ESCAPE IS A GOOD STORY
We all love a good story and often, design is used to deliver just that. Aware of the power of good storytelling, designers have frequently constructed ephemeral narratives when pitching projects to clients – even though, sometimes, these stories struggle to leave a durable or meaningful trace within the executed project. There is a fine line between a narrative that is subtle and one that is overbearing, and this makes all the difference.
Some designs, unfortunately, turn out so literal that they slide into outright kitsch, while others never manage to inject the story into the core of the architecture. However, when the design is solidly grounded and created with a sense of honesty, the story powering the project is bound to leave a lasting effect.
With trends in hospitality consistently undergoing changes and redevelopments, one that has remained consistent has been the property’s ability to create a form of escape through powerful storytelling and an equally impactful design story.
A property’s location, natural surroundings, historical significance, and sense of community are all different ways in which hotels can engage its visitors, all while creating an opportunity for design to take centre stage in telling a powerful story. In the examples below, we look at four properties across the globe that have utilised a prevailing design story to offer the perfect escape.
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Denne historien er fra July/August 2020-utgaven av Identity.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Breaking the mould
A collision of forces has given birth to a new project called The Great Design Disaster. Led by a passionate duo – interior architect Gregory Gatserelia and design enthusiast Joy Herro – its aim is nothing short of shaking up the traditional boundaries of the contemporary design market. identity catches up with Herro to learn more.
A taste for luxury
Häcker Kitchens is on a mission to 'disrupt the kitchen industry' in the Middle East
An Italian affair
An exclusive collection by online retail platform Artemest has been curated by Dubai-based interior designer and founder of Styled Habitat, Rabah Saeid, and combines Italian handcrafted pieces inspired by cosy nights in.
At the nexus of design and function
Casamia is home to truly contemporary kitchens for lovers of elegance and understated style
DESIGN FOCUS: A FEAST FOR THE EYES
As a place for everything from cooking and eating to entertaining and gathering with family and friends, the kitchen is the heart of any home. It can be a space that invites creativity as well, not only with food but also with design. Contemporary or traditional, urban-inspired or with a countryside feel, adorned with neutral colours or noble materials, bespoke or modular: there are many options to reflect your own style.
Contemporary heritage
Launched just a few months ago, new brand and gallery Don Tanani revives the past with a contemporary eye, through objects that are at the crossroads of design and art
Distant voices
The voices of 4000 Lebanese citizens have travelled to the Venice Architecture Biennale as part of Beirut-based architecture and design duo T SAKHI’s installation, ‘Letters from Beirut’. With the hope of fostering dialogue and honouring the Lebanese community, the installation shares narratives in the wake of the city’s ongoing reconstruction following the explosion in Beirut on 4 August last year.
An urban legacy
A new book chronicling Sharjah’s modern urban landscape offers a wide-ranging view of the UAE’s third-largest city
WEEKEND LIFESTYLE
This Sydney home achieves harmony through the perfect balance of proportions, materials and colours
A labour of love
The House of Today platform has supported emerging design talent and students in Lebanon for nearly a decade. Today, in the face of ongoing challenges, their efforts remain as solid as ever.