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Overlooking Lake Garda, EALA is a luxury hotel designed in every detail to give its guests a one-of-a-kind experience. The choice of Foglie d’Oro flooring, different in design but united by the quality and comfort of wood, creates a clear identity for each room – from the suites and the bistro to the wonderful hall.

Foglie d'Oro - Matita modular system, in Ca' Bollani finish

In the elegant hall, the Matita modular system, in the Ca’ Bollani finish and with Marquinia marble and brass inserts, creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere, where the natural light from outside creates a play of reflections on the dark marble.

Foglie d'Oro - Tricot modular floor in Ca' Melli finish
Foglie d'Oro - Tricot modular floor in Ca' Melli finish

In the refined lake-view bistro, the Tricot modular floor in Ca’ Melli finish creates an evocative geometric composition. The tones of the smoked oak wood create a pleasant play of chiaroscuro, giving the surface and the room dynamism and character.

Foglie d'Oro - Spina Jazz in Ca' Gabriel finish
Foglie d'Oro - Spina Jazz in Ca' Gabriel finish

The Spina Jazz in Ca’ Gabriel finish brings the rhythm of the herringbone parquet to the bedrooms, revisited by Foglie d’Oro with a contemporary soul: its serial interlocking corners create an airy, embracing design, perfect for creating a synthesis of comfort and luxury.

Foglie d'Oro - Matita modular system, in Ca' Bollani finish

Our know-how allows us to meet the demands of customers and designers even beyond the wide range of floors in our catalogue, and Foglie d’Oro has created custom-made products for this project too.

Visit the Projects section of our website to see the complete gallery dedicated to EALA and discover, in the Bespoke section, how we can customise floors and panelling in a completely original way.

About Foglie d’Oro

Foglie d’Oro is Europe’s leading manufacturer of sophisticated design wood floors, XL wide planks, and American walnut floors. Based in Italy, the company has been chosen by A&D to work on turnkey projects for over 50 years, developing a reputation for excellence all around the world.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

Designing a luxury hotel in one of the most vibrant metropolises means creating functional environments with a refined design, finding solutions capable of ensuring guests the best conditions of comfort, with a focus on sustainability.

Frammenti - Foglie d'Oro

It is with these premises in mind that for the Nobu Hotel Shoreditch, in London, the modular flooring Frammenti was chosen, made of oak from well-managed and responsible forests.

Frammenti - Foglie d'Oro

Thanks to its extraordinary versatility, Frammenti is the perfect solution for every type of environment. The geometric design of the modular floor, which makes it resemble an abstract, contemporary mosaic, is reminiscent of the creative flow and dynamism of the metropolis.

Frammenti - Foglie d'Oro

The customised finish was realised by Foglie d’Oro to indulge the creative intuition of the designer and contribute to building the aesthetic identity of the spaces of a luxury hotel, whose attention to detail is one of its most distinctive aspects.

Frammenti - Foglie d'Oro

The ability to create customised floors, starting from the designer’s drawing and the client’s needs, is one of the reasons why Foglie d’Oro is chosen by architects and interior designers all over the world.

Would you like to choose a Foglie d’Oro floor or realise your own customised solution in both finish and format? Discover more here.

About Foglie d’Oro

Foglie d’Oro is Europe’s leading manufacturer of sophisticated design wood floors, XL wide planks, and American walnut floors. Based in Italy, the company has been chosen by A&D to work on turnkey projects for over 50 years, developing a reputation for excellence all around the world.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

The spirited, high-end lifestyle hotel located in Kentucky is an upscale, independent property housing 125 rooms, featuring restaurant and dining spaces, lobby lounge and bars, rooftop with sprawling views of downtown Lexington and the Distillery District, as well as an accompanying event space and bespoke gym.

The Manchester Hotel - Paragon Studios
The Manchester Hotel - Paragon Studios

Working with the hotelier and his design team, Paragon Studio were delighted to be involved in this boutique gym project right in the heart of Lexington’s famous Bourbon district.

The gym replicates the incredible finishes incorporated throughout the hotel; built to mirror Kentucky’s unbridled enthusiasm, warm Southern light, and full-galloped feeling.

The Manchester Hotel - Paragon Studios

The team worked on the gym layout design, and created a kit list including Paragon Studio adjustable gym benches and boxing equipment with the hotel logo debossed into the leather pads. They also specified Diabolo Dumbbells with the logo laser engraved into the end plates, matching racks and cork yoga equipment.

The Manchester Hotel - Paragon Studios
The Manchester Hotel - Paragon Studios

Lastly, Peloton and Precor were brought in to the project to complete the gym’s cardio and strength offering.

The Manchester Hotel opened on 2nd June 2023!

About Gym Marine Yachts & Interiors

Gym Marine Yachts & Interiors is a specialist wellness design for the superyacht and prime property sectors. Their experienced team have an unrivalled understanding of the complexities of gym and space design, both on land and at sea. This together with our vast experience in the health and wellness industry helps create an unbeatable service.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

As a team, sofa.com always find it interesting to look back at the successes of the year so far, delving into the data to look at what clients are seeking when it comes to luxury design.

Material of choice:

The past few years had seen an increase in sales of upholstered seating and bedroom furniture in colourful fabrics. However, 2023 so far sees a shift, as neutral tones overtake to reign supreme once again. Comprising the largest percentage of sales, two beautifully cool-toned beiges share the top spot – Pumice house basket weave, and Cashew viscose linen.

Sofa.com Piper Dining Chair in Pumice House Basket Weave, £300
Sofa.com Audrey double bed in Olive Cotton Matt Velvet, £1,600

A palette which has always been well-suited to high-end hotel and residential design, this move to a more muted, modest scheme sits in line with a wider consumer trend seen this year – minimaluxe, or quiet minimalism. A focus on a few pared-back hues used together to create a streamlined aesthetic. Often you’ll notice that it is no longer colour that is used to showcase personality – the detail is all in the unique shapely elements of furniture, or the texture of the fabric selected.

Sofa.com Cohen modular sofa in Royal Fern brushed linen cotton, £2,340

Furniture Shape and design:

Sales of furniture with multifunctional features have increased year on year. The flexibility of modular furniture allows us to rearrange and reshuffle to accommodate extra guests, to adapt for entertaining purposes, or to allow increased space for stretching out and relaxing.

The top preforming sofa first debuted in 2009 and has continued to hold the top spot – and for good reason. The timeless shape, and ever-expanding offering of configurations allows Bluebell to sit equally as perfectly within contemporary specifications as traditional schemes. Another classic which has hurdled a few other contenders and is now situated at second place, is our Otto. Sleek lines, yet unbelievable comfort make this the ideal option for all settings.

Sofa.com Bluebell 2.5 Seat Sofa in Taupe Brushed Linen Cotton, £1,980
Sofa.com Otto 3 seat sofa bed in Shell heathland weave, £3,630

Sofa.com have been lucky enough this summer to work on a number of hotel redesigns, and are pleased that the focus on creating bedroom furniture that is both designed to last yet has elements of key trends is popular within the hospitality sector as much as with residential shoppers. Sales of beds and mattresses in particular sit at 50% up on last year’s figures.

The sofa.com design and trade teams continue to work together ceaselessly to ensure new products are created in response to the needs of our customers, building on successes, adapting to meet any challenges and always bespoke.

About sofa.com

Passionate about outstanding interiors, sofa.com offers a diverse and design led collection of made-to-order sofas, armchairs, beds, footstools and home accessories. With an extensive range of styles and over 100 fabrics to choose from, as well as the option to upholster in your own fabric, the customisable nature of sofa.com’s products make each piece easily adaptable to any interior style – perfect for interior designers and specifiers looking for stand-out pieces for upcoming projects.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

Hotel & Resort Design South, the premier event for hotel and resort design professionals working within the Southern States and LATAM, is excited to announce its Conference Program, supported by NEWH.

This year’s program features a dynamic line-up of speakers and panel discussions covering topics ranging from travel horizons and design trends to shaping hospitality through regional influences. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to gain insights from, and network with some of the industry’s most innovative leaders, while also earning continuing education credits.

Programme highlights

The conference will kick off with a keynote featuring; Francisco Jove, Principal Owner – Modus Operandi, Kavitha Iyer, Head of Design, Americas – IHG Hotels & Resorts; Emilio Perez, Senior Continent Leader Global Design – CALA, Marriott International.

Following this, marine and land-based design collide in the joint session ‘A tale of design – creating an emotional connection’, panelists include Christopher Stubbs, AVP Sailor (Customer) and Crew (Employee) Experience – Virgin Voyages, Trisha Poole, President – Design Poole Inc. and Kristin Cullen, Interior Design Director  – Dash Design.

Other highlights of the program include ‘Shaping hospitality design through regional influences’ and ‘What’s new in fast design, guest loyalty and micro experiences?’.

“The Hotel & Resort Design South Conference is a must-attend event for anyone involved in the design and development of hotels and resorts in the Southern States and LATAM,” said show organizer, Toby Walters. “The program reflects current topics and trends emerging from this vibrant region, and we are excited to bring together such a talented group of speakers and attendees for the very first time.”

Visitors will also have access to the schedule of content at the co-located CSI Design Expo Americas providing even more opportunities to leave the show inspired.

Secure your complimentary conference and networking pass here to join the hotel & resort design community in Miami on 6 – 7 June.

About Hotel & Resort Design South

Hotel & Resort Design South is exclusively dedicated to connecting the suppliers of the global hospitality design community with the South and LATAM purchasers and decision-makers.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a luxurious hotel suite design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Jeffrey Beers International.

Uniquely situated in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, Hard Rock Hotel New York offers a backstage pass to the city’s historic Music Row, honouring its legacy through intricate design, curated amenities, and award-winning guest experiences. Sitting atop the 36th floor is the jewel of the Rock Star Suite, a glass-enclosed penthouse with expansive city views, original contemporary artwork, bespoke music memorabilia, and one of the largest terraces for entertaining in New York City at 1,600 sq. ft. The sleek interior design includes double height ceilings and rich tones and textures creating an inviting and timeless space. On its first level, the suite features an open-plan living and dining area with a bar and butler pantry, an outdoor bar, VIP direct access to the RT60 rooftop bar & lounge, and more. Guests can retreat upstairs to a luxurious bedroom area with a walk in closet and contemporary bathroom featuring a red free standing bathtub.

SBID Awards Category: Hotel Bedroom & Suites Design

Practice: Jeffrey Beers International

Project: Hard Rock New York Hotel: Rock Star Suite

Location: New York, United States of America

What was the client’s brief? 

The double story suite is to be used as both a guest room and an event space as well. We therefore designed the separate bedroom on the upper level, as well as created a direct access to the public bathrooms on the floor below. Last but not least, the space exemplifies what the guestrooms are about: to make the guest feel like a rockstar.

What inspired the design of the project?

The rich history of New York’s Music Row, as well as the culture of the Hard Rock brand. The city’s energy at dusk, when the Marquee lights of Times Square come out, also inspired our design.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Creating maximum impact with a reasonable budget. Also every material has to be high quality and resistant without feeling commercial. Being the only Rockstar Suite it has to be ADA accessible.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The red bathtub with a view feels very unique.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

It is a wonderful honour to be recognized by an internationally focused design award. We also greatly enjoy the opportunity to visit London for the awards event.

Questions answered by Pierre Josselin, Associate Principal, Jeffrey Beers International.

We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design!

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring an interactive and vibrant primary school design by Lineworks Studio, click here to read it.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a luxurious hotel suite design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Hirsch Bedner Associates.

Canopy by Hilton Hotel in Qujiang Xi’an conveys the splendid leisure and carnival entertainment of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

The central premise of the design stems from the Chinese idiom 鲜衣怒马 xiānyī nùmǎ, which loosely translates to “wearing beautiful garments and riding powerful horses”. With this concept in mind, the interiors celebrate the vibrant fashion and design of the prosperous Tang Dynasty that for centuries has been integrated into the spiritual language of Xi’an’s neighborhoods, and now blends exquisitely with the opulent aesthetics of the Canopy brand.

The xiānyī nùmǎ motif is unraveled throughout the hotel style through the use of joyful colors and patterns inspired by Tang-era fabrics and artwork. By fusing the ancient with the modern to create a unique design story, the hotel creates a fresh perspective on historical elements, allowing people to enjoy traditional culture in a rejuvenated, vibrant, and fun way.

SBID Awards Category: Hotel Bedroom & Suites Design

Practice: Hirsch Bedner Associates

Project: Canopy by Hilton Xi’an Qujiang Hotel

Location: Xi’an, China

What was the client’s brief? 

The initial brief received by clients was to bring the rich historical, traditional and cultural background of the place into the project renovation, and to align it to the hotel brand style and feeling.

Canopy by Hilton conveys the brand lifestyle that offers the guests comfort, thoughtful details, an energizing atmosphere and a uniquely local experience, as extension of the local neighbourhood.

Storytelling has been used to design the hotel allowing guest to discover the delightful neighbourhood as an ‘explorer’, and reinterpreting the traditional design language for modern appreciation.

What inspired the design of the project?

Canopy by Hilton Xi’an is located in the Qujiang New District, a new cultural hub and economic center of the historic city.

The hotel is connected to the Grand Tang Mall, a fabulous pedestrian street with myriad cultural sights and recreational activities.

The central premise of the design stems from the Chinese idiom “鲜衣怒马 xiānyī nùmǎ”, which loosely translates to “wearing beautiful garments and riding powerful horses”. With this concept in mind, the design team set out to celebrate the vibrant fashion and design of the prosperous Tang Dynasty that for centuries has been integrated into the spiritual language of Xi’an’s neighborhoods, and now blends exquisitely with the opulent aesthetics of the Canopy brand.

The xiānyī nùmǎ motif is unraveled throughout the hotel style through the use of joyful colors and patterns inspired by Tang-era fabrics and artwork. By fusing the ancient with the modern to create a unique design story, the hotel creates a fresh perspective on historical elements, allowing people to enjoy traditional culture in a rejuvenated, vibrant, and fun way.

By adopting the easy-going lifestyle of Xi’an and the cultural elements of the city’s historic legacy, the hotel acts as an extension of the local neighborhood.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

As most of the projects, the team had to deal with a tight timeline on redesigning the whole hotel without compromising the construction programme.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Canopy by Hilton Xi’an conveys the splendid leisure and carnival entertainment of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

The hotel creates a new perspective that allows people to reveal the traditional culture in a way that is vibrant, fun and young, it adopts the easy-going Xi’an characteristic that enhance the vibe of the area it resides in.

The hotel has 125 guestrooms in the guest tower, including exclusive suites and lofts, leveraging little-bit difference with standard of Hilton group, the design of the guestroom tends to create different experience for the guests.

Guests are initially greeted by a room identity sign that echoes the design concept idiom and takes inspiration from a journey via horse and camel along the silk road. Upon entering the guestrooms, the design calls to mind a Tang-era scene of women pounding and making palace silk. During this time, women used mineral pigments to dye silk, and wrapped stones with wet raw rice paper or cotton to slowly seep the color into the silk. A nod to this ingenious process can be seen in the stylish canopy painted on the wall and ceiling surrounding the bed in each guestroom. The canopy is framed by clean black lines and features a strip of color in the center that fades from turquoise on the ceiling to a bright orange – a color spectrum cherished in the Tang Dynasty.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

The SBID International Design Awards are a prestigious recognition of excellence within the interior design industry across products, interiors and fit out.

Over a decade on, the Awards has firmly established itself as one of the most prestigious interior design Awards in the global design calendar. It represents the outstanding industry achievements and top quality design services that continue to inspire the profession.

Questions answered by Flavio Patino, Associate, HBA Hong Kong.

We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design!

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a modern residential development design by ENJOYDESIGN, click here to read it.

In this week’s interview with 2022 SBID Awards winners of the Hotel Bedroom & Suites Design category, Brime Robbins, Maria Brime & Garrett Robbins shine the spotlight on the intricate details of their project, discuss their design approach and talk about connecting the world and translating the stories and culture through design.

Brime Robbins were commissioned for the interior design at Andaz Prague, the first Hyatt hotel in the Czech Republic and the first luxury lifestyle hotel in Prague. In the historic building known ‘Sugar Palace’ Brime Robbins worked to not only preserve and elevate the historic features of the building but create an experience integral to the identity of Prague itself.

SBID Awards Category: Hotel Bedroom & Suites Design

Practice: Brime Robbins

Entry: Andaz Prague

Firstly, tell us a bit about the design of your project. What were the key ideas, concepts and processes behind it?

In transforming the historic Sugar Palace building into a luxury Andaz hotel, Brime Robbins harnessed the central design inspiration of Czech myths and legends; making “the global local”, and transporting guests to a legendary world beyond the restored casement windows and crown mouldings.

Awoken from their slumber within the dormant building, the characters from the legends emerge from the walls and floors to greet guests and guide them through an unforgettable journey through Andaz Prague. This design approach connects visiting guests with a strong, passionate sense of place, reconnecting native people of Prague with their childhoods and engaging with local artists and craftsmen with modern and refined materials. Guests are immersed into a world of never-ending stories, which inevitably they will pack into their suitcases and take home with them, telling friends and family far and wide…and hence creating a larger, more global story from the heart of Prague. It is this sharing of our hearts, which then makes the entire hotel experience intimate, unique and very personal.

What was your biggest takeaway or highlight from completing this project?

The biggest and most positive takeaway from this project was the exceptionally strong emotional, visceral connection between the people of Czech Republic and the stories anchoring the design. Often when designing spaces, there is a core concept and/or story which can be just as interesting and unique but have come nowhere close to the personal connection for each and every person in Prague, and Czech Republic.

For this project, we spent a lot of time at the concept stage – mesmerised by Czech Republic and Prague being so enchanting and rich in culture – that is how we came to that heritage and culture being such a focal point to be harnessed and encapsulated into the design.

It truly has been amazing how something so simple could have such a large, withstanding impact. During tours and events, some people have been on the verge of tears with such an emotional connection to the design that remind them of their grandparents reading them these stories and so on.

What has winning an SBID Award meant for you and your business?

To achieve such recognition and an overwhelming positive response to our concept and design has been unbelievable. Such recognition from the industry and wider design community has really propelled us to strive for nothing less than ‘award-winning’ concepts and designs going forward. It has really highlighted how crucial the symbiotic relationship is between concept and design and the integration between the two.

Winning an SBID award has meant greater exposure in the UK and Northern Europe from such a prestigious and well-respected body, truly catapulting our designs from the local, to global.

On top of this, winning the award adds great value to the property itself, whilst nurturing our current and future relationships with our clients. This should also hopefully support us when approaching future projects as such proven success and positive track record highlights how universally, the BR approach, is an approach like no other. This recognition puts the spotlight on how being so intrinsically personal and emotional can create a strong connection with the place itself, whilst simultaneously creating an unbreakable bond with guests through the design and narrative.

For this project you were asked to create an experience integral to the identity of Prague itself. What is your approach/design process for this kind of brief, especially being a design practice based abroad?

As we mentioned, we spent a lot of time and concentrated efforts during the concept phase to ensure the stories and narrative could truly shine through and connect to one and all. We spent a lot of time speaking to people in Prague, gathering research, and fundamentally immersing ourselves into local cultures to support such an enriching narrative.

We became in love with the idea of retelling these stories but in a more uplifting style that would translate into interior design. It’s been an unbelievably fun process to now see these stories emerge from the walls in front of you.

It is important to note, we were not trying to imitate Czech culture but to create an authentic representation by translating such rich culture to a relatable and mesmerising narrative widely understood across the globe. There truly is something wonderfully innate about engaging in a story or fairy-tale, something universal that supports an immersive experience – often providing a stronger understanding of ourselves during the process.

Hotel rooms too often create a feeling of coldness and unfamiliarity. How did you ensure the guests would feel at home staying in these suites?

For us, it is vital to capture interest and create moments to pause and engage. Very much like the narrative within a story, it’s important to create areas to be in awe of, encouraging a moment of pause, reflection and enjoyment. And this was key for Andaz Prague, especially for such an enriching lifestyle brand.

We explored touches of residential styling and sensibilities to create a ‘home from home’ experience along the way. From the smallest details that connect guests to something they may have in their home or are familiar to a home they know. It’s important to design in a way that makes you literally want to dive into and feel at home.

From damask, textured wallpapers to a distinctive chaise longue and umbrella stand. With high quality craftsmanship and materials that reflect a sense of home and warmth, guests can feel like they’re in a special place; their very own luxury, their own little world.

Can you tell us more about your company ethos? What role does interior design play in “making the global local”?

Our ethos to ‘make the global, local’ represents a wonderful synergy and the opportunity to make such a large, fast-paced world, feel smaller, connected and intimate.

There are so many things to fall in love with about each and individual culture, and this couldn’t be truer about Prague and Czech Republic. The designs for Andaz Prague create deep connections coupled with a sense of mystery and intrigue, a unique unforgettable experience for all. Guests will find reasons to return, relive and indulge through the experiences presented through the design.

This rich emotional connection is formed through multiple layers of detail within a 360 design approach. Throughout the immersive journey, you are faced with hidden treasure after hidden treasure, with guests longing to pack up these experiences in their suitcases to take home with them. Making the global, local.

It is important to recognise local cultures from a global perspective, creating an ambience that guests want to pocket and travel with so that these stories can be retold globally, day after day, whether verbally or visually in the ever-growing world of social media. As small as the world is, people can feel connected to Czech Republic without even having visited.

Questions answered by Maria Brime & Garrett Robbins, Co-founders, Brime Robbins.

Maria Brime & Garrett Robbins

Brime Robbins are a Madrid-based design studio re-inventing the fundamentals of interior design.
With competition rife in the hospitality industry, guest experience is as important as ever. Brime Robbins know that to deliver successful hospitality interiors, the location must be manifested in the design itself. Corporate hotel designs are a thing of the past, with designers breaking the mould to create a sense of place and deliver both a design and experience that embodies its surroundings.
A Brime Robbins approach to interior design is one with attitude. A unique, immersive experience that encourages visitors to pause, engage and indulge.

If you missed last week’s Interview with the Residential Budget Up To £50,000 category winner ID4U Studio, click here to read it.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a contemporary hotel’s public space design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Paul Liu Design PLD.

Located in the core area of Dinghu New District, Zhaoqing City, this new Sheraton hotel is integrated with the beautiful landscape belt of Changli River, wetland park and other waterfront landscapes. It is designed to showcase new experiences, leading guests to work, relax and party in a comfortable social atmosphere during their stay. With 398 guest rooms, this hotel has 1,700 square meters of banquet and meeting space, including 1 grand ballroom, 6 conference rooms and 1 multi-function hall. All venues are equipped with high-speed Internet connections and modern audio-visual equipment. The 715 square meters column-free grand Ballroom can be flexibly divided into 2 independent Spaces. It is ideal for events of all sizes, such as large conferences, romantic weddings and social gatherings. It also offers a range of leisure facilities including a fitness center with cardio and fitness equipment, an indoor heated swimming pool and a jacuzzi and sauna.

SBID Awards Category: Hotel Public Space Design

Practice: Paul Liu Design Consultants

Project: Hotel Sheraton Zhaoqing Dinghu

Location: Zhaoqing, China

What was the client’s brief? 

The interior designer is commissioned to convert an existing building and rebuild it into a new design Sheraton-branded contemporary hotel that can articulate Marriott International’s brand strategy, philosophy and globally consistent image while take the owner’s operational, budget, time schedule requirements and aesthetic issues into consideration.

Since 2018 Marriott International announced plans to reinvent its Sheraton brand for a new generation of travelers. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts have been transformed under new version that guests can appreciate a sense of timelessness balanced with a refresh, modern feel that’s ideal for working, meeting and relaxing during their stay. Beside the client’s requirement, this property design also needed to follow the Facility Criteria given by the Brand guideline.

What inspired the design of the project?

The Zhaoqing Sheraton Dinghu Hotel design details inspired from its unique geographical location. The designers also used Oriental Aesthetic Duan Inkstone as a nursery of ideas in style. The fundamental core values of Chinese cultural philosophy were applied to design technique to emphasize the unity and harmony.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Due to the diversity of functions within a hotel building, a large number of specialist consultants were required to coordinate with during each critical design stage that made the design process very complicate and challenging. Another challenge facing is how to make the most efficient floor plan configurations and energy intelligent within the limitations of the existing architectural condition.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The new Sheraton brand’s new design approach draws on the hotels’ roots as community hubs for locals and guests alike with aims to create an intuitive and holistic experience, integrating areas to connect, be productive and feel part of something special during their stay.

In the new design elements of Zhaoqing Sheraton hotel, the integration of work and enjoyment is at the heart of the design, using the concept of open shared space in the lobby of the hotel. The integrity of the space makes it vibrant and belonging, with open spaces for guests to socialize or spend time alone. Adhering to The Sheraton brand concept, Zhaoqing Sheraton incorporates many of the brand’s new signature elements, including a shared community table, that is compatible with form and function, it was designed for guests to work efficiently, and for flexible meeting space for team members to collaborate in a relaxed atmosphere. Add vitality to the entire public space, as well as small meetings and private dining. The hotel also has 3 original restaurants and a specialty bar, serving a range of local and international cuisines, that can let the guests enjoy the wonderful environment while focusing on their work.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

SBID AWARDS is one of World’s most prestigious and influential design awards, which honors excellence and provide global recognition.

Questions answered by Bo Liu and Hank Xia, Founder & Chairman and Director, PLD.

We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design!

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a dynamic and creative office design by TT Interior Office Design, click here to read it.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a luxurious hotel suite design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Kristina Zanic Design Consultants.

Kristina Zanic Consultants has designed a royal welcome for guests of the presidential Amiri Suite at St Regis Kuwait hotel. Newly rebranded from its previous Sheraton brand, the property has been the hotel of choice for royalty, diplomats and celebrities in the Middle East since 1966.

The Amiri suite features a 450sqm area that includes a reception area, lounge, dining/ boardroom, meeting rooms, master bedroom and bathroom, walk-in wardrobe, gym, barber/hairdressing station and spa suite.

A striking palette of royal blue and cream greets the guest. Blue accents in the furniture, art, carpeting and wall panels add the right amount of ‘oomph’ to the otherwise restrained palette.

Brass fretwork together with lacquered wall paneling and a sunburst timber detail create a luxury residential ambience. A bespoke embossed leather headboard offers the perfect backdrop in the bedroom, serving as a neutral but richly textured piece of art. The flooring features a multitude of luxury material and patterns, basket-weave timber parquet, bespoke carpet designs, and layered inlaid marble tile.

Sophisticated furniture with rounded forms, rich fabrics and accessories blend luxury with comfort and practicality, reflecting an attention to detail and personal touch. Bespoke crystal chandeliers layer on the luxury, while art pieces play with abstract geometric and arabesque graphics, with no two pieces alike.

The result is an elegant space, with a restrained neutral base palette with injections of colour, and quiet opulent finishes.

SBID Awards Category: Hotel Bedroom & Suites Design

Practice: Kristina Zanic Design Consultants

Project: St Regis Kuwait – Amiri suite

Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait

What was the client’s brief? 

The Sheraton hotel in Kuwait was very much in need of a makeover due to its very outdated interiors. The client was looking to find the right balance in creating a reinvented luxurious hospitality space while staying true to the hotel’s 50-year heritage.

The property was the first five-star hotel in the Middle East, and has enjoyed landmark status for the past five decades. The design needed to be sensitive to its history and to deliver a high-end luxury interior that would be appealing to its distinguished clientele, while also aligning with its new St Regis brand identity.

We provided the interior design consultancy for the full refurbishment of the hotel. The first phase involving guestroom and suite floor refurbishment was completed in November 2021, and the second phase of refurbishment for public areas of the hotel is expected to be completed in 2024.

What inspired the design of the project?

The direction we chose was to ‘look back in order to look ahead’. In the 1960s, the hotel defined luxury hospitality in the region, catering to the local high society and reflecting a progressive country to visitors. Working within the new St Regis brand guidelines, we set out to reinforce that position and reflect what luxury means today in Kuwait.

The concept centers on creating a home away from home, a place to indulge in every sense. The aim was to create a bespoke and timeless look, with opulent finishes and classic details in the suites.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The biggest challenge lay in remotely managing the project at the peak of the pandemic crisis. Following initial visits to the site before lockdown, the major part of the project involved lots of online coordination with the client and virtual site visits and material inspections.

We had to be extra careful with monitoring the project and faster with our responses, but thankfully had plenty of support from the client and contractor who regularly shared photos and videos of the site’s progress.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

There are a number of features that stand out in this project. The first is the smooth flow that was achieved within the various spaces in the suite, really creating a sense of home for the guest.

The suite also features a generous use of sophisticated materials and finishes, like inlaid marble, leather and timber wall panels, hand-blown crystal lights, and curated art.

The suite’s lavish amenities offer guests the ultimate experience of relaxation and indulgence. Of particular note is the bathroom and spa area that developed into an oasis of luxury and comfort, with double vanities in grey marble, double jacuzzi, grooming station, sauna, spa treatment room, and gym.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

It’s always gratifying to get industry recognition for the immense effort that goes into our work, especially a large and complex project like the St Regis Kuwait.

We took a very studied and sensitive approach to the renovation of the hotel, and couldn’t be happier to see our work resonating with the judges.

Being selected as an SBID award finalist among hundreds of entries is really an acknowledgement of the team’s hard work, as well as a fantastic opportunity for international exposure for the hotel.

Questions answered by Lara Elhani, Design Director, Kristina Zanic Consultants.

We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design!

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a light and airy kitchen design by Bocchetta Interiors, click here to read it.

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