Home Away From Home: Semiramis Hotel Athens

CasaSugar — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 05:16:56 -0800

Semiramis Hotel is a 52-room hotel in Athens, Greece, and designer Karim Rashid's first hotel project undertaking. I guess Rashid has beginner's luck (or really intimidating talent), because the hotel's design is inspiring, polished, and every square inch is original. Of the project, Rashid said, "Hotels today make you feel like you're living in the previous century. That's the last thing I want to do." I'm definitely getting an other-worldly Jetsons-meets-Real-World-house-meets-cruise-ship vibe from my look at the photos, and certainly don't think it resembles the previous century, or any century for that matter. So, he must have pulled it off.

The hotel is located in the suburb of Kifissia, in the heart of evolving Athens, surrounded by high-end boutiques, restaurants, and cafes and set 340 meters above sea level. It features 42 balcony rooms with pool or park view, five poolside bungalows, three penthouse studios, and one penthouse suite, plus all the unnecessary amenities, ranging in price from $337 to $440 a night. If I ever make it to Athens, I'll be sure to get my shop on at the local boutiques. That is, if I can drag myself away from Semiramis's pool deck.
To see photos of the superb spot, read more

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Designer Spotlight: Karim Rashid

CasaSugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 03:32:50 -0800

Canadian-by-way-of-Cairo designer Karim Rashid appears to be a man of endurance. He's successfully tried his hand at designing products, interiors, fashion, furniture, lighting, art-and he's even put out his own CD. Now based in New York, Rashid is best known for bringing his high designs to the average consumer. He's designed for clients such as Dirt Devil, Umbra, Prada, Miyake, and Method. His work is in the permanent collections of fourteen museums, including MoMA and SFMoMA and he exhibits art in various galleries.

For a list of awards he's won in 2007 alone, plus a gallery of his super-mod designs, just read more

Karim's design for the Deutsche Bank Lounge honored with a FAMAB ADAM Award
D&D Building's Stars of Design: Best Product Designer 2007
Best Design 2007 by Gioia Casa: Bonaldo Poly Chair, Gaia and Gino Creemy Coffee Set, Cisal Kawa faucet, Artemide Cadmo lamp
I.D. Magazine Annual Design Review Honorable Mention Packaging: KenzoAmour
Best of NeoCon: Gold Award, Resilient Flooring: Azrock by Tarkett Karim Kolors Tile
Fifi Awards Best Packaging, Women's Prestige & Fragrance of the Year, Nouveau Niche: KenzoAmour
Cooper Hewitt National Design Awards 07: Product Design Finalist
ADEX Award for Design Excellence: Nienkamper Kloud Collection
Red Dot distinction for high design quality: Magppie Tantalo Bottle Opener
LaCie Skwarim inducted into the permanent collection of the Centre Pompidou, France
Red Dot distinction for high design quality: KenzoAmour
EXTRACTS Best New Product Awards: Sexy Beast
iF product design award: LaCie Skwarim

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Home Away From Home: Semiramis Hotel Athens

Designer Spotlight: Karim Rashid