THE LOBBY
Great Things Will Grow
048
The bar is much more than a place to grab a drink.
one of these great things might be,” says Ruud
It’s a place to encounter, to have meaningful
Belmans, co-founder of WeWantMore, adding
conversations and even talk business. But at an
that the space featured a fragrance by EcoScent
exhibition representing the hospitality design
– offering notes of sandalwood, bergamot and
sector’s best and brightest, any old bar simply
citrus – as well as fixtures and furnishings from
won’t do, so why not grow one specifically for
Ege Carpets, Muuto, Hoad & More, Antalis, Elm
the occasion? That’s exactly what Belgian design
London and Wisdom Audio. Evo Design handled
studio WeWantMore did for the 2022 edition
the fit-out, producing an area that transformed
of HIX, collaborating with organic material
waste into an experimental installation that,
artist Côme Di Meglio and creative agency La
for Di Meglio, signifies the latest in a line of
Succulente to showcase the future of sustainable
myco-structures that connect spirituality and
design and highlight the potential of mycelium –
spatial experience with physical materiality.
an intertwining network of fungal threads.
“Mycelium has intrinsic sensory qualities
Embodying the show’s ‘Great Things Will
that creates a virtuous resonance within our
Grow’ theme, The Mush Room drew inspiration
bodies,” he explains. “I’ve been working with
from shapes and textures found on shells,
this material for four years, and applying my
illustrating the infinite source of inspiration that
research to the bar was the perfect embodiment
nature can be both aesthetically and structurally.
of my practice: hospitality and conviviality. With
“We felt it would be nice if the bar could literally
The Mush Room, the binding power of mycelium
be grown for the event, creating a link to the
was expressed through the human interactions
show while also providing an example of what
it nurtured.”
The Road Less Travelled “Our world is packed with incredible places. Places we often miss if we stick to the tourist trail,” states the introduction to Go Here Instead: An Alternative Travel List. Published by DK Eyewitness Travel, the 224-page hardback features a comprehensive round-up of alternatives to the world’s most visited destinations, from the northern powerhouse giving London a run for its money, to the fun-filled festival taking the shine off Coachella, and the island blooms just as beautiful as Japan’s cherry blossoms. The guidebook is divided into seven different types of trip: Architectural and Historical Sights, Festivals and Parties, Great Journeys, Architectural Marvels, Natural Wonders, Art and Culture and Cities. Alongside 100 entries, each focusing on an alternative to a wellknown spot, sight or experience, Go Here Instead offers impressive photography and stylised locator maps that pinpoint the alternative sights, experiences and destinations. “You might have heard of a few of the places inside this book – when is anything completely off the beaten track? But we bet you’ll still find plenty of hidden gems to inspire your future travels,” concludes the introduction. “So don’t stick to what you know; take the road less travelled instead. The world is waiting.”