Boutique Design - January/February 2018 - 16

the buzz: 2018 forecast

DESIGN DIRECTIONS: WHO'S GOT THE LOOK?
2018 will be another year in which design has to be as thoughtful as it is cool.
From street smart to book smart, expect to dive deeper into research to
deliver on this year's key trends:
1. Think Healthy. "Eco-integrity and adding positive social value to local
communities will be high on the agenda," says Anthony Mallows, recently
named WATG's ceo. "Wellness will remain a hot topic, and immersive holistic
experiences wrapped around biophilic design will be another dominant
trend." Equinox Hotels' ceo Christopher Norton plans to use the brand's
fitness facilities to anchor and activate the public spaces of its debut hotel,
opening later this year in New York's Hudson Yards. Think of the gym as the
new lobby-well, maybe.
have fun on the road. Lorraine Francis, director of hospitality interiors,

Gensler, says we're in a post-demographic world. And, she adds, many people
will want to be "playsumers," seeking to interact with design and the built
environment. So, those game boards, Plinko walls, bocce ball courts, "play
spaces" for adults such as the Experience Floor with ping pong tables and a
hopscotch grid at Brussels' Hotel BLOOM!, rooftop workout areas and quirky
décor (think camping-inspired rooms such as those at Moxy Times Square)
aren't just for "kids" these days. Make space for those school's-out moments,
whether it's outside a meeting room or in a cheeky design detail (such as the
voodoo dolls that make up the seemingly oh-so elegant fleur-de-lys wallpaper
print in ForrestPerkins' design for the Cambria hotel & suites New Orleans
Downtown Warehouse District).
3. Go with the (traffic) flow. "The consumer's desire for simplicity
and ease of use in all areas of a hotel room requires efficient, logical planning
of space, circulation and simple, easy-to-understand design in all areas of a
hotel," says Rebel Design + Group ceo Douglas DeBoer. And, adds Aliya Khan,
vice president, Global Design Strategies, Marriott Intl., one important way to
do that is to make small groups feel more welcome in lobbies. "We developed
alcoves for Aloft that offer privacy and have amplified lighting conducive
to small business meetings, along with outlets in the banquettes. We got
the idea from a recording studio," and that includes using sound-absorbing
panels. Designers also have to prioritize multifunctional FF&E; they now also
need to look for pieces that can have a second life. "If the alcoves don't work
in a few years, they can be reused as DJ booths or intimate bar tables," says

SISTER CIT Y, NEW YORK, ACE HOTEL'S NEW BRAND

Kahn. One piece that doesn't seem logical to Khan? Big sofas that become
wasted real estate if one guest sits in the middle.
4. Clean up your act. Choice Hotels' Cannon and Marriott's Khan stress
the importance of de-cluttering and leaving guests room for their personal
devices, clothes and toiletries-as well as an in-room workout. Khan also sees
elements moving off the floor in lifestyle concepts-whether pegs that obviate
the need for closets or nice-to-haves such as a portable work table that can be
stored on the wall. Not only does that maximize tight footprints, it also creates
focal points on walls that draw the eye upward for less claustrophobic vibes.
5. Master the module. Eric Jacobs, chief development officer, Marriott
Intl., says one of that hotelier's design strategies is "to prepare to influence
the industry around modular construction." Marriott currently has 50 deals
that are all or partially modular. Why? It speeds development by shrinking
the construction timeframe by 5-6 months; offers options for better finishes;
provides better sound-proofing as there are two walls between each room
rather than one; and accelerates the pace of installation with the ability to stack
20-25 rooms per day. A 140-room Courtyard by Marriott can be finished in five
days. "That's particularly relevant now," says Jacobs. "Construction schedules
used to be 12 months; now they're averaging 18 months, so the shorter timeline
of modular is especially important." It's also going to be a high-profile concept
in the coming months. Teaming with Concord Hospitality and DLR Krakow
(a Polish company specializing in modular construction), Marriott is working
on a modular hotel in New York, which will be the country's tallest modular
building. CitizenM has enlisted the help of Polcom Modular to construct its
second New York locale on the Bowery, which will be the country's largest.
6. Restaurant-led hospitality venues will feel more like a
night in. "We want designers to know how understated luxury can create

He's Not Here, SAN FRANCISCO, BY REBEL DESIGN+GROUP

boutiquedesign.com january + february 2018

comfortable spaces where guests feel less like they are in a restaurant or
inn and more like they are guests in our home," says Kyle Connaughton,
chef, SingleThread Farms (a farm-to-table dining experience in Healdsburg,
California, that also features an inn). That's not to say the pub/restaurant look
of F&B-centric hotels is over, but expect to see homey finishes, more subtle
lighting and less razzle dazzle. Bon appetit!
7. Extended stay is getting sexier. With the launch of concepts
like YOTELPad and a redo of Element in the works, get ready for longerstay guests with higher design expectations-and owners demanding more
flexibility in branded properties. Marriott Intl. is updating its book of brand
standards for Element, cutting out requirements such as multi-level lobbies
that don't resonate with owners or guests. - Oriana Lerner

C O U R T E S Y O F AT E L I E R AC E ( S I S T E R C I T Y ) ; C O U R T E S Y O F R E B E L D E S I G N + G R O U P ( H E ' S N O T H E R E )

2. It's not all about MILLENNIALS; every generation wants to

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Boutique Design - January/February 2018

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