In the third episode of Espacios que hablan, Laura Huerta, Interior Design Director at U Interior Design, and Pablo Gironés, marketing expert with a focus on industrial design, delve into one of the most complex aspects of hotel design:
The balance between luxury and efficiency in spaces.
In this conversation, Pablo Gironés offers a professional vision on how the different areas of a luxury hotel manage resources, materials and investments, achieving a balance between what is seen and what is experienced.
In five-star hotels, luxury is seen in the smallest details, although the rooms are usually where the most is contained in terms of investment: ‘The budget you have is much bigger than what you would have in a four-star hotel, but in the end it’s the same,’ he explains, suggesting that the difference between high-end hotels is not so much in what is offered, but in how it is presented.
The design of these spaces follows a strategic logic. Common areas, such as the lobby, are the places where luxury hotels tend to ‘do the rest’. As the most visible and busiest areas, this is where the most exclusive pieces and the highest quality elements are concentrated, elevating the first impression guests have when they enter. ‘They are few pieces really,’ says Pablo Gironés, referring to the lobby furniture, ’but they are very good and they are branded.’ This investment in the visual and functional quality of the common areas sets a luxurious tone from the outset.
The gradual decline in quality
One of the key points is that as you get deeper into the hotel, particularly in the rooms, the quality tends to drop a little, though always maintaining an adequate standard. In many hotels, there is a great attention to detail in areas such as the lobby or the noble areas, but in the dining room or the rooms, the materials and furnishings, although carefully chosen, are less expensive or spectacular.
This responds to a use logic: while rooms are private spaces where guests spend less time, public areas have a greater visual impact. ‘In the rooms it goes down even a step further,’ says Pablo Gironés, pointing out that the most significant investments are made in the spaces where it is hoped to make the most lasting impression.
Efficiency in room design
On the other hand, room design responds to a need to balance quality and cost. This implies that the guest does not require the same level of luxury in their room as they expect in common areas. This is where designers have more scope to contain costs by investing in functional details, but without the same high-value elements that can be found in the lobby or more visible areas.
However, this does not mean that rooms are neglected; on the contrary, in luxury hotels, rooms are always taken care of, but designers find ways to optimise the budget without compromising comfort: ‘A chair costs a lot, the impact is very big,’ adds Pablo Gironés, referring to how a small piece of furniture can have a big impact on overall costs when multiplied by the total number of rooms.
The art of balancing spaces
By concentrating investment in the most visible areas and containing spending in the rooms, hotels manage to create an experience that feels luxurious without the need to splurge on every detail. This balance is key in the design of any luxury space:
Knowing where to invest to maximise impact and where to optimise to maintain functionality without compromising quality.
We invite you to watch the excerpt of this conversation here.