DESIGN
The cene etter
VIRTUOSO HOTEL DESIGNER JACU STRAUSS ADDS A PERSONAL TOUCH TO LORE GROUP PROPERTIES AROUND THE WORLD .
Contributed by DEREK HERSCOVICI
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m trained as an architect , but I ’ ve realized that design touches so many different aspects of a project . Landing in hospitality is something that I ’ d never planned for , but hospitality really works for me when it comes to combining disciplines that aren ’ t design-related . It ’ s about service , it ’ s about experience and all those things are very important for me when it comes to design .” Jacu Strauss is speaking from his home in London , a little more than a year after the opening of One Hundred Shoreditch , the latest in a series of hotels imprinted with the designer ’ s unique style .
Owned and operated by the Lore Group , where Strauss is co-founder and creative director , properties like Shoreditch , Pulitzer Amsterdam and Sea Containers London each reflect his diverse interests . From the décor and artwork to the restaurants and bars , each offers an almost cinematic sensory experience . But the accommodation auteur has a humility to his craft , and his designs are about people and attitudes , rather than objects .
In the case of One Hundred Shoreditch , née Ace Hotel London , understanding the East London neighborhood ’ s identity was an exciting challenge for Strauss despite living in London for the past several years . Finding a balance that felt authentic to guests and the energetic , youth-driven neighborhood became a journey of discovery for the designer . The finished product is intimate in some places , expansive in others , with diverse outlets offering a variety of experiences at guests ’ discretion .
“ The rooms are much more like a sanctuary and the rooftop is this kind of oasis , but the lobby is really alive ,” said
October 2023 hotelsmag . com 23