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INSIDERS

In conversation with Nancy Santorelli on Meyer Davis’ multilayered high-end vision

INSIDERS

Keywords:

Interviews , High-end hospitality , Inspirations , Custom-tailored projects
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Experience of the senses, aesthetics and design coexist seamlessly in Meyer Davis' projects. The award-winning New York City-based studio founded by Will Meyer and Gray Davis sits today at the forefront of design thanks to a vision that combines constant research, respect to the environment and a customer-driven approach. Each of the projects crafted by Meyer Davis, be it private residences, hotels, restaurants or retail, sees translated into visual experience a play of shapes, spaces, lights and textures. Such an approach, combined with the high quality of the final product, has allowed the studio to earn a substantial portfolio of customers, in which we find, among others, Four Seasons, Auberge Resorts Collection, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Mandarin Oriental and The Ritz Carlton. We talked about it with Nancy Santorelli, Associate Principal at Meyer Davis, who has unfolded for us the themes of high-end and the latest industry trends in the light of her experience.

Sorelle, Charleston, South Carolina, Meyer Davis <br />Image copyright: @Peter Frank Edwards
Sorelle, Charleston, South Carolina, Meyer Davis
Image copyright: @Peter Frank Edwards
W Rome, Rome, Italy, Meyer Davis <br />Image copyright: @Marriott
W Rome, Rome, Italy, Meyer Davis
Image copyright: @Marriott

What does "high-end" mean today? What are the elements that define a project as such? 

I believe that today the word “high-end” has a meaning that goes beyond the use of luxury materials, fine finishes and peculiar furniture. High-end means that there is a thought consisting of layers of intention, which is aware of sophistication but also of refinement. It is not simply about "more is more". It is about making sure that there is intentionality behind every element. Therefore, in a high-end project, design, architecture, landscape, culture and natural context come together. 

"Meyer Davis is interested in ideas, not ownership". Would you unfold this concept to us? How do you identify the ideas that work?

This is a quote that expresses our way of designing. Each of our projects is not designed by a single person, but by a team of people who collaborate side by side. We are mostly defined as interior designers, and yet our customers often ask us to work also on external architecture. And in these cases what matters is the best idea. It is not about ego or property. Whether an architect has an intuition for interior design or vice versa, it is all about whoever of the team has the best idea. The common goal is always the successful project.

W Rome, Rome, Italy, Meyer Davis <br />Image copyright: @Marriott
W Rome, Rome, Italy, Meyer Davis
Image copyright: @Marriott
W Rome, Rome, Italy, Meyer Davis <br />Image copyright: @Marriott
W Rome, Rome, Italy, Meyer Davis
Image copyright: @Marriott

Among the most current trends is that of a growing hybridization between residential and hotel spaces, how do you interpret this contamination? 

Such a new tendency is particularly interesting for us as I believe that our studio fully embraces it. My starting point was in fact the desire to found an interior design firm. It is therefore in a very natural and seamless way that we bring the qualities of the residential within our hospitality projects. It is in particular the stratification of elements that, together with the warmth and the intentional details, give a sense of home. To this is added the lighting, fundamental for the creation of the right atmosphere and the necessary warm glow. Therefore, for every hospitality project we ask ourselves: what is the finish of the floor, what is the fabric, what is the lighting, what is the detail on the cushion that really brings that residential quality?

What is your vision of the hotel scene today? What are the elements that cannot be missing in a space for the reception of guests? 

Today we see that people tend to remain longer in one place. For this reason, the hotel really has to create a journey and encompass a number of experiences within a single structure. The moment you land after a long flight, you feel that you have arrived at a new destination and that your adventure has begun. Hence, whether it is a relaxing vacation or an exploration journey in a particularly active city like Rome, the hotel must reflect the place already from the reception. The room, then, is part of the journey itself, as it represents the place where you can relax, breathe and regenerate between a moment and another of the stay. Therefore each project must take into account the context, culture and location to integrate into the local framework.

Who are, in your opinion, the masters or the projects that have made the difference in this sector? 

I think this would be an interesting question for Will Meyer and Gray Davis, the founders of the studio. They often refer to the designs of Philippe Starck, a master in the hospitality industry who has never ceased to renew his optimistic and inclusive vision. Another figure of reference for us is Christian Liaigre, the creative architect who went down in history as the grand minimaliste. Of him, I particularly appreciate the refined colour palette, the simplicity of the lines and the fluidity of the design. We look for inspiration in these masters but also in the words of our customers and their experiences.

Grand Hyatt, Hawally, Kuwait, Meyer Davis <br />Image copyright: @Anthony Parkinson
Grand Hyatt, Hawally, Kuwait, Meyer Davis
Image copyright: @Anthony Parkinson
Grand Hyatt, Hawally, Kuwait, Meyer Davis <br />Image copyright: @Anthony Parkinson
Grand Hyatt, Hawally, Kuwait, Meyer Davis
Image copyright: @Anthony Parkinson

Meyer Davis also has numerous projects for renowned restaurants and chefs. What is the thread that links gastronomy and design?

We always try to create a space that really enriches the involvement and adds an extra layer to the sensory experience. We love to get to know personally the chefs of the contemporary gastronomic scene and discuss their ideas, although coming from a different field. To give an example, Dario Cecchini, the master butcher running the modern steakhouse Baha Mar, has a bold, colorful and passionate personality. We wanted all these traits to emerge in the design and so we brought back to our world elements of his work and imagination, such as some pieces that reproduce the butcher’s tools. In the Italian restaurant Sorelle in downtown Charleston we featured a custom wall covering inspired by the landscape in terms of crafts. Thus, bringing some elements of the landscape within the architectural context we can enhance the sensory experience.

Every Meyer Davis' project is tailor-made for the customer. What is the most challening part of managing customers' requests? 

Each customer is different from the other and it is up to us to be able to understand and listen in order to customize the project in the right way. It is a challenge within us. The most inspiring part is that we always learn from our customers, who sometimes push us beyond our limits. Thus, we learn about different cultures, international cuisines and chefs and a variety of new notions.

Nancy Santorelli <br/> Associate Principal at Meyer Davis Studio
Nancy Santorelli
Associate Principal at Meyer Davis Studio
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