Double Tree by Hilton

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Addis Adaba, Ethiopia

This is the first hospitality project I worked on when starting at Bentel Assocaites International and is currently still ongoing as the structure is an existing skyscraper intended to be a mixed-use building and the architectural team is still currently working on ways to improve the structure for the new use as a hotel and to adhere to brand standards where possible. The interior design follows the architectural design and is completed piece by piece as the project develops.

My role was to create conceptual designs for the public areas where the architectural team has completed design work to the client's needs and the hotel's operator's needs. The brief as per the client was to create luxurious public spaces as hotels are used as places of business in Ethiopia and this hotel would be no different. With this in mind I had to adhere to the hotels brand standards for this specific type of hotel and the F&B brief for the public spaces as set out by Hilton.

I have worked on these areas and have created multiple iterations form starting on this project in March 2022 and till current day June 2023 of the same spaces as the architecture and the look and feel the client is going for changes as the project progresses.

The spaces designed at this moment and have been approved by the client and the hotel operator will be showcased in this project that include the reception area on ground floor and the attached bar, the all-day dining restaurant on the first floor, a speciality restaurant or grill house on the 17th floor and the two options for the rooftop bar and pool area.

Reception and Bar

The reception and bar area makes use of brass, marble and backlit onyx as its main materials to create a feel of luxury and uses pops of colour, pattern, prints and botanicals true to the stay true to the region where the hotel is located. A major struggle with these areas were that the minimum ceiling height as per brand standard as the soffit above was already below the required height and the client does not want any services to be exposed. We had to work closely with the architectural team to find an innovative way to create vertical height and hide as many required services as possible.

Reception View - 3DS Max Vray Max by Phillip Nel

Bar View - 3DS Max by Phillip Nel

The all-day dining features an open kitchen design and a buffet setup for breakfast service. As per local customs restaurant areas need to have a reception, bar and small lounge area at their entrance as it is normal to wait and have a drink for whomever might be joining you for a meal. The design carries through the use of marble and brass as materials to create a feel of luxury that the client requested and integrates mare botanicals and timbers to create a warmer more inviting atmosphere.

(Renders below in Twinmotion: Left - Reception and show kitchen view Right - Dining area view)

Speciality Restaurant

Chambers Grill

The conceptual design of the speciality restaurant was a described in the F&B brief as a moody and masculine experience that includes a grill bar in the centre of the restaurant from where all types of local meat dishes are prepared and served with a wide variety of wine to complement the dining experience. The space draws some inspiration form the rest of the botanical features in the hotel with a prominent display wall at the entrance created by a printed Kriskadecor chain link creatine the illusion of being in the woods form the moment you step out of the elevator into the reception. The rest of the restaurant is covered inspired by fire relating to the main grill showpiece feature reinforcing a concept of dining by fire in the woods in this luxury setting and playing off the masculine theme of the restaurant. The use of lighting design and creates a dark moody atmosphere and the red orange accent lights again reinforce the idea of fire in the concept. The materials and patterns again include marble, brass, and reflective surfaces to create a feel of luxury to appease the client's needs and the use of colours play into both the concept of ash and fire with whites, greys, blacks and browns and the slight greens and timber to reinforce the idea of the woods. The patterns bring in a pop of visual interest and bring the design back to the location the hotel is situated in play well on the local foods that are prepared in the restaurant.

Grill View - Twinmotion Render

Dining View - Twinmotion Render

Rooftop Bar & Pool

The rooftop bar and pool area was requested to have the feel of a nightclub by the client and the F&B brief stated that it would be a venue for live Jazz and DJ sets. The design includes very rich and dark colours to stay true to the luxurious feel requested by the client and is offset and softened by the use of large-scale botanical patterns and on feature walls. The space again makes use of lighting design to create an atmosphere that is visible from every angle in the design.