From Chanel camellias to Chinese motifs
Karl Lagerfeld was a voracious reader by all accounts. He consumed books at an early age, covering fashion, design and arts. He read them in three languages, namely German, English and French. He had a massive library and a distinctive way of stacking books.
Lagerfeld arranged the books horizontally instead of vertically on his shelves. One account said that this was because he wanted to read the titles on the spine without tilting his head. We don’t know how he prevented tall stacks from falling over whenever he took one from the bottom of the pile, but we do know that there’s a place in Macau where one can soak in his design genius and love for words.
The interiors of The Karl Lagerfeld Hotel Macau, which opened in 2023, is the only one in the world that the late Chanel creative director designed. It reflects his personality and all things that he loved, especially books.
Guests’ eyes are drawn to its reception area, which features the silhouette of Lagerfeld against a red background. If you look closer, the red background is made up of the keys to the hotel rooms.
The Book Lounge can be found on the left side of the ground floor when you enter from Rua do Tiro, Cotai. It is designed tastefully in black, white, gold and red. The books, as expected, are stacked horizontally.
Romantic atmosphere
During a familiarization tour hosted by Cebu Pacific and the Macau Government Tourism Office, Grand Lisboa Hotels public relations manager Queenie Lei said they chose books with red, white, and black spines. Unlike decorative libraries where one will be disappointed to find out that the shelves are filled with fake books, The Book Lounge has real ones that guests can pull out and read.
The color scheme is consistent all over the hotel; Lagerfeld’s silhouette and K logo are recurrent themes. His mantra, “Embrace the present and invent the future,” are etched on the windows of the suites. The late fashion legend incorporated Chinese elements into his hotel design as well.
“He was very interested in Chinese culture. He pointed out things he liked from a book and made big versions of it,” Lei said. The big vases on the ground floor are one such example. Round Chinese doorways are also found in the suites, a motif that’s carried over to the headboards of beds.
There’s a sense of opulence especially in the bathroom. Lei said theirs is the only hotel in Macau with gold fixtures and tiles. The coffee cups are also bone china.
Obviously, Lagerfeld knew how to promote his brand. The logos on the towels and toiletries remind you where you are at all times, but there are also subtle ones that one could easily miss. For example, there are Chanel camellias on the walls and the carpeting, integrated into the loops and lines.
“It’s interesting how it’s the female guests who spot the Chanel flower first,” Lei said.
The Karl Lagerfeld Hotel is part of the Grand Lisboa and shares amenities with them, like the Secret Garden. The general atmosphere is very romantic. If you are a fan of the man, then staying in his hotel will give you an insight into his vision.
