No one truly appreciates the beauty of a building quite like an architect, be that the grandeur of Baroque façades, the ornate details of the Edwardian era or the minimalism of today’s modernist structures.
Uncovering the thoughts of more than 250 leading creatives – including the likes of Kelly Hoppen, Kengo Kuma and Norman Foster – to produce a list of 1,200 hotel recommendations across over 100 countries, Where Architects Sleep collates every kind of accommodation on the list of design-conscious travellers – from simple hostels to a traditional Mongolian ger, an alpine ryokan and a palapa in the heart of Mexico.
Whether tourist hotspots or untouched gems, each recommendation comes with insightful reviews, key information and specially commissioned maps that create an easy-to-navigate geographical organisation.
The book also uses a key to detail which destinations are all-time favourites, budget and family friendly, eco-conscious or have a focus on wellbeing, not to mention a variety of locations from desert, countryside and urban to mountain and island. Hotels that architects wished they had designed themselves are included too, as well as those special spots that are particularly worth the travel, no matter the time it takes.
Norman Foster, founder of and Executive Chairman of Foster + Partners, selected Switzerland’s Villa Flor as his favourite, describing it as a “simple yet sophisticated guesthouse” that is “discreet and unpretentious without any signs to advertise its presence”, while Craig Dykers, Founding Partner Architect of Snøhetta, picked London’s Chiltern Firehouse for its “great bars and lobby, amazing history and location”.
Swire Hotels’ The Upper House in Hong Kong and The Opposite House in Beijing – designed by Andre Fu and Kengo Kuma respectively – were chosen as joint winners in the ‘Urban’ category, while Trunk (Hotel) Tokyo and Scotland’s The Fife Arms received praise for their special offerings and unique experiences. “Its Zen-like environment manages to wash away all of Beijing’s hectic hustle and bustle,” writes American architect Charles Renfro, co-founder of Diller Scofidio + Renfro, on The Opposite House.
Elsewhere, John Pawson – the British architectural designer known for his minimalist approach – recalls his trip to Babylonstoren, a vineyard, stylish hotel and 3.5-acre garden in South Africa’s Cape Winelands, applauding the farm for its “stunning views” and “very valuable” collection of cycad plants.
Topping the overall list with the most recommendations, however, was 7132 Hotel in mountainous village of Vals, Switzerland. Designed by Morphosis, the firm founded by Pritzker Prize-winner Thom Mayne, the 130-key hotel sits alongside Swiss architect Peter Zumthor’s world-renowned Therme Vals spa, with a series of luxury guestrooms designed by Tadao Ando, Kengo Kuma and Zumthor himself.
Despite coronavirus leaving travel plans up in the air, Where Architects Sleep gives nomads the chance to start dreaming of their next trip and hotel stay for when order is restored and planes return to the skies.
