Architecture and design news:
hotels & hospitality
Lux Grand Gaube reopens with extensive wellness facilities
by Jane Kitchen | 16 Mar 2018
The Lux Grand Gaube in Mauritius has reopened after a US$32m renovation by London-based designer Kelly Hoppen and Mauritius designer Jean-Francois Adam, who have reimagined the resort in a “simple-yet-refined” style. With over a hectare of land dedicated to wellness, the resort’s spa includes African-style huts and is designed to connect guests to nature. A new hydrotherapy pool, aromatic steamroom and sauna have been added, along with an Artis Technogym
Iconic Swiss wellness resort undergoing complete renovations to mark 150th anniversary
by Jane Kitchen | 14 Mar 2018
Architect Claudio Carbone will oversee a complete renovation of Switzerland’s Grand Hotel Quellenhof in Bad Ragaz as part of an extensive investment programme of around 40m Swiss Francs (US$42m, €34m, £30m). Part of the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, the five-star wellbeing and medical health resort first opened in 1869, and includes 106 suites, which have hosted film stars, statesmen and royalty. CEO Patrick Vogler said the forthcoming renovations will “complete
Luxury Collection plans Los Cabos resort with 10,000sq ft spa
by Jane Kitchen | 09 Mar 2018
The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts will open its first hotel in Baja California Sur in June of this year, complete with a 10,000sq ft (929sq m) spa. Solaz Resort will be operated by Qunta del Golfo de Cortez, and will include 128 hotel bedrooms and 21 residences on 34 acres overlooking the Sea of Cortez in Mexico. The Ojo de Liebre Spa will offer 10 private treatment rooms and
Former sugar cane plantation to be home to Six Senses St Kitts
by Jane Kitchen | 09 Mar 2018
The Eastern Caribbean island of St Kitts will be the newest destination for Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas. The luxury resort brand has partnered with Range Developments, which specialises in developing luxury Caribbean resorts, to complete the Six Senses St Kitts resort over the next three years. Set on the site of a former sugar cane plantation fronting the Caribbean Sea, the resort will include 70 pool villas with sea
First look: The US$60m refurbishment of Malaysia's iconic Datai Langkawi jungle resort
by Kim Megson | 09 Mar 2018
Datai Hotels and Resorts has unveiled images of the refurbished interiors and exteriors of The Datai Langkawi resort, following a US$60m (€48.7m, £43.4m) overhaul. The images give a first look at how the independelty-owned property will look once it reopens in July 2018, following a substantial 10-month renovation, which has included a remodelling of the interiors of the guestrooms, suites, villas and public areas. The project, situated next to a
Icehotel seeks designers to create guest rooms at its next wintry wonderland
by Kim Megson | 08 Mar 2018
With the imminent arrival of spring across Europe and temperatures tentatively rising, the ephemeral Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden will soon return from whence it came, melting back into the Torne River. However, its creators are already preparing for the hotel’s return towards the end of the year, harvesting huge blocks of ice and snow and seeking design ideas for the future guestrooms – each of which is conceived as an
Revealed: First official image of Bjarke Ingels' twisting New York towers for Six Senses hotel
by Kim Megson | 08 Mar 2018
Real estate firm HFZ Capital Group has revealed the first official image of the large-scale condominium and hotel development it is building in New York with Bjarke Ingels Group. The Eleventh, located along the High Line at 76 11th Avenue in West Chelsea, will be formed of two twisting asymmetrical towers connected via a skybridge. Together, they will feature 236 residences and the first urban property for Six Senses Hotels
'An emporium of elaborate meals': The American Restaurant in Kansas City wins design icon award
by Kim Megson | 07 Mar 2018
The James Beard Foundation (JBF) has announced today (7 March) that The American Restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri, has been awarded this year’s Design Icon Award. The accolade, which celebrates landmark examples of great restaurant design, will be given to the owners of the eatery, which was described by the prize’s jury as “equally known for its architectural and culinary artistry.” The American Restaurant opened on Valentine’s Day 1974 atop
Philippe Starck reimagines historic restaurant Quadri as 'a Venetian wonderland of mystery, poetry and magic'
by Kim Megson | 02 Mar 2018
An 18th-century restaurant and cafe in Venice’s historic St Mark’s Square has reopened following a major restoration overseen by Philippe Starck. The Michelin-starred Quadri, owned by restaurateurs the Alajmo family since 2010, has been reinterpreted by the French designer as “a Venetian wonderland of mystery, poetry and magic.” He has worked with local artisans – including glassblowers, carpenters, fabric-makers and art restorers – to recover the building’s original architectural details,
Avani launches design-led hospitality brand with Luang Prabang hotel
by Kim Megson | 01 Mar 2018
Asian hospitality operator Avani has today (1 March) expanded its new brand, Avani+, by launching its first hotel in Luang Prabang – a UNESCO World Heritage Site in northern Laos. Founded in 2011, the company is one of the fastest-growing brands to come out of Asia, having launched 23 properties in 15 countries, including Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Mozambique, the United Arab Emirates and Portugal. In a statement, the firm
Henning Larsen's leisure-led Belfast masterplan inspired by Copenhagen harbour and Giant's Causeway
by Kim Megson | 28 Feb 2018
International architects Henning Larsen have won a hard-fought competition to design a 16-acre masterplan for the mammoth mixed-use Belfast Waterside development in the Northern Irish capital. The firm will now develop the ambitious waterfront project to “repopulate the city of Belfast while reviving the potential of River Lagan – drawing inspiration from successful harbour front developments in Copenhagen.” It is set to become the single largest development in Belfast’s recent
Brewdog to open ‘world’s first craft beer hotel’
by Tom Walker | 28 Feb 2018
Independent brewer BrewDog has revealed plans to build an immersive craft beer hotel and brewery expansion at its headquarters in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. To be called DogHouse, the hotel is scheduled to open in the first half of 2019 and will be marketed as the world’s first craft beer hotel. Featuring 26 bedrooms, DogHouse will feature beer taps in the rooms, a built-in shower beer fridge, and rooms will overlook
Renowned restaurant noma re-opens within converted sea mine depot by BIG
by Kim Megson | 22 Feb 2018
Noma, the two-Michelin-star restaurant regularly ranked as among the world’s finest, has reopened in Copenhagen last week after relocating to a new home designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). Opened by chef René Redzepi in 2003, noma is known for its twist on traditional Nordic Cuisine, with people traveling from across the world to try the award-winning food. The success of the restaurant has led to the launch of international
Bon Appétit: Snøhetta unveil The French Laundry’s kitchen and courtyard re-design
by Kim Megson | 20 Feb 2018
International architects Snøhetta have unveiled their kitchen extension and garden redesign for the world-renowned restaurant The French Laundry, in Yountville, California. The three-starred Michelin restaurant, which was founded in 1994 by American chef Thomas Keller and named after one of the building’s former uses, is regularly listed as one of the best in the world. Snøhetta – working in collaboration with San Francisco studio Envelope A+D and Keller – aimed
ReardonSmith Architects complete extensive renovation of 'Ireland's leading luxury resort'
by Kim Megson | 13 Feb 2018
Adare Manor, Country Limerick’s historic hotel and golf resort, has re-opened its doors after a multi-million-euro redevelopment, planned to establish a ”new legacy” as Ireland’s leading luxury resort. Led by ReardonSmith Architects, the large-scale project has included the creation of new buildings as well as the restoration and refurbishment of existing properties, joined by interconnecting spaces Meanwhile, the repair and enhancement of the surrounding 840-acre estate – complete with manicured
Snøhetta unveil Arctic Circle's first energy-positive hotel concept
by Kim Megson | 12 Feb 2018
International architects Snøhetta have unveiled a concept design for the Arctic circle's first ever energy-positive hotel. Situated at the foot of the Svartisen glacier that runs through Meløy, northern Norway, the project, called Svart, will consume around 85 per cent less energy than a modern Norwegian hotel, and produce its own power. The design has been developed by Snøhetta in collaboration with sustainable tourism agency Arctic Adventure of Norway; engineering
Details revealed for Equinox Hotel in Chicago's West Loop
by Kim Megson | 06 Feb 2018
Chicago developer Related Midwest has revealed the first renderings of the 680ft (207m) skyscraper it is planning for the city, which will include an Equinox hotel and fitness club. Details of the 58-storey project were revealed last week at a public meeting. The tower – which will flank the Kennedy Expressway at 725 W Randolph Street – will include 165 guest rooms, a spa and 370 rental apartments. At ground
Roberto Elias designs serene resort for Le Blanc Los Cabos
by Jane Kitchen | 05 Feb 2018
Following the success of the Le Blanc Spa Resort Cancun, Palace Resorts has opened its second Le Blanc Spa Resort in Los Cabos, Mexico, designed by architect Roberto Elias of Elias Estudio, with interiors by Francois Frossard of Francois Frossard Design. The 373-bedroom resort includes four buildings that curve toward the ocean, and has been inspired by the unique flora and fauna of Los Cabos, as well as the climate,
Ordinary office block transformed into 'magical bamboo forest' for Fuzhou restaurant
by Kim Megson | 05 Feb 2018
An unremarkable office building in Fuzhou, China, has been transformed by the Yiduan Shanghai International Design studio into a striking restaurant set within “a magical bamboo forest”. The 2,000sq m (21,500sq ft) Shandao Restaurant features a dramatic and unifying tile facade designed to draw the attention of passers-by. Inside, winding pathways across five floors and a mezzanine level lead to dining areas separated by multi-layered bamboo partitions. A lobby, banqueting
View from the top – Foster's Four Seasons Philadelphia to feature 57th-floor spa
by Jane Kitchen | 29 Jan 2018
Four Seasons will open a flagship hotel and spa in Philadelphia, US, in Q3 of this year. Set in the historic city’s tallest tower – the 60-storey Comcast Technology Center – the new Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center will include 219 bedrooms on the 48th to 56th floors. Above the hotel, the 57th-floor spa will include seven treatment rooms and an indoor infinity pool. The tower – a
Futudesign to transform Eliel Saarinen’s Helsinki Central Railway Station into landmark hotel
by Kim Megson | 29 Jan 2018
Finnish architecture and firm Futudesign has won an invited competition to transform part of Eliel Saarinen’s Helsinki Central Railway Station into a hotel. Developer Exilion Management and hospitality operator Scandic Hotels are seeking ideas for how to breathe new life into the underutilised eastern administrative wing of the station, which was completed in 1914. Futudesign’s winning proposal, called ‘Hermes’, takes advantage of the grand, high interiors originally designed by Saarinen
Enter the dragon: striking 'cymbalic' sculpture welcomes guests to Shenzhen's Hard Rock Hotel
by Kim Megson | 25 Jan 2018
The Chinese mainland has its first Hard Rock Hotel, complete with a huge vinyl mosaic, hundreds of red guitars hanging from the walls and a golden dragon made from drumsticks and 1,680 cymbals. Hong Kong practice CL3 Architects, led by William Lim, were commissioned by developer Mission Hill Properties to design the Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen, combining the brand’s trademark references to rock and roll with local design flourishes. Vibrant
Chad Oppenheim and Arthur Casas create shape-shifting hotel on Rio's Copacabana beach
by Kim Megson | 23 Jan 2018
Architects Chad Oppenheim and Arthur Casas have collaborated to create a dynamic hotel nestled between dilapidated 1950s apartment buildings on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach. The Emiliano Rio has a distinctive façade of sculptural weatherproof panels which can be opened and closed from the bedroom balconies, resulting in a constantly shifting elevation. “Through these simple yet powerful spatial manipulations, the hotel optimises its beneficial attributes while subverting its negative forces,”
Heritage property in Singapore to be home to Six Senses’ first city hotel
by Jane Kitchen | 19 Jan 2018
Luxury wellness hotel operator Six Senses will open its first city hotel in Singapore this year as part of a restoration of two buildings in the heart of the city-state’s Chinatown. Six Senses Singapore is split across two buildings within walking distance of each other, Six Senses Duxton and Six Senses Maxwell, and will celebrate local Singapore culture and history while adding a touch of playfulness to the heritage properties,
Activist hotelier Katherine Lo merges hospitality and social change with Kengo Kuma collaboration
by Jane Kitchen | 12 Jan 2018
Katherine Lo, daughter of Langham Hospitality Group chair Ka Shui Lo, has transformed the group’s Eaton brand into Eaton Workshop – a global lifestyle business including a wellness component. Lo used her background in activism, anthropology and film to create Eaton Workshop, which includes four distinct parts: hotel, house, media and wellness. The first hotel is set to open in Washington DC early this year, with locations to follow in
Jean-Michel Gathy to transform New York's Crown Building into 'ultra-luxury' Aman hotel
by Kim Megson | 10 Jan 2018
Belgian architect Jean-Michel Gathy has been commissioned to create the first Aman Resort in the US, within New York’s landmark Crown Building. The principal designer of Denniston International specialises in 'ultra-luxury' hospitality design, having worked around the world with companies such as Banyan Tree, Mandarin Oriental and One&Only. He has previously collaborated with Aman for resorts in Venice, the Indonesian island of Moyo and Sveti Stefan islet in Montenegro –
Network of Architecture capture drama of the Dolomites with 'silent theatre' hotel
by Kim Megson | 05 Jan 2018
Italian design studio Network of Architecture (noa*) have been inspired by the world of the theatre for their latest hotel project: a glass and timber structure looking out towards the Dolomites. The family-run Valentinerhof hotel is situated 1,200m above sea-level in the commune of Castelrotto, South Tyrol. The architects were commissioned by the owners to design two new guest buildings offering views from every point of the nearby Schlern mountain.
‘Nourishing cloud’: Aman relocates 10,000 trees and a historic village for its latest resort
by Jane Kitchen | 05 Jan 2018
Luxury hotel operator Aman is set to open its fourth location in China on Monday (8 January) – the culmination of an ambitious 15-year conservation initiative which saw the relocation of an entire forest and the reconstruction of a historic village. Kerry Hill Architects have restored 50 disassembled antique houses in order to create Amanyangyun, integrating contemporary comfort into the 400-year-old fabric of the buildings. The story began in the
Jumeirah to expand in 2018 with five new resorts
by Tom Walker | 04 Jan 2018
Luxury hotel group Jumeirah has set out plans for an ambitious expansion which will see it enter three new markets during 2018. Jumeirah will open five new resorts during the year, including its first properties in Bahrain, Indonesia and Oman – signalling the group’s intention to enter emerging tourism markets with its luxury offering. The five properties, each featuring large spas, are Jumeirah Royal Saray, Bahrain; Jumeirah Sa’adiyat Island, Abu
Burgenstock’s medical wellness hotel opens with forest-bathing design
by Jane Kitchen | 29 Dec 2017
Bürgenstock Hotels & Resort Lake Lucerne has opened the final hotel in its portfolio, the Waldhotel Health & Medical Excellence, a medical wellness centre offering physical and mental wellbeing through a ‘Healthy by Nature’ concept. Designed by Italian architect Matteo Thun, the five-star Waldhotel features a team of multidisciplinary physicians, using cardiology, internal medicine, dermatology, orthopaedics, psychosomatics, dentists to nutrition and gastroenterology to treat and prevent health concerns. The physicians
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