The toughest task that the Radical Innovation jury has to
tackle each year is the narrowing down of the outstanding pool of concepts and
selection of finalists. What stands out as refreshingly different? What can be
implemented right away? What will stir conversations when presented at HD Expo
in May?
We received almost 100 entries this year, a significant
increase from the 75 entries in 2013. And while we witnessed submissions
spanning over 21 countries last year, we celebrated 28 different countries this
year.
Of the trends discussed amongst the jury members present (John Hardy, CEO and founder of The John Hardy
Group; Claude Amar, president of The John Hardy Group International; Michael
Medzigian, chairman/managing partner of Watermark Capital Partners; Jena
Thornton, managing director of Eagle Rock Ventures; Simon Turner, president of
global development at Starwood Hotels; James Woods, president and COO of The
Bowls), the ones that reigned the conversations were co-working spaces, the
utilization of spaces not conventionally used for hospitality and enabling new
hotel concepts to solve environmental problems.
Saving
the earth, one hotel at a time
Maya Boutique Hotel: Built entirely using straw bales, this
efficient insulating material doesn’t require conventional heating or
air-conditioning in the hotel.
Green Air Hotel: This hotel has indoor green lungs to create
replenish the air and solve the hazardous air pollution crisis in China
Space-strapped
urban centers
Banding the Skyline: To overcome the competition for high-rise
building space, this top-floor-extension-hotel aims to solve the problem via
vertical building.
Urbanauts: A street loft that takes over empty ground floor shops in
urban centers, offering a locally refreshing experience for the urban traveller.
S_LOT: Short for “small lots”, this vertical-parking modular
system allows each guest to easily modify their experience using
interchangeable amenities.
Hestia: Modular pod-units on riverways where each guest can experience can tailor his or her own experience.
Sky Lofts on the Boardwalk: Upcycling abandoned monorail structures into
elevated boardwalks with cafes and short-term accommodation.
The Container Hotel: An apart’hotel modular system allows guests
to personalize their preferences (e.g. favorite scents, food allergies or taxi
service) through a smartphone application.
Work-play
lifestyle
1.5 Place: Bridging the gap between work and play in hospitality, this
co-working hotel space integrates the needs of the modern-day working
professional/traveler.
Future
of 3D printing
Hotel 2020: A hotel that’s furnished with 3D-printed interiors to
increase the emotional impact of design.
Stay
tuned to find out which project the judges picked as the professional finalists
and student winner. Results will be revealed next week!
