The hospitality industry is bursting with properties and experiences showcasing beautiful and unique design. Here are a handful that have caught our eye so far this year
A true gem
Ultra-luxe cruise line Emerald has floated its second ship, Emerald Sakara, and boy is she pretty. Although nearly identical to her sister yacht Emerald Azzurra, the enhancements to Emerald Sakara’s elegant interiors feature brands like Tribu and Gervasoni, lighting by designer Tom Dixon, as well as a stunning collaboration between Freifrau and Missoni. Having made her maiden voyage in European waters, 100-guest Emerald Sakara will cruise the Caribbean and Central America over the next six months.
All eyes on Indonesia
Designers Andra Matin and Gregorius Supie Yolodi were inspired by the beauty of Indonesia when crafting Innit, a seven-villa haven set on a private beach of Ekas Bay on the island of Lombok. Part of the Design Hotels portfolio, the new property features a pared-back look – think teak and rattan furniture handcrafted by local artisans, terrazzo and polished concrete accents, and ironwood decking. The villas themselves are a modern take on the traditional Lombok lumbung-style houses, with striking box-like exteriors that appear to float above the sand.
Colour therapy
The dynamic Hong Kong neighbourhood of Tsuen Wan has long captivated tourists and locals thanks to its diverse attractions and vibrant atmosphere. Now there is a new reason to visit, thanks to the creative vision of renowned design duo Craig & Karl. From New York and London, respectively, the pair is known for large-scale artistic works that explore contemporary culture. They bring this vision to life with Prismatic, a mesmerising art installation at Tsuen Wan’s Sai Lau Kok Garden. The work showcases an interplay of hypnotic colours, intricate patterns and shapes. All the elements fit together like a puzzle, creating a visual symphony that will fascinate every visitor.
Southern exposure
Almost four years after Baillie Lodges’ award-winning flagship property Southern Ocean Lodge was razed in the Kangaroo Island bushfires, the new-look retreat (dubbed SOL 2.0) finally reopened on 6 December 2023. The rebuild has seen the return of the lodge’s original architect Max Pritchard along with his partner Andrew Gunner, who were determined to largely maintain the original footprint with 25 luxurious guest suites easing along the coastline. In a deft design manoeuvre, each of the suites has been reoriented to offer even better views of the ocean and coastal wilderness, while fresh additions include a new ultra-premium suite and a spa.
Bringing the Wow factor
It was a long time coming, but W Sydney finally welcomed guests to its dramatic curved building looming over Darling Harbour in October 2023. Every touchpoint at the hotel has been curated with a sharp design lens, with ultra-modern interiors by Bowler James Brindley. At the apex of the property is a head-turning, double-level bar, 29/30, with dress circle views of the harbour across a 30-metre mosaic-inlaid infinity pool. For all its spaces, W Sydney has collaborated with local artists, designers and creatives – among them, Australian-Ukrainian tattoo artist Stanislava Pinchuk, who has designed a tattoo of stars for the hotel’s guestroom corridors, and muralist Sophi Odling, who has imprinted her conscious, colourful art on the walls of the restaurant.
Culinary homage
Renowned Spanish chef Ferran Adria shuttered his award-winning restaurant elBulli more than a decade ago. Today, the space – set on the idyllic Cala Montjoi cove near the town of Roses in Girona – has been reimagined as a gallery to celebrate the chef’s talent. Welcome to elBulli1846, whose name is a reference to the 1,846 ‘molecular gastronomy’ dishes that Adria says were developed in the eatery, and sent the culinary world into a spin. Some 11-million euros was spent crafting the gallery, where visitors can see hundreds of photos, notebooks, trophies, and models made of plastic or wax, that emulate some of the innovative dishes the restaurant served up over the years.