Hot hospitality design trends revealed at 100% Hotel
Would-be jet setters need not check into hip hotels in London, New York, Sydney or Tokyo in order to pick up on the freshest global trends in hospitality design. But they should definitely make a point of checking out this year’s 100% Design South Africa, held in association with Dauphin HumanDesign® Group. The show takes place from 6 to 10 August 2015 at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg, alongside Decorex Joburg.
Now in its second year, South Africa’s only international design show is again presenting a superbly curated showcase of leaders in the field. A definite highlight, whether for globetrotters or simply armchair travellers with a love of design, is the exhibition 100% Hotel.
100% Hotel is being presented in collaboration with esteemed Johannesburg design business Generation, founded by prominent designer Julia Day some 25 years ago. Invited to showcase “a cutting-edge and unique hotel space”, the Generation team has partnered with iconic Italian furniture brand De Padova.
“For our interpretation of a hotel space, we have decided to feature a lobby area,” says Day. “The lobby is an essential part of the overall design because it is the first space that hotel clientele are exposed to. It is also the space that is viewed by the most number of people.”
She adds, “We’re really excited by this opportunity as it gives us the chance to share our love for and knowledge of international design with the rest of the design fraternity.”
The designer shares insights into what visitors to 100% Hotel can expect:
What is your vision for 100% Hotel this year?
Part of the vision for our brand is to be the voice of global design in South Africa. As a company that imports 90% of our merchandise from Europe, we are passionate about design, following the global trends and movements of the industry closely. This is an integral part of our approach to the design of the 100% Hotel stand – while it will be distinctly unique, it will reflect international standards of interior (and hotel) design.
Tell us more about your partnership with De Padova?
We’ve partnered with De Padova – which we have the agency for in South Africa – to create an elegant yet sophisticated interior setting. The De Padova brand is a favourite among world-renowned architects such as Renzo Piano and has a long list of collaborations with designers such as Patricia Urquiola and Vico Magistretti. It is therefore, perfectly suited to creating the kind of soulful space that is understated but has that quintessential ‘wow’ factor at the same time.
In line with the global shift away from the generic, mass-produced aesthetic towards a more artisanal and hand-crafted approach, we have paid close attention to creating unique, considered and personal spaces within the lobby area. These values are also intrinsic to the De Padova brand and thus using their furniture only serves to strengthen the overall aim of creating a holistic design/travel experience.
What are some of the trends in hospitality design you’re referencing?
Part of what drives our business is the desire to share our design passion with our peers and clientele, and to create enriching and inspiring spaces that change the way people think about design. We want to bring design to the travel experience, so we have taken the best from the luxury set, the best from the boutique/lifestyle type of hotel and created a new breed of hotel where everything has been rethought and every original idea updated. This hotel is defined by the unique experience it creates. We have combined the personal, the intimate, the individualized and the unique lodging experience.
The trend in travel is that travellers are looking for evermore personal, intimate and comfortable spaces that offer magic and excitement to their visitors through the use of inspirational design. Often this means more artisanal, hand-made and one-off design pieces. Nothing inspires people the way art and design can. This is exactly what we at Generation aim to do: we want to create designs that last beyond the trends of the day and we feel that this is way to achieve that.
Some of the pieces that we will be using on the stand were designed as far back as the 80s, when De Padova began collaborating with acclaimed architects and designers. The Raffles sofa by Vico Magistretti, for example, was designed in 1987 and is still as chic and timeless today as it was then.
Are you using a specific colour palette?
We have opted for a sophisticated palette of soft neutrals, warm greys and natural tones. We’ve also included some greenery as nature always works to create some soul in a space.
What else can visitors look forward to?
Some of the De Padova items that we will be displaying on the stand will be the first pieces of their kind available in the world, to date. We were lucky enough to visit De Padova at the Salone del Mobile in Milan earlier this year and they have provided us with some of their prototypes from their stand, which are not yet in production. From that perspective, we are offering South Africans a sneak peek at something many other top designers the world-over haven’t been able to get their hands on yet! The design of the stand creates the delicate balancing act encompassing not only great design and true innovation, but also personal, friendly, modern service and outstanding, one-of-a-kind entertainment offerings, all under one roof.
