Design On Arrival
Members of the Champalimaud design team will be posting here ideas and thoughts on trends, what's motivating people, what's keeping them going and what's soothing their nerves. Where we have insight, we'll contribute thoughts on the state of our industry, why people travel today and prioritize between the things that they want and the things they need. In all respects, we'll address how the role of design is evolving through this period. CHAMPALIMAUD is a full service interior design firm specializing in distinctive hospitality design, and providing residential and commercial design on a selective basis. Established 27 years ago in Montreal by Alexandra Champalimaud, the firm is now headquartered in New York. We firmly believe that successful design must be rooted in the characteristics unique to each property. Guided by the goals and aspirations of the client and the cultural context of each property, the history and location, our completed work includes from the most respectful of historic restorations to highly contemporary renovations and new constructions. Ours is a body of work uncommonly diverse and indicative of a guiding ethos that distinguishes Champalimaud from all others.
By Design, Or Unintentional?
Nightly strolls around Manhattan offer unpredictable viewpoints and mesmerizing backdrops that we can record with our cameras. In the first picture below, I find the light, grandeur and mostly the energy behind the windows awe-inspiring. The building in the background is the new Standard Hotel, beneath which on any given night you will find on-lookers expecting some form of entertainment from the ...... Read More
Comments (0)The Temple Of Zecha
I recently came across an old Architectural Digest article from 1980 that described Adrian Zecha’s of Aman fame, new apartment in Hong Kong which was designed around their significant collection of Asian art. Mr. Zecha mentions that “We like to live in an amiable place. We both dislike a ‘decorator’ look, and we want simple living”. Fast forward t ...... Read More
Comments (0)Nature's Influence On Hotel Design
As artists, designers and architects always have, we too find ourselves turning to nature for inspiration and design solutions. Recently, I was reminded of the universal and timeless influences of nature in the Museum of the City of New York’s show “Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future.” Saarinen, who was of Finnish birth and the son of architect Eliel Saarinen and sculptor Lo ...... Read More
Comments (0)Reflections From ALIS
Reflecting back on the Americas Lodging Investment Summit, I’ve walked away with a bit of optimism.With Revpar down 17% for some, and brands faring better than boutique hotels in this economy, some boutiques are placing emphasis on “authenticity” and “value” and are looking at more Adaptive Re-Use vs. Build/Expand for growth. Sustainability is also key, as Morga ...... Read More
Comments (1)Designers And Mathematicians
I have always had a fascination with Mathematics. I don’t mean the detail of topological spaces, theorems, conjectures and calculations, but rather what is behind the methods and process that mathematicians use to get one step closer to the truth they seek. There is a formidable creativity in their search for original approaches to complex problems, and sometimes what distinguishes differen ...... Read More
Comments (0)Silence & Elegance: The Art Of The Samurai
Interior designers have the joy and the curse of finding inspiration everywhere.We go out for dinner with friends, and if they are lucky enough to enjoy the first few minutes without a cynical comment about the table height or about how crockery manufacturers should really design plates that take into account the size of NYC restaurant tables, then they must have brought along a truly exciting bit ...... Read More
Comments (0)This Is Going To Be Fun
At Champalimaud, I lead a team of creative individuals/designers with amazing experience and depth. We design worldwide and hotels are the focus of our attention. We have an understanding of their energy and their personality. We also know the the more practical and structural elements, ranging from the financial and ownership relationships to the construction costs, project management, operation ...... Read More
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