Project name: Hotel Triton

Location: San Francisco

Date completed: August 2018

Interior designer: Rose Ink Workshop

Hotel Triton is inspired by the global spirit of San Francisco. A luxury boutique hotel, in the heart of Union Square, with 140 guestrooms and a small lobby, designed with a traveller’s touch. The concept behind the design derived from the Danish concept of hygge, translating as the feeling of being cosy, along with an appreciation of collected items from varying cultures.

The idea is as if you are stepping into a well-travelled friend’s home and feeling comfortable in their well curated space whilst also fascinated by all the artefacts they’ve brought back. The lobby of the hotel is full of treasures and discoveries to be made. The mementos come from all across the globe, clashing cultures and creating a one of a kind destination. During the demolition of the previous lobby, the designers discovered a relief mural from the 1930s. They were able to restore it and create a feature out of it in the new design, adding character.

The designers used rich patterns and colours, soft drapery, and plush seating to encourage patrons to get comfortable, grab a drink, and hang out. The design plays with texture and art, from the lobby to the guest rooms, creating layered spaces that keep unfolding. One’s eye immediately picks up the wood beams on the ceiling in the lobby, the plaster-planter artwork behind the front desk, the sculptural stools, the Nigerian Yoruba beaded crowns on display, the beautiful patterned carpet in the corridors and on the stairs, and the white wood panelling in the guest rooms.

Photographs by the creative director, Liubasha rose, are on display in the corridors; exemplifying the concept of a design with a more personalised touch.

This project is a hotel renovation of an existing historic building; located between China Town and the French district. The design mirrors the vibrant and historical environment, in terms of cultural diversity, and so fits right in, creating a welcoming space that allows one to feel at home.