Aside from ultra-lux furnishings, a bounty of Jacuzzis and enough flat-screen LCD panels to tile a roof, Connor says "Solemates" also lets guests keep fit in style.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The 124 rooms and lofts are decorated with damask carpets and oak and leather panels, while the bathrooms have glass tile walls and Molton Brown amenities.

BBC: Openings: New York, Edinburgh, China, Ivory Coast

While the exterior walls are white washed, the inward-facing walls are comprised of panels of various shapes and sizes -- all of them covered with brick and tile work in various patterns.

BBC: An Alvar Aalto tour of Finland