Blind system provides decent blackout and sunscreen during daytime. (rollover)Clever use of internally reflecting cut glass screen gives a gentle light, almost a night light, at the bedhead.Here the screen is used as a room divider too...

:: Panoramic Views

•  Le Meridein Vienna. Cleverly makes the grab bar attractive by using a pole dancers pole alongside the bath. Also has a seat in the shower. Click on the image hold you mouse key down and drag to move through 360 degrees. Plus and minus zooms in or out')">TYPICAL BATHROOM - SEPARATE WALK-IN WET ROOM SHOWER MODEL FOR THIS LEVEL OF HOTEL ( LE MERIDEIN VIENNA. CLEVERLY MAKES THE GRAB BAR ATTRACTIVE BY USING A POLE DANCERS POLE ALONGSIDE THE BATH. ALSO HAS A SEAT IN THE SHOWER. CLICK ON THE IMAGE HOLD YOU MOUSE KEY DOWN AND DRAG TO MOVE THROUGH 360 DEGREES. PLUS AND MINUS ZOOMS IN OR OUT •  LOUNGE TO SUITE WITH WORK AREA, CLOAKROOM AND BALCONY OVERLOOKING THE REAR OF THE SECESSIONIST BUILDING

Vienna, for long the neutral heart of Europe, has also been transforming itself into a dynamic city that again has become a focus for parts of Europe it once linked to as the major city in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It seemed a suitable starting point for a drive to Bratislava and Budapest – and the newly refurbished Méridien, which faces one way onto the Opera Ring and the other onto the rear of the famous Secession House, a most suitable stopping place.

I knew of course of the long protracted battle to keep Méridien alive after the London hotels were repossessed by bankers, and the launch of the ‘Art & Tech’ concept. I was unprepared for the shock of delight I had entering the rooms that I had been allocated by the hotel. Of other top five stars, neither the Ritz in Paris nor the Dorchester in London gave me the same buzz of pleasure I had on entering this cool environment.

The 'art and tech' concept was developed by the group as a complete rethinking of the nature of the five star hotel room. It incorporates many of the elements that are transforming domestic interiors and which are being largely ignored by hoteliers in creating their properties – a failing that has led the International Herald Tribune and New York Times amongst others to look questioningly at the international five star standard.

Attention to detail is meticulous. Rollover to see detail of socket positioning as an example. The use of lighting in direct and indirect forms is fluid, giving most emphasis to the information needed by the guest. Timber and carpet are balanced in the bedrooms. Timber is Canadian Maple. Colour is used to give emphasis and drama - here in the reception desk.

Many hoteliers have addressed issues related to the expectations of guests, but in my personal experience I can find no match for the total creative and functional rethinking that has been carried through in this Hotel.

From the theatrical elements of the public areas through the bathrooms, to details such as corridor signage nothing has escaped re-evaluation. This building, partial adaptation and partial new-build has enabled the group to start from a clean sheet and incorporate all the developments they have considered desirable in an international five star – and for once an hotel emerges that measures up to this exacting criterion.

Previous pioneers such as Arne Jacobsen would enjoy this hotel. The approach to the use of technology and innovation is coherent and direct. Used where it can benefit the guest and not for its own sake clear decisions have been made and innovation created that have generated simple distinguished bedrooms and dramatically lit public areas. This is an hotel that designers and hoteliers will enjoy. The approach and boldness of both designer and client are to be admired and hopefully emulated elsewhere. The difficulty for Le Méridien will be in not treating this simply as a formula, but retaining the ability for designers to keep the product moving forward, refining and continuing to improve and adapt as the buildings and locations demand.