Jolie Designs Reserve Hotel Interiors as an Immersive Wildlife-Inspired Retreat at Chester Zoo

Project Info

Project Name: Reserve Hotel

Interior Design Studio: Jolie

Location: Chester Zoo, Upton-by-Chester, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom

Warm earth tones and natural textiles establish intimacy, grounding the bedroom in tactile calm

Hospitality design today is no longer defined solely by comfort or visual appeal. It has become a medium for storytelling, emotional connection, and meaningful engagement with place. Reserve Hotel, located within the grounds of Chester Zoo in Upton-by-Chester, Cheshire, England, reflects this evolution through an interior design approach that prioritizes experience over spectacle. Conceived by UK-based design studio Jolie, the project offers guests a spatial journey rooted in nature, conservation, and quiet immersion.

Layered furnishings and curated artwork compose a living area centered on material warmth

Rather than relying on literal references to wildlife or overt thematic gestures, Jolie adopts a more refined strategy. The interiors draw inspiration from global safari lodges and natural habitats, but these influences are translated through abstraction and restraint. This design language allows the hotel to feel atmospheric and contemporary, while still maintaining a strong connection to its zoological setting.

Floor-to-ceiling glazing frames outdoor dining, extending interior hospitality into the landscape beyond

Spatial flow is central to the project’s success. Public areas are designed to unfold gradually, creating moments of pause and discovery throughout the hotel. Lounges, circulation spaces, and shared zones are arranged to encourage movement that feels intuitive and unforced. Changes in scale, light, and texture subtly guide guests through the interior, echoing the experience of moving through a landscape rather than a conventional hotel plan.

Timber-clad terraces support communal dining, blurring boundaries between interior comfort and open air

Materiality plays a defining role in shaping the hotel’s identity. Timber finishes, stone surfaces, woven textiles, and tactile fabrics are used to establish warmth and depth. These elements are carefully layered to create visual richness without overwhelming the senses. The palette remains grounded and natural, allowing materials to age gracefully while reinforcing the sense of calm and permanence.

A sculptural copper tub and glazed green tile transform bathing into sensory, spa-like ritual

Guest rooms continue this narrative with a focus on comfort and visual connection. Earth-toned interiors are paired with soft lighting and thoughtfully detailed furnishings to create spaces that feel both intimate and restorative. Views toward landscaped areas and animal habitats are framed deliberately, ensuring that the surrounding environment becomes part of the guest experience in a controlled and respectful way.

Weathered plaster and carved bar stools evoke safari lodge aesthetics with tactile, layered materiality

Lighting design is handled with particular sensitivity. Indirect illumination and warm tonal temperatures create a sense of enclosure and ease, especially during evening hours. Shadows and contrast are used deliberately to enhance spatial depth, contributing to an atmosphere that feels calm and immersive rather than overtly dramatic.

PHOTO CREDIT: Jasper Fry