-Art meets Luxury with the dazzling glass artwork of Lasvit
In the heart of Athens, the King George Hotel remains timelessly synonymous with elegance and world-class hospitality.
With love for art and dedication to its vision to cultivate a rich cultural experience for its guests, it hosts an impressive work of art that promises to become a landmark in Syntagma Square, enhancing the hotel’s aesthetics and at the same time opening a dialogue on the symbiotic relationship between art, luxury and hospitality in Athens.
Specifically, the interior atrium of the King George reveals an extraordinary 21-metre-long custom-made glass installation that captivates the senses. The work is inspired by the olive tree and its timeless charm, a symbol of our country. The primary purpose of this artistic addition was to enrich the bright, yet uninviting, interior of the hotel with an attractive sight.
At the sight of this unique glass work, guests of the King George Hotel experience an incomparable sensory experience, which marks a significant moment in the hotel’s history, reinforcing its commitment to foster an environment where art and luxury coexist harmoniously in a poetical narrative. The lobby of the historic King George Hotel, located next to the iconic and now 150-year-old Hotel Grande Bretagne, is already adorned with an elegant marble floor with olive leaf decorations and high-end artwork.
The coordination and implementation of the installation of the glass artwork was undertaken by Lasvit, a leading company in the design and construction of modern glass art installations. Lasvit has created over 3000 bespoke projects worldwide in some of the world’s most impressive hotels, retail outlets, cultural institutions and public spaces.
The exhibition was curated by Art Historian and independent Art Consultant Maria Migadi who notes: “The Athanasios Laskaridis family’s love of art is evident in all their hotels – for example, Athens Capital features George Lappas’ life’s work ‘Mappemonde’ – , with the most recent gem being acquired for the King George Hotel. This spectacular piece was commissioned by Lasvit, the most beloved company of major hotels and luxury brands worldwide. This stunning sculptural installation of Lasvit’s Bohemian glass can be admired from the award-winning Tudor Hall Restaurant, as well as from a plethora of rooms at the King George Hotel. It is worth noting that the King George welcomes guests with museum-quality artworks by Yannis Moralis ‘Composition’, Paul McCarthy ‘White Snow Asleep’ and Albert Ohelen ‘Kampf dem gemeinem RebrUssler’, as well as a series of works by the distinguished visual artist Sophia Petropoulou.”
A few words from Lasvit: “Rather than limiting ourselves to established techniques, we consider our glass artists to be true artists and glass as a suitable medium for experimentation. We have a deep appreciation for traditional glass processing methods, while embracing the latest developments in cutting-edge technology. The two sources that have exerted the most decisive influence on our creative approach are Chribska 1414, the oldest glassworks in Europe, and the glassmakers at Ajeto, who are constantly pushing the boundaries of glass to new heights.”
The Grande Bretagne and King George hotels, which are managed by Marriott International, Inc., are owned by the Greek Hotel Company LAMPSA S.A., a company owned by the Laskaridis Group.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is the world’s largest hotel company, headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with 8,700 hotels and more than 30 chains in 139 countries owned or managed by Marriott International, Inc. Marriott is one of the leading multinational hotel and resort management and franchise companies.