Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Saturday 1 February 2020
Hotel design trends: Lobbies and rooms with a point of view

By KIM COOK from photographers Lou-
Designers of hotel spaces ise Scullion and Matthew
have traditionally tended Dalziel, who rode the route
to favor either theatrical shooting atmospheric, ro-
flair (baroque finishes and mantic pictures of scenery,
opulent flourishes) or the shaggy cows and travelers.
opposite: a low-key insou- The chain’s interior design-
ciance consisting of neu- er Katharina Schmidt used
tral, contemporary furniture the photos in both private
and acres of beige-ness. and public spaces, adding
That’s changing. Now, wooly sheep stools, tartan-
many designers are look- covered modern chairs,
ing to the cities and neigh- displays of vintage hatbox-
borhoods where hotels es and trains, and pendant
are located for decorat- lights evoking crystal-cut
ing inspiration. The vibe whiskey glasses.
inside is skewed more ``liv- At Motel One’s property in
ing room’’ than ``lobby.’’ Zurich, Switzerland, brown
And in the rooms, gallery and tan leather furniture
walls are supplanting ge- and padded wallcover-
neric landscape prints, and ings suggest luscious Swiss
there might be the kinds of chocolates, while the lake
objets d’art, reading mate- outdoors is evoked with
rials and soft furnishings one This photo shows the lobby in The Hoxton Hotel in Portland, Ore. London/L.A.-based Fettle designed brass boat propellers, port-
would have at home. Portland's Hoxton. Alongside newly-built rooms, public areas were situated in an old converted hole mirrors and wallpaper
LET’S ALL GO TO THE LOBBY movie theater. Tailored but comfy mohair and leather seating and warm wood side tables blend printed with puffy white
with distressed rugs and displays of ceramics, plants and books. Refurbished timber and concrete
“We’ve heard from our beams frame the spaces. And there's a great story about the reception area's wood paneling. clouds.
showrooms and exhibitors Associated Press In Manchester England,
that they’re seeing an up- the area’s history as a yarn
tick in ‘softer’-style solutions Hotel in Portland, Oregon, project,” Parker says. “The cial interior design and ar- and textile marketplace
for spaces like hotel lob- for example, has a com- area around Portland is a chitecture, says this mix of informed Motel One’s
bies,” says Byron Morton, munal work table and a big producer of Maraschi- workspace and hospitality design; Schmidt commis-
vice president of leasing for comfortable lounge seat- no cherries; the visible face is being called “corporatal- sioned artist Andy Single-
NeoCon, the commercial ing around a fireplace. The of the wall is made from the ity.” ton to create sculptures
design industry exhibition public areas were situated outside of reclaimed cherry Hotel chain CitizenM on inspired by spools of yarn
held annually in Chicago. in an old, converted movie vats. If you look closely you Manhattan’s Lower East and fabric. Ceiling lights
“The lobby is increasingly theater. Tailored but comfy can even see the imprints Side uses the tagline, “You by Arturo Alvarez resemble
a communal meeting and mohair and leather seat- where the metal belts that may not be a New York na- cotton bolls.
amenity space rather than ing and warm wood side hold the huge vats togeth- tive, but you can feel like At the 1 Hotel in West Hol-
just a pass-through.” tables blend with distressed er were pressed against the one here.” Colorful lounge lywood, California, RCH
Tom Parker, co-founder of rugs and displays of ce- wood.” chairs face a soaring shelf Studios extended the inte-
the design group Fettle, ramics, plants and books. In many hotels, Parker wall filled with eclectic cu- rior space to an ``outdoor
which has offices in Lon- Refurbished timber and notes, ``It’s not just hotel rios, art and books. lobby.’’ Hiking trails next to
don and Los Angeles, says concrete beams frame the guests who are using them, In Scotland, Glasgow’s Mo- the hotel were the inspira-
changes in how business spaces. And there’s a story but the locals who come to tel One is next to the main tion; guests can explore
travelers work have im- about the reception area’s work in these spaces.” railway station, which takes a granite pathway that
pacted both the public wood paneling. Paul Makovsky, editor in passengers into the Scottish meanders through native
and private spaces in a ho- “We used a lot of local sup- chief for Contract, a mag- Highlands. The hotel com- greenery. Log seating and
tel. pliers and material for this azine focused on commer- missioned oversize images timber planters were made
“New technology has from salvaged, fallen trees.
paved the way for the ‘gig ROOMS AT THE INN
economy’ and freelanc- High-speed internet has
ing. People are now work- become more important
ing flexible hours from loca- than a work desk in today’s
tions that suit them. In any hotel rooms, says Parker.
given city, the lobby is now With lighter, thinner tech,
the heartbeat of the pub- we can work in different
lic areas, filled with people positions. So, there’s more
working on their laptops,’’ lounge furniture and fewer
Parker says. desks, along with charging
Fettle blends elements from capabilities in table and
midcentury, art deco, in- sofa bases.
dustrial and British design. Some hotels are also re-
“People want break-out sponding to the self-care
lounge furniture and meet- trend, says Makovsky. Equi-
ing tables, but when eve- nox’s hotel rooms in New
ning rolls around and the York, L.A. and Chicago
laptops are tucked away, This undated photo provided by 1 Hotel in West Hollywood, Calif., shows an extension of the ho- feature dark, moody at-
tel's interior space that they are calling the "outdoor lobby." The Hollywood Hills hiking trails next
the lobby transforms,’’ to the hotel were the inspiration; guests can explore a granite pathway that meanders through mospheres with soothing
Parker says. a 'canyon' of native greenery. Log seating and timber planters were created from salvaged Los acoustics, proprietary mat-
The company’s design for Angeles-area fallen trees. tresses, and relaxation and
the lobby of the Hoxton Associated Press sleep programs.q