There is no going back. Digital transformation is not only here to stay, it must be wholeheartedly embraced. A cornerstone on which the world we live, work and play in rests, technology is one of the most powerful driving forces propelling us forward.
But it is not the only one. At first glance, it might seem incongruous to include a piece on the redesign of a rural, upstate New York hotel that gently encourages the restorative power of a digital detox in a tech special edition of EG. In fact, arguably the opposite is true. Because while we undoubtedly need technology to move forward, we also need real human contact. As EG tech columnist and start-up founder Vanessa Lee Butz famously once said on the subject of overexposure to technology: “We need to find ways to connect with each other to avoid the pain of becoming robots. So often what we actually need is human interaction.”
A matter of choice
The concept of a digital detox is an interesting one. It has been hailed for years now as the ultimate antidote to living in an increasingly tech-enabled world. But should it be forced? Many would argue that a true digital detox should not be necessitated, either purposefully or inadvertently, by poor connectivity – instead, it should be actively chosen. And that’s where Scribner’s Catskill Lodge comes in. Just two hours north of the Manhattan bustle, this hotel is an innovative example of community-based design and is giving people the freedom to happily make that choice.
The 38-bedroom hotel, perched on a winding mountain road in upstate New York, dates back to 1966. But it was redesigned last year by Brooklyn-based creative group Studio Tack and now boasts an imposing black exterior, a towering main entrance that, once upon a time, was the vehicle access and a complete redesign of the former car port into a cavernous communal area. And it is in this space where the magic happens. That might seem like a grandiose phrase but think back, if you can, to the last time you were in a public environment where almost no one around you was looking at, working on, listening to or at least holding a digital device.
Cohesive design
To be clear, there is no ban on mobile phones or other devices at Scribner’s Lodge. Connectivity is good, there are no patchy reception areas and there is free Wi-Fi for guests and visitors alike. And yet, there is a marked absence of personal technology in the communal areas thanks to a clever focus on cohesive design. Carefully grouped pods of armchairs, sofas and bench seats are dotted in and around a vast, yet cosy, space anchored by a central indoor fireplace where a circular seating arrangement creates an intrinsically sociable configuration.
An old-school pool table, reading corners and shelves stacked with books, board games and old maps add to the “interacting-in-real-life” vibe. Ruben Caldwell, designer and founder of Studio Tack, says: “The Scribner’s experience for us was always about exploring. We believe that the lodge as it is today is a continuation of this design process in some ways, providing guests with vessels into which they can pour their own memories, experiences and ideas. The public spaces are focused on food, drinks and friends. Scribner’s is supposed to provide moments of introspection and presence. There might be one TV tucked into a corner somewhere. I can’t remember where.”
With so much talk around the importance of designing and developing for the occupier, it is inspiring to see a modern, fresh design that really puts people – rather than a focus on, or deficit of, technology – at its heart.
It is also reassuring to be reminded that, while technology will always play a crucial role in our society – from the buildings we live and work in to the way we do our jobs and interact with the wider world – there is still more to life than devices alone.
To send feedback, e-mail emily.wright@egi.co.uk or tweet @EmilyW_9 or @estatesgazette
