dovetail + Co, who worked with interior designer Kellyann Hee – formerly of Soho House Design – to create an authentic scheme that speaks to the heritage of the island. Working with existing architectural details dating back to the 17th century, Hee has restyled 86 standalone cottages with a tropical aesthetic, combining floral prints and vibrant paint tones with bespoke furniture and contemporary art by Bermudian creatives. Much of the inspiration came from chic homes on Atlantic and Caribbean islands, which feature what Hee describes as “perfectly imperfect” combinations of colour – think blues, teals, mints and corals alongside pops of yellow and orange – fused with patterns and shapes that are in harmony with their natural environments. “Always playful, never too serious; that was the vibe we were after,” Hee explains, adding that the lively palette reflects the colour found everywhere on the island, from the costumes worn by traditional Gombey dancers to the lush flora that inspired the writings of Anglo-American novelist Frances Hodgson Burnett, who resided at a bungalow in Bermuda every winter. “I’m obsessed with Burnett’s iconic children’s story, The Secret Garden,” says Hee. “The design narrative at Cambridge Beaches is not so different from the book – one that facilitates delight, discovery, contemplation and joy.”

The Factory Collection | Ramón Esteve

VONDOM.COM

SPA & WELLNESS

PGA National Resort

Drawing inspiration from Palm Beach Gardens during the 1960s, South Florida design group V Starr – founded by American tennis ace Venus Williams – has brought clean lines, sleek materials and repeated forms to the newly refurbished spa at PGA National Resort. “With all our projects, it is important for us to understand the history of the building and its locality to determine how we can weave that into the design,” says Principal Sonya Haffey. “Here, the classic design period of Minimalist Modernism became the driver for the shapes in the spa.” As such, the 40,000ft2 spa wellness space – billed by the firm as a “resort within a resort” – combines arched openings and mirrors with a soft palette of silky whites and washed timber that pay homage to nearby beaches. Polished marble flooring creates a grand entrance in the lobby, from which sand-like porcelain flows through to a series of venues accented by champagne gold metal details and millwork. Subtle textures have also been added in the form of wallcoverings and sheer drapery – with touches of coral and palm prints referencing the quintessential Palm Beach aesthetic – while pink marble sourced from Turkey adorns a select few walls, becoming a statement piece with its unusual colour.