Chapter 14 Commercial Interior Design Applications 493 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Lobbies also serve as a place for social encounters. With new trends in business travel, hotel lobbies must offer multiuse spaces for casual and formal conver- sations, and spaces for working with and plugging in various electronic devices. Simple arrangements of sofas, chairs, and coffee tables are no longer enough. Ideas for lobby design include ■ Make a unique impression. The lobby should be more than a passageway from the outdoors to the guest rooms. Create an environment that entices guests to stop and look around. For instance, offering a view of inspirational art along with well- designed and mood-appropriate lighting creates an environment that invites guests to linger, contemplate, and unwind. ■ Connect the experience with function. A lobby accommodates the check-in desk, waiting area, and concierge stand, and it also serves as a social gathering place with supplementary seating and tables. ■ Incorporate revenue streams. Design a lobby that offers guests a variety of shops and services. Convenient amenities right in the lobby eliminates the need for guests to shop elsewhere and provide other opportunities to increase revenue, too. For instance, even a boutique hotel can serve coffee, stock a snack bar, and sell gifts, toiletries, or sundries. Guests appreciate the convenience of such offerings. ■ Analyze the layout and architecture. Closely analyze the structure of the hotel lobby. A large structure may appear uninviting, while a small, tight space dissuades lingering and relaxing. Because lobbies are generally wide-open areas, creatively utilize these spaces to shape zones that smoothly fl ow together, creating a cohesive guest experience. When designing a space, match the hotel era with the lobby—playing with the style while introducing furniture and accessories. Keep in mind a luxurious hotel requires a lavish lobby. In contrast, the lobby of a family resort might feature child-size tables, chairs, and activities along with comfortable seating for adults. Whether lavish or family friendly, the lobby must have adequate circulation to accommodate guests and their luggage during check-in and check-out periods. Guest rooms occupy about 50 to 80 percent of a hotel’s guest area. The design of guest rooms is changing, too. The traditional bed-table-chair-television combination is not enough to make a hotel room inviting or appealing. A trendy hotel room may include a creative offi ce space for business travelers and an extra sofa next to a king- sized bed, Figure 14-10. Where appropriate, there is also a blurring between the indoor-outdoor boundaries. For instance, large decks and terraces help expand hotel rooms to the outdoors while the designer seeks every possible way to bring nature inside. To help hotel guests relax and relieve tension, designers employ such elements as wood paneling, stone decorations, lush plants and fl owers, and indoor water features. Most importantly, however, hotel rooms should offer comfort and that “home-away-from-home” feeling for every hotel guest. Regardless of how luxuri- ous, tech-friendly, or unusual the room theme, comfort and warmth are major factors to consider in room design. Guest bathrooms are taking on a spa-like design. Bathrooms are no longer spaces to minimize to expand living space in the guest room. Modern tourists expect more than they have at home when traveling. A resort bathroom encompassing spa-like features is an open invitation to refreshment and relaxation—surefi re way to encourage people to stay at that specifi c hotel. Spa-like features may include en suite bedrooms, waterfall showers, oversized bathtubs, two sinks, giant towels, and plenty of space. Photograph: Kenneth M Wyner/Designed by ForrestPerkins Figure 14-10 Guest rooms, like hotel lobbies, are changing to accommodate guest expectations. Review the description about the Presidential Suite at the Renaissance Arlington Capitol View Hotel on the ForrestPerkins website. What features enhance the guest experience?