Hospitality Design

IC4HD intervista Hans J. Galutera, HG DesignWorks

Hans J. Galutera, fondatore della HG DesignWorks, è un esperto di interior design e negli ultimi 20 anni è stato un attore importante nella creazione di ambienti di lusso nel mondo dell’ospitalità.

Attraverso un’intervista esclusiva, condivide con noi i suoi progetti più recenti e un nuovo punto di vista sul settore dell’ospitalità americano.

Qual è il suo punto di vista sul settore hospitality al momento?

Al momento la gente sta viaggiando un po’ meno, ma su un periodo di tempo più ampio. Credo che la stanza d’albergo standard si evolverà. Gli ospiti vogliono un luogo sanificato e dove possono sentirsi al sicuro, più che che uno spazio semplicemente per dormire o mangiare. Stiamo scoprendo che gli ospiti vogliono anche un posto dove preparare i pasti oppure ordinarli d’asporto senza dover per forza mangiare sul letto. Vogliono potersi sedere e lavorare al computer, e avere tutto questo sia per un soggiorno lungo che corto.

 

Può identificare qualche trend e/o caratteristica in particolare che è diventata progressivamente più importante nei progetti di costruzione/ristrutturazione del mondo hospitality causata dall’emergenza Covid? E per la ripartenza post Covid?

In genere si dice che la lobby sia il fattore chiave per il design alberghiero, ma credo che le stanze degli ospiti abbiano raggiunto un’importanza equivalente alla lobby a causa del Covid. Il desiderio di tranquillità è diventato sempre più significativo e credo che gli hotel debbano occuparsi di ciò che è realmente importante in una stanza ed eliminare gli elementi inutili. Stiamo anche pensando, per i nostri clienti, come si potrebbe usare una camera in caso la pandemia ritorni. Abbiamo visto esempi di come alcuni hotel sono stati trasformati in strutture ricettive per anziani, sale parto, reparti di triage, rifugi per senzatetto… in quali altri modi le stanze possono essere usate in modo funzionale?

 

A quali progetti sta lavorando maggiormente in questo periodo? Prevalentemente ristrutturazioni o nuovi edifici?

In questo momento ci stiamo occupando principalmente di ristrutturazioni a New York e a Melbourne, Australia.

 

Quali sono le caratteristiche principali che ricerca in un fornitore? Come riassumerebbe il profilo di un fornitore ideale usando tre parole?

Quando lavoravamo con le grandi società quali Royal Caribbean e Celebrity Cruises, che sono, diciamo, hotel galleggianti, sviluppavamo relazioni con fornitori che erano preapprovati per rispondere a regole e linee guida sulla sicurezza marittima molto rigide.
Con i nuovi fornitori vogliamo sempre essere sicuri che ci sia affidabilità per quanto riguarda la qualità. Dobbiamo assicurarci che la loro capacità di produzione sia eccellente e soprattutto che ci sia una buona comunicazione. Se volessi sintetizzare con 3 parole il fornitore ideale con cui abbiamo lavorato sarebbero: affidabilità, fiducia e flessibilità – deve essere pronto a sistemare eventuali errori con prontezza.

 

Italian Contract 4 Hospitality Design, oltre a organizzare la partecipazione a Hospitality Design Expo+Conference Las Vegas, mette in contatto le aziende italiane con i professionisti del settore contract USA. Per leggere le altre interviste, seguite IC4HD interviews

in Interviews / NEWS
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IC4HD interviews Hans J. Galutera, HG DesignWorks

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Hans J. Galutera, the founder of HG DesignWorks, is a renowned expert in the art of interiors, and in the last 20 years he has been an important party for the creation of luxurious spaces in the world of hospitality. 

Through an exclusive interview, he shares with us his projects and a new point of view on the US hospitality sector.

What is your pulse on the hospitality design industry at the moment?

At the moment people are travelling a little bit less, but they’re travelling over extended periods of time. I think the average hotel room definitely will evolve. They want a place where they can feel safety, sanitary other than just sleeping or where they can eat. We are finding that they also want a place to prepare their own meal, to order a delivery and not have to eat it on their bed. Guests want to be able to sit and work on a laptop – and then have it all for short and long term stays.

 

Can you identify any particular trend and/or feature that has become increasingly important in hospitality projects building/renovation due to Covid emergency? And for the post-Covid restart?

Typically one would say the lobby is a key factor with hotel design but I think the guest room has become tantamount due to Covid. The hotel room has become a sanctuary focused on contemplation and self-care since you could not use the lobby during Covid. The desire for quiet has become increasingly significant and I think hotel brands should address what is really important within a room and strip back any unnecessary items. We are also thinking for our clients – how would you use the room if this pandemic happens again? We are given instances like what happened during this crisis where some hotels were turned into birthing centers, senior living facilities, triage, homeless shelters… what other ways can this room be used in functionality?

 

Which kind of projects are you working on most at the moment? Mostly renovations or new buildings?

Mostly renovations, at this moment, right now in New York City, New Jersey and Melbourne, VIC Australia.

 

What are the main features you search for in a supplier? How would you sum up the profile of your ideal supplier in 3 words?

When we were working with the big corporations such as Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises which are, I guess, floating hotels, we would develop relationships with different suppliers that have been pre-approved because of strict maritime codes and life safety guidelines. With new suppliers, we always want to make sure that there is accountability for quality issues. We need to make sure their production capabilities are excellent and most importantly the ease of communication is established. And if I was to sum up a great supplier that we have worked with: it would be trustworthiness, reliability and of course – flexibility (i.e. they must be ready to fix their mistakes effortlessly) which is the key word right in our current environment for all constructed environments.

 

 

Italian Contract 4 Hospitality Design selects the best Italian firms able to face the US market for hospitality design, distinguished for a structured organization on site, real-time answer to requests coming from designers and specifiers, flawless executions within the agreed timing and mode. The best occasion where to meet IC4HD companies is at Hospitality Design Expo+Conference Las Vegas.

in BLOG / Interviews
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GREEN | Grassi Pietre

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Grassi Pietre places sustainability at the center of its production and business development policies. The natural materials are extracted from underground quarries, with a minimum impact from a landscape and environmental point of view for the surrounding area. When the quarry is exhausted, the entrance is secured, and the surrounding environment restored. The quantity of extracted material is regulated to allow the procurement of the company in compliance with regional and national regulations.

Grassi Pietre also pays attention to the use of renewable energy, thanks to the use of a modern photovoltaic system installed at the production plant in Nanto (VI).

With a view to recovering waste material resulting from the excavation and transformation of natural stone, in recent years Grassi Pietre has developed a line of cement agglomerates made with a mixture of Vicenza stone grit, white Portland cement and water. This product, called PIETRANOVA , allows the company to give new life to materials that would otherwise be considered as waste, and to improve at the same time the technical characteristics of natural stone. Only recycled material is used for the mixture, namely Vicenza stone coming directly from the Grassi Pietre quarries, which gives the finished product beauty and value, also thanks to the high percentage of natural stone used. Pietranova is available in three color variants, white, yellow and gray, depending on the residue of grit that is used in the mixture.

Pietranova is an ecological and environmental-friendly material, as it does not contain epoxy resins or dangerous chemicals. Aside from stone grit, only white Portland cement and water are used for the production of Pietranova: since cement is an inert material, the resulting agglomerate is completely ecological, free from harmful substances. Pietranova is a 100% Made in Italy product, is CE certified and meets all legislation requirements for the uses for which it is intended. Thanks to its low environmental impact, it can be installed in any place and is an exceptional solution for modern construction.

Grassi Pietre continues its investments in research and development, creating in the last year a new ecological product to integrate the Pietranova offer and recover production waste: a new cement agglomerate, called Alpi 4.0 , made with clasts of Grigio Alpi and Grigio Argento, produced without any resins or harmful chemicals.

Grassi Pietre aim to reduce production scraps is also demonstrated by the new PATTERN  collection for wall and floor tiles, created for the company new showroom in Nanto (VI). The reduced formats permit to make the most of the raw slabs, minimizing waste and optimizing production.

All this is possible thanks to Grassi Pietre team of experienced technicians and operators who are constantly updated, thanks to the continuous training that the company offers. In Grassi Pietre, technology and craftsmanship blend together: new refined projects made with the historic materials of the company’s quarries are the result of craftsmanship and the best technologies available for stone processing. The expertise of the team of highly qualified personnel allows Grassi Pietre to develop any project by offering the necessary technical and design support.

Discover Grassi Pietre at the upcoming HD Expo Las Vegas, August 24-25, 2021.

in 2021 HD / Grassi Pietre / GREEN / Hospitality Design