The Mira, Hong Kong by Charles Allem

Miami-based interior designer Charles Allem did an incredible job with The Mira Hotel, making it one of the most stunning hotels in Hong Kong. With its modern yet warm vibe and incredible lighting, the hotel has done its share to attract a younger, hipper crowd, but it is still predominantly patronized by working professionals.

Located on Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, in the heart of one of Hong Kong’s busiest shopping and commercial districts, The Mira Hotel is a short walk to the subway (MTR), bus links, as well as the Star Ferry. Adjacent to the hotel are a number of shopping malls, boutiques, bargain outlets, as well as your pick of cheap and upscale eateries.


The MiraSpa. The 1,670-square-metre space houses an indoor infinity-edge pool, jacuzzis, a bar serving smoothies and snacks, nine treatment rooms, and a flotation lounge, where after my treatment I relaxed on one of the three heated waterbeds to a calming playlist from my own iPod and mood-altering light therapy. Bliss.

All treatments are performed using products by the cult London brand Elemental Herbology and the Parisian cosmetologist Anne Semonin.

All standard double rooms are furnished in one of four different colour schemes – red, green, silver or purple. Each room is also equipped with a Nokia mobile phone, plus a complimentary local SIM card – a nice touch, I thought, as there is nothing worse than coming home from a long trip and being landed with unexpected roaming charges. Plenty of high-tech amenities were offered: a Bose iPod dock, a large flat-screen TV, a wireless PC, dependable Wi-Fi and, for those sticky Hong Kong summers, powerful air conditioning.

Whisk is the hotel’s signature European restaurant run by chef Justin Quek. Set dinner menus are available but for à la carte offerings try the baked miso marinated cod (HK$272; Dh129) or the tagliatelle with sautéed Maine lobster ($288; Dh136). For dessert, house specialties include the raspberry soufflé ($140; Dh66) and the flaky apple tart with roasted almond and caramel ice cream ($200; Dh95). Not your average thick-crusted apple pie, this is made from a thin, crispy puff pastry and is not to be missed.

On the same floor is Vibes, a garden lounge that is destined for parties. Striving to be a spot of fresh-air fun, Vibe boasts DJ booths, lotus-shaped firepods that light up at night, and flowing waterways.

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Departure Lounge by SPACE Architects

SPACE Architects was selected from among several architecture firms to design the new final departure lounge for a recognized brand of financial services and credit cards. This project is located at terminal 2 of Mexico City airport. The challenge was not straight-forward, the customer was looking for a design that brought together many things at the same time. The main challenges were to generate a multi-purpose space that would represent a contemporary and cosmopolitan image that summarize the brand to design a new experience, in a globalized world in which the brands and products are in a headlong race to position themselves in the minds of the customers to use built spaces as a natural extension of the brand, a complicated but vital challenge.

A specialized Branding team was used for this project, who together with the architects generated a hybrid methodology as a result of mixing Branding and architecture. The project design concepts emerged as a consequence of a search for the definition of the brand’s “emotional promise”, that is to say that the project was developed around the idea of designing a group of well worked out emotions that would develop as a consequence of a brand experience. To be convincing, the experience would have to be a sensory experience, an experience that would include all senses and that would seek to arouse the emotions.

At the beginning of this century neuromarketing started to be used in England as part of the development of a new science using magnetic resonance to define what motivates consumers in their decision making. Such studies have had many revealing results but one in particular has generated a new way of understanding architecture. The way that the brain codifies the majority of the information that it receives is by translating it into emotions, like this it gives a value to things, good brands are connected emotionally with their users through experiences and the great majority of the experiences take place in built spaces. In order for architecture to be transcendent it will have to be defined as starting with the search for emotions that will enable it to connect with its users.

In the case of the final departure lounge the fundamentally functional aspects were worked on at the same time as working on the emotional definition of the space, the great majority of the persons that use these spaces take advantage of them to work before getting on a plane. The emotional solutions would have to be very functional as well being able to give a solution to all the users’ different needs and work habits. That is how this space is made up with some private meeting rooms, informal meeting areas with virtual divisions, Wi-Fi and support areas. Together with these working spaces, the final departure lounge also has recreation and entertainment areas, such as the lounges for a game of dominos or cards, a small massage room, and a beauty-hairdresser’s salon.

In general this space is without any doubt a taster of what many other office building spaces will be like in the not so distant future, spaces that will represent properly the expectations of their brands and that will be sufficiently flexible to practically support any way of working and meeting. The project was developed with a methodology generated by SPACE in which all projects seek to be designed in a sustainable manner. This space consumes around 50% of the energy that other similar spaces commonly consume, by means of openings in the ceiling that let in natural light, the design maximizes the usage of daylight in the interiors, additionally generating extremely natural and pleasant sensations. The materials utilized in the project have a high recycled material content, and the majority of them are easily renewable.

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Virgin Atlantic Heathrow Clubhouse Interior Design

A few months ago Virgin Atlantic’s internationally renowned Upper Class service. Now, to Virgin, first class doesn’t just mean turning left when you board the plane, jumping queues, or even a swanky lounge with serve yourself drinks and snacks…. no, Virgin’s take on first class is extending the full VIP treatment – and coming immediately after 6 days in a field in Somerset, this was going to be some well needed luxury.

Before I’m escorted towards what is possibly one of the most breathtaking VIP lounge’s in international air travel, you get a glimpse into just how much impeccable service is integral to Virgin’s Upper Class offering. Yes, the day begins with chauffeur service direct to Virgin’s very own entrance, at which I’m greeted by a luggage handler – this is the last time I see my bags until New York – and a charming member of staff who, whilst walking from the limo, checks me in – at which point I’m sent straight through to a personal security area and am shown towards the ridiculously lavish Heathrow clubhouse. This takes no more than 5 minutes. This could be very easy to get used to.

So, as you’ll see – the Heathrow Upper Class clubhouse is a rather splendid affair. Designed by award-winning London based architects, SOFTROOM, in conjunction with Virgin’s own design team, the sweeping, organic space blurs the lines between distinct areas, offering an imposing space with a grand scale that sits up and shouts “wow” right at you, whilst juxtaposing said wow-factor with a luxurious subtlety. The amenities are equally “wow”, and equally luxurious – yes, there’s free booze – in fact the champagne is virtually thrust into your hand the minute you check in – and yes, there’s free grub, and rather good it is too. But, this isn’t any old VIP lounge, because here we have designer cocktails, 3D TV, games room and pool table, a library stocked with design, architecture and fashion coffee-table tomes, a complimentary Bumble & Bumble hair salon and, a Cowshed spa complete with treatment rooms, steam room showers, a sauna and a circular hydro spa pool. One beautifully cooked full English breakfast, a few glasses of champagne and a Thai foot massage later, and I was just about ready for boarding.

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Modern Rooftop Gardens

Sometimes we need a few moments to get away. Find peace among the city life. For those of us who are city dwellers the rare patch of green is just that, rare. Sometimes the only space option is the roof.

Whether your own private retreat or to share with others, here are a few modern interpretations of sanctuary amongst the sky scrapers. Mixing steel, wood and concrete…these designs successfully evoke tranquility. It is amazing what a bit of air, sunshine and some seeds will do. Best of interior and architecture

Too Many Balls In The Air?

Sometimes you feel like you have too many balls in the air? Not for Ratcliffe Fowler. They are just enough as we can see from his Nike Ball Man in play. Each strand hangs in suspense from the ceiling, forming the shape of an athlete at play. A total of 5,500 skill balls weighing a total of 4.75 tons. One out of place might bring it out of balance.

Balancing the balls in this kinetic sculpture at BMW’s Museum, Munich, is exquisite. Simply, beautiful. There is nothing simple about how it fluidly performs. Art+Com created the 714 metal orbs which drop out of the ceiling, dance around much like synchronized swimmers do performing their water ballet. The orbs eventually create the outline of a car, yes a BMW, then glide onto a mirrored floor. Enough said. Please watch the performance and enjoy the music while waiting.

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Baptiste Debombourg Staples Art

Have a look at the following Aggravure by France artist Baptiste Debombourg. It looks usual and even a bit boring, yeah?! But the realization of its unique design comes only after a closer inspection … The whole picture is made from … staples.

According to the artist he used 35 000 staples and 75 hours to create this masterpiece.

The picture shows how a “Superman” flies straight down towards the earth.

Nice!Best of interior and architecture