The Evolution of Travel and Its Impact on Design
Travel has always been more than just a means of escape; it has become a source of profound perspective. From the serene beauty of a well-designed hotel room to the tactile richness of aged stone and timber, these authentic experiences are reshaping how we perceive travel and, by extension, our daily lives. The interplay of space, light, and materials is now a central consideration in both travel and design.
Robert Davidov, an architect based in Melbourne and founder of Davidov Architects, recalls that his early years as an architecture student were marked by a series of “pilgrimages.” These journeys, which took him to places like Morocco, Israel, Egypt, Peru, and Italy, have deeply influenced his design philosophy. His sketchbooks are filled with intricate drawings of ancient ruins and villages, capturing the essence of time-worn structures.
Davidov’s work is characterized by a refined, almost monastic aesthetic, with a focus on how spaces are sequenced and revealed. He emphasizes the importance of materials, noting that “most materials are more beautiful the less you touch them.” This principle guides his approach to design, where the use of materials is intentional and sparing, allowing their natural beauty to shine through.
Currently, Davidov’s travels are centered around Japan and Mexico. He draws inspiration from Tadao Ando’s work in Japan, particularly at Naoshima, where the experience of entering a space is meticulously controlled. For Davidov, doorways symbolize the beginning of any journey into a home, and he pays careful attention to making this transition meaningful and multisensory for clients.
Travel as a Source of Cultural Inspiration
Georgia Ezra, a TV personality and director of interior design firm Studio Ezra, has also found that travel plays a significant role in her work. Her ceramics import business, Tiles of Ezra, is built on collaborations with artisans in countries such as Vietnam, Morocco, Spain, Turkey, and Thailand. She uses traditional techniques to create sustainable, handmade tiles that reflect the cultural heritage of these regions.
Ezra’s connection to her roots, particularly through her father’s origins in Calcutta, drives her to seek out places with authenticity. She finds inspiration in the depth and value of communities in India, Mexico, and Morocco. In cities like Jaipur, she delves into historical details, such as plasterwork and mouldings, which inform her design choices for joinery and tile ranges.
For Ezra, storytelling, history, and culture are integral to her design consciousness. These elements shape not only her interiors but also her broader creative vision.
Travel as a Form of Escapism and Creativity
For some designers, travel serves as a form of escapism. Nina Maya, founder of Nina Maya Interiors in Sydney, describes her ideal destination as one that offers total immersion. Whether it’s a respite or a maximalist experience, she seeks environments that differ from her everyday life.
Maya’s interiors are known for their sleek and restrained aesthetics, yet she finds maximalism intriguing as an “alternate form of visual stimulation.” Her annual summer trips to the Amalfi Coast, particularly to Hotel Le Sirenuse in Positano, provide a stark contrast to her usual style. This exposure to maximalist design has begun to influence her current projects in Puglia.
A Career Transformed by Travel
Danielle Brustman, a Melbourne-based interior designer, credits a transformative experience in New York with shifting her career path. While working in set and theatre design, she visited the Boom Boom Room at the Standard Hotel, an experience that left a lasting impression on her.
The wild and playful atmosphere of the space, in contrast to the austerity of the 1990s and early 2000s, inspired her to pursue interior architecture. This led her to study the discipline and integrate it with exhibition and multisensory experiential design.
New York remains a favorite destination for Brustman, not only for its creativity and diversity but also for the sense of possibility it offers. She also admires Hotel Costes in Paris, which provides a different version of oneself and a thrilling experience of reimagining reality.
