The Hotel Shocard will open its doors this month in New York. The Times Square boutique hotel comprises seven floors, 45 guestrooms, two penthouse suites, and 70-seat lobby restaurant Gleason’s Tavern.
With a name inspired by the Broadway show advertisements pervasive in the 1960s and ’70s, designs by New York-based Mapos reflect the grit and the glamor of old New York, which is especially evident in the juxtaposition of the hotel’s Edison-style golden light marquee and the building’s black exterior. Patinaed brass hardware is a pervasive detail found everywhere from the front entrance to guestroom lighting.
“We wanted this hotel to be a counterpoint to the slick commercialized Times Square of today while remaining true to its world-renowned location,” says Caleb Mulvena, principal at Mapos. “We began by discussing the old Times Square depicted in great movies like Midnight Cowboy and Taxi Driver from the ’70s, a time when NYC was grittier, sassier, and creatively exploding. But rather than literally recreating the look of time, we took the old-school material palette of that era and applied a modern playful design to it. The result is something totally new but mysteriously familiar.”
Mapos provided built-in mill woodwork and furniture custom-made in Italy. Reminiscent of Broadway stages, white oak panels grace guestroom walls in addition to custom yellow and bronze wallpaper. Full-length mirrors, LED lights, and crafted carpentry also help create an increased sense of space in each room.
