Silver Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2021
Heya Hotel Guestroom
by Jonny Sin
- A' Design Award 2021 Silver Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Awarded April 15, 2021
- CLIENT: ReardonSmith Architects
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 13,215
- Verification code D4BD25F231 · Verify this award
About Heya Hotel Guestroom
Heya is a guestroom designed for Gen Z, the cohort of globally connected "digital natives" who believe customization is the new luxury experience. Thanks to technology, Heya can be dramatically reconfigured by guests to suit their purpose with a space-saving ceiling-mounted bed. The room features high quality and sustainable materials and has been designed to accommodate four guest types: Leisure, Business, Wellness and Long-stay. Technology enabled the room to inter-change from party, to work, to family space via an app, with personalization being a key feature of the design concept.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- ReardonSmith led the team in the creation of Heya, a guestroom for Gen Z, the cohort of globally connected ‘digital natives’ who believe customisation is the new luxury experience. Thanks to technology, Heya can be dramatically reconfigured by guests to suit their purpose, while its design is realistic, high quality and sustainable. The client group were students from international hotel schools - the hotel operators and guests of the future.
The objective was to create a guestroom that was advanced, yet grounded in reality, which would offer tangible benefits for owners, investors and operators. - Dimensions & Packaging
- The room was design to be within the confines of an 8x4m space, with a 3m maximum build height.
- Tags
- Hotel Design, Guestroom, Concept, Heya
- Production Technology
- Responsibly sourced, with the furniture of the highest quality. The materials were natural, but nothing was opulent, and everything had a purpose.
A space-saving ceiling-mounted bed which rises and falls via the track system in its headboard converting what would be a standard king room with a bed and a bathroom, to a suite, with a bed, bathroom, and lounging area.
An integrated smart TV within the window, smart glass and a four sense shower experience with an integrated steam room. Smart mirrors that connect to your phone that can identify UV damage and the type of moisturiser to use, with every function in the room controllable via a personal device. - Design Challenge
- Due to the guestroom size constraints (8x4m), a core challenges was accommodating the varied guest types (4) within a single room. Careful use of space and innovative thinking enabled the design team to create a versatile and flexible room design. Learn how the team personalised and provided versatility to their room at www.myheya.com
- Project Duration
- The project started in June 2022 and was exhibited at the Sleep & Eat Event in November 2020
- Operation Flow
- The design enables the user to interchange functions within the room to accommodate the use of a guest staying for business, leisure, wellness and long-stay. Furthermore, the room was focused on personalisation – increasingly, luxury is measured by the degree of customisation available. Heya gave guests the ability to choose from an array of amenities to personalise their stay and technology delivered the ability to flex the room from party to work to family space at the touch of an app.
- Research
- Six students from international hospitality schools defined the brief alongside hospitality experts HoCoSo. The team undertook focus groups and analysed data to provide the designer's with an understanding of what Generation Z are seeking. This was then reviewed in weekly workshops and the Heya concept, developed over a period of 6 months.
- Inspiration
- The space was designed to accommodate four guest types: Leisure, Business, Wellness and Long-stay guests for target audience; Generation Z. To provide ultimate flexibility, the room could be completely opened-up to the adjacent space for social functions. During the low season, the room can also be easily transformed into a meeting or co-working facility.
Our room was full of natural daylight with special lighting to enhance wellness, and the latest standards of sustainable and biophilic design. - Image Credits
- All images copyright by ReardonSmith Architects
- Patents
- Heya + logo+ colours are registered (www.swissreg.ch/ nr 755929)
Colors of Heya Hotel Guestroom
Get Heya Hotel Guestroom
Grand Interview about Heya Hotel Guestroom
When we began the Heya project, we deliberately avoided designing around technology for technology's sake. Instead, we started by listening. Working alongside hospitality students from Glion Institute of Higher Education and Hotelschool The Hague, we gained valuable insight into how Generation Z viewed travel, work and everyday life. What became clear was that they were not looking for larger hotel rooms. They were looking for rooms that could adapt to the way they wanted to live.The brief also presented us with an important constraint. The room could be no larger than 30m², so every square metre had to work harder. Rather than viewing this as a limitation, we saw it as an opportunity to rethink the traditional hotel room.The ceiling-mounted bed emerged directly from that thinking. In a conventional hotel room, the bed dominates the space for twenty-four hours a day, despite being used primarily at night. By lifting it into the ceiling when not required, the room could transform into a lounge, workspace, wellness studio or social setting, all without increasing its footprint. It fundamentally changed the way the space could be experienced.Looking back, I believe the bed was less about creating a memorable piece of technology and more about challenging a long-established assumption of hotel design. Space is one of the most valuable commodities in hospitality, particularly in urban environments, and we wanted every square metre to create value for both the guest and the operator.Many of the themes we explored through Heya, including flexibility, personalisation and multi-functional living, have become increasingly relevant in the years since. The ceiling-mounted bed was not simply a feature. It was the enabler that allowed one compact room to perform as several different spaces throughout the day.
One of the most interesting findings from our research was that the students were not asking for more luxury in the traditional sense. They valued spaces that felt calm, healthy and authentic. Natural light, quality sleep, comfort, wellbeing and a connection to nature featured far more prominently than extravagant finishes or excessive decoration. That became a fundamental principle of Heya and informed many of our design decisions.We deliberately selected natural materials and a restrained colour palette to create a room that felt warm, timeless and restorative. Biophilic design was equally important. Maximising daylight, introducing natural textures and creating a stronger relationship between the guest and their surroundings all contributed to an environment that supported wellbeing rather than simply accommodating it.This was very much a collaborative process. We worked closely with Suited Interiors, whose expertise helped shape the material palette and specify finishes that complemented the architectural concept while creating a cohesive guest experience.For me, sustainability has always been about making thoughtful decisions rather than following trends. Designing spaces that are adaptable, built from quality materials and capable of standing the test of time is one of the most responsible approaches we can take. If a room continues to delight guests for many years, it is far more likely to endure, both commercially and environmentally.
One of the biggest misconceptions at the start of the project was that we were designing for four completely different types of guests. In reality, once we began working with the hospitality students, we discovered there was far more common ground than difference. Whether travelling for leisure, business, wellness or an extended stay, they all valued comfort, flexibility, natural light, wellbeing and spaces that could adapt to different activities throughout the day.Rather than designing four different rooms, we focused on creating one room that could respond to changing needs. That philosophy influenced almost every aspect of the design. The ceiling-mounted bed freed up valuable floor space, movable furniture allowed the room to be reconfigured with ease, and thoughtful planning meant the same space could comfortably support working, relaxing, exercising or socialising.The physical space was only part of the solution. Each guest profile was also supported by a tailored selection of products, amenities and accessories that reflected the purpose of their stay. Whether that meant wellness equipment, business-focused technology or long-stay conveniences, the room could be personalised to create a more relevant guest experience. We believed this level of customisation represented a new definition of luxury.The challenge was delivering all of this within a compact 8 x 4 metre footprint. Every square metre had to justify its existence, so flexibility became one of our most valuable design tools. Rather than increasing the size of the room, we increased the number of ways it could be used.
One of our guiding principles was that technology should never become the focal point of the room. It should simply make the guest experience easier, more intuitive and more personal. If a guest spends time thinking about the technology itself, then I would argue it has probably failed.Our research showed that Generation Z expected technology to work seamlessly because it had become such a natural part of everyday life. They were not looking for technology to impress them. They expected it to remove friction, simplify everyday tasks and give them greater control over their surroundings.That philosophy influenced every decision we made. Rather than introducing technology for novelty, we integrated it where it could genuinely improve the guest experience. Whether adjusting the room environment, personalising the layout or accessing hotel services, the technology was designed to sit quietly in the background, allowing guests to interact with the space naturally and on their own terms.Looking back, I think that principle has become even more relevant. Today's guests expect technology to be intuitive, reliable and almost invisible. The best hotel technology is often the technology you barely notice because it simply works.
The biggest surprise was how differently this generation defined luxury. We expected the conversations to focus on technology and innovation, but they were far more interested in comfort, wellbeing, flexibility and having greater control over their surroundings. Natural light, good sleep, adaptable spaces and authentic materials were mentioned time and again, whereas extravagant finishes and excessive luxury barely featured.Another interesting insight was how they viewed technology. They didn't see it as something that should dominate the guest experience or act as a differentiator. They simply expected it to work. It needed to be intuitive, reliable and make life easier, without demanding their attention.Perhaps the most valuable lesson came from recognising that there was no such thing as a typical Generation Z traveller. Every student approached travel differently. Some prioritised wellness, others wanted a productive workspace, while others valued opportunities to socialise or the comforts associated with a longer stay. Rather than designing around a single guest profile, we realised we needed to create a room that could adapt to each individual. That became one of the defining principles behind Heya.
The design process began by questioning a long-established assumption that a hotel room should perform the same function throughout a guest's stay. We asked ourselves a simple question: if people's needs change throughout the day, why shouldn't the room change with them?Working within a compact footprint encouraged us to challenge every element of the room. Rather than assigning a single purpose to each space, we looked for opportunities to create multiple functions within the same area. The ceiling-mounted bed released valuable floor space during the day, movable furniture could be reconfigured to suit different activities, and a sliding partition allowed adjoining rooms to connect for families or social occasions. Together, these elements created a room that could continually adapt without increasing its size.The project also evolved during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many owners and operators were questioning how hotels could generate value from spaces that sat empty during periods of reduced occupancy. That prompted us to think beyond the traditional guestroom. During quieter periods, Heya could be transformed into a meeting room, co-working space or small function room, creating opportunities for hotels to make better use of their assets. It demonstrated that flexibility was not only beneficial for the guest, but also had the potential to strengthen the commercial resilience of the hotel.
Even before the pandemic, we believed wellness would become one of the defining trends shaping the future of hospitality. The question for us was how we could move beyond the traditional hotel spa and integrate meaningful wellness experiences directly into the guestroom. We wanted wellbeing to become part of everyday hotel living rather than something guests had to seek out elsewhere.The four-sense shower and integrated steam room were born from that thinking. They transformed a routine part of the guest journey into a more immersive and restorative experience, allowing guests to relax, recharge and reset within the privacy of their own room. Rather than simply providing a place to wash, the bathroom became an important part of the overall wellness experience.Importantly, wellness did not begin and end in the bathroom. It influenced the entire design of Heya, from the natural materials and biophilic principles to the abundance of daylight, flexible spaces and calming atmosphere. We wanted every element of the room to contribute to a greater sense of wellbeing, with the shower experience representing one part of a much broader philosophy.
One of the ideas we explored through Heya was that luxury would increasingly be defined by personalisation rather than standardisation. Looking at the hospitality industry today, I believe that trend has only accelerated. Guests increasingly expect experiences that feel tailored to their individual needs, preferences and purpose of travel.That does not necessarily mean every hotel room needs to be physically reconfigurable, but it does mean hotels should think differently about how guestrooms can respond to the people staying in them. Whether through adaptable layouts, curated amenities or intuitive technology, the objective should always be to create an experience that feels personal rather than generic.For owners and operators, personalisation also represents an opportunity to differentiate their product in an increasingly competitive market. The challenge is delivering meaningful personalisation in a way that remains commercially viable and operationally efficient.Ultimately, I believe the future of hospitality design lies in creating environments that respond to the changing needs of guests while remaining intuitive and effortless to use. That philosophy extends beyond the guestroom to every part of the hotel. The most successful hotels will be those that create memorable experiences through thoughtful, personalised design, making every guest feel that the experience was created with them in mind.
The smart glass and integrated window TV were both designed to maximise functionality without adding visual clutter to the room. In compact guestrooms, every surface has the potential to serve more than one purpose, so we looked for opportunities to integrate technology into the architecture rather than treating it as a separate layer.The window TV allowed the glazing to perform two functions. During the day, guests could enjoy natural daylight and uninterrupted viewsS, while at the touch of a button the glass became a high-quality display without requiring a conventional television to dominate the room. Similarly, the smart glass provided privacy when required while maintaining a clean, open and contemporary aesthetic.More importantly, these technologies contributed to the overall design philosophy behind Heya. We wanted the room to feel calm, uncluttered and highly adaptable. By integrating technology into the fabric of the architecture, rather than adding more products or devices, we were able to maximise the usability of the space while maintaining a simple and elegant environment.
Rather than asking how we could design a better room, we asked how we could design a room that responded to changing guest expectations. The result was a concept that brought together flexibility, personalisation, wellness, sustainability and technology into a single, integrated solution. Every decision was guided by the same objective of creating a guest experience that was more intuitive, adaptable and meaningful.What makes me most proud of Heya is that many of the ideas we explored remain highly relevant today. Personalisation has become an expectation rather than a luxury. Wellness continues to shape hospitality design, and flexibility has become increasingly important for both guests and hotel operators.Ultimately, I hope Heya demonstrated that innovation is not about adding more technology or creating more complexity. It is about questioning convention, challenging assumptions and designing spaces that respond to the way people genuinely want to live, work and travel. I believe that philosophy will continue to shape the future of hospitality for many years to come.