Hotel Monarc
This project involved a complete redesign and reconfiguration of the interiors. When we began, only the old exterior walls were standing. The original brief was therefore to create a functional and efficient floor plan across five storeys. The defining feature of the building is that it is 20 metres wide but 60 metres deep, which made a floor plan that works for guests and staff alike a real challenge. The reception area and the bar are on the ground floor, an impressive staircase sits in the middle of the building, and the breakfast room lies at the back.
We decided to work from the outside in. We used black iron doors and windows with large panes of glass to flood the whole building with light, and added balconies to every room with black iron railings, the hotel logo welded into them. Black metalwork is a hallmark of modern Belgian architecture. Although you have to pass the staircase to reach the back of the building, we also created a passage with glass doors between reception and the breakfast room, working together with a small courtyard. On hot summer days this opens up one long space from the breakfast terrace at the back to the bar at the front, with fresh sea air moving through it.
For the interior our vision was a modern but luxurious hotel that recalls the former glamour of the royal seaside resorts without forgetting the town's rough harbour character. To complement the extremely high ceilings on the lower floor we lined the entrance in marble, for a striking first impression. The bar and reception are furnished in dark wood, whose straight forms and golden tones create a sensual atmosphere. The breakfast room is held in earthy beiges and feels warm and natural. The colour scheme for the bedrooms is drawn mostly from pale coastal shades with dark elements. Every floor is carpeted, and the carpets are made from recycled fishing nets, an homage to the town's coastal heritage. They improve the acoustics in the rooms and are a warm reminder of the historic harbour.
The spacious rooms have refined and inventive fittings, such as window treatments in black curtains and blackout drapes, and generous wardrobes with room for luggage. Each room also has a king size bed with a comfortable headboard and an integrated music and television system. The bathrooms are finished in marble tiles, which makes the whole a coherent, modern and luxurious project. The hotel is exquisitely placed, a few minutes on foot from the beach, fine restaurants, an impressive casino and other local attractions. The rooms are designed so that families with children, couples and solo travellers all feel comfortable and welcome at Hotel Monarc.
