VDIS10006 Restoration Interiors 1 Lecture 4:

Design Considerations for a Boutique Hotel Ramona Solomon

There  are  three  important  aspects  of  bou2que  hotel  design  which  remain  constant.  These  are:    •  Style    •  Prac2cality  •  A>en2on  to  detail.      Bou2que   hotels   are   all   about   luxury   and   individuality.   They   have   an   eclec2c   style  which  tells  a  story  of  the  history  of  the  hotel  or  owner,  and  can  either  be  a  sanctuary  within  a  densely  populated  environment  or  a  place  of  tranquillity   located  next  to  a  secluded  beach.    As  hotel  designers   you  need   to   focus  on   the  a>en2on   to  detail,   quality  of  finishes  and  eclec2c  style  to  create  the  individuality  of  the  space.  Create  in2macy  by  use  of  low-­‐level  ligh2ng,  rich  coloured  fabrics  and  warm,  invi2ng  spaces.    Outlined   in   the   following   slides   are   a   few   key   considera2ons   when   it   comes   to  designing  a  bou2que  hotel.      

Arrival at the hotel exterior As  soon  as  the  guest  steps  inside  they  have  to  know  they  have  'arrived'.  There  should  be  good  circula2on  leading  to  a  well-­‐lit,  well  designed  recep2on  desk.  This  is  the  heart  of  the  hotel,  and  it  is  here  where  first  and  last  impressions  are  made.  Good  ligh2ng  is  also  essen2al  in  crea2ng  the  correct  ambience.  Where  possible,   to   incorporate   a   sea2ng   area  within   the   recep2on   lobby   -­‐   an   area  which  is  oKen  used  as  a  mee2ng  place  for  fellow  guests  or  friends.  

Journey to guestroom This   is  a  very   important  area  to  think  about  as  guests  usually  spend  2me  wai2ng  here  and  it  can  oKen  can  get  over  looked  from  a  design  point  of  view.  LiK  lobbies  need  to  be  as  spacious  as  possible.  It  can  be  a  very  well  used  area  of  the  hotel  and  it   is  oKen  the  transi2on  from  the  recep2on  lobby  to  all  the  other  areas  of  the  hotel.  Good  signage  is  essen2al,  along  with  good  circula2on   leading  to  other  public  areas.  Great  use  of  floor  finish   design,   ligh2ng   and  wall   treatment   are   all   used   to   lead   the   guest   through   the  hotel.    Try  to  incorporate  a  special  piece  of  artwork  or  wall  finish  here  and  possibly  a  piece  of  accent   furniture.   This   could   include   individual   pieces   of   art   or   sculptures,   or   even   a  special  piece  of  an2que  furniture  collected  by  the  owner.  This  area   is  a  showcase  and  needs  to  be  addressed  in  that  manner.  

Corridor design  Corridors   need   to   be   robust.   It   is   here   where   luggage   and   housekeeping   trolleys   are  constantly  being  pushed  up  and  down  giving  the  walls  and  carpets  a  good  hammering!      Finishes  need  to  be  durable  e.g.  fabric  backed  wall  covering,  good  quality  carpet  and  so  on.   It   is   here  where   good   carpet   design   is   required   to   break   up  what   is   oKen   a   "long  corridor   feeling"   .   Use   the   design   to   lead   guests   to   their   guestroom  doors  making   the  journey  as  simple  and  stress  free  as  possible.    Good  Ligh2ng  is  paramount.  It  needs  to  be  low  enough  to  create  a  comfortable  ambience  but  light  enough  to  be  able  to  take  guests  to  their  door.      

Guestroom experience Nowadays,  guest  bedrooms  are  no  longer  just  a  place  to  rest.  They  need  to  be  a  mul2-­‐func2onal  space.  An  area  to  work,  dine,  relax  and  sleep.  They  don't  necessarily  require  luxurious  finishes,  but  acute  a>en2on  to  detail.      No  ma>er  how  well  designed  the  room  is,   if  a  guest  has  a  bad  night's  sleep,   it   is  very  unlikely   that   they  will   return.  A  well-­‐manufactured,  comfortable  bed,  along  with  good  blackout  curtains  and  temperature  control  is  a  must.      In   the   bathroom,   guests   are   almost   expec2ng   a   spa   experience   within   their   own  bathrooms.   Depending   on   the   loca2on   and   if   at   all   prac2cal,   incorporate   something  which  will  give  a  las2ng  memory,  for  example  an  external  shower  or  a  bath  with  a  view.