The 5-star boutique hotel in the center of Moscow StandArt is known for its retro-chic futuristic design and bohemian atmosphere, being the center of gravity for art lovers and gourmet enthusiasts. Here you can easily meet Russian celebrities and young entrepreneurs having business meetings, stylish locals on a staycation, and trendy tourist.
We met with the General Manager of StandArt Hotel Elizavetta Nikitina for an exclusive interview to get to know this place better and get some tips on how to get the best time of it when in the hotel.
What is the original concept of StandArt Hotel?
StandArt hotel is not a heavy luxury 5-star hotel in the very center of Moscow. It is a unique property with its own philosophy and approach that can be seen not only in our interiors but also by an individual approach to our guests. We go by the motto “Stand for Art”. So you can see it everywhere when staying in our hotel or visiting our restaurant.
Speaking about the design, the hotel is in retro futuristic style, which is a blend of retro chic and modern technologies; it symbolizes tension between past and future. Moscow artist Stanislav Tratsevsky, who worked on the concept of the hotel together with a group of designers and architects, once said that he wanted to create a property that was as traditionally Russian as it was progressive. Here, the hotel’s futuristic interior appeals to science-fiction lovers, while the façade, designed by the famous Russian architect Pavel Andreev, “is truly Old-World Russia”.
I think Moscow is all about it. On the same street you can see ancient buildings together with skyscrapers.
What kind of unique experience do you offer to your guests?
Following our concept, the hotel displays a balance of progressive global trends combined with high level of comfort and tranquility. Behind the art nouveau exterior the residents and visitors of Moscow can expect original and exclusive pieces of furniture and interior design in all of our 104 rooms. Here everything has been well thought in advance. For example, you can switch on the air-conditioner or “do not disturb” sign when lying in bed. The focal point in each room is the art objects, created by Stanislav Tratsevskiy. Hand-painted panels and monochrome graffiti wall murals complement the original design and open the door to the new unexplored worlds.
Our guests can expect high-quality amenities and efficient service. Hospitality is all about people, and you have to think about their needs to make their stay comfortable. We pay a lot attention to cosmetics, bed linen, tableware, and work only with the best suppliers.
What kind of message do you send through art and design?
I do believe that a place determines our consciousness. Colors, objects, design, amenities all make difference. Resourcefulness is a key trend now. If a guest can’t sleep well because of a too hard pillow, they can’t work well, communicate well, they will not achieve their trip targets and so on. That is why our aim is to fulfill their stay with resources to do more and enjoy their life. We do pay a lot attention to the details and surround everyone with love and care.
Our guests are quite young for a 5-star hotel, of 35-40 years old, a lot stay with their families or combine work and vacation here. They value comfort, spacious rooms, delicious food and style. They like exclusivity and uniqueness that is simple but smart, rich but quiet. This is what they can find here.
Why the space theme was chosen as the main one?
Space exploration is one of the things deeply connected with retrofuturism. Remember the films of 1960s or 70s. Space wars, flying cars, robotic servants, aliens, this is what we can see there. People were thinking if they would ever travel to space as tourists, if they would talk to Martians. Travelling to other universes was a key theme during that time. I have told you that we have our own philosophy, we regard travelling to new place like exploring new universes, so why not to start with the hotel.
Is there any art object on the territory that is especially unique and rare?
In fact, all of the art objects here are unique and rare. Stanislav Tratsevsky created the collection of paintings exclusively for our hotel. Only hotel’s guests have a chance to enjoy it. What is interesting is that you will never find the same painting. However, amanita is what they all have in common. Not many know that amanita is a symbol of life on other planets. If it can grow on a planet, a human being can also live there.
Moreover, all paintings are made using the technique of sgraffito. “Sgraffito” comes from the Italian word “graffiare” and means “to scratch”. An artist cuts away parts of layer and fills it with other colours. The technique began in Italy in the 15th century and widely spread all over the world and especially Europe. It was Stanislav’s first experience with it here in StandArt hotel, so one will never find any of his objects of sgraffito except for StandArt hotel.
What is a must-do when in StandArt Moscow?
I believe that our mission is to make our guests feel at home when they are here, make them relax after a long-lasting flight or intensive day at work in our Spa, that I truly recommend, keep fit in our fitness center and enjoy breakfast at YURA restaurant. However, the hotel is not all about services and staying inside, first comes the city where it is. That is why I would say that what you must do is to explore Moscow. Our hotel boasts its unique location in the very heart of our capital. At the walking distance, there are many museums, theaters, parks, restaurants. So staying always inside is a crime. Enjoy the city! You know, we have many Muscovites who spend their weekends at the hotel and visiting sights as tourists. I think it is a great trend of nowadays. We do not notice a lot about the city when simply living there. We concentrate too much on our daily routine to see beauty around. Staycation helps us to look at the city from the other side.
Do you still host unique events and art gatherings? Is there a calendar for events until the end of 2023?
We all live in the other world now. Frankly, it seems that no one makes plans in advance. It all happens just in time. Speaking about calendar, I would better say we have a two-month plan.
We work closely with theater agencies, fashion and beauty brands. We are an official partner of Moscow Film Festival. This year we also hosted Fashion Salon, a project of U-style magazine (former Instyle) where movie stars were getting ready to appear on the red carpet. Moreover, there appears a lot of new projects, partners and events all at once.
What kind of treatments do you recommend to try in the Spa?
Our Spa studio provides different procedure to relax and recover. My favorite one is a massage with healing herbs. It is a 2-hour massage procedure with herbal paunches. It is a phyto, aroma and thermal therapy. Ideal combo after a long working day or jet lag.
Tell us about the concept of the restaurant Yura?
YURA restaurant is another piece of art. Located on the second floor of the StandArt hotel, it is a modern functional space in the style of retro-futurism with panoramic windows, a lot of glass, metal, marble and wood in the decoration. Speaking about the cuisine, it offers signature dishes by our chef. The main concept is “from garden to table”. The menu is all about pure taste, naturalness, minimal thermal treatment. It is dynamic and depends on the season. You can see something new there mostly every month.
How do you see StandArt hotel in the next 5 years?
Flourishing, of course. Our main target is to make people come back again. I would say that we are on the right track. They come here with their friends and families, celebrate their birthdays and other important dates, and meet their business partners. What they value most of all is exclusivity, style and comfort. Our concept and design fully meet their requirements. We do hope that we will have a community of StandArt hotel lovers one day.
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