Rana Nasr Dammous, design manager, BBLEU Design Consultants in Lebanon, is not one to shy away from challenges. Here, she explains that their new project is set to open in 2022.
- What can you tell us about your latest project Six Senses La Sagesse?
Set in a Caribbean haven, Six Senses hotel’s idyllic design with 100 guest rooms spread over 28 acres and an adjoining collection of six luxurious villas, allows visitors to reconnect with themselves and nature. It is designed in a fusional way with nature, the outdoor and interior spaces merging. As guests wander off, they can enjoy crafting their own natural herbal remedies in a modern day version of an apothecary presented through an Alchemy Bar and Earth Lab. The hotel’s restaurants are faithful to both Six Senses and Grenada’s core values, adapted to each space’s characteristic. For example, the all-day dining experience is filled with communal tables whereas the sand bar is designed with the idea of keeping one’s feet in the sand. In addition, a specialty high-end restaurant is tailored to guests seeking a fancier experience. We have tried to weave Six Senses into the natural fabric of Grenada, treating it as part of the land and its nature rather than nature. We were keen to avoid it being seen as an intruder. This is why we tackled the outdoor lighting very delicately. We used adaptive light controls to manage light timing, intensity- using the lowest intensity lighting possible for the task- and color. We lit only the object or area intended – kept lights close to the ground, directed and shielded to avoid light spill. Also, we used non-reflective, dark-colored surfaces. In addition, we used lights with reduced or filtered blue, violet and ultra-violet wavelengths.
- Sustainability is an integral part of all your projects. Can you elaborate on that and how did you adapt your design to take account of COVID-19?
We tend to shy away from “green washing” and false “eco- friendly” branding. The “new normal” post COVID-19 centers on rethinking requirements and needs, from wholesome indoor environments, transitional and filtered entrances, to the need for green spaces, natural light, zero-maintenance buildings, touch-free interactions, and technology based sanitization, with enough distancing and friendly physical separations. However, we need to make sure that the new normal is consistent and smooth enough to go unnoticed rather than seem over-designed.
About author
Rita Ghantous
Rita Ghantous is a hospitality aficionado and a passionate writer with over 9 years’ experience in journalism and 5 years experience in the hospitality sector. Her passion for the performance arts and writing, started early. At 10 years old she was praised for her solo performance of the Beatles song “All My Love” accompanied by a guitarist, and was approached by a French talent scout during her school play. However, her love for writing was stronger. Fresh out of school, she became a freelance journalist for Noun Magazine and was awarded the Silver Award Cup for Outstanding Poetry, by The International Library of Poetry (Washington DC). She studied Business Management and earned a Masters degree from Saint Joseph University (USJ), her thesis was published in the Proche-Orient, Études en Management book. She then pursued a career in the hospitality industry but didn’t give up writing, that is why she launched the Four Points by Sheraton Le Verdun Newsletter. Her love for the industry and journalism led her to Hospitality Services - the organizers of the HORECA trade show in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, as well as Salon Du Chocolat, Beirut Cooking Festival, Whisky Live and other regional shows. She is currently the Publications Executive of Hospitality News Middle East, Taste & Flavors and Lebanon Traveler. It is with ultimate devotion for her magazines that she demonstrates her hospitality savoir-faire.
