Sin City might be the new Texas, at least if you ask Philippe Starck (who consulted through Gensler on design for SLS Las Vegas). Nothing about the design statements for the 1,600-plus-key hotel shies away from thinking big, from the sheer scale of the project — parent company SBE’s largest to date — to the multiple entertainment and dining destinations within the hotel’s three towers.
For Starck, the jumping-off point was the classically glamorous concept of a chic drink. “There are some legendary, classic cocktails — the Manhattan, the Gimlet, the Cosmo — and there is a brand new one, SLS Las Vegas,” Starck said. “It’s strong and sparkling with millions of bubbles of life, stories, adventures and surprises. It’s fire and leaves you burnt with pleasure. It’s soft and romantic and leaves you a taste of love and honey in the mouth. It’s acid, and you will lose your mind, but so elegant that it shall change your life.”
Starck and Gesnler wanted to create a signature blend of design elements for each tower. The all-suite Lux Tower’s elegant French vibe uses oversized sofas and custom closet armoires for an inviting vibe. The World Tower has pink accents for an unexpected touch in an otherwise monochrome scheme. For the Story Tower, the team conceptualized a space that’s as much party pad as guestroom. The vanity doubles as a bar. A backlit ceiling mirror reflects the goings-on.
For the restaurants, the team wanted to build a global cocktail. Katsuya by Starck takes inspiration from geishas, while Cleo looks to the big-screen version of ancient Egypt made famous by Hollywood. Foxtail draws on French music culture, while The Monkey Bar has a British club vibe.
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