Jean-Michel Gathy
Every time Jean-Michel Gathy travels, which is almost every week, he sends flowers to his wife. The renowned architect and interior designer readily acknowledges romance is his “biggest weakness”. But what he sees as a flaw is for many a quality that he has applied with flair to his designs for luxury hotels and resorts around the world. Whether it is in the wraparound outdoor decks with netted hammocks suspended over water or the outdoor showers, Gathy has put romance at the heart of his design.
“To me, romance is not in an object; having a chandelier over the table is not romance, that is decor. Romance is an emotion which you feel in accordance with your physical and psychological environment. It is what surrounds you,” muses the Kuala Lumpur-based, Belgium designer, adding: “I design lifestyles. I do not design hotels.”
Gathy starts every project with hand-drawn sketches and images. “What comes out from your hand is what comes out from your heart. Eventually, that is where the soul for every project comes from. That is what romance is all about, something that touches your heart.”
Gathy believes the soul of the property is key, adding its expression will depend on the location. “For example, when you design a hotel in Singapore, the soul will probably be intimacy, you will need to play with what you have, such as lighting and colours. As for (a location in) the mountains, it will all be in the materials. For the countryside, the view towards the river or horses will be considered romantic. Every venue requires different approaches in order to be given a soul.”
The Romantic