DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE
“ In designing hospitality spaces , our focus always begins with creating atmosphere and facilitating social interaction , or what we refer to as the ‘ social ergonomics ’,” says Zébulon Perron , founder and lead designer of the award-winning firm . “ Space layout is the key to a successful project , and we have designed a connected environment for this project that is conducive to gathering , mingling , and circulating .”
Setting the anchor The core of the project is an expansive breakfast area , which serves as a first foray of guests outside of their hotel rooms . The firm focused on creating a luminous and multi-functional space that would extend beyond the purposes of a breakfast buffet to also serve as a breakout space for the hotel ’ s adjoining meeting rooms . Soft colours , high-quality walnut , white oak , marbles , velvets , and dichroic steel infuse a sense of lightness and conviviality into clean design gestures that accommodate movement and the functional aspects of the space .
“ Right from the planning stage , those elements are important in terms of creating the ambiance of a space ,” explains Perron . “ It ’ s essential to create a sense of comfort and intimacy that brings it all together on a human scale .”
In approaching that endeavour , and upon inspecting the premises , the architects discovered an existing skylight above the space that had long been sealed . They reopened the ceiling to expose the skylight , thereby infusing natural light into the space . The skylight became the central component of the entire project , and the firm went to great lengths to source and plant a large tree directly into the space itself . A crane was required to insert the tree through the skylight , and the successful endeavour created an axis in the breakfast space around which everything else in the project would be articulated . Concentric rings on the ceiling emanate from the central opening like ripples of water , and custom-designed lighting fixtures and hanging plants further contribute to a bright and contemporary ambiance .
Redifined purpose To facilitate transitions of the space from a breakfast area by morning to other functions throughout the day , the firm positioned the breakfast service area between two monoliths , essentially removing it as a visual element of the main room . Adjacent to the main space , a new VIP room was created to provide
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