C.S Valentin was brought on as creative director of the 29 suite luxury hotel, Hotel Esencia. The hotel's owner, a successful entertainment executive venturing for the first time in the hospitality business, entrusted him with re-imagining the entire guest experience. Valentin resolved to restore the property to its former heyday as the summer residence of an Italian duchess. To convey the worldly atmosphere, Valentin worked with renowned illustrator Pierre Le-Tan and art director Cleo Charuet to re-brand and create a new website and visual identities. New public spaces were added, among them a two-level treetop beach bar planted at the edge of Xpu-Ha Bay as well as the creation of the hotel's luxury boutique. Valentin designed a collection of 40 different pieces of furniture and decorative objects that were locally produced by talented artisans specifically for the hotel. To emphasize the intimacy of the once private estate, Valentin incorporated his original designs with furniture from the hotel owner’s personal collection of Mid-20th Century masterpieces. To add to the harmony, he commissioned celebrated runway sound designer Michel Gaubert to create the hotel soundtrack.
(photos courtesy of Hotel Esencia)