Luggage rack sits in a niche inthe entrance lobby - click for a larger view
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Bathroom (with bath). Click for a larger view
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"design provides a crisp clean environment, and one can see why this is so popular with both the travellers and the business person"
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Design of the bathrooms is also good, and provides good space for laying out toiletries, as well as hinging the door so that it forms a door to the toilet itself for enhanced privacy or consideration for a partner using the bathtub as well as acting as the door from the bedroom. About half the rooms have a walk-in shower, and it is interesting that the manager observed that they could actually use more shower rooms than bathrooms. Where it is a shower, it is a large walk-in unit with a powerful head to it.
The whole effect in bathrooms, bedrooms and public areas is refreshing. Colour balance and materials have been well thought through to produce a well designed, functional hotel that promises success for the brand. As a prototype there is a feedback loop built in to allow analysis and for suggested improvements to be build in to the roll-out of this franchise chain throughout Europe. The first scheduled for the UK will be the new property at Gatwick Airport. Staff and guests like the prototype, and if it can be run with the élan displayed at Paris Colombes than it will be strong competitor in this market segment.
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These two images (click for the second)show how clever design has broken up the ground floor. This segmentation is then reinforced by the use of colour, fabrics, lighting, texture and hard surfaces to break up the space into its functional areas.
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