About / Kindling began in 2022 when four people working in the hotel design sector gathered together.
Our idea was to encourage young talent to think about the meaning of hospitality and explore the contribution of design in shaping hospitality spaces.
We decided to call our project KINDLING.
PARTNERS / Meet the KINDLING Partners
REARDONSMITH ARCHITECTS
Patrick Reardon is Executive Chairman, of ReardonSmith Architects. With a lifetime’s career in hospitality design, Patrick has led his practice to become the UK’s leading architectural firm specialising exclusively in the international hotel sector, delivering new resort destinations which respect and celebrate their location, rejuvenating legendary hotels and converting existing buildings into hotels of distinction. Patrick’s commitment to inspiring young talent has resulted in the creation of several initiatives, including Kindling.
MKV DESIGN
Maria Vafiadis is Founder and Managing Director of MKV Design. A Greek national who trained and worked in Milan and Vienna before establishing her company in London, Maria’s cultural roots and multi-cultural experience have informed and been honed by a long career in hospitality design. She is a regular contributor at prestigious industry events across Europe and has recently published a book entitled Design Alchemist which reflects on the power of hospitality design to give meaning and hope to our lives.
ESP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Su Pecha established ESP Business Development nearly 30 years ago to help give a voice to architects and designers of hotels and resorts. Since then, she has charted the growing value placed on hospitality design as a means to creating engagement with place, cultural inheritance and personal well-being, as well as in forming connections between human beings.
HIX EVENT
Joel Butler is Creator and Director of the Hotel Interiors Experience (HIX), Europe’s leading design event in the sector, which takes place annually in London. His fascination for new ways of thinking and seeing the world leads him to champion fresh ideas, emerging talent and leading game-changers seen through the lens of hospitality design.
Contact us / Get in touch
If you are a student of architecture or interior design studying at a recognised European college and would like to receive a competition brief
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A UK employer working in the hospitality, architecture and interior design sectors who would like to find out more about offering work experience to a refugee
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A company connected with the hospitality sector that is interested in sponsorship
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Or, a member of the press interested in running a story
……we would be delighted to hear from you.