Muza Lab: design for explorers

Whether yachts or luxury hotels, projects by the renowned design studio Muza Lab have a unique style that combines traditional and modern.

Projects such as the Six Senses Southern Dunes in Saudi Arabia demonstrate an attention to detail that is key to Muza Lab interior design projects. The result combines sustainable architecture with the rich history of the Nabataeans or – as in the case of the One&Only Aesthesis in Athens – modern elegance with Greek tradition and natural elements. In this interview, Inge Moore and Nathan Hutchins provide an insight into their understanding of design.

What cultural elements inspired you when designing the hotel rooms at Six Senses Southern Dunes, and how did you integrate them into the design?

Inge Moore: We found Saudi Arabia to have such an impressive cultural history, something which was also strongly influenced by the trade routes. This proved to be a real source of inspiration for us. For example, its cultural heritage can be seen in the details of the furniture, handcrafted accessories and Arabic bronze elements – but we didn’t just limit ourselves to the region. Trade has always been a way of exchanging things and handling goods from foreign countries. This is also reflected in the design of the Six Senses Southern Dunes, which also includes contemporary touches.

Nathan Hutchins: That being said, we often find our entry point in the first few words of a project. We then do our research and see how we can use them. It’s less about the words themselves and more about the emotions they can evoke in us. The same goes for the design elements we end up using.

Inge Moore: Exactly. It is very important that we know our clients personally or get to know them. We believe in the narrative and the experience – after all, we want to create lasting memories.

To what extent are the local culture and heritage of Athens reflected in the design of the One&Only Aesthesis?

Nathan Hutchins: Just like in the French Riviera, the 1950s was also a golden era in Athens, characterised by glamour and an aspirational lifestyle. We wanted to capture that spirit with One&Only Aesthesis.

Inge Moore: The resort combines 1950s elegance with modern luxury. We made a conscious decision to use modernist furniture, but also local materials such as white marble and wood, to create an authentic Greek atmosphere. The focus here is on glamour and a harmonious connection between nature and mid-century style.

Nathan Hutchins: Greece is back on the world stage, so to speak, and the One&Only Aesthesis is a throwback to that era, but in a contemporary way.

What particular challenges did you face when redesigning One&Only Cape Town, especially in terms of incorporating local materials and craftsmanship?

Inge Moore: Every market brings its own challenges and opportunities. In this case, we were able to work with local artists on the furniture and they used traditional craftsmanship to create beautiful pieces.

Nathan Hutchins: Of course, we were lucky that Inge comes from South Africa. She knows the country very well and has many contacts there. You need to have a feel for a place, travel there, talk to the people. We do that for all our projects.

Inge Moore: We also take some of these new acquaintances with us, so to speak, to other projects. In this case, it was an incredibly talented painter from Cape Town, who we also worked with in Morocco.

Nathan Hutchins: That process is always very exciting – it’s about finding and meeting new people and everyone works with their own techniques. We really enjoy combining these different approaches and creating something unique.

Is the design process for the MY Marala Classic Yacht any different from other design tasks?

Inge Moore: Generally speaking, not really. The team is perhaps a little different. In this case, all the carpets are custom made and we were able to use very classic accessories.

Nathan Hutchins: Since this is a classic yacht, we were also looking for a very classic design. That’s not particularly easy as you won’t find any straight lines on a boat like this, only surfaces that are at least double curved. This results in extremely interesting perceptions of the spaces – even if it was a challenge that took some getting used to. On the other hand, we were able to incorporate some really cool details and experiment a lot. Our goal was to authentically recreate a 1930s feel.

Inge Moore: Working with objects that are steeped in history is always exciting. Together with the craftsmen, we had a great team. We all kept discovering things on board that we would never have expected to find…

How did you go about designing the Belmond Andean Explorer to create a luxurious and comfortable travel experience?

Inge Moore: When we first saw pictures of the carriages, it was a typical old-fashioned luxury train – and it was bright red. That was clearly too much for us. Our goal was to tone down the design. So, we started by painting over all the wooden elements in light colours. We also wanted to bring calm to the space with locally inspired accents and high-quality textiles for the shelves. Space to breathe, reflect and, of course, the freedom to enjoy the view.

Nathan Hutchins: We deliberately kept the interior very low key so as not to upstage the exterior. Small details such as well-placed handrails and space-saving folding furniture were particularly important to us. It is the case with all our projects – whether you are sitting at a hotel bar or travelling by train, our designs need to be practical and comfortable. We attach great importance to how a guest feels in a room.

Inge Moore: That’s right. Every project has its own restrictions. We love these challenges. For example, a home bar also needs to work in a small apartment, not just in a luxury suite with near limitless possibilities.

How do the history and heritage of a place influence your design decisions in general?

Inge Moore: With the Six Senses Southern Dunes, we have tapped into a new market. The client’s brief was to put the region at the heart of the project, to celebrate the beauty of the country and the art, and to promote Cape Town to the world.

Nathan Hutchins: Many of our clients come to us because they want a project that has a unique design and an unmistakable connection to the location. We don’t have a single look, or a construction kit that we simply delve into. We create a unique feeling for every place and every person.

What role does sustainability play in your projects?

Nathan Hutchins: Our sustainability is expressed in many small details, such as the components of all the products we use for a project. We opt for natural materials that are free of chemicals and can be recycled. The Six Senses Southern Dunes, for example, uses solar energy, and minimising water consumption has always been important to us –especially in a desert climate. Our goal is therefore to be as sustainable as possible in our operations.

Inge Moore: The requirements are always different and depend on the location of the projects. Sustainability was a key element of One&Only Aesthesis as evidenced by certifications such as LEED and SITES. In general, we rely on partnerships and close relationships within a fantastic network.

Nathan Hutchins: In the end, the most important things are durability and the possibility of reuse. Many manufacturers have also recognised this. Researching sustainable products and materials takes a lot of work – having a studio in London works to our advantage; all the brands are here, they bring things to us and we build relationships. This is also happening in other places, such as Milan, you meet new people and the network grows.

How do you manage to strike a balance between modern luxury and the integration of traditional elements in each of your projects?

Inge Moore: We don’t work with a ​‘copy and paste’ approach. Everything has to fit together and you need to feel good about it. It’s about having an eye for it, finding the right pieces and combining them. We also often try to see things in a new or different light, or to combine different styles.

Nathan Hutchins: I’m not a fan of rooms that look like they’re ready-made. It’s all about collecting things. Whether it’s your favourite 30-year-old chair or your grandmother’s heirloom – our motto is ​‘mix and match’. We want to have fun with our work, we seek out challenges and we love to be inspired.

Thank you for the interview!

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