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Top
10 Trendsetting Luxury Hotels
In destinations known
for tradition, these hotels are setting new trends in
luxury...Beijing, Singapore, Vienna, Athens, Venice, Istanbul,
Prague, Budapest, Mexico City, Scottsdale. |
| COMMUNE BY THE
GREAT WALL KEMPINSKI - BEIJING was named "New
Architectural Wonder of China" by Business Week in 2005. It is
a private collection of contemporary architecture designed by 12
Asian architects. The project was exhibited at the 2002 'La Biennale
di Venezia' and awarded a special prize. Located in the Shuiguan
Mountains amidst 8 square kilometers of private land, 1 hour and 15
minutes' drive from Beijing city center, the property enjoys easy
access via the Badaling Expressway. The "Walnut Valley" of
the Commune by the Great Wall Kempinski includes 11 villas with 46
guest rooms and the Commune Club which opened in October 2002, and
the "Stone Valley" includes 31 new villas with 190 guest
rooms, the Commune of the Children (Kids' Club), Anantara Spa,
fitness room and the conference center, which opened in September
2006. The private Badaling Airport, 15 minutes' drive from the
Commune, is available for Helicopters and small aircraft arriving
from Beijing Airport (20 minute flight). |
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NEW MAJESTIC
HOTEL - SINGAPORE is a new boutique hotel in Singapore's
historic China Town, featuring 30 rooms designed by emerging
Singaporean artists -- the most influential talents from cinema,
theatre and fashion. Housed in a traditional conservation shop
house, the hotel features an emphasis on strong design, local
culture and the Arts. The new hotel aims to be a beacon of the New
Asia genre of hotel where history is blended with modernity,
international design with local inspiration a cutting-edge product
of their time. From the open concept period-inspired lobby with
restored vintage Compton fans to the dramatic pool with glass
inserts floating above the restaurant, to the selection of period
colonial furniture from Singapore in the 1920s-1960s, New Majestic
Hotel is a stunning and eclectic mix of heritage chic. Individually
designed rooms, continue the mix of vintage and designer furniture,
customized baths, and can include private gardens and 6-meter
ceilings in attic-style suites. |
| DO & CO HOTEL
- VIENNA, AUSTRIA was designed by famed, Pritzker-prize
winning architect Hans Hollein. The DO & CO Hotel is situated in
the very heart of Vienna in the pedestrian zone opposite St.
Stephen's Cathedral. Four floors of the steel-and-glass building
have been transformed into unique cone-shaped guest rooms offering
majestic views of Stephansplatz, Graben and the Kärtnerstrasse.
Extravagant accommodations feature teak woodwork and stone,
integrated into a futuristic vision of modern design. Bathrooms
feature spacious showers, private fitness equipment and flat-screen
TVs. The hotel's upper floors are dominated by the hotels' fine
restaurants, including a lounge, roof garden and culinary
“temple”, an exclusive pavilion with seating for 12. The
DO&CO restaurant features Viennese specialties as well as fine
sushi and sashimi and a high-end kebab corner, fulfilling the modern
mission of this sleek building. |
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LIFE GALLERY -
ATHENS, GREECE is located in the sophisticated area of
Ekali in the northern part of the city. The hotel has a glass
facade, meant to reflect the nature that surrounds the hotel. In
this relaxing environment, guests can experience a sense of balance
and tranquility. The minimalist, airy architecture, highly aesthetic
interior design and superior levels of hospitality offer truly
memorable experiences. The hotel's concept embraces personal and
business life, with body and soul relaxation -- an oasis of peace
and luxury where the style is acutely modern, but classic values are
still maintained. In the extensive gardens of the hotel, guests will
find two pools, spacious sundecks and outdoor terraces. All 30
rooms, studios and suites are sleekly designed in open-plan layouts
that are complemented by views of the nearby Mount Parnes and Mount
Penteli. Guests' well-being is cared for in the hotel's extensive
Ananea Spa. Yoga and meditation treatments are available, as well as
a vitality pool, sauna and hammam, mud treatments and raindrops
therapy. |
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PALAZZINA GRASSI HOTEL & RESIDENCE - VENICE, ITALY is
located in the historical heart of Venice, directly on the Grand
Canal. The hotel is an ambitious new project of contemporary
hospitality, with 28 rooms and 4 apartment-suites for a dialogue
between different epochs and impressions, past and present, history
and modernity. An exclusive stay, offering guests a truly unique
experience, enjoying the most advanced international art production
directly from the heart of Venetian culture. You need only cross the
narrow street that separates the famous cultural center from the
Palazzina to enter the GRASSI Bar and relax, sipping a drink,
enjoying the unforgettable view of the Grand Canal. The
architectural 'container' of the hotel is a building in Venetian
style from the 15th century, a sophisticated 'shell' that speaks the
aristocratic bourgeois language which is typical of the architecture
of that time. The interior surprisingly, reveals a modern
propensity, arising from a sudden exercise of abstract and
contemporary taste.
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SUMAHAN ON THE
WATER - ISTANBUL, TURKEY is a newly restored 19th century
Ottoman distillery that opened its doors as a hotel in May 2005. The
hotel is situated in an area of Istanbul that still preserves an
authentic Bosphorus neighborhood. It is a village of wooden houses,
seafood restaurants and seaside promenades. Sumahan on the Water is
a rare example of thoughtful, historical transformation in Istanbul.
"Suma" is the word for unadulterated spirit. The hotel was
the industrial factory that distilled the high proof ingredient for
"Raki" the famous Ottoman tipple. "Han" was the
word for inn in Ottoman times. In essence the "Sumahan on the
Water" experience is about modern comfort in a historic as well
as spectacular setting with friendly and personal service. The
properties of light and water, different at every time of day and in
every season provide the instant attraction of staying here. At the
Sumahan, the most intoxicating thing is the view of palaces,
skyscrapers, Hagia Sophia and the sparkling strait. There is a
choice of suites and rooms, each with their own personality, most
with fireplaces, but all with magnificent views. |
| HOTEL JOSEF -
PRAGUE is a design sensation in a city of exceptional
heritage by Prague-born architect Eva Jiricna. The hotel is located
in Prague's medieval quarter, near Charles Bridge and the Old Town
Square. Two new buildings, containing eight and six floors of
bedrooms are linked by an open landscaped courtyard. Unlike most
'modern' hotels in historic city centers, Hotel Josef has not been
shoehorned into an old building. It is totally purpose-designed to
suit the needs of a modern facility. The public areas flow
effortlessly around a central courtyard giving visual clarity and
orientation. The bar and reception areas are integrated into the
natural patterns of movement. The rooms ar designed to optimize the
sense of space and light. The staggered plan and section ingeniously
exploit the idiosyncrasies of the complex site, bringing natural
daylight deep into the buildings. Every single piece of furniture
has been carefully selected to fit into the overall aesthetic
framework, from the Baleri armchairs and Philippe Starck fittings... |
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LANCHID 19 -
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY is named after Budapest's famed Chain
Bridge which spans the Danube. Located on the Buda side on the bank
of Danube, Buda Castle is within 10 minutes walking distance of the
hotel and the city center is 10 minutes away on the Pest side. The
Lanchid 19 becomes a contemporary highlight in a neighborhood of
predominately 19th century architecture. This contrast is indicative
of Budapest's evolving character, one which celebrates both past and
present. The architects created a moveable accordion-like glass façade,
further animated by the changing colors of an innovative lighting
design concept. Glass is one of the dominant materials in the
interiors as well, creating a sense of openness and allowing
movement and connectedness to become an integral part of the
building's character. The lobby is dramatic with its transparent
floor revealing Roman ruins a level below. History is well
integrated into the interior design where examples of
classical-modern design, such as chairs by Alvar Aalto are mixed
with custom-designed furnishings. |
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HABITA HOTEL - MEXICO CITY "Like a cool ice
cube standing on a hot street corner", Mexico City's Habita
signalled a new advent in hotel design when it opened in 2000 in
Mexico City's Polanco district, a fashionable neighborhood of
tree-lined boulevards, trendy restaurants and chic shopping. The
converted 1950's building gained a new identity, bringing in light
and space by adding a "wrapper" of frosted glass. The
adventurous design encapsulates the hotel in a floating glass box
suspended from the original facade. From the top of the box, take in
the spectacular city views, or relax in the rooftop bar and pool
while mingling with locals and visitors alike. The rooftop bar and
terrace features nightly DJs and pool VIP area for members and
guests. A minimalist approach gives Habita a raw modernism, opening
the eyes of the old world to the new. The hotel offers 32 luxurious
rooms and four Junior Suites decorated with a contemporary theme and
feature Hermes amenities. Retreat to the Aqua Spa or enjoy
contemporary Mexican cuisine in Aura restaurant.
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W SCOTTSDALE
Opening February 1, 2008, the new W Scottsdale will bring modern
luxury to a wild west town known for traditional escapes. W
Scottsdale is at the fore-frontier of exhilarating arts,
sophisticated shopping, destination golf, rejuvenating spas and
indulgent nightlife. The hotel will anchor a redeveloped nightclub
district in downtown Scottsdale. Sizzling hot and sparkling cool,
the W Scottsdale will make a splash with its tantalizing infinity
pool that greets arriving guests. The hotel's pool is built on the
second-level, front-edge of the building, above the porte-cochere
and allows visitors to look up at swimmers and the undulating blue
light. It's no mirage in this desert town – the hotel is infused
with natural water elements throughout, where you can glide with the
W Scottsdale's meditative energy, set adrift on waves of perfectly
balanced luxury and comfort, or make a splish splash in the cool,
cool Wet Pool, the centerpiece of this oasis.
(Top 10 hotels are not listed in any particular order) |
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