Welcome to Yalo Bar & Restaurant! Go put your bags in your room upstairs and have a Cosmopolitan while we immerse you in this multifaceted gem.
Joris Van Duffel, a Belgian project developer, wanted to transform a run-down shopping mall from the early 80s in Ghent (BE) into a hotel concept with a bar, restaurant, and rooftop terrace. King George, the mad creative agency, turned it into a vibrant and hybrid hotspot that blends all three concepts, and while at mingles different types of visitors: hotel guests, locals and businesspeople. And although well-known in Paris, London and New York, this approach was thus far unseen in Belgium. Yalo has been welcoming guests since October 2021.
Reconciling a hotel, bar, restaurant and their individual audiences was one challenge, converting the existing space into an inviting place was a another one. With clever architectural touches and a vintage, home-like design the cold, blueish Belgian daylight that shines through the massive atrium, is now filtered into a cosy, inviting and vibrant setting.
Yalo has a mid-century touch, distilled into a modern and innovative concept that celebrates the building’s architectural backbone and characteristic finesse. By precisely measuring every square meter, strategically placing furniture and lighting, and creating different levels, open and closed areas arose. The result is a stunning design with a warm and convivial feeling for all visitors. The typical rebellious Ghentian spirit is captured in Yalo’s quirky name: a nod to the local dialect, as surprising and fresh as the hotel concept itself.
Yalo — interior mood from King George Agency on Vimeo.
All the information about how to enter the 2022 WIN Awards is here.
We are very happy to offer support so please don’t hesitate to email Sam McIntyre, Event Manager with any questions at sam.mcintyre@haymarket.com.