DESIGN
One of the hotel ’ s passageways
Team members wear monk ’ s robes in the hotel ’ s lobby area .
Classic room confessional is a fully equipped private workstation — complete with a red light to let others know when it ’ s in use . In the corridors , backlit panels evoke arched , stained-glass windows , while the hotel ’ s signature incense wafts down the halls . The fragrance is available in candle form from the gift shop , which is styled as a moody , candle-lit crypt .
Walls are clad using black marble gravestones engraved with clever tributes ( one translates as “ gratitude for the miracle of this night ”) and the initials of key project team members . One such monogram is “ E . S .”, Emmanuel Sauvage , Evok ’ s managing director , who co-founded the company in 2014 with owner Pierre Bastid and developer Romain Yzerman .
“ Evok ’ s motto is ‘ pleasure ’,” says Sauvage . “ The designer , the architect , the staff , the chef — all are here to provide pleasure . We retain guests because we take the time to tailor personalized moments .” He says Evok ’ s direction is influenced by business trends and the startup entrepreneurs who visit their properties , a younger crowd that avoids classic luxury in favor of hospitality experiences that tap into emotion and surprise .
44 hotelsmag . com March 2020