Designing a commercial interior for a luxury hotel by Studia 54

When the Studia 54 team received the terms of reference for the lobby concept of the new Four Seasons hotel in Vietnam, an interesting point turned out to be among the requirements: the world of high fashion should be an inspiration. Not an architectural reference, not the historical or natural context of Vietnam, but fashion.

It was from that moment on that this project turned into something more for our team. Four Seasons on the first coastline of Vietnam. A hotel that will definitely become an event even before it opens, so it was a special pride for us to take on such a project. A lobby of this level is an impression of a luxurious stay that a guest will take with them forever. And it's also the first 5 seconds by which he decides if the hotel was worth its price.

The history of this interior began with Juno's dress…

Haute Couture interior: inspiration from the archives

We have deliberately abandoned the usual scenario, in which the reception desk occupies a central place. Instead, the lobby was conceived as a sequence of artistic impressions — a space that the guest does not cross, but lives emotionally. Like the red carpet of the Met Gala: being here is already part of the event.

This approach requires a single artistic design, to which everything is subordinated: furniture, light, art objects, materials, decorative details. Just as a couture collection is built around a single catchy idea, here no single object exists on its own. Everyone supports the overall composition and works for a solid impression.

We needed this idea. And we found it in the archives of Dior.

The peacock's tail

The main inspiration for the project was the legendary Juno dress, created by Christian Dior for the fall-winter 1949 collection. One of the most famous images in the history of high fashion got its name in honor of the ancient Roman goddess Juno. The peacock is considered her sacred animal. The silhouette of the dress consisted of hundreds of hand-made petals, which created the feeling of a luxurious tail. The dress made a splash.

For the Studia 54 team, the value of this image lay not in its literal similarity to the future interior, but in the artistic principle. Individual elements combined by a common rhythm create a single composition that is perceived as an integral object. It was this approach that was rethought in the interior.

This is how the central art installation appeared, located above the reception desk. It has become the compositional dominant of the lobby and the starting point of the entire perception scenario. Its position was determined at the stage of project development: the geometry of the ceilings, the main routes of movement and key viewpoints were formed around it.

This technique allows you to build a consistent perception in which each next detail is revealed at the right moment, while maintaining a sense of novelty even upon repeated visits.

Collection of art objects

After the central installation, the interior continues to reveal itself through a series of original art objects. Each element supports a common story and becomes a reference point on the guest's itinerary, the next chapter in the history of this interior.

One of these facilities was a water installation. Streams of water flow through the composition of glass threads and brass leaves, creating a feeling of continuous movement. During the day, it interacts with natural light, and in the evening it completely changes its character thanks to the built-in backlight. Constantly changing reflections enliven the surrounding surfaces, so the composition never looks the same.

The appearance of water in the interior is no coincidence. For a resort located on the first coastline, the sea becomes the main natural image. We wanted his presence to be felt not only behind the panoramic windows, but also inside. Therefore, water enters the interior as an artistic material, maintaining the connection of space with the surrounding landscape.

Decorative brass partitions continue this idea. The light passing through the openwork structure creates a complex play of shadows, so that the interior changes during the day along with natural lighting.

Functional areas for hotel guests

There is always a practical task behind an artistic image. The lobby combines several usage scenarios: meeting here, relaxing after a trip, working, waiting for a transfer or holding business meetings. All these scenarios had to exist simultaneously, without interfering with each other or destroying the overall atmosphere.

We have abandoned the literal zoning of walls. Instead, furniture groups, decorative partitions, ceiling height changes, and light accents are used. This technique allows you to naturally separate functions, while maintaining the feeling of a single interior.

Special attention was paid to viewpoints. No matter where the guest is, in the waiting area, lounge or near the reception, the view can always go to the seascape. Thanks to this, nature becomes part of the overall experience and accompanies you throughout the entire route.

Premium furniture

The furniture in a hotel of this level experiences high loads on a daily basis, while maintaining an impeccable appearance. It should be comfortable for a wide variety of use cases, correspond to the general concept and remain relevant years later. That is why FiftyFourms furniture became the basis of the project.

Using our own collection allowed us to design furniture at the same time as the interior. The proportions of sofas, armchairs and tables were designed taking into account the scale of the lobby, the location of art objects and the scenarios of the guests' movement.

This approach allows you to maintain the accuracy of the author's design and guarantee the quality of execution, which is especially important for projects of the international hotel level.

A palette inspired by the coast

Accents are based on a combination of natural textures and warm shades that support the atmosphere of the Vietnamese coast. Dark wood gives depth to the interior, light travertine fills it with soft light, and creamy surfaces become the backdrop for artistic objects.

Textiles play a special role. Natural linen, wool and fabrics with complex textures make the interior visually softer and add tactile depth to it. During the day, sunlight reveals the textures of materials in different ways, so that the interior is constantly changing, while maintaining the feeling of a living space.

The art of first impressions in the interior

The final accent of the route is a complex spiral staircase with a suspended light installation. Combined with natural wood and brass, it forms a solemn transition to the private areas of the hotel.