nhow is an international hotel chain belonging to NH Hotel Group based on a disruptive concept in which each hotel is in itself a unique work of Art, with an architecture and interior design with the utmost attention to detail combined with an innovative design based on large-scale murals that give its spaces an atmosphere in which creativity and inspiration flow on every wall.
nhow Amsterdam Rai Hotel
nhow Amsterdam Rai is a 4-star hotel designed by renowned architect Reinier de Graaf, located next to the Rai Convention Centre in Amsterdam.
As a collaborator of the architectural firm GLG Architects, in charge of the interior design, I created the headboards for the 650 rooms of the hotel, the theming of which is inspired by the cardinal point towards which they face (East, South, North, South West, South East and North West) and the culture associated with it.
www.nhow-hotels.com/en/nhow-amsterdam-rai
Large mural for Moana Bar
The Moana Bar at nhow Amsterdam Rai is not simply a space to enjoy a drink, but an artistic manifestation where cultures converge and dialogue. Here, the hotel’s visual imagery is revealed in all its splendor, focusing attention on an unprecedented fusion of Japanese and Mexican culture.
An immense mural captures the essence of this dialogue: two imposing catrinas dominate the scene. One of them, reinvented and transformed, adopts the delicacy and mystery of a modern geisha. The other mingles with flowers associated with the culture of Mexico. Around them, a mosaic of iconic elements comes to life: from vibrant Mexican flowers to ethereal yūrei (幽霊), mythological ghosts from Japan. Every detail, every stroke, builds a surreal narrative, in which two cultures, which at first glance might seem worlds apart, coexist in a surprisingly fluid and natural harmony.
CATRINAS & GEISHAS: THE UNION OF TWO CULTURAL IDENTITIES
The two large decorated skulls, reminiscent of the iconic Mexican Catrinas, are transformed with a distinctive Geisha twist: the skull on the left, in vibrant yellow tones, displays Japanese flower designs around the eyes and teeth creating a visual fusion between Japan and Mexico. To her right, another Catrina boasts a voluminous hairstyle in the traditional Japanese Geisha style. This skull incorporates a stylization of the mitsudomoe (三つ巴), (which is an ancient Japanese symbol) in the eyes and a small lucky cat (maneki-neko) on the forehead, further blending cultural elements.
