DE S IGN CENTRE
approach results in an expertly crafted, deeply considered guest experience.” Such details are likely to resonate with the intentional, purpose-driven travellers of today, who increasingly seek authentic connections with the people and places they visit. Tara Bernerd, whose firm is currently working on Six Senses properties in Milan and Lake Como, shares
"WE’RE SEEING A RISE OF THE ‘THIRD SPACE’ – NOT PUBLIC, NOT PRIVATE – LOUNGES,
LIBRARIES AND SALONS THAT FOSTER INTROSPECTION AND SOFT, SOCIAL INTERACTION”
this sentiment. “We’ll increasingly see a move towards a more understated personal luxury, one that is rooted in quality and craftsmanship,” she says. At her recently completed Milos restaurant in West Palm Beach, this is realised with natural materials of Pentelikon marble, oak and textured stone and muted fabrics in soft greens and sea blues. “It was about crafting an environment that feels tactile and grounded, echoing the raw, natural beauty of Greece while seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor spaces,” she says.
A SENSE OF PLACE Collaborations with local artisans, creatives and artists can bring this deeper, soulful quality to spaces. Champalimaud Design, connoisseurs of quiet luxury, recently unveiled Belden House & Mews in Connecticut and has projects in St. Moritz, Bali, Charleston, Utah and Portugal on the horizon, also harnesses this approach. “We’re embarking on two hotel projects in Guatemala and I’m excited about the opportunity to explore local craft and decorative traditions there,” says Ed Bakos, CEO and partner. A sense of place is paramount for luxury brands, Johnson, managing
asserts Rachel principal of
Wimberly Interiors, whose forthcoming luxury resort projects stretch from the Four Seasons in Cartagena to Viceroy hotels in Portugal and Serbia and Middle Eastern properties including the Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh and Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia. “Whether contemporary or traditional, the level of detailing and ‘layering’ in a unique way is the key,” she explains. “Inventive and unusual use of materials incorporating local crafts – using pottery or embroidery in the design by changing the scale, colour or traditional use – so the sense of place is infused as a homage rather than a direct copy.” Every Wimberly Interiors project starts with a deep dive into the locale’s context, considering “social and historical influences and the local crafts and culture.”
THE MIDDLE EAST FACTOR While many European destinations are suffering from over-tourism, the Middle East is shaping up to be a travel hotspot. It’s well-positioned for HNW travellers from Europe and America and the swelling ranks of super wealthy from China and India. A host of savvy operators are expanding to the Gulf region, where government tourism incentives are driving large-scale development. Saudi Arabia is at the forefront, with ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud pioneering initiatives such as the controversial futuristic Neom city, the regenerative Red Sea Project and the infrastructure-strengthening Vision 2030 – all aimed at transforming the kingdom into a luxury destination. Ennismore outposts include several Rixos properties, the SLS Red Sea and the Mondrian Abu Dhabi in the UAE. Meanwhile, Heah & Co will bring Islamic- inspired architecture to the Clinique La Prairie, part of the Amaala ‘wellness destination’ on the Red Sea coast.
THE WELLNESS IMPERATIVE Wellness is intrinsically linked to this shift towards a more mindful, quiet luxury and wellness villages will see exponential growth. According to Charlie North, guests are already seeking out wellness alongside communal spaces designed for connection and slow living. “It’s integrated as a core holistic principle in many lifestyle hotels”, he says, with the offering built around holistic wellness and a focus on sleep and rest just a comfortable mattress.
ABOVE: The lobby of Ennismore's latest outpost of the Hoxton in Edinburgh, which features Bella Figura's 'Dahlia' wall lights. Not only are hotels' communal areas becoming more homely – they are also incorporating options for apartment-like stays with full facilities, such as the three self-contained 'houses' on site here
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