HOTEL PULITZER, AMSTERDAM
Indeed, there is a more than a passing nod to history at every turn. The building which houses the lobby was once a warehouse so Struass chose end grain flooring because end grain was traditionally used wherever there were steel carts because of its durability and longevity. Of course, it also makes it perfect for a hotel lobby, a space where wood floors are often not fitted due to heavy traffic. The palette at the Pulitzer is that of the Old Masters: deep blues, rich greens and pinky-plums. Original stucco ceilings, antique Delft tiles and magnificent fireplaces are offset by an eclectic mix of oil paintings, old mirrors and vintage prints, and thrown into contemporary relief by charred furniture from Maarten Baas, Piet Hein Eek’s patchwork Persian rugs and custom designed furniture by Strauss himself. And amongst all the elegance is plenty of humour, too: the archway of books with a bicycle on top, a wall of 17 brass trumpets with a solitary purple one, and a bright yellow bulldog perched on a drinks trolley all show a quirkiness which is very Amsterdam. Havwoods timber can be found throughout the hotel: both smooth and textured planks from the Venture Plank, Henley and Trapa ranges as well as a couple of different herringbones and the aforementioned end grain. “I design mainly in the hospitality and commercial sector,” says Strauss, “and for this reason I need products that are durable but without losing character. Havwoods’ range ticks all the boxes without compromising one way or the other. The woods I have used were well suited to the design contexts and concepts, and there were some really unusual and exciting products to choose from. I also love the fact that the finishes are natural and only get better with time.”
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