Whether you follow pop culture or not, you probably know about this year’s Met Gala and its tribute to the legendary fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld. And while we love the tributes that poured in on the red carpet, the biggest homage yet came in the from a lavish 5-star hotel designed by Karl Lagerfeld himself.
Karl Lagerfeld’s final masterpiece, The Karl Lagerfeld Hotel is part of the enormous luxury hotel complex — the Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau. The hotel is the only one in the world to be designed entirely by a fashion designer. Lagerfeld worked on the design of the hotel back in February 2019, working closely with SJIM Resorts S.A. who developed the Grand Lisboa Palace Resort in Cotai. The grand opening of the hotel is scheduled for June, although it did have a soft opening phase in 2021.
Dripping Oppulence
As one would expect from any Karl Lagerfeld design, The Karl Lagerfeld Hotelis dressed in classic opulence. The 271-key property exudes luxury in every detail, be it the over-the-top interiors, large-scale installations, or even the plush bedding.
Pairing a bold colour palette with chinoiserie elements, the interiors combine classic Chinese design with contemporary Western touches. These are beautifully presented through elements like the custom headboards which are inspired by auspicious Chinese coins that represent good fortune. Another example would be the circular room dividers which resemble the traditional Chinese moon gates. Lagerfeld’s passion for collaborations was known to all Reflecting this very passion, the interiors of the hotel include elements like sculptures by Dutch artist Marcel Wanders and French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel, chandeliers by Terzani, and so on.
The rooms and suites are fairly large given the luxury status of the hotel. The largest accommodation in the hotel is the Autograph Suite spread across 350 square metres. The space is divided into two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a study, a living room, a massage room, a dining room, and a media room with karaoke! The standard-size rooms are spread across 350 square metres.
Guests without a massage room in their accommodations can indulge in a royal treatment at the hotel’s lavish spa which combines holistic traditions with state-of-the-art, science-based treatments or enjoy a splash in the temperature-controlled indoor and outdoor pools. Like the rest of the hotel, the interiors of the spa maintain the Chinoiserie design with dark and gold elements.
Fine Dining
Beyond accommodation and wellness, the hotel’s lobby is a book lover’s dream. The Book Lounge as it is called, is a section in the lobby featuring over 4,000 books inspired by the designer’s own home library in Paris. The lounge doubles as a sophisticated dining space where guests can enjoy delicious tea sandwiches, artistic French cakes and pastries and the signature KL éclair collection while sipping on unique, fashion-inspired afternoon teas.
The hotel’s contemporary Portuguese restaurant, Mesa headed by renowned chef Jose Avillez, presents a grander dining experience with a The Great Gatsby-like ambience — striking black and gold interiors, shimmering mosaics, smooth marble, eccentric hanging bird cages and intricate geometric patterns. The highlight of the space, however, is the state-of-the-art LED ceiling which re-creates a starry sky, giving you the joyous experience of dining under a starry night sky.