Hospitality Design - July 2014 - 52

perspectives

sketchbook

j plus by yoo
> As a celebration of its 10th birthday, J
Plus Hotel by Yoo-Hong Kong's first ever
boutique hotel-just went under the knife.
Yoo Studio, a part of the Yoo Group that
was founded by the hotel's original designer
Philippe Starck, completed the refresh,
with an eye on continuing the design
legend's legacy.
The new look is "sleek interior design
twinned with ultra-modern amenities,"
says Matthew Dalby, design director for Yoo
Hotels. "Plus, we used vivid colors to turn up
the volume." Nowhere is this more evident
than on the hotel's exterior and street-level
lobby, where the concept was to open the
interior to the outside. To achieve this,
yellow, orange, and red tinted glass panels
sit suspended within the windows, inscribed
with Chinese symbols of good fortune-coins,
dragons, and bamboo. The goal, says Dalby
was to "pull back the curtains, if you will, and

reveal, whilst still retaining a certain degree of privacy for
the guests enjoying the space."
The hotel's black-sprayed façade embodies the
theme, depicting a curtain opened to expose columns
and cornices on the building-showcasing the interplay
between soft and hard surfaces. A portrait of a
Renaissance-era woman adorns one entire exterior wall,
symbolizing the rebirth of the property. The exterior's
black color continues into the lobby, where it serves to
highlight the unique furniture pieces, Dalby says.
While working to stay sympathetic to Starck's original,
cutting-edge design, the Yoo Studio team also wanted a
look that would carry the property into the future, Dalby
explains. "We wanted to create a relaxed, luxurious
atmosphere-an urban, stylish retreat providing a haven
for business professionals and style-conscious travelers."

dream dallas
> When 5G Studio Collaborative was
brainstorming how to design the new Dream
Dallas hotel, the firm settled on the city's dual
nature: one of opulence and function, inspired
by the rich oil history of the Texan city. "Dallas
is a city distinctly known for its success in the
oil business, hence the nickname for oil, 'black
gold,'" explains Yen Ong, a partner at the
locally based firm.
That black gold design is seen in the color
palette, with black representing "something
untold and boasting a sense of possibilities
and mystery while the gold symbolizes power,
luxury, and a sense of glamour," Ong says.
Sumptuous merges with rustic in the boutique
hotel scheduled to open in 2016, achieved
by "integrating iconic Texas staples, such as
cowhide rugs or a sexy rendition of the Texas
star with a blend of luxurious, over-the-top
materials rich in contrast and dripping of gold
accents," he says. Meanwhile, he describes the
exterior as "two finely detailed floating jewel
boxes stacked on top of one another."
Ong's goal is to "create something that
screams Dream but speaks to the specifics of

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July 2014 hospitalitydesign.com

Dallas." While the Dream will give travelers
an "ultra-plush way to relax," Ong also needed
the hotel to fit seamlessly in its place to attract
locals. Epic views of Dallas are visible from
the 128 guestrooms, but 5G wanted to provide
locals with even more life to the already buzzworthy McKinney Avenue. The addition of a
fine dining restaurant with outdoor seating
"contributes to the urban dynamism" of the
street, he adds.
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