Dream in design - The Alpina Gstaad

Dream in design
5 February 2014
The European Hotel Design Awards proved, once again, that hotel design is a
force to be reckoned with.
There was no need to sleep on the deliberations over the winners of this year’s European
Design Hotel Design Awards, the talent and execution of the designers’ work on display
was undoubting. The Gallery HBA swept the board scooping the European Hotel Design Of
The Year award as well as other accolades for elements of the hotel’s design and
Tomorrow’s Hotel design KOI by MM Planners delivered a design that faced global
challenges head on and formed a connection, representing social and commercial
connectivity.
Now in their 16th year, the European Hotel Design Awards are widely acknowledged as the
leading pan-European awards to focus on excellence in hotel architecture and design. For
2013, 900 guests gathered together from across the Continent to celebrate the
achievements by designers in the field of hotel architecture and design.
Members of the judging panel were: Stuart Wilsdon of Wilsdon Design Assoicates, Paul
Priestman of Priestman Goode, Rob Wagemans from Concrete, Erik Nissen from Stylt
Trampoli, Robbie Bargh of Gorgeous Group, Javier Hortal from Mandarin Oriental, Celia
Geyer of Hilton Worldwide, Jeremy Blake from Purcell, Stuart Bradbury of ADS Design,
Eugene Staal from Carlson Rezidor, Ahmed Akudi from Grohe, Eileen Keribar, Gregoir
Chikaher from Arup, James Dilley from Jestico + Whiles, Christoph Hoffmann of 25Hours
Hotels, Daniel Englander from Benjamin West, Stephanie Briggs of Steph Briggs Design,
design journalist Guy Dittrich and Sleeper Magazine’s Matt Turner. The chairperson was
Simon Ford of Dorchester Collection.
Commenting on this year’s awards, Simon Ford said: “Not only did we receive more
excellent entries than ever before, but they were more diverse. So it made coming to a
decision even tougher. Our judging process is rigorous and, between us, we visit all the
shortlisted hotels before we get together to hammer out the winners. We look for creative
excellence, commercial viability and evidence that the designs meet the needs of the client
and guest alike. To my mind, the range, talent and fresh thinking seen especially in the work
of this year’s winners amply demonstrate the flourishing, varied and pioneering quality of
hospitality design today.”
The winners 2013:
Architecture of the Year
Conversion and/or Extension of an Existing Hotel Building
Ushuaia Beach Hotel, Ibiza, by Estudio Vila 13
Ushuaïa Beach is a hotel with its own philosophy. The new concept, a hotel-disco, allows
guests to not only rest in the luxury guestrooms, but also listen to the world’s best DJs live.
The hotel consists of two adjoining lodgings: The Ushuaïa Club and The Ushuaïa Tower
(formerly Fiesta Hotel Playa d’En Bossa) that offers views of the sea and entire beach area.
Guests are welcomed to Ushuaïa with a red-carpet entrance leading straight to the central
attraction, the swimming pool. The element of surprise and the unexpected are essential at
the hotel; birds crossing a corridor, an invasion of ants in the lobby and watching a concert
from a Jacuzzi. The island’s love of nature is infused in the hotel through carpets, corridors
and the separators between bed and bathrooms. Patios, terraces and swimming pools are
littered with nature such as plants and palm trees. Curves take the place of the right angle,
allowing a more organic shape to form. The old hotel has been invaded by the Ushuaïa
concept.
Conversion of an Existing Non-Hotel Building to Hotel Use Speicher 7 in
Mannheim, by Schmucker und Partner
Schmucker and partners transformed the 1950’s building but maintained the original and
raw concrete structures, floorings and many details from the former usage. The hotel offers
20 guestrooms in unique styles and shapes that have been maintained from the original
state, such as a 12m high bathroom and a 6m high guestroom with a window of same height.
By maintaining its industrial heritage, Speicher 7 Hotel is able to stay integrated in it’s
neighbourhood, while also bringing a new social highlight into a neglected area.
Newbuild Hotel
Bulgari Hotel & Residences, London by Antonio Citterio, Patricia Veil &
Partners and Squire & Partners
The Bulgari Hotel in London is set in the heart of Knightsbridge, the city’s most prestigious
neighbourhood. It is a perfect expression of the Bulgari aesthetic of timeless glamour. The
contemporary design concept concurs with Bulgari’s silversmith origins and Britain’s noble
manufacturing traditions: silver forms the unifying theme. Details include custom-made silk
curtains that feature silver patterns derived from an 1800s silver brooch by Sotirio Bulgari,
and the spectacular handcrafted solid silver chandeliers, which dominate the Ballroom and
are set to become the most impressive pair of silverware pieces made this century.
Interior Design of the Year
Lobby, Lounge & Public Areas
The Alpina Gstaad, by The Gallery HBA London
The Alpina Gstaad is the first new luxury hotel in Gstaad for over 100 years. The objective
was to create an authentic, captivating and luxurious alpine experience, celebrating the
beauty of all the seasons in this region. The starting point was the chalet, where the
interiors feature many traditional materials crafted in centuries-old ways or reworked into
contemporary individually designed pieces. The result is both rustic and refined – weathered
timbers mixed with embossed leathers, hand-beaten bronze sconces, custom-designed
wrought iron lamps, natural wools and linens. A totally new interpretation of Alpine
chic. The entrance lobby sets the scene. Reclaimed timber planks have been individually
crafted to fit their new location; the reception table is hewn from a single alpine ash tree
trunk. Above this, a cluster of illuminated glass pendants are etched with Swiss verses. Rugs
are of hand-tufted, unbleached wool and structural columns are clad in embossed leather.
The fireplaces are surrounded by Alpine boulders, individually selected from the local rivers
where centuries of rushing water have shaped them. A sweeping staircase leads to the first
floor lounge. Above, there is an intricately painted antique ceiling while behind a slatted
wooden screen references the “gimmwand” building style of local farmland properties,
allowing a lattice of light to fall upon the area. The lounge is a very social space. The palette
of the fabrics is soft with punches of burnt red colour; stitching and embroidery details
abound in the best of Swiss tradition. A cigar lounge joins the area, redolent in 1930s
Havana glamour with its sultry tones and deep-buttoned armchairs, while an intimate
screening room combines hi-tech with discrete luxury and even bean bags for children. And,
for young guests, there is the further delight of a novel Kids Room, a uniquely designed
space in the spirit of a mini chalet.
Café or All-Day Dining
25hours Hotel, Zurich West, by Alfredo Häberli Design Development
True to the 25hours motto “You know one, you know none,” the new hotel has made it a
point to connect itself with the location. The pointedly organised, timeless interior of the
first 25hours Hotel in Switzerland greets its guests with its Zurich sophistication, including
its generously sized hotel hall, elegant textiles, liveable atmosphere and view of the park.
25hours through and through, but also with its own little wink and a dip in the paint jar.
NENI is not a full service restaurant, but café, lounge, bistro and relaxed hangout. It is a
food concept of Austrian chef Haya Molcho and serves small dishes to combine and share in
Middle Eastern tradition. The all day dining area is an open space catering for different needs
of hotel guests and local visitors. It is felt to be part lounge, part restaurant, part bar, and
part living room.
Restaurant
Plum and Spilt Milk, the Great Northern Hotel, London, by Archer Humphryes
Architects
The destination restaurant takes its name from the livery of the dining cars that adorned the
flying Scotsman in the iconic railway age. Designed by Archer Humphryes, the 17 floor-toceiling windows allow daylight to stream through while the vintage yet modern design
creates warmth to an all-day restaurant in a class of its own. Decorated with handmade
Boffi furniture, stunning wooden floor and exquisite 120 hand blown light shades, Plum &
Spilt Milk also has a handsome snug bar attached for guests to drink the night away.
Bar
Cuckoo’s Nest at Radisson Blu Riverside, Gothenburg, by Stylt Trampoli AB
Radisson Blu Riverside Hotel is situated in what used to be one of Gothenburg’s old
shipyard districts, Lindholmen. Having drawn on inspiration from the local surroundings, the
Cuckoo’s Nest incorporates features that give a heightened sense of scientific thinking. An
example is the bar, which illustrates notes and calculations from Albert Einstein, illuminating
them as if they are on an actual chalkboard. The bar has been incorporated together with
the restaurant to create a milieu that is welcoming to both the traveller, but also for the
local visionary and possibility-people alike. Design elements have been developed to enhance
the warm and welcoming feeling for either groups of people or for the lone visitor. By
opening the door for the possibilities of scientific sharing, the new bar next to the
restaurant becomes a natural meeting ground, worthy of everyone who knows that there
never was a genius without a tincture of madness.
Bedrooms & Bathrooms
The Alpina Gstaad, by The Gallery HBA London
The second award for The Alpina focuses on the discretely luxurious guestrooms that offer
a delightful sense of place and a private retreat, overlooking glacial mountains and Alpine
meadows. No two guestrooms are the same in their combination of features, form and
views. While they are all clad in reclaimed alpine timber and have unique classically carved
ceilings, some are in a rustic manner and some in a more contemporary style. Other rooms
are tucked under the eaves, creating an especially chalet-style experience. A customdesigned, hand-tufted carpet covers the floor apart from the timber-floored entrance lobby.
Suite
The Oslo Suite at The Thief in Oslo, by Anemone Wille Väge
The Oslo Suite’s private roof terrace has exclusive furniture designed by Patricia Urquiola
and Antonio Citterio, as well as views in all directions. Inside the suite also gives the
impression of being on the roof of the city – almost out on the fjord – with spectacular
views from the windows that stretch the length of the facade. 160m2 of tailored hotel
design offers many options, and the suite has an individual fireplace, bar, dining room,
separate bedroom and walk-in closet. Top Norwegian and international designers such as
Massimo Castagna, Antonio Citterio and Anne Haavind have provided the furniture and
decor. Ross Lovegrove the lighting, and a modern four-poster bed from quality producer
B&B Italia. The spacious bathroom in Vittorio and Polaris marble has a wonderful spa-like
feeling.
Spa, Health & Leisure Facilities
Castell dels Hams, Mallorca, by A2arquitectos
In 1967, a small hotel, Hotel Castell dels Hams, was established on the island of Majorca
amid the Mediterranean vegetation. Over time, and through subtle improvements and
extensions, it has become one of the most distinctive hotels on the eastern part of the
island. The existing pool has got new facades and a new green roof, which is dotted with a
series of square openings. This interplay of window-holes creates a beautiful dance of light
reflections in the building. In the spa area the space is sculpted, and colourful showers of
light flow through the openings in the roof. This makes the building itself part of the
treatment, offering the feeling of well-being created by nature when it is introduced into the
building, a feeling of total immersion for the visitor.
The European Hotel Design of the Year
The Alpina Gstaad, by The Gallery HBA London
Tomorrow’s Hotel
KOI by MM Planners
MM Planners Architects & Designers multi-talented studio won the first prize for
‘tomorrows Hotel’ in the European Hotel Design Awards for the entry called ‘KOI’. The
KOI Team’s winning concept, responds to the global challenges facing the future of travel
and tourism driven by the increase and densification in city centres by creating organic
shape inspired by fishbone structure that is flexible and adaptable to riversides in cities
further animated by innovative lighting design concept. The concept is more than just a
pedestrian bridge but it is a hotel that provides a dynamic link that enhances urban
permeability; it is an event platform that links local historic and touristic sites and connects
the two sides of the river both commercially and socially; it is an event platform and a place
that gives the guests and the visitor alike a unique experience and fascinating views.
The ReardonSmith Student Award
James Young, Canterbury School of Architecture
The project by James brings to question the conventional luxury holiday resort and the
concept of what a traditional holiday is. In the current economic climate it has become
increasingly difficult to justify the undertaking of a regular holiday. An increased socioeconomic consciousness coupled with the increasingly popular notion of ‘stay-cationing’
means the popularity of the conventional holiday is under scrutiny. The concept of AgriTourism addresses these themes, manifesting them within a proposal for a luxury holiday
resort in Montenegro. Investigating the notion of holidaying within the local economy and
utilising a productive landscape, the concept creates a heightened sense of locality. Guests
are educated in the art of agriculture and farming adding an additional layer of program to
the resort. People now strive to get more from their holidays and learning a new skill is a
way of warranting this. The project acts as a social commentary on the hotel industry and
how this can relate to locality and a guest and staff interaction.
The Outstanding Contribution Award
Ian Schrager
Few individuals have influenced the contemporary hospitality landscape as Ian Schrager has.
His contribution to the industry is recognised at the European Hotel Design Awards
ceremony as he is honoured with The Outstanding Contribution Award 2013. Schrager is
the inventor of the boutique hotel, the co-founder of legendary New York nightclub Studio
54 and the man who introduced such pioneering concepts as ‘lobby socialising’, ‘urban
resorts’ and ‘the hotel as theatre’ to the hotel world. It is particularly relevant for Ian
Schrager to receive this award in London this year, hot on the heels of the widely publicised
launch of the London EDITION earlier this month. The London EDITION, Schrager’s first
London hotel since St. Martins Lane and the Sanderson, is a major step forward in his
partnership with Marriott International to create a lifestyle hotel brand with global scale.
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