what will hotels look like in 2017?
Pushing towards the direction of less standardization in hotel design, a new breed of expert architects are busy transforming the capital at a more competitive level. Here, we catch a glimpse of the practices for which distinctive craftsmanship iskey to a hotel’s success. Manila-based Hirsch Bedner and Associates’ principal Norman Agleron outlines how his team applies the five hottest design trends in 2017 that will leave a huge impact on your future staycation.
Lobby EvoLuTion
In 2017, hotel lobbies will certainly evolve into communal spaces of technology. The front desk will still be visible as a social setting, primarily ensuring there’s proper check-in flow, but the receiving area will be replaced with sit-down, cozy wide desks. Imagine paperless and mobile check-ins handled by the hotel staff armed with an iPad as you sip on a glass of wine from the cocktail bar. This evolution in design also allows guests to move out of their rooms, explore into dynamic spaces and activate the lobby area into a more sociable and engaging space.
For intimate hotel lobbies, such as the soon-to-open Mercure Hotel in Ermita, this poses a much better use of space to cater to a niche set of travelers. Lobbies are simply not designed just for waiting anymore, rather, they evoke an experience that easily flows from check-in to sleeping to dining.
HoLiSTiC ApproACH
Another dynamic factor that drives the evolution in hotel design is how one can reimagine and complement the space it occupies. A holistic approach involves surveying the surrounding area to not only know what you’re working with but to also tell what is missing, so you can further design and fulfill the needs of your specific traveler in mind — a strategy that HBA Manila emphasizes in the midst of their major restructuring for Quest Hotel and Conference Center Clark. Expect intuitive features such as an upgraded gym, energizing lighting and plush bedrooms.
GrEEnEry
Many studies prove that the presence of plants and foliage indoors can improve a person’s mood and increase your human energy levels. Inspired by the rich flora and fauna found locally in the country, HBA Manila immediately connects the newly-renovated casitas at Anvaya Cove to its surroundings with its tasteful yet unobtrusive decor. Each casita offers unobstructed views of the stunning natural backdrop out front, while showcasing visually impressive interiors through a combination of warm tones and pops of color that further enhances its laid-back charm, character and atmosphere.
DAyLiGHTinG
This year we will see more sustainable practices such as natural light, solar panels and the showcase of handcrafted furniture that supports sustainability and connect guests to the local culture.“You will find in a majority of high-end venue show we maximize and infuse strong local touches in the interiors that lead the way towards using natural light,” Agleron says. Similar to the design ethos of Quest Hotel Fora Tagaytay, making use of natural sunlight also costs nothing to the environment while paying great returns to guests, owners, and employees as it impacts visual comfort, as well as thermal comfort.
METALLiCS
Travel to Thailand and you’ll find yourself in awe by visual delights of golden palaces and temples within a city dubbed as the “City of Angels.” Although Bangkok is undoubtedly home to a distinct Southeast Asian heritage, it firmly places itself on the style and jet set circuit, as one of the best cosmopolitan cities that infuses their local cultural aesthetics to modern architecture. HBA’s design for the Siam Kempinski Bangkok really sets the stage for the metallic trend in all its glory. Mixed with soft textures and subtle hues that drench the room with light, the hotel’s grand lobby and ballrooms are beautifully accented with elongated bronze sconces mounted on the pillars and hallways, steel-framed artworks posing as an eye-catching feature against its textured walls and crystal chandeliers that pirouette down for a dramatic finish. A similar trend is applied to a majority of spaces back in Manila such as The Continental Restaurant at The Palms Country Club, where chevron-shaped metal screen dividers set the space’s boundaries in style and perfectly pairs up with the room’s sleek lines, to exude a trendy yet intimate vibe.