The hospitality industry is experiencing a boom worldwide. This wave of curating guest experiences hasn’t only swept leading conglomerate chains but also stand-alone boutique hotel designs.
Boutique hotels focus on creating a singular experience free of a restrictive brand image. Such a premise may inculcate the context or choose to stand out in a neighbourhood; they might focus on bringing out the local details or simply exist as a charming and cosy romantic inn – the world is their (and the designer’s) oyster.
Typically these hotels are not located in an estate and are road-facing properties with at most 100 rooms large. However, as said earlier, there are no set expectations from these stays. To commemorate unique design, Love That Design has compiled a list of 10 stunning boutique hotels. Take a dive…
A well-balanced blend of design with the local community, Red Deer drove the inspiration from a local Ridley Road Market for this hotel. Elements such as bright and cheerful hotel interiors, west coast warmth, and peachy pink hallways perfectly mimicked the vernacular market’s concept. Plants were weaved into the entrance led to a large bar, encouraging people to drink in that one focal point destination. A space savings approach – such as combining the kitchen with storage joinery and banquet seatings with bed headboards – was adopted within smaller room dimensions to provide flexibility. These overall interiors resulted in sufficient space for resting, cooking and dining. At last, the lower ground floor consists of a lush, planted, ample atrium space which provides a relaxing ambience.
To kickstart the design, the team of Salvatore Spataro Architect aimed to reflect the rich Silical artisan culture in Filinona B&B Hotel. The interiors boast a mix of modernity and traditional elements. The hotel has three rooms which are distributed across two levels. Each room holds different characteristics and is inspired by an aspect of local culture: Sicilian cards, wicker baskets, and colourful ceramic plates. The indoor flooring consists of tactfully crafted tiny tiles, all with colours and patterns that highlight the memories of the island.
Upon the entrance, these patterns develop in the separate bathrooms, slowly rising from shower walls to ceiling. The main staircase is dipped in local white stone, complimented with several suspension lamps. The common area walls are keepers of black and white posters which showcase the daily instances of the city. The breakfast room surprisingly consists of only one large shared wooden table, in which different types of seating are placed to highlight the uniqueness of each diner.
Located in the Picturesque Gong Cha Town, Changxing County, Huzhou City, the hanging Datang Gong Cha Vipusea Hotel, Huzhou, reshapes the modern Tang-style dynasty. With alluring interiors designed by Hangzhou Kenna Interior Design, the hotel revolves around modernity with a traditional hint. The interiors boast a contemporary lifestyle which showcases the culture in the best way possible.
The architect ensured to provide traditional accents with elegant modern interiors so that the culture could not be left behind. Overall, The hotel breathes in brown-coloured hues with modern contemporary furniture.
Located in the popular tourist destination of Sanya, Hainan, this hotel is naturally surrounded by soothing waves, a striking skyline coast, and a water-bodied blue ambience. Presented by GS Design, the hotel has two different design sides, both interpreted in different ways. The exteriors have a calm ocean wave effect rising and falling along the shore, whereas the interiors reflect an enclosed ocean wave, reflecting an infinite blue ocean. The designers have left the simmering water body to do the talking with its white interior backdrop. Additionally, the space provides its visitors tranquillity with its custom furniture items that match its interiors.
Redefining luxury in hotels, Studio Proact. Designs Monograph Hotel, Freedom Square Tbilisi. The architectural studio focused on the design concept of merging the past, present and future. The hotel is located in the historical district of Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, with a harmonious blend of textures, colours, and materials. Motif Design Elements, a multi-rand Tbilisi showroom since 1996, exclusively selected interior products. Right from the entrance of this extravagant hotel, each corner has a story to tell. Starting from the one-line artworks at the reception, the space holds portraits of travellers, furniture fittings from lush European brands and more.
Furthermore, the balustre of the staircase is re-designed to make it simpler yet store its authentic look. A custom-made 29-metre chandelier wrapped around this spiral staircase steals the show. It depicts the glory of the Georgian language written in the ancient Georgian alphabet, biblical references and numerological symbolism.
The largest of all accommodation buildings in Lipica, Hotel Maestoso, Lipica, was an old hotel which used to possess a relatively distinctive yet aggressive appearance. It has an eye-catching presence due to the use of ancient architectural elements being used.
For its renovation, Designers ENOTA initially started researching ways to take down its appearance slowly by dematerialising the whole building mass. The rest was proposed as a light load-bearing structure, swimming pool areas in intermediate spaces, and a unique interplay of shades and shadows, breaking down the chunky mass of the old system. The architect infused many greens, giving the building a new identity. The public programs are designed as flexible spaces, which can be utilised separately due to partition walls. Thus, the project boasts creativity and uniqueness with careful design lighting, small movable furniture pieces, and warm spaces.
Located in the breathtaking city of Meteora, Greece, The Babatchas Design Studio draws down an alluring hospitality project, The Storyteller Boutique Hotel, Meteora. The hotel was already blessed with a striking view of the hills and city beneath. Its interiors are brought alive from within by combining spiritual monastic life elements with its landscape, providing a clean yet modern design. The design team brought together materials, colours, and tones which were woven into its rooms. Overall, the concept design reflects the monasteries of Meteora.
With dark aesthetics and art-deco interiors Craves Hotel, Brussels is surely one of the boutique hotels which are designed to stand out. The designer firm Saar Zafrir Design conceptualised the hotel to revolve around the five human senses, all with the intention to give something more to its guests.
Overall, This 59-room hotel has an upscale contemporary bar and a restaurant. Upon entrance, guests are treated with a reception desk brought together with smooth wood and marble top and gold fittings. A parquet of wood runs through this cosy lobby, making it the most comfortable-looking boutique property. The hotel is also equipped with modern gadgets and amenities. Further in, the rooms have blue-toned patterns and hardwood flooring, making the users seek a comfortable yet homely stay.
Sitting on a lush green bed, the Aeon Hotel, Italy, provides a unique boutique stay. This hotel was built on a 550-year-old farm. With a new permeable courtyard concept, noa* network of architecture chose a different pathway to execute it, far away from the traditional ‘green meadows. This resulted in a symphonious landscape between the two buildings, along with reception, bar, wellness areas and rooms accommodating 15 people.
The hospitality project takes life from the family’s details and stories, unfolding more stories as one walks through the property. Small elements such as gable green roofs, reinforced stained features and a dynamic facade design give it a modern statement. Renewable materials have been smartly used throughout the plan, keeping history rooted. The entrance portal is made of black steel, which bears the family’s old coat of arms from 1464. The hallway elegantly vanishes in an artificially created hill, disappearing in thin air. The east and west facades open slowly towards the outside, whereas the north and south feel like a correspondent envelope.
Additionally, the interiors have a blue-and-white balance of colours with modern furniture and fittings, giving the guests an outskirt country yet modern vibe.
Ushering Mediterranean style into boutique hotels, Michal Matalon carefully crafted The Melisende Hotel, Israel. The hotel boasts modern services, luxury, and a high-class oasis, right in the heart of Acre, Israel.
The designer did not go overboard with colours and interior decor. The hotel overall maintains the existing brick wall texture. Upon entrance, one can view a bricked arch and green plats aligned with the walkway, which leads to the main door. The doors are modern with a black-coloured metal finish. The arched theme further continues in the room interiors where the beige-finished furniture is customised to fit in between arches. The bathrooms have beige and white accents, with grey and white-toned furniture, overall giving a muted effect to the eyes. The indoor arches further lead to a courtyard-like waterbody for relaxation. With green planters and subtle Wall lights, these small elements lit the entire space, making it more chic than ever.
