Spa room at Six Senses Kyoto
SINGAPORE: BLINK Design Group ushers in the New Year with a celebration of what the firm achieved in 2024, from another award-winning year of hotel and resort design inspired by its signature philosophy of ‘placemaking’ to a major new initiative to carve out a foothold as one of the prime movers in cutting-edge spa design across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Europe.
BLINK in 2024 also built on its peerless tradition of team-building with unique initiatives, announce a ground-breaking collaboration with a legendary brand, and continue to build on thought leadership in the industry, spearheaded by founding partner and creative force Clint Nagata.
Key awards and highlights for BLINK in 2024 include the Gold Key Award 2024 for Lobby, Luxury and Wellness for the stunning Six Senses Kyoto, while Nagata’s thought leadership in the industry was reflected in speakerships at key symposia and events spanning China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Portugal, Germany, UAE, UK, Australia, and Singapore, for groups including Forbes, Dubai Design Week, Sleeper Sessions, Die 101 Besten, Hospitality Japan, AHICE Asia and THINC Indonesia.
A 2024 highlight was the ground-up design of the first Six Senses hotel in Japan in downtown Kyoto, a triumph for BLINK which honored the courtly elegance and refined charm that marked the city’s birth as a new capital, reimagined through the lens of contemporary style.
Other awards and nominations for BLINK’s work on Six Senses Kyoto include: nomination for Eco conscious and hotel luxury categories; Elle Deco Sustainability Award Japan, November 2024; The Reggie Shiu Development of the Year at HICAP, October 2024; and AHEAD Asia Awards 2024 for Guestroom and Resort categories and nominated for Spa & Wellness category.
Arrival experience at Banyan Tree Dongguan Songshan Lake Resort
Another 2024 standout was the sublime Banyan Tree Dongguan Songshan Lake resort, inspired by a deep dive into ancient Lingnan culture, and realized in a series of serene oases offering panoramic mountain and lake views. The resort was an honored finalist in the AHEAD Asia Awards 2024 for Guestrooms, Resorts, Spa & Wellness.
Deluxe Beach Bungalow exterior at Huvafen Fushi
Rounding out 2024’s honor roll was Huvafen Fushi Maldives, a loving restoration of an icon of the Maldives and an enchanted hideaway at North Male Atoll which required some fresh thinking and love to bring its lavish above-water and beach bungalow dwellings up to date and into the future. It was a finalist in the AHEAD Asia Awards 2024 for Hotel Renovation.
BLINK’s move into wellness in 2024 included the creation of The Banyan Tree Spa Dubai, an oasis of serenity on the tranquil shores of Bluewaters Island overlooking the Arabian Gulf, inspired by the changing moods of the desert.
Nagata said he was excited and inspired by BLINK’s bold move into the wellness space, with new projects moving apace into 2025 including The Guerlain Spa at One&Only Le Saint Géran, Mauritius and BLINK’s first foray into France with Six Senses Loire Valley. Embracing the seasonal textures, shapes and colours of the surrounding Sologne Forest, the design of Six Senses Loire Valley epitomizes a new wellness experience across its luxury resort facilities and branded residences. Venturing into Normandy, BLINK’s second French project infuses a touch of luxe wellness experience into a 1930s hotel. In Asia, work is in progress on the reimagining of an ultra-luxury urban resort in the heart of Bangkok scheduled to open at the end of 2025.
The Guerlain Spa at One&Only Le Saint Géran is more than a retreat—it is a living embodiment of dual harmony, where two seemingly distinct worlds unite to create an unparalleled experience. The serene shores of Mauritius, with their crystalline waters and vibrant natural landscapes, provide a canvas for the timeless elegance of Guerlain, a brand that epitomizes French luxury and refinement.
BLINK was inspired by the sublime contrasts; rugged volcanic terrain meeting lush tropical greenery, while the shimmering expanse of the Indian Ocean frames the island in tranquility. The spa design incorporates dark, textured finishes inspired by volcanic rock, juxtaposed with the soft luxury of French-inspired furnishings and textiles.
BLINK innovations and initiatives to be built on in 2025, as the firm celebrates its 19th year, include collaborations and exchange programs with like-minded firms and cutting-edge manufacturers.
And team building continues apace via the A Wish to Remember by Kayte McMillan, the travel incentive program for high performing team members in honor of the late and much-loved Kayte McMillan, whereby winners are sent to their dream destinations to be immersed in inspiration and a sense of place.
‘BLINK enters 2025 in great shape, with a renewed push into Europe to expand our frontiers, the tremendously exciting possibilities of the burgeoning wellness space, and continuing to attract and inspire the best in the business,” said Nagata. “Bring it on. This is us.”
For more information about BLINK Design Group, please visit www.blinkdg.com