Modular construction. The metaverse. The rise of “work anywhere” remote employment. Increasingly more sophisticated and more widely adopted personal tech. All of these factors and much more play into the evolution of daily life, but how are they reflected in the spaces greeting guests on the other side of their (probably keyless) hotel room?
The impact of these innovations could arguably be as important in the process of guestroom design and execution. But, there are fundamental parts of the guestroom’s purpose—and therefore its design process—that remain the same.
How much do you need to change your design approach as the metaverse emerges?
Short answer: not that much. At least when it comes to guestroom design. Hotels’ long-term use of VR to help clients visualize completed spaces might suggest full-on immersion in the digital world is the next logical step in the design process. So far, the role of this type of technology in guestroom design is on the front end of the process, allowing designers and clients to “walk” the space virtually. That has changed the model room from a test of the concept to a confirmation of the concept. I think this piece of the process will be more streamlined as the metaverse becomes more widely adopted.
What won’t change? The need for model rooms and physical samples. We still touch things, so we still need the tactile experience of the model room. Plus, each manufacturer does things a little bit differently, so we do need to see and experience the room in person. As for sample boxes, the same holds true. Without the ability to, for example, hold a piece of fabric to understand how it drapes or see its actual colors (as opposed to digital imagery where color is subjective based on video or photo quality and the device on which it’s being viewed), you and your clients can’t really anticipate the effect in-room.
As far as personal tech, the seamless translation of at-home solutions to the hotel room is now table stakes, not innovation. Smart TVs and user-friendly tech controls are musts. But, it’s the designer’s job to create visual touchpoints that engage guests and unglue them from their devices. If we design rooms for someone who’s not looking up from their phone, it’s a beige box. That’s a trend for meeting rooms, but guestrooms are a place to experience the locale in a way you can’t from home. Take advantage of the internet: because the online research process has become more efficient and opened up exponentially more resources, both storytelling and specifying have been simplified. That’s making it easier to provide those one-of-a-kind touches that make another game of Candy Crush less appealing than taking in the room.
Cater to guests’ new work habits
The desk returns (or doesn’t leave). We’ve seen so many remote workers traveling because they can work anywhere. That means in-room work areas may not go the way of the bathtub after all.
Did COVID change how guests use the hotel room?
No. People want out. In other words, it will be public areas that slowly return to pre-pandemic normal. Guests may have adapted to eat, play, work and sleep in one space, but they aren’t likely to continue doing so.
So, the bones of the guestroom still reflect many pre-COVID norms. Flexible seating that can flow from work to relaxation remains important. Open closets have gone from a practical solution to one that can also be a design statement.
Think logistics, not futuristic, to cope with supply chain issues
Some problems can’t be solved with innovation and instead, call for common sense and a hands-on approach. Ask manufacturers to pack tables four to a container instead of singly to help combat supply chain issues. Pad the timelines for deliveries—maybe to 12 months instead of six. Applying best practices learned from LEED-certified projects can also help designers source more efficiently from suppliers relatively near the project location. For U.S. designers, that might mean taking a closer look at Canadian and Mexican suppliers while trying to slightly lessen sourcing from China.
Kathleen Dauber is a partner at HBA Los Angeles. With her keen eye for quality and the details, Dauber has conceptualized, overseen and implemented countless award-winning projects in 15+ countries around the world. She is also dedicated to mentoring emerging designers, fostering leadership talent and actively participating in the design community.
This is a contributed piece to InspireDesign, authored by an industry professional. The thoughts expressed are the perspective of the bylined individual.
