27th June 2018 | IN HOTEL DESIGN | BY SBID Share Tweet Pinterest LinkedIn This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the refined and sustainable hotel experience with QO Amsterdam. The QO represents a departure from most hotels, at its heart is an ethos focused almost entirely on curating and working with the natural environment. Aiming to be one of the most sustainable hotels on the planet; at every stage of design, the environmental impact was considered the forefront of the decision making process. The building itself actually breathes, with exterior panels that automatically open and close to keep heat in and out to ensure as little power is required to heat the building! Conran&Partners were responsible for designing the QO’s Guest Rooms, curated by the IHG Interior Design Department, to create a space that felt pure, clean, minimal yet timeless, luxurious and hugely appealing. Company: Conran&Partners Project: QO Amsterdam Project Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands What was the client’s brief? To create a hotel with a difference that provides contemporary luxury with a social and environmental conscience. The hotel is a ‘circular’ design that produces its own energy, grows its own plants and cares about its community. Our concept was to combine materials that bring a feeling of luxury with others that reflect the industrial spirit of the area, the building itself and the philosophy of the QO. What inspired the design of the Project? We looked at what luxury means today to develop what the guest would enjoy spatially – taking into account the amazing views through the full height windows and the size of the rooms available to us. We overlaid this with research on natural, sustainable and local materials to bring in the context and make very conscious decisions about the materials we were using, for example using engineered brick for the bathroom enclosures, exposed concrete ceiling, and a local limestone for the vanity. Keeping the palate paired-back and natural helped to reflect the story. We wanted to be true to how the building is actually built. So we enhanced and celebrated what it’s made from. Then we brought them together within a space which we deliberately designed open-plan so you immediately experience the light and incredible views as you enter. What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project? Tight timelines and restrictions in the layout and services – but challenges are opportunities in our view! What was your team’s highlight of the project? Working with a team passionate about the end result and having the opportunity to create a very modern version of luxury. For example, the rooms as a whole are all controlled by an innovative iPad control systems, and ingenious touches of hidden technology that make a stay surprising and effortless. By simply putting your foot out of bed, a gentle nightlight detects this movement and glows outside the bathroom to calmly direct you without the need for switches or buttons, or the risk of accidentally switching on the master switch in the middle of the night! Why did you enter the SBID International Design Awards? This project is very special with numerous passionate different parties involved working together to create a hotel that shows the industry that hospitality can be sustainable. Questions answered by Tina Norden, Director at Conran&Partners To ensure you are kept up to date with the latest interior design inspiration, sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Instagram @sbiduk If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring the tranquil tearoom nestled amidst a verdant bamboo grove in Shenzhen, click here to see more. The 2018 edition of the SBID International Design Awards is now officially open for entries! Click here to register or enter your project! We hope you feel inspired! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire Conran&Partners | SBID International Design Awards 2018