Hotel Lobbies: The New 9-5 Office?
Floored It Blog Series
June 2019
With the rise in technology and flexible working hours having led to the line between work and life becoming increasingly blurred, it is evident that 21st century work places are constantly evolving. Here, we look at how the need for social, remote working spaces is shaping hotel lobby design.
Our nine to five occupations – in the words of Dolly Parton – are no more. As a result, there has become a growing need for remote working spaces, with people moving away from the designated ‘confines’ of an office to the more social spaces of coffee shops, cafes and, increasingly, hotel lobbies.
Gone are the days when hotels were seen just as a place to rest your head, with the lobbies restricted spaces for guests only. Commonly plain and utilitarian in appearance, their sole function was only to facilitate the check-in and check-out process. Instead, our modern-day hotel lobbies are increasingly being used by a multitude of people, a blend of hotel-guests, visitors and business people alike, spending both leisure and business time together. In turn, this has understandably had a knock-on effect on hotel design and the interior space.
Architects are now frequently tasked with creating a welcoming, open and fluid environment for both hotel residents and visitors to share and enjoy - a hybrid space where people can relax, socialise, eat, drink and also work. No longer restricted to the static office setting, remote business workers will often look for somewhere that offers atmosphere, comfort…and good WIFI access. We are therefore now seeing a rise in the number of hotel lobbies that offer an attractive, stylish and versatile space, designed to welcome visitors and inspire productivity. Some may even have specifically designed working spaces within the interior design, allowing lone workers to feel fully integrated with the hotel guests and social visitors.
Twenty-first century hotel lobbies are also frequently required to be transitional in design, able to easily evolve from day to night; transforming from a welcoming space where visitors and remote workers are provided with hot drinks and snacks, to a more intimate and social setting in the evening, serving bar food and cocktails to over-night guests.
As such, it is important that floor coverings are specified to allow for such a fluid and integrated space, creating a contemporary, welcoming and social setting that can be used and enjoyed by a multitude of people, whether they be hotel guests, visitors or business people. This could be achieved by installing an array of different flooring products side by side, carefully selected to subtly complement one another and create a wider interconnected space.
For example, our Allura Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) would be a great fit for a lobby or reception area with an array of styles available, from digital printed designs to natural wood effects, all helping to create a defined, contemporary space and become a talking point of the interior décor. What’s more, LVTs also offer excellent durability and are easy to maintain, crucial qualities considering the high levels of foot-fall that a hotel lobby would be subject to.
Then, for working zones our Tessera carpet tiles would be a great option, to not only distinguish the area but also provide a comfortable and relaxing work space that aids productivity. For example, Tessera Chroma is a range that has been inspired by colour, allowing architects and designers to playfully clash shades and create a more dynamic workspace – the perfect flooring solution for the stylish, multi-functional and contemporary 21st century hotel lobby.
