This luxurious, Lamu-style hideaway in Msambweni, Kenya the ‘land of the sable antilope’, was opened in 2007 by the brothers Frederik and Filip Van der Hoeven. Arabian lamps and golden silk cushions accent the predominantly white suites and villas and outside one can enjoy unrestricted views of the ocean from the pools and the private beach. The beach house and country is definitely one of the must-see destinations next year!!!

TASCHEN’s Favourite Hotels

The Amangiri Hotel (‘peaceful mountain’), which opened in 2009, nestles within the dramatic desertscape of southern Utah, surrounded by canyons and plateaus. The architect Marwan Al-Sayed, Wendell Burnette and Rick Joy have created buildings of concrete, stone and steel with room-height windows that merge with the natural landscape. The interiors have soft accents in wood and cream-coloured fabrics. The Amangiri Hotel is one of my absolute favourites and is definitely on the must visit list!!!

TASCHEN’s Favourite Hotels

Ksar Char-Bagh is a luxurious and peaceful Mororrcan oasis that sits right outside of Marrakech’s mystical and bustling Old City. Nicole and Patrick Levillair were inspired by Moorish, Ottoman and Persian architecture when they built and decorated this Relais & Châteaux hotel in 2003. The soft sounds of water (a symbol of life) are heard everywhere and guests can relax under palms, in the hamam or in the ‘Harim’ (Persian for: ‘little place apartment’) suites that truly do their name justice…stunning!!!

TASCHEN’s Favourite Hotels

With his 1952 ‘Cité radieuse’ (radiant city), Le Corbusier realized his version of a ‘vertical city within a city’. The huge, brutalist concrete building is still very much in use and the Hotel Le Corbusier occupies several floors of it. The rooms retain the original proportions and colour palette of the architect and are furnished with classic modernist furniture such as his legendary chaise longue.

Source: TASCHEN’s Favourite Hotels

Last Monday, my good friend Yoga Priyautama from Overdose.am did a interview with Designer Drugs in this beautiful hotel over here in Amsterdam. I felt so intrigued when we stepped into the hotel, of its modern decor and of its characteristic atmosphere. Wow….. I just couldn’t stop staring at the spacious hotel lounge with the funky modern fireplace, and maybe I only liked it so much because It’s freaking cold outside these last couple of days. As you might guess, we had to wait in the hotel reception for at least an hour so we decided to have a couple of drinks while we waited. The waitress convinced us to try one of their fresh and tasty organic herbal tea blends, and it tasted good too when it cooled off. As most of you already know, I’m a big fan of modern architecture for a few years now, and though I don’t know too much about it, and don’t have the money, I still try to pick up some architecture magazines once in a while. After this impressing modern, high standard hotel I think it’s time to head back to the bookstore to recoup some of my favourite architecture magazines.

Park Hotel

T +31 (0)20 671 1222
F +31 (0)20 664 9455
E info@parkhotel.nl
W www.parkhotel.nl