ABSTRACT
Introduction Early accommodation, as found in roadside coaching inns, offered few comforts beyond the bare necessities. Many hotels built during the early nineteenth century in Europe were designed as palaces or stately homes, often with pillared frontages and marble entrance halls adorned with elegant chandeliers and wide, winding staircases that exuded opulence and luxury. Similarly, despite the grandness of these buildings, luxury was often not to be found in the actual accommodation; bedrooms lacked plumbing and en suite bathrooms did not exist. It was the 1950s, when demand for mid-priced accommodation increased as travel became cheaper and more popular, that gave birth to the standardized bedroom. With the growth in national and international travel came an increased interest in accommodation, and hotel design diversified more and more to suit the needs of the target market. This chapter looks at how the design of accommodation is linked with demands on hotels to develop their product and keep up with the needs of the time.
