Okko Hotel Nantes | Patrick Norguet

Like many of my collaborative projects, Okko Hotels is, first and foremost, a human adventure which was built around my encounter with Olivier Devys, President and CEO of Okko and former head of the Accor group. He asked me to follow him in this very innovative project. Out of his desire to upend the traditional hospitality models was born the idea of a four-­‐ star hotel in the heart of the city, where the client can move around independently and where hospitality becomes, once again, the top priority. Combining the advantages of chain hotels and those of independent hotels, designing functional and appropriately sized rooms, while offering luxury at an affordable rate were the challenges that enthused and inspired me. The idea was to design a simple and timeless product; a place that stands apart from fashion and trends and where the notions of service and comfort are paramount. Money is never mentioned at Okko because all the services are included in the price of the room. This is a very important detail that will profoundly change the way clients behave and experience the place. I wanted the Okko room to be a modern space that comes with high-­‐end amenities and services. The Club is a vast space where design and conviviality meet and where patrons can enjoy special moments freely and at all times. From the very beginning, we worked with vendors from the design industry with whom I share high aesthetic standards. Beyond the design aspect, the challenge I faced was to create "humanistic" rooms based on a certain vision and philosophy. Throughout the long process, I really wanted to give birth to a brand and not just to a hotel.