Boutique Design - December 2018 - 32

2 0 18 G O L D K E Y AWA R D S

BEST LOBBY UPSCALE
SOURCES

WINNER

DESIGN FIRM: Sundukovy Sisters, Moscow

high-impact and even slightly outrageous touches.
The iconic Berlin Zoo is across the street from the
hotel. What could be a better tribute than giant,
abstract sculptures of a giraffe and a zebra? These
bold focal points anchor the massive lobby volume
firmly in the realm of the unexpected.

giraffe sculpture's white base is more imagination
than zoology. Because the pieces are freestanding,
the sisters were able to install them without major
structural work. And, yes, it's OK to think they're
cute-why should there be a conflict between a
business hotel and playfulness?

THE COMMISSION: Break every rule known to

THE CHALLENGE: The redo had to leave the

THE CARRY-OUT: In this Instagram-crazy world,

AccorHotels' upscale business-traveler-friendly flag.
Yes, that was at the brand's own request. Sisters
Irina and Olga Sundukova, founders of their eponymous firm, actually had a first, more traditional
design for this renovation project turned down for
being too predictable.

entire existing layout and most of the finishes
as-is. Any changes had to be minimally invasive.
Turning to tech (which could be installed without
major construction) provided one answer. "We
hung a large 3D LED screen over the bar space
with an extension in the lobby and the second
floor. The screen is the core element of the hotel
bar and lobby. It serves for projection of unique
designed drawings, which repeat the hotel's style,"
says Irina.

clients are willing to take risks and support their
designers in doing so. Here, Pullman's design leadership intervened on Sundukovy Sisters' behalf to
enable them to place a strip of ceramic porcelain
tiles over the extant 18-year-old granite floor. The
owner was concerned about damage to the original surface, so Accor approved the change and
assumed the financial liability in case anything
went wrong. So, designers, take that trust and
justify it! And, good design shows on the bottom
line. After the renovation, restaurant BLEND
berlin kitchen & bar is now more attractive for
guests and Berlin visitors, resulting in increased
F&B revenue.

PULLMAN

BERLIN SCHWEIZERHOF

THE CHARRETTE: Sometimes you have to look

back to revolutionize the present. "When creating
the design we were inspired by the architectural
design style of Germany in the first half of the 20th
century - Bauhaus," says Irina. "As Ludwig Mies
van der Rohe said, 'Less is more,'" adds Olga. In this
case, though, fewer objects mean more space for
32

boutiquedesign.com DECEMBER 2018

THE COOL STUFF: The zebra sculpture is made
up of several individual pieces; the empty space
between them becomes the animal's "stripes." The

MA ARTEN WILLEMSTEIN

OWNER: Valuestate
Investment Properties,
Zurich; OPERATOR:
AccorHotels, Paris;
DESIGN FIRM:
Sundukovy Sisters,
Moscow: Olga and Irina
Sundukova, co-founders
and art directors; Lera
Rykova, lead designer;
PURCHASING
COMPANY: Baran
Projektpartner,
Düsseldorf, Germany;
FIREPLACE: Dimplex,
Muenkel; FURNITURE:
Arflex; Ottiu: LED
SCREENS: Kardorff
Ingenieure Lichtplanung
GmbH; LIGHTING: Tom
Dixon

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Boutique Design - December 2018

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