Prolific Designer Philippe Starck

The name Philippe Starck is undoubtedly familiar to those in the world of interior design and technology. Starck is one of the most prolific and well-known names in high-end interior design. His work can be seen in hotels, restaurants, bars, retail shops and many other commercial areas all around the world. Even though his designs are identifiable with his own style, Starck also manages to give his work a local and personal touch as he tends to take inspiration from the city in which he is working.

Hotels and Restaurants
Some of Starck’s most notable work has been with hotels throughout cities in the world including Pyla-Sur-Mer, Venice, Beverly Hills, Rio, Buenos Aires, San Francisco, New York, London , Miami and his birthplace of Paris. For instance, you can get a feel not only for Starck’s work but also for the city of Venice itself with his designs for the Palazzina Grassi, a 16th century building newly opened in 2009 that overlooks the city’s Canal Grande.

While the Palazzina Grassi takes its inspiration from ancient Italian culture, hotel restaurants like those he designed for Paris’ Mama Shelter are made to bring all kinds of people together. Long tables and bars help create a social atmosphere that is inviting to everyone as long as they are willing to be together. Starck was inspired by humanity itself with this hotel, imagining a meeting, a budding friendship and a lifelong relationship sparked by a simple act. Still, he captures something about Paris in his desire to create something meant to be the starting point.

Clubs and Bars
With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that Philippe Starck is behind some of the most innovative designs in the social scene. You can find many of the interiors he designed for bars and clubs in cities worldwide such as Shanghai, Dallas (the home of the Starck club founded in 1982) and Paris. Shanghai’s Volar captures the upscale feel you would come to expect from a Starck design as well as a few subversive touches that give it unique accents.

There are also hotel bars and cafes bearing Starck’s unique touch throughout the world but he has created more designs in Paris than any other city. In fact, the recently opened Cafe la Cigale has a great relaxed feel that allows you to watch Paris go by its large windows while you sit back and enjoy a glass of wine or something from the cafe’s menu on a slow afternoon or evening.

Exterior Designs
Along with the interior designs, there are also a few exterior designs bearing Starck’s name including the Asahi Beer Hall and Nani Nani in Tokyo as well as the Le Moult in Issy-les-Moulineaux. Of course, you can also find many museums and retail shops throughout the world when you want to admire a design from Starck. You do not have to travel very far in the world to find something upon which Philippe Starck has put his personal style.