DESIGN
Lobby area seating at Malliouhana
Malliouhana ’ s lobby area is decorated with reflective tiles and diving helmets . renowned French designer Christian Liaigre , known for his contemporary , clean lines and generous use of natural woods for tables and counters . The resort reopened in 2005 .
When Irma hit in 2017 , the hotel was closed and staff safely retreated to villas on higher ground . Contreras arrived about a week later and saw that water had risen as high as 6 feet in some guest rooms . The concrete of the pool was smashed and 50-yearold coconut trees were knocked over . “ It looked post-apocalyptic ,” he recalls .
Contreras knew he wanted to restore the resort back to its original grandeur – with improvements . Italian designer Patricia Urquiola assisted with the renovation , working with an in-house design team , and replacement furniture was ordered from the Liaigre firm .
The team reversed the guest room aesthetic from dark wood floors and white walls and ceilings to oak ceilings and white
Malliouhana pool area
Malliouhana exterior
44 hotelsmag . com March 2019