W Hotel Seoul, Korea, Republic of

For the first Asian outpost of the W boutique-hotel brand, and the chain's second international destination, W Seoul established the company's truly international appeal, and is unlike any other hotel the W has ever created. Studio GAIA has created signature spaces inside the grandiose interior, such as the Living Room, the Woo Bar, both of which double as bar and lounge, as well as the hotel's common areas. The lounge of the hotel features pod-like furniture in various scales, including the egg-shaped ottomans, enclosed cabana-sequel booths, a long, continuous bar, stepped-up, bleacher-like seating areas that create a stage-like drama to the bar.