Interior Design In The Hotel Industry: What You Need To Know

Within the hospitality industry, presentation and design are extremely important. With customers to impress and clients to retain, temporary guests are looking for a hassle-free experiences, with an emphasis on relaxation and convenience.

Alongside the basic utilities, a considered and practical layout is required to make the most of available space. Ideally, the set-up should facilitate traffic flow and allow guests to move around without getting in each other’s way. With the hospitality industry notoriously competitive, one way interior designers can stand out from the crowd is with accreditation from The Society of British & International Interior Design. As the industry's professional destination for interior design, SBID represents the benchmark for professional designers, connecting talented design experts with their ideal clients across contract or residential interiors.

Continue reading for an overview of interior design in the hotel industry, with tips on presentation, room layout for guests, and more.

Whether you’re a hotel owner looking for updated modern designs to implement in your guest rooms, or you’re a interior design professional in need of opportunities to display your portfolio of work, our Designer Directory is the place for you.

Property owners, developers and stakeholders are can discover the ideal design professional for their needs in our directory of registered designers, with options to search by design specialism, company name or practice location. For designers however, this is a valuable tool to showcase your design skills and services to wider audiences looking for professional interior design advice. 

Interested in featuring your design practice in our directory? Contact SBID to enquire about professional accreditation today.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a whimsical hotel suite design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Blue Sky Hospitality.

THE GYLE is an intimate 33-room hotel, crafted from three heritage-listed Victorian houses, built in 1845, located on Argyle Square, across Kings Cross station. It takes its name from the Duke of Argyle, Chief of Clan Campbell, who used to own property in the area.

What was the client's brief? 

Convert a set of three 19^th century listed buildings into an upscale boutique hotel that reflects the history of its location, drives high room rates, and acquires a high reputation.

• Optimise the internal volume and reduce impact of constraints.
• Draw inspiration from its location.
• Provide a joyful environment for staff and customers.
• Offer a unique, memorable social space.
• Enhances the neighbourhood of Kings Cross- St Pancras.

What inspired the design of the project?

The quirky boutique hotel has been conceived as a complete work of storytelling design by British artist and designer, Henry Chebaane, based on his first novel soon to be published. The design tells a story about Kings Cross and Scotland in 1880, blending facts and fiction.

The design narrative evokes the residence of a fictitious character from Nova Scotia, who while fighting a conspiracy, becomes caught in a space-time rift caused by Victorian scientists. The result is an irreverent juxtaposition of steam-age heritage, whimsical details and 21st century modernity…inspired by 19^th century St Pancras coal and gas industries, and Kings Cross steam trains to Scotland. This is manifested through a layered palette of black, silver and greys accented by moss, fern and juniper greens.

The bespoke furnishing, made in Britain are all elements of storytelling that juxtapose past and present, facts and fiction, style and humour in a quintessentially British fashion. THE GYLE is truly ‘a surreal townhouse in a real London square’.

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

Optimising the internal layouts to make it efficient to operate and provide a pleasant customer experiene, while respecting the Health & Safety and Grade II Heritage to maintain period internal layouts and façades.

A discrete extension was added behind the original houses, this increased the key count to 33 and provided a common footprint at ground floor, in which to set up the public areas.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The creation of a fully immersive art installation that functions as the resident lounge and whisky bar. The resin floor is a seamless image of the sky reflected in Loch Fyne, while the whole ceiling is an upside-down lawn ripped open by a 40 feet long ‘space-time’ rift from which lighting strikes and odd sounds emerge throughout the day.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

We entered the SBID Awards to thank our client for the trust and confidence in our work.

Questions answered by Henry Chebaane, Creative Director, Blue Sky Hospitality.

This week's instalment of Project of the Week interior design series features a design for hotel's exclusive spa suites by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Nielsen House.

The Gilpin Hotel, with a mix of luxury rooms, suites and detached lodges, sits in an idyllic location near Windermere in the heart of the English Lake District. Sarah Jane Nielsen of Nielsen House has worked on the interiors with the Gilpin’s owners for more than 25 years and the recent spa suites are the latest extension to the hotel’s portfolio. The project comprises five exclusive lodges, each designed as the ultimate retreat for two. Constructed from wood and glass, they are set in their own private space overlooking a tarn and are positioned to maximise the stunning Lakeland views. The five sanctuaries all have their own living space with a kitchen and dining area, master bedroom suite with spa with sauna, steam room, treatment room, a private sundeck with hot tub and a relaxing water feature within a growing natural wall. The interiors, created by Nielsen House, celebrate the beauty of the region’s native landscape, enabling guests to switch off and enjoy their surroundings, whilst at the same time providing the Gilpin’s owners with practical, durable solutions in a unique project designed to stand the test of time.

What was the client's brief? 

Our brief was to create the ultimate wow factor, ensuring a unique and memorable experience for Gilpin Hotel guests with suites that are not only beautiful in design but also extremely durable. But even more than that, to go further and ensure that the interiors we designed would make for a stay that was so special, they’d leave at the end of their visit, hoping to return, again and again.

What inspired the design of the project?

Both the Gilpin and our studio are located in the stunning landscape of the English Lake District – so our natural source of inspirational for the spa suites was the great outdoors, setting the perfect foundation for our own interpretation of the biophilic approach that we felt would best meet the client’s brief. Each lodge sits majestically within its own Lakeland fellscape with a Lakeland tarn stretching out in front of them and from any 360 degree viewpoint, you find yourself surrounded by the best of the Lake District. As designers who love the location we call home, we wanted the interiors of these suites to create a comforting and luxurious cocoon for Gilpin’s guests but also, very importantly, to reflect the splendour of what lies beyond.

Obviously in taking a biophilic approach that was at the heart of our brief, our intention was to bring as much of the indoors outdoors, and vice versa, because really, the two are interchangeable. So, we looked to generous amounts of glazing to fuse internal and external spaces, whilst keeping flooring levels flush throughout to create a seamless transition from one space to another. This extended to inside and outside the viewing balconies but also to every part within the suite that had direct access to the outdoors, from bedroom to treatment room to lounge and even to the bathing areas. So, it's very much a biophilic design in every sense of the word. 

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

The toughest hurdle for our team to overcome during this project was the need for durability in suites made for spa pampering. For example, all products and installations included had to be stain-proof to be able to withstand the type of treatments delivered. With water comes water ingress which can often pose a problem, so it was crucial that we allowed for that so that we were able to use, without fear of future damage, the quantity of finishes specified, all of which had to be able to deal with whatever is thrown at it. Treatment oil is probably the most challenging consideration in creating luxury in a lounge and bedroom suite - but we were able to find solutions overall that both our team and the client were happy with.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Our team's highlight for the project was definitely the installation of a large-scale feature design in a wet area; a first for us. We are immensely proud of a double shower room that epitomises our Lakeland theme, with large digital images of ferns and Lakeland greenery adorning the walls to really capture the great outdoors ambience; eye-catching and stunning but yet practical, with all being totally waterproof. With state-of-the-art showers and shower valves, everything used within that bathroom was completely watertight. We've never had a similar design to that kind of scale before, and so it was a great pleasure for us to be able to achieve that in collaboration with the manufacturers and to an excellent build quality too.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

The Covid pandemic directly and indirectly prompted us to enter the SBID awards this year. We truly believe that the Gilpin spa suites are second to none but we were unable to mark their launch at the time because they were completed just as the outbreak of COVID started to hit. Entering and being shortlisted for a SBID award gives us a focus for celebration – but we hope that through our entry, we are also able to inspire others to take a biophilic approach. As the pandemic has dug deeper, many of us have felt a strong need to embrace nature and we hope that in sharing our project story, others will find ways, through good design, to make those reconnections.

Similarly, the increase in Lakes staycations, driven in part by Covid, has been important for us to also just show what we could achieve here in the Lake District. We have found that our client base has opened up in Europe and into the rest of the world, so the standard and quality of our design has to be world-class. We set ourselves the highest of professional standards and through the SBID awards, we hope to promote the message that, based here in the Lake District, whether it’s a private residential project or a comprehensive commercial brief, our capabilities are gold standard.

Questions answered by Sarah Jane Nielsen, Lead Project Designer and Founder, Nielsen House.

This week’s instalment of Project of the Week series features refurbishment of resort's suites and guestrooms by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, LW Design.

Le Royal Meridien Club Tower is one of the most premium resorts in the United Arab Emirates. As an incredible height of luxury, it has solidified itself as one of the major attractions in the beautiful city of Dubai. LW design received an offer to work on many of the guestrooms and suites at Le Royal Meridien Club Tower, and our team took the offer in stride.

Despite being constructed and decorated beautifully, Le Royal Meridien Club Tower was looking for a much lighter and softer touch to their rooms. Specifically, something that would better resonate with the luxurious beachside feeling of the view outside the rooms, and LW Design team of designers knew exactly what to change in those rooms, so they felt all the more inviting.

What was the client's brief? 

The client brief stated that Le Royal Meridien Club Tower was looking to refurbish the suites and the guestrooms in a way that would keep the overall feel and look of the main tower intact. The brief also mentioned that the rooms should have a beach-like vibe to them, further emphasizing it as the premium holiday destination. The tower stood tall among the many skyscrapers of the city, which means that every visitor would have a great view of the city and the beach. Therefore, much of our team’s efforts would go into subtly solidifying that summer holiday feel.

What inspired the design of the project?

The LW design team that was overlooking this particular refurbishing project understood that there were limitations as far as creativity was concerned. They had to bring the right beachside touches to the rooms while keeping the overall aesthetic of the Club Tower. Despite being a challenging task, it was a test of design potential, and LW Design definitely emerged victoriously.

The Club Tower project was unique because of its circumstances and different requirements - the brief emphasized that the rooms have to appear much lighter and more welcoming, with a feminine yet modern touch.

The narrowed down criteria of soft, light, feminine, and modern, saved the designers a lot of time and helped them jump straight to the crux of the project. The team decided that they would use lighter timber around the room that would help reflect more natural light towards the centre. This accentuates some details while highlighting others, such as the natural rattan, which was among the materials to give a luxurious yet sustainable aesthetic. The room also features subtle blush pink accents throughout to create a feeling of feminine comfort.

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

As with any project that LW Design takes over, there came a few obstacles when refurbishing the many guestrooms and suites of Le Royal Meridian Club Tower. One physical challenge was the incredible lack of space in the bathroom.

Since the bathrooms were much smaller, it was considerably harder to give it that lavish look and feel. However, with the help of a sliding door between the shower area and the bathroom, the team was able to make the bathrooms feel more spacious and luxurious without having to compromise much.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

What makes this project special is simply the clever use of standard finishes. These gave the rooms a much-deserved lavish feel while still keeping the design style in line with the main hotel and guest rooms. Moreover, the team contrasted white oak timber against the black metal, which complimented the blush pink and turquoise colours.

Overall, the Le Royal Meridian Club Tower was an exciting venture for the LW Design portfolio. The unique look of the rooms and the precise requirements of the project made it one of their finest works to date.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

It is always an exciting experience to enter awards, however given the calibre of work and entries into these global awards, it makes it even more special.

Questions answered by Jacqueline Craft, Senior Interior Designer, LW Design.

Lockdown measures are slowly easing across all aspects of work and social life as the hospitality industry is given the green light to begin re-opening to the public this July. For many of us, the concept of travelling seems like a distant memory; dreaming of the day you can book that weekend away or arrange for a long, relaxing week abroad. As society braces itself to resume holiday planning and commence those halted travel plans in a Covid-19 world - we're sharing some of the inspiring hotel bedroom designs from last year's SBID Awards finalists that we'd love to be paying a visit this Summer!

Hotel Bedrooms & Suites

CaberlonCaroppi Architetti - Hilton Molino Stucky

Once an efficient flourmill, Hilton Molino Stucky is today one of the most important international hotels in Venice. Curated by CaberlonCaroppi, the renewal of the common areas and the first 90 rooms reflects the soul of the industrial building and the one of Venice and its wonders. The design narrative starts from decorative and graphic details with special attention paid to figurative elements, introducing the theme of gears and grain, main elements that characterize rooms. Along the corridors, the soft colours of the walls, the elegant lamps and the geometrically textured carpet blend perfectly with the cast iron pillars that characterise the architectural structure. A particular attention has been paid to all the lightening elements, designed or modified specifically for the setting of the Molino, so as to obtain a product that is not only functional but also in line with the entire mood.

Concorde BGW Group - The Bedford

A pub that helped launch the careers of Ed Sheeran and Michael McIntyre has reopened after Concorde BGW carried out its multi-million-pound refurbishment. The extensive renovations to the 22,000 square foot pub, grass-roots music venue and London’s longest running comedy club were carried out across its five bars, restaurant, four private rooms, ballroom and 250-capacity live music club. The Grade II Listed building is utterly unique in terms of character and strategies were developed to ensure much of its age-old charm was maintained. Once planning permission was obtained, 15 new, individually designed ensuite bedrooms were built on the second and third floors. The bedrooms add another layer of luxury to a truly unique building. Designed with the history of the building in mind, the rooms allow you to drift back to bygone ages.

Celia Chu Design & Associates - Luxury Is Personal

Located in the central heart of Taipei, the twin towers building was designed by Richard Rogers and has reached a new level of high-end residential living. CCDA was inspired by the lifestyle of the modern British gentlemen, believing true luxury not only manifests itself in the physical space but is also reflected in interests, habits, collections and art. Bespoke crystal light fixtures from the Czech Republic, commissioned silver glass panel art by the fireplace, a wine display room, spa-like bathroom and other details were designed to shape a vision of personalised luxury.

LW - Zabeel House

Zabeel House is a new lifestyle hotel by Jumeirah, catering for families, travellers and businessmen alike, with all the familiarities of the Jumeirah brand, in an afforded luxury way. This combination of Arabic culture and urban finishes comes together in the health club and spa. Reclaimed timber slats, concrete flooring and exposed ceilings are complimented and softened by Arabic rugs from the local souq and quirky artwork that continue down the corridor, into the changing rooms and treatment experience. Personal interaction is a key feature that runs through this hotel, seen through the recessed pops of seating down the health club corridor that allow for guests to pause a moment, relax and interact.

Roth Architecture - Aqua Villa

Located in the most private area of Azulik Tulum, the Aqua Villa was designed in harmony with the environment, respecting nature and making it part of the project. Water is the main design composition element inside the villa, fusing with the blue Caribbean Sea view. The contrast in colours, textures and use of the local materials allows the villa to become part of the landscape thanks to the natural materials. Exterior massage decks, Jacuzzi and netting allows guests to enjoy the space and the view in this unique environment which flows naturally into its surroundings. The interior design fosters a quiet and relaxing atmosphere, using reflection as an element; the mirrors and water in the floor give guests the sensation of space and serenity so they can enjoy the sounds of the sea and the wildlife that interact within the space constantly.

Dexter Moren Associates - Clayton Hotel, London

Clayton Hotel City of London redefines the concept of a destination hotel. The 212-key, four-star hotel is located in the vibrant Aldgate area of London, on the edge of the City of London, near to the Whitechapel Art Gallery and historic markets of Spitalfields, Petticoat Lane and Brick Lane. The hotel’s bespoke interiors reflect the history and charm of the area through the mix of materials, ceramics and furniture. The choice of lighting, colour palette and artwork visually reference elements from the culture of the area, including the Freedom Press, the Bell Foundry, warehouse metal and fabric trades and the diverse market culture. The designers at Dexter Moren Associates describe the concept as a ‘new order’: combining the old order and traditions of the East End with the future outlook of the City.

The Wall Design Corporation - The Shades of Clouds; the Valley of Hearts

This B&B is located in a mountainous region in the southern Zhejian Province. Given the unique geological environment, the south-facing location is wreathed in clouds. The area is known for its amazing natural scenery with clouds constantly passing by. The building was protected which posed a challenge however the remodelled building preserves 80% of the original architectural features. The interior is based on the Balinese lifestyle, in which the white colour symbolises the clouds. Windows have been replaced by the new larger versions, through which guests can truly appreciate the great views. In addition to the vintage decor, the preserved original yellow soil walls and doors further emphasise the spirit of simplicity.

Virserius Studio - Guest Rooms & Suites, W Atlanta Midtown

Arthur is a fictional character, conceived as a native Atlantan who was born and raised in Ainsley Park, located right behind W Atlanta Midtown. Virserius Studio’s concept for the hotel is the recreation of Arthur’s estate and secret garden, decorated with his awe-inspiring collection of art and other items obtained during his extensive world travels. He takes great pride in these collections and wants to share the stories behind these possessions. He also hopes they will make great conversational pieces, inspiring special moments among friends during their visit.

Goddard Littlefair - The Lowry Presidential Suite

The Lowry Hotel’s five-star, luxury Presidential Suite, is the largest in Greater Manchester, having undergone a complete revamp including a reconfiguration of the space and a newly enlarged dressing room. Beautiful, fitted joinery screens create a series of distinct but linked spaces, including a living area, dining area, bedroom, bathroom, dressing room, pantry and powder room. Drawing inspiration from Manchester’s rich industrial history, the suite makes reference to the city’s industrial forms, geometry and heritage, as well as the hotel's namesake, L.S Lowry. Accompanied by a colour palette inspired by Lowry’s five colours, the new design has a luxurious residential feel, with light and bright tonal colours used for the walls, curtains and carpets, offset by darker joinery, with painterly or geometric-patterned fabrics.

The 2020 edition of the SBID International Design Awards is open for entries.

Entries close on Friday 14 August. Visit sbidawards.com to enter now!

Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the beautifully bespoke, authentic and consciously curated interiors for the re-design of Miramonti; a luxury boutique hotel in Brescia, Italy. Located just over two hours away from Milan, the hotel is surrounded by stunning natural beauty and is popular for seasonal activities including: skiing, ice climbing, hiking, fly fishing, porcini mushroom picking and wine-tasting at the vineyards nearby.

The London-based, proactive and purposeful design studio, Boxx Creative completed a timeless design for the hotel’s new minimalist contemporary interiors. Inspired by the scenic Italian mountains, the interior design provides a tranquil place where guests can experience total relaxation, reconnect with nature and re-balance.

Defining a new standard of boutique hotel design for the local area and beyond, Miramonti celebrates the achievements of conscious design, showcasing the spectacular results that can be achieved when design is fully considered from all aspects; aesthetics, functionality, innovation, social and environment impact.

Practice: Boxx Creative

Project: Miramonti 

Location: Brescia, Italy

What was the client's brief? 

Originally built in 1958, Miramonti is a family-owned hotel that had recently passed onto the third-generation. The hotel’s new owners had a clear vision for what they wished to achieve, great design style and taste, an appreciation for quality, timelessness and longevity, as well as a desire to support the local community and minimise the environmental impact of the project.

The hotel was to be totally transformed, with space maximised to increase bedroom numbers, flexibility of room use and defined room types created for couples and spacious suites with connecting bunk-bed rooms for families with children. The existing bedrooms provided for self-catering with kitchenettes and dining tables, which were to be removed. In the ensuites, small shower cubicles and bidets were to be replaced with walk-in showers.

The hotel was to be fully modernised, offering guests something completely different in terms of room layout, furnishings, lighting and materials. The design had to be a real game changer and ensure that Miramonti could continue its proud legacy and be enjoyed by future generations of guests and locals.

What inspired the interior design of the project? 

Miramonti, meaning mountain view, draws its name from nature. Its holistic design was also inspired by the beauty of its surroundings and every design detail was thoughtfully considered to reflect this connection, including the colour palette, hard finishes, bespoke furniture, textiles, artwork and accessories.

The deep terracotta facade evokes the changing seasons and rich natural Italian colour palette. In the twenty-one guest bedrooms, the complementary green and blue colour schemes are both balanced and calming.

The design concept draws on the natural elements of earth, fire, air, water, wood and metal. Materials were selected for their authentic properties and link to the surrounding environment and feature in the natural stone wash basins, solid trunk coffee tables, round metal bedsides and soft natural fabrics of the sheer linen blinds and cotton bed throws.

Consideration was also given to all elements of the hotel’s design to ensure quality, longevity and minimising environmental impact. Everything was designed and built-to-last. Locally sourced, sustainable materials were used wherever possible and carpet made from recycled fibres line the corridors.

The majority of the furnishings were made completely bespoke by the contractor and his team of talented artisans in his local Tirano-based workshop. The bedrooms feature headboard panelling and wooden beds, metal framed open cabinetry storage and sturdy desks, wooden flooring, panelled doors and shuttered windows, each thoughtfully hand-crafted.

The build contractor was chosen for his energy saving principles and employment of workers within the area. All the wood chips left-over from his workshop were burnt in a furnace to heat houses in the village.

Lighting was a key part of the project where the clients wished to make an impressive statement. Layers of lighting with iconic FLOS feature pendants and Scandi-inspired statement wall lights make strong visual impact and create focal points in the guest bedrooms and ensuites. For the light switches, electrical sockets and ironmongery, Buster+Punch’s architectural hardware was the perfect companion with its strong design edge.

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

We experienced three main challenges with the project - time, distance and language barrier.

Time: The project had a quick turnaround, once the project got the go ahead, we had just over one month to do all the design work and produce all the technical drawings. The build work had to be completed within a 3-month time frame during the low season and finish on time for the start of the busy December ski season. We flew out in the final week to snag the build, install the furniture and artwork, then dress and style all the rooms for the professional photoshoot, before the hotel opened its doors to welcome guests. It was an extremely tight schedule, however the project was successfully completed and delivered on time.

Distance and Language Barrier: Unlike all our other projects where do regular site visits during the build phase, for Miramonti we worked remotely from London. Unfortunately, we can’t speak Italian and the Italian contractor couldn’t speak English, so we developed different ways of working and communicating. We setup a WhatsApp group, which was great for quick questions and sending pictures and used GoogleTranslate to translate each other’s messages. These smart phone apps were invaluable to us working together on the projects.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

In the guest bedrooms, one of the highlights for us is the intricate details of the wooden furniture and joinery hand-crafted from our bespoke designs by the contractor and his team of skilled local artisans. Two of our favourite design details are the elegant curves of the wooden bed frames and the rippled effect of the under-sink cabinets, which are replicated in the ensuite pocket doors with reeded glass panes. These small, thoughtfully considered and beautifully made details may easily go unnoticed, however for us these are a great delight to see and experience.

Questions answered by Nicola Keenan, Co-Founder and Co-Director of Boxx Creative

We hope you feel inspired by this week's Hotel design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire

If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a memorable hotel public space with playful and immersive design, click here to see more.

Project of the Week: SBID Awards Finalists 2019

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the timeless explorer's lodge which beats with the pulse of wild Africa. Lying on the edge of Botswana’s mysterious Savute Channel and within Chobe National Park - where the big five roam, the skies are large and the land is washed with the muted colours of the Savute - the Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge has undergone a full redesign and has since become a tented retreat infused with the romance of a bush camp. This is the result of a robust collaboration among Belmond (owner/operator), Luxury Frontiers (project manager and architectural, infrastructure and back of house design), and Inge Moore of Muza Lab (interior design). Together, the team designed entirely new public areas including an arrival lobby, dining room, lounge and bar, library, pool, spa and game-viewing hide - while also refurbishing the guest accommodation suites. The resulting design is a contemporary tribute to the golden age of exploration. And while the design rightfully evokes a sense of adventure and discovery, guests are also drawn to connect with the natural world and slow down to the rhythm of the land that surrounds them.

SBID Awards: Hotel Public Space finalist sponsored by Viva Lagoon

Practice: Luxury Frontiers

Project: Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge

Location: Chobe, Botswana

What was the client's brief? 

The Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge has long enjoyed a beautiful location within Chobe National Park, Botswana’s most biologically diverse park with one of Africa’s largest concentrations of game. However, the lodge had become tired, it was not engaged with its location as an experience and it did not reflect Belmond’s commitment to sustainable development and practices.

In addition to design responsibilities, as Lead Consultant and Project Manager for the project, Luxury Frontiers was responsible for the full coordination and contracting of the professional team, bringing on board the local expertise of general contractor Lodge Builders of Botswana and the hotel interiors talent of international designer Inge Moore. With the lodge’s state of affairs, Muza Lab and Luxury Frontiers were tasked with reinvigorating the resort not only to reflect Belmond’s principles, but to also engage guests through curated spaces and to showcase the natural beauty of the locale.

What inspired the interior design of the project? 

The goal was to create spaces which both reflect the greatest sense of place and are where people can embrace their surroundings, all while paying the highest respect to the environment through sustainable design. Materials are simple and natural, including limed and white painted saligna wood floors, rattan furniture and fabrics combining bright geometric prints with earthy tones. The tented public areas which include an arrival lobby, dining room, lounge and bar, and library are a collection of tented rooms which flow outdoors onto large terraces with magnificent views. The public areas have been designed to lend a comfortable, lived-in feeling with layers of collected artefacts, yet bring in plenty of local context with clusters of carved poles recalling the sticks used by the indigenous people, traditional decorative screening details and locally crafted lights inspired by the region’s clay pots.

Befitting to Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge’s location within an unadulterated wilderness area, all structures were designed to celebrate the great African bush, frame spectacular views and have a truly experiential function. Take for instance the game-viewing hide which allows guests to inconspicuously watch the area’s beloved herds of elephants and other exotic animals which gather around the lodge’s watering hole. Added to that are the hide’s beautifully simple design and its composite bamboo walls, which cast striking, spindly shadows throughout the space.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

A real point of pride for the team was the fact that the project was devoted to minimising environmental impact to the lodge’s stunning site and to supporting local businesses and organisations. All of the lodge’s structures were constructed on suspended, timber-based platforms and made of composite boarding and canvas. The previous lodge’s timber was recycled and reused, and the lodge’s decks were rebuilt using composite bamboo - one of today’s highest green timber alternative products. In the guestrooms, local thatching grass purchased from communities in Northern Botswana was chosen to cover the roofs. In fact, all the furniture, fixings and equipment at the lodge was sourced locally in Southern Africa, including gorgeously crafted pieces produced by The Blind Society of South Africa.

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

A design challenge - but one which was embraced - was the team’s commitment to making the lodge completely self-sufficient. As a specialist in infrastructure and back of house design in off-the-grid locales, Luxury Frontiers was excited to think outside the box and come up with efficient, cutting-edge solutions. Previously, the whole lodge was run on generators, which could consume up to 300 liters of diesel daily. This was replaced with a state-of-the-art solar farm of 665 panels and a Tesla battery system (one of the first in Botswana), and this has cut fossil fuel consumption by approximately 90%. Luxury Frontiers had installed a new anaerobic Sewage Treatment Plant, replaced the gas-fired hot water heaters with power-efficient thermodynamic geysers for each of the guestrooms, and put in an automated biodigester (the first of its kind in Botswana). The machine processes five tons of kitchen food waste monthly and turns this into compost, which is then bagged and used in local community-based farming initiatives.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

The Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge project team was excited to enter the SBID Awards to give credit to the complexity of the project, which was further heightened by the sensitivity of the project’s site (an unadulterated wilderness site within a national park). As projects are judged by SBID on both aesthetic creativity and technical merit, we knew the work done at Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge needed to be highlighted and heralded in the design community as world-class interior design was thoughtfully married to the utmost sustainable design considerations. Through our work here, we hope the design community (and the hospitality world) witness and strive to further the push the boundaries in sustainable design.

Questions answered by Graeme Labe, Principal & Managing Director at Luxury Frontiers with support from Inge Moore, Principal at Muza Lab

If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring Art Déco inspired interiors for a luxury residence, click here to see more.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's sustainable Hotel design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire

SBID Awards 2019 | Hotel Public Space finalist sponsored by Viva Lagoon

Project of the Week: SBID Awards Finalists 2019

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features luxurious, golden age glamour for the Hilton's Imperial Hotel design in Dubrovnik. The Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik was originally built in the 1890's, situated just above the UNESCO World Heritage site of Dubrovnik’s old town. Originally named ‘The Grand Hotel Imperial’, it was an immediate hit with a French Riviera feel and the glamorous cachet of an international clientele. The hotel was shelled during the Yugoslav war and subsequently brought back to life in 2005, when it was rebuilt in its original style. However, costly building works meant that the interiors weren’t the main priority at that time and were primed for a completely new treatment this time round.

When Goddard Littlefair was first commissioned, the hotel was already very well established and incredibly popular, with a wonderful location overlooking the old fort and the Adriatic. Drawing inspiration from the romance of the hotel’s former glories, the new design scheme sought to re-inject golden age glamour into one of Europe’s most historic hotels.

SBID Awards: Hotel Public Space / Bedrooms & Suites finalist sponsored by Viva Lagoon & Yves Delorme 

Company: Goddard Littlefair 

Project: Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik

Location: Dubrovnik, Croatia 

What was the client's brief? 

The brief was to unlock the true potential of the four-storey hotel’s spectacular location, architecture, reputation and history, in order to appeal to today’s sophisticated and cosmopolitan traveller. Goddard Littlefair was initially commissioned towards the end of 2016 for a phased set of redesign works, with the first two now completed and including the reception and lobby, The Lobby Lounge, The Imperial Bar, The Executive Lounge, all connecting and guest-room corridors and all of the hotel’s 149 standard and executive rooms and 9 suites. A refurbishment of the hotel’s existing restaurant, Porat, on the lower-ground floor, will follow in late 2019.

What inspired the interior design of the project? 

Inspiration for the new interiors was drawn from the hotel’s incredible history, in both alluding to and recreating its glamorous heritage, whilst also ensuring it had a thoroughly contemporary sophistication. This was achieved by honouring the hotel’s existing architecture and romance throughout, layering glamour into each individual space via a Riviera palette, soft detailing and a 1920's yachting influence, whilst at the same time balancing this with clean and contemporary lines.

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

The toughest hurdle was dealing with the missing architectural quality of the existing interiors that didn’t do justice to the charming exterior. The former Lobby Lounge and Bar were connected as one continuous and vast space that lacked warmth and intimacy. By breaking up the space with the use of a bespoke see-through brass shelving unit we have created a cosier transition between the two spaces. The double-height and long Reception was also addressed with regards to the lack of a solid architectural language by breaking up the height and length of the space with painted mouldings and timber panellings.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

It felt like everyone was proud to be working on such a prestigious and well known historic building. From the local contractors to the joinery manufacturers, everyone involved on the project was very communicative and responsive whenever the deadlines were pressing. The quality of materials and skills involved were very high throughout the process.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

As well as respecting the industry standing of the SBID and the reputation of the SBID International Design Awards, it’s also a real pleasure to have our designs recognised and admired by peers!

Questions answered by Jo Littlefair, Director of Goddard Littlefair.

If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a sleek, clean-lined kitchen design, click here to see more.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's Hotel design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire

SBID Awards 2019 | Hotel Public Space / Bedrooms & Suites finalist sponsored by Viva Lagoon and Yves Delorme