Design Hotels (TM)

One of the benefits while travelling is staying at great hotels. If you like art and design, you will afford to stay at a boutique hotel that appeals to you. On the plus side, every design hotel is a reflection of culture and art at its best, so wherever you go, you’ll have a different feeling. There are many interpretations, or styles, from which you can choose. In today’s developed (but still not enough) travel industry, there will always be a company to offer special services, discounts, and people and hotels who will remember frequent guests and give you a special treatment because you keep on coming back…no matter where in the world.

Design Hotels (TM) is a company that gathers some of the best design hotels around the world. Most of the represented ones are located in Europe, form capitals to coasts. Once you choose the country and the place, you’ll be shown a list of hotels. Every hotel is presented to you with a description, list of facilities, explanation of the design concept and accompanied by a gallery of exceptional photos. Also, on the right hand side of every hotel page is a booking option so, you can check availability and prices while you are there.

On the plus side of this (these) company is that they offer better rates and discounts then you would get sometimes when booking directly with a hotel or through some other websites. You can join Desing Hotels Club and receive benefits such as 50% discount for new members, special rate as long as you are a member and additional offers from time to time. Recently, Design Hotels (TM) introduced a 10% off for booking 21 days in advance.

GO PRIVATE + is a service that offers anyone to book the entire hotel for business meeting or vacations, weddings, gatherings… Whether it’s you with your friends, family, colleges or partners, you can call Design Hotels and let the arrange the booking for you. Sweet!

Which design hotel did you stay? Which ones you would like to go to?

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Residenza D’Arte, Tuscany

Spring is approaching and it’s already time to start at least thinking about where you going to spend your next vacation. So to inspire you a little, I’m going to show you an amazing place in Tuscany, because I know Tuscany is a dream to many travellers.

Since I like to give a little edge to the travel experience, combine art most of the times and so on, I picked Residenza D’Arte as a perfect place in Tuscany. It’s located in Torrita di Siena, 14th century village near Siena and other interesting towns close by. But even better, you have entire Tuscany to explore…Pisa, Lucca, Florence, Arezzo… The best way to get here is to take a flight to Florence, maybe spend a day there, if for no other reason than to be stunned by the complex of Florence cathedral; a combination of romanesque, gothic and reneissance architecture which was built by great artists like Arnolfo di Cambio, Brunelleschi, Ghiberti and Giotto. And then take an hour drive to Residenza D’Arte.

There isn’t much I can say…the pictures speak for themselves. The amazing views of nature, the park around this retreat and the colours! Residenza D’Arte was completely restored into a modern stay but with stone walls, arches and wooden beams continues to capture the tradition of Tuscany. All suites and rooms are furnished and decorated with contemporary art and design.

Each suite is unique and specially decorated. You can choose from Suite, Superior room and Junior room, which are all very spacious and comfortable. They are accessible from that park which is also decorated with sculptures by Anna Izzo, as is the rest of Residenza D’Arte.

While you’re there, you can switch from just being and observer and participate in painting and cooking classes, explore local places and savour the best Tuscan wines, enjoy in thermal center of Montepulciano, go horse riding, rent a bike or a car. And what’s Italy without shopping?! The perks of staying here extend to having an outlet center that houses big designer names like Gucci, Valentino, Giorgio Armani, Bottega Veneta, Salvatore Ferragamo etc. You can hire a driver or rent a private car.

This is my perception of an ideal place to relax and enjoy, to renew yourself…amazing art, stunning scenery, quietness.

What do you think? Is it already on your list?

What is your idea of perfect, relaxing vacation?

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Paris exhibitions – winter of 2009

Some cities don’t have a best time to visit, there is always something interesting going on. If you are in Paris this winter and visiting Le Centre Pompidou, or popularly called Beaubourg, you have more reasons to be there then to see this amazing piece of architecture.

Le Centre Pompidou hosts at the beginning of 2009 many interesting exhibitions. One of the artists that exhibits his work at the time is Ron Arad. He is a well-known British industrial designer and an architect. Being one of the most outstanding contemporary designers, he is known by his expression with sinusoidal, elliptical and oval forms. To see a display of Ron Arad’s work exhibited at Centre Pompidou, go here. Open till March 16, 2009.
Except Ron Arad, you’ll be able to also see an exhibition of Ettore Sottsass’ work (Hommage a Ettore Sotsass). He was an Italian architect and designer that influenced a major shift in international design in the 20th century. He is best known for his Carlton room divider/shelving unit, “Casablanca” sideboard and “Valentine” typewriter. Open till March 31, 2009. Another great artist exhibiting at Centre Pompidou is Damian Ortega. A Latin American artist and one of the most prominent artists of the new Mexican generation. His work explores specific economic, aesthetic and cultural situations and in particular how regional culture affects commodity consumption. He is inspired by a wide range of mundane objects which are transformed into remarkable pieces of art, sculptures and mobiles. Exhibition open until February 9, 2009.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Shops & more book review

Every time I travel to a bigger city,there are some things that I research in advance. Since I’m the kind of traveller that is passionate about architecture, art, design and culture, and I like to take my time to enjoy, you are probably starting to get the picture of how it all looks like. Except from visiting smaller art and photographic galleries, I sometimes know in advance about the shops or even the specific things I want to search for. If you are a so-called design conscious traveller, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Just one of my many resources is a series of books called Shops & more. I’ve already written about Hotels & more in one of my earlier posts. Books, or better yet guides, are published by Taschen and include only four destinations; London, Paris, Berlin and Barcelona. The cities are, same as in the other series, divided in a few areas of which each starts with a hand-illustrated map with shops marked on it. Those shops are then presented with great photos and in the end listed with some information like working hours,  X-factor (like a special feature) and a sentence more about the ambient since most is covered in photos.

Shops & more don’t only include fashion shops but everything including interior design, hats, hand-made cosmetics, tea & coffee, chocolate, gourmet food, bookstores, cookware, hand-made umbrellas, jewelry… there can even be an address for the local market.

There are a few things I always know; like what bookstore I’m going to in London, which designer studio I’m looking up for a bag, where am I going to buy “mini monuments” in Paris etc. And for the places I don’t have guides, I make my own. But when it comes to shopping, most of the things I leave to case because something will always surprise you…

Usually, I’m very critical when it comes to guides in general, even with these “picture books” because I don’t believe all of them are great. But with Shops & more I’m really satisfied as far as the variety of places it includes. They know how to use photos to present and explain everything you need to know. So I would definitely recommend to look them as up and maybe use them as one of your shopping resources.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Resort Boutique Hotels

Although having the same philosophy as city boutique hotels, resort destinations bring significant differences. Location is still one of the most important things, but now they are not situated as close as possible to populated places. It’s the opposite, well-hidden places are more appreciated. That doesn’t mean that they have to be on desert islands, on the contrary, they can be anywhere.

Resort boutique hotels are usually smaller in size and more intimate. Location and a small number of guests allows you to enjoy the quiet atmosphere and relax. One more thing that is the complete opposite from hotels in cities is the technological aspect. There are no electronic devices for entertainment or communication. Resorts are oriented toward rest and relaxation, a way to escape the city hustle and bustle. And they are serious about it.

Santa Teresa Resort, Sicily

One the other hand, resort design hotels need to be more distinctive, more recognizable than those in cities. In this case, design is again not enough. The attraction factor then becomes local produce, cuisine, special spas or activities like ridding and art workshops (painting, sculpture…). Boutique hotels can be owned by anyone. What’s important is that they are a reflection of the local community. As an example I took these pictures of a boutique hotel in the Sicilian archipelago (shown above). It is situated half-way between Europe and Africa which is recognizable in design and atmosphere, same as food: fish, couscous and Arabic sweets.

Sometimes resort boutique hotels are closed during winter time. That refers to warmer regions only. Because, as I said before, resort boutique hotels are not reserved for tropical islands only, they can be anywhere in the countryside, even close to cities.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

City Boutique Hotels

There is one thing that always comes first about city boutique hotels. It’s location. Many would say it’s logical, location is always important; the closer you are to the city center, the more attractive you are. But, there is more to it. In today’s vibrant cities, certain neighbourhoods are considered the popular ones, or the fancy ones. And they are different in a way because they have something that others don’t; it’s an artist’s area, it’s well-known because of the old architecture, it has a beautiful park in the area…and with all that come chic places, like cafes, restaurants and galleries. Again, the reflection of culture but this time, inside one city.

Technology is also an important factor. There isn’t a city designer hotel that doesn’t have rooms and suites equipped with flat-screen televisions, (computers with) high speed internet connection, cordless phones, dvd players. Some go a few extra miles with sensor lights, universal remote controls, special showers and music and TV in the bathroom. When you think a little better about it, every five-star hotel should have a few of those first things, it’s the 21st century! But the sad truth is they don’t; some are making it possible because they are realizing that the time of pretty little soaps and candies on a pillow is long gone.

The Hempel Hotel, London

The third criteria is entertainment. Only live music in bars doesn’t do the trick any more. Hip restaurants, lounges and bars, in hotels, with exceptional themes and design are what attract people and make them feel great.

Today, what’s considered good is no longer good. What’s considered safe is actually risky. We are all searching for something new, something different, looking for ourselves by taking what appeals to us. Hotel business, same as travel, is rapidly changing, and it’s reacting to what we have to say. This is where it’s taking us now.

What do you think about it?

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Design hotels

Travel has changed. There are no unfamiliar places any more. Demands have increased and so did the choices. Now, travelers are able to persue travel experiences on a more individual level. Travel is not only about sightseeing any more. Every travel destination is defined in a way by a new approach in architecture, design, art and entertainment.

Boutique hotels, or popularly called design hotels, are one of those ingredients that can give your travel experience a more individual feeling. Boutique hotels are a lot different from chain hotels, in design, service, ownership and most of all, philosophy. They are operated by individuals or companies with a small collection and usually don’t have a large number of rooms. It depends on the location but the number is between a few and 150. Just enough to be unique and create a connection between customers and hotel staff.

Hotel Sezz, Paris

Design is the first and most important determinant when we are talking about boutique hotels. Most attention goes to interior design; furnished in a period style or modern, with different accents. Sometimes every room in a hotel is furnished differently to give a unique look and feel for every guest. It also happens that a particular hotel guest books the same room every time. Except styles, artwork and popular designer pieces, usually 20th century design, makes them so appealing. That’s where the term design hotels derived from and became more used than boutique hotels.

The George Hotel, Hamburg

They are not only a fancy place to stay in, they have a deeper meaning. Every place, that being a vibrant city hotel or a small resort, is a cultural reflection. As art and architecture, people are trying to distinguish themselves through designing new places; hotels, bars, restaurants and shops. So each of them has a story to tell, a story told in their own, unique way.

Next time you travel, add a personal note, in every aspect!

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Takashi Murakami in Frankfurt

After MOCA in Los Angeles and Brooklyn Museum in New York, © MURAKAMI exhibition came to Europe. MMK Museum fur Moderne Kunst in Frankfurt is presenting the most comprehensive retrospective of Takashi Murakami’s work, 1991-2008. The whole museum was transformed into an exhibition space for Murakami’s pieces, and so the name of the exhibition is © MURAKAMI Museum. You can visit it until January 4, 2009, when it will be moved to Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao as the last platform where the work will be presented.

Takashi Murakami is a Japanese artist who combines stylistic characteristics of traditional Japanese art with pop culture. He became famous in the early 1990s with his theory called Superflat. It’s a self-proclaimed art movement that refers to expansion and exploration of two-dimensional medium of anime, Japanese animation through painting, photography, video, animation etc. He is one of the most influential artists in the recent decades because he is trying to create a link between high and mass culture.

His work includes paintings, wallpapers, installations and films. Throughout years of work, Murakami created his characters and, with that, fantastic iconography. Along success came a company called Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. that produces T-shirts, calendars, plush creatures and other sorts of Japanese kitschware. Kaikai and Kiki are the white and pink duo that appear in sculpture and paintings, too. Murakami also worked under artistic direction of Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton and created the famous monogram.

Takashi Murakami’ s activities include, not only his artwork and Kaikai Kiki, but work as a curator, editor, event organizer, radio show presenter, author, and a newspaper columnist as well as a manager of young artists.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Cafe Gerbeaud in Budapest

I love visiting Budapest in winter. Especially now, before Christmas, walking around the city of beautiful architecture and art, soaking the great atmosphere. There is a place that I love to go to, that for me represents Budapest and where I feel like one of the artists from around hundred years ago, drinking good coffee and drawing in the warm corner of the cafe.

Vorosmarty square

Just walking into Cafe Gerbeaud, you’ll feel like you have walked into a different time. With marble floors, wood panneling on the walls, rococo plaster work on the ceiling and sparkling chandeliers, the interior is even more that you expect looking at the beautiful building in the center (Pestum). Connoisseurs will recognize secessionist style furniture and a little french influence.

The magic continues once you open the menu…you have to order a coffee and a piece of cake. Coffees are delicate and fine, and cake selection is completely exceptional. Try a well-known Hungarian Dobos cake or Esterhazy cake.

Esterhazy cake

Cafe Gerbaud is also know by their bakery goods that they have diligently perfected since they opened their doors in 1858. So if you stop by in the morning for breakfast, to read the newspapers, it will be as appealing. French brioche, English apple pie with vanilla sauce of traditional pogatscha with cottage cheese will spoil you. But those are the little pleasures we should all enjoy.

You can take a part of that experience back home with you. Cafe Gerbaud will offer you, in the Green Salon, handmade bon bons, house jams, preserved fruits and cakes beaufully packaged. It won’t be an easy choice…

…and you will keep on coming back…

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

DesignArt London

Need a reason to put London on your travel list in autumn? Here is a good reason to do so…

DesignArt London is London’s first design art fair devoted exclusively  to modern and contemporary furniture and decorative arts. The context of the event gathers only the finest collection of twentieth and twenty first century design. Curated by the world’s foremost gallery owners (including Paris, Milan Brussels, Copenhagen, New York, Chicago addresses), DesignArt London defines its place at the top regardless of its second edition. More than half of the 32 art galleries came from Paris in 2008 which tells a lot about design important destinations.

The event presents an impressive array of collectible classic pieces from Le Corbusier, Jean Prouve, Arne Jacobsen, to more contemporary ones with signatures of Zaha Hadid, Marc Newson and Ron Arad; but also creations by rising design stars as Junko Mori, Fredrikson Stallard, Sebastian Erazuriz and others. Curators made sure that every piece was rare and esthetically beautiful, showcasing furniture produces as one-offs or limited edition.

The things sold on the fair aren’t just extravagant and expensive. They maintain the integrity of creativity and function, presented for someone who understands design and its products. Art and design collectors will not miss because galleries’ selection includes a range of prices so that even a novice collector will find something of lasting value for himself and with such a selection, I can say you will be entering the haute couture of the design world.

This year the organizers of DesignArt London have decided to exhibit only limited editions, unique vintage pieces and the creme the la creme of contemporary design. Everything had to be closely related to the theme “Design as Art” so most of the pieces had elements derived from both tradition and innovation.

In the future DesignArt London will “…provide a showcase for those designers and dealers whose creativity and social consciousness rewards new technologies, a respect for the environment, and a dearing sense of humor.”*

DesignArt is held in October every year since 2007, at Berkly Square in Mayfair. Ticket price for the entire event is £15.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

* from DesignArt London press release