The Search of a Retro Style

In the famous 2,000yearold prosperous and creative Gangnam district of Seoul, South Korea, housed this modern and charming hotel of French descent, attractive for its unique steplike appearance and retro interior style, and this is another hotel we visited in Seoul Le Méridien Seoul.Although we only stayed for just two days, we can still savor the retro atmosphere and unique charm inside.

Fanscinating Touch of David Collins

London‘s famous designer, David Collins, applied his worldclass expertise to the interior design of Le Méridien Seoul. After a multimillion dollar renovation, Le Méridien changed its face in September 2017 to welcome its guests once again.

”We don‘t want anything that is too obvious, so we focus more on medieval architectural theories, using patterns and symmetrical themes, intertwined with the subtle hints of Korean arts and crafts,” Lewis Taylor, David Collins Studio Design Director, said. ”We want different personalities in each space to work in harmony, so these design elements are fused together in a subtle, almost subconscious way.”

Based on this concept, the designer reinterprets the traditional hotel lobby as a social gathering place based on coffee culture. Unlike other fivestar hotels‘ deliberately created dark lighting atmosphere, Le Méridien‘s lobby space is unusually spacious and bright. The modern design inspiration combines the exquisiteness of the Middle Ages with the vibrant European charm to create a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere. For the Korean arts and crafts tradition, the designer uses plaid patterns throughout the hotel‘s public and private spaces. This is similar to the Chinese paper window of traditional Korean architecture. As Taylor said: ”Let the hotel lobby be no longer just a place for guests to check in.”

In addition to the exquisitely high lobby area, the M Contemporary art center on the first floor is a wonderful cultural destination and leisure space in the heart of Gangnam. Introduced by the hotel‘s PR, the hotel has an exhibition of works of art throughout the year, aiming to inspire the guests and explore the mysteries of urban culture. When we stayed here, we just caught up with Van Gogh‘s show. Not only the hotel guests, but also many local young people came to see the exhibition. The decoration of different works of art in many areas of the hotel almost turned our visits into museums tours.

Parisian Style of the 1950s

Le Méridien Seoul has 336 chic rooms, including 109 club rooms and 29 suites with access to the Club Lounge. Le Méridien‘s rooms are designed to pay homage to the Parisian style of the 1950s, with visually relaxing green, blue and lavender accents for the interior design, and the hardware of the bathroom is made of vintage style brass, reflecting the eleganc of the Middle Ages European style, highly addictive.

One of the most impressive of the hotel rooms was the Presidential Suite. Under the guidance of the hotel staff, through a spacious and beautiful entrance, a rotunda immediately came into view and we just caught up with a photo shoot by a local fashion media in Seoul that has rent the suite for this purpose. We have experienced the versatility of a hotel suite, not only can it be for leisure, but also as a fashion background in magazines or multimedia reportage.

The Presidential Suite‘s bedroom exudes French elegance and charm, as well as Korean aesthetic, such as parquet floorswith calm green, lavender, blue and dark colors, plump velve interiors and luxurious fabrics, silk and leather. The suite consists of six rooms, each of which is unique and special. Suite guests also have exclusive access to the Le Méridien Executive Lounge on the 12th floor. The gentle sunshine pervades every corner of this spacious space, making it warm and beautiful, giving a sense of home.

A Surprise from Chef‘s Palete‘s

The hotel‘s allday dining restaurant, Chef‘s Palette, features not only a fully functional buffet, but also an allday dining menu and seasonal dishes. The intimate dining space is designed with gridlike details and gorgeous ceilings reflecting Korean arts and crafts, wood, cracked glazed white tiles and bluepowdered leather glass panels to counteract the deep shades of brass and create a retro, nostalgic atmosphere.

On the early morning the next day, we caught up with a spring snow in Seoul. It was an unexpected surprise for us, who have missed the snow in Beijing. Coming to the ”Chef‘s Palette” for breakfast, not only do we have a wide selection of international buffets, but we can also breathe fresh air on the outdoor terrace and enjoy the visual delight of the winter garden.

Le Méridien Seoul brings a more modern look and lifestyl to highend travelers and local residents; it is a flexible and fluid space, not just a simple design language.