Group Effort: GHM Hotels
May 1, 2005
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Based in Singapore, General
Hotel Management (GHM) operates a
collection of boutique hotels located
in remote areas, primarily throughout
Southeast Asia (its only North
American property is in Miami’s bustling South
Beach). The group’s
contemporary design components borrow from Asian influences,
blending
clean lines with warm textures to create peaceful environments. (Click image to enlarge)
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Located within an eight-story Art Deco landmark
on Collins Avenue in Miami’s South Beach, a spa suite overlooks the ocean. (Above) the exterior of the spa at the Legian. (Click image to enlarge)“We create private retreats for relaxation and revitalization that incorporate the powerful force of nature,” explains Brenda Ramen, GHM’s corporate spa director. “Here, nature is the dominating force.” The Lalu in Taiwan, situated on Sun Moon Lake, features views of the water from every room and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors. “It starts and ends with privacy,” Ramen says. “One of the unique specifications was that each room was to be totally private.” Each suite is designed for two, and has its own fireplace, steam shower and oversize sunken terrazzo tub.
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Sun Moon Lake at the Lalu’s spa in
Taiwan. (Below) A treatment bath at the Legian in Bali. (Click image to enlarge)Maintaining a consistent aesthetic throughout each of the 11 resorts is integral to the group’s design theme. This means connecting the hotel to the spa through the design, so that the benefits of the spa are not lost the moment one exits the space. Yet avoiding harsh transitions in a resort like the Datai in Langkawi is hardly a challenge. With a private beach and an unspoiled rainforest, the riverfront spa attracts a host of wildlife. “It’s like being in a National Geographic picture, with monkeys, birds and boars roaming through the land,” Ramen says. Consistent with all GHM hotels, colors are subdued and natural to blend with the surroundings. “Our design
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is modern, but not bland. We
use a lot
of grays, soft greens, beiges and browns in our palette,” says Ramen.
“Contrast is important, though; natural local woods offset by white and
soft
lighting is also something you’ll see a lot of.” GHM’s newest
property in
Vietnam, opening later this year, will also feature villas
for sale. (Click image to enlarge)
General Hotel Management, +44.20.8878.8777,
www.ghmhotels.com
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