In conversation with Terry McGinnity, Executive Design Director of G.A Group (Exclusive Interview)

Tell us more about the history of your company? What motivated the focus on luxury?

G.A Group started over thirty years ago and was founded by two partners from the Hospitality world. One from the technical side and one from the design side. Both different but very complimentary. I joined shortly after. Over time, one of the partners moved on,  but it remained a small privately owned Company. Even as we’ve grown, that feeling of a small personal studio has remained and I think its been one of our great strengths internally. 

At G.A Group, we’ve always focused on Luxury. One of our very first projects was the Hotel du Cap in Cap Ferat. The desire to work at this level  was driven by a passion for high quality and equally for the freedom of design at that level.  It demands the best from us and stretches us creatively, which is the best reason to come to work every day. That said, the Hospitality world has changed massively in the last 15 years and our concept of luxury is ever evolving, which is fantastic.

What type of project are you normally seeking? Which parts of a new hotel project are you executing? 

We love the challenge of differing projects. I don’t think we specifically target a type of Hotel, so long as it’s a quality project. As I said above, our concept or perception of luxury has changed massively over the last 15 years, and probably even more so over the last ten, meaning luxury is no longer defined by the typical standards.  

Is there a common DNA for all the projects designed by The GA Group?

I think our common DNA is in the way we approach projects , rather than a common style. We believe each project is unique and should be treated as such. We look for individual solutions to each Hotel, looking to develop a distinctive personality that resonates with its site and Locale. We research heavily and involve ourselves in all aspects of the project to reach a point where the design approach feels intuitive and correct. You can feel it when you get to this stage.  

How important is for luxury hotel projects to have a sense of place? 

I think all Hotels, not just the luxury field, should have a sense of where they are. I think it’s an imperative when travelling now, to value the experience.  To connect with the country or city and to experience a new culture is one of the most valuable rewards of travelling. This should not change, whether you travel for work or pleasure. It not only enriches your life but also shows great respect to where you are visiting.

Which are the completed projects you consider as the most representative of your work?

That is always difficult because we do a wide variety of work. I think some of the significant projects are Palace Hotel Tokyo, W Taipei , Corinthia London , Rosewood Schloss Fuschl and 1Hotel London. But that doesn’t do justice to all the other projects such as St Regis Osaka, Belmond Cadogan and Atlantis The Royal Dubai. Separate to the Hotel work, we are also proud of our Harrods work, being responsible for the new white Hall and beauty section on the Ground floor and newly opened basement.

To what extent do you follow trends? Is there a recipe to achieve desirability for your designs?

It depends how you define trends. There are continuing changes and trends in travel and guest dynamics which you must be aware of.  How guests work now has changed massively, how guests interact and use Hotel spaces has also evolved. These sort of trends you have to be aware of and respond to. Fashion trends however must never be at the forefront of your design. We look to design spaces that answer questions and facilitate behaviour. We believe each decision should have a logical base, even if it’s a colour you are choosing. In this way, the designs have a depth and integrity that converts to a longer life. Fashion is, by its very nature, a constantly changing view. To design based on fashion is to inevitably design something that will date, and probably quickly.

How do you define luxury when it comes to hospitality?

That’s a very open question and I think can vary widely depending on the situation. Luxury is often the curation of your experience, cutting out the extraneous noise of travel, allowing you to more fully experience the moment. Easing the process of Hotels, subtly servicing needs and creating “time”. This concept of personal time is, I think, a corner stone of luxury.  

What about innovation when it comes to materials used or finishes? 

There is a constant innovation in materials that are becoming very applicable to projects, particularly in the recycled and sustainable field. Re-constituted veneers, for example have developed to a very high level, giving quality and sustainability as well as opening new choices.  

Most of luxury hospitality and residential projects are also about comfort and functionality. Tell us more.

Comfort and functionality should really be part of all design. I think what Luxury does, is elevate the experience, whether that be in the quality of the thread count in your sheets or the amount of space you experience, it is about curating what you touch and see to heighten your appreciation of the overall experience. Often that can be removing, rather than adding, so that the experience is distilled to something more pure.

How do you view the impact of AI? 

I try to be open to its obvious benefits but not be seduced by its ease. I worry that it will become an easy crutch that will dilute genuine creative drive.

What is your current pipeline? 

Our current pipe-line is very healthy. We have a new project in London plus some great work in Asia that we are very excited about.  We have new work in Europe, resorts and city, plus we have just been invited to do a very intimate and special bar in America that is great fun and challenging. We are also looking forward very much to the opening of the Park Hyatt, Kuala Lumpur, a project that has been on-going for some time.

 

 

 

 

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