Sans Souci, Czech designer and creator of glass lighting and architectural installations, introduces lighting installation in the centre of Burj Al Arab’s new lobby in Dubai. The stunning chandelier was adapted from Sans Souci’s signature Symphony collection and is comprised of 210 crystal tubes, weighing around 450 kilograms.
The installation seamlessly integrates heritage craftsmanship with the latest nano-technologies. Using cutting-edge techniques, each glass tube was coated in gold and engraved with a unique leaf motif taken from the luxury hotel’s wallpaper.
Designed by KCA International for Jumeirah Group, the newly renovated Exit Lobby features the magnificent spiral chandelier as the bespoke centrepiece for the interior. The installation’s design plays with light to create a glowing piece of art in the heart of the new space.
“Burj Al Arab is a globally recognised symbol of Dubai and luxury so we were delighted to work on this project” commented Elie El Khoury, Managing Director of Sans Souci Middle East. “We wanted to create a unique installation for the new interior that embodies the opulence of this iconic hotel.”
Jiří Krišica Head of Design at Sans Souci, added “The core design for this piece is taken from our Symphony collection and we then worked with the design team to create a truly unique chandelier that highlights the stunning interiors of the hotel. The final effect is an installation that plays with light and shade, creating a beautiful focus for the space.”
Burj Al Arab’s new Exit Lobby opened in October 2021. This installation adds to the list of Sans Souci’s projects in the Middle East which includes the W Hotel The Palm, Waterfront Market, Central Park Towers in Dubai or Al Rayyan Hotel in Doha.
About Sans Souci Lighting
Sans Souci Lighting is a bohemian designer and producer of decorative lighting fixtures, glass objects and architectural features. Shaped by impeccable design and desire for modernity, they value, above all, innovation and technology. Never afraid to challenge the rules, they strive to be the leader in the field of lighting originals and a luxury brand for those seeking beauty and inspiration.
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The fashion house of Dolce & Gabbana put Sicily on the fashionista map and spread the island’s crafts worldwide by incorporating iconic Sicilian images in its bold prints like the colourfully decorated horse cart, ripe lemons and oranges. This was an early inspiration for the interior design concept created for the hotel by The Hickson Design Partnership (THDP), a London-based interior designer and architectural practice with a team of 50% British and 50% Italian designers.
Giardini Naxos, founded in 734 BC by colonists from Chalcis in Euboea, and was the first Greek colony in Sicily. Ancient Naxos was destroyed in 403 BC, and the centre that rose in its place in the Middle Ages as a fishermen's village. In the late 19th century elegant villas were built, used as holiday mansions by the upper classes.
The Greek heritage that remains in Sicily can be seen in the architecture of a few very important buildings. The Temple of Concordia today is a popular seaside-resort, offering more than 40 hotels, and a great number of vacation homes. Throughout the year the island plays host to numerous artistic, cultural, and religious events. Sicilians love a celebration!
The ancient Phoenicians and Greeks brought their artisanal traditions to the island, creating amphorae, kraters, kylixes, and other typical ancient wares and the technique of laying bright, saturated colours have been introduced into Sicily during the Muslim conquest.
The building presents most of the room facing the sea allowing the Mediterranean light to enter from the big windows and the guest can enjoy the salty air from the guestroom balcony. It sits at the feet of Etna volcano and near to Taormina.
Detailed local research guided the narrative of the entire concept project, commencing with the refurbishment of the main public areas, lobby and lobby bar, guest check in, Restaurants Panarea & Sciara, and creating a new Pool Terrace and Fluido bar.
The interior design concept was inspired by the natural beauty of the volcanic beaches, the sea, mount Etna’s super-natural presence and the features of the island of Sicily and the ambition was to bring them into the centre of the hotel. By adding local decoration, artworks and colours the goal was to add character, a deep sense of authenticity and a refined and resort-based palette of natural tones with touches of colours of the sea.
The lobby was a large open space of over 700sqm meters, previously decorated in a heavy baroque style, the concept from the outset was to re-activate this space, giving it a new heart and focal point – and to be appealing to both guests and to walk-in locals.
From the outset THDP considered adding a new lobby bar to the centre of the space, being both a visual anchor but also dividing the space and making it feel more intimate. With the new layout smart workers and leisure guests can meet using a polyvalent area which can host all, thanks to the different typology of seating. The style is elegant, Mediterranean with sea colours and Taormina’s stone colours melting indoor and outdoor colour palette.
The bar utilizes local materials to create a new feature in the centre of the lobby space, the bar top from local company Nero Sicilia is a made from volcanic lava stone extracted from the quarries of mount Etna glazed in cracked white glass. The bar fluted and curved front is formed from woven faux leather by Natutex, the rear bar features antique mirror with the joinery finished in Italian Oak and Rattan.
The seating in the Quintessenza features two room divider style banquet seating, fitted with USB and power outlets it’s the perfect place to work and relax, the backs of the banquets are finished in woven faux leather by Naturtex. The bar offers a range of seating options from the bar stools facing the bar from Gervasoni to the lower relaxed armchairs are from Miniforms and Torre 1961. The tables and banquets were manufactured to THDP’s design by Riabita. The new highly decorative wall covering is by Janelli & Volpi.
The reception has been inspired by the Sicilian attitude of welcoming and it has been translated in three large reception desks, the feature rear wall is tiled with hand painted local tiles by La Fauci, the accent decorative lights are from Aromas del Camp and are of copper and rattan, thus from the very beginning of their journey the guest is surrounded by an authentic and local experience.
The reception desks are finished in dark grey lava stone by Nero Sicilia, with a façade of woven faux leather by Naturtex adding warmth and texture, the fronts of the desks feature oak panelling mimicking the fluted effects of classical columns of the Temple of Concordia.
New desks, headings and rear artwork and tiling by La Fauci were all custom designed by THDP.
The Panarea Restaurant is the place in the morning for breakfast but easily converts during the day to host lunches, special events and dinner in the evening. The layout of the restaurant focuses on the new buffet counters which are aligned to the show cooking area - allowing guest to admire the chefs preparing their dishes to order. The restaurant has materials, features, and shapes that reminds guests of antique craftsmanship, incorporating hand painted tiles in the niches at the entrance with traditional motifs from La Fauci.
The buffet counters are cantered into the new restaurant and are closable during evening set up and special events with a custom designed screening. The counters feature built in an invisible heating and cooling elements which allow all the dishes to be moved around and swapped around to offer maximum flexibility to the hotel. During events the buffet counters can be stripped back and closed off - giving the restaurant less of a ‘breakfast’ space feel and more of a space for fine dining.
The buffet area has screens featuring irregular but geometric shapes hanged from the ceilings that recall ancient Greek terracotta jars. The artisan tributes continue on the walls covered with a braided woven leather cowhide effect inspired by ancient Greek sandals.
The new seating offers relaxed arrangements with a mix of table sizes, featured in fabrics reflecting the colours of the sea, visible from the restaurant. THDP also designed high tables, which can be used in the morning for breakfast to display local pastries and in the evening a high table dining experience. The adjustable tables made by Riabita, who also carefully prepared all custom furniture for the project and project managed their execution on site.
The custom designed carpeting by THDP is made by Ulster Carpets, the ceiling lighting are re-purposed light fittings from a hotel in Milan owned by the client – made in Murano.
The word “Sciara” is a local term, used in Sicily in the Etna area to indicate the accumulations of volcanic ‘waste’ that form on the surface or on the sides of the mountain. The term gives it name to the fine dining restaurant at the hotel, where the interior concept is intense and reflects power and wonder of the volcanoes spilling lava – dark intense with touches of blue & red - recalling colours of the sea at night, foreboding, dark yet attractive and welcoming.
The walls were finished with rough hewn lava stones, giving a raw and natural feel, to compliment this toughness the seating by contrast is curved and flowing and features 4 signature tables finished in enamelled lava stone by Nero Sicilia, the booths too are curved and help give the restaurant a centering. There are screenings in copper tones which feature so the design of super scaled rattan, adding a sense of privacy whilst not robbing the restaurant of its sea and pool views. The flooring is stained Natural Oak laid in a herringbone design by Havwoods. The copper-coloured feature lighting is from Utu, the hexagonal mirrors by Sovet.
The bar, show kitchen and wine display area were all uplifted, with lava stone from Nero Sicilia used for both the bar top and front, and in a glazed motif for the table tops.
The Fluido Bar is located on the pool terrace, just outside La Sciara Restaurant offering breathtaking panoramic views of the Mediterranean sea and the unique grey volcanic sandy beaches. The pool Bar is characterized by a contemporary, indoor meets outdoor styled residential look and feel. The walls are finished in a cement-coloured panels by Cosentino, the bar top is white Dekton and the bar front is feature tiles in raw and glazed lava stone by Nero Sicilia.
The bar serves pre-dinner aperitives with signature cocktails, open to guests and locals, the ambition is to become a destination bar for the hotel adding to its local night scene. The seating is part dining, part informal lounge sofas with outdoor furniture by Etimo & Varaschin. The flooring is a grès tiling from Gruppo Florim, who also provided the surround to the pool and its interior. Large ecru umbrellas offer shade to the guests during the summer times. THDP created a warm garden style lighting effect, selecting outdoor weathered wall fittings by Aldo Bernardi & suspended light by Faro Barcelona. The large pergola and pavilions are custom designed and supplied by Corradi.
About THDP
THDP was founded in 2005 by partners and couple Italian Architect Manuela Mannino & British Interior Designer Nicholas J. Hickson. The studio is based in south east London and Italy and has a team of 10 people between the two countries. The studio designs hotels, restaurants, and residences internationally, focusing on the south and east part of Europe and Italy. THDP aim to be flexible and able to react to the fast-moving waters of the hospitality sector, prioritizing authentic narrative based on local research and curated selections of artisans, local companies and talented artists. This work is reflected in the guests experience that will be dotted with details to discover during their stay. THDP's approach springs from an endless creative curiosity, enthused by the founders to every team member, each one of them a true passionate designer and a talented focused team, who is integral part of the successful accomplishments of our projects.
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This week's instalment of Project of the Week interior design series features an art deco inspired design for hotel rooms and public spaces by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Atellior.
Atellior was appointed by Starboard Hotels to design the interiors of the Hampton by Hilton Park Hotel Royal. The project scope involved the design of 164 rooms and all public spaces of the hotel. The specially commissioned furniture and artworks by local manufacturers and artisans contribute to a relaxed and stylish ambience. Atellior’s design respects the building’s heritage and imaginatively references its situation, while demonstrating a commitment to sustainability.
SBID Awards Category: Hotel Public Space Design
Practice: Atellior
Project: Hampton by Hilton Park Royal
Location: London, United Kingdom
To create a contemporary and fresh hotel interior that made connection with the original Art Deco building and West London location. The client was particularly keen to create comfortable ground floor open lobby, bar and restaurant with guests relaxing, working, socialising, eating and drinking in the space throughout the day and late into the night.
Inspiration for the design has been taken from the nearby Art Deco Park Royal tube station and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and are revealed in the stylish geometric and botanical touches found throughout the interiors.
There was no particular hurdle that we would single out. Like all projects, there were challenges on site, when some things didn’t quite work out in line with the drawings and design intent. But we worked really close with the contractor to ensure that all hurdles were overcome successfully and without any detriment to the client and the end result.
The client specified an ‘open lobby’ and to achieve this Atellior’s innovative solution was to remove the loadbearing walls on the ground floor while retaining the historic façade. There was also the challenge of the ground floor windows, which, once the entire floor had been lowered for access, were now too high. As the façade was listed the windows could not be enlarged. To solve this issue, Atellior worked with Jackie Callingham, a local artist to create five backlit stained-glass panels which were mounted beneath the existing apertures, giving the illusion of larger windows and adding light and interest to the space.
Atellior is particularly proud of the accessible public restrooms, and in consultation with the client, it was agreed that rather than being an afterthought, these should be generously sized and pleasurable to use, with Tektura feature graffiti wallpapers in bold colours. Brass and sanitaryware by Hansgrohe and Vitra was carefully selected to showcase the best product design, including stylish grab rails by Hewi to aid accessibility.
We are really honoured to be shortlisted for the SBID Awards as they are a real benchmark of forward-thinking design within Interior Design industry. Even to be shortlisted is a huge accolade and recognition!
Questions answered by Una Barac, Executive Director, Atellior.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's design!
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a luxurious residential apartment design by Mane Design, click here to see more.
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.
SBID Awards Category: Hotel Bedroom & Suites Design
Practice: Nielsen House
Project: Gilpin Spa Suites
Location: Cumbria, United Kingdom
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a hotel design by PLD, click here to see more.
This week's instalment of Project of the Week interior design series features a hotel design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, PLD Paul Liu Design Consultants.
Located in Shanghai’s seaside district Fengxian, this new urban oasis hotel offers warm and welcoming luxury experiences for the body and mind in Hangzhou Bay. The sense of design creativity is carried throughout the experiences one has at the hotel, unveiling layer after layer.
Dining options at JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai Fengxian include three distinctive restaurants and a bar. The overall design of all-day dining outlet JW Kitchen is modern and clean-lined where show kitchens are distributed around the restaurant, strongly expressing the hotel's unique identity. Fine dining restaurant Yan Xuan, with 15 luxurious dining rooms for private events, has an elegant design with upscale detailing, while each private room has its own unique design elements. Signature restaurant Shanghai Crab & Co. offers a casual and maritime overall feel. Earth tones indicate the down-to-earth nature of a Mediterranean meal, while pastels and cool colours create a more upscale seaside atmosphere.
SBID Awards Category: Hotel Public Space, sponsored by Cumberland
Practice: PLD
Project: JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai Fengxian
Location: Shanghai, China
The brief was to design a new contemporary JW Marriott-branded hotel, inspired by the principles of mindfulness to allow guests to focus on feeling whole - present in mind, nourished in body and revitalized in spirit. To enable the hotel design to articulate Marriott’s international luxury portfolio brand strategy, philosophy and globally consistent image.
JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai Fengxian was designed with an architectural point of view and a focus on authentic materials and space shaping. Millwork, tactile materials, thoughtful details, lighting, and furnishings all contribute to the design concept in a holistic way, reflective of the property's unique sense of place.
The hotel's style narrative was inspired by its natural surroundings and Jinhai Lake, with its exterior resembling the legendary bird Roc, from the fable of “Roc hopping into the sea”. The design elements incorporate natural materials such as wood and marble in undulating, curvilinear forms that reflect the waves of the nearby East Sea. The hotel’s 265 guestrooms and suites offer luxurious comfort in restful shades of sable and blue, echoing the beaches and sea with clean modern lines and every thoughtful amenity for guests' comfort and convenience. Inspiration stems from the simple beauty of the natural world. In addition to visual design elements, guests experience nature in a tactile way through carefully-curated sensory experiences.
With nearly 45000 sqm design area, the hotel design process was very sophisticated and functional, involving planning, schematic design, developed design and construction documentations stages. Due to the diversity of functions within a hotel building, a large number of specialists like architects, structural engineers, lighting, signage, AV consultants, contractors, suppliers were involved and required to coordinate with during each critical design stage. The design had to meet the requirement of Marriott’s international brand strategy while take the owner’s operational, budget, timely and aesthetic requirements into consideration.
The project was highly recognized by the hotel management groups and the owner. Special attention was paid to hotel’s spatial relationships to ensure that spaces were used efficiently. The most efficient space planning solutions were given by the designer to make use of each corner to create more interesting spatial sequence, to keep a minimum amount of circulation and service space and also to give the guest a greater connection to the site and enhance the sense of privacy.
It became a sophisticated and luxurious sanctuary designed to let guests relax and rediscover a sense of balance in mind and body, as well as a convenient gateway to Shanghai and nearby cities.
The SBID International Design Awards are recognized as the most prestigious interior design awards in the world. Winning the SBID International Design Award would be a high achievement.
Questions answered by Bo Liu, Founder & Chairman, PLD.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a luxurious residential villa design by Chains Interior, click here to see more.
With a commitment to recognising professional excellence across interior design and championing the growth of the creative industries, the SBID International Design Awards bestowed its annual accolade for Master of Design to Kit Kemp MBE - renowned interior designer, Founder and Creative Director of Firmdale Hotels & Kit Kemp Design Studio for her significant contributions in raising the profile of the profession.
Over the years Kit Kemp has carved herself an internationally-acclaimed reputation, not only for her unique approach to hotel interiors, but also as a successful textiles, fragrance and homewares designer, author and a highly-respected champion of British art, craft and sculpture.
The Kit Kemp Design Studio is celebrated for its individual and original approach to hotel and residential design, with colourful and detailed storytelling which celebrates craft and captures the imagination. As the creative force behind Firmdale Hotels since 1985, the brand now has ten properties, with eight hotels in London including the Ham Yard Hotel, Soho Hotel, Covent Garden Hotel, Charlotte Street Hotel, Haymarket Hotel, Number Sixteen Hotel, Dorset Square Hotel and Knightsbridge Hotel, as well as two in New York, The Whitby Hotel and Crosby Street Hotel.
Dr Vanessa Brady OBE, Founder & CEO of the Society of British and International Interior Design (SBID) comments, "We wanted to present Kit with this exclusive accolade to acknowledge her work as trailblazer in interior design. Bringing colour and pattern back into the forefront, Kit Kemp has forged a trend in the brave path she has trodden which serves as great inspiration to the professional community - not only for interior designers, but product manufacturers too!"
The SBID Awards strives to empower design industry talent to exhibit their creative work and celebrate their achievements on its global stage, as a testament to the incredible outcomes that can be accomplished through the power of good design and quality craftsmanship.
Click here to explore the full line-up of this year’s SBID Awards winners across Interior Design, Product Design and Fit Out.
About SBID International Design Awards
The SBID International Design Awards attracts entries from over 85 countries worldwide, serving to recognise, reward and celebrate design excellence across Interior Design, Product Design and Fit-Out. Showcasing the world’s best design talent on its globally respected stage each year, the SBID Awards champions and challenges design standards - a parallel it shares its exceptional entrants. Winning a SBID International Design Award signifies outstanding industry achievement, with recognition that is second to none for the deserving winners.
Changes to the way we travel, work, rest and play post-Covid are forcing hotel designers to rethink the entire guest experience. Hotel Interiors Experience (HIX) 2021 explores how these social shifts have transformed the role of hotels, highlighting the opportunities for operators beyond these pressure points.
When: 18th - 19th November 2021 Where: Business Design Centre, London
Visitor registration is free! Click here to register now.
As Europe’s hotel and hospitality industry sets about rebuilding its recovery and in-person events make their return, the launch of HIX 2021 marks an important moment for the hotel community: a new event for the hotel sector dedicated to making inspirational and extraordinary design experiences.
HIX will showcase the most exciting established and emerging design-led brands in a boutique exhibition alongside a conference which will explore the story of social change over the past 18 months, setting the scene for 3,500 hotel industry professionals to share ideas that will transform the guest experience.
Joel Butler, co-founder of HIX, said: “All Together Now has been our mantra since the first UK lockdown. When a group as creative and energetic as the hotel design community are separated from one another for so long, this rallying cry seems like a pure and simple objective for HIX.” The hotel design community have endorsed HIX: Henry Reeve, director of interior design at the InterContinental Hotels Group, said the event represents “an exciting new opportunity for the Hotel design scene [as] disruption and new thinking are required now more than ever.”
The exhibition will offer a visual showcase of ‘100 design stories’ where cutting-edge suppliers including Chelsom, Morgan, Sanderson Design Group, Hansgrohe, Hypnos and Villeroy & Boch, from across the entire hotel and design supply chain including bathroom, fabrics, FF&E services, furniture, lighting, surfaces and technology. Each stand will tell its own unique story, providing designers, interior architects, developers, suppliers, and hotel operators with an opportunity to see first-hand exceptional design concepts and experiences. “Right now, HIX is exactly what the hotel design community need. We can't wait to be back at an authentic community event”, said Ilker Hussein, global projects corporate director, Laufen.
Running parallel to the exhibition will be the HIX talks, featuring six seminars, each exploring one of the seismic social shifts to have occurred since the start of the pandemic. Starting in a challenging place of anxiety and the need for hotels to carve a new value proposition, moving towards community and togetherness, trust, compassion and new opportunities for hotels as workplace. Among the speakers confirmed are Robbyn Carter, founder of Brooklyn’s new Studio Carter; Vince Stroop, founding partner of stroop; German design visionary and owner of sieger design & SIEGER, Christian Sieger; and, globally renowned London-based studio, Tina Norden, partner at Conran and Partners; Jason Steere, managing director of brand & experience at The Student Hotel; and Technology and communication leader Dex Hunter-Torricke, formerly of Google, Facebook who will share insights in building trust and meaningful loyalty with communities, specifically tomorrow’s Generation Z travellers.
About HIX Hotel Design Interiors (HIX) 2021 is an annual exhibition for the hotel and hospitality supply chain, taking place over two days 18-19 November 2021 at London’s Business Design Centre. The event will bring together the entire design and interiors supply chain, including bathroom, fabrics, FF&E services, furniture, landscaping, lighting, objects, outdoor, spa & wellness, surfaces, technology plus many more, with the designers, interior architects, specifiers, project management, hotel operators, procurement, consultants and developers involved in bringing the guest experience to life.
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With proud roots in Hong Kong since 1928, The Peninsula has been synonymous with refined Asian tastes and experiences, and an icon in the world of travel and hospitality.
Crosstec Group share the delight of unveiling The Peninsula Boutique & Café, designed by Conran Design Group - a newly opened retail space and a dining destination in one of the Peninsula hotels in Hong Kong. It celebrates the finest gourmet ingredients and dining experiences that reflect the legendary hotel’s reputation for excellence.
"It was a memorable journey for our CROSSTEC team, starting from design development to the final renovation fit out. The project features the work of extraordinary craftsmanship and partnership from various parties."
The Café and its products are all about exclusivity and excellence. Crosstec Group ensured that the interiors correspond to the brand and its values, and aimed to represent the Peninsula's rich heritage in their design. They achieved an elegant, yet relaxed and approachable look and feel for the Boutique, making the Peninsula Café the ultimate spot to unwind and share with friends, family or business associates.
The Peninsula invites guests to try their delicious culinary creations and beverages, accompanied with the famed Peninsula customer service, before exploring books on design, travel and culture by renowned French luxury publisher Assouline.
The guest experiences at the hotel will be enhanced not only by the premium food and stylish gifts they will find at the Boutique, but also by the design that is so unique to the place it is bound to become a tourist destination in itself.
Crosstec team believes that the visitors will be able to enjoy the exclusive and immersive dining experience at The Peninsula Boutique & Café and they congratulate the Peninsula on the grand opening.
About
Crosstec Group Holdings Limited (3893.HK) is a one-stop provider of interior design solutions and the majority of their clients are global luxury goods and high-end fashion brands with retail stores across the world. They serve a global client base with footprints in various parts of the world including Hong Kong, China, the United States, Europe, Middle East and other Asian countries.
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The green oak building tradition of the Hogg family forms the inspiration behind Rachel McLane's crafted designs in the new 40-bedroom Sandburn Hall Hotel in the Yorkshire countryside.
Design-led and built to a country-style specification, the 1,000-acre Sandburn Hall estate was developed by the late Mike Hogg seven miles from York. The new adjoining hotel complements what is already one of North Yorkshire’s leading golf, wedding, events and business venues.
When Pickering-based Rachel McLane was contracted in 2018 to provide her innovative, specialist interior design work for the ambitious new build it was immediately clear that the Hogg family wanted to build on Mike Hogg's legacy.
"From day one we worked very closely with the client to incorporate the Hogg family firm's wonderful custom building heritage into the design, bringing that history, the shape, feel and emotion of that green oak frame building structure to the fore," said Rachel.
"Given the freedom to interpret their brief we have created a design that not only makes the most of the space and enhances the building, but understands and incorporates the Hogg family heritage, interests, and craftsmanship into the final design."
The new hotel's centrepiece uses natural green oak beams to frame a triple-height lobby as part of Sandburn Hall Golf Club, Grand Function Room and Tykes restaurant. Hand picked artwork is established on the walls, including photos of green oak frames and black and white prints going around the corridors and rooms. The designs also take some of their inspiration from the local area where York and the East Coast are evident in the natural colours, earthy tones, and real materials including vintage maps depicting the Sandburn Estate.
"In doing so, we were able to fulfil an important part of the brief that the rooms and spaces had to feel individual and not corporate," added Rachel.
Rachel's design vision created a unique cohesive feel across all rooms and into the common areas ensuring that the Hogg family connections to nature and craftsman trades were reflected in the room décor. Rachel commented: "The designs merge the traditional and the contemporary and aim to achieve a balance that bridges the core golf, wedding and business customer base."
The Rachel McLane team's design expertise is evident throughout the new hotel's range of 40 double and twin rooms all with dressing areas, including larger family, luxury and accessible rooms, and two luxury suites. They also all come with handcrafted built-in case goods. "We wanted the signature and family rooms to be fun, a bit urban and industrial where the raw richness of exposed brickwork and soft leather combine with cool-toned sawn grey oak flooring and built-in bespoke joinery."
Well lit, spacious and airy with eclectic pieces of furniture that differentiate between room types, the large windows of these signature and family rooms are of a natural oatmeal palette, soft grey and brick in a modern, fresh design that naturally marry the hand-crafted structure of the building.
Super-king beds and luxury, made in Yorkshire Harrison Spinks mattresses are a feature, and bathrooms are a mix of contemporary and traditional with the emphasis being on quality and timeless design. The hotel's premier rooms, including the courtyard premier, have been designed with a feel that is classic and calm with raw, untreated materials to give a fresh, bright, light and airy atmosphere. Reclaimed bricks are softened by natural cream and teal curtain fabrics with artisan hand-blocked characteristics. Elements of teal and natural weave have been picked up in soft woven tweeds and the carpet's muted tones, and the furniture has a comfortable country feel in a calm palette.
"The biggest challenge was the length of time it took from creating the fixtures and fittings specification to fulfiling the initial design with Covid-19 a constant hindrance. We found that not only were some products unavailable, but more than one company had ceased trading."
Despite the challenges of a long project Rachel says that the team has loved working on Sandburn Hall Hotel: "The client is a pleasure to work for, they appreciate high-quality workmanship, attention to detail, and above all understand the value of design and the difference having a designer on board makes to a project.
"It's also lovely being local to a project as you feel like you are contributing towards the good of the local area."
About the Author
Rachel McLane developed a wealth of experience designing for the retail sector for eight years in London and York before setting up her practice, Rachel McLane Ltd specialising in the design of interiors for professional clients with commercial interests.
Scotland’s very first YOTEL, centrally located in Edinburgh’s bustling Queen Street, perfectly combines contemporary modern interiors with the classic design of the city’s famous Old Town architecture. Its playful ‘cabin’ style rooms feature bathrooms using a bespoke solution and innovative solid surface material Surfex® exclusively from Roca.
YOTEL Edinburgh is the brand’s first city centre opening in Europe. Its premium location is perfectly placed, allowing guests to experience all of the city’s historic charms and top attractions within walking distance of the hotel. The sleek and modern interior is testament to the ethos of the brand; creating an innovative, smart hotel for tech-savvy travellers.
The hotel has 276 compact cabin rooms, inspired by the feeling first class travel provides in terms of luxury and comfort. Each room is equipped with YOTEL’s signature features including luxury bedding, relaxing mood lighting and Smart TVs. This helps to enhance the smart experience YOTEL is renowned for and evokes contemporary style and convenience. The rooms are designed to have a modern feel, and its minimalist white interior highlights the brand’s close attention to detail.
During the launch, YOTEL Edinburgh General Manager Stuart Douglas said, “The main purpose of the cabin rooms at YOTEL is to provide guests with functionality, practicality and above all, high quality. The uncompromising design of the rooms and bathrooms ensures guests have the essential elements of luxury hotels but redesigned into a compact, smart space.”
Working closely alongside YOTEL at the design stage of the project, Roca created a bathroom solution that closely aligned with the brand standards. This included the Gap wall-hung WC and a bespoke vanity unit, in addition to bespoke washroom countertops for the public areas of the hotel.
Manufactured in Poland, the bespoke units were made using Roca’s innovative Surfex®, a malleable solid surface material formulated from a combination of minerals and resins. The unique properties of Surfex allow it to be poured into a production mould, enabling complex designs with no joints or seams. The materials properties also permit ‘on-site’ changes to the finished product, catering to different guestroom sizes and configurations. At YOTEL Edinburgh the advantages of Surfex were harnessed to create a wash basin bowl with an integrated unit that maximises countertop space, providing ample storage space for toiletries and grooming products.
The addition of The Gap wall-hung WC further complemented the design aesthetic. Created by renowned industrial designer Antonio Bullo, The Gap features modern and stylish lines whilst delivering both a compact and functional bathroom solution.
“We worked in close partnership with the YOTEL team to deliver a bespoke solution that fitted their requirements and those of their guests,” comments Jon Bond, Head of UK Projects at Roca. “The end result is a bathroom that seamlessly integrates the modern feel of the cabin rooms, with the contemporary ethos of the YOTEL brand.”
About Roca
Roca began in 1917 as a manufacturer of cast iron radiators at its factory in Gavà, near Barcelona. From humble origins, the company has grown into a global business driven by a firm focus on improving the quality of life for its customers. Roca began producing innovate new designs, products and materials to provide the complete bathroom solutio. Today, Roca manufactures at 78 facilities around the world and is active in over 170 markets.
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