Heya Hotel Guestroom

When we began the Heya project, we deliberately avoided designing around technology for technology's sake. Instead, we started by listening. Working alongside hospitality students from Glion Institute of Higher Education and Hotelschool The Hague, we gained valuable insight into how Generation Z viewed travel, work and everyday life. What became clear was that they were not looking for larger hotel rooms. They were looking for rooms that could adapt to the way they wanted to live.The brief also presented us with an important constraint. The room could be no larger than 30m², so every square metre had to work harder. Rather than viewing this as a limitation, we saw it as an opportunity to rethink the traditional hotel room.The ceiling-mounted bed emerged directly from that thinking. In a conventional hotel room, the bed dominates the space for twenty-four hours a day, despite being used primarily at night. By lifting it into the ceiling when not required, the room could transform into a lounge, workspace, wellness studio or social setting, all without increasing its footprint. It fundamentally changed the way the space could be experienced.Looking back, I believe the bed was less about creating a memorable piece of technology and more about challenging a long-established assumption of hotel design. Space is one of the most valuable commodities in hospitality, particularly in urban environments, and we wanted every square metre to create value for both the guest and the operator.Many of the themes we explored through Heya, including flexibility, personalisation and multi-functional living, have become increasingly relevant in the years since. The ceiling-mounted bed was not simply a feature. It was the enabler that allowed one compact room to perform as several different spaces throughout the day.

One of the most interesting findings from our research was that the students were not asking for more luxury in the traditional sense. They valued spaces that felt calm, healthy and authentic. Natural light, quality sleep, comfort, wellbeing and a connection to nature featured far more prominently than extravagant finishes or excessive decoration. That became a fundamental principle of Heya and informed many of our design decisions.We deliberately selected natural materials and a restrained colour palette to create a room that felt warm, timeless and restorative. Biophilic design was equally important. Maximising daylight, introducing natural textures and creating a stronger relationship between the guest and their surroundings all contributed to an environment that supported wellbeing rather than simply accommodating it.This was very much a collaborative process. We worked closely with Suited Interiors, whose expertise helped shape the material palette and specify finishes that complemented the architectural concept while creating a cohesive guest experience.For me, sustainability has always been about making thoughtful decisions rather than following trends. Designing spaces that are adaptable, built from quality materials and capable of standing the test of time is one of the most responsible approaches we can take. If a room continues to delight guests for many years, it is far more likely to endure, both commercially and environmentally.

One of the biggest misconceptions at the start of the project was that we were designing for four completely different types of guests. In reality, once we began working with the hospitality students, we discovered there was far more common ground than difference. Whether travelling for leisure, business, wellness or an extended stay, they all valued comfort, flexibility, natural light, wellbeing and spaces that could adapt to different activities throughout the day.Rather than designing four different rooms, we focused on creating one room that could respond to changing needs. That philosophy influenced almost every aspect of the design. The ceiling-mounted bed freed up valuable floor space, movable furniture allowed the room to be reconfigured with ease, and thoughtful planning meant the same space could comfortably support working, relaxing, exercising or socialising.The physical space was only part of the solution. Each guest profile was also supported by a tailored selection of products, amenities and accessories that reflected the purpose of their stay. Whether that meant wellness equipment, business-focused technology or long-stay conveniences, the room could be personalised to create a more relevant guest experience. We believed this level of customisation represented a new definition of luxury.The challenge was delivering all of this within a compact 8 x 4 metre footprint. Every square metre had to justify its existence, so flexibility became one of our most valuable design tools. Rather than increasing the size of the room, we increased the number of ways it could be used.