Upcycling, circular economy and regionality - creative concepts for sustainable hotel interiors (Part 2)
Hotels and holiday accommodations that are fully committed to sustainability see the environmentally conscious and mindful design and furnishing of their properties as a constantly evolving process. Bringing sustainability into every detail requires creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and a lot of know-how. Read on to learn more about what the Green Pearls® partners are doing to stay on the cutting edge of sustainability in the second part of our newsletter on this topic. (Part 1 here):
Environmentally friendly materials for a sustainable sleep
Few things are as important on holiday as a good night's sleep and the right feel-good ambience. The LA VIMEA in Vinschgau in South Tyrol does everything to offer its guests the best possible - and also natural - sleeping experience. All fabrics are made of 100% Fairtrade organic cotton and the extra-long duvet is made of Tencel fibres. The WaterLily mattresses found in all rooms are made from recyclable raw materials along with a blend of special herbal essential oils. Added to this, only water is used to create the foam in the mattresses.
When it comes to sleep, the Hotel Sand on Timmendorfer Beach favours COCO-MAT beds. All rooms are equipped with bed systems from the top Greek brand, which are produced in Greece exclusively from natural and renewable materials - excellent carbon footprint included.
Organic spelt flakes, Swiss stone pine flakes, selected wild herbs and trickling millet husks - what sounds like the ingredients list of an organic bakery are actually the ingredients of the pillows that Berghotel Rehlegg has in store for their guests. The 'pillow menu' includes eleven different types of pillows with natural and organic ingredients that have a relaxing effect just by reading the names such as the Kopf Frei (Head Free) Pillow, Alpine Stone Pine Pillow or Mountain Hay Pillow.
Guests will find an oasis of peace and a restful sleep at Hôtel Le Pavillon in Paris. Here, osteopathic, antistatic and electrically neutral mattresses ensure optimal sleeping comfort. Guests with particularly sensitive sleep have the option of staying in one of the three specially shielded rooms for electro-sensitivity with protection against low and high frequency radiation. All room windows are protected from high-frequency radiation and Weber bio-technology ensures electro-smog is harmonised.
Natural fabrics and regional craftsmanship turn hotel rooms into cosy “homes away from home”
The ideas and possibilities for designing and furnishing hotel rooms according to sustainable criteria are incredibly diverse and often regionally influenced. At the Hotel Sand, maritime, natural materials such as beach grass, driftwood, shells and sand are basic ingredients in the creative decoration and furnishing of the rooms and common areas. In the Berghotel Rehlegg, natural materials such as sheep's wool, loden fabrics and linen in particular provide plenty of cosiness and a special charm in the rooms in addition to the real timber floors.
The rooms at Schloss Wartegg on Lake Constance also radiate warmth and comfort. Furnished with wooden elements made of elm, maple and redwood from the castle's own English park and pared down to only what is needed to find peace and quiet. All products, from pencils to toilet paper, are Ecolabelled and, wherever possible, natural materials such as linen, wool and cotton are also used for textiles.
The Green City Hotel Vauban attaches great importance to regional references: from the solid timber furniture to the individually designed reception, everything comes from the region and was predominantly implemented by local businesses, creating added value for everyone involved. In addition to regionality, the Freiburg hotel attaches great importance to consistently sustainable and straightforward design. This is not only evident in the clear lines of the architecture, but also in the low energy consumption figures. All rooms have a deliberately minimalist design.
Institution with social commitment
The epitome of sustainable hotel furnishings is the combination of design, sustainable materials and comfort with social commitment. Hotel Keemala on Phuket is committed to a project that is royal in the truest sense of the word: The fabrics and textiles used here are made by ethnic minorities in Thailand as part of the Doi Tung Development Project, which is under the patronage of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The project has successfully developed sustainable alternative livelihoods for these communities to combat illegal crop cultivation.
The Kasbah du Toubkal also focuses on social commitment in its choice of furniture and fabrics. Almost all the furniture is made by craftsmen and service providers from the local villages of Imlil and Asni. Special attention is paid to the use of traditional building techniques and local materials in order to preserve the centuries-old knowledge of Berber craftsmanship and to create added value in the immediate vicinity. The Kasbah is a unique project and the result of an imaginative collaboration between Berbers and Europe.
