THE ART OF HOSPITALITY
GARDEN FRESH
What ’ s Hot : DESIGN
THE ART OF HOSPITALITY
Constantly looking for ways to achieve a distinctive look , many hotels are turning to art collections to set them apart .
Sometimes the installations are temporary . Conrad Indianapolis recently displayed various works by Pablo Picasso for about a month . The exhibit included works from Picasso ’ s Suite Vollard and one of his original drawings .
Art plays a leading role at the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver . In addition to a number of pieces inside the hotel , the outdoor façade features an installation by Liam Gillick consisting of a running line of repeated text : “ Lying on top of a building the clouds looked no nearer than when I was lying on the street .”
Turkish designer Zeynep Fadillioglu showcases art throughout Marti Istanbul Hotel . In the lobby , “ Su ” by Kutlu Ataman is a dual / identical screen projection symbolizing the two sides of the Bosphorus . Hand-painted wall designs by a team of Turkish artists also are part of the hotel .
“ A great art collection provides a certain intellectual chic quotient , notes Belinda Chia , associate at HBA Singapore .”
“ Su ” by Kutlu Ataman , on display in the lobby of Marti Istabul Hotel , is a dual / identical screen projection symbolizing the two opposite sides of the Bosphorus .
A line of repeated text on the exterior of the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver demonstrates the hotel ’ s commitment to various forms of art .
Tántalo Hotel / Kitchen / Roofbar in
Panama City boasts a threestory live green wall comprised of 983 plants .
Westin Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego was the first to feature a new brand-wide lobby concept including a vertical garden .
GARDEN FRESH
“ Green ” remains one of the biggest buzzwords in the hotel industry , and one of the hottest ways properties are boosting their eco-friendly quotient is by installing vertical gardens .
Tántalo Hotel / Kitchen / Roofbar in Panama City boasts a three-story live green wall comprised of 983 plants of eight different native species . The plants are housed in 827 modular recycled plastic receptacles and irrigated using water reclaimed from the roof . “ The live greenery creates both a cooling effect and an improvement in air quality , which helps us reduce our energy consumption while also reducing noise and just beautifying the space overall ,” says Matthew Blesso , founder and CEO of Blesso Properties , New York City , Tántalo ’ s owner and operator .
Mercure Madrid Santo Domingo Hotel , meanwhile , earned a Guinness World Record for its vertical garden , which spans 9,085.28 sq ft ( 844.05 sq m ). A trickle irrigation watering system nourishes the space with treated wastewater from up to 50 of the property ’ s guestrooms .
Even big brands are getting into the act . A new lobby concept from Westin Hotels & Resorts boasts a vertical garden as a focal element . Westin Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego was the first to feature the concept , which ranges from 100 to 300 sq ft ( 9.3 to 27.9 sq m ) and integrates wall-mounted plant modules with infill panels of unique textured materials inspired by the interior architecture and the location ’ s regional identity . The low- to mid-light plants chosen for the gardens all promise to improve overall air quality .
“ Vertical gardens , when properly executed , can be a highly effective counterpoint to manmade materials and finishes that dominate hospitality interiors ,” says Mark Melzer , principal at Melzer Deckert & Ruder , Architects , Irvine , California , which worked on the renovation of Westin Gaslamp Quarter . “ Vertical planting is easily adaptable to tight and narrow spaces , and provides a calming natural element in an unexpected setting .”
36 HOTELS October 2012 www . hotelsmag . com