To draw attention to art and photography this month, Hamish Kilburn, editor-in-chief of Hotel Designs, traveled the world-from Africa to London-in search of interior design inspired by the use of thoughtful art and photography…
As interior designers, hoteliers and architects prepare for this year’s highly anticipated Hotel Designs Brit List 2018, the HD editorial team has been working hard to identify the top interior design stories that deserve a place on this year’s list. A key area that was decisive in the submissions that we and our jurors read was the clever use of art and photography. It seems that while many hotels around the world are cutting their art budget, the best new hotels in the UK have a carefully curated selection of sophisticated pieces that give the property a sophisticated sense of place. To give credit where it’s due, here are seven sensational hotels that, unlike others, use art and photography to stand out and claim their title as a leading art and design hotel.
1) Matetsi Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Our art and design journey begins in Zimbabwe, at the magnificent and striking Matetsi victoria falls. About 40 km from the Ultra colonial Victoria Falls Hotel, Matetsi is the best way to experience a safari in the area. Creating an inspiring story of interior design in a place where nature comes first is a challenge even for the most experienced design houses. So this is all in honor of the owner John Gardiner, who instead trusted a local designer. Kerry van Leenhoff was commissioned to create the spectacular interiors, which are also cozy in the opulence lodges. Leenhoff answered this question with style and a well-proportioned sense of place and decided to include an abstract work of art with yellow accents in each of the 18 suites. Part of a larger story – of course-collects all these rooms and forms a map of the 123,000-hectare reserve. The Telegraph reported that Leenhoff conceived the rooms “as a retreat in nature with all the comfort and joyfull that one can dream of, ” and I must agree that the local designer, whom the owner believed in, did just that.
2) The Hotel Silo, Cape Town
We drive slightly south towards the lively landscape of Cape Town, South Africa, and check in at the Silo Hotel. The owner and art lover Liz Biden carefully curated a royal portfolio of works of art, each of which is inspired by her travels through Africa. In a press release, Biden explains: “I have always included wonderful works of art in each of the objects of the royal portfolio. Art brings a room to life, creates heat up and tells stories. But art also takes you on a journey that evolves as we evolve. Our guests like to enjoy the art collection of our properties. The Silo will take this artistic experience to a whole new level with an emphasis on contemporary African art…”
3) The New Majestic, Singapore
Each of the 30 rooms at the New Majestic Hotel has been individually decorated in collaboration with various artists and designers. The hotel collaborated with the art consulting firm Asian Art Options, which selected nine Singaporean artists to create and integrate an element of local art around the hotel.
In room 201, guests will find the work of pop artist Justin Lee, who places Asian and Western motifs with oriental girls in the West. Lee studied comments on the position of women in society. Elsewhere, Heleston Chew produced anamorphic messages that can only be deciphered by looking at them from certain angles in space. Safaruddin Abdul Hamid (aka Dyn) made a mural depicting the facade of the 1929 hotel on the eight-meter wall of the gymnasium. Miguel Chew integrated laser-cut figures made of polished aluminum, depicting sensual and romantic silhouettes that reflect the play of light and darkness in the room. Other artists include Lee Meiling, Tay Bee Aye, Kng Mian Tze and Sandra Lee.
4) Henry Jones art Hotel, Australia
Further east, the Henry Jones Art Hotel in Tasmania is not lacking in character, as it is located on the waterfront of Hobart in a converted row of old warehouses from the 1820s. The hotel, which gives a more meaningful definition of industrial chic, hosts a constantly evolving exhibition. He asks a wide range of Tasmanian artists to present pieces. The result is more than 400 works of art and photographs scattered throughout the property and a steady stream of creative people checking in to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere.
5) Dolce Hotels and Resorts, L’alexander, Indianapolis
A few weeks ago we dealt with the concept: art outside the frame in the hotel. The Alexander redefines the art of hospitality by transforming every room of the hotel into a fascinating space for commissioned works of art. For example, in the hall there is a 3D wall installation of birds flying from a turntable.
6) Hotel 21C Museum Nashville
Founded by two collectors of contemporary art, the hotel in Nashville, like the other seven hotels in the collection, is focused on a museum of contemporary art with several venues-with an open exhibition space for the public. Woven into the fabric of the city centre, the hotel welcomes both visitors and locals to enjoy Gray & Dudley’s curated exhibitions, cultural programmes and culinary offerings. Just a few blocks from Nissan Stadium, Bridgestone battleground, and Broadway joyfull, 21c is an artistic escape full of all this.
7) The Langham, London
After completing our world tour of inspiring art and photo hotels, we reach London, one of the world’s leading design centers–and for good reason. The Langham, London-and especially the Sterling Suite and the Club Lounge-offer the perfect blend of quintessentially British art. Curated by Susan Walsh and Robin Greene, with Richmond International overseeing the overall design, the team has worked hard to sensitively and effortlessly bring the interiors of these spaces to life with an abstract view of British culture.
