WHAT ’ S HOT : DESIGN
WHAT ’ S HOT : DESIGN
At Bodega Negra at Dream Downtown in New York City , wooden tables are accompanied by banquettes upholstered in reclaimed military tents , animal hide and traditional Mexican Serape textiles while a copper-penny disco ball anchors the dining room .
A light installation at the A Bar at InterContinental Amstel , Amsterdam showcases hand-blown glass in a smoky blue reflected in the color of the leather in the bar ’ s seating .
FEAST FOR
ALL SENSES
The Wine Gallery at Ellerman House in South Africa , which debuted last November , was designed to be a work of art in addition to a functional space . Besides storage for the hotel ’ s 7,500-bottle wine collection , the
The Wine Gallery at Ellerman House in South Africa includes a wine rack that holds 1,500 bottles and stands 10.5 feet ( 3.2 m ) high and 19.7 feet ( 6 m ) long .
Wine Gallery includes tasting areas and a multimedia wine library , not to mention unique features often inspired by nature . Take designer Brian Steinhobel ’ s wine rack , which holds 1,500 bottles and stands 10.5 feet ( 3.2 m ) high and 19.7 feet ( 6 m ) long .
“ The shape was informed by the free-form curves and organic growth of vines ,” Steinhobel explains . “ The human scale of the wine rack enables you to engage with it by walking through it and enjoying the sense of being inside a vineyard , with the vines arching over your head .”
Bodega Negra at Dream Downtown in New York City is another F & B outlet whose design is as striking as its menu . Designed by Serge Becker , the 108-seat restaurant is rich with dark tones accented by mirrored panels and copper trim . Wooden tables are accompanied by banquettes upholstered in reclaimed military tents , animal hide and traditional Mexican Serape textiles while a
dramatic copper-penny disco ball anchors the dining room .
A striking light installation also is central to the design of the A Bar at InterContinental Amstel , Amsterdam . RPW Design used hand-blown glass in a smoky blue reflected in the color of the leather in the bar ’ s seating . “ The Dutch are particularly prescriptive about the use of low-energy lighting ,” says RPW ’ s Jan Wilson . “ The result was a lot of prototypes to make sure the fittings not only looked good as a sculptural element , but also worked to provide some light to conform to the statutory requirements .”
“ We are entering a period of enlightenment in hotel design , especially in the design of hotel restaurants ,” adds Michael Wilkings of Wilkings Hospitality Group , Toronto . “ The dining experience has been elevated to enrich the emotions of the diner . If a space can stir our spirit , charge our emotion or change our behavior , a lasting memory has been created .”
34 HOTELS June 2014 www . hotelsmag . com