Newly opened in Manchester, The Alan Hotel is the place to stay if architecture and design is your jam.
Situated opposite the Manchester Art Gallery, in the heart of the city, it’s just a short walk from Chinatown and the central shopping district. A six-storey building, it offers 137 bedrooms, ground floor cafe and bar, plus a pop-up multipurpose area. Architectural design is by Red Deer.
We want to challenge conventions, says Red Deer lead designer, Ciarán O’Brien: “The hotel industry is saturated with ‘brand guidelines’ – many of which are over the top or antiquated. True luxury to our generation is space and quiet and considered pieces that inspire or make someone smile. We believe the hotel brand book needs to be rewritten to incorporate courage to do things differently, in a world where we’ve all seen everything before.”
Reflecting this philosophy, the building’s cotton warehouse origins are a cause for celebration, its historic brickwork and pitted stonework exposed; the original plasterboard and lowered ceilings have all been removed, something of a signature move on all Red Deer projects.
The ‘living’ functions of the guest rooms have also been accentuated through the use of a long terrazzo shelf, made by Robin Grasby. Mika Kaski has supplied light fittings for the Ground Floor public areas and the swivel and alabaster lights for the bedrooms.
“True luxury to our generation is space and quiet and considered pieces that inspire or make someone smile.”
“Art always inspires me in every project I take on,” says O’Brien. “I seek to make usable art pieces that are interacted with and help people rethink their relationship with the spaces around them.”
As many original materials have been reused as possible. The ground floor terrazzo collage comprises fragmented and discarded marble pieces, crafted in collaboration with Int. Marble.
“I had always been acutely aware of how wasteful the construction industry is,” says O’Brien, “and decided to celebrate the inherent value still found in these marble pieces, despite typically being considered as offcuts or ‘defective’. When viewed individually they seem to be useless fragments, but make sense in the space when they flow together as one. Subtly this refers to how we’re all made up of a collage of our personal stories, some good, some bad but all have a part in who we are.”
To book your stay at The Alan click here, prices start at £94 a night. Photography by Adam Firman.
Amidst rolling hills and verdant fields, the Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire is inviting lovers to experience a Valentine’s celebration unlike any other. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted with cocktails and canapés, and your room or suite will be adorned with a bouquet of roses, setting the stage for the ultimate romantic retreat. Savour the tranquillity…
Raise a glass to adventure and immerse yourself in the intoxicating world of rum, on the paradise island of St. Kitts. Introducing the Kittitian RumMaster program, a unique opportunity to delve into the history and art of rum distillation and mixology, run by the St. Kitts Tourism Authority for rum lovers and curious travellers alike.…
Step back in time and indulge in luxury at Kyoto’s newest hidden gem, The Sowaka Hotel. Nestled in the charming and historic Gion geisha district, this 23-room boutique bolt-hole will transport you to a world of traditional Japanese elegance. Recently renovated and featuring a 12-room annex with modern Japanese design, this insta-friendly hotel offers the…
Newly opened in Manchester, The Alan Hotel is the place to stay if architecture and design is your jam.
Situated opposite the Manchester Art Gallery, in the heart of the city, it’s just a short walk from Chinatown and the central shopping district. A six-storey building, it offers 137 bedrooms, ground floor cafe and bar, plus a pop-up multipurpose area. Architectural design is by Red Deer.
We want to challenge conventions, says Red Deer lead designer, Ciarán O’Brien: “The hotel industry is saturated with ‘brand guidelines’ – many of which are over the top or antiquated. True luxury to our generation is space and quiet and considered pieces that inspire or make someone smile. We believe the hotel brand book needs to be rewritten to incorporate courage to do things differently, in a world where we’ve all seen everything before.”
Reflecting this philosophy, the building’s cotton warehouse origins are a cause for celebration, its historic brickwork and pitted stonework exposed; the original plasterboard and lowered ceilings have all been removed, something of a signature move on all Red Deer projects.
The ‘living’ functions of the guest rooms have also been accentuated through the use of a long terrazzo shelf, made by Robin Grasby. Mika Kaski has supplied light fittings for the Ground Floor public areas and the swivel and alabaster lights for the bedrooms.
“Art always inspires me in every project I take on,” says O’Brien. “I seek to make usable art pieces that are interacted with and help people rethink their relationship with the spaces around them.”
As many original materials have been reused as possible. The ground floor terrazzo collage comprises fragmented and discarded marble pieces, crafted in collaboration with Int. Marble.
“I had always been acutely aware of how wasteful the construction industry is,” says O’Brien, “and decided to celebrate the inherent value still found in these marble pieces, despite typically being considered as offcuts or ‘defective’. When viewed individually they seem to be useless fragments, but make sense in the space when they flow together as one. Subtly this refers to how we’re all made up of a collage of our personal stories, some good, some bad but all have a part in who we are.”
To book your stay at The Alan click here, prices start at £94 a night. Photography by Adam Firman.
The wit to woo: Four Seasons Hampshire offers the ultimate romantic break for Valentine’s Day
Amidst rolling hills and verdant fields, the Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire is inviting lovers to experience a Valentine’s celebration unlike any other. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted with cocktails and canapés, and your room or suite will be adorned with a bouquet of roses, setting the stage for the ultimate romantic retreat. Savour the tranquillity…
How to become a Kittitian RumMaster at the Caribbean’s oldest surviving rum distillery
Raise a glass to adventure and immerse yourself in the intoxicating world of rum, on the paradise island of St. Kitts. Introducing the Kittitian RumMaster program, a unique opportunity to delve into the history and art of rum distillation and mixology, run by the St. Kitts Tourism Authority for rum lovers and curious travellers alike.…
This boutique hotel in Kyoto’s geisha district offers a luxury twist on the traditional ryokan
Step back in time and indulge in luxury at Kyoto’s newest hidden gem, The Sowaka Hotel. Nestled in the charming and historic Gion geisha district, this 23-room boutique bolt-hole will transport you to a world of traditional Japanese elegance. Recently renovated and featuring a 12-room annex with modern Japanese design, this insta-friendly hotel offers the…
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