“California jails are increasingly offering pay-to-stay upgrades, costing from USD $75 a day for premium cells. These are more private, allow access to personal possessions, and are at a greater distance from violent offenders.”
(From Sarah Rabia, Five-start Cells, The, issue 01, 17.09.2007, p. 5.)
Checked in famous Condesa SF hotel in Mexico City. It turned out to be one of the best places I ever stayed - anywhere. I would call it a “intelligent design” hotel. While many hotels simply stock up designer chairs, through name brand items in the bathroom and stop there, Condesa SF has depth, complexity, and surprises. It also has an unusual attention to detail - the desire to rethink everything and not just a few elements. Instead of a usual swipe card, you get a special key which looks like something from The Star Track (the original from the 1960s). Power outlets are right next to the bed, etc. I will write more about hotel architecture by Javier Sanchez (whom I hope to meet while I am in Mexico City - he is a friend of my colleague Teddy Cruz), but for now, these are the pictures of my room and the lovely private terrace :
One detail which unfortunately is standard: a mini-bar. Yes, it features an endless array of exotic drinks and elixirs, but they are all housed in a standard case. Why no designer has taken up the challenge of re-thinking this element of hotel design?