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Design Diaries Nini Andrade Silva

Design

The Design Diaries
Nini Andrade Silva

Design Diaries

Words Vidula KotianDate 12 June 2019

If you, like us, have walked into a hotel and immediately fallen in love with the interiors, music, food, or what not, and wondered about the person behind said amazing thing, then this series is for you. We’ve interviewed various creative luminaries in hospitality, and we hope you enjoy getting to know them as much as we have.

Nini Andrade 01

From the moment I get a new project, my imagination starts to fly, back to my experiences, through different cultures I got to know over the years and, sometimes, small details.

Nini Andrade Silva

Design Stats

Award-winning hotel projects all over the world


Signature Style

Fluid interiors and curvaceous furniture


Highlights

“Grau de Oficial da Ordem do Infante D. Henrique,” an honorary title by the Portuguese government


What You Didn't Know

Her paintings are part of contemporary art museums around the world; designed the “CR7” chair for fellow Funchal-native Cristiano Ronaldo 


Design Hotels Members

Vila Foz Hotel & Spa, Furnas Boutique Hotel, Azor Hotel, B.O.G Hotel


Video

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Who or what are your biggest influences?

The impact in my designs came from my life, family who gave me the power to believe in myself, trips, books I read, people I met around the world, food I tasted, different cultures I experienced, friends, movies, etc…. Everything inspires me—from the moment I get a new project my imagination starts to fly, back to my experiences, through different cultures I got to know over the years and, sometimes, small details. Actually, even these tiny things can lead to the most daring and different ideas, resulting in wonderful projects.

Have you ever changed your mind about anything aesthetics-wise?

Yes, I’ve changed my mind many times. It is the natural evolution of a creative process. My team knows me as “the last-minute girl” and this means that, throughout the development of a project, my ideas are maturing in my head and gaining new forms and shapes. We are not static beings, so the design cannot be either!

Describe your dream project, real or fantasy.

For a while now, my dream project has been to create a hotel whose interior design is completely digital and based on multimedia content. I would reduce the physical decorative elements and instead rely on digital projections that would change according to the different seasons. I really believe that our emotions can be translated into design. To this end, there is undoubtedly the eternal search for the essence, whether the site, the materials, the theme, the target audience, etc. The mixture of these different elements can be the recipe to draft up a project and succeed. I have been storytelling, for a long time…

05 DD Nini Andrade

Saccharum Hotel Resort & Spa

Nini Andrade Carota

Lapa chaise lounge

04 DD Nini Andrade 17 A

Wood or concrete?
Concrete.

Beach or mountain?
Beach.

Modern or classic?
Modern.

Morning or evening?
Morning.

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04 DD Nini Andrade 17 B
04 DD Nini Andrade 17 D

What’s the last thing you read that made you feel something?

This sentence by a Japanese artist: “I can’t say thank you enough to my clients who keep my imagination alive.” And to be honest, this is so true for my life…I can never say thanks enough!

What are you currently working on?

At the moment, we are working on interior design projects all over the world in hospitality, private homes, and commercial spaces. As an example, we are doing a private mansion in Japan and a big brand hotel in Brazil. There are ongoing hotel projects in Europe, and we have released an exclusive collection of furniture, “Garota do Calhau Collection”, inspired by the organic shape of the stones from Madeira’s beaches. These pieces are amazing because of the size and the shape.

Is there a building or product that strikes you as particularly well-designed or innovative?

There are so many incredible things in the world, but the last building I saw that I really loved was the National Museum of Qatar by Jean Nouvelle, because it is so unique! I must confess that when I visited the project, I was designing a hotel in Dubai inspired by desert roses so when I saw the Nouvelle project, I immediately fell in love because the source of inspiration was the same.

07 DD Nini Andrade

Hotel Teatro

03 DD Beautique 1

WC Beautique Hotel

Nini Andrade Portrait

City or country?
City.

Jazz or classical?
Classical.

Drama or comedy?
Comedy.

Dancing or hiking?
Dancing.

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