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Design Strategies for Blending Work and Leisure Activities in A Five-Star Hotels

Pilata-Gabriel, Emmanuel , Esau J. Esau PhD

Abstract

This thesis argues that conventional 5-star hotel design is increasingly inadequate for the modern “bleisure” traveler who requires both high-quality workspace and luxury leisure amenities. The study proposes a design for a Five-Star Hotel in Abuja that integrates work and relaxation through a structured framework called the Five Core Criteria for Successful Hybrid Integration. Existing hotels fail because they rely on rigid spatial separation—such as isolated business centers—which disrupts smooth transitions between work and leisure. Using a comparative analysis of four 5-star case studies, including the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, the research identifies Abuja’s intense heat and glare as major environmental constraints that influence design success. Applying the Five Core Criteria revealed that effective hybrid hotels depend less on large-scale zoning and more on micro-level, human-scale strategies. The dominant obstacles are Sensory Conflict (noise and glare) and Aesthetic Degradation from exposed technology. The study validates two key solutions: Acoustic Layering, using discreet materials to reduce noise, and Invisible Utility, which conceals all power and data ports. The thesis ultimately delivers a practical blueprint for creating luxury hotels that are fully functional, aesthetically refined, and truly optimized for the dual needs of modern travelers.

Keywords

bleisureworkspaceand luxury leisureAbujatraveler

References

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