Winning Project: Amethyste, a revamp of Phoenicia Hotel's communal areas.
Location: Beirut, Lebanon.
Brief: Set within the Phoenicia Hotel in Beirut, this project was essentially implemented to uplift the once hot spot of Beirut into today's market. Over time, the space had lost its punch, but the fantastic views to the sea offered the perfect backdrop to transform the area once again. The client wanted to create various experiences for hotel guests and locals alike. From this brief, we planned various zones including an entry point, pool terrace, dining, chillout/lounge area, a cocktail bar, a shisha smoking lounge, and even a small kids area for family guests
Click on the image above to read the full brief, accompanied by a variety of images.
Practice: Leading the hospitality interior design industry since 1964, HBA/Hirsch Bedner Associates remains keenly attuned to the pulse of changing industry trends governed by today's sophisticated traveler. Their international presence, depth of experience, and detailed industry knowledge enables them to identify interior design trends at their source, make definitive predictions about new directions and innovations, and influence design standards at a global level.
Head of Judging Panel: Robin Gibb, CBE, SBID's Intellectual Property Ambassador and President of CISAC (International Confederation of Authors and Composers Societies), headed the committee of judges for this category.
The rationale for choosing Amethyste: 'The ethos of SBID is to engage and encourage design that improves the quality of life whether this is social or functional. The standard of the competition entries was so high it merely proves that there is a mammoth wealth of talent across the globe. Despite sitting on voting panels from the Brits to the Academy Awards, I can say choosing an overall winner to Maison & Objet was one of my biggest challenges do date.'
Response from Inge Moore, Principal of HBA London and The Gallery: "We feel very honoured to have been awarded "Overall Winner" in the SBID International Awards. SBID is a very important ambassador for British interior design here and overseas, and it reflects the excellence and new-found confidence of the profession in the UK. For the team in the London studio, the Awards were a chance to present the diversity and individual creativity of our most recent work."