Design
Above: Burgh Island Hotel once hosted the likes of Agatha Christie, Noel Coward and Josephine Baker.
Below: Motel One hotels have a lounge and bar interior themed to reflect the culture of its location.
Bank Hotel Istanbul, a former bank with sweeping views of the Bosphorus. Then there is the newest property, Nobis Hotel Palma, which is set in a medieval Islamic palace.
Being accepted into Design Hotels is a big deal for its members. The brand receives applications from around 400 hotels each year, only 5% of which are approved. To be selected, they need to convey a strong identity, boosted by thought-provoking design and architecture choices. They also need a visionary hotelier – an ‘original’ – with a story to tell about the property.
Unique thematic experiences At the other end of the price spectrum, though not too far removed in terms of philosophy, is the German affordable design hotel chain Motel One, which now has 92 properties worldwide. While some features are the same throughout the chain (notably the dimensions of the bedrooms and the turquoise colour theme), the idea is to convey a true sense of place at a lower price point.
“Most of our guests are looking for affordable luxury and are interested in exploring the culture of the city they are visiting,” says Brian Erb, Motel One Dublin general manager. “Each Motel One hotel not only has a desirable city-centre location, but also has a lounge and bar interior themed to reflect the character, culture or history of its location. We’re passionate about embedding our hotels in the culture of each and every city we are in.” For instance, Motel One Manchester-Piccadilly commemorates Manchester’s musical heritage, with wallpaper adorned with famous local bands and a selection of vinyl records at the bar. Motel One Newcastle adopts an industrial style, heavy on raw brickwork, while Motel One Glasgow transports guests into a ‘railway romance’, with its photography capturing the stunning vistas along the West Highland Railway Line.
The latest on the list is Motel Dublin, which opened earlier this year. The hotel is inspired by James Joyce’s Ulysses, in which protagonist Leopold Bloom takes a stroll around the city. “Guests are greeted with the saying ‘céad mile
fáilte’ or ‘a hundred thousand welcomes’ in LED writing, alongside greenery nodding to the ‘green island’,” says Erb. “Quotes from the novel are dispersed around the hotel, intertwined with subtle references to Ha’Penny Bridge and Georgian architecture.”
Like many of their pricier peers, each Motel One property works extensively with local designers, artists and furniture-makers to bring the flavour of the city within its walls.
“For example, Motel One Manchester-Royal Exchange captures the essence of Manchester’s golden era when it was known as ‘Cottonopolis’, with a trendy faux-industrial design,” says Erb. “The foyer is dominated by 6m-high round steel arches and a wall of printed cloth with an impressive installation entitled ‘Cottonopolis’ by British paper artist Andy Singleton. The installation is comprised of shapes created by innumerable single thread.”
For many hotels, whether budget or luxury, it no longer pays to position themselves as somehow separate from their location. Maybe in the past, guests wanted a safe enclave, somewhere to hide away once they were done with exploring. These days, though, hotels are bringing their surroundings to bear on their design – along with their history and idiosyncrasies. In the words of Valéry Grégo, owner of Le Pigalle in Paris and one of Design Hotels’ Originals: “A hotel is not just a part of a neighbourhood; the neighbourhood is embedded in the hotel – it’s a part of its very nature.” ●
32 Hotel Management International /
www.hmi-online.com
Motel One; Burgh Island
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