Europe Awards For Hospitality Experience and Design

Europe Awards For Hospitality Experience and Design, Winner Announced. The reimagining of Sir Edward Lutyens’ iconic Midland Bank, a converted department store in Stockholm, and a vineyard retreat were amongst the winners at the inaugural AHEAD Europe. Taking place at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London, the event celebrated design in all its forms and the guest experience it creates in hospitality projects worldwide. An esteemed judging panel comprising leading hoteliers, architects and interior designers and chaired by Javier Hortal, Regional Director of Technical Services EMEA, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, assessed entries on their aesthetic excellence, guest experience and commercial viability.

Upon arrival, guests indulged in a sci-fi meets cyberpunk theme, with the venue brought to life with lasers, LEDs and a soundtrack of futuristic funk curated by Music Concierge. With over 900 attendees travelling from across Europe and beyond, every aspect of hospitality was represented, from architects and designers to owners and operators, specifiers to contractors. The night was hosted by Sleeper’s Editor-at-Large Guy Dittrich, with Awards Director Matt Turner opening proceedings before introducing Hortal. Addressing the crowd, Hortal extended an empowering plea to entrants: “Designers, please keep challenging convention and innovating. Developers, please keep bravely investing into ventures. Contractors and suppliers, please keep delivering us with inspiring hotels.”

The night’s big winners were Huus Hotel in Gstaad and At Six Stockholm, taking home two awards each, while The Ned won three accolades and was named The AHEAD Europe Hotel of the Year for its holistic approach in successfully transforming a challenging historic building. For 2017, the Outstanding Contribution Award was given to Rob Wagemans in recognition of his achievements within hospitality design, notably CitizenM, a game-changer designed for the urban traveller, and Zoku, a home-office hybrid concept that caters to mobile professionals.

BAR, CLUB & LOUNGE 

THE LIVING ROOM AT HUUS, GSTAAD 

With design by Swedish firm Stylt Trampoli, The Living Room at Huus is an authentic experience that embraces multifunctional design while focusing on the Alpine atmosphere in which it surrounds itself. The property has been thoughtfully designed to create a relaxed, luxurious bar with a dynamic and youthful vibe. Overlooking the Bernese Alps, the hotel’s primary public space now features as a lounge, terrace and bar, as well as a library stocked with more than 500 books from Alpine countries. Judges commented: “Stylt Trampoli has created a space in which the energy and fun are perfectly in tune with the character of the hotel and its surroundings.”

GUESTROOMS 

AT SIX, STOCKHOLM 

For At Six Stockholm, Universal Design Studio has worked with Nordic Choice Hotels to convert an old store into an innovative hotel concept. Situated in Brunkebergstorg Square, the property’s urban guestrooms are designed to maximise space using a functional layout, and blend mid-century furnishings, subtle tones and bespoke details such as an in-room cocktail corner. Judges observed: “With its stunningly classic styling, thoughtful use of materials and elusive palette, this project was a great entry and a worthy winner in its respected category.”

EVENTS SPACES 

THE NED, LONDON 

A restrained treatment of an existing building by Soho House & Co, The Ned is the solicitous reinvention of Sir Edward Lutyens’ iconic Midland Bank. Nestled into the evolving business district of Bank in London, its location is billed to resemble Madison Square North in New York. Boasting period features including walnut panelling and vintage chandeliers, as well as ample domed windows that invite an abundance of natural light, meeting rooms range in size from 21- 165m2, and can accommodate between four and 200 people. The Saloon, catering for up to 120 guests, is an opulent and stylish ballroom dominated by an 18th-century chandelier sourced from London’s Devonshire House, and glories in ornate chalk frieze and a restored parquet floor. Judges praised The Ned’s design team for allowing the grandeur of the original building to speak, and for creating a unique setting for meetings and events, stating: “The beautiful existing rooms have kept their original glamour throughout this project, exemplifying a restrained approach in adding new elements. The results are upscale, high-end and plush, exactly what is expected of an events space.”

HOTEL RENOVATION & RESTORATION 

PULITZER, AMSTERDAM 

Originally built as 25 interlinked Golden Age townhouses, Jacu Strauss has designed Pulitzer Amsterdam to combine heritage and architectural splendour with contemporary style. Located in the city’s UNESCO World Heritage canal district, the boutique hotel blends quintessential Dutch elegance and modern craftsmanship effortlessly. Judges commented: “Pulitzer Amsterdam demonstrates a strong focus on individual design that nevertheless balances the authentic with the contemporary.”

LOBBY & PUBLIC SPACES 

ROOMERS, BADEN-BADEN

 Described as intriguing, dramatic and theatrical, the lobby and public spaces at Roomers Baden-Baden create a memorable arrival for guests. Nestled into a prosaic German spa town, Piero Lissoni and KPH Architecture’s design sees minimal exteriors juxtaposed with an eccentric lobby adorned with unique artworks, lighting and quality materials. Judges stated: “Fabulous artworks, dramatic lighting and exquisite materials are combined to great effect throughout this space.”

LANDSCAPING & OUTDOOR SPACES 

EKIES ALL SENSES RESORT, VOURVOUROU 

Designed to blend harmoniously with its surrounding landscape, Ekies All Senses Resort skilfully captures an informal sense of natural barefoot luxury. The work of Fytron Landscapes, outdoor spaces at the Greek retreat are beautifully executed to reflect crystal waters and pine tree forests in abundance, delivering an environment of intimacy and privacy. According to judges: “The project brilliantly captures a natural outdoor lifestyle, and is beautifully executed in its human scale.”

RESORT HOTEL 

SAO LOURENCO DO BARROCAL, MONSARAZ 

São Lourenço do Barrocal, with a design that offers a serene ambience in-keeping with its roots, embraces its Portuguese heritage and creates a legacy. Authentic and of its place, the hotel celebrates its simplicity and enhances its farmhouse provenance to bring the local community back to life. Applauding its originality, the judges commented: “The bold simplicity and authenticity of this hotel stood out from all others. It is true to its origins and provides a unique guest experience.”

SUITE 

SPLIT LEVEL SUITES AT CASA COOK, RHODES 

Inspired by the nomadic way of life, the split-level suites at Casa Cook Rhodes truly encompass the bohemian spirit, with interiors featuring muted tones, natural materials and plants in abundance to create a cosy atmosphere. Designed by Annabell Kutucu, each space combines architecture and interior design for the next generation traveller using Instagram-worthy boho chic dressing and organic amenities from Korres. Judges stated: “The suites deliver a luxury guest experience based on authenticity, open space and harmony with the environment.”

SPA & WELLNESS 

NED’S CLUB RELAX 

THE NED, LONDON 

Located in the heart of London, this sanctuary is built around a 20-metre indoor pool, and features a sauna, steam room, traditional Moroccan hammam and eight treatment rooms. The spa extends with marble-clad changing areas, and a library-style Club Room for post-treatment refreshments from The Mint Bar. Judges were impressed by the sheer scale and variety of health, leisure, beauty, grooming and wellness facilities at Ned’s Club Relax: “This project significantly demonstrates the ambition and vision of the Sydell Group.”

RESTAURANT 

MILLIE’S LOUNGE AT THE NED LONDON 

Taking home its second award of the evening, Millie’s Lounge at The Ned was praised for cleverly retaining the features of the Grade I-listed building, including the original banking counters and columns in the cavernous ground floor of the former Midland headquarters. Designed by the Soho House team and set amongst a plethora of bars and restaurants, each with their own unique theme, the 24- hour brasserie channels the mood of early 20th century – serving British and American classic dishes alongside English sparkling wines, craft ales and seasonal cocktails. Nestled amongst an ornate dining space complete with high ceilings, leather banquette seating and marble columns, the dining venue exudes an old-world ambiance, featuring bespoke Burleigh china sets to serve traditional afternoon tea amindst the Grand Banking Hall. Discussing the project, judges praised ambition of the phenomenally successful F&B operation, on a scale that few would challenge: “Millie’s creates a cosy atmosphere in a large-scale space, using intricate attention to detail and exquisite materials to create a richly layered dining venue.”

URBAN HOTEL CONVERSION 

AT SIX, STOCKHOLM 

At Six Stockholm, with architecture and design by White Arkitekter and Universal Design Studio, is a project converting a brutalist office block into a boutique hotel with elegance and style, whilst thoughfully retaining the building’s original characteristics. Judges appreciated the coherence of the interiors with its Scandinavian surroundings: “The calmness of the design perfectly aligns with its Stockholm location, and the project is a truthful reaction to the property’s former purpose.”

NEW CONCEPT OF THE YEAR 

LA GRANJA, IBIZA 

For La Granja, Armin Fischer of Dreimeta Design Studio worked with Claus Sendlinger and Design Hotels to create a farmstead concept, drawing inspiration from the Japanese principles of wabi-sabi to embrace heritage and honour rustic simplicity. Judges applauded the project for combining both cultural engagement with organic farm-to-table F&B, stating: “La Granja presents an innovative and holistic hospitality experience, and showcases the future evolution of travel.”

URBAN HOTEL NEWBUILD 

CITIZEN M TOWER OF LONDON 

Designed in a district where planning authorities are exceptionally strict, Citizen M Tower of London creates a balance of scale and surface texture while respecting its urban context, achieved by multidisciplinary studio Concrete. The interiors evoke flexibility, with judges particularly impressed by the double-height event and meeting space, SocietyM, which caters to a number of creative communities. They said: “This is a great piece of architecture in a city where planning can be a challenge.”

VISUAL IDENTITY OF THE YEAR 

HUUS HOTEL, GSTAAD 

The design process for Huus Hotel was narrative-driven, with designers Stylt Trampoli placing emphasis on telling a unified and authentic story. Delving further than interior design, into graphics and branding, Huus enhances the guest experience with a well-considered visual identity spectrum, perfectly in tune with the character of the hotel and its surroundings. According to its designers, much of this was inspired, similar to the architecture, by the Alpine traditions and way of life.

sources: Sleeper, 01-02, 2018

Tweet

Subscribe to receive free email updates: