Sleeper 2020

In the second of a series of articles to celebrate our 20 th anniversary year, we take a look back the designers, architects and studios who have defined the hotel landscape, as well as the product innovations that have made an impact.

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Over the years, SLEEPER has celebrated the people behind the projects as much it has their creations. Here we take a look back at some of the pioneers that continue to guide the market.

Words: Kristofer Thomas

In the 20 years Sleeper has been in publication, certain names have appeared in these pages time and time again. Sometimes their work defines a moment or turning point in hospitality design, while others have claimed their place with steady streams of quietly influential projects that, when viewed as a body of work, have been impossible to ignore. Some have established themselves as auteurs with visions firmly their own; others have risen to the top thanks to collaborative efforts in offices around the world. Every field has its leading lights, and hospitality design is no different. Last issue, we looked at the hotels and brands that defined an era, now we meet the architects and designers that did the same.

AROUND THE WORLD As the ideals of the hotel market have grown to encompass a wide spectrum of styles, price points and values, those studios with the widest reach and most varied roster of designers have been best placed to capitalise.

WATG – founded 75 years ago in Honolulu, Hawaii and now 500-strong with offices in the USA, Asia, Europe and the Middle East – claims the impressive title of having more built hospitality projects than any other firm, whilst Gensler (established in 1965 and with a global team of 6,000 today) has regularly topped revenue lists, expanding into master planning, urban strategy and brand design.

Firms of this scale are often trusted with large-scale projects by equally large brands; HOK have been studio of choice for St. Regis, Mandarin Oriental and InterContinental Hotels, whilst Gettys – with over 1,500 projects under its belt – has collaborated with Accor, Hyatt and Starwood. Likewise, Wilson Associates, the studio behind Atlantis The Palm – a landmark project that arguably kicked off the city’s hotel revolution – and so too HKS, the North American firm entrusted with the restoration of the landmark Belmond Cap Juluca after its destruction during Hurricane Irma.

In the UK, meanwhile, few have played a larger role in transforming London’s heritage buildings into hotels than EPR, the practice responsible for Rosewood, The Ned and the forthcoming Raffles.

Along the way, these firms have reached beyond architecture and design to become valued cultural figures in their communities. Take George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg for example; the founders of Yabu Pushelberg became Officers to the Order of Canada in 2013, receiving their home country’s highest honour for achievements in design excellence.

VISIONARIES Although the major names in hotel design are often quick to recognise the teams surrounding them as key to their success, throughout the last 20 years a few singular visions stand out.

Having founded his eponymous group in 1984, David Rockwell kickstarted the millennial hotel movement with W Hotels, gave rise to the hotel F&B wave with Nobu, and recently gave form to the emergent wellness hotel model with Equinox in New York’s Hudson Yards.

Working alongside older brother Rocco Forte, Olga Polizzi has provided the family’s hospitality group with design guidance since 1996, creating properties including Brown’s and Hotel Savoy. And having taken his idiosyncratic aesthetic global with NoMads in New York and Las Vegas, it can be easy to forget how prevalent Jacques Garcia’s gilded, new romantic signature remains in the French capital following projects like Hotel Costes and Maison Souquet.

Fellow countryman Pierre-Yves Rochon has followed a similar path, designing Paris’ Four Seasons and Shangri-La outposts, before crossing the channel to create London’s Savoy, then Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills.

New York-based Adam D. Tihany has been a notable presence at the forefront of restaurant design, then hotels – not least Mandarin Orientals in Geneva and Las Vegas, and Four Seasons in Dubai’s International Financial Centre. More recently, his shift into cruise ship design with Seabourn and Cunard has signalled the increasingly blurred lines between hospitality and transportation.

Ushering India’s hotel scene into the 21 st century with pioneering design vision and

© Chad Batka

© Shamanth Patil J

leadership, Priya Paul has developed her family’s The Park Hotels chain into arguably the country’s foremost hospitality brand.

And as Asia’s hotel market developed into one of the world’s most admired, Andre Fu’s rapid ascent has charted the region’s shifting perception of luxury. Following a breakout design for The Upper House in Hong Kong, Fu’s portfolio of modernist opulence has evolved with projects including Kerry Hotel and St. Regis in the same city, as well as Waldorf Astoria Bangkok.

CROSS-CULTURE No longer simply rooms upon rooms, today’s hotels stand at the intersection of retail, office, healthcare and entertainment, and have become a central node in the experience economy.

As the lines separating hospitality projects from branded shops, workspaces and modes of transportation have become less clear, a number of designers have transferred their skills to considerable acclaim.

Previously specialising in retail, Universal Design Studio broke the mould with the influential Ace Hotel London Shoreditch – the property’s lobby something of a touchstone for public space design through the 2010s.

Meanwhile, riding the resurgence of F&B in hotels, both New York-based AvroKO and Gothenburg practice Stylt Trampoli expanded its focus from designing restaurants to designing the properties they inhabit; the former a favourite of 1 Hotels and hipster haven Arlo, whilst the latter’s work with 25hours helped give the brand’s playful spirit an identity.

Migrating from product design, Philippe Starck’s unique perspective gave the earliest boutique hotels in New York’s Royalton and Paramount their distinctive character, stamping this new form of luxury with his abstract take on size and scale. Likewise, Marcel Wanders began his career producing furniture before applying his energetic style to interior spaces with highlights including Andaz Amsterdam and the ambitiously realised Mondrian Doha, surely the region’s most surreal take on hotel interior visuals.

In the reverse, hospitality design specialist Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) has expanded its scope from hotels to include various divisions dedicated to fields including art consultancy, branding, lighting, procurement and graphic design, leveraging lessons gleaned from hotel projects to diversify and adapt in the increasingly hybridised market.

And beyond those industries directly adjacent to design and architecture, Anouska Hempel began her celebrated career only after wrapping up an acting stint that saw her on screen throughout the 1970s. Off camera, Hempel became one of the world’s top interior designers with her work at Blakes London and The Duxton in Singapore.

STAYING POWER A true mark of success is consistency, and whilst most of the below had already made their mark before Sleeper debuted, the fact they continue to do so with reinvention and adaptation has seen them become mainstays.

By the turn of the millennium, New York entrepreneur Ian Schrager was already considered a pioneer having established the legendary Studio 54, then the entire boutique sector with Morgans in 1986. Since then, however, Schrager has continued to reimagine the market in his image with Edition and Public.

Likewise, Barry Sternlicht’s Starwood Capital has been a potent force since the early 1990s, but regular reassessments of the market have seen the company’s savvy founder launch 1 Hotels and most recently Treehouse.

Since his purchase of the Chateau Marmont in 1990, American executive André Balazs has been a prominent market presence; the first Standard opened in 1998, with subsequent properties under the name giving the emergent cool millennia crowd their favourite label. After leaving the company, Balasz continues his close involvement in the design process with London hotspot Chiltern Firehouse.

Over in the design community, Tim and Kit Kemp of Firmdale Hotels brought the British townhouse style to the UK capital with Dorset Square Hotel in 1985, before going stateside with New York favourites The Whitby and Crosby Street. More recent efforts like Ham Yard Hotel showcase a keen understanding of both their loyal guest-base and the industry’s new direction.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN During Sleeper’s two decade run, we’ve also had to say goodbye to some of the people who defined their time in the profession. Such was their influence, that their legacy continues to inform the current hotel market and those working within it.

Most recently, South African magnate Sol Kerzner passed away following a career that saw him put his country’s hospitality scene on the map with the Southern Sun chain and the expansive Sun City Resort.

A year after accepting the AHEAD Asia Outstanding Contribution award for 2018, Australian architect Kerry Hill passed too, but not before giving the world Amanyangyun, a stunning culmination of the tropical modernism forms he pioneered.

Architect David Collins – arguably the design force behind the best of London’s celebrated bar and restaurant scene – died following a short illness in 2013, though his legacy lives on in the acclaimed studio in his name. Likewise, Andree Putman’s eponymous practice lives on following the 2013 death of its founder – overseen by daughter Olivia since 2007, fulfilling her mother’s long-standing wishes.

Lastly, Indonesian designer Jaya Ibrahim – once a student of Anouska Hempel, and the mind behind Aman’s early milestone projects in Hangzhou, Beijing and Lijiang – sadly passed in 2015, though his spirited style can still be seen in hotels across Asia.

They may be no longer with us, but we have been privileged enough to have been around to see some of their stellar achievements.

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The Lightbulb Moment 20 YEARS OF PRODUCT DESIGN

From 3D-printed taps to robotic bartenders, we take a look at product innovations that have made an impact on hospitality design over the last two decades, as well as those that will shape it for years to come.

Words: Ben Thomas

3D PRINTING 3D printing has long been regarded as the manufacturing technology of the future, representing a major opportunity for companies to improve efficiency while reducing their environmental impact. Stepping into unexplored territory, Grohe became the first sanitary company in Europe to employ the technique to produce its Atrio Icon 3D and Allure Brilliant Icon 3D taps. Both models are made up of around 4,700 layers of steel each measuring just 0.06mm: Atrio Icon 3D features a thin, curved spout with a subtle groove, while Allure Brilliant Icon 3D is more angular in shape and boasts an entirely hollow centre. Similarly experimental in its approach, Spanish firm Nagami launched a collection of 3D-printed chairs designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, Ross Lovegrove and Daniel Widrig in 2018. Exploring the natural growth processes that occur in marine biology, the furniture was built using polylactic acid plastic – a biodegradable, non-toxic material made from renewable resources like cornstarch, making it both lightweight and sturdy.

SOLID SURFACES While solid surfaces in hotels were typically confined to bathroom spaces, where their functionality and hygiene made for easy maintenance, major developments in surface designs and materials have since seen them feature in lobbies, guestrooms, restaurants and spas. Hi-Macs by LG Hausys, for instance, is composed of acrylic, natural minerals and pigments that come together to provide a smooth, non-porous and visually seamless surface, while Corian’s solid surface range offers similar characteristics, with joints that can be made near-invisible by connecting the relevant pieces with the brand’s colour-matched twopart acrylic adhesive. More recently, Hi-Macs launched Intense Ultra, combining intense colour technology and an ultra-thermoforming to create a darker, more resistant surface with less visible scratches.

SUSTAINABLE BEDDING Sustainability has dominated the headlines in recent times, and the bedding industry has responded with a roster of green initiatives. British manufacturer Hypnos became the first carbon neutral bedmaker in the world nine years ago and has since offset a total of 6,820 tonnes of CO2, while its eOlus fibre continues to make use of recycled plastic based bottles that would otherwise go to landfill or into our oceans. Likewise, Devon-based brand Naturalmat has carved out a niche in the hotel market for championing the production of wholly organic and ethically produced beds and mattresses. Taking its philosophy one step further, the latter has pioneered mattress covers

that meet all British fire-retardant standards while remaining entirely free from chemical treatment, with a unique combination of wool and cotton ensuring the covers no longer need to be treated with chemicals to pass standard fire regulation checks.

COMPUTERISED CUTTING SYSTEMS Digital technology has revolutionised the way manufacturers produce furniture, with the machinery of old paving the way for today’s computerised systems. Such advancements were prominent at Milan Design Week in 2012, when robots at exhibitions across the city began fabricating chairs, computerised metal presses were creating lamps and rapid prototyping machines churned out new pieces within minutes. Since then, furniture-makers have continued to invest in hardware and software innovations; B&B Italia teamed up with technology firm Lectra to become the first company in Italy to use ‘Versalis off line’, an entirely computerised leather cutting system that has increased its cutting quality and reduced material consumption by 3%, while boosting both productive capacity and efficiency by 30%. Taking an equally technological approach, French designer Philippe Starck used the world’s largest single-piece injection moulding to create the Aunts and Uncles series for Kartell – made from polycarbonate, the

Left to right: Grohe’s 3D printing technology; sustainable bedding by Naturalmat; Philips’ MediaSuite smart television; the Mobile Access system by Assa Abloy

pieces are a minimalist version of the armchairs and sofas from his childhood.

WEAVING TECHNOLOGY The development of electronic jacquard looms in the 1980s provided the carpet industry with access to unlimited pattern repeats, and since then, the sector has continued to innovate. British carpet-maker Brintons unveiled its 32-colour High Definition Weave back in 2011, meaning it could produce photo-realistic, three-dimensional definition while at once protecting the nobility of materials, and Ulster Carpets launched its patented Pre-Selected Yarn Loading Operation (PSYLO) weaving technology, enabling the company to offer a greater choice of colours and design freedom. PYSLO also addressed the weaknesses of electronic jacquards, changing the traditional weaving system of using 10,000 small bobbins loaded on looms to one that involved 1,000 larger cones, leading to a 90% reduction in set-up time and waste. In addition, while traditional looms could cope with up to 12 colours, the technology allows for up to 25.

MOBILE KEYS Mobile key technology has skyrocketed over the last decade and the hotel industry is embracing it with open arms, with global chains including Hilton, Marriott International and Hyatt now

offering the perk to their loyalty programme members around the world. For management teams, mobile access has helped to improve efficiency as employees do not have to replace lost room keys, while for guests, the solution provides added convenience without sacrificing security. From Assa Abloy’s Mobile Access system, which allocates guestrooms and generates encrypted digital keys over a secure channel, to a dedicated app by 4Suites that sends a confirmation email or text message to users, allowing them to open doors immediately, travellers now have the ability to bypass the front desk and enter their rooms at the touch of a smartphone or watch.

SMART TELEVISIONS As consumer habits have evolved, so too has the television, adapting through new technology to become more than just an entertainment hub. The unveiling of Internet-connected smart TVs from Samsung, Sony, LG and Philips has resulted in hotels allowing guests to simply log into their personal Netflix account and stream their favourite shows. Philips’ MediaSuite model does just that, while its built-in Chromecast service means users can cast original content – including photos, movies, music or presentations – in up to 4K from a compatible laptop or mobile device. Likewise, Samsung’s Q70R range is compatible with the

SmartThings platform, providing an on-screen hub for monitoring and even controlling other smart devices including fridges, washing machines and lights. Exploring this realm of connectivity further, TVs have become a digital concierge, providing guests with information on the hotel’s facilities and surrounding area, or used as a direct messaging service.

LED DISPLAYS LED displays first came into existence in the early 1960s, but only lately have been transformed into large video-capable screens that use highbrightness diodes to generate a wider spectrum of colours. The electronic viewing technology has permitted hotels to present visual content in lobbies and public spaces, from digital signage to engaging artistic productions. Adopting the equipment for its domed vestibule, NH Collection Madrid Eurobuilding installed what is thought to be the largest vaulted display in a hotel anywhere in the world. The building’s 300m 2 semi-transparent curved screen was created by Spanish firm Led & Go and works in harmony with a set of vertical tubes of LEDs, controlled pixel by pixel to project 3D lighting, spatial sound and video content.

HIGH TECH SURFACES Cladding has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent years, but a handful of hotels

Left: the Bionic Bar by Makr Shakr Above: Laufen’s innovative SaphirKeramik material

have really pushed the boundaries when it comes to exterior surfaces. In 2012, Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel celebrated the new season with a techno-surface by DuPont Corian, which dressed up everything from the main façade to the club’s cocktails bars and the pool’s décor, while four years later, DuPont Corian lit up the architectural face of London with translucent white cladding for the Mackay + Partnersdesigned Motel One London, which became the first commercial structure in the UK to adopt an illuminated façade made from the hightech surface. The building comprises a sevenstorey decorative cube fronting the street and a 16-storey glass tower to the rear, with the exterior skin functioning as both a sustainable open-jointed rain screen façade and a distinctive design feature.

MODERN-DAY MATERIALS The bathroom has undergone fundamental change over the last two decades, not least in design but also in materiality. Where once there was the curve, now there’s the tight edgeradius. Fuller forms have given way to slimline products, with extremely robust materials helping to create a minimal look. Launched in 2013 following five years of research, testing and experimentation, Laufen’s innovative SaphirKeramik material is thought to be the world’s thinnest ceramic, meaning it can be used in smaller bathrooms, optimising and refining the space available. SaphirKeramik is also completely recyclable and reduces the consumption of energy during firing, production and transport. Likewise, Kaldewei has developed its own unique composite in Steel Enamel, harnessing the strengths of both materials to create a range of bathtubs, shower surfaces and washbasins that are UV, chemical and heat resistant as well as being easy to clean, hygienic and 100% sustainable.

FLAME RETARDANT FABRICS Flame retardant fabrics have been around for decades, but recent innovations have been launched to help combat the loss of effectiveness through wear, age or frequent washing – even on fibres with an additional flame protection finish, which are often used in hospitality environments. Trevira’s CS textile, for instance, comprises fibres and yarns that are inherently flame retardant – a small yet decisive difference that derives from the chemical structure of the polyester fibre, which ensures it is not possible for external influences to affect them. Equally as protective are Edmund Bell’s flame-retardant materials, which feature a special treatment that ensures they not only remain resistant to melting or dripping, but also impede the spread of a fire by self-extinguishing.

ROBOTIC BARTENDERS It may sound like the sort of gadget you would find in a James Bond movie, but the robotic bartender is very much a reality. Since debuting at Milan Design Week in 2013, the Bionic Bar by Italian architect Carlo Ratti and his company Makr Shakr has taken up residency aboard six Royal Caribbean cruise ships, as well as in hotels across the US and Europe, while more recently it has been joined by Nino – a robotic cocktail maker. Modelled on the gestures of dancer Marco Pelle from the New York Theatre Ballet, the system has the capacity to mix 150 bottles of different spirits stored in its overhead rack, using two mechanical arms to prepare and serve drinks in seconds. Makr Shakr’s mobile app allows users to select pre-made recipes developed by international mixologists or create and name customised cocktails of their own.

The Sleeper 2020 series will continue next issue with a look at the changes and developments in hospitality design over the last 20 years, as well as the trends set to dominate the next two decades.