September 2008 • Features
Interiors
By Paul Makovsky
LEXUS HYBRID SUITE
San Francisco
This year the Fairmont Hotel & Resorts chain, in partnership with Lexus, created the Lexus Hybrid Living Suites, which are aimed at travelers who want to sleep, eat, and drink sustainably. This tenth-floor corner suite, by the Los Angeles–based designer Kelly LaPlante, is outfitted in neutral tans and sky blues that were inspired by its views of the San Francisco Bay and custom-matched using Benjamin Moore’s low-VOC, self-priming paint. The furniture was sourced from companies that use ecologically sound principles (such as Kenneth Cobonpue); custom-made using FSC-certified woods and nontoxic glues; or found through local antique dealers. The centerpiece is a round coffee table by LaPlante, assembled from the recycled leather of old Lexus prototypes. Everything, from the organic sheets and comforters to the formaldehyde-free bamboo flooring, reflects an eco-sensitive approach that doesn’t sacrifice style. LaPlante even reused the original fixtures and furnishings, including chairs, bathroom fixtures, lamps, and the headboard, rather than discarding them, which is the norm for hospitality makeovers. Guests are treated to towels and bathrobes made from bamboo and organic cotton, and the minibars are stocked with local organic wines, artisanal cheeses, and other treats. To top off the experience, they have the use of a Lexus LS 600h L, the carmaker’s new V8 hybrid, and a guide loaded onto the suite’s iPod offers a tour of the city’s best sustainable offerings.
Siting: ADRÉRE AMELLAL, Siwa, Egypt
Energy: PROXIMITY HOTEL, Greensboro, North Carolina
Interiors: LEXUS HYBRID SUITE, San Francisco
Community: MORGAN’S ROCK, San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
Cleaning: ORCHARD HOTEL, San Francisco
Carbon Footprint: SCANDIC HOTEL, Stockholm, Sweden
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