- collection
Infinite Wood, Shinnoki, Made-to-measure
- location
Knokke, Belgium
- sector
Hospitality
- architect
Glenn Sestig Architects
- installer
Obumex, De maatwerker, COVRR
- photographer
Jean-Pierre Gabriël
- application
Wall, Furniture
Assigned to this mission was no one other than the prominent architect Glenn Sestig and his team, redefining quiet luxury through a unique combination of styles and quality materials.
Despite the visible grandeur when entering the hotel, especially apparent in the height of the structure and the dark ceiling, there’s also a cosiness to the area.
Through clever touches such as lowered and indirect lighting, the rounded concierge and event counters, the artfully arrayed flower display and the use of wooden screens to create a more snug setting in a lovely, dark ebony veneer of our Infinite Wood collection, the entrance has a warm, intimate feel about it.
Moving on to the lobby area, you’re greeted with a homely view of armchairs and sofas around a fireplace. Looking up, the ceiling is adorned with a lovely shade of gold, crisscrossing beams and slanted edges made from a lively bespoke oak wood veneer, full of character – a nod to the original straw rooftop and beams of the former building.
A monumental style is present in the blockish counters, imposing ceiling lights, and straight-backed chairs. But once again, a certain softness cuts through: the counters are rounded, the lights are soft, and the details – such as the leaf-shaped desk lights – are whimsical.
The surrounding bookcases are dressed in a warm, smoked eucalyptus wood veneer elegantly juxtaposed with a light pink onyx, inviting people to grab a book and settle in by the fireplace.
Architect
Behind the lobby lies the bar and restaurant. Stepping into the bar is a bit like stepping back in time: the look and feel of the thirties is fully dialled up through a combination of soft velvets, red undertones, marble, and an extension of the dark ebony from the lobby. Gentle lighting emanating from pink Murano glass sconces makes it a cosy and intimate setting.
The dramatic ambience of the bar is offset by the light, airy feel of La Rigue, the hotel’s in-house restaurant. The lobby’s spectacular ceiling runs through the dining area, a warm glow bathing onto the cocooned tables. The character of the oak on the slanted edges is clearly visible here, with knots and cracks providing texture to the look.
Everything is an experience and that’s exactly the magic of the design. A trip to the toilets will bring you to a hallway, fully dressed in the same warm, dark eucalyptus wood veneer – enhancing that sheltered, cocooning feeling.
The toilets themselves are luxuriously finished with a private lit-up onyx sink for every cubicle. The onyx is a repetitive element throughout the area and creates a wonderfully layered look paired with touches of marble, the warm wood and a black glass ceiling to create a mirror effect.
La Réserve has it all: elegance and grandeur, intimacy and softness.
It honours the past glory days, but looks towards the future – and it does so beautifully.
It’s quiet luxury at its best.
The wood veneer used for the interior of La Réserve was provided by Decospan. This was a custom project with carefully selected wood types for a bespoke look. We provide guidance for specific requests if you want to explore the possibilities for your own project.