Sleeper 45 - November/December 2012

HOTEL DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT & ARCHITECTURE

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ISSUE 45 NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2012

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2012 SUPERBUDE / SOUTH PLACE / FAZENDA NOVA

SUPERBUDE

A HARBOUR INSPIRED HOSTEL IN HAMBURG 45

SOUTH PLACE

A SQUARE MILE HOTEL WITH SOUL FROM D&D

FAZENDA NOVA

A RURAL RETREAT IN THE EASTERN ALGARVE

SONG SAA – CAMBODIA • HILTON WORLDWIDE DESIGN TEAM • THE MAGDALEN CHAPTER - EXETER

RECEPTION

Contents Features 022 028 042 050 058 066 076 080 080 085 092 098 105 112 143 158 163 165

Guestbook

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Superbude – Hamburg Hilton Worldwide Design Team

BRIAN WILLAMS

Williams, Managing Director of Swire Hotels, has worked in the luxury hotel market on four continents over the last thirty years. He spent many years with Mandarin Oriental before becoming CEO of The Scotsman Hotel Group. In this issue we review Swire’s latest UK property, the Magdalene Chapter in Exeter.

South Place – London Fazenda Nova – Portugal Song Saa – Cambodia Ampersand – London

Adria London – Edinburgh

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Lego Resort – Windsor

GARY NEVILLE

Mama Shelter – Marseilles

Former Manchester United captain and England right back Gary Neville opened this year’s Annual Hotel Conference in Manchester. He is now combining his blossoming career as a pundit on Sky Sports and a member of the England team coaching staff with ambitions to build a new hotel near Old Trafford.

Magdalene Chapter – Exeter Bangkok Tree House – Thailand Jules et Jim – Paris Hotel Alfonso XIII – Seville

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Pop-up Hotels Fabrics

RORY HUNTER

Kvadrat

Hunter and his wife Melita dreamt up their plans for Song Saa after spending their honeymoon on islands off the coast of Cambodia. Previously a property developer in his native Australia, Rory Hunter is now Chairman of this luxury eco-resort, where he ensures the island’s development is fully sustainable.

Glass Hansgrohe © ANDREW MEREDITH

Departments 007 008 010 118

Welcome Check-In Drawing Board Events

132 139 171 202

Hotel Analyst Music Concierge The Specifier Check Out

022 ARMIN FISCHER Having completed previous projects for 25Hours and Superbude hotels in Hamburg and Vienna, Armin Fischer’s Dreimeta design agency was re-enlisted to create the designs for the second Superbude, also in Hamburg. He has taken his inspiration from the city’s history as a port, and its pop music heritage.

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RUCHÉ BED. Design Inga Sempé. ligne-roset-contracts.com

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Welcome In this issue you will find the first in a new series of articles, looking at the design departments within the major hotel groups, beginning with an in-depth profile of Hilton Worldwide’s global design team.

COVER STORY: The second Superbude hotel-hostel in Hamburg features an abundance of industrial and maritime references. Wooden cable reels are re-used as tables, utilitarian Mayday lamps by Konstantin Grcic hang from netted headboards, and rope-patterns are laser-etched into wall panels of yellow-coloured wood as used on German construction sites to shutter concrete.

It has long struck me that each of the hotel groups of significant size has its own unique set-up for its design function. Each company has a different arrangement in terms of the percentage of its hotels that it owns, manages, leases or franchises. And each has a different internal structure for the plethora of disciplines that deal with the creation of new hotel projects, or the refurbishment of existing ones: development, architecture, construction, interior design, technical services, engineering, procurement and so on. From an outsider’s perspective, these structures are often opaque. By the nature of large corporations, staff turnover and internal reorganisations mean it is difficult to keep track of who is responsible for what. If you are a designer or architect hoping to secure work with a big hotel group, or a manufacturer looking to supply them with products, it can be difficult to know where to start.

Do you approach the developer or the operator? The internal designers or the development team? A purchasing department or a procurement agency? We can’t pretend to provide all the answers – just as each hotel group is different, so too is each hotel project. But this series of articles does at least shed some light on what is a complex state of affairs. It is perhaps in the nature of a magazine like Sleeper that we tend to focus on one-off projects, so the design work of the major hotel groups – work which accounts for a significant majority of hotel design projects worldwide – doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves.

Hopefully this article and future ones will go some way towards redressing the balance. Talking of internal structures, I am delighted to welcome on board a new addition to the Sleeper Magazine team. Shanna McGoldrick joins us as Editorial Assistant and wasted no time in helping put the finishing touches to this issue, before she makes her trade show debut at this year’s Sleep Event.

Front Desk Editor Matt Turner m.turner@mondiale.co.uk Deputy Editor Catherine Martin c.martin@mondiale.co.uk Editorial Assistant Shanna McGoldrick s.mcgoldrick@mondiale.co.uk International Advertising Sales Stephen Quiligotti s.quiligotti@mondiale.co.uk Advertising Sales Becky Thomas r.thomas@mondiale.co.uk Rob Hart r.hart@mondiale.co.uk Design Dave Bell d.bell@mondiale.co.uk Advertising Production Dan Seaton d.seaton@mondiale.co.uk Finance Director Amanda Giles a.giles@mondiale.co.uk Accounts Donna Barlow d.barlow@mondiale.co.uk Faye Riley f.riley@mondiale.co.uk Marketing & Subscriptions Laura McLaughlin l.mclaughlin@mondiale.co.uk Chairman Damian Walsh d.walsh@mondiale.co.uk Publishers Sleeper Magazine Ltd Waterloo Place, Watson Square Stockport, SK1 3AZ, UK Tel: +44 (0)161 476 8390 Fax: +44 (0)161 429 7214 www.sleepermagazine.com Retail Cover Price (where sold): £7.95 Annual Subscription Rates: (6 issues) UK: £63.00 Europe: £78.80 RoW: £105 [$168] Two year rates available on request Back Issues: (subject to availability) UK: £10.00 Europe: £12.50 RoW: £17.00 To subscribe visit: www.sleepermagazine.com or call +44 (0)161 476 8395 Sleeper (ISSN 1476 4075) is published bi-monthly

by Mondiale Publishing Limited, Waterloo Place, Watson Square, Stockport, SK1 3AZ, UK. The 2011 US annual subscription price is $168.00.

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Name: James Dilley Position: Associate Director Company: Jestico + Whiles Web: www.jesticowhiles.com Notable hotel projects: W London Leicester Square, Andel’s Hotel Lodz, Yas Abu Dhabi, Villa Honegg Switzerland 008

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RECEPTION

Check-In Where are we?

I am in West African mode at the moment, having travelled there for work recently. It is one of the richest places in culture and resources, and the landscape is stunning. I have a view of the beach, the Atlantic, and the sunset, with mountains behind.

How did you get here?

Well, if you miss the car ferry from the airport to Freetown, then that means the ‘Pelican’ speedboat transfer. Most certainly this feels safer at night, ideally when pitch black.

Who are you sharing your room with?

Suree and Coco, my wife and daughter. (Last week I was sharing with Oliver Reed and Keith Moon, so this is very relaxing).

Is there anything you would like waiting for you in your room on arrival?

A note from Oliver and Keith apologising for checking out early, but they just could not keep up the pace.

Who’s at the concierge desk?

Vanessa Bugi, concierge at Hotel George V Paris. We have been friends since my first hotel project, One Aldwych. Concierge is the job swap I would most like to do, which is not the same as saying I would be good at it.

Having recently travelled to Africa on business, James Dilley of Jestico + Whiles dreams of returning to the country’s West coast for a relaxing stay in his fantasy hotel.

otherworldly and calming. I felt spirited away at Bennesse House in Japan, partly due to the context of Naoshima as an art island, and I most aspire to staying at the Amankora hotels in Bhutan. I have pressed my face up against the windows on a trip there while staying in ‘normal’ hotels. But here on the West African coast, it’s all about the views: the dusk aspect is to the sun setting over the Atlantic, next landfall Brazil; while tomorrow morning’s sunrise view is to the verdent slopes of the mountains. My room is a sun bleached driftwood box with open ends, a bed like a cloud and a shower like a rainstorm.

Who designed it?

Carlo Scarpa – all his buildings are so great and hotel-like that they would knock most real hotels into a cocked hat, I would be delighted if I had to spend a long weekend sleeping in one... and that includes his tombs at Brion.

What’s the restaurant / bar like?

The Rough and Smooth Beach Grill on an Atlantic beach, with one end of the grill doing South African cuisine, the other Japanese.

Hence the name.

And the owner / manager?

Peter Cook. He is shouting instructions to Dudley Moore who is on the Joanna in the lobby lounge.

Who are you dining with this evening?

It’s explorers, hunters and collectors evening so...

1. Alexandra David-Néel 2. Sir Richard Francis Burton 3. John Hanning Speke 4. Ernest H. Shackleton 5. Francis Younghusband

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

I travel a lot for work, so somewhere

Who’s manning the stoves?

James Wilkins of Wilks Restaurant in Redland, Bristol.

And what’s on the menu?

Starter: Grilled foie gras with grapes Main: Chateaubriand with aligot Dessert: Roquefort and pears Would you like something to drink with that? Probably Chateau Pepto-Bismol.

What CDs would like in your room?

No CDs, I’d prefer a radio playing Dylan Thomas’ ‘Under Milk Wood’ read by Richard Burton (gets you to sleep fast), Radio 4 or The World Service.

What’s on the movie channel?

1. Hitchcock’s ‘North by Northwest’ 2. Beat Takeshi’s ‘Sonatine’ 3. ‘Akira’ 4. ‘To Have and Have Not’ 5. The Coen Brothers’ ‘Blood Simple’ And a book at bedtime?

The Devil Drives: A Life of Sir Richard Burton.

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

Thompson’s Fine Bordeaux Single Distillery Grape Brandy.

Would you like a newspaper or magazine in the morning?

No, just iPad news on the run.

What toiletries would you like to freshen up with?

Anything that smells like a barber’s shop, such as Taylor of Old Bond Street in Sandalwood.

Otherwise, just a bar of Wright’s Coal Tar soap.

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THE DRAWING BOARD

OLD TRAFFORD SUPPORTER’S CLUB HOTEL MANCHESTER Manchester-based AEW Architects has won planning permission on behalf of Gary Neville and Old Trafford Supporters Club, for a new project that will involve a supporters’ club and hotel.

The development is to be built near Old Trafford, at the junction of Sir Matt Busby Way and Wharfside Way. The supporters’ club intends to host up to 1,200 fans on match days and is designed to give a true supporters experience.

Plans for the 8,000m2 building include bar areas, restaurants, a retail outlet on the ground floor, a gym, and 139 guestrooms.

Steve Burne, Managing Director of AEW comments: “We’ve worked with Gary Neville on several projects and are delighted to be involved in the application for the supporters’ club, this is a genuine chance for Gary to give something back to the fans. A lot of time was invested in the design stage so that we could be sure the building will provide a true match day experience for the fans. It is a significant

project that will attract attention from around the world, and one that draws on AEW’s experience in the hotel and leisure sectors.”

Presenting his concept to delegates at The Annual Hotel Conference in October, Neville said that he was both “excited and nervous” about the project, which is part-funded by the proceeds of the former Manchester United Captain’s testimonial match played last May. Building work is expected to commence in February 2013 with the hotel open for the 2014-15 season.

THE DRAWING BOARD ACCRA // GATWICK AIRPORT // ABU DHABI // GREATER MANCHESTER // NEW YORK

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THE DRAWING BOARD

KEMPINSKI GOLD COAST CITY ACCRA The Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, designed by architects PageSoutherlandPage and interior designers Looney & Assosiates, is set to open in early 2013. The hotel will be home to 269 guestrooms, including 22 luxury suites and two Presidential Suites It will also boast three restaurants, a lobby café with outdoor seating, a cocktail bar and 6,000m2 of retail space. Inspired by the warmth of the African sun, each guestroom will feature hardwood floors, luxuriant textiles and carefully selected artwork celebrating the heritage and colours of Ghana.

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“The building design was based on the compound houses of Ghana and other western African countries, traditionally used by kings and tribal chiefs,” say PageSoutherlandPage.

The organising element of the hotel is a central courtyard with shaded seating areas, lawn, and a performance pavilion, which will play a role in all the internal and external public areas of the facility. The lobby and ballroom are protected by a green roof and pool deck that create alternate locations to relax and unwind. At the pool level, the entertainment pavilion will allow for stunning views of the planned Gold Coast City,

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Independence Arch and Square, as well as the Atlantic Ocean.

Restaurants include The Papillon Brasserie, with an interior finished in rich, warm colours of teak, walnut, black marble, copper and leather. The Gallery Lounge and Gallery Bar showcasing a variety of carefully selected works of art, decoration and furniture, while The Cedar Garden outdoor area will feature a Lebanese menu of shisha, mezze and coffee.Finally the 3,000m2 Resense Spa at Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City is finished in a range of rich, natural tones, from gold mosaics to natural stone and warm wood.

Booking with style in mind.

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Customisable variety – for seamless integration with the room‘s decor.

Outstanding features – impressive sound and system solutions that leave nothing to be desired.

Loewe hotel service – always deal with the same manufacturer contact person.

Would you like to find out more? hospitality@loewe.de

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THE DRAWING BOARD

BLOC HOTELS GATWICK AIRPORT Bloc Hotels has announced an agreement with Gatwick Airport to open a 244guestroom property in early Summer 2013. The hotel is the result of a long leasehold agreement between Gatwick Airport Ltd and Bloc Hotels in association with Boxbuild Ltd. The new property, which will be the brand’s second opening after Birmingham, has a landside location within the core of Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal, adjacent to departures and the new security area, and just a minute’s walk from the arrival and check-in areas. The multi-million pound project will see the redevelopment of Gatwick’s former office building Norfolk House.

Each room will be equipped with Samsung technology, Artemide lighting, Egyptian cotton linens and luxuriant towels. Specially created ‘sleep zones’ with the highest 014

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specification sound-proofing will ensure a restful stay for even the most sleep-deprived guests.

“The opening of Bloc Gatwick will revolutionise the airport stay experience.

We will provide intelligently-designed rooms with facilities that have traditionally been the preserve of five-star hotels, but in airport locations and at affordable prices,” comments Rob Morgan, Founder of Bloc Hotels.

Emma Rees, Gatwick’s Head of Real Estate adds: “Given passengers’ demand for greater hotel choice, this new development will be fantastic news for our business and leisure travellers when it opens next Summer.

Revolutionising the under-utilised office space at Norfolk House to better serve the needs of our passengers is just an example of how we are innovatively looking at ways to improve the passenger experience and investing in infrastructure to transform the

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South Terminal into a more modern and contemporary space.”

Bloc Hotels constructed their Birmingham property using specially-commissioned hotel room pods. As the Gatwick property involves the conversion of an existing building, the processes and techniques used have been evolved to suit the environment, with factory manufactured bathrooms and unique premanufactured wall systems being used to form the rooms and corridors.

Bloc Hotels aims to expand into major transport hubs and city centres with established infrastructures both in the UK and beyond. They have recently agreed the expansion of their 73-guestroom Birmingham property to feature an additional 24 apartment style long stay rooms and are continuing to identify further sites for development.

THE DRAWING BOARD

HARD ROCK HOTEL ABU DHABI, UAE

Aedas Interiors has been appointed to undertake the interior design of the Hard Rock Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The brand’s first hotel in the Middle East region is being developed by Aabar Properties, a subsidiary of Aabar Investments PJS. Construction of the five-star hotel is expected to complete by the end of 2015.

The 46-storey luxury hotel will be located on Abu Dhabi’s Al Meena Road, an emerging shopping, entertainment and leisure destination. Plans for the hotel include a two-tier lobby with the top floor incorporating lounges, function rooms and a grand ballroom. In addition to 378 guestrooms, the hotel will also offer an assortment of signature restaurants including a Hard Rock Cafe, along with meeting facilities, spa amenities, and entertainment.

Greg Farrell, Executive Director of Aedas Interiors based in Hong Kong, said: “We are delighted to be working on such a prime site on the Abu Dhabi Corniche with Aabar Properties and Hard Rock International.

Along with our own architects, we are thrilled to be entrusted as one of the consultants for the brand’s strategic expansion into the Middle East.”

The project will be designed and managed out of the Aedas Interiors office in Dubai lead

by Interior Design Director, Fergus Duncan, with input from Aedas’ international interiors teams as required.

Prior to the appointment as interior designer, Aedas has also been working as design architect and lead consultant on the project for the past two years.

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VAUGHAN

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THE DRAWING BOARD

WORSLEY NEW HALL GREATER MANCHESTER Developer Peel Group has announced Allies & Morrison as the winner of a RIBA Competition for a new hotel on the site of the former Worsley New Hall in Greater Manchester. Architects from across Europe were invited to take part in the competition to design the hotel.

Peter Nears, Strategic Planning Director at Peel said: “I would like to thank the RIBA and David Morley, their Architectural Advisor, for running an excellent competition, which has delivered a worthy winner in Allies & Morrison. We look forward to working with them to produce an exceptional hotel building for the site of the former Worsley New Hall.

We were impressed with the quality of all the shortlisted schemes, their respect for the setting and the manner in which they complemented the landscape features of the location and thank all the architectural practices for taking part.”

Allies & Morrison fought off competition from Edward Cullinan Architects, Feilden Clegg Bradley, Henning Larsen Architects, 018

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Hopkins and Ian Simpson Architects but were selected unanimously by the panel.

Bob Allies, Partner at Allies & Morrison commented: “Allies and Morrison are delighted to have been selected for this project, an ambitious building on a very important site, an opportunity to integrate a modern hotel into the surviving fragments of a significant Victorian landscape.”

David Morley, RIBA Architectural Adviser added: “This was a closely fought competition for a potentially amazing hotel on the site of the former Worsley New Hall. The setting embraces a formerly grand, but now derelict, Victorian garden on south-facing steeply terraced slopes looking across a lake and the site for a future championship golf course straddling the Bridgewater Canal. There were some fantastic features in all six of the schemes presented but in the end the jury agreed unanimously that Allies & Morrison had made the most of the garden setting and struck a unique balance between an efficient hotel layout and the intimate feel of a luxurious country house.”

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THE DRAWING BOARD

EVEN HOTEL NEW YORK, USA InterContinental Hotels Group has announced the signing of its first Even Hotels branded property, with ownership group CWC, Inc. The hotel company’s first new brand in eight years is targeted at “wellness-minded” guests and was launched in early 2012.

The IHG managed, newbuild hotel, scheduled to open in late 2014, will be located at 219 East 44th Street in the heart of midtown Manhattan and is described as a flagship for the brand. The hotel will feature 23 guestroom floors and 230 guestrooms, dedicated meeting areas, and indoor and outdoor exercise and eating spaces.

In contrast with the popular images of doughnut-eating cops, towering deli sandwiches and manhole cover sized-pizza pies, IHG believes New York City is one of the healthiest in the US and the ideal launchpad for a brand targeting ‘healthier-minded’ travellers. “This is another important first for IHG,” comments Richard Solomons, Chief Executive Officer, IHG. “By developing our portfolio of preferred brands in line with emerging consumer preferences, we are meeting the needs of a new type of guest who’s looking for hotels with an intrinsic focus on wellness in terms of food, work, exercise and rest.”

New York City was ranked one of the top 50 healthiest cities in the US in 2012. There are more than 1,700 parks, playgrounds, and recreation facilities across the five boroughs.

New York City has also introduced changes aimed at a healthier city experience: banning the sale of sugary drinks over 16oz., posting all calorie counts on menus and banning the use of artificial trans-fats in foods.

“New York City provides strong market exposure to healthier minded people both living and travelling to New York City, looking for a holistic wellness hotel experience,” adds Kirk Kinsell, President, the Americas, IHG. IHG expects to sign 100 Even Hotels in the US in the next five years under managed and franchised agreements.

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HOTEL REVIEW

Having opened its first hotel-hostel in Hamburg in 2009, Superbude has returned to the city with a second property, delivering the same affordable accommodation concept with an abundance of quirky design references.

Superbude St. Pauli Hamburg Words: Guy Dittrich Photography: Courtesy of Dreimeta

T

he red thread of Superbude St. Pauli is the rope pattern,” explains Armin Fischer, Principal of Dreimeta, the design firm behind the first Superbude hotel-hostel in the nearby Hamburg suburb of St. Georg.

“It is printed in the carpet and burnt by laser into the wood panels found everywhere in the hotel,” he adds.

Superbude (‘bude’ is the German vernacular for ‘digs’) delivers an affordable accommodation concept full of local, tonguein-cheek references. The new addition to the portfolio is located in the Schanzenviertel, a neighbourhood alive with bars and music venues. And while golden anchors used as towel hooks support the rope pattern, the ‘Hamburg-as-a-harbour’ idea is less developed than the ‘Hamburg-as-a-music-city’ theme found in some parts of the hostel.

Headlining the hotel’s music connection is the Rockstar Suite. This first floor, corner

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suite has a raised stage, fully set-up with high-powered electricity, gantry lights and Bose surround-sound. It also doubles as a six-person bed: the sturdy wooden floorboards of the stage lift up to reveal the cheek-byjowl single mattresses. A full-sized Bosch beer fridge, an ‘amphitheatre’ of lounging furnished with cushions covered using t-shirts from bands that have occupied the suite, and a low-ride beach cruiser bike are all part of this playground.

It’s certainly fun but practical too.

Welcoming the whole band entourage are a three-bed room (for the manager) and a fourbed room (for the roadies). These rooms and the suite share a lobby that includes a poledancing podium. Mercifully, for other guests at least, acoustics are handled in the suite via the window drapes and a stage curtain whilst additional soundproofing has been added in the ceiling and beneath the stage.

The lobby lounge, clad in yellow wood

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HOTEL REVIEW

THIS PAGE: The rope pattern is prevalent throughout the public areas and guestrooms, printed in the Ege-manufactured carpet and laser burnt onto wood panels. Other features include golden anchors as towel hooks, stools made from plastic crates of the local Astra beer, and scaffold poles as shelving

panelling with the twisted rope detail, sees ‘reversed’ wheelbarrows lined with sheepskin re-appropriated as chairs. The generally spacious and high-ceilinged (except for those in the eaves) guestrooms have walls covered with travel-related cuttings from local newspapers plus a lyric from a contemporary band, while each WC has a flip-flop screwed to the wall used as a magazine holder.

The transformation of this 1926 telephone exchange – there are still some areas in use by the former tenants – is not short of pragmatic design. “My overriding concern for the design was to make sure of the ease of use for my staff,” explains Jörn Hoppe, General Manager of both Superbudes, “and consequently our guests.”

The learnings from Superbude St. Georg are many and have been considered in the creation of St. Pauli. The 20cm-high stackable bed-frame design by Rolf Heide – used in the original hotel to allow for changing bed configurations – proved too heavy to move efficiently and the constant movement weakened their structure. Therefore manufacturer Müller Möbelwerkstätten was asked to provide frames 28cm higher for static use in double rooms.

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HOTEL REVIEW

ABOVE: Headlining the hotel’s music connection is the Rockstar Suite with a raised stage, fully set-up with high-powered electricity, gantry lights and Bose surround-sound. It also doubles as a six-person bed FAR LEFT: Sink plungers are cleverly used as phallic-looking coat hooks

insufficient so Dreimeta addressed this by using three ordinary anglepoise-style lamps in a ceiling-mounted ensemble; Ideal Standard showerheads are fixed rather than the more unstable hand shower bar used before; Egemanufactured carpets of a dark, graduated colour were selected over the more colourful versions of St. Georg; and coathangers are now fixed to the scaffold poles used for the coat racks to eliminate theft.

Elements that worked well at the first Superbude are repeated, including the portable Mayday lamps by Konstantine Grcic, low stools made from plastic crates of the local Astra beer and topped with cushions upholstered with second-hand jeans, and sink plungers cleverly used as coat hooks.

With most of the materials used in the interiors being recycled, ready-made (and 026

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needing no further treatment/adaptation) or vintage, the hotel is one of only five in the city to achieve the State Ministry’s QUB environmental certification. Authentic building materials – the yellow woodpanelling, the standard building material used in Germany to form concrete; scaffold poles for shelving; copper piping for chandeliers – allowed for “easy application”, concludes Fischer. It is their unusual use combined with surprising elements of retro furniture, which Fischer sees as “making you smile and allowing the guest to always discover something new.”

In the competitive Hamburg hotel-hostel market (new entrants include the Generator Hostel with 684 beds in 161 rooms and the A&O Hostel City Süd with 1,200 beds in 74 rooms) Superbude St. Pauli is raising the bar.

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EXPRESS CHECKOUT Superbude St. Pauli Juliusstraße 1-7 22769 Hamburg Germany Tel: +49 40 80 79 15 82 0 www.superbude.com/stpauli

„ 89 guestrooms / 253 beds, Rockstar Suite ‰ Kitchen Club (self-service) Â Bar

Developer / Owner: Sicon GmbH Operator: Superbude Hotel Hostel Schanze Architect: Christopher Michael Interior Designer: Dreimeta

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Showroom Dedar UK - Unit C7 - Chelsea Harbour Design Centre London SW10 0XF - ph. +44 (0) 207 35 199 39 showroomUK@dedar.com

FEATURE: HILTON WORLDWIDE

Global context, regional focus.

In the first of a series of articles looking at the design teams within the major hotel groups, Sleeper Editor Matt Turner speaks with key figures from Hilton Worldwide’s Global Design Services and Architecture & Construction teams.

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onrad Hilton was originally planning to buy a bank when he rolled into the oil-boom town of Cisco, Texas in 1919. When that didn’t work out he ended up buying a hotel instead. The 40-room Mobley hotel thus became the first property in a global portfolio which now totals some 3,900 hotels worldwide. Hilton’s name would go on to become synonymous with the hotel business, the company still enjoying a brand recognition which is the envy of its competitors.

Even in the early days, the company showed a propensity for design innovation.

The high-rise Dallas Hilton (the first to carry the Hilton name) was opened in 1925, before air-conditioning had been invented.

Elevators, laundry chutes and back-ofhouse facilities were placed on the building’s west side, meaning all the guestrooms were sheltered from the western sun. In 1947, the Roosevelt Hilton in New York became the first hotel to install TVs in its guestrooms.

Another landmark was the 1955 opening of the Hilton Istanbul, the first modern hotel built from the ground up in Europe

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following World War II. The same year saw a programme launched to bring airconditioning to every Hilton hotel around the world.

In the latter part of the twentieth century, new brands were launched to augment the Hilton core brand, beginning with the first DoubleTree in Scottsdale Arizona in 1969. The 1980s were a particularly fertile period with new brands Conrad Hotels (1982), Embasssy Suites (1984), Hampton Inn (1984), Homewood Suites (1989) and Garden Inn all launched in a ten year period.

Significant changes in corporate structure and ownership also took place, most notably the 1964 separation of Hilton International (the overseas properties) from Hilton Hotels Corporation (the domestic US portfolio).

The Hilton portfolio was not reunited until February 2006, when US-based Hilton Hotels Corporation purchased the hotels division of UK-based Hilton Group Plc, which had acquired Hilton International’s operations in 1987.

This paved the way for Blackstone Group’s $26 billion acquisition of Hilton Hotels Corporation in 2007 – a deal quickly

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followed by the appointment of a new CEO – Christopher J. Nassetta, who joined Hilton from Host Hotels & Resorts.

In 2009, ninety years on from that inauspicious beginning in Cisco, Hilton cemented its reunified status and new ownership with a new name – Hilton Worldwide – and a new logo, drawing a line under three years of corporate restructuring.

From the outset, one of Chris Nassetta’s key aims was to reassert Hilton Worldwide’s reputation for design excellence. Having relocated the company headquarters from Beverly Hills to McLean, Virginia he brought in Matt Richardson, previously Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer for Host Hotels & Resorts, to oversee the company’s design and construction activities.

Another key appointment was that of Larry Traxler – previously Director of Architecture & Design for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts in North America and the Caribbean – as Senior Vice President of Global Design Services.

Speaking to Sleeper Magazine, Traxler picks up the story. “One of Chris Nassetta’s first mandates was to ‘elevate design’ and I

had a long chat with him about what his vision for that meant. One of the things we agreed on was that we had a strong legacy – there was an incredibly strong knowledge of the brands globally. But at the same time I think we all agreed that Hilton had become a bit rooted in the legacy of those brands rather than building and keeping them current.”

Traxler says that for him to have an impact on the company, Hilton Worldwide had to become a design driven organisation. “I needed Chris to reinforce that vision with our operations team and with our development teams. It really had to be a credo from the top down or we weren’t going to have much success in turning this big ship around. Chris jumped in right away and supported the need to restructure the entire organisation.”

The overhaul was comprehensive. “I wanted to build the team from the ground up with some of the best and brightest people out there,” says Traxler. “The whole turnabout of the design methodology within Hilton started with our own internal team and restructuring of how we work.”

Further key appointments were made to head up regional design teams. In Europe, Celia Geyer came in from WATG to head up architecture, with Chris Webb, formerly of United Designers, fulfiling a similar role on the interior design side.

“Chris and Celia are a testament to our desire to go directly to principal level design leaders within the regions,” says Traxler. “We’ve done the same thing with Asia Pacific, and we’re doing the same thing within Latin America. I have design directors in all of our major development centres.”

The design team for the Middle East & Africa region is based in Dubai. The Asia-Pacific region has three design offices – one in Delhi, looking after India, one in Shanghai, which handles Greater China and Mongolia, and one in Singapore which covers Southeast Asia and Australasia.

“We have a Miami base for Latin America right now but we have considered shifting that down to Sao Paulo if we could find some cost effective office space, as that’s a growing location,” adds Traxler.

In Europe, as in each of the other regions, the structure around Celia Geyer and Chris Webb enables them to provide regional design support within a global context.

Strategically and functionally both Celia and Chris report in to Larry Traxler in Global Design Services. However, tactically at a regional level they provide design support to the regional team of Project Managers led by Gordon Coles, who heads up the Architecture and Construction team for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Both Coles and Traxler in turn report into Matt Richardson.

HILTON WORLDWIDE KEY FIGURES IN THE EUROPEAN & GLOBAL DESIGN TEAMS

LARRY TRAXLER Senior Vice President , Global Design Services Larry Traxler joined Hilton in April 2009. In his current capacity, he has oversight of Hilton’s worldwide team of design managers and will direct the design review process provided to existing owned and leased hotels as well as delivering new hotels into the Hilton System.

Previously, he was Vice President – Architecture & Design for Global Hyatt Corporation.

CELIA GEYER Senior Director - Architecture , Global Design Services Europe Celia Geyer is an architect with experience working on a wide range of projects from residential, commerical to luxury hotels and resorts. Her region includes the UK, Europe, Turkey, Russia and the CIS where she looks after projects across the Hilton brands. Prior to working for Hilton she was an Associate Vice President for WATG.

CHRIS WEBB Senior Director - Interior Design, Global Design Services Europe Chris Webb joined Hilton Worldwide with over 15 years of international interior design and hotel experience, having worked on luxury hotel and resort design projects for many of the major hotel brands both in Europe and the USA. Prior to Hilton, Chris was a Director of Design at United Designers in London, where he was appointed Managing Director in 2009.

GORDON COLES Vice President – Architecture and Construction, Europe, Middle East and Africa Based in London, Coles is responsible for all property, design and construction related activity across EMEA encompassing newbuild development management, capital expenditure and property management within the existing hotel estate. Since joining the company in 2002, Coles has overseen the design, construction and opening of more than 100 hotels.

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FEATURE: HILTON WORLDWIDE

CONRAD ALGARVE In Europe, Conrad has struggled to achieve the brand recognition and traction with owners it enjoys in Asia but Hilton is hoping that will change with the recent launch of a new flagship hotel in New York and two key projects in Europe which promise to enhance the brand’s profile.

In Europe, Conrad Istanbul is being refurbished, and there is another development under way in Dublin. Conrad Algrave also opened this Autumn.

Located at Quinta do Lago resort in Portugal, the contemporary 154-guestroom Conrad Algarve is set in the Ria Formasa National Park, just a short distance from unspoilt beaches and popular golf courses.

Striking architectural design has been teamed with a modern interior and the hotel has collaborated with internationally-renowned architectural firm Sigma acting as concept architects, as well as distinguished Portuguese interior designer, Miguel Cancio Martins who carried out much of the initial design work.

The construction architect was Rui Grego of Palmer Grego Arquitectos. Kate Long of Rethink Interiors saw the project through to completion working closely with Chris Webb, Senior

“The Global Design Services function, led by Celia and Chris is fully integrated into the European Architecture and Construction team at a tactical level, whilst functionally they’re reporting to Global Design Services which sits under Larry Traxler in the States – this ability to be organised globally from a strategic perspective, whilst retaining the ability to act as a seamless regional project delivery team is the key to the success of this type of structure,” explains Gordon Coles.

“This structure is replicated in the other regions in terms of an Architecture and Construction team, which is the single point of contact with the owners and development partners, and a Global Design Services team which works with the project delivery team in terms of overall design and the quality of product.”

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Director of Interior Design for Global Design Services Europe at Hilton.

A Moorish theme influences the hotel’s design, which has been carefully constructed in the form of an 18th century Portuguese palace, with features including bespoke artwork and lighting. RHA Furniture supplied and installed furniture in all public areas, spa and the many suites, including custom joinery.

The palatial concept of the hotel architecture led to fantastic spaces for the interior design concepts to be developed. The feeling of a grand palace is carried from the atrium

“We all feed back into the same source,” adds Celia Geyer, “so we share information internally on a global basis to understand what we’re doing in different regions from a design perspective.”

The Architecture and Construction team for Europe is organised into two distinct project management teams – one for the delivery of Capital Expenditure projects (‘capex’) in the existing portfolio of hotels, the other for delivery of new hotels coming in to the Hilton Worldwide system through the development pipeline. A team of dedicated Project Directors operate in these two project management teams, with each Director managing a number of projects on the ground from inception to completion.

Geyer explains: “From a development perspective, during the process of a deal

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reception area through to the conference facilities, and F&B offerings with each area having its own sense of place and unique style, including Gusto by Heinz Beck. The Lago Lounge has an impressive over-scaled bar, inspired by old fashioned Oshkosh Trunks, which can open fully during opening hours, and closed securely when the bar is no longer open. The Louro Restaurant embraces the Mediterranean climate Portugal is so renowned for and is a comfortable, relaxing atmosphere in hues of olive green and orange.

being signed, a Project Director will be assigned, who becomes the single point of contact for our development partners team and is essentially responsible for coordinating and managing the input from all the different disciplines within Hilton, of which Global Design Services is just one.

In Global Design Services, we also review projects pre-signing to make sure they will be brand compliant. So we then give feedback to the development team and that gets fed back until the deal is finally signed. We then look after the design side of things as the project moves forward until the day it opens, whether it be from an architecture or interior design perspective.”

On capex projects: “The capital expenditure budget gets agreed every year with our Real Estate and Asset

FEATURE: HILTON WORLDWIDE

Management team. Our philosophy is to deploy our capital in to major masterplan projects where it can have the most impact for the our guests, our owners and the business, rather than a ‘sprinkle the fairy dust’ approach. Design therefore becomes a much more intrinsic part of these masterplans. From a Global Design Perspective, these capex projects run the same way as the development projects but the key difference is that we are our own client so to speak.”

The Global Design Services team works on full service and luxury projects, comprising the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts and DoubleTree by Hilton brands. Hampton by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn projects are looked after by a Focused-Service team headed in Europe by Senior Director Dan Reed, who also sits with Gordon Coles’ team. Similarly in the US, Focused-Service projects are run from an office in Memphis, with the rest looked after by a Global Design Services team for North America based in the McLean headquarters.

“Hampton by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn are volume vehicles so you’ve got to make it as easy as possible for franchisees and owners to be able to deliver them,” says Coles. “We’ve standardised as much as possible, so across all the areas of the Hampton by Hilton and the Hilton Garden Inn we have prototypical schemes that we recommend the owner takes on board. More often than not, they do.”

Larry Traxler adds: “Focused-Service is a much smaller animal to get our arms around.

We handle that within the regional offices so that there is local context and regional understanding of what it takes to ensure those prototypes that were built here in the US actually work in the UK, Turkey or India.

We work closely with each of those regional offices on what that regional adaptation is, so that it doesn’t become something that’s inconsistent with the brand vision.”

Upon his appointment, Chris Nassetta set out a five year plan to revamp the core Hilton brand. At the heart of this was a global review, dubbed H360, which looked at guest perception of the brand. This formed the basis of a ‘design narrative’ for the Hilton 032

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Hotels & Resorts brand. Similar narratives have since been drawn up for the other brands in the Hilton Worldwide portfolio.

As Larry Traxler explains, these narratives provide the global context for the company’s design projects worldwide. Each individual project then has a specific design brief which puts that context into regional focus.

“We provide the consultants with a design narrative that describes what the baseline understanding is for each of the brands and what the differences are between the brands during kick-off meetings. Then we establish a design brief which provides an understanding of where this hotel sits within that global context, but in regional focus.

That has completely changed the product that we’ve been able to achieve around the world, by approaching each and every project in that same manner. We have a global context of what a design narrative is for each of the brands, and then we have a regional brief that narrows down and drills down into the locality of that hotel. That’s really what’s helped us change the face of design at Hilton.”

Chris Webb says these design narratives allow the designers to give the projects regional flavour, whilst ensuring brand consistency: “The narratives are a fantastic, useful tool to brief designers in the brand’s vision and design direction, especially in the non-English speaking countries because designers communicate visually. There has been a lot of effort put into those documents in describing how we would like to see our lobby and public areas, for instance, work in a Hilton. Although not ideal, sometimes we inherit designers who have never designed a hotel before or who have little hotel design experience and the principles in these documents avoid basic errors being made.

They give the designers freedom, under our guidance, to make sure we’ve got some stunning properties. If the fundamentals are right, the rest follows.”

“We can really guide the designers through the process without interfering in the process,” says Celia Geyer. “The narrative lays out the basics and key principles that they can then build on with their creativity.

That’s proving invaluable.”

Distilling the essence of the brands

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DOUBLETREE BY HILTON ISTANBUL MODA

DoubleTree by Hilton has enjoyed huge growth in recent years, offering an attractive proposition to developers in the current economic climate, partly due to its flexibility and suitability for conversion projects. In Europe it has been particularly successful in Eastern Europe and the UK, the latter now having 20 hotels open and four under development, nine of which are in London. In Turkey, the Doubletree

by Hilton, Istanbul – Moda, is the second DoubleTree by Hilton in Istanbul. Located in the Moda district on the Asian side of Istanbul, the newbuild hotel has spectacular views of Istanbul Old Town, the Marmara Sea and the Prince Islands. The hotel is operated by Tasyapi Insaat Taahut Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., under a franchise licence agreement with a subsidiary of Hilton Worldwide.

In February 2012 Hilton Worldwide announced the signing of development agreements to open four new hotels in locations across Turkey, including DoubleTree by Hilton Kusadasi and DoubleTree by Hilton Malatya. Its latest Turkish development pipeline now stands at 19. It now has 41 hotels either operating or under development in the country.

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FEATURE: HILTON WORLDWIDE

HILTON GARDEN INN FRANKFURT AIRPORT

Although most Hilton Garden Inn projects are looked after by the Focused Service team from a design perspective, an exception are projects where two Hilton brands are located next to one another.

The landmark Squaire development at Frankfurt Airport sees a Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn co-located directly above the ICE Railway Station.

The internationally renowned interior design firm, JOI-Design, has mirrored the mobility theme featured in The Squaire within both hotels, whilst also creating an oasis of tranquillity for guests seeking rest and relaxation.

The Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport offers a total of 334 rooms featuring complimentary wireless internet access, a king-size Garden Sleep System bed, a refrigerator and a spacious working desk with ergonomic Mirra chairs designed by Herman Miller.

Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport also offers guests a bar and restaurant with show kitchen, The Restaurant, that delivers buffet and grill specialities and a stunning view over the Taunus mountain range.

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into these narratives has also allowed the slimming down of the notoriously onerous Design and Construction Standards documents of old.

“In 2010 when we undertook the exercise of globally harmonising the Design and Construction Standards for all our brands, we also made the conscious decision to simplify these to only include the minimum technical standards and removed any reference to the look and feel of the spaces and facilities in the hotel,” says Webb. “We no longer specify what a room should look like in the Design and Construction Standards, other than its functionality. That leaves us open to move the design in the direction where we need to be, without changing the standards every few minutes.”

According to Geyer, the fruits of this labour are already being seen in projects being completed across Europe: “We’ve undertaken extensive in-depth research with our guests to understand what we’re doing right and what we’re doing wrong.

We’ve listened to them and responded with functional and beautiful design. It’s been really successful and the feedback on elements that have already gone into properties that have now opened has been really positive.”

“We’re getting designers to understand that we’re there to support them through the process rather than try and come and tell them what to do,” adds Webb. “It’s worked incredibly well and the initial concepts coming through have become stronger through the year, in terms of people understanding the interpretation of where we want to go with the brands.”

The Global Design Services team does not always have the luxury of deciding which designers and architects work on the different projects. Architects have often already been appointed by the time the team gets involved in a development project. But increasingly, Hilton Worldwide has an input on the selection of interior designers at an early stage. “Our development team in Europe has now got to know us and understand the

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value that Global Design Services adds to development,” says Webb. “They are now starting to canvas owners much earlier on to say, ‘who are your designers, who is your architect, it’ll make the process for you much easier if you work with an experienced person, we can recommend somebody to help you’.” Webb says they are looking for “design companies that have experience at the right level as well and in the right region.”

“The development team is using us a lot more,” confirms Geyer. “They’re understanding that we can add value quite early on and it just moves the project across the line quicker. Everyone benefits from it.”

“And owners come back because they get a better service,” adds Webb. “The owners are happy when the projects are finished because the quality of design is getting better, so when they do the next property they come back and talk to us.”

Of course the Global Design Services team has more say in which designers are used on capital projects funded by Hilton. On these they recommend “two or three design practices and match the skills to the location or the property, depending on the experience of the designer.”

Getting the balance right between ensuring consistency whilst imbuing the projects with a local flavour is one the most important roles of the Global Design Services team.

“Today’s traveller is a global traveller. He may be in Beijing one day and New York the next,” says Traxler. “Achieving brand consistency is one of our key mantras. That doesn’t mean using the same materials, the same furniture, or the same light fixtures in every hotel but that we have a guest arrival sequence which is very similar and understandable. The signage program is handled in a very clear and consistent way.

The circulation and flow of the lobby is such that when you walk in, you understand that it’s part of that family. Consistency is critically important for our continued growth and success and making sure that each of our brands has that flexibility to morph and adapt to the needs of different locations.

They all need to have a different look and

FEATURE: HILTON WORLDWIDE

HILTON ROTTERDAM “It’s still the mothership and still the focus,” says Gordon Coles of the Hilton core brand. Hilton Rotterdam provides a good example of the Hilton-owned capex renovation projects where the company is using its own funds to effect a significant transformation.

An extensive €36m refurbishment by RPW Design, throughout which the hotel has remained in operation, is expected to be completed in 2013 after a three-phase process.

RPW Design, has been tasked with revamping the entire property to create a striking new hotel venue. The refurbishment incorporates all 254 guestrooms and suites in accordance with the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand standards.

The comfortable and modern style of the guestrooms will subtly blend local references into the design. By introducing “statement” and decorative pieces of furniture the design team hopes to create a sense of being in one’s own home.

The public areas, which are spread over the ground and first floors, will be completely revamped and extended. By re-orientating the principal entrance to the main square at the front of the hotel and adding a new porte-cochère, a much greater sense of arrival will be created. The bar and restaurant will be one of

the key features of the hotel, re-designed with a separate street entrance. Luxurious, welcoming public areas have been created with a reference to the original classic style of the building.

Relocating the Executive Lounge, designed in a library/study style with a contemporary twist, from the first floor to the ground floor will ensure a more accessible and user-friendly space.

An extensive redesign of the function and meetings areas on the first floor will create brighter and more spacious rooms, while the reception and corridor areas will be remodelled with new

feel but there needs to be a consistent level of delivery, there needs to be a consistent language in terms of clean lines and a modern sensibility.”

Says Chris Webb: “We’re really pushing for every project to have a sense of place and feel a part of the city it’s in. We’re choosing designers in some cases that are more locally experienced. They don’t necessarily have to be based in that city but equally we don’t want to use UK- or London-based designers for everything. If we’re doing a project in eastern Europe then sometimes having a local team makes a lot of sense with language, planning and so on. We’re really expanding the preferred designers list that we have. They don’t need to have a huge portfolio, we’re always looking for new

people – they have to have some experience but on smaller scale projects, some of the smaller firms are more suitable in other ways than some of the big consultants out there.”

Although for luxury projects, Webb says Hilton “needs companies with experience – solid major design companies known in the industry.” He adds that they are seeing a lot of breakaways due to the recession with individuals from major design firms setting up on their own.

Larry Traxler continues: “We use some of the capex projects or smaller prototype projects as a testing ground for our relationships with these more local, regional consultants. I’ve just spent the weekend going through some new Brazilian and Argentinean consultants’ portfolios and

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refreshment stations and break-out spaces.

Chris Webb, Director Interior Design Europe Hilton Worldwide, says: “Built in 1960 by one of the foremost contemporary Dutch architects Hugh (Huig) Aart Maaskant, Hilton Rotterdam is considered one of the landmark buildings of this period. The style exemplifies the glamour, sophistication and excitement of the 1960s combined with a sense of place in the city.

Almost 50 years on, the aim of the renovation is to give this Grand Lady of Rotterdam a new lease of life.”

there are a lot of really talented people out there that aren’t getting the notice they should. We try to embrace them. It makes sense financially – we’re not flying them from London to Sao Paolo or from New York to Beijing. Also there is that regional understanding of the essence of each of the different cities within a locality, that an outsider doesn’t really see until they spend a lot of time there... by which time, we may be done with the project.”

One Hilton-owned hotel which has proved a particularly fertile testing ground for new design is the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner.

New lobby, guestroom and F&B concepts have recently been showcased at this property which sits just a stone’s throw from the company’s global headquarters.

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FEATURE: HILTON WORLDWIDE

HAMPTON BY HILTON CROYDON

Since its introduction to Europe in 2009, Hampton by Hilton has seen rapid growth in Europe with a portfolio which now spans 13 hotels in four European countries – the UK, Germany, Poland and Turkey. The first Hampton by Hilton in the UK opened in Corby and was followed by further additions in locations such as Liverpool, Newport and Derby.

Hampton by Hilton London Croydon – the first Hampton by Hilton in the Greater London area – launched in March 2012.

The hotel brings Hilton Worldwide’s UK portfolio to more than 100 hotels, with a further 20 hotels due to open in the next three years. Other new additions to the Hampton by Hilton UK portfolio include the recently opened Hampton by Hilton St. George’s Park, Burton-Upon-Trent, part of the Football Association’s new national football training centre, and Hampton by Hilton London Waterloo which is expected to open by the end of 2013.

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“Our goal was to create something right next door to our headquarters that was indicative of what we were trying to do around the world,” says Traxler. “We invested $40 million of our own capital in that and we’re all excited about the strength of what has developed there. It’s a really strong, clean statement about the guestroom design, about the public areas and how they should work, about how logical circulation flow within a guest stay should be leveraged and built upon. By invigorating and breathing energy into the lobby and incorporating an 18hour bar that transforms over the course of the day, we’ve seen food and beverage sales increase by over 200%. Those kind of swings are compelling stories to other owners. They can see not only a design methodology shift but a real return on their investment shift.”

“Sometimes, owners think of internal brand design teams as a hurdle in the way to their success when in reality, we’re a value add proposition. If they embrace everything that we’re trying to do globally and we achieve a lot more consistency with the brand then it becomes a major culture shift.”

Whilst some of the new design initiatives have been tested out in physical properties, the company is also embracing virtual technology with a new online tool known as ‘Hilton Design Studio’.

“Our intention is that this is an open platform for anybody that is an owner, a consultant or a developer who is interested in finding out more about Hilton – what our brand statement is and what our design statement is,” says Traxler.

The portal will give access to “what probably amounts to well over $1 million of thought process in how to approach guestroom design, how to approach the lobby design, how to approach executive lounges.

This will become a platform for everything related to the Hilton brand, in terms of design. It will be a one-stop immersion location where you can go in and learn in a variety of ways about what we’re trying to do.” There are plans to also upload the design narratives for the other Hilton Worldwide brands, so that the design studio becomes a platform to understand the differences between them.

Traxler hopes this will save a lot of time in

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trying to explain the brands to third parties: “As we try to embrace local, regional design consultants who may not be familiar with our brands, we currently have to run through a whole immersion exercise with them. This is an attempt to get that information out there ahead of time.”

Presumably a lot of time and expense in holding meetings, presentations and conference calls will be saved? “Yes, and developers’ time and money in having their design consultants go down the wrong path with schemes that are not going to be something that we’ll embrace as a brand.”

Traxler admits that the process of turning around the ‘big ship’ that is Hilton Worldwide’s global portfolio is a challenging one: “We’re fighting on a lot of different fronts. With roughly 900 hotels in the global pipeline, keeping up with all the new builds is a challenge but we have a fairly disciplined process in place. There are projects that come in at late periods of development, maybe they were being developed under a different brand or without any brand or any operator in mind, where we have to scramble at the last minute and try to morph it into our culture and to make sure that it makes sense as a Waldorf Astoria, a Conrad or a Hilton. But for the most part, the construction projects are more straightforward.”

More complex he says, is the process of renovating the existing managed and franchised hotels. “We have properties which we own, and leased properties which we control. Those are relatively easy projects as we control all the levers: the consultant hiring, the schedule, the budget. That’s where we’ve seen the most pronounced turning of the ship in terms of renovations and being able to make a significant change within specific hotels.”

The greatest area of opportunity for the future, he believes is to start impacting “the owners, the capex that lies outside of our own estate, and lies outside of newbuilds.

That gives us an opportunity to transform the face of Hilton Worldwide dramatically and quickly through renovations.”

“We have franchisees and owners that may not stay in close connection with the brand communications, and that may not

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FEATURE: HILTON WORLDWIDE

WALDORF ASTORIA AMSTERDAM The legendary Waldorf Astoria in New York is currently undergoing a major renovation that promises to reassert its iconic status as the flagship for the brand. In Europe, Hilton Worldwide is working with Dijkhuis Vastgoed Management B.V, the owner of Hilton Amsterdam, and interior designers GA Design on a new Waldorf Astoria in the heart of central Amsterdam.

The Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam will be created by combining six historic canal-side buildings, nestled amongst 17th and 18th century row houses, alongside one of Amsterdam’s best known canals, Herengracht.

John Vanderslice, Global Head of Luxury and Lifestyle Brands at Hilton Worldwide, comments: “The Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand has become a touchstone for defining luxury experiences and its growth is one of the strongest in its hospitality segment with more than 20 hotels in operation and 10 hotels currently in our global pipeline. Our hotels are destinations of elegant style and comfort, reflecting great design and architecture in thoughtful details and Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam will be an exquisite

understand our processes. That’s where we’re spending a lot of time right now.”

The brand narratives have been a significant step in the right direction: “Owners see us putting money, hard work and thought into the brands. They are investing in them as well so if we were changing our mind on a weekly or monthly basis about what the brands stand for and what it is that we’re trying to achieve, the owners would see that as a lack of discipline. But we’ve put a stake in the ground by putting this down on paper and communicating it. I’m spending a good deal of my time this year going around the world, communicating the brand narratives to our owners, to our future development partners, and to consultants.”

“This has been a really exciting time. We’ve come in at the right time. It’s been exciting to 040

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asset to our brand when it opens in 2013.”

The 94-guestroom hotel will feature a range of elegant food and beverage experiences including a destination restaurant and bar. A stunning 500m2 health club and spa will see guests of Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam enjoy a luxurious experience offering true Waldorf service in one of the world’s most magical locations.

It will also offer 400m2 of state-of-the-art meeting and conference space including a courtyard garden.

work on re-envisioning Waldorf-Astoria and trying to establish from a design perspective and an operational perspective what a luxury property is, what the differences between Waldorf Astoria and Conrad are. We’re reenvisioning the flagship brand Hilton Hotels & Resorts. We’re rethinking DoubleTree

by Hilton as it expands globally and starts to take on incredible momentum outside of the US. We’ve also been working closely with the Focused Service brands to revision their internal North America presence but also what it will take to make them become palatable within China, within South America, within Central America, within India. We’re completely giving new structure and a new face to those brands outside of the US as they become global roll-outs.”

According to Celia Geyer, in Europe, the effects are already being felt. “I don’t think

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Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts now includes more than 20 landmark destinations around the globe. Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam will be the luxury brand’s seventh hotel to open in Europe, reflecting its continued international expansion, joining Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Trianon Palace Versailles, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, London Syon Park, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, and The Caledonian, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel. New properties are also due to open in Berlin and Jerusalem.

we expected to see the change as quickly. It’s been phenomenal to watch the process, to see the change. It’s been very rewarding.”

“The company goal from a design, architecture and construction perspective is that we are determined to be widely seen as the easiest and most collaborative team for owners and our internal customers to work with, whilst being one of the best design-led hotel companies out there,” says Gordon Coles. “It was a very clear message that as a group of brands we had to start pushing the needle in terms of design. The recruitment of Chris and Celia was the start of this process, our recent re-structure of the Global Design Team in Europe has continued this process and strengthened this team further, and we will continue to strengthen the team as our pipeline of new hotels and renovation projects continues to grow.”

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HOTEL REVIEW

D&D London have launched their first hotel, with interiors

by Conran & Partners, and architecture by Allies & Morrison, in the heart of the City of London.

South Place London Words: Matt Turner Photography: © Guy Montagu-Pollock / Arcaid

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lthough he hasn’t been directly involved in its creation, the influence of Sir Terence Conran looms large over South Place. It is the first hotel venture by D&D – the team that acquired Conran’s restaurant operations in a management buyout in 2006. And it is designed by Conran & Partners – the Shad Thames-based design studio which still has Sir Terence’s name above the door.

Unlike Boundary in nearby Shoreditch, which was a Conran project from start to finish, South Place is emphatically a collaborative effort, created by D&D in partnership with property owner and developer Frogmore, and architects Allies & Morrison. “Its developers hope to make South Place a hub where the City meets the East End to work and play. “In a new purpose built structure

by Allies & Morrison, our team of designers has taken this brief and produced interiors to create a hotel that promises to be ‘as much about meet and eat as sleep’,” says Tina Norden of Conran & Partners.

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ABOVE: The Angler restaurant has a classic design scheme with oversized floorlamps and smartly striped upholstery OPPOSITE PAGE: Moooi ‘s Raimond chandelier makes a staement in a suite which also features a desk chair designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll. Carpets throughout are by Chroma

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The ‘sleep’ part of that equation is delivered in 80 guestrooms, with eating catered for across two restaurants – Angler and 3 South Place – and three bars, including a secret garden and an impressive rooftop terrace. As for the ‘meet’ there is a floor of individually-designed private rooms for meetings and functions, as well as a residents only games room.

Geographically, the hotel sits in the heart of the Square Mile, on a newbuild site between Moorgate and Liverpool Street tube stations.

But culturally it reaches out towards the East End, and its thriving art scene. Original works from local artists are hung in each room and a variety of pieces feature in all hotel areas, curated by Hoxton Art and Jealous Galleries.

This strong focus on art is evident throughout the hotel. Damien Florébert Cuyper’s illustrations adorn the walls of 3 South Place.

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Abstract photos of London by Gary Mitchell are displayed in the corridors. And the lift lobby features a wall of mechanical pixels, formed from revolving paint cans, that can be programmed to create ever changing artwork.

Hoxton Art Gallery is also managing an annual art prize for recently graduated MA students from London art schools. The winner is given £5000 cash, as well as £1000 for materials to make a piece that features in a large street-facing feature window for the rest of the year. The inaugural winner was Zemer Peled, a ceramics graduate from the Royal College, who has created a signature sculpture on the ground floor by firing layers of black and white clay, breaking them into thousands of fragments then rebuilding them.

Other commissions include a series of Lichtenstein-inspired pop art prints of iconic British food brands such as Marmite

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ABOVE & TOP RIGHT: Lowinfo created the concrete bar the Secret Garden and low slung concrete table in South Place. Dernier & Hamlyn supplied the 10m long trough style chandelier in polished steel ABOVE RIGHT: The ‘Le Chiffre’ games room, named after a Bond villain, has a gentlemen’s club feel with sofas and armchairs by Baxter and Afghan rugs supplied by a family business in North East London

and HP Sauce. Elsewhere, a speciallycommissioned triptych depicts moths made from intricately cut up vintage porn periodicals.

The lobby area features high-backed wing chairs in mustard coloured fabrics, with jade and turquoise coloured curtains, huge sawn logs and parquet flooring.

The centrepiece of the 3 South Place bar and restaurant is a long, low concrete table created by Lowinfo, above which hangs a bespoke trough-style chandelier in polished stainless steel by Dernier & Hamlyn.

Angler Restaurant, situated on the seventh floor, offers a more formal dining experience, with a menu of British seafood. The dining room design is pared back, with mirrored foliage screens on the walls and ceiling enhancing the sense of space and maximising the light through the sloping floor-to-ceiling windows. A stunning roof terrace looks out over the adjacent office buildings and has an 046

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open grill for barbeques when the weather permits.

A stellar cast of suppliers, sourced by procurement agency The Park Company, have been involved. There are sofas by B&B Italia, Muuto and Knoll. Dining chairs are

by Accademia and Porada. Other items were custom-made to Conran & Partners designs by Imagine Interiors, Soficon and Howe. Lighting suppliers include Erco, Moooi, Foscarini, Artemide and Santa & Cole. Dernier & Hamlyn produced statement fittings for 3 South Place Restaurant, 3 South Place Bar and for one of the first floor meeting rooms, as well as more than 300 pendant and reading lights for the hotel’s 80 bedrooms.

Guestrooms feature desk chairs by Knoll and armchairs by Artifort. Bang & Olufsen 40-inch Beovision 10 TVs are fitted as standard. Beds are swathed in Josephine Home bed linen, with cashmere-wrapped mattresses by Hypnos. Utopia Projects

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supplied all bathroom fittings, including sanitaryware and ceramics from Duravit, Viega and Hansgrohe. The welcome box is designed

by Studio Conran (the graphics wing of the Conran empire) with a bespoke, hand-drawn map by Emily Chappell, and hand-cast resin pieces of British printed ephemera by AMD Interior Architects.

The hotel’s jewel in the crown is a ‘secret garden’ atrium bar on the first floor, with a bespoke sculpture by Grace and Webb.

This open-air space offers a rare sanctuary in the heart of the city with its water feature and concrete bar, also created by Lowinfo.

The five private rooms on the same floor take their names from fictional spies, in a nod to a spy ring which operated in nearby Moorgate in the 1920s. Alongside them, Le Chiffre, the residents’ games room has a private members club feel with a roaring fire, well-stocked library and an extensive vinyl record collection. The smart aesthetics

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HOTEL REVIEW

ABOVE: South Place is the first hotel to specify Hypnos’ new ‘Lansdowne Latex’ mattresses which include a ‘silver’ infused mattress cover to create a differentiated sleeping experience. Guestrooms also feature Shark Chair by René Holten for Artifort, and Muuto side tables ABOVE RIGHT: Allies & Morrison’s carefully crafted ground floor plan allows the hotel to interact with its local neighbourhood

extend to the staff uniforms, created by DS Dundee, specialists in British tailoring based in London’s East End. This is the third hotel completed by architects Allies & Morrison this year, alongside the Alila Bangalore, in India; and the Premier Inn Southwark. Conceived as two layers, the façade incorporates thermal insulation with glass against a dark, warmcoloured metal, which play off one another in response to function and light.

“We have designed the façades to strengthen and elaborate the building’s basic composition and to respond to its immediate context,” Vicky Thornton, Associate Director at Allies & Morrison, says.

“We hope the hotel will be not only a sustainable addition to the neighborhood as a result, but also improve the unity of the streetscape.”

D&D evidently see the restaurants and bars as central to the success of South Place.

“This is a hotel created by restaurateurs,” explains General Manager Bruce Robertson.

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“Where other hoteliers might see an opportunity to put in more bedrooms, we are more interested in bringing the building to life with vibrant public areas. We have 80 guestrooms but there are probably three to four hundred people going through the public areas each day so they will define the hotel.”

Judging by Sleeper’s visit, just a few weeks into opening, 3 South Place has certainly captured the attention of local office workers – the restaurant and bar areas were buzzing at lunchtime. But Robertson is conscious that the hotel cannot rely on the proximity of local businesses alone. “It would be easy to become an accommodation annexe for one of the big banks, and Monday to Thursday corporate business will be the driver. But hopefully we can build a late night scene as well.”

To this end he has brought in DJ Teamy from his home town of Glasgow to inject some life into the bar in the evenings, as well as Nathan Dixon-Jones, formerly of Shoreditch House, to run the bar operation.

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EXPRESS CHECKOUT South Place Hotel 3 South Place, London, EC2M 2AF, UK Tel: +44 (0)20 3503 0000 www.southplacehotel.com

„ 80 guestrooms (inc. one suite) ‰ Angler, 3 South Place Secret Garden Atrium bar Gym, Spa + Wellness (including sauna, steam room and treatment room) + 5 meeting and private dining rooms, games room Developer / Owner: Frogmore Operator: D&D London Architect: Allies & Morrison Interior Design: Conran & Partners Lighting Design: Hoare Lea Lighting (Concept design and specification) Executed by NG Bailey Project Management & QS: Gardiner & Theobald M&E, Lighting & Acoustics Consultant: Hoare Lea Structural Engineer: Waterman Structures Main Contractor: McLaren M&E Sub-Contractor: NG Bailey

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HOTEL REVIEW

Fazenda Nova Portugal Words: Matt Turner Photography: © Ed Reeve

Tim and Hallie Robinson have created a country house hotel in the Eastern Algarve where designer furnishings are combined with flea market finds to stylish effect.

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igh in the hills, near the village of Estiramentens, the dappled autumn sun is streaming through groves of carob, almond and quince trees. In the distance, dogs can be heard barking. My-four-year old son is running amok in the orchards, collecting olives for the evening meal.

Plenty of Brits harbour aspirations to live in such idyllic surroudings. The notion of giving up the rat race for a career running a guesthouse is a cliché around which entire TV series have been constructed. But not many people actually manage to uproot their families and make a home for themselves overseas, dealing with the challenges of building and operating a hotel at the same time.

Nevertheless that is what Tim and Hallie Robinson have done in creating Fazenda Nova – a secluded boutique hotel in the heart of the Eastern Algarve, near the historic coastal town of Tavira. ‘Fazenda’ roughly translates as ‘country estate’, and the country house at the heart of the Fazenda Nova estate has been

lovingly renovated in a modern style while retaining its original features and traditional architecture.

“The initial plan was to open a small B&B, then we found another property that would have made a larger hotel but it didn’t stack up,” explains Tim Robinson. They continued their search in vain, until two different acquaintances, unknown to each other, recommended they take a look at the same crumbling manor house up in the hills north east of Faro, and a deal was done.

The property they found needed some serious renovation work. As is often the case with conversions of this nature, the scale of the task only became apparent once construction began. The roots of an ancient olive tree, something of a local landmark, had undermined the foundations of the building.

Eventually the Robinsons realised they would

effectively need to rebuild the entire thing from scratch. All that now remains of the original structure is a bread oven and an olive press. Not that you would notice. The façade has been painstakingly recreated to match the original, with modern additions allowing the creation of ten large guestrooms including seven garden suites, two apartments with their own kitchens, and one penthouse.

Wherever possible, elements of the old building have been re-integrated into the new structure. Pine doors have been repurposed as shelving units in the kitchens of the apartment rooms, doubling as a secret door which connects the two apartments. Other wood has been stockpiled for future use as seating, or fuel for the roaring fire which heats the lounge in winter.

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OPPOSITE PAGE: The Brazilian chairs by the fireplace were bought in a local market, bar tables are made from wood reclaimed from Biggin Hill Airfield Mess Hall, and Bamileke feather head-dresses from Cameroon are used as wall decor THIS PAGE: Guestrooms feature Indonesian beds with Hypnos mattresses and Belgian linens

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says Tim Robinson. “We tried to make everything feel as organic and natural as possible,” adds Hallie Robinson.

The incredible thing is that no professional interior design practice was involved in the project, although a local architect helped with planning permission and technical drawings, and furniture company Paul Thomas Design Ltd worked with the Robinsons in creating the interiors, supplying the Balinese-style furnishings which provide the backbone to the design scheme. “Within this, 95% of the furniture supplied by us was bespoke designed, developed and produced specifically to their needs and wishes,” explains Paul Thomas. “We supplied direct from factories based in Asia and the UK. We managed supply through to completed installation 052

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by our own UK based installation team.”

Fazenda Nova has also provided a home for furniture collected by the Robinsons over the years in London. “Tim was always buying pieces that were too big, and ended up in storage so we had to open a hotel, just to find somewhere to put it all” jokes Hallie.

Additional pieces were sourced especially for the project. The Vitra DSW and DAW Eames chairs in the restaurant are from Aram London. Guestrooms have Hypnos mattresses and Artemide Tolomeo lamps. The polished concrete bathrooms have fittings from Villeroy & Boch and Hansgrohe.

But the majority of items are salvaged, upcycled, or acquired from the flea markets in nearby towns such as Quelfes and Fuzeta.

Coarse coir mats from Seville have been used as rugs in the rooms and sun

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canopies for the outdoor dining space. The floor tiles were found in an old bakery, supplemented with replicas made by hand using time honoured techniques. A shelf in the reception area accommodates an ever-changing display of found and collected objects: old saws unearthed in the grounds, straw hats, a framed print of Robert Indiana’s ‘Love’ bought from the MoMA store in New York, a painting of a moustachioed Portuguese gentleman, vintage tin robots and 1950s food cans.

Victorian grates, now used as bootscrapers, were sourced from UK salvage specialists Trainspotters, as were the enamelled Dunlop factory lights in reception. Traditional Portuguese lobster pots house flickering candles. Doors bought in a Moroccan souk have been repurposed as window shades.

Fa b r i c s , Wa l l pa pe r s & Pa i n t s

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PREVIOUS PAGE AND BELOW: Much of the furniture was created to bespoke designs by Paul Thomas Ltd. Guestrooms feature rattan and driftwood stools sourced from Indonesia. Bedside lights are Artemide Tolomeo wall fixtures BOTTOM: Garden suites each have their own private garden terrace with suspended canopy seating and chairs recycled from old boats

Eucalyptus branches are used as towel rails.

In the outdoor areas, chairs and benches have been re-fashioned from old boats and are juxtaposed with modern pieces from Vincent Sheppard. The concrete-effect stools are by Belgian firm Pomax.

The overall result looks like an interiors shoot straight from the pages of a style magazine – perhaps not such a surprise since Hallie’s father, Nick Logan, was the founder of seminal 1980s publication The Face, and now has a property nearby.

But Fazenda is about the outdoor spaces as much as its interiors. Nine of the rooms offer private gardens or terraces with suspended cocoon seating. The gardens were created by a noted local landscaper and surround the house with a series of paths leading to undiscovered, wilder areas to sit and relax.

Nestled amongst the gardens are an infinity pool and sun deck.

Formerly a family home and farm, the house sits on ten hectares of land with its own orchard, vegetable and herb gardens.

In spring it is abundant with wild flowers growing among the trees. There is a herb plot replete with thyme, basil, mint and oregano.

During harvest time guests are welcomed to take part in harvesting the produce.

That produce has provided the inspiration for the A Cozinha restaurant, where the menu features a modern interpretation of predominantly traditional Iberian cuisine – fresh fish from the market in nearby Olhão, Alentejo porco preto (black pork) or the ubiquitous piri-piri chicken.

Breakfast offers an abundant spread of local fruits, jams, and honey with freshly baked bread – although the ever-obliging Robinsons will happily provide fussy children with their favourite cereal.

Prior to opening Fazenda Nova, the couple lived a hectic life in London. Hallie was a lifestyle and fashion PR dealing with clients such as Armani, Paul Smith, and 054

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Ian Schrager Hotels. Tim worked in the logistics industry for over twenty years, also working with big names in the fashion world.

Their long held dream was a five year plan to work hard and relocate, a plan that was postponed and postponed due to family and business commitments. They finally made the move after Tim suffered a sudden, mild heart attack in early 2008 – a wake up call that prompted a move to Portugal with their three children at the end of 2008.

Not that life became stress free when they arrived. A minor earthquake brought a halt to construction at one point. There were run-ins with the locals over road access to the site. Then as the project neared completion a bush fire in the hills threatened to incinerate all their hard work. “We had the cars packed up and were ready to leave, it got so close,” remembers Tim. 056

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Now they have got the hotel up and running, the Robinsons aren’t stopping there.

Already there are plans to open a rooftop terrace and extend the dining area into the private family residence behind the hotel, running cookery courses in its open plan kitchen. Tim has ambitious ideas to install eco-pods around the grounds and develop a set of shipping containers (a reminder of his roots in the logistics business) that have already been converted to provide additional space.

The family sensibly turned down the opportuntity to have a TV crew following their travails. Had they agreed, the result would have been something like ‘Grand Designs’ meets ‘A Place in the Sun’, with a dash of ‘The Hotel Inspector’ thrown in for good measure. Now that would be a programme worth watching.

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ABOVE: Bathrooms are in polished concrete with fittings by Hansgrohe and Villeroy & Boch. Amenities are by REN

EXPRESS CHECKOUT Fazenda Nova Country House Estiramantens, Santo Estevao Tavira 8800 504, Portugal Tel: +351 281961913 www.fazendanona.eu

„ 10 Garden suites and apartments ‰ A Cozinha  Bar, Library & Lounge Area [ Outdoor pool, in-room spa treatments by arrangement + 2 boardrooms, business lounge, 2 offices Developer / Owner / Operator: Tim & Hallie Robinson Interior Design & Architecture: Tim & Hallie Robinson Contractor: Iberia Constructions

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HOTEL REVIEW

Song Saa Cambodia Words: Annabelle Hood Photography: Sunya Thadathanawong / Markus Gortz

Australian couple Rory and Melita Hunter have created a private island resort off the coast of Cambodia, using local and sustainable materials to create an atmosphere of barefoot luxury.

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ow can an ecological resort deliver the standards expected by the billionaire likes of Lakshmi Mittal?

The term “sustainable luxury” seems something of a paradox until you arrive by speedboat on the shores of Cambodia’s first private luxury island.

Song Saa is a refreshing first of its kind; a contemporary take on the surrounding archipelago’s traditional fishing villages – setting a benchmark in sustainable tourism development and paving the way for future developers. “The goal is to ensure each guest feels like they are staying on their very own private island, whilst never losing the sense of place that they are in 060

Cambodia and not just on any island in the world,” explains co-owner Melita Hunter.

This is barefoot chic, an unpretentious rough-diamond with rugged style, five-star modern comforts and price-tag to match.

Not bad for an East-Asian country estimated to be about thirty years behind its arguably over-developed neighbour Thailand.

Most astonishing is that the duo behind this ambitious project: owner and developer Rory Hunter and his co-owner, architect and creative director wife Melita, had previously only redeveloped apartments in their native Australia. “We did not originally set out to develop a private island when we first moved to Cambodia in 2004. It was only when we rented a fishing boat for

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ABOVE: Villas have been furnished in local materials with luxurious touches such as iPod stations, espresso machines and Sterns & Foster mattresses RIGHT: The Driftwood bar

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two weeks and discovered this amazing archipelago – complete with turquoise waters and pure white sand beaches that stretched for miles, virgin rainforests, waterfalls and coconut plantations – that we even began contemplating a private island project,” says Rory.

Located off the Gulf of Thailand 35-mins by speedboat from the mainland coastal town of Sihanoukville, ‘Song Saa’ means ‘sweethearts’ in Khmer, a nod to its rustic, romantic appeal for honeymooners seeking a beach element to their temple visits. It’s a relaxed set-up, every bit as much as the Hunters themselves. And clients? Song Saa is suited to “people who expect luxury and have exacting standards on service/design/facilities, but are the kind of people who opt for adventure, individuality and privacy,” says Rory.

The ‘island’ is in fact the bijoux-sized twinisles of Koh Ouen and Koh Bong, connected by a curved footbridge of reclaimed wooden planks. The main isle houses 27 villas of three styles: The ‘Jungle Villas’ (set higher up the hill and festooned with foliage); ‘Ocean Villas’ (set low to the water with astonishing sea 062

villas and their own imported private strip of ‘beach’) and ‘Over-water Villas’ (Maldivesstyle villas on stilts). A couple of the ‘Royal’ Over-water villas have a spherical glass window carved in to the floor for viewing the seabed below. All villas have their own rectangular private terraces with plunge pools.

As well as snorkelling escapades, guests can dine al fresco on the beach, poolside or even in the infinity swimming pool.

The small overwater gym is accessed via a higgledy-piggledy wooden-slatted path that winds beneath the foliage. Birdwatching platforms and jungle-covered nature trails are located around both isles.

There is no centralised spa ‘centre’ on Song Saa. Instead, the entire island is a sanctuary where regenerative sites, outdoor salas and discreet spa treatment villas nestle in the serenity of the rainforest and along the ocean shore. A new Spa Director, Naryana Prasad, recently joined from the Maldives’ Four Seasons, working closely now with the organic spa brand Ila’s founder Denise Leicester. A traditional-looking treehouse has been built with the multi-

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purpose of performing spa treatments, restful meditations or as a birdwatching platform.

Maintaining the natural environment during construction of the resort was crucial to the Hunters: “We spent many months with a team of surveyors surveying all the trees on the site well before any construction began – moving each structure slightly from left to right and back again in order to make sure no trees would be cut down,” says Melita. “Being the first here (on the island) posed its challenges, but has given us an opportunity to develop many strong and respectful relationships in the local areas, without any baggage from previous developers. It’s very important to us that we develop Song Saa sensitively and responsibly so that other island developers follow suit and we preserve the reasons we fell in love with these islands in the first place.”

At lunchtimes and evenings, a curved wooden walkway leads to the off-shore Vista restaurant, an open-plan thatched villa hovering above the ocean on stilts.

Melita designed all the furniture herself, which was constructed by Cambodian tradesmen in carpentry workshops on-site.

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Every nook and cranny was conceived and built in-house, from the architectural masterplans to the interior design and creative curation. The only outsourced company were Belt Collins of Singapore, who undertook the landscape design.

The villas themselves contain state-ofthe-art coffee machines, iPods and iPod stations with surroundsound speakers. For soft furnishings, Melita explains: “I have taken care to ensure all of the touch points, from the Stearns & Foster mattress, to the highest quality linen available, as well as all fixtures and fittings, are of the highest quality – never compromising on comfort.”

For durability, furniture fabrics are top of the line – Sunbrella from Europe.

“I have made a huge effort to use local and sustainable materials where I can,” explains Melita: “By buying and hauling old fishing boats that had been left to rot in the estuaries off the locals and hauling them out of the rivers, we were able to use them for beautiful panelled art, and environmentally we were able to stop the effects of the paint leaching into the rivers,” she adds.

Protecting the marine life is at the heart of Song Saa – its marine conservation team has set up a 200m “no-take” zone around the archipelago to protect fish stocks.

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Villas are clad simply in local traditional board and batten timber salvaged from around the archipelago. Their wooden floors are comprised of old recycled housing from Thailand and Cambodia, and when constructing the jungle villas, the sandstone cladding was dug out from the foundations.

The pool tiles are local natural granite quarried from the mainland – each piece chipped by hand then placed in the pools.

Melita’s unique organic style can be seen in the reclaimed driftwood used in feature columns, the bases of bathroom vanity units, outdoor pool showers and in the sculptures all around the island, stools, tables and picture frames.

Old copper bowls are salvaged from the markets, recycled boats are used as timber wall features, and rusty oil drum bases have been converted into chandeliers.

The gardens have huge orchid troughs and 100-year old Cambodian beds, adapted to include desks. Twisted jungle strangler vine accents some ceiling areas.

“I have aimed to create many layers throughout all of my designs,” says Melita. “I hope that after the initial impact of walking into a space, that the person, no matter who they are, discovers further elements and details the more time they spend there.”

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ABOVE LEFT: The view from the pool sala towards two of the ‘Over-water’ villas which have glass panels in the floor through which guests can look down to the seabed ABOVE: All villas have their own private plunge pools

EXPRESS CHECKOUT Song Saa Koh Rong Archipelago Sihanoukville, Cambodia Tel: +855 236 860360 www.songsaa.com

„ 27 villas ‰ Vista Restaurant & Bar  Driftwood Bar + Spa treatments available throughout Co-owner / Developer: Rory Hunter Designer / Architect / Creative Director / Co-owner: Melita Hunter Landscape Design: Belt Collins

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HOTEL REVIEW

Ampersand London Words: Matt Turner Photography: Š Amy Murrell

Dexter Moren Associates have taken their inspiration from Victorian pursuits such as botany, astrology and ornithology for their redesign of a hotel originally constructed in 1888.

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ABOVE: In the guestrooms, oversized velvet bedheads emphasise the high ceilings, while some Deluxe Studio rooms feature rolltop baths in the window bays.

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he hotels of the Victorian era may have been grand, but they were also gloomy. Lit by gaslight or candle, windows were tarnished from the outside by the smog which hung over London, and from the inside by the fumes that belched from the fireplace. So the most striking thing on entry to the Ampersand hotel – a conversion of a hotel originally built in 1888 – is the natural light now flooding into interiors that would once have been dark and oppressive.

It’s most noticeable in the ground floor Drawing Room patisserie, and extends to the front-facing bedrooms, where enormous windows overlook Harrington Road.

Who knows what the notoriously prudish Victorians would have made of the rolltop baths now set into some of the window

bays. Even in the newly added bar and restaurant Apero, some clever architectural jiggery-pokery has enabled a surprisingly light and airy feel to the basement location.

The hotel re-opened its doors at the end of August 2012, following an extensive refurbishment by architecture and interior design practice Dexter Moren Associates. It is just seconds away from South Kensington tube station, on the doorstep of Hyde Park and Knightsbridge The Victorian façade – originally clad in the red brick so redolent of that era – has been replaced with a freshly contemporary dove grey.

Inside, the design scheme references those pursuits that defined the late 19th century. The Victorians were avid collectors, classifiers and categorisers, in fields as WWW.SLEEPERMAGAZINE.COM

ABOVE: The Apero Bar & Restaurant features vintage lighting and exposed brickwork alongside leather banquettes and a marble bartop

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BELOW: The Drawing Room patisserie serves artisanal coffee, tea and champagne, and has a design scheme inspired by different bird species BOTTOM: The Games Room is a multifunctinal space featuring vintage anglepoise style lamps, green club chairs and a ping pong table. Furniture throughout the hotel has been supplied by the likes of Abbott & Boyd, Casa Zeta, and Maison du Monde. Carpets are by Brintons

diverse as botany, ornithology, astronomy, geometry and music. The fruits of these labours are still on display in the museums from which Dexter Moren Associates’ design team have taken their inspiration – the V&A, The Royal Albert Hall, The Natural History Museum and The Science Museum. The collections on display in this cultural district of West London have provided the stimulus for themes which are intricately incorporated into the 111 bespoke guestrooms and public areas, offset with contemporary furnishings and themed artwork. Further inspiration has come from the world of typography – specifically the ampersand symbol from which the hotel takes its name.

A 5,665ft2 collection of buildings was significantly altered as part of the hotel’s extensive re-plan and refurbishment.

“Two new staircases have been installed to open up and enable improved access to the lower ground bar and restaurant,” explain Dexter Moren Associates. “The central hotel staircase has been extended down one floor providing guests direct access, whilst a second external street level staircase has created an independent entrance for non-hotel guests to Apero.”

In the reception and lobby a bespoke version of Ingo Maurer’s Birdie chandelier responds to the form of the staircase, creating a dramatic ceiling-to-floor statement. The sculpture features 068

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Above the brass mesh staircase leading into Apero, a feature chandelier of intermingling aluminium rods illuminates a five-metre tall cabinet of curiosities

naked light bulbs accented with goose feather wings and metal detailing.

The reception desk is a standalone piece of furniture featuring sets of drawers which, according to DMA “contrasts with the formality of conventional desks and evokes the design aesthetic of ‘collections’ inviting guests to explore and interact,” – although inquisitive types who are tempted to start looking inside the drawers may be disappointed to find they don’t open. Fern and fossil motifs are etched into glazing and inset floor rugs, while upholstery features further floral and botanical references.

If this disparate collection of influences runs the risk of seeming disjointed, they are linked together by the corridor designs, where subtle wallpaper graphics reference the five themes of botany, music, ornithology, geometry and astronomy. Bespoke graphics show highly detailed illustrations such as an annotated peacock skeleton.

The 111 guestrooms are set over seven floors. Oversized bed heads provide proportion to the high ceiling and complement the detailed cornicing and dado railings. Again, the Victorian themes bring the rooms to life.

Double rooms are inspired by astronomy and have double beds with oversized velvet bed heads. Superior Doubles take their cue from the musical theme and Deluxe Rooms feature ornithological-inspired 070

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C.P. Hart Contracts work exclusively on hotels, residential and commercial developments.

From projects with an international profile such as the Ampersand (featured in this issue of Sleeper) to chic boutique hotels, we offer a bespoke service tailored entirely to your needs.

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HOTEL REVIEW

interiors. Deluxe Studios are botanically influenced and feature beautiful bay windows with either a freestanding rolltop bath or an oversized writing bureau. Finally, five individual balconied suites positioned on the fourth and fifth floors provide spectacular views over London’s skyline. These are styled with reference to geometry, and have a residential feel with kitchenettes to accommodate longer stay guests.

In that light-filled Drawing Room further ornithological references take flight, with playful motifs, fabrics and artwork paying homage to the discovery of a variety of bird species and their delicate characteristics.

Apero Bar and Restaurant on the lower ground floor is purposely designed to stand apart from the main hotel. “In designing this space one of the challenges we faced was how to successfully integrate all-day-dining,” explain Dexter Moren Associates. “It needed to serve breakfast for hotel guests but also successfully function as an evening bar, drawing in local clientele. We have responded by creating a flexible series of zones, such as the snugs, which are tucked around the Victorian cellar arches. Bench tables can be used for communal breakfast service and later accommodate private dining.”

From street level, guests enter Apero 072

via a newly installed brass-mesh staircase.

The black and white floor design takes its cue from the mosaic floor in the nearby V&A and is hand finished to exacting standards with over 5,000 ceramic tiles which were cut and fitted in situ. A feature chandelier shaped from intermingling aluminium rods illuminates a five-metre tall cabinet of curiosities.

Industrial finishes are included throughout the restaurant. Aluminium wall lamps illuminate reclaimed timber dining tables with antique brass studded detailing. A marble bar runs along one side of the room which is lined with tub leather bar stools.

Hanging overhead are a series of glass pendants with exposed filament bulbs.

Multi-functional spaces The Games Room and The Library, offer overspill from Apero bar and restaurant, as well as functioning as meeting rooms or private entertaining areas. “Overcoming the inherited issues with the dimensions of the rooms was a key feature in the design process,” say Dexter Moren. “This was achieved by creating versatile, multifunctional spaces that can be interconnected and easily modified.

Clever design elements are apparent throughout such as a large tabletop, which can be removed and hidden behind

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ABOVE LEFT: A bespoke version of Ingo Maurer’s ‘Birdie’ chandelier is suspended in the stairwell linking reception to the guestroom floors ABOVE RIGHT: Apero features reclaimed timber dining tables with antique brass-studded detailing

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an artwork partition at the back of the room. Similar to a Victorian cabinet of curiosities the rooms are lined with books, games and items of interest.”

The adjacent Wine Room has a polished basalt floor and oak banqueting table, surrounded by ten leather bound chairs with stud detailing and a Lasvit ceiling pendant. The hotel’s red wine collection is showcased in a floor-toceiling display that spans an entire wall.

The Victorians were great art lovers too and art, selected by Artefact Hotel Art Consultants in conjunction with Dexter Moren Associates, is suitably central to the design scheme. A sculptural piece in the pre-function area has been made out of salvaged architectural details and unused objects which have been collected from the site to tell a story of the hotel’s evolution. In the lobby, an acrylic-on-canvas painting of a yellow throated warbler by Frank Gonzales, sits behind reception. Ann Carrington has created ‘Mr & Mrs Brown’ – an artwork of an Ampersand symbol in mother of pearl buttons and fabric. Artworks

by Georgia Fiennes depicting different animal species adorn The Drawing Room.

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and dramatic taking inspiration from the areas nearby world class museums,” says Minda Dowling of Artefact.

The dining spaces have been developed in collaboration with Gorgeous Group, the creative and operational agency specialising in hospitality.

Robbie Bargh, Founder and Creative Director of Gorgeous Group, says: “We wanted to create a food and drink offering that would engage with the neighbourhood of South Kensington. Apero is more of an intimate ‘local’ restaurant and bar serving great modern Mediterranean dishes and fantastic Aperitivo style drinks.

The Drawing Rooms quite simply is an elegant lounge serving the best of the best in coffee, Champagne and Pastry.”

Apero is inspired by the Italian tradition of ‘aperitivo hour’ where pre-dinner drinks (often Campari, Aperol or Martini) are accompanied by small sharing plates.

Head Chef Chris Golding was previously at Grangers & Co, following stints at Nobu Berkeley, Mirabelle and The Square. “When creating the menu I was inspired by the European culture of communal eating, where food and drink bring people together. We want to create the same neighbourhood feel at Apero.”

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ABOVE LEFT: An artwork created from items salvaged from the hotel pre-refurbishment occupies a wall in the pre-function space TOP: The Wine Room houses the hotel’s collection of vintage reds ABOVE: A Deluxe room

EXPRESS CHECKOUT Ampersand Hotel 10 Harrington Road London, SW7 3ER, UK Tel: +44 (0)20 7589 5895 www.ampersandhotel.com

„ 111 guestrooms and suites ‰ Apero Bar & Restaurant, The Drawing Room + The Games Room & The Library, The Wine Room meeting / private event spaces Owner / Operator: The Ampersand Architecture: Dexter Moren Associates Interior Design: Dexter Moren Associates Lighting Designer: GIA Equations Main Contractor: John Sisk & Son FF&E Procurement: F2E

HOTEL REVIEW

Mama Shelter Marseille Words: Catherine Martin Photography: Courtesy of Mama Shelter, Marseille

Three years after opening Mama Shelter in Paris, Serge Trigano, Cyril Aouizerate, and Philippe Starck have unveiled their second collaboration, a 127-room hotel in an artsy district of Marseille.

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n launching their first property in Paris in 2009, the founders of Mama Shelter announced that their development would be created around a single philosophy: to establish Mamas in locations that tell a unique story of the world. With that same spirit in mind, the group has opened the doors to its latest venture, Mama Shelter Marseille.

The concept is the brainchild of Serge Trigano, former President of Club Med, along with his sons Jérémie and Benjamin, urban philosopher Cyril Aouizerate, and renowned designer Philippe Starck.

It took the team several months to find the right location for the project before coming across a site at the intersection of three somewhat narrow streets: Rue Langeron, Rue de la Loubière, and Rue Chateau Payan. The new building, designed by Julian Rincon of International d’Architecture, is perched on the edge of the Cours Julien district known for its urban art vibe and mix of concert halls, young fashion designers and sunny terraces.

Interiors are characteristically Starck with a visual overload of colour, pattern and print accompanied by an eclectic mix of furniture. The ground floor quickly sets the tone with its playful elements including

OPPOSITE PAGE: The ground oor quickly sets the tone with its playful elements including a stage for live entertainment, a display of suspended musical instruments, and a 4m-long table football game THIS PAGE: Interiors are characteristically Starck with a visual overload of colour, pattern and print accompanied by an eclectic mix of furniture against an industrial backdrop

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a stage for live entertainment, a display of suspended musical instruments, and a 4mlong table football game that can be played by up to 16 people. Even the meeting space has its own ping-pong table as a welcome break from the tedium of flip charts and screens.

Exposed concrete walls and aluminium pendant lights form the industrial backdrop throughout, while script on the ceiling and floor adds interest. Furniture ranges from high-backed thrones and long communal tables, to woven dining chairs from Starck’s Play with Dedon collection.

The restaurant serves up simple Mediterranean fare created by chefs Alain Senderens and Jerome Banctel without resorting to the cliché of traditional Marseille dishes. The hotel also has its own pizzeria with fun Pop Art-style branding adorning the chairs and staff aprons.

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through the colours of the Mediterranean.

Rooms fall into six categories, the smallest being the Mama Double measuring 1517m2 and starting at a reasonable €69. Due to their compact size, interiors here are more subdued with a neutral backdrop, an abundance of natural daylight and oversized mirrors. The industrial feel continues with the use of concrete, wood and metal. Larger rooms, including the Mama Deluxe Double, Mama Family and Mama Suite measuring 45m2, offer more space to re-introduce the bold prints and patterns seen elsewhere. All rooms are equipped with a 27-inch iMac with TV, radio, internet and free WiFi access, ondemand movies, minibar and a desk.

While Mama Shelter is adapting to its newest location, the team are ramping up its roll out with properties in Bordeaux and Lyon due to come on line in the next six months.

In addition, the brand is soon to make its international debut in Istanbul, Turkey.

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EXPRESS CHECKOUT Mama Shelter 64 Rue de la Loubière 13006 Marseille France Tel: +33 (0)4 84 35 20 00 www.mamashelter.com

„ 127 guestrooms ‰ Restaurant, Mama Pizzeria  Bar + L’Atelier, La Plage, Mama Shop Developer / Owner: Serge Trigano, Jérémie Trigano, Benjamin Trigano, Cyril Aouizerate and Philippe Starck Architect: International d’Architecture Designers: Philippe Starck Project Manager: Dynamo

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Jestico + Whiles has remodeled a Victorian townhouse to create a 24-key boutique hotel with a quintessentially British theme.

Adria London Words: Catherine Martin Photography: Courtesy of Adria

I

t would be easy to pass by the porticoed doorway of the Adria without taking note of its new identity. Little has changed of the well-kept façade – an architect’s dream world of moulded dentils, bay windows and cornicing detail – since the property was operated as private residences some years earlier. In fact, the only sign of the hotel’s presence is an engraved plaque, discretely mounted by the front door.

Located on Queen’s Gate in the heart of Kensington, the 1870s Victorian townhouse was once used by the Canadian Air Force before being converted into the original Adria hotel, and finally residential apartments. In its new incarnation, the Adria is the first of a new brand operated by Qatar-based Al Rayyan Hospitality: the group’s second property, Arumaila hotel, has since opened its doors in Doha.

Appointed as both architect and interior designer, Jestico + Whiles was tasked with creating a 24-room boutique hotel that takes in the character of its location. Externally, the building required little work, its architectural features left in all their glory. Time was spent on fitting new sash windows and upgrading the building fabric to meet current regulations. The interiors however, were a different story. “There was hardly anything inside worth keeping, it was a real eyesore.” explains Andrew Costa, Associate Director at Jestico + Whiles.

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spaces were pulled down, reinstating the original proportions of the house, while a makeshift bathroom in the entrance lobby was flattened. Only the staircase – with its dramatic balustrade detail – was retained, along with an original marble fireplace.

Mindful of its history, Costa set about restoring the grandeur once associated with the building. “We wanted to recreate the story of the Adria and there were a few snippets of information that we had to go by,” he continues. Architectural details unearthed during restoration provided the basis for much of the interiors. The cornices are replicas of remains left on the building, hand-pressed and recreated in clay. The basket weave of the oak flooring was determined by an historic pattern. And marble table-tops were hand-carved to a profile that Costa designed, reminiscent of another era. Details that would perhaps go unnoticed to the average guest have resulted in a finely-crafted project 082

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with extraordinary attention to detail.

Service, too, was something that Jestico + Whiles was heavily influenced by. As guests arrive, they are welcomed personally by the head of the household, while a tailor-made butler service takes care of every need, “taking you back in time where silver service really meant silver service” says Costa. “That kind of quality comes through in the design as well.”

The 22 guestrooms and two suites across four floors are designed as residences, with rooms portraying individual atmospheres of British tradition. Residences are lettered rather than numbered, named alphabetically after London cues. There’s the Bowler (B), the Croquet (C), the Downing (D), the Elizabeth (E), the Fortnum (F) and so on, each featuring original commemorative mementos corresponding to its title.

There is very little repetition in each of the rooms, demonstrating once again the depth of thought in the detailing. Every

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THIS PAGE: Furniture and lighting is supplied by George Smith, Ceccotti, BBDW and Hudson FOLLOWING PAGE: Bathrooms are clad in floor-to-ceiling marble panels that were hand-selected then cut and butterfly bookmatched

HOTEL REVIEW

wallcovering and every piece of furniture is bespoke, made to Jestico + Whiles’ design or hand-selected and modified. Costa went to great lengths to ensure that there was nothing “off the shelf”. He flew to Ceccotti’s factory in Italy to choose coffee tables, vanity consoles and bed frames. Wallpaper was to a personal design hand-printed by Emery & Cie. Bronze door handles were created bespoke. And Costa didn’t just specify marble tiles for the bathrooms, he visited a quarry and hand-selected each individual block of marble and created floor-to-ceiling panels that were then cut and butterfly bookmatched.

“Everything is about tailoring and depth of detail, through to the George Smith chairs we’re sitting on,” explains Costa. The British manufacturer worked closely with Jestico + Whiles, supplying many key pieces including signature winged armchairs, each upholstered in a different fabric, or with bespoke detailing. Traditional light fittings 084

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by BBDW and Hudson Lighting hang alongside Tom Kirk’s mirrored chandeliers.

Adria’s public spaces, each designed according to their use, include The Library, The Garden Room, and a family games room. The light-filled Morning Room is an uplifting space where guests can enjoy breakfast or an afternoon pot of tea. Dining is for hotel residents only and includes Arabic favourites such as Foul Mesdames.

In alignment with Qatari culture, the hotel does not serve alcohol, but presents a creative list of innovative, healthy juice and mocktail combinations as well as a classical range of refreshing teas and coffees.

Al Rayyan Hospitality is set to continue developing its new brand with properties that are unique to their location. “What will be replicated,” concludes Costa, “is the same attention to detail. The client group are very proud of this hotel and are using it as an exemplar for future properties.”

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EXPRESS CHECKOUT Adria 88 Queen’s Gate Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea London SW7 5AB, UK Tel: +44 (0)20 7118 8988 www.theadria.com

„ 24 guestrooms ‰ The Morning Room, Dining Room [ Spa, gym, treatment room and sauna + The Lounge, The Library, The Garden Room Operator: Al Rayyan Hospitality Architect & Designer: Jestico + Whiles

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HOTEL REVIEW

The Magdalen Chapter Exeter Words: Catherine Martin Photography: Courtesy of The Magdalen Chapter

Feilden Clegg Bradley has sympathetically restored the former West England Eye Hospital, combining classic and contemporary features in the second of Swire’s Chapter Hotels.

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he provincial UK hotel market may seem an unlikely place for a property developer more accustomed to the high-octane, high-rise cities of the Far East to be investing in. Yet Swire Hotels, a division of Hong Kong-based Swire Properties, is hoping to make its mark with a new British brand planned for key towns and cities across the country.

When Chapter Hotels was announced in 2010, it promised a collection of high quality, contemporary properties, each drawing inspiration from its location as well as the individual skills and passions of the architects, artists and artisans who collaborated in their creation.

The first opening, The Montpellier Chapter located in the Regency town of Cheltenham, delivered just that and offered a glimpse of what was to come in successive properties under development. 18 months on, the brand’s second

hotel has made its debut. The Magdalen Chapter is a 59-guestroom hotel in the centre of Exeter, brought to life by a creative team under the direction of Brian Williams. As Swire’s Managing Director, Williams can also be credited with the success of the group’s House and East brands in Asia, which include The Opposite House in Beijing, The Upper House in Hong Kong, and the recently opened East, Beijing, a 369-room business hotel.

For the newest addition to the portfolio, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios – a selfconfessed novice in hotel design – was appointed to oversee the architectural renovation and interior design of the property.

While the dramatic façade with its 19th century features was left largely untouched, a new floor of guestrooms was added to

the existing roof volume, and the garden reinstated.

Faced with the typical challenges associated with renovating a listed building, the designers were on a “steep learning curve”, overcome through a close working relationship with the developer. “Swire’s team was very much involved with the design through regular meetings and reviews,” explains Jo Wright, Partner at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios.

“Their experience was invaluable to the development of our proposals and they rigorously reviewed details and specifications with us.”

Historically known as the West England Eye Hospital, the building’s most recent incarnation was as Hotel Barcelona, a former Alias property acquired by Swire at the same time as Hotel Kandinsky, now The

Montpellier Chapter designed by Make.

Although Chapter avoids strictly defined brand standards, with both projects running concurrently there are clear similarities between the properties that underline the vision. “Both hotels celebrate the character of the original building with contemporary interventions inspired by the regency heritage of Cheltenham and the Victorian hospital architecture in Exeter,” comments Wright. As with The Montpellier Chapter, Magdalen’s lobby is a low-key affair serving more as a living room where guests can check in with ease by the fireplace or perched at The Font, a wooden sculpture carved from a 1.25 tonne butt of unseasoned English Oak by Alison Crowther. The neat storage of any operational equipment adds to the residential feel.

Interiors are dominated by original

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PREVIOUS PAGE: The Library features inviting sofas arranged around a cast iron fireplace with timber surround THIS PAGE: The 59 guestrooms continue the marriage of classic and contemporary, the defining original feature being the large sash windows. The building makes for an interesting collection of rooms, each unique in its layout

features and listed elements – namely the high ceilings, terrazzo flooring and dado rails – complemented by furniture from British designers Matthew Hilton, Russell Pinch, Sir Terence Conran, and Ilse Crawford. Other names in the design mix include Tom Dixon, Channels, Philippe Starck, and Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec.

The layout of the existing building means that the public areas are a maze of open plan and more intimate spaces. The Library, complete with its own snug, features inviting sofas arranged around a cast iron fireplace with timber surround. Here, guests can peruse the collection of some 750 books curated by The Ultimate Library.

The most significant new space is The Lounge, formed by enclosing the original south-facing courtyard. Original brickwork, 088

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plum slate flooring and glass surround retain the indoor-outdoor ambience, further enhanced by a wall-sized mural by Hugo Dalton, inspired by the palms at the nearby Bicton Park Botanical Gardens. The art on display, selected by art consultancy Perspective, plays an important role in the hotel with many pieces inspired by local landscapes.

The Restaurant, with theatre kitchen, al fresco terrace, and semi-private dining room, is a voluminous space flooded with natural daylight. Chef and food writer Simon Hopkinson continues in his role as consultant, advising head chef Ben Bulger on flavours and textures of the British dishes prepared using locally sourced and homegrown produce.

Perhaps one of the most endearing aspects of the property is its garden, reinstated

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HOTEL REVIEW

LEFT: The Potting Shed, a private events space, overlooks the lawn and herb garden BELOW: The Library, complete with its own snug, holds a collection of some 750 books

by Feilden Clegg Bradley. The elliptical lawn, complete with striped deck chairs, is reminiscent of the great British holidays of days gone by. Nestled within the walls is even a pool, designed for use throughout the year. The outdoor deck is equipped with sun loungers for long summer days, while the swim-through interior features an open fire to heat the enclosed space in cooler climes.

Two brick buildings within the grounds house The Potting Shed, a private events space, and the The REN Spa, a secluded hideaway offering treatments using products from Devon-based skincare company REN. The 59 guestrooms continue the marriage of classic and contemporary, the defining original feature being the large sash windows.

The building makes for an interesting collection of rooms, each unique in its layout.

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Sleeper’s room in the upper floor extension was a glazed haven, particularly stunning in the Devon sunshine. The all-white walls and sloping ceilings are in contrast to the charcoal grey of the soft furnishings and upholstery. Rooms in the original building feature natural oak floors and rich smoked oak joinery by British designer Russel Pinch.

Colour, texture and pattern is evident in the bold contemporary wallpaper and velvet drapes. With guest comfort and a local supply chain at the forefront of the project, Feilden Clegg Bradley turned to Devon-based natural fibre specialists Naturalmat for their organic bedding handmade from luxurious materials such as organic lambswool and cashmere.

Swire Hotels is yet to announce the location of the next Chapter, but it’s sure to be coming to another British provincial town soon.

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EXPRESS CHECKOUT The Magdalen Chapter Magdalen Street Exeter, Devon, EX2 4HY, UK Tel: +44 (0)1392 281 000 www.themagdalenchapter.com

„ 59 guestrooms ‰ The Restaurant  Bar & Lounge [ The REN Spa + Library, Chapter One, The Potting Shed Developer / Owner: Swire Hotels Architect & Interior Designer: Feilden Clegg Bradley Main Contractor: Kier Western M&E Contractor: E3 Consulting Engineers Lighting: Isometrix

See us at The Sleep Event 21-22 November, Stand G41

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HOTEL REVIEW

Hotelier Joey Tulyanond has created a green haven just minutes from the centre of bustling Bangkok.

However, this 11-room eco-hotel, so far six years in the making, is still very much a work in progress.

Bangkok Tree House Bangkok Words: Elly Earls Photography: © Andy Zingo

W

hen you think of Bangkok, sustainability is not the first thing that comes to mind. Skyscrapers, traffic fumes and frenzied hoards of city dwellers are closer to most outsiders’ perception of the Thai capital. But just a hop, skip and a five minute ferry ride across the river is Phra Pradaeng, also known as ‘the green lung of Bangkok’, where cars are almost as scarce as tourists and the easiest way to get around is by cycling along raised walkways through the lush jungle.

Designated a green zone by the country’s government, there’s almost no trace of modern life on this tucked-away island, save the recently-finished Bangkok Tree House, an 11-room eco-hotel, so synonymous with its surroundings that you’d blink and almost miss it.

“I told the architect, Nuntapong Yindeekhun, that we wanted it to blend in with nature, but at the same time it had to be modern and striking,” says owner Joey Tulyanond, whose family also owns the Old Bangkok Inn, a tenroom boutique hotel in the heart of the city’s historical centre. And that’s exactly what Yindeekhun and interior designer Jurathip Intrasai have achieved.

The hotel’s raised wooden walkways are modelled on the network of paths that wind through the neighbouring jungle, while contemporary features such as mirrored walls add a bit of extra stand-out to the public areas. Similarly, when it comes to the rooms themselves, the insect theme is at once an ode to nature and an opportunity for Intrasai to be creative with eye-catching WWW.SLEEPERMAGAZINE.COM

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THIS PAGE: The hotel’s raised wooden walkways are modelled on the network of paths that wind through the neighbouring jungle. The property makes extensive use of bamboo and driftwood, meaning that no trees were destroyed during the construction process FOLLOWING PAGE: Reflect restaurant features lighting that is powered by wind and solar energy

decorations that include orderly lines of ants marching up the walls.

But, without a doubt, Bangkok Tree House’s most conspicuous feature is its absolute dedication to being green. “Even though my family’s other B&B is a small place, so many resources are wasted, so we decided to try to change the perception people have towards the accommodation industry and make it smarter and less wasteful,” Tulyanond notes.

“Nuntapong helped think of ways to make the hotel greener and more passive architecturally.”

In construction terms, this meant extensive use of bamboo, which is a prominent feature throughout the hotel, appearing in bedrooms, bathrooms and public spaces. “Whatever wood we could reclaim, we did, so we didn’t have to cut down new trees,” Tulyanond adds. “We also used driftwood from the river.”

Each and every piece of organic material, as well as the pillars that support the hotel’s 11 luxury nests, were carried in by hand.

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Sleeper Cloud Advert_Layout 1 21/02/2012 08:54 Page 1

C lo u D o u t D o o r lo u n G e C o l l e C t i o n · D e s i G n m a r k G a B B e r ta s ( lo n D o n )

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HOTEL REVIEW

“There’s no road access so we couldn’t get construction machines in,” Tulyanond recalls.

“Something like this would usually take one year to 14 months but for us, it took two years to build.”

Bangkok Tree House will also eventually be replete with green walls and roofs. “The plants aren’t mature yet,” Tulyanond admits.

“But when they are, there will be green walls and green roofs. We’re still experimenting with the different types of plants, preferably local species, that will grow well in the heat and not require too much watering.”

Add renewable energy (all of Bangkok Tree House’s outdoor and restaurant lighting are powered by wind and solar energy), up-cycling (discarded juice cartons were used to insulate the hotel’s walls and used plastic drums were use to build its pier), and the boss’ policy to 096

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remove one kilo of waste from the river for every stay, and you’ve only really scratched the surface of the Bangkok Tree House’s green credentials.

Yet, according to Tulyanond, there is more to come. “The thing about being green and organic is that it’s a learning process,” he explains. “Not everything you do works and a lot of things, you have to experiment with.”

So far, the Bangkok Tree House has been six years in the making, largely due to Tulyanond’s commitment to gaining the trust, confidence and approval of his new neighbours, but there’s little doubt that it will be much longer before the hotel’s ambitious owner is satisfied that his venture is as green as it possibly can be.

Nonetheless, he’s already succeeded in achieving the seemingly impossible task of operating a green hotel in Bangkok.

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EXPRESS CHECKOUT Bangkok Tree House 60 San Phawut 23 Phra Pradaeng Bang Na 10260 Thailand Tel: +66 82 995 1150 www.bangkoktreehouse.com

„ 11 guestrooms in four types: The View with a Room, Tree-Top Nest, Family Nest and Beehives ‰ Reflect + Wedding packages Developer / Owner: Joey Tulyanond Architect: Nuntapong Yindeekhun Interior Designer: Jurathip Intrasai

Spectrum by Kirkby Design

sleep_advert_8.indd 16

12/10/2012 12:07:48

HOTEL REVIEW

Jules et Jim Paris Words: Natasha Edwards Photography: © Sébastien Veronese

A Parisian hotel named after François Truffaut’s seminal New Wave film features an ensemble cast of French design talent.

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A

t first glimpse it’s an ungainly assembly: an 18th century silversmith’s atelier at the rear of a meandering courtyard, a new three-storey construction and a nine-storey infill building on a narrow street in the historic Marais district. On reflection, it’s a cleverly eclectic mini village, an urban resort niched in the heart of Paris.

Owners Antoine Brault and Geoffroy Sciard brought in multiple talents – Bordeaux architect Henrich Fitger, interior designers Natacha Froger of Atome Associés for the reception and bedrooms, Michael Malapert for the bar and Alain Pin of Light & Day as lighting consultant – to create a hotel that is arty and metrosexual in the image of the ménage à trois at the heart of François Truffaut’s 1962 namesake film. “It’s all about putting all these people in harmony together; we preferred to say that one plus one plus one plus one equals ten, rather than having one

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star designer who imposed his ideas,” says Antoine Brault, of the collaborative project documented by photographers through nearly two years of construction work. Not that the project didn’t change along the route, when they had the chance to purchase the workshop next door to create the bar-breakfast room and opening the wall between two courtyards.

“From the start we worked hand in hand with the architect, the client and the project manager, which is very rare; we developed the concept together through meetings in function of the architectural constraints,” says Natacha Froger – notably the tight space in the nine-storey main building, just one room wide, filling the gap from a preciousmetals treatment factory. A rare newbuild for central Paris, it nonetheless had to meet the requirements of Bâtiments de France for the conservation district. To maximise room size, Henrich Fitger used a system of half storeys between the front and rear of the building

OPPOSITE PAGE: The reception desk in the lobby, designed by Atome Associés, features a mosaic of different wood finishes THIS PAGE: Michael Malaper’s bar design features furniture by Red Edition, Anegil seating by Anne Haloche & Gilles Spriet, exposed oak floorboards and original wooden beams

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– with the unusual privilege of a lift that stops at every room – gaining ample light from a largely glazed façade: on the street side, Parisian rooftop views, on the courtyard, a balcony across each floor transforms the fire escape into a strong visual presence, like a graphic ladder running down the façade.

Apart from two eighth-floor rooms under the eaves (the smallest rooms but boasting iconic balcony views of Sacré Coeur one way, the Centre Pompidou the other), it is the 13 Hi-Macs rooms in this building that assert the hotel’s identity: creamy-white backlit oval cocoons made of Hi-Macs® artificial stone (composite of acrylic resin, bauxite and natural pigments), chosen for its translucence, ease of maintenance and the ability to thermoform it. “The principal reason behind this room is very simple,” says Natacha Froger, “we had only 16m2 of space, so we wanted to reduce the limits. The curves 100

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mean that there are no visible boundaries and it’s much easier to move around.” The toilet, wardrobe, shower and washbasin occupy the four hidden corners of the room, in a multilayered approach from the sliding doors in the Hi-Macs shell to double electric blinds for daytime privacy and night-time blackout.

Froger, whose work has included concept rooms for the Accor group and several Novotel hotels around the world, sought a design that is timeless, in a characteristic mix of technological materials and the familiar.

“Guests need to have reference points,” she insists, combining the classical, quality impression and warmth of solid walnut wood and basins and shower tubs in brown nero bagno stone from Italy – “Geoffroy Sciard is a wine grower, he wanted to bring nature into the hotel” – with the surprise of the Hi-Macs: “touching is a form of sensuality. In a small room, you’re inevitably going to brush

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ABOVE: Guestrooms housed in the eaves of the 18th century atelier building offer views over the Paris skyline

HOTEL REVIEW

ABOVE: An outdoor fireplace adds warmth to the cobbled courtyard, which also features a planted wall by Jardins de Babylone ABOVE LEFT: Illuminated architectural models are housed in glass boxes in the breakfast room LEFT: 13 of the guestrooms are oval cocoons created from LG Hi-Macs to maximise the use of space

against it. The Hi-Macs brings softness into the bedroom; you can’t resist touching it.”

A woodgrain motif carved into the HiMacs and carried through the wardrobe doors picks up the nature theme. Froger maximised the impression of light with concealed LED backlighting developed with Alain Pin, drawing on his film industry background, to create an even wash of light, as he puts it: “In Truffaut’s film Jules et Jim, Raoul Coutard’s photography serves the story and the characters. It shows how much light can influence our behaviour and feelings.”

The wood and stone theme, as well as neat chauffeuse seats upholstered in brown, olive green or dusty pink, continues through the courtyard buildings, including two wheelchair accessible, ground floor ‘Jules’ rooms, and ‘Jim’ rooms, where a wooden ledge winds around the wall as luggage rack, desk and shelving.

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The courtyard acts as a centrepiece between the eclectic buildings. Instead of a between space, it has become a conscious element of the design, animated by its outdoor fireplace and a lush vegetal wall providing a splash of green in the mineral setting. The fireplace was Geoffroy’s Sciard’s idea: “I’m from the country, I wanted a real fire with its crackle, smell,” he explains.

In a play between indoor and outdoors, the paving stones continue into the entrance of the bar-breakfast room, while in the highceilinged main room, original beams and oak floorboards discovered during the renovation have been exposed, meeting steel and walnut shelving, an illuminated Hi-Macs bar and Fifties-inspired sofas and tables from Red Edition. The bar is open to non-residents, while the reception doubles as 15 metre-long photography gallery and a bridge between hotel and city.

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EXPRESS CHECKOUT Hôtel Jules et Jim 11 rue des Gravilliers 75003 Paris France Tel: +33 1 44 54 13 13 www.hoteljulesetjim.com

„ 23 guestrooms and suites ‰ Bar/breakfast room + Art Gallery Owners: Antoine Brault and Geoffroy Sciard Architect: Henrich Fitger Interior Design: Natacha Froger, Atome Associés (bedrooms, reception); Michael Malapert (bar, courtyard) Lighting Consultant: Alain Pin, Light & Day Signage: Martine Harlé Building Contractor: Dutheil Construction Planted Vertical Wall: Jardins de Babylone

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16/10/2012 13:01

HOTEL REVIEW

One of Europe’s grandest hotels has been restored to its former glory

by HBA London, with a fusion of historical influences harking back to a more glamorous era.

Hotel Alfonso XIII Seville Words: Shanna McGoldrick Photography: Tim Beddows

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s home to legendary womanizer Don Juan, bullfighting and flamenco, Seville is a city founded on a heady mix of passion, mystery and charm. The capital of Andalucia has seen Roman, Moorish and Castillian occupation, witnessed civil wars and political turbulence, and was a playground for the privileged during the ‘Golden Age of travel’ of the 1920s and 30s.

These are all themes woven into the full-blooded design narrative of the iconic

Hotel Alfonso XIII, recently restored to the tune of $25million by Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, a Starwood Hotels group.

Drawing on the property’s glamorous past and Art Deco inheritance (it was opened by its namesake King Alfonso XIII in 1929) as well as Andalucia’s vivid history, studio design team The Gallery from HBA in London and Sevillian architect Demopolis have secured the hotel’s status as a luxurious and modern destination by restoring it to its former glory.

“With the restoration of the legendary Hotel Alfonso XIII, we were given both an exceptional challenge and opportunity to enhance the soul of this beloved treasure, a must-see architectural landmark in its own right,” says Inge Moore, Principal of The Gallery and HBA London.

“Our research into the stories of Seville’s layered heritage and reimagining of the hotel invites guests to join in the discovery of the passionate Andalucian culture through a design

abundant with the best of today’s comforts.”

The result of the ten-month overhaul is an opulent fusion of architectural styles and cultural influences: Arabic-inspired arches, soaring towers and renaissance-style windows blend seamlessly into Art Deco features and bold colour schemes. Azuelos, Sevillian ceramic tiles, are hand-painted with a vivid azure and mustard palette which inspired the double-height lobby’s new and re-upholstered furnishings.

And what a lobby it is: original surfaces including intricate marble floors, a dramatic marble staircase, bas-relief crown mouldings and a coffered ceiling displaying lavish frescoes and period chandeliers have all remained perfectly intact. Even the addition of electrical sockets was prohibited, forcing the design team to re-think the logistics of the interiors.

The space leads out to an al-fresco dining courtyard encircled by mosaic-clad colonnades.

Rattan textures and button-tufted chairs in

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ABOVE: The renovation of the Salon Real Ballroom included the handcrafted restoration of the ceiling and the installation of Bohemian-inspired crystal and bronze chandeliers. PREVIOUS PAGE: The patio features mosaic-clad colonnades.

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natural colours blend with existing antiques, in a scene dripping with old-world panache.

The cultural amalgamation extends to the hotel’s bars and restaurants. The Bodega Alfonso is an opulent throwback to old Seville, featuring a bar crafted from weathered oak planks and iron rivets, a rich brooding colour palette and majestic paintings.

Tarifas, the hotel’s poolside restaurant, exudes a more laidback Moorish ambiance with its marble-topped bar, ornately patterned plaster lattice ceiling and low seating accented with embroidered cushions. Encaustic tiles and locally crafted pendant lights introduce an intimacy into the clean space.

Meanwhile, the redesigned American Bar oozes sophisticated Art Deco luxury, with lacquered walls draped in a silky robin’s egg blue fabric, grand mirrors with polished blue lacquer frames, and a bar finished in polished brass and Macassar Ebony timber.

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Additional communal areas include below-ground meeting rooms, stripped out in response to a Sevillian law prohibiting music in public venues after midnight, to allow parties to continue into the early hours. The renovation of the Salón Real Ballroom included the handcrafted restoration of the ceiling, the installation of Bohemian inspired crystal and bronze chandeliers, and a new wrought iron door inspired by Andalusian cathedrals.

The hotel features 151 luxuriouslyappointed guest rooms and suites, each reflecting Seville’s rich artistic heritage.

The guestroom collection is centred around three design concepts: Moorish, Castillian or Andalusian. Moorish rooms are a treasure trove of intricately detailed restored mouldings, dramatic furnishings and voluptuously-shaped features. Andalucian bedrooms, meanwhile, were inspired by flamenco dancing; the sculptural “swish” shapes carved into

HOTEL REVIEW

RIGHT: The Royal Suite features artefacts from Alfonso XIII’s travels, curated from the hotel’s private collection

their cornices reminiscent of the flick of a flamenco skirt and a flash of colour and ruffle, translated into a feminine décor balancing patterned textiles with studded leather headboards. The Castilian rooms, in contrast, evoke the captivating masculinity of the matador, through a deep ochre palette enlivened by slashes of rich colour and enriched by dark timber furnishings and elaborately carved headboards.

The hotel’s two signature hotel suites, the Reales Alcázares Suite and the Royal Suite, both cater to a new generation of affluent travelers and embody the hotel’s signature style, fusing history and modernity.

However, the piece-de-resistance is surely the lavish 200m2 Royal Suite, imagined by The Gallery as the luxury residence where

King Alfonso XIII would have stayed, and endowed with portraits and artefacts from his frequent travels, curated from the hotel’s private collection. Exquisitely decorated with hand-selected antique pieces and sumptuous new furnishings, such as television cabinets sheathed in hand-gilded leather, the suite is practically a living, breathing museum, featuring artefacts such as the spectacular ‘Bargueño’, a Spanish Renaissance cabinet inlayed with mother-of-pearl which was given to the hotel by The Aga Khan.

The re-opening of Hotel Alfonso XIII marks the start of an exciting year for Starwood’s Luxury Collection Hotel’s & Resorts, with properties in San Sebastian, Paris and Venice undergoing extensive multi-million dollar restorations.

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EXPRESS CHECKOUT Hotel Alfonso XIII San Fernando Seville 41004 Spain Tel: +34 954 917 000 www.hotel-alfonsoxiii-seville.com

„ 151 guestrooms and suites ‰ San Fernando/Bodega Alfonso/Taifas  American Bar [ Fitness centre, pool, yoga garden + Three function rooms/five meeting rooms Developer / Owner: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Architect: Demopolis Designers: The Gallery at HBA London Contractor: Aldessa

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2012

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POP-UP HOTELS

Pop-up projects from Tokyo to Tulum Having found a niche in the restaurant and retail sectors in recent years, the pop-up phenomenon is beginning to influence the hotel sector too, finds Rhian Owen.

T

he pop up concept is a staple of the restaurant business. Originating with the supper clubs of the 1960s and 1970s, it has now become a popular trend for chefs to showcase their talents in unusual settings over a short period of time. Inspired by the success of the temporary restaurant, pop up hotels – although in their infancy – are beginning to be developed across the globe.

While the restaurant sector may have inspired the pop up hotel trend, the concept is changing to suit the hotel industry. “It’s a very different thing from the restaurants,”

says Claus Sendlinger, CEO of Design Hotels. “The phenomenon was imagined as a temporary attraction. I think a shop, gallery or a food and beverage outlet has a shorter time operating as a pop up than a hotel. But I think the whole thing is moving; the pop up can be a strategic marketing concept for warming up a destination or a building.”

Suzanne Oxenaar, art curator and artistic director of Amsterdam’s Lloyd Hotel the new Hotel The Exchange, created her first temporary hotel following experience in pop up restaurants. “My background is not

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THIS PAGE AND PREVIOUS PAGE: Papaya Playa, a pop-up resort in Tulum, Mexico, has been created with a view to the long term sustainability of its locale as a tourist destination

in hotels,” says Oxenaar, “I think more in terms of concept – things I’m drawn to and what I think should be realised. Pop up hotels have so much energy. People you work with aren’t necessarily hotel specialists either. It’s about looking from a different point of view.”

The pop up restaurant space led Oxenaar to develop her first lounge restaurant in Amsterdam. Supperclub, an innovative restaurant concept where guests lie down on beds to eat, as entertainers cavorted around them, became a worldwide success story.

Then in 2010, Oxenaar created the LLOVE hotel project in Tokyo, which she describes as an exhibition consisting of a hotel with guest rooms, which stood for a month. “I thought it was the right time to pop up with a hotel, a Love hotel. I wanted to work with Japanese and Dutch designers and it was wonderful to find Jo Nagasaka, a Japanese architect, who happened to have made a pop up one room hotel. We had a great connection, and he found a fantastic location in the heart of Tokyo.”

While the concept is fresh, those involved argue it won’t fizzle out. “Generally the concept is still in its infancy,” says Snoozebox director Richard Thain. His company has a line of aesthetically-chic hotels that can pop up in 24 hours. “For us, the Snoozebox product is more than a pop up format in as much as we’re looking to build a global brand that has multiple accommodation applications all delivered through modular containers.”

While sceptics of pop up hotels may consider the ventures as vanity projects, Sendlinger insists that it is a legitimate business model with staying power. “There are multiple elements that make the whole phenomenon attractive, and I think the 112

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POP-UP HOTELS

THIS PAGE: Suzanna Oxenaar’s LLOVE hotel project, created with Japanese architect Jo Nagasaka, was a month long popup exhibition comprising a series of hotel bedrooms

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trend will stay for a while,” he says. “From the destination, hotelier and the real estate point of view, it’s an attractive proposition with an overseeable budget. At the moment, there’s lots of hesitation and difficulty to get finance for lots of projects. That’s the whole reason why we’re in this position to do these pop up projects. The great thing in these times, as difficult as they are, is the opportunities that you find.”

Design Hotels launched its first pop-up hotel, Papaya Playa, in December 2011.

Proving to be a success, Design Hotels decided to continue the project by launching the world’s first pop-up Ashram on the site in Tulum, Mexico. PopUp Ashram will launch on the 15 September, closing on the 5 November 2012.

“When we created the Papaya Playa project it wasn’t our intention to do pop-ups all over the world, there’s more to our business model,” explains Sendlinger. “We wanted to create something there that has a temporary approach but can help us communicate what Tulum is about, not demolishing everything and building three storey Papaya Playas, and it was a good move. Currently, we’re working on a whole series of projects for winter and summer. We will build an internal team who will focus on this phenomenon and work with

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parties to create more of these Design Hotel projects.”

Oxenaar takes a different approach; she is less focused on the business model and the benefits of developing pop up hotels: “To be honest, I can’t think about marketing strategies, I get bored. There are amazing opportunities, and it’s easy to get inspired.

When you have a good idea, it will always market itself.”

Sendlinger adds that design and creativity play an integral role: “The main driver of the San Giorgio Mykonos pop-up success was the aesthetics we created. The feedback we’re receiving is that the atmosphere is exactly what guests wanted to experience in the Mediterranean environment. That’s hard to find as there is usually money spent on what is not always necessary.”

The pop-up trend can entices guests to projects which present themselves as time sensitive and therefore exclusive. “It is amazing to see that in such a short place of time your project can be the place for people to meet – the LLOVE project became a meeting and exchange space for designers around the world,” says Oxenaar. “I was really surprised by that. I hadn’t expected the hotel to be so alive. The pop up isn’t permanent so guests feel they have to be there. Also,

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POP-UP HOTELS

LEFT: Snoozebox’s container based rooms offer a very different take on the pop-up hotel phenomenon to Papaya Playa’s rustic beach huts (BELOW)

maybe because it’s temporary, guests allow themselves to enjoy it more and they don’t put up the restraints they normally have. I think the concept gives them a passport to do this.”

As the trend gains momentum, it is curious to consider whether this could become a popular or even mainstream hotel style in the future. Thain believes that big brands will be aiming to develop their own pop up projects.

“We certainly think that more traditional brands will look to be involved in similar projects,” he says. “Particularly as it provides a model to manage capacity fluctuations.”

While Sendlinger believes the pop hotel is not a fleeting trend but an attractive space for hoteliers and guests, he is unconvinced that it will appeal to the hotel giants. “I just don’t think the brands have the capacity,” he concludes. “I’m not sure how it would play out, what the context would be if they did try it, but I don’t think big brands would want to go into this field.”

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9 – 12. 1. 2013 Information and tickets at advance sale prices at contact-contract.com info@uk.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +44 (0) 17 84 41 59 50

GB DU: 14.08.2012

The top-class forum for the global contract sector. The ideal platform for exploring innovations and finding project partners. And the perfect basis for ensuring success.

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Textile passion meets contract business

EVENTS DIARY

Event Diary 2012-13 NOVEMBER

HI Design Asia

NOVEMBER cont.

JANUARY cont.

JANUARY cont.

European Hotel Design Awards

Domotex

Maison & Objet

Bali

Hannover

Paris

7-9 November 2012

London

12-15 January 2013

18-22 January 2013

www.hidesign-asia.com

20 November 2012

www.domotex.de

www.maison-objet.com

www.thesleepevent.com

BDNY – Boutique Design New York

HIFI – Hotel Investment Forum India

Interiors UK

Sleep

New York

London

Delhi

20-23 January 2013

11-12 November 2012

21-22 November 2012

14-15 January 2013

www.interiorsbirmingham.com

www.boutiquedesignnewyork.com

www.thesleepevent.com

www.hifi-india.com

Deloitte European Hotel Investment Conference

JANUARY 2013

Birmingham

FEBRUARY

IMM

London

Heimtextil

14-20 January 2013

Central Asia & Turkey Hotel Investment Conf

13-14 November 2012

Frankfurt

www.imm-cologne.com

Istanbul

www.deloitte.co.uk/hotelinvestmen

9-12 January 2013

4-6 February 2013

tconference/

heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com

www.cathic.com

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Event Focus: Heimtextil What?

An international trade fair for home and contract textiles featuring over 2,500 exhibitors across 19 halls.

When & Where?

9-12 January 2013 at Frankfurt am Main.

Special features?

• Tailored to meet the needs of architects and interior designers, Contract Creations will showcase products for the contract market alongside

a series of presentations, workshops and tours. The associated pocket-sized Contract Guide, produced with particular regard to the interior design of hotels, will serve as a useful directory.

• Heimtextil Trends, a source of inspiration for product developers and designers, includes key topics for the 2013/14 season chosen by a team of six design agencies. The results can be found in the new Trend Book ‘Being’.

• With the Heimtextil Goes City initiative new developments from the trade fair will be showcased in the city centre.

Hotels to check out in Frankfurt?

Recent openings include Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn at Frankfurt Airport, and the first Jumeirah hotel in mainland Europe.

More info? heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com

ABOVE: Heimtextil Trends for 2013/2014 include The Eccentric and The Historian

KOBE FABRICS THE DESIGNERS FAVOURITE TO CREATE BESPOKE INTERIOR DESIGN

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EVENTS

The

21-2 As Europe’s premier event for all those involved in hotel design and development approaches, Sleeper takes an inside look at what is planned.

N

ow in its eighth year as a combination of a hotel design and development conference, seminars, a major trade exhibition, a showcase of built hotel concepts and the European Hotel Design Awards, Sleep is promising to up its game once again this year. Taking place from 21-22 November at the Business Design Centre in London and with the awards dinner on the evening of 20 November at Park Plaza Westminster, the total event is expected to attract in excess of 4,000 visitors, delegates and guests. Amongst them will be key decision makers and design innovators, international hotel brands and small independent hotels, developers, owners and funders.

Speakers and panellists at the European Hotel Design Conference are now confirmed.

They include as a keynote Richard Seymour, co-founder and Design Director of Seymour Powell whose originality of thought and large personality have seen him speak at TED Talks. Tara Bernerd, CEO and Head of Design at Tara Bernerd & Partners, whose work includes Aspinalls, Morton’s and, most recently, Belgraves, will also be giving a keynote presentation, and there is to be an interview with Christophe Hoffmann, CEO 120

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of the much-acclaimed 25hours Hotels which likes “to find new answers to old questions”.

The popular Round Tables are returning for 2012, offering an opportunity for delegates to talk with senior executives. The impressive line-up of table hosts includes Guy Greer from Axios, Seth Matson of Porto Montenegro, David Margason of Westcourt Real Estate and Christian Youens from London & Regional Properties. The VIP hosts move around the tables, prepared to answer any question, no holds barred. Unsurprisingly, this proved to be a particularly well-received feature when it was introduced last year.

Also at the conference, panels of experts will discuss what designers need to consider in their proposals to cash-constrained owners and what turns lenders on or off, the change of use opportunity, and whether pop-up hotels are anything more than a marketing ploy.

Andrew Sangster, Editor of Hotel Analyst, will take a look at the facts and figures behind global hotel development, and, in a session intriguingly entitled “Designing the Dark Side”, a distinguished panel will be joined by the winner of the Sleep ReardonSmith Student Award to look at the design of back-of-house staff facilities and explore the relationship between design, staff motivation

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and guest satisfaction. The conference finale will be another first – “Question Time” in which a panel of highly experienced industry leaders will face questions from the audience on topics ranging from design details to investment rationale.

Guy Dittrich, programmer and moderator of the conference, says: “Our aim is to create a unique meeting place where people who fund, develop and manage hotels exchange perspectives with the community which designs them, and in this way help to bridge the perceived gulf between the two.”

Once again, exhibition space is sold out with over 130 of the best and most innovative hotel interior suppliers from across Europe now preparing for a show which every year attracts several thousand visitors from across Europe, the Gulf and the USA as well as from the UK. Some of the names have become regulars at Sleep, such as Chelsom, Villeroy & Boch, Hypnos and Agua Fabrics. For others such as KHT, which will be displaying Loewe products and Creston Lighting, and EGGER, a manufacturer of sustainable wood-based solutions, 2012 will be their first outing at Sleep. “My colleagues attended Sleep last year and made it clear that this was the type of event we should be exhibiting at,” says

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EGGER’s Jayne Dixon. “It is an exciting prospect. I am sure that Sleep will enable us to reach out to the hospitality sector and enhance our reputation amongst architects and designers.” According to Warren Edwards of in-room technology pioneers, VDA, it is the event’s focus that makes it so special. “This will be the third year running that we have exhibited at Sleep and we find that there is a real concentration of specialist, well-informed visitors who attend to meet one another and to do business with the exhibitors,” he says.

The exhibition also offers a programme of seminars designed to inspire and help visitors update their skills and knowledge. This year, a new generation of intelligent cloud-based media services for hotels will be revealed and the psychology of colour will be explained.

Another session will explain how to integrate sustainability into design up-front, and there will be a look at some of the latest thinking in lighting design, amongst other hot topics.

Visitors to the exhibition can also expect to find an array of cutting-edge ideas at Sleep Hotel, where design companies Nous Design,

Scott Brownrigg, Mahmoudieh Design and Bisset Adams have accepted the challenge to design and build an innovative luxury guestroom within the constraints of a small shell space. Paulo Ribeiro of Bisset Adams has called his concept Cloud Nine. “Our new concept enables users to personalise their experience before arrival and save their preferences for future visits. The room and concierge service is tailored via the cloud,” he explains. “The reaction of our chosen partners and suppliers to the Cloud Nine concept has been incredibly supportive and we have been delighted to design an innovative physical and virtual experience for the Sleep Hotel competition.” The four schemes will be analysed in a conference session with judges Khirstie Gunn Myles, Head of Design & Engineering at IHG, Conrad Smith, Managing Director of ReardonSmith Architects and Javier Hortal, Project Leader EMEA at Mandarin Oriental who between them devised the brief. The winner will be revealed at the evening networking event.

A WINK OF SLEEP...

The European Hotel Design Awards 20 November 2012 Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge, London The Sleep Conference 21-22 November 2012 Business Design Centre, London Sleep Exhibition, Sleep Hotel, Sleep Seminars (free to attend) 21-22 November 2012 Business Design Centre, London Plus... The winning Sleep Hotel room will be announced at 7.00pm on Wednesday 21 November at the Sleep Hotel Bar. Join the evening networking event and enjoy a complimentary drink!

Register at www.thesleepevent.com

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EVENTS

Design Hotels’ Founder and CEO Claus Sendlinger announced as recipient of Outstanding Contribution Award Sleeper Magazine is delighted to exclusively announce that the Outstanding Contribution Award is to be given to Claus Sendlinger, Founder and CEO of Design Hotels.

In the two decades since he founded his company, Sendlinger has championed the cause for original and contemporary design in hotels and worked tirelessly for the industry as an incubator for new ideas. His latest project, Papaya Playa, is the world’s first pop-up resort located on a stunning stretch of Mexico’s Caribbean coast. The temporary retreat, designed in collaboration with Emilio Heredia and a team of creative minds, is a community of bungalows aimed at redefining travel in the 21st century.

Sendlinger will be presented with the 122

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award, previous recipients of which include Patrick Reardon of ReardonSmith Architects, Olga Polizzi, and Pierre-Yves Rochon, at the European Hotel Design Awards taking place on Tuesday 20th November at Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge, London.

The ceremony attracts over 800 top-level designers, architects, hoteliers and suppliers to celebrate the very best in European hotel design. Announced on the night will be the winners of twelve awards for hotel architecture, interior design and sustainable design as well as the Sleep ReardonSmith Student Awards and prestigious European Hotel Design of the Year Award. The winning projects will be on display at Sleep for the duration of the event.

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A WINK OF SLEEP...

The European Hotel Design Awards take place on Tuesday 20th November 2012 at Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge, London.

To book your place: visit www.thesleepevent.com or call +44 (0)20 795 537 5120 13/04/2012 15:53

The Event Business Design Centre, London 21 - 22 November 2012

Defining Excellence in Hotels Sleep is the only event to focus entirely on hotel design excellence within Europe.

An invaluable opportunity for your company to meet and access key decision makers with serious buying power, looking to find the very latest and most innovative products and inspirations for their global hotel projects.

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Come and visit Sleeper at the exclusive Sleep Hotel Bar Come and visit The Sleep Hotel Bar, designed by Manchester-based interior design studio NoChintz in association with Sleeper Magazine. This is where the who’s who of the hotel design sector will take in the inspirational surroundings, refuel and relax.

Located in the Design Gallery, the bar has been created to complement the innovative guestroom concepts of The Sleep Hotel.

Working to the brief of creating a bar fit for “a mid-sized European coastal city with a mountainous backdrop”, NoChintz has built a series of structures that make reference to the geometry of mountains in a contemporary way.

Comprising three interconnecting areas, the structure is made from timber with openings looking out onto the design exhibits of The Sleep Hotel. The VIP area, fitted out with booths of seating, is enclosed

with the view controlled by slatted timber windows.

The bar is populated with contemporary furniture, lighting, surfaces and technology from European manufacturers DiamondAV, Pedrali, Protocol and Porcelanosa and products from GROHE and Kvadrat.

In addition, Hoxton Art Gallery has dressed the walls with an array of artworks that explore the symbiotic relationship between humanity and the surrounding environment, investigating the sublime interactions we can have with nature. Photography and video projections are integrated into the fabric of the architectural design to give an illusionary experience.

The bar will be open throughout the event, and will host the announcement of the winning Sleep Hotel design at 19:00 on Wednesday 21 November. Join the evening networking event and enjoy a complimentary drink!

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ambitious project?

CONFERENCE REPORT

The 2012 Annual Hotel Conference 3-4 October 2012 – Hilton Manchester Report by Catherine Martin Five hundred delegates from across the UK flocked to Manchester for the ninth successive Annual Hotel Conference in what has become one of the UK’s largest hotel industry events outside London.

Bringing together the usual mix of hoteliers, analysts, developers and advisors, the one-day conference and networking event this year took on a sporting theme thanks to the UK’s Olympic success, in which Manchester United’s football stadium played a part.

Opening the conference, Gary Neville, former captain of Manchester United and England right-back turned hotel developer, took to the stage in conversation with David Bailey, Deputy Managing Director, TRI Hospitality Consulting. Neville confirmed that he has acquired a plot of land close to Old Trafford with planning permission to build a 140-bedroom hotel. Neville has some hospitality experience as a board member of a Maltese hotel group, but this is his first real foray into development. Aiming to be on-site by February 2013, Neville hopes that this will be the first of many hotels, and insisted that, despite the property’s proximity to his former club, it will not be a Manchester United themed hotel.

Continuing with the sporting connection, the newlyappointed Rt Hon Hugh Robertson, Minister of State for Sport & Tourism, screened 128

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an evocative film highlighting the achievements of London 2012. In what he described as “a moment of great national pride”, Robertson spoke of the government’s drive to ensure London 2012 has a lasting legacy that will have a positive impact on tourism and hotel development across the country as a whole.

In the first panel of the day Ufi Ibrahim, Chief Executive of The British Hospitality Association, asked senior representatives from the international hotel chains on stage how they are addressing market challenges and to share their views on what the future holds. Panelists expressed the importance of the UK market in their global expansion plans, with Nick Smart, Vice President Development UK, Ireland & Nordics, Hilton Worldwide, explaining that the group has already doubled its presence in the UK over the past five years and recently announced two further upscale projects. Having recently opened the Bulgari Hotel in London, Marriott’s Vice President for International Hotel Development, Tim Walton, told of plans to convert the historic Berners Hotel into The London Edition, due to open in 2013.

Ibrahim asked the panel which UK markets were attractive to them, particularly as London is thought to be reaching a plateau.

“It’s the towns and cities where we know we can add value,” explained Richard Arman, WWW.SLEEPERMAGAZINE.COM

Development Director UK & Ireland, InterContinental Hotels Group, naming Cambridge, Edinburgh, Bath, York and Oxford as prospective future markets. Smart added that Hilton was looking to airports as a quick way to grow the brand.

While official Olympics sponsor IHG reported a significant boost in brand awareness since its association with the games, panelist Andrew Shaw, Development Director UK & Ireland, Accor, questioned whether the hotel industry outside London would benefit.

Jonathan Langston, Managing Director, TRI Hospitality Consulting and Chairman of the AHC followed with the Market Review, reporting that the provincial markets have seen a decline in corporate trade.

Regional statistics from HotStats showed that York, Manchester and Liverpool achieved the strongest revPAR growth yearon-year to July 2012, at 6.3%, 3.3% and 2% respectively.

However Langston warned that this was not necessarily the best measure of performance as profit no longer grows in line with revPAR increases.

In the Economic Review, Hamish Smith, Senior Economic Advisor at Royal Bank of Scotland, reported that it will take another three years for the economy to reach pre-crisis levels. More encouragingly, he noted that the hotel industry has seen a superior recovery, partly

owing to the weak pound.

With a choice of 16 breakout sessions throughout the day, the conference explored a number of topics, from the recurring topic of OTAs to a finance focused panel entitled ‘Establishing Relationships with Banks’. A session on spas and health clubs explored the growth that the hotel spa has seen over the past decade resulting in the need for the spa to be seen as a profit centre in its own right. A case study featuring independent hoteliers with over 150 years experience between them dealt with the challenges of getting finance without the backing of an international hotel brand.

Despite initial finance concerns, Nicholas Dickinson revealed plans for the development of Congham Hall, a Norfolk manor house formerly owned by von Essen Hotels.

Rounding off the sporting theme and closing the conference, Manchester-born Olympian Darren Campbell OBE delivered a keynote speech telling of his journey from a local council estate to winning Olympic Gold in Athens in 2004.

Aside from its sporting associations, Manchester proved to be a fitting location for a hotel conference thanks to recently announced plans to develop the country’s first National Hospitality Training Academy (NHTA) – Hotel Future – set to open in nearby Oldham in 2013. www.theahc.co.uk

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CONFERENCE REPORT

Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific 10-12 October 2012 – InterContinental, Hong Kong Report by Rebecca Lo At the 23rd annual edition of Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific held at InterContinental Hong Kong, the overall mood was buoyant. With Asia leading hotel development growth worldwide, the region’s gravity defying feats continue to astonish. The conference echoed these sentiments. After deviating for years after the 2008 economic downturn with discussions about branding, design and other soft aspects of hotel development, HICAP 2012 could have been dubbed: “show me the money.”

Most telling were the HICAP awards, held during the closing lunch on 12 October. The Reggie Shiu Development of the Year went to Palace Hotel in Tokyo, Single Asset Transaction of the Year to the acquisition of Shangri-La Sydney by ShangriLa Asia from GIC Real Estate and Merger & Acquisition Deal of the Year to Pegasus Capital’s purchase of Six Senses Resorts & Spas. These deals show that homegrown brands such as Six Senses are coveted internationally, while Asian companies such as Shangri-La are flexing their global muscles by taking more control. Sustainable properties got their proper share of the limelight with Jetwing VIl Uyana in Sri Lanka, Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay in India, Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa and Song Saa Private Island in Cambodia all picking up accolades.

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welcomed the 800 attendees and delegates attending by stating that Asian hotel development was still “firing on all cylinders” despite a number of “black swans circling”. He noted that while development was well-covered and investment continues to broaden, “finance is lagging behind and tends to focus on recourse.”

Christopher Pockette of Tabor International followed with his discussion topic Regional Political and Economic Uncertainty. “The most dangerous variable is between the ears: the gap between what we think we know versus what we actually don’t know,” he says. He cautioned that the main regional political issues with the potential to affect development are depleting hydrocarbon reserves, fisheries claims and sovereignty disputes – and that they are all happening simultaneously.

STR Global’s Jonas Ogren was on hand to talk numbers with his Hotel Performance and Outlook.

This year, Asia Pacific growth has rebounded from 2011’s tsuanmi, though he notes that China’s growth is fairly flat in comparison to Southeast Asia, which is growing by 11%. As expected, Shanghai has suffered after the Expo 2010 boom, while Jakarta is experiencing the highest growth rate in the region. “Singapore is head to head with Hong Kong, leading the region in revPAR at US$233,” Ogren states. Rooms coming online in the next few WWW.SLEEPERMAGAZINE.COM

years will see the biggest jump in the four star upscale category, with 30% of the share.

Countries under the investment spotlight this year included Australia, Myanmar and India. Andrew McEvoy of Tourism Australia underscored that his country commands the most in terms of individual spending per visitor, with more beds required in capital cities.

“Regionally, we are looking for better quality, not volume,” he says. Perth is experiencing strong occupancies and is second only to Brisbane.

Myanmar is coming from the other end of the spectrum, with 50% growth in 2012 mostly in the four-and five-star categories.

“We need to upgrade hotels in response to demand,” says Kyi Kyi Aye of Myanmar Tourism Federation. The recent easing of sanctions by the US and EU are fostering a healthy development climate. Tony Picon with Colliers International believes that the country is “like Thailand forty years ago. The country is more resilient and there is more confidence. People are coming back to spend time outside the capital.”

India, on the other hand, continues to be challenging. “It’s a tough market,” acknowledges Mihir Thacker of Silverneedle Hospitality. “Regulatory challenges are great and most Indian owners don’t understand what it takes to build a hotel.

We end up building as we go, as

properties aren’t funded correctly from the start.” The panelists all agree that the best funding comes from private equity or personal wealth: investors in the project for the long haul.

Breakout session Rise of Asian Hotel Brands was a lively discussion well attended by delegates such as Mark Edelson and others instrumental in helping shape an international image of Asian hospitality. Sense of place, Asian service spirit and the focus on guest experience are all part of the Asian DNA that became the core of most homegrown brands. “The guest is god,” says Sonu Shivdasani of The Soneva Group. “It goes back to the concept that it’s a privilege to have a guest in the home.”

Marc Dardenne of Patina Hotels & Resorts adds that it’s about finding the right employees who naturally have big hearts and fit well with the brand.

Ivanka Trump added a sparkle of celebrity glamour at a luncheon held on 11 October.

“Great partners are keys to prudent growth,” she says, commenting on The Trump Organization’s properties in The Philippines and India. While she admits that her company is a personality-driven brand, she takes her responsibilities seriously. Trump’s commitment to the region is underscored by a branch office soon to be open in Shanghai: “China is our priority in Asia,” Trump concludes. www.hicapconference.com

14-15 January 2013

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Patrons

Media Partners

Hilton Worldwide Hotel Leelaventure Limited Oberoi Hotels & Resorts

Asian Hotel + Catering Times DDP Publications – Trav Talk Express Hospitality Global Destinations GlobalHotelNetwork.com HA Emerging Markets Hospitality Biz Hotel Interactive, Inc. ITP Publishing India Pvt.Ltd. Perspective Magazine Sleeper Magazine TravelBiz Monitor, Saffron Media Pvt. Ltd. Traveltechie.com TTG India

Platinum Partners Accor Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group IHG JA Resorts And Hotels Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces

Gold Partners The Ascott Limited Fortune Park Hotels LTD. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Hyatt Hotels and Resorts Interglobe Hotels Pvt. Ltd. MGM Hospitality Premier Inn India Pvt Ltd Rotana Hotel Management Corporation Sarovar Hotels Pvt. Ltd. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Pte Ltd. Wyndham Hotel Group

Supporters American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute Asian American Hotel Owners Association Hotel Association of India International Finance Corporation International Society of Hospitality Consultants International Tourism Partnership The World Bank World Travel & Tourism Council An Official Publication of BHN HOTELS’ Investment Outlook as of 3 October 2012

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Hotel Analyst

Sustainable agenda Hotel groups are pushing sustainability up the corporate agenda, as a trio of recent initiatives illustrate.

Marriott’s second annual report puts their progress on record, while Rezidor has announced ambitious plans under its Think Planet! campaign. And in the UK, IHG is working on plans to create a sustainable legacy off the back of its sponsorship of the London Olympics.

Marriott focuses on a wide range of human interest angles in its report, from empowering more people through employment opportunities, to fighting human trafficking and protecting fresh water supplies in China. The company has improved the transparency of its reporting of resource usage at its hotels, and reports a 12% reduction in water use and 4% cut in energy consumption since 2007.

Marriott places great emphasis on employment as a sustainable way to reduce poverty and help the disadvantaged into work. It is working through a number of initiatives internationally to reduce youth unemployment and help skill the disabled to enable them into work. The company expects its hotels to hire 100,000 people over the next two years, of which two thirds will be outside the US. a sustainable “Creating future includes preserving the environment, but it also means creating more jobs and stronger communities,” said Mari Snyder, vice president of social responsibility.“These programmes are equipping disadvantaged 132

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youth with employable skills that can hopefully prepare them for jobs with Marriott.”

Chief executive Arne Sorenson described the Marriott mission as being “to provide the opportunity for rewarding travel experiences for our guests, the opportunity for personal and professional growth for our associates, and the opportunity for a better and more sustainable future in the communities where we live and work.”

Rezidor, in contrast – and perhaps unsurprisingly as a Scandiavian company - puts saving resources higher up the agenda. The company has set its hotels tough targets including a 25% reduction in energy use, under its Think Planet! campaign. The aim is to hit the target by 2016 in all hotels across EMEA, across a number of metrics.

“Think Planet reinforces Rezidor’s position as one of the industry leaders in terms of sustainability,” said Inge Huijbrechts, director responsible business at Rezidor.

“Many of our hotels have already introduced progressive, environmentally friendly measures – now we are spreading these initiatives into all our properties and focus on key energy-saving investments that will have the biggest impact.”

Such moves aren’t just altruistic, as they benefit the bottom line, too, noted chief operating officer Wolfgang Neumann. “We are currently faced with significantly rising energy costs in many countries, along with government carbon taxation. Moving forward, reducing our energy consumption will also contribute to maximizing our profits.”

The Rezidor starts with simple operational habits, such as encouraging staff to switch off lights, turn down air handling WWW.SLEEPERMAGAZINE.COM

systems and ensure prompt maintenance. The company also looks at any new equipment upgrades in air conditioning, refrigeration and building operations that deliver a financial return within seven years.

Think Planet! is the latest element of Rezidor’s Responsible Business Programme which consists of three themes: the health and safety of guests and employees, respect for social and ethical issues within the company, and a reduced environmental footprint.

At IHG, the company is looking to leverage legacy off the back of its considerable investment in the London Olympics. IHG has launched a Corporate Responsibility Innovation Fund, to identify and support partners “innovating environmental and societal solutions that might positively impact the hotel industry”.

A number of “Calls for Collaboration” are planned, and the first of these is looking for a partner that can come up with bright ideas to extend InterContinental’s Olympic legacy. A GBP12,000 grant has been made available, along with IHG staff support, to be provided to the best idea chosen from those submitted by a mid October deadline.

“The perceived tension between tourism and sustainability creates a space for innovation,” said David Jerome, senior VP of corporate responsibility.

“Corporate responsibility is at the core of our business strategy. It is about how we do business and create value for the company as well as for society. This Innovation Fund clearly demonstrates IHG’s commitment.”

HA the

Perspective: Sceptics of whole corporate social

responsibility agenda predicted that the recession would see companies abandoning sustainability initiatives and focusing instead on redeploying resources on profit.

While the flakier elements of CSR have indeed been cast aside, a more meaningful interpretation of sustainability is gaining hold.

Hotel companies realise that sustainability is not just about a bit of feel-good marketing but is an integral part of maintaining profitability. The issue has much further to run.

Motel One pushes into the UK German designer economy hotel group Motel One is unleashing its brand on the UK market, as it continues to drive aggressive growth in its home market.

The company is shortly to open its first UK hotel in Edinburgh, and has a pipeline of five further sites already under way, with plans to add plenty more.

The growth – and apparent success with customers – comes from a unique approach to both the brand and the business that flies in the face of highly standardised, asset light brands from the major hotel groups.

The company, promising high design at a price point not much above budget chains, sets itself apart by designing every hotel lobby uniquely, often with local references: in Edinburgh, the corporate turquoise has even been worked into a tartan design.

Constants are key classic furnishings which feature in

common areas, including the Arne Jacobsen egg chair, and Castiglioni’s Arco lamp, reminding guests that budget does not have to lack style.

Motel One was established in 2000 in Munich, within the Astron Hotels group. The Astron brand and portfolio of 54 hotels was sold to Spanish hotelier NH in 2002, allowing management to focus on growing and developing the Motel One brand.

In 2007, a Morgan Stanley investment fund took a minority stake in the business. The following year, it grew to 3,000 rooms open and received the first of three annual “Most Wanted Investment Partner” awards from hospitality consultancy Treugast.

In 2011, the company reported turnover up 48% to EUR134.8m, as it grew its portfolio from 31 to 38 hotels. The group achieved an average occupancy of 70%, and declared pre-tax profits of EUR23.4m. With openings in Salzburg and Vienna, the company also took its first steps outside Germany.

Last month, the company announced plans to build its largest hotel yet, an 18 floor, 530 room block adjacent to Vienna’s central station, that will be the fourth Motel One to open in the city.

This year, there will be four more hotels opened, as the company presses towards a target of 60 hotels and 14,000 rooms by 2014. The 208 room Edinburgh hotel, scheduled for a December opening, will be in a converted historic building in Market Street in the city centre, previously occupied by the council. Rooms in Edinburgh will start from GBP69 a night, while in some European locations Motel One rack rates start at EUR49. The UK confirmed pipeline extends

to 1,500 rooms with a second Edinburgh site at Princes Street; central London hotels at the Minories and Commercial Road; at Piccadilly in Manchester and High Bridge in Newcastle. A London office has been established to focus on growing the portfolio fast.

Dieter Muller, CEO of Motel One, recently commented: “We see as much if not more potential in London for our brand as in Berlin, where we have eight hotels, with over 2,000 rooms. Our product is young and stylish and focuses on three qualities, namely excellent location, affordable prices and high quality design and service. We are convinced Motel One will be popular with guests in the UK.” Similar to the flexibility in design is Motel One’s approach to new sites. The company mixes leases with owned and forward funded developments; and works with both new sites and conversions of older buildings, in a bid to get what it wants, where it wants it, fast.

“For us, it’s all about getting the best sites and delivering quality,” explained Motel One’s Deputy Head of Legal Stefan Lenze. By being flexible, “you find it easier to get the sites you want. We put a strong emphasis on design and quality – leasing or owning gives us a much better control over our mix. There remains strong competition for city centre sites, so we do whatever works – and it must look good.”

Asked to compare Motel One with rivals, Lenze struggles. Price “That’s not how we look at things.

We have a product that works really well in Germany – we’re convinced it will work here. The UK is an obvious choice, as it’s a very strong market. And people are design conscious, so it will

play into our favour.”

Motel One is well funded, with bank lending in place to support the expansion. Gearing is creeping up, from 36.5% in 2007 to 41.2% in 2011, but for now there are no plans to change the mixed portfolio strategy. Property could be sold in the long term, “and if it’s helpful to our development, we could look at sale and leaseback.”

Motel One now has a dedicated team in the UK scouring the country for suitable locations in a property market the company insists is still highly competitive.

“We’re very quick in reacting,” Lenze promises, “and able to agree a deal in just a few weeks, on the right opportunity.”

But asked whether any Travelodge disposals will provide a quick route into the UK market, Lenze suggested these are unlikely to be in Motel One’s preferred central locations.

The company seems unfazed by potential competition. “Yes, there are competitors out there in the budget sector,” said Lenze. “I’m not saying the others are doing a bad job, it’s just that Motel One believes it has created a niche all to itself – and it’s coloured turquoise.”

HA Perspective: Given what has happened to Travelodge it is a brave company to come to the UK with a leased model. But even though they will be warier about covenant, landlords are still likely to be seduced by the superficial security of signing a fixed lease.

This will no doubt give Motel One a significant advantage as it seeks out sites given that just about all other hotel players are ruling out leases.

Leases also have a superficial appeal to the operator – Motel One in this case – as they facilitate expansion without huge capital WWW.SLEEPERMAGAZINE.COM

commitments. The problem, as Travelodge discovered, is that you end up renting out the entire business to your landlords.

Given where we are in the business cycle, it perhaps makes sense to sign up leases in the next few years on favourable terms. But when Motel One’s backers seek an exit, a leased estate is going to hamper the options.

Slotting concerns Changes in the way property lending is regulated threaten to have major negative impacts on the ability of investors and developers to obtain bank lending.

A new practice called slotting, which will require lenders based out of the UK to set funds aside to cover potential lending losses, could actually work against the efficient understanding of risk, and make banks even less interested in lending against real estate.

The concerns are raised by the respected Investment Property Databank, which has researched the likely impact of new rules, in a bid to encourage further debate ahead of implementation.

“Based on our findings, slotting could cause serious harm if the impact on the property market and its relationship to the wider economy are not fully understood,” warned Phil Tily, managing director of IPD in the UK. IPD tracks real world property performance, and in 2010 expanded its database to include the hotel sector. It currently records the performance of more than 475 hotels across Europe, NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2012

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with a value of EUR10.2bn. The data showed properties within the IPD hotels database delivered a 6% overall return to investors in 2011.

Slotting will require banks to classify each of their incomeproducing property loans into one of five categories, or slots: strong, satisfactory, good, weak or default. Against each one, capital will need to be set aside to cover the risk of default – the higher the deemed risk, the more capital will need to be allocated.

The concept was introduced in 2011 by the Financial Services Authority, when a suggested framework for the slots was made available for discussion. Following a consultation the initial FSA parameters were dropped, but it appears slotting will be introduced in some form into UK banking activities; and it will affect around GBP212bn of outstanding loans.

IPD has modelled the likely effect of the introduction of slotting, using information from its own database to see how riskweighted capital would react under the slotting regime, if there were a downturn similar to that experienced recently. Taking data on 3,442 commercial property assets across the UK, worth GBP56.6bn at the peak of the market, they ran three models to see whether the proposed capital reserves were appropriate to actual risk.

The findings were not good news for real estate investors and commercial borrowers. Slotting will demand that banks set aside more capital as insurance, so as a result they will have to deleverage their loan books. This has the potential to depress the commercial property market once more, and could have a negative impact on capital values.

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slotting will become a box-ticking exercise that will take banks away from a regime of detailed risk analysis. And it is only by analysing actual risk factors, says IPD, that safer property lending will take place.

The slotting route will also encourage banks to hold aside a disproportionately high amount of capital as insurance against low risk property lending. This, predicts IPD, will lead to a situation where banks overprice the cost of high quality, low risk lending, with a consequential negative effect on new development. As a result, investors will need to look to foreign lenders, or unregulated sources, to access the funds they need.

“Tracking underlying property data on the security of income as well as values is vital to being able to gauge the real underlying risks of lending against income producing commercial property and IPD will continue to make data available for further research,” said Tily.

“We see potential for a more risk-sensitive UK regulatory regime that would provide capital cost incentives to lend in an economically efficient and stabilising manner. We hope to do further research using the IPD Databank to inform the debate.”

HA Perspective: Since the start of the banking crisis banks have been asked to do the splits, shore up their balance sheets and at the same time lend more.

Now the Janus-faced approach of the authorities is set to demand an ever more impossible balancing act. And unfortunately hotels are likely to be hit disproportionately hard.

Despite having a relatively good recession when compared against other commercial WWW.SLEEPERMAGAZINE.COM

property sectors, hotels are still seen as exotic by property lending generalists. They will be popped into the lower slots, despite good relative performance, thanks to the higher perceived risk.

Puma lies low Puma Hotels has had the disappointment of having its half year figures qualified by auditors.

Deloitte added a warning note to the accounts, noting Puma’s high “net current liability” which sees debts outstripping current asset values.

Puma’s problems date from April, when Spanish operator Barcelo decided to exit leases it had signed in better times, to manage the Puma portfolio of hotels in the UK regions. As a result of Barcelo’s departure, Puma was obliged to write down the value of the rental income stream from the portfolio.

Barcelo’s GBP20.25m exit penalty was small compensation for the write-down, which saw the Puma portfolio valuation fall from GBP458.4m to GBP213.5m.

Against this, Puma has debts of GBP332.3m, predominantly supplied by Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, formerly Anglo Irish Bank.

The debt facility is currently due for renewal at the end of 2013, though maintaining it until then ties Puma to certain conditions.

Puma, which is now managing the hotels with the support of Chardon Management, insists in its accounts that the hotels are profitable and cash generative; but in the current climate, profits are not covering much more than the interest charge on the debt.

The other opportunity which

Puma had originally seen, that of improving certain properties with extensions and additional rooms, is also looking an unattractive choice in the short term, with regional UK hotel markets still weak.

The deal with Barcelo was struck in the heady days of 2007, when Puma was known as Dawnay Shore hotels, having been created

by Shore Capital and Dawnay Day three years previously. The Spanish manager agreed to 45 year leases on the 20 Paramount hotels, which it would rebrand.

At the time, the addition of 20 new hotels, in a new country, was an aggressive expansion step for the Spanish hotelier; and the leased model looked to lighten its portfolio in a way that aligned its activities more with the style of the major international chains.

Under the terms of property leases, rents had fixed uplifts for the first four years, after which they were index linked. According to the formula, the September 2011 rent increase was 5%, taking Barcelo’s outgoings from GBP31m to GBP32.55m. The agreement also included the potential for additional payments, subject to improvements in profitability.

In late 2011, Barcelo publicly announced they would withdraw from the UK, if their requests for a reduction in rents were not met.

Puma, while it acknowledged it had received a letter from the Spanish manager requesting a revision in rents, issued a stiff rebuttal saying it would enforce its rights under the leases “to the fullest extent possible”. With such a hard ball attitude, Barcelo decided that buying its way out was the least expensive option.

Puma is 49.9% owned by the AIM listed Hotel Corporation, which, as a result of Puma’s troubles, has seen its shares fall

to a level where they are virtually worthless.

HA Perspective: Barcelo joins Travelodge in showing that what appears to be a strong covenant can quickly prove the opposite once a recession bites.

But while Puma has clearly burnt its paws on leases it does not prove beyond doubt that hotels and leases should never mix. The problem was paying too much at the peak of the cycle and then attempting to pass that on to the operator via unsustainable rents.

Properly structured leases, that are either variable or at least are structured in such a way that allows a lessee enough room to survive a downturn, can work.

Whether they are desirable is another matter.

Banks get granular Banks have realised the value of real-time business information with several institutions in talks with software provider Guestline to use its detailed data to better assess hotel performance. The move promises banks better information on which to base lending decisions, as well as the opportunity to keep a closer eye on the performance of hotels they have funded.

The keen interest from the banks follows Guestline’s formation of a strategic partnership with Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels earlier this year, with the intention of getting the industry to better understand the value of real-time data. The company has more than 20 years

of experience building webbased reporting systems, usually deployed by client hotel companies purely for operational functions such as handling reservations.

The Guestline initiative will make aggregated hotel performance data available to partners, while those hotels that use the full breadth of Guestline’s web-based reporting systems will be able to access real-time information on the revenue performance of their own properties. This allows benchmark against a locality.

“Before lending, banks can take a look at the performance of hotels in, say, Exeter, and that allows them to review actual ADR,” explained Guestline’s Rupert Gutteridge. Then, once funds have been advanced, Guestline can provide all interested parties with live information. “They have access to data in the specific hotel, and can see that the hotel is being run properly.”

For Guestline, which has long been providing web-based reporting systems, and is the UK’s largest provider of PMS systems, the move upstream is symptomatic of a changing market. “Typically in the PMS marketplace, the hotel’s need has been focused on functionality, and measures such as occupancy,” said Gutteridge.

“But now, with money tight, everyone is having to look at the bigger picture.”

For those looking to value hotels, Gutteridge said the information requirement has changed too.

“With property prices not in a rising market any more, the asset value is changing more to do with what’s happening on the inside, rather than the bricks and mortar.” And by providing partner JLLH with aggregate data on hotel performance city by city, there is the opportunity for a potential investor to compare

likely returns from hotels in alternative locations.

Currently, Guestline’s data is UK focused, though its systems are being increasingly used by hotels across Europe and further afield.

“We’ve enough of a footprint in the UK to give them good data,” said Gutteridge.

HA Perspective: Thanks to the more widespread proliferation of computerised systems, hotels are now in the enviable position of having access to incredibly detailed transaction data.

However, despite the fact that this data is often collected and stored, in most cases it remains an asset that is currently massively underexploited.

Why this might be the case is unclear, although the highly operational nature of the sector, where managers are frequently too busy dealing with day-today issues to sit back, analyse and reflect, is clearly an issue.

It is thus perhaps ironic that the impetus for better using our data comes from outside the sector, in effect from banks and consultants wanting to peek over our shoulder and make sure we are doing our job properly.

The benefit for the latter is clear – higher quality consolidated information to help them understand markets at the macro level as well as control operation on a micro level.

In fact, given the accuracy, and currency that the system can provide, the Guestline initiative represents an Asset Manager’s dream, giving him or her indepth, live, access to a property’s performance and greatly increasingly transparency.

Quite why a hotel would cooperate is more difficult to understand.

In most cases it is likely that this solution will be imposed as a WWW.SLEEPERMAGAZINE.COM

condition of funding, allowing investors to more closely monitor operations. Thus in the future hoteliers will have to be more careful, as it will definitely be a case of Big Brother is watching you.

Hotel Analyst Having read these four pages of Hotel Analyst we hope you want to find out more.

To sample visit: www.hotelanalyst.co.uk/sample For more details visit: www.hotelanalyst.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 8870 6388 NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2012

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Taking you to the next level Our hotel specialists will help you stay one step ahead. www.deloitte.co.uk/travelhospitalityleisure

Š 2012 Deloitte LLP. All rights reserved.

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30/10/2012 12:03

FEATURE

Sound advice Rob Wood of Music Concierge continues his ‘sound advice’ with a look at the essential part music plays in differentiating a hotel brand and the guest experience.

I

recently asked a general manager how hard it was to manage over 300 staff. She surprised me somewhat by answering “that is the relatively easy bit because we are trained for it.

The hard bit,” she explained, “is making the hotel different from all the others.”

Indeed in today’s market the contemporary hotelier needs to be focused on making their property stand out from the crowd more than ever. Hoteliers can no longer afford to let their property be seen as a commodity product if they want to attract the most valuable guests – the high spending, repeat visiting kind. Making sure they choose your hotel over others in the same destination is the key to a successful and sustainable business.

Impressive architecture, tantalising interior design, angelic service, and mouthwatering food are all well-known ways of endearing customers to your property and separating the good hotel from the bog standard. In my second column about sound and music in hotels, I’m going to explain the essential part music plays in differentiating your hotel brand and your guest experience from the competition: The role music has in helping a property rise above the commodity end of the market, so that valuable customers choose you over others in your destination, and how putting a music strategy in place affects your bottom line.

Let’s start by looking at what music does to people. We all know it can irritate when it is not controlled – when the sound quality, content or volume are wrong. But when

controlled and presented properly, music affects your guests in three ways. Firstly it can create a powerful emotional bond and consequentially loyalty. Secondly it affects the way they perceive your brand and the quality of the product. And thirdly it can influence them to spend more time in the hotel itself, most notably in F&B outlets.

CREATING A LASTING AND HONEST BOND BETWEEN CUSTOMER AND HOTEL BRAND If there is one thing that successful hoteliers need to do above providing a great night’s sleep and hot shower, it is to create memories for their guests. Whether it is a desert island hideaway, a funky business hotel, a traditional country house, an iconic luxury institution, or simply a quirky urban bolthole – all guests want their experience to be slick and comfortable, but they’d also love it to be inspiring and memorable. This is what creates connections between us to our favourite hotels. What’s more it generates word-of-mouth promotion over dinner party tables both physical and virtual as those high-spending ambassadors champion your brand to the world around them.

Hoteliers have long known that art, books, music, scent, and to some extent technology when it is playful (and easy to use), can engage and impress customers.

Together with the hotel design, these things form the glue that binds people’s

aspirations and tastes to your hotel name.

By making your mark through well-chosen morsels of culture, innovation, or sheer good taste – you are enabling guests to make an emotional connection, bonding to you with their heart, not just their purse strings or stomach. These are the bonds that will last.

Sound has an incredible potential for creating impressions. Brands like Apple, O2, and Bacardi have long seen music as a powerful medium that can help bring the emotional qualities of products and services to life. We all know that music has an innate ability to connect on a profound human level. Most of us love music.

But it’s important to realise that music not only emotionally tugs on our heart strings, it also denotes complex social messages, together with a honesty that cannot be contrived. As a result a level of music literacy is required so we can understand what resonates with guests.

Using tired, dull, or poorly thought-through music is no longer an option. Today’s wellinformed guests can spot brands imitating, or those with simply no personality, as soon as they cross the threshold.

MAKING THE RIGHT IMPRESSION AND KEEPING THEM COMING BACK FOR MORE So a carefully considered music strategy can help create emotional bonds with customers and therefore build loyalty. It can also enhance guest’s experience of the hotel as one of

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FEATURE

Hotels such as The Savoy (RIGHT) and the Sanderson (BELOW) use music to enhance guest perceptions and strengthen their brand

quality. By partnering with the right music and artists it can increase people’s perception of quality and create the right associations around the brand. High quality music carefully chosen to be relevant to an audience will positively affect their perception of you.

For instance, in London the iconic American Bar at The Savoy uses live and background music to underline the glamour it derives from its Art Deco meets Cole Porter heritage. Whilst The Connaught’s award-winning David Collins-designed bar juxtapositions itself as an extraordinary place for cocktails with a cutting-edge soundtrack tailor-made for those ‘in-theknow’. Morgan Hotel Group’s Sanderson meanwhile has used live music from breakthrough artists to speak relevance and credibility to a younger audience who would not normally frequent designer hotels with its ‘Sanderson Predicts’ series of showcases.

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In all these cases music is used to convey personality and complex social meaning, whilst denoting relevance and quality.

ONCE THEY ARE THERE, YOU NEED TO KEEP THEM THERE Yet music and sound don’t just have a cultural, social and emotional resonance with us. It also has a physical impact. Numerous studies have shown that music changes people’s mood as well as their behavior.

Playing uptempo music energises people, whilst relaxing music slows people down. So if your F&B manager is playing fast music in your fine-dining outlet, you need to be aware that it probably is not encouraging guests to dwell and have a digestif. That’s not to say a restaurant’s aural identity doesn’t demand a buzz and a bit of theatre and this can also be conveyed through a well-conceived music concept. Likewise bars often need a real sense of occasion, so

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that they draw people in through a tangible feel of being the most happening place in town. Music with life, passion and kudos is far more essential to achieving this than any guest list with VIP names on it.

As we have seen, the returns of investing in good quality sound and music are manifold.

It complements the brand identity, and can position you away from competitors, whilst encouraging guests to stay and make use of the restaurants and bars. In the next issue we will look at how to implement an effective music strategy and what is technically and operationally required to control the atmosphere in a hotel. This needs to be done properly because it is a great way to add the all-important wowfactor that makes sure your property stays with guests as much as they stay with you.

Rob Wood is Creative Director of the awardwinning music consultancy agency Music Concierge www.musicconcierge.co.uk

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FABRICS & WALLCOVERINGS

Fabrics & Wallcoverings 1

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AGUA AGUA ARIES Agua is heading to Sleep 2012 to launch two new fabric collections for the hospitality industry. Agua Aries is a UV resistant, fire retardant, anti-microbial faux leather, suitable for both interior and exterior use. The upholstery fabric is available in 18 colourways incorporating a series of sophisticated neutrals alongside bright and vibrant tones.

Agua Linetta is a linen-look upholstery fabric with stain resistant finish offered in 14 contemporary colourways.

The can be found at Stand M24b at the Business Design Centre on 21-22 November.

Tel: +44 (0)20 8205 0050 www.aguafabrics.com

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CREST JMT LEATHER BYRON Byron is one of six new fabrics in the Collection 3 range of upholstery leathers from Crest JMT Leather that combines raw materials from around the world.

The new range is ideal for customers looking for high quality, great value, hardwearing leathers that are suitable for contract use. Byron is produced on heavyweight Brazilian hide and has been designed with a subtle hand wipe effect. It is available in five colours.

Collection 3 complements Crest JMT Leather’s Collection 1 and Collection 2 that offer a wide range of upholstery leathers and a comprehensive colour palette with a variety of textures and finishes.

Tel: +44 (0)1706 643 121 www.crestjmtleather.co.uk

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PRODUCT PROFILE

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KIRKBY DESIGN SPECTRUM This season, Kirkby Design has introduced five new collections into its catalogue of durable, practical, upholstery fabrics. The launch includes Spectrum, a range of classic wool plaids given a contemporary twist. Woven in Scotland from 100% wool, these modern plaids are complemented by multicoloured stripes and a coordinating plain, presented in a bold fusion of neutral and vibrant tones.

Tel:+44 (0)1623 750 005 www.kirkbydesign.com

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BEAUMONT & FLETCHER CASALEONE Following the success of its Como strie silk velvet and Capri silk velvet, Beaumont & Fletcher has announced the launch of Casaleone, a collection of 100% mohair velvets in five rich and decadent colour variations.

Tel:+44 (0)20 7498 2642 www.beaumontandfletcher.com

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MURASPEC ARTEMIS Muraspec has recently had its wallcoverings assessed by BRE Global, and they are now available with an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). The only UK contract wallcoverings company with this accreditation, Muraspec’s latest additions to the range include a new collection of 20oz Type II designs – Osaka, Artermis, Verona and Medina – specifically produced with the hospitality sector in mind. All heavier in weight than standard fabric backed vinyl wallcoverings, the new designs are available in an extensive colour palette with matt and metallic finishes.

Muraspec is also excited to be launching a new range of contract wallcoverings from Maya Romanoff Studio at Sleep.

Tel:+44 (0)8705 117 118 www.muraspec.com

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SKOPOS ERDDIG & ELLE Skopos will be unveiling its new luxury print collection, Eddrig & Elle, at this year’s Sleep. Demonstrating Skopos’ knowledge and expertise, the range is a collection of luxurious prints offered on opulent base cloths. The collection focuses on contrasts; lustre versus matt, bold versus subtle, and formal versus free, with influences from 17th and 18th century British country houses and their structured gardens. All produced in-house at Skopos, the designs include modern geometrics, structured prints and free-flowing, flamboyant florals, for use across drapery and bedding projects. Base cloths include velvets and a natural linen-look, both Trevira CS, and fabrics with the look and feel of satin and silk. All are inherently flame retardant and comply with British and European contract standards.

Tel:+44 (0)1924 465 191 www.skoposdesignltd.com

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KOBE EXPRESSION Kobe’s latest contract collection, Expression, will be unveiled at Sleep 2012. Offering innovative textures and structures that express a contemporary chic ambiance, the collection includes jacquards, velvets, printed 100% blackouts and transparent voiles and sheers, all presented in colour coordinations for window decoration, upholstery, pillow and bedspreads. The colour palette covers vibrant energetic colour groups such as ‘Forest Spring’ and ‘Raspberry Lounge’ as well as balanced soft grey and sand shades. The 100% Trevira CS content secures a high level of sustainability, easy care and permanent inherent flame retardancy.

Tel:+44 (0)844 7420 800 www.kobe.eu

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SMD CONTRACT BOTANICAL SMD Contract has launched Botanical, a fresh, contemporary print collection comprising four designs in six colour 146

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stories. Bloom, the main feature design is a large-scale contemporary floral, Charm is a bold three-colour stripe, Burst is a lively geometric, while Secret features an elegant trailing leaf. The six colour stories – Aqua, Autumn, Heather, Chartreuse, Honey and Red – have been carefully selected to offer a wide assortment of shades. All designs can be printed on any of SMD Contract’s inherently FR base cloths suitable for curtains, upholstery and bedspreads.

Tel:+44 (0)1772 651 199 www.smdcontract.co.uk

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DEDAR ALEPH New from Dedar, Aleph is a canvas with bulky uneven yarn that creates a basketwork effect available in neutral colours. Looms with specially-designed reeds make it possible to weave two heavy threads in extra width, while an innovative finishing process swells the fibres and keeps the fabric hand feeling extremely soft and bulky.

Tel:+44 (0)20 7351 9939 www.www.dedar.com

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ROMO CHARLBURY This season, Romo has launched six versatile new collections infused with colour and detail. The ticking stripes of Charlbury have a versatile, easy to live with character. Five new essential cotton stripes are beautifully combined with two finely woven small-scale weaves.

Simple and elegant these classic styles carry fresh new signature shades.

Tel:+44 (0)1623 750 005 www.www.romo.com

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VILLA NOVA KABUKI New from Villa Nova, Kabuki is an elaborate collection that captures the spirit and poise of Oriental landscapes and themes. Named after an art form that involves elaborately designed costumes, eye-catching make-up, outlandish wigs, and theatrical dance moves, Kabuki is a suitably dramatic and decorative collection. The range features hand drawn pagodas, fluttering butterflies and flowing painterly parasols, all printed on textured cloths. Graphic Japanese lanterns embroidered on iridescent silk are balanced by a striped wide-width sheer, a contemporary geometric weave and a vivacious cut velvet stripe. The collection is available in six vibrant colour groups including Cornflower, Eden and Spice; all new combinations for 2012.

Tel:+44 (0)1623 750 005 www.villanova.co.uk

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ZOFFANY ARDEN In association with artist Melissa White, Zoffany has launched Arden, a comprehensive collection of designs inspired by the Elizabethan style of the late 16th century. Elizabethan ancestors employed local craftsmen to brightly decorate their homes with beautiful hand-painted designs, often intended to display the wealth and social standing of the owner. The choice of colour would reflect this, as bright colours were expensive to achieve. The artwork for the Arden collection was created by White using large plastered canvasses, hand-painted and engraved to retain the hand-crafted appearance of the originals. This talent, combined with Zoffany’s expertise and advancements in printing techniques, results in a dynamic reintroduction of historic designs for contemporary use.

Tel:+44 (0)845 123 6810 www.www.zoffany.com JAB ANSTOETZ CHIVASSO BOTANICALS The new Chivasso Botanicals collection from JAB Anstoetz is a diverse range of wallpapers featuring exquisite prints inspired by antique paintings and 18th century botanical designs. Bold florals and hand painted fern leaf designs are arranged on a half-drop wallpaper repeat to capture the watercolour effect of old printing and photographic techniques. The Papillo butterfly design is printed using pearl mica inks to resemble the iridescence of wings.

Tel:+44 (0)20 7348 6620 www.jab-uk.co.uk

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ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS ECO-DIMENSIONS Architectural Systems has debuted its EcoDimensions Bamboo Wall Panel in six striking silhouettes. The lightweight, flexible panels, made from pressed bamboo pulp, offer an inspiring and sustainable modern design solution. The unfinished panels can be painted or stained allowing designers to create an entire feature wall, accent area, or ceiling tile for any commercial or contract project. The material is water-repellent, sound absorbent, and as bamboo is a rapidly renewable material, naturally eco-friendly.

Tel:+1 800 793 0224 www.archsystems.com

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Each hotel is a special project FF&E | CONTRACT | AGENCEMENT

D&ID is a specialist FF&E supplier with more than four decades of experience in handling hotel projects in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Supported by this experience, D&ID was naturally oriented to the international market from its inception, working in partnership with architects, interior designers and purchasing companies from all over the world to meet all the requirements of hotels.

In D&ID, the Grupo Catarino international brand, each hotel is a special project.

Headquarters: Rua Conselheiro Costa Soares, 33 | 3060-314 Febres (Coimbra) | Portugal T. Portugal: +351 231 467 450 | T. United Kingdom: +44 (0)7787 996 668 T. Spain: +34 661 621 168 | T. France: +33 (0)695 03 50 60 www.did.com.pt | did@grupo-catarino.pt Europe | MiddLE East | Africa

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KREOO FENICE Kreoo, a brand of DecorMarmi, has unveiled a collection of floor and wallcoverings handcrafted in the Vicenza area of Italy using traditional artisan techniques and fine marble.

Available in bas-relief, graffiti and inlay formats, the collection incorporates a wide choice of marble-types including Estremoz White, Marquinia Black, Crema Marfil, Rosso Alicante, Emperador Dark, St. Marie Grey, Calacatta White and Pearl. Fenice is a reinterpretation of ornaments in a modern Venetian style and is available in the UK from Alchemy Design Award.

Tel:+44 (0)1279 771 159 www.kreoo.com

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SINCLAIRE CARRA Carra, the luxurious new collection of fabrics from Sinclaire, brings an edge to the homespun look, with its vibrant designs inspired by the Scottish Highlands. Influenced by the classic constructions and traditional checks and stripes used by Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen, Sinclaire Design Director Anna O’Doherty created the collection as a reaction against shiny fabrics that lack the natural look and feel of wool and cotton. Carra’s matte look is due to a combination of synthetic and natural yarns, which meet IMO upholstery and Crib 5 regulations, whilst maintaining a Martindale performance of 40,000 rubs. Classic and contemporary, Carra includes jacquard, tweed, dogstooth, check, stripes, herringbone and hopsack designs.

Tel:+44 (0)1924 468 197 www.sinclaire.co.uk

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IMATEX ITALIAN LOUNGE Italian fabric manufacturer Imatex is exhibiting at Sleep 2012 where it will launch two new flame retardant collections in 100% Trevira CS, ideal for high end decoration and drapery. Key

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features of the Italian Lounge collection include striped and checked designs with a fresh casual Mediterranean flair.

Meanwhile the Kusdos collection would be ideal for design projects which require a combination of opulence with an added sophisticated transitional twist.

Tel:+39 031 692222 www.imatex.it

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©2012 THE MAYA ROMANOFF CORPORATION®

INTRODUCING MOTHER OF PEARL MARQUETRY™ TILES OF GENUINE SEASHELL FOR EUROPE & UK: PIERRE FREY

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EDELMAN LEATHER SULKY Edelman Leather has introduced a new collection of buttery soft-to-the-touch leathers known as Sulky. The European full grain aniline dyed cowhide comes in a warm palette of neutrals complemented by striking brights.

Tel:+44 (0)20 7351 7305 www.edelmanleather.com

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DUPONT CORIAN NEW COLOUR PALETTE First unveiled in April at Milan Design Week, the new colour palette for DuPont Corian made its UK debut at 100% Design. The evolving and dynamic colour palette includes captivating new tones developed for a wide variety of architectural and design projects, residential and commercial, interior and exterior. New colours in the range include five solid greys, four fresh blues such as Ethereal and Diamond, three variously nuanced greens from Ecru to Blooming, further neutral beige and brown options; plus the velvety richness of Royal Red, Imperial Yellow and Chic Aubergine. This evolution is complemented by a user-friendly mix of marketing tools designed to facilitate the selection of the most appropriate tone of DuPont Corian for specific applications, either alone or with metal, wood, glass, stone, ceramic, textile and many other materials. www.corain.co.uk

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STACY GARCIA FOR LEBATEX MID-CENTURY IDEAL Stacy Garcia for LebaTex offers a new upholstery and drapery grouping 154

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inspired by a romanticised view of MidCentury America. The grouping includes Kennedy Stripe, Dazzle, Roadster and Watson, all with acrylic backing and NanoTex for upholstery end-use.

Jukebox, a chainlink pattern reminiscent of the record playing oldies, is a draping that complements the grouping. “I designed the grouping from the MidCentury Ideal trend we forecasted for this year,” explains New York-based designer Stacy Garcia. “It is driven by the lure of Madison Avenue and the social mores of the 1960s with the idea to simplify and return to old family values.” www.stacygarcia.com

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KVADRAT CANVAS Continuing its tradition of working with leading designers, Kvadrat has launched several new textile collections by Åsa Parson, Giulio Ridolfo and Cristian Zuzunaga. One of the highlights is Canvas, a refined woollen upholstery textile that comes in seductive yet subtle colourways. Crafted by Giulio Ridolfo, Canvas has a vibrant and intriguing look: from a distance it has the calm expression of a unicoloured fabric, but on closer inspection it reveals shimmering colour nuances, delicate contrasts and an elegant structure.

Canvas is constructed from material dyed yarns and is available in a variety of shades that Ridolfo describes as “unpredictable greens, warm greys and radiant dawn-like tones.” In addition, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec have launched new textile options for their renowned Clouds.

Tel:+45 89 53 18 66 www.www.kvadrat.dk

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BALMORAL TEXTILES SKAI Northern Ireland-based Balmoral Textiles has been named the exclusive distributor for Skai contract vinyls. Skai offers a range of contemporary and traditional designs for the contract sector while Balmoral has been offering it own stylish ranges of contract fabrics and vinyls for over 45 years.

Tel: +44 (0)28 9061 7431 www.balmoraltextiles.co.uk

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COMPANY PROFILE

Kvadrat: Contemporary collaborations Sleeper Editor Matt Turner travels to Denmark to find out about a new focus on hospitality from one of the world’s leading contemporary textile companies.

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am sitting with Kvadrat CEO Anders Byriel in the company’s Copenhagen showroom – a beautiful minimalist space designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec on the city’s regenerated docklands. The ships passing by these warehouses, many of which are now converted into studios for leading furniture and lighting companies, offer a reminder that Denmark has a long history of exporting design to the world, and is widely recognised as a global centre of design excellence.

“Textiles were the birth of the industrial revolution,” says Byriel. “Most people in the world can weave so there’s a lot of textile out there, a lot of competition. It is our decision to define ourselves as the contemporary option, working with architects and designers and letting them drive our business, that has been the key to our success.”

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Established in Denmark in 1968, Kvadrat now enjoys a leading position in Europe’s contemporary textiles market. Through its growing network of 18 showrooms worldwide, and the activities of its sales and marketing teams, he estimates the company sees 2025,000 architects and designers each year.

According to Byriel, the company’s strategy of focusing on the A&D community has allowed it to increase its turnover five-fold in the last 14 years. The same period has seen export sales grow from 40% of annual turnover, to 90%.

“Hospitality is growing and growing for us,” says Byriel of his decision to set up a new division of Kvadrat dedicated to the hotel sector, headed up by Dorte Bagge, formerly Business Development Manager at Bang + Olufsen. “In the past seven years it has gone from being a small part of the business to 30-

OPPOSITE PAGE: Recent product launches include Plot by Alfredo Häberli composed of a combination of subtle, natural shades, such as beige, and highlight hues, such as China red.

LEFT: For the 2012 Salone de Mobile, Kvadrat asked seven renowned designers to curate interpretations of its Hallingdal 65 textile, including this children’s playhouse by Mermelada Estudio BELOW: Kvadrat CEO Anders Byriel and Head of Hospitality Dorte Bagge sit alongside one of the reflective pools which comprise ‘Your Glacial Expectations’ – a new landscape created by Vogt Landscape Architects and artist Olafur Eiliasson at the company’s Ebeltoft headquarters

35% of our annual turnover.”

Kvadrat has managed to differentiate itself from other fabric and textile companies through its contemporary approach.

Characterised by premium quality materials, aesthetic excellence and innovation, the company works with a roster of the world’s finest designers and architects, including the likes of Alfredo Häberli, David Adjaye, and Patricia Urquiola.

Collaborations with artists, both worldrenowned and up-and-coming, have been another important factor in raising its profile.

“If you take the elite and the avant garde in architecture, a lot of the architects are not just interested in technology, but follow contemporary art as well,” says Byriel. “So although we only do one or two of these projects each year, they are an important inroad to the A&D community.”

Sleeper is in Denmark for the unveiling of the latest artistic endeavour. ‘Your Glacial Expectations’ is a new landscape created around Kvadrat’s headquarters in the seaside town of Ebeltoft, developed by Vogt Landscape Architects with Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson. A series of reflective pools, set into the dunes surrounding the head office, mirror the surrounding sea, sky and land, as well as providing contemplative spaces for staff to wander around. Loose seating allows meetings to be held outdoors, next to these inspiring artworks, rather than in the confines of a stuffy boardroom.

Earlier this year, for the annual Salone de Mobile in Milan, the company asked renowned designers such as Tord Boontje, Ilse Crawford and Andre Fu to curate interpretations of its Hallingdal 65 textile – the company’s first product and still one of

its best sellers. Thirty two design talents from seven regions were selected to create their own unique pieces using this classic fabric.

The Bouroullec brothers’ ‘Textile Field’ – a 30 metre installation of Kvadrat textile in the Raphael Gallery of the V&A Museum, received widespread critical acclaim in 2011.

Such collaborations help to highlight the versatility of the company’s products, and enhance its profile but as Byriel says the day-to-day business of Kvadrat is creating textiles that are then specified in around 3,000 projects per year. The products are made using the latest techniques to optimise their quality, performance and longevity, whilst minimising their environmental impact.

These textiles can be found in some of the world’s most iconic buildings: The Gherkin, London; Museum of Modern Art, New York; Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles;

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LEFT : Kvadrat textiles are specified in over 1,000 hotel projects worldwide, including the Hotel Indigo Berlin Ku’Damm

Reichstag, Berlin; Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao; DR Concert Hall, Copenhagen; Yves St.Laurent, Paris and the new Opera House in Oslo.

And increasingly the company’s curtains, upholstery fabrics and acoustic panels are used in top hotels, restaurants and conference rooms all over the world.

There are over 150 designs in the portfolio, including many that are particularly well suited to hospitality applications. No surprise then that since 2007, Kvadrat has been specified in well over 1000 hospitality projects, putting the organisation in a strong position to understand the specific needs of the sector.

“Kvadrat regularly adds to its offering for the hospitality industry,” says Head of Hospitality Dorte Bagge. “The company now offers a more extensive selection of Trevira CS upholstery textiles, blackout curtains and sheers than ever before. Importantly, these are priced to meet typical hotel room budget requirements.”

“The Kvadrat Hospitality Division is staffed by highly trained personnel, who combine an in-depth understanding of colours, tactility and textures with detailed knowledge of the functional performance of different materials,” adds Bagge. “Consequently, they are able to 160

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provide superior end-to-end support from the initial consultation to post-sales advice. This includes guidance on how to differentiate the look of the hotel, based on its unique values, and many other value-adding services, such as formulating a price that includes the sewing of curtains.”

Additionally, Kvadrat offers ‘specials’ for hotels that require custom-made textile solutions, drawing on its wide-ranging network to create tailored curtains, textiles and Soft Cells acoustic panels.

According to Anders Byriel, this type of collaboration is the key to the next phase in its engagement with the hospitality sector – not just working with architects and designers, but also the ‘end-user’ property developers, hotel groups and owners – although he maintains that “specifiers will be at the heart of everything we do, that’s in our DNA.” “We see the next part of taking our business further as diving into specific market segments and collaborating with the key decision makers to understand those sectors,” he adds. They have already undertaken a similar process in the transportation and cruise industry sector, where Byriel says they have now taken their market share to 30-35%.

Their experience in hospitality encompasses

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everything from independent boutique hotels to working directly with hotel chains. Previous clients include Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Accor, Starwood, Hyatt and IHG. And these global hotel groups will no doubt see the attraction of working with a one-stop-shop supported by a worldwide service network, which has a presence in twenty countries.

“We are in a good shape, and we are becoming stronger on manufacturing – more competitive,” says Byriel. “We are taking a more industrial approach and globalising our supply chain.” To this end, the company has begun acquiring its own manufacturing facilities rather than outsourcing to other companies.

Despite this global approach, Byriel also sees a strong trend in design “towards locality,” and says that in the long term, the company will have more regional creative hubs providing “a portfolio of ideas, concept banks that people can pick ideas and inspiration from.” He hopes this three pronged approach of working “more customised, more collaboratively, and more industrially,” will help propel the company towards its future goal of £100m turnover. www.kvadrat.dk

The annual gathering for upholstery fabric editors

18-22 JAN. 2013 - PARIS NORD VILLEPINTE www.maison-objet-editeurs.com

Trade only. Visitors: Promosalons UK. Tel. +44 208 216 3106. charlotte@promosalons.co.uk

preview, Dedar © D. Cortes. Designers Guild © Tag Creative Studios. Élitis © J-F. Gaté. MissoniHome. FB. Organisation SAFI, filiale des Ateliers d’Art de France et de Reed Expositions France. Tel. +33 (0)1 76 21 18 39. maison-objet@badgeonline.net

VISIT US ON STAND M3 We are the specialist supplier of unusual and challenging building components for interior and exterior decoration. We print project specific designs on soft and rigid materials in large formats.

No matter whether your project requires wall coverings in paper or fabric or glass walls and partitions. We either have a standard solution in our product portfolio or we create customized solutions for architects and interior designers to help realize your idea.

architectural building components GmbH . friedrich-kohlrausch-straße 3 . 97080 würzburg . germany . +49 931 329 344 0 . info@arbucomp.com . www.arbucomp.com

FEATURE

Suitable as a decorative element for table tops and feature walls, or in functional applications as partitions and privacy screens, glass is increasing in popularity thanks to a wide range of finishes and effects on offer.

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1. Electronically-controlled privacy at the flick of a switch, from SmartGlass International / 2. Arbucomp offers a range of solutions including digital printing on glass and organic materials encased in glass / 3. Lasvit’s Liquidkristal architectural glass walls by Ross Lovegrove / 4. Tex Glass, a laminated glass with fabric and metallic meshes encapsulated inside, from Glass Solutions / 5. Glazing enhancements from Lintec Graphic Films

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Axor Starck Organic:

Harmony of Head and Heart Axor Hansgrohe and Philippe Starck celebrate their twenty-year friendship with the launch of a new concept in bathing that combines unique design with the responsible use of water.

Catherine Martin flew to Berlin for its world premiere.

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t isn’t often that a new product is truly as “innovative”, “unique”, or “pioneering” as the glossy marketing materials so often claim. Yet the teasers that came before the world premiere of Axor Hansgrohe and Philippe Starck’s latest collaboration suggested that something special was on the horizon.

“How much heart goes into a bathroom collection?” the official invitation mysteriously asked, and “How much thought goes into a bathroom collection?” These were questions that could only be answered by Head of the Axor brand, Philippe Grohe, and celebrated designer, Philippe Starck at a launch event in Berlin.

Several hours from Hansgrohe’s headquarters and manufacturing plant in Schiltach, the world’s press filed into a former electrical substation close to Berlin’s

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FAR LEFT: Philippe Grohe, Head of Axor Hansgrohe MIDDLE LEFT: Celebrated designer Philippe Starck

infamous Checkpoint Charlie. Here, they were to witness a revolution of a very different kind: the birth of Axor Starck Organic.

As the designer brand of the 111-year-old German manufacturer, Axor Hansgrohe has collaborated with the likes of Antonio Citterio, Jean-Marie Massaud, Patricia Urquiola and Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec: their collections offering unique and sustainable solutions to create personalised bathrooms of the highest aesthetic and technological levels.

Of course Starck himself is no stranger to Axor, contributing his own personality, perspective and philosophy to the brand. “The history of Axor is intertwined with Philippe 166

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Starck,” explained Grohe at the launch. “The Salon d‘Eau, which Philippe Starck designed for Axor, Duravit and Hoesch twenty years ago is a milestone in the development of the bathroom to become a space for living.”

Further milestones in the collaboration advance like the evolution of man, from the 1998 Axor Starck 2 handle mixer in which the cylindrical elements connect at a single junction, to the Axor Starck mixer with joystick handle launched in 2008.

This latest venture is one that is particularly close to Starck’s heart. The longstanding collaboration harks back to a close friendship between the Grohe and Starck families.

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COMPANY PROFILE

ABOVE AND LEFT: The forty-piece collection includes mixers for the washbasin in four different heights and a wall-mounted solution; mixers for the shower and bath; and accessories

“In the twenty years we have worked together so far, he again and again inspired us to come up with radical ways of challenging established patterns of thought, behavior and design,” remembers Grohe. “To me, the essence of our work consists of allowing people to experience the fascination of water in its best way and to provide innovative solutions of the highest aesthetic and technological levels.”

Three years in development, the concept behind Axor Starck Organic is the harmony between design and technology, ecology and economy, the head and the heart.

Unveiled in a stereotypically dramatic Starck-style, the faucet that typifies the collection was presented to an awaiting audience. First impressions are of an organically sculptured form. The two handles, independently controlling the water flow and temperature, blend in visually with the curvaceous body of the mixer. And while the aesthetic design is unique in itself, the technology and thinking behind it is what 168

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really impresses. Temperature is adjusted before the water flow, which is turned on and off at the end of the spout. This means that the hands are already in position when the water emerges, saving valuable resources. And not a single drop falls where it is not needed, not even onto the mixer itself, potentially saving hours of housekeeping when installed in a hotel bathroom.

In an impressive display of room sets, Sleeper was amongst the first to test the technology. Washing was a new experience thanks to the unique spray technique developed in company’s spray research laboratory. The jet former, featuring 90 individual outlets within its 24mm area, gives rise to a softer, more voluminous spray comparable to that offered by Hansgrohe’s Raindance 100 shower.

Furthermore, the mixer sets a new standard consuming just 3.5 litres of water per minute, compared to the industry standard of seven litres per minute. This is achieved without compromise on quality or functionality.

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The name Axor Starck Organic stands not only for the collection’s design and responsible use of water and energy: it also points to sustainability aspects that are relevant already in the manufacturing process.

The special construction of the mixer means that the walls of the basic body have been cast using about one third less brass – and hence consuming considerably less energy – than a conventionally produced model would. The forty-piece collection includes mixers for the washbasin in four different heights and a wallmounted solution; mixers for the shower and bath; and a range of accessories.

Admittedly, using the product takes a little getting used to: the challenge being for the user to adapt their behaviour and embrace a new way to wash. Axor Starck Organic’s success lies in the appeal to the head and the heart that allows for “greater comfort and lower consumption”. While it may take time to filter into everyday use, the world’s forward-thinking hotels will already have it on their wish list.

WOVEN PAPER FURNITURE FOR GLOBAL PROJECTS Comfortable and stylish, our traditionally-woven lloyd loom chairs are the ultimate in seating comfort.

Crafted from durable all-natural kraft paper, our collection is ecological as well as beautiful.

WWW.VINCENTSHEPPARD.COM

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BAGNO DESIGN LONDON SHOWROOM Bagno Design, a subsidiary of the Dubai-based Sanipex Group, has unveiled its first ever facility in the UK with a stunning new A&D centre in London. Strategically located in Clerkenwell at the heart of London’s design district, the new 4,200ft2 bathroom showroom presents a ‘toolkit’ for architects, designers and other professional specifiers working on a wide range of international projects. In addition to Bagno Design’s own inspirational product range, there are complementary products from a selection of handpicked strategic partners including Apaiser, Aqata, Vado and Vogue. Also on display are Bagno Design’s recently launched stone, porcelain, marble and ceramic basin ranges. The stone basins are highly durable and available in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7553 6999 www.bagnodesign.co.uk

TOP FLOOR EVERY STONE Top Floor has introduced new rugs for Autumn/ Winter 2012 designed by the award-winning Esti Barnes. Using intricate techniques including colour graduation and sculpting, each rug is a study in surface design. Every Stone, a highlight of the new additions, brings to life a scattering of stones using delicate shading to create three-dimensional organic shapes. All designs are made to order and can be woven to almost any dimension and colourway with a choice of hundreds of shades of silk or wool.

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

PEDRALI GLISS WOOD Designed by Claudio Dondoli and Marco Pocci, Gliss Wood features ash legs and a natural shell in super-strong injection moulded tecnopolymer or polycarbonate. The ash wood can be bleached or black stained, the tecnopolymer can be white or sand, while the polycarbonate version is available in a range of colours.

Tel: +39 035 8358840 www.pedrali.it

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CARDOLA DELANO MARRAKECH The newly opened Delano Marrakech, part of the Morgans Hotel Group, aims to give guests the highest level of customer service with the installation of Cardola’s VirtualHotel application on iPads in each of its 71 guestrooms. Cardola’s application offers easy access to information about hotel services and the local area, enabling the guest to view menus at the hotel’s four restaurants, book a treatment at The Pearl Spa, or arrange a wake-up call. The platform will also be used to promote internal events and special offers, helping to drive bookings and ultimately increase revenues.

Tel: +44 (0)20 3301 7457 www.cardola.com

ULSTER INDEX Index, Ulster’s first online-only contract collection, has been exclusively crafted to meet the accelerated turnaround of 21st century projects. Pushing the boundaries of carpet design, the collection utilises fashion-forward colours, represented through clean geometrics and textured organics that complement the ongoing trend for contemporary interior spaces. Index consists of twenty distinct designs woven in 9 row Axminster quality – 80% wool / 20% nylon.

Tel: +353 028 3833 4433 www.ulstercarpets.com 172

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GO IN DECO ART The new Deco Art from GO IN is a beautifully crafted upholstered chair, suited for use in high-end hospitality projects. Thanks to its moulded foam seat, the chair combines comfort with a luxurious feel and elegant curves.

And, with the new fabric collection, an almost infinite number of combinations of colour, pattern and material can be specified. The wood frame is also available in a variety of finishes.

Tel: +44 (0)845 021 4646 www.go-in.co.uk

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BAAL YOULI Baal has introduced a new range of operational and decorative accessories for the guestroom. Youli comprises a collection of 32 products, including drink trays and an ice bucket, made from American walnut timber and covered in waterproof leather. A specific stainless steel design feature adds detail.

Tel: +961 4 713768 www.baal.com.lb

SLEEPER SPECIFIER

HYPNOS HEYWOOD HOUSE HOTEL Heywood House Hotel in Liverpool has been awarded the ‘Comfiest Bed’ by LateRooms.com for its beds supplied by Hypnos. The Best Kept Secret Awards 2012 are nominated by the hotel-staying public and the final winners selected by a panel of judges. Chris Ward, Director of Marketing at Hypnos, comments: “As a company committed to working with hoteliers to create a truly memorable night’s sleep, we’re delighted to be awarded the UK’s Comfiest Bed for the second year running. Indeed we are continually developing new products to enhance the guest’s sleep experience, with recent introductions including soft breathable mattress toppers and antibed bug solutions designed to directly protect the guest and also to protect the hotel from negative publicity.”

Tel: +44 (0)115 973 2180 www.hypnoscontractbeds.com

MARK DAVID ECO CHIC COLLECTION Mark David, part of the Kohler Group, has introduced a collection of ultra-green chairs made using locally-produced sustainable materials. Care has been taken through every step of the design and manufacturing process to ensure that the company provides only environmentally supportive furnishings for the hospitality industry.

Tel: +44 (0)7966 050 908 www.markdavid.net 174

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THE DESIGN NET BIANCA LIGHT Established in 1996, The Design Net (TDN) specialises in the design and supply of quality contemporary furniture. New to the collection is Bianca Light by Crassevig, available as either a lounge or dining chair. With an oak or beech solid wood frame, the chair is available with either wooden, upholstered or a handwoven leather backrest Tel: +44 (0)20 7820 7771 www.thedesignnet.co.uk

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FLOS TATOU Tatou, a new collection of lights designed by Patricia Urquiola for Flos, takes its name from the French word for ‘armadillo’.

Tatou comes as a pendant light, floor lamp and table lamp in two different sizes and three colours: white, black and plum.

Tel: +39 030 24381 www.flos.com

furniture

lighting

surfaces

accessories

fur niture makers since 1989 www.warisan.com • sales@warisan.com • Asia +62 361 421752 • London 0800 279 3207

SLEEPER SPECIFIER

DELTA FAUCET JASON WU FOR BRIZO Under its premium luxury brand Brizo, Delta Faucet has launched a new bath collection created in collaboration with fashion designer Jason Wu. The collection delivers a new level of luxury and includes innovative features including SmartTouchPlus and TempIQ Temperature Control Technologies. An LED light built into the faucet changes colour from blue to magenta to red, letting consumers know exactly when water has reached the desired temperature. It adjusts the water mixture to ensure a consistent water temperature with no sudden increases or decreases. The Jason Wu for Brizo collection is offered in a signature Matte Black finish paired with cool Polished Chrome or soft Brilliance Brushed Nickel. www.brizo.com/jasonwu www.deltafaucet.com

ALISEO ARCHITECTO Characterised by a distinctly contemporary profile and elegant powerful lines, Architecto is a full range of bathroom accessories from Aliseo. Manufactured specifically for the hospitality market, the collection includes towel rails, a toilet roll holder, and soap dispenser.

Tel: +49 (0)7834 8343 0 www.aliseo.de

MILLE COULEURS ELYSÉ Mille Couleurs has launched its first collection of bespoke furniture influenced by the Art Deco era. Named Elysé, the elegant pieces are characterised by smooth lines, and a highglossed or lacquered finish with polished chrome accents.

Tel: +44 (0)20 7263 3660 www.mc-london.com

SAMUEL HEATH STYLE MODERNE British-based brassware manufacturer, Samuel Heath, has launched its Style Moderne collection of bathroom fittings inspired by the iconic Art Deco design era of the 1920s and 1930s. The collection includes basin, bath and bidet tap options, a selection of concealed and exposed shower valves and a wide choice of ancillary items, with either lever or cross top control specifications to add a streamlined feel to the design. All products are available in polished nickel, chrome plate and antique gold, with black chrome or main body finish controls.

Tel: +44 (0)121 766 4200 www.samuel-heath.co.uk

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1.114 OSRAM AG, CMK MK AB, 81536 Munich

www.osram.com/kreios

Change your message instantly with OSRAM KREIOS® G1 The KREIOS® G1 image projector combines all the advantages of LED technology in a compact and lightweight, easy to install unit. KREIOS® G1 allows messages, logos and brand names to be projected on to walls, floors and ceilings with extreme brightness and excellent sharpness. The easy access magnetic gobo holder enables messages to be changed in an instant. For more information and to locate your nearest KREIOS® G1 stockist email displayoptic@osram.co.uk or call 01744 812221.

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Inspired Solutions Our skills extend beyond pure manufacturing excellence – we work with Europe’s leading designers to create solutions both practical and beautiful.

Contact: tel 020 7253 4777 email lstokes@idealstandard.com

SLEEPER SPECIFIER

MEGA MARBLE MEGA GLASS Mega Marble, a UK-based manufacturer of natural stone and quartz surfaces, has expanded its product portfolio to include glass.

Trading as Mega Glass, the new offering includes safety glass, highresolution digital images on glass, and bespoke mirror installations.

To accommodate its growth, the group has also acquired a 34,000ft2 state-of-the-art factory.

Tel: +44 (0)1582 343 565 www.megamarble.co.uk

KALDEWEI LE MIRADOR KEMPINSKI Kaldewei baths have been installed at Le Mirador Kempinski, a new five-star hotel and luxury apartments in Mont-Pèlerin near Geneva, Switzerland. With a unique location at 800m altitude, residents can enjoy panoramic views of the Alps from the luxury and comfort of an Ellipso Duo Oval or Conoduo bath from Kaldewei. Both designs, made from 3.5mm steel enamel, combine classic elegance with purist lines to harmonise with the stylish interior of the apartments – some in dazzling white, others in a natural matt anthracite.

Tel: +44 (0)800 840 9770 www.kaldewei.com

D&ID HOTEL VICE VERSA FF& supplier D&ID, part of the multidisciplinary Grupo Catarino, has completed the fit-out of Hotel Vice Versa, Paris. Created by Vincent Bastie and Chantal Thomass, the hotel features 37 guestrooms inspired by the seven deadly sins of lust, envy, sloth, gluttony, pride, greed and wrath.

Email: did@grupo-catarino.pt www.did.com.pt

CONNOR CONSTRUCTION THE IMPERIAL HOTEL Connor Construction has completed the refurbishment of a disused atrium in The Imperial Hotel, London, to create a new F&B destination for guests. Designed by Trevillion Interiors, the space has been transformed into a piano bar and afternoon tea room. Previously, Connor Construction worked on the refurbishment of all guestrooms at the hotel.

Tel: +44(0)1923 230 360 www.connorconstruction.com

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By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen Bespoke Lighting Manufacturers and Restoration Specialists

The cook, the designer, the craftsmen & their love of detail.

Bespoke Lighting Manufacturers

WE PUT EVERYTHING WE KNOW INTO EVERYTHING WE DO www.dernier-hamlyn.com tel: 0208 760 0900 email: info@dernier-hamlyn.com

SLEEPER SPECIFIER

IDEAL STANDARD STOW APART HOTEL Ideal Standard has announced its involvement with a quick-build modular pod hotel currently being developed by My Space Pod. The Stow Apart Hotel, due to open in London Waterloo in June 2013, provides good quality, affordable and sustainable accommodation that can be produced quickly to solve the chronic shortage of hotel rooms in urban locations.

The key challenge Ideal Standard faced with this project was maximising the space available without compromising on style or quality whilst still remaining within budget. To meet these demands Ideal Standard provided the popular Connect bifold alcove shower enclosure with the Idealite flat top shower tray. This was paired with the Alto Ecoterm shower valve and function kit to provide superior showering. The ceramics provided were the Concept back to wall WCs with dual flush and the Concept Sphere 45cm washbasin. This particular washbasin offers space saving with its shorter projection whilst maintaining a good size for shaving and washing and therefore providing functionality. www.ideal-standard.co.uk www.myspacepod.co.uk

LOCATEL HOIST TECHNOLOGY Locatel and Hoist Technology, leaders in hotel systems, have announced a business alliance to form Europe’s largest technology and service provider for the hospitality sector. The range of solutions brings hotel operators greater efficiency with reduced operational costs, while increasing guest satisfaction and driving average guest spend through unrivalled services.

The alliance means that hotels can benefit from Locatel’s IPTV, WiFi, entertainment and information systems on fixed or mobile screens for their guests, as well as Hoist Technology’s property management system HotSoft 8 and mobile back office system Serviator.

Tel: +44 (0)20 8961 7979 www.locatel.net 180

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GEORGE SMITH OUTDOOR FURNITURE George Smith has launched an Outdoor Furniture collection that is made to the same design standards as its catalogue collection, using outdoor-appropriate materials. The pieces, including an upholstered Chesterfield sofa, are suitable for use in gardens, roof terraces or by swimming pools.

Tel: +44 (0)20 7384 1004 www.georgesmith.co.uk

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UK manufacturers of complete fibre optic lighting systems and chandeliers Worldwide prestigious projects including The Crown Jewels, The Sultan of Brunei’s Palace, RMS Queen Mary 2 Cruise ship and Hilton hotels New LED lightsources, the ultimate low maintenance system combining led lightsources and fibre optic lighting systems.

www.unlimitedlight.com

sister company: Universal Fibre Optics Ltd

tel: +44 (0) 1890883522

email: louise@unlimitedlight.com

LONGDEN DOORS ADD A TOUCH OF CLASS TO EVERY HOTEL Our doors have graced some of the UK’s finest hotels for well over a hundred years and are ideal for any exclusive hotel, whether city chic or comfortable country retreat.

Longden’s manufacturing excellence has been the choice of prestigious hotels such as Lime Wood in the New Forest, Coworth Park Country House Hotel in Sunningdale, Whitley Hall Hotel in Sheffield and London’s Connaught and Stafford Hotels.

To find out more about how Longden’s solid timber designer doors can transform the look of your hotel, please call or email us today.

Longden | 55 Parkwood Road | Sheffield | South Yorkshire | S3 8AH Tel: 0114 270 6330 | Email: enquiries@longdendoors.co.uk Web: www.longdendoors.co.uk/luxuryhotels

Head ofďŹ ce showroom, 57 Knowl Piece,Wilbury Way, Hitchin, SG4 0TY Tel: +44 ( 0 ) 1462 440719 sales@castellobaths.co.uk www.castellobaths.com

Visit us at Stand G14 at The Sleep Exhibition, Business Design Centre, London from 21-22 November and see our exciting new ranges QUADRA,VODA & ESSENTIAL WATERBURY

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WWW.WATERBURY.CO.UK

SALES@WATERBURY.CO.UK

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Örsjö Belysning www.orsjo.com

“ When my son was born I planted an apple tree. The apple tree is still there, growing and bearing fruit.”

— Jonas Bohlin

FIRE RETARDANT UV RESISTANT UPHOLSTERY FABRICS FOR COMMERCIAL - HOSPITALITY - CRUISE

Kvist is inspired by this relationship... nostalgic, yet contemporary — the combination of materials ages, develops a patina and grows more beautiful. Kvist is a light you hold on to forever.

Tel: +44 (0) 20 8205 0050 info@aguafabrics.com www.agaufabrics.com Kvist Design by Jonas Bohlin

Agent: www.relaydesignagency.co.uk

Flame Retardant Contract Fabrics

Visit us at Sleep Stand M7B

photo Š G.Lizardos

Sunbelievable parasols

www.sywawa.com Frou Frou - design by Davy Grosemans Sywawa is a brand of Symo Parasols www.symoparasols.com

HB_RHF_2012:Layout 1 27/06/2012 15:15 Page 1

home > > >

new website new products available on ipad / iphone

british / designers / manufacturers /

www.hbgroup.co.uk

Radisson Blu Edwardian Mercer Street, London

Oceanic Bar, Radisson Edwardian Heathrow

Subscribe to Sleeper online at www.sleepermagazine.com

Alternatively contact our subscription department on +44 (0)161 476 5580 or email: subscriptions@mondiale.co.uk

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Halo…

Light in essence.

Design by Martín Azúa With the ability to adjust each section you can install the Halo to suit the surrounding architectural harmony.

www.vibia.com facebook.com/vibia.light twitter.com/#/VibiaLight

www.vibia.com

create your project

Halo

Specialists in exceptional lighting configuration, providing creative architectural and decorative explanations, for all applications.

LSE LIGHTING LTD. 6 Great Western Business Park.

McKenzie Way. Worcester, WR4 9PT. UK. T. 0044 (0)1905 22243. M. 0044 (0)7887788707 sales@lselighting.com

Eliminate steam from your mirrors forever. SpeciďŹ ed worldwide.

Fits any mirror. Internationally approved. The pads are low cost, simple to ďŹ t and maintenance free. Various voltages. Low energy consumption. Can be custom made. Manufactured in the UK www.demista.co.uk Email. rd@demista.co.uk Tel. +44 (0)1932 866600 Fax. +44 (0)1932 866688

Hilton Metropole

Inspiring, contemporary bathroom design www.waterfrontbathrooms.com T: 01527 528 789

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31/10/2012 09:40

noblerussell.co.uk Tel 01572 821591 Sleeper 1-4 pg 120x100mm portrait outline fonts.indd 1

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Product Portfolio

AKW, the UK’s leading provider of independent living solutions, will be showcasing its Larenco® clear glass and high quality aluminium shower screen range at Sleep 2012, on stand G18. www.akw-ltd.co.uk

Very elegant desk lamp designed by Inter-Art (Paris) for the guest rooms of the Waldorf Astoria in Berlin. Engraved crystal cylinder, ivory silk shade with top diffuser and satin brass metal parts. Dimmer switch positioned on the base. www.contardi-italia.com

A new addition to the s250 modal range, an upholstered easy armchair on a bright chrome rod frame with “retro” button detail to the back cushion, the range is also available with a 4-prong swivel base, complementary side chair and tables. www.mrfdesign.co.uk

Our exclusive range from leading artist/designer Mark Humphrey, offers Designer, Signature and Studio bathroom collections, plus other exciting products to complete your perfect bathroom. www.waterfrontbathrooms.com

Working with Curveline Design, Protocol has delivered a set of chairs to a hospitality project in Yorkshire. The supplier found that the new Venice range of dining chairs from Portuguese manufacturer JMS, were a perfect fit for the refurbished clubhouse at Park Lodge Shooting School www.protocoluk.com

Alexander Rose’s woven rattan table and chairs, loungers, armchairs and high wing chair with footrest have all been chosen by interior design agency, Martin Hulbert Design, to create a classic design with an ‘indoor/outdoor’ feel of space. www.alexander-rose.co.uk

The Eccelsa collection, which was created in the 1920’s as the ‘Serie Esagonale Extra-Lusso’ was reintroduced on Stella’s 125th anniversary. A stunningly eclectic and sculptural tap, its shape requires rare planning and manufacturing skills. www.ajp-bathrooms.co.uk

The New Potocco Spring armchair was launched at this year’s Milan Furniture Fair. Designed by Berhardt and Vella it’s an elegant option for any lounge or lobby with its ‘Bergere’ style back and matching footstool. www.ps-interiors.co.uk

ECD-02, a timeless modern classic built on a european Walnut structure. Upholstered in tumble dyed natural aniline leather. This superbly comfortable easy chair is available in other woods and upholstery materials. www.canvascontract.com

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NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2012

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ALL WEATHER RATTAN FURNITURE

DESIGNED F OR LIFE

PREMIUM QUALITY WITHOUT THE PREMIUM PRICE TAG w | akulaliving.com t | +44 (0) 1937 862 705 e | info@akulaliving.com

Protect your furnishings with

T I L LY S T: 0 2 3 9 2 2 5 2 5 2 5 E: sales@tillysinteriors.com W: www.tillysinteriors.com

Tillys PO Box 330 Waterlooville PO7 9BX

The next big thing is here...

TAP TO BUY

TM

www.smartposter.co

Help increase the life of your luggage areas and furniture with our contemporary and versatile protector rods. Ideal for use on most surfaces.

T: +44 (0) 191 259 0033 sales@unika.co.uk www.unika.co.uk

SLEEPER SHOWCASE

SM1112

Luxurious doorset finishes for World– renowned hotels Tinted, varnished okoume & mahogany Acoustic rating 45 Rw dB Fire rating FD 30 S Shangri-La Hotel, Paris

www.huet-doors.co.uk

Flambeau Lighting available from TEL. +44 (0) 1902 387000 EMAIL. INFO@VOGUEUK.CO.UK • WWW.VOGUEUK.CO.UK

Mattresses made by hand in Devon

hotel 99 Talbot Road, London, W11 2AT 020 7985 0474 info@naturalmat.co.uk www.naturalmathotel.co.uk

T: +44 (0) 1420 82377 E: enquiries@elsteadlighting.com W: www.elsteadlighting.com

Designers Directory Below you will find contact details for some of the interior designers of the hotels reviewed in this issue, as well as some of those whose work has appeared in Sleeper Magazine in the past.

We hope that you find this resource useful in allowing you to contact designers you may be interested in working with on your own projects in the future.

SUPERBUDE HOTEL Dreimeta Ernst-Rueter-Platz 10 86150 Augsburg Germany Tel: +49 821 455 795 0 www.dreimeta.com

MAMA SHELTER MARSEILLES Philippe Starck 18/20 rue du Faubourg du Temple 75011 Paris France Tel. +33 14 8075454 www.starck.com

SOUTH PLACE HOTEL Conran & Partners 22 Shad Thames London SE1 2YU Tel: +44 20 7403 8899 www.conranandpartners.com

ADRIA HOTEL Jestico & Whiles 1 Cobourg St, London NW1 2HP Tel: +44 (0)20 7380 0382 Tel: +31 (0)20 5200 200 www.jesticowhiles.com

FAZENDA NOVA Tim And Hallie Robinson Fazenda Nova Country House Estiramantens Santo Estevao Tavira 8800-504 Portugal Tel: +351 281961913 www.fazendanova.eu SONG SAA Rory & Melita Hunter Song Saa Private Island #108e1 Street 19, Phnom Penh, Cambodia http://songsaa.com

200

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2012

ALFONSO XIII SEVILLE The Gallery HBA London The Gallery 26 Westbourne Grove London, W2 5RH Tel: +44 207 313 3200 www.hbadesign.com

THE AMPERSAND HOTEL Dexter Moren Associates 57d Jamestown Road London NW1 7DB Tel: 44 (0) 20 7267 4440 www.dextermoren.com

WWW.SLEEPERMAGAZINE.COM

THE MAGDALEN CHAPTER Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios Bath Brewery Toll Bridge Road Bath BA1 7DE Tel: 01225 852545 www.fcbstudios.com JULES ET JIM (Reception & Bedrooms) Atome Associes 15 rue Vieille du Temple 75004 Paris Tel: 08 99 54 42 17

JULES ET JIM (Bar) Michael Malapert 7 rue des Gravilliers 75003 Paris T +33 (0)1 42 22 81 2557d www.michaelmalapert.com

Advertising Index Agua Fabrics

184

FR1

037

Ow Hospitality

AKW Ltd

141

Gandia Blasco

047

Panaz

002 108

Alger International

021

George Smith Ltd

083

Protocol Ltd

Aliseo GmbH Germany

101

004 & 005

Glassolutions

039

R & D Marketing Ltd (Demista)

195

Architectural Building Components GmbH 162

Gloster Furniture Ltd

095

RHA Furniture Ltd

035

Astro Lighting

185

GO IN GmbH

073

Romo Fabrics

097

Axor

041

Grohe Limited

204

Roset Hotels

006

BAAL artisans

015

Hamilton Litestat Group

182

Samuel Heath

115

Beck Interiors Ltd

192

Hansgrohe

149

Sanderson

053

Bossini SPA

057

Harlequin

049

Sanipex LLC

089

Carat a trading division of Aegis Media Ltd 177

HB Design

190

Sekers Fabrics

173

Cardola Limited

107

Hi Design

127 & 129

Sherwood Event Services Ltd

117

Castello

182

HIFI

131

Skopos Design Ltd

185

Cetis, Inc.

025

HOLA

126

Sleep Event

Collingwood

142

Hotelympia

125

Sleep Event Bar

124

Conciluce Limited

031

Ideal Standard

177

SMD Contract

167

Connor Construction Ltd

079

Kobe by Kobefab International 118 & 119

StoneKast

189

Consentino

057

La Drape International

157

Summit Furniture (Europe) Ltd

104

Contardi Lighting

075

Laufen Bathrooms AG

033

Symo Parasols,

186

CP Hart

071

Loewe

013

The Design Net Limited

085

Craster Limited

195

Longden

181

Thomas Johnstone Limited

155

Crown Awnings Ltd T/A Crown Outdoor

187

LSE Lighting

194

Toto Europe GmbH

019

D & ID

151

Lutron

145

Tuuci Europe BV

110

DEDAR S.p.A.

027

Maher Reynolds Furniture Ltd

183

Twyford Bathrooms

065

Deloitte

136

Maison et Objet

161

Ulster Carpets

055

Dernier & Hamlyn

179

Matki Showers

091

Unlimited Light (Light Kits Ltd)

181

Design LSM

196

Maya Romano

153

VADO

113

Diamond AV

186

Mega Marble

103

Vaughan Ltd

017

Distinction Furniture and Beds

147

Mille Couleurs London Ltd

138

Vincent Sheppard

169

EE Smith Contracts Limited

191

Morgan

164

Vitra

069

EGGER (UK) Ltd

188

Muraspec

179

Warisan

175

European Design Centre

170

Naturalmat

196

Water Front Ltd

196

Excalibur Furniture

195

Noble Russell

196

Waterbury

183

Feuring Projekmanagent GmbH

203

Orsjo Belysning AB

184

Wired

182

123 & 137

The 2011 US annual subscription price is $168.00. Airfreight and mailing in the USA by agent named Air Business Ltd, c/o Worldnet Shipping Inc., 156-15, 146th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11434, USA. Periodicals postage paid at Jamaica NY 11431. US Postmaster: Send address changes to SLEEPER, Air Business Ltd, c/o Worldnet Shipping Inc., 156-15, 146th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11434, USA.

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NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2012

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CHECK-OUT

Modez codes Dutch designer Antoine Peters has created a room at the new Hotel Modez, where floor-to-ceiling QR codes reveal erotic pictures when scanned on a mobile device.

From the wallcoverings to the soft furnishings, the entire room is decorated in black and white ‘Quick Response’ codes, so called for their fast readability and large storage capacity in comparison to standard barcodes. The room is officially marketed as the ‘Patchwork Room’ but Peters has dubbed it the ‘Porn Room’ as guests are encouraged to scan the QR codes to reveal provocative images. This is just one of twenty individually-designed guestrooms at the new hotel, located in the heart of the fashion district of Klarendal, Arnhem. Creative Director Piet Paris has brought together over thirty Dutch designers to devise concepts that characterise their unique styles. Other rooms include ‘Sequins’ by Desiree Hammen; ‘History of Fashion’ by Gijs Frieling; and ‘Lace’ by Petra Vonk, Coppens Alberts and Klaartje Martens. www.hotelmodez.org 202

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2012

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Feuring Projektmanagement is a Project Management and Development Company based in Germany and specialised in 4 and 5 star projects for the Hospitality Industry throughout Europe. Our mission is to ensure the completion of the highest standard on time and within the budget.

Our Projects Andaz Hotel, Amsterdam, Netherlands Concorde La Fayette, Paris, France Concorde St. Lazare, Paris, France Dolce La Hulpe, Brussels, Belgium Domhotel, Frankfurt, Germany Doubletree by Hilton, Košice, Slovakia Grand Hotel Kempinski, Hight Tatras, Slovakia Hilton Garden Inn, Davos, Switzerland Hyatt Regency, Düsseldorf, Germany InterCityHotel, Düsseldorf, Germany InterContinental, Davos, Switzerland InterContinental, Geneva, Switzerland Jumeirah Hotel, Frankfurt, Germany Jumeirah Hotel, Mallorca, Spain Kempinski Hotel River Park, Bratislava, Slovakia Le Méridien, Barcelona, Spain Le Méridien, Munich, Germany Le Méridien Etoile, Paris, France Le Méridien, Split, Croatia Le Méridien, Stuttgart, Germany Le Méridien, Vienna, Austria Le Royal Méridien, Hamburg, Germany Le Royal Méridien Bristol, Warsaw, Poland Lutetia, Paris, France Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona, Spain Mandarin Oriental, Geneva, Switzerland Mandarin Oriental, Munich, Germany Mandarin Oriental, Paris, France Mandarin Oriental, Prague, Czech Republic Mövenpick Hotel & Casino, Geneva, Switzerland Mövenpick Hotel, Stuttgart Airport, Germany Mövenpick Hotel, Zurich airport, Switzerland Radisson SAS, Rostock, Germany Swissotel, Dresden, Germany The Cumberland, London, UK

Hotel project development

Feuring Projektmanagement GmbH Heinkelstraße 19-21 DE-73230 Kirchheim unter Teck

Hotel project management

FF&E and SOE az fpm sleeper 236x275.indd 1

+49 (0) 7021 73 60-0 +49 (0) 7021 73 60-60

www.feuring.info info@feuring.info

23.02.2012 09:15:53

GROHE F-DIGITAL DELUXE SOPHISTICATED SHOWERING FOR ALL THE SENSES

SOUND

LIGHT

STEAM

Be the first to discover the brand new F-digital Deluxe on the GROHE stand V2 at The Sleep Event 2012

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grohe.com

25.10.2012 17:46:24