This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a hotel public space designed by Studio K Creative to feel like a beautiful, private estate. Hotel Zachary is inspired by Wrigley Field’s original architect, Zachary Taylor Davis. The charming floor plan includes a central bar, which creates an intuitive path that takes guests on a walk reminiscent of Davis’ own home by incorporating his family heirlooms, repurposing his architectural sketches into key art pieces and paying homage to his love story with details that honour his wife, Alma, and their children. Hotel Zachary is an authentic design that represents a piece of Chicago history.
SBID Awards Category: Hotel Public Space Sponsored by Viva Lagoon
Practice: Studio K Creative
Project: Hotel Zachary
Location: Illinois, United States
What was the client’s brief?
With a location across the street from Wrigley Field, the client envisioned a hotel inspired by the original architect of the ballpark, Zachary Taylor Davis. They approached Studio K with the desire to create a lobby that would act as a warm and inviting community space that felt authentic to Chicago’s history. The goal was to establish an approachable, versatile home base for visitors looking for a classic Chicago neighbourhood experience.
What inspired the interior design of the project?
Hotel Zachary is inspired by Wrigley Field’s original architect, Zachary Taylor Davis.
What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?
The greatest design challenge was creating a space adaptable enough for guests to enjoy a cozy breakfast, important business lunch or hip happy hour all within the same central area. The lobby had to move seamlessly from day to night. To achieve this transition, we worked meticulously with lighting designers to get the levels correct for different hours and functions, effectively creating varying atmospheres depending on the time of day.
What was your highlight of the project?
Since this was a legacy project, our team worked very closely with Zachary’s family to ensure the design was genuine and deeply personal. It was very touching working on a project that involved a person with historical significance.
We met with his family descendants, went through their photographs, his original sketches, his original blueprints and assorted artefacts that were passed down, including love letters between Zachary and his wife, Alma. All of these pieces were either incorporated into key art through the space or inspired various design choices. There was a lot of storytelling weaved through the process which made the outcome truly authentic.
Why did you enter the SBID Awards?
Hotel Zachary means a great deal to the city of Chicago since it celebrates a piece of history and elevated the neighbourhood around it. We are very proud that our first completed public space in a hotel has received such an overwhelmingly positive reaction from locals and visitors alike, and wanted to bring it into an international market.
Questions answered by Karen Herold, Principal and Alicia Kelly, Senior Designer at Studio K 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 luxurious Italian Villa, click here to see more.
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a striking yet stylish boutique hotel design in Germany’s fifth largest city; Moxy Frankfurt City Center emulates the exciting nightlife and eclectic scene of downtown Frankfurt with neon play area, modern guest lounge, urban aesthetic, vibrant wall murals and cool, artistic flair.
JOI-Design created Moxy’s new European guestroom brand standards and implemented them into this new-build project. This rethink led JOI-Design to also develop Moxy’s next generation of public areas featuring clean-lined, industrial architecture with a more “grown-up” vibe than previous locales. Multi-functional public areas fuse the urban with the urbane, picking up on the street culture and warehouse aesthetic prevalent downtown. Visible ceiling pipes and exposed concrete walls create “industrial chic” with a coordinated mix of stylish furniture, loud beats, humorous touches and textured details discovered upon second glance. Typeset artwork along with bear and bull references allude to the nearby stock exchange and the site’s former life as newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau‘s headquarters.
SBID Awards: Hotel Public Space Design finalist sponsored by Viva Lagoon
Practice: JOI-Design
Project: Moxy Frankfurt City Centre
Location: Hessen, Germany
Moxy Frankfurt City Centre, Germany. Image credits: SV Hotel
Our brief was to fully understand the Moxy spirit and create a world that would allow it to flourish. We were initially commissioned to develop new guestroom brand standards for Moxy hotels in Europe, and then also to bring these to life through the Frankfurt property. It was important that our design would let guests soak up local culture.
Image credits: Courtesy of Christian Kretschmar for JOI-Design
Many things! Moxy’s target market is moving towards a digital nomadic lifestyle. The flexibility of mobile working has led to a greater mix between work with play, with short stays lasting one or two nights. These are travellers who fit everything into carry-on luggage and make the most of travel adventures with party nights out. At the same time, they also remain conscious of their health and wellbeing. As a result, the guestrooms are a relaxing retreat for sociable guests, places where they can rebalance with calm and organized interiors designed for maximum efficiency and minimal wastage. Closets aren’t needed, since travelling light means minimal storage is required, so we designed the latticed “functionality wall”.
In the public areas, influences from the site’s former life as newspaper Frankfurter Rundschaut’s headquarters appear through allusions to typography and journals. The nearby stock exchange also comes into play with bull and bear motifs referencing the rise and fall of market shares. A geometric bull sculpture hangs on a bare concrete wall, while a gigantic teddy bear welcomes guests with a wink. Located at the hotel entrance to attract the attention of passersby is a graffiti mural by Herakut, an internationally acclaimed artist duo with roots in Frankfurt.
Marriott initially asked us to design guestrooms in line with the existing brand standards. As the project progressed, they asked us to develop the new Moxy identity, which of course we were very happy to do. The challenge came when they asked us to apply it to the new-build Frankfurt hotel at a very late stage in the project. The building was already under construction with the layout, power points, etc… for our first design, so we needed to work around these restrictions and make the guestrooms function as best possible with the new guidelines.
Also, the public areas floor area is not actually very large, but we needed to accommodate four zones as specified in Moxy’s standards: the library/work space; the welcome section; the F&B facilities; and the lounge. We created a layout with a natural, open feel that flows well from one space to the next.
What was your team’s highlight of the project?
Creating a new destination in a style that is different for Frankfurt hotels, and within the exciting building designed by the respected Hamburg-based architect Hadi Teherani, was inspiring.
Herakut’s graffiti mural is one of our team’ favourite parts of the interiors. We specified the art should relate to the bull and bear theme and the stock exchange, while also instilling an impression of the locale. The result is a street art-styled mural that shows two children playing in bear and bull costumes – a young-spirited approach that hints at German fairytales and helps establish the lively, light-hearted atmosphere that attracts not only guests, but also locals wishing to work, relax or meet others.
The SBID International Design Awards celebrate imagination, talent and commitment to interior design excellence across many types of projects around the world. It’s an honour to have our creativity and passion recognised by a highly respected professional organisation, the impressive award judges and our colleagues in the global design community.
Questions answered by Corinna Kretschmar-Joehnk and Peter Joehnk, Co-managing Directors of JOI-Design
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 fluid architectural curves with the V Line Cosmetic Center in Hong Kong, click here to see more.
SBID Awards 2019 | Hotel Public Space Design finalist sponsored by Viva Lagoon
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a timeless hotel design that has been created through quality details and distinctive furniture. Designed around a contemporary interpretation of Arabic patterns, calligraphy and Omani culture, the Mysk Al Mouj is an internationally branded hotel operated by Shaza Hotels Group. Godwin Austen Johnson designed the hotel public spaces with a sense of location as the main theme. By distilling the essence of the surroundings, the aim was to create a contemporary four-star hotel with a sense of belonging. The sights, sounds, light and materials of the marina together with the Muscat coastline were studied and referenced throughout the interior design.
Practice: Godwin Austen Johnson
Project: Mysk Al Mouj
Location: Muscat, Oman
The operator’s development objective was to help in the activation of the Central Plaza District of Al Mouj in Muscat and our approach was to create a highly attractive destination point in the heart of this contemporary mixed-use development. Mysk Al Mouj is the flagship hotel for the Mysk by Shaza hotel group and the brief was clear – to design a contemporary hotel that would appeal to both business travellers and leisure guests.
The local Omani culture was the main inspiration for this hotel design and we drew on the country’s rich traditions and tastes; ornate jewellery, elaborate embroidery and traditional dress to guide the design. These enduring traditions have been thoughtfully translated into a number of elements throughout the hotel, from authentic floor coverings inspired by the patterns of local dress, to artwork on the walls featuring imposing forts and woven textiles. We have taken these inspirations and implemented them into the design narrative in a contemporary approach to create unique and appealing public spaces.
During the design development the challenges we faced were largely positive and constructive creating opportunities for design improvement. Trying to source materials and furniture locally was testing but the outcome was successful with the acquisition of a number of pieces and a selection of materials to complete the design intent. Most of the furniture pieces had been manufactured locally and many of the fabrics, where possible, were selected from a local mill to help reduce the carbon footprint.
The feature chandeliers located in the hotel lobby atrium were designed as a unique, custom made and timeless design featyre inspired by Omani jewellery. The aim was to celebrate local artefacts in a contemporary way where humble materials such as brass, opal and rare stones were chosen and displayed in the magnificent double height atrium. The effects of the lighting fixtures reflecting on the vertical atrium panels were expressed in a perforated geometrical pattern.
This was the first year we entered the SBID Awards and we chose to do so because we believe this is an important opportunity to not only highlight our projects but also, celebrate our team’s talent and accomplishments.
The SBID Awards are highly respected within the design industry because they set a standard for design excellence internationally – inspiring design professionals to continue to raise the bar. Thus the finalists are recognised as the very best in the world of interior design.
Questions answered by Rochelle Mojica-Beligon, Associate at Godwin Austen Johnson
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a luxurious, open-plan entertainment space, click here to see more.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
SBID Awards 2019 | Hotel Public Space / Bedrooms & Suites finalist sponsored by Viva Lagoon and Yves Delorme
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the playful charm and intoxicating narrative of Torno Subito for Massimo Bottura; the Italian restaurateur’s latest venture in Dubai. Vibrantly captured by Bishop Design by Paul Bishop, the SBID Award winning project for the Restaurant Design category is an explosion of utterly beautiful reminiscence.
Ultimately la dolce vita, with colour-bombs and beachside terrace, Torno Subito is situated within the latest W Hotel offering upon The Palm Jumeirah Dubai. The venue beautifully fuses design, food and influences from the golden days in one harmonious offering, through an intoxicating reflection of Massimo’s affection with the past; also mirroring his culinary approach of ‘tradition in evolution’. With its distinctive storyline, Torno Subito brings a playful charm to the UAE as it completely immerses guests within its narrative; infused with sunshine-yellow tiles, Italian-punk inspired artworks and a Polaroid photo feature ceiling. Entirely ahead of its time, Torno Subito revolutionises the F&B (food and beverage) landscape as a pioneer of immersive dining.
SBID Awards: Restaurant Design winner sponsored by Perennials and Sutherland
Company: Bishop Design by Paul Bishop
Project: Torno Subito
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Photos by Alex Jeffries
Torno Subito, situated within the latest W Hotel upon the Palm Jumeirah Dubai, is a visual celebration for famed World’s number one chef and 3-star Michelin Holder Massimo Bottura. The chef known for passion, creativity and even his quirkiness saw a unique opportunity with this venture, in that he could recreate his childhood memories through intelligent design and an innovative food offering. The brief was simply to realize the sentiment of Massimo having fun. A metaphysical manifestation of beachside days reminiscent of Rimini’s coastal playground in the 1950s/60s – fun-filled days enjoying amazing food, drinks and ultimate relaxation. The interiors were to transport you to destinations beyond imagination through an intoxicating reflection of Massimo’s affection with the past. Film was to be an integral expression throughout as inspiration from Fellini films took precedent. The venue was to be a beautiful fusion, bringing together design, food and influences from the golden days into one harmonious offering.
An intoxicating narrative of bygone days sets Torno Subito far beyond alternate offerings in the region, elevating the design as one of the most revolutionary in the country. Ultimately La Dolce Vita, with colour-bombs and beachside terrace, “Torno Subito” is an explosion of utterly beautiful reminiscence. Massimo’s “tradition in evolution” approach to food enticed the design direction to inherit the best of the past and carry it forward to the future. Days of Italian pop culture were to be relived in a bewitching series of pure memoirs, satisfying Dubai’s crave for an authentic experience in its absent nostalgia.
To capture a vision belonging to someone so passionate as Massimo was challenging, yet we superseded expectations by perfectly creating his desired narrative. So far beyond solely an F&B venue, the walls tell a beautiful story inspired by Massimo’s memories, enabling guests to relive Italian food markets and beachside days in 1950s/60s Rimini. Even the name itself “Torno Subito,” translating to “I’ll be back soon,” reflective of Italian shopkeeper window signs, perfectly captures the sentiments of the venues story, whilst playing a tongue-in-cheek reference to Massimo’s presence at the restaurant.
We had never worked to realize such an inspiring story as the one told Torno Subito. The narrative was enhanced through physically diversifying materials and installations evoking a recollection of memory and re-collection of object. Pastel tones compliment the bold color mélange; contrasting against a morphing monochromatic floor that seamlessly blends into a unique, three-dimensional sand-print flooring. An eclectic array of black and white Polaroid photos suspends from the ceiling, including films of Fellini and Massimo’s collection of nostalgic 1960s summers. Cinematic ideologies evolve through corrugated iron forms representative of cinema curtains, surrounding the WC entrance. Animated graphic-stamped ceiling panels float in irregular lines representing the canopies of old Italian food market tents that Massimo has been visiting since he was young.
Showcasing projects of the highest calibre all over the world, the SBID Awards stand as a desirable platform for every designer to share their work. It truly is a privilege to be able to submit a selection of our projects and be crowned SBID Award winners, as we become inspired year on year with the unprecedented talent and expertise that the awards showcase.
Questions answered by Paul Bishop, Owner and Founder of Bishop Design by Paul Bishop
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring SBID Award winners for CGI & Visualisation with the stunning visualisations of their skyscraping penthouse project, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week’s Restaurant Design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
SBID Awards 2019 | Restaurant Design Winner sponsored by Perennials and Sutherland
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a brand new classic and, at the same time, trending BBQ restaurant design concept for a fast-growing city in the Emirates. New to Dubai, it includes a central open barbecue fire-pit with six different grills from around the world. As visitors enter, they are stunned by the spectacular sight of brick brazier spanning from floor to high ceiling, taking centre stage and serving as the focal point of the entire space. Together with the striking open-fire barbecue-pit, guests are entertained and as much a part of the culinary action as they spectate their carnivore feast being prepared; AtmosFire is more than just a restaurant – it is a dining destination.
Sector: Hospitality Design
Company: 4Space Interior Design
Project: AtmosFire
Project Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Our client, already firmly established within the F&B industry and owners of its own famous and prestigious brand – Barbeque Nation, was seeking to build a BBQ restaurant with a design that is inspired by the traditional grilling techniques from all over the world.
The main inspiration is the fire pit – where people gather around to enjoy a sumptuous meal while sharing life stories. We pitched the concept of having a central open fire pit with 6 different grills that will cater the best meats around the globe.
There were a few hurdles we had to overcome to make sure the restaurant design could be executed safely and effectively:
The spectacular sight of massive brick brazier spanning from the floor to high ceiling, taking centre stage, serves as the major highlight of the entire restaurant design scheme. Another highlight will be the fire pit itself. It came from a well-known brand in UK – Clay Oven. They customise different grilling techniques depending on the requirements of their client. In addition, the seating area on the central pit can be a highlight as well. It was designed to socialise and be part of the action. Guests can experience the finest meats prepared and aged onsite and then grilled and roasted to perfection.
Seeing how the individual design elements we specified came together was also an exciting moment for us; the terrazzo material that had been applied to most of the spaces – floor, walls, tables, and counter tops was as a result of our design vision and gave us the ability to achieve a contemporary yet classic look. We added corten steel walls on the ground level with ember linear lighting inspired by the grilling effect on the meat. The ‘broken bricks’ effect on the ceiling and walls creates a shift between the sleek surfaces to an aged appearance to create an atmosphere of classic history in one of the world’s youngest cities where residents and visitors crave a vision of heritage. A mild black steel was applied to the meat agers cabinet; also around the pit area. This design continues to provide the design theme of contemporary and aged imperfection. The mezzanine floor presents a pleasant surprise as the detail of the upholstery, joinery and finishes is punctuated by perfect lighting to create light yet a calm dining atmosphere. Our materials were used to allow maximum creativity from several viewpoints at every angle of the dining area and bar. The dining chairs are 100% leather upholstery.
Questions answered by Firas Alsahin, Design Director at 4Space Interior Design
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a contemporary kitchen design in sleek, bold tones to blend into its surrounding architecture, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week’s hospitality design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
4Space Interior Design | SBID International Design Awards
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a sustainable and luxuriously designed African lodge for Wilderness Safaris‘ Premier Camp, Mombo. The spacious tent-like lodges afford sweeping views over a floodplain teeming with wildlife, so curating an authentic design scheme that combined traditional elements with modern elegance was essential to truly embrace the essence of Mombo. Deconstructed furniture in classic styles, antique brass finishing, vintage leathers, copper lighting combined with marble and oak floors were all used. A tonal colour palette throughout reiterates the longevity of the interior design. A mix of mismatched – yet complementary – wooden furniture all works together to feature a collection of pieces sourced over the years, resulting in a personalised feel. Space was also a key factor in creating the new design, with each tented suite now comprising an expansive entrance, a sitting room with a bar unit, a separate bedroom and bathroom with a dressing area, indoor and outdoor showers and a bathtub that creates a sense of indulgence.
Company: Artichoke
Project: Mombo
Project Location: Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Wilderness Safaris wanted the lodge to have longevity and to rebuild a camp in such a way to maintain the Mombo traditions and history stretching back nearly 30 years, yet rebuilding to the highest and most innovative standards. The client’s brief was to create an environment within the camp where nothing of the stylish, traditional appeal is lost as this Lodge became the flagship of the Premier Facilities of this camp. It was important to continue to offer repeat guests a level of uniqueness to which they had become accustom, but at the same time introduce features that brings the Lodge up to date.
The history of this prestigious Lodge was a great source of inspiration where an existing blueprint called for the revival of the prestigious structure. This enabled me to make my mark on this iconic camp whilst remaining sympathetic to the essence and nature of the surrounding areas.
The location of the camp caused difficulties particularly relating to the logistics of transporting solid marble bathroom vanities on rudimentary roads through Africa, so this become a significant hurdle we had to overcome. Delivering furnishing items is always a challenge in the Delta. In the re-appointment of Mombo, there were many natural geographic obstacles which arose! The curved structure of this Lodge was also a project element which presented some interesting challenges.
Simply just to have had the opportunity to complete a historian rebuild of not only one of the oldest lodges in Botswana, but also one of the most iconic facilities constructed in the African Wilderness. Working on the client’s flagship property was a privilege.
Why did you enter the SBID International Design Awards?
It is well known that participation in the prestigious SBID Award programme is a privilege as one’s team is considered to be amongst the finest on the planet.
Questions answered by Caline Williams-Wynn owner of Artichoke
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a bold and striking pavilion designed to mark the launch of a make-up collection by II Makiage, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the refurbishment of a historic hotel, located in Bristol, boasting 71 bedrooms and six suites. Offering spectacular views of the famous Grade I listed Clifton Suspension Bridge, the project aimed to enhance the unique character shaped by the architecture, history and location of the building as well as providing comfort, relaxation and a sense of luxury for guests to experience. Classic period features are retained yet interpreted in a contemporary manner to offer a unique twist on timeless interiors with an intriguing story inspired by the location’s history alongside the Hotel du Vin brand, with touches of irreverent British humour.
Company: Dexter Moren Associates
Project: The Avon Gorge Hotel
Project Location: Bristol, United Kingdom
Dexter Moren Associates were selected for the refurbishment and interior design of the Avon Gorge hotel, including the 72 bedrooms and 6 suites. The historic hotel, set above the site of a listed pump room and spa, first opened in 1898. Located in Bristol, it has spectacular views of the famous Grade I listed Clifton Suspension Bridge. The client, Hotel du Vin, requested a design that would enhance the unique character shaped by the architecture, history and location of the building that would also subtly incorporate the essence of the Hotel du Vin brand while giving the hotel an identity of its own. Bedrooms and suites should have a residential feel: comfortable, relaxing and luxurious. Classic existing features should be retained yet interpreted in a contemporary manner and provide a timeless interior and intriguing story.
The initial concept was inspired by the building itself and the surrounding areas: the intention being to bridge the old and the new, the brand story and the locale. Dexter Moren Associates took the central concept of wine inspired by the Hotel du Vin brand and looked at the factors involved in making it: nature, represented by flora and fauna such as local birds, and time. Inspiration came from the views of the Gorge, the history of the Clifton suspension bridge and modern Bristol city.
An understanding of the hotel’s clientele was of utmost importance to the design. Hotel guests include business travellers, meeting attendees and those on weekend getaways. The hotel is also popular as a wedding venue so it was also important that the guestrooms and suites were designed with this in mind.
Nine different schemes were designed for the guestrooms: six standard and three suites. Dark-coloured walls act as a backdrop for feature wall coverings and bright splashes of colour in headboards and upholstery. All metal work is in slick satin brass or matt black. The bathrooms have bright white metro tiles lifted by a flash of turquoise green. Many rooms feature a luxury roll top bath either in the room or ensuite; the Laurent Perrier suite has two baths within the bedroom, ideal as a bridal or honeymoon suite. Workable desks in all rooms lend themselves well to the business traveller while tourists will be charmed by the retention and highlighting of the original architecture. Lighting is used as a practical tool to enhance the guest experience – as the lighting changes so too do the focal points of each space. The inside of each wardrobe is painted a feature colour to add an element of surprise for guests. The pièce de résistance is the artwork adorning the walls. Beautiful classical paintings at first glance, upon closer inspection they reveal irreverent modern elements: a man dressed for a formal occasion holds an iPod; a well-dressed lady wears a heavy gold chain adorned with a dollar sign instead of more typical diamond or pearls. These give the rooms a finishing touch of quirky British humour to appeal to locals and tourists alike.
In terms of designing it was a challenge to bridge the old with the new. The intent was to maintain existing features wherever possible in order to celebrate the building’s history, and this created challenges along the way as they were discovered during opening up. The concept of time was translated by way of laying contemporary design over a classic backdrop.
Memorable moments include discovering original stained glass in the reception, grand stair and basement areas which we managed to restore and incorporate into our design. Another highlight was the successful opening of the White Lion Bar which has been received really well by the local residents.
SBID Awards are prestigious, world renowned, and enable global recognition among our peers and the design industry as a whole. Recognition for the team on the project for their talent, passion and hard work.
Questions answered by Neil Andrew, interior designer and Partner of Dexter Moren Associates
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a modern-day luxury home that combines both old-school opulence and contemporary cosiness, click here to see more.
Dexter Moren Associates | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features an urban resort that offers sweeping lake views, located on the shore of Lake Chao; one of the largest lakes in China. The hotel is a hillside building in the Neo-Huizhou-style with 206 guestrooms. Each room has a balcony from which guests may enjoy 180-degree views of the beautiful lake. The interior design features white walls, black tiles and grey bricks, all of which are typical of Hui-style architecture. Respect is also paid to Huizhou’s aesthetic style of order and symmetry. A core design feature of the guestrooms embraces the ideas of the ‘Four treasuries of the Chinese Study’ including study space with writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper. This has great local and cultural significance in expressing the ‘Impressions of Huizhou’ design theme.
Company: Wanda Hotel Design Institute
Project:Wanda Vista Hefei
Project Location: Hefei, China
Our client is our parent company, Wanda Hotels & Resorts. Founded in 2007, Wanda Hotels & Resorts has been achieved through integrated business resources including hotel design, hotel construction and hotel management.
As the capital of Anhui province, Hefei is the economic and cultural centre with a profound history. Our purpose is to build the most luxurious and high-end urban resort in Hefei, which can meet both business and vacation demand. That’s why we choose Wanda Vista, the highest brand among Hefei hotels group. As the hotel is located near city, it owns the convenient traffic without too much noise and disturbance from city centre. We hope Wanda Vista has complete supporting facilities, breath-taking landscape scenery as well as high-quality service. In addition, we wish the cultural elements of Anhui is embodied in the interior design of the hotel, to give our guests deeper understanding of Anhui culture during their stay here. Also, as Vista brand is not commonly seen the east area of China, we hope Vista Hefei has stronger characteristics.
What inspired the design of the project?
Anhui is situated next to Huizhou, which is renowned for Hui-style architecture – a school of Chinese architecture. For another, Anhui is a combination of exquisite scenery and distinctive cultural features. In short, the above two factors – architecture and cultural characteristics – are our inspirations for this project. Other inspirational resources derive from the white wall, black tiles and grey bricks of Hui-style architecture, the order and symmetrical aesthetics, local decorative materials and the art of Huizhou carving (e.g. Brick carving, wood carving and stone carving).
Well, the greatest difficulty lies in how to express classic aesthetics using modern techniques. If we adopt traditional techniques to manifest these Hui-style characteristics, we will be confronted with great difficulty when it comes to spatial considerations; especially with a large space like the hotel lobby. Interior spaces were not as expansive as this in the past, so all the architectural components such as brick carving, roof overhang and folding screens were produced according to their actual dimension. It would therefore be impossible for us to enlarge the past material and craft it to today’s space, that’s why we needed to think about the kinds of modern materials and techniques which could be used for these creations. For instance, we designed four screens of 12 metres high to increase the levels of layer. When investigating the folk embroidery craft, our designers were inspired to replace the base fabric of embroidery with metal, and embroider Huizhou scenery on the metal net. In this way, we were able to realise the same effect with the same impact, which wouldn’t be achieved by using traditional metal or other metal materials.
Well, I think the highlight for me is the hotel lobby. The spatial vastness of the area integrates the exquisite features of Hui-style architecture and strong sense of decoration manifested through modern techniques. The lobby covers an area of 700 square meters, preserving the top structure of the original building with the highest height of near 20 metres. For the interior design, we embodied the traditional Hui-style wood carving technique into the decoration of wooden circular columns, beam and wall surfaces, focusing on the design theme; ‘Huizhou Impression’. For colour use, the combination of grey brick, black tile and white wall from Hui-style architecture which represent the nature is put into use in the whole colour adoption. The lintel decorated with hanging flowers is made from bronze, and it implements with the wharf wall harmoniously.
Also, speaking of Huizhou culture, what first comes into our mind must be the Chinese ‘Four Treasures of the Study’, which includes writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper, which are expressed by different techniques in the hotel space. For example, we designed a 20-metre high Chandelier in the shape of a writing brush, to give the appearance of it pouring down from the roof; the pool carved from black stone is the integration of ink and ink stone; the ten-metre high scroll painting ‘Huangshan Scenery’ looks like wash painting on Chinese Xuan paper. Through the design of a ten-metre high ground glass window, the hotel lobby connects with a borderless lake view perfectly, inviting the glorious views and lake scenery into the hotel.
SBID is a renowned international award. Participating in the award is a test on our design ability. We will be more thankful and honoured if we were to win an award because it will be an honour both for the design team and for a single designer. On the other hand, if we unfortunately fail in winning an award, it still offers us a precious opportunity to compete with other design teams in the world and allows us to learn from each other.
Questions answered by Haonan Zhen, Design Director at Wanda Hotel Design Institute
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a private luxury oasis comprising of villa and pool house in southeastern France, click here to see more.
Wanda Hotel Design Institute | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a boutique hotel which juxtaposes the austere beauty and fiery drama of Iceland’s natural wonders with the City Center district by using natural materials in their most organic form and monochromatic colour schemes that mirror Icelandic nature and culture. Sustainable materials native to Iceland provide the perfect touch for this unique and eco-conscious hotel. Conveniently located in the heart of Reykjavík, Iceland, the hotel was originally a hostel for Reykjavík backpackers which was renovated to offer a sustainable and tranquil refuge to its guests.
Inside one instantly feels transported to the pristine countryside of this otherworldly isle of fire and ice. In the lobby sits a glacier-like front desk and infinity hallways connecting guest quarters mimic hot lava floes zigzagging across a vast blackened field. Each private bath even features geothermal hot water, sourced from the surrounding natural springs. Design elements are also oriented to take maximal advantage of natural light and ventilation. A profusion of natural light streams through the expansive guestroom windows with sweeping views of the North Atlantic sea and snow-capped mountains to the North. Sustainable heating was introduced and LED lighting is utilised throughout to decrease electricity usage by up to 75%, with hallways using motion detection. Not only does the guest feel a sense of magic when the lights turn on, but the hotel saves energy when there are no guests in the hallways!
Company: Minarc Inc
Project: Ion City
Project Location: Reykjavík, Iceland
To design a functional, urban, aesthetically pleasing space that would accommodate all amenities necessary for a great experience for future guests.
Icelandic nature was the main influence to the interior design of the hotel. The concept story of the hotel design was to bring the nature inside, in the form of materials and colour schemes to experience and get the sense of the austere Icelandic nature, without getting out of the city. We wanted to create an experience for the guests that will live in their memory.
The challenges to work with the existing building, local regulations along with the essential amenities needed to accommodate a happy stay for the hotel guests. The hallways were a challenge as they were short and small so we wanted to utilise them to their full potential. The design is inspired by the countryside’s rugged terrain, with cuts of light illuminating to the guest rooms and mirrors on each end of the short hallway, they play with perspective creating a memorable experience like walking through infinitive lava fields.
There are many items and elements of the interior design we are especially proud of and have personal meaning to us, including the bathroom works on the walls, which are custom handmade by Erla. The illuminating hallway connecting the guestrooms imitate the flowing lava fields; the white Corian lobby desk inspired by the surrounding glaciers; the Dropi chair in the lobby that suspends from the ceiling in the intentional shape of a raindrop; the Nest chandelier hanging above diffusing light through it’s intertwined form along, with the overall cohesion and outcome of the design as a whole.
The SBID International Design Awards is one of the most prestigious awards celebrating interior design and architecture today, we consider it an achievement to receive an SBID International Design Award and we would be honoured to win one for our designs. We have previously won for a house we designed in Iceland, Big Little Rock and nominated for our Ion Adventure Hotel.
Questions answered by Tryggvi Thorsteinsson and Erla Dögg Ingjaldsdóttir, Principal Designers at Minarc Inc
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring an American neoclassical design concept with comfort and function, click here to see more.
Minarc Inc | SBID International Design Awards 2018
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