Radisson Blu Frankfurt, Germany
Interior designers JOI-Design explore high-touch, high-tech hygge at the Radisson Blu Frankfurt.
Following their previous success creating two signature suites for the Radisson Blu Cologne, interior designers JOI-Design were again commissioned to partner on another exclusive design project, the creation of two high-style companion suites for the brand’s hotel in Frankfurt.
Working together with German design magazine Wohnidee, JOI-Design’s aim was to create one-of-a-kind hotel suites that would reflect the trends for individual style and residential comfort. Both 80sqm suites have a contemporary, residential feel and an elegant flair – conceived to show how two utterly different ‘on-trend’ design directions, one more traditionally recognised as feminine and the other more traditionally recognised as masculine, can indulge guests in high-touch, high-tech hygge.
The Modern Serenity suite is awash with powdery shades of pastel blue and antique pink. Soft forms and contemporary Nordic-style furnishings calm the mind and soothe the soul, while a plush sofa and wingback chair beckon guests to snuggle under a blanket with a book, or soak up the thrill of the Frankfurt skyline through full-height glazing. Flooded with natural light, the suite is an ideal nook for working from window seats stretching the width of the rooms. For the decorative lighting elements, JOI-Design chose to use a mixture of pendants, floor and table lamps from various lighting brands including Louis Poulsen; Brokis and Le Klint to add a deeper level of sophistication to the suite.
The Classic Monochrome suite has a ‘handsome’ feel suggestive of a well-appointed haberdashery within an urban loft. Architectural forms and beautifully grained timber combine in furnishings such as the writing desk and its moulded chair. As an expression of precision tailoring in its finest form, carefully proportioned patterns like plaid, houndstooth, herringbone and woven linen adorn the chaise lounge, sofa, headboard, rug and floor. Faux fur fabrics and a curvaceous pendant light above the dining table offer a counterpoint that softens the serious ‘suit fabric’ palette of tobacco, cognac, navy and charcoal. The decorative lighting elements in this suite come in much more monochromatic tones and are supplied again by the likes of Le Klint, Louis Poulsen, Brokis and Gubi, to name just a few.
“We were truly lucky that our client, Radisson Blu, trusted us to meet their expectations and provide something ‘out of the box’,” JOI-Design’s Peter Joehnk tells darc. “They were quite open-minded, even when we expected to face concerns about practicalities, they either didn’t challenge us and if they did have questions, they were minimal. For example, our wall-mounted newspaper holders were accepted – even though there was a risk that ink and hands would smudge the wall and need to be cleaned and repainted more frequently.
“As the suites were integrated within an existing building, our aim was to change as few electrical points as possible, which meant our designs included several decorative lamps whose plugs could be connected to existing sockets. Having individual, free-standing fixtures also helped us achieve the personalised home-like cosiness we envisioned for our concepts. In this specific case, we were responsible for the lighting design, where as we would normally work with a lighting designer.
“Our primary focus was to choose state-of-the-art light fixtures whose modern, individual designs would help the rooms feel more like comfortable private residences versus conventional hotel suites. We treated the lamps as decorative features that helped bring our overall vision for the design to life. Our focus for the suites was to create a highly specialised design that truly came from our imaginations and with very little client influence.
“Usually we present our design concept and then a debate follows in which we make compromises – not only for practical and functional reasons – but also for the personal tastes of other people who can’t differentiate a hotel guest’s specific requirements and what they want for living rooms in their own homes.
“I would be a bad designer if I said there wasn’t room for improvement. but overall I am happy with the results – the final atmosphere is exactly what we set out to achieve.”
