Drawing Board

Having made his mark on London with an eclectic hotel in Fitzrovia, the owner of The Mandrake escapes to Thailand for a seductive fantasy break.

On a remote Thai island.

We flew in by private jet and upon landing were picked up by a black Land Rover SUV.

Ian Schrager, together with my personal wellness healer for the duration of the stay.

The VIP concierge from Wynn Las Vegas.

My partner Silje Vallevik. And if she’s not available, then Barbarella.

Fresh mixed juices and herbal teas, as well as beautifully smelling candles and flowers.

NOTABLE HOTEL PROJECTS The Mandrake, London www.themandrake.com

We’re staying in a bungalow with an exclusive pool and private beach. The design exudes a Bohemian feel with natural materials and atmospheric mood lighting.

Someone with a strong design aesthetic... like Frida Kahlo or Alexander McQueen.

The restaurant is rustic and warm, serving French and Thai dishes by candlelight. Adding to the ambiance is the enchanting sounds of a singer and pianist. The relaxing bar opposite features comfy sofas and plants scattered around original sculptures.

Our guests include Jesus, Leonardo de Vinci, Cleopatra, Caligula and Bruce Lee. Also on our table are Raquel Welch, Freddie Mercury, Gautama Buddha and Mohammed Ali.

Joël Robuchon and Thomas Keller.

Fried langoustines and foie gras pâté to start, followed by a fresh goat cheese and pear salad, scallops and a chocolate dessert to finish.

A buttery, Burgundy white like PulignyMontrachet to go with our first two courses, and a glass of Château Margaux red wine to accompany dessert.

Aphrodisiac drinks.

Anything by Brazilian novelist Paula Coelho.

Music and crosswords.

A trashy Hollywood gossip paper please.

Aromatherapy Associates.

Late check-out.

Both.

Croque Madame followed by Middle Eastern dishes like manakeesh za’atar and labneh. To finish, a mix of avocado and tropical fruits.

Spa, as we already have a pool in our room.

TULUM

DNA Barcelona has unveiled Life Tree Tulum, a bird’s nest-inspired development in Mexico’s Yucatan region. Slated for completion in 2024, the project comprises 20 hotel suites and 10 villas surrounded by vegetation.

The communal areas, including natural pools, a gym, spa, restaurant and lounge bar, have been designed with the surroundings in mind, while the arrangement of the cocoonlike accommodations above offer privacy and maximum visibility of the landscape.

“Life Tree bases its design on the communion between the natural environment and naturally inspired geometry,” says the studio. “The set of volumes are therefore arranged in a way that promotes the inclusion of green space, allowing the architecture to coexist with Mother Nature.”

In its approach, DNA also looked to mimic organic forms and materials, embracing the setting and conceiving a tree of life that sits at the heart of the resort; guests can wander across elevated walkways to central shared spaces before reaching the privacy of their own nest.

“From a conceptual point of view, we always aim for a fusion between art and technology and in this case, we sought the fusion between nature and architecture, which generates the word ‘Archi-Nature’ as we call it at DNA,” the studio explains. “The project was born from the client’s desire to generate a unique hospitality offering, because today’s traveller wants to return home feeling nourished by a unique experience that is aligned with nature.”

MINNEAPOLIS

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Developer: Commutator Operator: Salt Hotels Architecture: Snow Kreilich Architects Interior Design: Neri & Hu Main Contractor: Greiner Construction www.salthotels.com

Salt Hotels has revealed it will open a new hotel, The West in Minneapolis, in late 2023. A collaboration between local developer Commutator, Snow Kreilich Architects and Shanghai-based design studio Neri & Hu, the 123-key property occupies four historic buildings in the city’s North Loop.

Inside, Neri & Hu’s scheme – marking one of their first hotel projects in North America – combines bespoke furniture, sumptuous fabrics and specially commissioned artwork with an industrial-style backdrop of exposed brick and metal trusses.

The hotel’s lobby meanwhile is housed in a former brass foundry and comprises communal workspaces, a fireside lounge, library and bar. There will also be a stone cellar cocktail bar, a rooftop bar with terrace offering sweeping views of the city, an outdoor dining patio and six flexible events spaces.

Spearheading the F&B programme is James Beard award-winning chef Tim McKee, whose restaurant will offer Basque-inspired food drawing from the cuisines of northern Spain, with a particular focus on regions like San Sebastián, Bilbao and Pamplona. McKee will also be launching an Eastern Mediterranean bakery as well as taking charge of events catering and the in-room dining programme.

“I fell in love with Minneapolis the first time I visited,” explains David Bowd, CEO of Salt Hotels. “The people are incredible, and the beautiful architecture, along with its strong creative culture and appreciation for service and design – both cornerstones of Salt Hotels – solidified the city as the destination for our latest venture. We’re excited to be expanding here during a time when so many transformational developments are opening.”

The West adds to a strong pipeline of openings for Salt Hotels, which includes developments in Nantucket, Newport, Litchfield and Mexico.

PHU QUOC

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: P Q Hai Quoc Joint Stock Company Operator: The Lux Collective www.theluxcollective.com

The Lux Collective and P Q Hai Quoc Joint Stock Company have signed a management agreement for a luxury overwater resort in Phu Quoc, Vietnam. Operating under the Lux* brand, the 126-villa Luxnam* Phu Quoc is expected to open in late 2024.

Nestled between beach and jungle alongside the coral reefs of the UNESCO-listed Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve, the resort comprises on-land and overwater wings connected by a 4km jetty extending over the lagoon. Though Maldivian in concept, the resort is designed with elements of Tropical Modernism, and draws inspiration from Vietnamese traditions reimagined with a Minimalist twist. The group’s commitment to sustainability will also be incorporated throughout, building harmony with the surrounding nature and biodiversity.

“Collaborating on the Lux* flagship brand, we envision Luxnam* Phu Quoc to become one of Southeast Asia’s top luxury resort destinations with its unique overwater design and extraordinary experiences,” explains Duy Tran, CEO of P Q Hai Quoc Joint Stock Company. “The Tropical Modernist resort, designed around sustainability, will showcase natural beauty from every room to inspire the most discerning traveller looking for a natural escape, exquisite design and conscious travel.”

Thought to be a first for Vietnam, the resort’s accommodation offering will include 109 overwater villas – the majority of which feature a private pool – as well as 13 beach pool villas, two penthouses and two beachfront mansions. Communal facilities will include several bars and restaurants – one with individual dining pods perched above the waves – a spa, fitness centre and four swimming pools.

Luxnam* is one of 12 hotels currently in the development pipeline for The Lux Collective across Southeast Asia, China, Europe and the Middle East.

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BELFAST

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: Lamington Group Developer: Oakland Holdings Operator: Room2 www.room2.com

Room2, the hometel brand conceived by Lamington Group, has announced plans to open a fourth property, following in the footsteps of its groundbreaking net zero venture in Chiswick.

Situated on Queen Street in the heart of Belfast, the 175-key hotel will be spread across nine floors and comprises a restaurant, coffee roastery and bar, together with a lounge, 40m2 gym and laundry room. On the first floor, four meeting rooms will provide flexible space for events and networking, while a large kitchen is available to host cooking masterclasses.

In line with the Room2 approach, recycled and reclaimed materials will be used throughout: the reception desk is being constructed from reclaimed oak with recycled plastic bottles making up the countertop; carpets of repurposed fishing nets line the corridors; and pendant lampshades crafted from recycled coffee grounds will illuminate the co-working area.

Championing local producers and FF&E suppliers is also an integral brand pillar for Lamington Group, and bespoke fitted joinery is therefore being sourced from a family business just 35 miles away. Local art students are set to take over the interior space too, using it as a canvas to display their works, while guestroom wallpapers are being made at a nearby factory that uses 100% renewable energy with recycled plastic acting as a base for the prints.

“Lamington Group strives to push the boundaries of net zero in the hospitality industry,” says Managing Director Robert Godwin, who reveals that properties in York, Glasgow and Manchester will follow Belfast as the company looks to expand its vision across the UK and reach 5,000 keys by 2030. “At the heart of each new property remains our commitment to social values, community engagement, collaboration and the promotion of sustainable values to educate guests on the importance of the sustainability agenda.”

Low Lounger by Jaime Hayon 2001 side table by Úbeda & Canalda bdbarcelona.com

MELBOURNE

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner / Developer: Riverlee Operator: SH Hotels & Resorts Architecture: Fender Katsalidis Architects Interior Design: One Design Office (ODO) Landscaping: Oculus www.1hotels.com

Melbourne-based studio One Design Office (ODO) has revealed further details about its involvement in the AU$550-million Seafarers development, housing a 277-room 1 Hotel and 123 branded residences that will launch in 2024. Tasked with designing the guestrooms as well as common areas including the lobby, bar, signature restaurants, swimming pool and day spa, ODO is taking inspiration from the local natural environment to fuse luxury and sustainability. The development incorporates a number of 1 Hotels’ signature initiatives, from intelligent energy management systems that reduce consumption by an average of 17%, to in-room water refill stations that are estimated to save 1.2 million plastic bottles in one property alone. Repurposed materials will also be a common thread throughout, while other elements like wharf timbers, roof trusses, purlins and columns are being sourced from Melbourne’s heritage-protected Goods Shed 5.

“We’ve taken trips to various timber yards to explore the possibilities and have found an appropriate partner who has collected materials from 100-year-old demolished bridges,” says ODO Director Samson Tiew. “We’re using these materials as backdrops and bedheads in the guestrooms to reinforce not only the stories of nature but the maritime history of the site.”

Tiew continues: “Sustainability is our responsibility as designers, and we have a toolkit of sustainable elements that we can introduce to a project. It takes effort to pitch these ideas to clients, and requires receptiveness from the clients themselves, but if we can start by winning with small-scale initiatives, then there will be a general market uptake of these sustainable concepts in future. It’s been a joy to be part of the 1 Hotel process, as it has given us the chance to redefine what hospitality means and express what we believe in. A luxurious space doesn’t have to harm the environment.”