BANGKOK, THAILAND – BLINK Design Group’s promise of ‘brilliant hospitality design’ runs deeper and shines brighter after adding another radiant talent, Zia Hansen, to the leading architectural and design practice’s expanding galaxy of stars.
Ms Hansen is already in the thick of the design action at BLINK, working on the interior design and branding of five restaurants at the Sheraton Walkerhill in Seoul, as well as taking the interior design lead on BLINK projects including the new Hilton Kota Kinabalu and Hotel Indigo Zhengzhou, China.
The inquiring mind behind the African National Congress (ANC) Freedom College in Tanzania and a former professor at Copenhagen’s Royal Academy of Architecture, University of Southern California and University of Las Vegas takes the reins as BLINK’s Associate Director Interior Design, based in Singapore.
Ms Hansen cut her design teeth in the shadows of Europe’s classical castles, and found herself profoundly influenced by classical and Scandinavian functionalist architecture and design. Since then, she has carved out a glittering career spanning three decades and ranging across nations, continents and the broad spectrum of architecture and interior design.
For the past 20 years, it is the spheres of hospitality, leisure and entertainment that interest her most, along with interior design. Here, she can fully explore her theories of inner space: as psychological continuum where the interplay of light and matter profoundly affects perceptions and moods, and creates a stage for the kinetic theatre of bodies in motion. An enigmatic delight found in exploring pre-eminent luxury resorts.
Ms Hansen has received international acclaim, including the coveted Hospitality Design (HD) award for the MGM Monorail Connector, Las Vegas – 2009 and also the AIA Nevada Design Award 1998. She counts her best qualities as creativity, boldness and style, while meticulous execution and perseverance remain the hallmarks of her approach.
BLINK Senior Creative Director and founder Clint Nagata welcomed Ms Hansen to the team and said: “Coupled with a passion for evocative design and an innate ability to groom and shape raw talents, Zia’s wealth of international experience adds phenomenal dimensions to BLINK’s reach.”
An appetite for adventure took Ms Hansen to Tanzania, for two years designing the Soloman Mahlangu Freedom College, a state of the art educational institution established by the ANC near Morogoro, Tanzania on an old sisal farm.
“I have always had an innate sense of adventure,” Ms Hansen said. “I’ve worked in Africa, Europe and the Americas but Asia is the place to be now. I love the energy. That is what drew me into BLINK’s orbit.”
To Ms Hansen, all the design world’s a stage. Or a movie set. “You need a great script to be able to tell a compelling story and create a memorable experience,” she said. “Some spaces are the heroes or heroines, while other spaces need to be supporting actors to make the stars shine.”
For further information and high-resolution photography, please contact:
Chereen Tai
Brand Manager
BLINK Design Group
Direct Tel: +65 6423 9516 ext. 261
Mobile: +65 8123 7749
Email: chereen.t@blinkdg.com
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