Why does hotel designer Leonard Lee think his job is like being a bus conductor?
A great space, says Leonard Lee, serves the people in it by creating a fourth dimension of feel. He should know. As the regional director and the Asia-Pacific's regional creative officer of the much respected design firm Wilson Associates, he has worked on a suite of tent-pole hospitality projects. His blue-chip clients include the Ritz-Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, Marriott and Capella. "I cannot create an emotional connection, only I tin evoke it."
I TRAVEL A LOT FOR Piece of work
especially to Tokyo, Republic of korea and Vietnam, though I'm trying to cut that down. I used to just be in the office i calendar week a month. I'm now trying to increase that to ii weeks a month.
I DON'T GET MUCH DOWNTIME
only this year, I holidayed in Positano. The weather was bad and the seas were rough, simply the highlight of the trip was that I was away from work. Nosotros ate, relaxed and enjoyed the spectacular scenery.
AS A TRAVELLER, I'Thousand Ever CURIOUS
I like to empathise each new culture I run across, including their celebrations and festivals. For me, it's not so much the visuals, but rather the experience.
As A DESIGNER, I LOVE ANY PLACE
with a lot of energy, whether information technology's people eating or drinking or where music is played. I really like to exist a part of how people apply a space and celebrate.
LONDON IS A Metropolis THAT I GO Back TO
again and again. It's my favourite city. Information technology'due south as well nice to be somewhere where everyone speaks English! And I dearest how the men, especially, dress so well. They really make an endeavor.
READ> 5 new, beautifully designed standout hotels in London to be inspired past
THE MOST FASCINATING PLACE I'VE Always BEEN TO
is Japan, though I never accept enough time to really travel through it. The Japanese are always so passionate almost what they do. What I honey about the land is that each urban center is then different, from their business practices to the way the they clothes.
THE Almost MEMORABLE Identify I'VE BEEN TO THIS YEAR IS
is Rome. I'd never been, and I was but so fascinated by its rich heritage. The highlight was visiting the Vatican. I spent 45 minutes in the Sistine Chapel sitting on a bench and staring up, absolutely amazed at how the whole thing was conceived.
I STAY IN A LOT OF HOTELS, AND THE ONE THING I LOOK OUT FOR
is a good bar. It used to be that you had to Google the all-time bar in the town you lot're visiting, and information technology would almost always be outside the hotel. So, now, we're trying to convince our clients to create a destination bar so that rather than having a chiliad entrance, guests have to walk through the bar to get to the reception. I remember this creates a much more than authentic feel. Whether y'all're a guest or a local, if you see a crowd, you lot desire to be part of information technology. And our bars are transformable. They serve coffee during the day, and alcohol at night. We're working on this model for our hotel projects in China.
You lot Tin ALWAYS DESIGN A NICE HOTEL
but then be let down past the basics. I go mad in a hotel when the service is bad, or when things don't work. Similar the water pressure in the shower is not strong enough. Or the shower controls are too complicated.
I Do HAVE A QUIRK WHEN I'M IN A HOTEL
I e'er lay out a towel on the bathroom sink on which I place my toiletries.
TWO HOTELS THAT I LOVE FOR THEIR DESIGN
are the Park Hyatt in Shanghai and Upper House in Hong Kong. They're both timeless. In the whole chaos of Shanghai, yous walk into a serene, peaceful and quiet cocoon where the colours and design and the manner the spaces are laid out all work. Apparently, Tony Chi'southward blueprint presentation to Park Hyatt was simply a piece of washi paper. He said, "This is what your hotel will be similar: Unproblematic, placidity and understated." And he delivered exactly that.
WHEN IT COMES TO Food AND Drink SERVICES
a good inflow experience is so important. Nigh designers start designing a restaurant or bar from the entrance inwards, merely they miss the opportunity to create an element of surprise with a pre-archway feel. The Idlewild bar at the InterContinental Singapore does a very good chore in this respect with its foyer.
A PET PEEVE I Have IN RESTAURANTS
is when the chair is likewise high or too low for the tabular array. Or if the arms of the chair knock on the tabular array when you pull the chair in. Oh, and when your legs are blocked by the table stand.
Thank you TO INSTAGRAM AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA
people are now keenly enlightened of good design. Which means everything, and not simply design, has to come together including exceptional food and service. Like the John Anthony eatery in Hong Kong and Yardbird in Singapore.
I Really Adore TONY CHI
His designs incorporate a 4th dimension of feel. He forces us to see things in a different perspective. I as well actually admire the Italian architect Carlo Scarpa. His designs are very masculine, but the layers reveal an inherent softness.
I'M KEEPING AN Eye ON
Shanghai-based design studio, Linehouse. They did John Anthony and also Tingtai Teahouse, which is a series of elevated pavilions in a warehouse. Their work is fearless.
THE Matter I Love MOST Well-nigh MY JOB
is that, similar a bus conductor, I'm able to bring people forth on a journey of transformation. This is particularly important because Wilson Associates is a legacy firm that's been in the business for 50 years, and and then we demand to evolve and stay ahead of the contest and change people'due south mindsets.
WE'RE HOPING TO OPEN AN Role IN
Sydney. Australia used to have an inward looking mentality in that they tended to hire but local designers. Recently, that's started to alter.
WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON
the Shangri-La in Phnom Penh. It's quite stunning. Information technology'due south not your typical Shangri-La in that we want to change the perception that the make is traditional with big chandeliers and classical design. It'southward for a new generation.
ON MY Bucket LIST
is to design an Aman resort. It's the i make we've non worked on. I'm still hopeful. I think many people take this thought that Wilson Associates is a large blueprint firm, that we do cookie-cutter piece of work and we're therefore incapable of doing understated work.
READ> The best pet-friendly hotels in Asia – puppy room service included
Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/people/leonard-lee-wilson-associates-245966
0 Response to "Why does hotel designer Leonard Lee think his job is like being a bus conductor?"
Post a Comment