Sleeper May/June 2016 - Issue 66

MAY | JUNE 2016 MAY | JUNE 2016 W WW.SLEEPERMAGAZI N E.COM

66

Keemala

Space Copenhagen

Anantara Peace Haven

Boundary-pushing design comes to Thailand with a treetop wonderland in Phuket

The Danish duo on introducing their Scandinavian design aesthetic to New York

Anantara makes its Sri Lanka debut with a colonial inspired resort on the rugged south coast

STAND & DELIVER The Enna presents the desk light in its most elemental form. The elegant stance is maintained thanks to its pure architectural structure. Meanwhile the fully adjustable head allows perfect illumination of the task at hand.

Because good design demands simplicity.

Model: Enna

SIMPLER IS BETTER

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Inside Sleeper M AY | JU N E 2 016

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Hotel Reviews

Features

Cover Story

054 InterContinental – The O2 London

038 Meeting… Space Copenhagen As their first international hotel project opens in New York, Space Copenhagen speak of their upcoming collaboration in London with Harry Handelsman.

046 Keemala Phuket With boundar y-pushing design from Architecture Space and Pisud Design Company, Keemala – located on Thailand’s largest island – unveils itself as a forest wonderland with a touch of the etheral.

063 Radisson Red Brussels 069 St. Regis Dubai

Location Report 074

Sri Lanka

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Anantara Peace Haven

085 Chena Huts 090 Ani Villas

142 Events… Kohler Design Forum Following its success in China, the Kohler Design Forum partnered with Sleeper to bring the event to Singapore. With a thoughtprovoking theme of ‘Delivering Sustainability as Standard’, speakers included Bill Bensley, Duangrit Bunnag, and Guy Heywood.

099 Fort Bazaar

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Events IHIF

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Events Singapore Design Week

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Events Asia Hotel Design Awards

148 Events HI Design MEA 150

Development Report Urban Escape

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Company Profile Porcelanosa Group

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Product Profile Lighting & Control

174

Product Profile Spa, Leisure & Wellness

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Specifier

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Welcome

T

here was a time when a hotelier’s biggest concern was getting heads in beds. Disruptors didn’t exist and OTAs were yet to have any significant impact. But the 21st century has presented a new set of challenges, ones that are very much out of the control of even the most seasoned CEO. Data theft, cyber crime and terrorist attacks on hotels were almost unheard of 20 years ago, but in the past 12 months, many major operators have been targeted one way or another. That IHIF, one of the industry’s leading hotel investment forums, dedicated much of its opening afternoon to such threats, is undoubtedly a sign of the times.

Cyber crime in particular has risen sharply. In December, hackers infiltrated the payment systems of Hyatt Hotels prompting the immediate hiring of cyber security experts. And in April, Trump Hotel Collection reported a breach on its credit card systems for the second time in a year. While the hospitality industry is being praised for embracing new technology, it must be noted that these developments come with their vulnerabilities.

There has also been an alarming rise in the number of terror attacks on hotels, seen as ‘soft targets’ owing to their ease of access. This has prompted leaders to seriously address their security strategies, employing safety officers and putting comprehensive crisis management plans in place. An attack can have catastrophic consequences not only on the individual hotel, but the entire brand portfolio. There are operational and financial implications to consider, as well as reputational repercussions.

The question is, should we be looking to the airline industry for lessons in how to make hotels more secure? In recent years, airports have introduced full body scanners, and baggage screening before being allowed to set foot in the terminal; measures that are sure to increase in light of the Brussels attacks. But having to endure such procedures before bedding down for the night is less than inviting.

The challenge for the hotel industry now is to design hotels that are safe, with increased security measures that are discreet, implemented in ways that don’t affect a guest’s overall experience. We must find a balance between providing security, and providing hospitality.

Catherine Martin | Editor

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AW2

GUY HEYWOOD

DUANGRIT BUNNAG

ANDA ANDREI

AW ² is an international architect u re and interior design practice headed up by Réda Amalou and Stephanie Ledoux. The team has recently completed the design of Àni Villas Sri Lanka, where their concept was inspired by the tropical modernist style of Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. In March, AW2 won an Asia Hotel Design Award for Zannier Hotels’ Phum Baitang in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Sitting on the judging panel for this year’s Asia Hotel Design Awards was Guy Heywood, Chief Operating Officer at Alila Hotels & Resorts. In his role as a judge, Heywood was asked to assess a wide variety of urban and resort hotels for their creative excellence and commercial viability.

The winning projects were announced at a ceremony at The South Beach, Singapore, on 10 March.

Since establishing his architecture practice in 1998, Duangrit Bunnag has designed numerous prolific hotel projects including Alila Cha-Am, X2 Resort in Kui Buri, and The Naka Phuket, all in Thailand.

Bunnag recently hosted a talk at the Kohler Design Forum, held during Singapore Design Week in partnership with Sleeper, in which he discussed sustainability as standard in hospitality design.

Having spent 20 years at Morgans Hotel Group and almost a decade at Ian Scrhager Company, interior designer Anda Andrei set up her eponymous studio in 2013. She recently took the role of Creative Director at 11 Howard, a 221-key property in New York’s SoHo district. The concept is described as socially conscious with cutting-edge design crafted in collaboration with Space Copenhagen.

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DNA design José A. Gandía-Blasco www.gandiablasco.com

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Robert Angell ROBERT ANGELL DESIGN INTERNATIONAL

A protégé of David Collins, Robert Angell is currently leading a number of redesigns at London’s Berkeley. His fantasy hotel stay takes him to the Winelands of South Africa.

Where are you?

In the Winelands of South Africa, amongst the lush green mountains of the Western Cape overlooking where the Atlantic meets the Pacific.

How did you get there?

In an ecological low-altitude, autonomous aeriel vehicle from which I take in the sights of the stunning landscape.

Who is there to greet you on arrival?

Sharan Pasricha of Ennismore. He, like Alex Calderwood, has redefined what a hotel is. It’s these visionaries that make the industry question how we can create more memorable experiences.

And who’s at the concierge desk?

The concierge from The Connaught, London, where ones every whim can be catered for with astute knowledge and discretion.

Who are you sharing your room with?

Oscar Wilde. I love being surrounded by artists and creatives and he is quoted as saying: “I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best,” which rings true with myself.

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

A refreshing Caribbean fruit punch made with oranges, limes, pineapple, fresh mint and lots of crushed ice. Also a butler.

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

Set back in the mountains, it’s an elegant retreat

that feels like my own private villa. The entrance leads into a courtyard where there is a fountain, and every room can open inwards as well as outwards towards the spectacular views. The rooms are decorative with embellishment, but not fussy – the details perfected. The baths are roman in style, and deep. They offer a place to relax and indulge in ones pleasures, as true luxury is through our own experience and without compromise. The lighting is important for creating the right mood and can be adjusted easily. The suite is luxurious and comfortable with Frette linen sheets and a huge Savoir bed. The large French windows open up onto a terrace filled with trees and flowers in blossom and views to the sea. Every breath I take throws me into a sense of belonging, allowing me to feel relaxed. In the evening, fire torches bring the night alive and the flickering light enhances the stunning limestone bas-relief walls and terracotta roofs.

Who designed it?

Gustave Louis Jaulmes, an eclectic French artist who followed the neo-classical trend in the Art Deco movement. He collaborated with Frank Lloyd Wright on this hotel, and together they have created a villa that is of now, with the utmost attention to detail and sense of place.

What’s the restaurant like?

We dine on the natural formed terraces of the mountains. It’s open and relaxed, with fire pits, laid back furniture and low tables. It’s circular in form and everyone can have their own space but it allows us to interact with others if we wish, to exchange stories and experiences.

Who are you dining with this evening?

Andy Warhol; Queen Elizabeth II; French architect André Arbus; photographer Robert Maplethorpe; and fashion designer Tom Ford.

Who’s manning the stoves?

Wolfgang Puck, Marcus Wareing and Alain Ducasse, who have really set the bar to which others aspire.

They are legends who have reinvented themselves to take on board changing tastes and have an acute ability to create fabulous dishes over and over.

And what’s on the menu?

An exquisite and well-crafted dinner from all five continents and seven seas with different taste sensations and flavours that really set the senses going. It includes cultural dishes that are indigenous and a testament to how communities may be nourished and sustained by locally sourced foods, without the use of processed products.

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

1945 Darroze Chateau de Lasserrade Armagnac.

What’s on your nightstand at bedtime?

Sparkling water, a bar of mint chocolate from Paul A. Young, and easy-to-reach controls for operating everything in my room, from the blinds to the lights.

What’s your ultimate luxury item?

My camera for capturing the experience; this moment in time and the sheer beauty of what is around us.

Name: Robert Angell | Position: Founder, Robert Angell Design International | www.robertangelldesigninternational.com Notable hotel projects: Berkeley, London; Hilton Vienna Plaza, Vienna; Boulevard Hotel, Baku

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The Tower DUBAI CREEK HARBOUR

A glittering new icon is set to define Dubai’s skyline with the unveiling of a magnificent tower in the heart of Dubai Creek Harbour.

Forming part of Emaar Properties’ masterplanned development, The Tower is designed by neofuturistic architect Santiago Calatrava Valls and is expected to exceed the height of the Burj Khalifa, currently the tallest building in the world. It will feature a world-class boutique hotel, observation garden decks, and fully glazed balconies that extend outward, rotating outside the skin of the tower.

Its crowning glory will be The Pinnacle Room, offering 360-degree views of the city and beyond.

The architectural design of The Tower draws inspiration from the lily and evokes the image of a minaret, a distinctive aspect of Islamic culture. Its elongated oval-shaped bud sits atop a slender stem, supported by sturdy cables that represent the delicate ribbing of the lily leaves. The cable array gives the structure its strength, anchoring the bud securely to the ground with technical precision using modern engineering materials.

Anantara / Avani JEBEL DHANNA

Minor Hotel Group has announced the addition of two new properties to its pipeline in the United Arab Emirates: Anantara Jebel Dhanna and Avani Jebel Dhanna.

include multiple dining options, a gym and a swimming pool. Shared facilities will include flexible meeting and banqueting space, a kid’s club and outdoor recreation areas.

The owner and developer of the project is Dhabi Contracting LLC, while Aecom has been appointed as the lead architect and interior design consultant.

These new properties in Abu Dhabi will join the growing Anantara and Avani portfolio in the UAE. There are currently six Anantara properties in operation in the country – five in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and Anantara The Palm Dubai. In addition, a new Anantara resort is under development in Ras Al Khaimah with a second due to open in Dubai in 2018. The first Avani announcement for the country was made in September last year for the development of a resort in Dubai to open in 2018.

Located in Jebel Dhanna along the coast of the Al Gharbia region in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the development is close to the ferry departure point for Sir Bani Yas Island, 240km from Abu Dhabi city, 360km from Doha, and 125km from the border of Saudi Arabia. It is a relatively under-developed area bordered by a royal palace and an industrial zone.

Anantara Jebel Dhanna Villas will have a total of 60 keys across three villa types as well as two restaurants, a pool bar, gym, swimming pool and an Anantara Spa. The neighbouring Avani Jebel Dhanna Hotel will have 230 keys across two different room types. Facilities

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The Barcelona Edition BARCELONA

Marriott International, Ian Schrager and KKH Property Investors have announced plans to open a new property in Barcelona in 2017.

and attitude to the modern lifestyle, rather than its appearance.

Sophisticated public spaces, finishes, design and details aim to serve the experience, rather than drive it.

Josep-Maria Farré, founder of KKH Capital Group, a shareholder of KHH Property Investors, comments: “We are delighted to be able to bring this iconic project to Barcelona with Marriott International and Ian Schrager. This is a project that speaks to the very heart of our city. We are transforming an outdated property into what will be an exciting landmark hotel, creating an experience that respects the environment and the urban setting of Barcelona.”

Future Edition hotels are planned for Sanya (2016), Bangkok (2017), Abu Dhabi (2017), Shanghai (2017), Times Square, New York (2018), West Hollywood (2018), Reykjavik, Iceland (2018), Bali, Indonesia (2018) and Dubai (2019).

Situated in Barcelona’s famed Ciutat Vella district, the 100-key hotel will be the third Edition hotel in Europe. The project by Office of Architecture in Barcelona (Carlos Ferrater Studio) is set to encompass a total transformation of an existing office building, with design cocreated by Ian Schrager and Spanish designer Lázaro Rosa-Violán.

The hotel will incorporate three distinct restaurant experiences, along with an activated lobby space, nightclub and rooftop bar.

Each Edition hotel – with its rare individuality and unique ethos – reflects the best of the cultural and social milieu of its location and of the time. Although all of the hotels look completely different from one another, the brand’s unifying aesthetic is in its approach

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Grosvenor Square LONDON

Consultation has begun on plans for a new mixed-use development at 30 Grosvenor Square in Mayfair, the former home of the US Embassy in London.

comments: “This proposal presents a unique opportunity to create a vibrant and dramatically transformed public realm in this part of Mayfair. The project will provide much-improved connections to the retail offers in Mount Street and North Audley Street and beyond.’’

Sir David Chipperfield adds: “Our design proposals protect and respect the significant architectural and structural characteristics of Eero Saarinen’s design, with a focus on restoring and enhancing this unique building to secure its long-term future at the heart of Mayfair. We have studied the building’s design and its history as well as its surroundings to deliver an architecturally and socially coherent proposal, which will transform this purpose-built embassy into a world-class hotel.”

The proposal is due to be submitted to Westminster City Council in May 2016.

British architect Sir David Chipperfield has been commissioned by Qatari Diar to reinvent the mid-20th century listed building and reinstate it as the heart of Grosvenor Square and Mayfair. Reimagined by architect Eero Saarinen, the design retains the unique external façade, while putting forward a mixed-use development to include a hotel, retail and event space.

The proposal includes 137 guestrooms, five restaurants, six flagship retail units, a spa and a 1,000-capacity ballroom, along with significant public realm improvements.

Lucy Musgrave, Founding Director of the consultancy Publica

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18/04/2016 09:53

The Gleneagles Hotel PERTHSHIRE

The Gleneagles Hotel has announced an extensive refurbishment programme that will see improvements and upgrades made throughout the property.

glorious playground of country pursuits and activities – we offer on the estate,” he continues. “We’re approaching the refurbishment with bold and creative decisions while respecting the hotel’s history and building on its remarkable heritage.”

Ennismore is working with some of the country’s most celebrated practices – including David Collins Studio, Timorous Beasties, Macaulay Sinclair and Goddard Littlefair – to create designs and spaces that reflect Gleneagles’ distinctly Scottish identity, but with a contemporary feel. Guestrooms will be enhanced with beautiful detailing, fabrics and craftsmanship to create a warm country estate feel while public spaces will be redesigned to better enjoy the views of the Perthshire countryside. There are also plans to introduce a new bar in the Dormy Clubhouse, as well as the refurbishment of the hotel’s main bar.

The multi-million pound initiative represents a substantial investment from new owner Ennismore to make the most of the rich heritage, beautiful architecture and stunning setting for which the Scottish estate is renowned.

“The Gleneagles Hotel is an incredible property and beloved brand,” comments Sharan Pasricha, founder and CEO Ennismore, which also operates The Hoxton: “It is known the world over for its golf, but with 850 acres of beautiful Scottish countryside, there is the potential to do so much more with the hotel.

“We really want to showcase the unrivalled range of facilities – the

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Luštica Bay MONTENEGRO

Almost a year after it welcomed its first residents, Luštica Bay – a residential and lifestyle development in Montenegro – has announced that construction on its first hospitality project will begin.

will have access to the full range of amenities, which will include an outdoor pool, a spa and fitness centre, and a variety of restaurants.

Situated at a historical crossroad on the Montenegrin landscape between Boka Bay and the Budva Riviera, the Luštica Bay site occupies 690 hectares (only 6% of which will be developed) of bounteous green vegetation. Encompassing a 110-key marina hotel, a boutique hotel, residences, both bespoke villas and marina townhouses, a 176-berth marina and 18-hole Gary Player golf course, all within phase one, Luštica Bay is one of the largest integrated destination projects currently under development in the country.

Details of the new hotel come as low-cost airline EasyJet announce new flight routes from London Gatwick and Manchester Airport to Tivat, evidence that Montenegro continues to prove attractive not only to real estate investment, but holidaymakers too.

The five-star marina hotel, which will command a prime position looking out to the Adriatic Sea, is the first hotel that Orascom Development is establishing on the peninsula as part of the longstanding project. A total of seven hotels are planned for Luštica Bay, each with a unique theme based on its location within the overall resort complex.

The hotel will comprise 110 condominium suites replete with arresting views. 54 of these will be available to purchase as part of the development’s investment programme, a process managed by the hotel itself. Guests of both the private condominiums and hotel

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Millbank Tower LONDON

John McAslan and Partners has announced that its proposed scheme for the 32-storey Millbank Tower has been granted planning approval.

Paddy Pugh, Director of Conservation & Planning at John McAslan & Partners, says: “Completed in 1963 to designs by Ronald Ward & Partners, the tower is one of London’s most significant 20th century buildings. The tower, the tallest building in London until surpassed by the GPO Tower in 1965, features high quality glass curtain walling which will be replaced with an exact facsimile. Millbank Tower was the first UK building to employ projecting stainless steel mullions – this is a very exciting opportunity for the practice to refurbish such an innovative and sophisticated building.”

John McAslan, Chairman of John McAslan & Partners adds: “Our proposals will secure the long term future of this remarkable 20th century building and we are delighted that Westminster Council has granted planning permission and listed building consent for its conversion to residential use.”

The proposal will comprehensively refurbish and enhance the Grade II-listed building, securing its long-term future as an important heritage asset. Comprising 207 apartments, the project also includes a 150-bedroom hotel as well as public gardens and a private landscaped garden for residents to the rear of the site.

Located close to Tate Britain, the scheme will further support Westminster Council’s Strategic Cultural Area designation with the addition of a new cultural facility located at the southern end. The urban context for neighbouring residents will also be significantly improved, removing the existing multi-storey car park and replacing with landscaped gardens.

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Contour clubchair, design by Piergiorgio Cazzaniga

Living the good life outside.

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21/03/16 14:36

MEETING

Space Copenhagen Having just completed their first international project in New York, Space Copenhagen talk of the studio’s success, their ongoing relationship with Noma, and an upcoming hotel project in London with property mogul Harry Handelsman.

Words: Lauren Ho | Photography: Courtesy of Space Copenhagen (unless otherwiese stated)

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hic and understated, wearing head-to-toe black, her with long, elegant limbs and sharply refined features and him sporting precisely manicured stubble, Signe Bindslev Henriksen and Peter Bundgaard Rützou of multidisciplinary design studio Space Copenhagen make for an impressive pair. But then again, you’d expect nothing less from the duo who – already behind a number of notable projects in Denmark – are currently turning heads within the international hospitality scene.

As a result, they are not easy to pin down, but Sleeper manage to catch up with them during one of their fleeting London pit-stops, just before the official announcement of their collaboration with influential property magnate Harry Handelsman, CEO of the Manhattan Loft Corporation and the man behind such developments as the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel and celebrity hotspot Chiltern Firehouse. Handelsman’s latest effort focuses on the gentrification of the city’s east end, with plans in the works for an ambitious double-cantilevered SOM-designed residential tower and hotel, for which Space is designing the interiors.

While they are undoubtedly composed and confident, Bindslev Henriksen and Bundgaard Rützou are in high spirits, clearly thrilled about the new chapter in their careers. “We feel extremely lucky to be working with two amazing clients at the moment,” they enthuse.

A typically modest comment from the pair, whose tenacity and commitment to their work is transparent.

Both from Denmark, Bindslev Henriksen grew up in a creative family in Humlebaek, a small region close to the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, just outside of Copenhagen, while Bundgaard Rützou credits his creative voracity to being an expat child who moved around a lot. “I had an appetite for the multicultural aspect of things, curious of different cityscapes and looking at different parts of the world,” he says.

It was at The Royal Academy of Fine Arts where, as students, the pair first met. After graduating, they initially went their separate ways before, realising their potential as a double act, they decided to join forces and initiated Space Copenhagen in 2005. “We were educated as building construction architects,” explains Bindslev Henriksen. “Coincidentally we both started working within the grey zone between architecture and interiors, which was quite uncommon in Denmark at that time,” she continues.

Of course, navigating the fine line between friendship and business compatibility is a tricky affair, so to test the waters, the pair wisely decided on a tentative project to kick things off. “When we teamed up, we were aware of the danger of being friends and working together,” says Bundgaard Rützou. “So before we formalised it, we did a project for Dinesen, the flooring company, who needed a new showroom,” he continues. “Even though they have moved to a different location now, it really fulfilled its mission, so I think we did quite well on our very first project together!”

“We feel extremely lucky to be working with two amazing clients at the moment.”

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© Nikolas Koenig

Above & Opposite: Designed in collaboration with Anda Andrei, 11 Howard takes on Space Copenhagen’s signature appetite for natural, tactile materials

The next few years were busy with a constant flow of local commissions from showroom creations for companies such as Republic of Fritz Hansen to retail concepts for the likes of Georg Jensen and the transformation of private residences for discerning clients. The pair also started to dabble in furniture design, collaborating with like-minded brands such as &Tradition and Stellar Works, for which they created the timeless Ren and Lunar collections.

It is however, their ongoing partnership with chef René Redzepi – who was in contact with Bindslev Henriksen the year before Space was established – that has cemented their path in hospitality design.

Founder of Noma, the two-Michelin starred restaurant that has been ranked the world’s best on many occasions, Redzepi’s foresight, has evidently made an impression on the designers. “René was very clear about his vision from the beginning,” says Bindslev Henriksen. “The most important thing he said was that he didn’t want any kind of layering between the food and the actual experience,” she continues.

“The whole language of Noma started from that sentence, which was very clever of him to see, as he hadn’t actually created any of the food yet.” Their decade-long relationship with Redzepi is confirmation of

the duo’s timeless aesthetic and their insight into the industry. “The wondrous thing with Noma is that it keeps going,” says Bundgaard Rützou. “As they evolve, they keep inviting us to take part in the journey.”

Riding on the success of Noma, Space started to carve out a reputation within the hospitality world, conceiving the interiors for a few more local restaurants including chef Rasmus Kofoed’s Geranium, and Geist by chef Bo Bech. But it was a call from the office of New York-based property tycoon Aby Rosen in 2014 that propelled the studio into the international stratosphere.

“We got a phone call from Anda Andrei, a very interesting woman who functions as art director for this project,” explains Bundgaard Rützou. “We took a jump to New York to meet with Aby and two weeks later we were working on 11 Howard,” continues Bindslev Henriksen. “It was very direct, very precise.”

A prolific art collector, known for his partnerships with notable industry bigwigs from Ian Schrager to architect John Pawson, Rosen is a man with vision, who wisely gave the duo the creative freedom and flexibility required for the best outcome. “He’s originally from Frankfurt, so has that northern European sense of understanding

“The idea was not to do a Scandinavian hotel, but to take the essence of that design aesthetic and bring it into a New York context.”

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Š Nikolas Koenig

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This Page (clockwise from left): Space Copenhagen’s projects include Balthazar, the champagne bar of Hotel D’Angleterre in the centre of Copenhagen; Fiskebaren, a restaurant in the old meatpacking district of the city; Noma, the two-Michelin starred restaurant that has led to an ongoing relationship with chef René Redzepi; and a showroom for flooring manufacturer Dinesen

about aesthetic,” says Bundgaard Rützou.

“He is super open. He is just trying to do something that hasn’t been done for a while in New York.”

As a result, the hotel, which is located on Howard Street – a forgotten but reemerging road in Soho – is undeniably New York in its attitude, but flecked with a fresh Scandinavian spirit. “The idea was not to do a Scandinavian hotel, but to take the essence of that design aesthetic and bring it into a New York context,” affirms Bundgaard Rützou. Occupying a building that was formerly a Holiday Inn and before that a post office, the 221-room property takes on the studio’s signature appetite for natural, tactile materials in an earthy palette inspired by the choices of materials. “The colour of the rooms are all from the materials within,”

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THE MIRROR REMAINS

www.aliseo.de

Above: Space Copenhagen is currently designing the interiors of Manhattan Loft Gardens, a mixed-use development from Harry Handelsman

says Bundgaard Rützou. “So the tones are that of the wood or the metal.” The furnishings meanwhile, are bespoke pieces created by the duo in partnership with a host of Danish design brands from Gubi to Fredericia, while large scale installations such as the prominent burnt steel staircase, were made by local craftsmen. Of course, this being a Rosen project, art also takes precedence starting with an Alexander Calder mobile taking centre stage in the lobby, followed by photographic offerings from Hiroshi Sugimoto and a neon light piece by Dan Attoe, among others.

With the 11 Howard project coming to an end, the focus is now on Handelsman’s hotel, due to open in 2018. As a newbuild in a somewhat unhistoric area of London, the project produces a set of challenges that the duo are more than willing to tackle. “It’s a completely different approach,” says Bindslev Henriksen. “It’s interesting to see how you need to think in a different way, working in an almost non-neighbourhood and with a very modern and structurally empty building.” Indeed, with expansive living spaces, three sky gardens and the hotel, when complete the building will be quite extraordinary, further underlining Handelsman’s influence and remarkable vision as a developer.

And with two of the property world’s biggest names gracing their portfolio, surely, working together for years while maintaining a professional relationship must be challenging. “They are very big

characters,” agrees Bindslev Henriksen. “Everyone needs to be careful and nurse the momentum,” she continues. “If the energy gets into a bad rhythm it’s really bad for the project, so it’s important that you are very honest and trust each other.”

The Manhattan Loft Gardens hotel, along with new projects for both Redzepi and Bo Bech, are just a few of the many undertakings that Space currently has on its plate. ‘Lucky’ is a word the pair use a lot. Certainly good fortune seems to be shining down on them, but it’s their sense of purpose and enthusiasm, along with their understated style and keen appreciation for timeless design – or ‘slow aesthetics’ as they like to call it – that is keeping them in demand. And while they are insistent they’d like to remain a small studio of 14, so as to keep their involvement in all projects, this has not hindered their ambition to continue growing internationally, while at the same time pursuing their passion for furniture design. “Sometimes when we get too busy, our furniture design suffers a bit,” says Bindslev Henriksen. “But of course, we also hope to be able to continue working with amazing clients like we have at the moment.”

With so much going on, you can’t help but wonder how the pair appear so unruffled. “It’s very much about priorities,” says Bindslev Henriksen, earnestly. “Because the business is very organic, we agreed not to be stressed, right?” she asks, looking at Bundgaard Rützou reproachfully. “Yep. That and pharmaceuticals,” he jokes.

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11/04/16 10:54

Keemala PHUKET

A forest wonderland on Thailand’s largest island harnesses nature and the imagination in a boundary-pushing design with a touch of the ethereal.

Words: Neena Dhillon | Photography: Š Brent T. Madison

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Aongskultong of Pisud Design Company for architecture and interiors respectively. “We knew from the outset that construction would be the most challenging aspect because of the land’s steep incline and topographical conditions,” notes Somnam. “We were looking for partners who understood that we wanted to work around the mature trees and vegetation – indeed we had to change drawings from time to time to accomplish this – as well as designers who could contribute their own inspiration.”

Phuket’s historical story is one of settlers who have come to call the island home and live together in a community that still adheres to provincial values. Picking up this narrative and embellishing it into something more enchanting, Aongskultong suggested that a design concept be developed around four fictional clans and their respective traditions, rituals, skills and cultures. “Khun Pisit is a dreamer,” notes Somnam. “He imagined a maritime caravan, a fleet of ships heading from West to East on a Silk Road trading route. Forming a strong bond, these people from various places encountered a storm while crossing the Indian Ocean en route to China and, set adrift, ended up finding shelter and starting a new life on this arable-rich island.” This fictional narrative gave all the partners freedom to explore avantgarde design interpretations, with the Somnam family ensuring the creative vision could be turned into reality.

A THB650 million, all-pool-villa retreat realised by Thai designers,

oteliers for 15 years, with roots that stretch back on the island for four generations, the Somnams had a clear vision of what they needed to achieve to stand out in crowded Phuket. Already owning and operating a contemporary 244-room beach resort in Patong, the family realised there was a gap in the market for a hotel that would celebrate the island’s community spirit while offering an insight into traditional Thai customs. “Although we didn’t decide immediately how we would use it, my grandmother purchased this land because she recognised the potential of its natural resources,” explains Tanapong Somnam, who along with his sister Samornpun, shares executive-level responsibilities for sales, marketing and operations within the family-led hospitality business.

“So many design themes have been done here but my mum saw an opportunity to develop something entirely different, conceived around a village concept where people could escape from the stresses of daily life while getting to know an undiscovered side of Phuket.”

Embedded into verdant canopied woodland overlooking Kamala Village on Phuket’s west coast, the 29,000m2 plot came as part forest, part orchard, complete with natural streams and its own supply of groundwater. Challenging Thai firms through a competition that called for these natural assets to be preserved while finding a way to showcase the indigenous lifestyle in a rustic-luxury setting, the Somnam family selected Bangkok-based Architect Space and Pisit

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Above & Opposite: Fabrics and textiles have largely been produced by ethnic minority groups in Thailand under the Doi Tung Development Project

contractors and suppliers over a three-year period, Keemala features the work of high-profile artisans including Chiang Mai native Surachai Sripaiboon, whose stunning mosaic murals enliven the welcome pavilion, lobby lounge and spa reception. From behind the welcome pavilion rise six pods housing the communal areas, their shape inspired by the culturally symbolic poppy flower, their daring single-pillar construction calculated to “withstand external forces such as wind load, then secured by connecting walkways to reduce movement,” according to Architect Space’s Sermsuk Kitcharoenwong.

He explains that the creative architecture across the public spaces has allowed the team to merge and display the “cohesive and compassionate societal traditions of all four clans.” So, in the lobby lounge, Sripaiboon’s painstakingly hand-laid mosaic carpet, entitled ‘A Day and Night at Keemala,’ depicts the tribes’ origins and their accompanying ways of life. Su-Tha restaurant meanwhile features a distinctive tribal pattern laser-cut into MDF board, the swirling motif reminiscent of early cave paintings, complemented by wall-mounted displays of rural implements and tools. Soft furnishings here and elsewhere are adorned with the Keemala patterns representing each clan, the symbols picking up on the four forms of accommodation dotted around the retreat.

Fabrics and textiles have largely been produced by ethnic minority groups in Thailand under the Doi Tung Development Project, set up

with royal patronage. Lounge chairs are custom-made in Chiang Mai, taking their inspiration from age-old cultural customs, while chamchuri wood, rattan and bamboo are recurring materials for bespoke furniture.

At Mala Spa, traditional fishing tools have informed the shape of two types of treatment room. Presented as a tranquil hamlet of eight standalone structures, the first is rectangular and distinguished by clay-like cement surfaces; the second is rounded with a synthetic thatch roof and seemingly sunk into the water. Both connect to generous-sized bathrooms with outdoor showers and steam rooms, these extensions covered in bamboo encased in bars of synthetic rattan, the overall effect bringing to mind Thai fishing pots or nets.

Aongskultong says the flowing water surrounding the treatment rooms is “reflective of the ocean where fishing tools are used – a key part in the survival of ancient folks once living on Phuket – while symbolising peace and serenity.”

Awash in tropical grounds designed as an expansion of the landscape with mature trees and water features harnessed for maximum impact, Keemala’s accommodation appears to spring from the lush vegetation. Architect Space has selected environmentally friendly, heat-reducing materials, favouring synthetic composites in places for durability and to avoid an over-reliance on natural wood.

Conceived to complement the natural environment, the four

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Above: Distinctive tribal patterns representing each clan adorn soft furnishings and surfaces throughout the villas and public spaces

accommodation categories strongly signify the fictional clans. Most abundant in numbers, Clay Pool Cottages allude to the earthiness of the ‘Pa-Ta-Pea’ clan, counting leaders in agriculture, fishing, carpentry and mining among their ranks. “We’ve employed earthtone colours with woven rattan and bamboo furniture for the cottages, which are fashioned from a textured cement mimicking clay, topped with a synthetic thatch, pyramid-shaped roof,” elaborates Aongskultong. Over in the Tent Pool Villas, the structures are formed from twin layers of sturdy tent fabric, held steady by large rods. It is the wandering ‘Khon-Jorn’ tribe for whom these semi-permanent homes have been erected, their interest in wildlife and exploration referenced by decorative ram’s head detailing on select furniture, sinks embedded into water barrels and leather-stitched detailing.

Through all the villas, houses and cottages, the clans’ symbols are carved into headboards with beds draped in translucent fabrics.

Two separate storeys distinguish the Tree Pool Houses, which incorporate cocoon-like beds and loungers, often suspended from the ceiling. Exteriors of glass encased by bamboo and metal shells

shaped into hanging pods have been created in deference to the ‘WeHa’ people who worship the universe and choose to live among the trees, close to the sky. Yet the highest attainment is reserved for the Bird’s Nest Pool Villas, their design conceived for the ‘RungNok’ community, thought to be superior in intellect, creativity and spirituality. Sheltered within an interwoven free-form wood and plastic composite mesh, the villas have an abundance of teak and hlumpa wood panelling with pops of colour delivered by unique furniture pieces. Aongskultong, who enjoyed creating such dramatic flair, explains that the nature of this clan is to live an opulent lifestyle and not conform to normality or expectations. As such, bathrooms are adorned with a mural highlighting the Rung-Nok’s belief that bathing under moonlight replenishes their souls.

In collaboration with the Somnam family, Aongskultong and Architect Space have striven to transport modern travellers to a natural hideaway with a difference. Rich in detailing, charmingly fantastical in places, yet always forging a clear bond with the natural landscape, Keemala is certainly one-of-a-kind.

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 38 villas | 1 restaurant | 2 bars | Spa, fitness studio | Boardroom | www.keemala.com Owner / Operator: Sri Jamroon Co. | Architecture: Architect Space | Creative Vision & Interior Design: Pisud Design Company Landscape Design: Stone Design & Contractor | Lighting Design: Lumen Light

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InterContinental – The O2 LONDON

Arora Hotels has opened a hotel and conference centre with the largest pillar-free ballroom in Europe on London’s Greenwich Peninsula.

Words: Matt Turner | Photography: © Red Photographic Ltd

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reenwich Peninsula is no stranger to controversial developments. The Millennium Dome was beset with criticism from public, politicians and press alike, before finding a more financially viable future as The O2 Arena. The £60m cable-car crossing from the Peninsula to Royal Victoria Dock – now known as the Emirates Air Line thanks to its Dubai-based benefactors – was seen as a similarly contentious use of public funds. And the progress of the overarching vision for this hitherto derelict kink in the Thames shoreline has been anything but plain sailing.

The hope is that the involvement of Hong Kong-based developer Knight Dragon, who fully acquired the site in late 2013, will kickstart what has been described as one of London’s slowest-moving regeneration schemes. Work has started on 500 – and planning is in place for another 1,100 – of the 10,000 new homes that will be built here. But even this breakthrough has its detractors, who feel the provision for affordable housing in Terry Farrell’s original 2004 masterplan is being steamrollered with newly-revised proposals for more luxury apartments on the site.

Yet there have been recent signs that green shoots in the recovery of the Peninsula are starting to spring up. Pop-up restaurant pioneer Stevie Parle has opened Craft – a restaurant, café, cocktail bar and shop. Tom Dixon (in whose West London studio Parle launched the Dock Kitchen) has designed the interiors for Craft, as well as those for the first wave of apartments currently under construction. He is

also creative director for the surrounding park, designed by landscape gardener Thomas Hoblyn, with Alys Fowler and Design Research Studio. Art world entrepreneur Steve Lazarides (a gallery owner and former agent to street artist Banksy) has set up print studios close by.

Perhaps the biggest step forward, and certainly the one most likely to breathe life into this windswept promontory, has been the recent opening of InterContinental – The O2. The project is the brainchild of Surinder Arora, a self-made entrepreneur and regular fixture on the Sunday Times Rich List thanks to his hotel interests around Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.

Arora is part of a consortium, headed by Queensgate Investment Fund, that acquired a 7.5 acre site adjacent to The O2 Arena from Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) in 2012, just as the London Olympics was garnering global attention for Greenwich. A deal was inked with InterContinental Hotels Group in September 2013, the company’s Chief Development Officer for Europe Robert Shepherd saying the project would both benefit from, and be a catalyst for, growth and prosperity in the area.

It is a monster of a hotel, with 453 guestrooms, five F&B outlets, 19 meeting rooms, spa, pool and gym. The centrepiece of the project is the Arora Ballroom. Measuring 80x39m it’s not much smaller than a football pitch – making it the largest pillar-free ballroom in Europe – and has been designed with complete flexibility to adapt into multiple configurations.

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Previous Page: The Clipper Bar is shaped like the stern of a boat and inspired by the tea trade which once thrived in the nearly East London docks. Guestrooms and public areas feature lighting by Chelsom and Northern Lights and furniture from HMD Interiors and PS Interiors

There is 1,600m2 of pre-function space exposing dramatic views of Canary Wharf, with additional meeting rooms on the mezzanine floor available for seminars and breakout space. Fully sound-proofed separation walls and dedicated access allow the ballroom to be subdivided for smaller events, with a heavyweight vehicle lift on each side capable of holding two articulated lorryloads. These mirror each other, allowing for simultaneous events of over 1,550 delegates each to set up, take place, and unload in tandem.

Another 400m flat outdoor space at the front of the hotel can be used to add production showcase elements to live events, visible from across the water in Canary Wharf, or private marquees for extra event space. It all adds up to the most sophisticated MICE set-up of any London hotel, one with which its developers are hoping to tempt organisers of large-scale events away from the better-established hotels in central London.

Outside the event spaces, guests will find plenty to occupy them – not least the stunning views over Canary Wharf on the opposite side of the river. RTKL, now CallisonRTKL following the acquisition of both companies by design and engineering consultancy Arcadis, were architects on the project. The exterior is modern and sleek, with the building incorporating as much floor-to-ceiling glass as possible to maximise light and space, and expose the impressive vistas.

The hotel’s interiors are by Grove Developments Ltd – the development wing of Arora Group – and G1 Architects. “The initial design concepts for the hotel began in 2012 and after planning was approved, the actual build took just over two years to complete,” explains Martin Farrow, interior designer for Grove Developments.

This timeframe posed particular challenges for front-of-house fit-out contractor S&T, as did the sheer vastness of The Arora Ballroom.

“From the very beginning, all parties involved in the planning and design process were in agreement that it was vital the hotel design subtly reflected and complemented the iconic history of the Royal Borough and played to its strengths located on the river Thames,” continues Farrow. “We have been careful to balance the history, legacy and culture of the location with the style and values of the InterContinental brand.”

“We took a great deal of inspiration from Greenwich’s maritime heritage, particularly across the bars and restaurants,” he adds. “Our overall goal was to create a first-class hotel with character, timeless design and elegance. The result, we feel, is a perfect balance that encompasses luxury, modernity and authenticity.”

The interiors feature references to the nautical heritage of the site, and subtle allusions to its links to the East India Trading route. There are maritime clocks, navigational instruments and model sailboats

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Left: Imitating an underground lair, the Eforea Spa includes metallic hues and Dutch black tones alongside Kettal furniture and Moooi stools

Above: The Arora Ballroom is the largest pillar-free ballroom in Europe and can accommodate up to 3,000 delegates. Carpets are by Hammer Carpets

used as decoration throughout. Bronze accents to the lobby floor and headboards in the guestrooms depict the astronomical charts sailors would once have used to find their way.

The Peninsula fine-dining restaurant is notable for the addition of Eastern flavours and influences to its modern European cuisine, with head chef Dan Loftin peppering his dishes with the exotic spices that were once traded through the East London docks. Its design features natural tones of beige jura limestone, light granites and natural, textural fabrics alongside rich timbers of cherry and walnut.

The mezzanine-level Market Brasserie’s offer is inspired by London markets including those which originally existed in Greenwich, as well as those at Billingsgate, Smithfield and Covent Garden. Its mustard coloured upholstery contrasts with the smart black leather of the banquette seating and loose furniture. The Clipper Bar offers an extensive Afternoon Tea menu with a choice of 34 loose teas from (where else?) The East India Company. Its oval bar, shaped like the prow of a ship, is clad in mosaic tile and marble, with 270-degree

views of the River Thames. The Meridian Lounge is named to reflect the hotel’s location at the starting point of every timezone in the world. The rooftop Eighteen Sky Bar offers cocktails infused with spice, herbs and botanics, alongside a pan-Asian menu.

Aquatic elements of a more literal kind are to be found in the spa with its 17-metre indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi and eight treatment rooms for a range of signature ESPA beauty and relaxation therapies.

The 3,000 delegates that can be accommodated in the ballroom at any one time will be the foremost financial driver for what is unashamedly a conference and banqueting-led hotel. More important still is its proximity to The O2 Arena, the world’s most visited music venue, attracting in excess of eight million visitors and hosting over 190 sold-out events per year. Its presidential suite, surely one of the largest in London, will keep the most demanding of stars and their retinues in the luxury to which they are accustomed. And the hotel will soon be directly linked to The O2 Arena by a covered walkway connecting to a new designer retail outlet being developed by AEG.

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 453 guestrooms | 5 restaurants | 1 bar | Spa, gym, swimming pool | Conference centre, ballroom | www.iclondon-theo2.com Developer: Grove Developments Ltd (Arora Group) | Operator: Arora Hotels (a division of The Arora Group) | Architecture: CallisonRTKL | Interior Design: Grove Developments Ltd (Arora Group) – Martin Farrow; G1 Architects | Landscaping: David Clarke Landscape Architect | Building Control / CDMC: HCD Group | Lighting Design: DPA Lighting | FF&E Procurement: Benjamin West

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6/04/16 11:48

Radisson Red BRUSSELS

Catering to the millennial mindset, Radisson Red – the new lifestyle select brand from Carlson Rezidor – makes its debut.

Words: Guy Dittrich | Photography: © Alexandre Van Battel

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t’s less about the colour and more about the emotion of that colour,” explains Richard Flores of the debut property from Carlson Rezidor’s new Radisson Red brand. Speaking from the group’s headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota, the Vice President of Branding reveals that the lifestyle select brand draws on the designdriven approach of Radisson Blu, its upper-upscale sibling. But not in terms of look or feel. With its own identity, Red is definitely not a diffusion brand of Blu. The first Radisson Red opened in April 2016 as a conversion of the former Radisson Blu EU Hotel in the European Quarter of Brussels.

It has everything one would expect of a four-star hotel: amply-sized guestrooms with the usual mod-cons, an all-day dining restaurant and bar, three event spaces receiving daylight, and a small gym.

But there’s also a games studio, a food truck, free high-speed WiFi, and an app, all of which specifically cater to Radisson Red’s target demographic – the ageless, millennial-minded guest.

The brand journey started over two years ago when Carlson Rezidor identified a number of drivers for the development of a new concept. Firstly, the strong compound growth in the upscale select serve arena as witnessed by the success of Aloft, Courtyard by

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Above: Beneath brass lamps suspended from a mirrored ceiling panel, ottoman seating mimics a freeform screen of open hexagonal cells

Marriott, Hotel Indigo, Canopy by Hilton, and Hyatt Place. Secondly, traditional, full-service hotels are increasingly inefficient to operate.

And finally, consumers are ever demanding something different, as are owners. According to the group, Radisson Red offers higher gross profit margins at significantly lower investment costs and in the case of Brussels, Carlson Rezidor are putting their money where their mouth is and are owner-operators.

The brand has been developed around three main pillars – art, music and fashion. The artistic element is the most straightforward; hotels will be grounded in their location by commissioning local artists. In Brussels, the obvious comic strip heritage of Hergé et al has been developed by local lads Wauter Mannaert and Max De Radiguès; snippets of their stories are seen at all scales on walls throughout the property.

Flores sees music developing via guest interaction. Guests will use the app to vote on the music playing in the hotel to develop a soundtrack with, perhaps in future developments, a digital wall showing interactive videos. As for fashion, it is still early days, but there is talk of introducing a programme that allows staff to customise their own uniforms.

These aspects will doubtless be honed in the course of a steady rollout, which targets 60 hotels by 2020. The next Radisson Red is set to

open in August 2016 in Campinas, Brazil, followed by Minneapolis (near the Carlson Rezidor HQ) in autumn 2016, and Portland, Oregon, in 2018. In EMEA, aside from the Brussels conversion, the others in the pipeline will all be newbuild. They include Cape Town, Dubai, Glasgow and Jeddah. Planned for Asia Pacific are Bali, Jakarta, Mohali in India, and Shenyang and Guangzhou in China. A further 30 letters of intent have been signed globally.

And what of the interior design of Radisson Red? “It’s intuitive light-hearted and emotional,” describes Jim Hamilton, Creative Director of Graven Images, which has plenty of form with Carlson Rezidor having worked with the group non-stop since designing Radisson Glasgow in 2002. The firm also introduced Radisson Blu to the US and were involved in the group’s venture with Missoni.

“Red has a bit of edge to it, it’s not a safety brand,” continues Hamilton, describing the industrial style of the public spaces.

Throughout, the hotel demonstrates the key elements of quality, longevity, whimsy and class in a conversion that required the complete gutting of the building. Only the exterior façade and room layout have remained. Everything else – from the doors and windows to the floor and wallcoverings – is new.

Using Rezidor’s preferred contractors, Hagenauer GmbH and Engles GmbH, the quality of the fit-out is excellent. The red grouting

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Above: Suppliers throughout the public spaces and guestrooms include LEDS-C4, Bolon, Vescom, Villeroy & Boch, and Grohe

and sealant used in the bathrooms is much trickier to deal with than white, yet the results are near perfect. There is a similar highlevels of quality in product selection: recessed ceiling lamps are from LEDS-C4, bathrooms are fitted-out with Villeroy & Boch and Grohe, the manually operated blinds are by Rolf Krebs, floorcoverings are Bolon, and graphic wallpaper is by Vescom. The latter covers the wall behind the bed and depicts an astronaut. “The spaceman image was the first iconic image chosen way back in the Red journey so is a nice DNA reference,” confirms Hamilton.

“We wanted to create magic moments for guests. To surprise them and bring a smile to their faces,” he chuckles of the capricious elements such as the hippo and elk coat pegs, the cheeky text on clothes hangers in the equally bold cartoon-covered wardrobe, and the table tennis table that doubles as a desk in one of the three meeting rooms.

Since opening, the hotel has seen strong performance with high mid-week occupancy, says General Manager Christel Cabanier.

“What we are doing is not new, but reinvented,” he explains, having

been closely involved in the brand’s creation. Indeed, the technology side of having an app, keyless entry, and no formal check-in are triedand-tested, and Carlson Rezidor are already well up the learning curve allowing them to offer a product that is reassuringly robust from the start.

What is new is the ‘picnic table’ in the guestrooms. These freestanding, sturdy tables make in-room dining and working so much more appealing. Rather than facing a wall or mirror, the space is opened up. This set-up is a brand standard, so too is the black, white, grey and red colour palette.

In the public spaces, the entrance area will be customised for each property. Here, beneath brass lamps suspended from a mirrored ceiling panel, ottoman seating mimics a freeform screen of open hexagonal cells.

While Carlson Rezidor has had a few false starts in the lifestyle space, Radisson Red demonstrates ambition and great delivery. Once again, all the elements are in place, and time will tell if the stars are aligned for Red.

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 149 guestrooms | 1 restaurant | 1 bar | 3 meeting rooms | Fitness room | www.radissonred.com Owner / Operator: The Rezidor Hotel Group | Architecture: DDS & Partners | Interior Design: Graven Images | Lighting Design: Licht01 Enginnering: Tractebel Engineering | Contractors: Hagenauer GmbH (public areas); Engels GmbH (guestrooms)

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Dornbracht Culturing Life Design Icons

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I N D U ST R I A L L A N DSCA P E N o 5 - B LU R

Inspired by the streets of London and the gritty backdrops of railways,

The new Industrial Landscape collection is a series of seven carpet

tunnels of factories, workshops and warehouses. The surfaces – cracked

designs created by Tom Dixon in collaboration with ege carpets.

paving stones and brick blocks make up the crumbling industrial

Available in tiles and broadloom transforming into different expres-

landscape while the massive tidal River Thames splits the city in two,

sions that reinterpret the rough, raw everyday surfaces that define the

and the new reflective glass towers start to dominate the skyline.

London landscape.

London – The Industrial Landscape. New carpet collection by Tom Dixon. Learn more at egecarpets.com

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4/19/2016 3:12:44 PM

St. Regis DUBAI

With its ‘Metropolitan Manor’ design scheme, St. Regis Dubai is the first of three Starwood hotels set to open at integrated urban resort Al-Habtoor City.

Words: Matt Turner | Photography: Courtesy of St. Regis Dubai

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here’s a video on YouTube of the demolition of Dubai’s Metropolitan Hotel, one of the Emirate’s first internationallybranded properties (it was originally a Grand Met) and an icon of what might be termed ‘old Dubai’ – though in this noveltyobsessed region ‘old’ only stretches back as far as 1979.

The closure of The Metropolitan in March 2012 might have marked the end of an era for the seasoned expats who once gathered in the Red Lion, Dubai’s first English pub, but it also saw the beginning of a new one for its owners Al Habtoor Group. No sooner had the rubble been cleared than they began construction of Al Habtoor City, an

‘integrated urban resort’ promoted, with characteristic chutzpah, as the largest ever for the region.

Ultimately Al Habtoor City will be home to three Starwoodbranded hotels. A W Hotel designed by Silverfox Studios and a Westin, by WA International, will occupy two towers alongside three residential buildings overlooking Sheikh Zhayed Road. A spectacular water-themed show by Dragone will also be located along the upcoming Dubai Water Canal which runs through adjacent Safa Park. The first hotel to open on the site is also the first St. Regis in Dubai, and the fourth in the Middle East following earlier openings

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Above: Exquisite detailing and ornamentation are on display throughout the St. Regis Dubai Opposite: Guestrooms feature ornate chandeliers, muted furnishings and luxurious fabrics in champagne and taupe

in Abu Dhabi and Doha. By Dubai standards, you might even call it restrained. Only eight storeys tall, the French beaux-arts architecture and neo-classical interior design pay homage to original St. Regis New York. Where guests at the brasher Dubai hotels are greeted by the roar of Lamborghini and Ferrari engines, the St. Regis has a fleet of Bentleys cruising the extensive manicured gardens that stretch out in front of the building. Interiors, conceived by Bilkey Llinas and brought to fruition by Khatib & Alami, are resplendent in gold, crystal and marble (this is Dubai after all) yet feel relatively understated in their luxury.

The design concept imagines what St. Regis founder John Jacob Astor might have created were he to build a home in modern-day Dubai. Following the ‘Metropolitan Manor’ design narrative, one of four different styles for the brand created by Starwood’s global design team, it is rich with intricate detail and exquisite ornamentation.

Guests are welcomed by a dazzling a 4-metre-wide, seven-tier chandelier by Northern Lights, comprising 1,200 pieces of hand-cut crystals, illuminating the majestic double grand staircase, with the 90 steps (45 on each side) which are a hallmark of the St. Regis brand.

The hotel features 234 guestrooms, including 52 suites, each

offering a bright, airy ambience with luxurious details such as chandeliers, champagne-hued fabrics and furniture, St. Regis’ signature beds, and marble bathrooms with vintage nickel fittings from Kohler.

Spanning 913m2, the vast three-bedroom, two-storey Sir Winston Churchill Suite is the hotel’s pièce de résistance, with a majestic inroom spiral staircase that leads from a vast living room into the central dome of the hotel, where a rooftop plunge pool reveals panoramic views across Dubai. There is an elegant dining room, study, lounge, spacious majilis, and generously-sized bathroom with freestanding tub, flanked by separate male and female walk-in dressing rooms. A collection of 15 paintings and art pieces from the Churchill archives includes portraits and photographs of the legendary statesman, paintings he mastered himself, and a well-maintained Cuban cigar that once belonged to Churchill, and is now part of the private collection of Al Habtoor Group Chairman Khalaf Al Habtoor.

Another British icon has inspired the design of the one-bedroom Bentley Suite. With its leathers, patterns and wood veneers inspired by the bespoke craftsmanship of the Bentley Mulsanne, it is the first of its kind in the Middle East.

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Above: The J&G Steakhouse is an elegant space of dark wood and leather

There are eight dining venues in total. Brasserie Quartier, with its adjacent patisserie, is a modern interpretation of a French brasserie. J&G Steakhouse is an elegant space of dark wood and leather, offering a sophisticated collection of steakhouse classics as reimagined by Michelin-starred chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

Café Fleuri is reminiscent of a 1930s Parisian bistro, while Le Patio is a rustic courtyard café surrounded by olive trees.

As in other St. Regis’ around the world, the bar offers its own local interpreration of the classic Bloody Mary, which was invented at the New York hotel. This being Dubai, the Golden Mary has gold leaf floating atop its base of yellow tomato juice. Another element of drinks service which will be familiar to followers of the brand is the nightly champagne sabering ritual set against the backdrop of a mother-of-pearl mural in the Champagne Lounge.

The Iridium Spa consists of six treatment rooms (three male, three female), two hamams and separate female and male wet areas with steam room and sauna. Elsewhere there is a 24-hour fitness centre, two rooftop swimming pools and a private helipad.

The hotel is also well set up for special occasions with its 800m2 Astor Ballroom, six meeting rooms and extensive landscaped gardens.

Says Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Chairman of Al Habtoor Group: “It is the beginning of a new era on this historic site. The St. Regis name, renowned for its rich heritage and traditions, will undoubtedly complement the traditions and modernity of Dubai.”

And what of The Metropolitan? The original may be gone but the name is far from forgotten with a new property – The Metropolitan Sheikh Zayed Road – forecast for completion this year. The Khatib & Alami-designed hotel will have a total of 334 guestrooms and suites, not to mention the return of an old favourite with the revival of the Red Lion pub.

“When we closed The Metropolitan, which was our first hotel in Dubai, I promised our regular customers that I would one day revive the Red Lion,” confirms Al Habtoor. “I am delivering on that promise. I’m not nostalgic, but I am conscious of what our customers want, and I am confident that this new hotel will become a new destination in Dubai.”

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 234 guestrooms | 6 restaurants | 2 bars | 6 meeting rooms, 800m2 ballroom | Spa | www.stregisdubai.com Owner: Al Habtoor Group | Developer: Habtoor Leighton Group | Operator: Starwood Hotels & Resorts | Concept Architect: John R & Partners Interior Design: Bilkey Llinas Design | Detailed Development & Design Delivery: Khatib & Alami

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SRI LANKA Renewed hotel investment is a sure sign of Sri Lanka’s emergence as one of Asia’s most coveted travel destinations.

Words: Neena Dhillon

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lessed with an abundance of natural and cultural riches, Sri Lanka’s potential to become a leading tourist hot spot is undeniable. Yet there is much to be achieved if the island is to take its rightful place among regional competitors. Although brought to an end in 2009, Sri Lanka’s civil war dominated life for more than 25 years, arresting the development of its tourist and hospitality industries, leaving it unable to capitalise on the burgeoning global market in luxury travel. Seven years into peace and fundamental issues such as road and transport infrastructure, manpower shortages and outdated hospitality culture all need to be tackled.

Fortunately, the foundations for such a turnaround are in place, with the government spearheading regulatory changes to ease investment into the country, as confirmed by HVS at an inaugural tourism and hotel conference held in Colombo this February. Tourism is seen as a major engine for economic growth and by 2020, the goverment expects to double tourist numbers on 2016 figures; arrivals are forecast to reach 2.2 million by year-end. HVS identifies India and China as top source markets while average length of stay – 9.9 nights – is a testament to the country’s ability to retain visitors.

This year marks the debut of a number of new hotels across the country, with Shangri-La one of the global groups arriving on the scene. The 53-acre Shangri-La Hambantota Resort & Spa draws on the talents of local and regional architecture firms such as MICD Associates and TID International while interior design is courtesy of Singapore’s Chao Tse Ann & Partners and HBA. Having entered the country with an inaugural resort in Tangalle, Minor Hotel Group’s Anantara will follow up with a 141-room property on the west coast this July. Anantara Kalutara Resort counts Channa Daswatte (also of MICD) as its lead architect, a fitting choice since he once worked alongside the influential Geoffrey Bawa who originally designed the hotel’s flagship building. Another Thai-headquartered operator, Onyx Hospitality Group, will also introduce a brand when it unveils the 172-room Amari Galle at the end of the year. Under partnership with Sino Lanka Hotels, the property designed by Singapore’s Grey Matters represents the third Onyx opening in Sri Lanka, the first two under the Ozo collection. Still in the southwest, Ahungalla is the location of another brand entrant, this time from Spain’s Riu Hotels & Resorts in a joint venture with Aitken Spence.

International hospitality groups are making their presence felt in Colombo with forthcoming projects from Grand Hyatt and Mövenpick set to change the capital’s skyline. Starwood’s Sheraton is confirmed for an opening in the final quarter of 2016, bringing a 320-key business hotel to the city with architecture by WS Atkins and interiors by Thom Catallo Associates. Also eyeing up the leisure market, Sheraton Kosgoda Turtle Beach Resort will be found on the coastline between Colombo and Galle, featuring architecture by Nissanka Marambe.

Injecting individuality to Sri Lanka’s hospitality scene, independent and local operators are proving just as active. Highlighting the country as a restorative destination, Dumbara Hotels is nearing completion of Santani, positioned as the island’s first dedicated wellness resort. Conceived by entrepreneur Vickum Nawagamuwage, the resort’s architectural masterplan is the vision of fellow Sri Lankan, Thisara Thanapathy. Boasting the country’s only Relais & Châteaux resorts, Resplendent Ceylon, established by the family behind Dilmah Tea, is on an expansion course as it works towards a yearend opening of the Wild Coast Tented Lodge close to Yala National Park. Meanwhile, one of Sri Lanka’s longest-standing, home-grown companies has projects soon to debut in Colombo and Dambulla under its Jetwing portfolio, with a third planned for Pottuvil Point in 2017. Hill country nestled in Sri Lanka’s central region is the next focus of investment for Teardrop Hotels, which is renovating three tea planters’ bungalows by early 2017.

There is concern among some Sri Lankan hoteliers that the western coastline has reached saturation point, requiring a moratorium on construction. That being said, widespread agreement exists for the creation of a robust hotel supply focusing on locations with touristic potential including but not limited to Batticaloa, Passikudah and Trincomalee in the eastern province, Anuradhapura in the north central region, plus Mirissa and Yala in the south.

According to STR Global, hotel occupancy at the end of 2015 stood at 66%, showing an increase of 8%, with RevPAR increasing marginally to US$69.89, in line with regional averages. This is surely a good base from which to kick-start sustained tourism and hospitality growth, ensuring rounded development that does not neglect pockets of the country.

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Above: Starwood’s Sheraton is set to bring a 320-key business hotel to Colombo Right: In a joint venture with Aitken Spence, Riu Hotels & Resorts will open an all-inclusive property in Ahungalla Below: Onyx Hospitality Group is to unveil the 172-room Amari Galle at the end of the year Bottom: The sprawling 53-acre Shangri-La Hambantota Resort & Spa will arrive on Sri Lanka’s south coast later this year

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Anantara Peace Haven TANGALLE

Unfolding in a series of choreographed spaces, Anantara’s first Sri Lankan resort honours the colonial heritage and natural beauty of its home.

Words: Neena Dhillon | Photography: Courtesy of Anantara Peace Haven

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he opening up of Sri Lanka’s ruggedly breathtaking southern coastline has much to do with the arrival of Anantara. Having anticipated that the southernmost shore was set to become an emerging travel destination, the brand’s parent company, Minor Hotel Group, has invested US$200 million in a joint venture with Sri Lankan firm Hemas to launch Anantara on the island nation, the investment divided between a full-service resort located in Tangalle, and a forthcoming sister property found closer to Colombo, in Kalutara. “As the first internationally branded resort to introduce an elevated standard of hospitality, luxuriously appointed rooms and villas, multiple dining options, destination experiences, the biggest spa in Sri Lanka – and with residences and a clubhouse to come – we are setting the benchmark,” says Tamir Kobrin, General Manager of Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort. “We are genuinely invested in delivering local hospitality too; 98% of our staff are Sri Lankans and, of these, 25% are women.”

Owned by Hemas for years, the Goyambokka coconut plantation, replete with swaying palms spilling down to a pristine beach dotted with rock formations, presented the ideal opportunity for development. In site planning, chosen architect WATG Singapore took its lead from the very conditions of the 21-acre plot, including the existence of a colonial manor house that has been retained and will be restored. “There were a number of natural elements that

helped mould the overall plan, most of all the spectacular views that the design team could envision being framed by future amenities and arrival buildings,” explains Nora Kaichung Pui, Project Designer, WATG. “Keeping a large number of the existing coconut palms or relocating them on the property allowed the final destination to have a mature landscaped look and gave the colonial-inspired design of the resort a rooted and historic feel.”

Aware of how much impact the sparkling turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean could have on guests, WATG has purposefully sequenced the arrival experience so that the resort unveils its bounty slowly, creating a sense of discovery. As the first point of entry, the arrival pavilion sets out the cornerstones of the “contemporary architectural language with refined colonial details and design elements linking the resort back to its past life,” which the WATG team has woven throughout. The roof, constructed from flat clay tiles, in addition to teak columns call to mind regional colonial architecture. Titanium flooring, no stranger to the local vernacular as a result of its cooling properties, paves its way across the resort while teak latticework screens and carvings handcrafted onsite speak of local homes and temples. Antique oil lamps alongside bronzed metal statues gather atop teak chests (or ‘Dutch boxes’) while the Raban drum played by female musicians welcomes visitors and a bull cart stands poised to transport the native King coconut. As one-time colonial rulers in and

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Above: Hosting cookery classes, Spice Spoons features brass and perspex lighting fixtures designed by Wimberly Interiors

around nearby Matara Fort, the Dutch influence remains tangible in historic houses. Anantara’s custom-designed teak and cane furniture “represents a timeless interpretation of this authentic Dutch colonial style, taking a more contemporary approach in the lobby’s seating vignettes, for instance, when compared to the library where a more traditional version is illustrated,” says Christine McGinnis, Associate Vice President, Wimberly Interiors.

WATG, in partnership with its interiors studio, has chosen to replicate indigenous traditions and techniques for more than one reason, as Kaichung Pui observes: “With projects in remote locations, it is important to understand the local building methods and craftsmanship. There is the opportunity to create a design that boosts the economy through jobs. By employing regional craftsmen, we are able to infuse the unique arts and crafts of the destination into the overall approach. Importantly, this also helps to ensure that those executing the design are well-versed in construction and fabrication methods, thus avoiding issues of finishing quality.”

Consistency of finish is evident as guests make their way through arrivals into the open-air lobby lounge where the ocean first makes its presence felt through framed vistas. From here, the dramatic doublelevel resort pool also reveals itself, embedded into a stepped landscape of locally quarried stone, lit at night with lanterns given rope and

bamboo accent finishes. Guestrooms too have been oriented to face out to the sea, each featuring a balcony, with interiors favouring a quiet palette of natural colours accented only by a deep grey-blue inspired by the ocean. Local handicrafts displayed as wall art and vintage photographs add a decorative touch while coconut accessories double as soap holders in bathrooms, all with separate cement-cut titanium clad oval tubs. The 32 freestanding villas are residential in nature, their high-pitched ceilings sheltering upholstered day beds and Dutch colonial furniture; the cane accent additionally woven into carved, columned headboards. Wall sconces are shaped as goldhued coconut leaves while the evocative drawings of local resident and shop owner Barbara Sansoni convey scenes of Sri Lankan life in the 1960s and 70s. Large bathrooms here are finished with multicoloured granite feature walls. Outdoor decks with private pools again reinforce the idea that interiors blend seamlessly with the external landscape, the lush vegetation and trees home to majestic peacocks, their mating calls a natural alarm clock, and a family of frolicking monkeys.

Dining venues benefit from a dash of individual character: Journeys, the all-day eatery displays hand-loomed cotton textile panels and a burnished copper border above the open kitchen.

Intimate cellar El Vino and cookery kitchen Spice Spoons are installed

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BauBuche Panel The new hardwood material BauBuche Panel presents the traditional furniture hardwood Beech in a completely new, modern look. The upright veneer layers provide for an elegant and at the same time wearresistant surface. BauBuche Panel is ideal for work tops, stair steps, wooden flooring in commercial buildings and for interior joinery.

Designer Prof. Giuseppe Centauro used BauBuche for the interior joinery of the restaurant ÂťFratelli CuoreÂŤ in the central station of Florence. The counter linking the bar area with the food display and the pizza desk is made of BauBuche Panel in two colours. The natural beech tone is used for the base while the counter top is stained to a dark brown, such that the fine veneer layers are still clearly visible. Order your free BauBuche Panel sample box at www.pollmeier.com or by postcard.

+49 (0) 36926 945 - 201 | sales@pollmeier.com | www.pollmeier.com Photos: Francesco Mattuzzi

Above: The dramatic double-level pool is embedded into a stepped landscape of locally quarried stone, lit at night with lanterns with bamboo accent finishes

with colonial pearl granite cladding in combination with brass and perspex lighting fixtures designed by Wimberly. For beachside Verele, serving teppanyaki and Sri Lankan street food, as well as signature Italian restaurant Il Mare, variations on the resort’s architectural language have been made. Verele’s highly memorable and energetic structure, inspired by the form of a sea urchin, has not been seen in Sri Lanka before, its shape requiring the contractor to visit Dubai to learn more about unusual construction techniques. While the vibe here is playful, merging the indoor and outdoors, Il Mare ramps up the sophistication from its elevated position on a cliff edge. “As a one-of-a-kind destination within the resort, this restaurant is a much more contemporary design with very clean lines and large openings to allow for optimal views,” explains Kaichung Pui. Appearing as a glamorous oceanside villa that would not look out of place in a James Bond film, Il Mare is sleekly understated, a symphony of white granite, teak wood beams, millwork and rattan furniture in a subdued palette, keeping the emphasis firmly on the expansive vista enjoyed from the generous outdoor deck.

As another standout location, the Anantara Spa complex benefits from a tranquil setting next to the site’s natural lagoon, its roof lined with turf and pebbles, melting into the landscape. A ceremonial water court, around which cement urns hold displays of native water lilies, welcomes visitors. Latticework screen doors lead to a reception where teak pillars, decorative oil lamps with a bird motif and a display of natural Ayurvedic ingredients dominate. Reflective water pools characterise the relaxation areas, teak and cane chairs have floral flourishes, stone sculptures in treatment rooms adopt meditative poses and three-dimensional woodcarvings pay homage to the ancient art seen in Sri Lanka’s most valued historic monument, Sigiriya. Returning closer to home, wall art made from coconut fibres is a reminder of the former plantation while modern evocations of traditional ceramics are oversized and crafted from metal.

At no time does Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort lose its sense of place. While interest is created by subtle changes of design rhythm, the narrative remains rooted in both the history and coastal charm of the original site.

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 152 guestrooms and villas | 4 restaurants | 2 bars | Boardroom | Spa, gym, swimming pool | www.anantara.com Owner: PH Resorts (joint venture between Hemas and Minor Hotel Group) | Operator: Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas | Architecture: WATG Singapore Interior Design: Wimberly Interiors | Landscaping: Element Design Studio | Furniture Consultant: Raux Brothers

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Chena Huts YA L A

In harmony with the untamed wilderness surrounding Yala National Park, Uga Escapes’ newest property takes the brand into safari territory.

Words: Neena Dhillon | Photography: © Savan de Silva Photography

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ome-grown Sri Lankan operator Uga Escapes is relatively new to the hospitality world, having launched its first property in the sacred city of Anuradhapura in 2010. Since the flagship Ulagalla opened its doors, two beach resorts on the east coast have expanded the boutique hotel collection, followed in 2015 by Residence, an historic 11-suite haven in Colombo, and, at the tail end of the year, the brand’s first safari lodge. “Pretty much five properties in five years,” confirms Managing Director Priyanjith Weerasooriya, also Vice President of parent company Finco Group, which has over the past 50 years been building businesses from the bottom up across

industry clusters such as trading, manufacturing and construction.

With multi-sector capabilities shared by its affiliates, Uga Escapes has been able to invest in, operate, design and build atmospheric boutique hotels in experience-based locations in a short period of time.

“We see the future of tourism at the luxury end, with highspending travellers interested in Sri Lanka as a comprehensive roundtrip destination,” Weerasooriya continues. “So our focus has been on developing the brand, selecting destinations that offer untapped insights into our indigenous culture, heritage, wildlife and coastline, while maintaining a level of luxury uniting them all.”

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Above & Opposite: Interiors have a dash of African safari style with custom-designed beds anchored by a teak feature headboard that doubles as a divider for the open-plan bathroom

The team already has its eye on forthcoming properties in the hill country and Galle Fort, these additional two boutiques expected to come online within the next three years, completing the round-trip experience. Equally, the brand remains committed to introducing local people to the hospitality trade, recruiting from villages while encouraging Sri Lankans based overseas to return, bringing their international knowledge with them.

The latest opening, Chena Huts, is found in Sri Lanka’s deep south not far from rustic Tissamaharama and is the closest hotel to the entrance of Yala National Park, the country’s second largest and most-visited natural reserve. The LKR775 million project is the brainchild of Finco’s Vice Chairman Harsha De Saram, whose countless visits to African and Indian safari hotspots have fed into the design concept. Indeed it is his collection of black-and-white leopard photography, Yala’s prize sighting, which adorns the walls here. The big cat is also celebrated by a striking sculpture made from used engine parts, positioned alluringly at arrivals.

Elaborating on the background, Uga Escapes’ Chief Executive Officer Ramli Ghaffoor says: “Just over two years ago, the government opened up plots around the park within a designated Tourism Promotion Zone. Our proposition for a luxury boutique eco-resort [now LEED Gold certified] offering privacy and seclusion

was accepted. Our seven-acre development, crafted into the jungle and fringed on one side by a beach and another a lake popular with wildlife, actually sits right on the edge of the park’s buffer zone.”

To give the property an authentic Sri Lankan feel, the team tapped into a traditional form of cultivation that once would have been practised widely in the region by small-scale farmers to feed their families and communities. Working seasonally, they would clear small pockets of land to grow crops organically, keeping a watch out for wild animals until harvesting, at which time the plot would be returned to its natural state.

Measuring over 100m2 each, individually equipped with private plunge pools, accommodation comprises 14 light-filled cabins raised one metre above the ground, topped with overhanging artificial thatch roofs that sit under the tree cover, mirroring rural construction. The sizeable dome-shaped cabins have been created from durable steel and mesh structures sprayed over with a concrete layer. Made from recycled wood and PVC, generous outdoor decks take the place of sheltered verandas from which farmers would guard their cultivation.

Front entrances display Sri Lankan rolled palm mats as part of a daybed seating arrangement. Interiors have a dash of African safari style with custom-designed beds anchored by a teak feature headboard that doubles as a divider for the open-plan bathroom, complete with

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Above: The 14 light-filled cabins are topped with overhanging artificial thatch roofs, mirroring rural construction

freestanding tub. Indeed the climate-controlled cabins are awash in teak, with wardrobes, desks and millwork designed and largely made by affiliate company Alpha Industries. Exceptions include rattan love seats from India, rugs from Pakistan, and copper-brass-mix Beamish lanterns from the USA. Another signature piece is the overhead bedside fan, the blades fashioned from jute-covered resin. Hardware such as brass door handles and metal stud detailing again hint of an African wildlife lodge.

To blend into the dense vegetation, rustic outdoor materials range from timber landing posts to elevated concrete walkways given the appearance of railway sleepers, from quarried boulders to an innovative use of cinnamon sticks, interwoven to signal the spa entrance. Cement treated to look like exposed plaster characterises surfaces of the intimate spa while an organically shaped resort pool has a refreshing waterfall. Petrified tree stumps, meanwhile, rise from water features at the reception pavilion, mirroring Yala National Park’s landscape. Carved from mara wood, a welcome wall says ‘hello’ in multiple languages with furniture in the same species alongside the

teak variety contrasting with copper lanterns, some suspended from the ceiling and others, from India, illuminating tables.

Basses, the restaurant where safari-goers gather to share tales of the animals they have spotted on daily game drives, favours a paredback scheme of timber, wicker-effect chairs, and jungle green for soft furnishings. An intriguing display at one end of the dining room tells the story of the two great lighthouses that warn ships of the perilous reefs associated with this coastline, including a commissioned replica of the HMS Daedalus, which sunk in the waters back in 1813. Basses, named after the reefs, also displays antique lemonade bottles said to have been collected from the wreck. An outdoor sunken bar is dotted with hand-stitched humpties while the deck spills over onto the unspoilt beach from where diners sit in safari chairs, sharing the sand with buffalos, elephants and sambar calling this stretch home.

“Overall our aim has been to retain the rusticity and wild beauty of the surroundings while making no trade-off in terms of a luxury camp experience,” concludes Weerasooriya. In this endeavour, Uga Escapes has struck the perfect balance.

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 14 cabins | 1 restaurant | 2 bars | Spa | www.ugaescapes.com Owner / Developer: Finco Holdings; International Construction Consortium | Operator: Uga Escapes | Architecture & Interior Design: International Construction Consortium | Main Contractor: International Construction Consortium

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Ă€ni Villas DICKWELLA

Contemporary tropical architecture informs an estate where landscape and pavilions merge, creating a luxuriously understated backdrop for outdoor living.

Words: Neena Dhillon | Photography: Courtesy of Àni Villas

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aking its first foray into Asia outside its flagship location of Anguilla, Àni Villas marked the end of 2015 by opening properties in Thailand and Sri Lanka. A niche concept aimed at the high-end of the hospitality market, Àni Villas comprises private estates catering to one group at a time, bridging the gap between a luxury residence and fully serviced boutique resort. As such, destinations have to lend themselves to the idea of a fully customised travel experience, with land a big deciding factor. “We’re not about stuffy, white glove service,” says CEO Ira Bloom. “Our laidback luxury is suited to incredible pieces of land with amazing views where guests can enjoy an island or exotic vibe away from the crowds and pretend to be beach bums.”

In Sri Lanka, a five-acre oceanfront plot on the central south coast has ticked all the right boxes. Bloom, along with Àni Villas’ owner Tim Reynolds, approached chosen architecture and interior design practice AW2 with a brief that called for a balancing act to be achieved, as the firm’s partner and founder Réda Amalou explains: “Our first discussions were mainly centred on how to make the place feel like a private villa while being the best hotel in the world. Tim also had strong architectural ideas, which were to do with sense of place and belonging. This was easy for us because we tend to design

in this way; understanding the local context and trying to reinterpret it into a contemporary mode.”

In fact, the relationship between the parties began when the developers were looking at a site in Vietnam. Having learnt about Amalou’s admiration for legendary Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa, the team turned their attention instead to a country “full of possibilities, offering a distinctive combination of culture, lifestyle, wildlife, beach and warmly hospitable people,” according to Bloom.

While AW2 has not attempted a Bawa copy on this newbuild, there are aspects of his tropical modernist style that stand as a reference point for Àni Villas Sri Lanka. “Bawa understood tropical climates and how to use them to create unique architecture,” observes Amalou.

“Elements of outdoor living are always put forward, the landscape is an extension of the architectural language and the roofs and materials are elegantly assembled. But above all, it is his ability to play with spaces and how people move around them that is extraordinary.”

In researching local construction techniques, the team at AW2 knew that it wanted to move away from Dutch or British colonial design.

Rather the focus became the landscape, with the practice setting out to devise a vast garden with lush features, open areas and linking walkways. Since the dramatic site slopes down to a planted border

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Above: Interiors feature strong textures such as rough-cut stone, flamed granite and soft terrazzo for flooring complemented by natural colours

edge sitting nine metres above the beach below, its topography proved a major influence on the design from the outset. “We had to make the site work with steep slopes while maintaining a low impact on the landscape,” Amalou confirms. “So the project is organised as a series of clusters, each one comprising separate pavilions, linked together by a sequence of connecting ramps lined in dark-stone-retaining walls across the plot. This geometry of walls cuts through the greenery, creating platforms and holding pathways.”

For seamless integration, there is an intricate weaving of architecture and outdoor spaces as each part of the pavilions offers an external aspect from sea views, ponds, plunge pools to paths, lawns and terraces. The landscape here is not confined but an expansion of the exterior where tropical building elements are present in response to the climate, albeit given a new identity by AW2. “We have chosen to use certain codes but then to define our own, more contemporary language,” says Amalou.

Designed as standalone timber frame structures, made from tropical hardwoods, the pavilions feature large overhanging roofs of iron wood shingles, the material selected because of its silvery grey hue that disappears into the surroundings. Façades are conceived in a rhythm of vertical panels, alternating between stone and glass for

the 15 suites, while the main living salas constructed at double height are clad in louvred shutters allowing for natural ventilation. Interiors flow as a direct expression of the architectural materials, with strong textures such as rough-cut stone, flamed granite and soft terrazzo for flooring complemented by natural colours of brown, grey and beige. All the pavilions invite outdoor living, facing the ocean, with the external landscape laid out to provide a sense of lush, tropical vegetation in parts and more open areas characterised by structured planting in others – the line of frangipanis by the pools an obvious example. Water winds its way around the site, running down the face of two vertical fountains constructed from thousands of recycled clay roof tiles that form an attractive repeating pattern. The main pools in a waterproof black render edged with granite present spaces for shaded lounging, their sleek lines melting into the environment.

Lighting and furniture by AW2 references sense of place, using the local but again is reinvented to give the project a unique feel.

In the dining salas, oversized pendant lights of black steel with a gold-leaf accent and cut-out motif shine warm light onto the tables while wardrobes in the suites are contemporary interpretations of Asian cupboards, popping from the inside thanks to a high-gloss red lacquer finish. Since Amalou found traditional Sri Lankan furniture

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Above: Each of the pavilions offers an external aspect, from sea views, ponds, plunge pools to paths, lawns and terraces

to be too colonial, he has developed an iconic chair especially for Àni Villas, extending the contemporary-tropical story. “Our Lanka chair is a mix between modernist 1950s and 1960s European wood craft and the tropical,” he explains. “The curves and large proportions are also a statement of the relaxed, understated luxury we want to induce in the place.”

Injecting another layer to the design, an impressive collection of Sri Lankan antiques ranges from everyday objects with a texture or shape in wood, bronze or stone to serious art pieces, depicting deities and royalty. There are aged columns rising in front of fountains, bronze antique oil lamps illuminating living spaces, and an Ayurvedic oil trough in the spa. Perhaps one of the most enchanting additions is the set of decorative horses, literally hundreds of them trotting, dancing and rearing their way around the pavilions. All of the finds are the result of several antique-hunting trips that Reynolds and Amalou took around Sri Lanka. “We started with a simple driving trip to some shops and quickly realised we could find enough objects

with a history or story to start a real collection,” recalls Amalou. “In addition to our visits, the dealers then started sending us items for consideration. Horses are a big part of Sri Lankan art and sculpture, in the same way as elephants or Buddha. I clearly remember buying the first one with Tim, a large white painted horse that somehow stood out among millions of objects. We were drawn to the incredible variety and creativity with which they are all sculpted and painted.”

Additional drawings and paintings will eventually come from the Àni Art Academy, due to open in the same district of Matara next year.

As the brainchild of former trader Reynolds, these charitable schools are opened wherever villas are developed, giving intensive art-skills education to aspiring students from the home nations.

With plans well under way for a new property in the Dominican Republic, set to open at the end of 2016, and a second slated for Sri Lanka, this time up in tea country near Adam’s Peak, Àni Villas is steadily expanding towards its goal of establishing a global collection of singular estates.

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 15 guestrooms | Open dining salas | 1 bar | Event pavilion, meeting room | Spa, fitness centre, swimming pool | www.anivillas.com Owner: Tim Reynolds | Operator: Àni Villas | Architecture, Interior Design & Lighting Design: AW2 | Main Contractor: Salasi Lanka

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Fort Bazaar GALLE FORT

Preserving colonial character yet injecting a modern outlook through interiors that celebrate the geometric, Fort Bazaar brings boutique chic to Galle.

Words: Neena Dhillon | Photography: © Rupert Marlow Photogrpahy

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onceived to fill a niche for independent boutique hotels benefiting from heavy investment in food, beverage and service, Teardrop Hotels was formed in 2007 with the intention of opening a Galle property. Acquiring the complex permissions to greenlight the adaptive re-use of a building within the UNESCO World Heritage Site proved longer than expected, however, and so the company, established by three Englishmen and a Sri Lankan, turned its attention to a development opportunity in Colombo. The Wallawwa welcomed its first guests in 2008, providing a stylish stay close to the country’s international airport. Eight years

on, powered by a determination to transform a derelict wreck into boutique reality, Fort Bazaar on Galle’s Church Street has opened too.

“One of our founding partners became aware of this historic L-shaped plot, once a merchant’s home and then a government office, left dormant for over 25 years by the time we started work on it,” reveals Managing Director Henry Fitch. “Colonial 17th century Galle Fort is one of Sri Lanka’s tourism gems and we’ve always felt there was potential to do something a little different, to restore an old building but to create contemporary interiors enticing to both tourists and passers-by looking for drinks or a meal.”

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Above & Opposie: The 18 guestrooms, lobby, and Church Street Social restaurant combine modernity with a splash of Moorish charm

Complicating the conversion, existing structures on the land belong to two periods: the older, most likely dating back to the 1800s in a Dutch colonial style, required considered restoration, while a 1950s addition in the middle called for demolition and a rebuild on the same footprint. Finally, the rear of the heritage site has been boosted by a new extension, yet all the sympathetic additions maintain the structural appearance and integrity of the historic residence.

Sumith Perera, project architect from Colombo-based PWA, says the aim was to “stay true to the building typology of the historic fort while generating the most efficient use of space” on the limited plot, measuring close to half an acre. This has involved setting back Fort Bazaar so it does not change Church Street’s character, as well as reforming the building’s original deep arches, many of which were bricked up. PWA Architects has also opened out a veranda to the passing community, “affording the ability to enjoy the vibrant streetscape while participating in the inner workings of the hotel.”

Timber posts characterising internal walkways are slightly modified interpretations of typical columns found in nearby homes. There is an elaboration of another local architectural influence expressed here, as Perera notes: “Some fort buildings lend themselves to open courtyard spaces, surrounded by living areas, so our project expands on this concept, merging the indoors and outdoors.”

Stone, timber, concrete, polished cement and brick are present – all materials that sit easily within a local architectural vernacular. But while PWA has been restricted in its ability to use contemporary elements in restoring the site, interior choices guide the hotel into the modern realm. “We wanted to avoid the reproduction furniture and dark interiors common in other fort hotels, preferring something light, airy and vibrant instead,” Fitch says, picking up the story.

“Houses here can have the feel of a Moorish riad so we felt there was a secondary theme that could add a further twist.”

Fronting a busy thoroughfare, Church Street Social restaurant and bar beckons visitors into the hotel, the styling of its veranda doors and windows distinguished by a sunray design. A love of the geometric is apparent immediately with chevron tabletops favoured in the external section and a green and white floor tile setting the agenda and running throughout. It is this patterned tile, sourced from Vietnam, that has underpinned the property’s colour palette.

Eye-catching pressed tin ceilings in the restaurant and bar reflect and complement the flooring. Laser-cut wall sconces equally echo the tile patterning with the bar itself distinguished by antiqued mirrors and surface panels with a bevel-edge detail. Indeed the tile motif is reiterated in the lobby – where a feature wall comprises cement panels realised in different densities – on fabrics and soft furnishings,

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Above: The property expands on the traditional open courtyard concept, merging the indoors and outdoors

and through to headboards in the guestrooms. Interiors consultant Simone Grace says old villas in Galle with Portuguese and Arab influences have provided inspiration for this central theme.

In the lobby, custom-made furniture manufactured in Sri Lanka through Only & Co follows mid-century lines, adds Grace, and is offset by copper steel drums doubling as coffee tables astride a Pakistani rug. Through to the tea lounge, oxidised hand-beaten copper lighting pendants illuminate arrangements of lounge chairs partnered with gold-plate-topped tables upon which Moroccan candle lanterns flicker and glow. For Grace, the ceiling pendants – “with their slight Tom Dixon shape” – are her favourite lighting fixtures, which she came across by chance in a Colombo shop. Spilling through to the internal courtyard, the gentle Moorish ambience continues, given modern expression by cement banquettes softened by individual seat cushions, completed by a custom-made bracket from which teak and aluminium side tables float.

The courtyard stretching to the back of the hotel is paved in recycled cobble stone and provides more seating for hotel guests

including under the ancient banyan tree delineating the rear boundary. As another private space for guests, a shuttered library on the upper floor, featuring an oversized pouffe in warm Arabesque colours upholstered by Grace’s company Souk 58, offers a view out to the weathered tile roofs of the raftered accommodation flowing around the courtyard.

Grace explains that the hotel “gets progressively calmer as you walk through it, with bedrooms incorporating a modern aesthetic yet still showing character.” Custom-designed wardrobes and shuttered windows sit alongside a modernised wing chair; ash veneer bed frames allude to four-posters; there’s a fun ‘Press for Champagne’ button; and bathrooms are decked out in white subway tiles with a composite quartz floor. Suites have the addition of balconies, lounge furniture and freestanding tubs.

Keeping that cooling and calm vibe, the addition of a rooftop swimming pool simply serves to reinforce Fort Bazaar’s distinct character. This is a boutique that brings modernity with a splash of Moorish charm to the heart of historic Galle.

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 18 guestrooms | 1 restaurant | 1 lounge | Spa | www.teardrop-hotels.com Owner: Teardrop Holdings | Operator: Teardrop Hotels | Architecture: PWA Architects | Interior Consultant: Simone Grace | Contractor: Bildmart Pvt

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THE INTELLIGENCE SOURCE FOR THE HOTEL INVESTMENT COMMUNITY

US on Cuba’s heels Starwood Hotels & Resorts has won the battle of the US hotel groups to be the first to plant a flag on Cuba.

As the US Treasury cleared it to do business in the country, Starwood immediately announced deals to convert three hotels to its brands.

Two agreements and one letter of intent have been signed, meaning the first Cuban hotels to join its system will open later this year.

The 83-room Hotel Inglaterra in Havana is to join the group’s Luxury Collection, while the 186room Hotel Quinta Avenida will rebrand to become a Four Points

by Sheraton. Both properties will undergo a swift renovation, allowing them to relaunch under the Starwood brands later this year.

The third property that has signed a letter of intent is the Hotel Santa Isabel, which expects to also join Starwood’s Luxury Collection.

“I am proud of our team who worked tirelessly to make today possible,” said Starwood CEO Tom Mangas. “With Cuba’s rich history, natural beauty and strong culture, there is no question the entire US hospitality industry has watched Cuba with great interest, and we are thrilled to lead the charge and bring our sophisticated, high-end brands into the market at this inflection point.”

Starwood won a march on Marriott, which is also keen to open hotels in Cuba and has now received authorisation to trade with Cuba. Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson

joined Barack Obama as part of a delegation to the island this month, as restrictions on trade between the US and Cuba are eased.

Starwood’s deals are with Gaviota, a government owned organisation led by a military general, which has been in operation for more than 25 years. According to local media, the organisation has 55 hotels, as well as interests in other tourism businesses. It has publicly stated its intention of growing its current 24,000 room portfolio to 50,000 by 2020.

Jorge Giannattasio, chief of Latin American operations for Starwood, said there would be a “multimilliondollar investment to bring the hotels up to our standards.” He also laid bare the opportunity the company sees in Cuba: “The amount of travellers will skyrocket with direct flights.”

Last month saw an agreement between Cuba and the US to allow up to 20 scheduled flights a day between the countries, with flights expected to begin later this year.

At the time of writing, the US had eased restrictions on travel, allowing individuals to travel to Cuba for “people to people” educational trips.

The changes mean that Americans who plan a trip packed with educational exchange activities will be able to travel on their own to Cuba without special permission from the US government.

It is expected that full lifting of trade restrictions is not far behind.

Sorenson visited Cuba last year, blogging about it on his return as, he said: “We stand at a historic

moment in the relationship between the US and Cuba.”

He added: “At Marriott International, we are ready to get started right now. Hotel companies from Latin America and Europe have been doing business in Cuba for decades. With travel to Cuba now surging, existing Cuban hotels are full and hotel companies from other countries are racing to tie up as many of the new hotels as they can before the likes of Marriott and our US competitors show up.

“As the fog lifts on five decades of diplomatic isolation, American business can also play a crucial role in helping the US and Cuba build a new relationship based on mutual respect and trust. The demand for travel is growing, partners are on offer and deals are ready to be signed. Shouldn’t we get going?”

The US companies will be playing catch-up. AccorHotels, Meliá Hotels International, NH, and Iberostar already have established properties in the country. April last year also saw Airbnb launch in the country with 1,000 properties listed.

The sharing platform said: “Hospitality isn’t a commodity in Havana – it’s a way of life. Cubans have been welcoming visitors into their homes for decades. Casas particulares – a network of private homestays – have been a popular choice for visitors, as well as an important source of income for thousands of Cuban families.

“Because we’re building on the rich Cuban tradition of home sharing, we’re uniquely positioned to help Cubans reap the rewards of economic growth while preserving

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their unique culture. When Airbnb guests stay in local neighbourhoods, they bring business to surrounding entrepreneurs – whether they be hosts, artists, or even ice cream shop owners.”

The US-based operators are used to being first into a country. China is studded with brands under the Marriott International, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Choice Hotels International flags. In Cuba, they must rely on the brand recognition they sell to owners to take on existing players such as AccorHotels, which is about to celebrate 20 years in the country.

HA Perspective (by Chris Bown): Thanks to US sanctions, the Europeans have had Cuba’s hotel market to themselves for years.

Now, here come the Americans – and upstart Starwood has stolen a march on the rest. Never mind being picked over by suitors, sitting wondering who will get sacked, the Starwood team have kept their pedal to the metal.

And you can understand everyone’s keenness to get presence in the market. As the travel restrictions are removed, here is a new playground for Americans, not far off the Florida coast – a new playground they will doubtless be keen to explore. And right now, chances are that visitors will be staying in a Meliá hotel: its 27 strong portfolio on the island provides around 40% of visitor room nights. Worse still for the big brands, the new arrivals could be converted to the Airbnb experience via homesharing.

So, what to do? The US brands will surely look to reflag local stock, favouring conversion specialists such as Choice: Starwood clearly has the flexibility in its Luxury Collection and Four Points brands, to work off a quick makeover. For Marriott, which likes to maintain stronger brand standards, that may instead mean looking for signings under its collection brand, Autograph.

The tourism and leisure sector is seen as probably the most potent tool that Cuba has, to help transform its economy, bringing in foreign cash as well as pushing it to improve standards. Local media suggest comparisons with nearby Dominican Republic are instructive; there, the country attracted 5.14m arrivals in 2014, helping deliver economic growth of 7.5%. Cuba could, it is said, sustain a tourism industry twice the size. However, there remain concerns about poor infrastructure, while hotel groups have no option but to link up with a government-controlled entity, in order to do business in Cuba.

Hyatt goes soft with Unbound Hyatt Hotels Corporation is the latest global operator to launch a soft affiliate brand, with The Unbound Collection by Hyatt.

The flag joins Curio by Hilton, Marriott International’s Autograph Collection and Ibis Styles as operators look to bolster their portfolios and offer the choice

which customers have been seeking from the online travel agents.

The Unbound Collection by Hyatt will, the company said, include a portfolio of new and existing upper-upscale and luxury properties, which will have access to Hyatt’s loyalty programme, and operational and marketing resources.

Mark Hoplamazian, President & CEO, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, said: “The Unbound Collection by Hyatt provides us with a myriad of opportunities to grow, not only in new markets, but also in places we know our guests want to go. The collection of properties will allow us to reach the modern traveller who seeks one-of-a-kind experiences, but also wants the reassurance and loyalty programme that comes with our brand.

“What really excites us about The Unbound Collection by Hyatt is that this portfolio provides rich social currency through storyworthy, shareable experiences that guests will take with them long after their stay.

“We are committed to creating a portfolio that works for owners and provides them with flexibility, agility, and support, all while accentuating the best of each property and the experiences that make each truly extraordinary.”

The Unbound Collection by Hyatt launches with properties including The Driskill Hotel in Austin; the Hôtel du Louvre in Paris; the Carmelo Resort & Spa in Uruguay; and the Coco Palms Resort in Hawaii.

The move is designed to add to

the group’s expansion, which last year saw it open 49 new hotels, the highest number of organic hotel openings in a single year since its IPO in 2009. The company said it expected to open 60 hotels this year, over half will be select service hotels under the Hyatt Place and Hyatt House brands. The flags are popular with the company’s loyalty members, with Gold Passport customers accounting for over half of occupied rooms at Hyatt House and over 35% at Hyatt Place.

On the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call, Hoplamazian told analysts: “Expansion into new resort markets is a key part of our strategy.

Our growth in resorts increases our leisure offerings to our guests and is of a great importance to our Hyatt Gold Passport programme, as Gold Passport members have more choices for their holiday stays, some of which will be through the redemption of points.”

In the wake of Marriott International’s takeover of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Hoplamazian addressed the issue of scale, commenting that “as we look around the world, we’re constantly evaluating whether there are places where we could apply capital or expand through M&A to really establish a platform or expand.”

The global hotel operators are looking to their loyalty programmes as a point of differentiation with the OTAs, but for customers to find them worthwhile they must be able to offer choice. Scale is rapidly becoming this year’s key battleground and, for the operators, a soft brand is now de rigueur.

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HA Perspective (by Chris Bown): Hyatt has joined the collection bandwagon. But what does it bring to the party, that others do not?

Hoplamazian, unusually, helped launch Unboound with a video in which he talks about experiences and “authentic adventures”. That’s the promise for guests, many of whom are initially likely to be loyalty programme members.

Where Unbound may win, is with those owners who want to be part of a niche collection, rather than a large one. Marriott’s Autograph is a big machine, and may also in time absorb Starwood’s Tribute collection brand, and the Design Hotels division. That leaves Unbound offering a smaller, more personal alternative. But in the end, it will come down to an appreciation of how flexible the deal is, and what Hyatt can really deliver in terms of profitable extra bookings.

Rezidor goes economy Brussels-based but Stockholm listed hotel group Rezidor has made a move into the economy sector, by purchasing a stake in young German brand Prizeotel.

The deal gives Rezidor a 49% stake in Prizeotel and its three operational hotels in Germany, plus a fourth site in development, all for the sum of EUR14.7m. And the pair have agreed that Rezidor has the rights to buy out the balance of the company in four years’ time.

The brand launched in 2009, offering high, funky design in the

economy sector in Germany, a market where Motel One has a similar pitch, but a larger footprint.

Prizeotel was developed by Marco Nussbaum, with US-based industrial designer Karim Rashid. To date, hotels in Hamburg, Hannover and Bremen have been opened, totalling 555 rooms. The company has also signed a second site in Hamburg, as well as an extension to the existing property in the city.

“We are delighted to partner with Prizeotel, an entrepreneurial and creative economy brand,” said Wolfgang Neumann, President & CEO of Rezidor. “It ideally complements our compelling brand portfolio currently ranging from mid-scale to luxury, and facilitates our responsiveness to the evolving needs of our guests. With this transaction, we now offer additional choices and opportunities to both our customers and owners.”

“The acquisition allows us a fast-paced entry to the economy segment – an increasingly attractive sector due to its rapid development opportunities and resilience to the economic cycles. Prizeotel is a commercial success story and has differentiated itself through innovative urban design, tech-savvy focus, personal touch and unique team culture – a total fit to Rezidor.”

The interiors are fully designed by Rashid, who has experience across a number of hotel projects previously.

His Semiramis boutique property in Athens won awards in 2005, while he completed MyHotel in Brighton in 2008, and the nhow in Berlin for Spanish group NH Hoteles in 2010.

“I am glad to partner with

Rezidor to transform Prizeotel from a local player to an international economy brand,” said Nussbaum.

“I am happy, proud, chilled and especially thankful for the work and dedication each team member of Prizeotel as well as all our partners have put into creating this unique brand.”

Prizeotel’s current landlords are to retain the existing properties, and have said they will invest in further projects.

“Combining and crossfertilising Prizeotel’s market and brand knowledge with Rezidor’s international expertise will unlock value for both organisations,” said executive Elie Younes, Rezidor’s Vice President and Chief Development Officer. “We will initially grow the German network and target key cities in Austria, Switzerland and Benelux primarily through leases, but also management agreements.

Prizeotel will offer a unique investment proposition with its compelling design, value-engineered development costs, high operating efficiencies and an optional turnkey construction solution.”

economy and style leader. And, having done the heavy lifting of getting its first three hotels up and running, the brand is in good shape to be gently corralled into a sharper growth curve.

In contrast with Accor’s recent activities, buying minority stakes in hotel brand Mama Shelter as well as tech startups and home sharing platforms, Rezidor’s move looks more like a straightforward commitment, as opposed to a test.

If Prizeotel’s management can get along with their pragmatic Scandinavian partners, and grow the business to one with scale, the brand has a potentially strong future, and not just in Germany.

The German market has been a strong one for economy operators, with Germans appearing to be happy spending their cash on fast cars rather than smart accommodation. Motel One has grown a considerable portfolio, while Meininger is thriving. There appears to be space for the upstart Prizeotel too; and Marriott’s Moxy is starting to open up in the country.

It is curious that Rezidor, which has spent the last half dozen years carefully extricating itself from problem leases, is now talking about happily entering into them to support Prizeotel’s expansion.

In part, this is symptomatic of the German market, where major funds that buy property must have a lease to deliver rents; and it also reflects the fact that the economy sector seems happy entering into such agreements. So long as the base coverage is adequate, what can go wrong?

HA Perspective (by Chris Bown): This deal gives Rezidor a raft of new possiblities in a market segment that sits below its Park Inn brand. And, at a time when Carlson is mulling over the future of its hotel business, Prizeotel also gives Rezidor a new growth opportunity that is not connected to its partner Carlson’s brands. Prizeotel looks to have a millennial feel, with a design edge that is stronger than that of Motel One, the German market’s

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The fact that Rezidor is now backing Prizeotel will be bad news for Premier Inn. The UK’s economy leader has picked Germany as its next major Europe market push, setting it up against Motel One, Germany’s leading economy brand – and one that has a clear design edge. With Prizeotel likely to be upping its pace of German expansion, suddenly Premier Inn’s offering is looking somewhat staid.

PPHE looks east for further expansion Hotel group PPHE has announced its intention to expand its activities in eastern Europe, with the EUR51m acquisition of the Arenaturist group in Croatia. The deal will give PPHE control of seven hotels, six apartment blocks and eight campsites in the country.

The company has agreed to buy the remaining 80% of its Croatian joint venture which it did not already own, from affiliates of investment partner Goldman Sachs. That vehicle owns 74.15% of the share capital of Arenaturist, which is listed on the Zagreb stock exchange, and as a result the deal triggers a mandatory takeover offer of the remaining outstanding shares. Off the back of the acquisition, PPHE has agreed to sell 10% of the Arenaturist shares to two Croatian investors, with an option to sell a further 4%.

The announcement came in the same week that PPHE announced 2015 results, which saw revenues

up 11.8% to EUR302.5m, off revpar up 12.1%. Normalised profit was up 25.5% at EUR41.2m. The results were flattered to an extent by sterling moving against the euro: the company has said it will report in sterling from 1 January 2016, reflecting the fact that most of its business currently is in the UK. “We are pleased to report another year of progress with double digit growth in revenue, normalised profit and normalised earnings per share,” said Chief Executive Boris Ivesha. “Excellent progress was also made with the various projects in our development pipeline. Trading in the year to date is in line with the board’s expectations in all markets.”

Occupancy nudged up from 83.7% to 84.3%, while the company pushed up average room rates by 11.3%. Hotels in London saw lower growth than previous years, at 3.2% in constant currency.

The PPHE hotels in Holland and Germany reported good growth.

Ivesha gave a hint at what the Croatian acquisition could bring in terms of reorientating the PPHE business. “The acquisition of further shares in Arenaturist provides the group with the opportunity to accelerate the growth of the Park Plaza brand in Central and Eastern Europe. This is an exciting development for both the group and Arenaturist.”

PPHE has an exclusive licence from Carlson, which took hold of the Park Plaza brand in 2002,

to develop and operate hotels and resorts under the Park Plaza brand in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

In a 2013 report, analysts reckoned bookings from the Carlson system were worth up to 40% of group revenues, accounting for around 30% of room occupancy.

PPHE bought its 20% interest in Arenaturist in 2008, and has since then been gradually improving the company’s hotel estate. In the last three years, it has transformed half the Arenaturist rooms into Park Plaza properties, with the 175 room Pula hotel the latest to open during last year.

To help fund the Arenaturist acquisition, it is borrowing EUR30m from a Zagreb bank. One of the beneficiaries of the takeover is the Croatian state government, which holds 1.95% of the shares.

Three of Arenaturist’s current seven hotels are already Park Plaza branded, as is one of seven resort properties listed on the company’s website. Eight campsites and six mobile home holiday parks are currently promoted at arm’s length, under the Arenacamps brand.

Back in western Europe, 2016 will see PPHE open two new hotels in London, and one in Nuremburg, all under the Park Plaza brand.

Along with an extension at the Park Plaza Riverbank, the group will add close to 1,100 rooms to the portfolio. Further ahead, two Art’otel signings in London will add hotels in Hoxton and Battersea.

Alongside the growth in the portfolio, PPHE reported its steps to ensure the hotels maintain their high levels of occupancy, not least as there are now signs of weakening in the London market. “This year we have undertaken more centrally orchestrated promotional campaigns than in any other year, ensuring that our products remain top of mind with our existing and prospective customers,” the company reported, while online partnerships with Google and Tripadvisor have been exploited, along with direct marketing via airline and credit card partners.

“Our primary focus remains to grow direct business,” it added.

HA Perspective (by Chris Bown): PPHE enjoyed a good year thanks to diligently sweating its large London portfolio, while benefitting from improvements elsewhere in mainland Europe. It will need to keep up that momentum notably in London, where the current year sees a substantial increase in its market presence.

With its Croatian acquisition, PPHE has confirmed its preferred strategy of owning the hotels it operates. That holds back the pace of expansion, but does put it in a controlling situation, and ensures that refurbishments are ongoing, to help keep room rates strong.

The Arenaturist deal gives PPHE the opportunity to build further scale under the Park Plaza

brand across Europe. Currently, its portfolio includes 11 hotels in the UK, the majority of them in London, five each in Holland and Germany, one in Israel and the new Croatian acquisitions.

The company has had the last eight years to get to understand the Croatian business, and clearly sees further opportunities to build there. The Park Plaza properties there are resort hotels, distinct from the rest of the portfolio which are located in cities, and perhaps there is potential to grow the resort business elsewhere around the Mediterranean.

With a third of holidaymakers in Croatia reckoned to come from Germany, there may well be logic in building the Park Plaza brand more substantially in that country, where the brand has a modest presence and some brand awareness among German sun seekers.

Aside from what it can control, PPHE will also be keen to know what comes of Carlson’s strategic review of its hotel activities. PPHE’s fortunes are closely entwined with the Carlson distribution machine.

And while PPHE is growing the Park Plaza brand in Europe, the current owners have done nothing with it in the USA, while there is just a sprinkling of hotels under the flag in India and China.

Hotel Analyst is the news analysis service for those involved with financing hotel property or hotel operating companies.

For more information and to subscribe visit: www.hotelanalyst.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 8870 6388

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radicalinnovationaward.com

We discover concepts that have the power to change the hotel industry.

Radical Innovation welcomes big ideas for the guest experience—from inside and outside of hospitality, from any country, and from professionals and students alike.

Each year, we put out a call for entries.

Our criteria? Show us what the hotel environment can be. Wow us with your creativity and feasibility.

Finalists are selected by a jury and flown to New York City to compete on the Radical Innovation stage on October 5. There, finalists present to an audience of hotel developers, owners, executives, and designers who vote for the grand prize winner.

Save the date for October 5, 2016.

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Lobby What do you see when you go to Sleep?

Sleep 2016 presents and explores the most exciting products, technologies and ideas for the evolving values of hotel guests.

Comprising the exhibition, conference and installations including the ‘Science of Tribes’ Sleep Set competition, Sleep invites you to look again at hotel design.

The Hotel Design Event

22-23 November 2016 The Business Design Centre, London

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Event Diary & News 4-6 MAY

8-10 MAY

10-11 MAY

10-13 MAY

HD Expo Las Vegas www.hdexpo.com Sleepover Miami www.sleepovermiami.com CHRIS Miami www.chrisconference.com Maison & Objet Americas Miami www.maison-objet.com

11-13 MAY

13-15 MAY

14-17 MAY

23-24 MAY

HOLA Miami www.holaconference.com Designjunction New York www.thedesignjunction.co.uk ICFF New York www.icff.com Boutique & Lifestyle Hotel Summit London www.boutiquehotelsummit.com

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23-26 MAY

24-26 MAY

25-27 MAY

1-3 JUN

Index Dubai www.indexexibition.com Clerkenwell Design Week London www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com APHIC Bangkok www.questexevent.com HI Design EMEA Lisbon www.hidesign-emea.com

24-26 MAY

Inspirational designs at CDW

22-25 SEP

CLERKENWELL DESIGN WEEK

Clerkenwell Design Week is set to return to London in May, featuring a variety of contemporary designs and new product launches. Taking place in the borough of Islington, the event will host eight main exhibition venues, each providing distinct and eclectic offerings, demonstrating the breadth of creativity that makes CDW an integral part of the London design calendar.

In addition to the scores of showrooms signed up to take part – including Arper, Ege, Hansgrohe, Interface, Morgan Furniture, and Vitra – exhibition venues this year include four new, specially made structures as well as fi rm favourites such as the Crypt on the Green and the House of Detention. Running north to south, the venues are: Design Fields (curated contemporary design); Platform (up-and-coming designers); Project (leading international brands); Additions (interior products); British Collection (UK designers); Detail and Detail Pavilion (luxury interiors); and Icon’s House of Culture (international).

As an orientation point for visitors, Brewhouse Yard (pictured) will be temporarily transformed, acting as a gateway to the festival. Working with local partners, the yard’s resident architecture practices – Studio Egret West and BDP – will create the dedicated public space.

“Over the coming weeks more details of exciting new product launches will be coming through,” comments Show Director William Knight.

“What we can clearly see is an amazing expression of the creativity that will bring Clerkenwell to life in May. The quality of work designers are bringing to the market is exceptional. To see international brands at Clerkenwell Design Week venues, new and old, alongside British talent is really exciting. This year, with the new show layout, we hope to attract even more visitors and invite people to come and explore, and be inspired.” www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com

A new home for Designjunction DESIGNJUNCTION

International design show Designjunction has announced its relocation to a new long-term home in King’s Cross, said to be one of the most exciting urban redevelopments in the UK. Expanding over 67 acres, the former industrial heartland is currently being transformed into a new destination incorporating public parks, commercial space and cultural attractions.

With the support of Argent and the King’s Cross development partnership, Designjunction will take over the area for its flagship show. The theme of the 2016 event will be ‘Immersed in Design’, with the move to the larger site marking the next chapter for Designjunction and the creation of the King’s Cross Design District at this year’s London Design Festival.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for Designjunction,” explains Deborah Spencer, Managing Director of Designjunction. “King’s Cross stands at the heart of the design and architectural community, with an inspiring cultural scene, thriving business district and strong industrial heritage.

“Our choice of location is pioneering – King’s Cross is on the brink of transformation, attracting renewed commercial interest, new development, new occupiers and regeneration. It is fast emerging as a creative hub and we are delighted to bring one of the most influential and exciting elements of the London Design Festival to this increasingly dynamic and contemporary London destination,” she adds.

Designjunction 2016 will host four distinct exhibition sites against the industrial backdrop of King’s Cross: the centrally located Granary Square will feature ten custom exhibitions for headline sponsored projects and installations; Cubitt will have a strong trade focus featuring the best in contemporary lighting as well as furniture from international design brands; The Canopy will be a temporary pop-up venue for premium retail brands; and The Crossing will be a platform for specially commissioned installations and flash factories. www.thedesignjunction.com

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International Hotel Investment Forum 7-9 MARCH 2016

Brexit, loyalty schemes and the sharing economy emerge as the key themes of IHIF 2016, as the industry gather to discuss opportunities and challenges for the year ahead.

Words: Catherine Martin

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capacity crowd gathered at the InterContinental Berlin in March for the 19th International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF), the annual meeting place of the hospitality community.

Packed with insightful panels, engaging exhibition showcases and unrivalled networking opportunities, the three-day event was attended by 2,100 senior level delegates that included owners, investors, lenders, hotel group executives, architects and interior designers.

Opening the forum, Kerry Gumas, President and CEO of Questex, and Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of Bench Events, introduced the programme – The Meeting of Global Collaborators – devised to cover a variety of topics.

Michael Hirst OBE, Consultant, CBRE Hotels, hosted the opening session in which a series of presenters addressed the threats, challenges and disruption facing our industry, from cyber crime and data theft to safety and terrorism.

First up, David Rowan, Editor of Wired Magazine, gave a fascinating insight into the changing society, noting the acceleration of innovation we are currently experiencing. Using examples such as robotics, driverless cars, and drones – “things of obscurity that are becoming mainstream” – he explained how the rate of change is only going to quicken. Rowan continued by offering top tips on how hotels can stay ahead of the game, from providing high bandwidth WiFi to building a community that adds value. He also explained the concept of designing friction out of the equation and using intelligent systems to streamline the experience, the prime example being Uber, which automatically charges the user’s account when they have reached their destination.

Asked about the impact of automation on the sector, Rowan felt that parts of the service sector could be automated, but there would always be demand for human interaction. Crucially, he believed that hoteliers shouldn’t be afraid to embrace technological developments: “A new technology will always come along; it’s about how you react and adapt that’s important.”

Rowan was then joined on stage by Vivek Badrinath, Deputy CEO, Marketing, Digital, Distribution & IT, Accor Hotels, who discussed the group’s five-year technical transformation plan. Badrinath admitted there were challenges in bringing skilled technical teams in-house, and therefore has concentrated on building strategic partnerships with technology companies.

The following session was dedicated to cyber security, with Stewart Room, Partner & Global Head of Cyber Security & Data Protection, PwC Legal, revealing that security strategies have only recently reached the agendas of governments. All major hotel groups are reporting breaches on their systems, he explained, adding that such events are forcing a change in the handling of personal data. The concluding statement from the session was that it is important to recognise that new technologies come with their vulnerabilities.

Helen Loughborough, Vice President Global Safety, InterContinental Hotels Group, then took to the stage to discuss global threats and how to keep guests safe in turbulent times. Loughborough said hotels have to manage the balance between providing hospitality and providing security, and that it is vital to have a comprehensive crisis management plan in place.

The final session of the series was chaired

by Ufi Ibrahim, CEO of the British Hospitality

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Association, and addressed the distribution challenge with executives from Expedia, Google and Booking.com. Terri Scriven, Industry Head Hospitality, Google, opened the session by saying 37% of people now book their travel online and of this, 25% comes via an OTA. She also revealed that online travel bookings have grown 11% year-on-year, and that 40% of all searches happen on a mobile device, a point backed up by Osama Hirzalla, Vice President Brand Marketing & eCommerce, Marriott International, who stated that mobile is the fastest growing channel and investing in mobile-enabled websites is crucial. Scriven also noted that hotels own a large amount of customer data that can be valuable in personalising service, however Hirzalla expressed that there was a knowledge gap in accurately analysing the data in order to use it effectively.

The presentation of the IHIF Lifetime Achievement Award followed and was awarded to Dieter Müller, founder and CEO of Motel One. The chain of budget design hotels is continuing to expand across Europe and has some 7,700 rooms in the pipeline. “Selecting the recipient of the IHIF Lifetime Achievement Award is a difficult but ultimately highly enjoyable process,” commented Tess Pearson, Event Director, Questex Media Group, hosts of IHIF. “We felt the growth, quality and success of Motel Once in such a relatively short timeframe, under Dieter’s leadership, deserved to be recognised by the international hotel community.”

The final session of the first day was the CEO panel hosted by Nick van Marken, Global Head of Hospitality, Deloitte, in discussion with Geoff Ballotti, President & CEO, Wyndham Hotel Group; Chris Nassetta, President & CEO, Hilton

Worldwide; Wolfgang Neumann, President & CEO, The Rezidor Hotel Group; Richard Solomons, CEO, InterContinental Hotels Group; and Federico Gonzalez Tejera, CEO, NH Hotel Group. van Marken opened the session saying there had been $85 billion of global transactions in 2015, and quoted the headlines that have affected hotel development and investment, directly or indirectly, over the past 12 months.

The strength of the dollar, a slowdown in China, and Brexit were all on the agenda, as was the Zika virus and refugee crisis. Despite such challenges, the panel was largely optimistic, reporting strong performances for the previous year.

On China, Solomons said the economy was slowing, not declining, and that IHG continues to grow there, while Neumann identified Africa as a continent of opportunity. There was also thought to be opportunities for M&A activity, as is often the case towards the end of an investment cycle.

Talk turned to the ever-popular topic of loyalty schemes with Nasetta and Solomons discussing their new cheaper-to-book-direct marketing campaigns. The CEOs admitted that, in the past, loyalty schemes have been over-complicated and that re-education is required to communicate that direct booking offers the best value. Solomons revealed that IHG has seen an uptick in direct bookings since launching its campaign, and that this will continue to be a significant focus.

The second day of IHIF began with an economic outlook from Roger Bootle, Chairman of Capital Economics, who addressed global issues such as oil prices, the “resilient” US market, and the Chinese economy, which he believed to be stabilising.

Turning to the Brexit, Bootle said “there is a serious, serious chance that we will leave,” and admitted that no-one could predict its impact on the hospitality industry or wider economy.

The next session looked at the relationship

between investors and analysts and focused on the role of the analyst in predicting activity. Panelists noted that an understanding of historical trends coupled with comprehensive data analysis leads to a sensible forecast for the future. The latest data from STR, as presented by Managing Director Robin Rossmann, showed positive RevPAR growth for North Africa (+8.5%), Europe (+7.1%), and North America (+6.3%), however there were declines in the Middle East (-4.6%) and Asia Pacific (-0.5%).

Panelists said that Europe had a solid 2015 with strong performance and record transaction volumes. “2015 saw strong RevPAR growth in Europe underpinned by peak occupancies and good rate growth across both group and transient business,” explained Rossman. “Profitability in European cities is on the rise with most major cities now achieving in excess of 30% margins.”

Meanwhile data from HVS, detailed in the recently published 2016 European Hotel Valuation Index, revealed a significant uptick in hotel values in the cities of Madrid, Dublin, Birmingham, Athens and Manchester.

Talk once again turned to Brexit and continued into the next session, in which Asian investors – including Louvre Hotels Group, FICO Corporation and Phoenix Global Investment – agreed that whether the UK was in or out of the EU had relatively little influence on their decision to invest in Europe. Also of importance was the significant budgets many of the Asian investment companies still have available to spend.

The afternoon’s breakout sessions provided an opportunity to delve deeper into a variety of topics; mixed-use developments, opportunities in Iran, and brand reputation were all highlighted, as were lifestyle hotels, experiential luxury, and the budget sector.

The final morning of IHIF marked the return

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of the In The Round sessions, which enabled delegates to participate in small group discussions with industry leaders. The three-day event also provided a launch pad for the owners, operators and developers unveiling new projects or concepts.

The Rezidor Hotel Group announced that it had purchased a 4% stake in Prizeotel for £14.7m; industry veteran Bani Haddad launched Aleph Hospitality in a bid to growth the Middle East and African hotel markets; and speculation continued over Marriott’s buyout of Starwood.

A number of research and analysis bodies also took the opportunity to present their findings to the market: HVS released its European Hotel Transactions report which stated that a record €23.7 billion was spent on hotels in Europe in 2015 – an increase of 66% on the previous year; PwC published a UK hotels forecast for the year ahead, predicting modest RevPAR growth in London and the regions; and Grant Thornton shared its report on The Power of Personalisation. Also the subject of a panel discussion led by Gillian Saunders, Global Leader of Travel, Tourism & Leisure at Grant Thornton, the paper addressed the ways in which hotels can use digital innovations and technology enabled services to deliver a personalised guest experience.

“Personalisation is one answer for hotels looking to maintain or grow their market share in this challenging environment,” commented Saunders.

“By meeting guests’ individual needs, hotels can win greater loyalty. From online check-in, to the app that customises the mini-bar, personalisation helps hotels stand out from the crowd.”

IHIF will return to InterContinental Berlin from 6-8 March 2017. www.berlinconference.com

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Singapore Design Week 8-20 MARCH 2016

The annual Singapore Design Week returns stronger than ever, celebrating design from across the region and launching a new design conference.

Words: Molly Dolan

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celebration of design spread across the city, Singapore Design Week took place from 8-20 March. Organised by the DesignSingapore Council, the event featured more than 100 showcases and programmes, acting as a celebration of design, architecture and innovation.

Key exhibitions included SingaPlural, Maison & Objet Asia, International Furniture Fair Singapore and In Bed With Designers, while smaller pop-ups and installations took place across the city.

SingaPlural saw a high number of international exhibitors, including Belgian brands Manutti and Vincent Sheppard, French manufacturer Ligne Roset, and BoConcept, a Danish designer of sleek, modern furniture. Brands such as Tribu, Louis Poulsen Asia and Himolton Conte Paris exhibited at Maison & Objet, while new designs from Wing Studio and Loudbasstard were showcased at In Bed With Designers.

Making its debut in 2016 was the Innovation by Design Conference, a platform for international and local leaders to share insight, demonstrating how design influences the innovation process. Through the stories of each speaker, the conference aimed to inspire and spark new conversation.

Keynote speakers included Masaaki Kanai, Chairman and Representative Director of Ryohin Keikaku Co. Ltd., a brand well known for its distinctive minimalist design and high quality; and Spanish designer Jaime Hayon. The programming was split into two categories, Design and Innovation, with the former featuring award-winning Singaporean designers and the latter introducing local leaders of design-led businesses.

Also taking place during Singapore Design Week was the second annual Asia Hotel Design Awards, hosted at The South Beach. Attracting over 400 of the industry elite from across the region, the ceremony celebrated exceptional architecture and design. Sleeper also hosted a special design forum with innovative bathroom brand Kohler, with speakers including Bill Bensley, Duangrit Bunnag, Guy Heywood of Commune Hotels, and Kohler’s Director of New Product Development, Mark Bickerstaffe.

As Singapore Design Week drew to a close, Jeffrey Ho, Executive Director of DesignSingapore Council Board, commented: “The Singapore Design Week continues to give our local designers and businesses a dynamic area to meet, collaborate and speak on all things design, as well as its impact on our lives.”

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SingaPlural

Acting as an anchor for Singapore Design Week, SingaPlural returned for its fifth year, presenting 71 design installations from all creative fields.

Installations included collaborations between designers and local Singaporean companies, as well as students from the city state’s leading design institutions such as NAFA (Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts). Several installations marked breakthroughs in design perspectives and material innovation, including the event’s mainstay Project X. Made possible this year through a collaboration between manufacturing company Luxx Newhouse and four local design studios, it aimed to redefine new uses for LG Hausys’ innovative HI-MACS solid surface material.

Further, a highlight of this year’s festival was a maze-like installation named Doors, the result of a first-time collaboration between four organisations: Mediacorp, IDCS, SILA and SFIC. Attendees were invited to walk through

the sprawling 320m2 structure and experience various curated spaces within it, with every turn presenting a new design concept.

“Design not only sits at the core of amazing brand experience, but is the root of business innovation.”

Mark Yong, Chairman, SingaPlural Visitors were also invited to attend innovative talks and participate in various industry-specific workshops by international design luminaires.

Guest of honour, Poon Hong Yuen, Chief Executive of Spring Singapore, commented:

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“SingaPlural has grown significantly over the past five years, with novel content and design concepts.

I am heartened to see strong partnerships formed through this event to drive product and business innovation. Such innovation is crucial for our SMEs as they pursue new opportunities in an increasingly competitive business environment.”

Mark Yong, Chairman of SingaPlural concluded: “SingaPlural 2016 is an excellent showcase to highlight the nexus between design and business. This year, we have been honoured to have over 20 local and international brands supporting our efforts.

“Design not only sits at the core of amazing brand experience, but is the root of business innovation. Smart organisations are realising that embedding design into business practices is now a necessity in order to create a deeper loyalty, ultimately sharpening their business edge.” www.singaplural.com

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International Furniture Fair Singapore

Maison & Objet Asia

IFFS 2016 presented more than 400 companies from 29 countries alongside co-located events The Décor Show and furniPRO Asia. Recently unveiling a new identity, the show adopted a fresh approach after anticipating changes that it had observed within the industry. The result was several feature areas elevating design and encouraging inspiration, all in keeping with the 2016 theme of Celebrate Inspiration.

Features included the collaborative Pyramid of Notion installation, the interactive Gamification, and the Furniture Design Award Showcase.

Speaking of the evolution, Ernie Koh, Chairman of IFFS, commented: “While the show has always been design-led, we saw the need to take this to the next level. Our goal is to be a platform that facilitates business discussions, highlights the latest trends in design, and engages the imagination.”

Between 8-11 March, over 7,100 visitors attended the third edition of Maison & Objet Asia. Key industry figures including developers, hoteliers, restaurateurs, interior designers and architects comprised 62% of the event’s attendees, an increase of 11% on 2015. The rise in visitors was testament to the repositioning of the show in a more refined direction, angled at higher quality and expertise.

The platform brought together a curated exhibition with the much-anticipated Interior Design & Lifestyle Summit. The forum comprised 20 conference sessions focusing on regional design projects and market trends, including an insightful session with Tony Chi. Summarising the event, Maison & Objet Asia Designer of the Year André Fu stated: “M&O is a highly curated show that allows people from the design industry to explore all disciplines of designs under one roof. Its focus on the world of hospitality also embraces the new generation of design community from this part of the world.”

Highlights from exhibitors at this year’s event included Parisian wallcovering brand Elitis, bathroom specialists Dornbracht and Lefroy Brooks, as well as outdoor brands Tribu, Maiori and Umbrosa.

www.iffs.com.sg

www.maison-objet.com

In Bed With Designers Building on the success of its Hong Kong event, buyMeDesign has partnered with leading Singaporean design retailer Naiise for a pop-up store in Singapore from 11 March-10 June.

Launching during Singapore Design Week, the latest installation is housed within Naiise’s flagship store at Clarke Quay Central and spans 6,500ft2. Curated by buyMeDesign, the store exhibits and retails an international selection of cutting edge products.

Florence Giraudon, founder of buyMeDesign commented: “buyMeDesign is passionate about discovering and revealing design gems and supporting emerging designers. We created this event to provide a platform to introduce innovative and creative designers to the expanding Asian market. In Bed With Designers is the new destination to discover, experience and interact with the latest global designs and designers.” www.inbedwithdesigners.com

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THE SOUTH BEACH, SINGAPORE 10 MARCH 2016

Winners Announced The industry’s elite gather in Singapore as the winning projects for the second Asia Hotel Design Awards are announced.

Words: Molly Dolan

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aking place on 10 March 2016 at The South Beach, Singapore, the Asia Hotel Design Awards attracted over 400 guests from across the region to celebrate the work of industry-leading architects and interior designers and the projects they create with hotel developers, owners and operators.

The evening was hosted by Sleeper Editor-at-Large Guy Dittrich, and opened with an address from Khirstie Myles, chair of the judging panel and Vice President, Design & Engineering, Asia Middle East Africa, IHG. “The measure of success is based not only on creative excellence, but also on commercial viability,” she explained. “We really sought out submissions with rigorous and appropriate design, demonstrating a sensible use of budget to contribute to the guest experience, as well as the theatre of hotel life.”

Winning projects included The Old Clare Hotel in Sydney by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer, Rosewood Beijing by Bar Studio, and The Ritz-Carlton Macau by Hirsch Bedner Associates. Zannier Hotels’ Phum Baitang in Siem Reap was the big winner of the night, scooping awards for its architecture and interiors, as well as the coveted Asia Hotel Design of the Year award.

Meanwhile, the prestigious Outstanding Contribution Award was presented to Adrian Zecha, founding partner of Regent International Hotels and founder of Aman. In a hospitality career that spans five decades, Zecha has been a visionary and innovator, credited for

building Aman’s resort portfolio before moving on to GHM Hotels, where he currently serves as Director and Non-Executive Chairman.

Commenting on this year’s event, Matt Turner, Editor-in-Chief of Sleeper, said: “This year’s awards had an incredible response from the hotel design community across the Asia Pacific region. Over 130 entries were received from 60 projects in twelve different countries.

The quality and diversity of the nominated projects is a real testament to the creativity and professionalism of the designers and architects involved, and all those who were shortlisted can be proud of their achievement. The winning projects were a stunning showcase of the best hotel designs in Asia over the past twelve months. We were also honoured to be able to acknowledge Adrian Zecha’s outstanding contribution to the industry over the past five decades.”

Sleeper would like to thank the following for their support of the Asia Hotel Design Awards: Buy Me Design, Cubes Indesign, Dekton by Cosentino, Design Hotels, Grohe, Hansgrohe, HI Design Asia, Indesignlive Singapore, Interface Hospitality, Janus et Cie, Lasvit, Latitude, Laufen, Maison & Objet Asia, Music Concierge, Proof & Company, Radical Innovation, Singapore Design Week, The Neighbourhood, The South Beach, Timothy Oulton Studio, and Top Hotel Projects. www.asiahoteldesignawards.com

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Opposite Page (Row 2): Adrian Zecha addresses the audience; category winners take to the stage (Row 4): Loh Lik Peng of Unlisted Collection is presented with the Urban Architecture award for The Old Clare Hotel, Sydney; Geraldine Dohogne of Zannier Hotels accepts an award from Lasvit’s Vadim Horna This Page (Row 1): Guy Heywood of Commune Hotels presents Adrian Zecha with the Outstanding Contributon Award (Row 2): John Shamon, Rosewood Hotel Group, takes home the Restaurant award for Rosewood Beijing; (Row 4): Soren Clausen of Janus et Cie and Ilker Hussein of Laufen take the opportunity to network; Charlie Gilmour of HI Design Asia presents the award for Event Space to Jacques Coetzee, Hirsch Bedner Associates, for The Ritz-Carlton Macau

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THE ARCHITECTURE AWARDS

RESORT PHUM BAITANG, SIEM REAP

By AW2

With the Zannier brand striving to emit emotion through architecture, atmosphere and service, the concept for Phum Baitang was to ‘create an atmosphere for guests to remember individual moments, glimpses in time,’ according to AW2’s submission. With initial masterplanning and concept by NEC Plus Ultra, the design is intended to resemble traditional Cambodian homes set amongst abundant rice paddy fields. Emphasis has been placed on simplicity, with attention to detail on a design that is sensitive to the local environment. The approach was to make each space within the resort different, inviting, yet still feel part of a cohesive village atmosphere say Zannier Hotels.

Judges commented: “It is a superb example of indigenous architecture being adapted to offer an authentic yet luxurious experience for its guests.”

URBAN THE OLD CLARE HOTEL, SYDNEY

By Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects Triumphant in the Urban Architecture category, The Old Clare Hotel stitches together three buildings – two old and one new – to present creativity and unpredictability.

Principal architect Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects has created a space that challenges what a hotel should be, resulting in ‘a building that appears to be dressing and undressing itself all at once,’ say the firm.

The hotel is organised around a laneway foyer that is flooded with natural light, allowing guests to navigate through a range of adapted spaces. Curtain glass panels adorn the new building, while raw materials including brick and tile emulate those of the original buildings. Judges described the project as: “Architecture for a greater purpose, where a sensitive approach to the heritage of the building blends seamlessly with clever use of space and volume.”

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THE INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS

LOBBY, LOUNGE & PUBLIC AREAS ROSEWOOD BEIJING

By Bar Studio

“Where art, architecture and design are exquisitely combined to create a true sense of arrival,” stated judges, speaking of the Lobby, Lounge & Public Areas winner and flagship Asian hotel for the Rosewood brand.

The design concept of Rosewood Beijing projects a residential feel translated to a large-scale hotel. Core areas, such as the lobby, are underpinned by their styling and unique collections of art and accessories, with a strong and distinctive identity.

Bar Studio completed the interior design, exploring the essence of hospitality that Rosewood is renowned for, with the idea of sanctuary acting as a cornerstone. The lobby creates a homely ambience, with accessories such as a fireplace, artwork and partition screens forming an intimate and serene setting, placed within powerful architecture for the ultimate arrival.

BAR CIGAR & COCKTAIL LOUNGE AT PHUM BAITANG, SIEM REAP

By Zannier Hotels

Picking up its first interior design award of the AHDAs, the Cigar & Cocktail Lounge at Phum Baitang presents a comfortable and inviting space that harks back to the true green village concept. Judges applauded the bar’s ability to transition from day to night, presenting warm and cosy design throughout.

The unique interior mixes artisan made antiques with historical architecture, redesigned to present a contemporary colonial feel. Meanwhile, materials used are in keeping with the age and ambience of the existing sustainable structure: recyclable, easily maintained and practical.

Nestled within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor, Phum Baitang sustains itself through efficient, controlled use of all resources while capturing the local feel of simplicity.

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THE INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS

EVENT SPACE VIP FUNCTION ROOM AT THE RITZ-CARLTON, MACAU

By Hirsch Bedner Associates Taking home the award for Event Spaces was Hirsch Bedner Associates for the Ritz-Carlton Macau. The only hotel in Macau to feature a complete wing dedicated to a VIP bridal experience, the property has identified its clientele perfectly, creating the ultimate VIP experience. The space combines luxurious materials, executed in unique combinations such as marble alongside faceted mirrors.

Emphasis is placed on quality, with Italian Calacatta Oro marble, English handlacquered wallcoverings and Italian Murano glass chandeliers featuring throughout.

Meanwhile, loose furnishings are customdesigned and carpets are bespoke, made using hand-tufted wool.

Commenting on the project, judges said: “The designers responded well to the brief, with a scheme that perfectly met the needs and expectations of the property’s clientele.”

RESTAURANT RED BOWL AT ROSEWOOD BEIJING

By Bar Studio

In the hotly contested Restaurant category, Red Bowl at Rosewood Beijing emerged as the winner. With its own dedicated entrance, the eatery is designed to stand apart from the hotel, while inside, the layout presents a communal feel with the shared nature of hot-pot dining. According to judges: “The celebration of Chinese communal dining – based on traditional concepts of sharing – offers drama, theatre and intrigue centred on the conviviality of a hot pot bowl.”

Bar Studio’s design is based on a series of centrally serviced dining areas that allow service to operate fluidly. Finishes are both characterful and practical, using raw materials such as timber alongside durable metal elements. The judges concluded: “It is a clever integration of design and operation, breaking down barriers between guests, whilst providing intimacy for those who need it.”

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Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.

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THE INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS

BEDROOMS & BATHROOMS ROSEWOOD BEIJING

By Bar Studio “Rosewood Beijing was the stand out winner,” exclaimed the judges of the winning project in the Bedrooms & Bathrooms category. “The homely, refined interiors are perfectly finished and exquisitely detailed with books, art, and sculptures that reflect the history and vibrancy of Beijing.”

Despite its 283 keys, Rosewood Beijing creates the personalised atmosphere of a boutique hotel, with guestrooms providing both a luxurious sanctuary from the city and unique engagement with Beijing. Designers Bar Studio have created rooms that appear apartment-like in their spaciousness, with a residential feel emanating from eclectic art collections and shelves lined with Chinese texts. The design explores a notion of moving beyond a hard exterior to reach an interior world that is rich and unexpected, with discrete living, working and dining spaces alongside a separate bath and bedroom zone and walk-in wardrobe. Further, a leatherupholstered banquette seat is placed within the signature large window, creating an interaction between the guest and dramatic city skyline, thus evoking a sense of place.

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THE INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS

SPA & WELLNESS SPA TEMPLE AT PHUM BAITANG, SIEM REAP

By Zannier Hotels

A third award for Phum Baitang, this time in the Spa & Wellness category. A hideaway amongst leafy green foliage, Spa Temple’s interiors mimic its surroundings, with plants adorning the walls and stone and aged wood used for construction. Impactful upon first sight, the design is simplistic and imbues a natural aesthetic that presents an ideal fit for the wider design of the resort.

The interior has been fashioned using Khmer artefacts and artisan antiques – sourced within Cambodia and throughout Asia – with a light-filled reception space. According to Zannier Hotels: “The design extols a culture appropriate design that embraces the medieval splendour of the Khmer Kingdom.”

Further, individual treatment villas resemble Cambodian huts, with construction materials being chosen for optimum sustainability.

SUITE BEIJING HOUSE AT ROSEWOOD BEIJING

By Bar Studio Judges said that Beijing House was a clear winner in this category, with the suite akin to a private apartment situated within a hotel. The diverse collection of furniture, art and accessories – as found throughout the hotel – suggests that this is the home of a well travelled, Beijing-based occupant, while the simple layout emphasises guest comfort and ease of use. Use of lighting is subtle and intimate, creating a considered effect that is both elegant and homely.

Judges concluded: “Despite being the largest suite in the hotel at 177m2, Beijing House provides the highest levels of luxury at a beautifully human scale. With its floor-toceiling windows overlooking the iconic CCTV Tower and Beijing skyline, and a beautiful combination of Art Deco and Chinoiserie paintings, Beijing House offers a tasteful, sophisticated residence for its guests.”

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Kohler Design Forum 8 MARCH 2016

Following the success of the Kohler Design Forum series in China, the sanitaryware manufacturer partnered with Sleeper to bring the event to Singapore’s National Design Centre.

Words: Matt Turner

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osted by Sleeper Editor-at-Large Guy Dittrich under the title of ‘Paradise Found’, the first Kohler Design Forum to take place in Singapore, following earlier editions in China, focused on the theme of ‘Delivering Sustainability as Standard’.

Over 100 attendees gathered at the National Design Centre during Singapore Design Week, to gain expert insight and advice on how to maximise design impact with minimum intervention, from the architecture and landscaping of hotels to their interiors.

World-renowned designers Bill Bensley and Duangrit Bunnag presented award-winning projects from across the Asia Pacific region, demonstrating how world-class design can be delivered in a sustainable, environmentally aware way.

Kohler’s Director of New Product Development, Mark Bickerstaffe, gave additional input on key market trends to be considered, while Guy Heywood, COO at Alila Hotels & Resorts, joined Bensley, Bunnag and Bickerstaffe for a panel discussion.

Both Bensley and Bunnag demonstrated how nature could be woven into their projects. At Four Seasons Koh Samui, faced with the challenge of creating an 80-room hotel on a steeply sloping site, Bensley had retained 850 coconut trees, using an innovation he described light-heartedly as “the world’s first coconut hula skirt”.

“It allows the coconut tree to penetrate everything we needed to put on site – the guestrooms, lobbies, swimming pools, and so on. The coconut trees come through the building and not a single tree was cut down. I believe in minimal intervention,” he said.

The architecture at Duangrit Bunnag’s X2 Resort in Kui Buri was also designed to accommodate the trees on the site: “We changed the

building placement to the composition of the trees, and I persuaded the owner to put a swimming pool under a tree despite the leaves.”

Using local, often recycled, building materials, was also cited by Bunnag as an obvious way to intergrate sustainable principles into his architecture. At X2, local stone walling techniques have been interpreted in a contemporary style. With Alila Luang Prabang, Bunnag had studied traditional Laos architecture to create new structures that blend seamlessly with the existing buildings of a former detention house. And at the Jam Factory in Bangkok – where a restaurant, café, furniture showroom and art gallery have been created alongside his design studio – as much of the original ice factory building as possible has been retained.

Bensley believes architectural footprints should be kept as small as possible: “The smaller the footprints, the easier they fit between the trees. Let the trees grow and work with what’s there, it’s been there for hundreds, sometimes thousands of years.” Rather than using complicated modelling software, he mocks up his buildings on site with basic bamboo structures. “Make the volumes out of bamboo, it’s so simple and allows you to see what will work,” he states.

Bunnag is taking this a step further, working on projects where bamboo is the main construction material. “There’s a new level in what you can do with bamboo. I’d like to build a high-rise out of wood. You can’t grow steel or stone, but you can grow wood.”

For Bunnag, a light touch is the key to sustainability: “Sometimes design is best achieved without designing, just dancing with what you have and embracing the context.” At Costa Lanta, one of his earliest hospitality projects, the natural sea breeze is used instead of

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air-conditioning: “It’s ridiculous to have air-con on the beach. Costa Lanta is just a floor, walls and a roof – that’s it. Not because I’m a fan of minimalism, but because I’m lazy,” he joked. “I just want to draw a few lines and that’s it – the trick is to get the proportions right.”

Guy Heywood of Alila Hotels & Resorts had done the same thing in Bali. During the panel discussion that followed the speaker presentations he explained how operators, designers and consultants have to convince owners and developers of the benefits of sustainability: “Ultimately the people with the money make the final decision, so how do we influence owners to make the right one? Some sustainable practices require a lot of capital investment up front. The key is to look at different ways we can help that don’t necessarily cost money, that can actually save money, and be cost effective. In Bali, for example, we have no air-con at all, all the doors open front and back, so the breeze goes straight through. That’s saving money for the owner.”

Kohler’s Mark Bickerstaffe explained that he had learnt some hard truths in his company’s efforts to adopt sustainable principles.

“Consumers don’t really care. People won’t pay more for sustainable products, but it’s part of our responsibility, it’s the right thing to do,” he explained. “There are going to be three billion more people on the planet by 2020 – that inspires us. It’s about taking action and not being put off by what seem like insurmountable obstacles.”

Kohler has gone beyond simply looking at ways to reduce water consumption, he said, and was thinking about “life-cycle, durability, cleaning times, use of waste products from the manufacturing process.” For it’s new Modern Life range, after listening to customers in the hospitality sector, Kohler has rethought the design of the toilet seat. “If you make a product faster and easier to clean, you don’t just make it financially attractive to hotel operators, you also reduce the amount of chemicals, water and so on. Toilet seats can be designed better to be 17% faster to clean, and three times cleaner in terms of germs, but the environmental benefit is much larger than that.”

Bickerstaffe’s presentation ended with a look at Kohler’s ‘Clarity’ project – a ceramic filtration system created to enable people in remote regions to access safe, reliable drinking water. The system was designed to bring aspirational products to an affordable price point so NGOs and end users do not have to choose form over function.

Bensley echoed this belief that sustainability isn’t just about buildings, but about social aspects as well. He described how he had rescued 37 elephants from the streets of Bangkok, returning

them to their natural habitat at the Four Seasons Tented Camp in Chiang Rai, for guests to ride. At Shinta Mani Siem Reap, he created a foundation to train impoverished locals in hospitality. “For the last 15 years we’ve graduated 30-40 kids every year, and every one of them now has a job in the local community. These are kids who grew up on garbage dumps in Phnom Penh. We’ve also sponsored over 900 piglets, 800 school supplies, 1,000 water wells and 90 houses.”

His next project is Shinta Mani Wild, described by Bensley as “a utopia of sustainability, in a place no-one’s ever heard of”. He has acquired an 800 hectare parcel of land running down a river between two national parks, where he is building South East Asia’s first private wildlife conservation park hotel.

The event ended with a wide ranging panel discussion exploring the topic of sustainability further. Bunnag commented: “The problem is that we’re given choices. If we weren’t given a choice it would become like breathing. Being sustainable shouldn’t be questioned any more, it shouldn’t be a choice. It’s not about sustainability, it’s about authenticity.” Heywood then asked: “How may of you can truthfully say that when you look for a hotel you look at its sustainable credentials. It’s up to us as architects, hoteliers, suppliers to do the right thing. We need to guide our owners in the right direction.”

Highlighting practical measures hotel operators could take, Heywood pointed to waste recycling and water bottling plants. “In third world countries it can be cheaper to get someone to pick up your rubbish than to recycle it. Recyling facilities require capital investment up front. But Bali has a huge rubbish problem. Now all our hotels in Bali will be zero waste landfill – we’re recycling glass, rubber and petroleum on site. Its taken 12 months to convince my owners but the marketing benefit outweighs the initial investment.

Most of our hotels have water bottling plants, it can cost $25,000 but the ROI is 1.2 years depending on cost of water in the country your talking about.”

Bensley added: “For 30 years now I’ve been buying shredders for a couple of thousand dollars. Rather than sending waste to landfill, we put it in the shredder and put it back in the gardens as mulch.

It’s such an easy thing to do. A lot of it is really nothing more than common sense.”

To view the full videos of the Kohler Design Forum visit www.sleepermagazine.com

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HI Design MEA 1-3 MARCH 2017

The original decision-makers forum for the hospitality interior design industry announces a new event focusing on the developing Middle East and Africa region.

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Co-Director James Burke adds: “We think the time is right to make this move. Yes, we want to be able to offer a HI Design forum to as many people as we can, but more importantly, we are seeing very encouraging signs in the hotel development pipeline in the MEA region. There is sustained activity in the Middle East and steady progress in Africa.”

The inaugural HI Design MEA will take place from 1-3 March 2017 at Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa in Muscat, Oman.

Organisers are expecting a total of 150 delegates to attend, and have places for 60 buyers and 80 suppliers.

Buyer delegate places are offered to corporate design and project executives from leading operators who are actively developing in the Middle East and Africa, and hospitality interior architecture and design professionals with confirmed projects in the region. Limited places are also offered to procurement specialists. Attendance for buyers is by invitation only.

Supplier companies will comprise high quality, hospitality FF&E manufacturers from all over the world with the capacity to supply the MEA market.

In line with the established HI Design forums, there will also be a seminar programme led by Guy Dittrich. Dittrich, along with longserving Event Manager Sofi Khan, will take on more prominent roles as joint directors of the MEA event.

Dittrich and Khan jointly conclude: “This is a very exciting development which we are looking forward to realising. The MEA event is now officially launched and we welcome any contact from interested parties.”

he organiser of HI Design EMEA and HI Design Asia, Atticus Events, has announced the creation of a third event – HI Design MEA. Next year, HI Design EMEA will become HI Design Europe to focus on the European market, while the new HI Design MEA will concentrate on the developing Middle East and Africa region.

The original business meetings forum for the hospitality interior design industry debuted in Stockholm in 2006 and celebrated its tenth edition last year. Its successful formula incorporates meetings, seminars and networking over two-and-a-half days, with each annual event held in a different location.

Both HI Design EMEA and its sister event HI Design Asia (launched in 2009) provide a platform for buyer delegates (hotel operators, interior architects, designers and procurement specialists) and supplier delegates (international suppliers of hospitality FF&E) to be able to meet during a pre-planned programme to explore potential future collaborations.

Both events have been fully booked for the last two years and now, following unprecedented demand, Atticus Events has decided to split the forum in two from 2017.

Jonathan Needs, Director of Atticus Events comments: “At last year’s event in Dubrovnik, we had to disappoint many suppliers who wanted to attend as all available places had been taken. These companies were of course quick to secure a place for this year’s event in Lisbon and, as a result, the 2016 event was sold out before the end of November. Subsequent interest since means that we must disappoint even more people this year! Creating two events in 2017 will allow us to offer a compelling, focused opportunity for everyone.”

www.hidesign-mea.com

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Herringbone - a new design from Newmor Wallcoverings. Tactile tweeds inspired by British tailoring and traditional artisanal weaving techniques.

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13/04/2016 07:59

Urban Escape #03 D E S I G N CO N C E P T: AT S I X

In this third chapter tracing the development of two hotels within an urban regeneration project in central Stockholm, we look at the ideas of Universal Design Studio for the At Six hotel. The story will unfold in each issue until both hotels open in 2017.

Words: Guy Dittrich

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n the Norrmalm neighbourhood of central Stockholm, work on the large mixed-use Urban Escape project is taking shape. The development includes two contiguous hotels, Hobo and At Six, both managed by large regional operator, Nordic Hotels & Resorts. The hotels are independently branded and have very different interior design concepts. We focus here on the creative process for At Six by Universal Design Studio (UDS). The hotel is named after its Brunkenstorg street number and will have approximately 340 guestrooms.

Occupying the eastern side of a well-treed, triangular torg, or city square, works on the upper parts of this city block are being completed whilst the Gallerian shopping mall below remains open. Quite some achievement when considering the safety, noise and access issues faced by construction giants Skanska and NCC. The stripping out left lift cores, concrete floors and largely pillar-free volumes wide-open to great views across the city and archipelago. White Arkitekter has worked on the façade and added three new floors with higher ceilings that will house mostly suites, as well as a rooftop restaurant and terrace.

The scope of UDS’ work is to provide the full interior design of the lobby entrance, the first floor restaurant and bar, and all the guestrooms.

“Our design concept works together with our responsibilities for the wider regeneration project of Urban Escape as a whole,” explains Hannah Carter Owers, Director of UDS. “We want the hotel to be a cultural hub and to give something back. To become part of the everyday life of the city where workers will have a coffee on the way to the office, or a cocktail on the way home.”

At the entrance, UDS has utilised the existing shell “to create an architectural envelope inside

that shares the weightiness of the building and gives a sense of permanence.” She continues: “This will be an area of contrast – dramatic and refined, heavy and delicate, light and dark.”

The walls and floors will be of sawn and polished basalt whilst the broad staircase will be of a paler stone, probably a silver Travertine. Offsetting this will be the lightness of the metal balustrade and the hot-rolled steel ceiling. “There is a language of materials here that is appropriate to the building, but the treatment is contemporary,” she adds.

“We still have that grand staircase moment but the lobby is deliberately modest in size as the aim is to get people in and up quickly to the more privileged first floor area.”

enduring quality,” she explains, adding: “It should wear in, not wear out.”

The guestroom layout has been relatively easy.

“The building was originally constructed as a hotel but only ever operated as offices,” says Carter Owers of the logical partitioning that gives two guestrooms per structural bay. Being in Scandinavia with its long dark winters, there has been much discussion over the window treatment.

This chimes in with the UDS view that the third of the room closest to the window is rarely used.

In the basement of the hotel are full-size mockup rooms for both At Six and Hobo, the latter designed by Studio Aisslinger. “It’s weird stepping from one to the other as our approaches have been so different,” states Carter Owers of the side-by-side demonstration.

For At Six, in front of the deep ledge of the curtained window sits a bespoke chaise longue. It is just one of several commissioned pieces that will include customdesigned objects from Barber Osgerby Studio (who founded UDS), plus bespoke light fittings from Rubn in Vittsjö, southern Sweden. Either side of the window are large mirrors framed by dark wood panelling. At once the view from the window is elongated and this third of the room still feels cosy with highlight objects in burnished bronze, referencing something of old Stockholm.

Of course many aspects of the design and FF&E are yet to be finalised but UDS is relishing the learning curve. Refreshingly, concludes Carter Owers, detailed discussions with the client have been more about making the best use of the spaces than the expense.

“We want the hotel to be a cultural hub... to become part of the everyday life of the city where workers will have a coffee on the way to the office, or a cocktail on the way home.”

Hannah Carter Owers, Universal Design Studio

Here, the entire floor is taken up by a 500m2 all-day dining restaurant and a 400m2 bar. “The layout is long and linear so the challenge has been to make it not look like a corridor,” she clarifies. A stair core separates the two venues and a central bar creates pockets of space. The windows have been kept free for guest seating with views over the neighbouring torg.

Carter Owers describes the restaurant as a buzzing brasserie and the bar as a flexible lounge space. The furniture is not locked down but the idea is to be able to section off areas for separate uses. A blend of international and Swedish historical pieces will be upholstered in velvet and leathers. “It should have a contemporary feel with

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In our next issue find out about the interior concept for the second hotel, Hobo, designed by Studio Aisslinger.

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03.06.2015 08:09:11

More than ceramics PORCELANOSA GROUP

Having built an empire around expertise in ceramics, Porcelanosa Group has expanded to a total of eight brands, enabling it to specialise in every aspect of design.

Words: Molly Dolan

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omprising eight companies ranging from state-of-the-art building solutions for contemporary architecture, to ceramics and high-end bathroom design, Porcelanosa Group is more than a sum of its parts.

Founded in 1973 just 40 miles north-east of Valencia in Villareal, Porcelanosa focused primarily on ceramic flooring and wall tiles, fast becoming an expert in the field. The group’s specialisation was in the production of porous, single-fired stoneware and porcelain, immediately offering a wide range of formats and finishes and revolutionising the market throughout Spain.

Not content with its current collections and progress, the following 30 years saw the group launch a number of specialist brands, each focusing on an area of expertise such as innovation, natural products, sanitaryware and health and wellness.

Employing almost 5,000 skilled professionals, today the company site resembles a small town: employees cycle through the factory complex on company-issue blue bicycles, while a network of underground conveyor belts deliver products to the enormous Centro Logistico before being shipped worldwide.

Of the eight brands, Systempool explores the benefits of water, with products including shower trays, hydromassage baths and accessories; L’Antic Colonial meets demand for exclusive, top-quality natural materials such as slate and marble; and Urbatek focuses on large-scale projects with its production of through-body wall and floor tiles. Due to the variety of brands, sources of design inspiration vary. However, one underlying theme throughout the group is nature as an influencer, seen in the use of asymmetrical stone, mosaic in natural wood and marble.

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Although part of one family, the eight brands regularly compete to produce not only the most innovative products of the season, but also remain at the forefront in the design stakes. A result of this is the launch of Krion, a next generation solid surface developed by the Systempool arm of the group.

Adopting the company’s ethos of looking to nature for inspiration, Krion is similar to natural stone. The composition consists of twothirds natural minerals, combined with a low percentage of highresistance resins, allowing for a multitude of benefits that natural materials are not capable of, including an absence of pores, antibacterial qualities, hard-wearing, durable and easy-to-repair.

Due to the versatile nature of the material, it has already been specified in numerous international hotel projects, including the Hotel Envoy in Boston. The Group One Partners and Stantecdesigned hotel features a bar, doors and wall made using Krion, as well as a futuristically shaped side table – reminiscent of a cetacean – demonstrating the material’s flexibility. Further, European Hotel

Design Awards’ winner NH Eurobuilding Madrid features the material in the form of indoor and outdoor furniture, as well as backlit bedside tables and lattice partition doors.

Processed in a similar way to wood, the material can be cut into narrow sheets allowing translucency, or joined and thermoformed to make curved elements and objects. Further, the solid surface allows the option of using an injection moulding production process, creating designs that would be impossible with other materials.

The material took centre stage at Porcelanosa’s 23rd annual Global Architecture International Exhibition, where CEO Silvestre Segarra Segarra invited international journalists as well as members of the architecture and design community to see first-hand the group’s developments. The event serves as a platform for the presentation of new designs, exhibiting them to a diverse, international audience through a series of showrooms, demonstrations, and networking events.The exhibition attracted a record number of visitors, with 12,000 guests from 80 countries.

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Porcelanosa is launched, focusing on ceramic flooring and wall tiles

The Venis brand launches with a commitment to innovation

Gamadecor is set up, focusing on kitchen and bathroom furniture

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Also present was Valencian product designer Ramón Esteve, showing his collaborations with L’Antic Colonial: Faces and Minim.

L’Antic Colonial was developed in 1999, catering to the increasing demand for high quality, natural products in the interior design market. The brand harnesses nature’s creative potential, producing stunning pieces using terracotta, slate, marble and natural woods.

The Minim collection is characterised by simple lines and purity, with a monolithic form that is fully covered in stone, while Faces presents sinks manufactured using a single block of marble. Discussing the collections at the brand’s headquarters, Esteve commented: “I have been working with Porcelanosa Group for a long time. The essence of L’Antic Colonial consists in working with natural materials and, in the case of the Faces range, it is based on rocks. It is made from irregular polyhedrons that recall mineral formations, enhancing the aesthetic qualities of the stone and giving the character of a sculpture.

“The collection is formed by several items with a common base in a play of intersected surfaces that create different facets,” he continues.

“Natural materials, combined with high-tech materials, offer the ability to create a space where you can imagine and feel the spirit of the architecture and connection to the place.”

As well as showcasing new releases from each of the eight firms, the event also saw the launch of the Premium Collection, a concept that includes the most exclusive products and materials from each of the sister brands.

Esteve explains: “After collaborating with L’Antic Colonial, the Porcelanosa Group asked me to develop a new concept called Premium Collection. My task as the Artistic Director of the project is to choose – from all the brands – a selection of products with the greatest potential within an architectural space.”

The collection’s two main goals are to transmit the potential of the brand, whilst making the most exclusive present trends known in relation to the architecture and interior design sectors. The selection aims to surpass the limits of a concept collection, presenting a group of products with distinction, style and quality.

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Above: Ramón Esteve’s Mimim Mirror for L’Antic Colonial features in the group’s prestigious Premium Collection

“Natural materials, combined with high-tech materials, offer the ability to create a space where you can imagine and feel the spirit of the architecture.”

Nine premium collections Avenue, Union Square and Park comprise the offering, focusing Avenue, Porcelanosa occupies on different trends such as metal, almost 2,000m2 of the Commodore monochrome and brutalist Criterion Building. The building’s architecture. Neo Minimal presents interior has been completely designs that evoke the simplicity of revamped to create eight distinct the 1990s, using nothing more than showrooms, offices and space for absolutely necessary of the highconferences, seminars and displays, Ramón Esteve, Artistic Director of Premium Collection quality, contemporary-looking raw while the exterior has been carefully materials. Esteve’s Minim range for renovated, both by prestigious L’Antic Colonial features alongside Noken’s Nk Logic shower and architectural studio Foster + Partners. Norman Foster, Chairman Krion-made shower plates. and founder of Foster + Partners comments: “Like many New Meanwhile, the current trend for metal finishes and accents is York buildings of this period, the old Commodore Criterion has a covered by the Heavy Metals selection, made up of Noken’s Lounge repeating stack of identical plants, up to six, and is not ideal for a tapware, Systempool’s Neo Series shower enclosure and L’Antic showroom distribution. Our main challenge has been to work within Colonial’s Mosaico Metal Bronze 3D Cubes. As a whole, the Premium the protected structure of the building, and transform inside.”

Collection stands as a clear representation of international trends, The rate at which Porcelanosa Group has expanded and diversified styles and influences. over the past 43 years has been steady and unwaveringly strong, The group’s latest flagship store in New York City is a clear setting a watertight base for the future. indicator of the brand’s international success. Bordered by Sixth www.porcelanosa.com

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Lighting & Control CONNECTIVITY IS KEY

Increasing digitalisation steals the focus of lighting designers from sustainability and wellbeing to connectivity and data.

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Supernova kinetic installation designed by Petra Krausová as seen at nfluencing human behaviours such as productivity and mood, the Euroluce in 2015. According to Jakimic, this enveloping digitalisation quality of lighting is imperative to good hotel design. Lighting is will eventually reach the world of lighting: “It is becoming used for different functions throughout a hotel space, with the omnipresent,” he explains. “This will, however, be more relevant to most integral being in the ever-evolving lobby, which now has to technical lighting than to the ambient type, which may play the role cater to a variety of functions. Guests must be made to feel welcome of antidote in an over-digitalised world.” and relaxed, whilst being able to complete day-to-day tasks, answer An exploration of this comes from Smart Lighting – an event emails, interact socially or simply read a book. researching and promoting the discussion surrounding connected In terms of guestroom lighting, little has advanced other than the lighting. Following the idea that lighting has developed beyond guests’ need for control. As technology develops, the controls are illumination, one of the event’s talking points is the idea that sensors simplified. Steve Jones, CEO at Innermost comments: “It’s all about are connected, thus allowing a world where physical objects are choice. Control technology – whether app-based or other – allows seamlessly integrated into information us control over our lit environment networks, and where physical objects like never before. It is seen in aesthetic can become active participants. functions including tuning colour Increased technology can also mean temperatures, or programming different colours and levels appropriately for the increased safety, with smart lighting time of day.” offering options such as controlling Leon Jakimic, Lasvit Following development of settings remotely. The financial sustainable solutions in LEDs, OLEDs implications for this type of technology and compact fluorescent lamps, the are often beyond the realms of the hotel world of lighting design has changed its focus to connectivity. industry, but as systems develop, it is possible they will filter through.

That being said, it must be noted that increasing technological However, it is clear that lighting should not become ‘smart’ for developments also serve environmental concerns, whether this be the sake of being smart. It must contribute to the quality of guest via heightened motion sensors, recognising existing daylight, or experience by taking care of complex issues and serving people from customisable back of house programming for hotel staff. behind the scenes. According to Jakimic, there is a definite balance The importance of wider technology developments is evident, between the combination of technology, functionality and style. He with increasing innovations across all industries resulting in major elaborates: “I think that the priorities are aligned. Everyone wants developments for the lighting industry. Leon Jakimic, founder of the most beautiful looking design providing the most sun-like light Lasvit explains: “Further digitalisation of media, medicine and in the most user-friendly way.” transportation is set to continue. This will result in a constantly Asked about future lighting design trends within hospitality, Jones increasing amount of data which will be everywhere, and the key to predicts: “Simplicity, healing and detox, connectivity and understated success will be to analyse, interpret and simplify it.” luxury. There is research into light that can cure, but the fundamentals For example, the technologies being used in other fields can remain that good quality light is uplifting and bad light is a drag. In be harnessed, enabling lighting designers to not only increase time, it is possible that these things will become added to our light sustainability measures, but provide guests with a never-before-seen without us realising – like fluoride to water – and they may even be lighting experience. An embodiment of this being Lasvit’s interactive legalised or added to building codes.”

“Digitialisation is becoming omnipresent.”

TERZANI Doodle The design of Terzani’s latest offering reflects designer Simone Micheli’s reflection on current lifestyles. Lives are dynamic, with intertwining collections of relationships, experiences and journeys. Imitating the fluidity of current generations, Micheli has created the contemporary Doodle light. Like humans, each doodle is unique and each pendant is handcrafted by artisans to resemble a randomised path. Offering control, each LED bulb can be placed anywhere on the light, not only reflecting the choices of life, but giving Doodle a special flexibility. www.terzani.com

ZAVA Shade Taking inspiration from the minimal lighting style of wire and exposed bulb, Shade adds a new dimension to this classic design. Created by James McFarlene for Zava, the design is available in a range of colours and sizes, with a UV version on offer for bars and nightclub spaces.

Shade also offers bespoke flexibility on length, allowing all pieces to be tailored to exact requirements for a unique lighting experience. www.zavaluce.it

BROKIS Capsula Brokis’ Capsula collection has been revitalised, with the wooden end caps of the original version being replaced with sleek metal, enhancing the sublimity of the light whilst allowing a more efficient cooling of the light source. Further, the etched fi nish on the inner glass visually suppresses the silhouette of the lamp, imparting an entirely new ambience. Unlike in translucent glass, the colours in etched glass take on a pastel quality, with the new fi nish bringing additional colour options. www.brokis.cz

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MAIORI La Lampe La Lampe is built on an ethos of solar powered lights combined with LEDs. The outdoor lights present a sustainable energy device with an equally advanced hard body, creating versatile lighting objects. For this collection, Maiori applies its heritage as an outdoor furniture maker alongside a sustainable manufacturing process. www.maiori.com

DAVIDE GROPPI Simbiosi Simbiosi is about re-thinking the idea of a chandelier. Its design has been de-structured and can be re-assembled according to the aesthetic taste of the client. As a whole, Simbiosi appears weightless and almost inconceivable as the diodes can be connected using very thin electric currents, making the wires practically invisible. The red wire that connects the light sources is the principle component of the project, representing the synthesis of Davide Groppi’s poetic vision. www.davidegroppi.com

ASTRO Edge Reader

B.Lux has launched a new collection of decorative lamps

by Tim Brauns, who has recently joined the brand’s team of collaborating designers. Overlay takes inspiration from Scandinavian design, with two table, one floor and three suspension versions. The variety of diametres make it possible to install Overlay in a variety of spaces, with the shade available in grey or cognac blown glass.

Edge Reader by Astro presents original thinking for bedside lighting. With previous bedside luminaires offering either soothing mood light or practical reading light, the two are often presented separately. Edge Reader presents an original approach resulting in a new aesthetic, where the minimal white floating plane on which the reader is mounted comes to life at night.

The base appears to float on light that is emitted from its edges, while both functions can be individually switched and LED lamps ensure minimal running costs.

www.grupoblux.com

www.astrolighting.co.uk

B.LUX Overlay

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ďż˝ FOUR SEASONS SEOUL Sea Reflections by Denisa Lukacova Interior Designer LTW Singapore lasvit.com

LASVIT Facet Moritz Waldemeyer has created an alternative chandelier for Lasvit, as exhibited at the brand’s Via Lucis installation in Milan. As if trying to systemise the chandelier-making tradition, Moritz has taken the geometrical shape of a classic chandelier outline and turned it into a diamond-like hexagonal glass building block.

The Facet modules stand out as clear, geometrical shapes – sitting alone comfortably as a single pendant – or grouped together to create a large chandelier. The light source included inside every block allows the Facet design system to be universal and almost unlimitedly extendable. www.lasvit.com

FLOS Extra Joining designer Michael Anastassiades’ spherical family of lights for Flos is another simple yet timeless addition. Extra provides light via a hand-blown, opal glass diffuser, available in matte grey anodised, matte steel anodised and painted light grey. Presented as a balancing act between a glowing sphere and a rectangular plane captured before separation, the frozen moment suggests something unexpected is about to happen. www.flos.com

VIBIA Mayfair Past and future combine to present Mayfair, integrating traditional elements reinterpreted through technological advances. Traditional billiards lamps of the 19th century act as inspiration, with their evocative conical shades and brass structure. These designs have been reimagined to include innovative materials, a refi ned silhouette and highly refi ned LED light. Mayair is available in a single or multiple diffuser. www.vibia.com

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CHELSOM Orion The Orion pendant forms part of Chelsom’s custom lighting collection launched as part of the brand’s Edition 25 catalogue. It features shallow circular LED light sources with Opal acrylic diffusers, layered between top and bottom discs supported by randomly positioned arms to give an asymmetric effect. Orion can be specified in various dimensions, shapes and fi nishes. www.chelsom.co.uk

LEDS-C4 Premium The Premium series, designed by Jordi Llopis for Grok by LEDS-C4, is comprised of a floor and table lamp with an elegant and sophisticated style. Its black fabric shade and polished copper-fi nish body clearly set out its nature, with the elements harmoniously coming together to emphasise the high-end quality of the luminaire. Premium has a diffuser on its upper part, reflecting a contrast of delicate tones able to emit warm light, without losing the contemporary halo. www.leds-c4.com

KALMAR WERKSTATTEN Billy TL

Cervantes, by German designer Burkhard Dämmer for LZF, is offered as a wall or ceiling sconce, or as a suspension lamp. The new design – in line with the tradition of latticework – features strips of wood veneer, spreading out in all directions and creating a concave effect. The malleability of the wood presents a unique diffuser, while an LED system is used as a backlight.

L ondon-based desig ner I lse Crawford has created an updated version of the Billy TL table lamp

by Kalmar Werkstätten. Rosewood has been selected for the lamp’s stem, standing on satin brass feet that support the lampshade in a duotone fi nish of black and brass.

Meanwhile the warm colours and materials emphasise the character of Billy TL, celebrating materials, functionality and a human scale design. Meticulously designed in every detail, the latest edition is also equipped with a new textile power cable, with colour that reflects the chromatic palette, thus enhancing Billy TL’s sophistication.

www.lzf-lamps.com

www.kalmarlighting.com

LZF Cervantes

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Discover more lzf-lamps.com/telling-tales

A Collection of

TELLING TALES

Dandelion by Burkhard D채mmer

Illuminated stories by LZF

BAROVIER & TOSO Hanami Just as in a gigantic fish tank, where air bubbles gracefully rise to the surface, the blown glass elements in the upside-down world of Hanami, with their irregular surfaces (in aquamarine, grey, liquid citron or crystal colours) fall from the ceiling plate with the same lightness and elegance, to form a dense cloud of reflections and refractions. Immersed in the delicately coloured cloud float four to 13 elements, made from opaque white glass with shadings of colour identical to the predominant one, hiding the LED sources of light. The spotlights embedded in the ceiling structure are also LEDs. www.barovier.com

SERIEN Central The latest luminaire range from Serien combines graceful design with a high degree of flexibility. Measuring over two metres at its maximum height, Central Floor leans in the space, immersing it in warm light.

Meanwhile, Central Suspension provides unbeatable table and surface lighting. Like the floor design, the suspended version is fitted with integrated LEDs that can be replaced at the end of their service life. Both designs are controlled via an integrated gesture sensor with a dimmer. www.serien.com

MEADOW LIGHTING Floor Lamp REMOTE CONTROLLED LIGHTING DR7 The DR7 is a recessed multi-directional remote controlled luminaire, available with multiple beam width options and three colour temperatures. Further, DR7 offers a ±35° tilt, without any elements protruding below the ceiling line. Full control in pan of ±175° tilt and intensity controllable from floor level makes it an ideal solution for mixed-use areas, where lighting schemes can be adjusted without downtime.

New from Meadow Lighting – a JLF Collections company – this metal floor lamp balances clean design with guest-friendly functionality.

The satin nickel fi nish adds sleek, modern appeal, while the flexible arm and full-range rotary dimmer switch allow adjustability. LED lighting offers an earth-friendly solution, while the design is 100% customisable to any specification.

www.rclighting.com

www.jlfcollections.com

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Matki Boutique Walk-In T h e e p i t o m e o f l u x u r y, b e a u t i f u l l y e n g i n e e r e d i n t h e U K

F O R A B R O C H U R E A N D N E A R E S T B AT H R O O M S P E C I A L I S T C A L L 01 4 5 4 3 2 8 811 | W W W. M AT K I . C O. U K | M AT K I P L C , B R I S TO L B S 3 7 5 P L

DPA LIGHTING The Place DPA Lighting has worked alongside Dutch architects Mecanoo to complete the lighting scheme of The Place, Tainan. The design reflects the local culture with a Dutch twist, resulting in vibrant public spaces.

Natural daylight is plentiful, so lighting control was a focal point for DPA, allowing the space to transition seamlessly from day to night.

Guestrooms are modest yet appear spacious due to various ‘floating’ light sources defi ning sleep, relaxation and work zones. The result is an impressive working of materials, planes and volumes that connect and float, with lighting playing an integral part to their harmony. www.dpalighting.com

NORTHERN LIGHTS Juno A blend of sculptural forms and natural materials, Juno presents a sense of drama created by light that disperses through the fitting’s architecture. The result is intriguing patterns of light and shadow.

The angular design has a more sculptural presence, while the curved version has a subtle and soft silhouette with an organic feel. www.northern-lights.co.uk

INNERMOST Membrane

Martini, from the newly launched Made With Love collection, is one of the illustrious lighting fi xtures designed by CEO and head designer Filipe Lisboa at Viso. The design is comprised of a semi-metalised polycarbonate shape with polished chrome metal parts.

Available individually, Viso recommends cluster designs for ultimate impact.

Innermost has partnered with German designer Jette Scheib to introduce a new pendant lamp, Membrane, into its quirky blown glass range. A tactile, sculptural piece, Membrane captures the precise moment bulb and shade become one, with its voluptuous glass form giving way to penetrating light sources. Details such as a gentle gradient in smoky glass coupled with polished gunmetal fittings result in a sophisticated design well suited to upscale interiors.

www.visoinc.com

www.innermost.net

VISO Martini

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enduring beauty www.tuuci.com

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DELIGHTFULL Botti Pendant The body of this original piece resembles an orchestra, embodying all the details of wind instruments in one pendant. The piece is made in brass, evoking a journey deep into a music concert with its circular edges resembling the end of a trumpet. The structure is 100% handmade in black nickel and anticipates a future trend in lighting design. www.delightfull.eu

CARRSON INTERNATIONAL Sun Valley Bronze – Pendant Pulley Light Designed and made in Idaho, USA by Sun Valley Bronze, this modern version of a design classic is available from Carrson International.

Artisanal experience has been combined with innovative manufacturing processes to produce a functionally inspiring lighting system. The pendant is counterbalanced by a weight, and is available in Solid Bronze and Blackened Steel. www.carrsonint.com

ESTILUZ Aro

MEGAMAN Dim to Warm Megaman has introduced a range of LEDs incorporating a brand new Dim to Warm feature. The breakthrough in technology allows the lights to follow the dimming curve of fi lament lamps, whilst the LED lamps emit a warmer light as they are dimmed. The result is a more relaxing atmosphere. The Dim to Warm technology enables Megaman to offer true fit sizes and shapes across the range of retrofit lamps. www.megamanuk.com

Estiluz presents Aro, a collection designed by Jordi Blasi. The system has been designed in a ringed manner, with a light bulb that is adaptable to a variety of structures.

Located in the upper part of the screen, the bulb can be slid gently through the various supporting and suspended structures devised for any situation. The collection’s most noteworthy feature is its adjustable screen, enabling general indirect light or conversion to a work lamp. www.estiluz.com

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Grosvenor House

One of the UK’s leading interior contractors EESmith contracts operate successfully in a variety of sectors ranging from prestige hotels and commercial interiors to exclusive private residences.

Morris Road Leicester LE2 6AL Telephone:0116 2706946 Email: contracts@eesmith.co.uk www.eesmith.co.uk

Facsimile:0116 2701515

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Spa, Leisure & Wellness F R AG M E N TAT I O N O F T H E W E L L N E S S O F F E R I N G

The spa evolution is fragmenting, with hotels’ increasing awareness of guest needs and the idea of specialisation.

Words: Molly Dolan

T

ypically, spas resided in high-end five-star properties and acted as a moniker of luxury. Fast forward to 2016, and the wellness offer has become a prerequisite of not only resort destination hotels, but inner city offerings too.

Following a decade of increased interest in spa and wellness, both from business and leisure travellers, hotel’s are realising that it is not enough to provide a swimming pool with a small number of treatment rooms to accompany. Susan Harmsworth, founder of Espa, explains: “I think we’ve almost gone full circle where some hotels are deciding not to do spas. I think people are assessing and deciding that – because of the high build cost per square metre – if they can’t do a really good spa, then it’s better to not do it at all.”

According to Harmsworth, this is resulting in a fragmentation of the offer as we know it. “I think it will segment. You’re going to have big business hotels with a corporate market offering a good gym, with a few massage rooms as business people don’t have time to use spas.

Then, there will be a blurring between destination wellness and hotel resorts with wellness, as companies strive to take it to another level.”

Hotels are examining exactly what their guests want, and learning the importance of excelling in one area as opposed to providing a full spa experience of mediocre standards. For example, high-tech gym offerings have increased in popularity. Technogym’s Artis range is featured in numerous international hotels, including the brand’s recent project in the ShuiQi Spa & Fitness Centre at Hotel Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai. According to Technogym, exercise is a vital component to daily life, so often travellers choose hotels with wellequipped fitness centres. When it comes to investment in equipment, it is imperative that hotels research their clientele. Not all hotels need to offer full gym experiences, some may place emphasis on fitness classes, specialist equipment, or need to provide basic facilities to complement a strong spa package. Further indication of the

increasing significance of fitness is Technogym’s collaboration with designer Antonio Citterio, resulting in the Personal range.

One benefit of high-tech gym equipment – as well as a strong wellness offering – is the attraction to local clients and day guests.

Wellness is defined as body, mind and spirit experiences, as opposed to the typical relaxation and rest provided by a regular spa. Harmsworth notes: “Anywhere that you have a high number of leisure travellers, you’re going to need a good spa. I think you’re going to see trends moving towards wellness, but then you have to analyse what that is.

Basically, wellness only works when you have a big local population.”

Another challenge that hotels often face is space, with spas requiring large areas that could otherwise be used to generate more revenue, for example as an F&B outlet. Further, Harmsworth outlines budget as a stumbling block for many clients: “At least 50% of the budget is spent on areas that you don’t see, such as mechanical or electrical work, the quality of water or the quality of air, lighting and acoustics. The infrastructure costs are very high within spa design.”

That said, there is a clear value-add through the attraction of day guests, and potential catchment during weekends.

Therefore, hotels are targeting their markets meticulously, with Corinthia Hotel London relying on both hotel guests and local clients for revenue. “For the wellness component, you need the combination of local clientele and membership, as well as the hotel guest,” explains Harmsworth. “Then you have things like wellness weeks, where hotels boost revenue during drop periods.”

Noticing the restriction of space within the hotel market, brands are presenting solutions such as Klafs, manufacturer of retractable saunas amongst other spa-related products. The latest launch, S1, presents a high-end sauna that is able to retract to a mere 60cm deep.

Designed as a completely self-contained, mobile system, the sauna can be installed or retrofitted, as well as relocated with ease.

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Previous page: ESPA’s wellness programme, ESPA Life, features at Corinthia Hotel London Above: Manufacturer of retractable saunas, Klafs, presents S1, a highend fully functioning sauna that is able to retract to a mere 60cm deep

The Klafs brand has been installed in projects such as The Dolder Meanwhile, Finnish specialist in sauna and steam baths Helo Grand Hotel in Zurich, Hotel Arts in Barcelona and Shangri-La, is innovating the field of alternative spa design, with projects Shanghai, as well as recently launching a collaboration with Matteo including agua Bathhouse & Spa at The Mondrian, London and Thun and Antonio Rodriguez. The product presents a complete Babington House. For the agua Bathhouse & Spa, design is centred wellness area, with sauna and steam bath, accompanied by discreet on a playground concept and importance is placed on challenging technology and considered design. Thun comments: “We wanted to traditional spa stereotypes, with quirky features including a create spaces of complete refuge. Our seasonally-developed soundtrack by designs were intended to be simple, with music design specialist Open Ear. clear lines and cubistic volume. Once Developing the idea of multi-sensory the door is closed behind you, absolute experiences being integral to wellness, calm envelops you. No disturbing mycoocoon colour immersion pods are elements and no visible technology can based on chromotherapy and promote Susan Harmsworth, founder of ESPA abstract from the relaxation.” rebalancing and reenergising, featuring Increased popularity of alternative in Boscolo Milano and Akasha Spa at therapies and health-focused treatments Café Royal, London. The pods combine has resulted in a spa journey that is varied and intriguing. Offerings ancestral beliefs with the use of technology, resulting in an organic now include steam baths, saunariums, experience showers, and an light immersion under biocompatible lamps. Installed in wellness increase in social spaces such as relaxation areas or hammams. environments, the experience requires the guest to undergo a brief Another supplier making waves in this area is Dalesauna, whose colour test, defining their individual colour and energy balance needs. thermal experience products feature in Gainsborough Bath Spa hotel, With such diversification of spa, wellness and leisure offerings, alongside the manufacturer’s walk-in ice grotto. Clad in mosaic glass hotel spa design is considered increasingly early in the design process. tiles in blue fade, the ice room includes marble tops and chiller to Meanwhile developments in technology, and changing guest attitude, emit fresh, cold air. means that spa and wellness is only set to increase in importance.

“If they can’t do a good spa, it is better to not do it at all.”

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A CLEAR REFLECTION WITH demista™ Though many of us may prefer a fuzzy vision of ourselves first thing in the morning, having a mist free mirror must surely be an advantage for shaving, applying make up or styling hair. Once a demista™ heated mirror pad is installed, you will always have a clear view, no matter how steamed up the bathroom may be.

For product information contact: Tel 01923 866600 Email sales@demista.co.uk Web www.demista.co.uk

PROJECT: THE ST. REGIS DUBAI

NORTHERN LIGHTS UNLIMITED LIGHTING create a feelgood environment

EXPERTLY CRAFTED IN THE UK indoor • outdoor | residential • hospitality • commercial chairs • stools • lounges • tables info@martaonline.eu • +31 6 430 30 426 • www.feelgooddesigns.eu

DESIGN - PRODUCTION - DELIVERY

WWW.NORTHERN-LIGHTS.CO.UK

LET’S GO OUTSIDE www.vincentsheppard.com

Specifier P R O D U C T S & S E R V I C E S F O R H O S P I TA L I T Y D E S I G N

CASSINA Volage EX-S Volage EX-S is the result of extensive research into rethinking the classic sofa by Philippe Starck and Cassina. The quilted capitonné workmanship – an innovative process developed on an industrial scale for the Privé and Volage sofas – has been redesigned and evolves into the Volage EX-S. The even effect of the padded backrest is maintained thanks to the use of a preformed polyurethane insert, yet without the traditional button. As a result, the bourgeois aspect is stripped away and the sofa assumes a fresh and contemporary look. www.cassina.com

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LINWOOD Arcadia English fabric and wallpaper wholesaler Linwood has launched Arcadia, a collection of seven prints that celebrate the transcendent beauty of the English country garden. Historic designs from English, French and North American archives have been re-imagined with British flowers and an English sensibility. www.linwoodfabric.com

COOPER & GRAHAM Skyliner Cooper & Graham has launched Skyliner, an artisanal bathroom collection of taps and shower fittings designed

by André Fu Living. Embracing the spirit of a modern Asian city – tactile, fresh and bold – the design is contemporary whilst demonstrating a relaxed luxury.

The collection is available in Oil Rubbed Bronze and Polished Chrome. www.cooperandgraham.com

ALLERMUIR Tommo Designed by Mark Gabbertas for Allermuir, the Tommo range presents contemporary and intelligent design. The fully upholstered collection of low lounge pieces range from club chair to compact tub chair and stool. The slender upholstery styling and twin stitch seam detail link to the light and elegant tubular skid base, harmonising the fi nished piece. www.thesenatorgroup.com

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19-21 OCTOBER 2016 INTERCONTINENTAL HONG KONG

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Asia Pacific’s Essential Hotel Conference Since 1990 PATRONS Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group IHG JLL Jumeirah Group PLATINUM SPONSORS AccorHotels Baker & McKenzie Clyde & Co Hilton Worldwide KPMG Langham Hospitality Group

Marco Polo Hotels Marriott International, Inc. Meliá Hotels International Outrigger Resorts Asia Pacific Paul Hastings LLP Proskauer Rose QUO Shangri-La International Hotel Management Ltd WATG / Wimberly Interiors Wyndham Hotel Group MEDIA SPONSORS Asian Hotel & Catering Times GlobalHotelNetwork.com Hotel Analyst

Hotel News Now HOTELS Magazine JETSETTER Magazine Serviced Apartment News Sleeper Magazine ST Media Group International TTG Asia Media WIT SUPPORTERS HAMA AP IFC ISHC ITP PATA Patrons, Sponsors, and Supporters as of 6 April 2016

Hosts:

www.HICAPconference.com

SHAW Composite The latest collection from Shaw, Composite takes inspiration from the city of Bilbao, Spain. Layers of light and shadow appear to disperse through buildings old and new, altering perspective. Debuting at Hospitality Design Expo 2016 in Las Vegas, the collection is comprised of multiple field, corridor and rug patterns and is shown in cool colours, reflecting sleek metal and glass with a contrasting shade of aubergine. www.shawhospitalitygroup.com

GAN Raw

PERRIN & ROWE Deco

NEWMOR WALLCOVERINGS Sorrento

Gan has launched Raw, with design by Borja Garcia. The fabric collection presents authenticity, with its name symbolising the purity and strength of the designs. A smooth layer of wool is laid over the jute base, combining two seemingly discordant languages that work in harmony. The clean lines of the geometry on the overlay creates a modern expression over the traditional materials.

Following increased demand, Perrin & Rowe has designed and manufactured a new range of Deco brassware for the bathroom, offering slightly reduced proportions for a less masculine, more delicate look. The fi ne detailing of Deco is seen across the tap’s body, handles, with additional features such as crosshead handles and bridge-mounted designs with period detailing.

Newmor has launched Sorrento, adding raw textures and intricate herringbone weaves to its collection of fabric-backed vinyl wallcoverings.

The design presents a burnished tile effect available in 19 lustrous metallic and buffed matte tones. The deeply embossed surface catches the light, and metallic inks create a dramatic everchanging effect. In contrast, matte colourways offer an attractive rough plaster quality.

www.gan-rugs.com

www.perrinandrowe.co.uk

www.newmor.com

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THE BEST IN FURNITURE COVERED Join the celebration in London’s creative heart. See the best in furniture, product and lighting design from across the globe.

Register free at clerkenwelldesignweek.com CDWfestival

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ZENOLOGY Sycamore Fig La Bottega, Zenology’s offi cial partner for 2016, has introduced Zenology’s Sycamore Fig line to its collection of guestroom amenities.

All products are made from skin-friendly ingredients, with packaging made from recyclable materials. The fragrance is sophisticated and fruity, with all elements of the fig tree – the freshness of the leaves’ sap, the warmth of the wood and the sensuality of the rope fruit – blended in one harmony. www.labottega.com | www.zenology.com

BETTE Monolith Bette has launched a new freestanding washbasin in steel enamel that presents a strong sculptural quality. The BetteArt Monolith appears to be made from one single piece, but is in fact made from steel that has been expertly welded and then enamelled with the company’s BetteGlaze. The washbasin measures 60x90x40cm and was designed by the Tesseraux & Partner design studio in Germany. Monolith is available in glossy white, Snow, Pergamon, Manhattan and Bahama beige, and can be combined with the BetteArt bath. www.bette.de

TUUCI Plantation Max Cantilever The Plantation Max Cantilever is an oversized parasol that creates a cool retreat with a warm ambiance. With up to 144ft 2 of uninterrupted shade, the structure is graceful and generously proportioned for any sun drenched environment. The parasol features Tuuci’s Aluma-teak fi nish, with a natural feel of hardwood fi nish combined with the durability of Armor-Wall Aluminum construction, leading to a structure resistant to seaside corrosion. Available fi nish options are natural, java and weathered Aluma-teak. www.tuuci.com

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MIAMI BEACH / MAY 10-13, 2016 MIAMI BEACH CONVENTION CENTER

BRINGING TOGETHER THE INTERIOR DESIGN COMMUNITY IN THE AMERICAS

MAISON&OBJET IS AN INTERNATIONAL INTERIOR DESIGN AND HOME DECORATION FAIR GATHERING PROFESSIONALS WORLDWIDE FOUR TIMES A YEAR IN PARIS SINGAPORE AND MIAMI BEACH.

WWW.MAISON-OBJET.COM

GASTON.ISOLDI@SAFISALONS.FR SAFI AMERICAS LLC ORGANISATION, A COMPANY BELONGING TO SAFI SALONS FRANÇAIS ET INTERNATIONAUX. SAFI, A SUBSIDIARY OF ATELIERS D’ART DE FRANCE AND REED EXPOSITIONS FRANCE / TRADE ONLY / DESIGN © BE-POLES - IMAGE © ADAM SHERBEL

LUXURY HOTEL COSMETICS Elemental Herbology Combining high performance and natural ingredients with exquisite plant oils, Elemental Herbology amenity products have been developed to counter the skin damaging effects of ageing, lifestyle and the environment.

The functionally designed apothecary-style bottles also emphasise the pure ingredients within. All products are 100% free from synthetic fragrance, artificial colour, sulphates, paraben preservatives and mineral oils. Luxury Hotel Cosmetics has launched the complete new amenity line from Elemental Herbology. www.luxuryhotelcosmetics.com

DURAVIT Darling New

UMBROSA Nauta

MUZEO Bespoke Art Wallcoverings

Developed in collaboration with Sieger Design, Darling New features harmonious shapes highlighted by delicate edges. A number of products have been added to the extensive series, including four furniture washbasins ranging from 520-1,020mm in width. Darling New also includes a wall-mounted toilet with 57cm projection, featuring rimless technology and optimum flushing results.

Designed by Dirk Wynants, Umbrosa is set to launch Nauta, a fresh outlook on the cabana concept of shade and functionality.

Cosiness, comfort, and shade combine for an eye-catching design, ideal for terrace spaces.

The piece can be customised, with benches, a table or tall bar. Meanwhile, the top provides space for relaxation on a built-in sun lounger.

Amongst a vast range of artwork, the bespoke art wallcovering offering from Muzeo presents a world of possibilities. With personalised artwork designed by an in-house team of artists, the bespoke pieces create a unique universe for an engaging guest experience. Made using a durable coated vinyl, the designs are available in large sizes and applicable to walls and ceilings for a seamless fi nish.

www.umbrosa.be

www.duravit.co.uk

www.muzeo.com

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Where the industry meets May 23 and 24 2016, Montcalm Marble Arch, London W1H 7TA Europe’s only international b2b conference for the boutique and lifestyle hotel sectors.

This year’s conference and exhibition will be the biggest and best yet and includes: Cocktail reception • Tour of local boutique hotels • Speed business card swap Numerous networking opportunities • Stellar international speaker lineup Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Media Partners

For more information and to buy tickets visit www.boutiquehotelsummit.com For sponsorship, speaker or exhibition stand enquiries email info@boutiquehotelsummit.com @BoHoNews | #BoHoSummit

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INTERVIEW

Yabu Pushelberg Stellar Works - James

Following the success of design duo Yabu Pushelberg’s first collaboration with Stellar Works – Blink – the pair have returned with the launch of James. George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg spoke to Sleeper about the transatlantic partnership.

“We have similar synergies,” states Yabu, “and it manifests through a high level of craftsmanship and precision, as well as the integrity of the materials and using natural materials, so that its not over-processed or fabricated. There is a defi nite parallel to what we’re interested in.”

The James collection is an understated exploration of modern masculinity, but is still born from traditional furniture workmanship.

The bold, defi ned shapes appear light and elegant, refraining from excessive masculinity.

When asked about the collection’s inspiration – and rumour that it is based upon the automobile industry – the duo refuted.

“Not exclusively,” Yabu explains. “Guys like seeing how things work, gadgets, and detailing on an automobile seat, as well as little compartments to keep your keys and iPhone nearby.

“The name comes from a classic Anglo name, and someone looked

at it and said ‘I get it, like Bond’. This may have been a subconscious comparison, but its defi nitely too literal.” That being said, undeniable comparisons include subtle details and stowaway compartments, as well as materials such as warm and tactile black metal, walnut wood and sable-tone matte leather.

Pushelberg continues: “I like the idea of negative and positive space, so the pieces appear float on the frame, almost suspended.”

The range includes a chaise, desk, stool and bar trolley, each one meticulously proportioned and ergonomically shaped. All four pieces have been designed to turn negative space into an aesthetic feature, making use of floating planes and wireframes to lend them an air of sleekness and simplicity.

Another appeal of working with Stella Works is the company’s attentiveness. Pushelberg concludes: “They can turn things around quickly, and respond quickly because they’re still relatively small and very entrepreneurial, which is great. Apparently it typically takes five years, from the concept of an idea, to production and end product. However, this could potentially be done in five months.” www.stellarworks.com

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Sleep in Natural Luxury

Naturalmat mattresses and beds, made by hand using only natural and sustainable fillings, are also supremely comfortable, breathable and durable... which is why our mattresses and beds can be found in some of the finest hotels in the world.

Six Senses, Douro Valley, Portugal

www.naturalmathotel.co.uk 01392 877 247 Mattresses made by hand in Devon

Showrooms in Devon and London

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BETTELUX SHAPE The new design concept in an open steel frame.

Made from high-grade steel/enamel with a 30 year warranty.

Design: Tesseraux + Partner

www.bette.co.uk

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20.04.2016 11:14:57

STUDIO LAUNCH

CASE STUDY

Hansgrohe

VingCard

The Water Studio

Prizeotel

Hansgrohe has launched a brand new concept – The Water Studio – in the heart of London’s design district. The Water Studio specification centre will act as a hub of inspiration, resource and a collaborative zone for those seeking to create show-stopping bathroom spaces.

Spread across two floors totalling 262m 2 , the studio is a true brand experience and brings water to life through the Hansgrohe values of innovation, sustainability, quality, design and expertise.

Unlike conventional showrooms, the space is about interaction.

In addition to four working stations and more than 200 products, other features include podiums with quick connectors that allow easy exchange of products to showcase function, as well as an area offering installation tips. The fi rst of its kind for Hansgrohe, the space also features a test rig area, allowing measurement and comparison of different products’ flow rates using sensors.

Visitors to The Water Studio can also become acquainted with Hansgrohe’s unique interactive online tool – iSpecify – which is accessible through screens within the space.

Designed by experiential design agency I-AM, the studio’s strategic location on 12-16 Clerkenwell Road will serve as a project base for professionals specifying bathrooms internationally.

Assa Abloy has recently completed a project for Prizeotel’s three hotel locations across Germany. Seeking to provide innovative guest services that match the hotel’s modern and stylish interior, the group sought to remove the guests’ need to wait for assistance when checking in. Assa Abloy Hospitality Mobile Access has given Prizeotel a cutting-edge solution, enhancing security and convenience at its hotels. Using their smart devices as digital room keys, Mobile Access enables guests to bypass the reception desk upon arrival. The solution is accessed when an individual initiates a request via a mobile app.

Assa Abloy Hospitality Mobile Access also provides the latest security safeguards by working with a hotel’s property management system to allocate a guestroom and generate an encrypted digital key, securely delivered to the guest’s smartphone.

The digital keys operate with modern VingCard Signature RFID (radio frequency identification) door locks installed throughout the hotels. The locks – which only require the installation of a small RFID reader on the door – are protected with advanced anti-cloning technology to guard against unauthorised access.

The door locks work together with the Assa Abloy Hospitality Visionline data communication platform.

www.thewaterstudio.co.uk

www.assaabloyhospitality.com

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3D precision, exceptional comfort...

the brand new

Junea速

www.burgessfurniture.com

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Architectural Vision Panels For Doors & Walls

Brushed stainless steel Complete glazing system Easy installation

01 4 5 4 3 2 8 811 | W W W. M AT K I . C O. U K | M AT K I P L C , B R I S TO L B S 3 7 5 P L

North 4 Design Ltd Tel : 0208 885 4404

www.north4.com

Advertising Index Adfors Albrecht Jung GmbH & Co KG

127

Gandia Blasco

117

HI Design

019

191

Northern Lights

177

Alger International

084

HICAP

181

Pedrali

021

Aliseo GmbH

043

ICFF

158

Perrin & Rowe

121

Altfield Ltd

139

Janus et Cie

Point

053

Arte NV

062

Jardinico

114

Pollmeier Massivholz GmbH

081

Astro Lighting Ltd

002

JLF Collections

135

Porcelanosa

073

B&B Italia

196

Kalisher

137

Radical Innovation Award

112

Bette GmbH

189

Kettal Group

033

Restoration Hardware

Boutique + Lifestyle Hotel Summit

187

Kohler Co. Ltd

141

Roca

103

Burgess Furniture Ltd

191

Lasvit

163

S&T (UK) Ltd

059

Carnegie Fabrics

035

Latitude Agency

128

Shaw Contract Group

027

Carrson International

095

LEDS-C4

065

Silent Gliss Ltd

097

Lefroy Brooks UK & Europe

031

Sleep

113

Chelsea Harbour

004 & 005

146 & 147

North 4 Design Ltd

006 & 007

012 & 013

Chelsom Lighting Ltd

161

Ligne Roset

016

Supper

Claybrook Interiors Ltd

083

LZF lamps

167

Symo Parasols

008 & 009

Clerkenwell Design Week

183

Maiori Design Company Ltd

165

Tribu Furniture

037

Demista

177

Maison & Objet Americas

185

Tuuci Europe BV

Dornbracht UK Ltd

067

Mandarin Stone

098

Umbrosa NV

029

Duravit

195

Manutti

045

Vincent Sheppard

178

EE Smith Contracts Ltd

173

Marta

177

VingCard Elsafe

118

Ege

068

Matki

169 & 191

Vondom

061

EHDA

157

Minotti SpA

010 & 011

Warisan

122

EPR Architects Ltd

104

Muzeo

089

Waterworks

125

Esthec

133

Naturalmat

189

Whistler Leather

109

Feuring Hotel Development Europa GmbH

152

Newmor Wallcoverings

149

192

014 & 015

171

The leading magazine for hotel design, development and architecture.

Subscribe online and save 20% www.sleepermagazine.com/showoffer/

Subscribers benefit from: • Previews of the most exciting projects breaking ground • Reviews of new hotels opening worldwide • In-depth interviews with leading hoteliers, interior designers and architects • Coverage of exhibitions and conferences for the hotel industry • Exclusive updates of Sleeper’s events including Sleepover, European Hotel Design Awards and Asia Hotel Design Awards For more information please contact: subscriptions@mondiale.co.uk

© Nikolas Koenig

Conscious hospitality 11 HOWARD, NEW YORK

While we all like to do our bit for planet earth, the hospitality industry often comes under fire for its inefficient practices. In a bid to offset this, owners and operators are increasingly incorporating environmental and social initiatives into their concepts, bringing about results for both their reputation and the cause. 11 Howard, a new boutique property from real estate mogul Aby Rosen, has gone to great lengths to become part of its neighbourhood and support good causes. Located in New York’s SoHo, the hotel describes its raison d’etre as ‘conscious hospitality’, meaning that every aspect – from design and location to amenities and service – has been

developed with awareness, purpose and thoughtful consideration.

Rosen, working with Creative Director Anda Andrei, has partnered with a number of local businesses and non-profit organisations – including Global Poverty Project, Conscious Commerce and Feed – in a bid to give back to the community. One of the most visually striking collaborations is with public art programme Groundswell.

With mentorship from contemporary artist Jeff Koons, youths from the local group have created a site specific mural on the property’s façade. Its design showcases the history and culture of SoHo, with creative interpretations of its music, food and fashion scenes.

194

Tou uch-free light swit witch ch

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Raised tap platfor orm m

Sofft head ad a d rre estt

Sea amle mless s and easy to cle ean n acrryl yli lic pane el Sho Sho ow wer we er-t e -to toile toile to et sseat eat ea att wi a with h rrem em mo otte control ote

Drawer Dra wer wi with th pus push-o h-open h-o pen te techn chnolo chn o gyy olo

Anti-b Ant i-b bact cteri ct errriial al cce cer e am er ami mic glaz m lazze

Fle Fle exxib xiib ble le int iin ntter n eri e rior or sy ssys yysstem te em em

Rim R imles lesss toi oillet e tec t chno hn nolo n log og gy

P3 COMFORTS. COMFORT FOR ALL THE SENSES. The P3 Comforts series from Duravit and Phoenix Design provides the ultimate comfort – in its look, its feel and its function. The thin edges and delicate shapes of both washbasin and bathtub, are as characteristic as they are comfortable. The generous width of the toilet provides 20mm of additional seating comfort. A perfect match is the bathroom furniture range L-Cube. More on pro.duravit.co.uk and www.duravit.co.uk

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D E S I G N PO R T R A I T.

Michel Club, seat system designed by Antonio Citterio. www.bebitalia.com B&B Italia Store London, SW3 2AS - 250 Brompton Road - T. +44 020 7591 8111 - info.bromptonroad@bebitalia.com UK Agent: Keith De La Plain - T. +44 786 0419670 - keith@keithdelaplain.com

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