Dale and Patricia Keller

Dale & Patricia Keller are American interior designers, recognized for their work in the fields of architecture and interior designer. Dale Allen Keller (1929-2016) was the founder of Dale Keller & Associates Ltd. Pte, previously based in Hong Kong, New York City, and London. They also operated an office in Athens, Greece for a time.[1]

Dale and Patricia Keller
OccupationInterior Designer

Dale and Patricia Keller were respectively the president and chief designer of Dale Keller & Assiociates, Inc. They built up the world's largest interior design firm specializing in the hospitality industry. Since the mid-1950s they have worked on a range of major projects in China, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Middle East and worldwide.

After they designed the Marunouchi Hotel, Okura Hotel, Tokyo Hilton in Japan, followed by the Hong Kong Hilton, they were acknowledged as the world's experts high-end modern hotel design. They rode the wave of new hotel construction after World War II, mostly in Asia and later in the Middle East.

They were considered the giants in the field of hotel design for many years. They focused on hospitality interiors, which also included some work on night clubs. Projects that gave them a lot of personal satisfaction were the restoration of the Taj Mahal Hotel, Bombay, and the Manila Hotel, Philippines. Both buildings were on the brink of demolition. The Kellers were able to convince the public that the beautiful buildings could again be viable commercial entities. Most of the Kellers work was in the modernist vein, but what they were known for was bringing a sense of carefully studied cultural identity to their projects. They won the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 for their contribution to hospitality design.

They retired to Bellevue, Washington.

Biography edit

Dale Keller was born on March 13, 1929, in Seattle, United States.[2] Before graduating from University of Washington majoring in Interior Design under Professor Hope Lucille Foote, he decided to study architecture at the University of Tokyo in 1953 under Kenzō Tange where he studied the history of Japanese and Chinese architecture. He had studied the Japanese language for a year in Washington in preparation. He said that becoming fluent in Japanese came to him relatively easily.[3]

Patricia Keller was born on May 18, 1926. She also graduated from University of Washington majoring in Interior Design under Professor Hope Lucille Foote. After graduation, Patricia Keller had her own business. She worked for different several major designers – Arthur Morgan in Seattle, Raymond Loewy in Paris Bernadotte and Bjorn in Copenhagen. She was accepted as a student in Copenhagen's furniture academy. In 1956, she met Dale in Tokyo while on a round-the-world tour. She speaks French.

Dale and Patricia Keller married and the couple had two sons: Mark Keller (born in Tokyo) and Andrew Keller (born in Hong Kong).

1962 - Dale Keller establish his 1st design firm in Hong Kong, Dale Keller & Associates Ltd. He worked alongside Patricia Keller as Chief Designer in the firm, at various times having as many as 30 staff members. The office staff were mostly trained as architects. Their office was a multinational business, with people coming to them from across Asia.

Works edit

1954 - Dale Keller's first job was collaborating with Bill Shrauger on Pacific House. It was a design and sales organization set up to design and manufacture in the country that exported many characteristic items.

1954 - Dale and Patricia early design works were mostly factories, banks, and offices for an oil company. These included National Cash Register Factory in Japan and Fuji Bank in Japan.

1961 - The first job together for Patricia and Dale Keller was the Marunouchi Hotel - Tokyo, followed soon after by the Okura Hotel and the Tokyo Hilton.

1961 - Listed as number one in interior design magazine list of Giants in Hotel Design

1965 - Appointed for first luxury resort to be built in Asia (Bali Hyatt – Sanur beach Indonesia which won many design awards).[4]

 
Bali Hyatt

1976 – Opening of restored and expanded Manila Hotel.[citation needed] It won many awards worldwide.

 
Manila Hotel

The Kellers were invited to design the interior of a new palace in Brunei by the sultan. The palace is listed in the Guinness World Records as the largest palace in the world.[5][6]

1972 - The Kellers study Chinese rug production in China

1979 - They designed the first modern hotel in China – Fragrant Hill. For the first three years, they worked with I.M.Pei architects to create the Chinese-style hotel built around the remains of a garden built for Kangxi Emperor in the 1700s.

 
Fragrant Hill

High point of their career – The Aman [7] and the Four season Resort in Bali.[8] They were able to put in their long experience and love for Balinese culture. S Keller's worked as design consultants to help create the prince Maurice resort, Mauritius and the Lemura resort and golf hotel in the Seychellas.

1999 – they won the 1999 lifetime achievement award as hotel designers. The award was presented to them at a gala dinner at the Dorchester Hotel in London on December 6, 1999.

[9]Below are lists of work done by Dale Keller & Assiociates Inc. :

HOTEL INTERIOR DESIGN PROJECTS

PROJECTS COMPLETION YEAR LOCATION
Sheraton Hotel 1973 Australia,Perth
Kingsgate Hyatt Hotel 1973 Australia,Sydney
Bahrain Sheraton Hotel 1982 Bahrain, Manama
Fragrant Hill Hotel 1983 China, Beijing
Jinling Hotel 1983 China, Nanjing
Jinling Hotel (Interior Renovation) 1996 China, Nanjing
Mandarin Hotel 1987 China,Guilin
Jin Jiang Tower Hotel 1988 China, Shanghai
Hyatt Regency 1990 China, Xian
Swiss Hotel 1991 China, Beijing
Xinjiang Grand Hotel (Holiday Inn) 1991 China, Ürümqi
Beijing Hilton Hotel 1992 China, Beijing
Kempinski Hotel 1992 China, Beijing
Shangri-La Shenzhen Hotel 1993 China, Shenzhen
Grosvenor House - Jin Jiang 1995 China, Shanghai
Cypress Hotel - Jin Jiang 1997 China, Shanghai
Pacific Hotel - Jin Jiang 1998 China, Shanghai
Jin Jiang Hotel - Pudong 2000 China, Shanghai
Radisson Plaza State Guest Hotel 2000 China, Beijing
Annabelle Hotel 1985 Cyprus, Paphos
Hyatt El Salam 1989 Egypt, Cairo
Semiramis InterContinental Hotel 1992 Egypt, Cairo
Nice Hyatt Hotel 1979 France, Nice
Porto Caras Resort Complex 1980 Greece, Halkadiki
Atheaneum InterContinental Hotel 1982 Greece,Athens
Guam Hilton Hotel 1972 Guam
Hong Kong Hilton Hotel (demolished 1997) 1963 Hong Kong
Hong Kong Hyatt Regency Hotel 1970 Hong Kong
Furama Hotel (demolished 2003) 1973 Hong Kong
Holiday Inn Hotel, Golden Mile 1975 Hong Kong
Hong Kong Sheraton Hotel 1975 Hong Kong
New World Hotel 1979 Hong Kong
Regent of Hong Kong Hotel 1981 Hong Kong
Grand Plaza Hotel 1988 Hong Kong
Prudential Hotel & Graphics 1990 Hong Kong
Ellipsis (apartment hotel) 2002 Hong Kong
Akbar Hotel 1971 India, New Delhi
Taj Mahal Hotel 1972 India, Bombay
Oberoi Hotel 1972 India, Bombay
Taj Coromandel Hotel 1974 India, Madras
Ashok Hotel 1983 India, New Delhi
Bali Hyatt Hotel 1973 Indonesia, Bali
Hotel Borobudur InterContinental 1974 Indonesia, Jakarta
Sari Pacific Hotel 1977 Indonesia, Jakarta
Hyatt Bumi Hotel 1980 Indonesia, Surabaya
Aman Resorts 1993 Indonesia, Bali
Four Season Resort[10] 1993 Indonesia, Bali
Hotel and Casino Resort 1977 Iran, Kish Islan
Hyatt Crown Hotel 1978 Iran, Tehran
Marunoichi Hotel 1961 Japan, Tokyo
Okura Hotel 1963 Japan, Tokyo
Tokyo Hilton Hotel 1963 Japan, Tokyo
Okinawa Hilton Hotel 1972 Japan, Okinawa
Ibusuki Kanko Hotel 1972 Japan, Ibusuki
Hayashida Onsen Hotel 1973 Japan, Kirishima
Kagoshima Kanko Hotel 1973 Japan, Kasoshima
New Otani Hotel 1986 Japan, Osaka
Hyatt Regency Hotel 1983 Macau
Hotel Royal 1983 Macau
Kuala Lumpur Hilton Hotel 1972 Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
Hyatt Hotel 1980 Malaysia, Kuantan
Hyatt Hotel 1981 Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu
Subang View Hotel 1982 Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
Prince Maurice Resort 1999 Mauritius
Soaltee Oberoi Hotel 1979 Nepal, Kathmandu
Lahore Hilton Hotel 1977 Pakistan, Lahore
Karachi InterContinental Hotel 1977 Pakistan, Karachi
Lahore InterContinental Hotel 1980 Pakistan, Lahore
Peshawar InterContinental Hotel 1980 Pakistan, Peshawar
Rawalpindi InterContinental Hotel 1980 Pakistan, Rawalpindi
Karachi Hilton Hotel 1981 Pakistan, Karachi
Manila Hotel 1976 Philippines, Manila
Manila Hyatt Hotel 1976 Philippines, Manila
Philippine Plaza Hotel 1976 Philippines, Manila
Regent Of Manila Hotel 1977 Philippines, Manila
Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort 1992 Philippines, Cebu
Manila Peninsula Hotel (renovation) 1996/2000 Philippines, Manila
Doha Sheraton Hotel 1982 Qatar, Doha
Dammam Oberai Hotel 1979 Qatar, Dammam
Jeddah Hyatt Hotel 1980 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Marriott Hotel II 1980 Qatar, Riyadh
Riyadh Hyatt Hotel 1981 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Red Sea Palace Hotel 1982 Qatar, Jeddah
Limuria Resort of Praslin 2000 Seychelles, Praslin
Ming Court Hotel 1970 Singapore
Singapore Hilton Hotel 1970 Singapore
Summit Hotel 1971 Singapore
Oberoi Imperial Hotel 1971 Singapore
Hotel Malaysia 1976 Singapore
Singapore Hyatt Hotel 1977 Singapore
The Pan Pacific Hotel 1987 Singapore
Chosun Beach Hotel 1947 South Korea, Busan
Seoul Plaza Hotel 1986 South Korea, Seoul
Kyong-ju Hilton Hotel 1992 South Korea, Kyong-ju
Gran Hotel La Florida[11] 2001/2004 Spain, Barcelona
Lanka Oberoi Hotel 1974 Sri Lanka, Colombo
Khartoum Hilton 1974 Sudan, Khartoum
Damascus Sheraton Hotel 1978 Syria, Damascus
El Cham Hotel 1982 Syria, Damascus
Ambassador Hotel 1966 Taiwan, Taipei
Shangri-La Hotel 1981 Taiwan, Taipei
Bangkok Sheraton Hotel 1969 Thailand, Bangkok
Rama Hyatt Hotel 1980 Thailand, Bangkok
President Hotel 1971 Thailand, Bangkok
Hotel Indra 1974 Thailand, Bangkok
New York Grand Hyatt Hotel[12] 1980 United States, New York
St.Regis Hotel 1981 United States, New York

RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS

PROJECTS COMPLETION YEAR LOCATION
Hirschman Villa 1982 Switzerland, Zurich Commissioned Sculptor Robert Erskine
Basil Residence 1980 Greece, Athens
Angelakis Residence 1983 Greece, Athens
Hydra House 1980 Greece, Hydra
Harilela Family Residence 1970 Hong Kong
Apartment 102, Sunning Court 1985 Hong Kong
Apartment 903, Sunning Court 1986 Hong Kong
The De Clercq's House, Tai Tam 1986 Hong Kong
Penthouse - Poshan Road 1970 Hong Kong
Caspian Sea Villa 1971 Iran
Pent House 1971 Iran
Al Sulaiman Residence 1979 Jeddah
Jubail Camp 10, Residential Development 1979 Saudi Arabia
Hirschman Jr, Residence 1982 Switzerland, Zurich
Emmanuel Residence 1982 United Kingdom, London
Tavoulareas Residence 1982 United Kingdom, London
Basil Residence 1980 United Kingdom, London
Al- Sulaiman Residence 1980 London
Dakota Apartment[13] 1985 United States, New York
Executive Penthouse, Olympic Tower 1979 United States, New York

Dale Keller ( Design Consultant )

OFFICE & FINANCIAL SECTOR PROJECTS

PROJECTS COMPLETION YEAR LOCATION
New Istana Offices 1984 Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan
Ralli HK Ltd 1971 Hong Kong
Societe Generale Hong Kong 1971 Hong Kong
Merban Asia Ltd 1972 Hong Kong
Credit Lynonnais HK(Finance) Ltd 1975 Hong Kong
Arthur Young 1977 Hong Kong
Marshalls HK Ltd 1977 Hong Kong
Regent International Hotel Office 1979 Hong Kong
Philippine Commercial International 1982 Hong Kong
International (HK) Co Ltd 1983 Hong Kong
Banque Brussels Lambert S.A 1985 Hong Kong
IBI (Asia) Ltd, Office I 1985 Hong Kong
IBI (Asia) Ltd, Office II 1985 Hong Kong
Min Jiang Co. 1986 Hong Kong
Modern China Development Ltd 1986 Hong Kong
Far East Bank Headquarters 1987 Hong Kong
Far East Bank Branch 01 (Alexandra House) 1987 Hong Kong
Far East Bank Branch 02 (Shun Tak Centre) 1987 Hong Kong
Far East Bank Branch 03 (Kennedy Town) 1987 Hong Kong
Far East Bank Technical Centre 1987 Hong Kong
Far East Bank Branch 04 (Kowloon City) 1987 Hong Kong
Far East Bank Branch 05 (Mongkok) 1987 Hong Kong
Far East Bank Branch 10 (Austin Road) 1988 Hong Kong
Far East Bank Branch 11 (Causeway Bay) 1988 Hong Kong
Far East Bank Branch 12 (Shum Shui Po) 1988 Hong Kong
Far East Bank Branch 13 (Central) 1989 Hong Kong
Far East Bank Finance 16/F 1988 Hong Kong
FAR East Bank Headquarters Refurbishment 1988 Hong Kong
IBI Offices III 1988 Hong Kong
IBI Securities Ltd 1988 Hong Kong
Standard Chartered Bank 01 (Kennedy Town) 1988 Hong Kong
Standard Chartered Bank 02 (Tse Wan Shan) 1988 Hong Kong
Standard Chartered Bank 03 (Aberdeen) 1988 Hong Kong
Standard Chartered Bank 04 (Yaumatei) 1988 Hong Kong
Standard Chartered Bank 05 (Container-Port) 1988 Hong Kong
Standard Chartered Bank 06 (Fung Wong) 1988 Hong Kong
Eton Tower 1990 Hong Kong
Fuji Bank 1963 Japan, Tokyo
American Express International Ltd 1964 Japan, Tokyo
Chase Manhattan Bank 1964 Japan, Tokyo
Chase Manhattan Bank 1965 Japan, Osaka
Manila Electric Company, Office Building 1975 Philippines, Manila
Philippine Commercial International Bank 1983 Philippines, Manila

OTHER COMPLETED DESIGN PROJECTS

PROJECTS COMPLETION YEAR LOCATION
New Istana State Palace (200,000 sqm) 1984 Brunei, Bandar Seri Begawan
National Theatre - Architect Philip Johnson 1979 India, Theatre Bombay
Casino 1978 Iran, Kish Island
Air Terminal 1978 Iran, Kish Island
Philippine International Conference and Convention Centre 1978 Philippines, Manila
Royal Pavilions (Riyadh Airport) - VIP Suites 1978 Saudi Arabia, Riyadh
Royal Pavilions (Jeddah Airport) - VIP Suites 1979 Saudi Arabia, Jeddah
Executive Jet Convair 880 1972 Switzerland, Aircraft Basel
Executive Jet 727 1974 Switzerland, Aircraft Basel
Executive Jet 707 1978 Switzerland, Aircraft Basel

Collaborations edit

Dale Keller & Associates Ltd.Pte was set up as a pure design firm and their staffs are usually architect-trained rather than interior designers. Dale and Patricia Keller would bring along their staff to work with various architects such as:

- I. M. Pei & Associates

- Kerry Hill

- Grounds Kent Architects [14]

- Leandro Locsin

- Ildefonso P. Santos, Jr.

- Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

- Der Scutt [1]

- Palmer & Turner [15][16]

- Novotny und Mähner [17]

- Gruzen & Partners

Conclusion edit

Dale and Patricia Keller can justly claim to have pioneered modern hospitality design in Asia and, since the mid-1950s they have worked with different architects on various major projects at China, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, India, Pakistan and the Philippines, and eventually expanding into the Middle East[18] and worldwide. Instead of utilizing standardized interior furniture, furnishings and finishes in their interiors, they explored and researched each place's culture to create spaces with customized identities with the help of local people, workmen and artisans. Dale Keller was responsible for encouraging PATA to establish a Pacific Asia Heritage Society to actively pursue the protection and preservation of Asian landmarks, culture and living national treasures. This has now become the PATA Foundation which actively sponsors seminars in various Asian countries and gives scholarships to worthy individuals. Although the Kellers had retired and Dale Kellers & Associates had been shut down but they provide consultation to the Mayor of Suzhou, China, and architect I.M.Pei, advising on the restoration of the old city and the development of the new that was mention in the Article " Lifetime Achievement 1999".[19]

References edit

  1. ^ "Lifetime Achievement Award Given at Doschester Hotel". Lifetime Achievement Award. 6 December 1999.
  2. ^ "Interiors - Profile#16, of Dale and Patricia Keller, or Dale Keller Associates" (4). November 1970. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ "PCAD - Dale Allen Keller". Pcad.lib.washington.edu. Retrieved 2015-05-03.
  4. ^ Keller, Dale (October 1975). "From the Bali Hyatt to the Damascus Sheraton". 135 (3): 88–91. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. ^ Marshall, Xavier (September 1984). "In The Grandest Tradition: the New Istana is Today's Versailles". No. 871. The Connoisseur. pp. 112–117.
  6. ^ Filler, Martin (October 1984). "House and Garden". 156 (10): 154–163. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. ^ "Architecture Australia magazine | Architecture Media". Architectureaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 2009-05-22. Retrieved 2015-05-03.
  8. ^ "Four Seasons Resort Bali - Architecture Gallery - Australian Institute of Architects, The Voice of Australian Architecture". Dynamic.architecture.com.au. Retrieved 2015-05-03.
  9. ^ "Dale and Pat Keller, International Interior Designers".
  10. ^ Loukin, Andrew (June 1995). "Grounds Kent/ Dale Keller". Interior Design. 66 (8): 86–89.
  11. ^ Craig, Kellogg (June 2004). "High Hopes". Interior Design: 182–185.
  12. ^ Lowe, David (February 1981). "The Grand Hyatt: a Glittering Construction". Interior Design. 52 (2): 218–221.
  13. ^ Bernikow, Louise (September 1987). "Asian Mystique: Dale and Patricia Keller's New York Apartment". Architectural Digest. 44 (9): 94–101.
  14. ^ http://www.gkaperth.com/ Grounds Kent Architects
  15. ^ "P&T Group".
  16. ^ "In The House That Bali Built". Contract Interiors. 136 (2): 78–81. September 1976. ISSN 0148-012X.
  17. ^ "Lufthansa Opens Hotel and Business Complex in Beijing". Design News. McGraw-Hill, Inc. 10 June 1994. p. 13. Archived from the original on 1998-02-15.[full citation needed]
  18. ^ "Middle East Feature: The Changing Middle East Scene". Architect. 123 (12): 28–36. December 1977. ISSN 0003-8415.
  19. ^ "Lifetime Achievement". December 1999. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)[full citation needed]

External links edit