Pennod 1 04 Wal

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-In this series...

-..we'll focus on the design of some

-of the world's most notable hotels.

-We can also see

-how 21st century hotels vary...

-..in terms of design

-and architecture.

-This is your chance

-to escape and to dream...

-..without leaving your sofa.

-Welcome to 04Wal Gwestai'r Byd.

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-Designer Leah Hughes accompanies me

-on a journey which takes us...

-..from South Africa to Dubai.

-In this episode,

-we see a riad in Morocco.

-We get some Zen

-at Hotel Omm in Barcelona.

-We also visit a colourful

-old favourite at Portmeirion.

-Dar Darma Hotel is a riad

-in the Medina in central Marrakech.

-A riad is a house

-which surrounds a courtyard...

-..or a central garden.

-It has a practical purpose.

-It keeps the building cool when the

-sun beats down during the summer.

-The contrast between the dust, the

-hurly-burly and chaos outside...

-..and the form, tranquility and

-coolness in here, is very striking.

-We step out of the light

-into the darkness...

-..and into the heart

-of the building.

-This is the reception.

-The building's style

-is clear to see.

-It's black and white.

-It's classical.

-The walls are painted

-in a grey limewash.

-If we step through this wall,

-we make a marvellous discovery.

-This cave-like tunnel is

-illuminated by a row of lanterns.

-The lanterns

-throw pretty shadows on the walls...

-..reminding us where we are.

-The building opens out again

-at the foot of these steps.

-The dining area is beautifully lit

-with a row of geometric lights.

-Having wandered the halls

-and narrow corridors...

-..we've now reached the lounge

-and the dining area.

-The riad was built

-in the 17th century...

-..as a home for a family of traders.

-It's located within the Medina -

-the city.

-Will this design appeal to everyone?

-Stepping off the street and into

-the hotel is a dramatic experience.

-It's dark in here,

-despite the high ceiling.

-The white walls create a

-striking contrast against the black.

-Yes, remarkably striking.

-The oversized furniture

-is also part of the design.

-Yes, and the walls and fireplace

-are framed.

-It's fantastic and there are echoes

-of Versace in the black and white.

-It was designed by an Italian

-called Massimo Tocchetti...

-..so it may be part of his style.

-It's a design

-which relies on fashion.

-Will it stand the test of time?

-Something

-is either in or out of fashion.

-This is certainly glamorous.

-The decor may go out of fashion

-but the building is timeless.

-This is the sumptuous Red Apartment.

-There's an European feel

-to the rooms.

-This is French,

-19th century furniture.

-The lovely touches are those things

-which belong to Morocco.

-These carved plaster panels

-are amazing.

-The Arabic script contains passages

-from the Koran and poetry.

-Above it, there's a magnificent

-painted cedar ceiling.

-It isn't structural.

-It's purely decorative.

-This room probably belonged to

-an important family member.

-The bedroom

-lies through these lovely doors.

-The bed itself

-lies beneath an outdoor recess...

-..where musicians

-would shelter from the sun.

-They moved it here,

-creating a half-tester...

-..or a canopy covering half the bed.

-It fits perfectly.

-There's a second bedroom

-in the Red Apartment.

-We're stepping inside

-off the balcony...

-..and into the Blue Apartment,

-through one of the bedrooms.

-This is a strange room because

-it's the filling in the sandwich.

-There's one bedroom there

-and another here...

-..making this feel like a lobby.

-Yes. Several doors

-lead off this narrow room.

-The high ceiling lets in

-plenty of light in this area...

-..but this apartment is dark

-and dramatic.

-This is a masculine design.

-Everything in this room was designed

-especially to be housed here.

-Yes, and it makes a statement.

-There's a pattern here.

-You see big frames sitting

-on cabinets and on the fireplace...

-..but these Moroccan details

-remind you where you are.

-A strong personality

-comes through the walls.

-The pattern looks as if

-it was scrubbed into the walls.

-It looks like

-the work of an angry man!

-The light varies a great deal

-in here, and that effects the walls.

-There's a bit more colour

-in the bedroom.

-It's the same colour as the rug.

-I love that kennel-like fireplace!

-I feel as though

-a dog will pop out any second!

-The terrace at the top is our

-final discovery in Dar Darma hotel.

-That element of discovery

-is important.

-Finding hidden nooks

-gives us all pleasure.

-The design

-relies heavily on the structure.

-The designer

-capitalizes on that mystery...

-..and on the shadows

-and the darkness here.

-We're in the heart of Barcelona,

-opposite Hotel Omm.

-We're a stone's throw

-from some of the masterpieces...

-..of Spain's most important

-architect, Antonio Gaudi.

-He's famous for his organic,

-revolutionary designs.

-Hotel Omm is revolutionary, too.

-From one angle, it seems windowless.

-From another angle, it looks like

-a half-opened Advent calendar.

-Its modern design sits comfortably

-next to much older buildings.

-It doesn't scream.

-It's more of an omm!

-Juli Capella was this

-remarkable building's architect.

-Sandra Tarruella and Isabel Lopez...

-..designed

-the sleek, minimal interior.

-You feel that omm immediately...

-..because nothing blocks your path

-into this long room.

-The lobby is to one side...

-..and the room is completely open.

-There's natural light

-at the front...

-..and there are comfortable seats

-in the lobby.

-The lower ceiling height

-makes this area feel cosier.

-Lighting is important

-in this part of the building.

-Look across the bar

-and the room opens up.

-Natural light streams through

-the square, geometric lanterns.

-The silver plates on the back wall

-shimmer in the light.

-I feel the urge to inspect them,

-but in an omm way, of course!

-The name Omm suggests this is

-a safe haven where we can meditate.

-Yes, the designer has created

-a place where people can relax.

-That's some achievement

-in such a massive, open space.

-Yes, and, in theory,

-it shouldn't work!

-The idea here

-was to keep furniture levels low...

-..so we can see the city

-and it invites the city in.

-This is a busy area.

-It contrasts with

-our idea of meditation...

-..but it works.

-There are some lovely touches here.

-The shiny, wooden wall behind us...

-..softens the light.

-Yes, and the opposite wall

-is different again.

-It's concrete or stone.

-They've cleverly given us

-a variety of surfaces.

-There is unity in the design since

-the owner's daughter designed it.

-Clearly, they worked together well

-to create such an effective design.

-This is the Moo Restaurant.

-That's Omm backwards!

-We can now see what those

-shiny plates in the far wall are.

-They've taken some dead space

-and turned it into a feature.

-A small garden has been created...

-..using some bamboo plants.

-These steel plates reflect the light

-from the garden above here.

-The contrast between the vertical

-and the round shapes is great.

-These look like pebbles on a beach.

-Yes, or a giant fish tank.

-Yes - I expect someone to swim past!

-At first glance, it feels like it's

-too dim here to find your room...

-..but there is

-sufficient light here.

-It's just not as brightly lit

-as you might expect.

-The two illuminated lines

-guide you along the corridor.

-The room numbers are also lit,

-so you won't get lost.

-This certainly

-challenges the senses.

-If you do bump into a wall...

-..you'll find that

-it's covered in a rubber material.

-This is

-an extremely playful experience.

-It's wonderful.

-This is my room - 409.

-It couldn't be

-a more stark contrast!

-You go from black to white.

-It's startling.

-Very little touches the floor,

-which makes it a light design.

-The bathroom is through here.

-It's on this side

-of this false wall.

-This is a wardrobe.

-There's

-plenty of storage space there.

-The main thing you want

-in a bathroom is a bath!

-This is a lovely example.

-The external wall peels back

-to accommodate windows...

-..and balconies, like this one.

-You can walk out of your room

-and watch the world go by...

-..right here,

-in the heart of Barcelona.

-As in all cities, the scarcity

-of land to create gardens...

-..means people make use of roofs.

-There's a decked area

-and a pool here.

-You also see Gaudi's work from here.

-Yes, Pedrera and Sagrada Familia.

-The pool and everything else here

-is an extension of the lobby.

-Yes, they followed

-the same Zen concept...

-..from the lobby

-to the roof terrace.

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-Sir Clough Williams-Ellis built

-Portmeirion between 1925 and 1973.

-It's a blend

-of architectural styles.

-Sir Clough was inspired by

-the landscape of Aber Ia...

-..the original name for Portmeirion.

-The landscape

-reminded him of Italy and France.

-The experience of getting here...

-..is almost as important

-as the hotel itself!

-I must admit

-I hadn't been here before.

-This magical village

-has been planted in the landscape.

-You must come down a steep hill

-to reach the hotel.

-This building doesn't look like

-something from a story book!

-No, unlike the buildings

-in the village itself.

-It isn't as fanciful.

-The signature Portmeirion

-turquoise colour can be seen here...

-..on the edges of the building.

-We came in through the main entrance

-and there's no reception area here.

-This huge fireplace is so big,

-we're sitting in it!

-Yes, it feels very masculine

-and almost excessively large.

-These fantastic chairs

-have an ethnic covering.

-It's in stark contrast to

-the feminine and light Mirror Room.

-Walk through the lobby,

-into the main building...

-..and you pass

-the very aptly named Mirror Room!

-The turquoise and the bronze trim

-create a light, Georgian feel.

-The furniture is wonderful.

-It's a salon, not a parlour.

-The atmosphere shifts

-in the library next door.

-There's plenty of dark wood here...

-..and the view is tucked away

-at the far end.

-This the Peacock Suite but you don't

-have to be a peacock to stay here!

-I clash with the carpet!

-Turquoise is the main colour

-of this room.

-But it's a different shade of the

-one we associate with Portmeirion.

-This is mainly Victorian furniture.

-There's a touch of India here.

-The three windows

-offer you almost a panorama...

-..from Ynys Gifftan down to the sea

-at the far end.

-The artwork

-contains a nautical theme...

-..and even a volcano!

-That may refer to the fireworks

-which will happen in this bed!

-Here we see the colours

-which appear in the peacock's tail.

-The turquoise and purple

-nestle beneath this lovely canopy.

-It looks like a peacock's tail.

-Back in the village,

-many of the rooms...

-..display the otherworldly design

-so characteristic of Portmeirion.

-Some of the rooms,

-including the Dining Room...

-..and Trinity House,

-our next stop...

-..have been redesigned

-by Sir Terence Conran.

-I didn't expect it

-to look like this.

-It's simple

-and the decor is very contemporary.

-It doesn't have

-too much character...

-..but it doesn't clash with the

-colours and shapes of the village.

-Is it easier to experiment more here

-than in the hotel?

-Each of the village houses

-has a different style.

-This is a very contemporary

-and very compact house.

-There are tea-making facilities

-behind those doors.

-There's a double room, a single room

-and a bathroom in this house.

-It's small but it's cute.

-I like the clean lines

-this design has to offer.

-We look outside and we see the

-organic village of Portmeirion...

-..but this feels like

-a 21st century modern loft.

-Yes, it's an island of modernity!

-I don't have a problem with that.

-I like the pictures

-of the original village.

-It's comfortable.

-The Dining Room

-is at the front of the hotel.

-These handrails

-set the tone from the offset.

-It's a modern take

-on 1930s Art Deco style.

-These wonderful windows, looking out

-at the magnificent view...

-..were probably added in the 1930s.

-To underline

-that luxury cruise-ship feeling...

-..we have these illuminated

-wood pillars.

-Less is more, isn't it?

-This unreal reality enriches your

-experience of staying at the hotel.

-Few other hotels can match that.

-The experience

-of being in this village...

-..makes this hotel extraordinary.

-What he did was to intertwine

-different architectural features...

-..to create a remarkable patchwork.

-Yes.

-It's unique.

-S4C subtitles by Eirlys A Jones