Luxe Beat Magazine JULY 2014 | Page 37

Travel B ogota is the business capital of Colombia and most of the top end hotels in this cosmopolitan city are very much business oriented. Style and design come as afterthoughts. For the leisure traveler in Bogota, finding a true boutique star was difficult. Then came B.O.G Hotel. Dedicated to design Opened in 2012, the B.O.G. (as locals call it) was the first Design Hotels group member in Colombia and the only one in Bogota. It earned that distinction by being dedicated to design no matter how long it took to achieve. The owners hoped to have the B.O.G. up and running in a year and a half. It ultimately took five years to complete the design and construction of the hotel. And it shows. Portugese designer Nini Andrade traveled around Colombia for a month looking for inspiration and materials. Near the end of her journey she visited Bogota’s renowned Gold Museum. There, the designer found her muse. The B.O.G. lobby ceiling is inspired by gold panning. Glass with gold film around pillars in the lobby evoke a museum display case. The large sculpture under glass at the checkin desk was inspired by what the earth looks like after gold has been mined out of it. The elevator and halls are (very) dimly lit in the way a precious artifact is lit in a museum display case. All of the art and handicrafts in the hotel were made in Colombia including a collection of hats displayed on the wall behind the welcoming lobby bar. Marble tables, traditional grass skirts and more were also sourced from Colombian artisans. PHOTOS BY ANDRÉS VALBUENA The overall bronze and gold palette feels very modern and materials used are intentionally tactile, inviting you to touch rough woven wall covering behind your sumptuous bed and pet the shockingly realistic zebra print and cowhide print wall paper squares. A stunning shower That same attention to detail is evident in the amenities and finishings in each of the 55 rooms as well which include a large and comfortable work desk with plenty of easy-to-access electrical outlets (in case you’re in town on business and pleasure), fitted mid-weight robes with light terry on the inside LEFT A spacious suite at the B.O.G. Hotel in Bogota, Colombia Inside a sexy,open-plan suite at B.O.G. Hotel in Bogota, Colombia 37