HBA/Hirsch Bedner Associates is an international hospitality design firm headquartered in Santa Monica, California.
Leading the hotel design industry since 1965, the largest hospitality design firm in the world remains deeply concerned to the pulse of changing industry trends, which is governed by today’s sophisticated traveler. HBA’s international presence and depth of experience enables them to identify interior design trends at their source, make predictions about new directions and influence design standards worldwide.
HBA creates the signature looks of today’s luxury brands, independent contemporary boutique hotels, spas, restaurantes, urban resorts and more. All around the world, each HBA interior results in a unique and sensitive response to location, architecture and client vision.
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HBA History
The partnership of Howard Hirsch and Michael Bedner began when Howard hired Michael as an entry-level blueprint drafter.
They soon founded the company in 1965, becoming one of the first companies to market themselves as a hospitality design firm. Initially focusing their work on projects local to the United States, HBA began work on the Beverly Rodeo Hotel in Beverly Hills and Chez Voltaire, a restaurant in Florida.
Over time, HBA expanded its work internationally, establishing an office in Hong Kong and later an office in London.
HBA Hong Kong Office
HBA London Office
After a decrease in revenue between 2008 and 2010, newly appointed co-CEOs Ian Carr and René Kærskov expanded HBA’s services by establishing HBA Studio (design services for mid-tier and limited-service hotel projects), HBA Architecture (architectural design services), Illuminate (lighting design consultancy), and HBA Canvas (art budgeting, concept planning, and procurement/installation).
By the end of 2012, HBA’s sales increased 65 percent and hit an all time high for the company.
Background & Realizations
In 2013, HBA was voted one of the top three most admired design firms in the world by Interior Design magazine, and has won awards for other types of projects, including Best Luxury/Upscale Lobby, Best Spa, and Best Suite. See below some of them…
World-renowned as the “Number 1 Hospitality Design Firm ”, in 2013 HBA won The Hospitality Design Awards or its work for Four Seasons Guangzhou:
And The Gallery HBA London’s work for The Alpina Gstaad won The European Hotel Design of The Year.
Inge Moore, president of HBA Europe and designer for The Gallery HBA London, was named the 2013 Gold Key Designer of the Year.
Here’s our choice for the best Hirsch and Bedner interior design project ever:
The Castle Hotel, Dalian
Other Iconic Projects
Around the globe, HBA consistently sets new standards for luxury, comfort and innovation in hospitality interior design. See below some of the best projects:
Royal Plaza Hotel, Hong Kong
Raffles Istanbul Hotel, Zorlu Center
Indigo Bangkok
Special partnership – The Antilia, Mumbai – India
HBA, in partnership with Perkins+Will created the world’s largest and most expensive family home, in Mumbai, India. What at first glimpse looks like a typical skyscraper is, in fact, The Antilia house, a $1 billion family home (with a total area of over 398,000 square feet of living space) built for India’s richest man – Mukesh Ambani, his wife, and three children.
The home contains a health club with a gym and dance studio, a swimming pool, a ballroom, guestrooms, a variety of lounges, and a 50-seater cinema. Three helicopter pads have been installed on the roof, and a car park for 160 vehicles sits on the ground floor. Clearly more space than a housekeeper, or full hotel staff can handle, the Ambani family has employed a staff of 600 to tend to the home.
While the Antilia initially marketed itself as one of the greenest buildings to in the world, not surprisingly, the singular green element first portrayed in the initial renderings is far from evident. The image once depicting a structure covered in green foliage, has in fact been replaced by a vision of stark steel geometry stacked up towards the sky. Experts are saying that no other private property of comparable size and prominence exists anywhere in the world.
Worldwide talent
HBA employs some of the worlds leading designers from all major design disciplines, and currently employs more than 1600 interior designers, lighting designers, graphic designers, architects and art consultants globally.
Fostering a highly creative and collaborative work environment in every 21 offices across the globe, and constantly infusing various teams with developing young design talent, HBA creative staff is comprised of exceptionally talented design professionals who have embraced the company’s philosophy of hospitality design – to create a unique sense of place – and who are committed to perform effectively in order to provide the ultimate in well-conceived, innovative design solutions.
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Top Projects Gallery
