Boutique Design - December 2018 - 16

THE BUZZ: MAJOR MILESTONES

HOW DID THE THREE OF YOU MEET, AND WHAT MADE YOU
WANT TO LAUNCH YOUR STUDIO IN THE LATE 1990S?
ANWAR MEKHAYECH: I met Matt a long time ago. He was working in my
dad's restaurant in Toronto and we quickly became friends. Matt and Allen
knew each other from the landscape architecture program at the University
of Toronto and that brought us all together. Allen was doing his Masters in
Architecture at Columbia University while Matt and I were based in Toronto. In
1998, we came together to form a firm to design a restaurant that I was going to
own and run called SpaHa, which attracted local and international attention.
From there we just jumped into the business.
WHAT CHANGES HAVE YOU SEEN IN THE HOSPITALITY SPACE
IN THE PAST 20 YEARS?
MATT DAVIS: We've found that the role of the interior designer has shifted
and become more significant in the business model, moving from consultant
to creative lead. Twenty years ago, an interior designer was brought on after
the model was figured out. But now we're involved in the early business
concepting stage, which affects focus and budgeting. It's about setting the
overall tone and using design to enhance the user experience.
MEKHAYECH: The pace of projects and expectations of clients have
changed due to technology and visualization tools. Clients and end-users
are much more design savvy than before. We've continued to treat the design
process as a creative business strategy model, developing experiences and
interiors that fit a business plan yet also function well and look great.
ARE YOU EXPLORING ANY NEW TECHNOLOGIES OR DESIGN
STRATEGIES?
ALLEN CHAN: We're excited about what's in development with VR and
visualization. We've been using the tools that are available to us now to convey
our ideas to clients in innovative ways, but having those new technologies to
visualize space differently and express that vision to clients is something we've
been chasing for a long time.
WHICH TRAVEL TRENDS AND OUTSIDE SEGMENTS DO YOU
SEE IMPACTING TODAY'S HOSPITALITY EXPERIENCES?
MEKHAYECH: In North America we've seen a trend towards micro-hotels.
In particular we're super excited about a brand we recently helped Hilton
launch called Motto. We've also seen an increase in rental brands like the
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boutiquedesign.com DECEMBER 2018

THE RITZ-CARLTON, TORONTO

ones we've worked on for Node and Uncle, which are exploring a more
transient approach to apartment living that gives them flexibility to address
changes in the market. Airbnb sparked a massive re-think, and subsequently
coworking and coliving models have completely changed the hospitality,
residential and workplace markets.
CHAN: We're seeing massive confusion because today's hospitality market
is so flooded with brands that everyone is trying to figure out their distinctive
design narrative and their point of view in order to have a clear position in the
marketplace. Brands also have a lifecycle, and we're helping many of them to
change it up while also staying true to their concept and core identity.
DAVIS: Luxury is a key theme at the moment. As we explore the
differences between new and classic luxury, brands are looking to reinvent
what luxury means and what it looks and feels like.
WHAT ARE CLIENTS SAYING ABOUT WHICH APPROACHES ARE
MOST RELEVANT?
MEKHAYECH: Most clients are taking a design-led and experiential approach
to their concepts that look at creating a place where likeminded people
want to eat, work, be social and sleep. Everything is converging. Brands like
Soho House did it best, combining a strong design sensibility with a massive
membership pool of likeminded people. Sydell Group creates brands and
designs that have a lot of character and resonate well. Also brands such as 1
Hotels that have a strong stance about sustainability, wellness and feeling good
have huge momentum.
WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT NOW?
DAVIS: We're very much looking forward to the opening of a number of hotel
projects that we've been working on for several years, such as The St. Regis
Toronto and The Dalmar Fort Lauderdale. In the future, we have projects
coming up with The Drake and The Ritz-Carlton hotels in Toronto and Pendry
Hotels, along with an exciting new partnership with NeueHouse and our
good friend Josh Wyatt. (DesignAgency helped Wyatt develop the Generator
and Equinox concepts before he joined collaborative space NeueHouse in
November 2018.)
CHAN: The Dalmar is the first newbuild hotel where we're not only the
designers but also the creative lead. It's the first urban hotel in the area, so it's
going to provide a completely new experience for visitors and guests, with a
variety of hospitality spaces and incredible views of the city. 

A D R I E N W I L L I A M S ( T H E R I T Z- C A R LT O N , T O R O N T O ) ; S AT Y + P R AT H A ( DAV I S , M E K H AY E C H A N D C H A N )

DESIGNAGENCY:
20 YEARS
MATT DAVIS, ANWAR
MEKHAYECH AND
ALLEN CHAN,
FOUNDING PARTNERS

http://www.boutiquedesign.com

Boutique Design - December 2018

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