Amsterdam: Pursue a History Lesson
We often travel to discover something new, but for those who truly want to get to know a place, the past is always the best place to start. Case in point: adaptive reuse hotels such as the Conservatorium in Amsterdam. Housed in a magnificent building in the city’s museum quarter, the structure (which dates back to 1897) is considered a landmark for more reasons than one. Built by Dutch architect Daniël Knuttel, the building served as the office of the Rijkspostspaarbank, which jump-started the regeneration of the surrounding Museumplein area. Later, it became the home of the Sweelinck Music Conservatorium, hence the name.
In 2008, the property was acquired by forward-thinking hotel group The Set, whose philosophy is to create hotels in settings that come with a colourful backstory. The responsibility of crafting the modern incarnation was granted to venerable Italian designer Piero Lissoni, who infused it with a new perspective, paired with his signature minimalist flourish.
Descending its storied staircase, you’ll catch a glimpse of the new building’s arresting structure through the intricate stained-glass windows. Inside the suites, curved windows and soaring ceilings match perfectly with the elegant, neutral interior design direction taken by Lissoni. In the lobby, contemporary furniture from Cassina and Kartell is set against the building’s brick facade. Adaptive reuse hotels like this one doesn’t only have a sense of place; they also offer a rare glimpse into the lifestyle of a country at a specific point in time – and this was something that whet my curiosity even further.
conservatoriumhotel.com; thesethotels.com
Manila: Discover a Creative Enclave
From the Brera Design District in Milan to Clerkenwell in London, a visit to a city’s creative heart offers unique insights into a place’s character and dynamism. Even more enticing is stumbling upon a hidden pocket of creativity – and this is exactly how to describe this enclave of mid-century houses on Manila’s FB Harrison Street. I first stumbled upon the area when I visited A11: Artellano 11, a homeware store owned and curated by designer Eric Paras. I was enthralled by the effortless way in which he presented his finds and drawn to the laid-back artistic charm of the entire compound, which includes an art gallery and a fashion designer’s atelier. This unique location recently became the setting for The Henry Hotel Manila, arguably the city’s first boutique hotel property.
A network of five 1940s homes form the backbone of the hotel, whose design and integration was conceived by Paras. Hanky Lee, president of Innovoterra (which owns The Henry group of hotels), says, "Choosing Eric was a nobrainer – he lives in the compound and he has done a great job in keeping the essence of the place as seen in his own home." Design elements such as machuca-tile flooring and wooden staircases were preserved and complemented by contemporary furniture pieces, sourced locally to provide contrast. For guests, The Henry Hotel offers an intimate encounter with the relatively unknown aesthetic of Filipino design – and a special peek into the world of its creative neighbours.
London: Travel with a Local
It’s a given that there’s no better guide than a local. Who else is sure to know the nooks, quirks and hidden gems of the city they live in? This simple truth gave birth to SideStory, a company founded by former Wallpaper City Guide editor Rachael Moloney, which offers creative experiences led by a team of hand-picked insiders. Tour guides are chosen for their in-depth knowledge of a certain industry as well as their ability to impart that passion to curious and discerning travellers. Currently, they offer London-based experiences covering a range of itineraries, from a journey around Mayfair’s vintage ateliers to a three-hour walking tour of the city’s best cocktail bars.
My SideStory experience centred on the graffiti and street art scene in London’s East End, and was led by graffiti artist Karim. It started in front of an unremarkable street corner, where he asked me to look at a nondescript postbox covered with stickers and tags. It was here that he began to explain in detail the beginnings of the graffiti scene in a language any layman would understand. From there, it was a journey through back alleys and small streets to discover works by Banksy, ROA, Vhils and numerous others. Throughout the three-hour walk, Karim talked about graffiti with so much passion that it was hard not to embrace it with the same fervour. While I may not be able to read what every throw-up actually says, in a single afternoon my knowledge of graffiti (and my eye for spotting it) was definitely honed. That, and I probably earned some street cred, too.
