Tristan Du Plessis Appointed as Head Judge for Accor Design Awards 2022

Tristan Du Plessis Appointed as Head Judge for Accor Design Awards 2022

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Internationally acclaimed designer, Tristan Du Plessis, has been appointed as the head judge for the prestigious Accor Design Awards. The worldwide competition challenges budding designers to create spaces for tomorrow’s hospitality.

With hospitality projects across the globe from Design Hotels™ Gorgeous George in Cape Town, to Chapter Roma in Italy, Katsuya in Dubai, Mesh Club in Johannesburg, and many more, it’s clear why internationally recognised award-winning interior architect, Tristan Du Plessis, has been selected to head up this year’s judging panel.

Previous judges of the prestigious Accor Design Awards include globally respected visionaries such as Beth Campbell and Maison & Objet Designer of The Year title winners Ramy Fischer and Tristan Auer.

Tristan Du Plessis
Gorgeous George in Cape Town

“I’m incredibly honoured to be placed in the same category as respected visionaries and previous head judges, Beth Campbell, Tristan Auer and Ramy Fischer. For me, these awards allow designers not only to show off their technical skills but their ability to hone in on what their communities need. The dexterity to design an elevated space while remaining cognizant of what the surroundings are is crucial – it’s something I apply to all my projects particularly those in Africa and the Middle East where development is happening at such a rapid pace,” explains Tristan.

The brief for this year stems from the global paradigm shift relating to the value of time, particularly when it pertains to the commute. According to the brief, we spend an average of 69 minutes a day, 6 hours a week or 11 days a year in transport coupled with noise and smell, it’s one of the factors causing complexity in managing personal and professional life.

An idea to emerge as a response to this is the ’15-minute city’ – an urban residential concept that allows residents’ to fulfil most of their needs a short bicycle ride or walk away. 

As such, designers are being challenged to select a hotel in their neighbourhood and identify an area or zone within the space that they will transform to offer a new experience that reacts to the greater neighbourhood needs.

“Post-Covid, it’s incredibly exciting to be getting back into exchanging ideas at a global level. I can’t wait to see what kind of talent emerges from these awards – and how they will shape the new world as we know it, especially
with hospitality really having to rethink how it fits into people’s lives over the past two years,” remarks Tristan.

The winners of this year’s Accor Design Awards will be announced at a ceremony on 22 June 2022.

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