A large stainless steel statue adorns the all-glass front here, and a black-studded orange canvas provides a beautiful backdrop to the lobby (though you might feel the spiked ball takes the whole cutting-edge theme too far). The contrasting reds and blacks are toned down somewhat once inside the large rooms, though bright blocks of primary colours ensure a contemporary theme prevails throughout. All of the 35 apartment-style rooms contain kitchen, living and dining rooms, and sleek, square furniture is very much the order of the day. There’s a spare sofa bed in the smaller rooms, soft blue reading lights, and l’Occtaine bath products in all the bathrooms. Penthouse suites eschew the sofa bed concept in favour of a spare queen-sized bed, and provide space to warm yourself by the fireplace as you gaze out over the 180-degree view of the city.

What is a design hotel?