Sleeper March/April 2017 - Issue 71

MARCH | APRIL 2017

Soho House

Leman Locke

Barry Sternlicht

Quintessentially English style with a Catalan twist, the private members’ club makes its Barcelona debut

Serviced apartment living meets the lifestyle hotel experience in a new brand from SACO

The businessman with creative talents discusses the new brands that are shaking up the industry

STAND & DELIVER A desk light in its most elemental form, the Enna maintains an elegant stance thanks to its pure architectural structure, while a fully adjustable head allows perfect illumination of the task at hand.

Because good design demands simplicity.

Model: Enna Desk

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Inside Sleeper MARCH | APRIL 2017

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Hotel Reviews

Features

Cover Story

052 Leman Locke London

038 Meeting… Barry Sternlicht A businessman with creative talents, the founder, chairman and CEO of Starwood Capital Group discusses his return to hospitality and the new brands that are close to his heart.

046 Soho House Barcelona Soho House & Co continues its global expansion with a new property overlooking Barcelona’s Port Vell. The conversion of an 18th century building, its interiors balance the group’s signature, quintessentially English style with authentic local influences.

061 The Strand Yangon 067 The William Vale Brooklyn 074 The Mash Inn Radnage 081 Villa Terminus Bergen 086 Thompson Playa del Carmen 093 YotelAir Charles de Gaulle Airport

Location Report 098 Macau

098 Location Report… Macau Welcoming a record number of visitors in 2016, the ‘Vegas of the East’ is beginning to diversify its offer with new integrated resorts driving a tourism-oriented turnaround.

101 Wynn Palace 109 The Parisian 117

St. Regis

124 Studio City

Departments 022 Check In 024 Drawing Board 128 Development Report Urban Escape 131 Business Centre Hotel Analyst 137 Events AHEAD 146 Events Radical Innovation 153 Company Profile Kaldewei 158 Product Profile Spa & Wellness 163 Product Profile Outdoor Furniture 181 Specifier 194 Check Out

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Welcome

I

t wasn’t so long ago that the millennial traveller was the focus of the global hospitality industry. Born between 1980 and 2000, Generation Y was a key target group for new hotel brands, and the subject of much discussion and debate at industry gatherings.

Categorised by their 16-35 age bracket, the next generation of consumer is defined as being tech-savvy and liberal, placing importance on their work-life balance. While this may ring true of many, these characteristics can also be attributed to other age groups. The desire to hang-out in social lobbies or tap away at a laptop in communal work spaces is not exclusive to the younger generation, far from it.

While there are obvious differences between millennials and baby boomers, operators are catching on to the fact that they cannot pigeonhole guests by age alone. Nor should they focus solely on the corporate or leisure traveller, particularly as the boundaries between the two are increasingly blurred. As a result, designers are being encouraged to create hotel concepts based on psychographic research, rather than demographics. By studying personality, values, opinions, attitudes, interests and lifestyles, operators can obtain a much clearer picture of their target guest, and subsequently create a hotel that is fit for purpose.

Such information is also a powerful tool in allowing them to engage with guests, anticipate their needs, deliver a personalised experience, and ultimately drive loyalty.

This topic will be explored further in a Sleeper-hosted seminar at London’s Design Centre Chelsea Harbour in March. Entitled ‘Psychographics: The Science of Hotel Design’, the panel will address the over-reliance on traditional socio-demographic groups, exploring instead the study of psychographics as a tool for designing new hotels.

A number of hotel groups are taking notice too, revising the wording of their brand materials from ‘millennial’ to ‘millennial-minded’ – a small yet significant change to reflect the idea that target groups aren’t age specific. Others, meanwhile, are taking it a step further, investing in psychographic research to ensure that hotel facilities, programming and services are befitting of the core guest rather than being just a tick box. After all, those who can best cater to their guests’ needs are the most likely to prosper.

Catherine Martin | Editor

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Guest Book

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© Brett Boardman Photography

ALESSANDRO MUNGE

NICK MASH

LARRY TRAXLER

KERRY HILL

Alessandro Munge is the founder of Toronto-based design practice Studio Munge, established in 1997. Munge has recently completed the interiors of The William Vale, a community-conscious hotel spanning two blocks in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighbourhood. With a public plaza and extensive programme of event s , t he prop er t y celebrates the skills and values of the surrounding area.

“Pickling, curing, foraging, tending to our kitchen garden and playing with the handbuilt wood-fired cooking range is a normal day at The Mash Inn,” says Nick Mash, the restaurateur behind a new restaurant-with-rooms in the Buckinghamshire village of Radnage. Mash comes from a family of foodies who have been esteemed farmers and greengrocers in the Home Counties for generations.

Larry Traxler is Senior Vice President of Global Design Services at Hilton Worldwide, where he works closely with developers, architects, and designers to ensure that the unique style of each and every brand is reflected across the properties within its global portfolio. Traxler has recently been appointed chair of the judging panel for AHEAD Americas – the new awards platform organised by Sleeper.

Australian architect Kerry Hill’s 40 year career has seen him redefine the Asian hospitality aesthetic. Combining abstract modernism with sensitive local touches, his style draws from indigenous tropical building forms and can be seen in some of the most ambitious hotel projects across south-east Asia. As a result, Hill has been announced as the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award at AHEAD Asia.

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St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort – Mood collection

Living the good life outside.

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Front Desk @sleepermagazine

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Dennis Irvine DENNIS IRVINE STUDIO

Having recently completed the redesign of The Estate House at Rosewood’s Jumby Bay, Dennis Irvine takes a fantasy break in the Galapagos.

Where are you?

The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.

How did you get there?

The renowned 1906 M/Y Kalizma, the finest classic luxury yacht, previously owned and adored by Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.

Who is there to greet you on arrival?

Andrew Hedley, Regional Vice President of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. He is a generous and welcoming host with the most intuitive manner, anticipating guests’ every desire.

And who’s at the concierge desk?

Former Helmut Newton model, Cecilia Nord. We recently met over lunch at Cecilia’s High Point Café, the restaurant she runs in Antigua. She is the most hospitable, knowledgeable and insightful individual I have met in some time.

Who are you sharing your room with?

My long-suffering, beautiful wife.

cantilevered over the turquoise ocean with expansive vistas from all elevations. The interiors are curated, extremely comfortable and ultimately memorable for all the right reasons.

Who designed it?

It’s a collaboration. The expertise of Mark Bruce of EPR Architects, who understands the heart and soul of hospitality design, combines with the flair and vision of fashion designer Emilia Wickstead and the detailing of Jean-Michel Frank.

What’s the restaurant and bar like?

It’s a Spanish cedar and volcanic stone courtyard surrounded by oversized black mangrove trees, flora and fauna. Lit predominantly by candles, it is atmospheric, intimate, but also engaging. The furniture and fittings have been designed with a modern interpretation of the locale in mind, with art pieces and sculptures commissioned locally for authenticity. Most importantly, it offers excellent, highly attentive and unobtrusive service.

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

Cranberry juice with crushed ice and a local surprising trinket.

Who are you dining with this evening?

Funny man Noel Fielding; English artist and illustrator Heath Robinson; fashion designer Paul Smith; Cecilia Nord; and my curious 10-year-old son, Jonah.

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

Architectural forms are simple and indigenous, constructed from local materials. The hotel is unobtrusive and at ease with the environment.

Every touch point, both physical and emotional, is considered but not contrived. My room is

Who’s manning the stoves?

Acclaimed chefs Chris and Jeff Galvin. I had the pleasure of working with them at The Pompadour

by Galvin in Edinburgh and was in awe of them. As well as their expertly executed French cuisine, they have amazingly infectious, passionate personalities.

And what’s on the menu?

Starter: Cancale N3 French oysters Main: Grilled mahi-mahi fish tacos with tomato compote and herbed rice Dessert: Brown sugar caramelised apple tartlet with mascarpone and organic cinnamon tuille Post-prandial: A selection of fine artisan cheeses served with crackers and condiments.

Would you like something to drink with that?

Lime infused water and more crushed ice.

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

Treats from Swiss chocolatier Teuscher.

What’s on your nightstand at bedtime?

My iPad with sketch apps so that I can work on ideas that flood my mind during downtime.

What’s your ultimate luxury item?

A waxwear Jack Spade travel duffle with compartments for everything so I can be as organised as I always intend, but never quite manage.

Would you like a newspaper or magazine in the morning?

No thank you, I’ll catch up with events on my iPad. Early morning alarm call or late check out?

Definitely late check out.

Bath or power shower?

Outdoor rain shower.

Swimming pool, spa or gym?

Spa, for thinking time.

Name: Dennis Irvine | Position: Founder and Creative Director, Dennis Irvine Studio | www.dennisirvinestudio.com Notable Projects: Jumby Bay – a Rosewood Resort, Antigua; The Wellesley – a Luxury Collection Hotel, London; The Langley, Buckinghamshire; The Grove, Hertfordshire

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Nanjing Green Towers CHINA

Stefano Boeri Architetti has unveiled plans for Asia’s first vertical forest, a mixed-used development set to include a Hyatt-branded hotel.

Located in the Nanjing Pukou district, the two towers will feature a façade covered in 1,100 trees of 23 local species, as well as 2,500 cascading plants, shrubs and flora. The taller tower, at 200 metres high, will be crowned by a striking green lantern and house office space, whilst the second, hosting the Hyatt property, will stand at 108 metres tall, offering views over the city and through the forest. The structures will follow a prototype set out by Boeri’s existing vertical forest in Milan.

The project will incorporate commercial, recreational and educational facilities, as well as a food market, restaurants, conference halls and exhibition spaces, while the hotel will feature a rooftop swimming pool and spacious guestrooms ranging from 35m2 to 150m2.

Scheduled to complete in 2018, Nanjing Green Towers will generate 25 tonnes of CO2 absorption each year, and produce approximately 60kg of oxygen every day.

Stefano Boeri Architetti is set to develop further urban forestation and demineralisation projects throughout several Chinese cities, including Shijiazhuang, Liuzhou, Guizhou, Shanghai and Chongqing.

h.Club LA LOS ANGELES

Building on the success of its private members concept in London, The Hospital Club has announced its first international property.

will be added to ease guest circulation by linking the two wings of the club, reducing the total guestroom count from 57 to 36 suites in the process.

Luciano Mazza, Director of Hospitality, Architecture, for HKS’ London studio, explains: “As soon as we walked into the Redbury we immediately realised the great potential of the building. Our mission became to take one icon and transform it into another, but with a new, quite different feel.”

Each level has been conceived with a narrative in which multiple sensations will converge through an architectural backdrop, with facilities including an area for social events and art displays, signature health and wellness programmes, three dining spaces, an outdoor pool deck and bar, music studio, private screening room and multiple co-working spaces.

Set for a 2018 opening at the crossroads of Hollywood and Vine, h.Club LA is being designed by HKS in close collaboration with Russell Sage – the designers of the original club – to create a unique and understated concept. The development will see LA’s celebrated Redbury Hotel converted into an exclusive ‘club for creatives’ that follows the same philosophy of ‘connect, create and collaborate’ established by the original Hospital Club.

HKS’ design will incorporate the exclusive members club’s signature amenities and public areas, as well as additional space freed up by the renovations. The second and fifth floors have been substantially altered to integrate a new roof terrace, while a pedestrian bridge

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BR A N D I M AG E : C R E AT E D F OR MO N T A Z U R E , PH U K E T

“THE REAL VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY CONSISTS NOT IN SEEKING NEW LANDSCAPES BUT IN HAVING NEW EYES.” Marcel Proust

We are an international team of brand specialists with over two decades’ experience in guiding, inspiring and impressing hospitality brands for both global and independents the world over.

All with a relentless passion, insightful curiosity and unlimited creativity.

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Kimpton De Witt AMSTERDAM

Kimpton Hotels & Resorts is set to make its European debut this spring with the opening of Kimpton De Witt in Amsterdam.

Kimpton De Witt will feature an interior open-air courtyard containing an in-house flower shop, whilst a 14th century, fourstorey ‘Little House’ – a house within a hotel – will provide dedicated meeting space, a lounge and bar. The interior design scheme will incorporate a striking wall of vibrant flowers leading up to the entrance, and large Delft-inspired tiles lining the floors. F&B offerings include Wyers Bar & Restaurant, and House Bar, which will serve snacks from a walk-up window.

Ahead of the project’s Spring 2017 opening, Mike Robinson, General Manager of Kimpton De Witt, comments: “Amsterdam is the perfect fit for our first hotel in Europe as it embodies the style, flavour, and fun spirit of our brand perfectly. Our personal service and bold design will resonate well with this diverse, open-minded and fashion-forward city.”

Occupying three original Renaissance-era buildings in the heart of the Dutch capital, the 274-key property will combine locally inspired touches with a provocative edge. Kentie en Partners Architekten and London-based Michaelis Boyd have been enlisted to design the property, overseen by Ave Bradley, Kimpton’s Global Senior Vice President, Design and Creative Director.

Tom Rowntree, Vice President for Luxury & Boutique Brands, IHG, comments: “We are excited to be bringing Kimpton to Europe, which is where the brand has always taken its inspiration. Kimpton has its roots in the US but we see a strong future for the brand in Europe, with popularity for boutique experiences continuing to rise.”

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Revolution by Chelsom

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Bisate Lodge RWANDA

Wilderness Safaris has announced the 2017 opening of Bisate Lodge, a conservation focused villa development in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.

to explore the park, and the protected gorilla conservation nearby.

Bisate Lodge is being built by Wilderness Safaris as part of a circuit of resorts focused primarily on ape and primate conservation, and the project has already developed a partnership with the local Tuzamurane Cooperative community to ensure that both guests and local residents benefit from the profits.

“We are extremely proud of the progress we have made with Bisate Lodge, especially with regards to our pioneering reforestation programme which has already seen over 5,000 indigenous trees planted to date,” comments Keith Vincent, CEO of Wilderness Safari. “This incredible opportunity to use our model of responsible ecotourism to contribute to positive conservation and community empowerment in such a unique and exciting Rwanda environment is exactly why we do what we do.”

Set amidst a private natural landscape, the lodge will feature sophisticated architectural and interior design schemes rooted in Rwandan building traditions. Its six thatched structures echo the hills of the surrounding area, while rich interiors exhibit surfaces and screens made from a variety of woven materials, all strongly resonating with the nation’s history.

Each of the spacious villas will incorporate an intimate combination of bedroom, living and bathroom space, warmed by a central fireplace and offering views out from a private deck out towards Mount Bisoke. The lodge will provide a convenient base from which

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BLAU design Fran Silvestre www.gandiablasco.com

ATLANTA BARCELONA LISBOA LOS ANGELES PORTO MADRID MIAMI NEW YORK ONTINYENT

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Thompson Hollywood LOS ANGELES

Tara Bernerd & Partners has been appointed as director of interior architecture for Thompson Hollywood, a new hotel from Two Roads Hospitality.

views of the Hollywood sign and downtown Los Angeles, while landscaped balconies and plazas will allow guests to enjoy the Southern California climate in comfort and style.

The creation of Thompson Hollywood follows the success of Belgraves London and Thompson Chicago, where Tara Bernerd & Partners played a role in defining the brand’s design DNA, developing an aesthetic that draws from both modern and traditional trends.

Located in a formerly vacant lot north of Sunset Boulevard close to Hollywood and Vine, Thompson Hollywood will mark the second hotel developed by Hollywood International Regional Center (HIRC) in the neighbourhood, following the announcement of the nearby Killefer Flammang-designed Dream Hotel. HIRC and Five Chairs are also developing a nearby property for Commune’s youth-oriented Tommie brand.

Set in an 11-storey building on Wilcox Avenue, the boutique property will combine smart layouts with rich textures and midcentury furnishings in a structure by RVC Architects and Steinberg Architects. Bernerd’s design for the 220-key project will draw from old-school glamour while maintaining a contemporary and stylish aesthetic throughout. Set to include a 6,000ft2 ground floor signature restaurant, as well as a swimming pool and bar deck, conference space and penthouse lounge, Thompson Hollywood is slated for completion in 2018.

The mid-rise property’s entertainment deck will offer panoramic

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W W W. A L G E R - T R I TO N . C O M PROJECT DESIGNER PURCHASER

THE LONDON HOUSE - CHICAGO SIMEONE DEARY DESIGN GROUP THE GETTYS GROUP

Bellagio by MGM SHANGHAI

WATG and Wimberly Interiors have unveiled design details of Bellagio by MGM Shanghai, the first Bellagio in Asia.

An existing building integrated in the hotel’s façade will house a multi-level Chinese restaurant, enhanced by vintage steamer trunks, Ming Dynasty vases, a traditional bamboo birdcage, and signature red chandeliers.

The property is also set to house a two-level boutique retail space, a multifunctional grand atrium, ballroom and event facilities, and an all-day à la carte restaurant, as well as a rooftop bar, spa and gym facilities, and an indoor swimming pool. Guestroom options will include spacious hospitality suites and an opulent double-volume presidential suite.

Tasked with creating a stylish luxury hotel in an urban setting, WATG and Wimberly Interiors will support the brand’s entry into Asia with a sensitive yet dynamic design approach to both the hotel and its place in the surrounding Bund district.

Slated for a June 2017 opening, the firm’s design for the 165key property will combine classical architectural forms with a contemporary interior scheme incorporating rich materials, ornate columns and references to the city’s heritage. Featuring reinterpreted Art Deco silhouettes, textures and details, the project will seek to capture the glamour of 1930’s Shanghai.

Clad in warm granite stone, the structure is located in the historic Bund district, offering views out to Pudong’s neoclassical buildings.

At its southern side, the hotel follows the direction of the river with steeped façades and vertical towers, whilst on the east, Art Deco columns will punctuate a grand porte-cochère.

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JW Marriott Tetouan MOROCCO

Areen Hospitality has been appointed to design the interiors of a new five-star hotel in Tetouan, set to be the first JW Marriott in Morocco.

embraces its guests. Traditional Moroccan hospitality is renowned the world over and we wanted to capture this essence within the new JW Marriott Tetouan. Creatively this is always a challenge, but one which we feel we have successfully met on this project.”

The city of Tetouan is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and an established Morrocan tourist attraction with significant cultural and historic importance. Located ten miles from the straits of Gibraltar, the area provides easy access to the famed Medina district, with its traditional mosques and bustling markets.

Eugenia Rolando, Associate, Areen Hospitality, adds: “Inspiration for the design of the interiors is drawn from traditional Moroccan patterns, materials and heritage. Alongside respecting these values, we wanted to provide an elegant and sophisticated interior offering a warm welcome to all hotel guests.”

Currently being built adjacent to Marina Smir, the country’s first yacht harbour and a port of choice for those sailing along the Southern Mediterranean, the 22,500m2 development will feature a spa, three restaurants and 194 guestrooms.

Areen’s design will incorporate a selection of rich fabrics, soft colours, hand-tufted rugs and richly detailed screens, alongside locally sourced marble and timber, and traditional Arabic geometric wall and floor patterns.

Andrew Linwood, Head of Design, Areen Hospitality, comments: “As always we search for a balance between providing durable and functional spaces, whilst still offering an interior that surprises and

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Showroom Milan / Rome / Turin / Viterbo Paris / Cannes

Ph Bernard Touillon

Contacts info@ethimo.com +39 0761 300 444

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© Gutsy

MEETING

Barry Sternlicht Having launched three new hotel brands in recent years, the founder of Starwood Capital Group talks of his eye for design and a passion to create an eco-conscious hospitality experience.

Words: Catherine Martin | Photography: Courtesy of Starwood Capital Group (unless otherwise stated)

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or someone to be as highly regarded in business as they are in the creative world is rare. The ability to pull-off multi-milliondollar deals while spearheading the development of design-led ventures is a talent that can be attributed to only a few. One of those few is Barry Sternlicht, a name that is synonymous with some of the most successful hotel brands the world has seen.

As founder, chairman and CEO of Starwood Capital group, Sternlicht’s career is one that Sleeper has followed closely over the past two decades, from the acquisition of ITT Sheraton to the launch of W Hotels. A visionary and an innovator, his achievements have won him recognition over the years, including the Outstanding Contribution Award – an accolade reserved for those who have made a significant and lasting impression on the hospitality design industry – at the 2016 European Hotel Design Awards. With Sternlicht unable to attend the ceremony in person, Sleeper spent months trying to co-ordinate travel schedules to record an acceptance speech. Possible meet-ups in London, Miami and New York didn’t pan out, but a call in mid-September revealed that Sternlicht would make a flying visit to Manchester – right on Sleeper’s doorstep – to see Principal, the global launch pad for a new brand.

Forming part of The Principal Hotel Company – which also includes De Vere – Principal is a collection of city centre properties housed in landmark buildings across the UK. Hotels in Edinburgh and York have undergone a rebrand and extensive refurbishment

carried out by Goddard Littlefair and Michaelis Boyd, while properties in Glasgow, London and Liverpool will join the portfolio over the coming 18 months.

Invited to interview Sternlicht during his visit, Sleeper joined the Principal team – COO David Taylor, Brand Director Simon Willis, and Design Director Sara Cosgrove – on a show-around before sitting down to discuss his latest ventures. As he walked the hotel’s public spaces, rearranging flower displays and pointing out details that weren’t quite up to scratch – according to Sternlicht’s critical eye anyway – it became clear that the entrepreneur is quite the perfectionist. “I’ve always been criticised for focusing on the detail, but it’s the details that make the property,” he explains. “Do you have the textures right? Do you have the lighting right? Yes it’s about the space you create, the attitude you create and service you create, but it really starts with the design of the property.”

Sternlicht is closely involved in the design and curation of each and every property in the portfolio, working with teams on the ground to build his vision. “The work of architects and interior designers is my passion, it’s what I love,” he continues. “I’m proud to spend so much time working with so many talented people, it’s really the fun part of what I do.”

The launch of The Principal Hotel Company builds on an already hugely successful career. In 1991, Sternlicht founded Starwood

“The work of architects and interior designers is my passion, it’s what I love.”

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Above: 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge upholds the idea that travellers can live well while helping create a greener world

Capital Group, a real estate private investment firm that differentiates itself through innovation and creativity. Through the acquisition of distressed assets, he created Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, emerging as a new leader in the hospitality space. During his tenure, Sternlicht built St. Regis from a single hotel to a global brand, and is credited with industry innovations such as the Westin Heavenly Bed. He is perhaps best known for creating W Hotels, widely regarded as the world’s first design-led luxury lifestyle brand.

Sternlicht left Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 2005, opting to focus instead on Starwood Capital and its real estate investments. Ten years later, his creative mind got the better of him and Sternlicht announced his return to hospitality with the launch of SH Group, a hotel brand management company with in-house design and operations capabilities. The group has created what it believes are some of the most groundbreaking and dynamic hotel brands in the world.

1 Hotels, which made its debut in 2015 with a 426-key property in Miami’s South Beach, is a luxury lifestyle brand inspired by nature.

Combining eco-conscious design and sustainable architecture with high levels of service and comfort, 1 Hotels prides itself on taking small steps to make a big difference. “I wanted to do something with meaning and purpose,” explains Sternlicht as we catch up again a few days before of the opening of 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. “I didn’t want to do just another hotel brand, I wanted to do something that was

mission driven, so I decided to create a hotel that is green from the start,” he continues, quick to add that “it’s not a brand, it’s a cause”.

Sustainability is a topic that Sternlicht is passionate about, and he’s clearly done his homework. “If they pollute with coal in China, the debris and particles drift over the ocean and affect the weather in California. People dropping waste upstream affects people downstream,” he explains. “I came up with the name ‘1’ because it’s one world, and we’re all responsible.”

Sternlicht’s aim is to teach people that they can live green and still live well. As a result, 1 Hotels feature a host of luxury amenities – from sprawling rooftop terraces to complimentary rides in electric Tesla cars – alongside countless initiatives aimed at protecting the environment. 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge for example was built to LEED guidelines and boasts a LEED Dynamic Plaque; compared to other new buildings of its size it uses 25% less energy consumption; and it also operates its own rainwater reclamation system. The brand is a platform for change, says Sternlicht, but do these measures really make a difference? It’s a question that often gets asked of the hotel industry in general but Sternlicht has come prepared with a list of ecological achievements to-hand. In 2016, the brand recycled 225 tonnes of paper and plastic with 73% of guests using the recycling bins during their stay; 750,000 water bottles were saved thanks to the triple-filtered taps installed in guestrooms; two properties have

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Hand Finished Marble Basins

Above: Designed by Goddard Littlefair, Principal York has undergone extensive refurbishment

switched to wind energy; and 48% of guests say they changed their habits at home to be more sustainable.

Upholding the idea that travellers can live well, do good, and respect the community around them while helping create a greener world, the latest addition to the portfolio occupies a prime riverfront spot with views of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan skyline. “As our first brand new development, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge is the true realisation of our vision for 1 Hotels and quite possibly the best hotel I have ever done,” states Sternlicht. Featuring 194 guestrooms with sliding floor-to-ceiling windows, a full-service spa focusing on organic treatments, a yoga studio, screening room, four dining venues and rooftop bar, the hotel draws on its surroundings for inspiration.

Designed by Marvel Architects and Incorporated, it has an industrial edge, and makes use of local artisans, native greenery and reclaimed materials. As with other properties in the portfolio, all aspects of the hotel’s design and construction have been carefully chosen to reflect 1 Hotels’ commitment to environmentally responsible hospitality.

Sternlicht has joined forces with a number of practices for the first three 1 Hotels, including Kobi Karp, AvroKO and Meyer Davis.

“There are so many talented people to work with and it’s fun and keeps it fresh,” he says of the challenge of working with different designers for each project. But credit, he says, must be given to Kemper Hyers, Senior Vice President of Design at Starwood Capital

Group, who has contributed to the development of the brand and is responsible for overseeing its aesthetic direction. Sternlicht also has a hand in the design process. “I enjoy doing it,” he says. “It’s not the only thing we do at Starwood, but it’s where I can take out my artistic anger and continue to design. I know what the next five hotels are going to look like in my head so I just need to find people to execute them.”

Included in the future pipeline are properties in Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, Sunnyvale in California’s Silicon Valley, and Sanya in China. “We want to be in the gateway cities and we’re trying to find the appropriate asset in places like London, Amsterdam,” Sternlicht confirms. “I’m sure we’ll get there.”

Also operated by SH Group is Baccarat Hotels & Resorts, which came about following the $3.2 billion acquisition of Groupe Tattinger and Société du Louvre – majority shareholder of the 250-year-old crystal maker. “We took control of Baccarat back in 2005 and one of the objectives was to innovate their product line,” explains Sternlicht.

“I had the idea that we could take the brand into the hotel space to make it relevant and show people that they have a modern edge,” he continues, adding that the hotels would become “a laboratory for innovation” to showcase new designs that would eventually be sold in store.

The first Baccarat Hotel opened in New York in 2015, a global

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Breathtaking carpets engineered to last

THE PRINCIPAL YORK ENGLAND

Goddard Littlefair

Hospitality – Leisure – Gaming – Marine – Residential

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www.brintons.net

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Above: Principal London, by Tara Bernerd & Partners, Russell Sage Studio and EPR Architects, will see the reintroduction of a Palm Court

flagship that has won praise from both industry commentators and consumers. Housed within a purpose-built high-rise in midtown Manhattan, the hotel recalls the qualities for which Baccarat is known. A prismatic glass façade designed by SOM reflects and refracts light to dazzling effect, while interiors by Parisian design duo Gilles & Boissier make use of crystal in multiple ways, from the traditional chandeliers that decorate the public spaces to the contemporary crystal sconces in the guestrooms. In accordance with Sternlicht’s mission to reinvent the brand, the hotel also features pieces that Baccarat made for the first time, such as picture lights and crystal tiles, which have subsequently become new product lines.

Aside from its design credentials, the hotel has proved a huge commercial success. Since its debut, Baccarat Hotel has achieved the top ADR in New York’s luxury market, while its bar is regularly named amongst the city’s best. The venture has also proved lucrative for Sternlicht. Two months after opening, Sunshine Insurance Group purchased the property for $230 million – more than $2 million per key – the highest price per room for a hotel in the US. The funds will no doubt be pumped into expanding the Baccarat Hotels brand, though Sternlicht remains tight-lipped on his next step. “We’re looking,” he says cautiously. “We’re working on projects in London and Doha and keeping our eyes open for other opportunities.”

Elsewhere in Starwood Capital Group’s portfolio, Sternlicht is looking forward to the opening of Principal London, which occupies an historic Grade II*-listed building on Bloomsbury’s Russell Square.

Originally designed by renowned architect Charles Fitzroy Doll, the property – a rare example of late-Victorian, renaissance-style architecture in London – features the designs of Tara Bernerd & Partners, Russell Sage Studio and EPR Architects. “It’s a spectacular property,” describes Sternlicht, adding that the hotel, with its customfinished guestrooms, double-height gallery and all-day restaurant, will make its debut in the coming months. The project also involves the reintroduction of a Palm Court, located within an internal courtyard that has been covered up for decades.

The mere mention of this feature has Sternlicht once again expressing his passion for design. “I like creating something from thin air, it’s fun to do and when it works it’s particularly thrilling. I can’t tell you every design secret I have, but I enjoy the challenge of creating new brands,” he states, revealing that the success of 1 Hotels is undoubtedly a highlight of his career. “For me personally, it was a great challenge and has raised the bar in terms of eco-conscious hospitality,” Sternlicht concludes. “So as long as people are paying attention, then it matters. And when you’re old like me, you work on your legacy.”

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Nauta

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Soho House BARCELONA

The latest Soho House is a conversion of an 18th century building overlooking Port Vell, its interiors giving the group’s signature look a Catalan twist.

Words: Matt Turner | Photography: Courtesy of Soho House

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t has taken the backing of two billionaires – fashion mogul Richard Caring, who bought out many of the club’s original founders in 2008, and American investor Ron Burkle, who acquired a 60% stake in 2012 – to really ramp up Soho House’s overseas expansion.

What was once a UK-centric group, with London clubs in Soho, Chiswick, Notting Hill and Shoreditch alongside countryside properties Babington House and Soho Farmhouse, has become more international in its outlook of late, with outposts launched in New York, Toronto, Los Angeles, Berlin, Chicago, Istanbul, and now Barcelona. Along the way, its recent houses have seen the model evolve from private members’ clubs into something more akin to a fully-fledged hotel – though the guestrooms are only one element of a business that still generates the majority of its revenues from F&B and membership fees.

Such rapid expansion has put a strain on cashflow, as widely reported in the financial press. Yet the waiting list for membership, 32,000 strong at the last count, remains the envy of its competitors.

And as it has increasingly invested in the real estate that houses its properties, through acquisition rather than lease, its investors stand to benefit from the upswing in property values that typically follows the launch of a Soho House in any up-and-coming neighbourhood.

Above and opposite: Areas open to hotel guests and members include the clubhouse on the fifth floor and a rooftop pool with stunning views over Port Vell

But perhaps the biggest juggling act for the group is not cashflow, but credibility. Retaining the exclusive cachet of Soho House is increasingly difficult as the brand becomes more familiar and its 65,000 strong membership continues to grow. Its founder Nick Jones believes the individuality of the different houses will be crucial as its rollout gathers pace. “Being non-corporate and not using a cookie cutter keeps things interesting,” he recently told New York property magazine The Real Deal. “As we’ve grown and entered new cities, there is always a great amount of research and feedback gathered, which influences everything from the overall design of the house to the details like the kind of music that is played within the club. The local inspiration means that each house feels individual.”

Its latest opening in Barcelona is very much a case in point. The design has been spearheaded by Jones himself, and an in-house design team overseen by Managing Director Vicky Charles and former European Design Director James Waterworth.

They have been careful to balance Soho House’s signature, quintessentially English style with authentic local influences.

Inspiration was taken from classic Catalan design, with gothic architecture influences and double-height, vaulted ceilings. The lobby is a beautifully styled space with herringbone parquet floors, brick archways and a colourful blend of fabrics, rugs and

furnishings. Guestrooms have a modern but rustic look, with warm, Mediterranean colours and traditional Spanish patterned textiles.

Bathrooms feel light and simple with local tiles, bronze fittings and Devon & Devon copper bathtubs. Furnishings throughout are a mix of mid-century European pieces with local antiques and custom-made designs from the Soho House team.

Applying this intensely bespoke approach across a property with 57 guestrooms is a challenge in itself. The collection of vintage ceramic lighting took over two years to amass in the run-up to opening. A huge antique rug, found in Madrid, was cut up and used in the public areas. Tilling for the fireplaces was sourced in the nearby Barri Gotic, whilst wallpapers are by Lewis & Wood.

This is not the largest house in the group, but the facilities are comprehensive. Another balancing act for Soho House to consider with any new opening is that of accessibility – which elements are members only, which are for hotel guests, and which are open to the public. In Barcelona, guests staying in the bedrooms have access to the private members’ spaces, including the fifth floor club area, the rooftop pool and Cowshed active gym, with its House Ride spinning classes and yoga studio. Public areas include a Cecconi’s restaurant on the ground floor and the Cowshed Relax spa with its impressive indoor pool and a design inspired by a traditional Spanish pharmacy.

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Above: Guestrooms combine vintage lighting and antique furniture with authentic Spanish textiles

Additional areas available for private hire include a 36-seat screening room with velvet upholstered armchairs and footstools; the Green Room speakeasy in the basement; The Marina Room members’ event space on the fifth floor; and La Mercé – an annexe to Cecconi’s with its own lounge and bar.

Food is a mix of familiar Soho House staples (the flat iron chicken and avocado on toast are present and correct) alongside Spanishinfluenced dishes such as Iberico pork presa, Galician beef tartare and a wide range of tapas.

In fact, the menu offers a taste of Soho House Barcelona in microcosm – built upon Anglo-American foundations instantly recognisable to its worldwide membership, but infused with authentically Spanish and Catalan flavours to attract guests from the surrounding city.

No doubt there will be spicier fare on offer when Soho House Mumbai opens later this year. Further Eastern expansion in Hong Kong and Tokyo has also been mooted. Closer to home, another Soho House will open in Amsterdam’s historic canal belt. The ‘Bungehuis’, built in the 1930s as a trading office, will be converted to offer 79 guestrooms

with a spa and gym, screening room, restaurant, library and roof terrace.

But perhaps the company’s most ambitious project to-date lies back in its London heartland. The Ned – a conversion of the former Midland Bank headquarters on Poultry – will feature a staggering nine restaurants, 252 guestrooms and extensive gym, spa and private hire spaces. A project on this scale has required the involvement of another investor – New York-based Sydell Group, owner of NoMad NYC, Freehand Miami and The Line in Los Angeles, amongst others.

Taking its moniker from the nickname of its original designer Sir Edwin Lutyens, The Ned will open in Spring 2017. Guestrooms channel early 20th century design with vintage pieces, hand-knotted Afghan rugs and rainforest showers. Ned’s Club upstairs has a rooftop with a pool, canopy bar and restaurants. The original bank vault – made famous in James Bond movie Goldfinger – will house a subterrenean lounge bar, complete with original safety deposit boxes.

Seven restaurants in the former Grand Banking Hall will offer cuisines to match Soho House’s globespanning ambitions – ranging from British (Millie’s Lounge) via New York (Zoblers Deli and the Grill Room) and California (Malibu Kitchen) to Japan (Kaia).

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 57 guestrooms | 2 restaurants | 4 bars | Gym, spa, swimming pool and screening room | www.sohohousebarcelona.com Owner / Operator: Soho House & Co | Investors: Ron Burkle, Richard Carin, Nick Jones | Interior Design: Soho House & Co In-House Design Team

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Leman Locke LONDON

The Serviced Apartment Company unveils Locke, a new concept that combines serviced apartment living with the best of the lifestyle hotel experience.

Words: Catherine Martin | Photography: Courtesy of SACO

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ombining the comfort and autonomy of a serviced apartment with the design, innovation and social connectivity of a lifestyle hotel, Locke is a model with grand ambitions to challenge the status quo of the hospitality industry.

Announced by The Serviced Apartment Company (SACO) in 2016, the concept is the result of extensive research examining the current offer in the extended stay market, along with emerging demographic groups and consumer attitudes and lifestyles. “This is the first time an aparthotel is being presented with lifestyle experiences,” explains Eric Jafari, Managing Director of SACO. “We’ve seen the trend for experiential travel rise in recent years with most hotels leveraging this opportunity. The serviced apartment sector is the fastest growing part of the hospitality industry and it is our mission to develop innovative concepts and reshape serviced apartment hospitality as it stands today.”

Jafari, having co-founded the Urban Villa brand for Union Hanover Securities, switched allegiance to SACO to launch the concept, looking at the two fastest growing consumer markets – generation X, Y and Z (leisure), and the tech world (business) – as a starting point. “This demographic cares about the kind of coffee they

drink, their fitness routine, whether their food is locally sourced and having access to ultra-fast WiFi at all times,” he explains. “Despite all of this, the hospitality industry has done very little to accommodate the evolving needs of this emerging demographic.”

Jafari and his team also measured guest feedback from existing accommodation models such as the sharing economy and lifestyle hotels, noting that, while Airbnb has raised awareness of hotel alternatives, complaints surrounding quality, cleanliness and lack of facilities were widespread. By contrast, the popularity of the lifestyle hotel’s social public spaces was often negated by grievances over cramped guestrooms, particularly for those staying three nights or more. “Such factors have led this demographic to want an experience that merges the best of the lifestyle hotel experience with Airbnb and co-working spaces,” continues Jafari. “We created Locke to fill this gap, focusing on European cities that are anchored by technology and fashion.”

Named after John Locke, an influential enlightenment thinker of the 1600s, the brand is designed to reflect elements of the local fabric through its colour palette, FF&E, artwork, literature and even uniforms. The first property opened in Aldgate late last year with 168

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Opposite: The Locke experience revolves around the living room, specifically the sofa, designed by Grzywinski in collaboration with Ben Whistler

apartments and a street facing café catering to staying guests as well as passing trade. Located on Leman Street close to the area’s main thoroughfare, it occupies a 22-storey tower that is in harmony with the office blocks that surround it. The development was acquired by SACO mid-way through construction, meaning that the room count was already devised, and prefabricated bathroom pods were in place.

With an otherwise empty shell to work with, Jafari enlisted Grzywinski+Pons to bring their distinct design aesthetic to the project. The New York-based firm, led by Matthew Grzywinski and Amador Pons, has completed a number of hospitality and residential projects, including a comparable scheme at Boro Hotel in Long Island. Grzywinski also collaborated with Jafari on the design of Urban Villa in west London.

The challenge at Locke was to deliver a lifestyle hotel within a limited budget. “Our entire vision is underpinned by a desire to deliver a unique experience that our target market can afford,” explains Jafari, adding that the cost-effective solutions Grzywinski+Pons proposed essentially won them the commission. With input from seasoned hotelier Stephen Hanton, SACO’s CEO, Jafari worked closely with Grzywinski to develop the overall look and feel of the property, and will continue to do so for the forthcoming openings.

“The process of debating the concept with Matthew and Stephen is an ongoing one, which is why Leman Locke is a considerably evolved

version of what we have previously done together,” he affirms. “It is for this reason that we believe that each new Locke will be better than the last.”

At Leman Locke, Grzywinski has created a scheme that adds warmth to the industrial backdrop. Guest feedback revealed that the majority of lifestyle hotels in London are somewhat masculine in their design, so in response, Grzywinski has plumped for inviting sofas, strokably soft textiles and pastel tones to offset the exposed concrete.

The 168 apartments, 63 of which are suites measuring upwards of 31m2, each comprise a bedroom, fitted kitchen and living room.

Functional and minimalist with intelligent solutions that maximise space, the apartments have a Scandinavian feel characterised by light woods, a soft colour palette and luxurious wool throws by Nordic Nest. All feature abundant natural light with floor-to-ceiling windows and state-of-the art technology – including Smart TVs and ultra-fast WiFi – as well as the ‘Locke Box’, a complimentary crate of goodies.

The design team has focused on creating a space that will ultimately appeal to the target market. Unlike traditional hotel models, the Locke experience revolves around the living room, specifically the sofa. “The development of the sofa was really personal to me,” explains Grzywinski. “Most hotel rooms centre around the bed, but at home, I find that I do most of my living – watching television, working and eating – from the sofa.”

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Above: Vibia lights are suspended over the lobby lounge, where pastel tones are used to offset the exposed concrete

As a result, the sofa – created in collaboration with British manufacturer Ben Whistler – was fundamental to the project.

Naturally there was some back-and-forth to ascertain the appropriate style, proportions and firmness, but the resulting sofa is one that can comfortably support a range of sitting or lounging positions. The L-shaped piece has also become a signature of the brand and will be rolled-out to future properties in new colourways.

Grzywinski has designed much of the furniture and lighting throughout the property with additional pieces sourced from Chapel Street and Contardi through FF&E consultants Argenta Projects. In the public spaces, Arik Levy’s Wireflow lamps for Vibia are suspended over the lobby lounge and café, where Mutina’s terracotta room dividers add character. “They’re essentially breeze blocks,” states Grzywinski of the eyecatching feature. “What we really liked about them is their ability to transform a space from day to night,” he continues, adding that their tone and texture were the starting point for the scheme.

The F&B spaces are collectively known as Treves & Hyde and extend from the ground-floor café up a spiral staircase to a full service restaurant and bar. The concept has been developed in collaboration with James Wise – one of the UK’s foremost coffee aficionados – and chef George Tannock, formerly of The Fat Duck. Evolving through the day from healthy breakfasts to late night cocktails, Treves &

Hyde has been designed to serve as a neighbourhood oasis. Not yet open for Sleeper’s visit, the restaurant promises to be a multi-sensory experience serving up local and organic produce. A preview from Grzywinski reveals that the space borrows elements from the rest of the scheme, but will have it’s own distinct identity in a bid to attract a local audience.

The local connection has been an important consideration throughout the development of Locke, with SACO curating a socially and culturally immersive programme of events – from morning yoga and tech meet-ups to supper clubs and gin tastings – to bring together a community of like-minded locals and travellers.

In addition to this sense of community, SACO has gone to great lengths to cater to its audience. “We discovered that coffee quality is of utmost importance to our guests and the best coffee comes from a Mavam machine. We couldn’t find one in Europe so we imported the first one from Seattle and installed it at Locke,” comments Jafari.

“There wasn’t a skincare brand that aligned with our brand standards and design ethos, so we created our own,” he continues. “And when couldn’t find a coffee table book that reflects the local fabric and what we wanted our guests to experience, we commissioned ‘East London at Dawn’.”

These touches undoubtedly make a difference in a market that is becoming increasingly competitive. According to data from

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This Page: The F&B spaces are collectively known as Treves & Hyde and extend from the ground-floor café up a spiral staircase to a full service restaurant and bar

The Association of Serviced Apartment Providers (ASAP) and STR, the extended stay sector recorded higher occupancy (81%) than traditional hotels (77.2%) in 2016.

Furthermore, real estate advisor Savills has predicted 2017 to be a record year with more than 2,600 units expected to open across the UK over the coming 12 months, an increase of 13.8%. At least some of this new supply will come courtesy of SACO, which currently operates and manages a UK portfolio of over 900 apartments. Following the June opening of Eden Locke in Edinburgh, the brand will make its debut in the northern powerhouse of Manchester, before landing in Dublin and Cambridge. From there, the focus is panEuropean, says Jafari, revealing that the team is on the lookout for sites in Amsterdam and Paris. “Although I can’t give you specifics, what I can promise is that every Locke will be different, reflecting the local fabric in its identity,” he concludes. “We don’t believe in cookie cutter and I believe that the modern traveller feels the same.”

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 168 apartments | 1 restaurant | 1 bar | 2 meeting rooms | Gym | www.lockeliving.com Operator: SACO | Architecture: Aros | Interior Design: Grzywinski+Pons | Project Manager: JLL | FF&E Procurement: Argenta Projects Main Contractor: Bennett Construction | M&E: Futureserv; Parker Bromley | Planning Consultant: Barton Willmore

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“Don’t be afraid of silly ideas.”

— Paul Arden

ART IS LOVE

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The Strand YA N G O N

P49Deesign imparts a modern take on colonial charm for the refurbishment of Yangon’s iconic Strand hotel.

Words: Lauren Ho | Photography: Courtesy of The Strand

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hecking in at The Strand Yangon is almost mandatory for any first time visitors to Myanmar’s largest city. Opened in 1901 by Aviet and Tigran Sarkies, the brothers behind such institutions as Raffles Singapore and the Eastern & Oriental in Penang, the property is one of a handful of landmarks – that also includes Bangkok’s Mandarin Oriental and Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai – to deservedly boast iconic grande dame status.

Perched proudly on Strand Road, a teeming thoroughfare just off the Yangon River, today, the Victorian gem rubs shoulders with crumbling colonial buildings and smart new high-rises that form

a bustling downtown district dominated by the spire of the gilded Shwedagon Pagoda.

A place to be seen during its heyday, with a guest book that includes a long list of famous explorers, literary giants, and modern day Hollywood celebrities from Mick Jagger to Oliver Stone, the property – which slowly declined into a state of neglect after the country achieved independence in 1948 – remained largely untouched bar a restoration guided by hotelier Adrian Zecha in 1989.

Now, under the management of Thai group GCP Hospitality, The Strand has emerged from a six-month spruce-up that has gently

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Above & Opposite: The Strand’s public spaces feature original details such as teak wood panelling in Sarkies Bar

nudged it into the 21st century. “The tourism business has started to come back to Myanmar, so we decided to make something out of it and revive everything,” explains Olivier Trinquand, the hotel’s Vice President. “By revive, I mean that nothing has changed in the layout of the rooms and the restaurants – it was mainly the interior design.”

While outwardly it may seem like a cosmetic project, much of the work went on behind the scenes to ensure the hotel’s inner workings were brought up to scratch and to a level appropriate for a five-star hotel. “With so many big international groups coming into Myanmar, we wanted to raise our standard,” adds Operations Manager Mark Murraybrown. “The building became a shell; we had new generators put in, a new air-conditioning system – which meant the ceiling was taken out – and all the electrics were realigned.”

Of course, shuttering a hotel for renovation is a major business, not least the matter of coordinating some 145 employees. But with many who had been part of the team for close to three decades, Trinquand was adamant that as much as possible was done to retain and develop each staff member who, over the years, have been integral to The Strand’s spirit. “Olivier was very strict about keeping everyone,” says Murraybrown. “We wanted The Strand to stay as true to itself as possible and we also wanted the staff to feel a part of the new Strand.” The solution was to keep everyone on full pay, while

arranging monthly team-building excursions, twice-weekly English lessons and a programme of intensive training to polish up the service to an international standard.

The result is a hotel that runs like a well-oiled machine with a silent level of service that is conveniently accessible, but understated; doors are swiftly opened, luggage is smoothly whisked away and discreet butlers are at hand to remember subtle nuances such as your preference for tea or coffee in the morning.

This indulgent experience is further enhanced by the hotel’s new look, courtesy of Bangkok-based agency P49Deesign. Described

by Trinquand as “modern with a colonial flair”, original details from the teak wood panelling in Sarkies Bar to the four-poster beds in the 31 suites, have been given an update by way of fresh colour palettes and bold accessories. “We wanted it to be modern but traditional,” explains Vipavadee ‘Pao’ Patpongpibul, founder and CEO of P49Deesign. “For instance, we stuck to using wicker furniture, which is in-keeping with the period, but we found some way to give it a twist.”

As such, the lobby’s slick black and white colour scheme reveals itself through statement rugs and traditional furnishings such as chesterfield sofas and wicker peacock chairs, while the original pillars in the fine-dining restaurant have been painted an inky black to match

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Above: The hotel’s 31 guestrooms have been given an update by way of fresh colour palettes and bold accessories

the gleaming chequerboard floor tiles and the high-backed leather banquets that skirt the edges of the room. This is in direct contrast to the more feminine tones of the bright all-day dining café at the front of the hotel, where a whiff of nostalgia from the gently whirring ceiling fans and sombre wooden wall panels have been embellished with red wicker chairs and custom-printed wallpaper, that on closer inspection depicts images of daily Burmese life.

This design sensibility continues on board The Strand Cruise, the hotel’s sister riverboat excursion that gently meanders up and down the Irrawaddy River. A first for the P49Deesign team who had never worked on a cruise ship before, the project is also a modern take on old colonial charm, with period-style furnishings – including a replica of the hotel’s four-poster beds – rattan wicker, used on this occasion as wall panels in the restaurant, and splashes of colour displayed through traditional Burmese lacquerware and botanicalprinted bedspreads. “This was our first cruise ship project,” says Patpongpibul gleefully. “It was fun, fun, fun as there was something new to learn. For instance, we had to be very aware of the weight, so we couldn’t add too many items.”

Indeed, as with any project, while aesthetics are the first impression, it’s the enduring impact that is of most importance – something Patpongpibul feels very strongly about. “The initial look and beauty of a room might make you stop and say ‘wow’. But when you start using the room and it doesn’t function well, then the ‘wow’ effect instantly disappears,” she says. As a result, the guestrooms have an entirely liveable fluidity that extends to the public spaces, which are smartly assembled to accommodate either seclusion seekers or more sociable guests.

Launched just over a year ago, the cruise joins the hotel revamp as part of a wider masterplan for the expansion of Myanmar’s Strand brand. “It’s not happening next week, as we need to have these operations running completely, but yes, we are looking at Mandalay and other areas to develop The Strand,” discloses Trinquand. In the short-term, a plot of land adjacent to The Strand is earmarked to develop the hotel’s wellness offering to include a larger spa, fitness centre and swimming pool. When that happens, The Strand will certainly have a one-up on much of the international brands staking their claim in the city.

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 31 guestrooms | 2 restaurants | 1 bar | Spa | www.hotelthestrand.com Operator: GCP Hospitality | Interior Design: P49 Deesign | Lighting Design: White Light Company | Main Contractor: Task Interior

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Introducing a New Culture of Hospitality to London Lalit London, London Bridge This dramatic redevelopment and renovation close to the banks of the River Thames transforms a Grade II Listed building — formerly St Olaves Grammar School — into Lalit’s first luxury boutique hotel in London, sensitively restoring its Great Hall into a restaurant and event space.

Interior Designer Archer Humphryes Architect EPR Architects

+44 20 7932 7600 architects@epr.co.uk www.epr.co.uk

The William Vale B R O O K LY N

Albo Liberis and Studio Munge collaborate to design a hotel that celebrates the skills and values of its surrounding community.

Words: Molly Dolan | Photography: Courtesy of The William Vale and Studio Munge (unless otherwise stated)

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illiamsburg, Brooklyn is in the midst of an evolution, with gentrification increasingly seeping into the fabric of the neighbourhood. A multi-ethnic area, this part of north Brooklyn remained relatively untouched until the 1990s, when low rent and its proximity to Manhattan attracted an influx of artists.

With the negative implications of gentrification to contemplate, developers of The William Vale have created a hotel that considers the skills and values of the community in which it sits. The building, masterminded by Brooklyn-based Albo Liberis, straddles an entire block, yet ensures that public access is paramount via a porous

base comprising a plaza, retail outlets and park. The surrounding 15,000ft2 of public space comprises an elevated promenade for use by the community, as well as one of the hotel’s F&B offerings. Popular with locals, Mister Dips is a seasonal dining experience that serves a selection of griddle burgers, fries and dips from the window of a retrofitted 1974 Airstream trailer.

“This property is very brave and bold for Brooklyn,” comments Alessandro Munge, Principal of Studio Munge, of the building’s distinctive design. “It adds to the fabric of the city in a positive way, rather than a contrived way,” he continues, referencing the

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Above: Public spaces are enhanced by a signature scent developed by Air Aroma and dispersed by concealed cold-air diffusion technology

area’s current trend of newbuilds replicating old warehouses, with exposed brick and industrial interiors. “I think that as designers and architects, we have a responsibility to create history, not duplicate it.

Based on that – and looking at this great piece of architecture – we wanted to create an interior that would be a modern statement for the neighbourhood.”

In his approach, Munge conducted extensive research into the area, exploring the art, culture, artisans, local beer brewers and their ongoing struggles with large scale corporations and developers. “We started to dig deep and found that craftspeople were being pushed out by the big, badass developers,” he explains. “We decided to give them a piece of the building itself, celebrating their craft and thus enabling us to align ourselves with the people of Brooklyn.”

The most demonstrable artform is the lobby installation, Manahatta, by Marela Zacarias. Zacarias was commissioned via an open competition calling for local artists to express what the neighbourhood means to them. The 3D piece exudes colour and attitude, catching the eye in the otherwise neutral lobby palette.

Interiors are gallery-like, with clean, welcoming tones leading to the installation focal point. “The lobby feels modern, with marble floors and expressive light fixtures, which were all crafted by local artists,” illustrates Munge. “We created a space that is cool and calm, allowing people to come in and be sociable, as well as seeing the real art of

the area.”

With the aid of an art consultant, each floor features an eclectic collection of artwork, offering further insight into the locale. The corridors have clean lines, with doorways and room numbers recessed. Munge explains: “You have this beautiful perspective every time you walk along a corridor. Then, as you turn to enter a room, you are welcomed with a piece of art.” The result is a feeling of personal attention and privacy, as though the entrance has been designed specifically for you.

Guestrooms are relatively small starting at 240ft2, yet many feature expansive balconies that enhance the living space. The developers allowed a significant amount of the property to be used for terraces, with panoramic views allowing a visual connection with Manhattan.

“The balcony feels like a part of the interiors,” says Munge of outdoor space that is serene, yet within touching distance of Manhattan’s energy. “In the morning, the beautiful sunshine fills the room. Then, evening comes and the whole mood changes. It’s all down to the effect of the natural light, which produces a warm, amber glow by day and illuminates the building at night, highlighting the balconies.”

The interiors are minimalist, with paint taking preference over wallpaper and neutral fabrics accompanying hardwood flooring.

Artwork adorns the walls and loose lay rugs add a sense of homeliness.

Details come to the fore in the bathroom, which features a light and

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Above: Rooftop bar and eatery Westlight places emphasis on views of the Manhattan skyline, furnished with pieces from RH Contract, B&B Italia and Blu Dot

airy design, maximising space with smart storage solutions, light tones and the use of mirrors. Speaking of the bathroom’s penny tile mosaic floor, Munge states: “It brings such a nice sensation to the feet; we wanted to play with the senses.”

Offering panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline is Westlight, the hotel’s rooftop bar and eatery operated by chef Andrew Carmellini’s NoHo Hospitality Group. The menu of small plates take inspiration from global street food while design places emphasis on the views, with a touch of industrialism from exposed ceilings, and eclectic furnishings in yellow and grey. Westlight also plays host to many of The William Vale’s events. The hotel’s programming aims to engage local established and emerging talent, offering up the hotel’s spaces as a canvas for creative expression and new visions.

On the ground floor, Leuca is a neighbourhood restaurant specialising in Southern Italian cuisine, also from NoHo Hospitality Group. “We took the spirit of Southern Italy and adorned the walls with storytelling wood panels, using colours that represent Italian

architecture,” Munge explains. “The narrative is based on a fictional couple that came to America from Italy. They treasured memories with their family – cooking and learning from older generations – and wanted to bring this to America through by adorning the walls with frescos.”

The restaurant is divided into three spaces: the café bar, private dining room, and main dining room complete with open kitchen.

“This is an experience in itself,” Munge continues. “The kitchen has a warm glow that flows into the main dining room, acting as the heart of the restaurant.”

The final food offering comes from Vale Pool & Terrace, a poolside venue where a menu of light snacks and cocktails is accompanied by regular live music performances.

According to Munge, The William Vale is a considered solution for a changing part of New York. He concludes: “It’s about thinking about what’s right for the neighbourhood, and what’s right for Williamsburg as the community continues to evolve and grow.”

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 183 guestrooms | 3 restaurants | 1 bar | Fitness centre, swimming pool | Ballroom, 2 meeting rooms | www.thewilliamvale.com Owner: Wythe Berry | Developer: Riverside Developers | Operator: Espresso Hospitality | Architecture: Albo Liberis | Interior Design: Studio Munge F&B: NoHo Hospitality Group | Landscaping: Gunn Landscape Architecture

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The Mash Inn RADNAGE

Restaurateur Nick Mash has restored an 18th century inn in the Buckinghamshire countryside to create his eponymous restaurant-with-rooms.

Words: Matt Turner | Photography: © Carrie Beddall

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ick Mash knew exactly what he was looking for when he set out to escape life in the fast lane, running North London gastropubs, for something more sedate. “It had to be within an hour of London, somewhere with good rail connections and a thriving food scene,” he says. The Horseshoe Inn, set in idyllic surroundings down a winding country lane in the leafy Buckinghamshire village of Radnage, ticked all these boxes and more. Located nearby, Princes Risborough station is just 40 minutes by train from Marylebone. In the immediate vicinity, the Michelin-starred The Sir Charles Napier and Tom Kerridge’s The Hand & Flowers in Marlow have established the area’s culinary credentials.

And now, with the launch of the Mash Inn, its eponymous owner has lovingly restored this picturesque 18th century inn to create a restaurant-with-rooms, comprising five rustic en-suite bedrooms and a 32-seat dining room, with wood-fired open grill and kitchen.

The interiors feature Farrow & Ball paints, rustic wooden furnishings and ironmongery hand-worked by local craftspeople.

Bates & Lambourne created the bespoke oak chairs and tables in the restaurant, including a 14-seater communal table crafted from a single felled oak tree. Guestrooms have a cosy feel, with king-size Hypnos beds, lighting by Another Country and The Lightyard, and Fired Earth tiling.

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Above: Guestrooms are simple and rustic, featuring Hypnos beds, bespoke furniture by Bates & Lambourne, and vintage lighting

There is something almost Scandinavian in the restaurant area’s combination of rough hewn finishes and cleanly sanded Shaker-style furniture. The cosy snug, with its wood burning stove and original timber beams, has more than a hint of ‘hygge’ about it.

Similarly, the kitchen’s focus on locally sourced ingredients – vegetables foraged then pickled or preserved to make the most of the fallow winter months; the meats, game and seafood cooked on open flames – nods in the direction of the Nordic countries.

On Sleeper’s visit, the chalkboard, inscribed each day with an everchanging menu, featured the likes of ‘Radish and Hay’, ‘Suckling Pig Doughnut’ and ‘Pheasant with Truffle Celeriac and Oyster Mushroom’. Chef Jon Parry, formerly of London’s Bull & Last and Adam Byatt’s Trinity and Bistro Union, makes everything from scratch including the hand-churned butter that will arrive on the table alongside freshly baked bread.

The atmosphere is relaxed and homely. Nick Mash is often on

hand to greet guests with a welcome drink as they walk through the door. Diners are encouraged to interact with the kitchen team, chatting with the chef over a glass of champagne around the central island cooking station.

It’s a fully interactive and honest experience, according to its owner: “I want folks to be able to come out here, get back to nature, eat nature and get back to a childhood of hiking through fields, living without frills and get a taste of being in working farmland,” says Mash.

“Pickling, curing, foraging, tending to our kitchen garden and playing with the hand-built wood-fired cooking range is a normal day at The Mash Inn. I am bored of the traditional set up that we are all so used to, seated at little tables and presented with fuss and nonsense – here you can leave your table and stand in the kitchen and watch the flames dance under the food. There are no more doors between customers and kitchens.”

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 5 guestrooms | 1 restaurant | 1 bar | www.themashinn.com Owner / Developer / Operator: Nick Mash

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23-25 APRIL 2017

Sleepover is an invitation-only event for the innovators creating new hotel projects worldwide.

This year’s event takes place in Barcelona – perennially popular with aficianados of art, architecture and design, and renowned for its Modernist buildings, impeccable urban planning, and post-Olympic regeneration.

Guests will be accommodated at Casa Bonay and Cotton House Hotel. Our two-day programme will include walking tours of the city’s most exciting neighbourhoods, hosted by Barcelona Architecture Walks, as well as talks from leading designers at Design Hub Barcelona.

You can find more information and apply for reservations via our website www.sleepoverbarcelona.com

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THE URGE TO EXPLORE SPACE

13-02-2017 10:23:36

Villa Terminus BERGEN

Claesson Koivisto Rune celebrates Scandinavian design through the ages in the refurbishment of an historic villa for local hotelier Kjetil Smørås.

Words: Catherine Martin | Photography: © Lindman Photography

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ocated next to Grand Hotel Terminus – Bergen’s distinguished railway hotel – Villa Terminus is a haven for those seeking an authentic Scandinavian experience. Dating back to the 1700s, the 18-key property has been painstakingly restored, transformed into luxury lodgings and furnished with an elegant collection of Scandinavian design icons.

It is the latest addition to a growing portfolio of properties – that also includes Augustin, Bergen’s oldest family-run hotel – headed up

by CEO Kjetil Smørås. This new venture has been a long time in the making following stiff competition to acquire the listed building, and

subsequent back-and-forth with the authorities to be able to make the required renovations.

Built by philanthropist Zander Kaae to home the city’s needy, the villa was more recently used as accommodation for students. But it was in bad shape, and the former owners were unable to continue its upkeep. Smørås’ vision was to create a new type of accommodation in the city, offering the freedom of a homestay and the services of a traditional hotel – in the adjacent Grand Hotel Terminus.

For the architectural restoration, Smørås enlisted the services of Forum Arkitekter. Together, they worked with the authorities to

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Opposite & Above: Guestrooms on the first floor are shaped by the heavily sloping roof and original rafters

This authenticity is evident at every touchpoint, from the villa’s history detailed on its website, to the literary links of the guestrooms, each dedicated to one of 18 different authors selected in collaboration with Bergen Public Library.

On arrival, guests are required to check-in at Grand Hotel Terminus before being escorted the few steps to the villa, during which they are told the backstory of the property – another bid to instil a sense of place. Access is via a gated stairway off the main street, through finely manicured gardens that can be hired for private barbeques, weddings and concerts. Inside, the 18 guestrooms are accompanied by a library, dining room and kitchen, where breakfast is cooked to-order by a resident chef.

In line with the traditions of Scandinavian design, interiors are characterised by simplicity, minimalism and functionality. There are no strong colours or clutter in sight, rather the designers have opted for an understated, refined scheme that tallies with the history of the villa. “At the start of the project, an historic survey of the building was carried out, documenting every detail,” explains Koivisto of the 365-page tome that provided much of the inspiration for their design scheme. “For example, they researched the colours of the interiors over the years. By carefully scraping walls and doors, a lot of different grey tones were uncovered,” he continues. “Around the same time

address the limitations of the building, finding solutions that are in-keeping with the property’s heritage. “We discussed with the authorities what we were allowed to do and they set limits and told us what to retain,” explains Smørås, adding that the renovation of the original windows for example, was extremely costly, but has retained a certain charm that would not have been possible otherwise. Natural daylight in the attic rooms proved something of a challenge however.

Plans to insert windows into the sloping roof were initially rejected, but with a more considered approach that involved replicating traditional casements, the new intervention was eventually given the go-ahead. Preservation of the doors on the first floor was also compulsory, but their treatment to attain fireproofing standards was again a significant outlay.

For the interiors, Smørås looked to Swedish design studio Claesson Koivisto Rune, having admired their work at Stockholm’s Nobis Hotel. Together, they sought to breathe new life into the villa, bringing it into the 21st century while celebrating the Scandinavian design movement that emerged in the 1950s. “It’s a very old building so whatever we did had to be done carefully and with respect,” explains Eero Koivisto, co-founder of Claesson Koivisto Rune. “At the same time we wanted the hotel to be a part of the modern city of Bergen, not a museum with pseudo neo-classical pieces.”

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Above: Each space features furnishings from carefully selected manufacturers, alongside timeless classics dating from the 1900s to the present day

we saw an exhibition of Danish artist Vilhelm Hammershøi in New York. His paintings of beautiful grey-toned interiors paired with the found colours became our starting point.”

Set against the muted backdrop, each space features furnishings from carefully selected manufacturers alongside timeless classics dating from the 1900s to the present day, purchased from antique dealers across the region. “For all loose objects such as furniture, lamps and accessories we decided on a mix of contemporary and vintage Scandinavian pieces specially sourced for the project, mainly in wood and from the 1950s and 1960s,” continues Koivisto. The team also designed a number of pieces bespoke for Villa Terminus, including the wardrobe – an open hanging space with drawers beneath to conceal the mini-bar and usual amenities – and W131 pendant, first launched in 2013 by Wästberg and reissued here in a bronze finish. Other items specified from Claesson Koivisto Rune’s vast product collection include the Teatime serving trolley manufactured by Swedese, the Lima easy chair by Tacchini, and the Life bed and bedside table by Cinova.

The pieces are dotted through the public spaces and guestrooms,

each unique due to the building’s floorplate. The rooms on the first floor are perhaps the most distinctive, shaped by the heavily sloping roof and original rafters. Also on the first floor, the library is a cosy space furnished with sumptuous sofas and a curated collection of books covering topics such as Nordic design and local heritage.

The villa is markedly different to its sister property next door, an intentional move by Smørås to bring something new to the city. Bergen itself is also in the midst of regeneration, with plans to upgrade the airport due to complete later this year. The expansion is set to significantly increase capacity and, in turn, attract both national and international hotel groups eager to capitalise on the city’s status as gateway to the fjords.

Soon to open a few streets from Villa Terminus is the 249-key Zander K, described as the city’s most contemporary hotel, and Bergen Børs, a 127-key boutique offer housed in the old stock exchange building. Both properties are being designed Claesson Koivisto Rune and both are the brainchild of Kjetil Smørås. It would seem the local hotelier, who has ambitions to establish a series of individual hotels across the city, is already a step ahead.

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 18 guestrooms | Kitchen | Library | www.villaterminus.no Owner / Operator: Kjetil Smørås | Architecture: Forum Arkitekter (restoration) | Interior Design: Claesson Koivisto Rune | Lighting Design: Zenisk

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Thompson PL AYA DE L C A R ME N

Thompson brings its urban sensibilities to the tropics in a twin hotel and beach house on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

Words: Juliet Kinsman | Photography: Courtesy of Thompson Hotels

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n air of Manhattan arrived on the Riviera Maya when Thompson opened its eighth hotel – spread across two properties – in Playa del Carmen on Mexico’s east coast.

The development was constructed in cahoots with Mexican realestate company GFa, while Seijo Peon Arquitectos y Asociados and AS Arquitectura took the lead on the architectural design.

Set in the heart of Playa’s vibrant pedestrianised Fifth Avenue, the main hotel is defined by the curved sweep of the mixed-use complex and a dynamic interior design scheme by local studio Niz+Chauvet.

A few minutes walk down Quinta Avenida is the Beach House, set around a pool just steps from the ocean.

This pair of Yucatan Peninsula hotels, located an hour’s drive from Cancun, presents an unconventional set-up in an ever-growing resort, and combined offer a total of 118 guestrooms. Playful and glamorous in look and feel, both properties are distinctly Thompson – which is no doubt the point of taking this urban lifestyle hotel brand to a tropical location. As glossy and metropolitan as their sister outposts in New York, Seattle, Miami, Chicago and London, these two luxury coastal stays are kitted out for fun lovers with city-slicker tastes.

Niz+Chauvet exemplify the brand’s penchant for bold geometric patterns and a mishmash of quality textures. “In the design narrative, we presented the idea that Ian Fleming had visited the hotel to get

inspiration for a new James Bond character,” explains Patricio Chauvet. “Our mid-century design muses include George Nelson, Robsjohn-Gibbings and Finn Juhl.”

There are references to Mexico in the materials and props used throughout: light-washed concrete, Puebla state travertine marble, oxidised metal shelving, hand-pressed encaustic tiles from Merida, and custom-made furniture handcrafted from teak, tornillo, walnut, tzalam and parota in Mexico City and Guadalajara. Mexico Citybased Helvex has supplied the bathroom fittings. Thompson always likes to lace its lodgings with a feel for the Fifties, and so mid-century modernist-inspired furnishings are present in the hotel’s tableau of monochrome, chequered marble floors.

Thompson Playa del Carmen, the main 92-key hotel, occupies the top floors of the tallest building in town. It’s built over a mini shopping mall, two blocks from the beach. Thompson spun this perch to their advantage, and the roof has been fashioned into a 30,000ft2 playground separated into zones. At Cinco, a bar and restaurant that offers relaxed dining and cocktails all day, basketweave pendant lamps sway overhead. In fact, characterful lighting is one of the highlights of this hotel, and pieces by Studio David Pompa bring a touch of unconventional elegance. It’s founder, David Pompa Alarcón grew up in Mexico and Austria and studied product design

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Above: Interiors feature custom-made furniture handcrafted from teak, tornillo, walnut, tzalam and parota in Mexico City and Guadalajara

in London. “The idea to work with Mexican artisanry started with a trip to Oaxaca in 2009 where I saw artisans work with barro negro for the first time,” he explains. Since then, Alarcón has committed himself to the art.

A shallow see-and-be-seen pool runs the length of the rooftop, and curved in-water loungers face out over the rooftops to the sea.

Cabanas backdrop the pool, whilst sleek, quality outdoor furniture

by Kettal and Point line the deck. Restoration Hardware has supplied a number of pieces including playful hanging chairs and outdoor rugs, while Astro has furnished the restaurant with its Montparnasse exterior wall lights.

By night, Catch comes to life, with guests flocking to the restaurant for sushi, sashimi and ceviche from New York-based EMM Group.

Discerning diners are provided a separate entrance from the street, through a dark corridor, which could be lifted straight from midtown Manhattan. At weekends, a party spirit rolls in as the Funktion-One soundsystem kicks the space into DJ-fuelled action.

At the edge of the Caribbean Sea, the Beach House, with its uninterrupted ocean views, has a more romantic and boutique-hotel feel. The vibe of this resort property, with its 27 guestrooms and spacious suites, is softer, and more exclusive, even though the pool and bar are set right on a public beach. The restaurant, C-Grill, is a spin-off from Catch and serves guests by the pool and on the patio.

The approach to cuisine is similar to the design concept, in that every dish doesn’t just look pretty enough to photograph, the flavours are excellent too. Style is here delivered with substance.

It wasn’t so long ago that the only truly designer digs in Playa del Carmen were Deseo and Básico from Grupo Habita, the Mexico Cityborn group behind New York’s Hôtel Americano. Básico sidestepped conventional design with cement floors, open plumbing and pools made from reclaimed water tanks, and while these properties were characterful and quirky, they weren’t built to last, it would seem, and the gap left behind has been enthusiastically filled by these twin Thompson hotels.

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 92 guestrooms (Thompson); 27 guestrooms (Beach House) | 3 restaurants | 3 bars | Swimming pool | www.thompsonhotels.com Owner: Thor Urbana Capital | Investor: Thor Urbana Capital; Thor Equities; PSP Investments | Operator: Thompson Hotels (Two Roads Hospitality) Developer: GFa | Architecture: Seijo Peon Arquitectos y Asociados; AS Arquitectura | Interior Design: Niz+Chauvet Arquitectos

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YotelAir CHARLES DE GAULLE AIRPORT

Following success at Heathrow, Gatwick and Schiphol airports, YotelAir lands at Charles de Gaulle with its second generation cabin design.

Words: Molly Dolan | Photography: Courtesy of Yotel

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nspired by first-class airline travel, Yotel opened its first properties in London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports in 2007. An instant success with transiting passengers, the concept centres around cabin-like guestrooms, taking the essential elements of luxury hotels and compressing them into smaller, smarter spaces.

Four years later, the brand opened its first city centre property in New York: a 669-key hotel with guestrooms readapted to suit the city guest. “When we launched New York, the concept underwent a revolution,” says Hubert R. Viriot, CEO, Yotel. “We had a different target audience and had to adjust the product. The property still

has the same DNA – technology-driven with smart layouts and retractable beds – but with increased space and consideration. We then used what we have learned since the launch in New York for our recent openings.”

The latest addition to Yotel’s growing portfolio is located airside at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport. As well as being the company’s first property in France, the opening marks the launch of YotelAir, a rebrand of the original concept to differentiate from the Yotel flag, which will now be reserved for city centre locations. “We have differentiated the products to make it clear to guests what they

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Above: Interactive walls in The Snug encourage guests to leave their mark, with opportunity to post notes, tips and Polaroid photographs

can expect,” explains Viriot. “YotelAir is a light version with fewer facilities and is driven by quick and easy service. Yotel, with the city properties, is more of an experience that is targeted at a longer stay.”

Existing hotels in Gatwick, Heathrow and Schiphol airports will now be operated under the YotelAir name.

The Paris edition is the company’s first airside hotel and is part of a wider development in Terminal 2E: Instant Paris. The transit area comprises select partners that provide an authentic service, including healthfood outlet Naked and a Hausmann-style library.

Upon entering the hotel, kiosks line either side. Offering a streamlined process, the touchscreens allow travellers to check-in with ease – in less than two minutes – and minimise human interaction should tired guests wish. For those seeking contact, Mission Control acts as a reception complete with round-the-clock flight information.

The colour scheme is typically purple and white with a colourful mural occupying one wall.

While YotelAir isn’t best know for its public spaces, there has been a conscious effort in Paris to provide something more than just a bed for the night. Not strictly a brand requirement, the Club Lounge is defined by flexible zones that can be used for work, rest and play. Casual seating in shades of purple and lime green adorn the space, complete with Yotel’s signature hex stitch patterning seen in

the KriskaDecor aluminium chain curtain that hangs as a backdrop.

Meanwhile a row of workstations feature an abundance of electrical sockets – a staple of the brand. “Through guest feedback, we learned our existing offering of electrical outlets was not enough,” Viriot muses. “The new generation of design includes more sockets, including international outlets.”

As well as the focus on technology, innovation and connectivity, the lounge also offers a space for traditional social interaction. A multi-use table that would typically be used for work is stacked with board games, encouraging interactivity between guests.

The design also takes heed of the increasing demand for coworking spaces, championing synergy and creativity. This concept limits the isolation that lone travellers may experience. “We want to encourage guests, through design, to spend minimum time in the cabins and increase the amount of time spent in the Club Lounge or other public spaces,” Viriot explains.

Unique to the Paris location is a vending wall where guests can purchase travel essentials including drinks, snacks, chargers and toothbrush kits. For convenience, the machine accepts contactless payment or credit vouchers, removing the need for local currency.

Rounding out the public spaces is The Snug, a room centred on relaxation thanks to the Fatboy beanbags that furnish the space. In

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Above: The Club Lounge features furniture from Sancal and a coordinating chain link curtain from KriskaDecor

addition, interactive walls encourage guests to leave their mark, with opportunity to post notes, tips and Polaroid photographs.

The property’s 80 cabins are of the second-generation design, building on lessons learned from the four existing hotels. A signature of the brand, the adjustable SmartBed has undergone extensive development. “We’ve worked with Serta to design the right mattress,” Viriot states. “Through trials in New York, we found that guests respond most positively to a gel-based bed, which we have also widened for increased comfort.”

Guest feedback also informed Viriot that the luxury of a rainshower wasn’t necessarily appreciated, with guests preferring the option of a handheld shower. This level of consideration for guests’ needs elevates the Yotel experience beyond what meets the eye.“The design hasn’t changed dramatically,” Viriot continues. “It still looks and feels similar, but with improved elements. Same design concept, same DNA, just fresher.”

Guestroom design is intelligent. As with all YotelAir properties, the SmartBed is retractable enabling increased floor space when not in use, while the TV is mounted above a fold down-desk and extensive

electrical socket bank. Lighting control is simple and customisable, with a colour wheel allowing guests to select the brightness and tone of the room.

Building on the success of this launch, Yotel has recently announced significant growth plans for the next two years. Aiming to open 12 new hotels in major cities and airports internationally, the development pipeline is reportedly worth over US$1.5 billion.

Properties in Boston, Singapore and San Francisco will debut in 2017, while 2018 will see the launch of a Yotel in Clerkenwell, London – marking the brand’s first city centre property in Europe.

Additional openings through 2019 include Williamsburg, Miami, Dubai and Singapore Changi Airport. “We have big plans for our brand over the next 12-18 months. We’re looking to grow the number of rooms under management by over 250% by 2018,” Viriot concludes. “As with all of our existing hotels, we will maintain our focus on innovative design and technology, striving to provide a superior, seamless and intuitive experience for our guests, ensuring that each of our hotels has a sense of individuality that complements the local area in which they are built.”

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 80 guestrooms | Club lounge | www.yotel.com Owner / Investor / Developer: Aeroports de Paris | Operator: Yotel | Interior Design: In-house design team

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MACAU New integrated resorts are changing the face of reclaimed Cotai while driving a tourism-oriented turnaround.

Words: Neena Dhillon

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he increase over 2015 may be minimal, but last year the special administrative region of Macau welcomed a record number of visitors – 30,950,336 – with 28 million hailing from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. For such a small territory, it packs a powerful punch, with diversification the name of the game, as Macao Government Tourism Office UK Representative Sue Whitehead points out: “Reflecting the continuing evolution of Macau into a world centre of tourism and leisure, new resorts are bringing with them attractions and entertainment that add to its attractiveness for a range of market segments such as families and weddings.”

Having had to ride out stricter regulations and scrutiny of its substantial casino industry, the ‘Vegas of the East’ has been turning to non-gaming activities, many of these developed by the six main concessionaires who hold licences to operate casinos here. Of the destination resorts included on these pages and set to open in the next two years, it is not unusual for the average gross floor space reserved for gaming to be held at 5%. There is also a drive to broaden appeal away from an exclusive luxury emphasis, with the middle class and premium mass markets now on the radar. Whether this reorientation proves fruitful remains to be seen, but imminent hospitality openings should only serve to build the tourism-oriented market.

Gaining a foothold on the Cotai Strip, MGM China will add 1,500 rooms, meeting space, retail offerings, a spa, dining outlets and a dynamic theatre when it reveals its second integrated resort in the second half of 2017. Architectural highlights of the property include the Chinese jewellery box façade, for which cubes have been shuffled and cantilevered to create a single modern sculptural form from two towers, and a multi-dimensional sensory experience connecting the main lobby with shops and restaurants.

Leading the team of more than 350 architects, designers and consultants on the project, Kohn Pedersen Fox’s Design Principal John Bushell says: “Designed to really stand out on the skyline, our mountain landscape-like structure allows a variety of interpretations.

The outside is striking both in daylight and at night, with lots of dramatic spatial experiences within.” The exterior’s glimmering gold, bronze and silver undertones have been achieved through an integrated lighting system utilising 60,000 LED fixtures to wash the surface of the projecting feature fins.

Boasting the only home-grown ownership lineage, SJM Holdings is also working towards the late 2017 opening of a landmark resort on Cotai, with 2,000 guestrooms spread across three hotels. The first, Grand Lisboa Palace, is designed to reflect the tradition of Sino-Western cultural exchange in Macau and will include European architecture incorporating traditional Chinese motifs and chinoiserie.

As the world’s only integrated resort accommodating two fashionbranded hotels, the other properties see creative direction from Donatella Versace – the first Palazzo Versace in Asia featuring her approved interiors, furnishings and products – and Karl Lagerfeld, this hotel fully designed by the influential king of fashion, his concept a mix of Chinese art with European design.

Another striking addition to the Cotai skyline is the fifth hotel tower due to commence operations at the City of Dreams complex in 2018. Owned by Melco Crown Entertainment, Morpheus was one of the last designs by Zaha Hadid, her iconoclastic structure featuring the world’s first free-form exoskeleton architectural composition.

Although formed of two towers, a series of voids lends volume and distinction as well as an exciting internal space to the mega sculptural form, home to 780 guestrooms and five-star facilities.

Hoping to shake-up the hospitality landscape, Stephen Hung and Peter Lee Coker are set to introduce one of Macau’s most intriguing prospects of 2017 – a 200 all-villa hotel. Each villa of The 13 has been built at a cost of over US$7 million, with other facilities including six dining venues, butler service, invitation-only haute couture and RollsRoyce transportation. Peter Marino Architect is behind the exterior and has consulted on interior design, along with a contribution from Peter Silling & Associates. Of his vision, Hung, Co-Chairman of The 13 Holdings, says: “With The 13, I wanted to revive the values of the golden age of luxury – bespoke, artisanal and personalised. Virtually every detail of our hotel is created specially, from elaborate baroque scrollwork to sculptures, fabrics to wallcoverings, tableware to the Rolls-Royce Phantoms.” The 13 is already being counted among the world’s most expensive hotels.

Following completion of these resorts, Macau will be well stocked with over 36,000 rooms. But if occupancy is to remain high, without the recent reliance on rate discounting, the region cannot afford to lose its steely focus on diversification.

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Above: Morpheus, due to open at the City of Dreams in 2018, was one of the last designs by Zaha Hadid Below: Grand Lisboa Palace is one of three hotels at SJM Holdings’ forthcoming venture Left: Architectural highlights of MGM Cotai include the Chinese jewellery box façade Bottom Left: Stephen Hung and Peter Lee Coker are soon to introduce The 13, thought to be one of the world’s most expensive hotels

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Wynn Palace MACAU

Joyful exuberance abounds in a destination resort that reinvents the tradition of chinoiserie, taking guests on a voyage of discovery.

Words: Neena Dhillon | Photography: © Barbara Kraft and Roger Davies

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onour China. This was the singular idea that Steve Wynn communicated to his Executive Vice President of Design, Roger Thomas, when they discussed his second integrated luxury resort in Macau. Six years in the making and realised at a cost of US$4.2 billion, Wynn Palace is an affirmation of the company’s commitment to the region, signalling diversification through its mix of dining, entertainment, retail, wellbeing, hospitality and gaming experiences. Woven throughout these amenities is an opulent layering of colours, materials, art, textiles and decorative adornments. “I didn’t think I could authentically design a Chinese hotel,” reveals Thomas.

“But as a student, an enthusiast, and someone who approaches design in a way that embraces history, I felt we could immerse ourselves in chinoiserie, looking at how the style impacted decorative arts and architecture notably in the 17th to 18th centuries, and then seeing how we could reinterpret it for the 21st.”

This vision took on a life of its own, involving an 85-strong team in Las Vegas and China, including Creative Director Alex Woogmaster, another devotee of historical research into design. Together the team was able to draw on a much fuller bank of resources than would have been available in the 18th century. “When this Chinese influence was

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Above & Opposite: In the penthouse and guestrooms, Roger Thomas has taken cues from 18th-century furniture, adding in 21st-century technology such as Bang & Olufsen’s customised BeoPlay A2

Esplanade. Other historic pieces include Beauvais tapestries made at the eponymous French factory, one depicting an audience with the Kangxi Emperor who reigned from 1661, as well as an eight-panel Cantonese screen, circa 1820, its lacquered black surface enlivened with scenes of courtly life. And the hotel’s buffet venue is now home to a feisty collection of dragon mirrors by 19th century chinoiserieinspired artist Gabriel-Frédéric Viardot. Since the team is interested in representing a vital and full visual conversation between east and west, there is work too by contemporary Chinese artists, which speak of the western influence on China today. ‘Fake High Heel Channel X’ – the subversive stainless steel pop-art sculpture by Liao Yibai – is one such example.

During the research period, Thomas and team visited auction houses, galleries, shops and markets in Asia, America and Europe.

Chinoiserie collections at The Met, The Frick Collection and V&A were studied as well as those in British stately homes and the antique stores of Venice. Yet it was the sight of a small but perfectly formed teacup owned by China’s last emperor, Puyi of the Qing dynasty, which captivated Thomas, leading to the hotel’s thematic colour schemes. “This precious item sums up everything I love, its surface a riot of mandarin orange, turquoise, imperial yellow with outlines of cobalt, set against a white porcelain background. To these

first introduced in Europe, there was only limited physical contact between east and west, so French artisans for example would be representing places they’d only ever seen in a book,” Thomas explains.

“Now we have incredible access and more information to-hand, in books, drawings, first-hand accounts, online resources and our own personal travels across China. So the design vocabulary that we’ve been able to write for this project is based on chinoiserie seen through a 21st century perspective.” With physical materiality – porcelains, furniture, textiles, jewellery – offering inspiration, the team also took into account alignments and symbols that would be considered good fortune in Chinese culture while mulling over practicalities such as multi-language navigation, tactility, comfort and flow.

The hotel’s inherent aesthetic language also serves as a backdrop for a fine art collection, on public display. “Steve Wynn is passionate about returning art to China so we were given the opportunity to find exquisite Chinese masterworks that spoke to us and bring them home,” Thomas reveals. Sourced from a sale at Christie’s, a rare set of four porcelain Qing-dynasty vases has made a two-century voyage from China around British residences belonging to the dukes of Buccleuch before being repatriated to Macau. They represent a literal fusion, marrying Chinese porcelain with gilt ormolu mounts made in Paris, and now greet guests walking through the hotel’s West

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Above: Fontana Buffet is nspired by the world’s great food halls Opposite: Amongst the 11 restaurants are Hanami Ramen and Mizumi

pewter equivalents depicting mythical creatures. Cloud, floral and quatrefoil motifs are inset into ceilings, custom carpeting, handlaid mosaic floors and velvet fabrics. Crystal chandeliers evoke both floral and Art Deco design while drapery is omnipresent in fearless shades of orange, yellow, green, red and blue. The hotel’s two entrance halls are home to a rotation of seven floral sculptures by New York-based designer Preston Bailey, each containing between 30,000 and 103,000 flowers deployed in a variety of roses, hydrangeas and button mums to form a Ferris wheel of childhood wonder.

Wing Lei Palace, serving Cantonese cuisine, sings in shades of jade and gold. Chrysanthemums adorn the walls while the ceiling is patterned with inset wallpaper panels from which an ornate display of Chinese lanterns hangs. The palette is replicated in handembroidered chair backs and meticulously followed through to chinaware and chopsticks. The theatre layout, complete with private boxes, brings the benefit of privacy and multiple vantage points of the Performance Lake beyond. At its entrance, the restaurant features koi fish tiebacks sculpted in Hong Kong, from which tassels emerge as a trim to drapery, this layered over a capiz shell wall in a fish scale pattern overlain with peacock feather accents. The adjoining bar holds a special place in Thomas’ heart: “When I purchased an opulent Italian rock crystal chandelier from Paris, I made a promise to Steve Wynn that I would make it a centrepiece and build a bar around it.

colourways, we’ve introduced jade and leaf green to the palace to suggest abundance and verdancy.”

Guestrooms are an expression of one of four hues: yellow, orange, turquoise or gold, each of these imperial shades popping against the contrast of a proprietary shade made for Wynn Palace, christened Cotai White. The colours are evident in wallcoverings, carpets, cabinet accents and even lacquered hangers in wardrobes. The quatrefoil is ever present, this auspicious symbol used as a ceiling motif, illuminated by a handmade gold wallcovering chosen for its warm tone. Above custom-made headboards, bas-relief sculptural panels showing a deer and pine tree equate to a scene that, when said in Mandarin, sounds like prosperity and longevity. These exotic visual rebuses are injected into the interiors. Thomas pays a lot of attention to reflective surfaces, taking his cue from 18th-century furniture, because they add life and light to a room. In one suite for example, a silver ball reflects the underside of a coffee table, revealing a phoenix rising. Able to invest in the finest materials from wood veneers to polished marbles, brocades and textiles, Wynn’s design team are also granted budgets to build full-scale laboratory models of rooms, with full functionality except plumbing, so details can be refined.

Public spaces are fanciful, pairing playful perspectives with a sense of mystery. Sourced from Italian stone makers, registration desks of emerald green onyx or lapis lazuli are offset by lacquered screens or

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Above: The bar at Wing Lei Palace is designed around the concept of a chandelier in a gilded cage; a play on the revered image of the birdcage in Chinese art

My concept of a chandelier in a gilded cage is a play on the revered image of the birdcage in Chinese art. Designed as a jewel box of lapis lazuli, malachite, golden tiger’s eye, rose quartz and gilded bamboo, I have used mirrors because I think bars should be a little voyeuristic and full of intrigue.”

Some of the signature restaurants have called for, what Thomas describes as ‘cameos’, from leading design firms. Vicente Wolf is behind the design of fine-dining Japanese restaurant Mizumi, where his contemporary approach has involved the incorporation of natural elements associated with Japanese culture but given a different treatment. “Altering their usual perception, we have pebble stones in stainless steel, a cherry blossom tree of gold with changing fibre optics signalling the change in seasons, and dining chairs made with red Lelievre fabric reminiscent of tradition yet offset by other seating in cool silver, this fabric from Nobilis,” notes Wolf. “I love the feature wall of Japanese tansu chests constructed by a Balinese craftsman, the wood and hardware providing a great backdrop to the private dining room.”

Over in SW Steakhouse meanwhile, it is the work of TAL Studio on display, where the fiery Etimoe wood veneer meets with velvet upholstered wallcoverings, champagne-coloured glass teardrop lighting and sophisticated leather seating. Behind gleaming panels though, a surprise awaits. Every 30 minutes during dinner, they open to reveal a stage on which short 3D-mapping vignettes unfold.

Production Designer Michael Curry is the mind behind these immersive, witty and lyrical mini-shows, one of which stars a giant besotted gorilla and another a shimmering animated vase.

TAL Studio’s contribution has extended to the spa, where an eyecatching feature comprises male and female imperial guardian lions flanking a frieze-panelled corridor at the end of which a peacock displays. There is a serene quality to the spa floor, the swimming pool paved in floral mosaics, the spa entrance characterised by a Foucault’s pendulum, and corridors illustrated with hand-painted murals by Paul Montgomery depicting life in Chinese royal residences. Yet still the intricacy, craftsmanship and unabashed glamour continues, equating to a depth of design befitting a palace.

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 1,706 guestrooms | 11 restaurants | 1 bar | Spa, salon, fitness centre | 2,440m2 meeting space | Casino | www.wynnpalace.com Owner / Operator: Wynn Resorts | Architecture: Wynn Design & Development; Michael Hong Architects | Interior Design: Wynn Design & Development; Vicente Wolf Associates; Rockwell Group; TAL Studio | Landscaping: Lifescapes International

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The Parisian MACAU

The Parisian honours the icons of the City of Light, authentically evoking their grand volumes, craftsmanship, intricate detailing and artistic flourishes.

Words: Neena Dhillon | Photography: Courtesy of Las Vegas Sands Corp.

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t must have taken some imagination for Sheldon G. Adelson, Chairman of Las Vegas Sands Corp (LVS), to look down at the patch of land that was to become the Cotai Strip and envision Macau’s new leisure and entertainment centre. Back in 2003, work had just begun on the major land reclamation project, so for Adelson, it was a leap of faith to see the potential in this waterlogged, sandladen strip, linking Macau’s outer islands of Taipa and Coloane. But spotting opportunity where others perceived only risk, the pioneer of integrated resorts forged ahead. LVS has since invested US$13 billion into transforming Macau’s landscape, opening The Venetian

in 2007, developing Sands Cotai Central and finally launching the jewel in his portfolio, The Parisian, last autumn. It is a smart move.

The Venetian received 30 million visitors in 2016, of these 21 million from mainland China. But with the City of Light topping so many travel wish lists among the Chinese, offering a sister integrated resort city inspired by the wonder of Paris has proven a canny next step.

Creating a truly experiential destination has called for collaboration between several architectural and design partners selected by Sands China to breathe life into the 4.6 million ft2 site. With a background in film production, Gensler’s Charles Lee took the lead as senior

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Above: The canopied, galvanised steel porte-cochère plays off the Grand Palais’ glass and ironwork

Élysées-inspired paving pattern, bollards mirroring those at Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte and lamps that would look at home on Pont Alexandre III. Then there’s the recreation of the Eiffel Tower rising at the hotel’s entrance, half the height of the original because of planning restrictions, yet scaled down faithfully to the last metal truss. “I was a little intimidated by the idea of having to replicate this particular landmark,” admits Lee. “But having researched it, including studying images of its construction from the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, we recognised the design was based on a fairly simple system. Our structure was built in Shanghai using 2,800 tonnes of wind-resistant steel rather than iron, as per the original, and then shipped over in zones and assembled onsite.”

Palais Garnier is once again the muse for the hotel’s striking rotunda dome, its external form visible at eye height on the elevated pool deck where visitors can stroll through the sedate formality of classical Versailles landscaping or a more naturalistic garden, its palette informed by Le Jardin des Tuileries. To ensure the retail areas evoke the feel of Parisian streets and arcades, Gensler has borrowed floor patterns and colours from Place Vendôme, with the inclusion of a scaled replica of the famous column erected by Napoleon. There’s a version of Galerie Vivienne featuring mosaic floors emboldened with geometric patterning, and tributes to Avenues Montaigne and Champs-Élysées. Elsewhere in the public areas, gold leaf is applied

architect, working with the Sands team to conceptualise The Parisian.

“One of the main aims for Mr Adelson was that we represent as many icons of Paris as possible, not necessarily making direct copies but capturing the spirit of them,” Lee reveals. “His team had done a lot of research so we looked at how we could fit those icons together into a masterplan that would also provide the lasting functionality required to move around millions of people.” Rather than fall back on a single recognisable landmark such as Versailles, which everyone agreed would be counterproductive, the team decided to represent Paris through the ages with a focus on the 19th century. “This was a period of great exuberance, with technological innovation colliding with cultural events, and architecture shrugging off its classical shackles. Mr Adelson liked the idea of looking back but with a 21st century perspective,” Lee says.

Charles Garnier and his work for the Paris opera at Palais Garnier has informed the classical bones of The Parisian façade’s entry elevation, which borrows architectural language from the Louvre, specifically in the mansard-style roofs. The canopied, galvanised steel porte-cochère, meanwhile, plays off another landmark, this time the Grand Palais’ glass and ironwork in the Art Nouveau mode. Indeed the destination’s expansive forecourt exemplifies Lee’s description of The Parisian as “a collage of different periods,” with other references including nods to Versailles in the monument fountain, a Champs-

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Above: The check-in hall is influenced by the 1830 Room at the Palace of Versailles with its royal hues of red and gold Opposite: The Parisian’s restaurants and bars represent Paris through the ages and feature product from Shaw Contract, Lelievre and Fromental

XVI-style and framed art in tribute to French Rococo painters. “As the highly visible ‘jewel boxes’ of The Parisian, these two rooms have each received a distinctly rich colour with gilded millwork and ceiling murals to draw the eye. Lighting is appropriately monumental, just as French estates would have had gilded bronze and crystal chandeliers,” Rochon points out.

Continuing in the Louis XVI mode, French elegance is expressed elsewhere in plush velvets and silks from Lelievre, wallcoverings with damask and floral patterns, and elaborate custom-made rugs.

Corridors are adorned with mirrors and consoles punctuating the pathways. To ensure the longevity of furnishings, Rochon has designed historically accurate reproductions based on pieces belonging to iconic palaces. Porcelains, furniture and fabric reference a variety of movements from the baroque to Rococo through to Beaux-Arts although the design firm has worked to ensure that richness and ornamentation are always in balance with lightness and precise proportion to capture the old-world elegance of Paris. As an extra layer of opulence was needed in the high-limit gaming rooms, Rochon turned to the 18th century lifestyles of royalty, proposing different finishes and architectural solutions for these spaces. One example sees a gold and cream colour palette embellished with wallcoverings set in millwork panels, mirrored accents, painted classical motifs, bronze

liberally as a finishing flourish and the statuary’s classical forms are painstakingly realised. Working with Sands China’s design team, initial sketches have been translated into maquettes followed by clay models made to scale and finally the actual statues – hundreds of them – cast in durable fibreglass. Perhaps the most attention was paid to the rotunda’s fountain – modelled on the Maritime fountain at Place de la Concorde – the colours carefully adjusted to evoke a specific period of time while responding to the conditions of modern lighting. Here, fluted columns surrounding the fountain rise up to ceiling murals – in fact, these are highly accurate 21st century digital transfers – which summon images of the Dôme des Invalides.

Interior design by Pierre-Yves Rochon across the public spaces seamlessly extends the architectural concept. “We have taken classical, neoclassical and even some Art Deco inspirations from historic French eras and adapted them to the soaring spaces of the building,” he explains. “The size and volume of the reception and concierge areas proved an ideal backdrop for the Empire style popular in the early 19th century, the design influenced by the 1830 Room at the Palace of Versailles with its royal hues of red, blue and gold.” Awash with Rosso Levanto, Grigio Carnico, Sodalite Blue and Blue Cream marbles, both reception and concierge are dressed to impress with Fromental wallcoverings, chandeliers in the Louis

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Top: The rotunda’s centrepiece is modelled on the Maritime fountain at Place de la Concorde Bottom: To ensure the retail areas evoke the feel of Parisian streets and arcades, Gensler has borrowed floor patterns and colours from Place Vendôme, with the inclusion of a scaled replica of the famous column erected by Napoleon

light fixtures and carpets inspired by antique Savonnerie rugs. Rochon’s favourite design feature in gaming is a clock that pays tribute to a similar landmark in the Musée d’Orsay; “I like it because it is subtle,” he comments.

“Only those who have visited the museum would notice this detail.”

A good proportion of The Parisian’s art, porcelains and graphics have been sourced or custom-made by Hong Kong-based company Melange, with owner Anja Silling playing with French Impressionism in many of the gaming areas. On the highest VIP floor, her studio’s creations in the Art Deco vein sit perfectly within a unique scheme by Rochon that harnesses the distinct geometric patterns and trademark black, gold and cream palette of 1930’s Paris, an era he loves for the more modern form of luxury and glamour it exudes.

As a proud Parisian himself, the designer is hopeful that visitors to Macau “will feel transported both in time and place to the grand halls, state rooms and gardens of the most cherished landmarks in the city.”

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 3,000 guestrooms | 7 restaurants, food court | 1 bar | 5,200m2 events space | Spa, gym, swimming pool | www.parisianmacao.com Owner / Operator: Sands China Ltd, a subsidiary of Las Vegas Sands Corp. | Architecture: Gensler; Aedas | Interior Design: Pierre-Yves Rochon; John Chan Design; Meyer Davis; Puccini Group; Simeone Deary Design Group | Landscaping: Belt Collins | Structural Engineer: Aecom; Aurecon

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The St. Regis MACAU

Layered design rooted in the union of two cultures alluringly speaks of the locale while creating a residence infused with restrained glamour.

Words: Neena Dhillon | Photography: © Michael Weber Photography

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s the luxury property within the Sands Cotai Central complex, The St. Regis Macau brings an intimate residential quality to the Cotai Strip that is rare. There is an understated elegance and a desire to stimulate curiosity about local history and heritage. This intention is clear from the outset, with the grand façade framed by monumental bas-relief works by Portuguese artist Gil Araujo. Paying tribute to the Portuguese influence on Macau and celebrating its maritime history, the three-dimensional panels capture the arrival of the Portuguese aboard Chinese junks and convey life at Praia Grande, Macau’s former commercial trading port. The choice

of images, inspired by George Chinnery’s 19thcentury watercolours, highlights the historic influence of eastern and western cultures on the destination. Production involved 40 tonnes of clay being used to shape each of the larger panels before their translation into the final medium of glass fibre reinforced concrete, with the process taking more than a year to finish. As a ‘welcome’ feature, it captures the imagination and sets the narrative to come.

Charged with interior design, Wilson Associates collaborated with both the ownership and brand teams to achieve the level of detailing expected from The St. Regis name but in a progressive way.

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Above: Guestrooms feature fabrics and furnishings from Osborne & Little, Stark, Zoffany, Dedar and Tai Ping

Based in the firm’s Dallas office, Principal and Design Director Jim Rimelspach, explains more: “We loved the idea of using the Pearl River as inspiration – specifically how it brought trade or imports and exports of goods and materials that were new to the region – and so we started using that layering of east and west to develop the interiors. The overall design honours the region’s multicultural and maritime-oriented heritage.”

Signature motifs for St. Regis include a grand staircase, chandelier and bar mural. In all three of these brand anchors, the narrative continues to unfold. The lobby, paved in black river marble, greets visitors with a seductive cantilevered staircase, its undulating curves mimicking the structure of a ship’s bow. At its base, a bronze sculpture

by Lizette Aguilar, entitled Circle, makes an abstract allusion to the Pearl River. Floating above the staircase, craftsmanship is evident in Lasvit’s chandelier of amber, bronze and gold blown glass strands, summoning the idea of sails billowing in the wind. A sister chandelier hangs in the reception hall, this time the organic and translucent form of the moulded glass conveying ripples or cascading sheets of rain.

French sculptor Etienne Moyat’s wood installations – a symphony of Douglas-fir and cedar – oscillate in the light, referencing the fluidity and calm of the river while serving as the backdrop for reception.

Described by Rimelspach as “the stunner of the property”, The St. Regis Bar includes a striking lighting fixture of circular

rings illuminating the bar’s amethyst countertop below, the space accessorised with contemporary furnishings in purple, cream and silver, complemented by brushed brass screens. As in every St. Regis, the bar mural aims to evoke a sense of place, and so Araujo has once more met the challenge of conceiving a piece that captures its diversity. Comprising more than 8,000 sections of glass, his kaleidoscopic ‘Harmony’ mural seeks to tell the story of the Chinese and Portuguese co-existing peacefully since the mid-16th century.

“When the two cultures came together, they created something unique to Macau,” Araujo explains. “The mural is a merger of Portuguese ceramic tile design with the patterns of Chinese lacquer boxes, including the symbol of the bat representing prosperity.” The hues of blue and white for Portugal, red and yellow for China and green for the local flag have been created using a paint suited to staining tempered glass, then set in a kiln so it can be safely backlit

by LED screens. The resulting design is replicated on the bar’s menus.

Serving as the hotel’s signature restaurant, The Manor is divided into five venues each with different culinary experiences, brought together by a common background tale. “To develop the design, we imagined a retired Portuguese ambassador, a bon vivant who has travelled the world, meeting with all manners of life from heads of state to the average Joe, and who now relishes the opportunity to host his friends at home,” reveals Dan Kwan, Managing Director for

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Above: Iridium Spa features tactile furnishings alongside glass lighting shaped as flowers and textural walls carrying a cloud motif

Wilson Associates’ New York office. “Our fictitious colonial residence is quirky yet sophisticated, working as a whole.”

Taking on the charm of a conservatory, the first space that diners encounter is The Verandah where an inset ceiling of perspex and shaped aluminium-like steel creates the illusion of a skylight, the furniture inspired by outdoor seating, and the space completed with a crustacean bar over which a lighting fixture, its form replicating wine and whisky decanters, is installed. In the main Dining Room, a blown glass fixture from Preciosa illuminates a darker palette with tailored architectural details matched by a hand-tufted carpet. In the intimate Wine Gallery, a contemporary art collection adds a splash of colour to the plush environment while the Penthouse Kitchen is rustic, awash with smoked oak cabinetry and decorated with Portuguese tiling. The Library, finally, is homey and secluded, adorned with the paintings of Ivan Acuña. “Across the restaurant, we’ve blended classically inspired furniture pieces alongside cleaner, more modern ones for an eclectic mix befitting the home of a collector with discerning taste,” adds Kwan. “For our custom-made seating, we sourced leathers, silks, velvets and even brocades for a sense of richness and elegance. None

of the banquettes are built-in, rather we conceived their designs with beautiful sofas in mind – just on a grander scale.”

Guestrooms exude comfort, the scheme including mother-ofpearl panels inset into Bird’s eye maple to frame beds. The palette of emerald and blue is artfully infused, as seen in the bed pillow, an abstract cloud-patterned carpet and drapery trim. Elaborating on the approach, Rimelspach says: “The colours paradoxically represent both the surrounding waters and bright lights of the strip while the rooms are tied to the environment’s Chinese roots through architectural detailing on the tea service cabinets, golden lattice fretwork woven into drapery and finishes of parchment, bronze, leather and lacquer.”

On the 38th floor, the Iridium Spa maintains a fetching residential ambience, with tactile furnishings and vinyl wallcoverings alongside glass lighting shaped as flowers and textural walls carrying a cloud motif. With the generous space thoughtfully accessorised, displaying sculptural and art pieces that speak of Macau’s coastal context as well as its Portuguese and Chinese cultures, it provides yet another example of how The St. Regis Macau remembers its sense of place.

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 400 guestrooms | 1 restaurant | 1 bar | Spa, swimming pool, gym | Ballroom, 7 meeting rooms | www.stregismacao.com Owner / Operator: Sands China Ltd | Architecture: Aedas; Gensler | Interior Design: Wilson Associates | Lighting Consultant: Craig Roberts Associates

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Studio City MACAU

Art Deco styling infuses the Hollywood-themed studio concept of Melco Crown Entertainment’s integrated leisure resort.

Words: Neena Dhillon | Photography: Courtesy of Melco Crown Entertainment

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awrence Ho’s US$3.2 billion tribute to Hollywood and the heady world of the silver screen is inspired by his own love of the movies. As Co-Chairman of Melco Crown Entertainment, it was his suggestion that the façade of his cinematic destination carry a Gotham City-type aesthetic with a meteor shot through it.

That ‘meteor’ has been translated into the first figure-of-eight Ferris wheel incorporated into a building, functioning as a visitor attraction in its own right. Known as the Golden Reel, its unmistakable form is complemented by overscaled Metropolis statuary and design elements such as bronze gates that recall the entrance to a film studio’s backlot.

Responding to a clear vision from Ho that his property evoke the glamour of Hollywood’s heyday, Las Vegas-based Friedmutter Group has designed unique spaces that set the stage from the arrival experience through to lobbies, gaming and select dining venues. The firm’s Vice President of Interior Design Suzanne Couture explains: “We wanted to recreate some of that old-school Hollywood glamour but ensure it was given a global and contemporary bent for an uplifting environment in which people can have a good time.” This has meant looking to an era from the 1920s to early 1940s, a time of optimism in Hollywood, characterised by studio architecture and talents such as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Yet cognisant of the destination, Friedmutter Group has worked to develop an aesthetic vocabulary that nods to China too, as Couture notes: “In the geometric patterning through to exotic woods and the general attitude in the luxurious nature of the materials, you will detect Art

Deco. Not just a style that references the USA, though; we also looked at the extensive Art Deco architectural period in Shanghai.”

The porte-cochère is a fitting statement, featuring backlit ceiling elements in ruby and clear crystal and a contrasting cloud pattern dimensionally recessed in silver and gold leaf. Columns set the architectural tone for the project with Art Deco trims and mouldings, while gilt vases signal a theme that continues into the grand lobby.

Here, monumental porcelain vases finished in Cloisonné enamel overflow with bright red peonies, said to bestow happiness in Chinese culture. Deco-influenced lighting fixtures cascade from the ceiling, at their heart a tiered platinum and crystal chandelier reminiscent of a starburst reflected in the precious stone flooring below, the signature shades underfoot varying from black to silver grey and cloud white.

Theatrical drapery reinforces the idea of vintage cinemas while the entry portal to the casino is flanked with backlit onyx and metal leaf architectural scrolls, much like a proscenium.

As there is a requirement that gaming areas be screened from public view, Friedmutter Group has taken the opportunity to feed into a particular legacy. “Folding screens would have been seen in studio dressing rooms and offices so we took that image and used it on a grander scale, blending metal finishes with crystal embellishments for a decorative piece integral to the space around it,” says Couture.

Having masterplanned the casino floor, Friedmutter Group realised they needed a centrepiece for the vast and lively space, which would serve as a Tea Pavilion. “We decided on something

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Above & Opposite: Public spaces and guestrooms evoke the glamour of Hollywood’s heyday, with Art Deco references aplenty

super sculptural that would bridge Hollywood and local culture,” she reveals. “Whimsical and dramatic, our tower of multi-tiered golden dancing teapots, each with their own waterspout, rises up to the decorative ceiling, with the lounge characterised by railings of rich wood and bronze, leather and velvet seating, as well as theatrically draped swags.” Elsewhere in the casino, limestone fluted columns with kiln-fired art glass insets tower up to a grid-patterned ceiling, the repeating round coffers in a hand-applied red plaster finish highlighted by geometric coves in rosewood and gold leaf. Suspended from these are three-tiered crystal chandeliers with gradient-toned amber beads and murano hand-blown glass features. Wallcoverings boast a pattern inspired by the ironwork detail of studio gates, realised with a pearlescent sparkle. Visitors to the Signature Club, meanwhile, are greeted with a Chinese phoenix-influenced scheme, its blend of elements a representation of Yin and Yang, including lush wallcoverings, exotic onyx stone, crystal grillwork, a gold metal sculptural wall and precious red stone reception desk.

As the destination offers a four- and five-star hotel tower, the firm

has designed two lobbies. Couture compares the approaches: “For the Star Tower, we turned to celebrated Beverly Hills hotels, thinking about the polished stones, precious metals and plush cream and gold furnishings that hark back to these grande dames.” Also noteworthy is a charismatic pair of entrance gates inlaid with exotic woods and bronze metal, leading the way to gold leaf and black marble-topped registration desks. “By contrast, the four-star Celebrity Tower lobby is gothic and edgy, with velvet drapery matched by wing-back tufted loungers in purple, antique leaf finishes and bevelled mirror wall panels,” she adds. The adjacent Lobby Lounge takes its inspiration from Orson Welles’ 1941 film Citizen Kane, with a central limestone fireplace indicating the den of a movie mogul, while the adjoining Matinée café maximises its prominent position with a soaring ceiling, decorative Deco pendants and eclectic seating.

“To design a property of this magnitude and scale takes the pulling together of a lot of different talent,” concludes Couture. “Studio City has its own unique sense and we’ve been on such a creative journey interpreting the owner’s distinct vision.”

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 1,600 guestrooms | 25 restaurants | 4,000m2 event space | Spa | Casino | www.studiocity-macau.com Owner / Operator: Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. | Architect of Record: Leigh & Orange | Design Architect: Friedmutter Group Concept Design: The Goddard Group | Interior Design: Friedmutter Group (lobbies, gaming, select restaurants)

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Urban Escape #08 THE FINAL CHAPTER

With fit-out almost complete, the main protagonists of At Six and Hobo – the dual hotel project in central Stockholm – look back over the development process and reveal their expectations ahead of the forthcoming openings.

Words: Guy Dittrich

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B

asically, nothing went according to plan,” states CEO of Nordic Hotels & Resorts (NH&R) Petter Stordalen in his usual straight-talking manner. “The complexity of the project grew, but the potential rose with the investments,” he continues ambitiously. Catarina Molén-Runnäs, Chief Property Officer, Nordic Choice Hospitality Group describes just how complex the project was: “We have developed two hotels, four bars, three restaurants, one café and one conference department with four interior designers and three architects – in one project!”

So how do the designers feel about the project?

Hannah Carter Owers, Director at Universal Design Studio, the creators of At Six, talks of the challenges of the volume of production versus timelines and the coordination of many, many suppliers and makers.

“But hotels like these work when they feel layered,” she explains.

“And to achieve that you need a lot of players involved.”

Werner Aisslinger, together with Tina Bunyprasit and Monika Losos at Studio Aisslinger, are responsible for Hobo’s design and experienced a fairly fluid process of change as the design progressed.

“Projects like Hobo only arrive at a certain point when there is a prosperous ‘ping-pong’ of ideas and discussions between the designers and clients,” explains Aisslinger. A ping-pong described

by Mattias Stengl, General Manager of Hobo as a “super-fun ongoing dialogue” which, for example, led to the idea of a barbershop being dropped in favour of an ever-changing pop-up space that required a design alteration to produce Stockholm’s most creative 6m2.

Co-operation is an essential part of any such project agrees Helena Toresson, Senior Lead Architect at Wingårdhs responsible for the Tak rooftop restaurant. “The combination of a high

level of ambition and a tight time schedule has been a challenge,” she states. “But everyone involved in the project has really made an effort to make the design vision come true.”

Carter Owers sees similarly that “for a project of this scale and complexity we have had to deal with very little compromise – amazingly.” Indeed Ulrika Kjellström Attar, co-founder of concept and brand development agency Atmosfär by Attar who were closely involved in the process of selecting the designers, also saw “the vision at the beginning of the project very much what is being materialised.”

But of course there were compromises in a project of this scale – the decision for a larger gym

redefined as curated, chosen, taking care of the details important to guests.”

Meanwhile Stordalen argues that the ambition to combine the rooftop restaurant with an outdoor park instead of building more suites is an important statement in making the project unique.

“We wanted to create something that everyone can benefit from,” he explains.

As at NH&R’s The Thief in Oslo, a gamechanger for that market, art curator Sune Nordgren has selected unique art for each guestroom in At Six. Carter Owers describes the dialogue with Nordgren leading to the building of spaces and experiences around commissions and collected works. “I can’t wait to see the sculpture commission by Jaume Plensa installed on our white granite grand staircase in the hotel lobby!” she enthuses of the white marble head measuring 2.5-metres high. Jennie Håkanson, General Manager of At Six agrees: “I hope we’ve created a hotel where interior design really is interwoven in every detail with world-class art.”

With the opening of the hotels a matter of weeks away, Carter Owers sees At Six reshaping the hotel landscape in Stockholm, offering an international perspective on luxury lifestyle design. Aisslinger similarly envisages Hobo “pioneering a new hotel typology for the city”. The last word goes to Stordalen: “My expectations are enormous.

But based on the amount of effort, resources and expertise we have put into this project, there is no doubt both guests and employees will be satisfied with the results on opening day. I can’t wait!”

“Based on the amount of effort, resources and expertise we have put into this project, there is no doubt both guests and employees will be satisfied with the results on opening day.”

Petter Stordalen, Nordic Hotels & Resorts

rather than a sub-optimal sized spa in At Six is itself an interesting observation for a project aiming to be top notch. Aisslinger describes inevitable compromises, be that from an operational point of view or certain constraints from the investor, but asserts the ability to adapt is only possible with “ambitious and risk-taking clients like NH&R who are able to follow such an evolution”.

The consensus from all players is that, what is being created in the previously under-loved Brunkebergstorg part of town is unique. “The true legacy of this project is that our hotels are a driving force in the whole reawakening of the square,” affirms Jenny Edh Jansen, Head of Communications for both hotels. Molén-Runnäs sees that luxury in Stockholm will no longer be synonymous with grand hotels – “it will be

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In our next issue, At Six and Hobo will be reviewed in full following their opening in late March. Find out how things really shape up once guests start arriving.

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THE INTELLIGENCE SOURCE FOR THE HOTEL INVESTMENT COMMUNITY

Hotels hold onto rates against Airbnb Hotel rates remain higher than rates for Airbnb properties, according to a study from STR of 13 global markets.

The group said that Airbnb’s share of supply was growing, with more room to expand than the “established” hotel sector.

The report found that hotel performance continued to show strength while more hosts than ever were renting their residences on Airbnb, according to STR and Airbnb data.

Hotel average daily rates were generally higher than Airbnb rates, with hotel rates increasing in all but Paris. Airbnb rates decreased in eight markets and increased in five, with STR commenting that supply may have been a contributing factor in the fall, as the majority of the markets analysed saw available Airbnb units increase by more than 40% – and in some cases north of 100%.

The company said: “When analysing growth rates, however, it’s important to acknowledge the baseline. Airbnb is a relatively new presence in many markets, and growth rates often are commensurate with untapped potential. In other words, Airbnb has more room to grow in most markets, whereas hotels have carved out an established presence over decades.”

Performance data through July 2016 indicated hotels were following their normal cyclical

trajectory, hovering at or just below the peak at a time when Airbnb listings outnumbered the world’s largest hotel company by nearly three units to one. As of July, the US hotel industry had recorded its 77th consecutive month of revenue-peravailable-room growth. During that same month, hoteliers sold more room nights (117 million) than ever before.

The study found that Airbnb occupancy generally was the highest in markets where hotels had high occupancy and that hotel occupancy was significantly higher than Airbnb occupancy. When comparing with hotels, the report only looked at whole Airbnb units.

It said: “While competitive pressures exist across the lodging landscape, it is difficult to assess the interplay between different accommodation types with different operating models. Hotel inventory is fixed; a hotel room tonight is a hotel room tomorrow.

Airbnb inventory can flex, as hosts take supply on and off the market based on their willingness to make privately owned units available to the public for rent.”

When looking at the supply coming onto the sharing platform, Jan Freitag, SVP, STR and one of the report’s authors, told us: “It’s hard to draw a straight line between the number of Airbnb units and occupancy decline because there’s so much going on. There are a number of external factors. At the same time the number of hotel rooms is increasing – maybe this is a self-inflicted gunshot wound?”

There remains a distinct

difference between use of Airbnb properties and hotels. Airbnb guests typically stayed longer than the average hotel guest, with roughly half of Airbnb room nights coming from trips of seven days or longer.

Airbnb’s share of business travel remains smaller than its share of leisure travel.

Freitag said: “If you are a banker coming into New York for 72 hours you want your hotel with a decent shower and Wi-Fi, close to the city. But if you’re on a budget and travelling with six children, there’s Airbnb.

“What Airbnb clearly sheds light on is that guests want experiences. Hotels have always been in hospitality and service and they should be able to compete on this. Airbnb has bought in Trips to address this and hotels, through their concierges, should be looking to be a little bit more proactive.

Airbnb has really been taking the playbook from hotels.

“Guests want an immersive experience and hotels can compete – Airbnb can only offer the bed, but hotels are social places, they should bring the neighbourhood into the bar, rather than the guests venturing out.

“Hotels should also be saying to hosts: why not use our front desk, our gym – that is the way the world is going, this cross-pollination of facilities and services, providing new income streams.”

The study came as data from Hitwise has reinforced the popularity of Airbnb, reporting that it was the fastest-growing segment in travel in the key three-

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week period from Boxing Day when travel firms see high volumes of interest.

HA Perspective (by Katherine Doggrell): The impact of Airbnb remains up for debate, but what is no longer debated is that there is an impact. The sharing platform has meant a sudden influx of supply across the sector – this is not as simple as a new budget player or luxury offering, the attack is coming from all sides.

It also features a broad brush of owners. Freitag said: “It all depends on what the owner is trying to accomplish. There are owners who enjoy renting out a room to pay the mortgage and there are owners who are in this purely as a business, who will look in Expedia and see if they can match the rates of the hotel down the road.”

Understanding the motivation behind Airbnb’s millions of rooms is impossible. The motivation of the guest is easier to understand and, as Freitag points out, it is time to not only cross-pollinate, but to bring back the social to hotels. Brands such as Citizen M and Mama Shelter have already worked this out, prioritising communal areas.

The rise of the global brands has led to big boxes of anonymous rooms driving revenue but lacking in personality which drives true loyalty. Airbnb is now challenging this, particularly at the budget level and now hotels must respond, using their own limited means.

HA Perspective (by Andrew Sangster): The scale of the threat from Airbnb to the traditional hotel business was never going to be easy to gauge.

And, therefore, it is no surprise that the STR study did not reach definitive conclusions.

What we did learn was that Airbnb was cheaper and more flexible than hotel supply. And Airbnb was growing fast (although STR make the very reasonable point that the low base means that high growth rates do not mean that much as a big increase in very little still leaves very little).

Those hoteliers that have a sanguine view of Airbnb seem to believe that there is a moat between their business and the business of Airbnb. I’m not sure that consumers are seeing it that way.

Sure, right now, rooms booked via sharing economy platforms are less convenient and have a higher degree of perceived risk. But both these weaknesses are being eroded as technology begins to replicate the hotel booking experience (instant book is now available on some of Expedia’s HomeAway rentals, for example) and confidence grows in the platforms. More and more people are viewing the sharing economy rooms as interchangeable for regular hotel rooms.

So that leaves regulation. And here we have a fight between the interests of suppliers and the interests of consumers. Also, in the case of accommodation, there is the complexity of residential property being brought into the mix, adding another social and political dimension.

Under a long-term partnership, both parties intend to collaborate to develop and manage Banyan Treebranded hotels around the world.

Banyan Tree will also have access to AccorHotels’ global reservations and sales network, as well as its loyalty programme Le Club AccorHotels.

This investment will be made through a mandatory convertible debenture that at conversion will give AccorHotels an approximately 5% stake in Banyan Tree. AccorHotels has an option to purchase an additional approximately 5% stake.

The company’s global chief development officer, Gaurav Bhushan, told Hotel Analyst: “Luxury, lifestyle, and leisure are key areas of growth to complement our portfolio, and that’s the strategy we continue to follow. The main driver for this deal is that we strongly like the brand and that it is a great niche with a great potential.

It is really a good fit.

“The deal has two parts: first, the investment side since we’re investing in a company that has good growth potential and second, the development rights and the distribution and loyalty component.

Banyan Tree will have access to our powerful and international reservations network and loyalty program, while AccorHotels will develop and manage hotels under the Banyan Tree brand. All these components are what give full sense to this partnership.

“Besides the investment and development side, loyalty and distribution are indeed strategic

It may be that Airbnb is forced out of business. It may be that the advance of the sharing economy into accommodation is dramatically slowed. But it is very doubtful it will be stopped. Ultimately, hotels are facing the same outlook as other industries impacted by the sharing economy like music and taxis.

According to the ‘Certify Spendsmart Report: 2016 Year in Review’, which looks at corporate expense accounts in the US, Uber accounted for 51.74% of ground transportation spend. Uber is the most expensed supplier, ahead of Starbucks, Delta, American Airlines and Amazon.

Right now, Airbnb accounted for 0.27% of the total spent on accommodation by the business travellers recorded by Certify. I think it would be a brave call to say that Airbnb and similar businesses will not be taking a significant share of the business accommodation market in the future. Hotels will need more than personality to see themselves through this.

AccorHotels partners with Banyan Tree AccorHotels has invested an initial EUR16m as part of a strategic partnership with 43-strong Banyan Tree Holdings.

The company told us it would not “buy for the sake of buying” but that the deal represented a good investment and a further brand to offer loyalty members and developers.

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factors involved in this new deal. To have a strong brand and network like Banyan Tree available to our luxury customers is a great value add for our loyal customers.”

Customers will be able to book Banyan Tree hotels on the AccorHotels platform and also be able to book Accor hotels on the Banyan Tree platform.

Bhushan said that AccorHotels “won’t interfere in their management. Key AccorHotels’ executives will represent our interests, but only our CEO Sébastien Bazin will have a seat on their board of directors. We are happy to work closely with the management of Banyan Tree in a true partnership, this is why we have no intention to take over. Our intention is not to go beyond a 10% investment stake simply because in our agreement, we have secured the right to develop, operate, manage, and distribute Banyan Tree branded hotels all over the world. That is our main goal and we can do it without acquiring Banyan Tree.”

He added that, because AccorHotels has “the infrastructure to do it, our ambition is to take the development of Banyan Tree to a new level. We know that there is great potential for its brands in Europe, the Middle East, Central America, the Caribbean as well as Mexico.

Bhushan said: “Our collaboration with Banyan Tree is a great opportunity to complement our business proposition to owners with iconic brands, while always better servicing our guests. Banyan Tree has created key leading positions

across Asia with luxury resorts, one of the fastest growing segments in the industry. We will bring scale to the network through our ability to develop and manage hotels under their brands globally, hence strengthening our leadership in the luxury hotel space.

“This partnership follows a number of other deals we made this year in the luxury market.

We became a world leader in the luxury Serviced Homes market by acquiring Onefinestay, we completed the purchase of Fairmont Raffles, we also bought the leading concierge and loyalty provider John Paul, and very recently, we also invested in boutique brand 25hours Hotels.

“This idea is not to buy for the sake of buying, it has to make sense and to be accretive; but we are convinced that there is still room to add high value content with complementary luxury brands and services on our distribution and loyalty platforms. This initiative is designed to enrich the content of our digital ecosystem and reinforce our position as a hospitality industry pioneer and trailblazer.

“It does not mean that we’ve lost the ability to create by ourselves and it is demonstrated by the fact we have launched a new brand – Jo&Joe – that blends the best of private-rental, hostel and hotel formats and that totally reinvent the hospitality experience in terms of design approach, catering, service and customer journey.”

HA Perspective (by Andrew Sangster): As ever, Accor is doing things differently.

There are now effectively four truly global majors – Marriott, Hilton, IHG and Accor.

And of these, only one – Accor – has the bulk of its presence outside of North America.

Perhaps it is this that informs Accor’s approach. While in North America it can look like you have a good grip on supply. You can make claims to have meaningful market share and pricing power. In Europe, this is not possible.

The far more fragmented landscape of Europe has encouraged Accor to think differently and imaginatively, at least under the leadership of Sebastien Bazin.

There is a recognition of the limitations of the brand company and an understanding of the need to connect more meaningfully with guests / consumers than has been done in the past. Banyan Tree is another small step towards this goal.

is not buying for the sake of buying.

Instead this is a way to add scale without having to spend the billions which Marriott spent on Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Having picked up – and launched – brands oneby-one there are no questions over cannibalisation, even if it does not enjoy an instant scale hit. The seeds have been planted.

Luxury has also been a focus for the group of late, fleshing out the stable after the purchase of Fairmont and looking to the higher profits from the higher end. The company cut its teeth on large-scale economy, now we watch as it works the other end – largely with the help of bought-in management.

For Banyan Tree, the advantages are obvious. The company’s executive chairman, Ho Kwon Ping, said: “This agreement is not only transformational for Banyan Tree, but is also an innovation for the global hospitality industry. With the current consolidation of mega hotel companies, smaller but also global players – many family-controlled – are also seeking strategic alliances with the global giants.

“Our strategic alliance with AccorHotels allows us to remain an independent company, enabling us to continue securing hotel management agreements on our own and yet accelerating Banyan Tree’s speed and scope of expansion but with AccorHotels helping us to grow our brands around the world.”

We can expect to see many more deals like this as consolidation continues into 2017.

Carlson deal closes, Rezidor opens HNA Group has closed its acquisition of Carlson Hotels, adding to its holdings in the hotel sector, which include stakes in Red Lion, Hilton Worldwide and NH Hotels Group.

The closing of the deal started the clock on HNA’s decision on whether to acquire the remainder of Rezidor Hotel Group or sell down its stake, with the company

HA Perspective (by Katherine Doggrell): As Bhushan told us, this

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expected to acquire, building a significant holding in Europe.

HNA acquired Carlson Hotels for an undisclosed fee, thought to be around USD2bn. The deal includes Carlson’s 51.3% majority stake in master licensee Rezidor Hotel Group. At the time of writing, Rezidor’s market capitalisation was SKr5.9bn (USD730m).

HNA now has to decide whether it makes an offer for the remaining shares in Rezidor or sell down its ownership to below 30%. The minimum price would be based on the 20-trading day volume weighted average price immediately before the announcement on 28 April.

Rezidor Hotel Group president & CEO, Wolfgang Neumann has previously told Hotel Analyst: “Logic would tell us that they want to take full control of the company.

They are very driven, they have a clear ambition to be a leading player in the hospitality sector.

“There are many opportunities ahead – China is a key market. We know that the Chinese companies have become very professional and that there are many companies which have grown under their ownership. We have a very good track record – we have turned the company around in the past two years and with HNA could see our growth ambitions accelerating.”

The group will remain at its current headquarters in Minneapolis. It currently includes 1,400 hotels in operation and under development with more than 220,000 rooms. David Berg, Carlson Hospitality Group CEO, who will remain at the helm, said

at the time the deal was announced: “We are joining a Global Fortune 500 company with operations across aviation, tourism, hospitality, and more; a company with the aspiration to be one of the 50 largest companies in the world by 2030.”

Bai Haibo, HNA Tourism Group board member & HNA Hospitality Group’s chairman & CEO, said: “Carlson Hotels’ global success… we will build upon as part of this combination to establish our presence in the US market and expand our footprint in hospitality internationally. We look forward to working together… to accelerate growth by investing substantially in the business.”

HNA said that the combined companies would have “increased ability to accelerate growth through investments in areas such as digital, owned assets in major gateway cities, and the building of Radisson Red and other new brands.”

The deal completes at the end of what has been a busy year for HNA Group. Most recently the company paid USD6.5bn for a 25% equity interest in Hilton Worldwide, acquiring the stake from Blackstone Group.

HNA has agreed to restrictions on its ability to sell any of its interest in Hilton for a two-year period, and to limitations on buying more than 25% of Hilton’s outstanding shares, without the operator’s consent. The

working up a visual to display the convoluted Venn Diagram that is China’s holdings in the hotel sector.

Expect delays as, much with public transport, the status is in constant flux.

That flux could, with the closing of this deal at least, see a pause in the frenetic nature of the activity.

Although there has been much protestation on both sides about conflicts of interest at NH Hotels Group, all parties seem to want a takeover by HNA Group and, once some outstanding matters related to Hesperia have been cleared up – which appears to be underway – it is likely that HNA will have a serious footprint in Europe.

It is not alone in its aspirations in the region and AccorHotels Group may well be wishing that its position with its 14.98% shareholder, Jin Jiang International. In an interview with Le Figaro at the beginning of this month, Huazhu CEO Qi Ji said that Jin Jiang was “neither a menace nor a problem” with regards his group’s relationship with AccorHotels (the latter holds a 10% stake and the two have a development agreement in China).

AccorHotels’ president & CEO Sébastien Bazin has publicly described Jin Jiang’s stakebuilding as “friendly” but behind the scenes has been reportedly looking for a white knight to fend off the group.

Jin Jiang also owns Louvre Hotels Group, which it bought from

agreement allows HNA to appoint two directors – one HNA member and one independent member – to Hilton’s board.

Commenting on the HNA deal to analysts at the Hilton investor day, president & CEO Chris Nassetta said: “It enhances our relationship in China. Our relationship with Plateno is worth noting, we’re going to have 400 to 500 Hamptons, following the demand patterns.

We’re ahead of the game. It isn’t always going to be a luxury game or an upper-upscale game.

“The HNA Group deal is just the next step. They are faring 200 million passengers a year on their airlines. They have tens of millions of loyalty members. They have the number two online travel agent and the number one tour operator business in all of China. The idea is to connect all our assets together – they have every incentive to want us to be successful and take advantage of the commercial synergies that we have. I think HNA is superpowerful and we’re at the tip of the iceberg on working out how to tap into that.”

Still outstanding, and of great interest to Rezidor Hotel Group, are the difficulties at NH Hotels Group, in which HNA has a 28.5% stake.

HA Perspective (by Katherine Doggrell): On the belief that a picture tells a thousand words, here at Hotel Analyst we are currently

Starwood Capital for a reported EUR1.2bn. This was expected to form the basis of a platform in Europe. HNA picking up Rezidor is likely to bring added focus to that ambition.

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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www.aheadawards.com

JUDGING PANEL ANNOUNCED As the call for entries draws to a close, the judging panel for the inaugural AHEAD Americas is announced. Chaired by Larry Traxler, Senior Vice President of Design Services, Hilton Worldwide, the panel features a distinguished line-up of hoteliers, architects, interior designers and industry commentators, who will now assess each entry before the shortlist is announced.

BILL BARRIE

MATTHEW GOODRICH

MATOULA KARAGIANNIS

ALIYA KHAN

MARGARET MCMAHON

SVP Design & Project Management, The Americas, The Ritz-Carlton and Edition

Chief Creative Officer AvroKO

Vice President of Design Sydell Group

Vice President of Design Strategies Marriott International

Senior Vice President Wimberly Interiors

ANWAR MEKHAYECH

GLENN PUSHELBERG

CHRISTIAN RUBIO

MARKUS SHREYER

VINCE STROOP

Co-founder DesignAgency

Co-founder Yabu Pushelberg

Principal HBA Miami

Vice President, The Americas Design Hotels

Principal Stonehill & Taylor Architects

LARRY TRAXLER

RANDA TUKAN

KENNETH VILLAMIL

BRAD WILSON

JOSH WYATT

SVP of Global Design Services Hilton Worldwide

SVP and Global Director of Hospitality HOK Toronto

Global VP, Product Design & Development Hyatt

President Atelier Ace and Ace Hotel Group

President Equinox Hotels

CALL FOR ENTRIES AHEAD MEA is now accepting entries for its first awards programme in the region. Open to projects across the Middle East and Africa, the platform celebrates hotel design in all its forms. Whether an opulent high-rise in Dubai or a tented lodge in the Serengeti, all hotels completed between November 2015 and February 2017 are eligible to enter. The shortlist will be revealed in June before the eventual winners are announced at W Š Brett Boardman Photography

Hotel Al Habtoor City, Dubai.

KERRY HILL TO BE HONOURED AT AHEAD ASIA Australian architect Kerry Hill has been announced as the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award at AHEAD Asia. The prestigious accolade honours the contribution of an individual to the hospitality design industry, and has previously been awarded to Jaya Ibrahim and Adrian Zecha.

Born in Perth in 1943, Hill was one of the first to complete a degree in architecture at the University of Western

GET READY FOR EUROPE

Australia. He worked for Howlett & Bailey for three years before accepting a job with Palmer & Turner in Hong Kong,

Have you designed an award-winning hotel? The call for

going on to manage their office in Jakarta.

entries for AHEAD Europe will go live on 3 April, with

Hill founded his own practice in Singapore in 1979,

projects completed between June 2016 and May 2017

championing the notion of experiential architecture. His

eligible to enter. A rebrand of the European Hotel Design

style, one that combines abstract modernism with sensitive

Awards, the platform recognises exceptional hotel across

local touches, draws from indigenous tropical building

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Going global

12-17 MAR

DESIGN SHANGHAI

Asia’s design community will descend on Shanghai Exhibition Centre in March as top international and Chinese brands gather to launch their latest collections. Attracting over 46,000 visitors from 70 countries, Design Shanghai offers a platform for world-renowned designers and architects as well as developers, hotel groups, buyers and specifiers.

This year’s show will see the addition of two new exhibition spaces: the Kitchen & Bathroom Design Hall and the Workplace Design Hall, which join the established Contemporary Design, Classic & Luxury Design and Collectible Design Halls. Exhibitors include a variety of international brands from Moroso and Antonio Lupi to Bolon and Tai Ping.

Running concurrently, the Design Shanghai Forum features a programme of influential speakers including Karim Rashid, Benjamin Hubert and Jason Bruges. To the guiding theme of ‘Global design, global craft, global manufacturing’, the sessions will address the impact of Chinese design on the global marketplace. Joyce Wang, André Fu, and D.B Kim – former Vice President of Hospitality Design at Dalian Wanda Group – will also feature in a series of presentations focusing on hotel design.

Another major initiative for 2017 is the opening of the event to the city, turning it into a Shanghai-wide celebration of design and creativity. Design Shanghai @ Xintiandi Design Festival will offer a series of installations and tours allowing visitors the opportunity to experience the city in a new light. www.designshanghai.com

The science of design LONDON DESIGN WEEK AT CHELSEA HARBOUR

Taking place from 12-17 March, London Design Week at Chelsea Harbour will see designers, architects and tastemakers from the UK and overseas converge in the capital to explore the latest in design.

With 600 brands exhibiting across 120 showrooms, the event will offer a curated programme of workshops, product launches and demonstrations, alongside a series of immersive pop-ups, installations, educational tours and a specially designed restaurant.

With a guiding theme of ‘The Science of Design’, London Design Week at Chelsea Harbour promises a programme packed with opportunities to learn the secrets of design’s DNA through the themes of botany, geology, chemistry, zoology and much more, imagined by some of the most creative minds in the industry.

As part of the event’s Conversations in Design series, Sleeper’s Assistant Editor Molly Dolan will chair a panel entitled ‘Psychographics: The Science of Hotel Design’. The discussion, featuring a distinguished line-up of interior designers and hotel operators, will explore the study of personality, attitudes and lifestyles as a tool for design. Additional seminars will see speakers including Tara Bernerd of Tara Bernerd & Partners, Tom Bartlett of Waldo Works, and Peter Gomez of Zoffany explore topics such as design narrative, architecture preservation and sources of inspiration. www.dcch.co.uk

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THE LEADER IN MODERN ORGANIC DESIGN

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Radical Innovation CALL FOR ENTRIES

Do you have what it takes to design the next major hotel concept? The annual competition that acts as a launch pad for new ideas is now open for entries.

W

hile Radical Innovation welcomes big ideas, its jury Airbnb movement, which has in the years since been something of is not searching for purely pie-in-the-sky thinking. a game-changer.

“We’re interested in concepts that are both brand new Koi, the 2012 winner, is a public-works-project-meets-privateyet grounded in reality – ones that we can help get developed and sector-initiative that has set its sights on Europe, where the push our industry forward within a three-to-five-year time period,” bridge-hotel concept is currently under review in two major cities. explains John Hardy, CEO of The John Hardy Group and founder Meanwhile, Zoku, a work-play hybrid hotel model and the winner in of the global design competition.

2015, became the first project to be realised, Now in its 11th year, the platform seeks opening in Amsterdam last year. new hotel concepts that have the power The 2017 call for entries is now live to change the hospitality industry. Of the – the deadline for entries is 22 April – myriad entries received each year, just three with full details and criteria available win top honours – a $10,000 grand prize online. Following an initial review of for professionals, a runner-up prize of all applications, the shortlist will be $5,000, and a student prize of $1,500 along announced. Finalists will then be invited with the offer of a graduate scholarship in to present their concepts on stage at the the Masters of Architecture programme at New Museum in New York City in front the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. of a room of top hospitality, design, and John Hardy, The John Hardy Group Despite the demand for pragmatism, business leaders, including the entire creativity is never lacking in the Radical Innovation jury, all of whom will competition. “Over the past 11 years, we’ve been able to observe, vote to determine a winner. Having awarded more than $150,000 and in many cases foresee, the trajectory of the hotel industry firstto the winners of its competition, Radical Innovation represents the hand,” continues Hardy. “It’s why we’re more committed than ever perfect opportunity for someone with a bright idea for hotels to get to helping move ideas from concept to reality.” discovered and find funding.

In fact, the concepts have often proven groundbreaking. For example, in 2009, Pixel – a pod concept that involves the repurposing Sleeper is the official partner of Radical Innovation, along with media of abandoned spaces into hotel rooms scattered throughout the city partner Architizer, and founding sponsor Global Allies. of Linz, Austria – won the competition. The idea ran parallel to the www.radicalinnovationaward.com

“We’re interested in concepts that are both brand new yet grounded in reality – ones that we can help get developed and push our industry forward.”

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Left & Top Left: The Radical Innovation winner in 2012 – Koi by MM Architects Designers & Planners – proposes the construction of a bridge hotel across urban rivers Above: MM Architects Designers & Planners was also a runner-up in the 2016 competition with Nesting, a concept that could bring compact hotel rooms to a city’s green spaces Below: HOK’s Driftscape – a drone-powered hotel concept – won the grand prize in 2016

© Courtesy of Radical Innovation

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German quality through the ages KALDEWEI

From small beginnings, Kaldewei has gradually expanded to become an industry leader in steel enamel production and innovative bathroom design.

Words: Molly Dolan | Photography: Courtesy of Kaldewei

F

ounded in 1918 by Franz Kaldewei, Kaldewei has evolved from a small, family business to a global partner in bathroom design.

Based at the same site as it was a century ago – in Ahlen, northwest Germany – the manufacturer now has a vast production plant, and employs over 700 staff worldwide.

Kaldewei has always specialised in the manufacturing of metal products, producing washtubs, frying pans and containers for its first three decades. Its founder was a master tinsmith, and laid the cornerstone for the company’s advancement with his diligence, expertise and identification of market niches.

Growth continued under Heinrich Kaldewei, the second generation of the family, who took the reigns in 1928 and opened the company’s own enamel foundry shortly after. Spearheading the creation of Kaldewei’s famed steel enamel, the development gave birth to the

company’s next milestone: its first freestanding steel bathtub, made by welding together multiple parts. Expansion continued and the brand’s core business was strengthened by the development of technical know-how, robust manufacturing processes and the use of quality materials.

In 1950, Kaldewei’s priorities changed to resemble the brand as we know it today, with a focus on bathrooms. Following the introduction of enamelled shower trays and bathtubs, a seamless bathtub was created using a single piece of steel: a pioneering advancement. Within a decade, Kaldewei almost entirely displaced the cast iron bath that had dominated the market up until that point.

Kaldewei steel enamel is a unique material comprising two wholly natural materials, each with its own inherent properties. Steel provides strength, resulting in a robust and durable base, while the

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Above: Arik Levy’s Meisterstücke Emerso Collection comprises a statement bath with shaped backrest alongside a freestanding, fully enamelled washstand

glass component is highly resistant comprising a statement bath with to chemical or thermal stress. “Steel shaped backrest and freestanding, enamel is part of Kaldewei’s DNA,” fully enamelled washstand. states Angela Ortmann-Torbett, Created for a single bather, the Sales Director, West Europe. “It has bathtub’s ergonomics and design a multitude of benefits that mostly are at-one, resulting in a fluid relate to its resistance to other form with undulating rim and Angela Ortmann-Torbett, Kaldewei factors: impact, scratch, chemicals tapered sculpture. The coordinating and heat.” washbasin’s flowing lines appear to During Sleeper’s visit to the Kaldewei Kompetenz Center in Ahlen, ripple and the internal shape dissolves within the boundaries of solid the material’s vigour was tested: a flame was placed against the and liquid, while a flush-fitting waste outlet is positioned to blend surface, heavy objects were dropped from a height, and abrasive, into the base. metal scourer was used to test scratch resistance – all demonstrating Speaking of the collection, Levy comments: “Design can improve its resilience. people’s lives in many ways. The point is not physical, but more The balance of thick steel to thin enamel is fundamental, according emotional or related to experience. This is emotional ergonomics; to Kaldewei specialists. Boasting the thinnest enamel on the market, how your body, mind and spirit interact with a product. its consistency allows for increased flexibility, thus preventing “The concept comes from being in water, being part of the ocean,” cracking when compressed. This standard has led to the creation he continues. “The upper form of the rim reads the light in a very of award-winning products, recognised for both quality and design. special way, with absolutely no symmetry so it does not get boring.

Alongside an experienced and adept in-house design team, the The light is running around it, with great movement.” company has collaborated with numerous international designers The creation is testament to Kaldewei’s constant boundaryincluding Anke Salomon, Sottsass Associati and Arik Levy. Most pushing, challenging what steel enamel can achieve. Such innovation recently, Levy designed the Meisterstücke Emerso Collection has led to the brand becoming a firm favourite amongst architects and

“Steel enamel is part of Kaldewei’s DNA. It has a multitude of benefits that mostly relate to its resistance to other factors.”

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Above: Kaldewei’s Mega Duo with Vivo Turbo whirl system features in Marina Bay Sands Singapore

interior designers. A recent study carried out by the brand revealed that, thanks to its superior qualities, the enamelled shower surface fared well amongst the 200 firms surveyed.

Another strength of Kaldewei lies in its vast product range suitable for a range of settings. “We have approximately 50,000 possibilities of shower trays alone,” states Ortmann-Torbett. “If you take into account colour options, size, and finishes, we have an extensive offering. We also have varying insulation capabilities.”

In addition to aesthetic options, Kaldewei sets itself apart through innovative offerings such as the Sound Wave bath audio system.

With the tub acting as a speaker, guests can immerse themselves in personalised playlists, streamed via Bluetooth. Providing a heightened guest experience, these added details ensure Kaldewei remain at the forefront of cutting-edge bathroom design.

The company has also tapped into the wellness market with Skin Touch, a bathing experience that is both nourishing and revitalising.

Enriched with millions of micro-sized air bubbles – up to 100 times smaller than those found in whirlpool baths – the water invigorates skin cells, resulting in suppleness and rejuvenation.

Ortmann-Torbett explains: “The water is oxygenated to such a degree that the small bubbles penetrate the pores, giving a deep cleanse and leaving effects that can last days. It is targeted at the spa

and wellness market and hotels are increasingly leaning toward Skin Touch as opposed to whirlpools.”

This level of customisation and innovation has contributed to the brand’s success within the hotel market, a core component of the business. Working on projects internationally, Kaldewei is present in a variety of hotels, from 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin and Marina Bay Sands Singapore, to The Chedi Andermatt and The Peninsula Paris.

More recently, the manufacturer has provided shower surfaces for the first Motel One in Switzerland. Located in Basel, the hotel’s 143 guestrooms feature Kaldewei’s Conoflat shower surface in a striking black silk matte finish.

With attention firmly focused on ISH, the leading trade fair for the bathroom industry, Kaldewei is gearing up to launch a number of new collections as well as collaborations with well-known designers.

To the theme of ‘Iconic Solutions’, the brand will present intelligent and integrated bathroom solutions that set new standards in design and technology and are consistently geared to the specific needs of customers. Insiders have also revealed that digitalisation will be a key focus for 2017. With the help of digital tools and based on the idea of ‘easy, fast, intuitive’, Kaldewei will be supporting and networking its professional partners even better than before. www.kaldewei.com

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Reconnect, replenish, revitalise SPA & WELLNESS

Offering guests a respite from the challenges of modern life, a well-designed and equipped spa can be the key to unlocking wellbeing.

Words: Kristofer Thomas

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he concept of wellness has become increasingly difficult to define in recent years. More complex than a dip in the pool, it encompasses both emotion and sensation, and can be achieved through holistic, mental and physical approaches. With modern life intensifying at such a blistering pace, a well-designed and equipped spa can provide business travellers and leisure guests alike with a way to unwind. As a result, hotel operators are putting added thought into their spas, offering not only a pool and sauna, but facilities suach as steam cabins, saunas, hammams, and experience showers.

Through the development of new technologies and a growing comprehension of the wellness market, designers and operators are applying new ideas to the spa, creating spaces that cultivate a sense of wellness, not just provide a backdrop for it. “The most important thing to create is a poetic atmosphere, as well as an introduction to the sensorial experience to come,” explains Joseph Caspari, designer of the spa at Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square, one of the most anticipated openings of 2017.

By combining a harmonious design approach with a consideration of inner wellness, Caspari has intertwined the traditional physical elements of the spa with indiscernible sensory dimensions. With this in mind, Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square becomes part of a new wave of hotel spa facilities that aim to provide guests with much more than a massage or facemask. As Caspari notes: “Wellness is more than swimming, exercising or receiving a massage, it can become a sensorial experience, where the user leaves the material world and enters a spiritual one.”

Another such example is The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Milan,

by Antonio Citterio Particia Viel Interiors, which won a European Hotel Design Award for its intelligent solutions that work with the neutral colour palette to create a peaceful ambience. Similarly, the spa at Six Senses Douro Valley, Portugal, goes above and beyond to offer guests an integrated wellness programme, wherein an in-house expert analyses key physiological biomarkers to provide guests with lifestyle

and nutritional advice, as well as a personalised programme of spa treatments and outdoor activities to boost seretonin levels. Elsewhere, Austria’s Lanserhof Lans, a hotel-meets-medical-centre concept, has taken into consideration the influence of nature on its guests’ wellbeing, connecting them to serene mountainous surroundings through expansive windows, and creating soothing visuals through natural materials and flowing architectural forms. The Gainsborough Bath Spa takes this idea further, tapping into a natural thermal water source to connect guests directly to the ancient Roman tradition.

These projects actively work to create a sense of wellness by incorporating the non-material ideas surrounding the concept into their design. As a result of this increased understanding, specialist spa manufacturers and developers have begun to create products that heighten both physiological and psychological responses.

Lemi has released several pieces of innovative spa furniture, such as the Relax Suite, a reclining chair constructed from memory foam, and its Classic range, which incorporates motorised components to create versatile adjustable seating. On a larger scale, German sauna manufacturer Klafs has created the Dome Sauna, an entire space that combines sauna and steam bath elements, as kind on the eye as it is on the skin. Likewise, SpaShell’s modular spa solution provides a full turnkey system, with the brand developing and creating the facility bespoke to each property to provide operators with a spa that best suits the project.

Spa consultancy firms ESPA, Schletterer and Spa Creators work similarly, creating entire concepts from start to finish with added focus on architectural forms and experiential design. The results of this comprehensive approach can be seen in ESPA’s recent creation of The Ritz-Carlton Macau’s spa facilities, which infuse design elements rooted in both traditional Chinese culture and Portuguese architecture with natural materials including dark timber, oak, and onyx, all illuminated by the soft glow of accent lighting.

However, it is not just the specialists that are taking this synergy

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Above: The Lanserhof is a hotel-meets-medical-centre concept Previous Page: Joseph Caspari has designed the spa at Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square

between mind and body into consideration, and a growing interest in wellbeing means the concept is increasingly spreading beyond the walls of the spa. A recent collaboration between Lasvit and Swissotel Zurich has produced The Vitality Room, a guestroom that functions as a dedicated wellness facility, complete with customisable lighting and shower settings. “There is a growing desire on the part of travellers to view their accommodation not just as a place to stay, but as a place to reconnect, replenish and revitalise,” comments Lilian Roten, Vice President, Swissotel. “Our new Vitality Room is a unique place where our guests have the opportunity to be immersed in an environment of peace and health, where they can truly ‘live it well’.”

With this in mind, sanitaryware manufacturers have increasingly turned their attention to creating entire collections that incorporate wellbeing functions drawn from traditional spa therapies. Grohe’s new AquaSymphony rain shower combines an interplay of mood lighting, sound options and spray settings to generate an all-round sensory system, whilst Villeroy & Boch’s Combipool system features massaging air jets designed to invigorate muscles and increase local metabolism and circulation. Dornbracht’s Horizontal Shower, meanwhile, allows guests to indulge in all the positive effects of an experience shower without ever requiring them to stand up.

Kaldewei’s Comfort Select panel hands control over to the guest, allowing them to create their own spa experience and circumvent

the tricky personal variables of wellness. When combined with the brand’s Sound Wave bathtub, which utilises ceramic acoustic panels to play the users choice of music from the tub, a spa and wellness experience becomes available to guests in the comfort of their room.

With spa solutions now appearing in guestrooms, hotels are giving more thought to how they can create a sense of wellbeing in everything from fine details to expansive installations. A focus on amenities has seen the creation of Zenology’s Mandarin Green Tea collection, which combines skin-friendly ingredients with an environmentally-friendly attitude to leave guests with refreshed skin and a clear conscience. Similarly, Aromatherapy Associates’ Guest Collection, part of the Gilchrist & Soames portfolio, features shower gels and body oils alongside room scents and eye masks, demonstrating that wellness is much more than sensation.

Thinking bigger, dedicated wellness installations such as Biofit, a biophilic gym concept, have been developed. Biofit provides a techfree facility comprising natural materials and air-purifying plants, whilst Equinox, a high-end gym chain, has recently launched an entire hotel brand based around wellbeing.

With the concept of wellness becoming a ubiquitous presence in hotel and spa design, manufacturers, designers and operators have been driven to rethink their approach to guest welfare beyond the realms of service and hospitality.

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Above (L-R): Grohe’s AquaSymphony experience shower offers guests a wide range of spray and light configurations; Klafs’ Dome Sauna is a fully integrated turnkey spa solution Below (L-R): The Sound Wave bathtub by Kaldewei doubles as a ceramic speaker; Dornbracht’s Horizontal Shower combines six water jets with a recessed reclining area

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Outdoor Furniture & Accessories CAN YOU AFFORD NOT TO INVEST ?

As outdoor spaces rise in popularity, designers must strive to create captivating experiences, retaining guests from day to night.

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perators have spent years investing in hotel interiors, while Cue the rise of the rooftop terrace. In the city, roof terraces are the outdoors have been neglected,” states Jay Osgerby, of some of the most sought-after locations, making it logical to create Barber & Osgerby, at the launch of the duo’s latest collection a space that can transition from day to night. When designed well, for Dedon. It is a statement that resonates with the hotel community, these spaces can be monetised to great effect. A well-known principle perfectly summarising the need for increased attention to the design in hospitality is that the more enjoyable the experience, the longer of outdoor spaces. the guest will stay, thus spending more money.

According to Osgerby, designers have gradually turned their This newfound interest has resulted in manufacturers expanding attention to exterior spaces. The first port of call is to overhaul the their product collections, offering not only sun loungers, parasols and quality of outdoor design, in terms of both aesthetics and furniture poolside accessories, but rugs, lighting, soft fabrics and retractable form.“With contemporary architecture and glazing technologies, it’s pergolas. Further, products must be versatile, such as Extremis’ new possible to have huge windows between spaces. So fundamentally, we Sol + Luna daybed and night sofa – an ideal fit for high-end terraces. have a disconnection between the interiors and outside, one metre Recently, London has seen a rise in demand for outdoor spaces, away. Designers are realising that this is an issue,” he continues. resulting in a number of hotels introducing rooftop bars and terraces.

When it comes to furnishing exteriors, additional factors such as The Wellesley has opened a specialised Cigar Terrace, while other weather, pollution, sea salt, sunlight and damp can be detrimental to offerings include the famed Radio Rooftop at ME London, Rumpus materials. Dirk Wynants, founder and CEO of Extremis, comments Room at Mondrian London at Sea Containers, Notch LDN at on the importance of quality: “The outdoors is much more aggressive London Marriott Hotel Park Lane, Ace Hotel Shoreditch’s outdoor on materials, which means that low-quality space and The Roof Terrace at Ham Yard furniture will show the effects of these Hotel, Soho. factors at a very early stage. Quality – and More recently, Montcalm Royal environmentally – conscious guests will not London House has opened Aviary, a accept this.” rooftop destination and grand outdoor To combat this, Extremis offers a variety terrace designed by Russell Sage Studio of premium quality fabrics including highthat demonstrates cohesive indoortech polyester, a synthetic fibre prevalent outdoor design. in outdoor furniture. The material is Osgerby comments: “It’s imperative Dirk Wynants, Extremis weatherproof, water repellent, dirt repellent to put as much effort and energy into and lightfast, making it ideal for sun designing for the outdoors. Having this protection purposes. Meanwhile, its smart Outdoor Textile has been observation, we’ve decided to design a product that sits happily inside designed to adapt to external temperatures. Non-allergenic and or out.” resistant against almost all elements, the material warms when the Barber & Osgerby’s latest table and chair design for Dedon, weather is cold, and prevents perspiration when it is hot.

Tibbo, combines teak, textiles and woven fibres for a timeless result.

But why the increased interest in outdoor spaces from guests, not The meticulous craftsmanship and architectural rigor ensure a only in resorts, but cities too? According to Wynants, the evolution distinguished design that can transition effectively between spaces. has stemmed from a number of factors, including a need to connect Looking forward, Wynants predicts an increased need for smart with the world on a primal level. “Reaching the current high-quality, products. He concludes: “Expectations are that, by 2050, 70% of the yet artificial, standards of indoor living causes an urge to be in touch population will live in cities. Property prices will continue to rise and with nature by spending time outside.” Wynants also credits hectic people will live in smaller units than today. We can assume that we lifestyles with the desire to relax in an environment that restores will see a similar trend in hospitality, with surfaces becoming more balance: “We have to provide the recharging tools to guests, and the costly everywhere. Therefore, multifunctional and clever solutions outdoors is a very effective way to do this.” will become the most cost effective investment to make.”

“Multifunctional and clever solutions will become the best investment to make.”

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ETHIMO Esedra Designed by Luca Nichetto for Ethimo, Esedra takes inspiration from the Ancient Roman term ‘exedra’, meaning semi-circular space used for social gatherings and philosophical debates.

This collection creates a relationship between traditional influences and contemporary design.

Synthetic fibre is used for seat backs, treated with technology that recreates the sensation of natural woven fibre, while the cushions are upholstered and legs are aluminium. www.ethimo.com

LIVING DIVANI George’s Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, George’s is a dining chair designed by David Lopez Quincoces for Living Divani. The supporting frame is coated with a galvanising base for outdoor use, with an epoxy polyester powder finish. George’s is available in both a light version – frame only – and a woven version. www.livingdivani.it

UMBROSA Nauta With the design of Nauta, Umbrosa presents the cabana concept in a new and refreshing way, with emphasis on shade and functionality. At the bottom, benches and a table or high bar can be created, while the top provides a sunroof for relaxation with panoramic views, offering an outdoor solution for both sun and shade-seekers. www.umbrosa.be

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TRIBU Branch Beach Chair Designed by Lievore Altherr Molina, the Branch Beach Chair features an ingenious hidden blocking mechanism, leaving the chair’s fluid lines uninterrupted and creating the illusion of a floating frame. Available in three colours, the cast aluminium frame is as light as it is strong.

Meanwhile, the comfortable sling seat in Batyline has exceptional tear strength and UV resistance, available in 16 weather-resistant fabrics. www.tribu.com

POINT Pal A modular seating system, Pal is constructed from a solid teak platform with upholstered modules set atop. The collection, designed by Francesc Rifé, offers a variety of relaxing compositions including sofa, chair, lounger and bed configurations. www.point1920.com

PEDRALI Nolita

Fresh for 2017, Sywawa has expanded its designer parasol offering with Tahiti. Designed by Mark Gabberas, the parasol is a contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional straw creation, strikingly reminiscent of exotic beaches.

Nolita is a family of outdoor seating comprising a chair and armchair with varying back heights, lounge armchair, stools, chaise longue and tables. Inspired by the brand’s roots in metal garden chairs, the collection is available in eight colours including yellow, terracotta and sage green.

www.symoparasols.com

www.pedrali.it

SYWAWA Tahiti

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B&B ITALIA Ray Following the success of the indoor series, the Ray seating system by Antonio Citterio adapts itself for outdoor use with two new seating versions, Natural and Fabric. A light, extruded frame features on both pieces, while interlacing details and materials create distinction. Natural features a rope weave inspired byAbaca, while Fabric presents a ribbon weave made using polypropylene fibre. Both versions include sofas in two depths, a chaise longue and armchairs. www.bebitalia.com

MINOTTI Indiana The Indiana family comprises sofas, chaise longues, ottomans and coffee tables. The collection has been crafted to emphasise the quality of the solid iroko, a warm and versatile wood that is well suited to being turned and sculpted. Meanwhile, the backrest and armrests are covered in a macro woven polypropylene webbing exuding a contemporary vibe and available in Bamboo, Stone and Moka colours. www.minotti.com

EXTREMIS Sol + Luna

Barber & Osgerby have collaborated with Dedon to create Tibbo, a collection of chairs and a table.

Marking Dedon’s first range using teak, the meticulous craftsmanship produces a product that is both comfortable and elegant.

Sol + Luna from Extremis presents a smart design that offers a transitional solution from day to night. Designed as a sun bed, the optional sunshade then transforms into a full moon after dark. The bed also converts into a comfortable sofa for the ultimate in versatility.

The range is available in two versions: southern and northern.

The southern version, Australis, is clean and architectural, whereas the northern version, Borealis, has a more organic look. Extra options include recliner cushions, back cushions, a towel holder and locker in which to store valuable items.

www.dedon.de

www.extremis.be

DEDON Tibbo

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Proudly Presents

FAZ BY RAMON ESTEVE vondom.com SLEEPER_march-april.indd 2

ph. +44 (0) 75 00 046 170

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MANUTTI San Inspired by Japanese culture, San embodies elegance and refinement for a distinctive seating experience. Radiating minimalist elegance with an eye for detail, the collection is versatile, with options including bench, lounger, and sofa. The low bench is available in Lava, with removable seating and back cushions in different colours. Meanwhile, the tables can be added to the mix and come in Portoro black and Carrara white. www.manutti.com

SUN AND SHADES Haute Couture 2017 Sun and Shades’ latest collection, Haute Couture 2017, is a balanced mix of contemporary and traditional outdoor furnishings. French design provides the ultimate in comfort, while powder-coated aluminium frames ensure maximum stainless protection. The collection can be customised to reflect a variety of environments, resulting in neverseen-before designs of the utmost quality. www.sunandshades.com

KETTAL Mesh Deckchair

Created by Janus et Cie founder Janice Feldman, Katachi is based on a Japanese concept that combines ‘kata’ meaning form, and ‘chi’ meaning magic. Comprising an armchair, lounge chairs, ottoman, sofas and tables, the range features exceptional ergonomics and special finishes. Four new styles of JanusFiber have also been added, each a herringbone weave of colours.

Collaborating once again with Kettal, Patricia Urquiola has designed a new piece for the Mesh collection in the form of a teak deck chair with adjustable backrest. Reminiscent of building façades that let in light and air while keeping the elements out, Mesh features an expanded metal for lightness, alongside wood, aluminium and marble table tops.

Meanwhile, the cushions feature fabrics from the Terrain collection

by Doshi Levien.

www.janusetcie.com

www.kettal.com

JANUS ET CIE Katachi

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PMS 1&2 CO

GLOSS FOIL

PMS 877 C

PMS 1795 C

PMS 1795 C

877 DULL FOIL

PMS 877 C

PMS 1795 C

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RH OUTDOOR Mustique Designed by Harrison and Nick Condos, Mustique is influenced by classical elements and mid-century modernism. Masterfully constructed, the range is available in sustainable harvested teak as well as aluminium. www.restorationhardware.com

EMU Vetta A deck chair with powerful personality, Vetta’s attention-grabbing steel tube frame appears to fold over itself, resulting in an eye-catching design. The rope-like frame is enhanced with two-tone outdoor Batyline Ferrari fabric, resulting in a minimalistic yet sophisticated design.

Thanks to the slotting device at the end of the frame, the back can be set in two different positions for ease of use and comfort. www.emu.it

VINCENT SHEPPARD Leo

Cordless, portable and rechargeable, Bolleke is the latest outdoor lighting launch from Fatboy. The basic design is pearl-like, with the elegant round shape suspended from a silicon rubber loop. With three light settings, Bolleke is a smart and stylish solution.

The latest collection from Vincent Sheppard comprises a lounge chair, dining chair, sofa, coffee table and two side tables. The pieces are made from aluminium and polyester rope, making them suitable for all weather conditions. A new fabric has also been created to complement Leo: Lopi Storm. The material, in a warm grey tone, has a soft touch and brings the luxury of interiors, outdoors.

www.fatboy.com

www.vincentsheppard.com

FATBOY Bolleke

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DARLING NEW C-BONDED. NEW TECHNOLOGY. NEW PURISM. With the innovative fusion of ceramics and furniture, Darling New c-bonded creates purist, sleek washbasin solutions. Thanks to a radically new technical solution developed by Duravit, the washbasin is bonded to the vanity unit in an innovative way. Manufactured with millimetre precision, the ceramic of the washbasin ďŹ ts accurately to the furniture. The materials bond seamlessly and appear to be a single unit. For more information, please visit www.duravit.co.uk and pro.duravit.co.uk.

EXPORMIM Twins Designed by MUT Design for Expormim, the Twins collection has grown to include a two-seater sofa, or loveseat. As with the two original armchairs, the sofa looks casual, elegant and contemporary.

Its upholstery in Omega Outdoor, a 3D mesh specifically developed by Gabriel for Expormim, stretches beautifully across the aluminium frame. www.expormim.es

VONDOM Voxel Chair With a design by Karim Rashid, the Voxel Chair is a minimal yet voluminous mono-block polypropylene stacking chair, faceted in the right places for comfort and durability. It features angles for hyperstrength, creases for beauty and a select number of merging and converging lines for purity. www.vondom.com

GLOSTER Grand Weave

Designed by Henrik Pedersen, Tornaux features an exquisite shape and a beautiful crisscross of natural fibres. Handcrafted from rattan peel, the generous and welcoming shape is formed by two types of weaving resulting in a chair that encourages guests to curl up in comfort, while the synthetic fibre and stainless steel frame ensures suitability for all climates.

Follow i ng r u ral cues f rom handcrafted willow and hazel hurdles, modern materials are combined to create a contemporary twist on rustic seating with Grand Weave. Aluminium and manmade fibres are cleverly interwoven to create a beautifully tactile seating group. Available in either Meteor or white frame colours, wrapped in accompanying Basalt or Parchment fibres, the modular collection also features new Mez Granite and Virtue Cloud fabrics.

www.martaonline.eu

www.gloster.com

FEELGOOD Tornaux

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U646 ST9

Your inspiration reloaded.

The new Specification & Shopfitting collection from Egger. Available now.

Bursting with creative ideas? Then our new collection is your ideal tool.

With 300 laminate decors, 7 new surfaces and an expanded range of products, our services provide efficient support during each project phase, whether it’s in the UK or internationally.

Give your creativity free reign and combine different materials, colours, types of wood and style genres.

» Experience the diversity at www.egger.com/decorative

LIGNE ROSET Backpack With a distinctive personality derived from its slim, elegant structure and thick, ergonomically curved seat, Backpack has been designed by LucidiPevere for Ligne Roset. The unique cushion rolls over on itself and is held in place by a strap, evocative of the backpacks used by explorers of yesteryear. The frame is lacquered aluminium, available in charbon or marsala, while the cushions feature polyester fibre covered with waterproof fabric and soldered seams. www.ligne-roset.com

TUUCI Ocean Master Max Cantilever Tuuci’s Ocean Master Max Cantilever is characterised by a corrosionresistant, polished aluminium mast, inspired by sailing yachts, now available in in sea shell white, ash grey and jet black. The durable parasol is made by Sunbrella and is available in a variety of colours for individuality. www.tuuci.com

ASTRO Coastal

Located on the Turkish coast with views of the Aegean Sea, the D Maris Bay Hotel features a multitude of Gandia Blasco products. Offering relaxation, the reclining daybed and Pérgola Sofá sit alongside matching tables that make up the Saler collection.

With a nod to nautical and industrial design, Astro’s new Coastal collection is designed to withstand all climates. Constructed from solid brass, the design will acquire a natural patina over time, adding to the charm of the material. Inset and wall lights suited to brickwork, rendered surfaces, paved terraces and decking are able to withstand all weather, including sea salt air.

www.gandiablasco.com

www.astrolighting.com

GANDIA BLASCO D Maris Bay Hotel

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Property | Marriott Coronado Island Hotel | CA Design Firm | Clear on Black Featuring JLF and JLF Outdoor products including dining chairs 11-75121SP1, lounge chair 10-67417, sofas, sleeper sectional 35-67417-99SEC, coffee table 09-00027SP, outdoor side chair 09-00031, outdoor single chaise 09-00029, and outdoor table 09-00034

20 years of design inspiration. 20 years of manufacturing innovation. 20 years of creativity. 20 years of leadership.

20 years of unparalleled craftsmanship. 20 years of style. 20 years of family. www.jlfcollections.com

GERVASONI InOut Available in three sizes, the InOut sofas from Gervasoni are made in handwoven natural kubu rattan with upholstered seats and cushions.

The shapes are oversized – almost out of scale – with a rounded finish creating an exotic aesthetic. To accompany, the new InOut 626 coffee table features rounded shapes reminiscent of a stone. www.gervasoni1882.it

GIORGETTI Aspara Aspara marks the first collaboration between Giorgetti and Ludovica + Roberto Palomba. A versatile modular seating system constructed with marine plywood and powder painted steel, Aspara is available in two depths and various colour shades. The seat, armrest and backrest cushions are padded with expanded polyurethane and come with a waterproof covering, ensuring protection in a range of climates. www.giorgetti.eu

LUTECA Paul Roco Collaboration

Constructed with a powder coated stainless steel frame, the form of Joli’s Wire chair is inspired by the shape of the globe. Comprising an armchair, low stool barstool, table bases and more, the Wire collection is weather resistant and distinctive, ideal for use on terraces.

Designed by Red Dot winner Mathias Deferm, the collection is available in a wide variety of colour options.

New York based furniture brand, Luteca, has launched a new collection that is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Available in Sunbrella fabric, the chair is constructed with flow-through foam and polyester strapping making it perfect for outdoor lounges, pool areas and private terraces. Working with studio Paul Roco, the range has been designed with hospitality projects in mind.

www.joli.be

www.luteca.com

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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

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

GEBERIT Geberit Bathroom Collection Geberit, known for its range of frames, flush plates and cisterns for hanging wall-hung WCs, has announced the launch of its first complete bathroom collection, resulting in a one-stop-shop for specifiers and architects. Design meets function is the ethos behind the collection, which features a wide range of washbasins toilets, bidets, mirrored cabinets and cleverly designed furniture with generous storage. www.geberit.co.uk

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WITTMANN Jolly Wittmann has released a tasteful update of its Jolly chair, featuring harmonised proportions and flowing lines, as well as an integrated cushion seat with head and neck support. Designed by Jan Armgardt and available in four new colour combinations with matching metal frame finishes, this update marks the tenth anniversary of the most successful high backed chair in the Wittmann portfolio. www.wittmann.at

SILENT GLISS Snake Wave The innovative Snake Wave curtain track system by Silent Gliss moves silently and elegantly along precise curves for a graceful motion.

Compatible with the hand-operated 1060 and 6465 Silent Gliss track systems, Snake Wave creates an atmosphere of exclusivity, style, and elegance when combined with premium fabrics and curtain materials. www.silentgliss.co.uk

KVADRAT Ready Made Curtain Ready Made Curtain, an adjustable kit designed by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, has been expanded to include selected colours of two washable curtains, Haze and Ace from the Kvadrat range. Along with pegs and hanging mechanism now available in a soft grey tone, the new additions offer the possibility to select all elements separately, creating 286 colour and material combinations. www.kvadrat.dk

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CHELSOM Berlin Featuring a clean and stylish design, Chelsom’s Berlin wall light is a sleek and contemporary lighting solution constructed with a detailed knurled section. The range comes in polished chrome as standard, and is available in a range of alternative finishes. www.chelsom.co.uk

FOSCARINI Spokes Large Available in varnished steel and aluminium finishes, Foscarini’s Spokes Large is a suspension lamp suitable for both residential and contract sectors. Its bulb is contained within flexible metal rods, allowing light to filter through and cast a warm, natural glow. www.foscarini.com

MARSET Theia Designed by Mathias Hahn for Marset, Theia features a minimalist design of two intersecting half spheres.

Creating a playful relationship between light and shadow, the casing is totally opaque and provides a focused and clean light source within a refined form. www.marset.com

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AGAPE Lariana Designed by Patricia Urquiola for Agape, Lariana is a versatile range of bathtubs and washbasins constructed from white Carrara marble and sleek biobased surfaces. Underscored by dark accents, the washbasin is available in either a countertop or pedestal model, and can be adapted to suit a variety of bathroom schemes. www.agapedesign.it

PERRIN & ROWE Bathroom Collection

HAVWOODS Shou Sugi Ban

STEPEVI Blossom

Available in four distinctive styles including Deco, Georgian, Contemporary and Traditional, Perrin & Rowe’s Bathroom Collection offers stylish brassware, chinaware and accessories.

The brass comes in a range of finishes, with chrome, nickel and pewter options providing elegant colour possibilities, while the English bronze and satin finishes develop a unique patina over time as they react with the environment.

Shou Sugi Ban, Havwoods’ latest collection of wood cladding, reinterprets an ancient Japanese charring technique for a modern range. The wood is carefully burned, misted with water, cooled, and then stained to create seven distinctive motifs. A topcoat sealer combined with a charcoal barrier preserves the wood from fire, rot and insects, and protects the vibrant colours underneath.

Stepevi’s Blossom collection of rug designs is inspired by the buds of May features colours representing dawn and sunset. The titanium grey and gold design is achieved through an embossing technique applied during the tufting process, creating a thick and tactile pile. Blossom is one of three new releases from Stepevi, with the Lace and Luxxx designs offering further distinctive colourways.

www.perrinandrowe.co.uk

www.havwoods.co.uk

www.stepevi.com

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Save the date

21-22 November 2017 The Business Design Centre, London

Official Media Partner

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NATURALMAT The Devon Oak Bed With a Scandinavian inspired design, The Devon Oak Bed is constructed from locally grown oak. Produced through sustainable and environmentally-friendly techniques, the bed is available in single, double, queen, king, superking and emperor configurations. www.naturalmat.co.uk

MARK ALEXANDER Tailored Tailored is a new range of pure wool fabrics from Mark Alexander, part of The Romo Group. Offering a natural, renewable and ecologically biodegradable solution, the collection is breathable, odour resistant and has strong insulation properties. www.markalexander.com

BAGNODESIGN Mezzanine Mezzanine from Bagnodesign offers versatile sanitaryware constructed with striking lines. Comprising a bidet, bath and basin mixers as well as countertops, storage units and washbasins, the Mezzanine collection can be combined for a harmonious bathroom scheme. www.bagnodesign.co.uk

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23-25 MAY 2017

Visit the hottest event on the design calendar for a celebration of London’s Design district.

Discover top international design talent in a unique mix of showroom activity, exhibitions and installations hosted across Clerkenwell’s distinctive spaces.

Register free at clerkenwelldesignweek.com cdwfestival #CDW2017

CASE STUDY

CASE STUDY

RCL

Air Aroma

Four Seasons Hotel Seoul

The William Vale, New York

Lighting designer Tino Kwan has specified Remote Controlled Lighting’s (RCL) recessed DR7 luminaries for Four Seasons Hotel Seoul’s Grand Ballroom and Kioku restaurant.

Kwan was attracted to the product due to the minimal equipment required to achieve a striking effect. The recessed DR7s provide a lighting solution that can be remotely rotated along both pan and tilt axes, and focused on any element of interest within the interiors.

Offering up to a 35-degree tilt without any elements protruding from the ceiling line, the DR7 creates an elegant aesthetic that respects the architectural vision of the space. Further, with the lights able to create a balanced ambience across a variety of events and scenarios, their flexibility allows for a nuanced scheme that responds to a long list of demands.

To complement the DR7, decorative RCL luminaries were specified for the dining areas, with the rustic Asian styling of the lanterns strengthening the overall interior scheme with distinctive forms and a warm glow.

In Kioku, the lights are set in shallow ceiling trench beams, remaining unobtrusive during lunch service and providing subtle accent lighting at night.

Scent marketing specialist Air Aroma has designed an exclusive fragrance for The William Vale, a 183-key hotel in Brooklyn overlooking New York’s East River.

Creating bespoke scents to reflect and complement each individual brand and property, the result is dispersed by Air Aroma’s advanced, concealed cold-air diffusion technology, which transmits the scent throughout the property to create a rich sensory experience.

Combining marine accord with dry sandalwood, creamy tonka bean, and frankincense laced with warm resins, the exclusive William Vale scent is contemporary and fresh, and reflects the cool white Carrara marble and elegant brass detailing found throughout the hotel. The subtle incorporation of frankincense and sandalwood undertones creates a sense of elegant comfort and luxury, as well as a consistent ambience throughout the entire property.

Sébastien Maingourd, General Manager of The William Vale, explains: “The hotel offers the creative Brooklyn neighbourhood a sense of refined elegance. To match the upscale brand and to reflect ‘new Brooklyn’, we made sure the hotel’s signature scent offers a desirable invitation to all who enter.”

www.rcllighting.com

www.air-aroma.com

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STORY

TELLS A STORY

UPHOLSTORY

EVERY PIECE TELLS A STORY

A talented team dedicated to producing exceptional furniture for commercial and residential.

020 7585 0545 info@upholstory.co.uk www.upholstory.co.uk

Design • Expertise • Service CONTRACT SOFT FURNISHINGS

INTRODUCING OUR NEW COLLECTION sales@skopos.co.uk |

MILA

Tel: 01924 436 666 | www.skoposfabrics.com

Advertising Index Albrecht Jung

157

Expormim 085

Manutti 057

Alger International

033

Extremis

Marta

193

Mandarin Stone

092

012 & 013

Aliseo 035

Ferreira de Sá Rugs

179

Andrianna Shamaris

145

Forbo 135

Matki 136

Astro Lighting

002

Gandia Blasco

Minotti

B&B Italia

196

Geberit 123

Muzeo 100

BAAL Artisans

141

Hakwood 121

Naturalmat 116

Bang & Olufsen

107

ICFF 185

North 4 Design

193

Bannenberg & Rowell Design

193

HD Expo

151

Perrin & Rowe

162

150

Point 069

031

006 & 007

Brintons 043

HDE Expo Build

Chelsom Lighting

029

HI Design

148 & 149

Restoration Hardware

014 & 015

Sanipex 077

Claybrook Interiors

041

Janus et Cie

Clerkenwell Design Week

189

JLF 177

Shaw Hospitality

Corian

004 & 005 111

195

Joli 165

Sleep 187

Cosentino 130

Kalisher 060

Skopos 191

Curtis Furniture

Kettal

S’N’S

108

008 & 009

010 & 011

Demista 193

Klafs 073

Tendence 142

Dornbracht 059

Kohler

021

Tribu 019

Duravit 173

Lasvit 065

Tuuci 171

EE Smith Contracts

Latitude Agency

027

Umbrosa 045

Ege 080

180

Lefroy Brooks

051

Unidrain 091

Egger 175

Ligne Roset

016

Upholstory 191

Encompass 183

Lincrusta 152

Vincent Sheppard

EPR Architects

Living Design

155

Vondom 169

Luteca 097

Waterworks 115

066

Ethimo 037

192

167

Create a feelgood environment.

Bannenberg & Rowell, the award winning yacht design studio, is looking for an interior designer to join their team of twelve.

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE: • •

BA level, equivalent or above, in design related degree.

2-5 years’ experience in interior team, preferably in the premium sector (retail, yacht, hotel)

SOFTWARE PROFICIENCY, MINIMUM: • • • •

Rhino CAD Photoshop Basic MS Office applications

SKILLS: • • • •

Space planning Furniture/casegoods experience Hand drawing skills a bonus Knowledge of interior detailing, furniture, casegoods, joinery/ millwork and interior architecture, appreciation of materials

OTHER: • • • • •

London based, English speaking Creativity and drive Good people and team skills Knowledge of B&R portfolio Sense of humour

Please send a CV to dickie@bannenbergandrowell.com by 31st March 2017 Bannenberg & Rowell Design Limited, 2 Bridge Studios 318-326 Wandsworth Bridge Road, London, SW6 2TZ

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

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

© Johan Jansson

Life in the treetops TREEHOTEL, SWEDEN

If you go down to the woods today, you might not encounter a bear, but you’re sure to find a Scandinavian cabin perched in the treetops. Designed by Snøhetta, 7th Room is the latest addition to Treehotel, a unique accommodation concept in Swedish Lapland that enables guests to experience nature amongst the pines. From its elevated vantage point some 10 metres above ground, the cabin boasts views over the Lule River and surrounding landscape. Its exterior is clad in charred timber to blend in with the forest, while the underside features a life-size photograph of the canopy as it looked before the room was constructed. Inside, the colour palette

is somewhat lighter, with blonde woods lining the 100m 2 space.

Comprising two guestrooms, a lounge and bathroom, the interiors are defined by Scandinavian furnishings, a wood-burning stove and a single pine tree growing up through the centre. As an extension of the living space, a double-layered net is suspended from the cabin, providing a terrace where braver guests can roll out a sleeping bag and experience a night under the stars. However, if the Arctic air proves too bitter, the cabin’s panoramic windows are positioned to face north, so that guests can experience the Aurora Borealis from the comfort of their own bed. A big surprise indeed.

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The Endless Evolution of Excellence

Beautiful, durable, versatile, reliable. Creative.

Successfully used around the world in the most diverse environments, residential and commercial, indoor and outdoor.

Product range, colours and applications continuously innovated.

A great surfacing material, a world-class solution for interior design and architecture.

DuPont™ Corian®: The Endless Evolution of Excellence.

Corian® - 2017 CELEBRATING 50 YEARS IN D E SIGN AND ARCHITECTURE

DuPont™ Corian® for a backlit decorative wall at Sofitel Brussels Le Louise hotel; design by Antoine Pinto (www.pintoandco.be); photo courtesy of Sofitel Brussels Le Louise.

To know more about DuPont™ Corian®: 0800 962 116 (UK), 1800 553 252 (Ireland), sales@corian.co.uk, corian.co.uk, endlessevolution.corian.com The DuPont oval logo, DuPont™, Corian®, Endless Evolution and the Endless Evolution logo are registered trademarks, trademarks or copyrighted material of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates.

Only DuPont produces Corian®. Copyright © E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates.

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BUTTERFLY, DESIGN PATRICIA URQUIOLA. WWW.BEBITALIA.COM B&B ITALIA STORE LONDON, SW3 2AS - 250 BROMPTON ROADT. +44 020 7591 8111 - INFO.BROMPTONROAD@BEBITALIA.COM UK AGENT: BEN RITSON - T. +44 793 1556345 – SALES@RITSONDESIGN.COM MILAN DESIGN WEEK: APRIL 4TH/9TH 2017 - B&B ITALIA STORE VIA DURINI, 14 - MILANO

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