NEWH: AN INTRODUCTION

Posted in Business on 12 September, 2017

SPACE is proud to be working closely along the world’s largest organisation for networking in the international hospitality design industry, NEWH. Below is an introduction to the organisation’s UK branch’s history and work with a highlight on their Annual Fundraiser where four talented up-and-coming designers were awarded scholarships…

NEWH is the world’s leading non-profit hospitality industry network, providing scholarships, education, leadership development, professional recognition of excellence and business development opportunities. Since 1984, NEWH scholarship candidates pursuing hospitality careers in design, culinary arts and hotel management have been the beneficiaries of over $4.7 million for scholarships made possible through volunteer fundraising initiatives at the local, national and international level.

The United Kingdom chapter was established in 2002 and has flourished to nearly 100 members.

Each month, the chapter hosts various events, from hotel tours in the city to socials at London’s latest hotel openings; breakfast events collaborating with various design events in the city, and crafty events such as ‘Mindfoldness’, a night of origami crafting to promote relaxation, memory, patience and creative thinking. All of which provide an engaging and educational platform for suppliers, designers, specifiers, hoteliers, culinary professionals and students.

NEWH UK Board of Directors

While the UK chapter continues to grow, the NEWH board is also thriving. The chapter has attracted numerous suppliers, designers and specifiers to the board and facilitates a comprehensive overall view of the membership needs and objectives.

The board consists of Jonathan Young, President (below left); Rebekah Ellis, past President (below right); Lynn Fisher, Executive Advisor; Hannah Rogers, Programming Director; Libby Bull, Scholarship Director; Karolyn Kirsch, Membership Director; Kathryn Quinn, Marketing Director; Jon Bond, Fundraising Director; Diana Arakelian, Treasurer; Sarah Williams, Student Representative; Luke Spink, Hospitality Chair; Kelly Hopper, Regional Trade show chair; and Kevin Swart, chair position.

Annual Fundraiser

Ultimately, the purpose of the NEWH UK chapter is to raise money to provide as many scholarships as possible each year. The highlight of the year, and the largest event produced for the NEWH UK chapter is the Annual Fundraiser, where scholarships are presented to the recipients. During the event, recipients have the opportunity to present and discuss their work as well as network with the existing members.

Sponsorship is key to the success of the NEWH events and allows the organisation to achieve and exceed its scholarship goals. Sponsors for this year’s fundraiser included Kohler (gold), Roca (silver), Electric Mirror (silver), Amtrend (bronze), DesignForm Furnishings (bronze) and Optima Leathers (bronze).

This year, the event was held in one of London’s latest hotel openings, The Courthouse Hotel in Shoreditch.

NEWH UK Scholarship Director, Libby Bull, gave an inspirational speech, evoking Kevin Spacey’s words of ‘If you’re lucky enough to do well, it’s your responsibility to send the elevator back down’. A few weeks prior to this, Libby had collated an exciting and inspirational team who formed the judging panel at Ravensbourne College in June, including Elizabeth Lane from RPW Design, Constantina Tsoutsikou and Sarah Williams, both from HBA, Michael Curry of DPA Lighting Design, Lee Breeds from Laufen, and SPACE’s editor Can Faik. The dedication from these individuals highlights the core values of the NEWH UK networking organisation, which is to bring together a variety of expertise and experience to educate the designers of the next generation.

Scholarship Winners

This year, the UK chapter widened their search; awarding one scholarship to an intern currently working for Woods Bagot in London, and three further scholarships to second year students at Ravensbourne College.

Alicia Spibey. Alicia is already on the path to a great career in hospitality. Currently studying Interior Design at Nottingham Trent University, she has taken her placement year at Woods Bagot, where her brief for the project was to transform an old tram depot in Nottingham into an exhibition and studio space. She delved into the history of the ‘Lacemarket’ area and based her designs on a celebration of the history of the first generation of working women in Nottingham, and the success of the lace trade. Fulfilling the creative requirements of the local community, Alicia has  fused together a permanent photography studio, printing zone, cafe and student workshop into the space, as well as incorporating an additional ever-changing, multi-use space that can be hired by students or local artists to showcase their work and a clever viewing platform; all with conceptual integrity and a high attention to detail.

Alicia intends to use some her scholarship towards her final degree show, but before that hopes to find a laptop that is powerful enough to run Photoshop, InDesign and Revit at the same time – good luck Alicia!

The Ravensbourne students were asked to look at the Tea Building in Shoreditch to develop a building with a high environmental performance rating, with a focus on the effects of changing patterns of work and space habitation on architecture.

Shpend Pashtriku. A student at Ravensbourne College, Shpend was inspired by the work of sculptor Richard Serra and the trendy creatives of Shoreditch, and focused his design on the guest experience and journey throughout. The sculptural form of the entrance itself is aesthetically magnetic, pulling people from the nearby station into ‘The Valley’. The void he created by slicing through the building and creating a shaft of light internally.

By raising the cladding to the first level, Shpend created the opportunity for a ‘living workshop’ for local artisans and these co-working spaces directly connect to the streets of Shoreditch. The sculptural forms and material continue into the hotel, creating both a sense of harmony and a ‘WOW!’ factor.

Vincenzo Damato. A student of Interior Design Environment Architectures at Ravensbourne College, Vincenzo discovered that Shoreditch was once called ‘The Sewer Ditch’, and decided to reinvent this concept to fulfil the ideals and lifestyle of the area’s current demographic. Rough concrete sewer pipes form new hotel rooms, with each pipe carefully positioned to borrow exciting views over the city.

Visibility is key throughout the hotel, with arches scalloping around the two voids, allowing users to appreciate the framed views across the building as well as the sculptural vistas on the rooftop – a perfect space to relax, meet, work and live.

With a nod back to ancient times and the water ceremonies that took place in Shoreditch, Vincenzo’s ‘rain room’ not only has an aesthetic appeal, but is a working water purification tool for the building.

Abdul Kayum. Abdul studies Architecture at Ravensbourne College. They say ‘there’s a fine line between genius and insanity’ and this year, the judging panel was transfixed and transported to a world of Avatar-style hotels like no other with Abdul’s project, which he has described as ‘what you’re seeing is the craziness that’s in my head’.

Abdul’s building is a living, breathing, growing organism – a sub-complex tower situated within the heart of Shoreditch – to be known as the ‘Bionic Dragonfly’.

Primarily inspired by nature and 21^st century biotechnology, his ‘living tower’ offers an alternative image for off-grid living. The central void houses two ‘Super Trees’ reaching to a height of 18 meters. These artificial trees have a multifunctional purpose of harvesting solar and wind energy while capturing rainwater. Both public and private users can unwind and relax in the Nebula forest room; a cool misty space surrounded by subtropical plants.

NEWH will appear with articles in all of SPACE’s next issues, so look out for the latest info in the coming months.