Comfort at the highest level has always distinguished the five-star hotel "Safmar Grand Moscow". After the reconstruction of the lobby, the hotel acquired new modern features. New natural elements, an abundance of light and increased space meet the expectations of guests of the 21st century.
Revolving doors invite guests to enter a stunning hospitality world. The hotel lobby – is the business card and the face of each hotel. The familiar space of the lobby created in 1997 with a huge glass dome in the center and tapestries by artist Andrei Vasnetsov on the walls has now been significantly transformed thanks to the renovation, which took place in two stages from January 2024. Working in phases and creating swing space allowed guests to continue to enjoy the hotel facilities whilst works were ongoing.
Marina Kakunina, the General Manager, describes her longing to incorporate modern elements in keeping with the spirit of the times: "Safmar Grand Moscow is a bustling business hotel, and I wanted to make the hotel lobby even more comfortable for the guests, adding lightness, color and expanding the space."
The renovation affected the reception area on one side, and the concierge area on the other. The usual monumental barriers that separated employees and guests are a thing of the past. Small marble counters, illuminated by lamps from above, four in the reception area and one in the concierge area, have replaced them.
“It was important for us to move away from monumentality, to erase the borders between the guest and the hotel, to make them closer to each other,”- explains Marina Kakunina.
Free area behind the old concierge desk has been transformed into a cozy private space, which is especially valuable in the atmosphere of constant activity in the hotel entrance area. There is a large table with a walnut veneer tabletop, skillfully laid out in the form of diverging rays in this area. Several armchairs around provide an opportunity to hold intimate talks with colleagues or just sit away from the business bustle of a large hotel. The illuminated back panel, reminiscent of a spacious bookcase with stylish accessories, creates the image of a library in a country house.
The main surprise awaits guests on the right side of the entrance. Behind the new reception desks, their attention is immediately drawn to a well-lit panel on the back wall. Its design resembles the outlines of mountains and seems native in a hotel that is inherently connected with travel. The panel is made of several natural materials: marble from Oman, onyx from India, and softly shimmering quartz from Italy. The creators of the panel were inspired by the idea of bringing a piece of nature into the city hotel.
The ceiling stained glass over the area with modern sofas and armchairs does not stand out from the overall concept. Its lighting was enhanced, which allowed the contours of the stained glass to be highlighted and become brighter.
The new lighting in the lobby combines with excellent lighting in the bar area. The armchairs and sofas in light tones in the recreation area were replaced with rounded furniture. This helped following the new concept and making the space more open.
The unique marble and granite floor was preserved, as it organically fits into the renewed lobby of the hotel.