Travellers have always craved places away from home that allow them to immerse themselves in new surroundings, explore unique experiences and relax in utmost comfort and hospitality. Today, as tastes become more polished, these places must also boast design sensibilities which tell a story. Avani Hotels & Resorts, part of global hospitality group Minor Hotels, is committed to picking the right destinations and has selected a few of its hotels and resorts for explorers with a keen eye for design. The below properties all recently won accolades at the LIV Hospitality Design Awards which celebrate the quality and diversity of the architectural ventures and interior design projects shaping the worldwide hospitality industry today.
Avani+ Luang Prabang Hotel: Harmonious duality at the UNESCO Heritage Site
Designed by Scale 11 Architecture Co., Ltd. and Thansamay Co., Ltd., Avani+ Luang Prabang Hotel integrates seamlessly with the UNESCO Heritage Town and with nature. At the centre of the hotel is an ancient Banyan tree which has been lovingly preserved and stands proudly by the 82-foot swimming pool, its deep roots undisturbed. Instead of fencing or high brick walls, low plants and shrubs have been used to border the hotel, almost bowing in welcome to guests and passers-by. Culturally, this is significant as it allows guests to offer alms to the orange-robed monks who ritualistically pass by.
The building itself is converted from a bungalow built as French officer quarters in 1914. Echoing the grand villas found in Luang Prabang, guest rooms are decorated in the French neoclassical style, complete with teak flooring and generous louvred wooden doors. The duality of traditional Laos designs is incorporated to ensure a sense of place, with carefully positioned hand-stitched waxed batik cloth throws and oversized Hmong patterned wall hangings. Maintaining the authenticity of the UNESCO Heritage Town, it has wrap-around verandas, high ceilings and a symmetrical design.
“The design emphasizes tranquillity, which is evident throughout the hotel, from the lush green landscaping past the reception area to the relaxing tone of the interior design which complements Lao architecture,” said Bounkham Chaleunphol, one of the local architects from Thansamay Co., Ltd. who was responsible for the design of the hotel.
Avani+ Luang Prabang Hotel recently won two LIV Hospitality Design Awards for Best Architectural Design Hotel in the Boutique category and Best Interior Design in Asia.
Avani Chaweng Samui Hotel & Beach Club: The halcyonic 50s meets sweet island vibes
Offering a stylistic throwback to the 1950s, Avani Chaweng Samui Hotel & Beach Club mixes contemporary sensibility with retro touches and bold designs. The building is low-slung and designed to be sensory, social and fun. To ensure guests feel at one with the 1950’s cultural and social context at every turn, communal areas are peppered with references to the halcyon days of Miami, Palm Springs, and Tulum, be it a splash of unapologetically bright colour or clean, graphic lines reminiscent of the mid-century modern design movement.
SOHO Hospitality, the architecture firm behind the hotel and beach club amped up the drama and glamour in the rooms by using strong-contrast geometric patterns and organic curves with a liberal sprinkling of metallic and opulent fabrics. Drawing on the era’s signature style, the rooms feature comfortable, rounded furnishings and décor elements accentuated with soft chamfered edges. To create spaces that are ideal for relaxing and socialising in style, SOHO Hospitality used contemporary touchpoints that embrace mid-century modern design aesthetics with its cosmopolitan yet carefree lifestyle connotations.
Avani Chaweng Samui Hotel & Beach Club received the award for Architectural Design Hotel in the Midscale and Lifestyle Category at the LIV Hospitality Design Awards.
FCC Angkor by Avani: Neo-colonial charms with respect for the environment
Founded on the warmth and comradery of the globetrotting story seeker, FCC Angkor by Avani is centred around an elegant historic building which has become deeply embedded in the local community. The property is one of the most illustrious hotels in Siem Reap, formerly playing host to foreign correspondents, archaeologists, celebrities and dignitaries from around the world. This renowned mansion has been renovated by Bloom Architecture in neo-colonial style, with contemporary local touches including artisanal textiles and Apsara sculptures. The team utilised locally sourced natural materials throughout, resulting in beautiful and harmonious spaces with a sustainable ethos.
“To craft the counters, shelves, and tables, we repurposed the wood from a 200-year-old tree that had fallen during a tropical storm on the property. For the furniture, we made use of fast-growing raintrees and ubiquitous Cambodian sugar palms. We designed and built our extensions around the existing jungle trees, so sometimes you will find a tree in the middle of a balcony,” said Malee Whitcraft, Lead Designer at Bloom Architecture.
The team also collaborated with local Cambodian craftsmen who brought a wealth of knowledge and traditional skills to the project. “The handwoven bed runners and cushions were crafted by women in a nearby village; the room signage, bowls, decorative elephants and vases were created by a local copper worker; the rattan and wicker chairs and love seats were crafted by a family who manually harvested the materials and skilfully crafted each piece using their hands and feet; the concrete tiles were also made by a local craftsman whose family has been in the trade for over 300 years” said Whitcraft.
FCC Angkor by Avani celebrated success with two accolades at the recent LIV Hospitality Awards with wins for Best Architectural Design Hotel in the Luxury category and Best Architectural Design in the Historic and Heritage category. The hotel also won Best Luxury Hotel Renovation & Restoration from the BUILD Architecture Awards.
Avani Victoria Falls Resort: Nature’s beauty amidst a cultural heritage
Located on the edge of the grand Victoria Falls, Avani Victoria Falls Resort focuses on the design of a traditional African village with the accommodation grouped around the communal facilities. A North African adobe narrative has been woven into the architecture, which was designed by Wilson & Associates. The resort has the feel of a centuries-old walled city, reflecting the richness and diversity of the land’s heritage which is bordered by Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park for close encounters with Zambia’s amazing wildlife. In fact, zebras, impalas and monkeys roam freely around the property, offering guests rare encounters.
The external colour palette was inspired by the natural colour of the earth around Victoria Falls.
Honey-hued buildings feature turrets and chimneys, with a large lawn and swimming pool at the centre. Well-polished smooth stone floors combine with colourful mosaic tiles, patterned fabrics and vibrant African artworks to create a unique yet authentic atmosphere.
Avani Victoria Falls Resort won Best Architectural Design Resort in the Midscale and Lifestyle category at the LIV Hospitality Awards.
SEEN: A sensual playground of immersive cuisine, cocktails and entertainment
A partnership between Minor Hotels and Portugal’s most celebrated chef and social scene doyen, Olivier da Costa, SEEN is all about hedonistic feasts for the senses, sublime cocktails and hypnotic entertainment. Each venue presents a distinctive design and personality. SEEN Restaurant & Bar Bangkok at Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel transports guests into a dream-like setting with modern luxe and art deco design, bold interiors and flowing form. Designed by M&J London, the rooftop restaurant and lounge offers indoor and outdoor spaces with glittering views of the Chao Phraya River.
SEEN Beach Club Samui, situated at Avani Chaweng Samui Hotel & Beach Club, features stunning panoramic sea views juxtaposed with mid-century architecture that leverages high-contrast geometric patterns and organic curves to create a multi-sensory space to relax, eat and play. Designed by SOHO Hospitality, the beach club comprises indoor and outdoor seating areas, three bars, private cabanas, a DJ booth and two turquoise pools with one sunken swim-up bar, fully embracing the beach club culture of the 1950s.
SEEN recently won two LIV Hospitality Awards — SEEN Restaurant & Bar Bangkok won the Interior Design Restaurant in the Theme category and SEEN Beach Club Samui won the Architectural Design Restaurant in the Casual category.
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