Specialising in interior architectural design, Wilson Associates was founded in 1971 and today employs more than 325 professionals in its headquarters in Dallas and offices in New York, Los Angeles, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Shanghai and an associate office in Cochin, India. The firm creates interiors for world-class hotels, restaurants, clubs, casinos and high-end residential projects; offering a full range of design services, from space planning to furniture installation.
Hotel Spec speaks to the founder and CEO of Wilson Associates, Trisha Wilson.
Photography of Trisha Wilson: Michael Wilson
What are your influences and how do you get inspiration when starting a project?
“I am very blessed to work with many different clients all over the world. Through doing so, I am always extremely inspired and draw from each diverse culture.”
What has been your most ambitious and memorable project to date?
“The Palace of the Lost City in Sun City, South Africa. Hotelier and developer, Sol Kerzner challenged my firm by asking us to create a legend, then design a Palace befitting that fable, then figure out how to build and design it! It was an incredible opportunity and an experience I will never forget.
“It was the largest contract we had ever secured to date (early 90’s) and it introduced me to a country that I have been in love with ever since! It catapulted Wilson Associates into a class all of our own. We were credited in the media as ‘changing the face of design’.Wilson Associates taught and challenged local artisans in numerous ways.”
The Palace of the Lost City, Sun City, South Africa. Photography: Peter Vitale
Do you feel that the recession has had a negative impact on hotel design?
“It has definitely not been easy for any of us in this industry, however I have been determined and focused on how we could create opportunities out of the challenges we have and still will face.
“As a business owner, I am in the unique position to not only survive the tough times, but actually turn them to my advantage. I strongly believe flexibility is the key to weathering the storm, and those who survive are the most adaptable to changing circumstances.”
How would you describe the legacy of Wilson Associates?
“The Wilson Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation, I founded in 1997 is by far the legacy I will leave behind. The foundation’s purpose is to address the needs of disadvantaged and underserved children, primarily in the area of Limpopo Province, South Africa. I believe we all have a responsibility to give back and help others. This is a philosophy I have extended to my company and my employees.
“My business involves creating the most luxurious and beautiful places on earth, and yet when I am in South Africa, I am reminded of the huge disparity between privilege and poverty in this world.”
Which factors do you think will influence hotel design over the next five to 10 years?
“Local resources and flavour are essential to Wilson Associates design. Give back to the local economy by pulling from local artisans and craftsmen. Local artwork will in turn give the design a rich and rooted local culture.
• Path back to simplicity – Less is more. A focus is being seen on quality over quantity. Bring the outdoors in so the guest can be one with nature. There will always be a need for simple, less complicated design.
• Luxury beyond expectation: Element of surprise. Throw in a steam shower in a standard room – it will make any guest keep coming back for more. Plan the guestroom to be one seamless functioning space- open up the bathroom and closet to natural light – maximize on the view.
• Increasingly leveraging the latest technologies: LEDs are leading the way in lighting and televisions and giving us many more opportunities to be creative with lighting and digital media. We are now using changing digital walls as a part of decor in our hotel, resort and casino projects. The hope is that one day the particles in paint can be charged (like in a kindle) in such a way that we can actually program a pattern onto the wall to create whatever new wall covering we desire.”
What plans does Wilson Associates have for the future?
“We will continue to define luxury and elegance in our design. I am really grateful to have such a great team of wildly creative people.
“We also plan to launch new studios of Wilson Associates. Recently, we launched Blueplate which offers the client specialised restaurant consultancy and design solutions. The end product delivers an all-encompassing culinary experience. We have launched a healthcare design studio Medica Design as well.”
What would be your dream project?
“My dream project would be to design a hotel in the middle of the South African bush. The hotel would not be a camp, but a destination. My vision would change the face of hospitality in the wild forever. I’d imagine it to be a Robinson Crusoe meets jungle tree-house dream world. A portion of each guests stay would go back to the rural community in South Africa that The Wilson Foundation supports.
“Overall, the space would perfectly combine my two greatest passions: the wilderness of the bush, and the beauty and comfort that starts with great architecture.”
Tell us about your latest project.
“The Grand Hyatt Shenzhen in China recently opened, and I am very pleased with the final product. The interior design approach was entirely architectural-focused. Starting with an initial review of the building’s form, Wilson Associates recreated the entire “crown” of the tower to resemble a stylized Chinese lantern with jagged angles enclosed with transparent glazing to allow unobstructed views outward toward the bustling city scene. By carving away the interior space rather than infilling it, the design makes a confident statement about pushing the boundaries of contemporary interior architectural design, the basic design tenet of our firm.
“Plush, rich-toned fabrics and carpeting greet guests in the 491 contemporary guestrooms, including 53 suites and 48 long-stay service apartments. Each guestroom is appointed with a spa-style marble bathroom and features a sliding glass door that automatically frosts when closed. On the 38th floor, The Penthouse offers guests stunning views while also revealing a myriad of dining and
entertainment facilities.”
Grand Hyatt Shenzhen. Photography: Christopher Cypert
Biography
Trisha Wilson is an internationally-acclaimed hotel designer and dynamic businesswoman raised in Dallas. Among numerous accolades, for three consecutive years she was included in Harvard Business School’s Graduate Level Case Study concerning entrepreneurship and management in the creative world. In November 2009, she was honoured with the Interior Design Award at the 2009 Fashion and Lifestyle Awards sponsored by Fashion Group International. In 2007, Trisha Wilson received The Pepsi Everyday Freedom Award sponsored by the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
In December 2006, she was awarded the VNU inaugural Women in Design Award. In April of the same year, she received the Manfred Steinfeld Humanitarian Award by Hospitality Design Magazine. Trisha was named Distinguished Alumni of The University of Texas at Austin in 2004, inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame in 1993 and earned the distinction of Woman of the Year in 1990 by the Network of Executive Women in Hospitality. In 2004, Trisha completed her book entitled Spectacular Hotels, a journey around the globe through the world’s most remarkable hotels. A second editon was published in 2007.