DESIGN
The lobby of The Opus , the
Dubai skyscraper housing the ME Dubai hotel ; both were designed by Zaha Hadid
Architects
GABRIELE CHIAVE is creative director of Marcel Wanders ’ Amsterdam-based studio , focusing on holistic solutions , with a portfolio including the Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht and Mondrian Doha . “ Since some people will begin to travel , we ’ re working with clients to reimagine their reception areas and create private , intimate spaces with reconfigured seating areas . While we want guests to feel free to roam , we also want to respect everyone ’ s right to their personal space . By showing them new ways to think about welcoming people into their hotel , we ’ re making sure every guest can still experience a personal and meaningful connection with our design that stays with them after they leave .
“ We will stay on our path towards the use of more sustainable materials and find more and more ways to bring nature indoors , which we already do . We ’ re approaching spaces a little differently in response to the pandemic , concentrating more on what contact is necessary and what can be eliminated , which in some ways actually enhances the guest experience . The flow of traffic in and out of public and private spaces is also being considered as we find ways to give people more room .”
The Pavilion café at Rosewood Little Dix Bay in the British Virgin Islands , designed by Meyer Davis
JEAN-MICHEL GATHY , founder of architecture practice Denniston , Kuala Lumpur , has designed multiple Aman Resorts , including the Aman New York opening this winter , and destinations such as Marina Bay Sands , Singapore . “ I ’ m not worried about open lobbies . It ’ s the airports and planes required to reach them . Hotels with shared spaces won ’ t change fundamentally , but the rules will adjust as new products are created . The buffet will either disappear ,
have a sneeze guard , or be served by waiters inside the station . Receptionists will be behind glass . Lifts will hold four people instead of 15 , but they ’ ll be faster . Door handles , taps and drinking glasses will be made from materials the virus can ’ t attach to . There will be new water filtration methods , and one AC system per floor instead of per building . To accommodate reduced capacity , hotels will have three smaller restaurants instead of a larger one .”
44 hotelsmag . com July / August 2020