Design
deprived guests a well-deserved night of rest; and Chitnis agrees, having invested in high-quality blackout technology for the TWA Hotel. “The reason we did that was for the guests who come and go at all hours from the hotel and need a good night’s sleep,” Chitnis explains, “but also because we sell rooms for a day-stay of four hours, because there are so many layovers at JFK that people just need a place to sleep, get freshened up and head on to their connection.” At citizenM on the other hand, De Geus approached
Above: The atrium windows at Heathrow T4 Hilton Hotel offer an impressive panoramic view of the runway.
Below: Sleek and stylish, yet never boring – the citizenM Hotel at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Below right: citizenM at Paris Charles de Gaulle offers multiple areas for travellers to work and relax.
Previous page: The eye-catching facade of citizenM, Paris Charles de Gaulle.
Kaunteya Chitnis, the senior vice-president of acquisitions and development at MCR, the company that worked on the TWA Hotel at JFK New York, explains that when MCR conducted their research for the project they studied 34 different airport hotels. These studies were then cross-referenced with the complaints those hotels receive most often, alongside their proximity to the runways. “What we found was that noise complaints are one of the single biggest complaints at the airport hotel, and it’s almost a make or break if you can hear that airport traffic coming in and out,” he says. To combat this issue, MCR built the second-thickest curtain wall in the world, which completely blocks out the outside sound. “It’s a 4.5in-thick piece of glass with seven layers of glass in between,” says Chitnis. This puts the TWA Hotel in the top 1% of the world’s hotels in terms of soundproofing.
Lighting can make or break the mood Noise aside, another significant issue encountered by jet-lagged passengers is bright sunlight or the glare of neighbouring airports pervading the room. The first requirement to manage this matter, states Manser, is “good blackout curtains” to give sleep-
lighting each room “as though it was a black box”, taking out the factor of daylight and giving control over to guests so they can adjust the brightness of their room. The rooms come with panels that enable the guest to change the colour of the lights according to their mood, “so you can create the environment you want”, he explains. The standard setting is a light, fresh balance that is dimmable, but there are also fixed displays to suit various situations – whether the guest is watching a film, or waking up early in the morning. And although it can be difficult to create a striking facade when constructing an airport hotel (with height restrictions and rules placed on the materials that can be used), this smart use of different coloured lighting at citizenM’s hotel at Charles de Gaulle makes for a spectacular frontage through each of the windows come night-time. Both Manser and De Geus focus on the ease of
navigating an airport hotel as well: the front desk is opposite the front door, ready to greet guests at all hours; the lifts are visible and the route to the bedrooms is easy; and guests can find a place of refuge from the tumult of a busy airport. De Geus says: “The main thing is designing for a smooth stay, so guests don’t spend too much time checking in or finding their bedroom – it’s all about comfort and efficiency.” Manser also points out that many people stepping
off a long-haul flight may not speak the language of the country they are in, so clarity is key. “Pictogram signs are beneficial to weary travellers who may not know
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Hotel Management International /
www.hmi-online.com
Hilton Heathrow; citizenM, Paris Charles de Gaulle
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