Tina Norden is a rare breed when it comes to hospitality and hospitality design. Throughout the pandemic, Norden has been a consistent and key voice in the industry, speaking as a leading interior designer and architect at various online events on topics such as emerging trends in interior design, the impact of the pandemic on the hospitality industry, inclusive design, and quality craftsmanship. Throughout this year, the interior designer and architect has continued to mentor the more junior members of her team and has generally kept up the momentum and positive vibes while working and completing large-scale projects remotely. .
It was therefore only natural that the judges of the Brit List Awards 2021 collectively award him the prestigious title of Interior Designer of the Year.
Following what she describes as an “unsuspecting victory” at the awards show which she describes as a “big industry group hug”, I went to visit Norden at Conran’s new home and Partners in the heart of Clerkenwell.
Norden’s passion and curiosity for interior design and architecture was a combination of nature and culture. His father was a landscape architect and grew up on the outskirts of the German port city of Hamburg – a destination that amplifies creativity, culture and liberal attitudes – which influenced his career path.
Despite her love for her hometown, Norden’s commitment to the world of design and architecture brought her to London at just 18 – straight after leaving school. Drawn, she explains in the A Conran and Partners Lifestyle book, to the city’s “incredible music scene,” when it came to applying to college, there was nowhere else for Norden.
> Watch the full interview with Tina Norden, Partner, Conran and Partners here.
After completing the first part of a course, Norden took a year off, which opened the door to an internship at Conran and Partners, a place Norden describes as “the place for me.”
Pulling the experience out of her internship, Norden was offered a place at the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London, on a course that combined both design and architecture (something she wishes was more common in today’s education system). There she completed her Part II, and no doubt where she discovered her interest in interior design.
During his studies, the designer and architect continued to work at Conran and Partners (and never left), enjoying creative freedom, while working closely with Sir Terence Conran on a number of design projects. huge proportion.
During his time at Conran and Partner, Norden breathed new life into many projects, while leading a team with a strong and empathetic style. His masterpieces include German Gymnasium, Skylon, South place Hotel, Finsbury and Hotel Maximilian in Prague.
One thing is certain when looking through all of Norden’s work: she designs for style rather than fashion (every time) to ensure the result is both ambitious and enduring – a skill she no doubt inherited from Sir Terrence Conran himself.
Recently completed projects include the new Park Hyatt Hotel Auckland, FEAST within Hong Kong’s iconic EAST hotel, a newtinemembership and membership club at the Taj Hotel in London and the Peninsula Boutique and Café in Hong Kong.
Additionally, Norden and his team were recently part of what many would consider the highlight of HIX Event 2021; design of the WFHotel facility. The studio worked collaboratively to design a set that explored how consumer attitudes towards working from home/hotel could challenge conventional lobby designs. Norden’s interpretation of the memoir centered on community-focused ways to interact (not surprising after experiencing first-hand his selfless approach to being a true leader in international hotel design).
This editorial series is sponsored by GROHE, broadcast partner of the Brit List Awards 2021 – and was filmed by CUBE. The Brit List Awards will return this year – with applications/nominations open in the summer and remaining a free process for all categories. Following our interview with Norden as Interior Designer of the Year, we then meet Mark Bruce, Principal Board Director of EPR Architects, who was recently crowned 2021 Architect of the Year.
Main image credit: Conran and Partners
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