Hospitality interior Smarty hotel lobby

The challenge of elevating the guest experience for a new audience required the use of materials new to SMARTY’s brand.

Young and tech savvy guests expect modern and robust, yet organic feel of the interior and its materials. As such, I chose for a combination of polished stone composite and felt.

The color choice was dictated more strictly by SMARTY’s brand guidelines. The proposed design was for a monochromatic interior with a splash of the brand’s primary colour, accompanied by natural greenery.

The lobby’s zoning was created to accommodate a linear flow of the hotel’s visitors.

The first area guests experience is a lounge section with flexible tables and multiple options for charging electronics such as laptops, tablets and smartphones.

The centerpiece of the lobby is the self-check-in station, which is a sculptural piece made of polished stone composite. It houses two terminals, with the possibility for a third to be added in the future.

At the back, a traditional concierge desk area is specially designed to optimize for efficient use of space, housing two receptionists and their workstations. A separate private booth in the back is enclosed using a thick felt curtain, to accommodate the client’s request for an isolated workspace for phone calls.

Finally, a neon lights installation presents the visitors with the hotel’s slogan, setting the mood for their entire stay, while branded signposting directs them to their rooms.

All the furniture design was tailor made to accomplish the needs of the hotel’s visitors.

The lounge area included ample temporary storage space for luggage, which guests can use to unburden themselves during the check-in process.

The bright stone self-check-in station is mounted on a smaller, dark pedestal blended with the floor, creating a dramatic and futuristic floating sensation.