Modern design hotels are the newer category — built within the last 30 years, by signature architects, with intentional aesthetic vocabulary.
The Aman portfolio (Kerry Hill, primarily)
Aman Tokyo (2014)
Modern interpretation of Japanese design. Floor-to-ceiling glass, basalt floors.
Aman Venice (2013)
16th-century palazzo with Aman restraint applied.
Aman New York (2022)
Modern Manhattan-tower interpretation.
Aman Kyoto (2019)
Garden setting, traditional Japanese forms.
Aman Sveti Stefan (2008)
Adriatic island retreat.
Amankora (2003+)
Bhutanese lodges across five valleys.
Aman Sahib (2024)
New Middle East addition.
The Cheval Blanc portfolio (LVMH)
Cheval Blanc Maldives Randheli (2014)
Jean-Michel Gathy architecture.
Cheval Blanc St-Tropez (2009)
French Riviera cottage compound.
Cheval Blanc St-Barth (2010)
Caribbean beach pavilions.
Cheval Blanc Paris (2021)
Newest LVMH-built Cheval Blanc.
The Bulgari portfolio (Antonio Citterio)
Bulgari Tokyo (2023)
Newest opening, exceptional architecture.
Bulgari Milano (2004)
Original Bulgari hotel — Milanese minimalism.
Bulgari Bali (2006)
Cliff-edge over the Indian Ocean.
Bulgari Roma (2023)
Roman Bulgari flagship.
Bulgari Beijing (2017)
Asian Bulgari with Chinese-modernist vocabulary.
Other notable modern designs
Marquis de Riscal Spain — Frank Gehry (2006)
Single statement building. Wine country.
EDITION properties — Yabu Pushelberg
NYC, London, Tokyo, Bali.
Park Hyatt portfolio — Tony Chi
NYC, Vienna, Sanya, Tokyo.
Five rules
- Modern design hotels reward the longer stay
- Multi-property trips by same architect are richer than mixed
- Read the design press — Dezeen, ArchDaily, Wallpaper
- Reserve a tour of the public spaces with the hotel design team
- Stay in suites — modern design plays bigger in suite
For more, see the architecture pillar.
