JULY | AUGUST 2018

JULY | AUGUST 2018

W W W. SLEEPERMAGAZI N E.COM

Jabali Ridge Como Uma Canggu Rosewood Luang Prabang

79 Asilia Africa ventures to the heart of Tanzania’s Como’s third hotel in Bali takes on the Bill Bensley turns storyteller, archivist and treasure
Ruaha National Park with its new safari lodge laidback vibe of it surfside location hunter at Rosewood’s latest outpost in Laos
 Because good design
demands simplicity.
™

British lighting design since 1997

astrolighting.com
 Inside Sleeper
J U LY | A U G U S T 2 0 1 8

79

Hotel Reviews Features Cover Story

042 Jabali Ridge Ruaha National Park
048 Gran Hotel Inglés Madrid
056 Como Uma Canggu Bali
062 The Fontenay Hamburg
070 Park MGM Las Vegas
079 Rosewood Luang Prabang
087 The Great Madras Singapore
092 Corner Studios by Diesel Living at
The Megaro London
038 Brand Standards… Locke Hotels
With sites open in London and Edinburgh,
Locke Hotels is set to take its extended stay
concept across Europe following investment
from Brookfield Asset Management.
103 Events… AHEAD
Celebrating the most ambitious and
innovative hotels across the region, AHEAD
Americas reveals its winners during a tango-
themed ceremony at Miami’s Faena Forum.
042 Jabali Ridge Ruaha National Park
Asilia Africa joins forces with Nicholas
Plewman Architects and Artichoke Design
to create an eight-suite lodge in Tanzania’s
Ruaha National Park. Inspired by the rugged,
shrub-filled landscape of its surroundings,
Jabali Ridge champions an earthy aesthetic
that sees guests at-one with nature.

Departments
020 Check In
022 Drawing Board
095 Business Centre Hotel Analyst
100 Business Centre STR
118 Events Sleepover
122 Events HI Design Europe
127 Events Radical Innovation Award
130 Events Sleep
135 Product Profile Furniture
157 Product Profile Fireplaces
159 Specifier
178 Check Out

003
 T R I G C O L L E C T I O N BY J A N I C E F E L D M A N

SleeperJulAug_Trig_spread.indd 1
6/26/18 5:01 PM
HOSPITAL IT Y
by JO N AT H AN CH ARLES
 Turo
Design by Allermuir Design Team

allermuir.com

Visit our Creative Laboratory at Fox & Knot Street, London, EC1M 6HP
AP_Sleeper_MOGADOR.indd 2 01/09/2016 10:09:33
 Welcome

E xperience has undoubtedly been the buzzword of the hospitality industry

in recent years, with operators scrambling to provide a service that extends
beyond the realms of bed and board.
What started with the idea of events programming – hosting art classes or live
music nights – has become a fully-fledged movement that is winning over guests
more effectively than design, location and even price point ever did.
Amongst accommodation providers, the race is on to capitalise on the experience
economy, now more than ever. Airbnb has recently pumped US$5 million into the
expansion of its Experiences initiative, which will see the concept land in 200 more
cities this year, while Mr & Mrs Smith marked its first foray into the sector with the
acquisition of Side Story, a personalised guided tour service. Accor Hotels meanwhile
continues to snap up innovative hospitality groups – the latest being a 50% stake
in SBE – in a bid to diversify its offer, and CEO Sébastien Bazin has made no secret
of his vision to revolutionise the hotel company to become an experience company.
This is all very well, but there’s a handful of forward-thinking groups already
looking to the next wave to enhance their offer beyond the confines of a traditional
hospitality company. Speaking at HI Design Europe in June, author and futurist
James Wallman offered insight into where the industry is headed, stating that travel
is evolving from fly-and-flop – the lazing-on-the-beach-crowd – to find-and-seek,
in which travellers pursue new experiences, to go-and-become, defined by a desire
to change themselves. The transformation economy.
With the world seeing a fundamental shift from consumption to experience,
people are expressing their status through what they do, not what they buy, and
smart businesses are realising they have to sell more than a commodity to get ahead.
Marriott is already on board having hosted a series of ‘Transform with Marriott’
workshops aimed at empowering guests to achieve their full potential in fields such
as public speaking and clean sleeping; while Design Hotels last year staged its first
Further Collective, a community hub that offers meaningful immersion experiences
with a social impact. Luxury travel agent Black Tomato meanwhile, has launched a
service that drops travellers in remote locations, from where they have to overcome
mental and physical challenges to find their own way home – and notably, is charging
them vast sums for the privilege.
With this in mind, travellers are seeking operators – hospitality or otherwise – that
act as enablers for such transformations. In turn, this could lead to a re-evaluation of
the role of designer. As Wallman says: “It isn’t just about designing physical spaces;
maybe your role will start to evolve from surface design to experience design to
transformational design.”

Catherine Martin | Editor

015

042
CALINE WILLIAMS WYNN
“We wanted to ensure that
appreciation was given to the
surroundings,” says Caline
Williams-Wynn of Artichoke
Design on the inspiration
b eh i nd Jaba l i R idge i n
Tanzania’s Ruaha National
Park. “A great deal of emphasis
was placed on textures, natural
products and organic subjects.”
Combining nature and luxury,
the eight-suite lodge is the latest
addition to African operator
Asilia’s portfolio.
Guest Book
056
© Andrew Querner
KOICHIRO IKEBUCHI
Having created designs for
Como Hotels & Resor ts
in locations such as The
M a ld ive s a nd B a ng kok ,
Koichiro Ikebuchi, founder of
Atelier Ikebuchi, has recently
ventured to Bali to work with
Paola Navone on Como Uma
Canggu. A statement project
with inspiration drawn from
the hotel’s surfside location,
I kebuchi’s design marries
wellbeing, nature and organic
architectural forms.
016
070
© Nathanael Turner
ANDREW ZOBLER
As founder and CEO of Sydell
Group, Andrew Zobler has
driven hotels into new territory
with forward-thinking brands
like NoMad and Freehand,
as well as standalone projects
including The Ned. Hot on the
heels of receiving the AHEAD
Americas Outstanding
Contribution Award, Zobler
has recently turned his eye to
Sin City with the opening of the
joint Park MGM and NoMad
Las Vegas.
118
© Evan Sung
CLAUS MEYER
Culinary entrepreneur Claus
Meyer made his name overseeing
ac cla i med F& B proje c t s
La Paz, Agern and Noma,
previously named the world’s
best restaurant. A key figure
in New Nordic cuisine, Meyer
joined Sleepover Brooklyn for
a discussion covering topics
of sustainability, the power of
food to drive social change,
and his work with local
communities through The
Melting Pot Foundation.
 Four Seasons at the Surf Club, Florida – bespoke loungers by Joseph Dirand

Living the good life outside.

Love it, live it, share it.

www.tribu.com

TRIBU_ADV_SLEEPER_GB_236x275_FOURseasonsFORIDA.indd 1 1/06/18 14:50

 Front Desk

P O R T FO LI O EDITORIAL
Editor-in-Chief Matt Turner – m.turner@mondiale.co.uk
Managing Editor Catherine Martin – c.martin@mondiale.co.uk
Editorial Assistant Kristofer Thomas – k.thomas@mondiale.co.uk
Editorial Assistant Ben Thomas – b.thomas@mondiale.co.uk
Editor-at-Large Guy Dittrich

A DV E R T I S I N G
Advertising Manager Rob Hart – r.hart@mondiale.co.uk
Advertising Sales Charlotte Goodlass – c.goodlass@mondiale.co.uk

AHEAD
Global Sponsorship Lorraine Jack – l.jack@mondiale.co.uk

EVENTS & MARKETING

Brand Director
Events Manager
Events & Marketing Co-ordinator
Data & Circulation Co-ordinator
Content Manager
Amy Wright – a.wright@mondiale.co.uk
Melanie Page – m.page@mondiale.co.uk
Millie Allegro – m.allegro@mondiale.co.uk
Eliot Ramshead – e.ramshead@mondiale.co.uk
Molly Dolan – m.dolan@mondiale.co.uk

DESIGN
Design Manager David Bell – d.bell@mondiale.co.uk
Production Zoe Willcox – z.willcox@mondiale.co.uk

Finance Director
Group Financial Controller
Group Credit Controller
Accounts Assistant
FINANCE
Amanda Giles – a.giles@mondiale.co.uk
Sarah Healey – s.healey@mondiale.co.uk
Lynette Levi – l.levi@mondiale.co.uk
Kerry Mountney – k.mountney@mondiale.co.uk

Chairman Damian Walsh

Retail cover price (where sold): £7.95

Strawberry Studios, Watson Square,
Stockport, SK1 3AZ, UK
Tel: +44 (0)161 476 8390
www.sleepermagazine.com
Annual subscription rates (6 issues): UK: £65.00 | Europe: £85.00 | RoW: £110.00
Subscription records are maintained at Mondiale Publishing Ltd
Sleeper (ISSN No: 1476-4075 ) is published bi-monthly by Mondiale Publishing and is distributed in the
USA by RRD/Spatial. Pending periodicals postage paid at So Hackensack NJ. Postmaster: Send address
changes to Sleeper, c/o RRD, 1250 Valley Brook Avenue, Lyndhurst NJ 07071.
Mailed by Spatial Global | Printed by Buxton Press
000

Taking a break from designing new hotels for Mandarin Oriental and Equinox,
Joyce Wang heads to North America for a fantasy stay deep in canyonlands.
Where are you?
The exact meeting point of the four corner states of
New Mexico, Utah, Arizona and Colorado.
How did you get there?
A rickshaw, a donkey and a large cane are rotated
between my husband, two children and myself; we
look like a scene out of Exodus. I like the idea of
roughing it prior to a luxurious holiday, and at
the same time teaching our children the value of
hard work and the concept of carbon footprint.
Who is there to greet you on arrival?
Claude, a Japanese butler from Yakumo Saryo in
Tokyo. He appears out of nowhere to greet us,
offers us cold towels, aloe vera and leis of the desert
flower, then mysteriously disappears.
And who’s at the concierge desk?
Xavier, a Frenchman and concierge at Mandarin
Oriental Hyde Park, London. He gives us an
overview of the merchants who trade rare antiques
and objets in the canyon, and sets up a few meetings
for during our stay.
Who are you sharing your room with?
My husband Stefan and our toddler children, Wolf
and Wren.
Is there anything you would like waiting for you
in your room?
Water in glass vats (lots of it), a collection of well-
designed wooden toys to keep the kids busy and a
raw silk rug to frolic on.
Name: Joyce Wang | Position: Principal, Joyce Wang Studio | www.joycewang.com
Notable hotel projects: Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London; The Hollywood Roosevelt, LA; Equinox Hotel Spa & Club, New York (2019); Mandarin Oriental, Melbourne (2023)
Joyce Wang
JOYCE WANG STUDIO
Describe the hotel, your room and the view...
The hotel is nestled in the deepest part of the
canyon. It takes cues from Tom Ford’s Texan ranch
and has hints of Kubrick’s Space Odyssey. Like
David Chipperfield’s Neues Museum in Berlin, it’s
difficult to distinguish new from old, authentic from
invented, raw from refined. The aesthetic is at once
Jurassic and futuristic, the hospitality is understated
yet en pointe and will require several stays to truly
appreciate. Lighting is dramatic, filtering through
the undulating canyon, expressing itself as beams
of intense sunlight at midday. The changing weather
is our view. Through our porthole windows, we
witness flash floods of biblical proportions every
few hours, with driftwood and rocks washed
through from upstream. The kids have a workshop
making dream-catchers from the remnants, whilst
Stefan and I have a signature hot stone massage
followed by much needed podiatry treatments.
Who designed it?
Architect Carlo Scarpa, film director Stanley
Kubrick, composer Philip Glass and visual artist
Tatiana Trouvé; they went on holiday together
and designed the hotel like it was their first album.
What’s the restaurant and bar like?
A rope bridge takes us from the hotel to the vertical
face of the canyon, where private dining balconies
are dug into the rock face at varying elevations.
From afar, it’s a public spectacle like in Roman
times; yet in the privacy of our own balcony, we’re
free to indulge. Our kids can rip into food like
cavemen without a second glance from other guests.
021
Who are you dining with this evening?
My husband; comedian Ali Wong; Stephen Tennant
– a good ol’ fashioned party animal; filmmaker
David Lynch; and fashion designer Michèle Lamy.
Who’s manning the stoves?
Peruvian chef and restaurateur Virgilio Martínez
Véliz. He forages ingredients from every altitude
and introduces flavour combinations that are
unexpected yet delicious.
And what’s on the menu?
Virgilio prepares a bacchanal style of amuse-bouche
featuring seasonal ingredients from the land – a
visual and gastronomic delight to tease the senses.
The best tomato soup I have ever had is from Sorrel
River Ranch a couple miles away, so that is sent over
for sampling. The main dish is Tex-Mex inspired
to fully benefit from the location – a grilled smoky
protein with an accompaniment made from corn,
topped with generous helpings of queso.
Would you like something to drink with that?
My choice of drink is water; I can tell a Badoit from
an Evian. Here, we’re served chilled spring water
that has been filtered through carbonous rocks.
What’s in the mini-bar for a night cap?
Milk and cookies.
What’s on your nightstand at bedtime?
An auto-bedtime reader that miraculously puts
the kids to sleep.
000
 Tetra Hotel
VARIOUS LOC ATIONS

Innovation Imperative – the newly created design studio from

engineering firm WSP – has revealed its conceptual design for the
futuristic Tetra Hotel.

Taking the form of a series of 19-ft-tall modular carbon-neutral

pods, Tetra Hotel is billed as a futuristic and sustainable hospitality
solution for the modern age. Each pod features multiple floors
including a top level containing a bed and skylight, a second housing
a shower, and a third for entertaining. The bottom level features a
secluded working area, with the wider development set to include
dedicated space for bars, restaurants, markets, exhibitions and fairs.
Ross Harvey, Project Director, explains: “Tetra Hotel and WSP
are combining their creative powers on an exciting project that
aims to create iconic architecture in stunning locations globally.
WSP’s multi-disciplinary design studio initiative is undertaking
a proof of concept study to enable early-stage client discussions,
and the solutions being investigated are founded on sustainability,
renewable energy and achieving minimal environmental impact.”
Behind the angular façade, sustainability had emerged a core
theme of the project. With a view to making the buildings completely
off-grid, Tetra Hotel has been engineered to expend as little energy
as possible, using local seawater for cooling, and solar panels for
heating, whilst Pods are pre-fabricated and assembled on-site
during construction, incorporating local rock as foundations for
minimal environmental impact.
The location of the first hotel will be revealed this year, with
Cape Verde, Norway, Canada, New Zealand, Spain, Portugal,
Andorra, Hungary and the UK all being considered.
 Hyatt Regency
BANGKOK
Hyatt has announced the Q3 opening of Hyatt Regency Bangkok
Sukhumvit, its debut property in the Thai capital.
The 273-key hotel will be situated on the vibrant Sukhumvit Road,
landing as part of a 31-storey mixed-use development. Designed
by Bangkok-based architecture firm OBA, the project has been
envisioned to channel Golden Age aesthetics through a contemporary
lens, with wall, ceiling, furniture and rug details all inspired by three
of the country’s most notable periods: the Sukhothai, Ayudhya and
Ratthanakosin eras. OBA has also incorporated sculptures by Thai
artist Ajarn Nontiwat Jantanapalin into the scheme.
Elsewhere, three F&B venues will enhance the offer with a mix
of local and international fare. The lobby lounge, a 47-seat casual
space doubling as a work environment will be joined by the more
024
traditional all-day Market Café as well as On29, a fine-dining tapas
bar with a library space, living room and outdoor terrace.
1,359ft2 of event space, including the pillar-less Regency Ballroom
and a series of more intimate meeting suites and breakout spaces will
be available for private functions and meetings, whilst a gym, sauna
and outdoor free-form swimming pool complete the wellness offer.
Guests on club-level floors will also have access to the signature
Regency Club Lounge, which affords expansive views of the Thai
capital through floor-to-ceiling windows.
“We are extremely excited to open Hyatt Regency Bangkok
Sukhumvit and to bring Hyatt Regency to Bangkok,” says General
Manager Sammy Carolus. “We feel so fortunate to be in an area
that is historic, culturally diverse and developing in a way that is
fascinating to see and be part of.”
 Rosewood
HOUSTON
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has been selected to manage a 150-key
hotel in Houston, Texas. Set to open in 2023, it marks the brand’s
second property in the southern state.
Situated within a mixed-use, high-rise development owned by
McNair Interests – the investment firm of Bob McNair, owner of
NFL team Houston Texans – the hotel portion will feature a full-
service restaurant, outdoor pool bar, fitness centre and an extensive
programme of meeting, event and conference spaces.
“Texas is the birthplace of the Rosewood legacy, which launched
with The Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas in 1979, so we are
thrilled to expand our presence in one of Texas’ most vibrant cities,”
explains Sonia Cheng, CEO of Rosewood Hotel Group. “Offering
innumerable cultural attractions, a sophisticated culinary scene,
026
and unparalleled shopping, Houston is a natural destination for
Rosewood’s affluential explorers.”
Located in the city’s uptown district, the hotel will be in close
proximity to several Houston landmarks including The Galleria
– Texas’ largest luxury shopping destination – whilst the wider
development, designed by architecture firm Skidmore, Owings &
Merrill, will include 80 branded residences, a curated retail series
and office space.
“This is a defining development for McNair Interests and the city
of Houston,” adds Cary McNair, Chairman and CEO of McNair
Interests. “Our vision redefines the southernmost entrance of Post
Oak Boulevard and the Uptown District, fusing a distinctive,
sophisticated design with Houston’s future. We are excited for what
this project will bring to our city and to visitors around the world.”
 R o m a fro m C h e l so m
For fur ther information email: marketing@chelsom.co.uk

chelsom.co.uk

41912 Chelsom Sleeper Ad4 ROMA 275x236_2018_AW.indd 1 19/04/2018 16:56

 Viceroy at Ombria Resort
ALGARVE
Viceroy at Ombria Resort, a 76-key luxury hotel set within the
mixed-use Ombria Resort development, has announced its 2020
opening date.
Located in Algarve, Portugal, the resort incorporates healthcare
and fitness facilities, multiple restaurants and bars and a conference
centre, as well as 65 Viceroy branded residences. Situated on a hilltop
with 360-degree views of the surrounding countryside and coast,
Viceroy at Ombria Resort blends its remote rural atmosphere with
the attention to detail, service and comfort of a modern retreat.
Two large heated swimming pools – one for families and another
serving only adults – will be joined by an outdoor pool bar, whilst
the F&B programme features a seafood grill, a speciality fine-dining
restaurant, wine cellar, and terrace and library bars, as well as an
028
eight-room spa and five-room conference centre. Elsewhere, a village
square will add a touch of social unity to the project, whilst the low-
density building and design approach to the wider resort is set to
create a sustainable ethos.
The 150-hectare resort will feature three real estate development
areas with 381 residential and investment units, an observatory,
dedicated honey and organic farming facilities, as well as an 18-hole
golf course designed by Jorge Santana da Silva.
The fundamental principle of Ombria Resort is that all land
occupation is sustainable and respects environmental values. As
such, the use of renewable energies such as solar and geothermal
will be the drivers for achieving these goals, whilst the use of bio-
climatic architecture practices across all of its buildings will ensure
an environmentally-responsible final product.
 Contacts Ph Bernard Touillon

info@ethimo.com
+39 0761 300 444

ethimo.com
Collection Allaperto/
design Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez —
Grand hotel
Showroom
Milan / Rome / Viterbo
Paris / Cannes
 Magashi
AK AGER A NATIONAL PARK
Wilderness Safaris has joined forces with the Rwanda Development
Board and conservation group African Parks to launch Magashi, a
six-tent camp in Akagera National Park.
Following the success of Bisate Lodge, Wilderness Safaris’ new
development will be situated in the northeastern section of Akagera,
overlooking Lake Rwanyakazinga. Set to open in December 2018,
the intimate camp will allow guests to view up close the park’s 500
species of birds, as well as buffalo, lions, elephants and giraffes in
their natural habitat.
Funded in part by The Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and created
with the aim of protecting and developing the area, Magashi marks
the latest addition to a park in the midst of a revival. Having all but
eliminated poaching, the 100,000-hectare park now boasts a thriving
030
ecosystem which saw the reintroduction of lions and endangered black
rhinoceros in 2015 after a 20-year absence. A focus on threatened
animals and the opportunity to observe gorillas contributed to Bisate
Lodge’s success, and Magashi will look to replicate the model with
Akegera being 75% self-financing due to safari tourism.
“As we celebrate our 35th year of changing lives in 2018, we
are proud to announce this exciting partnership with the Rwanda
Development Board and African Parks, further demonstrating our
commitment to pioneering sustainable and authentic ecotourism in
Rwanda,” comments Grant Woodrow, Chief Operations Officer,
Wilderness Safaris. “This new classic camp will not only offer our
guests an extraordinary savannah experience, but one that is strongly
rooted in a core purpose – to help conserve Rwanda’s last protected
savannah ecosystem and species like shoebill and black rhino.”
 Famous for their outstanding diversity of pattern, Scottish design duo Timorous Beasties present their third collection with Brintons,
Craigend. Named Craigend for not only the road name of the Glasgow Timorous Beasties studio and birth place of the collection, but also
inspired by the Old Gaelic word Creag meaning rock.
The collection is inspired by textures and surfaces found on the ground including Suitable for a wide variety of hospitality applications including hotels, casinos,
sand dunes, stone moss and aerial views of landscapes, all reimagined in Brintons cruise ships and airports, each Timorous Beasties Craigend Collection by Brintons
special blend of 80% wool and 20% nylon. With Craigend, Timorous Beasties design can be customised and is woven to order in a full range of specifications.
have called upon their fascination with the often brutal beauty of the natural Whichever direction is chosen, Brintons’ highly skilled design team will help
world as well as taking aesthetic inspiration from different crafting methods to adapt the concept to ensure it matches the creative brief perfectly while
including paint, ink and fabric. complying with all the practical requirements.

W W W. B R I N TO N S . N E T

© Copyright Brintons Carpets Limited 2018. Brintons is a trademark of Brintons Carpets Limited. Timorous Beasties is a trademark of Timorous Beasties Limited.

TB Graigend Advert - June 2018.indd 1 11/06/2018 12:01

 Malmaison
EDINBURGH
Malmaison Hotel du Vin Group has teamed up with property
developer S. Harrison and architects 3DReid for a new Edinburgh
boutique hotel in Edinburgh, set to open in 2019.
Transforming the Grade A-listed Buchan House on St. Andrew’s
Square into a 72-key hotel incorporating a restaurant, bar and coffee
lounge, 3DReid have made major alterations including the addition
of active public spaces at street level and accommodation on the
upper levels. Two newbuild extensions will further feature within
the courtyard and rear of the building.
By removing the non-original rear wall and enlarging the reception
area, 3DReid seeks to unlock space whilst making non-invasive
changes to the internal fabric. An existing 1970s elevation to the
back of the property is being re-configured and re-clad to enhance
032
the setting of both Buchan House and the adjacent Findlay Court,
whilst the courtyard extension will help solve connectivity issues by
unlocking the plan and providing a link between the existing and
new façades.
The design will feature a simple palette of materials across
both structures, with the new façades constructed from anodised
aluminium cladding panels and glazed units. In both cases, the base
element will be clad in stone to give each a strong grounding.
Gordon Ferrier, Director and Head of Hotels at 3DReid, comments:
“This project has drawn on our familiarity with the context and the
understanding of the aims of the City of Edinburgh Council strategy.
We’ve applied our considerable hotel experience following on from
the successful recent completion of the nearby Principal Edinburgh
George Street and Principal Edinburgh Charlotte Square.”
 Pendry Manhattan West
NEW YORK
Pendry Hotels has been selected as the hotel operating partner for
Manhattan West, an eight-acre, six-building, mixed-use development
in New York’s Hudson Yards.
Comprising 164 guestrooms, a signature restaurant, lounge and open-
air terrace bar, the hotel portion of the project – Pendry Manhattan
West – is expected to break ground in Q3 2018, and be completed
in 2021. With architecture by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and
interiors by locally-based practice Gachot Studios, the hotel will seek
to marry California-style laid-back comfort with Manhattan’s energy,
unifying the country’s coasts by way of design.
“New York City is a destination we have had our eyes set on
for many years, and Brookfield Properties is the ideal partner to
collaborate on Pendry Hotels’ New York City debut,” explains Alan
034
J. Fuerstman, founder, Chairman and CEO of management company
Montage International.
Situated between the soon-to-be-redeveloped Penn Station and the
new seven-train station at Hudson Yards, the 7-million ft2 Manhattan
West development will feature 844 residential units alongside
dedicated office space, a vibrant urban plaza with landscaped
gardens, a high-end retail programme and a series of innovative fine-
dining culinary concepts, all tied together with curated public arts
and events programming.
Ric Clark, Senior Managing Partner and Chairman of developers
Brookfield Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners, adds:
“We are thrilled to partner with Pendry Hotels because of its strong,
aspirational, design- and service-centric brand that will deliver a
uniquely modern sensibility and help Manhattan West come alive.”
 Mandarin Oriental
MUSC AT
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced that it will manage
a new resort and branded residences in Muscat, Oman.
Expected to open in 2021, Mandarin Oriental Muscat will
comprise 150 guestrooms and suites, five restaurants and bars, a
signature spa and an outdoor swimming pool, as well as a range of
banqueting, meeting and event spaces. The group will also manage
the 155 residences included within the mixed-use property. Located
beachfront, the hotel’s low-rise architectural design will seek to take
advantage of views over the Arabian sea.
“Muscat is an entrancing destination with character, charm and
an abundance of visitor attractions. We are delighted to have the
opportunity to expand our brand presence on the Arabian Peninsula
with this exciting project in partnership with Eagle Hills,” comments
036
James Riley, Group Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental. “We look
forward to bringing Mandarin Oriental’s legendary service standards
to Muscat.”
Located approximately a twenty-minute drive from the airport,
and set within the prestigious central district that further features
a mix of premium retail and leisure facilities, guests will have easy
access to cultural landmarks including the Royal Opera House and
the Grand Mosque, as well as Muttrah, the city’s historical and
traditional souq marketplace.
Mandarin Oriental Muscat marks the group’s 31st hotel, increasing
its presence to 21 countries and territories worldwide. Developed by
Eagle Hills Muscat, the new addition continues the firm’s focus on
large-scale projects that draw from contemporary technologies for
smart and sustainable properties.
 extra-ordinary

Alfi by Jasper Morrison

Made in America of 100% reclaimed industrial
emeco.net

waste and responsibly sourced local wood.


With sites open in London and Edinburgh, Locke Hotels is set to take its extended stay
concept across Europe following investment from Brookfield Asset Management.
Eric Jafari
Co-founder and
Creative Director
Locke Hotels
Eric Jafari is Managing Director of
Development at Saco, the serviced
apartment company that operates
and manages over 900 apartments
across the UK.
As co-founder and Creative Director
of Locke Hotels, he has overseen
the launch of the brand’s debut site
in East London, as well as its most
recent opening in Edinburgh.
Evolutionary Expansion
LOCKE HOTELS
As the needs of travellers evolve, the demand for lifestyle homogenised,” Jafari explains. “Travellers’ needs are
hotels at a pocket-friendly price is greater than ever. For evolving on a daily basis, as is our understanding of them,
Locke Hotels – the aparthotel concept from Saco – this therefore each Locke is an evolution of its predecessor, it
has opened up new possibilities in the growing extended- reflects elements of the local fabric, and the needs of that
stay sector. specific micro-community.
“It’s less about the aparthotel market, and more about “We have four Lockes in development in London;
socio-economic shifts,” begins Eric Jafari, co-founder and each one of those will be completely different because
Creative Director of Locke Living. “There’s an emergence of the fabric of the building, the location and the F&B
of people who are looking for the benefits of what they offer. We’re trying to create a public space solution that
would get within a design-led or lifestyle hotel, coupled is needed within an area, as opposed to just taking a
with what they get in an Airbnb unit. It isn’t just about the formula that has worked elsewhere and placing it in a
service, it’s about providing what they define as a home- new location.”
away-from-home.”
The home-away-from-home descriptive is one that’s
used over and over in hospitality, but for Jafari, it means
so much more than a bed. “The reality is, home isn’t just
a place where you go to sleep. It’s the kitchen table where
you sit with your loved ones and talk about your day, or
the sofa where you’re able to relax.
“The type of individual who stays in an Airbnb is
looking for something more than just a room and a bed.
They need the autonomy of a kitchen and living quarters,
to prepare their own breakfast and maintain day-to-day
habits,” continues Jafari. “Our mission is to take that a
step further; our home is not just within the four walls,
it’s the community you’re part of.”
The Locke mission
Bridging the gap between contemporary lifestyle hotels
and luxury serviced apartments, Locke looks to target
micro-locations and business travellers in the creative,
tech and media industries. The brand’s debut property,
Leman Locke, was five years in the making and is nestled
into East London’s tech-centric Aldgate district. The 168-
key aparthotel caters to locals and guests alike through
an F&B programme in which premium grab n’ go coffee
fuels early morning commuters, and a cocktail bar acts
as a spot to wind down come nightfall.
“If the mission is to create a second home for your target
demographic, then it prevents the product from becoming
038
The design ethos
In creating the concept, Jafari has worked closely with
Matthew Grzywinski, co-founder of New York-based
firm Grzywinski+Pons, kitting out interiors with fully-
equipped kitchens, bespoke L-shaped sofas and ample
storage space. And while the design has won a legion of
fans, the duo has since learnt that guests in the capital are
less sensitive to space than was initially thought.
“Guest feedback has revealed that the rooms are
almost too big, and to pay a little less, they would be
open to having less space,” says Jafari. “So in order
to accommodate these clients, we’ve bought a second
building across the street from Leman, where we’re
adding 103 compact guestrooms.”
Likewise, Whitworth Locke in Manchester, set to open
in Q3 of 2018, will comprise a series of price sensitive
micro-units, as well as large ground floor spaces that aim
to serve as an extension to the private living quarters.
“There are vast amounts of public spaces in Manchester,
and we’ve teamed up with Foundation Coffee House for
our co-working areas to create a community concept.
Amongst the F&B spaces, a wine bar will front the atrium;
a Californian brasserie will be run by Evelyn’s Café Bar;
and a Parisian cocktail venue will occupy the basement.”
039
At Eden Locke, the brand’s new outpost in Edinburgh,
common areas have been reduced in scale to create a more
boutique look. “When you enter the public spaces it looks
nothing like Leman Locke, it feels like the Garden of Eden
and features large amounts of vegetation. We use imagery
and symbolism to reference the locale, so at Leman, fox
statues represent urban wellness, while at Eden, lions and
lambs play on darkness and light, or good and evil; there’s
a different identity to each of our properties.”
Locke is continuing to work Grzywinski on future
developments, as well as partnering with multidisciplinary
studio O’Donnell O’Neill for the Dublin property, and
New York design and concept firm Avroko for Cambridge.
Red Deer – the architectural firm behind Shoreditch’s
Smokestak – has been tasked with the group’s forthcoming
Locke in London’s Dalston neighbourhood.
The investment plan
Having established its place in the UK’s aparthotel market
and acquiring sites in Cambridge, Moorgate and Dublin,
Locke is set to ramp up its European offer following
investment from Brookfield Asset Management, with
locations in Paris and Berlin scheduled for completion
in the next two years, along with plans for Amsterdam;
Hamburg, Munich, Stockholm, Wo r k i n g o n n e w b u i l d s ,
Copenhagen, Barcelona, Milan, “Travellers’ needs are conversions and everything in
Lisbon and Madrid. evolving on a daily basis, between, Locke’s next arrival,
“ We were acqu i red by at London’s Moorgate, will
Brookfield Asset Management
as is our understanding open in the coming months,
for £430 million, and the of them, therefore each while Locke at Broken Wharf is
intention is for us to grow to £2 set for Q4 of 2019 and will be
billion. We have a five-year plan
Locke is an evolution of underpinned by the arts due to
on expansion, and the aim is to its predecessor.” its proximity to Tate Modern and
secure five to seven projects per the Millennium Bridge.
annum,” explains Jafari. “The “There’s a lot for us to work
mission to ensure that every Locke is different, as we’ve with in Europe, and the cultures are so different that
noticed that within this neglected sector, there is generally there is also lots to learn. We don’t want to dilute the
no soul to most aparthotels. In my opinion aparthotels experience, so the intention is to ensure that we create an
and serviced apartments are twenty years behind hotels incredible product and experience, and from there take a
when it comes to design, F&B and service, so there’s an dedicated approach to other specific countries by setting
opportunity to leapfrog the hotel business by catering to up a thorough network and headquarters.
a different traveller.” “The three pillars of Locke are wellness, arts and
evolution. And on top of that is self-actualisation,” Jafari
The future blueprint concludes. “We never want guests to walk into one of our
With plans to add around 1,000 new units and manage a Locke projects and feel that they are a carbon copy of
total of 4,500 apartments across key European cities, Saco’s those which have come before – because if they did, we
reach is expected to extend to 39 locations worldwide. have failed as an organisation.”

040
LefroyBrooks_Sleeper_advert-2018-July-August_Mackintosh-black-acessories_01.indd 1 25/06/2018 15:45
000
 Jabali Ridge and Private House
RUAHA NATIONAL PARK

The rugged, shrub-filled landscape of Tanzania forms the inspiration for

Asilia’s newest luxury safari lodge in the heart of Ruaha National Park.
Words: Lizzie Pook | Photography: Courtesy of Asilia

000
T wo huge baobabs stand sentinel at the entrance to Jabali Ridge,
a towering reminder that here, nature is king. It’s something
Johannesburg-based Nicholas Plewman Architects had to bear
in mind when set the task of designing the eight-suite lodge, cognisant
that they must build around the colossal granite boulders that sit
stubbornly on the site in south Tanzania’s Ruaha National Park. “The
idea was to work around the shadows of the giant boulders but keep
the roofs flat so that the elevation would never compete or clash with
them,” says the studio’s founder, Nicholas Plewman. “The boulders
provide an extraordinary magic and majesty, but they also posed a
problem; if our buildings occluded them, the site would be lost, so we
had to be very careful with placement and scale.” Of course, they also
presented challenges when it came to squeezing eight rooms within
the irregular site, and bringing in services like water and power, but
the end result is an impressive, earthy-looking property that appears
to emerge from the surrounding landscape.
Surrounded by lala palms, bush willows and tangles of mauve
and lavender wildflowers, Jabali Ridge – Jabali meaning ‘rock’ in
Swahili – occupies a unique spot overlooking the craggy landscape
of Tanzania’s largest national park, which is home to 10% of the
world’s remaining lion population yet receives only half the visitors
of the better-known Serengeti to the north. While the lodge opened
in September 2017, work has just completed on Jabali Private House,
044
an exclusive-use villa, and the only private house on the southern
safari circuit, set 200m away from the main camp. With two private
entrances, a huge baobab at its centre and a veranda snaking around
the exterior, the property accommodates groups of six to eight in its
three spacious en-suite bedrooms. There’s also a private pool, chef,
butler, housekeeper and safari guide on-hand for whenever the desire
for a lazy al fresco barbecue or after-dark game drive strikes.
Both the lodge and private house share the same rustic outside-in
aesthetic, with huge, vertiginously-perched boulders and thick leafy
vegetation used in place of walls. The lodge’s communal spaces –
comprising a dining area, lounge and bar – open up to a spectacular
series of stilted pergolas made from Indian teak and phragmites
harvested from the Ruaha River. It’s the perfect spot from which to
take in the sweeping views of the reserve, or spy giraffes and elephants
as they saunter by.
Expect hearty yet simple dishes from the open-sided dining room
– aubergine lasagne, tender beef curry, grilled meats and salads – and
some serious design inspiration from the breezy seating area. All
furniture, as well as the smattering of decorative African objects that
festoon the property, have been sourced by Caline Williams-Wynn
of Artichoke Design – the team behind Rwanda’s Bisate Lodge and
the new Mombo camp in Botswana. “We chose to use an eclectic
selection of Afro-centric custom-made furniture for Jabali,” says
045
 Above: Palm-woven matting sourced from Zanzibar is used on the ceiling while the harsh climate is kept at bay by timber louvered shutters handmade in Bali

Williams-Wynn, speaking of the wicker stools, driftwood tables
and bird’s nest chairs that consolidate Jabali’s laid-back earthy
aesthetic. “We wanted to ensure that appreciation was given to the
surroundings. The impressive boulders that epitomise the topography
of the area provided inspiration for the project as a whole, so curves
and circles became obvious in many of the furnishings and finishes.”
The lodge’s eight suites – some with their own hammocks and
outdoor showers but all with distinctive nest-like roofs – are reached
via a series of meandering rocky paths, so it’s not uncommon to hear
the rustle of a nosy hyrax or the scuttle of an inquisitive lizard as
you pass by.
According to Plewman, each room also takes nature as its focus.
“The starting point was that the ideal room would be no room at all,
just the deep shelter of a boulder or baobab,” he says. “We tried to
get our rooms as close to that as possible, while creating a luxurious
and safe environment.” Natural fabrics are also key. “A great deal
of emphasis was placed on textures, natural products, and organic
subjects,” says Williams-Wynn. “The bed throws and cushions
for example, were made using linen wrapped in eucalyptus leaves
and immersed in vegetable dye. The process resulted in a perfect
simulation of the bleeding boulders outside.”
Studded wooden doors and satisfyingly chunky bed frames are
manufactured from aged timber – the beds are actually crafted out of
old dhow boats, each taking 18 men to haul it to its proper position
– while curved putty and slate grey walls are designed to represent
the trunks of the ancient baobabs that dot Ruaha’s landscape. Palm-
woven matting, sourced from Zanzibar, is used on the ceiling to
keep the room cool, and the harsh climate is kept at bay by timber
louvered shutters that were handmade in Bali. Each room also has a
private balcony, wraparound deck and an open air seating area filled
with pillowy throw cushions. Sweetest of all is a small serving hatch
through which staff deliver fresh Tanzanian coffee and ginger biscuits
before your early morning safari.
On return from a sweaty game drive with one of Jabali’s superb
guides, guests can also make use of impossibly photogenic rim-flow
infinity pool, as well as the nearby single-treatment room spa. And
what better than to settle down to a full-body baobab oil massage,
as the sound of the bush floats lazily by.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT: 8 guestrooms, 1 villa | 1 restaurant | 2 bars | Treatment room, swimming pool | www.asiliaafrica.com
Owner / Operator: Asilia Africa | Developer: Lodge Creations | Architecture: Nicholas Plewman Architects | Interior Design: Artichoke Design

046
 FACES CHANGE
THE MIRROR
REMAINS

product concept + design: sieger design www.aliseo.de

000
 Gran Hotel Inglés
MADRID

Restoring Madrid’s oldest hotel to former glories,

Rockwell Group's Madrid studio channels a storied history
through a luxuriously contemporary lens.
Words: Kristofer Thomas | Photography: © Eric Laignel

M adrid: 1886. It is summer in the Spanish capital and

Don Agustín Ibarra – a popular local entrepreneur
and proprietor of the communal Café Inglés – has
purchased a large stone-front house under construction in the city’s
literary quarter, Barrio de las Letras, with the intention of not only
establishing Madrid’s first hotel, but a new kind of accomodation
offer altogether. It will encapsulate an era of immense change; the
first to feature a restaurant within its walls, set upon the first street
in the city to receive electric lights.
As a spiritual successor to Café Inglés, then a central hub
for Madrid's creative community, Gran Hotel Inglés sought to
combine the aesthetics and comforts of a broadening luxury class
with emergent technologies, offering guests the exoticism of lifts,
steam-powered heating and a bathroom on each floor along with
furnishings Ibarra spared no sacrifice in acquiring from London.
Through the 20th century, the oldest hotel in Madrid welcomed
politicians, writers and artists of Woolf and Matisse’s calibre,
instilling the capital with its own Gatsby-esque rival to Paris’
burgeoning café scene. Surviving the era’s political and social
Above: Featuring contemporary twists on historical details, guestrooms are imbued with a residential feel by way of a cool white palette and bespoke furnishings
turbulence, the hotel at 10 Calle de Lobo eventually began to show
its age, and natural entropy saw it fall slowly into disrepair. Through
two wars – civil and global – the building served as a hospital, with
a 1964 refurbishment tidying the scheme and adding bathrooms to
each suite, halving the hotel’s key count from 110 to 58 in the process.
The offer was more exclusive, and more in line with the luxury
tastes of the time, but the hotel was no longer the unique asset it once
was – historic but unremarkable for much of the late-1900s, as the
world around caught up and standards of luxury began to accelerate.
But what was once Calle de Lobo is now the bustling Calle
Echegaray; and what were once 58 keys are now 48; and where
previously stood Agustín Ibarra’s landmark, Gran Hotel Inglés
now stands a project with its glories restored through the lens of
modernity. Closing its doors in 2012, the property has spent the better
part of a decade in a state of chrysalis, undergoing a Rockwell Group-
designed reimagining that would see it re-emerge as something new
but familiar, indebted to the past but seeking out ideas and aesthetic
notes rooted firmly in the present.
“We were in the unique position to tell this story through the
design,” explains Eva Longoria, Studio Leader, Rockwell Group
Madrid. “Our goal was to celebrate the hotel’s past in a contemporary
and luxurious setting that meets the needs of today’s modern traveller.
It was really exciting to provide a fresh point of view for the property
050
that still animates the hotel’s original splendour and celebrates its
history as a cultural icon.”
Located on a street that cuts through Madrid’s cultural heart – a
short walk from no less than three high-profile museums and galleries
– the project assimilates a wealth of local history, art and refinement,
drawing ideas both from the tangible city and its aspirational
counterpart as imagined by the discerning traveller. Guarded away
from the bustle of footsteps and traffic at either end, the first telling
gold notes of a luxury hotel present themselves beyond the retained
façade, where the vast open-plan lobby celebrates a combination of
elegant architecture and affluent splendour.
Encompassing a check-in and concierge desk alongside a central
lobby bar and cocktail lounge, the space channels historical notions
of luxury through English manor-style chandeliers, accents of gold
climbing original heritage columns, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves
in a nod to the hotel’s intellectual past.
“We researched original newspaper clippings and advertisements
from the time of the hotel’s opening, and looked to cultural figures
that passed through the hotel for inspiration,” Longoria explains in
reference to the wealth of ideas that moulded the studio’s design.
"The lounge on the west side of the lobby, for example, has antique
bronze mirrors with faded historic images of long-ago guests and
famous visitors.”
051
 Left: The geometry of the original mouldings has
been deconstructed and extended across walls and
ceilings Previous Page: Chevron flooring supplied
by Surco, area rugs and English manor-style
chandeliers contribute a sense of historical luxury

The furnishings that punctuate the Surco-

manufactured chevron-floor and continue
throughout, were designed bespoke by
Rockwell Group, ensuring that even the most
inconspicuous pieces tie in to the closely
considered theme.
“Furnishings and materials were inspired
by the luxury and sophistication of the present
with nods to the 1920s,” Longoria notes. “The
bar dye features a custom black, gold and
calacata tiled pattern inspired by Art Deco
geometric motifs; seating is comprised of
varying sumptuous materials like velvet and
leather – creating a series of relaxed social
spaces – whilst chevron wood flooring and
custom, hand-tufted wool and silk area rugs
add to the sense of comfort. We designed
this open layout with multiple groupings for
people to convene, have a drink, mingle with
locals, or work. It’s a meeting point that offers
multiple experiences, from day to night.”
At the lobby’s edge, steps lead up to the
restaurant, Lobo 8, which occupies the
space where one of the first instances of
a hotel restaurant once unfolded. Headed
up by acclaimed local chef Willy Mora, the
menu reinterprets traditional Spanish dishes
including Iberian pork cheeks, roasted pigeon,
and gazpacho in the context of contemporary
fine dining, with Rockwell deploying tables
and booths amidst a setting again inspired by

052
 Italian Chair Maker
styling Ilaria Bacciocchi / photography Massimo Gardone / ad Designwork

Agent for UK
Domenico Scognamiglio
P +44 208 373 2434
info@via-domenico.com

www.verywood.it
 Above: Designed to host groups, the Royal suite features amenities such as an antique bar and drinks trolley

English country estates and exclusive members' clubs. The LobByto
bar, meanwhile, offers bite-sized takes and cocktails.
“Every single detail, from the feeling of the space to the level of
service, has been designed to deliver an individualised and memorable
experience,” Longoria muses. “Gran Hotel Inglés has a fascinating
heritage and troves of built-in stories. We pored over the rich history
of the hotel’s location – and of the iconic hotel itself – to weave
allusions to the past into our design concept with clever details.”
Five guestroom configurations – deluxe, grand deluxe, superior,
executive and premium – line the floors above, wherein the thematic
core is expanded upon by way of these clever details and accents.
Original decorative mouldings have been reassembled to climb walls
and spread across ceilings, as if escaping their own era to remind
guests of their presence, whilst a palette of pure white with touches
of gold and navy blue creates an elegant feel.
Freestanding bathtubs, all-marble showers and Gessi fittings
contribute to spacious, lavish bathrooms, with select configurations
allowing guests to throw windows open for views of the skyline
or a hidden stone courtyard, whilst, topping the hotel, the majestic
Presidential and Royal suites – 93m2 and 125m2 respectively – have
been designed to host groups, with additional bedrooms and living
areas, kitted out with antique bars and drinks trolleys.
“Guestrooms imbue a sense of residential comfort with a
contemporary twist on historic detailing,” Longoria reflects. “We
emphasised characteristic features of 19 th century Madrilenian
architecture in a modern way, playing with the classic geometry of
the moulding by deconstructing it and extending it across the ceiling.”
For a hotel so clearly indebted to its past, great effort has
nonetheless been taken in updating the inner workings to satisfy
keen historians and wide-eyed travellers alike. The local expertise
of Rockwell Group’s Madrid studio and their commitment to
authenticity ensures that the spirit of the building’s past is revealed
to guests if they seek it, but is rarely forced upon them, the scheme
opting for the fascination of detail as opposed to grand statements.
Restoring a cultural icon takes confidence and skill in equal
measure, but is a feat handled deftly at Gran Hotel Ingles; tethered
to a past which defines it, but looking far ahead when it matters, just
as Don Ibarra did, all those years ago.

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 48 guestrooms | 1 restaurant | 1 bar | 2 meeting rooms | Spa | Library | www.granhotelingles.com
Owner / Operator: Hidden Away Hotels | Architecture and Interior Design: Rockwell Group Madrid

054
 SURCO is customised pre-finished engineered flooring, cladding and interior at its best
Our products are made according your requirements and for a lifetime

Feel the passion and enjoy individuality

MUEBLES Y MADERAS DE NUEVA LINEA S.L | SURCO parquet & interiours | Nueva Linea
Olalde s/n – Urrestilla | 20730 - Azpeitia (Guipúzcoa) | España | phone: +34 943 813 758 | www.surcoparquet.com | contact@surcoparquet.com
 Como Uma Canggu
BALI

Como’s third property in Bali combines the elegant, home-from-home

philosophy of its Uma brand with the laidback vibe of a surfside location.
Words: Elly Earls | Photography: Courtesy of Como Hotels & Resorts (unless otherwise stated)

000
000

T ucked away behind the bars, restaurants and cafés of one
of Canggu’s busiest streets, the only clue to the existence of
Como Uma Canggu – Como’s third property in Bali – is an
unassuming entrance sign, simply adorned with local greenery.
There’s certainly no evidence of the sprawling site complete with
115-metre lagoon pool and more than 100 rooms, suites, residences
and penthouses that lies beyond, extending eventually – via the Paola
Navone-designed Como Beach Club – to meet the black sands and
crashing waves that have been instrumental in making a name for
Canggu as Bali’s hippest surfside town.
The simple, unfussy vibe continues beyond the threshold. “We
wanted the hotel to feel like an understated, elegant beach home
that was true to the Como Hotels & Resorts design ethos but also
reflected the local area and the surfer heritage of Canggu,” says
Japanese interior architect Koichiro Ikebuchi, one third of the design
team behind the project. It’s a vision that he – together with Italian-
born Navone and Bali-based landscape architect Trevor Hillier, all
long-time Como collaborators – have brought to life with flair.
There’s nothing ostentatious about the sleek, low-lying buildings
that surround the property’s more-than-double Olympic pool-length
lagoon, but there are subtle design flourishes and local influences in
everything from the tropical foliage that sprouts from balconies to the
slanted dark stone roofs of the 12 penthouses with their distinctive
058
© Mario Wibowo
half-moon openings, which frame the best Indian Ocean views for
miles around.
Each two-level penthouse also features a private deck with a
10-metre infinity pool and vertical garden walls as well as a spacious
kitchenette, three bright, airy bedrooms in white, beige and shades of
light brown and dark blue, and an elegant living room where boldly
patterned cushions and rugs complement simple, comfy sofas and you
can’t help but feel immediately at ‘uma’ – or at home.
The property’s 52 guestrooms and 55 one- and two-bedroom
residences are all decked out in a similarly bright, airy, home-
from-home style, with some residences featuring vast wraparound
balconies and others offering direct lagoon access.
For Ikebuchi, it’s important that guests feel connected to where
they are through every touchpoint, which is why he sought much of
his inspiration from the hotel’s natural surroundings and used local
materials and cultural techniques throughout. “We were inspired
by the sea, sand, rocks, sea foam and coral, which we contrasted
with white and can be seen throughout the design elements of Como
Uma Canggu,” he says. Take the ceramic stone handles in the spa,
the white painted volcano stone pillars designed to resemble Asian
ink paintings and the ceramic coral circle, which, enhanced by light
and shadow, plays on the reception wall giving the appearance of
Baroque details.
 © Mario Wibowo

© Mario Wibowo

059
 Above: The two-level penthouse features a private deck with a 10-metre infinity pool and vertical garden walls

The bright white lobby forms the bridge between the hotel’s state-
of-the-art gym and its Como Shambhala retreat, a holistic wellness
concept that has been made famous by the brand’s flagship an hour’s
drive north in Ubud. Yet for many visitors, the fitness and wellness
facilities play second fiddle to the beachside surf shack, where
beginners and experienced surfers alike can learn from the resident
Tropic Surf experts. Nature has even conspired in the surf school’s
design. On one side of batu mejan – the ‘big rock’ rising from the
ocean in front of the hotel – the conditions are perfect for beginners;
on the other, veterans can access the more exhilarating breaks.
And after a hard day on the waves, what better way to unwind
than with a healthy cold-pressed juice or refreshing cocktail to the
soundtrack of Como Beach Club’s resident DJ and the backdrop
of Navone’s playful tribute to Bali. Lounging options range from
poolside cocoons to swings that sway gently from industrial-style
frames, while in the restaurant part of the indoor-outdoor space, each
colourful table makes up a small – but vastly expanded – portion of a
traditional batik painting. “In translation from small, small, small to
big, big, big the whole story became more tropical,” Navone smiles.
As the hotel’s only restaurant, Como Beach Club serves breakfast,
lunch, dinner, fresh juices and bar snacks. All the ingredients that go
into creating the upmarket surf shack cuisine are fresh, regional and
nutritious and every item used to serve, plate and deliver it – from the
bamboo bar to the aluminium baskets used to ferry refreshing towels,
poolside snacks and cutlery – has a connection to Bali.
“The whole design is linked to the local culture and we’ve
transformed all these things that everybody knows into something
they have to discover again,” Navone explains, adding that
neighbouring ‘Play by Como’, where parents can leave their kids
to dress up, learn batik painting or lounge on colourful miniature
beanbags, was designed with the same approach as the grown-up
beach club. “We wanted the children to have their own life at the
hotel in the same kind of environment as their parents,” she says.
Como prides itself on its three pillars of hospitality, wellness and
cuisine, and when combined with the understated home-from-home
philosophy of its Uma brand and the playful, laidback vibe of Como
Uma Canggu’s surfside location, the whole package is one that’s hard
to leave behind.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT: 119 guestrooms | 1 restaurant | 1 bar | Spa, gym, swimming pool | www.comohotels.com
Owner / Operator: Como Hotels & Resorts | Interior Architect: Koichiro Ikebuchi | Interior Design: Paola Navone | Landscaping: Trevor Hillier

060
 Fontal. Dining chair. Oscar Tusquets Blanca —— www.expormim.com

Sleeper Julio-Agosto 2018.indd 1

19/6/18 9:18
000
 The Fontenay
HAMBURG

Störmer Murphy & Partners and Aukett + Heese join forces

to create a new landmark on the shores of Lake Alster.
Words: Catherine Martin | Photography: Courtesy of The Fontenay

000
H amburg’s architectural prowess has elevated in recent years,
with the city’s Neo-Renaissance masterpieces joined by striking
newcomers such as Herzog & de Meuron’s Elbphilharmonie
– housing The Westin – and the ongoing development of Hafencity,
set to revitalise the rows of red-brick warehouses on the waterfront.
Further north, a leisurely stroll along the banks of Lake Alster, a
new landmark has taken shape in the form of The Fontenay. The 130-
key hotel is the brainchild of Klaus-Michael Kühne, majority owner
of transport company Kühne + Nagel, who was looking to build on
the success of Castell Son Claret, the boutique hotel he and his wife
opened in Mallorca in 2013.
With Kühne’s first foray into hospitality requiring the meticulous
restoration of a 15th century castle, his second called for a different
approach entirely; one that began with only a plot of land and a
vision. In bringing his vision to life, Kühne enlisted the services of
locally-based architects Störmer Murphy & Partners, who looked
to the surrounding parklands for inspiration. “I came up with the
idea of a fluid form of three circles, intertwining with one another
creating two large courtyards, with a very organic exterior shape,”
explains architect Jan Störmer, adding that the hotel’s positioning –
with pathways all around – meant it was important not to have a
conventional front and back; that the architecture be enjoyed from
all viewpoints.
064
Of course, such an inventive scheme was never going to be
straightforward. “Dealing with six different circles and radii proved
challenging for the designers and construction workers,” Störmer
continues. “The supporting structure had to be engineered in a way
that wouldn’t disturb the organic and fluid shape of the façade with
thick supporting columns blocking views and restricting flexibility.
The solution was a circumferential mega support beam along the
corridor walls extending upwards over five floors.”
The façade also required special attention, with local regulation
dictating all buildings around the lake be white. As a result, Störmer
opted for pure white porcelain panels with an enamel coating that is
especially tough and resistant to dirt.
The sweeping forms continue inside, where everything from the
check-in desks to the lighting takes on a curvilinear profile. “The
circular shape repeats itself throughout the building. Straight walls,
except for the partitioning walls, do not exist,” confirms Störmer.
“The three circles intertwine and narrow in the centre where the
elevators carry guests to all levels of the hotel and courtyards branch
off to both sides.”
One of these courtyards is open to the elements, and brings in
the greenery of the park to create a focal point for the inward-
facing spaces. The second houses the lobby bar, and is wrapped in
satinised panels of varying shades, lit by LED strips to dramatic

P R O U D LY M A D E
IN BRITAIN
PERRIN & ROWE LONDON SHOWROOM
DESIGN CENTRE, CHELSEA HARBOUR
LONDON, SW10 0XE
+44 (0)20 7351 3085
CONTRACTS@PERRINANDROWE.CO.UK
PR_Sleeper_HOS_236x275_.indd 1
HOXTON
BY
PERRIN
& ROWE
HOXTON. A NEW FORM OF LUXURY.
Introducing Hoxton by Perrin & Rowe. British contemporary design
made with traditional skills and state of the art technology.
Quality defined.
PERRIN & ROWE CHINA SHOWROOM
INTERNATIONAL PAVILION OF CIMEN MALL
NO. 407, YISHAN ROAD, SHANGHAI, P. R. CHINA
+86 21 54652118
SERVICECHINA@PERRINANDROWE.CO.UK
04/07/2018 10:40
 Left: Characterised by metal branches and sparkling
silver leaves, Brand van Egmond’s handmade
chandelier forms the centrepiece of the
27m-high atrium

effect. The centrepiece of the 27m-high atrium

however, is a striking installation by Brand
van Egmond, characterised by handmade
metal branches and sparkling silver leaves.
The Netherlands-based studio also created
a series of lighting sculptures for Parkview,
the adjacent restaurant designed by Aukett +
Heese. Floor-to-ceiling windows and a green
onyx wall bring a garden room feel to the
space, with the dining area spilling out on to
the terrace furnished with chairs and tables
from Gloster.
Guestrooms follow a similarly neutral
colour palette, with pops of turquoise in the
soft furnishings to reflect the waters of Lake
Alster. Aukett + Heese worked closely with
Störmer to develop the modern classic scheme,
ensuring a synergy between the architecture
and interiors. This meant sourcing furniture
that follows the same curving lines as the
architecture, and custom-cutting each natural
stone slab in the bathrooms. “No wall in this
building is parallel with the next,” explains
interior designer Christian Meinert. “The
partition walls in the rooms fan out from the

066

Hästens Blue Check
4 decades anniversary
Since 1978
Hästens Blue Check
4 decades anniversary
Since 1978
Iconic? Check.
For 166 years, Hästens has been
pushing the boundaries for the
perfect sleep. In 1978 Hästens also
pushed the limit for what a bed
can look like, introducing our iconic
blue check. It’s literally designed to
be a template for extremely exact
craftsmanship – including needle-
placement, seam-alignment and
BE AWAKE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YOUR LIFE
Hästens Blue Check
40 years anniversary
Since 1978
fabric straightness. Today, the
check has become the symbol for
our relentless and differentiating
philoso­p hy: to create a bed so
perfect it makes you more awake.
Because that’s the only way to
judge perfect sleep. Upgrade to
a Hästens and be awake for
the first time in your life.
Above: Guestrooms and public spaces feature furniture by Minotti, B&B Italia, Moroso and Flexform alongside Eero Saarinen’s Executive Armless Chair for Knoll

inside to the outside; as a result, we couldn’t use the same plans for
each room.”
The trapezoid layout of the guestroom, with its curved walls and
floor-to-ceiling windows, is a light-filled space in tune with nature,
thanks to the oak wood parquet flooring and direct sightlines to
the park. “The exceptional geometric shape opens up the room,
showcasing it in its full splendour. Nevertheless, you can’t position
rectangular furniture against semi-circular walls,” Meinert continues,
revealing that the positioning of the TV became something of a
sticking point. “We had to come up with a unique construction that
would allow guests to watch television from central points in the
room and we’re quite proud of the result.”
The solution involved mounting one side of the TV to a pole,
allowing it to swivel almost 360-degrees for viewing anywhere
in the room. The unique layout also brought challenges in the
floorcoverings, particularly for guestroom corridors. “Machines can
only make rectangular carpets, and we would have had to piece
them together like patchwork, wasting almost 70% of the material,”
Meinert explains. “So we decided to collaborate with House of Tai
Ping in Hong Kong. They used hand-tufting guns to produce small
batches of carpet based on our floorplans.”
Furniture meanwhile is custom-designed, with key pieces by Italian
manufacturers such as Minotti, B&B Italia, Moroso and Flexform
alongside Eero Saarinen’s Executive Armless Chair for Knoll.
Dedon’s Mbrace wing chairs and rocking chairs furnish the sixth
floor bar, which has proved a hit with both guests and locals thanks
to its wraparound terrace and panoramic views of the lake and city
beyond. The adjacent spa with indoor-outdoor pool and sun terrace
also makes the most of its rooftop location.
The Fontenay’s crowning glory however is Lakeside, a 40-cover
restaurant up on the 7th floor. Accessed via a spiral staircase from the
bar, the design scheme is a departure from the rest of the hotel, taking
on an ethereal quality with shades of white and grey. Minimal table
settings allow the multi-sensory creations of Head Chef Cornelius
Speinle to take centrestage in what has become a new culinary
landmark for the city. The destination restaurant, paired with a
striking architectural statement and panoramic views, make for a
compelling offer.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT: 130 guestrooms | 2 restaurants | 3 bars | 4 event spaces | Spa, gym, swimming pool | www.thefontenay.de
Owner / Investor: Kühne Immobilia | Operator: The Fontenay | Architecture: Störmer Murphy & Partners | Interior Design: Aukett + Heese

068
000
 Park MGM
LAS VEGAS

Taking up residence in what was once the Monte Carlo,

MGM Resorts and Sydell Group come together to reimagine
a Las Vegas landmark for a new generation.
Words: Kristofer Thomas | Photography: © Patrick Micheal Chin

F ew major cities can speak of their relationship with hospitality

as Las Vegas does, where the concentration of hotels is higher
than anywhere else in the world. From Caesars Palace to The
Bellagio to MGM to The Wynn, landmark properties new and old
form the spine of the four-mile central strip. Since the early 1940s
and the opening of Bugsy Siegel’s Pink Flamingo, the all-American
Las Vegas Boulevard has hosted an ensemble cast of the most name-
dropped, culturally-referenced and ambitiously large projects on the
planet, with both branded and independent hotel-casino hybrids
jostling to capitalise on the annual 42 million visitors. In 2017 the
strip was home to 148,896 guestrooms, and this number is only
set to grow with launches including Wynn Paradise Park and the
3,000-key Resorts World Las Vegas both on the horizon.
Entrenched in Vegas lore since the opening of the monolithic
MGM Grand Las Vegas in 1993, MGM Resorts’ presence has been
something of a staple in the city’s modern incarnation. From its
early run and extensive Wizard of Oz theming to more recent Art
Deco sensibilities, the current largest hotel in the United States is
emblematic of the Las Vegas hotel model; changing its tune in line
 Above: All-day restaurant Primrose is split into a drawing room-inspired dining room and a leafy exterior cove of wicker chairs and wooden tables
with what’s relevant, but still the same property guests have come
to know over the years. Now it’s joined by a sister of sorts, with the
newly launched Park MGM taking up residence across the street in
what was previously the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino, wherein
MGM has collaborated with Sydell Group to overhaul the property
for a new era whilst simultaneously retaining the inimitable Vegas
scale, spirit and style.
“I think we had a hotel in arguably the best location in Las Vegas
that was underutilised in its then current condition,” explains Andrew
Zobler, founder and CEO of Sydell Group, in reference to the former
property. “We touched nearly every space in the building during
renovations to make effectively a brand new hotel that addresses
the needs of today’s sophisticated traveller. It brings to the strip an
appreciation for the values of the lifestyle hotel in terms of attention
to detail in design and service.”
At 2,605 guestrooms, Park MGM certainly bears the expected
size of a strip heavyweight, whilst the inclusion of the 5,200-seat
Park Theatre, an expansive gaming floor and three distinct dining
venues designed by Martin Brudnizki should satisfy the variety of
tastes that will come through its doors. What’s more, the 292-key
Jacques Garcia-designed NoMad Las Vegas – set to open later this
year – occupies the property’s top floors, introducing Sydell Group’s
flagship offer to the Vegas contingent following acclaimed openings
072
in the similarly iconic cities of New York and Los Angeles. Three
swimming pools – one lined by private cabanas – 77,000ft2 of event
space and a gym and spa level flesh out amenities.
Where this long list of features may seem daunting to most
projects, Sydell Group and MGM have collaborated to turn what
could have been a disordered catalogue of offers into a coherent
experience, tying it all together with a design that brings the outdoors
in. However, where the hotel’s surrounding landscape is largely arid
desert and neon lights, within Park MGM the focus is on greenery,
light and nature. From the introductory white and emerald green
marble lobby and its centrepiece tree-root sculpture by Brazilian
woodworker Henrique Oliveira, to guestroom palettes reminiscent of
desert flowers, the organic world informs the hotel’s aesthetic spine.
“The design is largely about parks and gardens in Park MGM,”
Zobler explains. “But we did reuse the chandeliers from the Monte
Carlo’s casino because they remind us that we are layering on top
of an existing building with a history. We never forget the history
of a building.”
The natural theming is most visible in Primrose, the hotel’s all-day
restaurant, where the dining room is split into two distinct areas:
the mid-century inspired interior featuring plush terracotta-shade
armchairs and drawing-room inspired details, and an outdoor portion
that spills into a leafy cove at the heart of the project, against a
073
 Right: A vein of art running throughout the hotel
links disparate spaces with imagery that offers
guests a sense of place as well as intriguing visuals

backdrop of trees, wicker chairs and wooden

tables. Marked rustic wood detailing links
the space with Bavette’s Steakhouse; a more
seductive affair with red velvet banquettes
and maroon leather stools – the hues of both
perhaps calling to bottlebrush plants found
in the surrounding desert. Cocktail lounge
Juniper meanwhile, located just off the
gaming floor, channels the sophistication of
its high-stakes surroundings through intimate
yet ornate Cox London lighting, rich Ulster
carpets, dark furnishings contrasted with
vibrant paisley-patterned cushions and a
marble topped bar to appease high rollers.
Topping the project, NoMad Las Vegas
draws influence from its sister properties and
New York roots, but channels this through
a distinctly Las Vegas lens, bringing together
classically styled and residentially influenced
guestrooms with a private swimming pool
and casino, as well as a restaurant and bar
from the returning duo of chef Daniel Humm
and restaurateur Will Guidara, solidifying the
brand’s origins as a guiding theme.
“Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas are
quite different, however, there are many
connections between the two in terms of
sensibility,” Zobler explains. “The most
common design characteristic between them

074
 INFANTE SAGRES HOTEL, PORTO, PORTUGAL

Y
 Above: Inspired by parks and gardens, Park MGM seeks to blur the line between indoors and outdoors with natural open spaces and greenery

is the extensive art programme. Although the art programmes are
different between NoMad and Park MGM, they connect with Las
Vegas to provide the traveller with a sense of place.”
From a nature-focused lobby to a darkly refined cocktail lounge to
an entirely separate hotel, the property is defined by its differences,
but has been tied together by the presence of both skilful design
and the vein of art Zobler speaks of, curated by Paris-based studio
Be-Poles. Flowing throughout the project and its disparate tones, a
curated selection of specially commissioned photography, paintings
and prints – from surrealist abstraction to playful portraits – sews
the myriad together as one coherent character.
Whilst the storied hotels of Las Vegas regularly undergo incremental
refreshments to keep them in line with contemporary tastes, it is rare
that one experiences a complete repositioning or comprehensive, top-
to-bottom makeover. Though the city is undeniably a hotel hotspot,
operators here face the challenge of dealing with modern history, and
some of the most instantly recognisable projects committed to film,
television, literature, postcards and more. Cultural sensitivity can be
a difficult obstacle at the best of times, but here, where guests arrive
with a specific image or offer already in mind, altering one of the
core hotels becomes a delicate process.
Deftly handled by a Vegas newcomer with fresh and increasingly
acclaimed hospitality ideas alongside a strip veteran with intimate
knowledge of exactly what its guests have sought since the early 90s,
the collaborative Park MGM and NoMad Las Vegas embraces the
scale and entertainment war chest of classic Vegas hotels, but takes
its cues from the more intimate settings of boutiques and lifestyle
projects, resulting in a property that offers guests something different
in the context of Las Vegas, but still wholly familiar.
“I would like guests to feel that the experience reminded them of
staying somewhere smaller and more intimate than a large casino
hotel,” Zobler concludes. “But also that it still offered everything they
wanted from a Vegas experience in terms of excitement and breadth.
It is an entirely new offer intended for the lifestyle customer seeking
an experience of place and attention to detail, but with all the fun
that comes with a large Las Vegas casino resort.”

EXPRESS CHECKOUT: 2,992 guestrooms | 3 restaurants | 3 bars | 77,000ft2 event spaces | Spa, gym,swimming pool | www.parkmgm.com
Owner / Operator: MGM Resorts International | Developer: Sydell Group; MGM Resorts International | Interior Design: Sydell Group; Martin Brudnizki
Design Studio (Bavette’s Steak House) | Art Consultant: Be-Poles; Farmboy Fine Art

076
 CHAIRS AND TABLES SINCE 1919
press office_ calt

MACARON, DESIGN LAURA SILVESTRINI

2018 / PIAVAL.IT
I._ garcia cumini
adv_ mbad.it
photo_ massimo spada

PIAVAL_Adv_Sleeper-236x275-esec-July2018.indd 2 25/06/18 15:50

 PAL
NEW COLLECTION
DESIGN: FRANCESC RIFÉ

OUTDOOR pointlifestyle

pointlifestyle
POINT, S.L.

Partida Planet, s/n

LIVING
03727 Jalón (Alicante) Spain

point1920 T. +34 966 480 132

Fax +34 966 480 358

pointlifestyle
info@point-sl.com
point www.point1920.com

POINT_sleeper_2018.indd 24 31/5/18 13:31

 Rosewood
LUANG PRABANG

Bill Bensley turns storyteller, archivist and treasure hunter

to summon the romance and intrigue of a bygone era.
Words: Neena Dhillon | Photography: © Owen Raggett (unless otherwise stated)

A uguste Pavie can be credited for almost single-handedly

bringing the kingdom of Laos under French colonial rule
in the latter part of the 19th century. First stepping foot on
Indochina as part of Napoleon III’s marine infantry, the intrepid
Frenchmen returned to the region as a civil servant, exploring modern-
day Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, learning local languages, and
turning ‘native’ for a while in his bare feet and wide-brimmed hat.
With the French government manoeuvring to gain control of territory
surrounding the Mekong Valley, Pavie was appointed Vice-Consul to
the royal capital of Luang Prabang in 1886, a position he used cannily
to gain friends among local rulers while frustrating Siamese attempts
to unify the region. Having assisted in the rescue of King Oun Kham
during an attack on Luang Prabang from external forces, Pavie
spearheaded a campaign to bring Laos under France’s protection,
leading to its integration into Indochina by the turn of the century.
The first Commissioner-General of Laos has served as a muse to Bill
Bensley and his eponymous studio throughout the design and build
of Rosewood Luang Prabang. Intersected by Nahm Dong River, a
Mekong tributary, the 2.2-hectare valley estate nestles within verdant
tropical rainforest found just outside the UNESCO World Heritage

079
 Above: At La Grande Maison, decorative arches frame views to the external landscape
Site – and is Rosewood Hotels & Resorts’ third opening in South-East
Asia. When Bensley first saw the property and its chaotic collection
of ramshackle buildings, he had no idea he would be reconstructing
the estate ten years later under the strict guidelines of UNESCO and
in close partnership with owner Rena Udomkunnatum, whose Thai
family are behind the Burasari Group. “I love a site with history,”
says Bensley. “We understood from locals that this little estate with
all its quirky outbuildings could have been the property of Pavie. Of
course, at the time, it would have taken travellers months, not days,
to find this magical mountainous environment – home to King of
the Laotian peoples and a French hill station of sorts for the most
adventurous westerners.”
Reimagining the spirit of hospitality once shown by expatriate
hosts, Bensley has conceived the estate’s masterplan around a turn-
of-the-20th-century grand house, flanked by residential quarters
including a handsome two-storey guesthouse, and enhanced by
charming additions such as a bar crafted from a rickety elephant
bridge that needed rebuilding. Masterfully blending Laotian
temple architecture and French colonial style, La Grande Maison
is a captivating sight, the wide eaves of the roof designed to deflect
monsoon rains, decorative arches framing views to the external
landscape, and the inner chamber bookended by two monumental
fireplaces featuring hand-trowelled plasterwork by one of the design
080
studio’s fine artists. It is Bensley’s hypothesis that Pavie “loved being
in Laos” so the grand house’s interior architecture carries hallmarks
of Wat Xieng Thong temple, namely handpainted gold-leaf ceilings,
fretwork panels and ornate doors. “I designed the sunny yellow
leather furniture to complement the gold-leaf details, with tables
given wooden tusk-like legs that just seemed right in the former land
of a million elephants,” he explains.
Elephants are a repeating motif throughout the public spaces, a
joyful reference to the wild herds that would have once roamed the
forests here. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Elephant
Bridge Bar, an open-air lounge awash with wooden carvings, dancing
deities and counters painted to depict the historical episodes, stories
and people who have shaped this land. There is even an illustration of
a modern-day trio; owner Udomkunnatum and Bensley pictured with
the resort’s Managing Director Elias Pertoft. More than 500 carved
elephants march across beams and balustrades, with bar tables once
more rising from eye-catching tusk legs. Located over the flowing
tributary, the bar provides a vantage point to absorb the landscaping
– something for which Bensley’s studio is world-renowned. A formal
tropical garden around the grand house – which takes its cue from
the French colonialists who cultivated a heady mix of colour, scent
and architectural planting – contrasts with untamed jungle vegetation
into which accommodation is embedded. Mention should be made
 © Krishna Adithya

081
 Above & Opposite: Guestrooms showcase the craftsmanship of local artisans, while bathrooms feature cast iron bathtubs by Kohler
of the white sandstone-lined ‘Robin’s Egg’ resort pool from which
the estate’s forest-enveloped setting is best absorbed.
In addition to Bensley’s own artists, local artisans have been
employed for their craftsmanship in painting and carving, as well as
the laying of neat brick paths that link the accommodation. Rosewood
Luang Prabang is the first resort for the brand to offer luxurious
tented villas, six of which are built on stilts around the hilltop with
connecting pathways punctuated by rope bridges. Foundations have
been laid painstakingly by hand to avoid grading of the steep slopes,
thereby preserving the natural landscape. “It always is the main
challenge,” notes Bensley. “To build with minimal intervention to
nature is paramount, and is what we do and what we stand for.”
The 75m2 tents take their inspiration from six Laotian hill tribes –
Hmong and Lahu among them; the ethnic fabrics of each employed as
decorative lining, patterns and palettes for the interiors. Handwoven
textiles, costumes and photographs representing each tribe are
integrated into the tents for a strong individual identity, with ceiling
lanterns, local slate and gold-leaf painted room dividers cocooning
bathrooms. An innovative composite material has been used for
exteriors with sizeable balconies affording uninterrupted views.
Accommodation down the hill consists of rooms, suites and villas,
but Bensley’s studio has, once more, ensured that each is distinctive
by paying homage to personalities whose past is inextricably linked
082
with Laos. Sure, there are common aspects – local hardwood for
villa construction, a tile pattern approved by UNESCO for bathroom
décor, oversized daybeds and antiqued mirror panels forming the
architectural language of interiors – but every room is also adorned
with a selection of historical objects that speak of their particular
muse. “Genuine artefacts, found objects, documents and newspaper
clippings associated with travellers of the time were sourced over a
year by combing through specialty bookshops, antiques stores and
vintage-ware collections across France,” Bensley reveals.
Of course, there’s a Riverside Villa dedicated to Pavie. One
can browse an original family document from 1656 written on
parchment of pig skin, Laotian maps of the period, vintage trunks
bearing his name, a portrait of the hardworking gent, pages from his
journal and a pair of architectural temple decorations mounted on
marine topography maps to represent his cultural immersion. Famed
French naturalist Henri Mouhot has a suite dedicated to him, as
does the relatively unknown architect Ernest Hébrard, whose city-
planning work in French Indochina is alluded to by drawings from
his university projects and a 1908 cigarette paper collection showing
France’s prominent architects. Laotian Prime Minister Souvanna
Phouma is honoured; so too are Kings Sisavang Vong and Oun Kham.
Before the hotel’s launch, Bensley stayed on the top floor of the
guesthouse, opening all the doors joining the bays of the suites and
 © Krishna Adithya

083
 Above: Rosewood Luang Prabang is the first resort for the brand to offer luxurious tented villas, six of which are built on stilts around the hilltop

rooms. “Until midnight I walked between the multifarious quarters
moving furniture, hanging pictures and making notes,” he recounts.
“It was then that I realised this lovely house is a smaller version
of French palaces by way of its enfilade layout that connects the
entire floor but can be closed for privacy. It’s an old but new way of
planning, with the potential to be popular among groups travelling
together.” As such, Maison Nahm Dong has inviting communal
living spaces, including a room dedicated to King Kham Souk, the
red walls enlivened by illustrations of Laotian nature and the dining
table finished with brass corners recalling the multi-layered umbrellas
favoured by royalty. Foyers in turn are paved in a mosaic of circular
coloured mirrors, influenced by temple walls.
Perhaps the most delightful suite is devoted to the unusual French
pairing of Mrs Brohy and Miss Ohnier, the first females to participate
in the one and only croquet competition held as part of the 1900
Olympic Games in Paris. Memorabilia includes mallets hung above
the beds and a pictorial collection of French athletic figures. A
painting by a Bensley artist cheekily imagines the duo playing on
the lawn of La Grande Maison while the cobalt bathroom boasts
a sunken bathtub and rhino horn hooks. Accent colours of blue
and green throughout the rooms mirror exotic shades seen in the
indigenous flora, fauna and butterflies flitting around the estate.
While much of the accommodation benefits from outdoor space,
the six waterfall villas come with generous decks and private pools
overlooking the river. Water forms a soundtrack to these standalone
homes, which pay homage to the six men involved in the Mekong
Expedition of 1866-68, organised to assess the navigability of the
river. The expedition’s members included botanist Clovis Thorel
whose luggage doubles as a decorative detail of his villa, along with
plant specimens framed on the walls. Bensley’s lighting fixtures are
shaped to mimic the petals of a lotus flower while some of the villa’s
handpainted walls took the studio’s artists days at a time to complete.
Expressed through authentic artefacts and memorabilia, these
fascinating stories are interwoven through an estate whose design
equally harnesses indigenous crafts and temple architecture, bringing
evocative layers of detail to instil both a sense of discovery and place.
The result befits this magical corner of the world, replicating the
spirit of adventure that has always drawn intrepid visitors to Laos.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT: 23 guestrooms, villas and tents | 1 restaurant | 1 bar | Swimming pool, spa | www.rosewoodhotels.com
Owner: Rena Udomkunnatum | Operator: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts | Architecture, Interior Design and Landscaping: Bensley | Lighting Design: Dazzle

084
 A collection worth coveting

Designed to make a statement, our tap finishes

integrate elegant colours with innovative technology to
create long-lasting pieces that never go out of style.

Info: KOHLER.CO.UK | References: KOHLERGLOBALPROJECTS.COM | News: KOHLER.DESIGN | Inspiration on IG: KOHLERDESIGNFUL

 “Art is not a plaything,
but a necessity”
— Rebecca West

“Sun, Shade, Vision” by Kat Lanser © Kalisher

kalisher.com

Kalisher-Sleeper-Not-A-Plaything-Ad-04-2018.indd 1 3/5/18 12:34 PM

 The Great Madras
SINGAPORE

Design studio Farm combines old-world charm with the spirit of

Little India to create a playful hotel bursting with wit and whimsy.
Words: Luo Jingmei | Photography: © Studio Perophery

A new boutique hotel has sprouted in Singapore’s vibrant

Little India district, confidently standing out from its sleepy
neighbours of construction supply stores, local coffee shops
and nondescript budget hostels. The Great Madras’ bold signage,
accompanied by a fuchsia flamingo neon light tower at the side,
heralds an establishment with a witty, distinctive personality
juxtaposed against charming Art Deco bones.
Owned by Mini Environment Service (MES) Group – which also
operates The Daulat, a more conservative boutique hotel a few units
down – The Great Madras’ rich tapestry of colours, playful elements
and modern takes on old-world charm can be described as sunny
Malibu-meets Cuban chic-meets vintage colonial. Unsurprisingly, film
director Wes Anderson’s eclectic, offbeat sets have been mentioned
as a point of comparison.
“In early discussions with the client, we suggested that the hotel
ought to appeal to travellers who are looking for a bespoke offer and
not your run-of-a-mill experience; someone who loves good design,
a good book, and is a bit of a romantic at heart,” says Selwyn Low,
Director at local multidisciplinary design studio Farm, which worked
on both the hotel’s branding and interiors.

087
 Above & Opposite: Room types range from The Balcony Room to The The Deluxe Hostel, where king-sized beds on raised platforms sit behind sliding doors
Influenced by the riot of customs and colours that is Little India,
the design team built upon the site’s past narrative with their own
inspired layer bursting with wit and whimsy. “We imagined the
people and stories in the hotel that have transcended through time,
and wondered if we could add more to it… we started romanticising
about travel and imagined the small building being a great little hotel,
sharing and collecting anecdotes over time,” Low explains.
The former bedraggled backpacker’s hostel was given a fresh
coat of paint on the exterior, and the ground floor opened up in a
manner unseen in many hospitality establishments in Singapore. The
check-in counter-cum-deli – offering a humble breakfast menu in the
morning and Catalonian-inspired tapas throughout the day – enjoys
the natural breeze and sounds of the neighbourhood, without glass
doors separating the interior from the street.
“The lobby was imagined to be a large, open-air space where you
can chat, eat, drink, check-in and out. As such, the reception and
café were deliberately designed to be an identical pair on both ends
of the lobby, with old timber-panelled ceilings and panelled mirror
backing. For the colours, we paired the cool cyan floor tile patterns
with the rich plum and deep blue in the staining of wood veneers on
the counters and walls,” Low describes.
Furniture, such as low-bench timber seating and rattan chairs
088
in earth and jungle tones are pushed out to the corridor in open
invitation. Brass accents in the detailing and vintage-inspired light
features match an elaborate custom-designed wallpaper with intricate
illustrations of Singaporean landmarks and icons, such as the famous
chilli crab dish, accompanied by a caricature of the owner, which was
included as a surprise gift from his sons.
Spaces on the ground floor flow easily, blurring not only indoors
and out, but also public and private spheres. Behind the reception is
a modern-day barbershop, and there’s a laundromat in the lounge
area for use locals as well as hotel guests. Books by travel writers
such as Rudyard Kipling and Peter Mayle line the walls, reiterating
the hotel’s theme of wanderlust and storytelling.
“There are in fact numerous traditional, no-frills barbershops
dotted around Little India. We took elements of these and reinterpreted
them: the framed glass frontage, the barber pole, the no-nonsense
tiled floor and the large mirror contained within a characterful timber
cabinet,” Low explains. “We had a romantic vision of the laundromat
as a place where you could meet people and make friends, so instead
of placing it somewhere hidden from view, we put it in the lounge
area and tarted it up with a printed floral pattern mirroring the quirky
wallpapers in the rooms.”
These wallpapers take centrestage, exuding a vintage flavour
089
 Above: Public spaces feature custom-designed wallpaper with intricate illustrations of Singaporean landmarks alongside vintage-inspired lighting

reminiscent of cosy bed-and-breakfasts. They bring character to
the guestrooms alongside floating Hay side tables, punchy coloured
washbasins housed on long vanity counters, and furniture consistent
with the architecture’s heritage, such as Ton chairs and Lampe Gras
and Anglepoise lights.
In all, there are 35 guestrooms and five room types, ranging from
The Balcony Room with verandas facing Madras Road, to The
Good Room – a 9m2 space featuring intricate prints of ferns – and
The Great Suite with its own study and a standalone bathtub. On
the ground floor is The Deluxe Hostel – co-living spaces named
thematically after well-known travel writers. Each unit features a
king-sized bed on a raised platform, pop-up tables and shelves, and
shared bathroom facilities. As a considerate gesture, there are three
women-only rooms, as well as The Courtyard Room – the largest at
28m2 – designed to be fully accessible.
Throughout the hotel, curiosity is piqued with details such as
scribbled ‘messages’ left on window ledges and wall corners. Faint
inscriptions of ‘imagined’ spaces such as a bowling alley and ballroom
on the wayfinding wall next to the lift playfully suggest a layered past
to the hotel. Acting like artwork, neon wall lights of inspirational
quotes tell guests to ‘go everywhere, do everything’ or take it ‘easy
like Sunday morning’. Above the circular aperture framing the pool
on the top storey, neon lights also cheerily mark ‘The Great Madras
Swimming Club’ and its icon of a swimmer held up by raised hands.
“The text art serves several purposes,” explains Low. “On the
one hand, it is a nod to the significant role of typography and neon
lighting in Art Deco architecture. On the other, the actual phases
selected reflect the overall persona of the building, that it’s about the
freedom and joys of travel. They also help to orientate and provide
visual markers for guests as they wander from floor to floor, and
corner to corner.” Not surprisingly, they’ve also turned out to be
great photo spots.
Exuding a joie de vivre, The Great Madras is an exciting addition
to both Singapore and the local vicinity, small in size but rich with
details. Its casual feel is met with sophistication in design. Eschewing
the more streamlined route in dealing with a heritage building, Farm
has concocted a fun and highly engaging hospitality encounter for
both tourists and locals alike.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT: 35 guestrooms | 1 restaurant | 1 bar | Swimming pool, barbershop | www.thegreatmadras.com

Owner/Operator: Mini Environment Service (MES) Group | Interior Design and Branding: Farm

090
Corner Studios by
Diesel Living at
F amed for the bold mural painted onto its classic Georgian
façade, The Megaro takes pride in rebelling against the norm.
In a series of renovations – one of which transformed the
traditional reception desk into a steampunk-inspired ‘social-minibar’
– the hotel has now launched three new suites designed by French-

The Megaro
LONDON
Blue Sky Hospitality joins forces with
Moroso and Diesel Living to create suites
fit for a rockstar at The Megaro.
Words: Ben Thomas | Photography: © Chris Orange
born British artist Henry Chebaane, founder and Creative Director
of Blue Sky Hospitality.
Taking cues from the surrounding district, as well as the fashion
scene of Camden, The Corner Studios by Diesel Living feature colour
schemes of Scarlet Punk, Plum Rock and Toffee Techno, and reference
local cultural icons such as Harry Potter’s owl, Hedwig, and the
British bulldog, embodied in the form of a wireless speaker system.
In bringing the spaces to life, Chebaane worked with Italian
manufacturer Moroso, selecting furniture from its Diesel Living
collection – such as the the snug, Chubby Chic armchair – as well as
creating bespoke pieces.
“Our Diesel Living collections have been harnessed to great effect
by Henry to create the new ‘Hip Pop Britannia’ inspired lifestyle
rooms at The Megaro,” comments Ryan Davison, Managing Director
of Moroso UK & Ireland. “The nature and make up of the collection,
as well as our unique philosophy in the creative process, allows
designers to tell stories through our products – something we feel is
unique to Moroso and this project is a fine example of that.”

092
Bespoke Hotel Furniture | Made in the UK
+44 (0) 113 248 0605 | www.curtisfurniture.co.uk
 THE INTELLIGENCE SOURCE FOR THE HOTEL INVESTMENT COMMUNITY
Palladium makes
collection
Palladium Hotel Group has become
the latest company to launch a
collection brand, under the name
Bless.
The group said that it planned
to target the premium market,
following in the footsteps of the
larger global operators, with
InterContinental Hotels Group also
due to launch a soft brand.
The 48-strong group signed a
management contract with Grupo
Didra and Aina Capital for the first
property in central Madrid, due to
open in November 2018.
Abel Matutes, CEO, Palladium
Hotel Group, said: “We are
moving at a pace to roll-out the
development of new brand Bless
Collection Hotels with the first
property planned to open in Madrid
in November 2018, followed by
Ibiza in Summer 2019.
“The new upscale brand will
leverage our position in the
premium market and draws on
our existing experience within the
luxury and lifestyle sector.”
Palladium said that the Bless
Collection Hotels launch was in line
with the group’s strategy to expand
its luxury portfolio, in city centres
and beachside. The company said
that it expected to announce further
growth outside its domestic market
of Spain in the coming months.
InterContinental Hotels
Group has widely flagged its own
collection brand, with CFO Paul
Edgecliffe-Johnson telling analysts
last Autumn: “Something in the
collection space and something in
the luxury space are two logical
next steps for us.”
The group has since acquired
a 51% stake in Regent Hotels &
Resorts for USD39m and is to
rebrand 12 hotels in the Principal
portfolio acquired by Foncière
des Régions, with flags to include
Kimpton. Edgecliffe-Johnson said
that the deal would also allow
the group to “quickly establish
a position for our soon-to-be
launched new upscale brand”.
Last summer saw Wyndham
Hotel Group launch Trademark
Hotel Collection, for independent
entrepreneurs who have built “an
iconic hotel and are looking to
boost its distinctive legacy with
unmatched support”.
Lisa Checchio, Wyndham Hotel
Group’s VP, brand marketing and
insights, said: “A trademark is a
symbol of character, an emblem of
individuality. Trademark isn’t just
another brand: it’s a rally cry for
independent entrepreneurs who
aren’t afraid to make their own
mark.
“The Trademark Hotel Collection
is the next step in our mission to flip
the script on existing expectations
and champion all hoteliers by
offering them an independent
choice outside of the current luxury
and upscale options available.”
At launch, the brand’s pipeline
included more than 50 hotels and
owners of both existing hotels and
new construction opportunities in
urban markets around the world.
The collection became Wyndham
Hotel Group’s 19th hotel brand.
“The explosion of soft brands in
095
the last several years has been focused
on luxury and upscale hoteliers –
with demand still growing at a rate
of nearly 20% – leaving a market
void for independent hoteliers in
the upper-midscale segment, the
largest segment accounting for
18% of rooms in the US,” said Chip
Ohlsson, Wyndham Hotel Group’s
chief development officer.
“Wyndham is the only hotel
company positioned to champion
u p p e r- m i d s c a l e - a n d - a b o v e
independent hoteliers so they
can compete in an ever-changing
distribution environment with
brand-backed support and guest
recognition and loyalty.”
At the time of the launch,
Marriott International underlined
its commitment to its own
three collection brands, with
Tony Capuano, EVP and global
CDO, Marriott International,
commenting: “With our three-tier
collection strategy that includes
The Luxury Collection, Autograph
Collection Hotels and Tribute
Portfolio brands, independent
hoteliers have more options to
leverage Marriott’s powerful loyalty
and distribution channels, whether
through a new build or conversion
hotel, depending on the location
and physical product.
“We’re seeing increased demand
for Marriott’s collection brands
given consumers’ desire to stay at
properties with unique stories and
independent hotel owners realising
that Marriott’s size and scale can
drive significant value to their
properties.”
Last year Marriott International
said that it expected the three
brands to grow 20% – or by over
40 sites – expanding the portfolio’s
distribution to 50 countries and
territories.
HA Perspective (by Katherine
Doggrell): The collection brands
have become a must-have for any
global operator looking to round
out their portfolio. They provide
low-cost pipeline for operators,
options for loyalty programme
members and cheap access to
distribution for owners who don’t
want to brand up. But does the
sector need any more?
James Bland, director, BDRC,
told Hotel Analyst: “It’s been
a few hours since Europe got
another hotel brand, so I’m highly
relieved that normal service is being
resumed. Thankfully, les mots-du-
jour all seem to be present in this
press release and on the brand’s
embryonic website – “contemporary
luxury” (tick), “iconic” (tick),
“wellness” (tick), “social” (tick)
“meet the needs of the modern
traveller” (Bingo).
“I’m not sure it matters that
“only” two openings are forecast
at the moment as I don’t think that
there is a threshold required before
one can launch or define a brand.
A single hotel, essentially, is a brand
(The Ritz, The Savoy and Claridge’s
being examples that spring to
mind) and everything has to start
somewhere, as Conrad Hilton, John
Willard Marriott and Kemmons
Wilson would no doubt point out
to us. Some are destined to take
over the world, which is fabulous
for them, while others exist purely
to add a premium to a handful of
bedrooms, and if they do their job,
well, that’s just great too.
“However, the continuing
proliferation of brands does
highlight one of the challenges
facing the hotel sector – genuine,
transformational product
innovations are few and far
between, so what we’re left with –
frankly – is packaging. For the most
part in healthily-supplied cities,
where hotels compete for space
on the shelves of OTAs, a visual
or verbal gimmick may well put
one at an advantage over another.
However, it’s essential to get that
packaging right – increasingly we’re
seeing a disconnect between the
language used by hotel brands to
describe themselves and the words
that consumers understand. We
recently did a test involving the
five most widely-known brands in
the UK during which we showed
consumers the ‘official’ descriptions
of the brand. 40% were able to
identify Travelodge, but one of
the world’s largest brands was
only recognisable to 12% of
respondents.”
Marriott International has
maintained that it doesn’t need
to get rid of any brands – so it
will be hanging on to Le Meridien
– because it doesn’t market the
brands individually, but more cost
effectively, as a package. So why not
add another? Why not add 20?
Additional comment (by Andrew
Sangster): The official unveiling of
IHG’s new upscale brand occurred
on June 11th. This is a conversion
brand which, according to IHG,
taps into a segment worth USD40bn
currently but that has a further
USD20bn of growth to 2025.
The IHG pitch is a compelling
one: revenue management and
reservation tools plus the B2B
strength and loyalty programme.
Is Palladium’s offer as compelling?
Unless IHG is getting things very
wrong, it is hard to see Palladium
being competitive globally.
But in its home markets
Palladium is likely to have the
edge. While it won’t have access
to the B2B or loyalty guests in the
same way, Palladium has the local
market knowledge in places such as
Ibiza which IHG is going to struggle
match.
And this is the same old
conundrum for the global hotel
brands: location and local contacts
trumping global reach as a driver of
business. But when smaller chains or
individual hotels allow commercial
discipline to crumble, they become
vulnerable and the siren call of the
big brands makes sense to owners.
Well-run local and regional
players are unlikely to easily fall
prey to the big brands. But for
the likes of Palladium, growth is
a challenge too. Small, steady and
incremental, in usually adjacent
geographic or market segments
makes the most sense.
And done well, these chains
have the prospect of a lucrative
exit to the big brands. IHG makes
no secret of its desire to buy small,
asset-light luxury brands. Palladium
does not fit the bill for IHG but with
a restructure there is likely to be a
number of suitors.
096
Hoxton mooted for
USD1bn jumpstart
The Hoxton brand could expand
globally after potentially receiving
a USD1bn investment from Bharti
Group.
The brand, which is owned by
Ennismore, is planning to add two
hotels in the US and two in London
by 2020.
Ennismore declined to comment
on the speculation, which suggested
that the funding would come from
Bharti Group, which owns Bharti
Airtel, a global top-three mobile
phone company. It was founded
by Sunil Mittal, whose son-in-
law, Sharan Pasricha, founded
Ennismore.
Over the past few years, Bharti
has diversified in the Indian
economy. The group offers life
insurance and general insurance
to customers across India as well
as launching a fresh and processed
foods business. The group has
growing interests in other areas
such as mobile, internet, real estate,
training and capacity building, and
distribution of telecom/IT products.
Bharti Realty, which was
launched in 2015, has a mix
of offices, residential and retail
investments.
The Hoxton brand has been
building slowly since the first site
was opened in Shoreditch in 2006,
followed by a property in Holborn
in 2014, Amsterdam in 2015 and
Paris in 2017.
Hoxton is developing hotels
in New York, Los Angeles and
Portland with plans to start opening
some of them this year. By 2020,
the firm expects to add locations
in Chicago, San Francisco and in
Southwark and Shepherd’s Bush.
Ennismore also acquired the 232-
room Gleneagles resort in Scotland
in 2015 and earlier this year
announced the first hotel under its
NoCo brand, which is due to open
in 2019, in the Wood Wharf mixed-
use development in London.
Ennismore has agreed to lease
around 100,000 square feet on
a 25-year contract from Canary
Wharf Group. The hotel will be
arranged over the ground floor and
levels four to nine. The first NoCo
hotel will have 312 rooms offering
“honest pricing, clever design,
beautiful essentials and a focus on
technology”.
NoCo, which the group said was
aimed at challenging “the status quo
of budget brands”, with a target of
up to 25 sites in seven years, was
launched in 2016.
Ennismore said that booking and
check-in would be via an app, with
rooms “compact yet comfortable”.
In an echo of concepts such as
Mama Shelter, bars and eateries
“will be destinations in their own
right”. Each NoCo site will have
150 to 200 rooms, with nightly
rates under GBP100.
The company was looking
largely at leases, with potential
for management agreements. The
company told Hotel Analyst that
it would want to fully establish
the brand first before considering
franchising.
Ben Russell, acquisitions director,
Ennismore, told us: “It’s very early
days and we are in discussions
with a number of very progressive
developers and landlords who are
looking to partner with a hotel
operator that will bring a unique
proposition to their schemes and act
as a place-maker.”
The company was not concerned
around cannibalising its Hoxton
brand. Russell said: “With land
prices in central cities at an all-
time high, it is highly unlikely that
a NoCo will operate in the same
space as a Hoxton.
“NoCo is a completely separate
entity – we like to think of it as the
Hoxton’s cheeky younger sibling.
The NoCo concept was created
to challenge the existing ‘vanilla’
offering in the budget sector in key
cities in the UK, where leisure and
corporate guests have limited choice
and the offer is limited to a place to
sleep and very little else.
“NoCo will challenge this
through great design, vibrant public
spaces that feature an exciting local
food and drink offering, live music,
and events that appeal to guests
and locals alike. By taking learnings
from The Hoxton and applying
these to NoCo we will be able to
ensure that the new brand can
deliver on these objectives, while
still being accessible and affordable.
“The hotel sector remains
incredibly competitive, with
considerable interest for top sites.
NoCo offers an entirely different
spin on the budget sector: we are
creating a space where guests and
locals will genuinely want to visit.”
HA Perspective (by Katherine
Doggrell): The possible investment
by Bharti Group is thought to have
provoked not a little controversy in
India, where it is felt that USD1bn
could be better spent on investments
other than lovely hotels for those
who perhaps don’t suffer too much.
But away from the question
of whether trickle down is more
effective than direct, would this
be a good investment for Bharti?
Hoxton has shown itself to be no
fly-by-night and we watch NoCo
with interest, but, as ever with any
hotel that has funny-coloured chairs
and the likelihood for exposed
concrete, the question is, can it be
scaled?
The usual rebuttal for this
argument is staffing. There aren’t
enough staff to make everyone feel
loved and cosseted once you hit 20
sites, so it goes, an argument which
one observer, who declined to be
named (the boutique hierarchy is
small and long of memory) rebuffed
as nonsense. Finding staff to run
a budget site is an issue. Finding
motivated hospitality graduates for
a brand such as Hoxton is closer to
the fish/barrel/shooting scenario.
The main issue in this sector is
one of fashion. The hip is only hip
for so long – even brands such as
The Standard are not impervious.
But so what? There are plenty of
wannabes who will be happy to stay
there long after those on the cutting
edge have vacated. But, as the hotel
falls down the pecking order, the
risk is that the rate will fall to match
it. This is less of an issue for The
Hoxton, which has made its name
on competitive pricing.
The fact is that no-one has
managed it yet. As our mystery
observer noted: “We wake up every
097
morning in this industry determined
to succeed, to do what no-one else
has done before”. Maybe USD1bn
will help with that.
Minor buys NH stake
Minor International announced that
it would be an 8.6% shareholder
in NH Hotels Group after paying
EUR192m for 30 million shares
formerly owned by Oceanwood
Capital.
The deal came after last year’s
investment in Corbin & King,
which it said would “transform its
hotel restaurants into an attraction
that draws the crowd and accelerate
growth of the hotel business”.
Minor International said that the
acquisition marked a move deeper
into Europe following its earlier
expansion into Portugal and Brazil
through the acquisition of Tivoli
Hotels & Resorts in 2016.
Dillip Rajakarier, CEO, Minor
Hotels, said: “This investment
represents a significant milestone for
Minor Hotels. We are excited by the
opportunity to accelerate our global
exposure with our investment in
NH Hotel Group, which has a
highly complementary business and
asset portfolio to Mint.
“The investment is financially
attractive, with high liquidity
on the Madrid Stock Exchange
and proven performance by the
business. Over the past few years,
NH Hotel Group’s board of
directors and management team
have re-invigorated the business
and delivered strong business
performance in line with its five-
year strategic plan.
“As a key shareholder in the
business, we look forward to
supporting the management team as
a strategic shareholder to continue
this success and build long-term
shareholder value for NH Hotel
Group and its shareholders
including Mint. Mint can also
support NH Hotels with its food
and beverage expertise where
appropriate to maximise financial
performance and enhance customer
experience.”
No management changes at NH
Hotel Group were expected in
connection with Mint’s investment
in the company. NH said: “NH
Hotel Group does not intend to
make any additional comments
regarding this agreement reached
between Oceanwood and Minor
Hotels. We remain focused on our
strategic business plan.”
Prior to the sale Oceanwood
Capital had a holding of 12.1%.
The group first became involved in
NH Hotels Group in 2015, when
it picked up a 7.58% stake as part
of a sale by Banco Santander, at
EUR5.17. The group then began
stakebuilding, reaching a peak of
50.11 million shares, or 14.3% on
NH, in August last year, at which
point the share price was just below
EUR6.0, the group having varied
between a year high of EUR6.71
and EUR4.80 at the time of writing.
The acquisition came as HNA
Group was marketing its stake in
NH Hotels Group, with Minor
commenting that, while certain key
shareholdings of NH Hotel Group
may change ownership in the near
future, it was “confident in the
underlying business”.
Minor recently reported its first-
quarter results, commenting that it
expected to see strong performance
from its hotels for the full year.
William E. Heinecke, Minor
International chairman and CEO,
said: “Despite the decline in net
profit for the quarter, we are
confident that we will deliver 2018
full year net profit growth with
continued strong performance of
our hotel business.”
For the first quarter, the hotels
division, Minor Hotels, reported
net profit of Baht 1,141m
(GNB26m), and an increase in net
profit of the core hotel operations
of 47%. The company said it saw
“robust” tourist flows and strong
performance of hotels both in
Thailand and overseas, with overall
revpar of its owned hotels, which
accounted for 61% of hotel and
mixed-use revenues, growing by
13% in the period.
The Portugal portfolio delivered
revpar growth of 45% year-on-
year, led by the hotels in Lisbon and
Sintra areas. The performance was
attributed to the company’s revenue
management and marketing strategy
after a series of hotel renovations.
The management letting rights
portfolio, contributing 17% of
1Q18 hotel & mixed-use revenues,
saw strong demand with occupancy
rate of 78% and ADR increase of
4% year-on-year.
The revpar growth for the entire
Hotel Analyst is the news analysis service for those involved with financing hotel property or hotel operating companies.
For more information and to subscribe visit: www.hotelanalyst.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 8870 6388
portfolio, including managed,
was flat year-on-year, with solid
performance of owned hotel
operations both in Thailand and
overseas helping to offset the
temporary slowdown of managed
hotel portfolio. Including new
hotels, system-wide revpar of the
entire portfolio decreased by 2%
year-on-year, due to the lower
revpar commanded by the group’s
new hotels.
The company said that it
continued to look for opportunities
to invest in “complementary
businesses to strengthen its
organisational capabilities”.
At the end of 2016 Minor Hotels
said that it was planning to add
at least 50 more properties to its
portfolio over the next five years,
with the Anantara brand’s first
foray into Europe and the launch
of two new Tivoli properties in the
Middle East.
Michael Marshall, chief
commercial officer at Minor Hotels,
said at the time: “We are looking
at new locations and destinations.
We already have 37 Anantara
properties but we want that to grow
to 60 and 10 of those locations are
already being plotted and planned.
The group has 155 hotels and we
aim to grow that to between 200
and 230 within the next five years.
“We want to grow Anantara,
Tivoli and Avani – all are so distinct
from one another and each has so
much opportunity for expansion.”
The end of last year saw Minor
098
Hotels’ purchase of a “significant
stake” in Corbin & King, for
GBP58m. The group said that
the investment was “part of the
company’s efforts to accelerate
growth beyond its core hotel
business. Through collaborations
with Corbin & King, Minor can
leverage on their expertise to beef
up its hotel F&B capabilities and
transform its hotel restaurants into
an attraction that draws the crowd
and accelerate growth of the hotel
business.”
The beginning of this year saw
growth in the company’s managed
business, with the signing of a
management agreement with Allied
Investment Group to operate Oaks
Beirut.
Scheduled to launch in mid
2018, the 110-key hotel will be
located in Sodeco, a commercial
area of Beirut. The brand’s portfolio
currently comprises 56 properties
across five countries – Australia,
New Zealand, Thailand, India and
the United Arab Emirates, with
more than 6,000 guest rooms under
its management.
In total across the Middle East
region Minor Hotels operates 13
properties across four of its brands
– Anantara, Avani, Tivoli and Oaks
– and has a further strong pipeline
in the region across these four
brands.
HA Perspective (by Katherine
Doggrell): So (almost) farewell to
Oceanwood Capital, one of the key
agitators in the skirmishes at NH
Hotels Group which kept us greatly
amused and did a lot to push HNA
into the position where they decided
to sell their stake.
Whereas this time last year the
popular money was on NH being
folded into the then-Rezidor and
hence Radisson, now an intriguing
new future opens up. Minor seems
happy to take a stake whatever
the future holds, which seems a
bold move, but maybe it knows
something we don’t. The latest
speculation suggested the HNA’s
stake was being fought over by
Elliott Management and Apollo
Global Management to name
but two. Sources close to us have
speculated that AccorHotels could
be planning to swoop on NH, a
much-repeated rumour.
For Minor, tagging along for
the ride would have the potential
to accelerate its position in Europe
with far more vim that through NH
alone and for AccorHotels, which
has spoken much of its need to beef
up its luxury arm, having access
to Corbin & King may not be the
worse thing which ever happened.
There is suggestion, however, that
Minor could take itself from minor
to major and pick up the stake itself.
 Assa Abloy Hospitality

Elsafe
Colored Safes

Your guests come in all shapes, sizes, colors and styles. Why not offer a safe that is just as colorful as they are, but still provides the
most advanced security and convenience? Now you can, with Elsafe’s new customizable colors! ASSA ABLOY Hospitality now offers
design-conscious hoteliers like yourself the option to customize your in-room safes with a variety of available colors.

Typical black, grey, white or ivory safes don’t always fit with your design aesthetic, and tend to blend into their surroundings. We
believe that color can be a memorable aspect of the guest experience. Choosing a shade that aligns with your brand or room décor
can cost-effectively differentiate your property, while protecting guests’ valuable possessions and protecting you from liability.

So, create an impression on your guests long after they have completed their stay with you. Contact your local ASSA ABLOY
Hospitality representative today for more information!

Learn more today at assaabloyhospitality.com

Colored_Safes_SleepersMag_236x275.indd 1 15/06/2018 11:45:42

New York,
New York
For the city that supposedly never sleeps,
Performance (April 2018 year-to-date)
there’s no shortage of people staying
over in New York. The city continues to
experience new supply developments, as Occupancy RevPAR ADR
every hotel owner, brand and developer
wants what virtually no other city in the 82.3% US$180.07 US$218.70
world can offer on the same scale: visibility. +2.2% +4.7% +2.5%
Massive supply growth is the biggest issue
on the horizon, along with Airbnb’s strong
presence. For consumers, Airbnb and new
hotel developments in the upscale segment
have made the market more affordable,
although the city’s ADR is still one of the
highest globally.

According to AM:PM, STR’s digital hotel

supply and pipeline platform, more than
+17% Existing room
inventory by 2020
20,000 rooms are set to join the city’s
existing inventory by 2020, although
the rate of supply growth has slowed
more recently and occupancy levels are
beginning to recover.

Hotel demand, however, shows no signs

of slowing. In 2017, New York recorded
a 16% increase in the number of nights
with occupancy levels above 90%. This
has helped boost the market’s ADR,
since hotel operators are able to drive
AM:PM – STR’s digital hotel database
higher rates on nights when less rooms
are available and therefore become more Updated daily by a team of dedicated researchers, AM:PM
valuable. provides comprehensive solutions for tracking new hotel
openings, pipeline construction and development, closures,
New York should start seeing increased rebrands, transactions and more. With a fully-functional
performance levels as the market continues map tool, the platform keeps users up to the minute so they
adapting to incoming supply, with stronger can set strategies accordingly.
growth beyond 2018.
For more information visit www.ampmhotels.com

STR’s hotel performance and supply information

reported here is based on all five boroughs of New
York City. Supply comparison is based on STR’s STR is the source for premium global data benchmarking, analytics and
census records for April 2018 and pipeline records marketplace insights, tracking 8 million rooms worldwide. www.str.com
up to 2020.

100
 Rooms
+20,427

Rooms in April 2018

119,824

Rooms in 2020
140,251
Hotels
+120
Hotels in April 2018
655

Hotels in 2020
775

101
 D ISC OVE R US AT T U U C I . C O M

Artwork TUUCI for SLEEPER 3-2018.indd 1 13-4-2018 13:47:19

www.aheadawards.com
- ANDAZ SINGAPORE 12 JUNE 2018 - FAENA FORUM NOVEMBER 2018
AMERICAS WINNERS REVEALED
A retro-chic resort channelling American road trips of the 1950s in Napa Valley,
a carefully curated boutique in Nicaragua, and a global community that activates
spaces around the world; the AHEAD Americas 2018 winners showed the
diversity of the region’s new hotels.
Taking place at Faena Forum, Miami, the evening marked the culmination of
a meticulous judging process, in which projects are assessed on a combination
of creative excellence, commercial viability and guest experience. The initial
stage of online voting was followed by a day of deliberation chaired by Larry
Traxler, Senior Vice President Global Design, Hilton Worldwide and hosted
at Ace Hotel New York, before the winners were announced to 270 guests
from across the Americas.
In a nod to the heritage of Faena, the ceremony took on an Argentinian
twist. Guests dressed to impress using the Tango in the Night theme to
inform fashion choices, while a rhythmic soundtrack came courtesy of Music
Concierge. Kicking off the evening, guests gathered in the amphitheatre,
where drinks flowed and live dancers entertained. The ceremony itself took
place within the Forum of Miami’s cultural cornerstone, designed by Pritzker
Prize-winning Rem Koolhaas of OMA.
Taking two of the evening’s coveted accolades − Landscaping & Outdoor
Spaces and Resort Hotel − was Meson Nadi, a boutique hotel located in Tola,
Nicaragua. Completed by Jakob Sellaoui and Allison Maitland, the design
places emphasis on garden vegetation combined with architecture, resulting
in a holistic experience. Inspired by typical Nicaraguan colonial homes,
where bold architecture gives way to an oasis, the project features exquisite
place-making through sensitive landscape design.
Scooping the Lasvit-designed trophy for best Guestrooms, Made Hotel,
features design from Studio Mai and founder Sam Gelin. The spaces offer
an intimate retreat in the heart of New York’s NoMad district, a carefully
curated respite for the creative class. Taking cues from nature, solid walnut
accompanies a mix of metals and an abundance of texture. Judges lauded
the property for its soul, describing it as playing in to bohemian sensibilities
with a curated design.
Other winners included Stonehill Taylor Architects and Rockwell Group
for Magic Hour Rooftop & Bar at Moxy Times Square, winner of the Bar,
Club or Lounge category. Devised as a riff on the idea of urban camping,
the flexible, vibrant space sits 18 floors above New York and embodies an
amusement park concept with a playful sensibility. Returning to the stage
for the best Suite, Stonehill Taylor Architects celebrated its design of The
Whitby Suite at The Whitby Hotel, with Kit Kemp. Also located in New York,
the project features depth and integrity in its design and execution, with
attention to detail that is meticulous. Occupying the entire top floor of the
hotel, the suite features floor-to-ceiling windows along with two king-size
bedrooms and sweeping terraces.
A fourth project from the Big Apple, Public Hotel – by Herzog & de Meuron
and I.S.C. Design Studio – scooped the prize for Lobby & Public Spaces,
areas central to its ethos and designed to bring people together and create
a sense of community through scale, architecture and guest experience.
Meanwhile, just over the East River is the Urban Hotel – Newbuild winner,
1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. Marvel Architects, INC Architecture & Design
and Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates were commended for Brooklyn’s
waterfront evolutions, with nods to the contemporary identity alongside
pre-industrial land references.
Heading down the east coast, Le Sirenuse at Four Seasons Hotel The Surf
Club, Miami scooped best Restaurant, celebrating the work of Joseph Dirand
Architecture. With Mediterranean revival architecture overlooking the ocean,
Le Sirenuse features shades of faded magnolia, beachcomber green and
mahogany, evoking the Surf Club’s storied past life. Representing the west
coast, NoMad Los Angeles by Studio Jacques Garcia and Killefer Flammang
Architects received the Urban Hotel – Conversion award, celebrating the
reinvention of neoclassical landmark Giannini Place. Much of the original
features have been restored, yet balanced with a contemporary Californian
design. Representing Montréal, Canada, Espace C2 at Fairmont The Queen
Elizabeth Hotel took the award for best Event Spaces, with a visually striking
and modular design, created to inspire participants to be bold, take risks and
escape their comfort zones. Designed by Sid Lee architecture, Espace C2
creates a transformative experience complete with Montréal skyline vistas.
The Select Awards, which see winners chosen from all categories by the
esteemed judging panel, saw Habitas receive New Concept of the Year. Billed
as a global community, activating spaces around the world and opening hotels
in extraordinary destinations, Habitas considers its properties to be homes
and champions the formation of deeper human connections. Designed to
support the unique way in which people gather, the homes feature a careful
blend of privacy, nature, music and exquisite communal spaces.
Taking home the award for Visual Identity of the Year was the evening’s
big winner, also scooping the awards for Renovation & Restoration, Spa &
Wellness, and Hotel of the Year: Calistoga Motor Lodge & Spa by Signum
Architecture, Avroko and Brand Bureau. A 50-key property in Napa Valley,
Calistoga acts in response to the constant rush of technology experience
in modern day life. Designed to transport guests back to a simpler era,
the hotel’s unique styling encourages guests to engage with the present,
epitomising experience as luxury.
These projects will now compete in a global biennale together with other
regional finalists. The global winners will be announced at a ceremony in Los
Angeles in January 2019, for which further details will be announced soon.
See overleaf for the full list of winners...
THE WINNERS...
BAR, CLUB OR LOUNGE LANDSCAPING & OUTDOOR SPACES
MAGIC HOUR ROOFTOP BAR & LOUNGE AT MOXY TIMES SQUARE, MESON NADI BOUTIQUE HOTEL, TOLA, NICARAGUA
NEW YORK, USA Meson Nadi / Jakob Sellaoui / Allison Maitland
Lightstone Group / Tao Group / Stonehill Taylor Architects /
Rockwell Group LOBBY & PUBLIC SPACES
PUBLIC HOTEL, NEW YORK, USA
EVENT SPACES Ian Schrager Company / Herzog & de Meuron /
ESPACE C2 AT FAIRMONT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOTEL, I.S.C. Design Studio
MONTREAL, CANADA
Ivanhoé Cambridge / Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and C2 Montréal / RESORT HOTEL
Sid Lee Architecture MESON NADI BOUTIQUE HOTEL, TOLA, NICARAGUA
Meson Nadi / Jakob Sellaoui / Design-Build Studio
GUESTROOMS
MADE HOTEL, NEW YORK, USA RESTAURANT
Made / Studio Mai / Gene Kaufman SIRENUSE AT FOUR SEASONS HOTEL THE SURF CLUB,
MIAMI, USA
HOTEL RENOVATION & RESTORATION Fort Partners / Antonio Sersale / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts /
CALISTOGA MOTOR LODGE & SPA, CALISTOGA, USA Joseph Dirand Architecture
Eagle Point Hotel Partners / Filament Hospitality /
Signum Architecture / Avroko / Brand Bureau
SPA & WELLNESS VISUAL IDENTITY OF THE YEAR
MOONACRE SPA & BATHS AT CALISTOGA MOTOR LODGE & SPA, CALISTOGA MOTOR LODGE & SPA
CALISTOGA, USA Eagle Point Hotel Partners / Filament Hospitality / Brand Bureau
Eagle Point Hotel Partners / Filament Hospitality /
Signum Architecture / Brand Bureau / Avroko NEW CONCEPT OF THE YEAR
HABITAS
SUITE
THE WHITBY SUITE, THE WHITBY HOTEL, NEW YORK, USA THE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD
Firmdale Hotels / Stonehill Taylor Architects / Kit Kemp ANDREW ZOBLER, CEO – SYDELL GROUP

URBAN HOTEL – CONVERSION THE AHEAD AMERICAS HOTEL OF THE YEAR

NOMAD LOS ANGELES, USA CALISTOGA MOTOR LODGE & SPA, CALISTOGA, USA
The Yucaipa Companies / Square Mile / Sydell Group / Eagle Point Hotel Partners / Filament Hospitality / Signum
Studio Jacques Garcia / Killefer Flammang Architects Architecture / Avroko / Brand Bureau

URBAN HOTEL – NEWBUILD

1 HOTEL BROOKLYN BRIDGE, NEW YORK, USA
Starwood Capital & Toll Brothers / Marvel Architects /
INC Architecture & Design / Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates
 MARCH 2019 12 JUNE 2018
SINGAPORE FAENA FORUM MIAMI

NOVEMBER 2018 19 NOVEMBER 2018

DUBAI PARK PLAZA WESTMINSTER BRIDGE LONDON

Organised By Headline Sponsor Trophy Sponsor Foundation Sponsor

Global Sponsors

Event Sponsors

Partners

Music Consultant Digital Partner Design By

www.aheadawards.com
 SPECIALISTS IN LUXURY FIT OUT REFURBISHMENTS
Turning vision into reality

THE MANDRAKE ROSEWOOD LONDON

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL LONDON AT PARK LANE THE LANESBOROUGH

BECK CRAFTSMANSHIP

SHERATON GRAND LONDON PARK LANE

HOTELS – MUSEUMS – RESIDENTIAL – RETAIL – LEISURE – BESPOKE

www.beckinteriors.com beckinteriors BECK Email Vanessa Budd a t vbudd@beckinteriors.com

 2 0 -2 1 N OV. 2 0 1 8
O LYM PI A LO N D O N

S AVE T H E DAT E

E U R O PE ’ S H O S PI TA L I TY D E S I G N EVE N T
S l e e p + E a t i s a b o u t i q u e m a r ke t p l a c e f o r
h o te l i e r s , re s t a u r a n te u r s a n d t h e d e s i g n
p ro f e s s i o n a l s b e h i n d E u ro p e ’s l ea d i n g
h o s p i t a l i ty p ro j e c t s . F i n d ex p e r t l y c u r a te d
d e s i g n i n a l l i t s f o r m s . H ea r t h o u g h t
l ea d e r s h i p, s e e t h e l a te s t t re n d s , a n d
m a ke a n d s t re n g t h e n re l a t i o n s h i p s
w i t h t h e h o s p i t a l i ty s u p p l y c h a i n .

J o i n t h e c rea t i ve c o l l e c t i ve .
S ave t h e d a te .

8114 Sleep + Eat ad 472x275mm+3mm.indd 1

V I S I T SLEEPA NDE AT E V EN T.COM

06.07.18 13:11
 HOTEL & RESTAURANT BUSINESS PLACE
CATERING / DESIGN / WELL-BEING / TECHNOLOGY / SERVICE

DESIGN
EQUIPHOTEL TRADE SHOW
II-I5 NOV 2OI8
Paris - France

Order your free badge

equiphotel.com
code : EPE076

For further information:

EquipHotel trade show - Oytun Saritayli
+33 (0)1 47 56 51 19 - oytun.saritayli@reedexpo.fr

Official partners

EH18_SLEEPER_EPE076_236x275_GB.indd 1 06/07/2018 10:50

 Events
T H E M E E T I N G P L AC E F O R T H E H O S P I TA L I T Y I N D U S T R Y

10-11 Serviced Apartment Summit 16-18 The Hotel Show 20-23 Designjunction
JUL London SEP Dubai SEP London
www.servicedapartmentsummit.com www.thehotelshow.com www.thedesignjunction.co.uk

24-26 Hotels World 16-19 Decorex 24-25 SAHIC

JUL Sydney SEP London SEP Medellin
www.hotelsworld.com.au www.decorex.com www.sahic.com

7-11 Maison et Objet 16-21 Focus 26-27 Hot.E

SEP Paris SEP London SEP London
www.maison-objet.com www.dcch.co.uk www.europehotelconference.com

16-18 Index 19-22 100% Design 2-4 AHIF

SEP Dubai SEP London OCT Nairobi
www.indexexhibition.com www.100percentdesign.co.uk www.africa-conference.com

115
 20-23
SEP
Next Stop, South Bank 16-18
SEP
New Heights
DESIGNJUNCTION THE HOTEL SHOW

Designjunction has announced plans to move to London’s South Bank for its eighth edition, The Hotel Show is set to return to Dubai
collaborating with Coin Street Community Builders (CSCB) – a local social enterprise that owns World Trade Centre in September, with over
and manages Oxo Tower Wharf, the Doon Street site and the Riverside Walkway – to bring its 600 exhibitors showcasing products across
design community to the heart of the city’s cultural scene. Interiors, Lighting & Design, Technology &
Centrally located and surrounded by iconic London architecture, this landmark destination Security, Operating Equipment, Bathroom &
attracts an estimated 25 million visitors each year. Through the work of CSCB, the area has Sanitaryware and Horeca.
been transformed from a largely derelict, 13-acre site into a vibrant community with shops, Highlights of the three-day event include the
galleries, restaurants, cafés, bars and leisure facilities. Leadership Forum, and a new cooking contest –
“Designjunction has always sought to identify architecturally stunning backdrops to present the The Chef’s Table – in which head chefs from 12
best global design,” comments Will Sorrell, Managing Director of Designjunction. “By working Middle Eastern hotels compete against the clock.
with CSCB, we’re putting our brands in the centre of a thriving mixed-use neighbourhood, “The spotlight is firmly on the hospitality
whilst providing visitors with a unique show experience.” industry in this region. We have welcomed more
Running from 20-23 September, the event will feature product launches, boutique pop-up regional and international guests to our events
shops and installations across the three key venues that are owned and managed by CSCB. this year than ever before in our 18 year history
Brands set to appear include Pedrali, Marset, VitrA, Icons of Denmark, LSA International and serving this market, some of which have massive
Ton, while emerging designers including Emma Cerasulo, Studio Anansi and Woven Form will expansion plans for the region, covering hundreds
also showcase their latest works. of hotels,” comments Ray Tinston, Portfolio
Housing more than 200 international design brands and pop-up shops, the Doon Street site Director of DMG Events Middle East, Asia &
will highlight furniture, lighting and accessories in dedicated zones across two floors, while Africa. “Some of the business deals orchestrated
Riverside Walkway is set to present a series of outdoor installations. Elsewhere, Oxo Tower at our shows have been unprecedented, and this
Wharf – which already houses brands like Innermost, Black + Blum and Bodo Sperlein – plays just goes to illustrate once more how continually
host to major brand activations, exhibitions and experiential events, adding Designjunction to forward-thinking and how the hospitality market
its 25-strong list of designer-maker stores. is constantly growing in this part of the world.
Sophie Cain, Design Curator at Oxo Tower Wharf, comments: “We’re delighted to be With experts revealing that hotel openings are
collaborating with Designjunction for the London Design Festival this September. Last year going to galvanise the market from 2018, we are
we were proud to host a landmark project, and we’re excited to be building on Oxo Tower set to provide the industry with an even larger
Wharf’s reputation for design excellence and extending this into the wider Coin Street area.” showcase of the best products and insights.”
www.designjunction.co.uk www.thehotelshow.com

116
INDOOR & OUTDOOR FURNITURE - DECORATION

GOMMAIRE.COM
118
 Sleepover Brooklyn
2 0 -2 2 M AY 2 01 8
The seventh edition in the inventive series of events for innovators returned to
the Americas for a programme of industrial architecture, regeneration and craft.
Words: Molly Dolan | Photography: © Wilde Scout Photo Co
B uilt as a farming village by the Dutch in the early 1600s,
Breucklen – as it was then known – has endured a turbulent
and storied history, redefining itself time after time. Today,
Brooklyn is a melting pot of ideas, creativity and innovation. Above
all, its diverse culture is driven by a DIY attitude, leading to Sleepover
2018’s overarching theme of ‘Make in Happen’.
In recent years, as Brooklyn’s creative communities have begun
to disperse to Bushwick, Bed-Stuy and beyond, Williamsburg and
neighbouring DUMBO have become hotspots for new models of real
estate development. Boutique hotels and luxury condos sit side-by-
side with start-up labs, co-working spaces, workshops, urban farms
and craft breweries.
Sleepover Brooklyn attendees were hosted at the area’s namesake
property, The Williamsburg Hotel, completed in 2016 by developers
Heritage Equity Partners and London-based design practice Michaelis
Boyd. Located on the former scrapyard stretch of Wythe Avenue that
is now a hub of the borough’s north, its redbrick highrise neighbours
include Wythe Hotel, The William Vale and Brooklyn Bowl.
Welcoming attendees to registration and lunch, Sleeper’s Editor-
in-Chief Matt Turner spoke of the area’s significance, as well as the
intense regeneration of past years: “The first time I came here, I
remember thinking, ‘wouldn’t Brooklyn just be the coolest place to
do our next event?’ But there just wasn’t a hotel here that could fit us
all in. We have this phrase in the UK about waiting for a bus, where
you wait ages for one, then three turn up at once. And here we are,
with The Williamsburg, The William Vale and 1 Hotel.” In naming
those properties, Turner both gave a nod to surrounding projects and
listed the programme ahead.
119
Following lunch, attendees split into three groups for behind-
the-scenes tours of surrounding properties. Led by each project’s
architects and designers, tours offered a unique, in-depth and
personal insight into the ideas, processes and challenges faced.
Leading the host hotel tour, Alex Michaelis, Founding Partner,
Michaelis Boyd Associates, discussed the studio’s thinking behind
the brick-clad façade accented with glass and Corten steel that
allows seamless assimilation with its industrial surroundings. Inside,
guestrooms feature double-height ceilings, reclaimed oak parquet
flooring and Art Deco bathroom fixtures. Guests were then taken
to the soon-to-be completed rooftop with its stunning water tower
feature typical of the area.
Meanwhile, around the corner, Alessandro Munge of Toronto-based
Studio Munge and Nick Liberis of Albo Liberis offered attendees a look
at The William Vale. The most recent Williamsburg opening – soon to be
joined by The Hoxton – features an abundance of artwork, including a
dominating commissioned piece by Brooklyn artist Marela Zacarias that
occupies the lobby. Billed as its crowning glory, the hotel also features
local hangout spot Westlight, a rooftop bar with views spanning the
Manhattan skyline.
One of the lasting messages from The William Vale is the
importance of community, as exemplified by the hotel’s use of local
artists, porous base that unites two blocks and elevated public green
space. Munge commented: “This property is brave and bold for
Brooklyn. It adds to the fabric of the city in a positive way, rather
than a contrived way. You need to think about what’s right for the
neighbourhood, and what’s right for Williamsburg as the community
continues to evolve and grow.”
 Down in DUMBO, the tour of 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge captured
imaginations as Marvel Architects and I.N.C. Architecture & Design
gave a private tour through the brand’s first newbuild property. As
with its sister hotels, eco-consciousness is paramount throughout the
project, from harvesting rainwater to upcycled furniture to partnering
with progressive, sustainability-focused organisations.
Following a long day of tours, ideas and socialising, attendees
gathered for sunset drinks at Dobbin St rooftop, a unique space
within a transformed factory. Nestled on the border of Greenpoint
and Williamsburg, the industrial-inspired venue boasts skyline views
and design by New York-based flower powerhouse Fox Fodder Farm.
After many photo opportunities and a chance to network with
hand-selected local guests, attendees headed back to where it all
began, Wythe Hotel, for dinner, communal style. The meal allowed
ample opportunity to discuss the day’s events with friends old
and new, while Principal Owner Peter Lawrence spoke of Wythe’s
significance in the regeneration of north Williamsburg.
Day two started with Further, an immersive experience in
collaboration with Design Hotels. Following a wholesome breakfast,
attendees gathered in The Williamsburg’s subterranean ballroom as
local LGBTQ+ champions and performers House of Yes ushered
participants to a floor seat. Encouraged to remove footwear and
disconnect from the cyber sphere, the result was a truly connected,
engaging affair. Opening the ceremony, multi-instrumentalist Nacho
Arimany and DJ Carlita set the tone, before Markus Schreyer, Vice
President, The Americas, Design Hotels, introduced the concept and
aims of Further. Proceedings then moved to an insightful conversation
around the theme of transformation, chaired by Ben Pundole, Vice
President of Brand Experience at Edition Hotels and Founder /
Editor-in-chief of A Hotel Life. The informal panel talk included
local and international visionaries including: Claus Meyer, culinary
entrepreneur; Anya Sapozhnikova and Kae Burke, co-founders, House
of Yes; and Zach Bell, Manager of Community Impact at Habitas.
The illuminating discussion explored community transformation,
the importance of inclusion in an age where hate and fear fills the
media, and the future of sustainability from both a primitive and broad
120
perspective. In closing, Pundole highlighted A Hotel Life’s Stay Plastic
Free initiative, urging attendees to be proactive in fighting the global
environmental issue.
Following the talk – and an unprompted group conversation –
attendees earned some time to relax as they strolled the sun-drenched
streets to lunch spot Norman. Co-founded by the morning’s speaker
Claus Meyer, the venue is housed within creative space A/D/O,
offering all-day dining to Brooklyn’s diverse community. Led by chef
Stephan Ilnyckyj, the communal lunch included fresh plates created
using seasonal ingredients based on sustainable relationships with
local suppliers and farmers.
After boarding re-purposed school buses, attendees travelled
to Industry City, a vast expanse of industrial architecture on the
waterfront home to creative brands, craftspeople and innovative
businesses. Here, a number of local makers offered workshop visits,
giving insight into other industries and chance to talk one-on-one
with some of the most exciting artists in Brooklyn. After exploring the
six million ft2 site – developed by Belvedere Capital and Jamestown
– the final stop was another round of sunset drinks, with views
spanning nearby dockyards and the Statue of Liberty.
Following an intense two-day programme, the closing party was
hosted at the famous Brooklyn Bowl where friendships solidified
over pitchers of local beer, finger food and competitive bowling
tournaments. Hosted by local duo Adventure[s], the pop-theme party
ended with a DJ set from international popstar Robyn – closing
Sleepover, Brooklyn style.
Sleeper would like to thank the following for their support of Sleepover
Brooklyn: Bellino Fine Linens, Gira, Grohe, Ice International,
Kaldewei, Kalisher, Lasvit, Laufen, Leds-C4, RH Contract, Robena
Contract Furnishings, Shaw Hospitality, Carnegie, Shademaker,
Viriato Hotel Concept, and West Elm Contract.
Full photography as well as a video of the event, shot by BlackAnt
Media, can be viewed online.
www.sleepoverbrooklyn.com
121
 HI Design Europe
6-8 JUNE 2018
As Europe’s hotel market continues to prosper, decision-makers gather in
Berlin for three days of business meetings, projects and procurement.
Words: Catherine Martin | Photography: © Richard Pereira
W ith Germany set to open more hotels over the next two
years than anywhere else in Europe, it seemed apt that HI
Design – the decision-makers forum for the hotel interior
design industry – landed in the nation’s capital for its latest edition.
Taking place in June at Vienna House Andel’s Berlin, the three-day
forum – now part of DMG Events – attracted a record 300 delegates
from across the continent and beyond, for a packed programme of
business meetings, seminars and networking.
In total, 86 buyer companies were in attendance, with the line-
up including design directors from hotel groups Carlson Rezidor,
Generator and Hilton Worldwide, as well as senior representatives
from procurement specialists Benjamin West, HosPro and Project
+ Matter. Leaders from interior design studios – including
Artelior, Aukett Swanke, David Collins Studio, Matteo Thun and
Twenty2Degrees – were also present, collectively responsible for
almost 3,000 new hotel projects globally.
Hoping to be specified in any one of these projects, 85 suppliers
representing a variety of product groups came armed with samples
and prototypes to demonstrate their design capabilities. JC
Hospitality and Restoration Hardware Contract showcased their
latest furniture ranges; Astro and LEDS-C4 presented new lighting
collections; and Grohe and Kohler offered design-led solutions for
the bathroom. Art, textiles, flooring and wallcoverings were also
represented, with Ferreira de Sá Rugs, Muzeo, Sekers and Skyfold
amongst the participants.
The event kicked off with a welcome from DMG’s Portfolio
Director Joel Butler, who declared it was very much “business as
usual” despite HI Design’s change in ownership. An opening reception
at the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant provided an opportunity to
catch up with delegates old and new, before the main programme
commenced the following morning.
Opening proceedings, seminar host Guy Dittrich outlined the
content of the four sessions, before welcoming Caroline List,
International Sales Director, Top Hotel Projects, to the stage for
an update on Europe’s hotel market. The latest data from the firm
revealed a total of 5,707 projects in the four- and five-star pipeline
122
globally, accounting for more than 1.2 million rooms. While Asia
Pacific and Americas boast larger pipelines than Europe (1,452
projects), soaring tourist arrivals point to a healthy future for the
continent. In fact, Germany proved the one to watch, ranking third
behind USA and China for the number of hotels (376 projects, 56,678
rooms) planned, followed by the UK, with 247 projects (36,107
rooms). France also made the top ten with 101 projects (16,153
rooms) in development.
Taking a closer look at the top ranking countries, List revealed
that Germany will see 125 new hotels come to market in 2019, with
Hamburg, Munich and Berlin leading the way. Future openings
include the 291-key Melia Frankfurt, due to complete in Q4
2019, and the 2020 debut of Ruby Hotel in Cologne, designed by
Ingenhoven Architects.
The UK meanwhile, can expect 81 new openings in 2019, the
majority of which are in London. Highlights include Adagio London
Stratford from Union Hanover, designed by Grzywinski + Pons, and
the 92-key Vintry & Mercer, due to open later this year.
Of Europe’s hotel development hotspots, London topped the chart
with 78 projects (13,879 rooms) in the pipeline, followed by Paris
(28 projects, 3,923 rooms) and Dublin (27 projects, 3,822 rooms). HI
Design Europe’s host city Berlin ranked 7th, with 16 projects (3,819
rooms) confirmed.
In the afternoon session, a keynote from Concrete’s founder Rob
Wagemans – regarded as one of the industry’s true innovators –
offered insight into the workings of an award-winning design agency.
Based in Amsterdam with his 50-strong team, Wagemens spoke of his
role as Creative Director of Citizen M, the ‘affordable luxury’ hotel
concept that has taken Europe by storm since its launch in 2008.
“We had to be bold, and try things that hadn’t been done before,”
he began, revealing that the aim was to create the atmosphere of a
hostel with the luxury of an upmarket hotel. “We wanted to design
a five-star guestroom and cut out everything you don’t really need,”
he continued, adding that through the removal of non-essential items
such as wardrobes, trouser presses and bathtubs, they were able to
create a compact 14.5m2 room that fits into a shipping container. A
123
time-lapse of the construction process showed the rooms being kitted
out in the factory – right down to toilet-roll holder and duvet – before
being shipped to site and stacked on top of one another. This method,
Wagemans said, eliminates error due to the controlled environment, a
factor that has become apparent since the opening of Citizen M Times
Square. “It was not possible to build modular in the USA at that time,
so we had to go about it the traditional way,” he said. “This took us
longer, was more expensive, and the hotel now has more maintenance
issues than any other Citizen M property.”
As Citizen M continues to grow, Wagemans is currently developing
and refining the concept for new destinations such as Shanghai, Kuala
Lumpur, San Francisco and Copenhagen. The studio is also working
on the debut cruise ship from Virgin, the roll-out of Zoku, and Urby,
a residential scheme that takes cues from the hotel model. “I think
hospitality is one of the most important industries in the world,”
he noted. “We see retail learn from hospitality, hospitality moving
towards residential, and residential brands taking ideas from hotels.”
Concrete creates hotels at contrasting ends of the market – “one-
star and five-star and nothing in between” – yet the projects are often
comparable thanks to the disruptive qualities and smart use of space,
attributes that have led to the firm being very much in-demand. “We
have to say no to a lot of projects,” he explained, adding that this
enables the team to focus on what’s important. “We want to make the
world more beautiful and create the future of hospitality, the future
of retail, the future of working.”
The future was also the focus of the following morning’s seminar,
presented by author and futurist James Wallman. “I believe that travel
is evolving from fly-and-flop to find-and-seek, to go-and-become,”
he began, explaining that it’s now about more than just experience.
“Go-and-become is where it’s evolving to next. Instead of just finding
something and having an experience, they want to change themselves;
this is the transformation economy.”
Wallman went on to explain the shift in society, from buying to
being: “Instead of being materialistic, which is the dominant value
system of the late 20th century, we are now finding happiness in
experiences instead. Not what we have, but what we do.”
Addressing the audience he asked: “How can you help guests go-
and-become? How can you change the interior design of a hotel to
give people not only good service, but an experience that’s unique
every time?”
In closing, Wallman challenged delegates to consider their own role
in the travel industry: “It isn’t just about designing physical spaces;
maybe your role will start to evolve from surface design to experience
design to transformational design.”
HI Design’s final seminar took the form of a panel session, with
124
speakers exploring the world of refurbishment, renovation, re-use
and restoration. The discussion opened with a look at the average
refurbishment cycle, with Dittrich asking the operators how often
they employ the services of an independent design firm rather than
utilising their own in-house team. “In theory we have a fixed seven-
year cycle for a soft refurbishment, and after 14 years it is expected
that there’s a full refurbishment of the guestroom,” explained Patricia
Holler, Senior Interior Design Director, Marriott International. “If it’s
a complete new look then we bring a designer in, but if it’s a select-
service brand where there’s a pre-specified design scheme, this can be
done by our team. It very much depends on of the type of property,
the brand, the tier it sits in, and the scope of the renovation.”
For Accor Hotels, represented on stage by Federico Toresi, Senior
Director, Interior Design Luxury Brands Europe, the services of
independent design firms were said to be fundamental to “every
stage” of a refurb: “We like to work with them because it makes
the process so much more coherent, and designers regularly come
to events such as this, so are very much aware of the products on
the market.”
Turning attention to the designers on the panel, Peter Joehnk,
Principal, Joi Design, agreed that external design firms bring a fresh
perspective to a scheme, even for a soft refurb. “It’s more than just a
maintenance job,” he declared. “It’s about bringing the functionality
back and being up-to-date with design trends. It changes the whole
ambience and character of the hotel.”
Phased refurbishments, rebrands and budgets were also on the
agenda, and with renovations rarely straightforward, particularly
when it comes to heritage properties, Alex Kravetz, Principal, Alex
Kravetz Design, addressed the challenges. “The unpredictability of
renovations is extremely high, but there’s a timeline that needs to be
sustained, and a budget that must be kept, so if there’s a problem, you
have to be quick to improvise,” he explained. “It’s the responsibility
of the design team to know the property inside-out before the walls
start coming down.”
As DMG’s inaugural HI Design Europe drew to a close, Butler
commented: “Over 1,800 meetings took place across the three days,
the seminars were inspiring, and Berlin provided a dramatic backdrop
for our evening activities. We’re now curating the 2019 event and
finalising plans for our forthcoming Asia forum... It’s a dynamic
portfolio and DMG Events are proud to be part of the HI Design
community.”
The next HI Design Europe will take place from 5-7 June 2019 at
Forte Village, Sardinia.
www.hidesigneurope.com
 Our design requirements are simple: Timeless, but not
boring. Elegant, but not square. Modern, but not trendy.

LS 990. Timeless since 1968.

Thank you for 50 years of trust.

LS 990 JUNG-GROUP.COM

AZ_JUNG_50Jahre_LS_236x275mm_Text_EN.indd 1 08.05.18 11:58

Matki EauZone Plus with Brushed Gold Finish
T h e e p i t o m e o f l u x u r y. B e a u t i f u l l y e n g i n e e r e d i n t h e U K

F O R A B R O C H U R E A N D N E A R E S T B AT H R O O M S P E C I A L I S T C A L L 01 4 5 4 3 2 2 8 8 8 | W W W. M AT K I . C O. U K | M AT K I P L C , B R I S TO L B S 3 7 5 P L
 Radical Innovation Award
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
Radical Innovation returns with the most innovative and thought-provoking
concepts for travel and hospitality as it announces 2018 finalists.
F or more than a decade, Radical Innovation has challenged
designers, hoteliers, and students alike to envision pioneering
ideas in travel and hospitality. After receiving entries from over
20 countries, a jury of industry experts has selected this year’s finalists:
Aquaponic Experience Hotel by Varinot & Varinot Architectes, Paris;
Autonomous Travel Suite by Aprilli Design Studio, Los Angeles; and
Le Colline Incantate by Network of Architecture, Bolzano, Italy.
Leaders from the three firms will present their concepts at the New
Museum in New York City on 3 October 2018, and compete for a
US$10,000 grand prize.
“These finalists stood out from nearly 50 entries due to their
ability to leverage emerging technologies and social conscientious,
sustainable global trends within a unique hospitality experience,”
explains John Hardy, CEO of The John Hardy Group and founder
of Radical Innovation.
In addition to the three professional finalists, Daniel Czyszczon and
Michał Witalis of Cracow University of Technology were chosen as
student winners for their Room Extension Solution (RES) concept. In
addition to a US$1,500 cash prize, both will receive the opportunity
to pursue a graduate assistantship in the Masters of Architecture
programme at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The jury also
127
selected Dinh Tam of University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City in
Vietnam to receive an honourable mention for his ecological concept,
The Floating Hotel.
“Not only have our selected finalists created concepts that are
foreseeable in the not-so-distant future, but each holds the power
to impact the future of travel in a creative and sustainable way,”
says Hardy. “We look forward to welcoming these innovators to the
Radical community.”
For 2018, the Radical Innovation jury is: John Hardy, President
and CEO, The John Hardy Group; Michael Medzigian, Chairman
and Managing Partner, Watermark Capital Partners; Jena Thornton,
LEED AP, Managing Director, Magnetic ERV; Simon Turner,
Managing Director, Alpha Lodging Partners, LLC; James Woods,
Head of WeLive, WeWork; Wing T. Chao, Founder, Wing T. Chao
Global Advisors; and Claude Amar, Managing Director, The John
Hardy Group International.
Radical Innovation Award is produced by The John Hardy Group
with support from founding sponsor Global Allies and official
partner Sleeper.
www.radicalinnovationaward.com
 PROFESSIONAL FINALIST
AQUAPONIC EXPERIENCE HOTEL
By Varinot & Varinot Architectes

Inspired by aquaponics – a system that

combines conventional aquaculture with
hydroponics in a symbiotic environment –
Varinot & Varinot Architectes have created
a hotel that mirrors this closed, vertical
system, where rainwater is continuously
recycled throughout the hotel. Not only does
the ecosystem reduce water consumption,
but also produces it for a fully self-sufficient
experience. The modular concept can be
adapted to any city, depending on needs.

PROFESSIONAL FINALIST
AUTONOMOUS TRAVEL SUITE
By Aprilli Design Studio

The Autonomous Travel Suite integrates

transportation and hospitality through a
driverless, mobile suite offering door-to-
door transport service between a traveller’s
home and destination. The compact suite
is equipped with basic sleeping, working
and washroom functions, allowing guests
to be efficient and productive while on the
road. Acting as both a personal rental car
and hotel room, the concept offers a new
way of travelling and an extension of the
conventional hotel experience.

128
 PROFESSIONAL FINALIST
LE COLLINE INCANTATE
By Network of Architecture

Intended to create a place of security and

tranquility, Le Colline Incantate is a retreat
for single parents and their children facing
a new family situation. Designed within
its landscape, the structure is covered by
plantlife and surrounded by waterways to
help establish a sustainable and comfortable
environment. The architects have also
worked with a psychologist to develop a
programme of individual therapeutic sessions
and communal group activities.

STUDENT WINNER STUDENT HONOURABLE MENTION

ROOM EXTENSION SOLUTION (RES) FLOATING HOTEL
By Daniel Czyszczoń and Michał Witalis By Dinh Tam

Utilising autonomous vehicle technology, RES is a new concept that acts
as an extension to the guestroom. Travellers will be collected by RES and
transported to a docking station, where the vehicle becomes part of the
overall room, complete with a full-size bed, ample storage space for luggage
with cabinets and a wardrobe, and a fully operational bathroom.
Designed to promote ecotourism, Floating Hotel integrates local fishing
culture and hotel facilities to create a sustainable floating village. Equipped
with fishing cages and space for production, the concept encourages guests
to experience and participate in farming first-hand, while supporting
locals in developing services along the river community.

129
 Sleep + Eat
EXHIBITORS ANNOUNCED
Europe’s eagerly awaited hospitality design event, which this year introduces
an additional focus on restaurants and bars, reveals its exhibitor line-up so far.
W ith five months to go before the ‘recognisable and new’
Sleep + Eat event opens its doors, the exhibitor line-up
has been announced, revealing a strong percentage of
returning companies combined with newcomers from across Europe
and farther afield. 70% of companies confirmed so far took stand
space at last year’s Sleep exhibition, with many veterans choosing to
return year-after-year to launch new products and showcase their
established collections for the hospitality industry.
Will Chelsom, Managing Director of lighting company Chelsom
and a stalwart exhibitor at Sleep, says: “Sleep is the number one UK
show in terms of interior design for the hospitality market and we
are very pleased to be back again. Being able to see what the wider
market is up to is really inspirational and it’s a great environment for
companies to showcase their latest product designs and innovations.”
Other returning manufacturers include Italy’s Contardi Lighting,
recognised for its collaborations with leading hospitality designers,
who this year will be revealing the Ongo Battery Lamp designed
for tabletops and other decorative settings; Harrison Spinks, whose
technological innovation and design of premium beds won it the
Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in Innovation and International
Trade this year; Arte, the designer and manufacturer of sophisticated
wallcoverings, which has recently partnered with Moooi to launch a
new collection entitled Extinct Animals; Bang & Olufsen, which last
year showed its Beo Sound Shape speaker system; and Coach House,
one of the UK’s largest suppliers of furniture, lighting and accessories.
Among companies exhibiting at the event for the first time are
design-led manufacturers from Portugal, Spain, Germany, Poland,
130
the USA and Hong Kong, as well as the UK and Italy. Grespania, a
Spanish company producing high-quality floor and wall tiles found
in luxury hotels, spas and restaurants around Europe, is one such
newcomer; another is Tucci, engineer and designer of shades, loungers
and cabanas, which was born out of the marine industry and now
supplies collections to the international hospitality sector.
Elsewhere, Jacaranda Carpets & Rugs will be launching Willingdon,
a lustrous yet durable range of handwoven carpets and rugs available
in 17 colours; and Salto Systems, leaders in wireless and cloud-based
access control solutions, will be demonstrating the next level in its
hotel security system, AElement Fusion. Other first time exhibitors
will include Vimar, Kymo, Faro Barcelona and Baulmann Leuchten.
Regular visitors to Sleep will be accustomed to the focus and level
of quality and innovation that the exhibition has brought each year;
Sleep + Eat is shaping up to continue in this vein. The ‘new’ element of
the show promises to bring benefits to both exihibitors and visitors,
delivered by the larger space of the new location in Olympia. This
will enable all the exhibitors to be accommodated in one hall, along
with the Sleep Sets – this year joined by the Eat Sets – and The Sleeper
Bar. One of the two theatres is also within the space and it is here that
the new Eat conference will take place. The result is expected to be a
richer, better informed and more dynamic convergence of creativity
and commercial gain.
Sleep + Eat will take place on from 20–21 November at the National
Hall in Olympia, London.
www.sleepandeatevent.com
This Page: New exhibitors include Coach House (above) and
Tuuci (below), whilst Contardi Lighting and Harrison Spinks
(right) are set to return with new product launches

131
 Sleeper ad June 18 Final.pdf 1 02/07/2018 13:49

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K
 Sleeper ad June 18 Final.pdf 2 02/07/2018 13:49

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K
 Designing for comfort
FURNITURE

As designers flock to the world’s largest furniture fair in Milan, nostalgic styles
take centrestage in response to guest desires for hotels that feel like home.

F ollowing this year’s Salone del Mobile, design trends suggest

that consumers are seeking comfort and warmth over pared-
down styles. Driven largely by the influence of Airbnb and
extended-stay accommodation, collections launched across the city
leaned towards homeliness by way of organic shapes, low profiles
and short legs, with rounded profiles preferred to the more linear
designs of previous seasons.
The use of colour similarly reflected a growing desire to embody
the home-from-home, with warm neutrals and rich accents such as
terracotta, burgundy and emerald green replacing minimal palettes.
So too did the materials on display, with sumptuous velvets employed
as an opulent yet tactile upholstery alternatives, and artisanal fabrics
like rattan and wicker able to create a compelling mixture of textures
with a raw look and feel.
Nostalgic desires have not only blurred the boundaries between
commercial and residential styles, but also the spaces in which we
live and work. With more travellers than ever using hotel spaces as
an office, greater importance is being placed on versatile furniture
that is equally as comfortable for laptop use as it is for enjoying a
cocktail. Shifting towards flexibility and wellbeing, modular designs
and cosy furniture may be the answer to creating fluid environments
for work, rest and play.
LIGNE ROSET
Paipai

Designed by Lucidi Pevere, Ligne Roset’s Paipai

series comprises a three-seat setee, a love seat
and a footstool. Featuring simple fold lines –
one that separates back from seat, and one for
the armrests – the two extremities of the rear
are folded towards the structure to which they
are fixed. The folds also shape the contours of
the foam to emphasise its armrests and create
the identity of the piece, which is named after
the Paipai fan.
www.ligne-roset.com

ANOTHER COUNTRY
Fold Chair

Evolving from the idea of two bent sheets of paper, and realised as sheets
of woven cane turned into a wicker shell, the Fold Chair from Another
Country has been created by Brussels-based designer Alain Gilles and
features a metal structure that gives the impression of its rattan shell
floating in the air. In harmony with the brand’s ethos of sustainable
design, the sculptural lounge chair is crafted from sustainably-sourced
and recyclable materials including wood, wicker and steel tubes.
www.anothercountry.com

B&B ITALIA
Atoll

Atoll combines slender frames with high die-cast supports, which come
in finishes of pewter and black chrome and emphasise the line between
structure and upholstery. The modular system has been designed by
Antonio Citterio and is complemented by armrest and backrest elements
that form various types of seats including sofas, corner-end modules
and a chaise longue with pouf, while a bolster can also be attached
between the seat cushion and base structure for additional support.
www.bebitalia.com

136
www.morganfurniture.co.uk
 FURNITURE FUSION
Lana

Produced with either tubular steel or curved solid wood frames, and
upholstered in a wide range of fabrics or leathers, the Lana range from
Furniture Fusion is driven by simplicity and comprises a lounge chair,
sofa, bench and two tables. The range is adaptable to the desired colour
schemes of various hospitality spaces, and is available with or without
arms, and in low- or high-back models.
www.furniturefusion.co.uk

ALLERMUIR
Turo

The Turo range from Allermuir features a smooth twenty-sided cast

aluminium structure that uses reinforced webbing to create a rigid
support system. The tables also integrate multi-faceted leg details that
add a subtle focal point, while its reflective properties bring an element
of shadow and shading to interior spaces. Available with metal finishes
for neutral or contrasting themes, Turo work surfaces are presented in
a variety of laminates with a choice of MDF or plywood core.
www.allermuir.com

ETHIMO
Allaperto Mountain

Designed by Matteo Thun and

Antonio Rodriguez, Allaperto
Mountain draws inspiration
from nature and has been crafted
TON in pickled teak and covered in
Chips woven Etwick fibre for comfort
and durability. The result of an
Featuring gentle curves, contrasting materials and experimentation with various
manually-bent wood, the Chips Lounge Chair from Ton refined colours and materials, the
is characterised by a commanding airy backrest shaped series comprises a lounge armchair,
like a potato crisp. Designed by Lucie Koldová, the two-seater sofa and a sun and
collection also embraces a cosy seat made with pocket lounge bed, while coffee tables
springs – which are commonly used in orthopaedic are also available in square and
mattresses to ensure high levels of comfort. rectangular models.
www.ton.eu www.ethimo.com

138
 FURNISHING

CO -WO R K I N G S PA C E S
HOSPITALITY & COMMERCIAL FURNITURE BY UHS-GROUP.COM
T: 0330 1222 400 BEINSPIRED@UHS-GROUP.COM @UHSGROUP

Sleeper Mag Full Page July 2018 - approved.indd 1 29/06/2018 16:09

KETTAL
Vimini

The Vimini collection from Kettal was born

from a conversation with Danish designer
Nanna Ditzel regarding her Basket chair from
the 1950s, and takes its name from the Italian
word for wicker. Designed by Patricia Urquiola,
the series comprises a dining armchair, sofas and
side tables, and combines traditional outdoor
braiding with a contemporary aesthetic. Its
armchair features a basket with large backrest
cushions, as well as a rough wooden frame and
wicker elements.
www.kettal.com

ERCOL
Von

Conceived as a modular system, Von from Ercol comprises seating,

benching and table units, which can be combined in multiple
configurations to create customisable public settings. Created by Hlynur
V. Atlason, the collection features simple frames and the warmth of
natural wood, and takes inspiration from the 427 chairs from 1956 –
remodeling the original design for 21st century use to reflect an increasing
fluidity between the modern home, workspace and hospitality settings.
www.ercol.com

MINOTTI
Tape

Designed by Japanese studio Nendo, the Tape series from Minotti is

characterised by a light silhouette, and features an armchair with and
without armrests, lounge armchair, bergère, a two- and three-seater
sofa and an ottoman. Featuring soft curved shells and externally placed
feet, Tape is customisable in two versions, one of which envelops the
back, seat cushion and entire shell in textile and crafts the tape detail
in a bronze-coloured saddle-hide.
www.minotti.com

140
 Be bold.
Go A-Fold®
The latest Burgess stylish folding
table to cover all your meetings
and events requirements

Tel: 0330 333 9258

sales@burgessfurniture.com
www.burgessfurniture.com
Burgess Furniture Ltd, Hanworth Trading Estate, Feltham, Middlesex TW13 6EH UK

16949 Burgess A-Fold Advert 236x275mm V2.indd 1 21/06/2018 12:16

 KNOLL
KN Collection

The work of Piero Lissoni, the KN Collection by Knoll comes in two

different versions: the KN01, in which the proportions between seat and
shell height, combined with ample measurements, provide a balanced
blend of compactness and comfort; and the KN02, a more compact
model offered with a headrest and manual reclining mechanism built
into the armrest. The configuration can also be completed with a KN03
footrest and a down-padded seat cushion for lower back support.
www.knoll.com

FLEXFORM
Hera

Comprising a family of armchairs and chairs that combine ergonomics

and elegance, the Hera range employs a polymer-based shell and
removable upholstery to provide comfortable seating for hotel lounges
and restaurants. Designed by Antonio Citterio, Hera is available in
two versions: with tapered, cast aluminum legs and a satin, chrome,
burnished, black chrome or champagne finish; or in solid Canaletto
walnut or solid ash stained in a choice of shades.
www.flexform.it

DE LA ESPADA
Solo

Paying homage to the iconic Eames

RESTORATION HARDWARE
Jakob
Inspired by mid-century European design, the Jakob
armchair from Restoration Hardware is crafted from
solid oak, and features plank arms sat atop bold inverted
V-legs that taper subtly to the ground. The chair and
gently curved back are angled and well padded for
comfort and tightly upholstered in smooth leather, while
a selection of oak finishes are also available.
www.restorationhardware.com
Shell Chair, the Solo series from
De La Espada transforms the early
industrial look into a sophisticated,
comfortable seating option for
commercial settings. Upholstered
by the Portuguese furniture
manufacturer and designed by
Neri & Hu, the Solo Dining Chair
makes use of premium hardwood,
and is available in colourways of
American black walnut, American
white oak and European Ash, while
a range of finishes and leather
options are also amongst the offer.
www.delaespada.com

142
MAKING THE UK A
BETTER PLACE TO SIT.
Since the year 2000

WE ARE
FURNITURE
FUSION
get inspired and realise
your vision by visiting our
all new website!

call: 01923 251 923

www.FURNITUREFUSION.CO.UK
BLASCO & VILA
RC

Combining craftsmanship with emerging

furniture trends, RC from Valencia-based
studio Blasco & Vila features a sophisticated
design and minimalist structure that avoids
superfluous details. Created by Francesc
Rifé, the series champions an ergonomic and
intentionally simple design, and is offered in
different formats including a chair, armchair,
stool with and without arms, and a sofa.
www.blascovila.com

BURGESS
Junea

Designed by Peter Roth, the Junea chair marries comfort with

contemporary style, and features 3D-precision knitted upholstery atop
mesh that accentuates a contoured aesthetic. Available with six bases
and in a variety of colourways, the multifunctional series forms part of
Burgess’ wider Smart Qube range, comprising adaptable seating with
integrated and wireless connectivity, optional contactless charging
and USB ports.
www.burgessfurniture.com

STELLAR WORKS
Industry

Launched during Milan Design Week as part of an evocative ‘any/

everyWhere’ installation, the Industry collection from Stellar Works
is crafted using a steel frame and upholstered seat characterised by
simple and modern lines. Designed by the brand’s Creative Directors
Neri & Hu, the utilitarian-inspired series comprises a stackable dining
chair, armchair and lounge models, and is suitable for both residential
and commercial spaces.
www.stellarworks.com

144
MORGAN
Pimlico

The latest addition to Morgan’s Pimlico

collection are the Highback 148 Booth Sofa,
and the two-seat Lowback 147 Sofa, created to
accompany the 140 Lounge Chair. Designed by
Morgan Studio, the Pimlico collection started
as a bedroom chair with a small footprint,
and has developed to include high backs and a
variety of size options. Featuring smooth curved
lines and a unique oval seat pad, the new fully
upholstered lounge chair offers an extension to
the curvaceous luxury of the collection, with a
concealed swivel base.
www.morganfurniture.co.uk

TACCHINI
Memory Lane

For Tacchini’s Memory Lane series, French designer Christophe Pillet

has crafted a chair that is universal and radically simplified in its
aesthetic. Launched during Milan Design Week, and designed for the
contract market with both style and comfort in mind, the contemporary
series features a slender metal structure, refined quilted padding and
topstitched upholstery, as well as elastic webbing that remains visible
on the back of the seat.
www.tacchini.it

RESIDENT
Carousel

Designed by Sydney-based Cameron Foggo, the Carousel sofa from

Resident blurs the boundaries between residential and commercial
furniture, and is available in low-, mid- and high-back options
dependant on the level of privacy required. Though masculine in
aesthetic, the Carousel series is softened by generously sized cushions
and sits upon a refined blackened steel frame, echoing qualities evocative
of mid-century design.
www.resident.co.nz

146
www.eesmith.co.uk // Tel: 0116 2706946
 EXPORMIM
Huma

Designed by Mario Ruiz, Expormim’s Huma range aims to retain the

classic philosophy of rattan production whilst providing maximum
comfort through the use of flexible ribs in the backrest and upholstered
seat. Characterised by a shell-shaped structure, the armchair is available
in six versions – some with original rattan backrest and others featuring
an internal structure of steel covered with moulded polyurethane foam –
which can be combined with steel and beech wood legs or a swivel base.
www.expormim.es

FREDERICIA
Spine

The latest addition to Fredericia’s Spine collection, Spine Metal Base

by Space Copenhagen includes a dining chair, lounge chair, barstool
with and without backrest and low stool. Each of the models features
a lean and elegant steel leg structure, as well as a fully upholstered seat
for maximum customisation and comfort. Since its launch in 2011, the
Spine collection has grown to encompass a wide selection of seminal
chairs, barstools and sofas.
www.fredericia.com

FEEL GOOD DESIGNS

Manta

After designing the Tornaux lounge

chair to reflect the enveloping
movement of a whirlwind, Danish
designer Henrik Pedersen has
NINE STARS INTERNATIONAL taken inspiration from the depths
Zuma Rome of the ocean to create Manta – an
armchair evoking the majestic
Nine Stars International has recently provided bespoke shape of the manta ray. Sporting
furniture for Zuma, a Japenese restaurant within organic lines, the piece features
Palazzo Fendi in Rome. Amongst the Dubai-based a finely finished rattan wide back
manufacturer’s designs are 200-year-old monkey and soft seat that work in tandem.
pod wood tables, bars and wall partitions, as well as Available as an indoor or outdoor
upholstered metal framed chairs, plush sofas and a series model, Manta’s upholstery can also
of lanterns spread across both dining and bar levels. be personalised upon request.
www.ninestarsintl.com www.feelgooddesigns.com

148
 TOPS ON TOP Cindy Crawford on Silestone® Eternal Marquina

On Top
Opplev den
Feel the newnye
fløyelsaktige
velvety texture
teksturen

Discover more at silestone.com | Follow Us F T

COSENTINO UK- CENTRAL OFFICES Unit 10 Bartley Point/ Osborn Way/ Hook / Hampshire RG27 9GX/ HQ: info.uk@cosentino.com
GERVASONI
Nuvola

Characterised by its unique swollen shape, the

Nuvola armchair from Gervasoni is upholstered
with polyurethane foam and covered by a
goose down and polyester fibre quilting. The
lounge chair features a removable cover, while
the Nuvola 05 model is created with reduced
dimensions of 80x90cm to satisfy the desire for
comfort whilst providing a furniture solution
for smaller hospitality spaces.
www.gervasoni1882.it

ECLECTIC
Sinu

The Sinu collection from Eclectic comprises an ergonomically functional

chair crafted from pure materials rather than acrylic to ensure minimum
environmental impact. The series features a sculpted wooden shell in
finishes of walnut, oak and maple, which is wrapped in leather for
increased durability, while its metal base is available in pedestal, prong
and office versions – the latter encompassing castors and a heavy duty
lift mechanism in chrome.
www.eclecticcontract.com

UHS
Table Place Chairs

Designed for use in social, communal and co-working spaces, the

Co-Create Table from UHS’ Table Place Chairs range features
interchangeable surface and frame components, affording a level of
versatility. Available in four standard top and leg frame models, and
with a number of added extras including cable management, power
modules, charging points and fixed lighting, the collection marries
design for the digital age with authentic materials.
www.uhs-group.com

150
 EMECO
1 Inch Reclaimed

Designed by Jasper Morrison, the 1 Inch Reclaimed series from Emeco

features a simple shape and the refined uniformity of a single material.
Made with 90% industrial waste – consisting of 75% polypropylene
and 15% wood fibre – the one-piece mono-block stackable chair is
designed to meet the demands of high-flow environments, and comes
in eight colours: Bordeaux, blue, sand, brown, dark grey, green, light
grey and ochre red.
www.emeco.net

BENCHMARK
Gleda

Crafted in solid oak with intricate brass details and relaxed upholstery
Gleda from Benchmark has been designed by Space Copenhagen and
fuses refined aesthetics with craftsmanship. Taking its name from
Welsh and Icelandic origins, the series comprises a lounge chair, dining
chair, lounge and side tables, and is available in natural, grey aged or
ebonised finishes – which are created through a traditional technique
using iron oxide and vinegar that reacts with tannin in the oak.
www.benchmarkfurniture.com

PIAVAL
Earl

The Earl range from Piaval is

constructed entirely from solid
curved beech wood, and hides
complex woodworking skill in
PEDRALI its simple aesthetic. Designed by
Tribeca London-based furniture designer
Daniel Rous in collaboration with
Taking inspiration from classic patio chairs in steel Fabrica, Earl comprises a chair,
and woven materials, the Tribeca collection has been armchair and barstool, and is
fashioned by Mandelli Pagliarulo and combines a marked by a harmoniously curved
steel frame with the elasticity of a profile in vertically backrest. The stackable collection is
woven plastic. Revisiting traditional design styles with available in a natural finish, which
a contemporary twist, the series is offered in multiple brings out a wood grain aesthetic,
colourways including pink, white and terracotta. as well as a wider range of colours.
www.pedrali.it www.piaval.it

152
 HOTEL PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
HOTEL PROJECT MANAGEMENT
PROCUREMENT SERVICES FOR FF&E AND OS&E

Hyatt Place, Frankfurt / Bildnachweis: Simone Ahlers © JOI-Design

FEURING Hotel Development Europa GmbH
is a Project Management and Development
Company based in Germany and specialised
in 4 and 5 star projects for the Hospitality
Industry throughout Europe. Our mission
is to ensure the completion of the highest
standard on time and within the budget.

FEURING Hotel Development Europa GmbH

Heinkelstraße 19-21
DE-73230 Kirchheim unter Teck
+49 (0) 7021 73 60-0
info@feuring.info
www.feuring.info

Ameron Hotel, Davos, Switzerland / Andaz Hotel, Amsterdam, Netherlands / Munich, Germany / Concorde La Fayette, Paris, France / Concorde St. Lazare, Paris,
France / Dolce Hotel, Munich, Germany / Dolce La Hulpe, Brussels, Belgium / Doubletree by Hilton, Košice, Slovakia / Grand Hotel Kempinski, High Tatras, Slovakia
/ Hilton Garden Inn, Davos, Switzerland / Hyatt Place, Frankfurt, Germany / Zurich Airport, Switzerland / Hyatt Regency, Düsseldorf, Germany / Mainz, Germany /
Zurich Airport, Switzerland / InterContinental, Davos, Switzerland / Geneva, Switzerland / Jaz, Stuttgart, Germany / Jumeirah Hotel, Frankfurt, Germany / Mallorca,
Spain / Kameha Hotel, Zurich, Switzerland / Kempinski Hotel River Park, Bratislava, Slovakia / Le Méridien, Barcelona, Spain / Munich, Germany / Split, Croatia /
Stuttgart, Germany / Vienna, Austria / Le Méridien Domhotel, Cologne, Germany / Le Méridien Etoile, Paris, France / Le Royal Méridien, Hamburg, Germany / Man-
darin Oriental, Barcelona, Spain / Bodrum, Turkey / Geneva, Switzerland / Munich, Germany / Paris, France / Prague, Czech Republic / Mövenpick Hotel & Casino,
Geneva, Switzerland / Mövenpick Hotel, Basel, Switzerland / Stuttgart Airport, Germany / Zurich Airport, Switzerland / Radisson SAS, Rostock, Germany / Rosewood
Hotel, Amsterdam, Netherlands / SOHO, Amsterdam, Netherlands / Swissôtel Bremen, Germany / Dresden, Germany / Geneva, Switzerland / Sochi, Russia / The
Ritz Carlton, Berlin, Germany / Budapest, Hungary ...

18_06 FHDE Sleeper 236x275.indd 1 05.07.2018 08:18:30

 ANDRIANNA SHAMARIS
Made in New York

Designed, developed and produced at the brand’s studio in Sumatra,

the French Polished Dining Table from Andrianna Shamaris features
a ‘C’ style hammered bronze base and legs, as well as a cherry wood
top that has been hand-finished with a French polish and stained
espresso. Launched as part of the Made in New York collection, the
dining table has a lead-time of six to eight weeks, and its base and top
are customisable in both stain and size.
www.andriannashamarisinc.com

JC HOSPITALITY
Asian Fusion Entertainment

Combining traditional techniques with modern visuals, JC Hospitality

has created the smoky black and gold Asian Fusion Entertainment
cabinet. Displaying detail-oriented craftsmanship, the series features
a silver leaf base with hand painted relief of cranes and nature, and
is coated with layers of a yellow-tinted lacquer to create a faux gilded
effect. The cabinet is also designed to conceal electronics and only
requires a singular built in remote eye to function.
www.jc-hospitality.com

FREIFRAU
Romy

Romy, designed by Patrick Frey and

CURTIS FURNITURE
DoubleTree by Hilton, Cadbury House
Curtis Furniture has designed casegoods for the
guestrooms at DoubleTree by Hilton, Cadbury House
in Bristol, supplying double wardrobes, a sink basin
with solid timber legs and desks with pull out tea tray
shelves. The contract furniture specialist also crafted
the king headboards, which feature custom upholstered
padding, stitch detailing and LED lighting.
www.curtisfurniture.co.uk
available in chair, easy chair and
barstool models, was envisioned
to work effectively both as part of
a public space grouping or as an
individual statement. The flexible
back can adapt to fit various seating
positions, while the design draws
influence from classic cocktail
chairs. Romy is available in shades
of beige, blue and royal purple.
www.freifrau.eu

154
 SOFAS | BEDS | MATTRESSES
Visit us at: 638-640 Kings Road, Fulham, London, SW6 2DU 0207 352 5551 WWW.DELCOR.CO.UK
NORTHUMBERLAND | LONDON | LINCOLNSHIRE | CHESHIRE
Solus fire and water features sold worldwide

solusdecor.com
 PLANIKA | Fire Line Automatic XL
The Fire Line Automatic XL and Suite Logs from
Planika echo a traditional style through the look
of a conventional fireplace. Featuring decorative
elements placed directly on the grill, the model
achieves a long burn, even when using artificial
logs or vermiculite.
www.planikafires.com
Indoors and out, fireplaces and firepits are heating up design schemes with a
new generation of aesthetic, technological and material-focused models.
STAHL | Patio Firepit
Made from A36 hot-rolled steel, Stahl’s Patio
Firepit has been designed for urban living where
space is limited. The steel is non-powder coated
and free from artificial treatments, allowing for
a natural ageing process that sees the material
develop a patina in rich autumn shades.
www.stahlfirepit.com
SKAGERAK | Flame Firebowl
Skagerak’s Flame Firebowl features a brazier
crafted in Corten steel – a weathering material
known for its corrosion resistance and strength.
The steel develops a protective layer of patina
over time, meaning it requires minimal cleaning
and maintenance.
www.skagerak.dk
Relight My Fire
FIREPLACES
FOCUS | Boafocus
The newly launched Boafocus features a
curvilinear design that marries sleek modernist
aesthetics with a gas-tight, central or wall-
mounted stove. Its double-walled hemispherical
glass porthole also offers a rounded view of the
model’s flames for maximum visual impact.
www.focus-fireplaces.com
157
ANTONIO LUPI | Skema
Featuring a firebox, wood box and open
compartments, Skema is crafted by Mario
Ferrarini and constructed entirely from steel.
The modules can be developed horizontally or
vertically, and are available in Corten, black or
white lacquered finishes.
www.antoniolupi.it
SOLUS DECOR | Hemi Firepit
The Hemi Firepit from Solus Décor is
manufactured from high-performance concrete,
and is available in ten different colours, three
sizes and with the option of an electronic
start. The series also offers hardwood or metal
tabletops, as well as a drinks ring.
www.solusdecor.com
 TEL 0121 264 3240
GEMSTONE
BEAUTIFUL MARBLE EFFECT PORCELAIN
EMAIL ENQUIRIES@BLUEPRINTCERAMICS.COM
WEB WWW.BLUEPRINTCERAMICS.COM
 Specifier
P R O D U C T S & S E R V I C E S F O R H O S P I TA L I T Y D E S I G N

BROKIS
Ivy

A nature-inspired lighting system arranged to resemble ivy climbing a wall, Brokis’ latest composition is available with three
bulb sizes in either opal or smoked glass. The branches of the modular system can be hung separately, or joined together to
create a curtain of light as they were at Brokis’ Das Haus Clerkenwell Design Week installation.
www.brokis.cz

159
 FERREIRA DE SÁ
Gradient

Bringing together a collection of colour degrades produced in botanical

silk and mohair, Ferreira de Sá’s Gradient range comprises vibrant
rugs in three different styles. Featuring mirror, pattern and simple
gradient options, the series can be customised with a variety of colour
combinations, whilst standard shades include pink and purple, nature
green, gold coral, tobacco and petrol.
www.ferreiradesa.pt

EGE
Highline Express

Featuring six pre-made collections, Ege’s Highline Express flooring

range comprises almost 2,000 ready-to-create designs, each with a 1.5
week production time. The concept includes the Arts & Crafts pattern,
inspired by craftsmanship and historical art; a celebration of timeless
designs in Classic; the traditional folk tale-inspired aesthetic of Cultures;
and a series of bold visual motifs in the Graphic collection.
www.egecarpets.com

IMPEY
Soho

Impey’s Soho series of minimal wet room panels is characterised by

unrefined aesthetics and inspired by interior trends including the use of
ageing metalwork, bare concrete and exposed bricks. Purposely visible
screws and powder-coated frames add a touch of an urban styling to
the range, whilst integrated splash gaskets and concealed hinges bring
a functional edge.
www.impeyshowers.com

160
 Designed for Sleep

Hypnos works in partnership with Hoteliers to deliver tailored hospitality sleep solutions...

Campbell Gray Crowne Plaza Marriott Corinthia Premier Inn

Soho House Holiday Inn The Rocco Forte Collection InterContinental

The Royal Horseguards, London Skibo Castle, Dornoch Stoke Park, Stoke Poges The Chester Grosvenor, Chester
Calcot Manor, Tetbury One Aldwych, London Great Northern Hotel, London Hotel Football, Manchester
Grosvenor House, London Tavistock House Hotel, Devon Linthwaite House, Windermere The Ned, London
The Royal Automobile Club, London St. Pancras Renaissance, London The Lanesborough, London

T: +44 (0) 1332 497111 | E: info@hypnoscontractbeds.com | www.hypnoscontractbeds.com

Hypnos is proud to be Carbon Neutral, complying with PAS 2060.

3483 Hypnos Sleeper Ad 236x275 aw.indd 1 26/06/2018 14:47

 NORTHERN LIGHTING
Acorn Pendant

Extending the colour options for its Acorn pendant lamp series, Northern
Lighting has added a matte black shade to highlight the distinctive profile
with a stronger contrast. Designer Atle Tveit selected the colourway for
its sophistication and style, as well as its ability to create a focal point.
Already available in off-white and grey, Acorn, champions organic
natural forms.
www.northern.no

NEMO LIGHTING MODIO AUDIO TALA

Ellisse Guestroom Acoustic Control System Basalt

Designed by Nemo CEO Federico Palazzari,
Ellisse is a distinctive LED pendant lamp
available in major, minor, double, bi-emission,
ceiling or mega configurations. Combining a
minimal circular form with a series of opaline
diffusers for widespread or indirect lighting,
Ellisse can be finished in shades of extruded
aluminium, matte white and black, and polished
or glossy gold.
www.nemolighting.com
Specifically designed for hotels, and allowing
guests to control a room’s ambience through
an adjustable sound similar to airflow, the
Guestroom Acoustic Control System by
Modio Audio addresses issues of invasive
noise. Transmitted over a high quality
speaker to mask potential disruptions to
sleep, it features an easy-to-operate dial to
ensure the optimum levels of sound.
www.modio.audio
Tala’s Basalt collection marks the brand’s first
modular product, with the range comprising
both ceiling and touch lamp models. Inspired by
the extruded rock columns of Northern Ireland’s
Giant’s Causeway, Tala unites sand cast and
polished solid brass with mouth-blown matte
borosilicate glass. The ceiling light takes the
form of a decorative rose with connected nodes
alongside a trio of suspended pendants.
www.tala.co.uk

162
 TURNING IMAGINATION INTO REALITY

FIND OUT MORE AT LIVINGDESIGN.COM

Brovägen 1, 18276 Stocksund, Sweden T: +46 8 755 17 65 - info@livingdesign.com

 ARPER
Kiik

Designed by Tokyo-based Iwasaki Design Studio, Kiik is Arper’s modular

collection of seating, tables, ottomans and consoles with minimal forms.
Created with versatility in mind, the fundamental structures are available
in a variety of finishes, heights and shapes to create unique expressions
that can be integrated within a spectrum of moods, schemes and scales.
www.arper.com

VARASCHIN
Bali

Comprising two- or three-seat armchairs and sofas as well as small

tables with solid teak frames, Varaschin’s Bali series is composed with
clean lines to create an airy, tranquil aesthetic. Cushions in Dryfeel foam
are covered in removable or customisable outdoor fabrics with all the
variations available within the Varaschin collection, allowing Bali to
be deployed in a range of climates.
www.varaschin.it

HÄSTENS
Herlewing

Launched in celebration of the brand’s 40 th anniversary, Hästens’

Herlewing is one of four new models by the Swedish bed manufacturer
designed with increased sleep comfort. Marrying horsetail hair, wool
and cotton as well as unique layer-upon-layer technology, Harlewing
features 31 levels of natural materials plus three spring systems working
in harmony.
www.hastens.com

164
ASSA ABLOY
Elsafe

Assa Abloy’s Elsafe is now available in all RAL colours.

No longer limited to the black, white and beige shades
that can restrict a designer’s aesthetic options, the new
shades offer additional flexibility and versatility across
schemes, whilst retaining security features including an
anti tamper switch and 1037-certified strength.
www.assaabloy.com

HECTOR FINCH
Athena Hanging Lantern

Customisable with brass, antique brass, bronze and

nickel finishes, Hector Finch’s Athena Hanging Lantern
showcases clean lines and restrained proportions, with
a wall lantern version also in the works. The suspended
lamp joins new releases Viktor and Michele as designs
suitable for both modernist or traditional settings.
www.hectorfinch.com

DELCOR
Mayfair

Featuring pure lines offset with studded detailing for

luxurious flair, Delcor’s Mayfair bed brings together
upholstery in dusty pastel tones and unturned wooden
feet for a touch of distinctive unconventionality. The
high density headboard has been designed to last, with
the model available with chrome or brass ferrule finishes.
www.delcor.co.uk

166
 www.darcroom.com

London Design Festival’s

lighting destination

• Two days (and nights) of lighting specification

• Unique exhibiting concept in a unique venue

• New location in Shoreditch, the heart of

London’s design district
• Part of London Design Festival

• darc thoughts live stream lectures and workshops

Media Partners In collaboration with Supported by

 BRINTONS
Craigend Collection

Timorous Beasties’ third collection with Brintons takes

its name from Craigend Place – home of the Glasgow-
based studio and the birthplace of its designs – as well
as the Gaelic word Creag, which translates to rock.
Reimagined in Brintons’ signature 80/20 blend,
the series features nine designs and is inspired
by textures and surfaces found underfoot,
reflecting the Scottish duo’s fascination with
the often brutal beauty of the natural world.
“We took inspiration from what we see under
our feet, taking cues from natural carpets
such as sand dunes, moss, stone, and waves
of water,” comment Alistair McAuley and
Paul Simmons, founders of Timorous Beasties.
The pair also drew aesthetic influence from
different crafting materials including paint,
ink and fabric, considering how carpet could be
dramatic in transitional spaces such as lobbies,
corridors and grand dining rooms, as well as
how the functional aspects and minimal aesthetic
could work in more personal guestroom spaces.
On their ten years of collaboration with
Brintons, McAuley and Simmons add: “Our
love of pattern repeats from wallpapers and
fabrics has made for a very productive pairing,
and one that adapts perfectly to carpet design.”
www.brintons.co.uk

168
designjunction
20—23/09/2018
Oxo—Doon Street—Riverside
South Bank, London SE1
Trade Tickets: free in advance / £16 from 1 September 2018
Book now → thedesignjunction.co.uk
 Showroom Openings

DURAVIT
Located at the heart of Clerkenwell, Duravit’s
new flagship showroom comprises 2,500ft 2 of
space and highlights more than 20 product series
including new furniture collections XSquare
COLL ABOR ATION
and Brioso, as well as working displays of the

Forbo x Philippe Starck DuraSystem and SensoWash systems.

Flotex by Starck GLAMORA

Opened during Milan Design Week in the
design-centric Brera district, Glamora’s two-
floor, 160m 2 showroom displays both the
“I wanted it to have the elegance of intelligence,” comments Philippe Starck on the brand’s stylish variety of wallcoverings as well
launch of Flotex by Starck, his new collection of designs for Forbo Flooring Systems. as demonstrations of their technical, aesthetic
“But it’s not about carpets, it’s about a whole new generation of flooring.” and material qualities.
Comprising three design systems – each created using high definition digital printing
techniques – Flotex by Starck has been envisioned as a contemporary solution for interior DEDAR
spaces and their designers alike. Each of the three designs – Artist, Twilight and Vortex Designed by Italian architect Michele Bonan,
– stretches ten metres in width, and is made up of four two-metre wide components: a fabric and wallpaper specialist Dedar’s debut
central design, a left and right transitional border, and a neutral texture design, allowing North American showroom is located on the
for a large variety of densities, patterns and aesthetic opportunities. 10 th floor of New York’s Design & Decoration
Vortex, featuring a free-flowing linear pattern, is available in six colourways and building, showcasing fabrics and wallpapers by
rejects the limitations of geometric designs in favour of the controlled chaos of the both Dedar and Hermès.
human touch. Artist, with its faded, transitional visuals, combines texture and colour
for a pattern reminiscent of the mixing shades upon a painter’s palette, whilst the earthy KETTAL
Twilight creates an interplay between light and shadow by way of a design split in two: Landing in Midtown Manhattan, Kettal’s
one side a bright jewel-tone and the other in rich dark hues. Patricia Urquiola-designed, 6,458ft 2 debut
Mixing elements of precision and complexity with the conceptual and impressionistic North American showroom incorporates a
approach that Starck champions, Flotex combines the practical properties of a resilient terrace to better showcase its outdoor ranges in
floorcovering with the comfort of a textile flooring. It’s also allergen-free, and, with their natural habitat, as well as a series of sitting
over 70 million fibres per-square-metre, creates a sense of movement across the surface. and dining nooks.
Suitable for use on floor and wall, the collection will appear throughout Cyril Aouizerate’s
socially conscious Mob Hotels chain, as well the Starck-designed Villa M in Paris.
www.forbo.com

170
 16 - 18 September 2018
Dubai World Trade Centre

Redefining Hospitality
Together.

The Hotel Show Dubai, the most prestigious hospitality event in the
Middle East is returning for its nineteenth edition this September for
the most important date in the calendar, where the entire industry
meets to do business.
If you are an Owner, General Manager, Head of Procurement,
Executive Housekeeper, F&B Manager, Chef, Designer or Architect,
The Hotel Show Dubai is where you will discover everything needed
to build, develop and maintain a hotel or restaurant in one of the
world’s most active markets for hospitality development.
By joining over 30,000 visitors between 16-18 September 2018, you
will explore the latest trends and unearth the very latest products
across Interiors, Lighting & Design, Technology & Security, Operating
Equipment, Bathroom & Sanitary Ware and HORECA. With more
than 600 international and regional brands to choose from the
possibilities are endless.
Furthermore, back by popular demand is The Middle East
Hospitality Leadership Forum, which will bring together more than
50 industry leaders to discuss latest developments, and The Middle
East Housekeepers League of Champions, the only challenge of its
kind for the housekeeping division in the world.

REGISTER TODAY FOR FREE ENTRY

www.thehotelshow.com/register

JOIN YOUR PEERS

 CASE STUDY
MLE Lighting
Grand Hyatt Cannes Hotel Martinez
A selection of MLE Lighting products have been specified within
the Pierre-Yves Rochon-designed guestrooms at the restored
Grand Hyatt Cannes Hotel Martinez.
Featuring a bespoke spin on the Miss Mary table lamp – also
designed by Rochon – with a special transparent polycarbonate
base and white natural leather body, as well as the minimal
Opera reading light – a skeletal, contemporary illumination
source with a 250 lumens lens for a wide beam – MLE appears
prominently throughout the tranquil spaces.
“We began with an Art Deco approach to the design, but we
mixed the spirit of the 1920s and 30s with modern stainless steel
accents,” Rochon explains of the hotel’s redesign.
Overseeing a comprehensive update of the 1920s era property,
Rochon drew inspiration from the surrounding aesthetic of the
Mediterranean Ocean as well as the hotel’s original Art Deco
styling. “The lamps, with their sleek, long horizontal lines and
curves, are also inspired by this era,” Rochon adds. “With the
whole scheme feeling a little nautical.”
Featuring 409 keys, an F&B programme managed by Executive
Chef Christian Sinicropi and a beach club, the property has
been restored with a touch of inimitable Riviera-esque glamour.
www.mlelighting.com
172
CASE STUDY
Laufen
Public Hotel
Organised unconventionally so that the basin elements of its
minimal bathrooms sit outside the bathroom space, Ian Schrager’s
Public Hotel champions a new approach to hospitality, as well
as a new approach to bathroom design.
So too does bathroom specialist Laufen, who designed the
series of bespoke washbasins that have been smoothly integrated
within all 367 guestrooms, breaking boundaries and challenging
expected notions of space planning with an organically shaped
piece constructed from its own innovative Sentec material.
With disruption a key theme of the project, the long-term
collaborative approach to the design of the basin – as well as six
freestanding models – resulted in a solution that incorporated
seamlessly within the Herzog & de Meuron-designed guestrooms,
but remains as singular as the wider project. Curving with the
shape of the room and its undulating wooden walls, the restrained
matte white form adds a touch of purity to the scheme.
“I truly believe that everyone deserves a one-of-a-kind
experience that elicits an emotional response,” says Schrager
of the New York hotel. “And to deliver this at a reasonable
price point is even more on the mark for today’s savvy and
sophisticated traveller.”
www.laufen.com
 LAUNCH
Chelsom
Edition 26
Celebrating the launch of its new Edition 26 lighting collection, Chelsom
invited 400 guests from the global interior design, hospitality and marine
communities to a party at One Marylebone, London.
Transforming the deconsecrated church into a flowing exhibition for the
night, the brand showcased new and reimagined additions including the
minimal Constellation, the geometric Paris, and the abstract Icicle, as well
as a series of finishing and material options.
Guests first toured the upper level’s gallery-style space – where products
were arranged into alluring lifestyle scenarios highlighting new releases and
the spectrum of brass, marble and glass configurations – before taking to
the floor below for a night of networking under the shadow of a series of
intricate Chelsom lighting installations.
“In all my years working within the lighting industry, never has there
been a more exciting time to be designing lighting products,” explained
Chariman Robert Chelsom. “Triggered by fashion cycles, interior trends are
moving increasingly faster and in doing so constantly stimulate new design
174
directions when it comes to finishes and materials, which is something we
have given careful consideration to. Edition 26 has been a fantastic collection
to produce – personally I think it’s our most groundbreaking to-date. Will
and I are proud to be able to say that all product has been designed in-house
to create this diverse lighting collection that truly caters for all levels of the
hospitality and marine sectors.”
Among the products launched as part of Edition 26 were a striking wall-
mounted version of the popular Icicle light, featuring the distinctive glass
profile turned on its head so that the beam illuminates above the fitting
as opposed to below; a table model of the industrial Roma, translating
the tapered metal shade into a more compact version without losing any
of the aesthetic nuance; and the classically-styled Laguna, a mid-century
influenced mouth-blown glass table lamp, available in shades of olive, mocca
and aqua. For added versatility, all pieces within Edition 26 are available
with LED light sources.
www.chelsom.co.uk
 ROCK
The Home of the Glamorous Wardrobe

FULL DESIGN SERVICE l SELF INSTALL

REPLACEMENT DOORS
Design Studio Cobham by appointment
www.rockfurniture.co.uk
0208 191 7115 Visit our new online shop

Create a feelgood environment.

indoor • outdoor | residential • hospitality • commercial

chairs • stools • lounge chairs • tables
info@martaonline.eu • +31 6 430 30 426 • www.feelgooddesigns.eu
 Advertising Index
Albrecht Jung 125
Aliseo 047
Allermuir 012 & 013
Artiq 176
Astro Lighting 002
Beck 111
Bellino Fine Linens 165
Blueprint Ceramics 158
Brintons 031
Burgess Furniture 141
Chelsom 027
Cosentino 149
Curtis Furniture 094
Darc Room 167
Delcor 155
Designjunction 169
Eclectic 145
EE Smith Contracts 147
Emeco 037
EPR Architects 091
Equip Hotel 114
Ethimo 029
Expormim 061
Feelgood Designs 176
Feuring 153
Freifrau 180
Furniture Fusion 143
Gervasoni 053
Gommaire 117
Hästens 067
HI Design 132 & 133
HICAP 173
HotelsWorld 175
Hypnos 161
Icon 093
Janus et Cie 008 & 009
JC Hospitality 010 & 011
Kalisher 086
Kettal 004 & 005
Kohler 085
Laufen 179
Lefroy Brooks 041
Ligne Roset 014
Living Design 163
Matki 126
Modio by Logison 069
177
Morgan 137
Nine Stars International 134
North 4 Design 176
Perrin & Rowe 065
Piaval 077
Point 078
Porcelanosa 025
Restoration Hardware 006 & 007
Rock Furniture 176
Sanipex UK 033
Shaw Hospitality 035
Sleep + Eat 112 & 113
Solus Decor 156
Spradling 151
Stellar Works 019
Surco 055
Tapeçarias Ferreira de Sá 075
The Hotel Show 171
Tribu 017
Tuuci 102
UHS 139
VingCard 099
 Under the Sea
THE MURAKA, MALDIVES
Although 71% of Earth is covered in water, few developers have been
brave enough to take the plunge into this untapped market. Despite
spacious seabeds, vibrant reefs and uninterrupted shark views, the
trenches of our seven seas remain largely unused, but whilst we may
not see Mandarin Oriental Abyssal Plain or The Mariana Trench
Edition anytime soon, Conrad Hotels & Resorts is nontheless testing
the waters. The Muraka – an undersea residence off the Maldivian
coast and part of Conrad Maldives Rangali Island – is a two-level,
partially submerged structure comprising a bedroom, living area,
bathroom and above-surface lounge. Realised by Mike Murphy of
178
aquarium technology specialist M.J. Murphy, The Muraka’s bedroom
sits five metres below sea level and offers views of the Indian coast’s
wildlife, whilst the upper deck features wellness quarters and a
terrace facing due west towards the sunset. Building on the success
of Ithaa – its decade-old underwater restaurant – the resort is on
a mission to prove that things are better, down where it’s wetter.
Stefano Ruzza, the resort’s General Manager, comments: “Through
our development of the world’s first undersea residence, we continue
to shine a light on the Maldives as a luxury destination as well as a
cultural and natural wonder for global travellers.”
KW34_Anzeige-A554_Laufen_UK_Sleeper_Riva_236x275_3mm_opt_s1 1 31.08.17 17:22
FF_ANZEIGE_Sleeper_Dez_2017.indd 1 18.12.17 09:12