Heya: A Hotel Guestroom Designed for Generation Z

Jonny Sin's Innovative Design Wins Silver A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award

The inspiration behind Heya comes from the need to accommodate four types of guests: those on leisure, business, wellness, and long-stay trips. The room can be completely opened up to the adjacent space for social functions, and during the low season, it can be transformed into a meeting or co-working facility. The design is filled with natural daylight, enhanced by special lighting to promote wellness, and adheres to the latest standards of sustainable and biophilic design.

What sets Heya apart from other designs is its ability to be reconfigured by guests to suit their needs. This is made possible by the use of technology, making the room highly flexible and customizable. The design is also sustainable, with all materials responsibly sourced and of the highest quality. The furniture is purposeful, with nothing opulent, and the room features a space-saving ceiling-mounted bed, an integrated smart TV within the window, smart glass, and a four-sense shower experience with an integrated steam room.

The room was designed within the confines of an 8x4m space, with a 3m maximum build height. It includes smart mirrors that connect to your phone and can identify UV damage and the type of moisturiser to use. Every function in the room is controllable via a personal device, offering a high level of personalisation and luxury.

The design process involved a team of students from international hotel schools, hospitality experts HoCoSo, and other partners. The team undertook focus groups and analysed data to understand what Generation Z is seeking in hotel accommodation. This research was then reviewed in weekly workshops, and the Heya concept was developed over a period of six months.

Despite the challenges posed by the guestroom size constraints, the design team was able to create a versatile and flexible room design that can accommodate varied guest types. This was achieved through careful use of space and innovative thinking.

In conclusion, Heya is a groundbreaking design that caters to the needs of Generation Z. It offers a high level of personalisation and flexibility, allowing guests to reconfigure the room to suit their needs. The design is sustainable and features high-quality materials, making it a deserving winner of the Silver A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award.