Weaving History And Local Culture

From Milan’s bustling streets to the serene canals of Kurashiki, these six Design Hotels transform their surroundings into living stories. Each one captures the spirit of its city, weaving history and local culture into every corner – from sun-drenched Miami terraces to Tbilisi’s industrial-chic interiors. These hotels immerse you in the energy, artistry, and character of their neighbourhoods, making every moment an encounter with the city itself.

 

Mixing It In Milan

 

STRAF’s design is deeply tied to Milan’s cultural DNA, channelling the city’s dual identity as both an industrial powerhouse and a global capital of fashion and art. Vincenzo de Cotiis’s use of raw, ‘imperfect’ materials echoes Milan’s post-war architectural grit, while his sculptural interventions nod to the city’s avant-garde movements – especially Arte Povera, which championed everyday materials as artistic expression.

 

 

The hotel’s atmosphere feels like an extension of the nearby Duomo district: refined yet subversive, historical yet relentlessly modern. Its handcrafted fixtures recall Milan’s tradition of artisanal excellence, while the stripped-back aesthetic mirrors the minimalist rigour seen in local design icons like Castiglioni and Albini. At its core, STRAF acts as a microcosm of Milan itself – bold, artistic, experimental, and shaped by a continual dialogue between heritage and innovation.

 

For more information and reservations, call +39 (0) 0280 – 5081 or email: info@straf.it.

 

London’s Throwback District

 

Sir Devonshire Square is a masterful fusion of heritage and modernity, located in London’s historic Spitalfields district – a vibrant area known for its textile history, artisan workshops, and creative energy. Housed in a restored 17th‑century brick warehouse that once stored raw silk, the hotel’s design by Samuel Wright of Maison 191 pays homage to this legacy: exposed brick, industrial steel, and custom textiles echo the neighbourhood’s past, while Bauhaus-inspired geometry and mid-century details bring a contemporary, sophisticated edge.

 

 

Public spaces, including the lobby bar and courtyard lounge, are designed as communal hubs, reflecting East London’s culture of social exchange and collaboration. Guest rooms carry this narrative further through hand‑woven fabrics, warm earthy tones, and natural materials, creating a tactile connection to the district’s artisan heritage.

 

For more information and reservations, call +44 (0) 203 – 519 – 0103 or email: hello@sirdevonshiresquare.com.

 

Miami’s Best Beach Vibe

 

Nestled on Collins Avenue in the heart of Miami Beach’s Art Deco and MiMo corridor, The Shelborne By Proper sits amid a vibrant neighbourhood celebrated for its historic architecture, beachfront energy, and creative flair. Originally built in 1940 and later expanded in the 1950s, the hotel preserves its storied past, including the landmark façade and iconic pool diving board, while ADC Atelier’s interiors introduce a tropical‑modern aesthetic with honed marble, travertine, rich woods, and a soft coastal colour palette of moss greens, terracotta, and powder blues.

 

 

Locally inspired craftsmanship infuses the 251 guest rooms and social spaces with hand‑woven textiles, bespoke furniture, and Latin American art, creating a curated, tactile connection to the city’s cultural and artistic heritage. Public areas, restaurants, and the pool deck serve as communal hubs, reflecting Miami Beach’s lively social culture and sun‑washed glamour.

 

For more information and reservations, call +1 – 305 – 341 – 1400 or email: info@shelborne.com.

 

Soviet Style Stays

 

Rooms Tbilisi is a striking exercise in architectural resurrection and design authenticity, housed in a former Soviet-era publishing house in the Vera district and sensitively reimagined by Adjara Group’s Collective Development. Its façade blends salvaged wood with industrial window frames, while glass atrium-style walls flood the interior with natural light. The design fuses a 1930s New York sensibility with Georgian character, featuring dark wood floors, handmade wallpapers, leather furnishings, and claw-foot bathtubs.

 

 

Communal areas like The Kitchen and the bar emphasise openness and connection, with long tables and lounge spaces encouraging social interaction. Rooms on the top floor offer private terraces with skyline views, creating a calm retreat. Altogether, Rooms Hotel Tbilisi feels like a vibrant cultural hub – a place where past and present, local tradition and global inspiration, live in thoughtful harmony.

 

For more information and reservations, call +995 (0) 322 – 020 – 099 or email: contact@adjaragroup.com.

 

Take A Step Back In Japan

 

A quietly poetic retreat, Yoruya blends tradition and modern craft amid Kurashiki’s historic canals, willow trees, and white‑plastered storehouses. Housed in a 110‑year‑old Meiji-era kimono merchant’s residence, the design preserves timber beams, tatami floors, and shoji doors, while new wings echo red‑brick Meiji and Edo-style façades.

 

 

Central to the hotel is the concept of ‘Kanoza’ – a hearth-inspired gathering space – expressed through softly lit alleyways, textured clay walls, and intimate courtyards. The 13 rooms, from traditional suites to modern maisonettes, feature earth tones, handcrafted igusa (dried grass) accents, hand-blown glass, and local ceramics, celebrating Kurashiki’s craft heritage. Communal areas, including a cypress-counter restaurant and an intimate bar, connect guests to the region’s culture.

 

For more information and reservations, call +81 (0) 866 – 975 – 456 or email info@yoruya-kurashiki.com.

 

Mexico’s Finest Colonial Villa

 

Perched in Mérida’s historic downtown, Hotel Sevilla is a refined reinvention of a 19th‑century colonial villa, where Zeller &  Moye’s and Salomón Sacal’s architecture preserves weathered stone walls, arches, and heavy timber while punctuating them with sculptural concrete additions. Light filters in through generous skylights and enlarged windows, illuminating lush interior patios that frame shaded terraces, a serene pool, and verdant courtyards.

 

 

The interiors lean into a calm, minimalist palette – whites, greys, and blacks – letting local craftsmanship shine: hand‑woven henequén lampshades, brass detailing, and wood joinery evoke the region’s artisanal heritage. Rooms, intimate in number but generous in height, combine soaring ceilings with crisp, contemporary furnishings, merging past and present in a quietly sophisticated dialogue. Throughout the hotel, sculptural design elements such as a sweeping spiral staircase serve as both functional features and visual anchors, tying together public and private spaces.

 

For more information and reservations, call +52 (0) 999 – 964 – 7025 or email: contact@hotelsevilla-merida.com.

 

 

Source: Design Hotels.