Hotel designer - a fashionable profession, which becomes increasingly popular as the demand for unique accommodation grows in the world. Hotel design, which half a century ago was under the control of hotel corporations, today represents a nearly independent branch. Today the world has recognized several hotel designers, who create the unique look for hotels.
Philippe Starck - this name is familiar to everyone, who is somehow or other associated with the design industry. The man, who has once created lamps on stands from Kalashnikov guns and updated the interior of the French presidential palace, is known, in addition, for his hotel interiors. Philippe Starck has created his first interior for the Hotel Royalton in New York within the bounds of the project, conceived by the former owner of the cult New York club Studio 54 - Ian Shrager. Later, Stark has developed a design for a few more hotels, owned by Shrager, including the Paramount in New York, Delano in Miami and Mondrian in Los Angeles. Futuristic images of Philippe Starck inspired the owners of Starwood chain to create a special line of exclusive hotels under the brand W. In 2007 Philippe Starck signed a contract, according to which the designer will work on the interiors of a new hotel chain - SLS Hotels up to 2022. The first hotel of SLS chain was opened in Los Angeles, in Beverly Hills district in 2008.
Anouska Hempel, also known as Lady Weinberg - a wonderful example of turning an actress into a famous hotel designer. Hempel, whose life itself is worthy of three volumes of adventures, managed to achieve success in the acting field as well as in the field of hotel design. Playing the role of the “angel of death” in an episode of the Bond franchise, today Hempel is among the hundred of the most distinguished international designers. The credo of Hempel – style is above comfort. Among the hotels, designed by the Hemel, is the first boutique hotel in London - Blakes, as well as the minimalist Hempel Hotel in London as well. Currently, Hempel works on the creation of several hotels in South America, the United States and India. Varapuru spa hotel in the Amazon rainforest is expected as the first one in queue.
Kelly Wearstler – To date, perhaps, he is number 1 hotel designer in the USA. A founder of own decor studio House of KWID, Kelly Wearstler became famous as the author of the bourgeois luxury interiors with rich colors and bright drapery. Kelly Wearstler - is a "singer of glamour", a sort of antipode of Anouska Hempel. On Wearstler’s account there is interior design of dozens of hotels, including both major hotels and boutiques. Hotels by Kelly Wearstler can be found primarily in Miami (The Tides) and Los Angeles (Viceroy Hotels and Avalon). In addition to the hotel design Kelly Wearstler became famous as a Playboy model and an anchorperson of designer’s TV show - Top Design.
Speaking about the hotel designers, it will be a huge mistake to pass over Italy. Italy gave the world’s hotel design such names as Piero Lissoni, Bruno Borrione, Fabio Novembre. Piero Lissoni is famous for his reconstruction works on the interiors of Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal in Venice and minimalist design of Bentley Hotel in Istanbul. Bruno Borrione, which collaborates with Starck, has in his portfolio a tiny hotel Le Placide in Paris. Fabio Novembre is known for alteration of a former industrial building into a glamorous UNA Hotel Vittoria in Florence in San Frediano region.
Other well-known hotel designers:
- Ron Arad – the design of Duomo - the hotel of the future in Rimini, in decoration of which furniture, exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA), was used
- Alessandro Mendini - hotel-museum Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amista in Verona
- Shawn Hausman – style of 70-s, hotels Standard in Miami and Los Angeles
