For the well-traveled guest, throwing out a few umbrellas, chaises, chairs, and tables on the hotel pool patio or the rooftop alone won’t add up to a satisfying outdoor experience. Management and designers are also challenged with selecting fashionable, functional pieces as well as creating and maintaining an Instagram-worthy milieu. Now make it sustainable.
“Sustainable outdoor décor and practices have pushed more designers to be eclectic and thoughtful in the spaces they create, allowing materials, shapes and forms to be used in more unexpected ways,” said Design Manager Theresa Zavala of Studio 11 Design in Dallas. “Climate change is real and we, as designers, must also be stewards of the environment for clients, as well as ourselves.”
Zavala noted that the most sustainable materials for outdoor furniture are recycled materials, provided they are created in an environmentally-friendly way. Plastic is in fact just one of many recyclable materials, and “aluminum, hard and soft wood, and stone are all options.”
While the definition of what makes furniture and materials “sustainable” may vary by designer, the notion can prove inspirational for a designer like Valentina Castellon, principal and hospitality interior design leader at DLR Group. She said she always has feelers out for the latest innovations in sustainable furnishings and materials. As she sees it, the line between outdoor furniture and sustainability has never been more blurred.
“There are different facets of sustainability that we consider. Your mind instantly goes to what products are used [in the final product], but one way to specify [sustainable] furniture is to source locally or regionally,” Castellon said. “The process of thinking sustainably is started before the product is even made. When local or domestic products are unavailable, other factors must be considered. Sustainability has become a more comprehensive approach, even down to considering how the staff is cared for during the production of the goods.”
“We see outdoor spaces as the extension of the design we executed indoors,” said Monika Nessbach, principal and chief creative officer of Charlotte, N.C.-based DESIGNBAR, who is noted for her hospitality and restaurant projects. She observed that in recent years, outdoor furnishings and décor has shifted from the use of stark metal products to nature and nature-inspired products, such as reclaimed wood, living green walls, and upcycled materials that flaunt eco-chic. “It’s the new black,” she added.
Where Creativity Meets Nature
“Whether it's a rooftop bar dressed in twinkling lights, green walls that put the emphasis on freshness in a dining area, a pool area that feels like an exotic escape with lush plantings, or an outdoor lobby extension that invites you in with serene water features and sculptures, landscaping is the silent host of the party. I see outdoor spaces as stages for experiences and conversation starters; landscaping is the set design that can make or break the show. It's about shaping the ambiance and crafting moments that will live on in selfies and stories,” Nessbach continued.
She and her team actively seek out sustainable outdoor furniture materials that not only stand the test of time and elements, but also tread lightly on the planet when being produced. She points to the FSC-certified teak that DESIGNBAR uses, which is valued not only for its robustness and weather resistance, but also its certification ensuring that it comes from responsibly managed forests. The recycled HDPE plastic they use, often sourced from ocean-bound waste, offers a sturdy, no- or low-maintenance option ideal for outdoor environments in the hospitality sector. She adds that recycled plastic pieces can be easily maintained with just soap and water, while teak pieces can receive occasional cleanings and regular treatment with eco-friendly oils or be allowed to age gracefully into a silver-gray patina when left untreated.
“We're seeing a return to authenticity with raw textures and earthy tones taking center stage,” Nessbach observed. “Incorporating sustainable materials into our projects is not only a nod to the environmental consciousness that defines generations like Gen Z, but also a practical choice for the future of hospitality design. It's about creating spaces that resonate with the values of our clients and their [future] guests, ensuring that the environments we design today contribute positively to the world of tomorrow.”
Ambiance Through Landscaping
Guillaume Drew, founder and CEO of luxury furniture brand Or & Zon, also turns to materials like reclaimed wood, recycled metals, and ethically produced textiles for crafting outdoor furniture. The same holds for landscaping, which he believes plays an instrumental role in crafting an ambiance. For his hospitality clients, he has created a rooftop bar setting incorporating vertical gardens and perennial plants to enhance aesthetics and biodiversity and used local plant varieties that bring added personality to pool area while resisting chlorinated water splashes. He also believes combining weatherproofing with green infrastructure is not only feasible but beneficial. One recent project implemented a green roof system, providing natural insulation while absorbing rainwater to reduce runoff.
“Our experience shows that there's a growing appeal for décor that reflects a sense of responsibility towards the environment,” he advised. “When hiring service providers, customers should inquire about their sustainable practices, their source of materials, and if they have any accreditations for green practices or fair-trade. This way, they can ensure an alignment with their own sustainable goals. Utilizing renewable energy-efficient technologies can be as straightforward as setting up solar-powered LED lighting for night aesthetics or installing self-watering systems for green spaces.”
Even with the right people in place, there’s also the matter of figuring out the right ways to integrate carefully chosen pieces crafted with sustainable materials with landscaping and functional elements for a truly complete outdoor space.
“Hotels that prioritize form and function reflects a modern 'eco-chic' aesthetic, which is increasingly sought after by hotel clientele who prioritize environmental ethics alongside luxury,” said Zach Dannett, co-founder of Tumble, an L.A.-based furnishings company. He regularly advises hospitality clients on outdoor decor, interior design and maintenance, noting that combining solar-powered lighting and heating with infrastructure like permeable paving and green walls help facilitate effective stormwater management. "Thoughtfully designed landscaping enhances the guest experience while contributing to the hotel's sustainability goals," he said.
“Since its inception, our property’s owners set out to provide a unique hotel (experience by) respecting the original facade of the 1940s house and preserving the ancient trees that have been part of the property’s special history,” said Fernando Zepeda, general manager of Mexico’s Wayam Mundo Imperial Hotel. A structure’s original architecture and landscaping are integral parts of the sustainability proposition, he observed.
“Landscaping takes center stage, from the grand entrance’s evocation of tranquility and freshness to the meticulous details of the terraces and rooftop pool. Sustainability and renewable energies, meanwhile, have been foundational pillars since the hotel's inception, leading to our LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council,” Zepeda continued.
“Across different (hotel) brands as well as independent boutique properties, there's this push to bring the outside in,” said Christy Thompson, whose resumé for the Ellis Adams Group includes the mostly outdoor rooftop bar and terraced street-level restaurants at the Delphi Hotel in downtown Los Angeles as well as numerous projects for Marriott, Hilton and other brands. “We’re seeing more biophilic design elements within interior spaces that spill out into the exterior spaces. This, in turn, will inform the pieces of the furniture we may select, which feature more organic shapes within the furnishing details.”
Although Thompson observes that design trends overall have not been affected, as a good designer can achieve similar looks with new or upcycled materials, some adaptations during the construction of certain pieces need to be considered based on whether recycled material or natural material is being used. She also notes that implementation of sustainable energy sources is important, pointing to the demand for power stations for smartphones and other devices that are solar powered. When added together, these features elevate the guest’s hotel experience while factoring better energy efficiency.
“I think sustainability looks different for many different people,” Thompson affirmed. “It's not a formulaic process. It’s important that the [hotel] owner or manager and the designer or furniture fabricator be in alignment.”
Sidebar: What Lies Beneath
SHIIR Rugs, the result of a partnership between renowned design firm Soucie Horner and Chicago-based Oscar Isberian Rugs, presents a prime example of a product that connects a hotel’s indoor and outdoor aesthetic and guests’ passion for goods created through sustainable and ethical means. The hand-knotted rugs are at once fashionable and functional.
Woven by master artisans in India, the rugs are constructed with sustainably sourced PET fiber made from recycled plastic bottles. While the fibers withstand the elements, fading and stains, they have a refined appearance thanks to colorations and complex patterns brought to life with hand-embroidery, finely stitched pattern accents and distinctive weaves.
This article was originally published in the May edition of Hotel Management magazine. Subscribe here.