Complexity of design: renovations with MKV Design

Ahundred years ago, the Hôtel Royal Savoy Lausanne was the definition of a European grand dame hotel. Having opened in 1909, this imposing art nouveau building in the Ouchy area of Lausanne commanded set-piece views of Lake Geneva and the French Alps. Back then, the surrounding city was too stylised to be called a chocolate box, and the hotel itself was too distinctive to be likened to a fairytale.

In the following years, it became a refuge for exiled royals and aristocrats, with the Spanish royal family and King Bhumibol of Thailand enjoying its hospitality. What it lost in ritziness, it gained in prestige, with a roll call of rock star guests adding to its legendary status.

Unfortunately, as the hotel grew older it fell on hard times. While the exterior Grand Chateaux styling remained fully intact, the interiors lost their pizzazz.

"Architecturally, the building is great, but with time and the various refurbishments that had happened internally, there was almost nothing left from its heyday," recalls MKV Design founder and managing director Maria Katsarou Vafiadis. "When the owners approached us, they wanted not only to extensively renovate the hotel but also extend it, which posed many challenges."

Having bought the hotel in 2007, Katara Hospitality was intent on returning the historic monument to its former glory. With the help of the London-based studio, they embarked on five years of renovations, together with a new wing, at a total cost of €92 million.

Having recently reopened as part of Katara Hospitality's Bürgenstock Selection - with a spa and sky lounge set for completion in 2016 - the 196-key hotel integrates old with new, in a bid to recapture the glamour of days gone by.

Although the building itself is protected, and the facade remains untouched, the interiors have seen a major reconstruction complemented by a new conservatory and extension.

"We took our cues from the old building and honoured its history in our design thinking," explains Vafiadis. "Having said that, we didn't want to recreate the old Savoy. Our aim was to recreate the ambience of the previous establishment within a contemporary hotel, in a way that is relevant for guests today."

Belle époque

The lobby, for instance, reinstates a simpler version of the outside stencilling work, bringing together the exterior facade treatment with new interiors. The furniture has belle époque flourishes, and old tiles have been restored and reused. It feels like an expressive re-rendering, rather than straightforward homage, with the new wing providing a sleek and understated counterpoint to the otherwise theatrical design.

For MKV Design, a firm known for its historic renovations, this is just the latest in a long list of acclaimed hotel and resort projects. Founded in 1999, the firm has about 20 architects and interior designers who have worked all over the world on projects as far flung as India, South Africa, Austria and Azerbaijan.

Vafiadis, who trained as an architect before taking on interior design, is known for her versatile approach. She tackles each project as a one-off challenge, without being fettered by house style.

"If we have a trademark, it's that we always try to create spaces that move people emotionally. We go beyond aesthetics to captivate people and somehow connect with them; and connect with the location and culture," she says. "This is conveyed not just in the bigger picture, but also through our attention to the tiniest detail."

Other key MKV projects that are also part of the Bürgenstock Selection are the Bürgenstock Hotel, Palace Hotel and Alpine Spa, all at the Bürgenstock Resort in Switzerland and due for completion in 2017. Like the Royal Savoy, this resort comes with a prestigious past and blends the old with the new; the Palace Hotel, which originally opened in 1904, is being recreated as a boutique hotel, whereas the Bürgenstock Hotel is being built from scratch.

"What's unusual about the Bürgenstock Hotel is not just the location, but also the architecture," says Vafiadis. "It's a box that blends almost seamlessly with the surrounding nature; it sits right at the edge of the mountain and has the most amazing views over Lake Lucerne, with the result that when you're inside the hotel, you'll feel as though you're flying over the lake."

The hotel is notable for its oversized windows. The views are in essence a facet of the interior design. With simple materials, unusual textiles and an earth-toned colour palette, it works to dissolve the distinction between the inside and outside world.

Alpine Spa

The nearby Alpine Spa does something similar. Inspired by the resort's natural terrain, it reinterprets local materials and crafts, and draws deep from its Alpine heritage to create something entirely new.

"The design really follows the views," says Vafiadis. "It's very simple and natural - we use just stone, timber plus a little bit of metal, and have integrated techniques that were used in that part of the mountains, especially with regards to engraving on timber and the traditional herrenschnitt art. So they're both very modern projects, but at the same time very natural and fitting for the environment."

Although projects of this nature have become something of a speciality in recent years, MKV is too interesting a firm to be pigeonholed as non-twee mountain-hotel design. Its current projects also include Sheraton Park Lane in London, and the Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences, which Vafiadis calls "a modern interpretation of the Arabic lifestyle".

The team also recently completed two hotels in Baku, Azerbaijan, as part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, which opened in June 2015 in time for the European Games. The Intourist Hotel is glamorous and intimate, with allusions to an older building of the same name. The Boulevard Hotel, meanwhile, is a large business hotel that is intended to serve the new Baku White City development.

Aside from its design nous, MKV Design is highly business minded. It deeply understands the hospitality industry and endeavours to strike a balance between commercial demands and creative possibilities. This means working side-by-side with architects and clients from the outset, to make what was envisioned a reality.

"We try to be very intelligent with our design and add value," says Vafiadis. "I think design nowadays is not just about aesthetics - it has become so much more complex than that. And when we talk about experiences or creating something that moves people emotionally, you have to be involved from day one and create the right synergies. You have to be part of a team that shares the same goal. There is a lot of work that happens behind the scenes before you even start sketching the initial ideas, for example the definition of the brief, branding, and research into creating a new identity plus a possible visual expression for it."

Favourite project

Vafiadis thrives on complexity, and desires the opportunity to go beyond the creation of pretty spaces. At the heart of her work is a deeply felt appreciation of architectural principles and cultural sensibilities. She cites her favourite project as the Costa Navarino Resort in Greece, which opened in 2008 and involved the creation of an entire destination. In keeping with the client's request that the design should tell a story, it combines classical architecture with contemporary styling and closely interweaves aspects of the resort and hotel. She says that it was a very rewarding project.

Given the diversity of her portfolio, one might think that there was no new ground left for Vafiadis to cover. However, she says that with so much happening in hospitality right now, there is plenty left to discover.

"Traditionally, we have always worked in the five-star luxury segment, but there is so much happening in other segments; not just pure hotels, but hotel and residential, apartments and even hostels that are being designed at the moment. And they really look fantastic," she says. "We keep our eyes open and, as the stereotype of the hotel is changing, we definitely would like to explore more aspects of hospitality design."

In the meantime, with the Royal Savoy soon to open completely, MKV Design is gearing up for a busy time. While her résumé may currently be light on hostels, Vafiadis can at least be assured that she has five-star luxury covered.