HotelsMag June 2016 | Page 40

Design

Design

Amanemu ' s bath follows the design of traditional Japanese baths .

Truly a ‘ baTh ’ room

As bedrooms take up less space , with smaller desks and wall-mounted TVs , the bath is taking center stage .
At the recently opened Amanemu on the shores of Ago Bay in Japan , guest suite bathrooms follow the design of traditional Japanese baths , with charcoal-colored basalt stone tiles designed to draw guests ’ attention to the vista of private gardens outside the floor-to-ceiling windows . Accessories are kept to a minimum to avoid distracting from the view and the experience of the unique cultural ritual that is a traditional Japanese bath .

At the Mandarin Oriental , Bangkok , the new Garden Suites feature a large marble bathroom with separate bathtub , walk-in shower , double vanity and walk-in closet . The bathrooms , which match the suites ’ contemporary design , colonial-inspired heritage and Thai culture , aim to offer a " haven of calm .” bringing The ouTsiDe in

Taking authentic and local to new heights , designers are opening up spaces to show off the surroundings .
Following a substantial rebuild , Belmond Eagle Island Lodge in Botswana reopened last November . The Gallery HBA London used local artisans and materials to reflect the region ’ s natural elements and create new tented guest accommodations , restaurant and lounge . The tented accommodations feature a color palette that combines greens and soft yellows with subtle gray tones to reflect
the land itself and nearby elephants while shades of dusty gold and bright yellow suggest the plumage of local birds .
The lounge features an artisanal bar made from locally sourced timber with natural elements retained when possible , including an ancient sycamore fig tree repurposed into a hanging cocoon swing . “ We wanted the lodge to flow into and out of its location , both literally and in terms of all the layers of experience we wished
Maui ' s Fairmont Kea Lani ' s Luana Lounge was inspired by Hawaii ’ s ‘ a ’ ali ’ i trees and hotel gardens .
to offer ,” says Katherine Blaisdell , senior vice president of design and project development at Belmond . “ All public and guest spaces offer a seamless transition between the in- and outdoors and offer uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscape . The Lodge was reimagined as a perfect retreat on and within the delta and shaped by it .”
The outdoors also inspired a recent US $ 70 million renovation at Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui , Hawaii . Part of the renovation was a refresh of Luana Lounge , inspired by Hawaii ’ s ‘ a ’ ali ’ i trees as well as the hotel ’ s gardens . The tree pattern can be seen throughout the bar .
“ Fairmont Kea Lani is committed to providing
an authentically local experience for guests in all that we do ,” says Charles Head , general manager at the resort . “ We worked to keep the stories of the Kea Lani and Hawaiian culture at the forefront . The refresh elevated the entire luxury experience and presence of the resort , from the moment of arrival throughout .”
36 hotelsmag . com June 2016