Tara Bernerd is no stranger to Hong Kong. She has been travelling to the city both personally and professionally for most of her life, but returning for her latest project, to design the new Hari hotel, felt “pivotal” in her career. “The Hari is very close to my heart,” says Tara. “My client and dear friend Aron Harilela and I are almost telepathic in our vision which is magical.”

Tara is no stranger to hotel design either. Since launching her London-based interior architectural practice Tara Bernerd & Partners in 2002, after a stint working alongside Philippe Starck at YOO, Tara has amassed a portfolio that includes Four Seasons (she has designed the brand’s London, New York and Fort Lauderdale hotels), and design landmarks including SIXTY SoHo in New York, Rosewood Munich, Zentis Osaka and Equinox Los Angeles, opening in 2022. That’s not to overlook the firm’s residential projects, from sky-high city dwellings in London and New York to a hilltop house in Hong Kong and a rustic, rural retreat in Mallorca.

“Our work is known for bringing personality and lifestyle to everything we touch,” says Tara of the firm’s aesthetic. “Ultimately, it’s bold, we are noticeable, yet we remain timeless. It’s a mix of materials engaging with industrial finishes, with the finest textures.” This is evident in the look of The Hari, that’s opened its doors in Wan Chai this month, taking a design lead from its sister property in London, also imagined by Tara. Antique Crittal, timber panelling and marble flooring are softened with layers of textural velvet, tweed, linen and corduroy. A polished palate in neutral colours is offset by mid-century furniture and striking artwork, for a look that is timeless with a masculine edge. Combining the cultural heritage of the neighbourhood with a contemporary attitude, Tara and her team hope that the hotel and its two restaurants – Italian Lucciola and Japanese Zoku – will become a warm and welcoming destination for those in the know. “Wan Chai is an area I remember well from my early design years and we are thrilled to be a part of its re-emergence,” says Tara of the project.

On a more personal level, Tara’s eye is drawn “to bold colours and shapes, to interesting mid-century pieces, set in strong backdrops,” she says. “Art also plays an important part for me.” It is of little surprise, then, that she cites Pierre Chareau and his 1920s work on Maison de Vere as an inspiration, along with influences from architecture, film and fashion. “The early palettes of Yves Saint Laurent, the Bauhaus movement and mid-century furniture design are all constant sources of inspiration for me,” she says. “I also have an intrigue for design from Scandinavia and Brazil.”

As the daughter of international property tycoon Elliott Bernerd, Tara was inspired from a young age. “Growing up, design was always around me,” says Tara. “My earliest memories were a fascination with not only art and design but also architecture. I remember, as a young girl, my father taking me to meet Norman Foster and to hear him speak. From there, a passion developed for where interiors meet architecture.”

Fast forward and Tara and her firm have brought this passion to life on an international level. Though, like everyone, last year was a time to pause and reflect. “Planning for the future has possibly been more challenging than ever before,” says Tara. “The most important part is learning to be adaptable and to consider people and their lifestyles after this pandemic. This will play a big part in our onward journey.”