Hotel Design Combines Art Deco and Nature Elements

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.

What was the client’s brief? 

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.

What inspired the design of the project?

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.

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

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.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

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.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

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.

This week’s instalment of Project of the Week interior design series features a museum design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Huidrom Design Studio.

Imphal Peace Museum is dedicated to the indomitable human spirit which was so abundantly evident in the Manipur manner, as what can only be described as an epochal catastrophe, emerged. These spectacular hills and valleys are no stranger to violence but they had never before seen violence of such industrial-scale as WWII brought to their doorsteps. Though fought on their soil, the Manipuris always knew it was not their war, therefore had no enemies. In the true humanistic tradition the Manipuris, amidst their own misery, harboured no bitterness against any of the warring sides and extended humanitarian help to any soldier in need. This Museum is a Chronicle of the Heroism of the ordinary Manipuris.

This is a 6500 sqft. gallery where WWII archaeological finds are allotted appropriate contextual spaces in the narrative of a cataclysmic historical trajectory Manipur found itself in because of a peculiar turn of the geopolitics of the period. These artefacts from the past are reconnected to the activities which once gave them meaning, by materially and symbolically remaking the world they came from.

What was the client’s brief? 

We received a detailed project brief with a reference museum being Haebaru Town Museum in Japan. The display space of the museum was supposed to be divided broadly into two equal sections. The first showing the intensity of the war. The second, which is further divided into two sub-sections (“post-war” and “life & culture”), representing the resilience of these hills and valleys, and the people who made them their homes.

What inspired the design of the project?

The design took into consideration numerous factors such as functionality, scientific rigour, economic concerns, authenticity, and, above all, it was inspired by the collective character of the people of the state.

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

Our aim in this project was to leverage the material qualities and cultural connotations of wood, to achieve an orderly logic and authenticity, and thus harmonise design, nature and culture.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The highlight of this project was playing with natural textures in the design of the space. Some of them include the entrance wall where rice straw and mud clay are blended, and the exposes patterns of unpolished wood. Another great example of this is a bamboo bridge in a passageway.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

Recognition. As the Imphal Peace Museum (IPM) exhibits continue to develop over time, there is hope that the museum itself will serve as a lasting symbol of peace and reconciliation. IPM is a building with local sensibility and stands as a Symbol of Reconciliation after WWII. So, winning or being shortlisted for the SBID Awards would show acknowledgement of all our hard work.

Questions answered by Suresh Huidrom, Senior Designer, Huidrom Design Studio.