THE SOCIAL NETWORK

By: Christian Stan | 10 November, 2015

The humble hotel guest area has come a long way from hushed conversations and staid business meetings, as inclusive social spaces become the beating hearts not only of hotels, but of neighborhoods. Design Hotels™presents four members leading the way with engaging and thoughtful spaces, where guests and locals alike are inspired to create, collaborate and play.

The Ludlow Hotel, New York, United States

Located in New York’s most pulse-quickening neighborhood, The Ludlow Hotel is the rock n’ roll lovechild of legendary hoteliers Sean MacPherson, Ira Drukier and Richard Born. The 175-room hotel has quickly become the hottest haunt of the Lower East Side, with the lobby lounge and garden adopted by locals as their very own communal “living room”. Guests can be found warming-up next to the grand distressed fireplace in the lounge or mingling in the all-season “secret” garden while enjoying light bites by Dirty French and signature cocktails curated by chief bartender Thomas Waugh.

The Omnia, Zermatt, Switzerland

Nestled in the Swiss Alps, high above the rooftops of Zermatt The Omnia fuses modernist design with elements of the traditional mountain lodge – creating a high altitude retreat for reflection and rejuvenation.

Taken from the Latin, omnia means all-encompassing, and it is this immersive sentiment that lies at the heart of the 30-room hotel’s design philosophy. Located in the mountain itself, The Cavern is the manifestation of this ethos – encompassing a cinema and club with live DJ sets, floating over a sea of water in a man-made cave. Set deep underground and yet close to the clear Alpine sky, it offers guests the opportunity to reconnect with their spectacular surroundings.

STRAF, Milan, Italy

Starting life as a 19th century palazzo, STRAF’s present incarnation is the brainchild of Milanese architect/artist/fashion designer Vincenzo de Cotiis. Steps away from La Scala opera house and the Duomo, the 64-room hotel has become an artistic destination in its own right thanks to de Cotiis’ bold, elemental aesthetics – blending raw concrete interiors with burnished metals and weathered glass.

With its firm fashionista credentials, it’s no surprise that STRAF is a magnet for fashion mavens, both home-grown and from around the world. Dark, intimate and edgy, STRAF Bar is the drinking den of choice for the fashion set – drawn in by the potent mixture of stiff cocktails and flattering lighting.

LOISIUM Wine & Spa Resort Südsteiermark, Ehrenhausen, Austria

Surrounded by the rolling hills and lush vineyards that have earned Styria the nickname of “Tuscany of Austria”, LOISIUM Wine & Spa Resort Südsteiermark is a wine lover’s wonderland. Locally sourced materials and bold geometric architecture define the aesthetic of the 105-room hotel, which results in lofty, thoughtful spaces.

Wine is celebrated in every area of the hotel, from the private vineyard to the impressive “Vinothek”, which offers wine tasting and seminars. Throw in the LOISIUM Bar, wine gallery and panoramic terrace restaurant and you have every oenophile’s ultimate fantasy.