Oscar Llinas
Who is he? Vice-president of Bilkey Llinas Design.
What's his pedigree? With more than 20 years' design experience in the hospitality industry, he is credited with pioneering several design concepts commonly used today. These include the contemporary grand hotel and resort-casino concepts and the village-style resort development. Born in Bogota, Colombia, he studied at the University of South Florida and the University of California in Los Angeles, receiving a degree in art history and French, and a master's in French literature.
Who is Bilkey? Llinas' collaboration with Robert Bilkey began while the former was based in Iran, working for the country's then-ruler, Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. In 1989, they formed Bilkey Llinas Design, which is based in West Palm Beach, Florida. While Bilkey specialises in architectural design and project planning, Llinas focuses on creating interior concepts by fusing different design elements.
What has Llinas worked on? The company's recent projects have included the Grand Hyatt Shanghai, Grand Hyatt Fukuoka (Japan), Cafe Deco Bar & Grill (Hong Kong), Crown Casino (Melbourne) and the West Penthouse suite at Four Seasons Place (right; Hong Kong).
Four Seasons Place? Llinas was commissioned to design one of the hotel group's two duplex penthouses, located on the 60th floor of Four Seasons Place, a complex of luxury serviced suites located next to the International Finance Centre. His canvas measured 3,600 square feet, complete with Jacuzzi and roof-top pool. Costing $360,000 a month, the waterfront penthouse and its sister are
Hong Kong's most expensive serviced apartments. Mahogany flooring, hand-tufted carpets, Italian marble and light-toned sycamore veneer, highlighted with rare ebony inserts and inlays, produce a classic yet contemporary look.
What's his style? He describes himself as eclectic, 'selecting the best from a variety of elements and combining them to [create] the best effect for each client'.
What is his design philosophy? 'To create environments that are comfortable, luxurious and hopefully timeless.'
Who does he admire and what would he say to them if they met in a lift? 'I admire Mahatma Gandhi and I would say to him: 'I wish there were more people in the world with your beliefs and ideas about peace and unity.''
