Sleeper 117

HOSPITALITY EXPERIENCE & DESIGN

ERIRO – EHRWALD • SHARAN PASRICHA • JANU – TOKYO

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CONTENTS ISSUE 117

080

HOTEL REVIEWS

047

Eriro

058

Hyde

067

The Store

075

91 Athens Riviera

080

Kimpton Bem

088

Deos

096

The Brecon

102

Argini

110

Ehrwald London City Oxford

Athens 067

Budapest Mykonos

Adelboden Syros

096

LOCATION REPORT TOKYO Janu

118

Trunk (Hotel) Yoyogi Park

125

The Tokyo Edition Ginza

132

© Christos Drazos Photography 005

CONTENTS ISSUE 117 FEATURES

125

Meeting... Sharan Pasricha

040

25 Years Of LW Design

047

The Great American Summer

139

As Ennismore looks ahead to its next phase of growth, the group’s founder and co-CEO shares how he turned a small indie hotel brand into the world’s fastest-growing lifestyle hospitality company.

Upon celebrating a milestone anniversary, the founder and CEO of LW Design discusses the past, present and future of hospitality design.

Brooklyn-based LMNOP tells the story of its latest visual identity scheme, which pays homage to nostalgic Nantucket summers.

REGULARS 088

132

© Nikolas Koenig

102

058

© Matt Vines

© Alex Moling

006

Check-In

026

Drawing Board

028

The Lobby

053

Design Details

114

Business Centre

142

Events

153

Spotlight

164

Fabrics, Surfaces & Wallcoverings

171

Specifier

187

Check-Out

210

Whether you’re an interior designer, architect, property developer or in the hospitality sector, our dedicated Partners are here to guide you through every stage of your project.

Our Partner’s knowledge of our top brands and our exclusive own-brand products as well as their strong relationships with buyers, gives them a real insight into the trends and high quality products that will work for your project. From beds to sofas, cushions to lamps, our wide range will offer you a simple purchasing solution for your needs.

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ON THE COVER Eriro, Ehrwald © Alex Moling

Honouring The Past

A

hotel plays many roles in today’s society, from

the building’s future, which begs the question: for those in the

providing the basic bed and board for weary travellers,

business of hotel-making, is the role changing?

to serving as a community hub for locals to work, rest

Some of the creatives behind projects in this issue of Sleeper

and play. While these primary functions will forever remain at

believe so. Developing a hotel goes beyond best-in-class

the forefront of new projects, the sector is increasingly taking

amenities and sparkling new interiors. Sharan Pasricha, co-

on a new role: that of custodian.

CEO of Ennismore, believes his role is of custodian, not only

Gone are the days that the development pipeline was made

of the heritage buildings within the group’s remit – such as

up of newbuild after newbuild, hotel groups are now reporting

Gleneagles – but of the legacy brands that now fall within the

that the majority of their projects are conversions – in fact,

portfolio. At Hyde London City, Studio Moren took inspiration

there’s not a single newbuild in Marriott’s 2024 signings for

from the era in which the original hotel was built, reinstating

the UK market. Though many such projects are the rebadging

details that had been lost. They even supplied the hotel with a

of existing hotels, a percentage are adaptive reuse of other

crib sheet so that the front-of-house team can educate curious

buildings, perhaps a monumental city landmark or a majestic

guests on the history of the property. And at The Store in

country pile.

Oxford, developers Reef Origin also describe themselves as

This is evidenced in this year’s entries for AHEAD Europe; the Conversion category saw so many strong entries that

custodians, seeking to ensure the former department store is still of benefit to locals in its new guise as a hotel.

the number of projects making it to shortlist stage had to be

Indeed, there’s a responsibility with old buildings that

increased. There’s a former sanatorium in the Peloponnese, an

requires careful consideration; many have a storied past that

18th-century manor house set amongst Menorca’s agricultural

shouldn’t be forgotten nor erased by newness, and it’s often

pastures and Munich’s former state bank dating back to the

this history that serves as the draw for guests. There’s value in

early 1900s – all are now hotels and striking examples of

the decades of daily life that have taken place within the walls

making use of existing building stock.

and it’s important to keep these stories alive. Architects and

It’s no secret that newbuilds are tough right now owing to the cost and capacity of construction, but conversions come

designers who can honour the past to build the future might just find themselves indispensable.

with their own challenges, not least the strict regulations around heritage buildings. Despite this, a new hotel within old bones is quite the coup, so competition amongst owners to get their hands on a trophy asset is fierce. So too for architects and interior designers, who play an important part in shaping

Catherine Martin • Managing Editor

021

The Workshop / APD collection | Fabric by Perennials | sutherlandfurniture.com

GUEST BOOK

210

088

© Rich Polk

080

102

210 Paris Hilton

088 Marcel Wanders

080 Dr George P. Spanos

102 Grant Maunder

As the great-granddaughter of the legendary Conrad Hilton, Paris Hilton is no stranger to the world of hotels. So, when the opportunity came to design a penthouse at The Beverly Hilton in California – where childhood was spent celebrating special family moments – she had one goal: “for my fans to sliv – and stay – like an infinite icon”. With this in mind, the pop culture princess has created a oneof-a-kind immersive experience that captures her personal passions and signature style, perfectly packaged in pink.

With a career spanning 30 years, Marcel Wanders has developed a distinct design language that has been applied to everything from faucets and furniture to fashion accessories and cosmetics. The Dutch designer has also turned his hand to interiors, creating bold and surreal schemes for brands including Andaz and Mondrian.

For his latest venture – the newly opened Kimpton Bem Budapest – Wanders has combined his signature style with motifs of Hungarian folklore for a whimsical sense of fantasy.

Leaving the medical world behind, Dr George P. Spanos became CEO of Domes Resorts in 2008, and has since built a multi-brand portfolio of hotels across Greece. Following the 2023 launch of Makris – its first standalone fine-dining restaurant – the group has now ventured along the coast to open 91 Athens Riviera, a notable differentiator in this increasingly popular market.

In keeping with Spanos’ vision to push boundaries, the resort takes the form of a luxury camp, with 28 cabanas that cater to the cosmopolitan explorer.

A financial planner by vocation, Grant Maunder took an unlikely step into hospitality in 2011, reinventing a three-star hotel in the Swiss village of Adelboden.

Now, the self-confessed accidental hotelier is back for a new venture, this time teaming up with Amsterdam-based design studio Nicemakers to transform a century-old chalet into The Brecon.

A member of The Aficionados, the 18-room retreat eschews the clichés of traditional ski lodges, instead opting for homely interiors with Mid-Century moments.

023

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FRONT DESK EDITORIAL

COMMERCIAL

EVENTS

DESIGN

Editor-in-Chief Matt Turner m.turner@mondiale.co.uk

Business Development Rob Hart r.hart@mondiale.co.uk

Commercial Lead Kirsty Studholme k.studholme@mondiale.co.uk

Design Manager David Bell

Managing Editor Catherine Martin c.martin@mondiale.co.uk

Business Development Charlotte Gowing c.gowing@mondiale.co.uk

Event Manager Kayley Johnson k.johnson@mondiale.co.uk

Assistant Editor Eleanor Howard e.howard@mondiale.co.uk

Account Manager Holly Huish h.huish@mondiale.co.uk

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CHECK-IN

Erla Dögg Ingjaldsdóttir and Tryggvi Thorsteinsson The founders of Minarc take a fantasy break to a cliffside retreat off the coast of Iceland, where nature and design coexist in perfect harmony.

Where are you?

Who are you sharing your room with?

Who are you dining with this evening?

We find ourselves on a secluded, rugged island

It’s just the two of us. Our shared vision and

Barack Obama, architects Richard Neutra and

off the coast of Iceland – an untouched paradise

design passion mean that every moment in

Frank Gehry, the President of Iceland Halla

where the natural world reigns supreme. Our

this fantastical space is an extension of our

Tómasdóttir and British rock musician Ian

fantasy hotel is perched on a dramatic cliff, the

collaborative spirit.

Anderson with The Grand Budapest Hotel’s Gustave as his personal assistant.

roaring Atlantic Ocean below. This is where the wild meets the serene.

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

Who’s manning the stoves?

How did you get there?

Beluga caviar, ice-cold vodka and a bottle of

Our good friend, Josiah Citrin. Alongside him is

In true Viking style, we arrived via a fishing

Petrus red wine – a trio of indulgences to set the

Hans Röckenwagner, ensuring every dish is a

boat, transformed into a floating restaurant. Our

tone for an unforgettable experience.

perfect fusion of flavour and flair.

on the freshest ‘Viking sushi’ straight from the

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

And what’s on the menu?

ocean, accompanied by pink champagne. It’s

Suspended off the edge of the cliff, our room is

It’s a journey through the senses starting with

not just a trip; it’s a culinary adventure.

a daring feat of design, with furniture hanging

an amuse bouche of ocean delicacies, followed

from the ceiling and walls – gravity-defying and

by a main course that’s as inventive as it is

Who is there to greet you on arrival?

utterly unique. The view? Endless ocean waves

delicious. Dessert is a decadent affair, completed

Alfred Pennyworth from the Batman trilogy. As

crashing against the rocks below, a sight both

with post-prandial luxuries to linger over.

he opens the door and ushers us in, we quickly

powerful and humbling. This is a space where

realise he’s not just a butler but a man of deep

nature and design coexist in perfect harmony.

journey was as epic as our destination – feasting

and understood much more than he lets on.

Would you like something to drink with that?

We start with a Vesper, a cocktail that’s as

intelligence and care, someone who has seen Who designed it?

stylish as it is strong, and pair each course with

Our dream team comprises legendary architects

a handpicked wine.

And who’s at the concierge desk?

Richard Neutra, Kengo Kuma and Santiago

Actress Kristen Wiig greets us like an old friend,

Calatrava; each bring their unique touch to

What’s in the mini-bar for a nightcap?

her easygoing nature and quick humour making

create a hotel that is at once modern, minimalist

A classic gin and tonic, made with Ferdinand

the setting feel almost normal – as if we’ve both

and sculptural.

Saar Dry Gin and Fentimans Connoisseurs tonic

just stumbled into this strange imaginary world.

water, for a refreshing end to the night.

What’s the restaurant and bar like?

NOTABLE HOTEL PROJECTS Ion Adventure Hotel, Nesjavellir; Ion City Hotel, Reykjavík www.minarc.com

The restaurant is a warm and modern space, with

What toiletries would you like to freshen up?

an ambiance that’s as soothing as it is rhythmic,

Water sourced from Iceland’s Dynjandi waterfall

much like our favourite band, Khruangbin.

and ice cubes from Vatnajökull glacier – pure,

Prohibition-era cocktails, with our signature

invigorating and distinctly Icelandic.

drink Last Word, are the star of the show. The bar is suspended from the ceiling, making it a

Early morning alarm call or late check-out?

playful, gravity-defying centrepiece.

Late check-out. Mornings should be savoured.

027

DRAWING BOARD

DRAWING BOARD

Burj Azizi DUBAI

UAE-based real estate firm Azizi Developments has unveiled plans for Burj Azizi, a mixed-use development on Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road.

Slated for completion in 2028, the project encompasses an all-suite seven-star hotel inspired by seven cultural themes, luxury residences, a ballroom, beach club and vertical shopping mall.

Designed by multi-disciplinary firm AE7, the 131-storey skyscraper will stand at 725m, making it the second tallest tower in the world. Further recordbreaking elements include the highest nightclub and observation deck in the world, and the highest restaurant and hotel room in Dubai. Alongside numerous F&B venues, the development will offer a range of amenities including wellness centres, swimming pools and gyms as well as cinemas, mini markets and lounges.

“Our investment in Burj Azizi, surpassing AED 6 billion, represents more than just the creation of an iconic structure – it is a commitment to transforming Sheikh Zayed Road and elevating Dubai’s skyline to new, unparalleled heights,” comments Mirwais Azizi, Chairman and founder of Azizi Developments. “The seven-star hotel, crowned by the world’s highest lobby, will embody Dubai’s spirit, celebrating the world’s seven major cultures through its intricate interior design.”

Azizi concludes: “My vision for Burj Azizi is to create a lasting legacy, a tribute to Dubai as a destination of choice for both residents and visitors and a monumental achievement in engineering, setting new benchmarks for quality, luxury and innovation.”

DRAWING BOARD

DRAWING BOARD

Tripolers Oasis

Holloway Li has been appointed to lead the

building techniques, while furniture celebrates

interior design at Tripolers Oasis, a boutique

local craftsmanship.

DUNHUANG

spa-hotel scheduled to open in 2026.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner / Developer: Tripolers Operator: Tripolers Hotel Management Architecture: GAD Interior Design: Holloway Li Landscaping: Z’scape www.hollowayli.com

030

For the colour palette, Holloway Li took

Situated in a working vineyard at the edge

inspiration from the nearby Mogao Cave, where

of the renowned Singing Sand Dunes in

monks, merchants and travellers sought shelter

Dunhuang, China, the resort will feature 15

for centuries. As such, it incorporates earthy

private villas dotted across the site, strategically

primary pigments found in the cave murals

positioned to maximise privacy and offer views

– Tubai (clary white), Shashi (sandy yellow)

of the picturesque surroundings. Further

and Zhusha (earthy red) – reinforcing a deep

accommodation comes in the form of two-

connection between the guest experience and

storey suites complete with roof terraces.

the region’s cultural legacy.

Public areas include a lobby, restaurant, bar

The resort is being developed by Tripolers,

and lounge, boutique shop and spa facilities,

a China-based travel services group helmed

all connected via sandy courtyards that lead to

by Chairman Wenhai Ma. “We were stunned

an outdoor pool and fire pit.

by the incredible site for Tripolers Oasis and

In developing the interiors, Holloway Li

the opportunity to create a truly world-class

looked to the Japanese art of wabi-sabi,

offering,” says Na Li, Managing Director of

developing a scheme that embraces simplicity

Holloway Li. “Ma’s vision aligned with ours,

and imperfection through the use of reclaimed

and we are excited to work alongside our long-

materials. Natural textures such as clay, teak

term local collaborators GAD and Z’scape to

and stone will be incorporated using local

bring this breathtaking scheme to life.”

HOSPITALITY

CUSTOM BAR PROJECT:

backlit Vetrite, mosaic counter, armchairs, tables and stools sicis.com

DRAWING BOARD

SWG3 Hotel

SWG3 and Stallan-Brand have secured planning

industry and innovation across communities

approval for a new mixed-use hotel in Glasgow’s

close to the riverside.

GLASGOW

Clydeside, marking significant investment in the redevelopment of the waterfront.

Built adjacent to SWG3 – an independent

able to develop a hotel product that is truly of its

cultural campus for the arts – the building will

place,” comments hotelier Bruce Robertson,who

incorporate 142 guestrooms along with two

is helping lead the development. “Our plan is

restaurants, two bars, co-working spaces, a

to resolve a space that responds to its unique

gym, movement studio and a rooftop terrace.

location, whilst resonating with the local

Catering to the city’s creative community, it will

community and delivering a range of benefits.”

also offer a range of studio spaces for rent.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Developer: SWG3, Hotelier: Bruce Robertson Architecture: Stallan-Brand www.swg3.tv

032

“In a hotel landscape dominated by international brands, it is a rare privilege to be

Paul Stallan, Creative Director of Stallan-

The development – which is expected to

Brand, adds: “Whilst the SWG3 Hotel is

create more than 100 jobs – represents SWG3’s

strategically situated to support the immediate

continued commitment to transforming

regeneration initiative, it will also contribute

its home, an industrial backland that once

to the ongoing success of Glasgow’s ‘Hydro

supported a shipbuilding economy; it now

Effect,’ which has seen the city become a global

serves as a vibrant hub for design festivals, art

magnet for major music and conference events.

fairs, workshops, exhibitions and gigs.

As a hotel for music lovers, the SWG3 team are

The hotel component represents the next

excited to expand their programme with a new

phase of the Glasgow Riverside Innovation

leisure offer that will ensure they remain more

District initiative, which is aimed at promoting

visible, vital and circular.”

DRAWING BOARD

The Alba

Dubai developer Omniyat has revealed

ponds, as well as shaded pathways that wind

renderings of its new landmark, a US$1.9 billion

down to the waterfront.

DUBAI

mixed-use project comprising a hotel and

“This project offers a harmonious blend of

residences managed by Dorchester Collection.

nature and cutting-edge design,” says Mahdi

Slated to open in 2028, The Alba is located

Amjad, founder and Executive Chairman of

on Palm Jumeirah and has been designed by

Omniyat. “Dubai derives so much of its charm

Zaha Hadid Architects with interiors by Gilles

and lifestyle from its seaside location, and The

& Boissier. At the heart of the vision is a

Alba – featuring Omniyat’s signature focus on

focus on ‘well-living’ – ensuring longevity,

crafting privacy-centric residences – enhances

sustainability and a deep connection to nature.

this unique connection with the water by

Along

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Developer: Omniyat Operator: Dorchester Collection Architecture: Zaha Hadid Architects Interior Design: Gilles & Boissier Landscaping: Vladimir Djurovic www.dorchestercollection.com

034

with

the

elegantly-appointed

offering a personalised waterfront experience.

guestrooms, resort amenities include a range

Omniyat will continue to collaborate with some

of culinary experiences, a branded spa and

of the world’s most visionary minds to surpass

multiple swimming pools.

the traditional definition of well-living.”

The landscaping, envisioned by Vladimir

Christopher Cowdray, President of Dorchester

Djurovic, creates harmony between the

Collection, adds: “Guests and residents will

architecture and the natural world, with the

enjoy exclusivity in Dorchester Collection’s first

curved buildings appearing to emerge from the

garden retreat by the sea, with its expansive

tropical forest. Describing itself as a ‘garden

private terraces and immersive wellness

retreat by the sea’, the grounds will feature

offerings, cultivating a sophisticated oasis for

extensive planting, cascading waterfalls and lily

reawakening, reconnection and renewal.”

Muyu. collection

designed by Stephane De Winter

@manutti_official

manutti.com

Manutti_Sleeper_236x275.indd 1

outdoor luxury

25/03/2024 10:09:13

DRAWING BOARD

Room2 MANCHESTER

Lamington Group has received planning permission from Manchester City Council to build the UK’s first net zero tower, which will open as Room2 Manchester.

Set to open in 2027, the 251-key aparthotel will comprise a combination of one- and twobed guestrooms and studios, alongside a diverse range of publicly accessible, community-facing amenities including a café, exhibition hall and 130-cover rooftop restaurant, bar and terrace.

Envisioned by Manchester-based architecture firm Bennetts Associates, the project seeks to reimagine and repurpose the Grade-II listed Union Bank building, sensitively integrating it with a 34-storey newbuild. The townscape approach involves the massing of the lower four storeys to create an open street-level block containing the hotel’s main entrance, whilst forming a unified base that connects to the historic landmark in a way that addresses the scale of the surrounding structures.

“This is an ambitious scheme, which reimagines a vital part of the city and will transform Manchester’s skyline with the addition of a new landmark,” comments Simon Erridge, Director of Bennetts Associates. “The project will revitalise a currently vacant and unloved site replacing it with an active and accessible building, and the listed Union Bank’s key spaces will be restored and re-opened to visitors and guests alike.”

036

© Virtual Planit

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner / Operator: Lamington Group Developer: Lamington Group, North Star Architecture: Bennetts Associates www.room2.com

G L A S S Q U I LT b y C h e l s o m V I S I T U S AT H I X L O N D O N - 2 7 t h - 2 8 t h N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 4 CHELSOM.CO.UK

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17/10/2024 13:10:10

DRAWING BOARD

Uga Halloowella

Following ventures in Anuradhapura, Yala and

honour the bungalow’s original owners, Elton

Negombo, Sri Lankan hotel group Uga Escapes is

and Violet Lane, and feature a large living room,

SRI LANKA

set to open its sixth property, Uga Halloowella,

four-poster bed and wood-burning fireplace, as

in January 2025.

well as ornate clawfoot bathtubs positioned to

Located in the town of Hatton in the Nuwara

take in the surrounding landscape. The Pekoe

Eliya district of Central Province, the boutique

Suites are named after the trail that winds its

resort perches on a hilltop surrounded by historic

way around the property, and The Planter’s

tea trails. Overlooking Castlereagh Reservoir, it

Suites are a nod to the talented plantation

occupies a colonial-era bungalow on a sprawling

workers. The signature restaurant meanwhile

252-acre estate that was previously owned by

will explore Sri Lankan culinary traditions using

Major Elton Lane, a World War I fighter pilot for

fresh produce sourced from the highlands.

the British Royal Air Force.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Operator: Uga Escapes Architecture: Channa Daswatte www.ugaescapes.com

038

“We are thrilled to announce the latest

Steeped in history, the property has

addition to our stunning portfolio of boutique

been sensitively restored by Uga Escapes

Sri Lankan hotels,” says Priyanjith Weerasooria,

in collaboration with renowned Sri Lankan

owner and Managing Director of Uga Escapes.

architect Channa Daswatte. It comprise six

“One of our most ambitious projects to date,

suites, indoor and outdoor dining experiences

Halloowella is the epitome of old-world charm

and a large infinity pool, with expansive lawns

and sophistication and, paired with the warmth

and lush landscaping.

of Uga hospitality, will offer the ultimate base

Inside, three categories of accommodation pay homage to the site’s past. The Lane Suites

from which to explore our country’s famed central tea trails region.”

PAT I O B Y Z A N E L L AT O / B O R T O T T O

PH BERNARD TOUILLON

ETHIMO.COM

SHOWROOM

L O N D O N , 3 5 -3 9 O L D S T R E E T – E C 1V 9 H X

M I L A N / PA R I S / R O M E / C A N N E S

Meeting…

Sharan Pasricha As Ennismore looks ahead to its next phase of growth, the group’s founder and co-CEO shares how he turned a small indie hotel brand into the world’s fastest-growing lifestyle hospitality company.

Words: Guy Dittrich • Portrait Photography: © Alex Ingram

T

he first time I met Sharan Pasricha, he was

of delivering scale, network growth and distribution is

clearing tables at the newly-opened Hoxton in

leveraged alongside Ennismore’s know-how in building

Paris. Efficiently and cheerfully done. It should

brands. Successfully navigating this journey sees Pasricha

have been the waiter. It could have been the

as recipient of the Outstanding Contribution accolade at the

General Manager. But it was actually the owner.

forthcoming AHEAD Europe 2024.

The founder of Ennismore. The name comes

Key to his success has been an entrepreneurial drive that

from Ennismore Gardens, a street in London’s fashionable

began at an early age. To fund a comic habit, Pasricha would

South Kensington, where Pasricha was living around the

sell the sandwiches his mother made for school lunches,

time the business was established.

demonstrating business savvy beyond his years when he

When Ennismore was founded in 2011, it was an owner-

inflated prices owing to popular demand – that was until a

operator set-up. A decade on, with a healthy portfolio of

classmate let slip at a parents’ evening and the racket came

Hoxton hotels, the group entered into a joint venture with

tumbling down.

Accor to create what it described as ‘the world’s largest and fastest-growing lifestyle hospitality company’.

Pasricha admits to having a curious mind. He has long been interested in how things work and not necessarily in

Ennismore aims to curate and manage unique properties

how to make money. His education included attendance at

around the world, driving creativity and innovation to produce

The Doon School, a boys-only boarding school in India, later

experiences that deeply resonate with guests. To do so, the

followed by studying for an MBA at London Business School.

business comprises four in-house studios: Partnerships &

“I have always enjoyed having a wide knowledge base,”

Collaborations, focusing on revenue generation and brand

he comments, comparing himself to those who are into the

activation; Digital & Tech, overseeing digital product and

minutiae. “There’s always someone who is smarter at that

technology innovation; Carte Blanched, which develops new

one thing; my job is to find that person and give them a role

food and beverage concepts; and AIME, the interiors and

so they can excel. I spend a lot of my time finding experts

graphics studio responsible for the authentic storytelling that

in their field – those who are brave enough to challenge, to

is at the heart of every hotel.

think disruptively and be curious. You are only as good as

The growth and success of The Hoxton brand ultimately

those you surround yourself with.”

led to the Accor collaboration. By whatever metric, Accor is

So why did this curious mind choose hospitality? “Real

one of the world’s largest hotel groups and its knowledge

estate was the initial attraction. I’ve always loved architecture

041

MEETING…

MEETING…

Ennismore properties include Gleneagles (top) and the one that started it all, The Hoxton Shoreditch (bottom)

and design, as well as place-making and the development of neighbourhoods. And equally I’ve always been an operator.” Pasricha goes on to explain the need to understand supply and demand drivers, profit margins, food costs, waste and the environment; the business rationale pours out.

Yet he clearly has a strong creative mind too, as he talks of the guest experience and attention to detail. “Hotels exist at this beautiful

“Hotels exist at this beautiful intersection between real estate, creativity and operations.

I enjoy sitting in the middle of it all.”

brands include those developed or acquired

by Accor, such as Jo&Joe, SO/, 25hours Hotels, Mama Shelter, 21c Museum Hotel, SLS, Hyde, Mondrian, Morgans Originals, Delano and more. The global design team is headed up by Mark Eacott and Charlie North, who oversee the interiors for different brands.

Super attentive and nodding frequently, Pasricha acknowledges that it is complicated to build a brand-led organisation. “If you

intersection between real estate, creativity and

did everything regionally, as most traditional

operations. I enjoy sitting in the middle of it

companies are organised, then you miss a

all,” he explains graciously. “I love making

trick from a brand and design perspective. I

people feel good, showing them that during

believe the way our organisation is set up is

their meal or stay, they are creating memories.

right for us,” he states confidently. And the

There’s something special about being present

result has been year-on-year annual growth.

in these physical experiences we create; that’s

“In an entrepreneurial business, you have to

why I get up every day.”

zig-zag your way through problems, concerns and thoughts, especially when you’re growing

In the first decade of building The Hoxton

as fast as we are.”

brand, the focus was very much on real estate, with the adaptive reuse of car parks and office

Brands are sacrosanct to Pasricha, who is

buildings to what is now a dozen or so hotels. It

fond of saying “we are in the brand business,

was at this stage Pasricha began to understand

not the product business”. He leaves that to his

how local the real estate business is. “To

competitors. “Every one of our 17 brands has

deliver outstanding returns and performance,

a mission. My job is to ensure that each has a reason for being.”

developers really need to know their microstory when it came to lifestyle, making strategic

Many are labelled ‘founder brands’, for

At the same time, he had created a strong

investments alongside Sébastien Bazin,”

which Pasricha states: “When we set up this

brand resulting in other owners and developers

Pasricha continues. “We realised that there

partnership, I was adamant that we would

asking him to operate their hotels. “I had never

was a unique opportunity to combine forces

keep the spirit of these founders alive.” Good

considered this when we first set up in business.

and create something that the industry hadn’t

examples are Serge Trigano of Mama Shelter,

It was always about building a sustainable

seen before.”

and Christoph Hoffmann of 25hours Hotels.

neighbourhood,” he realised.

platform,” he narrates. Having studied various

And so the wheels were set in motion. “On

Hoffmann is currently working on a deal in

independent hotel groups, he realised that

meeting with Bazin and Bhushan, we knew that

Saudi Arabia for the brand and is still as engaged

they mostly tapped out at 8-12 hotels. “I had

the only way for lifestyle brands to flourish

as ever in his capacity as founder, some eight

ambitions to be disruptive on a global scale and

was to have a brand-led organisation. This is

years after the acquisition.

started to gain an understanding of the asset-

how we have set up Ennismore. Our company

As one himself, the spirit of being a founder

light business,” he continues. “Having made

is organised by brand and the expertise is

is strong within Pasricha. And in the legacy

the decision to build an asset-light platform at

delivered locally,” he explains, adding that

Accor brands where the founder is no longer

a new scale, it was then that I met with Accor.”

every executive-level leader has a dual role.

involved, Pasricha steps up. Taking the case

And coincidently, it was with school friend

“They wear a global hat overseeing the brand

of Delano, how does this work? Does he just

Gaurav Bhushan, an Accor lifer who began

across all regions, and they have a local hat,

‘magic’ himself into Ian Schrager’s shoes? “It’s

his hospitality career as a waiter in Australia.

because so much of what we do is localised.”

no different to what we did at Gleneagles,”

“Gaurav had been front and centre of the Accor

Additional to The Hoxton, Ennismore’s

he confides. Founded in 1924, Gleneagles is

043

MEETING…

“We have the privilege of being custodians of a lot of brands, reinvigorating some that are decades old.”

Amongst Ennismore’s 120-strong hotel pipeline, Mondrian will make its Australian debut in 2025 with a beachfront hotel and branded residences

044

a heritage property in Scotland, acquired by

written, with a current pipeline of over 120

Pasricha in 2015. It is a partner brand, whereby

hotels – Mama Shelters in Casablanca, Cape

it is operated by Ennismore, but the ownership

Town and Singapore; Hyde in Johannesburg,

sits outside of the group. Similarly with Estelle

Perth and Queenstown; Mondrian in Gold Coast

Manor, a luxury hotel and country club in

and Bucharest; 25hours in Trieste and Jakarta.

Oxfordshire. “I’m not the founder of Gleneagles,

The list goes on. Pasricha also sees opportunity

but I have played a part in repositioning it to

in the fast-growing branded-residential space, a

what it is today.”

sector for which Ennismore has just announced

He refers to the history and integrity of both

the SLS in Madrid plus Rixos and Hyde in Dubai.

Gleneagles and Delano, with 100 and 30 years

Pasricha is undoubtedly a smart and decisive

respectively. “When you have a brand weighted

man. He is also approachable and down to earth.

in history, it’s easier to tell a story than when

Open, honest and inclusive – an enthusiastic

starting from scratch,” he continues, referring

leader. And with a humble realisation of his

to the impact Delano had on lifestyle hotels

success. Good timing and coincidence has

globally, the collaboration with Philippe Starck

played a part, but more so has entrepreneurial

and its influence on modern day lifestyle hotels.

drive and a passion for place-making. What he

Are these hotels like children? “I don’t think

has so successfully achieved with The Hoxton

so. You love your children equally and I’m

is being replicated through the Accor joint

wedded to Ennismore,” he says, keeping the

venture. “What makes us unique is being an

family analogy going. “We have the privilege of

autonomous business powered by Europe’s

being custodian of a lot of brands, reinvigorating

largest hotel company,” he concludes. “It

some that are decades old.”

allows us to do things incredibly disruptively

And there are many chapters still to be

and move its scale.”

MADE TO TOUCH. DESIGNED TO CONTROL. LS 990 IN MATT GRAPHITE BLACK. You are welcome to visit us at: JUNG UK Showroom · 6 / 7 Albemarle Way · Clerkenwell · London Visit by prior arrangement: jung.group/london JUNG.GROUP/MATT

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25.09.24 08:51

MEETING…

25 Years Of LW Design Upon celebrating a milestone anniversary, the founder and CEO of LW Design discusses the past, present and future of hospitality design.

A

quarter of a century after LW Design’s inception

see individuals like Rachel Kidd, Pooja Shah-Mulani

in Dubai, the studio’s founder and CEO Jesper

and Andrew Harms take on key roles. They bring their

Godsk reveals more about the journey so far.

unique perspectives and talents to the table, but are also

ON THE INITIAL VISION When we started LW Design back in 1999, Lars Waldenström, Morten Hansen and I saw a clear gap

committed to preserving the essence of LW’s design approach. This evolution ensures we remain true to our roots, whilst staying relevant and forward-thinking.

in Dubai’s interior design market. At the time, the

ON MILESTONE HOTEL PROJECTS

landscape was dominated by a sense of over-the-top

After successfully completing over 500 projects

KEY HOTEL PROJECTS

opulence. While this suited certain tastes, we believed

globally, it’s nearly impossible to choose a single one

The Dubai Edition (2022)

there was room for something different – something that

that I am most proud of. However, if I had to highlight

reflected the simplicity, functionality and understated

two that particularly stand out, they would be Buddha

elegance of minimalist Scandinavian design. Our vision

Bar Dubai and The Dubai Edition; both projects

was to introduce this philosophy to the region, and in

transformed our perspective on our capabilities and

doing so, offer a fresh perspective that emphasised

altered our understanding of what we can achieve. This

clean lines, natural materials and timeless aesthetics.

transformation was pivotal, shifting our mindset and

That vision was pivotal to establishing LW Design as a

inspiring us to push boundaries in design.

Bab Al Shams, Dubai (2023) SIRO One Za’abeel, Dubai (2024) Grosvenor House, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Dubai

firm that could deliver high-end projects that resonated with authenticity and purpose.

ON ITS EVOLUTION

Buddha Bar Dubai was a groundbreaking endeavour, where the owner envisioned a magical oriental experience that drew inspiration from his explorations of the East, including a journey through Tibet. This marked our

Our approach has evolved over the years, driven by both

first large-scale F&B project, which exemplifies our

our expansion and the changing needs of our clients.

philosophy that design transcends aesthetics; it is about

What started as a team of three in a small office has

creating a holistic experience for guests. Every element,

grown into a global firm with over 125 team members

from intricate décor to curated furnishings, immerses

and offices in Hong Kong, São Paulo and Aarhus. With

visitors in a captivating atmosphere.

this growth, our design philosophy has had to adapt

On the other hand, The Dubai Edition represents

to different markets and cultures, but our core DNA

a bold statement in understated luxury. This project

remains unchanged – collaboration, honesty and an

seamlessly integrates both architecture and interior

unwavering commitment to quality.

design by LW, while introducing a new dimension of

One major evolution has been the transition to the

elegance to the city. By embracing the principle of

next generation of leadership within the company. Over

‘less is more’, we created spaces that meet the high

the last eight years, it’s been incredibly rewarding to

expectations associated with the Edition brand.

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MEETING…

© Natelee Cocks

ON CHANGES IN HOSPITALITY DESIGN The hospitality design landscape has evolved significantly since we first started. One of the biggest changes I’ve noticed is the shift in focus from purely aesthetic luxury to creating spaces that feel personal and authentic. Today’s travellers are looking for more than just beautiful interiors – they want to connect with the space and the story behind it. There’s been a real move towards designing spaces that offer a sense of place, where guests can feel immersed in the local culture © Natelee Cocks

and environment, and this is something we always strive to achieve in our projects.

Functionality and operational excellence have also become a bigger priority in hospitality design. It’s no longer enough for a space to look good – it has to work seamlessly from an operational perspective. Whether it’s a hotel or an F&B venue, owners and operators expect designs that enhance the guest experience while optimising flow and efficiency. We’ve adapted to these demands by ensuring that our designs are not only visually striking but also practical and tailored to the specific needs of the client.

ON NEW OPENINGS We have several exciting hotel projects in the pipeline, each designed to offer distinctive and memorable experiences for our guests across the globe. For example, following the launch of our first fitness and recovery hotel SIRO One Za’abeel, we © Natelee Cocks

Recent projects for the studio include (top to bottom) The Dubai Edition; SIRO One Za’abeel, Dubai; Bab Al Shams, Dubai

048

are designing wellness-focused Verdala Hotel in Malta. We’re also working on Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur, W Hotel Riyadh and Four Seasons Neom. In addition to these flagship developments, we have a diverse portfolio of both boutique and large-scale hotels, as well as F&B outlets, planned for a variety of locations around the world including Croatia, Kenya, Turkey, Canada, Macau, Philippines and Saudi Arabia.

Over the last few years, we have also made a concerted effort

SPA DESIGN

www.barrandwray.com/spas

MEETING…

“We believed there was room for something different – something that reflected the simplicity, functionality and understated elegance of minimalist Scandinavian design.”

Forthcoming projects include the interiors for Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur

to diversify our portfolio by exploring new market segments.

insights as to what the future might hold. Over the past 75

As part of this strategy, we are expanding into the resort and

years, the industry has been transformed by technology,

lodge sectors, tapping into the growing demand for nature-

increased global travel and changing customer expectations.

based and experiential travel.

However, rather than focusing solely on technological

ON THE NEXT 25 YEARS While I’m immensely proud of everything we’ve achieved

it’s important to highlight a critical constant: the human connection and people-centric approach.

so far, I believe we have now reached our ‘perfect model’

At the core of hospitality is the desire for escapism –

on a global scale. What my partners and I see over the next

an innate human need to break free from everyday life.

25 years isn’t necessarily an expansion in size, but rather a

Traditionally, hotels and resorts have provided this in the form

deepening in strength – strength in our presence, our identity

of unique services, luxury and comfort – a getaway that feels

and the impact of our work. Our goal is global recognition,

like a ‘home away from home’, yet is enhanced by offerings

not measured by the number of projects or offices, but by the

beyond what is available in daily life. No matter how far into

uniqueness and diversity of our portfolio and the way our work

the future we look, this fundamental human desire is likely to

resonates across regions and sectors in new, meaningful ways.

persist, though it may evolve in extraordinary ways.

In today’s market, we believe that the size of a project

Today, there are still parts of the world that remain

doesn’t define its value. Instead, what matters most is aligning

unexplored or inaccessible to the average traveller, but in the

the right project with the right team, and executing it in a way

future, much of the earth may be fully explored, commodified

that’s authentic to our creative vision. That, in my opinion, is

and accessible. As a result, future guests may seek experiences

the true marker of success. This approach often pushes us out

that push the boundaries of what is physically and mentally

of our comfort zone, but that’s where the magic happens. It’s

possible, such as space tourism, undersea hotels or deep

in these moments that small ideas turn into bold ambitions,

underground retreats. In this sense, escapism in the future

and our passion for creativity is unexpectedly reignited. These

might be more immersive and multi-dimensional, involving

challenges help us to continue growing – not in number, but

not only new physical destinations but also mental and

in depth, relevance and creative excellence. We want to be

emotional experiences facilitated by advances in neuroscience

known for pushing boundaries, embracing new challenges and

or virtual reality, allowing individuals to craft deeply

delivering work that leaves a lasting impression.

personalised retreats that cater to their psychological needs,

ON HOSPITALITY IN 2100

050

advancements like AI, automation or virtual experiences,

as well as their physical desires. The challenge for future hospitality providers will be how to balance the advancement

It’s difficult to predict with certainty how hospitality will

of technology with the enduring demand for authentic,

evolve, but by examining the past, we can uncover valuable

human-centric service.

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THE LOBBY

Beautiful Bunker Hotel developers are a visionary crowd, seeing the beauty in

and multiple F&B venues that play host to live bands and DJs,

everything from dilapidated warehouses to long-abandoned

as well as affordable accommodation for artists and an outpost

forts, bringing them back to life as memorable experiences for

of the famed Rock Shop, selling music-inspired merchandise.

travellers and locals alike. In Hamburg – where adaptive reuse

In addition to an exhibition space that enables visitors to

projects have played a key role in the growth of the city – real

explore the history of the building, the transformation also

estate developer EHP has created a new hotel within a very

considers the future, thanks to the development of a new

different type of building – a historic bunker.

public roof garden. Reached via a 560m-long ‘mountain path’

Constructed in 1942 on the orders of Adolf Hitler, the

that scales the perimeter of the bunker, the rooftop is a place to

Flakturm IV bunker served as a defence against aerial attacks

relax amongst the greenery whilst taking in 360-degree views

during the Second World War, and despite its turbulent past,

of the city. The project has been led by Phase 10 and Landscape

still stands as a memorial to the victims of the Nazi regime.

Architecture+, who worked with Hilldegarden to create the new

Now, the colossal concrete structure has been given a new

community space. With the help of environmental scientists,

lease of life, emerging as the 134-key Reverb by Hard Rock.

around 10,000m2 of green areas have been created, planted

Described as a vibrant hub for music fans to create and

with a total of 4,700 shrubs and 16,000 perennials – making

connect, the property is home to a 2,200-capacity music hall

it a flagship project for climate adaptation in large cities.

THE LOBBY

The Glorious Playground Marking a century of glamorous gatherings and lively sporting pursuits, Gleneagles has released a book chronicling its past and looking ahead to its next 100 years. Published in partnership with Rizzoli, Gleneagles: Stories from the Glorious Playground explores the Scottish hotel’s extensive history, from high times to wartime.

Written by James Collard with a foreword by HRH The Princess Royal, the celebratory volume features contributions from novellist Justine Picardie, and writer and broadcaster Tom English, as well as bespoke illustrations and archival photography of the hotel which, upon its opening in 1924, was dubbed the ‘Riviera of the Highlands’. “Gleneagles promised all the fun of a house party for those who might not have country houses of their own: a successful London or Glasgow entrepreneur, perhaps, or even a Hollywood power couple,” the tome reads. Its pages explore memorable moments from the past 100 years, ranging from a Christian Dior fashion show in the 1950s to hosting the G8 Summit in 2005, as well as insight into the hotel’s new vision under the custodianship of Sharan Pasricha and Eiesha Bharti Pasricha.

Eclectic Environments

054

Since its inception, Mama Shelter has been

the norm. A surprising combination of shapes,

synonymous with quirky interior design, be it

materials and colours. The challenge is to blend

through the incorporation of boldly patterned

eclecticism and coherence, just like at Mama.”

fabrics and graphics, or signature touches like a

The collection includes armchairs, stools

cartoon mask jauntily placed inside guestrooms.

and uniquely shaped lighting, as well as soft

Now, the brand is offering the chance for guests

furnishings such as cushions and rugs. “The

to recreate the Mama feel at home, teaming

stool has a neck elongated by rings and its ears

up with La Redoute Interieurs to produce a

are adorned with jewellery. The mirror resembles

limited edition furniture collection that blends

a sacred outfit for rituals in raffia. And the

its signature style with the French furnishing

armchair is like a child’s drawing, outlined with

company’s timeless craftsmanship.

giant piping,” El Doghaïli reveals. “The table is

The range, developed by Mama Shelter’s

like a workbench around which you can eat, play

Artistic Director Benjamin El Doghaïli in

and dream. The lamp is a friend from the East

partnership with La Redoute Interieurs, features

who discreetly lights us up.”

an array of pieces envisioned to add a touch of

Much like Mama Shelter hotels, each piece

eccentricity to any space. “I present to you a

brings a playful spirit to interiors. “The pièce de

collection that blends a true tribe of objects of all

résistance is the Emmanuelle chair,” the designer

sizes for the home,” says El Doghaïli. “Designed

concludes. “It is all about hearts, with a wax

in the same way I envision the Mama Shelters,

cushion featuring a pattern that recalls all the

it is eclectic, friendly and breaks away from

signature pieces of the collection.”

THE LOBBY

© Kalle Kouhia / Anttinen Oiva Architects

Built to Last A new coastal development in Helsinki puts natural materials front-and-centre.

The use of natural materials in architecture and

Company, the four-storey building is made

interior design is an increasingly prevalent way

from Finnish and Swedish timber, and combines

to maximise sustainability credentials, and a

pioneering architectural methods with more

new venture on Helsinki’s coastline is taking

traditional materials – resulting in a structure

this approach to the max. In line with the city’s

made to last for the next 100 years.

target of becoming carbon-neutral by 2030,

The property, which houses new design hotel

Katajanokan Laituri is a landmark building made

Solo Sokos Hotel Pier 4, as well as the head

entirely from solid wood.

office of forest industry firm Stora Enso – a

Designed by Anttinen Oiva Architects, the

supplier of the development’s solid wood load-

newbuild forms part of an ambitious shoreline

bearing elements – has been envisioned with

development, and cuts a unique figure in a

eco-friendly principles at its core. Solar panels

district otherwise known for its Art Nouveau

feature alongside nature-inspired touches such

architecture. “The aim of transforming the

as a multi-species green roof and a small birch

Katajanokka shoreline is to create a lively urban

tree forest growing in the hotel’s atrium. Inside,

space. With this project, we will be able to open

the wooden structure has been left visible where

the shoreline to the people of Helsinki,” says

possible, complemented by the use of authentic

Deputy Mayor Anni Sinnemäki. “A building made

raw materials. The 164-key hotel aims to be

of wood, that is durable and has as low a carbon

as sustainable in operation as in design, with

footprint as possible, meets the city’s goals.”

renewable sources of energy used and a goal of

Owned by Varma Mutual Pension Insurance

056

carbon neutrality.

©2024 Waterworks is a Registered Trademark of Waterworks IP Company, LLC

A C O N T E M P O R A R Y D E C L A R AT I O N

FINOT

Eriro EHRWALD A group of friends combine their skills to create an Austrian chalet-style retreat, accessible only by cable car through the Alps.

Words: Emma Love • Photography: © Alex Moling

I

n the Tyrolean Alps, a cable car transports guests from Ehrwald village, up Ehrwalder mountain to an elevation of 1,550m. The Zugspitze – the highest peak in Germany

– is in one direction; the forest-covered trail to Austria’s Seebensee Lake, in the other. This slope has long appealed to cross-country skiers, hikers and bikers but now it has another draw too; Eriro, a nine-bedroom hotel that sits on the footprint of an old inn. The owners are a group of friends: Martin and Christina Spielmann, who run Hotel Spielmann in Ehrwald; timber specialist Andreas Mader; and the project’s design visionaries, Dominik and Amelie Posch, who also own La Posch, a collection of chalets in nearby Biberwier.

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be able to buy this land,” explains Dominik, of the purchase in 2021. “We were lucky because a lot of investors were interested but the owner of the inn wanted to sell to locals.” It took two years for the necessary permits and plans to be approved, during which time Unikateur was tasked with developing a brand identity. “We began with an in-depth vision workshop, collaborating closely with the owner families to capture their core values and aspirations,” reveals Isabelle Spoor, founder of Unikateur. “From there, we developed a holistic brand and product concept, ensuring that each aspect – from architectural design to guest experience – reflected

058

059

A study in contrasts between hard and soft, the interiors feature local stone, wood, sheep’s wool and hessian

060

the hotel’s authentic alpine roots. Our strategy

colour scheme and to bring nature inside,”

ensured that every detail embodies the hotel’s

says Amelie, who was a driving force behind the

ethos of originality and the connection to its

interiors. There’s no check-in as such; instead,

natural surroundings.”

guests enter into the ground-floor living area,

Tyrolean-based architect-designer Martin

furnished with a long black oak table, modular

Gruber was also brought on board. “Martin

sofas by Living Divani, Little Petra chairs from

wanted to create something different, not

&Tradition, and cosy off-white bouclé sheep

what you see everywhere, and that’s what we

wool rugs warming the stone underfoot. Much

wanted too,” confirms Dominik. “We chose

of the wood throughout – such as the hessian-

the same archaic materials that were used by

backed lattice panels – is spruce, and comes

past generations for mountain huts,” continues

from the owners’ forest nearby. “There are over

Gruber, of the spruce chalet-style structure,

4,800 single splint lengths in the panels, each

whose appearance will weather over time.

handmade and cut with a knife to give a rough

“When you’re building in the mountains you

shape,” reveals Amelie. “You can’t buy them

have to respect the rules: Adolf Loos, a 20th-

like this, they are a one-off.”

century Austrian architect wrote a paper that

The open-plan space unfolds into the

talked about having a roof with a deep overhang

restaurant beyond, where a patchwork of bouclé

so people can shelter from the falling snow, and

sheep’s wool squares covers the back wall and

that’s something that we’ve incorporated here.”

a row of spruce dining tables with curved-

Inside, the palette is deliberately simple:

back seats are strategically positioned to face

local stone, wood, sheep’s wool and hessian.

the sunset. Just as the design ethos is hyper-

“The main things we wanted to achieve were

local, so too is the food by German chef David

a contrast between soft and hard, a gentle

Franken, who runs the zero-waste kitchen.

061

There is no menu: one evening, guests might sit down to a family-style supper, another a sixcourse degustation feast – think starters such as a salad made from the last tomatoes of the season served with meadowsweet vinaigrette, and desserts like pine sorbet. “My food is so simple: it’s all about the products and the people behind them,” explains Franken, who is passionate about the importance of producer relationships, as well as pickling, foraging and cooking over flames. Future plans include a second restaurant, offering a small, traditional lunch menu for non-guests.

In the rooms – which range from the 40m2 Tree suites each with a private balcony furnished by Ethimo, to the 213m2 penthouse – lime-brushed walls and ceilings made from reclaimed wood once used in cowsheds set the scene. All face the southwest valley – apart from Rock, which looks out onto the Zugspitze – and have the same huge windows and homespun details, from plank bed bases and sheep’s wool bedheads to tree-trunk bathtubs. “We used a

062

eriro Alpine Hide Austria

WE create UNIQUE HOSPITALITY CONCEPTS In a time that constantly strives for uniformity, the true art lies in living the unique identity that defines you. One-of-a-kind creations aren’t arbitrarily different; they are authentic. That’s where their strength lies.

www.unikateur.com info@unikateur.com

Augsburg | Hamburg | Bolzano

lot of glass because of the uniqueness of the

who prefer indoor workouts, as well as guided

panorama,” explains Gruber. “The light is an

cross-country running or skiing, and borrowing

element that changes constantly, giving the

the hotel’s e-bikes and mountain bikes.

space a dynamic appearance.”

spa, where dried bunches of St John’s Wort,

threaded throughout as custom-made bedside

nettles and heather hang from the walls by

lights, an installation in the stairwell and on a

the trio of pools, and treatments use oils made

novel string pulley system outside each room

from herbs with medicinal properties that can

door that lets housekeeping know if cleaning

be found nearby. There’s also a herbal sauna,

is needed. Equally original are the cocooning

sheep’s wool hammocks for a post-dip snooze

sheep wool walls in the corridors.

and a quirky hay-lined room where guests can

Each room also has a record player, boardgame and a booklet on identifying flora and fauna that

064

Equally rooted in nature is the sanctuary-like

Rocks collected by the owners’ children are

watch a looping reel of nature scenes while listening to music through headphones.

tie in with the hotel’s programme of analogue

“I wanted to create a sense of calm, whether

activities that take place in a creative workshop

through sound in the spa or organic forms in the

next to the yoga studio, such as woodworking

restaurant,” says Gruber. “Everything is very

and pottery; the latter is taught by local

tactile; Dominik and Amelie were interested in

ceramicist Stefanie Kappeler, who made some of

processes, not just results and I think people

the tableware for the restaurant. “Everyone has

can feel this.” Amelie concludes: “What was

such busy lives so we wanted to offer something

important was the handcrafted element so that

mindful,” says Amelie, citing meditative walks

the materials tell stories and guests see the work

and breathwork as other examples. More active

that’s gone into everything.” An underlying

options include Nohrd gym equipment for those

concept that is a huge success.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owners: Amelie and Dominik Posch, Christina and Martin Spielmann Architecture: Andreas Gruber Architekten Interior Design: Amelie and Dominik Posch, Andreas Gruber Architekten Brand Identity: Unikateur Lighting Design: Perschl Lichttechnik Landscaping: Karl Sailer, Amelie and Dominik Posch Main Contractor: Mader www.eriro.at

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Transforming Sophisticated Design Into Elegant Reality Chris Turner Procurement is proud to have delivered the FF&E and OS&E for the Hyde London City, seamlessly blending modern luxury with timeless aesthetics. Every piece, every detail, reflects our commitment to delivering spaces that stand the test of time.

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Photography by Heiko Prigge

Hyde LONDON CITY A bohemian lifestyle brand makes its UK debut, combining Victorian heritage with artistic splendour.

Words: Catherine Martin Photography: Courtesy of Ennismore

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nnismore has quite the knack for creating

landmark that stands out for its French Second

dynamic F&B venues within its hotels,

Empire style, characterised by mansard roofs,

so it comes as little surprise that on a

elaborate mouldings and decorative columns.

rainy Tuesday lunchtime, the modern Turkish

Designed by Edwyn Evans Cronk and completed

restaurant at Hyde London City is buzzing. Pair

in 1874, it was originally built as a hotel – the

that with Hyde’s history – beginning life as a

first in London with electric lighting – and

Sunset Strip lounge that has since become a Los

served as a flagship for Spiers & Pond. But

Angeles institution – and it makes for quite the

since 1900, the building has been used as

compelling offer.

offices, undergoing several refurbishments

The newly opened hotel was in fact in planning

over the years, at times heavy-handedly so. So

long before Ennismore’s involvement, with

when it came to the current conversion, there

application for conversion to hotel use dating

was nothing remaining in the way of heritage

back to 2013, before the project stalled. Revival

features, meaning Studio Moren had a little

came in the form of Alex Shamash, first-time

more than a structural shell to work with.

hotelier and co-founder of OB Capital, along

Taking the lead on architecture and space-

with the appointment of Studio Moren as lead

planning, Ed Murray, Associate at Studio Moren,

on both architecture and interiors. Their task

sought to get the most out of the building,

was to transform a Grade II-listed building into

charting a journey through the ground-floor

a luxury lifestyle hotel, working within strict

public areas and optimising the upper levels to

planning and heritage regulations to deliver a

reach the appropriate key count. “The floorplate

memorable guest experience.

was difficult in terms of space planning due to

The building itself, located at 15 Old Bailey

the structural columns,” explains Murray. “As

within the City of London bounds, is a majestic

a result, guestrooms are a mix of shapes and

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sizes; we introduced solutions such as open

discoveries and characterised by a Timorous

to Studio Moren’s design. There’s a beautifully

bathrooms, to make them feel more spacious.”

Beasties wallcovering behind the headboard.

crafted brass-trim desk and wraparound chair,

Studio Moren has also been savvy in planning

The first references Charles Darwin and his

as well as a matching bench seat that doubles

an extension to house additional guestrooms.

seminal studies such as industrial melanism

as a shoe rack. Bedside tables follow the arched

“There was a lightwell at the rear of the building

and the theory of evolution, told through a

form of the headboard and are compact in size,

that we were able to redevelop in a sympathetic

richly decorated wallpaper depicting a scene of

just big enough to hold the essentials. Despite

style,” reveals Murray. “Across the seven floors

tropical splendour. The second is an ode to the

the rich walnut finish, there’s a lightness

this results in an extra 21 keys, maximising

1816 invention of the kaleidoscope, and features

to the furniture that enhances the feeling of

returns for the client.”

Timorous Beasties’ Totem Damask, showing a

space; in most cases, the desk and bedside

For the interior design, the approach was to

kaleidoscopic synthesis of arabesques, splatters

tables are wall-hung, and the bed is a frame

honour the era in which the hotel was built,

and florals in inky blue. The Headliner Suites

rather than a divan, meaning luggage can be

reinstating features that might have been

meanwhile, take the approach to the max,

stored underneath. Bedside lighting is simple

found in the original. “We wanted to celebrate

covering every wall in a House of Hackney-

and intuitive too – an opal glass globe mounted

the Victorian age and subtly bring back design

designed wallpaper featuring leaves and palms

on brass from Chelsom, part of a wider scheme

details that were lost,” explains Tom Thorogood,

– a scheme inspired by Marianne North, a

devised by Elektra Lighting.

Co-Head of Interiors at Studio Moren. “We

Victorian biologist and botanical artist.

Further features of the design include

embraced the challenge of incorporating the

For all room types, the palette carries

bespoke carpets from Ulster, sanitaryware

building’s rich history with the contemporary

through to the en suite, where glazed tiling in

from Coalbrook and ironmongery by Häfele.

vibrancy of the Hyde lifestyle brand.”

coordinating shades lines the walls and floor;

All form part of a service provided by Chris

In the 111 guestrooms, this equates to a strong

here, Studio Moren worked closely with Reed

Turner Procurement. Founder Chris Turner,

and spirited aesthetic, rich in colour and texture

Harris to create bespoke tiles through the

together with Procurement Manager Francisco

with dark jewel tones and bold use of pattern.

manufacturer’s colour-match service. Furniture

Hernández Olaya, managed every aspect of the

The two schemes are inspired by Victorian-age

is also bespoke, made by Montrose Hospitality

FF&E and OS&E procurement process, from

Turkish restaurant Leydi features Arabic-style archways and rattan booths beneath bespoke lighting

by Chelsom

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budgeting and coordination to installation.

cubicle wallcovering, which, when viewed in a

“We worked closely with Studio Moren to help

certain way, reveals a face.

bring the vision to life,” comments Turner.

The details continue in the public spaces,

“We are very proud of being able to keep the

cleverly planned to make use of the three

design integrity; we like to take a collaborative

entrances – one for the hotel, and one for each

approach, so if there are elements that need to

of the F&B venues. Victorian-era architectural

be value engineered, we work together to find

detailing such as decorative cornicing, high

a solution. For us, it’s not about purchasing the

skirting boards and timber flooring have been

cheapest product, it’s about providing value.”

reintroduced, and design elements are used to

Across the guestrooms, there’s real quality

differentiate between spaces. Via the main hotel

in the finishes too; a showaround with Studio

entrance, guests arrive to a leather panelled

Moren reveals the elevated details, such as

check-in desk with timber top, which switches

backlit grilles, bevelled edges on mirrors and

to marble as it extends through to the bar. The

fluted glass to partition the vanity. Classic Hyde

gantry overhead is also a continuous structure,

touchpoints such as dressing gowns inspired

dressed with plants in the lobby and bottles at

by surf ponchos and sliders instead of slippers

the bar, and the change in flooring to patterned

bring the brand to the fore. Playful touches are

tiles further signifies a transition.

introduced too, seen in the illuminated eyes that

At Leydi, the Turkish restaurant that has

take the place of the do not disturb signs, and in

already won a legion of fans, interiors take

the public restrooms, designed around Victorian

a different approach. The concept has been

illusionism. Here, 3D-effect marble flooring

developed by Ennismore’s Carte Blanched and

and a rippled stainless steel ceiling with fibre

sees chef Selin Kiazim curate the menu in her

optic lighting play tricks on the eye, as does the

first consultancy role. As an all-day dining

Surreal and provocative design for interior spaces

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t: +44 (0)131 563 1740 e: edinburgh@timorousbeasties.com

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visit timorousbeasties.com Featured: Totem Damask Wallpaper, Black & Blue | Hyde London City

offer, the cuisine brings a wide range of Middle

Venetian plaster walls in midnight blue create a

Eastern flavours to the plate, from home-baked

moody ambiance, while crafted details celebrate

pide and generous meze to mangal-grilled meat

a Japanese reverence for simplicity. High-level

served family-style. For the design, Studio

shelving houses a curated collection of records,

Moren looked to the archives for inspiration.

and the bar is intentionally single level to

“We discovered a book that chronicles a female

encourage connection between mixologist and

traveller’s journey through the Middle East

guest – a bonus when the art of cocktail making

during Victorian times,” explains Thorogood.

is this good. There’s a DJ booth and prime

“Using her photographic journal as a reference,

people-watching spots at the bar, or softly-lit

we introduced Arabic-style archways, brass

alcoves for more intimate occasions.

lighting and artworks that she might have collected on her travels.”

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Much like Leydi, Black Lacquer brings something new to this part of the city. As the

Set against a light and fresh palette of soft

first Hyde in the UK, the hotel sets a precedent

blush, the multifoil archways cut a striking

for the brand, and for Studio Moren, it showcases

figure, harmonising with the rattan booths and

design capabilities in the fast-growing lifestyle

bentwood dining chairs. The central lighting

sector. “This project has been a gift in the

feature is again by Chelsom, designed as a

way in which we have been able to embrace

contemporary take on a traditional chandelier.

the building’s incredible history through our

Down in the basement, Black Lacquer

architecture and interior design,” concludes

honours the Hyde brand’s club nights and is

Murray. “Its transformation brings the property

inspired in name and concept by vinyl records,

back to its original purpose, providing a positive

its refined Japanese aesthetic informed by

contribution to the City of London and the wider

Tokyo’s ‘listening bars’. Setting the scene,

hospitality sector.”

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: OB Capital, Boscalt Operator: Accor, Ennismore Architecture and Interior Design: Studio Moren Lighting Design: Elektra Lighting Art Consultant: Cramer & Bell Procurement: Chris Turner Procurement F&B Concept: Carte Blanched Main Contractor: Fileturn Project Manager: Pillar Consulting www.hydehotels.com

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B AT H R O O M

ACCESSORIES

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2024 HIX . LONDON 27-28 NOVEMBER 2024

W W W . O F L I N E . D E C O R - W A LT H E R . D E

The Store OXFORD Reef Origin breathes new life into a former department store in the heart of a famed British university town.

Words: Cara Rogers • Photography: © Adam Lynk

place of discovery and a treasure trove

A

“It was very sad that Boswells was closing,

of toys, fashion and haberdashery. These

and it was a difficult decision for the family,”

are just some of the phrases used to

says Eleanor Alexander, Partner at Reef Origin.

describe Boswells, a much-loved department

“But we were able to ensure that the building

store in the British city of Oxford. Said to be

would still be an asset for the people of Oxford

one of the oldest of its kind, the family-owned

and beyond. We see ourselves as custodians of

business first began trading in 1738, specialising

a property that is so loved, taking it into a new

in the provision of luggage and trunks – clients

era and giving it a new lease of life, yet still

included Captain Cook, who allegedly took

referencing and celebrating its past.” To this

the shop’s wares on his trips to the southern

end, Boswells’ legacy remains – its original sign

hemisphere. In 1912, entrepreneur Arthur

still takes pride of place on the façade, while

Pearson took ownership, reopening Boswells as

black-and-white photography throughout the

a department store and affirming its status as a

hotel offers insight into its former life.

beloved pillar of the city’s high street. Trading

“Imagining the stories that buildings would

was successful for over a century, until Boswells

tell if they could speak” was key in developing

was forced to close in 2020.

The Store’s design language, reveals Alexander.

The site then caught the eye of developers Reef

Given its history, the ins and outs of department

Origin, who entered into a joint venture with La

store shopping made up a large part of these

Salle Investment Management and Oxford City

imagined stories. “The question of why people

Council to facilitate its purchase. With EQ Group

love these shops was important to us,” she

brought on board, the property has now been

explains. “In its heyday, shoppers would have

transformed into a 101-key lifestyle hotel, aptly

visited various different departments within

named The Store.

Boswells, always finding something new. They

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Interiors draw on the property’s heritage and include industrialstyle details such as Crittal windows, brass accents and matte black faucets by Lusso

would pop in for one thing and come out with five

adding two new levels. The result is one of contrast,

other items. There were lots of interesting wares

with a dark ceramic exterior on one building, and

and plenty of temptation. This is what we wanted to

zinc and brick on the other. Interiors meanwhile are

recreate with The Store.”

modern and minimalist, with linens and simple stripes

Reef Origin’s in-house design team UrbanR

appearing throughout. Outdoor terraces have been

partnered with Isla James Interiors to bring The Store

added to three rooms on the very top floor, complete

to life. The layered scheme of which Alexander speaks

with furniture that allows guests to recline as they

is most evident in the guestrooms, which draw on

take in views of the Oxford cityscape.

the site’s architectural heritage, and as a result are

The complexities of working within an existing

as varied as Boswells’ merchandise. “I love projects

building has resulted in a variety of room types, with

that are refurbishments or revitalisations, because the

the designers opting for a range of schemes. “We made

design cues are already there,” Alexander explains.

it quite difficult for ourselves,” Alexander quips. “But

“You can just work within the parameters they set.”

it always comes back to that concept of discovery. The

Boswell House is one of two buildings that make

idea is that a guest could stay at The Store on several

up the site – its civic-style architecture provided

different occasions and have a different experience

a useful template for designers, who have crafted

every time, much like visiting a department store.”

monochromatic, neutral-toned interiors that mimic

The legacy of Boswells continues in the public areas,

the existing language. Guestrooms are split into two

including the open-plan lobby bar and lounge. Here,

categories: Heritage, where Crittal windows frame

the large shopfront windows that run the length of the

views of the city, and Art Deco, where punchy colours

space have been optimised, opening the hotel up to the

and bespoke artworks draw the eye. The second

street to appeal to passers-by. “It entices you to come

building, constructed in the 1910s, features rich

in, much like a shop,” Alexander explains. “We wanted

red and orange tones that showcase Oxford’s older

to make it feel part of the streetscape.” Inside, bright

architectural traditions. Here, guestrooms draw on

blues and reds are paired with bold patterning, as well

the spirit of a “Cotswolds boutique hotel”, according

as a marble feature bar framed by gold-toned arches.

to Alexander, with an old-world British feel created

Crittal screens divide up the ground floor, creating

through abundant patterns and textures.

cosy nooks that include a fireside snug complete with

Bringing together old and new, the team has removed the existing fourth floors of both buildings,

plush red seating and low marble tables.

Also finding home on the ground floor is restaurant

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Treadwell, named after the yard it was built on

wonder and joy that visitors might get from

– coined ‘one of Oxford’s greatest nuisances’ in

exploring a department store come through as

the 1800s, thanks to its debaucherous reputation

guests ascend and uncover the beauty of the

and boisterous residents. “We were really

cityscape.” Beverages are suitably on-theme,

fascinated by all the people on the censuses

alluding to what is arguably Oxford’s most

that used to live here,” Alexander reveals,

famous output – academia. Tequila, mezcal and

noting that some of these characters – a fish

amaro are paired with pineapple juice, lime juice

hawker, shoe-maker, needlewoman and even a

and agave syrup in ‘Modern Education’, while

scavenger – appear on the restaurant’s menu.

‘Cambridge’, a nod to the city’s rival university

Now a far more refined destination, Treadwell

town, is a new take on a Negroni, featuring

serves up a range of classic British dishes with

blackberry, lemon thyme, anise and bay leaves.

international twists – sausages and mash is

The hotel’s focus, though, is undoubtedly

paired with a Cajun-inspired gravy, and chicken

on celebrating Oxford and all it has to offer.

pie is accompanied by gunpowder new potatoes

“If you are guided by the context the hotel sits

and makhani jus.

within, you can’t go wrong. If somebody has

At the building’s apex is a relaxed rooftop

chosen to come and stay in Oxford, they want to

bar with a wraparound terrace, where the

experience it,” Alexander concludes. “However

majority of the seats are oriented towards the

the city doesn’t always hold tourists overnight

view. “Oxford has an amazing landscape with

– people come for the day and then leave, and

spires and towers, but because of strict planning

they only just scratch the surface. The city has

rules, it’s really inaccessible to the public,”

so many layers to peel back and discover, and

says Alexander. “So we wanted to open up the

we wanted to showcase that through the design

skyline and make it accessible. The feelings of

of The Store.”

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Developer: Reef Origin Operator: EQ Group, Reef Origin Architecture: UrbanR Interior Design: UrbanR, Isla James Interiors www.thestoreoxford.com

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31/10/24 17:56

91 Athens Riviera ATHENS Domes Resorts ventures into new territory with a luxury cabana concept that caters to the cosmopolitan explorer.

Words: Catherine Martin • Photography: Courtesy of Domes Resorts

E

xtending south from the suburbs of Greece’s sprawling capital, the Athens Riviera has long been a draw for locals seeking a weekend escape from the crowds of the

city. In its 1950s heyday, well-heeled travellers flocked to the coastal resorts of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni and Sounio, where palm-fringed beaches and waterfront cafés were said to rival those of the South of France. Over the decades its popularity gradually waned, but more recent years have seen a revival, with developers snapping up land to create new residential communities, shopping districts and entertainment venues, in addition to world-class hotels. A number of international players have already planted flags along the coastline – and there’s more to come – though perhaps the most unique venture comes courtesy of Domes Resorts, a homegrown operator with a portfolio of hotels across Greece.

Taking the form of cabana beach club experience, 91 Athens Riviera is the brainchild of Grivalia Hospitality, a real estate group focused on luxury lifestyle assets across Greece.

Its vision was to create a members’ club with facilities for both travellers and locals – an approach that ensures yearround revenue, even in the winter months when tourism is at its quietest. As such, the 45,000m2 site features eight tennis courts and a clubhouse, as well as a multi-zone sports centre with dedicated personal trainers, and a spacious spa incorporating treatment rooms, a hair and beauty salon, sauna, hammam and hydro pool. For the accommodation and F&B components, Grivalia Hospitality enlisted the expertise of Domes Resorts, which was attracted by the

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Cabanas are fitted out to the same standard as any guestroom in the Domes portfolio, with soft furnishings

by Vagenas, faucets by Graff and outdoor furniture by Janus et Cie

prospect of introducing something entirely

specialist in tensile structures, while interiors

different to the market. “We are immensely

are by Chadios Architects. Each measures 43m2

proud of this pioneering project, marking

and is shaped as a cocooning dome – a low-

the first of its kind in the Mediterranean,”

impact solution that doesn’t detract from the

comments Dr George P. Spanos, CEO of Domes

landscape. “The vision was to offer an immersive

Resorts. “At Domes, we consistently strive to

outdoor experience that is both eco-centric

redefine luxury lifestyle hospitality experiences;

and indulgent,” explains Amalia Stavropoulou,

91 Athens Riviera stands as a milestone for our

Interior Architect at Chadios Architects. “The

brand, epitomising our commitment to creating

resort was designed to harmoniously blend

innovative projects that fuse five-star quality

into its natural surroundings, creating an oasis

services with handpicked destinations.”

of serenity and refinement for guests to enjoy

The decision to install individual cabanas rather than build a large, multi-use structure

082

the environment while having access to all the conveniences expected from a luxury stay.”

was driven in part by the location, which

Accessed via meandering pathways lined with

operated as a family campsite through the

shrubbery and native grasses, the cabanas nestle

1970s. “The owner’s approach was clear: to

amongst the landscape – some are shrouded in

transcend conventional camping by embracing a

greenery and offer garden views, while others

glamping model, and create a vibrant members-

overlook a man-made lagoon. All come with a

only beach club,” explains Spanos. “Guests

private deck from which to kick back and take

enjoy time in nature with all the freedom of

in the scenery, and there’s even the option of

a luxury home, rooted in an active lifestyle.”

a plunge pool for the ultimate luxury. “The

The 28 cabanas have been designed and

approach was to honour the area’s natural

fabricated by Lighthouse Sustainability, a

heritage while creating a refined, forward-

T E X T I L E S • WA L L PA P E R S • C A R P E TS • C U R TA I N S • R O L L E R B L I N D S • M OTO R I Z E D T R AC KS 3 ΕVIAS ST MAROUSI 151 25 ATHENS GREECE • T +30 210 6120277 • INFO@VAGENAS.EU • WWW.VAGENAS.EU

vagenas 24.6x28.5.indd 1

1/6/23 1:31 PM

At all-day dining destination Barbarossa, the terrace features lattice framework ceiling detail that effectively filters the sunlight

thinking destination that elevates the existing camping

To enhance the connection between indoors and

tradition to a new era of travel,” reveals Stavropoulou

out, the palette comprises organic materials and

of the overarching ethos, though this didn’t come

natural tones. Wood, stone, ceramic tiles and eco-

without its difficulties. “The challenge was to create

friendly composites make up the solid surfaces, while

a luxurious experience within the confines of a tent

the colour palette for the soft furnishings draws

and its inherent limitations,” she continues, adding

inspiration from the land. “It features the rich reds

that the aim was to ensure guests don’t feel deprived

and browns of the soil to reflect the earthy tones of the

of the amenities typically offered by a high-end hotel.

Athenian Riviera, and the vibrant green of the trees to

Interiors are therefore carefully planned to maximise

offer a refreshing contrast, evoking the lushness of the

space, and the quality of FF&E and fit-out matches

natural surroundings,” notes Stavropoulou. “The soft

that of any guestroom in the Domes portfolio. “Inside

beige of the sand completes the palette, echoing the

every cabana, we designed a central zone that houses

serene beauty of the coastal setting. Together, these

all essential facilities, serving as both a functional hub

colours create a warm and harmonious atmosphere,

and a natural divider,” Stavropoulou explains of the

inviting guests to embrace the tranquil surroundings

layout. This central zone combines the WC, shower and

of the resort.”

vanity, all neatly concealed behind the bedhead, with

For the F&B offer, Grivalia Hospitality knew it

the remaining space being open plan and furnished

would need a bold concept to draw a local crowd,

with custom freestanding furniture pieces created in

and so brought in Barbarossa, the famed restaurant

collaboration with Cassina. In line with the elevated

from Paros helmed by Chef Dimitris Nikolis. The

camping approach, the cabanas are kitted out with

venue operates as an all-day dining destination with

all the mod-cons of a hotel room – from a Nespresso

beach and poolside service, offering Cycladic and

coffee machine and well-stocked mini-bar to a 50-

Mediterranean cuisine that tastes as good as it looks.

inch TV and Marshall speaker.

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086

vibrant atmosphere, drawing from the timeless

indoor-outdoor feel. The materiality follows

elegance that characterised the Athens Riviera

the same style and quality of the cabanas, with

in the 1970s. “A standout feature is the three-

natural wood, marble and terrazzo evoking a

dimensional wall adorned with terracotta-toned

sense of authenticity, and once again forming a

decorative bricks, strategically designed to draw

visual connection to the surroundings.

visitors into a space brimming with intense

The opening of Barbarossa at 91 Athens

sensory experiences,” says Stavropoulou. “To

Riviera is a notable milestone for Domes

introduce an element of exclusivity, part of

Resorts, further strengthening the group’s F&B

the central dining area is subtly sectioned off

portfolio following the 2023 launch of Makris

with curved wooden bookcases, creating a more

– its first standalone fine-dining restaurant

private setting for special occasions.”

located in the centre of Athens. The cabana

Considered spatial planning creates subtle

concept meanwhile is a major differentiator

zoning that caters to different moods and uses,

on this increasingly popular stretch of coast,

resulting in a restaurant that is equally suited

and according to Spanos, there’s more to come.

to a morning coffee as to a glitzy evening out.

“It’s been a truly thrilling year for us, pushing

The bar area is distinguished by black and

boundaries and exploring new projects,” the

white herringbone flooring and eye-catching

CEO concludes. “This coming year, we’ll be

display shelves, while the terrace features lattice

launching our first Neema Fashion Hotel, as

framework ceiling detail that effectively filters

well as Domes Maison, an urban chic members’

the sunlight. There are cosy corners for two

club in Corfu. This expansion, along with our

and large communal tables, as well as casual

collaborations with various creative and lifestyle

lounge seating and semi-circular booths, with

brands, keeps injecting fresh energy towards

a seamless flow between spaces to enhance the

our mission to be destination ambassadors.”

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner / Developer: Grivalia Hospitality Operator: Domes Resorts Masterplan: ASPA KST Architecture and Interior Design: Chadios Architects Lighting Design: Prolight Graphic Design: GT&I (branding), Bratti (signage) Landscaping: Eufemia Zampouni (planting), ALD Architects (hardscape) Cabanas Fabrication: Lighthouse Sustainability www.domesresorts.com

The Hoxton, Shepherd’s Bush

@eprarchitects www.epr.co.uk

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Kimpton Bem BUDAPEST Marcel Wanders crafts a whimsical design scheme inspired by Hungarian folklore for Kimpton’s debut in Budapest.

Words: Cara Rogers Photography: Courtesy of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants

T

he Hungarian legend of the Wondrous Stag speaks of two young royals who, as part of a hunting trip beyond their homeland, came across a white stag. In pursuing

the animal, the brothers set off a chain of events that led to the founding of the Hungarian empire, so the story goes.

It’s no surprise, then, that a large bronze depiction of the majestic animal takes centre stage in the lobby at the newly opened Kimpton Bem Budapest.

The stag forms part of a wider mythology-inspired design scheme by Marcel Wanders, who opted to honour national folklore for Kimpton’s debut in Budapest. “Hungary is not only a country, it’s a culture,” says Wanders, speaking on the eve of the hotel’s launch party. “Its people have their own style of storytelling, which can be felt in the design.”

Wanders was initially approached by Market Asset Management (MAM) about his potential involvement in the project. With longstanding personal ties to Budapest, and a portfolio that did not yet include a hotel project in the city, it was an appealing venture. Once officially on board, he set about immersing himself further into the Budapest way of life – speaking with locals, hearing stories, visiting libraries and reading works by Hungarian poets. The result, he says, is a design language that “goes beyond the cliché”.

“The city itself is a fusion of old-world charm and modern innovation, and Wanders was able to reflect this duality in his design,” says Henry Reeve, Director of Interior Design for IHG Hotels & Resorts, on the designer’s creative vision.

“His whimsical, often theatrical style introduces a sense of

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Marcel Wanders has introduced a sense of fantasy to the hotel’s interiors, drawing on local motifs and craftsmanship

fantasy and luxury to the interiors. Elements

curved forms mirroring the coffered ceilings to

of Hungarian craftsmanship and local motifs

soften the space. Each piece – custom-made

are intertwined with his signature aesthetic,

by Sicis, whose pixel mosaics can also be seen

creating plenty of details for the curious guest

in the public bathrooms – is clad in a charming

to discover.”

floral mosaic of green, turquoise and purple.

These motifs are noticeable even from the

Across public areas, the scheme takes guests

hotel’s exterior. Entry to the 127-key property

on a fanciful journey characterised by Wanders’

is through a grand wrought iron gate inspired

trademark eccentricity. “I want guests feel

by Budapest’s Art Nouveau period, adorned with

different things in different spaces,” says the

ornamentation depicting foliage and animals.

designer. “You have to surprise people.” Bar

Inside, the lobby sits beneath ornate coffered

Huso, for example, is a stark contrast to the

ceilings – the statue of the stag standing proud

lobby; its interiors are inspired by the Danube

within a central glass atrium. True to Wanders’

– which flows just over the road from the

signature style, an assortment of bold colours

hotel – with dark blue panelling that extends

and patterns feature throughout the space

overhead, shimmering fish scale-style ceramic

– green furniture sits alongside bold yellow

tiles lining the bar, and glass domes depicting

accents, and striped ombré rugs have been

aquatic scenes adorning the walls.

layered atop parquet flooring. Framing relaxed

The bar is one of three F&B venues at the

seating arrangements are sweeping arched

hotel, which also include signature restaurant

niches, backed by dreamscapes of mountains,

Agos, located on the ground floor and spilling

soaring hot air balloons and mystical allusions

out onto the street. A bright space with an

to astrology and the stars.

open kitchen and a long communal table at its

Two reception desks are equally striking, their

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centre, the Mediterranean-Hungarian dining

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04/10/2024 3:42 pm

spot features punchy design details, including towering mosaic-clad sculptural columns.

Up above is Fennen, a rooftop destination where a greenhouse-style bar features alongside relaxed outdoor seating. In keeping with planning regulations, the venue is concealed from sight when viewed from street level, ensuring the 19th–century mansion’s façade remains as intended.

The building’s transformation, led by 3H Architects, had long been a talking point in the local community. Originally built by the Hapsburgs in the late 1800s, its long life has seen it function as a military hospital during World War One, Gestapo headquarters throughout World War Two, and later a primary school.

Given its chequered history and significance to the local community, careful handling of the site was paramount. The façade facing the historic Bem Square was listed and therefore had to be preserved, while everything behind was demolished – five floors were added above ground, and three below. The process

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Inspired by Lightness

MARVEL ONYX Atlas Concorde London Studio | 30 St John’s Lane - Clerkenwell - EC1M 4NB - London

was further complicated by the irregularity of

Nouveau. The landscaped setting has been filled

a building constructed in a bygone era, with

with greenery, a gazebo and a large statue of

variations such as the thickness of walls across

the Turul bird, a sacral creature of Hungarian

the property making it difficult to accurately

mythology. It’s from this space that gentle

measure corridors and rooms.

piano music plays in the morning, serving as a

The result was the creation of around 40

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harmonious start to the day.

different floorplans, characterised by varied

“Like every Kimpton, the property is wholly

colour palettes of either green or blue, and

unique. Wanders’ playful style has introduced

furniture pieces from Moooi, which Wanders co-

a layer that is the perfect addition to our brand

founded in 2001. Standout details in guestrooms

signatures,” concludes IHG’s Reeve, referring to

include headboards and wallpaper depicting lush

the likes of an evening social hour, as well as a

foliage and blooming plants in the green rooms,

handy ‘Forget It? We’ve Got It!’ programme that

and lively waters and exotic sea creatures in the

ensures guests are kitted out with everything

blue. Bathrooms remain on-theme, mirroring

they need for the duration of their stay.

the same hues as the bedroom; each is kitted

Other amenities take the form of a range

out with shapely sanitaryware from Laufen,

of events spaces, including a ballroom

designed in collaboration with Wanders.

accommodating up to 120 guests, and a bold all-

While some guestrooms have views out

red meeting room. Wellness spaces meanwhile

to the Danube, inward-facing options look

include a fitness centre, as well as a hot tub

onto a tranquil courtyard. Here, balconies

and steam room, where mosaics resemble those

– furnished with Piapolo stools by Fermob –

of the city’s Király thermal baths. Perfect for a

feature gold-toned balustrades with intricate

hotel where the smallest of details pay homage

cut-out illustrations inspired by Hungarian Art

to its location.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: MAM Buda Project Operator: IHG Hotels & Resorts Architecture: 3H Architects Interior Design: Marcel Wanders Main Contractor: Market Építő Project Manager: NSN Mérnökiroda Visual Identity: & Smith, Marcel Wanders www.kimptonbembudapest.com

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Deos MYKONOS Myconian Collection’s home-grown hospitality offer expands, with Galal Mahmoud creating a Cycladic resort that inspires feelings of awe.

Words: Matt Turner • Photography: © Christos Drazos Photography

he story of the Daktylides family,

T

Its latest hotel, Deos, feels like something

founders of Myconian Collection, is the

of a homecoming, its design influenced by the

very definition of a ‘mom-and-pop’

traditional villages that existed long before

hotel business. Husband and wife George and

Mykonos became an international jetset

Eleftheria Daktylides built their first four hotels

destination, yet offering all the amenities its

on Mykonos – Kohili, Korali, Kyma and Kalypso

present-day visitors expect.

– from scratch whilst also raising the four

Deos translates as ‘awe’ in Greek, and the

sons who have now taken over the business.

location is certainly awe-inspiring, occupying an

According to family legend, the original plan was

enviable position atop a hill overlooking the old

for George to bequeath each of his sons a hotel

town of Mykonos, its famed windmills and the

when he retired. But it continued to expand well

original harbour. It also promises a tranquil and

beyond that original ambition, and the family

elevated escape from the crowds and cruise ship

acquired land for future projects as Mykonos

passengers who increasingly pack the narrow

has grown in stature and appeal. More hotels

streets of the town below and the surrounding

soon followed: the Royal in 2000, the Imperial

beaches. Despite its slightly secluded location,

in 2002, the Villa Collection in 2012, Utopia in

the bustling heart of Mykonos town is less than

2013 and Avaton in 2014. More recent additions

a ten minute stroll down a steep public path

include its first beachfront property, Myconian

renovated by the Daktylides family to offer

O on Ornos Bay, and Panoptis, a collection of

locals as well as hotel guests quicker access to

private villas overlooking Elia Beach. The group

the harbourfront promenade below.

now stands at 14 properties in total, all located on Mykonos.

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Long term collaborator Galal Mahmoud of GM Architects was enlisted to oversee

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masterplanning, architecture and design.

The studio has responded to the challenging topography of the site with what Mahmoud describes as “a carefully staged choreography of all aspects of the luxury guest experience,” in a project he hopes will set a new benchmark for the Aegean.

“The

multi-sensorial

experience

is

everywhere – from around the pool area facing the magnificent Aegean Sea and its magical sunsets, the village-like walkways and piazzas guiding guests to their suites, to the fully private suite-only accommodations with their large terraces and private pools. The project draws its language from modern Cycladic architecture and is seamlessly carried throughout the indoor and outdoor spaces. Locally sourced and carefully crafted finishes and furniture provides a much looked for sense of place.”

And if guests are in any doubt as to where they are, they need only look out to the horizon.

The hotel’s architecture has been carefully positioned on the vertiginous hillside to give

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SERENITY SKY

Leading Designs for Architecture

100

guests a feeling of floating weightlessly between

have allowed them to cultivate relationships

sea and sky, complete with spectacular views

with local farmers and fishermen, as well as

across to the neighbouring islands of Delos,

growing much of their own produce organically.

Syros and Tinos. The 60 rooms, each adorned

Further down the cliff, nestled into the

with private terraces, hot tubs or pools, are

hillside, the hotel’s spacious Sana spa and

delicately inserted, cascading down the hillside.

adjacent fitness centre includes a marble-clad

“If Deos has an ethos, it is to merge inner and

indoor pool lined with suspended, lozenge-

outer spaces holistically,” say GM Architects.

shaped architectural features breaking up the

“The architecture has artfully established

space. It all feels intimate and exclusive, the

conditions for flow. We followed an approach

discrete clustering of low-rise white stucco

that is more about the experience of every guest

buildings that comprise the public areas lending

living both inside and outside the property. A

it the feel of a Cycladic village.

contemporary Cycladic line intimately follows

Guestrooms are simple yet tastefully

the landscape and enhances its connection with

furnished with subtle touches that elevate them

accents such as the rustic walls made from

from austere minimalism, such as decorative

rocks quarried on site, the generous planting

wall murals, bespoke rattan furnishings

of indigenous flora, or scenic apertures that

and paintings from local artists. Wave-like

selectively frame the view.”

ceiling features – timber in the restaurant and

Restaurant and bar Epico – which is situated

flowing white fabric in the lobby – enhance

by the property’s saltwater infinity pool – offers

the connection of the hotel to the sea. Deos

sophisticated interpretations of traditional

is a hotel at one with its surroundings, deeply

Greek dishes using locally sourced ingredients.

rooted in the landscape of the island from which

The family’s roots within the island community

it has sprung.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Operator: Myconian Collection Architecture and Interior Design: GM Architects www.myconiancollection.gr

The Brecon ADELBODEN An ‘accidental hotelier’ enlists Amsterdam-based Nicemakers to transform a Swiss chalet into a homely hideaway with Mid-Century moments.

Words: Rick Jordan • Photography: © Michael Sinclair

A

102

t the turn of the 20th century, it seemed likely that

an infinity pool offering views over the mountains and

Adelboden, a pretty village 1,350 metres up in the

Engstligen waterfalls, and the interiors were overlaid with a

Bernese Oberland, would be the bright future of

fresh design by the Dutch-based Studio Jeroen Wand – oak

Alpine tourism. After all, in 1903, Sir Henry Lunn – a man

veneer all around and scatterings of furniture and lighting

who would eventually go on to establish the Lunn Poly travel

by Punt Mobles, B&B Italia and DWC Editions.

agency – brought a group of British travellers there on the

Earlier this year, Grant unveiled his second hotel in

first-ever ski package holiday, tackling the slopes dressed

Adelboden which, like his first, is built on the bones of a

in tweed. Hotels opened to cater for the new demand, with

pre-existing structure – namely the 1980s Hotel Huldi,

salutary English names such as The Bristol and The Victoria.

a classic, timber-clad chalet with balconies – although

In 1931, local hoteliers combined their resources to open

this time, the building was completely gutted. And like

an Art Deco-style, Olympic-sized swimming pool to draw

The Cambrian, he turned to the Netherlands to design its

in summer visitors to the area; it became a symbol for the

interiors, appointing Amsterdam-based studio Nicemakers,

village immortalised in travel posters of the time, its surface

founded by Joyce Urbanus and Dax Roll. “I’d stayed at The

reflecting a beaming sun.

Hoxton, Amsterdam, which they designed, and had really

After the war, however, Alpine tourism in Adelboden began

liked its look,” says Maunder. “Their Head of Design, Lotti

to decline; over the decades, many of its hotels closed and

Lorenzetti, previously worked at Soho House Group. I felt

were demolished. Its slopes continued to host the annual

that from a design perspective, doing something that felt

Giant Slalom World Cup race and were popular with Swiss

quite clubby and Mid-Century would work really well here.”

skiers, but hotel rooms had dropped from a pre-war peak

As with The Cambrian, Maunder was keen to avoid the

of more than 5,000 to a number in the hundreds. In 2011,

usual ski-hotel clichés of wraparound pine panels and

Welsh brothers Grant and Craig Maunder acquired a locally-

vintage skis mounted on the walls. “We also wanted to avoid

owned hotel, initially intending it to be a passive investment.

yet another clean, minimal Swiss hotel,” notes Lorenzetti.

But having been charmed by the world of hospitality, the

“The client was set on the idea of creating a place that could

self-confessed accidental hoteliers rebooted the three-star

be rented exclusively by a group of friends and treated like a

property as The Cambrian. A spa was added, along with

high-end version of a home. The mix of patterns and details

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The main living space is furnished with emerald bouclé sofas, marble coffee tables and sheepskin rugs

104

are intended to imitate a collection that has

immediate sense of relaxed informality, with a

gradually been added to over the years – far

variety of sofas and armchairs to sink into and a

from the Swiss aesthetic of clean minimalism.”

fireplace for winter warmth, as well as unusual

Guests enter through an unassuming

objects and artworks to examine more closely.

revolving door, the significance of which

Tactile surfaces are prevalent throughout, from

requires an intimate knowledge of 1970s

embroidery, sheepskin and bouclé fabrics to

comedy to decode. Maunders was inspired by a

deep pile rugs by Ege. Natural materials also

scene in The Return of the Pink Panther (1975),

play a role in the palette with a wood-panelled

in which Peter Sellers’ Inspector Clouseau is

ceiling above and slate flooring underfoot,

befuddled by the revolving door at The Palace

which continues from the small terrace outside

Hotel in Gstaad. Carved on the four wings of the

into the main space and even into the lift.

door at The Brecon are fork handles, a reference

“Bearing in mind the cost of products and

to a famous TV sketch set in a hardware store by

services in Switzerland, we had to be very

British comedy duo The Two Ronnies, wherein

selective when it came to having items made

the phrase ‘four candles’ is mistaken for ‘fork

locally,” explains Lorenzetti. “We decided early

handles’. International guests may be forgiven

on to use family-owned carpentry company

for not immediately recognising the references.

Burn, which the owner had worked with

Walking through the revolving doors takes

previously. They created the wooden ceiling, as

guests straight into the main living space,

well as all the panels and doors. We visited the old

with the reception desk straight ahead, the

hotel before anything had been demolished and

open kitchen and breakfast area through a tiled

spotted some details that we liked and wanted

arch on the left, and a lounge bar blurring into

to reinstate, such as the textured plaster and red

the main restaurant to the right. There’s an

mosaic tiles in the stairwell. We also wanted to

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Texture features throughout the interiors, from the wood-panelled ceiling to the ‘crazy’ slate paving underfoot

use the flagstone to give the impression that the outdoor flooring extends inwards, and used it to clad the whole ground-floor façade to create a stronger base for the building.” Maunders refers to the slate as “crazy paving” and asked a friend from Wales to install it: “The Swiss don’t really do crazy paving,” he confides. It’s a nod to his homeland, as are the woollen blankets in the guestrooms, woven by small Pembrokeshire mill Melin Tregwynt.

“Working with the owner was one of the most enjoyable parts of the project,” says Lorenzetti.

“The whole process felt very personal and different to our usual hotel projects.” All of the tableware in The Brecon for example, was crafted by Maunder’s wife Andrea in her studio in Wales, working from a colour palette given to her by Nicemakers and then driven over to Switzerland by truck.

Sourcing vintage objects is a strongpoint of Nicemakers, and the team scoured markets in Italy, the Netherlands and France to find the reception desk and spindle chairs, as well as the brown leather armchairs in the living space.

A hanging pendant in a corner nook was made from seaweed paper in Wales; larger overhead fabric pendants are by a French brand Memori, which works ethically with local artisans. A yellow sofa is from Artilleriet, another from Belgian-based Ethnicraft; and a jute rug was crafted by Nordic Knots. Many furniture pieces,

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including bookshelves and modular tables

where aperitivo is often served under the cover

designed to slot into each other, were envisioned

of parasols by Glatz.

by Nicemakers and made in Portugal. The

Set across five floors, the guestrooms continue

reupholstered dining chairs are survivors from

the careful attention to detail with bold prints,

the original Hotel Huldi.

vintage finds and framed prints, along with

The art, meanwhile, is curated by Julien

bathrooms featuring Zucchetti taps and pink

Rademaker from Bisou Gallery Amsterdam,

terracotta tiles – retro without feeling cliché.

who collaborated closely with the design team.

Highlights include the double-aspect Waterfall

The collection for The Brecon is inspired by

Corner rooms, and Mountain, a mezzanine

nature and craft to match the warm, robust

loft suite with wooden stairs leading up to the

style of the interiors, ranging from brutalist

second bedroom.

wooden sculptures by Dutch artist Faan Olgers

“We tried to give the rooms the feeling of

to delicate textiles by Mae Engelgeer, along

being ‘collected’ rather than manufactured,”

with original paintings and prints by Steven

explains Lorenzetti. “So we had to stop ourselves

van Lummel, Simona Frigerio, who specialises

from making sure everything matched. After

in deconstructed animal paintings, and Welsh

all, the brief was to create spaces that felt like

woodcut artist David Robertson.

bedrooms in a domestic household, and you

Downstairs, a former nightclub has been

wouldn’t buy everything from the same shop

transformed into the less raucous boot room

for that. It pushed us to think about this project

for winter sports. A corridor on the first floor

differently, and showed that hotels don’t have

leads to a small spa and relaxation area – where

to apply a cookie-cutter formula. We hope to be

an original fireplace that was in the lobby has

able to work on more hotels with this ethos and

been set – then out to a plunge pool and terrace

mentality in the future.”

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: Grant Maunder Affiliation: The Aficionados Interior Design: Nicemakers Art Consultant: Julien Rademaker www.thebrecon.com

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Argini SYROS A 19th-century mansion, once home to a Greek revolutionary, has been transformed into a boutique hotel that blends historic grandeur with modern luxury.

Words: Matt Turner • Photography: Courtesy of Argini Syros

L

ess well known internationally than its neighbour

explains how her father Yiannis Polykretis was born and

Mykonos, Syros is home to Hermoupolis, the capital of

raised in the building next door, returning to his home

the Cyclades, and was once one of Greece’s most vibrant

island following a successful business career spanning civil

and industrious trading ports. Founded during the 1820s, as

engineering to seismology, to acquire the building that now

the war for Greece’s independence from Ottoman rule raged,

houses Argini.

Hermoupolis emerged as an extension of the earlier Venetian

The resulting hotel offers a series of beautifully renovated

hilltop settlement of Ano Syros to accommodate refugees

guestrooms alongside a ground-floor lobby, lounges and

fleeing other Greek islands – Chios, Psara, Crete and beyond.

courtyard restaurant, basement hammam and outdoor

The town soon established itself as a leading maritime

rooftop pool bar. It takes its name from a celebrated

hub between Europe and the East. Most notably it was

collector of ancient Greek art – Argini Belaki Salvago, sister

the shipbuilding powerhouse of the Greek economy, its

of Antonios Benaki who founded his eponymous museum

yards building and repairing thousands of vessels. Wealthy

in Athens in 1931.

shipowners and industralists began to build themselves

The project has been a seven-year, hands-on labour of

mansion houses in Vaporia – an aristocratic enclave

love for the family. Its public areas retain a sense of grandeur

overlooking the port named after the Greek word for

in their Neoclassical proportions and delicately restored

‘steamships’. One of these beautiful mansions, originally

architectural features. Contemporary furnishings from the

built in 1853 by prominent businessman Grigorios Paikos,

likes of Poltrona Frau, Gessi, Artemide and Flos have been

a noted member of the Filiki Eteria ‘secret society’ that

introduced to create a hotel that blends 19th-century heritage

opposed Ottoman rule, now houses Hermoupolis’ latest

with the trappings of modern luxury. Original elements such

luxury hotel Argini, following an extensive renovation by

as double-leaf hardwood doors, 1.2m-thick stone masonry

its new owners, the Polykretis family.

and a grand marble staircase have been meticulously restored

As with many of the grand public buildings in central

under the watchful eye of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture.

Hermoupolis, such as the Town Hall and Apollo Theatre in

The vaulted archways of the basement now accommodate

central Miaouli Square, Paikos built his home in a grand

a wellness area with a hammam and indoor plunge pool

Neoclassical style, employing Venetian painters to decorate

overseen by a classical marble sculpture. The rooftop

its walls and ceilings with lush, ornate artworks. Following

Under The Sky bar meanwhile, offers impressive views of

Paikos’ death in 1879, the house passed through the hands

the Venetian settlement of Ano Syros in one direction, the

of various prominent families through the 20th century,

Aegean Sea in the other.

gradually falling into disrepair. Today, Maria Polykretis

The intervening floors house a series of 11 stunning suites,

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each individually decorated, many with original

The P.Sampo room, an homage to the architect

ceiling and wall frescoes carefully repaired by

of the town’s Apollo Theatre, blends original

Cleopatra Tsourakis. The original ballroom is

exposed stone walls with the elegantly grooved

now the signature 44m2 Masterpiece Suite, its

lines of its bedside furnishings. The G.Paikos

Renaissance-style ceiling artwork depicting

suite, named in honour of the building’s original

heroes from Greek history, both ancient and

owner, features further frescoes and a double

modern. Arched French windows and a private

balcony. Another room dedicated to master

balcony overlook the magnificent façade of the

builder Aristidis Vidalis features a striking

Agios Nikolaos Church. Lighting by Artemide

central light by Italian firm Tooy.

was purposefully selected to illuminate the

The restaurant, Elexis, is a collaboration

ceiling and landscape paintings on the walls

with Athens-based Trastelis Group. Breakfast

whilst protecting them from high temperatures.

features local specialities such as strapatsata

Bathrooms are clad in striking Covelano

and spanakopita, with homemade honeys and

Macchia Vecchia marble, and feature luxurious

conserves, while the dinner menu, created by

underfloor heating, walk-in rainshowers and a

Head Chef Nikos Stamatis, blends cosmopolitan

freestanding bathtub.

culinary flair with authentic Greek flavours.

Other rooms are named after notable architects

Syros is increasingly on the radar of

and builders who helped create Hermoupolis.

sophisticated travellers seeking alternatives

Ernst Ziller – architect of the city hall and many

to the better-known islands, and only a short

other significant royal and municipal buildings

ferry ride away from Mykonos, where many

across Greece – combines Silver Portoro and

international airlines now fly directly to its

Hermes marble, oakwood flooring and Gessi

new airport. Argini gives them another reason

bathroom fittings with Buster + Punch lighting.

to visit its richly storied capital.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: The Polykretis family www.arginisyros.gr

DESIGN DETAILS

SUITE

Bab Al Shams Embodying tradition through contemporary

deliberate choice to offer guests a more fluid

architecture is not always the simplest of feats,

experience between the built environment and

yet such was the challenge faced by Anarchitect

the natural world. We wanted the architecture

in the creation of eight new villas at Bab Al Shams

to engage with the landscape on a deeper level,

in the United Arab Emirates. Tasked by Kerzner

ensuring the suites feel part of the desert itself.”

International to develop “a contemporary yet

As such, the design of the villas highlights the

authentic experience”, the design team set

surroundings, framed by expansive windows and

about encapsulating the essence of desert living,

a sky oculus. “The windows reflect the Bedouin’s

drawing on the traditions of the Bedouin who

relationship with natural light and ventilation,

have historically inhabited the region.

with a refined, contemporary edge,” Ashmore

“Our vision was deeply informed by the

explains. The architecture, alongside interiors by

Bedouin lifestyle, particularly their close

Delfina Design, draw on raw, natural materials

relationship with the desert environment,”

that blend with the desert terrain and honour the

reveals Jonathan Ashmore, Founding Principal of

simplicity of Bedouin dwellings.

Anarchitect. “The concept draws on the Bedouin

“Our aim was to create a vision that feels

tent’s circular form, which fosters a sense of

rooted in tradition while embracing modern

unity with the landscape, reinterpreting it as a

hospitality standards,” Ashmore concludes.

permanent and immersive space. The divergence

“This ensures that the design itself speaks to

from traditional orthogonal forms was a

both the past and future of desert living.”

© Natelee Cocks

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LOCATION REPORT TOKYO With Japan’s tourism back to prepandemic levels, its capital is a hotspot for home-grown and international hospitality alike.

Words: Cara Rogers

J

apan’s bustling capital has no shortage of

Group opened Bellustar Tokyo and Hotel Groove

attractions, from ancient temples telling tales

Shinjuku, for instance. At the time of opening, Marcel

of times gone-by, to ultra-modern skyscrapers

Holman, the group’s Vice President of Operations

that point to advancement and innovation. A long

for Japan, Indonesia and China, commented: “With

history has seen the city evolve from a small fishing

the Japanese tourism industry rebounding in recent

village into one of the most-visited cities in Asia, with

months following the relaxation of pandemic

leisure and business travellers coming from near and

restrictions, with over 1 million arrivals in February

far to experience all it has to offer.

this year, it is an exciting time for Pan Pacific Hotels

Tokyo’s hospitality offer is diverse too, spanning

Group as we expand our footprint in Japan.”

large-scale urban resorts to traditional ryokans. The

Bulgari Hotels & Resorts also made its debut

greatest impact came from its hosting of the 2020

in Tokyo, enlisting Milan-based Antonio Citterio

Summer Olymics, held in 2021 owing to the pandemic.

Patricia Viel to design a hotel that fuses the spirit of

Though a closed-door competition, the event was

the brand’s hometown with Tokyo’s heritage. Other

accompanied by a significant uplift in new openings.

recent openings include Hotel Toranomon Hills,

STR reports that “because the pandemic pushed back

envisioned by Space Copenhagen as the city’s first

development timelines and caused a high volume of

Unbound Collection property from Hyatt.

temporary room closures in 2020, Tokyo’s year-over-

As for future development, the latest data from

year hotel supply increase was 19.4% in May 2021”.

THP reveals that Japan is one of the top markets for

The city’s tourism mirrors that of the country as a

new hotel development in Asia Pacific, ranking eighth

whole, whereby destinations including Kyoto, Osaka

behind larger countries such as China, India and

and the legendary Mount Fuji are keen sites of interest.

Australia. In total, the country has 62 projects listed

It’s little wonder then, that STR reported in May

in the database, amounting to 14,431 new rooms. As

2024 that “Japan’s growth in RevPAR has remained

the largest city and business hub, Tokyo leads the way

extremely impressive over the past 15 months – a

as the most active destination with 8 projects (1,483

function of a later opening post-pandemic, above-

rooms) in the pipeline, followed by Osaka and Kyoto.

average inflation, and an influx of international

Forthcoming openings in Tokyo include the debut of

demand”. For the country as a whole, data from

Raffles Hotels & Resorts, currently slated for 2028

CoStar shows an impressive RevPAR increase of

and forming part of the redevelopment of the city’s

64.9% between 2022 and 2023, while preliminary

World Trade Center.

findings for H1 2024 show a 21.1% uplift.

The first JW Marriott-branded hotel meanwhile is

Honing in on Tokyo, the numbers are even greater,

set to open its doors in 2025, brought to life by Yabu

with a year-on-year RevPAR growth of 102.7% for

Pushelberg. Located in the city’s heart, the hotel will

full-year 2023. Though the steep increase can be

be a key component of JR East’s redevelopment of the

explained by the lifting of strict border and quarantine

former JR Shinagawa Depot Railway Yard, which will

measures in April 2023, which kickstarted the

span four blocks and is expected to become Tokyo’s

country’s tourism.

newest international township.

In addition to the projects featured in this report, a

Though catalysts such as the Olympic Games are

host of new openings in Tokyo are only affirming the

in the rearview, the city is continuing to build on the

city’s appeal. Many of the big players are making their

momentum it gained, affirming its presence in the

mark on the city. Earlier this year, Pan Pacific Hotels

international hospitality landscape.

Janu TOKYO Janu’s debut unfolds in a dynamic series of spaces layered with colour, texture and pattern that reference both European decorative traditions and Japan’s cultural tapestry.

Words: Neena Dhillon • Photography: © Robert Rieger

O

118

ne of the most anticipated brand launches in recent

technique of shimenawa. A monumental granite welcome

years, Janu’s inaugural property in the Japanese

desk on which a bonsai rests is framed by a glass-protected

capital has been painstakingly crafted by stellar design

panel containing a 17th-century etching of a romantic

talents and artists. Set in the new Tokyo neighbourhood

European landscape, in graphic form. Guests ascend to

of Azabudai Hills – characterised by upscale residences,

the fifth floor for the main hotel lobby, passing a couple of

galleries, boutique stores and abundant green pockets – it

specially commissioned art pieces along the way; of note are

is the younger sibling to Aman, and marks a move into new

the striking blue stone-like sculptures by Sakuho Ito actually

territory for the group. Plans for the brand were announced

made from rusted, handcrafted washi paper.

in 2020, with Chairman and CEO Vlad Doronin seeking to

With a bird’s eye view of Tokyo Tower, the busy lobby

redefine hospitality with a proposition of human interaction,

opens into the Janu Lounge & Garden Terrace, with tea

playful expression and social wellness. Certainly, the urban

drinkers perched beneath oversized demi-lanterns, one

village of Azabudai Hills – with elegant architecture by Pelli

half real, the other a clever reflection made by the mirrored

Clarke & Partners and 24,000m2 of landscaping by Thomas

panelling. The lounge is one of eight dining venues across

Heatherwick – creates the perfect stage for a hotel promising

the destination, each with its own distinctive character.

to initiate socialising, movement and discovery.

Denniston’s Senior Interior Designer David Schoonbroodt

Denniston’s founder Jean-Michel Gathy is responsible

notes: “Instead of isolating restaurants within their own

for the interior design. Describing the hotel’s DNA,

world, the challenge was to merge the F&B spaces so they

he says it “exudes a youthful energy, brimming with

are a continuity of public areas, yet still retain their own

liveliness and playfulness”, with the spaces conceived as

strong identity.”

a “thrilling exploration” to “awaken the senses and ignite

Transporting the idea of an Italian food market to Tokyo,

the imagination”. In developing this vision, both European

Janu Mercato has a reproduction of an olive tree as its

influences and Japan’s cultural riches play their part.

centrepiece, with three open kitchens bringing the theatre

From the outset, this worldly approach becomes clear in

from behind Calacatta Oro marble counters. Bathed in

the public entrance gallery, with its classic moulded wall

natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows, there is a clear

panelling reminiscent of European interiors, and an arched

connection to the Azabudai Hills community beyond, not least

woven rope ceiling taking its inspiration from the Japanese

from the the outdoor terrace, furnished with Fermob’s iconic

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119

European influences and Japan’s cultural riches play a part in the design scheme across public spaces and guestrooms

120

Luxembourg collection, initially designed for

brick feature walls. Artworks here range from

Paris’ Jardin du Luxembourg. Spilling through

Fong Min Liao’s abstract paintings to Luca

into the adjacent Janu Patisserie, blonde oak

Brandi’s vibrant acrylic on canvas, alongside

flooring plays opposite an oversized lighting

Marion Borgelt’s three-dimensional circular

feature overhead that also nods to the Japanese

sculptures in red, orange and black to be

tradition of washi. Bringing to mind knife scores

symbolic of Chinese culture. Foodies are spoilt

in pastry, Toshiichi Suzuki’s ceramic feature

for choice, with culinary options additionally

wall catches the light and adds another layer to

available at Janu Grill, with its industrial

the design alongside the striated pink marble.

blackened steel bar, and speakeasy-style

Turning to Japan’s Edomae tradition, sushi,

restaurant Sumi, where 13 guests are seated

sashimi and other small plate specialties are

beneath a riveted copper hood for a live grill

served in Iigura. Intimate in size to showcase the

experience. Cocktail lovers meanwhile should

skills of the chefs, the omakase venue conveys

head to Janu Bar, where skilled mixologists pour

its craftsmanship through geometric Kumiko

drinks amid towering display shelves of liquor

screens and hinoki counters, surrounded by

bottles and sake containers.

timber cladding. Just by its entrance, Japanese

The duality of Asian and European design

artist Yohei Imamura displays his silkscreen

influences can be detected in the 122 spacious

printing talent in an eye-catching shade of blue,

guestrooms and suites too, notably through

reflected in Ito’s art pieces too.

the wall feature that is based on a traditional

Chinese cuisine can also be sampled at

Japanese adobe technique, yet here given a

Janu Tokyo, in the popular Hu Jing with its

contemporary reimagining. A neutral and earthy

red lacquer and woven rattan walls, bamboo

colour palette brings a sense of lightness and

detailing, suspended lanterns and Shanghai

calm to the accommodation – a quiet minimalist

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quality; but on closer inspection, small

Other works here by the Japanese visual artist

surprises are in store. The fabric light shades

celebrate the sun and moon in circular wall art

by beds look simple enough, for example, yet

pieces. The impressive Wellness Centre is also

when lit, they reveal an ornate vintage French

home to active spaces, including movement

bell shade within. Large walk-in wardrobes are

studios and a gym, as well as the first boxing

matched by equally generous bathrooms with

ring to be installed in one of the city’s hotels.

deep soaking tubs separated by partition screens

For those who prefer hands-on wellbeing, the

that could both reflect a Japanese architectural

Janu Spa includes seven treatment rooms and,

style or the glass panelling of a Parisian atelier.

perhaps most indulgently, two standalone

Denniston worked with The Flaming Beacon

private Spa Houses, complete with their own

studio on pre-programmed lighting schemes

hot and cold plunge pools and therapeutic areas.

for these partition features.

They are distinctive touches in a hospitality

As a hotel devoted to the idea of modern wellbeing, whether individually or through

122

destination that pulls out all the stops to inspire and connect.

shared social experiences, the 4,000m 2

Reflecting on the arrival of Aman Group’s

Wellness Centre certainly sets Janu Tokyo

younger sibling in Tokyo, Schoonbroodt

apart. Glistening hydrotherapy and thermal

concludes: “Playfulness is where Janu diverges

areas are a delight, flooded with light, paved in

from its big sister. With a vibrant social and

smooth polished stone and crisp stainless steel,

lifestyle, F&B portfolio and large spa, it’s the

and given their own identity through a central

place to be. Janu represents an evolving interior

cascading art installation by Naoto Kashiwagi.

design in which cultures are more and more

Called Leaves & Seeds, it playfully flutters to

interlaced, for a youthful mixture that heads

mimic the effect of falling leaves into water.

into new realms.”

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: Aman Group, Mori Building Co Operator: Janu Architecture: Pelli Clarke & Partners Interior Design: Denniston Book Curation: Ultimate Library www.janu.com

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LOCATION REPORT

Trunk (Hotel) YOYOGI PARK A dialogue between Japanese and Scandinavian designers delivers ‘Japandi’ minimalism in the Tokyo neighbourhood of Tomigaya.

Words: Neena Dhillon • Photography: © Tomooki Kengaku / Courtesy of Trunk

T

he vibrant green canopy formed by Yoyogi

on bicycles or wandering on foot to the local

Park’s majestic trees feels within touching

grocer. It’s a canny choice for a hotel that offers

distance of the guest balconies at Trunk’s

guests an ‘urban recharge’.

third property, located a short walk away from

Blending in with its surroundings, the

the hustle and bustle of Shibuya, where the

seven-storey newbuild sits quietly amongst its

group’s founder and CEO Yoshitaka Nojiri grew

neighbours, marked only by a discreet doorway

up. Having made his mark with the original

and subtle signage. Architect and lead interior

Trunk (Hotel) in 2017, followed by the one-suite

designer Keiji Ashizawa was keen that the hotel

Trunk (House) in 2019, the entrepreneur is now

form a visual connection to the park across the

pushing ahead with ambitious plans to open 26

street, and so opted for an exposed concrete

new properties by 2030, beginning with Trunk

façade produced using a Japanese technique,

(Hotel) Yoyogi Park.

punctuated by generously-planted balconies

Much like others in the portfolio, this latest

that front all 25 guestrooms. “The balanced

venture perfectly embodies Nojiri’s vision of

appearance of the exposed concrete, which is

creating immersive boutique hotels that are

primarily roughened with high-pressure water,

deeply embedded in their community, each

creates a sense of rhythm and stable ambience,”

embodying a local spirit for a true sense of

Ashizawa explains. “While concrete can lead to a

place. At first glance, the serene neighbourhood

cold atmosphere, this surface has been adjusted

of Tomigaya may seem an unlikely address for a

so that the aggregate is visible, bringing a rich

Japanese brand with an international following,

texture and expression similar to that of stone.”

but each corner of this residential district

This concrete façade extends inside, where

opens to boutique stores, hip coffee shops or

a sandblasted finish lines corridors that flow

independent restaurants, with locals zipping by

from one to another to inject a surprising

125

sense of space. It also makes an appearance as a feature in the compact, uncluttered guestrooms. For interiors, Ashizawa teamed up with Copenhagen’s Norm Architects to develop a ‘Japandi’ aesthetic; the marriage of Japanese and Scandinavian design sensibilities combining into a soft minimalism where natural materials are key. “We mainly used oak in the guestrooms – for wallcoverings, headboards and freestanding and built-in furniture, with any variation the result of textural finishes,” says Ashizawa. “Copper is used extensively too, from entrance walls to light fixtures and door handles. Finally, stone is the accent material, seen in countertops and coffee tables, adding tension to spaces, like seasoning in cooking.”

At the heart of the ground floor is L’Ombelico, a restaurant that signals its intent to serve the local community through its central positioning and attractive streetside terrace. A signature copper pizza oven catches the eye from the street, as do other copper accents such as the suspended lamps made by artist Eiko Miki

126

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For interiors, Keiji Ashizawa teamed up with Copenhagen’s Norm Architects to develop a ‘Japandi’ aesthetic, where natural materials are key

using a metal-hammering technique. Other pieces come from a collective of artists with disabilities, including Rikuto Yoshida of Atelier Yamanami, his brush strokes layered atop photographs of Tokyo taken by Jonas BjerrePoulsen of Norm Architects. This popular neighbourhood Italian is always busy, its buzz created in part by chef Yu Inoue of trattoria L’Arte in Sangenjaya, who also oversees operations here. “The restaurant is open to the city, producing significant interaction between the hotel and the surrounding area,” observes Ashizawa. “It’s no exaggeration to say the hotel’s impression is almost entirely shaped

by L’Ombelico.” Playfully for hotel guests, the restaurant can be accessed directly through the lobby by an unassuming panel that is in fact a sliding door.

From the lobby to the guestrooms, furniture collaborations have resulted in bespoke pieces.

Lounge chairs and round oak tables in the lobby are by Ariake Collection based in Saga prefecture, while Karimoku Furniture is responsible for

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130

much of the outdoor seating, including water-

for Ariake. To celebrate Japan’s artisanal

resistant sofas and tables for the rooftop lounge.

techniques, there are also decorative woodblock

Serving hotel guests only, the rooftop features

printing pieces by Daichiro Shinjo and washi-

an infinity pool and sunken seating area with

paper pendants by Kyoto-based Kojima Shoten.

a fire-pit, set amongst verdant landscaping by

“Working on this project reminded me once

Buzz that includes species of aloe, agave and fan

again of the crafts and manufacturing traditions

palms. Cocktails are served from the adjacent

that remain strong in Japan, and the fact we can

bar, its curving timber folds accompanied by

still create spaces to make the most of them,”

green tiles that reflect the swimming pool and

notes Ashizawa, crediting the emerging and

park beyond. Vases on tabletops cheekily take

established makers who have contributed to the

the form of human buttocks.

creation of this hotel.

Of the five suites, the Owner’s Suite offers

A final mention must be given to the Trunk

a bird’s-eye view over the pool. Here, art

Atelier team, whose job it has been to source

by Mitsuyasu Hatakeda recycles wire from

original accessories for the guestrooms. From

vineyards into the shape of swimming bodies.

door tags illustrated by Akina Haga and made

More artwork from Atelier Yamanami decorates

using discarded fibres from banana plants, to

the spacious suite, which accommodates softly

hairdryer cases created from Yezo deer hide

curving sofas and the Tearoom Club Chair

that would otherwise go to waste, there has

designed by Stockholm’s Nick Ross for Audo

been much consideration given to the wider

Copenhagen. Elsewhere, guestrooms offer

environment. Fittingly, this consideration for

residential comfort in handwoven woollen

nature and society, which is a cornerstone of

rugs from Kvadrat, tactile oak and stone, and

the brand’s hospitality ethos, is wholeheartedly

paper cord chairs designed by Norm Architects

showcased at Trunk (Hotel) Yoyogi Park.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner / Operator: Trunk Architecture: Keiji Ashizawa Design Interior Design: Keiji Ashizawa Design, Norm Architects, Trunk Atelier Visual Identity: Trunk Landscaping: Buzz Main Contractor: Kitano Construction www.yoyogipark.trunk-hotel.com

Crowne Plaza, Birmingham City Centre

The Tokyo Edition GINZA Intimacy brings a sophisticated human touch to the second Tokyo Edition, a new local landmark that celebrates its connection to Ginza’s charming back streets.

Words: Neena Dhillon • Photography: © Nikolas Koenig

S

132

pringing from an established partnership

people do business from home,” notes Kuma.

between the brand’s creator Ian Schrager

“The style in which people lived on the upper

and Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, The

floors while their business is based out of the

Tokyo Edition Ginza injects a warm, slick and

ground floor has been common since the Edo

intimate hospitality offering into the heart

period. In addition, this street had a uniquely

of the city’s most coveted address. Ginza,

hospitable atmosphere. I told Ian all about this

with its heady mix of designer shops, upscale

and it became the concept for the hotel.”

restaurants and art galleries interwoven with

It is the crossover between the cutting

century-old stores, yakitori joints and bars

edge and traditional Japanese culture that has

dotted around the narrow back streets, has been

become the foundation of the hotel, which

crying out for a hotel with the savviness of an

prioritises human-scale proportions through a

Edition. Created by Schrager in collaboration

continuity from the street. There is also tribute

with Marriott International, the brand opened

paid to the different elements and city functions

its first Tokyo property in Toranomon back in

being woven together in Ginza. This is first

2020. The venture has been a great success, so

evident in the aluminium-detail façade of the

for the second outpost in the Japanese capital, it

sleek 14-storey newbuild, as Kuma observes:

was only natural that Schrager and Kuma would

“We installed latticework outside, with the

unite once more, but this time, their inspiration

linear components layered like woven threads.

comes from the streets of Ginza.

Originally, shops in Ginza had their own unique

“Since my father’s time, who was born in the

lattice designs that gave clues as to the items

late Meiji era, Ginza has been the commercial

being sold. We applied this same tradition to

centre of the city, lined with stores where

The Edition’s façade.”

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133

Sophie at Edition is light and airy, punctuated with pistachiocoloured seating, while Punch Room and the lobby bar feature vibrant jewel tones

134

A residential homeliness becomes apparent

Perhaps the most striking lobby feature

stepping into the double-height lobby, where

though, is the white metal sculptural staircase

diaphanous curtains float gently in the breeze,

that leads to the mezzanine floors. “We aimed

holding onto the shared connection to the

to bring a unique glamour to the staircase

street, much like a house. This welcome is

and make it immediately noticeable as soon

intentional, with walnut selected for its warmth

as guests enter the hotel,” says Kuma. “That

and materiality, contrasting with contemporary

glamour is not found in grand marble or a

lounge furniture in soft ivory and blush,

modernist element such as concrete; rather it

accessorised with silk pieces from antique

comes from the gentle light that is emitted from

kimono belts. On the statement undulating sofa,

the all-white structure.”

guests enjoy their first spotting of the lifestyle

The atmospheric staircase leads up to Punch

brand’s signature faux-fur throws, here in

Room, a signature F&B venue for the Edition

white, which are a repeating feature in the

brand, though its first outing in Japan. Here,

guestrooms above. Of course, this is an Edition,

dark walnut coffered walls are matched by a

so some aesthetic drama is needed. From the

ceiling in which Kuma’s historical study of

scalloped gold-hued bar, antique crystal bottles

traditional Ginza stores translates into a unique

with amber liquids glisten, while the discreet

woodwork grid designed especially for the hotel.

check-in deck is offset by a 20 th-century

“Koshi patterns would differ from shop to shop

Japanese silk byōbu (folding screen). Lighting is

in Ginza, with these lattices a type of vocabulary

one of Schrager’s points of design genius, so it

for the private homes,” explains Kuma. Beneath

comes as no surprise that the elevator walkway

the grid ceiling, upholstered club seating in

is illuminated by a floor-to-ceiling, two-tone

jewel tones of blue, gold and green, along with

lightbox panel – to dazzling effect.

leather Chesterfields, evoke the atmosphere of

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LOCATION REPORT

a smoky London gentlemen’s club. Large silver

Schrager’s New York sensibilities come into

punch bowls are filled with intriguing cocktails

play, finessed by touches of Kuma’s traditional

that are perfect for sharing, with the appealing

detailing. For continuing warmth and tactility,

graphic design of the cocktail menu by Tokyo-

cosseting walnut is used on walls and floors,

based artist Asuka Watanabe.

with crisp white linens and travertine tables

To enhance the F&B choices, The Tokyo

providing a clean contrast. Framed black-

Edition Ginza also has a 14th-floor brasserie

and-white prints by Takay Photography and

named Sophie. In contrast to Punch Room,

Sayaka Maruyama enhance the simple, timeless

this all-day venue is light and airy, awash in

interiors, while bathrooms are given a glossy

blonde oak punctuated with vibrant pistachio-

finish with green travertine basins, chrome

coloured seating and a smattering of plants.

fixtures and oversized mirrors. Even in the

The restaurant’s feature back wall displays

comfort of the guestrooms, the link to the

a collection of photography from Tokyo’s

Ginza streets below is unbroken, thanks to inset

streets by artists including Pak Han, Ash

alcove seating and leather armchairs located

Shinya Kawaoto and Tatsuo Suzuki, each one

near floor-to-ceiling windows for views of the

capturing the city’s many eccentric characters.

neighbourhood below.

As a final F&B flourish, the hotel also benefits

“Ian’s concept has never been about

from a hidden green retreat at the very top of

separating the hotel from the street, an idea

the building. The Roof serves natural wines and

I fully agree with,” Kuma concludes. “Our

biodynamic fizz from an olive tree and fern-

work on The Tokyo Edition Ginza has been

filled garden space, away from the hustle and

based on this; we have designed the hotel as a

bustle of the district.

continuation of the street, while considering the

It is in the 86 guestrooms and suites that

136

historical context of this part of town.”

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: Mori Trust Operator: Marriott International Interior Design and Architecture: ISC Design Studio, Kengo Kuma & Associates Graphic Design: Baron & Baron Lighting Design: Isometrix Landscaping: Madison Cox www.editionhotels.com

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LIGHTING FOR LIFE

The Great American Summer Brooklyn-based LMNOP tells the story of its latest visual identity scheme, which pays homage to nostalgic Nantucket summers.

Words: Cara Rogers

A

hotel’s visual identity can set the tone for the whole guest experience,” says Leigh Nelson, Principal and Creative Director of Brooklynbased multidisciplinary studio LMNOP. The firm’s eye for crafting a layered visual identity has seen it bring its creative vision

to a range of hospitality projects, including newly opened Nantucket haven Beachside Hotel.

The result of a partnership between Blue Flag Capital and Parts + Labor Design, the property’s retro interiors hark back to the 1960s, when the island became a popular spot for hedonistic travellers. “Blue Flag brought LMNOP into the fold soon after the deal was inked,” Nelson explains. “It was important to our client that our team be involved from the beginning to help write the story of the hotel and what it was going to offer its guests.”

Having previously worked with the developers in Nantucket, LMNOP began its research for Beachside Hotel, their prior understanding of the island and its unique character making for a natural fit. “We find early collaboration always produces the best results, and we were able to commence our work at the same time as the interior design team. We have a very fluid and open working relationship with them,” adds Nelson.

The studio’s approach to the project was defined by a ‘less is more’ philosophy, she reveals. “It’s an approach that

guides us to emphasise simplicity and elegance.

these features to show the connection between

We can avoid being over-designed, and instead

recreation and relaxation would be a major part

present a familiar, casual nostalgia that sets

of the narrative.”

the tone for the experience, whilst also being

Nelson continues: “There’s an approachability

punctuated by more vibrant brand moments,

to the hotel that was important to get across.

such as signage and merchandise. By taking this

Typography has a familiar, almost utilitarian

approach, we encourage guests to slow down

feel. Colours riff off a simple primary palette,

and create their own self-driven experience.”

and checkerboard patterns echo nostalgic picnic

Given Nantucket’s history as a popular

Other details include signage that feels unique

draws on the essence of an idyllic American

to the Nantucket vernacular and incorporates

summer, embracing a warm nostalgia that

plenty of playful moments. Completing the

sets the stage for guests to create their own

offer is a comprehensive retail experience,

memories. “That feeling is something that we

with merchandise that ranges from sweatshirts

felt everyone could connect to,” adds Nelson,

and hats, to bottle openers and koozies – all

highlighting that the studio’s work is “a love

designed to be engaging and fun.

note to the great American summer”.

Beachside Hotel’s visual identity draws on the nostalgia of an idyllic American summer

140

tablecloth imagery.”

summer destination, the hotel’s visual identity

Inside guestrooms, Do Not Disturb tags have

As well as the locale, branding draws on

been rethought, hanging from a keychain and

the property’s landscaping and interiors. “We

adorned with a custom illustration of sleeping

were excited by the unique layout and amount

sardines – quaint touches that, Nelson says,

of space we had to work with,” Nelson explains.

are often purchased by guests as a take-home

“Lots of lawn space and a swimming pool is

memento, leaving a lasting impression long

quite rare for the island, so we knew that using

after summer is over.

Construction Pipeline Global Hotel Groups Marriott International continues to have the largest hotel construction pipeline in the world as listed in the THP database, with 953 four- and five-star projects currently on the boards, amounting to 202,847 rooms globally. In Asia Pacific, the group has renewed focus on China, where brands including Luxury Collection and W Hotels are set to enter new destinations through 2025 and beyond.

IHG is growing in the Asia Pacific region too, with Japan the leading country for strategic growth. With 50 hotels open across the country and 15 in the pipeline, the group is on a mission to double its presence over the next few years, developing to meet demand from increasing tourist arrivals.

As the second most-active player globally, Hilton Worldwide is on course for expansion across all regions, due in part to the acquisitions of Graduate Hotels and NoMad. The group is slated to double its presence in the fast-growing lifestyle category, with 350 hotels set to join the portfolio over the next four years.

For Accor, the Middle East & Africa is a key region for new construction, particularly Saudi Arabia. Embracing an ambitious growth trajectory, the operator is set to add over 45 hotels to its roster by 2030, solidifying its leadership across all segments and reaffirming its position as the largest operator in the Kingdom.

THP is a data service to support the design, build, furnishing and operation of hotels worldwide.

For more information visit: www.tophotelprojects.com

142

AMERICAS

Projects Rooms

1

2

3

4

5

MARRIOTT 365 64,256

HILTON 334 53,549

HYATT 128 29,959

IHG 86 14,452

ACCOR 45 10,129

1

2

3

4

5

ACCOR 127 20,639

HILTON 100 16,406

IHG 90 12,771

MARRIOTT 87 13,476

RADISSON 50 8,486

1

2

3

4

5

MARRIOTT 107 26,828

ACCOR 106 25,859

HILTON 98 19,545

IHG 82 19,239

RADISSON 69 12,790

1

2

3

4

5

MARRIOTT 394 98,287

IHG 303 64,293

HYATT 238 49,636

ACCOR 233 51,901

HILTON 212 45,037

EUROPE

Projects Rooms

MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA

Projects Rooms

ASIA PACIFIC

Projects Rooms

BUSINESS CENTRE

THE GLOBAL PICTURE Marriott International continues to lead global development with 202,847 rooms across 953 projects in the pipeline. Hilton Worldwide meanwhile maintains its majority hold amongst the top ten most active brands, with its flagship crowning the list, followed by midscale Garden Inn and extended-stay Home2 Suites.

953 Projects 744 561 Projects 511 Projects 429 Projects

Projects

BRAND

PROJECTS

ROOMS

Hilton Hotels & Resorts

114

29,502

Marriott Hotels & Resorts

101

28,308

Hilton Garden Inn

98

16,849

Hampton by Hilton

95

13,508

Hyatt Regency

83

22,278

Crowne Plaza

83

19,658

Hotel Indigo

82

13,491

InterContinental

76

19,309

Home2 Suites by Hilton

76

10,112

Hyatt Place

73

13,264

Data in this report is extracted from the THP database and includes only four- and five-star hotel projects.

143

FEURING Hotel Development Europa GmbH is a Project Management and Development Company based in Germany and specialised in 4 and 5 star projects for the Hospitality Industry throughout Europe. Our mission is to ensure the completion of the highest standard on time and within the budget.

SELECTION OF OUR PROJECTS: Ameron Hotel, Davos, Switzerland / Andaz Hotel, Amsterdam, Netherlands / Munich, Germany / Concorde La Fayette, Paris, France / Concorde St. Lazare, Paris, France / Dolce Hotel, Munich, Germany / Dolce La Hulpe, Brussels, Belgium / Doubletree by Hilton, Košice, Slovakia / Grand Hotel Kempinski, High Tatras, Slovakia / Hilton Garden Inn, Davos, Switzerland / Hyatt Place, Frankfurt, Germany / Zurich Airport, Switzerland / Hyatt Regency, Düsseldorf, Germany / Mainz, Germany / Zurich Airport, Switzerland / InterContinental, Davos, Switzerland / Geneva, Switzerland / Jaz, Stuttgart, Germany / Jumeirah Hotel, Frankfurt, Germany / Mallorca, Spain / Kameha Hotel, Zurich, Switzerland / Kempinski Hotel River Park, Bratislava, Slovakia / Le Méridien, Barcelona, Spain / Munich, Germany / Split, Croatia / Stuttgart, Germany / Vienna, Austria / Le Méridien Domhotel, Cologne, Germany / Le Méridien Etoile, Paris, France / Le Royal Méridien, Hamburg, Germany / Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona, Spain / Bodrum, Turkey / Geneva, Switzerland / Munich, Germany / Paris, France / Prague, Czech Republic / Mövenpick Hotel & Casino, Geneva, Switzerland / Mövenpick Hotel, Basel, Switzerland / Stuttgart Airport, Germany / Zurich Airport, Switzerland / Radisson SAS, Rostock, Germany / Rosewood Hotel, Amsterdam, Netherlands / SOHO, Amsterdam, Netherlands / Swissôtel Bremen, Germany / Dresden, Germany / Geneva, Switzerland / Sochi, Russia / The Ritz Carlton, Berlin, Germany / Budapest, Hungary ...

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BUSINESS CENTRE

The intelligence source for the hotel investment community

All hail the conversion

there’s a lot of independents that see salvation

conversions – a contrast from a decade or

in a brand.” And he said that increasingly, new

more ago, when they were keen to preserve the

While investment transaction volumes are

signings are on a pure franchise basis.

district’s status as an office destination. Now,

lifting across Europe, new development remains

Europe at large remains a challenging

the Square Mile has up to 5,000 keys approved,

constrained by the higher cost of finance, and

landscape for those specifically looking for

as it welcomes alternative uses, particularly

worries over the capacity of the construction

new build opportunities. Sharan Pasricha, co-

high-end hotels.

industry to build to expected costs. The situation

chief executive of Ennismore, told the Financial

At Hilton, Nick Smart, vice president for

has been evident on quarterly results calls, with

Times in September that the group’s focus is on

development in the UK and Nordics, said

major brand groups declaring an ever higher

growing in the Middle East and the Americas,

conversions are currently a key part of growing

percentage of signings as conversions.

where development is easier.

the portfolio. He pointed to an office conversion

But there are conversions and conversions.

“Europe is generally a lot more challenging

in the City of London that will become a Curio

Traditionally, during tougher economic

than perhaps some of the other areas,” he

hotel, and the debut of the Home2Suites brand

conditions, new development is constrained,

commented, noting that Ennismore’s current

in Europe, via an office conversion that JMK

and brand groups look to sign existing hotels,

presence in the Middle East is set to grow by

Group is carrying out in Dublin. The 290-

either independents or those migrating from

70%, against 61% in the Americas and just 35%

unit long-stay hotel will be created from the

rival brands. Today, the hotel niche is also

in Europe. It has planted teams in Riyadh and

existing Telephone House office block. “We are

significantly converting, or repurposing,

Cancun to capitalise on local opportunities.

seeing a thawing - banks are under tremendous

properties from other classes, including retail

Pasricha said projects in Europe “sometimes

pressure to lend, in that context if they have

but most notably today, from the office market.

take a bit longer to develop than in other regions

a relationship with a customer who develops,

The office sector was hit by a double whammy

and other jurisdictions, versus properties that

there are opportunities,” he noted. “But it is a

from the pandemic and politics; enforced new

we have in the Middle East and in the Americas

gradual thawing.”

ways of working meant organisations reassessed

that are considerably bigger, develop a lot faster

Smart said Hilton is seeing good traction

their office space needs, in a world where

and have some strong feeder markets attached”.

in Europe with its new Spark brand, designed

working from home became more mainstream.

While it is about to launch an SLS-branded

specifically for conversions. First launched in

And, as energy costs rose following the Russian

hotel in Barcelona shortly, the group’s pipeline

the US, where dozens of sites have been opened

invasion of Ukraine, so a light was shone on

is significantly spread across central and South

and more signed, the brand has been released

those office blocks that had not been upgraded

America, with projects signed in Argentina

internationally. Its first UK signing, in Romford,

to be more energy efficient. Talk of “stranded

and Uruguay. In the Middle East, Ennismore is

was open in a matter of weeks and repurposed

assets” ensued.

building on its solid presence with four projects

a hotel that had been used for a government

under construction in Saudi Arabia alone.

contract immediately after its initial completion;

Tim Walton, senior vice president western Europe at Marriott, told Hotel Analyst that

Ronald Egelman, head of development for

and a first mainland European signing has

his board of 2024 signings in the UK showed

north and west Europe at Wyndham, said he feels

also been sealed in Germany. “It is a huge

no new builds: “It is 90% conversions from

the market is improving, but only in parts. “The

opportunity.”

other hotels - mostly unbranded, and 10%

market’s definitely more active, a lot more is

repurposing of other buildings. That tells you

happening. Is it improving? I’m not sure. There

HA PERSPECTIVE

something of where the market’s at.” He said

are a lot more portfolio and structured deals,

By Chris Bown: So the hotel sector in Europe has

other European markets were similar. “New

sellers are getting more realistic.” But, when

become substantially greener than we all thought,

build is still relatively tough.”

asked about new development and construction,

consuming only repurposed buildings to create its

Walton added that Marriott’s new Four Points

he added: “I’ve seen hardly any - it feels like

new hotel stock. The pandemic completely disrupted

by Sheraton Express brand, designed specifically

everybody is more focused on repurposing.”

the development pipeline, after which supply chain

for conversions with a flexible approach and

Egelman pointed to London’s financial

shocks proved a further drag, before rising finance

low conversion costs, is especially helpful

district, the City of London, where he said

costs threw another spanner in the works. Now,

in winning signings. “What we’re finding is

planners have become much more open to

desperate office landlords, who have realised they

145

can no longer lease their leaky, draughty tired assets,

fives to the mid-threes in some cases. “I think we’ve

“Corporations accept the digital nomad type

are flailing around looking for a solution. And a hotel

kind of turned a corner,” said North.

of employee. Today, when we’re building

In the same session, corporate financier Andrew

traditional hotels, we always put in coworking

But not all repurposing is easy, and imaginative

Harrington of AHV said that the market to date

areas, something you never did five years ago.

solutions such as hotel rooms without windows are

had been made by long-term buyers such as long-

We’re opening a Radisson Red in Phuket and

one such way to turn a deep floorplate office block

term funds, operators and private family offices.

half of the lobby is a digital nomad work area.

or department store into a hotel. One big brand

PE had been out of the market, said Harrington,

The hospitality business has evolved to digital

representative we spoke to declared themselves

as they were looking at things in a “strange way”,

nomads, probably one of the fastest growth

impressed by the progress of Zedwell, the Criterion

considering short-term rates and not factoring in

segments. And interestingly enough, most of

Capital hotel brand that is making a virtue out

yield compression. The transaction market is now

the big brands have not been able to nail it.”

of offering city centre rooms without windows.

moving as debt is more available and there is equity.

Murray is expected to negotiate fresh deals

EasyHotel and other budget brands already quietly

With values in the office market now bottoming

with landlords, and could still let go some sites

offer such rooms, and Premier Inn and PPHE are

out on most estimations, apart from some regions,

that are fundamentally not viable, moving ahead

both now launching subterranean hotels - how long

notably Germany, “true” conversions, ones that

with an approach that Selina’s management had

before one of the big brands really flexes its brand

see a building change its use, are probably close to

latterly realised was necessary.

standards?

their peak. The pick-up in the transaction market

In Spain, Room00 Group has paid around

will, however, generate a lot more rebranding

EUR20m to acquire the TOC Hostels business,

HA PERSPECTIVE

opportunities. The brand companies will no doubt

putting it immediately into first place as

By Andrew Sangster: Any discussion about hotel

continue to call them conversions and confuse

Europe’s leading hostel business. Combined, the

conversions will orientate around whether you are

everybody.

portfolios give Room00 30 hostels across three

conversion is just such a thing.

countries, with a signed pipeline of 20 more.

talking about repurposing buildings or rebadging existing hotels. By far the biggest market is rebadging

Hostels, Room Select Hotels, and a third brand,

whether the building is suitable for repurposing,

The hybrid and hostel space has seen several

bring locations across Spain, Portugal and

and then there is the challenge of whether the costs

reorganisation moves, as smaller brands look

Italy, with the TOC division expected to deliver

are low enough to make the project profitable. A

to bulk up in the niche. Fallen brand Selina has

revenues of at least EUR70m in its first year

hotel consultant this week told me about a chain of

found new owners, European chain TOC Hostels

under new ownership.

department stores in Germany that planned to add

is now in new ownership, while Generator is

“The combination of both companies

rooms to higher floors, where the value per square

looking to a new partnership as a way to

will generate operational efficiencies, cost

metre plummets relative to the lower floors. Out

accelerate growth.

reduction and improvement of services,” said

Change of use is hard. There is the challenge of

146

Room00 has to date traded under Room00

Hybrids consolidate

existing product.

Letoh Letoh, with sites across Spain. TOC will

of almost 50 buildings, barely half a dozen were

Asian group Collective Hospitality has

Ignacio Requena, CEO and founder of Room00

suitable. This example shows that unless you are

acquired the majority of the business of hostel

Group. “The acquisition has the potential to

very lucky with the design of the building or the value

group Selina following its administration. Based

significantly transform both companies and

has fallen dramatically, you are not going to make a

out of Singapore, the business is already active

the market in which they operate, contributing

project work financially. If anything, the 10% hit rate

with its own hostel properties in Thailand;

competitive advantages and new growth

is probably on the high side.

it currently trades via its in-house brands

opportunities.”

The bulk of conversions, then, are existing hotels

including Slumber Party, Bodega and Path

Generator, meanwhile, has formed an unusual

switching flags, or, attaching one for the first time.

Hostels. The deal with administrators means

partnership with Asian hotel group Dusit. The

And the perception is that most of the flag switching

Collective now holds the leases to around 100

pair believe they can each support the other

is being done by smaller chains being rebadged

hybrid hotels in 22 countries around the globe.

in finding sites, via a symbiotic collaboration.

under the moniker of a big chain. The key thing that

Collective is a part of Destination Group, a

Generator is strong in Europe and the US,

is coming together is the infamous bid-ask spread.

business established by owner Gary Murray

operating hostels and hybrid properties; Dusit

Speaking at a hospitality-themed session at the

in 1996. Destination has a track record of

has a good presence in Asian markets across

Urban Living Festival held in September, Dave North

developing four- and five-star hotels, for brand

several segments of the hotel space.

from Lloyds Banking Group said that the past year

groups including Radisson and IHG. He says

This groundbreaking partnership marks an

had seen five-year swap rates move from the mid-

that the hybrid space has great opportunities:

exciting new chapter in the growth trajectory

BUSINESS CENTRE

of our companies,” commented Generator

to the growing pressure from tourism in their

further development on the island of Bali.

CEO Alastair Thomann. “Dusit’s unique blend

country. The country’s prime minister has

The destination has already seen the number

of tradition and innovation aligns perfectly

announced a range of measures to restrict its

of hotels grow to 541 from 507 prior to the

with our vision for delivering culturally rich

growth. The move comes as a broader debate

pandemic. A moratorium on the development of

experiences for inspired travellers worldwide.”

opens up around not just the pressures, but the

new hotels, villas and nightclubs is being drawn

And UK-listed hostel operator Safestay has

positive value of tourism. Indeed some are calling

up, with reports suggesting it will be at least

had a busy first-half building its pipeline.

for an end to the use of the word ‘overtourism’,

two years, for four regions on the island. The

It added Spanish sites in Cordoba, where it

concerned it has become a pejorative term that

island’s acting governor, Sang Made Mahendra

acquired a hotel, and in Calpe, where it signed

ignores the benefits of welcoming international

Jaya, has also suggested there may be a more

its first management contract to take on an

visitors to a destination.

centralised approach to the issue of building permits in future.

existing shuttered hostel. And in Brighton, it

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has

secured a building for conversion to a 220-bed

announced a range of measures, aimed at

A recent paper from the World Economic

hostel. In central Europe, it acquired a leasehold

reducing pressures across the mainland and the

Forum points out that overtourism was already

site in Budapest, while exiting a lease on a hotel

country’s many islands. It comes shortly after

an issue prior to the pandemic, so in that sense

in Vienna, where it has been unable to secure

the mayor of Santorini, one of the most visited

it has simply returned. And it points out a range

permits to convert the property to a hostel.

islands, complained that his picturesque island

of measures that destinations can take.

Operationally, Safestay reported a 6% increase

was being overrun with visitors.

According to the WEF, the term overtourism

in bed nights sold, with occupancy up at 70.6%.

With Greece enjoying a strong economic

was first used in 2001, when discussing pressures

The company said summer 2024 bookings were

benefit from growing tourism numbers,

from visitors to the ancient ruins of Pompei -

ahead of the previous year, with group bookings

Mitsotakis was keen to point out that pressures

others have also laid claim to popularising it

continuing to recover.

are only being felt in a few key places. In 2023,

since. “Overtourism is more than a journalistic

the country welcomed close to 31 million arrivals,

device to arouse host community anxiety

HA PERSPECTIVE

generating an estimated EUR20bn. “Greece does

or demonise tourists through anti-tourism

By Chris Bown: The hybrid hostel niche remains a

not have a structural overtourism problem.

activism. It is also more than simply being a

tough one to build scale in. Patient private equity

Some of its destinations have a significant issue

question of management – although poor or

backers know it is a profitable space, done right -

during certain weeks or months of the year,

lax governance most definitely accentuates the

witness A&O. But now feels like there is momentum

which we need to deal with,” he said.

problem.”

to scale up and build some stronger, more substantial brands.

One measure will be a levy on cruise ship

Tourism, says the report, is simply an

passengers, targeted specifically at arrivals on

oversupply of visitors, compared with the

Collective is in a good position, having grabbed

Santorini and Mykonos during the summer

capacity of the destination to cope with them.

the spoils of the Selina house of cards. Leader Gary

season, where it will be set at EUR20 per

Often, it argues, this is a consequence of the

Murray sounds like the sort of character who will

passenger. There will also be restrictions on

tourism supply chain stimulating demand

quickly work out which bits of the business he has

the timing and volume of cruise liner arrivals.

without thinking through what happens next, or

picked up have merit, and which sites need to be

An accommodation tax already in place will be

the “ripple effects” on local communities. But,

dropped - putting Selina in a position to rise again.

increased for the summer season from April to

in some cultures these impacts are considered

October. Local communities have been promised

as less problematic. Stresses are enhanced when

a slice of revenues generated.

the beneficiaries of growing tourism - such as

Trammelling tourists

Elsewhere, the government aims to clamp down on short term rentals. In parts of Athens,

five-star hotel owners - are disconnected from impacted locals.

A further round of government actions have been

no more short term rentals will be permitted for

Ivar Yuste, of Spanish consultant PHG Hotels

announced, as authorities react to continuing

the next year. And, to encourage more housing

& Resorts, has been critical of the draconian

concerns around overtourism. At the same time,

back into use by locals, there will be a three-

approach of Barcelona, and more recently

some are now suggesting it is time to reframe

year tax break for those switching from short

commented: “I think the abuse of overtourism

the issue of travel demand, reflecting its positive

term to long term rental; an incentive also

claims is spiralling out of control. Politicians

economic impact, while planning more sensibly

available for those currently simply sitting on

are exploiting the concept of overtourism as

to mitigate its problematic impacts.

unrented housing assets.

a convenient pretext to justify broad-based

Authorities in Greece are the latest to react

Indonesia is preparing a clamp down on

tax increases. Alarmingly, some ‘big four’

147

BUSINESS CENTRE

management consulting firms are now openly

properties for sale do not make appropriate or indeed

advising local governments clients to increase

affordable homes for locals, in many cases.

taxes, despite what appears to be a glaring

and Barcelona, are not listed. This suggests that

conflict of interest. Yet there is no compelling

HA PERSPECTIVE

vulnerability to overtourism protests is more

evidence that destinations implementing these

By Andrew Sangster: Overtourism is a term that has

complex than the factors listed in the report.

new taxes see any tangible benefits; and there

been popularised in the last decade but it describes

One of the biggest issues is the perceived

is no proof that higher taxes actually reduce

a phenomenon that has existed for much longer. It’s

conflict between the availability of residential

tourism flows.”

where the growth in tourism is perceived to have

accommodation

reached a level where it creates harm – negative

accommodation. More tourist accommodation,

externalities in economics speak.

runs the argument, results in less availability of

He added that most sectors of the economy successfully regulate supply and demand by

and

the

rise

in

tourist

price adjustments - “yet, tourist destinations

Prior to the Covid lockdowns, overtourism was

are exhibiting a concerning lack of sophisticated

in common currency but it is in the post-Covid

The real issue, of course, is that more residential

revenue management strategies, undervaluing

lockdowns recovery period where we have seen a

accommodation needs to be built. The “artificial”

their assets in the process.

residential, particularly rental.

marked increase in complaints about tourism. This

shortage sees tourists outbidding locals for places

“Instead of imposing new taxes, destinations

is because tourism has reached new peaks and it has

to stay. Proper planning ought to allow enough

should focus on optimising their pricing

scaled those peaks rapidly from a position of almost

residential accommodation to be built (even if some

strategies across the board – from hotels and

no tourism. It is a bit like the frog in a pan of water.

local residents might not get the sea views their

restaurants to museums, shops, cafés, DMCs

Heat the water gently, and you can most likely cook

parents have enjoyed).

and leisure suppliers in general. By doing so,

the frog. Put the frog straight into boiling water and

In the meantime, the hotel sector needs to be

they will better manage tourist demand flows

it will jump out. The post-Covid lockdowns recovery

aware that it is increasingly likely to be in the firing

while maximising revenue.”

has made people realise the extent of tourism’s

line. Tourists don’t vote, at least in the destination

negative externalities.

they are visiting, and are easy targets for populist

HA PERSPECTIVE

Back in 2018, the European Parliament published

politicians. The hotel industry, along with the wider

By Chris Bown: We’re all for calls for a more grown-

a report “Overtourism: impact and possible policy

travel and tourism sector, needs to do a better job

up debate about tourism. It is clear that joined up

responses” that provides a useful overview of the

explaining why it matters and the benefits to society

strategic thinking is needed, to help balance demand

issue. It mentions that speed of change is a key cause

of its growth.

from visitors, with the sometimes fragile landscapes

of discontent with social media being a key cause of

and ecosystems they believe they want to visit.

problems back then, something compounded by the

Pricing is one simple way, but it needs to be sensibly

148

Interestingly, other areas where there have been issues around overtourism, like Venice, Amsterdam

rapid post-Covid lockdowns recovery.

planned, and not simply a gouging exercise. And

The report cites low transport costs as an

regulation needs to be applied carefully. One simple

accelerant and mentions Airbnb and Booking.com

example of the latter is near your correspondent’s

as issues. Although the lowering of accommodation

home in Wales. There, government has instituted

costs is not explicitly mentioned, it is most likely how

draconian short-term rental regulations, and

much easier it is to access accommodation, which is

allowed local authorities flexibility to increase

a contributing factor.

property taxes for properties that are not a primary

What is also interesting is to see the list of regions

residence. All this with the intention of creating more

in Europe at risk of overtourism at the time of the

homes for locals.

report’s publication. Among the 15 regions listed

The result in the seaside town of Tenby, is a flood

as most vulnerable to overtourism are Valencia,

of properties for sale, as investors try to get out -

Andalucia and the Canary Islands. The latter, in

faced with a threefold increase in property taxes,

particular, has seen a marked uptick in protests.

and the requirement to fill their property for more

Cumbria, Cornwall, West Wales, North Yorkshire and

nights than they can find willing guests. But the

East Wales are UK destinations that made the top 15.

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

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BUSINESS CENTRE

2.

3.

1.

4.

Performance benchmarking for the global hospitality industry 1. RIO DE JANEIRO

Events also boosted hotel performance in Abu Dhabi in August, resulting in its highest occupancy on record. Throughout the month, the Emirate hosted an international chess festival, an equestrian exhibition and a UFC fight, which collectively drove a 10.5% uplift in occupancy over the previous year, and a 19.3% increase in RevPAR.

September 2024 (year-over-year % change) Occupancy 71.5% ( 10.3%) ADR BRL907.20 ( 35.5%) RevPAR BRL648.33 ( 49.4%)

August 2024 (year-over-year % change) Occupancy 75.9% ( 10.5%) ADR AED434.30 ( 8.0%) RevPAR AED329.80 ( 19.3%)

2. BERLIN

4. BRISBANE

September 2024 (year-over-year % change) Occupancy 85.4% ( 1.4%) ADR EUR177.49 ( 18.4%) RevPAR EUR151.60 ( 20.1%)

September 2024 (year-over-year % change) Occupancy 78.5% ( 3.3%) ADR AUD236.64 ( 1.7%) RevPAR AUD185.82 ( 5.0%)

Proving that business travel is back, Berlin’s hotels posted all-time high ADR and RevPAR for September 2024, coinciding with InnoTrans, the world’s largest trade fair for transport technology. Performance spiked on 25 September – day two of the event – recording an ADR of EUR310.01 and RevPAR of EUR295.57.

150

3. ABU DHABI

Boosted by the Rock in Rio music festival, Rio de Janeiro’s hotel industry reached its highest monthly ADR and RevPAR in eight years, according to preliminary September data from STR. The biennial event saw RevPAR average at BRL648.33 for the month, marking a 49.4% increase over September 2023.

In Brisbane, a mix of business and leisure events propelled ADR and RevPAR to all-time highs for any September on record, according to preliminary data from STR. Occupancy peaked at 87.9% on 18 September, when the Brisbane Festival overlapped with the second day of the National Bus & Coach Show.

STR provides premium data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights for global hospitality sectors.

For more information and to subscribe visit: www.str.com

CC the president hotel.pdf

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2024/09/18

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The leaders of Asia’s hospitality scene come together in the Garden City for AHEAD’s first ceremony of 2024, with Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park winning big.

Kicking off the 2024 awards season, the hospitality industry gathered at Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay in Singapore for the first AHEAD awards ceremony of the year, eager to celebrate the best hotel projects from across Asia.

Opening the Chair Billie Khoo, took to the stage to share insight on this year’s judging.

“Throughout the judging process, it became apparent that what the panel seeks is beyond budget, beyond cultural adaptations and beyond a colour palette,” she revealed. “This year more than any year prior, the natural attraction towards authenticity or what we call ‘realness’ is greater than ever.”

The prestigious Outstanding Contribution accolade was presented to Ho Kwon Ping, founder and Executive Chairman of Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts and Laguna Resorts & Hotels, and Executive Chairman of Thai Wah. The visionary leader was commended for building a brand with an ethos of “Embracing the Environment, Empowering People”, immersing guests in nature-led spaces for three decades.

In the first of the category awards, the trophy for best Bar, Club or Lounge was presented to Aer, the new rooftop bar at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai. Atelier Pond was lauded for its

nautical-inspired design, whereby ocean views are set against a backdrop of sailcloth fabrics, stripes and brass accents. “True to concept” praised one judge, with another describing it as “feeling atop an ocean liner”.

The second F&B-focused award of the night was given to Mondrian Hong Kong’s Carna

by Dario Cecchini, a lively dining destination characterised by the chef ’s nose-to-tail philosophy, where interiors by Joyce Wang Studio take inspiration from ancient Roman architecture. Mondrian’s debut in the city, with its bold design concept courtesy of byKK, was also named the best Hotel Renovation – judges hailed it as “fun, colourful and witty – all things Mondrian”. The Hong Kong outpost wasn’t the brand’s only victory on the night – in the Suite category, Mondrian Singapore Duxton’s Shophouse Suite, conceptualised

by Studio Carter Design, was praised for its “unique experience and sense of place”.

Allowing guests to experience a reinterpreted vision of Singaporean heritage, the space’s design deconstructs the traditional shophouse.

Also scooping multiple trophies was Pan Pacific Orchard, with WOHA Architects’ biophilic concept impressing in the Event Spaces, Landscaping & Outdoor Spaces and Sustainability categories. A verdant sanctuary

in the sky of the Garden City, the property is home to over 100 plant species that cover more than 300% of its total land area, resulting in a scheme that “seamlessly integrates indoor and outdoor spaces”, the panel concluded.

Meanwhile, a former factory-turnedrestorative retreat in Kuala Lumpur was victorious in the Hotel Conversion category, with one judge calling the Studio Bikindesigned property “the most ambitious” amongst its competitors. The Lobby at Else Kuala Lumpur was also named the best in the region, thanks to an “industrial yet warm” aesthetic that provides a welcome refuge from the bustle of the city’s Chinatown.

The most celebrated project of the night however, was Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park.

Declared “a hotel that is truly more than the sum of its parts” by the panel, the Tokyo property took home trophies for best Guestroom and Newbuild, as well as Hotel of the Year. Crafted by Keiji Ashizawa Design and Norm Architects, the project impressed with its “beautifully harmonised design” that strikes a delicate balance between tradition and modernity. It was also commended for its “sensitive and considered engagement with the community”, which the panel dubbed “a pleasure to see in hospitality design”.

AHEAD

© Macro Studios

B A R , C LU B O R LO U N G E

RESORT

AER at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai – India Provenance Land / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / Prakash Mankar / Atelier Pond / PLandscape

Rissai Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve – Sichuan, China Luneng Group / Marriott International / WATG / Jaya Ibrahim

E V E N T S PA C E S Pan Pacific Orchard – Singapore UOL Group / Pan Pacific Hotels Group / WOHA Architects

GUESTROOMS Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park – Tokyo, Japan Trunk Co / Keiji Ashizawa Design / Norm Architects

HOTEL CONVERSION Else – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia GF Land / Else Perspective / Faizah Architect / BEP Akitek / Studio Bikin

HOTEL NEWBUILD Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park – Tokyo, Japan Trunk Co / Keiji Ashizawa Design / Norm Architects

H O T E L R E N O VAT I O N Mondrian Hong Kong – China Peterson Group / Ennismore / byKK / Joyce Wang Studio

R E S TA U R A N T Carna by Dario Cecchini at Mondrian Hong Kong – China Peterson Group / Ennismore / Joyce Wang Studio

S PA & W E L L N E S S St Regis Spa at The St Regis, Singapore Marriott International / Avalon Collective

SUITE Shophouse Suite at Mondrian Singapore Duxton – Singapore Craig Road Property Holdings / Ennismore / Accor / DP Architects / Studio Carter

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y Pan Pacific Orchard – Singapore UOL Group / Pan Pacific Hotels Group / WOHA Architects

ACC E S S I B I L I T Y ÀNI Private Resorts

NEW CONCEPT L A N D S C A P I N G & O U T D O O R S PA C E S

Not A Hotel

Pan Pacific Orchard – Singapore UOL Group / Pan Pacific Hotels Group / WOHA Architects

O U T S TA N D I N G C O N T R I B U T I O N LO B BY Else – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia GF Land / Else Perspective / Faizah Architect / BEP Akitek / Studio Bikin

Ho Kwon Ping

HOTEL OF THE YEAR Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park – Tokyo, Japan Trunk Co / Keiji Ashizawa Design / Norm Architects

LO D G E S , C A B I N S & T E N T E D C A M P S andBeyond Punakha River Lodge – Punakha, Bhutan andBeyond / Pem Gyaltsen / Fox Browne Creative

AHEAD

Clockwise from top left: Carna by Dario Cecchini at Mondrian Hong Kong; Not A Hotel, Ishigaki; St Regis, Singapore; Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park, Tokyo; Else, Kuala Lumpur; Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore

Spanning coast and countryside, branded and boutique, the winners of AHEAD Americas are revealed.

The second event in the AHEAD calendar took place in New York, with leaders from across the Americas coming together to celebrate creative excellence in the world of hospitality design. An opening address from Brad Wilson, CEO of Ace Hotel Group and chair of the judging panel, told of the discussion and debate that took place during the judging process, before commending the 200-plus entrants on their achievements in creating memorable guest experiences. “Your work represents the very best of hospitality design; you’ve pushed boundaries, reimagined spaces and delivered projects that left us both inspired and wondering how we can book a stay ourselves!” he commented. “The creativity, passion and attention to detail in your submissions were truly remarkable; they signal a bright future for our industry and for our guests, who benefit from the much richer experiences being created today.”

The high praise continued with the Outstanding Contribution accolade, this year awarded to the late Jeffrey Beers. Having founded his studio in 1986, the visionary designer brought his signature style to many of the world’s top hotels, restaurants and bars. In a heartfelt address, renowned chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud took to the stage to pay tribute, recounting anecdotes from the projects they collaborated on. The award was accepted by Jeffrey’s son Justin, who encouraged the industry to keep sharing stories of his father, to keep his memory and passion for design alive.

In the category awards, winning projects spanned rural and urban destinations, coast and countryside, branded and boutique.

Opening proceedings in the hotly-contested Bar, Club or Lounge category, The Pinky

Ring at Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas emerged triumphant, with Yabu Pushelberg lauded for bringing an elevated and sultry scheme to the Strip.

Next up in Event Spaces, judges were won over by the rustic charm of Flat Mountain Farm in North Carolina, where Shutze Studio opted for authentic materials that harmonise with the surroundings. The winning project in the Lodges, Cabins & Tented Camps category also takes cues from nature; designed by Post Company, The Rounds at Scribner’s in the Catskills caught the eye of the judges for its commitment to the narrative.

In Restaurants, it was The Long Bar at Raffles Boston named as the best in the Americas, with judges describing Paolo Ferrari’s interiors as a “testament to tailored, refined and elegant design”. And for Guestrooms, The Manchester in Kentucky impressed; the interiors, by Jenny Bukovec Design & Creative, celebrate a sense of place through a rich palette of timber, leather and handmade tiles – craftsmanship that didn’t go unnoticed by the panel.

The Hotel Conversion category sparked plenty of debate on judging day, so the eventual winner was one that contributes to its local community. Here, Method Co enlisted Stokes Architecture & Design to help transform a historic brownstone building into The Quoin, a vibrant neighbourhood hub in Delaware.

Outside the States, Mexico’s new hotels fared particularly well this year, taking home a total of five awards. Grupo Habita’s Otro Oaxaca won Hotel Newbuild for its “architecturally stunning” approach, in which Root Studio was praised by judges for the use of “simple and honest materials”. Along the Riviera Maya, it was the Tara Bernerddesigned Maroma that stood out for its

“deeply authentic narrative”, leading the Belmond property to be named winner in the Hotel Renovation category. The Riviera Maya Edition at Kanai picked up two awards – for Lobby and Landscaping & Outdoor Spaces – in a scheme by Edmonds International, Ian Schrager Company and Rockwell Group. The creative trio, along with developers Alhel, wowed the judging panel with the hotel’s integration into the site, adding that the “high drama and impressive use of scale” has a “memorable impact”. And in Bacalar, Design Hotels member Boca de Agua was rewarded for its commitment to Sustainability, where measures include construction methods that prioritise the fragile landscape.

Back in the USA, Firmdale’s Warren Street Hotel in New York won in the Accessibility category having shown a commitment to ADA-compliant facilities, while the New Concept award went to El Cosmico, an offgrid campground and creative hub underway in the Texan desert, where Liz Lambert, Bjarke Ingels Group and Icon are joining forces to create the world’s first 3D printed hotel.

The big winner of the night was Rosewood’s Kona Village in Hawaii, designed by Walker Warner Architects, Delawie, Nicole Hollis and Vita Inc. Having won Resort, Spa & Wellness and Suite, the property took home the ultimate accolade – AHEAD Americas Hotel of the Year. One judge lauded the “incredible sense of place created by the integration of Hawaiian culture and the volcanic landscape” while another stated that the “exquisite use of materials and unique moments bring the spaces to life”. In all, the property was deemed to combine the very best of architecture and interior design, resulting in a truly memorable guest experience.

AHEAD

© We Are Lasso

B A R , C LU B O R LO U N G E

RESORT

The Pinky Ring at Bellagio Hotel & Casino – Nevada, USA MGM Resorts International / Bergman Walls & Associates / Yabu Pushelberg

Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort – Hawaii, USA Rosewood Hotel Group / Walker Warner Architects / Delawie / Nicole Hollis / Vita Inc

E V E N T S PA C E S

R E S TA U R A N T

Flat Mountain Farm – North Carolina, USA Shutze Studio

The Long Bar at Raffles Boston – Massachusetts, USA Trinity Stuart Development / Accor / Studio Paolo Ferrari

GUESTROOMS

S PA & W E L L N E S S

The Manchester – ­ Kentucky, USA Hank Morris / Nik Feldman / EOP Architects / Jenny Bukovec Design & Creative

Asaya Spa at Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort – Hawaii, USA Rosewood Hotel Group / Walker Warner Architects / Delawie / Nicole Hollis / Vita Inc

HOTEL CONVERSION

SUITE

The Quoin – Delaware, USA Buccini/Pollin Group / Method Co / Stokes Architecture & Design / Method Studios

Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort – Hawaii, USA Rosewood Hotel Group / Walker Warner Architects / Delawie / Nicole Hollis / Vita Inc

HOTEL NEWBUILD

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

Otro Oaxaca – Mexico Integradora de Servicios Aliño / Grupo Habita / Root Studio

Boca de Agua – Bacalar, Mexico Rodrigo Juarez / Frida Escobedo / Mariel Lozano / Brenda Landeros

H O T E L R E N O VAT I O N Maroma, A Belmond Hotel – Quintana Roo, Mexico Belmond / Cabrera Architecture / Tara Bernerd & Partners

L A N D S C A P I N G & O U T D O O R S PA C E S The Riviera Maya Edition at Kanai – Mexico Alhel / Marriott International / Edmonds International / Ian Schrager Company / Rockwell Group

LO B BY The Riviera Maya Edition at Kanai – Mexico Alhel / Marriott International / Edmonds International / Ian Schrager Company / Rockwell Group

LO D G E S , C A B I N S & T E N T E D C A M P S The Rounds at Scribner’s Catskill Lodge – New York, USA Marc Chodock / Escape Hospitality / Taconic Engineering / Post Company

ACC E S S I B I L I T Y Warren Street Hotel – New York, USA Firmdale Hotels / Stonehill Taylor / Kit Kemp Design Studio / Brook Landscape

NEW CONCEPT El Cosmico – Texas, USA Liz Lambert / Icon Technology / Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)

O U T S TA N D I N G C O N T R I B U T I O N Jeffrey Beers

HOTEL OF THE YEAR Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort – Hawaii, USA Rosewood Hotel Group / Walker Warner Architects / Delawie / Nicole Hollis / Vita Inc

AHEAD

Clockwise from top left: The Manchester, Kentucky; The Pinky Room at Bellagio Hotel & Casino, Nevada; Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort, Hawaii; The Rounds at Scribner’s Catskill Lodge, New York; The Riviera Maya Edition at Kanai, Mexico; Warren Street Hotel, New York

25 SEPTEMBER 2024

17 OCTOBER 2024

4 NOVEMBER 2024

28 NOVEMBER 2024

PARKROYAL COLLECTION MARINA BAY – SINGAPORE

WEYLIN BROOKLYN – NEW YORK

BANYAN TREE – DUBAI

EVOLUTION – LONDON

EVENT SPONSORS

EE SMITH CONTRACTS, AT THE PINNACLE OF SUPER-PRIME FIT OUT ACROSS ALL LUXURY SECTORS W W W. E E S M I T H . C O . U K

@ E E S M I T H C O N T R AC T S

© Martin Url

164

SPOTLIGHT

House of Kaldewei As Kaldewei extends its reach across the hospitality industry, the sanitaryware manufacturer reflects on ‘luxstainability’, durable design and creative collaborations.

Words: Cara Rogers

D

esign is not just what it looks like and

of notable hotel projects of late, including the

portfolio: stainless steel floor drains, with

feels like. Design is how it works.” These

long-anticipated refurbishment of Singapore’s

added functionality through a click-and-clean

are the words of former Apple CEO Steve

Marina Bay Sands. McSherry continues:

mechanism. “The market response has been

Jobs, and also the answer given by Kaldewei’s

“Bathroom maintenance is very disruptive and

overwhelming,” quips Büttner. “Particularly

Divisional Head of Innovation and Portfolio,

costly, so owners need to avoid this by buying

from interior architects who appreciate the

Christian Büttner, when asked about the

once and buying well.” Büttner concurs, adding:

seamless integration of the same flooring in

sanitaryware group’s guiding principles. “This

“We strive for longevity in our products, not

the shower area. I was pleasantly surprised by

quote highlights the importance of usability and

only through the materials we use but also

the attention the cleaning feature received; it

the user experience in our products,” he adds.

through their functionality and aesthetics.”

seems we have addressed a longstanding issue.”

“Luxury products, first and foremost, must offer

Kaldewei’s diverse range of products sees it

The product is the latest in a long line of

undisputed best-in-class functionality. Then,

kitting out an array of hotels, be it lifestyle or

fruitful collaborations for Kaldewei – past

by adding some designer magic and surprise

luxury. “A product’s popularity depends on a

partners include Bethan Laura Wood, Arik

elements, while also considering sustainability

hotel’s positioning and brand standards,” says

Levy and Anke Salomon. “We are continually

and aesthetic longevity, the product may earn

Büttner. “Typically, our beautiful bathtubs are

updating and renewing our products, which

a place in the Kaldewei portfolio.”

more popular in the luxury segment, while our

involves constant collaboration with industrial

The portfolio in question has grown from

sleek and secure shower trays are favoured in

designers and architects,” says Büttner. “I

strength-to-strength since the company’s

the lifestyle segment. Our stylish washbasins

prefer to view this as partnering with creatives,

founding in 1918 in Ahlen, Germany. With the

have broad appeal across different categories.

rather than merely commissioning someone to

fourth generation of the family now at the

For the more luxury projects, we often supply

design a bath, for example. In return, I expect

helm, the group’s offer includes a wide range

spa solutions, whirlpools and proprietary

a genuine interest in advancing the Kaldewei

of bathtubs, shower surfaces and washbasins.

systems such as Skintouch or Sound Wave.

portfolio and contributing significant products

An ethos of ‘luxstainability’ underpins strategic

We also offer custom adaptations for larger

to the already crowded sanitary market.”

orientation, embodied through Kaldewei’s use

projects, including adjustments in size, finishes

of durable materials like steel enamel, as well

and colour.”

Collaborations past and present – as well as in-house endeavours – are explored in depth

A recent collaboration with furniture brand

at Kaldewei’s recently launched Iconic World,

It’s a philosophy that makes it a good fit for

e15, has proven popular across the board, its

where an interactive exhibition immerses

hospitality, explains Paul McSherry, Kaldewei’s

minimalist aesthetic making it well-suited to

visitors in the brand’s universe. Sleeper’s tour

International Project Manager. “In such a high

varied interior schemes. Envisioned by Stefan

of the space showcased the group’s growth,

traffic and demanding environment, Kaldewei’s

Diez, the collection of oak bathroom accessories

whilst also nodding to its family roots. The

products combine beauty with durability, guest

includes stools, towel racks, benches and

Iconic World finds home on the site of the

experience with luxury and sustainability with

bathtub bridges. Another recent launch, the

founder’s home, for instance, quite literally

investment,” he says, noting that the group has

Werner Aisslinger-designed Flowline Zero,

inviting guests into the house of Kaldewei.

been the bathroom supplier of choice for a host

saw a new category introduced to the Kaldewei

www.kaldewei.co.uk

as a philosophy of 100% circularity.

165

© Xxx

166

SPOTLIGHT

Style and Substance Combining human-centric design with cutting-edge technology, Hoad & More and Schneider Electric team up to present their vision of fusing form and function.

I

n the world of luxury hospitality, style and

relevant touchpoints that enhance the guest

& More’s bespoke switch plates are created

functionality are not competing interests, but

experience throughout.”

with principles of a circular economy in

rather elements that work together to elevate

At the centre of the partnership is the

mind, meaning they can be easily refurbished,

the guest experience. Hoad & More, renowned

ability to integrate advanced technologies

reducing waste and extending their lifecycle.

for its bespoke craftsmanship, and Schneider

– such as Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure

This approach aligns with Schneider Electric’s

Electric, a leader in energy management,

– into beautifully-crafted, intuitive switch

solutions, which help hotels reduce energy

automation and sustainability, have combined

plates designed by Hoad & More, all the while

consumption and meet decarbonisation goals.

their expertise to create a seamless new

addressing a rising demand for eco-conscious

For owners and operators, the efficiency

experience for designers, operators and guests.

luxury. Targeting architects and designers

and revenue potential of the smart solutions

The venture marks the next stage of growth

working on a wide range of commercial and

are maximised, with streamlined operations

for interior fittings and lighting supplier Hoad

residential projects, the resulting solid brass

leading to reduced costs and increased

& More, which has evolved from its origins as a

switch plates cater to the technical and aesthetic

profitability. Hotels that invest in smart

small studio in Hackney to a team of creatives

considerations of a project, ensuring energy-

and digital guestroom controls can increase

working with the likes of Rosewood Hotel

efficient functionality without compromising on

operational efficiency and improve revenue

Group, Marriott International and IHG Hotels

style. For guests, this translates to a seamless,

through higher guest satisfaction and retention,

& Resorts. Schneider Electric meanwhile has

intuitive experience where technology enhances

with data suggesting that quality product

a history that dates back to the 19th century,

comfort without overwhelming.

design and guest-centric innovation can lead

and is known for bringing its expertise in

“What truly sets this partnership apart is its

to up to a 5% increase in incremental revenue.

electrification, automation and digitisation to

visionary approach to hospitality,” states Hoad.

Notably, guests are increasingly willing to pay

infrastructure and buildings.

“Both Hoad & More and Schneider Electric

premium rates for hotels that consider their

“For Hoad & More, partnering with Schneider

are committed to pushing the boundaries of

environmental footprint.

Electric was a natural choice,” comments Jona

innovation, ensuring that hotels are not only

The partnership represents a forward-

Hoad, Director of Hoad & More. “Schneider’s

meeting today’s demands but are also prepared

thinking approach in the hospitality sector,

solutions go beyond guestroom management;

for the future. By embracing cutting-edge

recognising the importance of design,

they offer owners and operators a comprehensive

technology, personalisation and sustainability,

sustainability and digital technology in shaping

energy management system for the entire hotel.

we have created a solution that appeals to all

the guest experience and improving hotel

This holistic approach, combined with our

parties – owners, designers and guests.”

operations. By addressing both the technical

personalised design solutions, is transforming

The collaboration also addresses broader

and aesthetic needs of hotels, Hoad & More and

the hospitality industry. By closely collaborating

industry demands, particularly a growing

Schneider Electric hope to provide a compelling

with interior designers, we are creating a win-

emphasis on sustainability, whereby hotels

solution for an industry that is increasingly

win scenario where technology seamlessly

are judged not only on the basis of design and

focused on balancing luxury with responsibility.

merges with design, providing beautiful and

service, but on environmental impact. Hoad

www.hoadandmore.com • www.se.com

167

#6 LANGKAWI 4 - 6 March, 2025 Pelangi Beach Resort – Langkawi, Malaysia

www.sleepersessions.com

SPOTLIGHT FABRICS, SURFACES & WALLCOVERINGS From maximalist prints and 3D-effect panelling, to sleek marble and Renaissance-inspired tiling, these are the products breaking ground in the world of fabrics, surfaces and wallcoverings.

Egger PerfectSense Lacquered Chipboard Egger’s PerfectSense Lacquered Chipboard has been envisioned to meet increased demand for sustainable interior solutions that do not compromise on design. With a matte-lacquered, anti-fingerprint surface on a high-quality chipboard core, the 100% recyclable material offers functionality, stylish opacity and a negative carbon status. Furthermore, the core is crafted using recycled content and sawmill by-products, promoting material circularity. The surface is available in ten solid colours and four woodgrain effects that emulate true wood veneer, suitable for various vertical applications, including wall panelling, frontals and casegoods. www.egger.com

SPOTLIGHT

1.

2.

172

3.

1. Rubelli Kieffer Untitled II

2. Noël & Marquet Bertrand Lejoly Collaboration

3. LX Hausys Pink Leia

Rubelli recently unveiled Kieffer Untitled II at Focus/24 London, continuing the journey that began with the brand’s renewal under Formafantasma’s creative direction in 2023. Comprising 24 new fabrics, Untitled II expands Kieffer’s exploration of materials, textures and colours, adding to and enhancing the previous collection’s offer with new design possibilities. With an emphasis on the use of natural yarns and dyes obtained through oxidation, materials such as wool, jute and recycled cotton feature throughout, while new yarns including hemp-velvet and chenille raffia introduce rhythmic textures and vibrant colourways. www.rubelli.com

Noël & Marquet, a manufacturer of highquality, sustainably-crafted decorative mouldings, has launched a new collection of 3D wall panels. Developed in collaboration with Belgian designer Bertrand Lejoly, the range includes the ARC L and the ARC S, which feature elongated curves that nod to the retro interior design style of the 1970s. The new Canelé R L wall tile meanwhile can be combined with the linear Scandinavianinspired Canelé L panels to create modern and dynamic wall compositions.

All the panels can be quickly and easily applied to walls, allowing designers to efficiently add unique architectural detailing to interiors. www.noel-marquet.net

From timeless palettes to playful tones, HIMACS by LX Hausys offers diverse solid surface options suited to a broad array of design schemes. New for 2024 is Pink Leia, which responds to an increased audience demand for rosy hues in interiors. Instantly memorable thanks to its powdery pastel tone – which is eye-catching without being overpowering – Pink Leia is ideal for high-impact bathroom, spa or bar designs. The versatility and durability of HIMACS products makes for creative applications that are both easy to maintain and built to last. The high-performance material can be moulded into any shape and joined with virtually invisible seams, while its longevity, reliability and versatility make it ideal for hospitality applications, from decorative wall cladding to service counters and sleek sanitaryware. A homogeneous blend of minerals, acrylic and natural pigments, it offers a non-porous, stain-resistant and hygienic surface that meets the highest standards of both aesthetics and functionality. HIMACS is available in an extensive range of colours – including new versions with SCS-certification for recycled content, and a wide variety of basin shapes. LX Hausys offers a vast product portfolio, including HIMACS surfaces, seamlessly blending design and technology to craft premium materials that cater to a wide range of spaces, from hospitality to commercial and residential. www.lxhausys.com

Perform 2 Collection richloomcontract.com

SPOTLIGHT

1.

2.

3.

174

4.

1. Skopos Fabrics Skopos Studio

2. Morris & Co Digital Experience

3. Richloom Contract Perform 2

4. Casamance Amaryllis

Skopos Fabrics is inviting specifiers into its studio, an ever-growing library of design, allowing them to delve deeper into the minds of the Skopos creative team. The collection of printed textile designs, developed from archive ideas and document artworks, showcases a range of artists and trends, leaving specifiers to browse and determine how best to bring patterns and colours together – designs have been developed to work hand-in-hand with the brand’s other accent collections and upholsteries.

As well as featuring on the website, a physical binder of designs will soon be launched, updated regularly as new ideas are introduced. www.skoposfabrics.com

For the first time, Morris & Co’s extensive range of original wallpapers, paints, fabrics, home décor and lifestyle products is available for purchase through a dynamic digital experience. The brand, whose history dates back to 1861, has unveiled a new online home. The platform offers access to archival designs with unprecedented ease, whilst also providing behind-the-scenes access to the brand’s rich past, as well as the production stories that bring its offer to life. Celebrating Morris & Co’s story throughout, the immersive shopping experience embraces the changing needs of today’s customers whilst also staying true to its heritage. www.wmorrisandco.com

Perform 2, a fabric collection by Richloom Contract, blends timeless elegance with durability. Designed to brave the elements in a hotel’s outdoor spaces, the range includes performance velvets, ethereal sheers and captivating prints.

Comprising 16 patterns, available in 42 colours, Perform 2 ensures versatility across three main themes: Tropical Chic, Desert Oasis and Verdant Harbor.

Crucially, the fabrics can be incorporated into a wide array of settings, be it poolside retreats or starlit restaurant terraces. Headquartered in New York, Richloom Contract offers an expansive product range – from prints and woven materials, to intricate decorative textiles. www.richloomcontract.com

Casamance’s Jardin Felicia collection draws on a springtime aesthetic throughout its designs, which are inspired by delicate petals and leaves as the sun’s rays shine through them. The series brings together modern graphics with flamboyant colours, which are then lifted by metallic inks – such is the case with the Amaryllis wallpaper (pictured). Often blooming in the depths of winter with its flowers held by long stems, the amaryllis takes centre stage in the wallpaper’s composition. The overlapping flowers are stylised and printed as planes of colour on a base that resembles blotting paper, while golden or coppery metallic films add a further layer of sophistication. www.casamance.com

All decors shown and mentioned are reproductions.

Control budget, save time and increase the environmental credentials of hotel design projects with Simple Swaps.

To find out more to.egger.link/simple-swaps

EGGER_AD_Sleeper HIX_Nov 2024_236 x 275mm.indd 1

22/10/2024 10:29:28

SPOTLIGHT

2.

1.

1. Cosentino Le Chic Bohème Cosentino recently announced the launch of its Le Chic Bohème

by SilestoneXM collection. Expanding on the original range, which debuted in 2023, the new Le Chic Bohème embodies the luxury aesthetic of the brand’s hybrid mineral surfaces.

Made using 99% reused water and 100% renewable energy, the collection features four new colours: Jardin Emerald, Rivière Rose, Château Brown and Blanc Élysèe, all showcasing sophisticated veining and nuanced patterns. Jardin Emerald draws on the beauty of green marbles through a sophisticated pattern of golden veins, complete with metallic accents and black and cream notes that add a graphic depth. Rivière Rose, which pays homage to the whimsical patterns of ocean waves as they break on the coast of the French Riviera, sees a sea of taupe and blush pink veins bring vibrance to a warm white background. Château Brown meanwhile, is a take on earth-toned trends, featuring an elegant dark brown with a subtle marble finish, filled with light thanks to reflections of metallic pinkcopper and bronze veining. The final design, Blanc Élysèe is a delicate lattice of gold, grey and copper veins running through a bright cream background, to evoke the timeless elegance of classic Parisian palaces. The intricate, interlocking veins of each design are made possible by Cosentino’s new molding technology, which also enables finishes on edges and recesses with full continuity, even in curved, die-cut or milled cuts. www.cosentino.com

176

3.

2. StoneCircle Bespoke Stone Surfaces

3. Sicis Faux Mosaique

StoneCircle has extensive experience fabricating and installing bespoke marble, onyx and other stone surfaces into many luxury London hotels – often in restaurants and bars to create unique design details. The colour and type of stone can be varied to suit a wider interior design scheme, while techniques such as cutting and inlaying using waterjet cutting machines allow the company to create bespoke pieces in consultation with the designers and the client.

Onyx can be used to create a striking look when backlit (pictured), whereby the translucent pink onyx on the bar’s countertop and shelving on the walls glow with the light behind. The design language is carried through to the floor, where discs of onyx have been inset into wooden parquet flooring. www.stone-circle.com

Faux Mosaique by Sicis reimagines the timeless art of mosaic, blending tradition with modern design to create an offering that can transform interior spaces. Expanding beyond classic mosaic applications, Faux Mosaique offers wallpapers, fabrics, carpets and Vetrite – Sicis’ signature laminated glass panels, which capture light and create a soft, opalescent glow – each crafted to bring new layers of depth to any environment.

Inspired by intricate patterns and organic textures, the collection evokes the beauty of mosaic in striking ways, honouring the legacy of the material’s craftsmanship, while meeting the demands of contemporary interiors. The range also offers flexibility and modularity, allowing designers to adapt patterns in scale, colour and placement where needed. www.sicis.com

SPOTLIGHT

178

Timorous Beasties Textiles and Wallcoverings

Reed Harris Isola

Timorous Beasties is known for its unique wallpaper and textile collections, showcasing designs that reframe historic furnishing and decorative traditions from a contemporary and often satirical viewpoint. The brand’s products are designed in-house at its Glasgow-based studio and supply a wide range of specifications – from hand-printing to digital – and work with materials, including metals, glass and concrete. In addition to designing products to furnish the interiors and exteriors of a wide array of residential, hospitality and commercial spaces, Timorous Beasties also collaborates with clients for a breadth of bespoke projects. Recent hospitality partnerships have seen the brand bring its designs to the guestrooms at Hyde London City and Radisson Blu Glasgow, where its bespoke vinyl wallcoverings were designed and printed to fit each room elevation to reduce waste and installation time. Timorous Beasties’ fabric and wallcovering collections can be supplied on contract base specifications, and have furnished Claridge’s, The Goring and Pan Pacific London, as well as properties from other major hotel groups, such as Four Seasons, Hyatt, IHG, Fairmont and Hilton Worldwide. The brand’s extensive collections can be seen at its flagship London showroom, recently relocated to the heart of Clerkenwell. www.timorousbeasties.com

Isola, a range of marble mosaic tiles from Reed Harris, has been designed to blend age-old craftsmanship with contemporary design, delivering the visual warmth of natural stone in a refined decorative format. Traditionally, marble mosaics have been associated with ancient art and architecture. Now, Reed Harris has breathed new life into the material, allowing it to be integrated into contemporary interiors by reinterpreting its appeal to meet the desires of modern designers. While classic mosaics often focused on intricate pictorial representations, Isola embraces a minimalist, geometric design that resonates with today’s aesthetic preferences.

By combining the artistry of traditional marble mosaics with new patterns and applications, the range serves as a testament to the enduring allure of natural materials. Each pattern can be configured in a combination of marbles from Isola’s colour palette, with mosaic orders assembled on demand to ensure the flexibility to fulfil unique requests. Four surface options meanwhile are on offer: honed mosaic for a smooth, flat finish, a polished look to bring out the natural markings in the stone and reflect light, or the sandblasted and sandblasted brushed finishes, which provide a slip-resistant option for areas prone to moisture, ensuring enhanced traction and safety. www.reedharris.co.uk

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SPOTLIGHT

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4.

1. Agua Fabrics Zephyr

2. Arte Brushed Suede

3. Neolith Atmosphere: Breeze of Innovation

4. Kriskadecor Weaving Collection

Agua Fabrics has expanded its offer with Zephyr, a new indoor-outdoor material designed to last. The two-tone woven fabric is soft to the touch, crafted to mimic the look and feel of natural wool, whilst also being versatile enough to perform both in the comfort of a hotel lobby and in an outdoor dining setting.

Available in both bold and neutral shades, Zephyr’s colourfast dyes ensure that it can withstand UV rays, preventing the fading of its rich tones over time – even with prolonged outdoor use. The range’s Crib 5 fire-retardancy and waterproof coating meanwhile provide additional durability, allowing use throughout the year, regardless of the elements. www.aguafabrics.com

Arte has unveiled Brushed Suede, a collection that reimagines different painting techniques as wallcoverings.

The first of two designs in the range, Brushed Suede (pictured) is named after a process whereby paint is applied in patterns to create a soft suede look.

Arte’s approach is less time-consuming and labour-intensive, mimicking the aesthetic without the complexity behindthe-scenes. Brushed Suede is available in 25 colourways, including neutral tones, as well as brighter red, purple and green hues. The second wallcovering, Sherwood, draws inspiration from the forest after which it is named in Nottingham, renowned for its trails. www.arte-international.com

Neolith has launched Atmosphere: Breeze of Innovation, a range of surfaces available in four colours – WhiteSands, Rapolano, Artisan and Ignea. Produced using a new digital technology, WhiteSands is inspired by the serene dunes of New Mexico’s White Sands National Park, its soft texture and pale colour creating a brightening effect. Rapolano meanwhile is a tribute to the design of 16th-century Renaissance Italian palaces; Artisan is inspired by the limestone that covered Europe’s Gothic cathedrals in the 14th and 15th centuries; while Ignea (pictured) evokes the aesthetic of volcanic landscapes, paying homage to the Earth’s magmatic cycles. www.neolith.com

Kriskadecor, the Spanish studio known for creating bespoke design solutions using aluminium chains, has unveiled the Weaving Collection. Designed by Estudi{H} ac and its Creative Director José Manuel Ferrero, the range pays homage to the world of fashion and textiles through 14 designs that mimic weaving techniques.

Reimagining Kriskadecor’s aluminium chains, various weaving methods have been translated through graphic design to create a three-dimensional effect that interacts with the light, colour and finishes of the chain links. The finished product combines the durability of metal with the appearance of textiles, adding a unique feature to interiors. www.kriskadecor.com

SPOTLIGHT

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Grant Westfield Warmia Walnut

Vagenas Outdoor Living

UK wall panel manufacturer Grant Westfield is set to showcase its brands Naturepanel and Multipanel at this year’s HIX – the event for hotel interiors.

Launched following the rise in demand for slat wall design, Naturepanel offers an aesthetic inspired by natural materials and a Scandinavian design style, with products available in three different wood-effect finishes: Bleached Cuneo Oak, Brown Cuneo Oak and the newly-launched Warmia Walnut. Completely waterproof, the panels are suitable for hotel bathrooms, gyms and receptions, and are easy to clean and quick to install, as well as EPD-accredited and FSCcertified. The richness of Warmia Walnut adds depth and drama, facilitating the creation of eye-catching interiors, whilst also providing the appearance of traditional wood slat walls without the maintenance. www.naturepanel.co.uk

The story of Veganas began in the 1960s with a vision to curate an eclectic range of wallpapers, upholstery fabrics, accessories and sophisticated carpet solutions.

Now, years of continuous and meticulous research in the upholstery, carpet and flooring markets have culminated in a diverse portfolio of brands imported by Vagenas, including Misia. The In & Outdoor collection (pictured) has its roots on the island of Corsica, inviting users to imagine themselves in a hamlet perched on a cliff, or in a fisherman’s cottage on the water’s edge. The range features bouclette fabrics, patterns, airy voiles and modern stripes, which mimic the finesse of blended cottons, linens and felted wool in shades of gold, olive green and plum. Each of the fabrics follows outdoor use specifications, made of high-tech fibres that are resistant to external hazards such as chlorine, salt water, light and humidity. www.vagenas.eu

SPOTLIGHT

Q&A

Atlas Concorde Boost Expression Atlas Concorde recently partnered with designer Elisa Ossino to launch Boost Expression, a collection of porcelain wall tiles with a three-dimensional concrete effect. Here, the designer speaks on the process of bringing the products to life.

How did this collaboration come about?

I was initially invited to Atlas Concorde’s showroom in Milan to learn more about their offering. The brand then invited me to design a collection, and the idea of working with a material I had never dealt with was an interesting challenge.

What values do you share with Atlas Concorde?

We both share a strong attention to the material quality of surfaces – I have been conducting research on materials and possible applications for years and have recently delved into surface design. The collection that I designed emphasises texture and tonal variations in a continuous dialogue between materials and spaces, light and shapes.

What are the defining characteristics of Boost Expression?

My main idea was to work on the identity and expressiveness of the material, without imitating other surfaces. Also important was to work on the sensorial aspect of the material, so I spent time exploring the three-dimensionality of the surfaces. I designed 3D and tactile textures that vibrate with the variations of light, creating a soft and pictorial effect on internal surfaces.

What was the inspiration behind your designs?

Geometry was certainly a strong inspiration, and the irregularity of the material on 3D geometric patterns generated a very interesting dialogue. The pattern of each piece is a narration of light and touch, where we can identify chiaroscuro transitions, Modernist traits and Op Art references, to name but a few.

What kind of colour palette did you opt for?

I created a palette of natural, warm colours specifically for the project – timeless and able to lend themselves to different types of settings, both in the city and in nature.

What interiors is Boost Expression suited to?

I think the collection works well both in domestic and contract environments. It is perfect for hotels where you are looking for a sophisticated but warm and enveloping atmosphere. www.atlasconcorde.com

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SPECIFIER

Sutherland Furniture Fall 2024 Sutherland Furniture has teamed up with architecture and design firm Workshop/APD for a Fall 2024 collection. The new pieces include the Drift Sofa and Drift Chaise, which feature soft yet tailored upholstery that bridges the gap between indoor and outdoor living. The angular base is reminiscent of a ship’s hull to create the illusion as though the pieces are floating. “We do so much work in coastal climates and we are always searching for sophisticated modern outdoor furnishings,” explains Andrew Kline, Associate Principal, Workshop/APD. “These pieces feel subtly coastal, in the way that rounded sand dunes softly intersect, or waves crest and break.” The Archer Coffee Table and Archer Occasional Table meanwhile, play with material and curvature by combining wood and GFRC components. The former is a powder-coated aluminium drinks table with crisp lines that seamlessly blends into its surroundings. www.sutherlandfurniture.com

SPECIFIER

Apaiser Tulle Inspired by the elegant drape and fluidity of fabric, Apaiser’s Tulle collection captures the grace and indulgence of couture in every meticulously crafted piece. Featuring a sculpted surface enhanced with slender, uniform reeds, the range creates a dynamic interplay of light and shadow that captivates the senses. The soft undulations infuse each piece with a sense of fluidity and motion, enhancing its architectural detail and organic flow within the bathroom. Sustainably handcrafted from the brand’s signature ApaiserMarble, Tulle comes to life when finished in soft whites or moody darks, where the contrast highlights every subtle curve and contour, revealing its craftsmanship, precision and dedication.

Comprising a freestanding bathtub, countertop basin, single and double vanities, and a matching side table or shower stool, the series embodies the brand’s approach to sustainable luxury. www.apaiser.com

Unikateur The Art of Crafting Unique Hospitality Brands Unikateur is a creative agency specialising in the development and marketing of hospitality concepts. The company delves deep to unearth the essence of a hotel, crafting experiences that resonate – from the first interaction to the final farewell. Working with owners and operators throughout the course of a project, Unikateur effectively helps to shape the brand, working to the belief that authenticity is the cornerstone of lasting success. As such, its approach is rooted in a holistic understanding of the brand, the design scheme and the market. Blending creative vision with practical expertise, Unikateur’s seven-phase process brings brands to life, ensuring every touchpoint, from the logo to the guest experience, reflects a cohesive, compelling identity. Most recently, Unikateur partnered with the owners of Eriro, an Alpine hideaway in Austria, to develop a brand that remains faithful to its heritage whilst embracing a touch of modern elegance. Its remit spanned from the hotel’s name – derived from the ancient word for ‘at the beginning of the forest’ – to its minimalist design language and thoughtfully curated F&B concept. According to the studio, every aspect was crafted to evoke tranquillity and a connection to nature: “Ideas become actionable concepts through experienced strategists, but only through determined creators do they transform into unforgettable experiences.” www.unikateur.com

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M EET U S AT H I X OU R B O O T H IS 3 5

C URTAIN SYST EMS FOR SMART HOTEL S

For more info

Forest Group offers different drapery hardware solutions especially made for the hospitality industry. Whether you choose for our motorised curtain tracks or rods, blinds or manual curtain tracks your hotel guest will experience ‘the Forest Factor’. Which stands for a unique combination of beautifully hanging curtains, comfortable luxury and optimal ease of use.

www.forestgroup.com

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SPECIFIER

© John Athimaritis

© Anthony Weller

CASE STUDY

Ultimate Library The OWO

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Ultimate Library curates bespoke book collections for luxury hospitality and residential projects worldwide, each tailored to reflect the location, design and character of the property.

At The OWO, set within the Grade II-listed former Old War Office, the London-based firm undertook three distinct projects that showcase a dedication to creating unique and immersive reading experiences.

For the hotel component, Ultimate Library collaborated with Raffles leadership to curate a collection that enhances the guest experience, immersing curious visitors in the building’s storied past and its role in British history. In The Drawing Room, beautifully crafted shelving is stocked with a wide range of tomes, including biographies on Winston Churchill and Ian Fleming, alongside titles celebrating London’s literary legacy.

In a collection of residences, designed by

Albion Nord to marry old and new, classic and contemporary reading books add warmth and soul to each space, and include biographies of key British figures, alongside titles on London’s cultural history and the visual arts. According to Camilla Clarke, founder of Albion Nord, the bespoke collection adds to the scheme: “Ultimate Library go over and above to help us source the best books for the job.”

And at The OWO Penthouse, created by Winch Design, the coffee table is topped with luxuriously produced monographs that nod to the contemporary artworks displayed throughout, by artists such as Jeff Koons, Yayoi Kusama and Harland Miller. Sophie RobsonBarton, Senior Interior Designer at Winch Design, shares: “The books look incredible, and they are also relevant to the spirit of the penthouse and its location.” www.ultimatelibrary.co.uk

▪ UK Manufacturer and Dedicated In-House Design Team ▪ Supplier to Major International Hotel Groups & Cruise Lines ▪ Experienced in Large Project Work with Bespoke Product Capability ▪ Bespoke Joinery and Case Goods Manufacturer

w w w. r o m a n - s h owe r s . c o m

▪ Products Exceed all Compliance Standards ▪ Promotes Sustainability and Circular Economy ▪ Global Manufacturer to over 70 International Markets ▪ Solid Surface Fabrication of Basins, Vanity Units and Bathroom Structures

SPECIFIER

Forest Group EasyTouch Remote Forest Group has launched the EasyTouch remote, the first in a new series of remote controls for its window covering systems.

Featuring a sleek, modern design, the six-channel remote takes an ergonomic shape that fits comfortably in the hand. Its intuitive button layout makes curtain control effortless for guests, while its robust design ensures it can handle the demands of daily use, making it suitable for both residential and hospitality settings, particularly the ability to deactivate unused channels. Available in matte white and black finishes, the EasyTouch remote blends seamlessly into any interior design with a transparent wall holder making it easily accessible. www.forestgroup.com

Dornbracht Light Gold Lively, light and multi-faceted, the new Light Gold finish from Dornbracht subtly alternates between cool and warm undertones.

Available in a glossy or brushed version, it combines luxurious aesthetics with lightness and elegance for eye-catching accents in modern bathroom interiors. The launch marks one of the brand’s first specially developed PVD finishes following a €7m investment in a state-of-the-art, energy-efficient production line. The new technology complements electroplating and wet paint, or powdercoating, introducing new colour schemes to Dornbracht’s curated selection of finishes. Light Gold is available on several design series, including Meta, IMO and Lissé. www.dornbracht.com

Elstead Lighting Atomo Elstead Lighting has partnered with Canadian lighting brand Eurofase to expand its Quintiesse premium collection. The collaboration seeks to bring a fresh and modern design to the range, in a bid to elevate its appeal to architects and designers requiring 240v electrics. The three-light Atomo wall light (pictured) belongs to a family of ceiling pendants and wall fixtures comprising hand-blown glass spheres and a proprietary LED lamping called Crystal Pitch. Faceted crystal gears surround the light source to emit refraction within the crystal glass globe. Available in polished chrome or gold finishes, the wall lights are IP44-rated for use in the bathroom, as well as other interior settings. www.quintiesse.com

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SPECIFIER

Inner Design Shanti Inner Design presents Shanti, a revolutionary chair that blends modern aesthetics with the essence of tranquillity. Designed by Joachim Froment and inspired by Rajvi Bhogaita, Shanti offers a personal sanctuary for relaxation, ideal for offices, airport lounges, hotels and homes. Produced in Belgium, Shanti exemplifies exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail. The chair is customisable, with a curated selection of luxurious textiles from Burel Factory, Maharam and Designs of the Time for the upholstery, allowing it to seamlessly fit into various design schemes. Inspired

by Japanese and Scandinavian design principles, Shanti is both sustainable and elegant. Its sleek cocoon design integrates features like built-in adjustable LED lighting and a movable shell, setting it apart from bulky, tech-heavy meditation pods. Produced locally in Brussels and designed to last, Shanti not only enhances personal well-being but also supports sustainable practices. Inner Design’s Shanti offers a refined space for individuals to unwind, reconnect and find peace in a hectic world. www.inner-design.com

Roman Colour Finishes The rapid evolution of colour options in the designer bathroom market has never been more dynamic. As such, British shower designer and manufacturer Roman has expanded its Haven Select Wetroom Panel range with the introduction of a new Gun Metal colourway. This new option reflects the growing preference amongst architects and designers for the dark grey hue’s timeless sophistication, which is increasingly used in high-end bathrooms.

The Haven Select Wetroom Panels now also feature 8mm fluted glass, a design choice that is gaining popularity due to its elegant, space-enhancing appeal. The pairing of Gun Metal with fluted glass offers a blend of classic and contemporary, creating a statement centrepiece in any bathroom setting. Roman has also announced the release of another highly sought-after finish, Brushed Bronze, now available in Roman’s Haven Select Wetroom Panel range. As with all finishes, Brushed Bronze and Gun Metal will be offered at no additional cost, with all colour options priced consistently. www.roman-showers.com

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SPECIFIER

SV Casa Luxury Hotel Accessories It’s the little touches that make a hotel guest’s stay all the more special, and no one knows this better than SV Casa. Co-owner and Managing Director Niccolò Santi delves into the mastery behind the luxury hotel accessories brand.

An Italian born in Rio de Janeiro, raised in Cairo and based in Hong Kong, Niccolò Santi has strategically positioned SV Casa at the forefront of the luxury hotel accessories and OS&E market.

By seamlessly merging artisan bespoke design with large scale production, SV Casa meets the unique demands of each hotel it partners with.

Having completed over 400 hotel projects, from the 3,600-key Fontainebleau in Las Vegas to the luxurious Rosewood Hong Kong, Capella Sydney and The Lana in Dubai, the driving force behind the brand’s success is a people-centric approach. “We aim to treat our clients the same way a luxury hotel treats their guests,” explains Santi. “After all, hospitality is a people’s business.”

As the luxury hospitality sector continues to expand, there is increasing emphasis on differentiating through unique products and experiences. SV Casa believes it can make a point of difference, by offering fully bespoke capabilities from gifting to guestroom, bathroom and F&B setups and much more. “Not every link in a luxury hotel chain is the same. Our commitment is to understand each property and continue the story started by the interior designer with each and every product,” reveals Santi.

SV Casa is currently involved in some of the most eagerly anticipated projects in the hospitality industry, yet it is in constant competition with itself. “Our best project is always the next one,” states Santi. This relentless pursuit of excellence ensures that luxury never becomes mundane at SV Casa.

The brand’s journey is testament to its dedication to bespoke craftsmanship and ability to adapt and innovate continuously. Its story, much like the products it creates, is one-of-a-kind. www.svinternationaldesign.com • www.sv-casa.com

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MOTT 32

( DUBAI , UAE)

Nine Stars International Dubai, UAE info@ninestarsintl.com +971 4 319 9160 nsibcf

SPECIFIER

Tuuci Ocean Master Voilare The new Ocean Master Voilare parasol features a sophisticated silhouette and intricate frame system that creates its own focal point above and beneath the canopy. The larger Ocean Master Mega Max Voilare features a pagoda-inspired top, with a 20ft canopy that sits over 24 curved fluted ribs and a 133mm mast that aids and defends against the wind. Piping and tassel enhancement options meanwhile complete the design. The smaller 2.6m or 3.4m Ocean Master M1 Voilare parasol has 12 curved ribs, a 51mm mast and a flowing sea scallop valance. The M1 Voilare Wonder offers preselected enhancements, including a Wonder screenprint on a double-sided canopy, with all enhancements available in a variety of colours. By combining pre-selected upgrades with customisable elements, the Voilare Wonder offers a balance of convenience and personalisation, enabling hotels to enhance their outdoor spaces. Ocean Master Voilare parasols have a vision hub design constructed of marine-grade stainless-steel for both flexibility and durability, making them suitable for hospitality, commercial, restaurant settings and residential applications. www.tuuci.com

Original BTC Blossom Linear Wall Light The Blossom Linear Wall Light is the result of an ambitious project undertaken by the Original BTC design team in partnership with its most experienced craftspeople. The luminaire features an elongated shade, casting a warm, soft glow while simultaneously providing gentle illumination. From a distance, the light appears monolithic and linear, yet up close, the details shine through. The petal-shaped top stretches into gently curved elements, separated by slim lines where the ceramic is slightly thicker. Brass screws affix the shade to the backplate, which holds the LED light source and the IP44-rated wall light can be positioned next to a mirror or above a bathtub, adding warm accent lighting to any space. To achieve the symmetric lines of the shade, the team tried and tested many moulds and perfected the firing process. The slip is poured into the mould, left to dry until solid, with any excess returned to the slip barrel for reuse. The greenware then air dries, is sponged and fettled to smooth out any irregularities, before being biscuitfired, glazed and fired again. The final assembly takes place in the Original BTC factory in Witney, Oxfordshire. www.originalbtc.com

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You provide the luxury stay

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SPECIFIER

Manutti Inspire Santorini

Graff Vintage / Harley

Manutti has supplied Solid dining armchairs to the Inspire Santorini luxury villas, fusing contemporary design with natural beauty against the backdrop of the Fira cliffs. Designed by Studio Rare Encounters and delivered by Pergola, the seats are characterised by clean lines and warm wood that harmoniously complement the villas’ whitewashed walls and minimalist architecture, crafting an inviting outdoor oasis. These terraces showcase high-quality materials such as wood and aluminum, creating a seamless aesthetic. The selection of Manutti’s Solid chairs reflects a commitment to elegance and comfort, enriching the serene ambiance of each terrace. www.manutti.com

Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with locations across Europe, Graff has positioned itself as at the forefront of design, creating designer-based collections for the luxury market. A contemporary line with subtle yet elegant industrial details, the Vintage series (pictured) brings a sense of nuance and historic intrigue to the bath space with rich industrial chic details equally suited for a metropolitan loft space or a country estate. The Harley range meanwhile, was derived from the stylings of classic motorcycles, fusing an industrial aesthetic with details nostalgic of the all-American icons. www.graff-designs.com

Ethimo Boldini Ethimo has reimagined the Bold dining table on a smaller scale with different colours for outdoor lounge areas. Boldini coffee tables present an opportunity to create different arrangements and original combinations alongside the many other Ethimo lounge items. Available in three shapes, the tabletops are created in Rosso Francia or Verde Guatemala marble or sand-coloured travertine, available in a bright glossy finish that accentuates the natural veining. The glazed ceramic legs echo the shiny tabletops, adding dynamism and cohesion to the overall design. The tables can be used as standalone pieces to add a touch of colour to their surroundings or can be grouped together as a triptych, thus providing the option to create personalised arrangements. The attention to detail, choice of materials and variations in colour, make the new Boldini coffee tables distinctive pieces that add character and charm to outdoor environments. www.ethimo.com

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QN-KEPLER-7P-BG

COMING THIS AUTUMN

NEW EUROFASE LIGHTING COLLECTION enquiries@quintiesse.com | quintiesse.com

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SPECIFIER

Q&A

DUX A Partnership with Bang & Olufsen DUX recently partnered with Bang & Olufsen to launch The Audio Headboard, a solid wood headboard complete with two Beosound Level speakers. Handcrafted to the requested specification, the product is available in three solid wood finishes, with three choices of stone top colours.

Here, Kevin Slade, DUX’s Director of Growth tells all on the partnership and what the launch can bring to hotels.

How did the collaboration with Bang & Olufsen come about?

We are always looking for new collaborations that fit our brand, and I had discovered that Bang & Olufsen were looking for a new way to be present in the bedroom and sleep industry. Through some very positive early discussions, it was apparent to all involved that this was a perfect partnership to build.

How is the headboard suited to hotels?

It seamlessly and beautifully combines a statement piece of furniture in the form of a headboard with technology that many guests look for in a hotel room: fine sound, smart voice assistance and wireless charging.

How does the headboard improve guests’ wellbeing?

The use of music to both go to sleep and wake up can enhance a person’s sleep and ultimately their wellbeing. With this in mind, DUX has created a playlist for winding down and waking up that uses the beats per minute in a track to influence energy levels.

What advantages does the product bring to operators?

By having all these features in one item, it minimises the number of suppliers, ensures a smooth, integrated design and offers guests a truly premium experience.

What kind of interiors is the headboard suited to?

The design was intentionally Scandinavian, however the varied finish options make it versatile for all settings.

How can it be customised?

We handcraft each and every product to order. With The Audio Headboard, personalisation options include varied sizes and finishes, as well as a choice of cushions. Both DUX and Bang & Olufsen have a long tradition of bespoke products, so anything within reason is possible! www.duxiana.com

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& Contract

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PARIS

16 - 20 JAN. 2025

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Adventures in hotel design

Expo. Talks. Installations. Social.

Be a part of it: www.hixevent.com

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Inspiring magazines and community-driven events to connect those creating exceptional hospitality experiences around the world. www.sleeper.media

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ADVERTISING INDEX ISSUE 117

LX Hausys

181

Apaiser

012-013

Maison et Objet

204

Astro

002-003

Mandarin Stone

177

Akula

212

Atlas Concorde

093

Manutti

Barr + Wray

049

Material Bank

035 016-017

Chelsom

037

Multipanel

179

Chris Turner Procurement

066

Nanimarquina

065

Coco Wolf

151

Naturalmat

113

Connor Construction

152

Neolith

109

Creative Matters

004

Nine Stars

197

Curtis

131

Northern Lights

046

Decor Walther

074

Oliver Hemming

211

Dornbracht

099

Original BTC

116

DWC

185

Palecek

193

Dux

033

Perennials Sutherland

022

EE Smith

163

Pooky

129

Ege

105

PS Interiors

141

Egger

175

RAW Charging

095

Elstead

201

Reed Family Linen

EPR

087

Reed Harris

069

Ethimo

039

RH Contract

008-009

Feuring

144

Richloom

173

Forest Group

189

Roca

079

018-019

Franklite

124

Roman

191

Freifrau

014-015

Sanipex

091

Gommaire

107

Siamp

149

Häfele

073

Sicis

031

Hector Finch

138

Silent Night

115

HIX

206

Skopos

183

Hypnos

127

Sleepeezee

199

Iris Ceramica

055

StoneCircle

137

Janus et Cie

010-011

TechnoAlpin

123

JC Hospitality

195

THP

207

John Lewis Business

007

Timorous Beasties

071

Julian Chichester

203

Tribu

025

Jung

045

Tuuci

051

Kriska Decor

101

Unikateur

063

Laufen

052

Vagenas

083

Lemi

186

Vescom

170

Liang & Eimil

085

Waterworks

057

Ligne Roset

020

209

CHECK-OUT

Stay Like Paris

Paris Hilton puts her signature pink stamp on The Beverly Hilton, with experiential suites that invite guests to ‘Stay Like an Infinite Icon’.

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From modelling and singing to business and

mirror without looking in it”; there’s a stash

activism, Paris Hilton is a woman of many

of her favourite rom-coms to watch from the

talents. Now, the great-granddaughter of the

comfort of the lounge; and rugs throughout come

legendary Conrad Hilton is turning her hand to

directly from her own home, allowing guests to

interior design, curating her own immersive,

truly live like the icon. “Partnering with Hilton

experiential suites at The Beverly Hilton in

to help design these iconic one-of-a-kind suites

Beverly Hills, California. For one month only,

that reflect my personal style and celebrate my

guests are invited to ‘Stay Like’ the pop culture

new album has been an incredible experience,”

princess in a penthouse that is adorned from top

says Paris. “The rooms are complete with a touch

to toe in all things Paris and pink – 26 shades,

of glamour, fun and, of course, lots of pink! It’s

to be exact. From the plush bedroom through to

the perfect space for my fans to embrace their

the spa-like bathroom and private terrace, the

best lives while experiencing the energy and

interiors showcase futuristic furniture, metallic

vibe of my new album in a truly special way. I’m

motifs and iconic Paris memorabilia including

excited to bring this collaboration to life in an

posters, photos and vinyls of her forthcoming

iconic hotel like the Beverly Hilton, where I grew

album, Infinite Icon. There are also nods to the

up celebrating special moments with my family.

mogul’s personal passions: mirrors are etched

I can’t wait for my fans to sliv – and stay – like

with treasured quotes such as “never pass a

an infinite icon.”

THE DUKE

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Simple elegant solutions

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