AKA, the brand, founded in 2004 by the visionary hotelier, Larry Korman, represents an ethereal quality of calm, tranquility, spaciousness, a sense of home, and a sanctuary in an urban setting that is otherwise noisy, hectic, and chaotic. These brand qualities have guided the creation of AKA Hotel Residences and more recently Hotel AKA. Hotel AKA, recognized for having the world’s most livable hotels, provides a sense of home for the urban traveler with short stay needs. AKA Hotel Residences are luxury furnished condominiums considerably larger than standard hotel accommodations, providing space for relaxation with full kitchens, separate living and sleeping areas, ideal for stays of a week or longer.
Both Hotel AKA and AKA Hotel Residences resonate with the calm of AKA offering an urban oasis for its guests and residents. “The ethereal essence of AKA,” says Larry Korman, co-CEO of Korman Communities, “is to create a sense of calm and to nurture an ambiance that makes our guest feel at home. AKA resonates anew as today’s traveler is staying longer and seeking a self-sufficient sanctuary where you can prepare a meal in your own kitchen, work from your own living room, and relax in the comfort of your own residence.”
Korman Communities specializes in residential building transformations for its AKA brand. The Korman company searches for iconic, oftentimes historic buildings, which are typically long neglected and in need of major refurbishing and renovations. Korman looks for the hidden gems. To bring this AKA spirit to life in a residential building, Larry Korman also identifies architects and designers who share his vision for creating hotels and hotel residences that have the comfort and feeling of being at home, while maintaining the core values of the AKA brand, and respecting the integrity of the original architecture and neighborhood.
Piero Lissoni is a world-renowned Italian architect and designer whose design philosophy, embracing Japanese minimalism and simplicity, corresponds with AKA's vision of creating spacious luxury hotels and hotel residences that feel like a tranquil, calming, and comfortable urban sanctuary.
Larry Korman praises the collaboration with Piero Lissoni, highlighting the designer’s ability to blend the core residential philosophies of AKA’s livable hotel with a sophisticated contemporary design. In defining AKA’s relationship with Piero Lissoni, Larry Korman says, “. . . we are working closely with Piero Lissoni and his team to infuse a tranquil and sophisticated design that strikes the perfect balance between the privacy and contentment of a residence and the hospitality, service, and style of an intimate hotel."
In describing his process of transforming an historic building on Madison Avenue in New York into the chic contemporary Hotel AKA NoMad, Piero Lissoni said, “You know the film New York, New York with Liza Minnelli and Roberto De Niro? Well, for me this is Hotel AKA NoMad. It is my idea of a New York that encompasses music, life, silence, snow, traffic and energy, but always accompanied by elegance and diversity. It is not conformist but is a hotel that narrates and speaks with a certain style, embracing interior design influences from Japan and modernist geometries.”
Hotel AKA Alexandria
BEST HOTEL TRANSFORMATION
Interior Design Magazine
How can design define a brand?
What are the practical elements of form and function that can harmonize with a brand and bring its ideals to fruition?
Here is how, in collaboration with Piero Lissoni, the AKA brand’s vision and goals are transformed and defined by design:
A Sense of Home
Lissoni's focus on minimalism, simplicity and clarity, both in form and function, creates a homelike atmosphere in AKA Hotels. This means clean lines, uncluttered spaces, and an overall sense of order. Lissoni’s use of warm, natural materials like wood and stone, along with a soft, neutral color palette, muted and understated, white, beige, grey, and earthy tones, contributes to comfortable and inviting spaces, a calm and serene environment. The simplicity and elegance of his designs make guests and residents feel at ease, offering a sense of familiarity and comfort akin to being at home.
The Calm of AKA
The minimalist aesthetic championed by Lissoni emphasizes clean lines and uncluttered spaces, which are essential for creating a tranquil and calming place of residence. By eliminating unnecessary elements and focusing on essential, high-quality pieces, his designs foster a sense of serenity and order. This unique, integrated approach is conducive to relaxation, helping guests and residents escape the noise, confusion, and chaos of urban life.
Subtle Elegance
Lissoni’s preference for understated, timeless elegance aligns with AKA Hotels' desire for an unobtrusive experience of luxury. His designs are refined and sophisticated without being ostentatious. This subtlety allows guests to feel at ease and not be overwhelmed by their surroundings. Open spaces contribute to a sense of calm and quiet. The focus on fine craftsmanship, natural materials, attention to details, integration of aesthetics and functionality, all these qualities ensures that the luxury is inherent in the design and materials rather than being overtly calling attention to itself.
Comfort and Relaxation
Lissoni’s design prioritizes both aesthetics and functionality. Following the Japanese principles of Ma (spaciousness and silence) and Shibui (unobtrusive beauty), Lissoni’s furniture and interiors are not only visually appealing but also comfortable and practical, placed in clean, open spaces. Soft furnishings, ergonomic furniture, and thoughtfully designed living spaces ensure that guests can relax, unwind, and feel like they are home. The use of natural light and soothing color schemes in spacious settings further enhances the sense of comfort and relaxation. Lissoni’s design strives for harmony and balance which contribute to that sense of home-like comfort.
The Safe Feeling of Home
The design of Lissoni's spaces often incorporates elements that contribute to a sense of safety and security that one feels when home. This includes thoughtful layouts and sensible arrangements of furnishings that offer privacy, security and comfort. Appreciative of fine craftsmanship, Lissoni carefully selects materials that are durable, reliable, and sustainable. The Japanese minimalist design concepts also avoid clutter, reducing hazards and making spaces feel more open and navigable.
Urban Sanctuary
Lissoni’s integration of natural elements and a connection to the outdoors helps create a Zen-like atmosphere. Large windows, natural materials, and indoor plants bring elements of nature inside, providing a soothing contrast to the concrete city outside. Incorporating gardens into the architectural design integrates with nature. This connection to nature, use of natural light, and focus on creating serene, spacious interiors transform AKA Hotels into an urban retreat, achieving a sense of peace and relaxation in an otherwise hectic urban environment.
Piero Lissoni’s designs can be experienced in four of AKA’s most livable hotels and hotel residences.
Explore and stay AKA:
Hotel AKA NoMad
Hotel AKA Alexandria
AKA University City
AKA Times Square
