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EDITORIAL:

Editor Theresa Dowling 020 7336 5221 tdowling@fxmagazine.co.uk Editiorial team Johnny Tucker, Pamela Horne, Neena Dhillion (The Mark, New York) Art director Wes Mitchell Designer Adam Falk Production manager Clare Ovenell 020 8269 7753 covenell@progressivemediagroup.com Group sales manager Joe Maughan 020 7936 6847 jmaughan@progressivemediagroup.com Sales manager Dean Cassar 020 7936 6838 dcassar@progressivemediagroup.com Products researcher Esther Ademosu 020 7936 3858 eademosu@progressivemediagroup.com CEO Russell Milburn Publishing director Mike Callison Head of sales Jonathan Kilpatrick
The paper used in this magazine is obtained from manufacturers who operate within internationally recognised standards. The paper is made from Elementary Chlorine Free (ECF) pulp, which is sourced from sustainable, properly managed forestation. Printed in England by Stephen and George. All rights reserved: No part of X2 may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, electronic, mechanical, or photocopying, without prior written permission of the editor. 2010. ISSN 1756-3887

Editoria
Letter from the editor
Ive seen many a theme and aesthetic style imposed upon a hotel, but I have to admit voyeurism has not been one of them, until now that is. As you will see in our feature on The Waterhouse in Shanghai (page 46), it has rooms with large windows that actually look into areas like the reception and restaurant. Conversely, people in those areas can look into the guest rooms if the blinds arent drawn! Window shutters too have polished surfaces and can be angled for views into other areas. Its all part of Neru&Hus design that attempts to recreate a feel of the real, old-lane Shanghai that surrounds the hotel and the sense of communality that exists there. Meeting Lyndon Neru, he has a twinkle in his eye when he talks about the design and a real sense of fun as well. And another playful scheme in this issue is that by Marcel Wanders in the cavernous Kameha Grand in Bonn (page 12). With its multiplayer pool table and heavily themed rooms, fun is very much on the agenda as Wanders hits out aesthetically and verbally at bland corporate hotels. And for full-on adult fun, where better to go than the Fifties playground of the stars Acapulco. Period hotel Boca Chica (page 32) has been reopened in all its former glory, kidney-shaped pool et al. Hope you have as much fun reading this as the designers did creating these hotels and as we have had editing the latest issue of X2. Editor tdowling@fxmagazine.co.uk

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Cover: The Waterhouse, Shanghai, with architecture and design by Neri&Hu Design and Research Office

CONTENTS

11

Co tents n
HOTELS INTRODUCTION KAMEHA GRAND HOTEL Bonn MICHAEL HOTEL Singapore DOLCE MUNICH UNTER SCHLEISSHEIM Munich BOCA CHICA Acapulco THE MARK Manhattan HOTEL SQUARE Paris THE WATERHOUSE Shanghai SHERATON INCHEON HOTEL Songdo TOWN HALL HOTEL & APARTMENTS London RADISSON BLUE GAUTRAIN Johannesburg SOFITEL PARIS Paris MY FAVOURITE HOTEL Brooklands Hotel, Weybridge 9 12 20 26 32 36 43 46 53 56 60 65 74 20 37 46 56 PEOPLE MICHAEL GRAVES & PATRICK BURKE MGA JACQUES GRANGE LYNDON HU Neri&Hu Design and Research Office NATHALIE ROZENCWAJG AND MICHEL DA COSTA GONALVES RARE architecture

12

HOTEL REVIEW KAMEHA GRAND HOTEL

Kameha Grand Hotel

Bonn

KAMEHA GRAND HOTEL

HOTEL REVIEW 13

WHEN A DESIGNER AS EXUBERANT AS MARCEL WANDERS IS INVOLVED WITH A HOTEL, ONE CAN EXPECT THAT THE RESULT WILL BE SENSATIONAL, AND THE KAMEHA GRAND IN BONN DOESNT DISAPPOINT
ARCHITECT: KARL-HEINZ SCHOMMER. INTERIOR DESIGNER: MARCEL WANDERS

he striking glass exterior of the Kameha Grand Hotel in Bonn, with its 18m-high glazed atrium has an equally stunning interior created by playful Dutch designer Marcel Wanders, who in the process of designing this project labelled his competitors as very serious and practical and usually very boring too. Whether thats true or not, its not something that can be levelled at his bright, colourful and sinuous interiors for the Lifestyle Hospitality & Entertainment Group-operated hotel. The building, designed by Karl-Heinz Schommer, is huge and Wanders has played with that sense of scale, introducing enormous chandeliers and even a pool table that can be used by up to 11 players at a time, apparently.

14

HOTEL REVIEW KAMEHA GRAND HOTEL

Making the scale more intimate, Wanders has also hung long, flowing pieces of material from the ceiling that create private meeting islands within the larger spaces. The hotel has 190 rooms and 63 suites, which Wanders has themed as Hero Suites, varying from the Beethoven Suite for music lovers, complete with grand piano, through the Diva Suite, with film star make-up table and more magazines than WH Smith to flick through, to the Fair Play Suite, which aims to bring out the inner child, with a pinball machine, putting green and a giant dart board among other entertainments. Corporate and event hotels should be exciting, stimulating and inspiring, adds Wanders. They should offer a high standard of living and

KAMEHA GRAND HOTEL

HOTEL REVIEW 15
Clockwise from this image, a huge main space introduces a black and white theme that is repeated throughout the hotel; the relaxation area of the hotels spa is clean and white; the lobby is staged with eyecatching chairs; the brasserie has a delicate play of colours; the bar is exuberantly designed

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KAMEHA GRAND HOTEL

HOTEL REVIEW 17

corresponding lifestyle. The Kameha Grand Bonn is a place full of surprises, of beauty and energy. It is a place that is sexy and cool. The main space beneath the atrium is the most stunning and acts as a multifunction event and concert hall, also able to cater for 2,500 people as a banqueting space. But despite the scale of the building, Schommer believes it is also intimate and welcoming: With the building eaves tapering down to the Rhine Bank and the large terraces we have created an unmistakeably soft form for the building. The building has impressive views of the Rhine and the Siebengebirge mountain range and the natural landscape plays an even more integral role to the building, which uses geothermal energy

Designer Marcel Wanders has themed the hotels 63 suites. Top is the Beethoven Suite, complete with grand piano. Above is the suitably glamorous bathroom to the Princess Suite. The Beethoven Suites bathroom, right, has its own chandelier

18

HOTEL REVIEW KAMEHA GRAND HOTEL

to provide around 70 per cent of its heating and cooling needs. That includes an infinity swimming pool on the roof which gives users the impression they could keep on swimming right into the Rhine. For more relaxing and entertaining, the hotel has two main restaurants and no less than six bars, plus a rooftop terrace and riverside terrace that can accommodate up to 500 people. The hotels design credentials have already been rewarded with a Design and Architecture Award at MIPIM 2010. LH&E Group founder and CEO Carsten K Rath bullishly adds: We are also going to apply for the MIPIM Award 2011 in the category future visions, with two further LH&E Group projects the Kameha Bay Portals in Mallorca and the new urban-design brand K-Stars Living in the eco-city Hamburg.

The Fair Play Suite, above right, is equipped with a variety of amusements, including dart board, while the Diva Suite (this image) has a film star make-up

table. Below left, the entrance of the spa continues the black and white theme, which is contrasted by gold chairs, below right, in the lobby area

20

HOTEL REVIEW HOTEL MICHAEL

ITS FITTING THAT ONE OF THE HOTELS AT THIS SINGAPORE ISLAND RESORT COMPLEX IS NAMED AFTER THE ARCHITECT, WHO ALSO CREATED THE INTERIOR AND PRODUCT DESIGN AND THE UNIQUE ART WORK
DESIGNER: MICHAEL GRAVES & ASSOCIATES

Hotel Michael, Resorts World Sentosa

Singapore

HOTEL MICHAEL

HOTEL REVIEW 21

N
Warm honey tones are used in furniture and wall treatments throughout Hotel Michael, echoing the local landscape

ot only does Hotel Michael at the Singapore mega-project Resorts World Sentosa bear the name of the sites masterplanner and designer Michael Graves, it is also a showcase of his work at the architects drawing board and the artists easel, and of his reputation for product, houseware and furnishings design. On a complex of three hotels, with work starting later this year on a fourth, Hotel Michael has a more relaxed if no less elegant feel than its neighbours at the centre of the site. A testament to Gravess firms design for all

22

HOTEL REVIEW HOTEL MICHAEL

Michael Gravess love of architectural shapes in evident in the interiors of Hotel Michael, left and above left. Above, the hotels iconic roof is a series of various-height vaults

hallmark, the hotel is furnished with original paintings created by Graves himself for the venue, and with many of his own-design furnishings and furniture. His artwork is characterised by simple, architectural forms placed in imaginary landscapes. Both the hotel and his artwork, starting with a long, mural-like canvas hanging above the reception desk, reflect his longstanding fascination with the origins of architecture. Graves calls the paintings archaic landscapes, and the hotels interiors incorporate some of the same forms, making the hotel guest wonder if they are walking through one of his artworks.

HOTEL MICHAEL

HOTEL REVIEW 23

In guest rooms the relaxed elegance is imbued by the use of bespoke carpets made of hand-drawn patterns, which complement honey maple woodwork with an architectural flavour. His paintings hang in niches flanking the television wall and the headboards, with the artwork giving the impression of a window to an outside, fantasy, world and enlivening the special perception of the room. Touches of flowers, in paintings and micro-mosaics, add a freshness to the rooms, while the furniture invites lounging and relaxing. In the upper floors Sky Bar hundreds of lights play off the blue upper reaches of the room,

creating the impression of a starry night, while in the lower-level Palio restaurant the interior is a reflection of Gravess love of Italy. Its colourful decor recalls the bright banners and festive atmosphere of the Siena horserace after which the restaurant is named. The Michael Graves Gallery inside the hotel brings all the pieces of the Hotel Michael experience together in a retail venue, where chairs and teapots designed for Alessi and decorative chrome-plated birds all designed by Graves are on sale. Nine storeys of guest rooms have been created over two levels of public spaces, and while the

facade has a regular rhythm of evenly spaced elements, the iconic roof is articulated as a series of various-height vaults, echoing the undulating hills of its tropical island location another piece of artwork but on a gigantic scale. Hotel Michael is one of four designed by Graves as part of on the 49ha complex on Sentosa Island. Three have opened this year, a total of 279,000 sq m of interior space, including casino, theatre, ballroom and convention centre. They will be joined in Phase 2 of the project by the beachfront Equarius Hotel. That will feature two tree-house suites, so watch out for a report on this in a future edition of X2.

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HOTEL MICHAEL

HOTEL REVIEW 25

The vaulted roof of Hotel Michael is a landmark feature of the Resorts World Sentosa complex

Interview with Michael Graves and Patrick Burke Michael Graves & Associates
As a world-renowned architect Michael Graves really needs no introduction. Here Graves (far lleft) and Patrick Burke (left), studio head and principal-in-charge of Resorts World Sentosa discuss the project Why decide now to have a hotel with your name on it? Michael Graves: It was the client who proposed to name one of the hotels in the resort after me and to have its design reflect the Michael Graves brand. During the competition for the project, all of the developers pursuing this project included well-known designers on their teams and recognisable brands and features in the resort. There are six hotels at Resorts World. We were designing the architecture of all of them and the interiors of four, including the furniture. The interior design of each hotel had to be different since they were aimed at different audiences. The client decided that the Hotel Michael should be a design experience that reflected my own personal interests and taste. I was very flattered and delighted to take on the challenge. What truly makes this hotel Michael? Patrick Burke: First, the commission reflects the ability of our two firms* to design the hotel and everything in it the architecture, interiors, furniture and furnishings, and ignage, as well as the Michael Graves artwork [*Michael Graves & Associates provides planning, architecture and interior design services and Michael Graves Design Group designs furniture, furnishings and consumer products as well as provides graphic design and branding services]. Michael Graves: Hotel Michael reflects my personal design interests as I either designed or had a hand in every aspect of the hotel, particularly the interiors. For example, I created a new typeface for the signage. I created paintings that were turned into mosaics in the guest bathrooms, inset into millwork in the guest rooms, and hung more conventionally in the public spaces. A number of these compositions incorporate archetypal elements of architecture, a theme that I have been exploring in my architectural and artwork for some time. The guest rooms include specially designed furniture and built-ins, as well as carpets made from my hand drawings. The hotel also contains the Michael Graves Gallery, a shop that sells consumer products that weve designed, some of the hotel furniture, as well as some of my artwork. When designing Hotel Michael did you consider it in terms of what else is on offer at the resort or has it been designed in splendid isolation? Patrick Burke: We deliberately kept the architectural character of six hotels at Resorts World Sentosa relatively unified, using a consistent design vocabulary, materials and color palette. We thought it was important to integrate the architecture and the landscape to give Resorts World Sentosa a sense of place that is unique to its site, tropical climate and its location along the water. This led to the use of natural materials and warm colours, and many landscape features. However, given the great variety of activities and the many different audiences attracted to the resort, the interiors of the hotels, the casino and the many restaurants are all unique. The Crockfords Tower, across the way from Hotel Michael, was designed for the selective casinogoer and has a sophisticated luxury reminiscent of early 20th-century ocean liners, with interiors of dark woods and rich colors. The adjacent Festive Hotel, meant for families, is bright, colorful and lively. MGA has a longstanding commitment to humanism and accessible design how does that manifest itself at Resorts World Sentosa? Michael Graves: We fundamentally believe in human-centred design, whether in buildings or in objects. We believe that people make natural associations with forms, colours and other elements, which aid in making the designs understandable or legible. When designs become too abstract, they become alienating, therefore we try to make our designs intuitive, to provide clues to how to use them. Thats what I mean by accessible. So, for example, we might design a facade of a building so that the forms make it clear where the crucial parts of the building exist. At Resorts World, as I mentioned, we were trying to establish a relationship between the architecture and the lush, tropical landscape of the island of Sentosa. Therefore, the lyrical green roof atop Hotel Michael is making a reference to the rolling hills beyond, and the warm, natural colours are intended to associate the buildings with the surrounding landscape. At the smaller end of the scale, we might design flatware, like the flatware designed for Resorts World, which differentiates the part thats held in the hand from the business end. This is not so overtly abstract as to not know which does what. What are you most proud of at Resorts World Sentosa? Michael Graves: I am proud that Patrick Burke and our incredibly talented staff of architects, interior designers, product designers and graphic designers collaborated with each other and with our local architects at such a high and energetic level to design so much. Its a real joy to get to work on a project that has so many design opportunities. If you had to pick three things that really make a hotel from an architecture and design point of view what would they be? Patrick Burke: Two things immediately strike me, and while they may sound incongruous, they actually need to be balanced. On one hand, a hotel design has to give guests a special experience that they cant get at home and, on the other hand, the hotel has to be comfortable and welcoming enough to make you feel at home. The Hotel Michael guest room, as well as the guest rooms that we designed in the Crockfords Tower and the Festive Hotel, attempt to do both. Michael Graves: I agree. The third point, for me, has to do with functionality and accessibility. I dont only mean physical accessibility, which is important to me since I move around in a wheelchair, but also being able to understand how the guest room and the objects in it work.

26

HOTEL REVIEW DOLCE MUNICH UNTERSCHLEISSHEIM

Dolce Munich Unterschleissheim

Munich

THIS NEW LUXURY HOTEL IN MUNICH CAPTURES THE CULTURE AND HERITAGE OF ITS BAVARIAN LOCATION WHILE PROMOTING THE ETHOS OF THE HOTEL OWNERS IN ITS CONSIDERED INTERIORS
ARCHITECT: WSSA ARCHITEKTEN GMBH INTERIOR DESIGNER: JOI-DESIGN

DOLCE MUNICH UNTERSCHLEISSHEIM

HOTEL REVIEW 27

A Bavarian-style greeting in the shape of a life-sized dairy cow sculpture and cowbells hanging on the wall behind the reception desk

ith Dolce Hotels and Resorts having the mantra of nourishment, connectivity, community and interior design practice JOI-Design possessing a passion for art, architecture and the social inheritance of location, their collaboration on the Dolce Munich Unterschleissheim was bound to be special. The newest addition to the Dolce worldwide group of hotels and resorts, the Dolce Munich is its first to be build from the ground up to the companys new design standards, with JOI-Design taking great pains to express the brands ideology when creating the interiors. In addition, the hotel is deeply rooted in its

Bavarian location and heritage through the selection of art, furnishings and materials used in the interiors. The experience starts in the hotels lobby, where guests are greeted with humour in the shape of the apotheosis of traditional Bavarian life a life-sized sculpture of a dairy cow. Natural materials such as honey-coloured oak of the reception desks, the hammered copper of cowbells hung above them and the speckled terrazzo floor all add to the warmness of the welcome. Bridging the lobby and adjoining conference space are high-sided sofas from Vitra in the same honey-colour tones, while at the windows fabric

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HOTEL REVIEW 29

screens both add to the feeling of intimacy and at the same time allow sunlight to softly filter through. Also off of the lobby is the lounge and bar, offering a visually exciting contrast of rough and smooth textures in a palette of natural local colours and materials. Here a fireplace is flanked by logs set into bronze housings, while a mosaic of tumbled stones creates a simple yet effective housing for the actual fire, all helping to create the feeling of being in a forest hunting lodge. Cowhide upholstery and rugs are juxtaposed with the minimalist shape of the Hirche lounge chair in stainless steel, from Richard Lampert. Central to the bar space is a long communal table and stools carved from rough-hewn oak, so typical of time-honoured Bavarian beer-cellar tradition but brought bang up to date with white lacquered stools introduced here and there.

Contrast of light and dark finishes in the bathrooms creates a clean and elegant style, top. Above, a wine wall showcases local produce in the dining hall, lit by antique chandeliers made of antlers. Right, logs flank a fireplace topped with a tumbled-stone front evoke the ambience of a forest hunting lodge

30

HOTEL REVIEW DOLCE MUNICH UNTERSCHLEISSHEIM

Steel-framed Hirche chairs with cowhide upholstery sit with raspberry-hued timber tables on cowhides rugs in front of the fireplace, above. High-sided sofas from Vitra offer an intimate setting in the lobby, while fabric windows screens offer a further element of privacy

Leather club chairs are also offered for more private chats, while plush rugs on smoked oak flooring add to the warm and friendly ambience, and sheers at the windows soften the bars masculine style. In the adjacent restaurant, antique antler chandeliers, rich tones of light and dark-stained oak and crisp white table cloths evoke the spirit of a traditional German dining hall. The space has been given a contemporary twist by the addition of a backlit wine wall, showcasing the regions bounteous wine production. A neutral, earth-toned colour palette in the guest rooms is a canvas for the spaces design accents. Colourful and vibrant scenes of Munichs historic architecture hang from walls, and traditional cut-pattern rugs, reminiscent of house facade decorations and embroidery on a pinafore, are a feminine offset to the strong tones of the smoked oak timber used throughout.

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32

HOTEL REVIEW BOCA CHICA

Acapulco

Boca Chica
IN A QUIET COVE AWAY FROM THE HUBBUB OF MODERN ACAPULCO, THE BOCA CHICO ONCE A FAVOURITE BOLT-HOLE AMONG THE HOLLYWOOD ELITE OF THE FIFTIES IS BACK IN A STARRING ROLE
ORIGINAL ARCHITECT: ANTONIO PALEZ REFURBISMENT ARCHITECT: FERNANDO ROMERO INTERIOR DESIGNERS: FRIDA ESCOBEDO AND JOSE ROJAS

IMAGES BY: UDINE PRH

BOCA CHICA

HOTEL REVIEW 33

34

HOTEL REVIEW BOCA CHICA

reputation. The interior design team, including designers Frida Escobedo and Jose Rojas, who have stayed sympathetic to the architecture and period by populating the public and private spaces with Fifties furniture, while also looking to create a modern atmosphere of laid back tropical luxury. Acapulco is back and sexier than ever, says Grupo Habitas Couturier. The Boca Chica already has a vibrant history and so our reinvention of it will play up Acapulcos. Its not only about creating trends its about building a hotel that can outlive a generation. Guest arrive by water taxi into the hotels private rocky cove, and check in at the reception next to the Club de Mar sea-level swimming pool, landscaped gardens and view out across the bay to the Roqueta Island nature reserve. The cove also features a floating island, created by contemporary Mexican artists Pedro Reyes. The guest rooms all have terraces, complete with derigour hammocks, while some of those on the ground floor have their own private gardens as well. Boca Chico has a restaurant serving Japanese food, an open-air bar and 1,000 sq m of spa and tearracing. Grupo Habita operates nine other hotels in Mexico, and this latest one is now also part of the Design Hotels group.

avourite bolt-hole, hang-out of the Fifties Holywood elite, Acapulco hotel Boca Chica has been restored to its former Technicolor wel,l white and aqua green glory and reopened by operator Grupo Habita, with architect Fernando Romero, who is also the developer and owner. Fans of the king of rock n roll may be familiar with the hotel which featured heavily in the Elvis movie Fun in Acapulco, and in its heyday it was frequented by the likes of Frank Sinatra and John Wayne. Now Grupo Habita founders Carlos Couturier and brothers Rafael, Moiss and Jaime Micha, have turned back the clock by restoring the full vintage splendour of the hotel, which was first designed by pre-eminent Mexican architect, Antonio Pelez. The 30-room, six-suite hotel is in the Old Yacht Club area of Acapulco, away from the more modern developments. Key original features such as the celosia lattice brickwork and terrazzo floors have been refurbished, as have two dramatic mosaics on the facade and the bar area by Francicso Eppens, a pupil of Diego Rivera. And theyve even kept the period vibe going with an in-house disco, Coco Wash, playing up to Acapulcos famous, almost infamous, nightlife

Cool and elegant in white and aqua green, below left, the Boca Chica greet guests at a private jetty alongside the sea-level pool, bottom left. The poolside alfresco bar is under a natural and traditionally style thatched roof

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THE MARK

HOTEL REVIEW 37

A NEW IDENTITY FOR THIS MANHATTAN LANDMARK IS DRAWN FROM AVANT-GARDE DESIGN DISTINGUISHED BY BESPOKE PIECES
ARCHITECT, INTERIOR DESIGN AND ARTWORK: JACQUES GRANGE ARCHITECT (HOTEL): SLCE ARCHITECTS INTERIOR ARCHITECT (HOTEL) AND ARCHITECT (RESTAURANT): SPIVAK ARCHITECTS

New York

The Mark

38

HOTEL REVIEW THE MARK

tanding proud in the heart of the Upper East Side since 1927, the neo-Italian Renaissance building that houses The Mark gives little away as to the transformation that has taken place inside. But step into the lobby and it soon becomes clear how a $100m-plus renovation by owner Alexico Group has resulted in an outdated long-stay property being reborn as a bold and contemporary five-star hotel / residential development fitting of the polished, artsy neighbourhood in which it is situated. While art deco influences are perceptible in places, it is impossible to pin down the interior design to one era or style. The public spaces are instead a heady yet careful mix of seductive shapes and lines accentuated with specially commissioned objets dart from Europe. This is the creative vision of French designer Jacques Grange who collaborated with his partner Pierre Passebon, owner of the Galerie du Passage in Paris, to source unique furnishings and handpick artisans to work on the project. Granges practice

also partnered with New Yorks Spivak Architects on the planning and architectural elements of the interiors, which have been stripped back to the shell to install the latest mechanical and engineering systems and open up layouts. Undeniably eye-catching, the lobbys geometricpatterned black-and-white stone floor provides the backdrop to an outstanding collection of furniture pieces and artwork. Theres a suspended spherical lobby chandelier by Ron Arad, a Guy de Rougemont painting entitled Tubes a LAtelier, Paul Mathieu sofa and chairs, and polished nickel wall sconces, benches and metal-grey club chairs created by the self-labelled troublemaker turned traditionalist, Mattia Bonetti. Add in sculptural iron lamps and side-tables from Anne and Vincent Corbire and sleek metalwork in the form of doors, tables, balustrades and railings by welder Eric Schmitt, and its fair to say the lobby doubles as an alluring design gallery. The drama is heightened in The Mark Bar, where New Yorkers congregate alongside hotel

A stong black and white geometric pattern sets the style of The Marks lobby and lounge area and provides a backdrop for a collection of bespoke and unique furniture and artwork pieces, above, far right and top far right. Right, a guestroom is elegant in beige and ivory with high-quality fittings and furniture in sycamore and nickel

THE MARK

HOTEL REVIEW 39

guests in a playful ambience that matches Vladimir Kagan-designed pony-skin sofas and chairs with cloud-shaped tables made of chrome-plated aluminium, topped with tempered black glass. As a centrepiece, the undulating Guy de Rougemont bar glows under a cerused pitch pine ceiling punctuated by decorative metal orbs that provide direct and indirect lighting. With its own street entrance the bar serves as a connectiong point to the restaurant for non-hotel residents. Acting as the transitional bridge, a newly installed low-lit corridor is characterised by an extensive wine rack, lit using small LED lamps to make it appear as though the bottles are floating. The Mark Restaurant by Jean Georges (or award-winning chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, in full) has been the last of the hotels social spaces to be unveiled. Here Grange has switched gears again, drawing on Italy as a source of inspiration for warm hues and copper accents that create a smart yet welcoming dining space in which to try dishes rooted in a range of world cuisines.

Interest is added to the straightforward layout through a combination of different wall and ceiling coverings, including an oak wood treated by cerusing, French terracotta-infused plaster, bronze detailing and copper-tinted glass panels that lend a reflective quality. Lighting (by Howard Spivak) is also instrumental,with multiple sources, such as soft spotlights directed on the tables and stunning Murano glass columns, bathing the room with varying degrees of warmth. Mattia Bonetti dining chairs and bronze-finished tables by Grange complete the look. In contrast to the vibrancy of the lower public floors, the 100 guest rooms and 50 suites (32 are Tower Suites with kitchens designed by Piero Lissoni for Boffi) are a study in elegance with neutral tones of beige and ivory lifted by highquality furnishings in ebony, sycamore and nickel. Fine Italian linens and bedding come courtesy of Quagliotti, luxurious carpets from Bloomsburg and designer rugs from Diurne. The other fabrics inviting touch include 100 per cent mohair

40

HOTEL REVIEW THE MARK

The Mark Bar offers a playful atmosphere, with pony-skin sofas and cloud-shaped chrome plated tables topped in black glass, above. Right, the restaurants Italy-inspired main dining space, with warm hues and Murano glass columns and soft spotlights providing illumination

for the reclining chairs, faux horsehair for the headboards, and leather-topped desks. It is in the guest rooms where some of Granges most pleasing creations can be found, in the form of gently curving dressers and fanciful lamps. Photographer Todd Eberle was commissioned to produce the majority of the room artwork although fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has loaned some prints. A retreat in their own right, the bathrooms impress through a generous use of Belgium black and Turkish white stone, tinted glass cabinetry, polished nickel fittings by Lefroy Brooks, deep Kohler sinks and soaking tubs for two, plus a mirrored flat-screen television ideally positioned for viewing from the bath. As a hotel that aims to serve its neighbourhood guests in equal measure as its international visitors, other facilities include a generously sized Frdric Fekkai Salon and Fitness Centre by John Sitaras. Service is personalised and exacting while unique touches such as a shoe-rescue service executed by John Lobb-trained staff represent something extra in this genuine five-star experience.

Interview with Jacques Grange

Legendary French designer Jacques Grange studied at cole Boulle and cole Camondo before training with luminaries such as Henri Samuel and Didier Aaron. He established his own firm in Paris in the early Seventies and has since carved out a formidable reputation as the interior designer of choice for high-profile clients including Yves Saint Laurent, Franois Pinault, Princess Caroline of Monaco, Catherine Deneuve and Aerin Lauder. In addition to private residences, he is regularly commissioned to work on exhibitions and installations, with notable examples including the New York showroom for Paloma Picasso Accessories and Russia! at the Guggenheim Museum. A recipient of the Legion of Honour, Granges first full-scale hotel design project is The Mark. Bold, artistic, colourful, contemporary all these descriptions seem applicable to the design at The Mark. How would you describe your overall vision? The Marks architecture was classical, with this style represented by the cornices, windows and doors. But it has since been entirely recreated through design of the 20th century in a collaboration that has brought together the work of artists such as Guy de Rougemont, Patrice Dangel, Anne & Vincent Corbire, Ron Arad, Paul Mathieu, Vladimir Kagan, Mattia Bonetti and Eric Schmitt. All of them were commissioned to make unique pieces for the hotel. The lobbys ambience perfectly captures this participation with my modern ideas, including the distinctive black and white striped floor, bringing a new dimension to the space. It is very punchy. Then theres the restaurant, an evocation of Italy, and the bar that is warm and chic. How did the style of the building inform your design scheme? I have respected the quality of the architecture with regards to the bedrooms and suites, and also retained the reception in the same place. I wanted to create a quiet and soft atmosphere for the bedrooms and suites with my choice of materials. In contrast, the lobby is more theatrical and very artistic. It is unusual for hotels, even at the luxury end, to have such a high percentage of bespoke pieces. Was the freedom to commission individual works an integral part of your vision? It was my choice in partnership with the owners to take this bespoke approach so that the hotel would be unique in New York. You could say The Mark is a collector of contemporary art

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HOTEL REVIEW 41

and design its this quality that differentiates it from other luxury properties. I am very happy that my personal approach could be realised in a commercial venture. You are renowned for designing private residences and cultural installations. Have you purposefully avoided hotels? It is true this is my first hotel but I never avoided this type of work. Its just that I never had a proposal that corresponded with my idea of design until The Mark. I would be happy to work on any other hotel project with the same level of quality. What do you think luxury hotels can get wrong when it comes to interior design? I dont like to criticise. We have to respect the desire and conception of others. For me, luxury equals comfort, silence, location and general harmony in design. What is the most inspiring hotel/hideaway you have stayed in aside from The Mark? There are wonderful hotels all over the world. Aman Resorts are like clubs; you do not have to sign your bill during your stay. The service is high level and the ambience is like a private home. The sites are always well chosen and very beautiful. The silence is absolute.

Do you have a distinctive style, or is each project quite different? Each project has its own approach and direction because of its geographical location. They are never the same and each has its own sense of style. I do like this variety, it is novel and the contexts are always different. This keeps the work exciting. How has the industry changed during the past four decades? I think globalisation has totally changed the vision and artistic creation. It has given an extraordinary energy to design and a new source of inspiration that is without limit. I prefer to talk about creation rather than industry. I think there is incredible strength coming from Italian and French design, and I like to keep abreast of new technologies that I feel I can work with. Tell us about your forthcoming projects I am working on private residences in the USA. There is one particular commission for which I am responsible for both the architecture and design, which is unusual for me and very exciting. It is a real pleasure for me to work in the USA and to enjoy the recognition there.

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HOTEL REVIEW 43

Hotel Square
Paris

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HOTEL REVIEW HOTEL SQUARE

ART MAKES A MAJOR STATEMENT IN THIS BOUTIQUE HOTEL IN THE FRENCH CAPITAL, FROM ITS 200 SQ M ART GALLERY WALL IN THE LOBBY DOWN TO THE BESPOKE FURNITURE AND INDIVIDUALLY DESIGNED DOOR HANDLES
ARCHITECT: ROGER TAILLIBERT INTERIOR DESIGN: PATRICK DERDERIAN AND FRANOIS-XAVIER EVELLIN

his 22-room boutique hotel in Paris, close to the Eiffel Tower and the banks of the Seine, is a work of art from top to bottom. With interiors designed by its owner Patrick Derderian, interior architect Francois-Xavier Evellin and a team of French craftsmen and artisans, art and creativity are major statements. It centres on the semi-circular balcony walkwayscum-viewing platforms to an 18m-high hanging space for art exhibitions, and there are individually designed door handles, bespoke furniture and a

palette of Provenale colours used throughout. The hotel is the culmination of a lifetimes work in the Parisian hospitality industry for Dexedrine, who has seen his creation join the elite rankings of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. In the building designed by Roger Taillibert, also architect of the citys Parc des Princes stadium and the Cit Olympique de Montral, each of the hotels facades have been given treatments that correspond to the buildings around them. The front facade, with the suggestion of a ships prow, is faced in grey-green

Indian granite and mixes a strong geometric design softened by curved mirror windows. Inside, the lobby has a cathedral-like atrium. The reception features an bespoke oval desk in rosewood and leather chairs designed by Phillipe Hurel, with bronze lamps by Eric Schmitt. Under artwork by Claude Viallat sits a Hurel sofa. The flooring features a square design, echoing the hotels name. The motif was also developed by paint specialist Pierre Bonnefille, who combined textures and techniques to create a wall covering

HOTEL SQUARE

HOTEL REVIEW 45

Bespoke furniture is featured in the guest rooms, this image, as are individually designed head boards, door handles, curtains and textiles. The lobby, left top, features more bespoke pieces: an oval rosewood desk, leather chairs and sofa, brass lamps and original artwork. More artwork can be viewed from the semicircular balconies overlooking the lobbys huge gallery wall, left

with a repeated square gold leaf, which is continued throughout the public areas. At the rear of the lobby, the atrium offers some 200 sq m of space for displaying art. Salon Blanc, a separate function room, offers more gallery space, and its partner space, Salon Gris, used for private dinners, is decorated with artwork by American artist Tom Carr, Argentinian artist Tomasello, and signed momento works by all the designers who contributed to Hotel Square. From the lobby, stairs down to the Spa Square

Nuxe have bespoke banisters created by Schmitt. All are in a subdued custom colour, interrupted by a solitary one in brass. The design of the banisters echo spring buds, a reference repeated by Schmitts work elsewhere. Guest rooms, on the upper two floors, are accessed off the balconied walkway. They are decorated in three nature-inspired colour palettes saffron and brick, ivory and grey, and anthracite and gold. Furnishings too are carefully considered: doors are made in Indian rosewood; rosewood

furniture is custom made by Hurel to Derderians personal specifications; bed heads were designed by Pierre Bonnefille; door handles by Schmitt feature the signature bud design, and curtains and textiles were created by Coralie Halard. But amid all this art and creativity, technology is not forgotten guest rooms are equipped with the usual panoply of state-of-the-art equipment and finger-tip control, individual air conditioning and climatisation, and the hotels two lifts are called automatically by proximity sensors...

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HOTEL REVIEW THE WATERHOUSE

The Waterhouse
Shanghai

ROOM WITH A VIEW TAKES ON A WHOLE NEW MEANING AT THE WATERHOUSE HOTEL, WHERE THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY AMONG THE TIGHTLY PACKED TRADITIONAL LANE HOUSES OF SHANGHAI HAS BEEN TRANSLATED INTO A LUXURY SETTING
ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN: NERI&HU DESIGN AND RESEARCH OFFICE

THE WATERHOUSE

HOTEL REVIEW 47

hanghais latest boutique hotel, The Waterhouse, is intimate, bordering on the voyeuristic a deliberate ploy by the designer thats meant to evoke the bustling life that surrounds the hotel in the small lanes of houses. In a city full of towering modern architecture, hotelier Peng Loh (see Town Hall Hotel & Apartments, p56) opted for a run-down, Thirties warehouse building near the docks that had been used as an HQ by the Japanese army during the Second World War. The main corner plot has been converted into a 19-bedroom hotel while an adjoining warehouse is now an event space. The design of the hotel itself centres around three main principles: nong-tangs (the small lane houses of

B LO C C O L L E C T I O N D E S I G N M A R K G A B B E R TA S ( LO N D O N )

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THE WATERHOUSE
Shanghai), the blurring of public and private spaces, and the contrast between the old and the new. Architect Lyndon Neri has drawn deeply on his Chinese cultural heritage for this project. The nong-tangs are built so close together that people live cheek-by-jowl with neighbours. They are so small that tables are brought out on to the streets for evening meals, creating a sense of communality. Adding to the sense of openness, nong-tangs windows are often placed to deliberately allow views into the home. Neri has brought these ideas to bear at The Waterhouse, where bedrooms and even toilets have large windows, some of which, unusually, look in towards the reception, bar or restaurant; only 10 of the rooms look out over the Bund area in which the hotel is located and to the Shanghai skyline beyond. Neri has even added polished metal shutters, which can be angled by guests to give views into other private or public spaces, as well as allowing views into their private space. Neri sees all this as an expression of community: The various gaps in our society are ever increasing and becoming more and more problematic. The show of wealth for example large gardens, big gates, high walls create a physical divide between people and so shared spaces are becoming increasingly important to our philosophy. By maximising areas shared by all, a unifying bridge is provided. Public spaces are always at hand at The Waterhouse if you are relaxing in your bedroom you can look down upon the restaurant. If you are outside you can look in. And when he talks about bridges hes not just speaking metaphorically either. The dramatic open reception space has retained the original staircase, and walkways have been added to take guests to rooms. Room sizes were even reducted to add extra length and drama to these public bridges. Elsewhere old and new have been combined: original concrete has been restored and new structures built over the top in Cor-Ten steel, that gives a controlled rusting effect. Old furniture plays off against new pieces from the likes of Tom Dixon, Emeco, Vitra, Mooi and Magis. The hotel also features No1 Table the first international restaurant by Maze chef Jason Atherton, which is laid out like a traditional Chinese canteen. Interestingly, Neri&Hu is now working on the design of a new Atherton restaurant in London, though details are being kept under wraps for now.

HOTEL REVIEW 49

Few rooms have city views, top, with large windows having shutters that allow guests to see into other private or public spaces, following tradition, above centre and left. Far left, the soaring reception space has retained its orginal warehouse wall surface and stairs, with walkways being added to give access to guest rooms

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HOTEL REVIEW THE WATERHOUSE

Interview with Lyndon Hu Co-Founder of Neri&Hu Design and Research Office

Based in Shanghai, Neri&Hu Design and Research Office (NHDRO) was founded by Lyndon Neri and his partner Rossana Hu in 2004. They work internationally and currently have projects in eight countries, but deliberately base themselves in Shanghai, seeing it as the new global frontier, while the citys cultural, urban and historic contexts function as a point of departure for the architectural explorations involved in every project. Their award-winning projects include: Design Republic Flagship Store (Shanghai), The Asian Restaurant and the Punk Bar at the Opposite House (Bejing) and The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design. You talk about bringing the old and the new together how has that manifested itself in the hotel? You have to realise that in Shanghai, old is not fashionable. It is all very bling bling here. The developer was going to clad the building in false brick and I said no, I wanted it left as it was. Also Peng (hotelier Peng Loh) initially wanted to demolish the stairway, to make the rooms a bit bigger. It made sense, but I said, look, if you destroy all the stairs, what we are offering here then becomes very superficial, just a facade. So he agreed to keep it, and Im so glad he went for the idea of bridges going into each room. Its very theatrical. To have a client who is very ready to listen to you is great. He would change the way the hotel would be operated based on your ideas. You also talk about mixing inside and outside spaces at The Waterhouse? The notion of public and private is very much blurred in Shanghai. A lot of this is to do with the economic situation Chinese people are still poor and dont have the economic wherewithal to build mansions with gates. I think this is what is so mystical about Shanghai and refreshing. You go to all the nong-tangs and literally you see into peoples houses. I live in a lane house and every morning I go to my bathroom where there is a large window, and about 2m away from me is another window where there is an old lady in her 80s in her kitchen cooking breakfast. I sit there on my toilet and say Good morning! It is a tradition. It is an interesting interaction, in a real neighbourhood it is not about exclusivity. It makes society more attractive and interesting and less reclusive. In the hotel you have curtains so you have the choice as to whether to make it open, but from the bedroom toilets, you can look into other bedrooms. And on the windows are stainless steel panels, which you can tilt you can see other rooms and you can project it however you want. This is me forcing them to have this interaction. The rooms are very much interconnected visually. The hotel is also very open, from the pavement you can literally look through the hotel to the garden and the bar. Your practice has been described as the epitome of Chinese aesthetics would you elaborate on that? It is a good way of defining it, but I think I would say it is more of an abstraction. People often wear a jacket with a serpent or dragon on it and think that is Chinese. I find that problematic, because I think its really superficial. We have 3,000-4000 years of history that we can unearth. I am very interested in trying to find a new Chinese abstraction. Were not interested in labelling ourselves as new, modern Chinese, but we are passionate about bringing the best of what China can offer to the rest of the world.. You are now working on a new London restaurant for chef Jason Atherton. Can you tell us more? It is due to open around Christmas I think. Again there is going to be a social element to the project the notion of blurring the public and the private elements is very important. I think thats also why Jason liked us and got on well with us in the first place, because we have addressed these issues many times. It helped when he saw the restaurant we had already designed at The Waterhouse, because it made all our decisions in London so much easier he loved every bit of what weve done in Shanghai. We hear your mum paid a visit to the hotel. How did that go? My mum saw it just after it was finished and I think she was truly stunned. She said to me in Chinese: You know, I knew you were a bit crazy when you were eight; I didnt know you were even crazier now! When she went to the guest rooms she could not stop laughing, but it was reassuring, as I knew Id done my job. She added that it was very good for the next generation, and that was very comforting.

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SHERATON INCHEON HOTEL

HOTEL REVIEW 53

Songdo, Korea

Sheraton Incheon Hotel

THIS HOTEL IS A WORTHY ADDITION TO A NEW CITY AIMING TO BE BEAUTIFUL AND FUNCTIONAL
ARCHITECT: HEERIM ARCHITECTS AND PLANNERS INTERIOR DESIGNER: DILEONARDO INTERNATIONAL

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HOTEL REVIEW SHERATON INCHEON HOTEL

The Presidential Suite has its own dining space lit by a chandelier, above. The lobby has a seating area found through an architectural portal, right. A palette of chocolate, gold and cream is used in the guest rooms, far right, top. In one of the restaurants, seating areas are defined by changes in the colour of the floor and subtle screening

he new Sheraton Incheon Hotel is a first on several counts: it is the first deluxe five-star hotel in the new masterplanned city of Songdo; it is Koreas first certified LEED hotel, and is the countrys first fully non-smoking hotel! But more than all that, its design ethos is to make it a return to Utopia, blending modern Sheraton language with top-end technology, resources and innovation. Interior architectural design features such as the ceilings and head boards in the guest rooms were based on the dynamic architectural planning and the exterior elevations. Others were inspired by local elements selected by the design team. The carpet pattern and wall feature in the executive lounge came from local pine needles to echo the name of Songdo, which means pine island, while the exhaust hood cover in one of the three restaurants took its inspiration from the shape and pattern of cookies used in the Korean tea ceremony.

SHERATON INCHEON HOTEL

HOTEL REVIEW 55

In the hotels main lobby, guests will be standing on an expansive space of marble featuring an accent form that leads to the grand staircase. This in turn features a multistorey water feature. Also in the lobby a line of wood-clad columns with a peel-away feature, reminiscent of the hotels tower, and lighting leads them to the elegant reception area. The adjacent lobby lounge, introduced by an interior architectural portal, is an open and airy space furnished with seating from Baker Furniture and features lighting by UniLight and Preciosa International. Another lobby portal leads to the bar, which provides a more richly appointed, intimate setting. In the all-day Feast restaurant, an open theatre kitchen is featured, and seating zones are defined through changing colours in the wooden floor. In the Italian Bene restaurant, which also has an open theatre and an authentic pizza oven, a Bene table sits across from the bar as a major feature.

The design of the guest rooms, suites and executive lounge follow the rhythm of the interior architecture and design established in the public spaces. A masculine colour palette of chocolate, gold and cream is used in these rooms, which also feature high ceilings and large windows, large working spaces, oversized wardrobes and custom lighting. The spacious bathrooms offer rainforest showers and separate baths. Elsewhere in the Sheraton Incheon the Grand Ballroom continues the architectural story, and also features overscaled Korean patterning in the carpeting. Contemporary chandeliers and bespoke seating and window dressings complete the look. The quiet island of Songdo is being transformed into what is envisaged will be one of the worlds most beautiful, functional and environmentally friendly cities. At the heart of Koreas latest business development, the Incheon Free Economic Zone, the Sheraton Incheon looks set to be worthy resident.

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HOTEL REVIEW TOWN HALL HOTEL

London

Hotel and Apartments

Town Hall

TOWN HALL HOTEL

HOTEL REVIEW 57

WHEN DESIGNERS FROM FRANCE GET TOGETHER WITH A HOTELIER FROM SINGAPORE AND THEY TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO A FORMER TOWN HALL IN LONDONS OLD EAST END, EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
DESIGN: RARE ARCHITECTURE

All the rooms feature individually designed bathrooms and a combination of retro and Scandinavian-inspired furniture

n old town hall in the heart of Londons East End is perhaps not the first place you would expect to find being turned into a new luxury five-star hotel and apartment development, but that is exactly what Singaporebased entrepreneur and hotelier Peng Loh (see also The Waterhouse, Shanghai, p46) has done. The hotel, a member of Design Hotels, is highly individual and eclectic, typifying Lohs approach to the market. The former council building was mainly constructed in the Thirties and has an imposing neo-classical stone frontage. Behind that facade, following its 20m makeover, can now be found 98 rooms and apartments, as well as restaurant Viajante, which has its own entrance. Celebrated chef Nuno Mendes, who has worked alongside some of the worlds greats including Wolfgang Puck and Jean George and had a brief internship at El Buli, is at the helm of the restaurant. His first gastropub venture, Bacchus, was in nearby Hoxton. French architect duo Rare were brought in by Peng Loh to work on the building and restore much of the original grandeur of the town hall building, including the wide marble halls and dramatic staircase. Rare also added a contemporary extension to the building which has been clad in a laser-cut, filigree, metal skin, the pattern for which was inspired by the art deco metalwork in the main council chamber. The chamber itself has been kept and refurbished and will now be used as a unique space for presentations, conferences and events. The accommodation is a mix of studios, one and two-bedroom suites and feature rooms. Each has a fully fitted, Corian-surfaced kitchen and

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individually designed bathrooms. The rooms feature a mix of original retro furniture and Scandinavian-inspired, hand-crafted pieces. The hotels pool on the lower ground floor level has been created using white marble and touches of brass, which give it a clean spa feeling while also referring to the original materials used throughout the building. The pool itself is lined with reflective tiles, which catch the sun from a skylight to make the pool seem to change colour during the day from green and blue through to copper. The setting for the hotel is the vibrant and eclectic area of Bethnal Green, a short walk from the City of London financial district. To bring some of this surrounding life into the development, Town Hall enlisted the help of the local not-for-profit Artsadmin organisation to run an open commission scheme to get local artists to create artworks for the new hotel. Six artists were selected in and their pieces will form a programme of rolling installations.

HOTEL REVIEW 59

The original Thirties town hall council chamber has been restored and will be used for presentations, conferences and events

Interview with Nathalie Rozencwajg and Michel da Costa Gonalves Founders of Rare architecture
Rare architecture, based in London and Paris, is an office for research, architecture and experimentation founded by Nathalie Rozencwajg and Michel da Costa Gonalves. Its work ranges from individual objects to urban-scale projects and it also runs a studio at the Architectural Association. The practices approach is strong on research, focusing on the use of new materials and modes of design aiming at a durable development and construction. Rare won the Custerson Award for its wooden footbridge in Dorset and was involved in the final phase of the FEIDAD prize 2006, for a mass diversity project. Have you ever converted a local government building before, and what unique challenges did this project present? This is the first government building we have converted in the UK. Its eclectic nature and Grade 2 listed status presented a number of challenges. The Old Bethnal Green Town Hall had been vacated about 15 years earlier, and was as it had been left. The Cambridge Heath Road front of the building was completed in 1910, and the building was extended in 1939 along Patriot Square. A new council chamber replaced the old one, new meeting rooms were added, along with extensive office space. Articulating this mix of structures, functions and styles was the basis of much of our work. Some areas had a lot of great features, while others offered no or very little character at all, and were treated as blank canvases to reconfigure. The conversion, extension and designs were developed in collaboration with English Heritage. The combined and contrasting needs for the restoration of this Grade II listed building and the modernisations required for a 98- room luxury hotel articulated our guiding concepts. How did you go about extending the building? For the project to be economically viable an additional level was required. Our extension of the building was not devised as an add-on but rather as an abstracted veil offering a striking background to the existing buildings. The extensions general shape emerges from a careful study of environmental factors and adjusts itself to the existing structure. To satisfy English Heritages concerns of affecting principal views, the resulting shape disappears from certain angles while remaining prominent from others this was achieved through the production of various physical and digital study models. You used a cutting-edge technique to cover the new outer wall with a metal skin tell us more about that. The skins bespoke laser-cut adaptive pattern regulates solar gains, views and privacy, forming an abstract object, an ephemeral background set against the existing facades. Worked from the pattern on an art deco ventilation grill found on site, the new functional ornament was developed into a system deploying itself over 300 linear metres along the building. How would you describe the aesthetic youve created within the building? The sensitive contemporary design aims to preserve the buildings original features while integrating contemporary inserts, such as the new roof extension. Original patterns discovered on site were the basis of an extensive study forming the language of new functional ornaments, such as interpretative marquetry or a new performative skin for the buildings extension. The development of this project relies on advanced modelling and construction techniques that surface through the scripted skin pattern and computeraided manufacturing. At the same time it showcases a more traditional approach to materials and methods as well as representation techniques combined to form a coherent, while diverse, design process. Independent units are designed with high-quality materials blending a classical style with contemporary production techniques, presenting a take of the old in a new format. Glazed partitions and Corian surfaces enable to bring natural light into the bathrooms located at rear of bedrooms. Large sliding doors and fluid layouts enable guests to reconfigure their space throughout their stay and enhance the impression of space. The design concepts thus achieve a hybrid between the comfort of a long-stay facility and a high-class boutique hotel design. Why did you choose to use a mixture of contemporary Scandinavian furniture and retro pieces? The owner, Peng Loh, has a longstanding collaboration with Fiske, a furniture manufacturer based in Malaysia, refurbishing vintage Scandinavian pieces. This presented the opportunity for further contemporary designs developed by ourselves to blend in with the collection pieces. The project mixes old and new furniture in a sympathetic take on the eclectic original design, where traces of both fading neoclassical elements are associated with humbly emerging art deco features. Throughout the public spaces, remarkable features such as safes inherited from an old bank, benches on the public galleries and various cabinets are associated with distinctively modern designs such as the lighting, kinetic glass and furniture. You have a series of art installations planned how did that come about and what form will they take? The owner was keen to bring aspects of the strong local community of artists into the building. A variety of public spaces lend themselves very well to this, and offer an added experience to guests a destination to view cutting-edge art works. In 2009 Artsadmin ran an open submission scheme inviting expressions of interest from visual artists making work within the last 10 years, based in the London Boroughs of Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Newham. Six artists have been commissioned to make major new works for Town Hall: Blint Bolyg, Debbie Lawson, Peter Liversidge, Claire Morgan, Zo Mendelson and walkwalkwalk. The works have been site-specifically developed for various public locations in the building, and create a journey throughout. The six pieces created for the Town Hall Hotel and Apartments are challenging, edgy, site-specific works by local artists, created to complement the buildings architecture.

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HOTEL REVIEW RADISSON BLU GAUTRAIN

Radisson Blu Johannesburg Gautrain

VIBRANT COLOURS AND CONTEMPORARY FURNISHINGS WELCOME GUESTS TO THIS SECOND RADISSON BLU IN JOHANNESBURG BY LONDON-BASED INTERIORS PRACTICE MKV DESIGN

ARCHITECT: WERNER ALBERTS INTERIOR DESIGNER: MKV DESIGN

RADISSON BLU GAUTRAIN

HOTEL REVIEW 61

RADISSON BLU GAUTRAIN

eckoning guests in at ground level to the new Radisson Blu Gautrain in Johannesburg is a dramatic cherry-red, faceted wall sculpture that stretches 5m from floor to ceiling. The rich red monolith also acts as a housing for the lift that takes people up from this lobby to the reception on the fourth floor, where they are met by a contrasting polished-steel concierge desk that dominates. The starkness of the desk is offset with the use of African teak cladding on the walls and floors together with contemporary translations of the traditional leather-upholstered wingback chairs. The fourth floor is where all of the main public areas are in this hotel, which operates over 12 levels above a primarily retail, mixed-used

HOTEL REVIEW 63

development. The bar, restaurant and terrace, that wraps around the building, are all on this floor. The terrace overlooks the railway station and the city panorama beyond. And this proximity to the station has been incorporated into many aspects of the interior decor, through such elements as parquet flooring laid like railways tracks and sleepers, while carpets have also been specifically woven to mimic tracks. Elsewhere black and white photographs of model trains sourced from a local artist have been used. These elements take the form of subtle aesthetic hints and nods rather an over-thetop theming. The reception area, bar, restaurant and terrace

form fluid areas through which guests can easily navigate. The interiors, been designed by Londonbased MKV Design, are predominantly neutral with whites, blacks and greys used to create a fresh and airy ambience. MKV Design also worked on another Radisson Blu Hotel in Johannesburg, which opened last year (see X2 Issue 9). On the fourth floor, the sculpted wall that first welcomed guest at the lobby level makes a reappearance and is used to display African artefacts under concentrated beams of light. The wall itself is lit with LEDs that change in colour throughout the day from amber to deep red. This continues under the bottom edge of the black granite bar top, reflecting off the polished steel facade, which can clearly be seen from outside the building through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Chairs and barstools are upholstered in finely textured linens and white and silver leather, while Carrara marble table tops add to the bars fresh ambience designed to contrast with Johannesburgs warm climate. Extending on from one end of the bar in the open-plan layout is the 125-seat, all-day restaurant with its steel-frame chairs upholstered in grey leather, sitting around white Corian-topped tables. The 200sq m space is made into more intimate areas with the use of chainlink screens, which still maintain the overall openness of the scheme. On the far end of the bar is the terrace, which is also the pool deck. Function areas, including a ballroom and four large boardrooms, and also linked to this terrace. The hotel offers 230 guest rooms and suites, and here the colour palette turns warmer, with rich crimsons and chocolate. Oversized door numbers also create a strong effect in the guest room corridors. In the rooms themselves, MKV has attempted to create an urban loft feel, using warm pewter and taupe tones together with strong splashes of red or yellow, and furnished with contemporary pieces in stainless steel and leather. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer views out over the Johannesburg skyline

Rich crimsons and chocolate warm the corridors, where giant door numbers are a feature, above. Guest rooms have an urban loft aesthetic, with a

subtle colour palette, stainless steel and leather furniture and big windows, top. Grey leather chairs and Corian-topped tables feature in the restaurant, right

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t. 01482 329691 w. f. 01482 212988

www.swedecor.com

SERIE 100: A collection that combines large sizes with ecology: tiles measuring 75x75cm and aiming at 100% sustainability. Using the highest percentages of recycled products from the ceramics and similar sectors, Fiandre has created a new material that is both beautiful to look at and kind to the environment.

T i l l y s P O Box 33 0 Wa t er l oo vi lle P O 7 9B X T: 0 23 9 22 5 2 52 5 E : sa le s@t ill ys cr yst al .com W: www.tilly scrys tal .com

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HOTEL REVIEW 65

A COLLECTION OF ELEGANT SUITES THAT PAYS HOMAGE TO LEGENDARY FASHION DESIGNERS AND MODELS HAS OPENED IN THE HEART OF THE CITYS HAUTE COUTURE DISTRICT
INTERIOR DESIGN: DIDIER GOMEZ

Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg

Paris

T secret of he a memorable nights sleep

Hypnos secretly knows that it is a supremely comfortable bed that is at the heart of a truly memorable nights sleep. With a royally approved reputation for creating the most comfortable beds in the world, Hypnos beds and their sublime comfort can be found in the nest homes, palaces and hotels. The Rocco Forte Collection InterContinental Marriott Crowne Plaza

The Royal Horseguards, London The Montcalm, London

St. Jamess Hotel and Club, London

Gordon Ramsays York and Albany, London The Lanesborough, London One Aldwych, London Skibo Castle, Dornoch, Scotland The Landmark, London

T: +44 (0) 1159 732180 | E: contract@hypnosbeds.com

www.hypnosbeds.com

SOFITEL

HOTEL REVIEW 67

itting in the heart of the Parisian houses of haute couture, in Faubourg Saint-Honor, the Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg is celebrating its links to the world of fashion with making a design statement of its own and adding a new collection of suites. Created by the interior and product designer Didier Gomez, many of the 21 new suites pay homage to legendary fashion designers and models from the Forties and Fifties, with their photographs lining the newly refurbished halls, and work by leading photographers displayed in the new suites. The new suites have been created in a distinctive style 17 Collection Suites and four larger Opera Suites, and all very French. From the choice of materials and furniture to the use of colour they are inspired by the harmony and elegance of the neighbouring haute couture salons. The suites are aimed at recreating the harmony and elegance of the drawing rooms of the great fashion houses through the choice of furniture and colour schemes. Ivory, grey and black are the predominantly used colours, enhanced by gold, crystal, emerald and amethyst to realise Gomezs vision. He balances the interiors fashion of the 18th century with the present day, maintaining original cornices and pilasters and period furniture and mirrors, contrasting them with contemporary carpeting, fabrics,other design pieces and design. All the new suites feature top-flight music technology and flat-screen TVs, with the Opera suites also boast private Hammam showers. At the top of the hotel is the new Couture Apartment, created to reflect the harmony and tranquillity of a luxury Parisian penthouse. Gomez individually selected intricate fabrics and elegant lighting to create an air of the haute couture. The apartments carpet, outlined by striking black patterns, gives it a contemporary monochrome feel, enhanced by full-height photography from the world-renowned fashion photographer Cathleen Naundorf. The apartments bed has a headboard in chestnut framed with intricately painted gilded panels and covered with glass cabochons. The bedroom opens on to a bathroom with polished marble walls, decorated with black and white mosaic and fitted with a Hammam shower and therapy baineotherapy tub.

A gold kidney-shaped table designed by Didier Gomez and photography by Erwin Blumenfeld feature in a Collection suite, top left. A colour palette of ivory, black and grey is enhanced by splashes of gold in the Couture Apartment, this image and below, which also features Edgar chairs in ivory velvet and photography by Cathleen Naundorf (below and previous page)

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PRODUCTS

Sleep stand G15

Aqata, UK manufacturer of innovative showering solutions is exhibiting for the first time at Sleep and among their new launches will be the Adagiomove the first and only shower enclosure with electronically controlled sliding door. Offering the ultimate in luxurious bathroom equipment, Adagiomove is individual, stylish and very 21st century. A push of the button is all that is required to operate the electronic door which glides gently open inviting you to step inside for your exhilarating shower. 01455 896500 www.aqata.co.uk

Aqata

iGuzzini
A range of multilamp recessed luminaires designed to give a flexible answer to many lighting requirements. Characterised by simple and clean design, available in two shapes round and square and three sizes for each shape, Deep Laser offers an endless variety of solutions and possibilities. Available in versions with or without rim, it integrates with discretion in different settings, in full respect with existing architecture. 01483 468000 www.iguzzini.co.uk

Astro Lighting

Sleep stand M10

Architectural Textiles Ltd

A new wallcovering from Phillip Jeffries by Architectural Textiles Ltd. Imagine your walls dripping with high gloss lacquer with a vertical texture! Out 137cm wide, Type II Class O vinyl lacquered Stri is embossed with a vertical stri pattern that is virtually seamless. Too luxurious not to fall in love with, the lacquered Stri is conveniently matched with coordinating solids. Part of our range of over 1000 different Natural and Specialist wallcoverings.

With the widest range of IP44-rated lighting in Europe, Astro Lighting is a popular supplier to the hotel market with architecturally designed, reliably performing solutions for bathrooms and bedrooms. Among the many new launches being unveiled this Autumn 2010 are the IP44rated Broni Grande Oval. Featuring a polished chrome fitting and oval glass shade, the luxurious style combined with robust construction and elegant proportions (200mm wide x 205mm high x 170mm depth) make this product ideal for hotel applications. 01279 427001 www.astrolighting.co.uk

01359 259981 www.architecturaltextiles.co.uk

Architectural Textiles Ltd

A new wallcovering from Phillip Jeffries by Architectural Textiles Ltd. Hand woven textures meet chic metallics in the Glam Grass collection. Metallic filaments are woven horizontally throughout the hemp for an unexpected pop of shimmer, while others are laminated onto a metallic backing paper for an overall luminosity. From a subtle sparkle to an incandescent glow, the collection offers over twenty innovative colourways that blend a metallic sophistication with a natural element. Part of our range of over 1000 different Natural and Specialist wallcoverings. 01359 259981 www.architecturaltextiles.co.uk

Milliken Contract
Milliken Contract provides carpet tiles that achieve a balance of performance, sustainability and design for a broad scope of commercial and public environments, as testified in a recent installation at Cambridge Judge Business School. Working with Milliken Contracts in-house design team, Cambridge University specified three different carpet styles for the building, each to be located in either a lecture theatre, the IT centre or personal study area, but all sharing the requisite of performance and style. 01942 612888 www.millikencontract.co.uk

Hamilton Litestat
Following the announcement from the GSM group that from January 2012 new mobile phones will be issued with a USB charger only, leading supplier of decorative electrical wiring accessories and lighting controls, Hamilton Litestat, has unveiled its first ever USB socket. Hamiltons innovative new product is a wall-mounted USB socket combined with a standard 13A socket perfect for hospitality, commercial and residential settings where USB devices need charging. 01747 860088 www.hamilton-litestat.com

PRODUCTS 69

Allermuir
Classic proportions, clean lines and sophisticated design, Stirlings presence is emphasised by the robust yet elegant floating leg frame. Internal ingredients are equally as important as the clean cut exterior figure; the construction is highly engineered and considered to provide an inviting sit with excellent ergonomics. The range comprises of an armchair, two seat sofa, three seat sofa, ottomans of various sizes and a range of complementary tables. The range comes with design options to create a tailored look including 2 styles of leg frames and 2 styles of arm. 01254 682421 www.allermuir.com

Polyrey
Polyreys new Origine Premier range features upto-the-minute woodgrain laminates developed to bring design panache to any interior setting and offers designers, specifiers and furniture manufacturers an on-trend and realistic alternative to real wood. With 41 laminates to choose from, Origine Premier offers an expansive palette with natural colour tones and woodgrains covering all major species in design-oriented effects varying from the fashionably light through to the rich and exotic. 01923 202700 www.polyrey.com

Design at Knightsbridge Sleep stand M4A

Exclusive new concepts in seating and tables for the international hospitality and leisure sector will be unveiled by Design at Knightsbridge at the Sleep Event this year (Business Design Centre, London, 24-25 November 2010). Design at Knightsbridge will be using the show to unveil three new collections of upholstered seating created by design consultant James A Wright for lounge, bar and reception areas. Complementing this extended portfolio of contemporary seating will be a collection of new tables across a series of different design stories. 01274 731900 www.design-at-knightsbridge.co.uk

Antron
Invistas Antron carpet fibre in Lano Flooring Solutions Crescendo carpet has been used throughout the fitness room and offices of The Arch Hotel in London. Just a stones throw away from Marble Arch, the luxury lifestyle hotel has received rave reviews for its stunning mix of modern and traditional interior flavours, including a collection of British contemporary art. Lano Flooring Solutions selected the hardwearing properties of polyamide 6.6 for Crescendo, which helps to make the carpet suitable for demanding areas such as the fitness suite and offices of the hotel. 0845 450 6434 www.invista.com

CaesarStone
CaesarStone quartz surfaces were the ideal choice for 3G All Weather Football Ltd located in Lancashire, for a stunning, and contemporary finish in its restaurant and sports bar facilities. The luxurious Locker Room Restaurant and Boots Barred Sports Bar required a hard wearing surface for the bar areas, that would compliment the modern and contemporary feel of the rooms, whilst fulfill the practical requirements of these busy bar areas. The solution was the beautiful CaesarStone Blizzard White and Mosaic Carbone surfaces in a 50mm and 30mm thickness. 01706 863 600 www.caesarstone.uk.com

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PRODUCTS

Deva
Methven Satinjet showerheads, available from Deva in the UK, are proving to be a hit with businesses that want to enhance the customer experience and still save water and energy. Satinjet can save up to 40% on energy and water with each shower taken, subject to individual water and heating systems, all without compromising on design or performance. The unique Satinjet technology uses twin jets and just nine litres of water per minute to create thousands of soft drops of water per second that drench the skin without feeling needle-like. 0870 848 8400 www.deva.org.uk

Axminster Carpets
Axminster Carpets has launched another major development in its impressive range of commercial carpet services with Graphics Concepts. Ideal for specifiers looking for bespoke tufted carpet that can meet explicit design and performance demands, Graphics Concepts allows the creation of not only custom colours, but also patterns and texture. With the ability to select from different carpet weights and qualities, Graphics Concepts is suitable for many commercial interiors, whether hotel, office or leisure locations. 01297 630630 www.axminster-contractcarpets.co.uk

Khrs
Khrs has launched its new Avenue Collection the third collection of wood floors from its exclusive Supreme Range. Crafted from fine Walnut and Maple, the new collection includes six one-strip wood floors offered with a variety of stunning surface treatments, and with a durable natural oil or UV lacquer prefinish. The introduction follows the earlier launch of Khrs onestrip Supreme Grande Collection and Tapis and Croix patterned Elegance Collection. Measuring 1830 x 148 x 15mm, Avenue floors are crafted from a single plank of wood, giving a sought after one-strip look. 023 9245 3045 www.kahrs.co.uk

John Cullen Lighting

Achieve dramatic lighting effects with the latest energy efficient light fittings from John Cullen Lighting. Shown here at Le Manoir aux QuatSaisons are the latest 1w LED Lucca uplights and LED Contour strip. Both will dramatically reduce energy consumption whilst their warm white light output will provide the desired impact without compromise. For the full energy efficient range of products ideal for use throughout a hotel, call for a brochure or visit our website. 020 7371 5400 www.johncullenlighting.co.uk

Sleep stand G28

On the Level

Porcelanosa
The Victorian Collection concept consists of mosaics and natural stone tiles with inserts of glass or other stones, baths with an original design and suggestive curves, elegant fireplaces and mirrors all in amazing natural stone. Unique pieces that dress the best rooms with the most exclusive material from L'Antic Colonial. For further information or to find your nearest showroom visit Porcelanosas website or call the number below.

Exhibiting once again at Sleep, On the Level, the UK's leading manufacturer of concealed wet floor shower trays (known as formers), will be showing their new Linear Drainage system which provides the perfect solution for creating wetroom floors using larger tile formats. The new system is an ideal partner for floors using marble, limestone or any fashionable large-scale tiles. There are 18 stock sizes from 900 x 900mm through to double entry formers measuring a generous 1200x2400mm and On the Level are the only manufacturer who can produce bespoke solutions in any size or shape. 01525 373202 www.onthelevel.co.uk

0800 915 4000 www.porcelanosa.co.uk

PRODUCTS 71

Brintons
Brintons carpets and iconic Scottish design house Timorous Beasties have pooled their extensive design leadership skills to launch a brand-new collection that is totally unique and redefines the creative possibilities when working with hand tufted rugs. The ground-breaking Timorous Beasties Rugs by Brintons collection has taken two years to develop and marks a continuation of the companies' successful design collaboration relationship that produced its first work in 2007 when First Weave was launched. This distinctive collection has gone on to record massive global success and is credited as being instrumental in changing the perception of how carpet can be used in an interior space. 01562 635 665 www.brintons.net

Domotics
Selected for The Product Innovation Awards at The Sleep Event, Teletask's Aurus O-LED Control Panel, is a superb example of technological integration in home automation. Its toughened glass plate with 8 soft touch buttons allows up to 32 control functions. Intuitive to use with graphic icons scrolling like i-phone pages, Aurus includes a temperature sensor, alarm and message display. All its buttons can be programmed to operate multiple functions: lighting, curtains, heating/cooling, entertainment... In homes and hotels, Aurus seamlessly integrates all electrical functions, contains Energy Monitoring software and links to Building Management System. Control at your fingertips from Domotics. 020 8840 6988 www.domotics.uk.com

Interbar
Long established as the UKs leading commercial bar design and construction company, Interbar works with many of the finest hotels and leisure operators. Through design, consultation, project management, and construction of bars and bar areas, they mix expert technical skills with aesthetic excellence to create functional, beautiful bars for their worldwide client base. When only the best will do, call Interbar for a private consultation. 0845 271 3216 www.interbar.co.uk

Designworks
New from Designworks a striking collection of large format animal print tiles, guaranteed to bring out your wild side. These stylish ceramics have an authentic animal fur appearance, and are available in eye-catching tiger, cow, zebra and leopard print, together with fabulous gold, bronze, black and cream field tiles to complete this distinctive range. Designworks the dedicated contracts team from Original Style, is one of the UK's leading manufacturers and suppliers of tiles, mosaics, glass and natural stone for all commercial projects, whether refurbishment or new build, hotels, housing or swimming pools. 01392 473039 www.designworkstiles.com

Hstens
What makes a hotel stand out? The dcor? The service? But what will make a lasting impression on your guests, ensuring they return time after time? Waking after a night of quality, restorative sleep on the worlds most luxurious and comfortable beds is a priceless experience they will never forget. Hstens beds are what guests' dreams are made of. 020 7723 2925 www.hastenswestend.com

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PRODUCTS

Jotun Paints
Jotun Paints (Europe) Ltd is leading the way in paint technology with the launch of SENS - a revolutionary new, beneficial to health paint range. Sens is the only paint that fulfils the strict requirements of the Norwegian Asthma and Allergies Association (NAAF) as well as meeting the stringent environmental standards set by the Swan and Euro Flower labels. Safe to use by everyone, including those suffering respiratory conditions, SENS has the lowest rate of VOC emissions of any paint on the market. 0191 265 4381 www.jotun.com

Joro Originals
Joro Originals are a unique, wall art / lighting concept using a patent pending technique to create incredibly striking, personalised metal wall sculptures from almost any photograph, be it a family portrait, cherished possession, sporting or action image, building or landscape. They are available in a wide choice of finishes, colours and metals and also have the option of LED backlighting to become a stunning, original and environmentally friendly, light source. 020 8387 0200. www.jorooriginals.com

Junckers
Solid Oak is Junckers best selling product. Its classic good looks and durability add warmth and natural beauty to any interior and works equally well in a contemporary and more traditional setting. Fivestar Hotel Sankt Petri in Copenhagen specified Junckers Oak Classic, both for their exclusive bedrooms and high traffic areas such as the bar. Made from 100% solid hardwood, the timber is BREEM A+rated and comes from sustainable sources. With a virtually limitless lifespan, Junckers hardwood floors are guaranteed for 25 years, making them a smart investment. They are also very easy to maintain and suitable for use over underfloor heating. 01376 534 700 www.junckers.co.uk

Hypnos Beds
Hypnos has an illustrious pedigree for creating some of the hotel industrys most memorable sleep experiences. A Royal Warrant from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II reinforces Hypnoss reputation for service excellence and the very best of British quality. From The Rocco Forte Collection, JW Marriotts Grosvenor House and St.Jamess Hotel and Club to Skibo Castle, St Moritz Hotel and Gordon Ramsays York and Albany, Hypnos has helped to create some of the UKs most beautiful and most comfortable hotel bedrooms. From design service, manufacturing and dedicated installation teams to bed recycling, Hypnos offers a full service project management solution. 01844 348200 www.hypnosbeds.com

Santa & Cole

Serie Moar is a range of lamps designed by Antoni Arola for Spanish lighting and furniture manufacturer Santa & Cole. The Serie Moar range uses two superimposed cylindrical or rectangular shades around a cylindrical diffuser in acrylsatin plastic to create an optical effect known as moir. The shades, made of Soltis fabric with an aluminium structure are available in various colours including white, blue, red, grey and black, and can be used in any combination. The range includes table, floor, ceiling and wall versions. www.santacole.com

HiB
HiB, the leading bathroom mirror specialists, have introduced two new designs featuring modern styling combined with technical enhancements to make them even more attractive to the consumer. Both feature HiBs new steam free mirror surfaces. The Petra can be used in either landscape or portrait format and features an attractive metallic chrome frame, back-lit with a unique uniform light diffusion. Dimensions are 80cm x 60cm x 4cm. These new mirrors are IP44 rated and are illustrated in HiBs latest brochure. 020 8441 0352 www.hib.co.uk

LOUIS F RASER
bronze & pewter door hardware

www.louisfraser.co.uk
free brochure 0845 003 7522

74

HOTEL REVIEW BROOKLANDS HOTEL

MY FAVOURITE HOTEL

Brooklands Hotel
Weybridge, Surrey
THE GLORY DAYS OF EARLY MOTOR RACING LIVE ON IN THIS CONTEMPORARY AND LUXURIOUS HOMAGE TO ART DECO ON THE SITE OF AN HISTORIC RACING CIRCUIT

Pamela Horne
n 1907 the countrys first motor racing circuit opened at Brooklands. Of the steeply banked track that carried the old-style drivers in leather helmets and goggles in their open-topped racers, only a few sections remain, but the new Brooklands Hotel more than a passing nod to its historic location. The path of the race tracks Solomon Straight, over which the hotels modernist glass building is built, rolls out before you in quartz and granite in the floor of the reception, while the rich colour palette, leathers, textiles and chrome used throughout the hotel speaks reverently, albeit with a contemporary accent, of the sites heritage. The lobby also has a spectacular bent wood sculpture by Charlie Whinney redolent of the cars speeding around the uniquely banked racing track. It hangs in the vast atrium, flanked by outsized pendant lights straight from art deco. The work of early 20th-century designers Eileen Gray and Mies van der Rohe is acknowledged too, in a buttoned (a la Barcelona chair) tomato red suede panelling behind the reception, a wonderfully dramatic bar, in Eileen Gray style. I loved the dining room with its chairs upholstered in grey boiled wool with red piping, coloured racing flags on the wall, and a central island making the seating area the same shape as a race track, and the bedroom, with its fantastic walk-in rain-forest shower, and the art deco lines and shapes. But the stylish bar was my favourite. Long channels of brown hide cover the front, with a sweep up and over the ceiling into a marvellous rippled canopy, evoking the splendid hood of a classic car, and a long oval of a banquette is bookmarked by Thirties-style airplane propellers in chrome (Brooklands was also the site of very successful aircraft building). The Brooklands Hotel is very much part of the 21st-century it overlooks the new speed track and skid-pan of MercedesBenz World. But in its carefully crafted interiors by Trevillion it also allows the glory days of Brooklands to live on. Pamela Horne is a freelance writer for X2 and FX Do you have a favourite hotel? Send images and approximately 500 words on why you thought the interior design makes it great to tdowling@fxmagazine.co.uk

Taps, showers and accessories. Beautifully handcrafted in Britain since 1820.

Showroom now open at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour