Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 48

perspectives

interview olga polizzi
2+3. Renderings of Rocco
Forte's Shanghai property,
designed by Muza Lab,
will include the reception
with shelves of pottery
and the rooftop bar that
offers views of the city.

You're in the midst of several
renovations: the Hotel Savoy in
Florence, the Balmoral Hotel in
Edinburgh, and Brown's Hotel in
London. What updates can you share
about those?

For the Savoy, we're knocking two rooms into
one and making big bathrooms with separate
showers. Last year, we [renovated] about 50
rooms at the Balmoral, and this year we're
doing [an additional] 45-all the best ones, with
views onto old Edinburgh-and the bar and
the restaurant. It's a rather beautiful Victorian
building, and we've used Scottish materials and
colors, and a little bit of checkered [patterns].
We're also redoing Brown's bit by bit, including
the ground floor with a new restaurant and a
much bigger bar, which is a nightmare for me
because our offices are just around the corner,
so all the directors go there every day. Everyone
has their own opinion.

2
3

Shanghai is also on the horizon, your
first property in Asia Pacific, part of a
mixed-use development in the West
Bund. Can you give us a sneak peek?

What is your process for making each
hotel feel distinct?

I suppose I have a house style of sorts because
I do repeat myself in colors and certain
materials, but every hotel is different. We try
and make our hotels feel like the city they're
in, so I always look at the history. When people
wake up, I want them to feel they're in Berlin
or Brussels or Rome. Berlin is a bright, brash,
young city, and the Hotel de Rome is done
more in that style, while Munich is more of a
grand lady, so the Charles Hotel is softer. We
always buy local art because that immediately
gives you a sense of where you are.
Everywhere I go, I'm always moving
furniture, changing things around, buying
extra bits, so it's in the blood. I always start

048

February 2018 hospitalitydesign.com

minimalist and then it goes by the [wayside]
because every fair I go to, every city I go to, I'm
always buying, buying. I'm a great buyer.

You do some projects in-house and
then also work with great designers like
Martin Brudnizki, Tommaso Ziffer, and
Muza Lab. What do you look for in such
collaborations?

We are a very small [team]. There are six of us,
that's our nucleus. But we bring people in when
we need them. It's lovely having somebody
really good who comes in with new ideas and
shows us something different. I hate when
someone comes in with a design that's set in
stone. You've got to keep looking at it, tweaking
it, changing it as you see things develop.

It used to be the airport and, unlike most of
Shanghai, where they've knocked everything
old and interesting down, they've kept a lot of
the buildings and hangars on the site and are
turning them into various museums. They've
also planted thousands and thousands of trees,
and there are a lot of artists' studios. The hotel
will be sort of an art hotel, but rather than
paintings, we are using pottery. The tripleheight entrance will be like a library with
bookshelves but filled with pots. I've only
just started [looking for them] by going to art
colleges and final-year shows, because we need
thousands of pieces.

How has luxury evolved for you?

Luxury keeps upping its game so now we're all
more spoiled. But good service is really the first
thing that people look for. You can have a beautiful
hotel and if you get rotten service, you'll never
go back again. If you get good service and the
design is mediocre, you'll still go back because
they'll look after you. Luxury isn't gold and mirror
everywhere. You can't really define it. It's just a
feeling, a comfort, a bit of glamour. hd


http://www.hospitalitydesign.com

Hospitality Design - February 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hospitality Design - February 2018

Hospitality Design - February 2018
Contents
Online TOC
From the Editor
Behind the Design
CitySCENE: Dallas
Perspectives
Sketchbook
Inspiration: Color of Time
Inspiration: Bosjes
Interview: Olga Polizzi
5 Questions for Florian Kollenz
Products
Designer Profile: Serena Confalonieri
Lighting
Made in America
Wallcoverings
Casegoods
Siteseeing
Downtown Los Angeles
Shanghai
Toronto
Vietnam
Nashville
Copenhagen
Dubai
Bangkok
Washington, DC
Ad Index
Back Space: Boon Sim
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Intro
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Hospitality Design - February 2018
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Cover2
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 1
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 2
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 3
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 4
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 5
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 6
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Contents
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 8
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 9
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 10
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Online TOC
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 12
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 13
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 14
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 15
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - From the Editor
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 17
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 18
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 19
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Behind the Design
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 21
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 22
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 23
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 24
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 25
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - CitySCENE: Dallas
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 27
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 28
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 29
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 30
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Perspectives
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 32
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Sketchbook
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 34
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 35
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 36
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 37
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 38
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 39
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 40
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 41
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 42
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Inspiration: Color of Time
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Inspiration: Bosjes
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 45
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 46
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Interview: Olga Polizzi
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 48
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 49
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 50
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 51
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 5 Questions for Florian Kollenz
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 53
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 54
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Products
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 56
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 57
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 58
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Designer Profile: Serena Confalonieri
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 60
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Lighting
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 62
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 63
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 64
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Made in America
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 66
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 67
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 68
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Wallcoverings
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 70
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 71
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 72
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 73
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 74
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Casegoods
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 76
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 77
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 78
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 79
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 80
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Siteseeing
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Downtown Los Angeles
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 83
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 84
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 85
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 86
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 87
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Shanghai
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 89
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 90
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 91
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 92
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 93
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Toronto
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 95
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 96
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 97
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 98
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Vietnam
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Nashville
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 101
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 102
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 103
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Copenhagen
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 105
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 106
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 107
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Dubai
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 109
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 110
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 111
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Bangkok
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 113
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Washington, DC
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 115
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 116
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 117
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Ad Index
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - 119
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Back Space: Boon Sim
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Cover3
Hospitality Design - February 2018 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/20230506
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/Fall2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/Fall2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/hd/202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/fall2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/expo2020_showguide
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/fall2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/womeninbusiness_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/20190304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/womeninbusiness_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/expo2015_showguide
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/expo2014_showguide
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/hd/20140102
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com