The refurbished Marriott Grand Place aligns the brand’s key interior values with a contextual aesthetic and a design that responds to the form of the existing property. Twenty2degrees was responsible for reimagining all public and guest areas, introducing a pared back and sophisticated palette notable for its high-quality materials. This we layered with abstracted references to the legacy of three game-changing Belgian artists: surrealist painter, René Magritte, Art Nouveau founder, Victor Horta, and world-famous jazz musician, Django Reinhardt.
The different zones of the ground floor Great Room are signalled through the varied use of recurring finishes, including light and dark timbers, Calacatta Marble and brass details. In the centre, an elliptical opening to the conference level above is translated into sculptural “Integrated Art” by a curvaceous new frame inspired by the form of Reinhardt’s hollow bodied guitar. At the far end, there is a glimpse of the restaurant – a transitional space that connects with a pavement terrace outside.
On the conferencing floor, flexible spaces and numerous nooks for small gatherings reflect Marriott’s “Meetings Reimagined” with the additional layer of striking artwork inspired by the three muses and custom-designed carpets that hint at the sweeping forms of Art Nouveau.
The re-design of the 228 guestrooms complements the public areas in terms of palette, materiality and Brusselian reference. The fantastical lines of Horta’s designs are subtly represented in a “Toile de Jouy” wallcovering; the curves of Reinhardt’s guitar reappear in the carpets; and artwork reflects Magritte’s fascination with clouds.
