Inside ISSUE 61, from the Editor

INSIDE ISSUE 61, FROM THE EDITOR

Technology and the dawn of AI is knocking at the design world's door, and it has become harder than ever to ignore. At industry events, roundtables, press launches and lunches, it manages to touch all topics of conversation, from the business of design to guest experience, and dare I say it, even creative exploration. It is a curious time indeed, and questions are aplenty. Should I buy a robot hoover? Are our livelihoods at risk? How will the world change in the next, not even 10 years, but 5?

On a more positive note, the saving grace of us all fearing "AI will take our jobs" is the burst of original, tactile, daring and sentimental design narratives emerging in response. The rejection of perfection, the embrace of character and craft, unpredictable colour clashes and pattern-mixing madness. It shows that not only do bold choices make great design – they feel a little unexpected, leaving behind the patina of humanity we are all craving.

For Tristan Auer, this issue's Visionary, the definition of luxury is singularity. Across the breadth of his diverse portfolio, it has never been about creating a signature style, but rather a guiding philosophy to imagine unique projects every time. He shares his practice of working sur mesure, and how every detail matters – from the architecture of a room down to the objects on its shelves.

Our Leaders both share Auer's penchant for doing away with the rulebook to forge their own paths. As Hyatt's Executive Vice President, President & Creative Director of Lifestyle, Amar Lalvani candidly discusses the power of brand building, dual roles, and how taking The Standard to the global stage was deeply personal for him.

William E. Heinecke founded Minor International as, well, a minor, when he was just 17 years old. Long before it was commonplace, Heinecke created the Anantara brand to provide guests with culture-first experiences led by place. Twenty-five years and more than 50 hotels later, he shares why putting people first never goes out of style.

The spaces we cover in this issue prove that same point – each one a bold choice made real. In Camps Bay, Tristan du Plessis brings sculptural contrasts to Morea House, Cape Town; Philippe Starck crowns a nine-storey monolith with a 19th-century Lorraine mansion at Maison Heler, Metz; WATG and Wimberly Interiors weave Filipino craft through a preservation-first renewal of Lagen Island Resort, Philippines; Festen Architecture channels monastic calm at Hôtel du Couvent, Nice; the late François Catroux leaves his mark on Four Seasons Hotel & Residences, Cartagena; while Studio KO resurrects Pigalle's most legendary rock club as Bus Palladium, Paris.

We put this issue to bed with Suite Dreams, an extended feature on the latest innovations and directions for guestrooms and suites, whilst we take a first look at the Sea Containers Thames Suite Collection, reimagined for how the modern traveller likes to stay.

On that note, I hope these pages leave a little patina of their own - happy reading.