050 FOCUS
Q&A Adrian
Manea and Elena Kella, founders, Manea Kella
Adrian Manea and Elena Kella, founders of architecture and design studio Manea Kella, on the ‘ongoing conversation’ of the creative process, and why a true sense of place is a vital component of any hotel design scheme.
What are some of the key elements in creating spaces that move beyond being purely functional to become more ‘experiential’ for the user? Adrian Manea: We believe that a holistic approach to design is required in order to create the most successful projects – whether this is within commercial or hospitality sectors. In the latter sector, hospitality experiences have the potential to off er guests more than just simple accommodation. We have found that guests are looking for diff erent experiences that create memories that will stay.
Experiential design is all about placing the guest fi rst and creating a truly engaging experience that will bring them back time and time again. In the case of hotels this could mean creating a thoughtful sequence of restful spaces, using carefully considered materials combined with intelligent use of natural and artifi cial light. T ere is an opportunity to create charm while balancing it with the contemporary needs of guests. Quality design and a personalised service work together to shape the guest experience.
How does the creative process typically work between you and your clients? Has this client/design relationship become more collaborative over the years? Elena Kella: T e creative process is an ongoing conversation. None of our projects are approached with a predetermined agenda. We enjoy turning our client’s ideas and aspirations into built projects. We are here to listen, learn and work together in order to achieve success. T e key aim of the client and architect relationship is to work together to share and champion the project vision from concept to completion. Denys Lasdun once said ‘our job as architects is to give the client, on time and on cost, not what they want but what they never dreamed they wanted and, when they get it, they recognise it as something that they wanted all the time’.
In what ways have the events of the past 18 months moved the goalposts for some of the fundamental principles of hotel design? What will hotel design look like post-Covid? AM: Our main consideration when it comes to post- pandemic hotel design is a rethink of what is important – safety, comfort and wellbeing. T ese principles are critical in the future together with the need to consider
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