Bell & Swift take part in Hotel Designs latest Roundtable discussion
Bell & Swift’s Co-founder and Managing Director, Dawn, was recently invited to join Hotel Designs’ latest roundtable discussion. The topic for this conversation was, ‘Why bathrooms are becoming the hero in hotel design’ and as you can imagine, Dawn had a lot to say! Here’s a roundup of her input.
Bathrooms are changing
There are two things driving the changes we’re seeing in hotel bathroom design. Firstly, is the impact of wellness. Since covid, wellness has become a priority for many and people are so much more aware of how a space makes them feel. Cleanliness is also at the forefront of the guest experience, and designers should pay consideration to this, for example, by eliminating areas that would be difficult to clean and keeping surfaces uncluttered.
Combine this with the new demographic of traveler who have a new set of expectations for hotel bathrooms. Spaces need to be well-designed, make intelligent use of space, and have quality finishes and materials for a polished end-result.
Not so long ago, the focus for bathrooms was functionality and longevity. Whilst longevity is still obviously important, the narrative driven design you typically see in guestrooms and public areas should be just as obvious in bathrooms. That’s how we approach bathroom refurbishments at Bell & Swift and we believe it presents a more rounded experience to guests.
An example of this is our recent refurbishment of the Glasgow Hilton. Our design narrative for the project was inspired by the surrounding city and its history, and we brought this into the bathrooms by replicating the ornate glazed wall tiles that are typical of Glasgow’s tenement stairwells.
The future of bathroom design
We firmly believe that we could challenge the conventional hotel bathroom experience even more.
An example of this would be a penthouse suite we recently designed. That space features a bath within the guestroom itself, and so removes the traditional divide. It links the outside terrace and the guestroom so the guest can push back the doors and relax in the bath set within the rooftops of Edinburgh city centre and the end result is a special and unique experience.
Working on more and more refurbishment and conversions of buildings to hotel use, it would be a welcome change to reassess the traditional enclosed bathroom concept; the result of this would likely be some really interesting spaces that offer the guest a unique experience.
Consideration of how the space affects all the senses must be a consideration ongoing. We feel this is the future of bathroom design. A fully immersive space that considers scent, sounds and touch, not just the aesthetics.
Pitfalls and quick wins
When redesigning bathrooms, our advice is to stay away from anything that’s too on-trend. Our designs are narrative driven, so we always ensure that each concept is implemented in a way that adds depth and substance to each design, without being ‘gimmicky’. The concept also has to fit within the existing building and the brand for it to be successful.
For hotels looking to elevate their bathrooms without losing legacy in design, lighting is always a great place to start. We often work on refurbishments where the ensuite gets a light upgrade to include new lighting, maybe an illuminated mirror. Upgrading the brassware is also a great way to enhance a bathroom and improve the guest user experience. It is also a win from a sustainability point of view.
You can read the roundtable discussion in full here