Amid a deluge of setbacks in 2020, outstanding hotel design was a beacon for the hospitality industry. Here, our three most-read hotel projects showcase that eye-catching aesthetics, upgraded comforts, and great storytelling always prevail.
Austin Proper Hotel
Photo by Gemma and Andy Ingalls
Los Angeles-based Kelly Wearstler spun gold across the Austin Proper Hotel, which captures the designer’s prowess for pattern and materiality—from retro florals to shou sugi ban cypress. Housed within a LEED Gold-certified building crafted by New York studio Handel Architects, the third Proper outpost houses 244 guestrooms, 99 residences, and amenities like the eclectic and colorful Mediterranean restaurant Peacock (shown above) and the sunken and sophisticated cocktail bar Goldie’s. With references to the Art Nouveau movement as well as local hallmarks, the design-driven urban retreat warmly reinterprets the conventions of Southern comfort. Read the full story.
W Atlanta Midtown
This year, the W Atlanta – Midtown revealed its first major renovation since opening in 2009. Led by Virserius Studio, the redesign weaves a narrative oriented around a fictious Atlanta native named Arthur, whose character is artfully expressed through novel elements, such as a hidden garden and floral motifs. Beyond its striking public spaces, the hotel’s 466 accommodations nod to Arthur’s appreciation for local music and film culture, as well as nature, with custom digital wallcoverings inspired by vintage vinyl records and the forest. Read the full story.
Four Seasons Hotel Montreal
Photo by Don Riddle
Gilles & Boissier and Philip Hazan Design partnered on the design of many of the public spaces at the theatrical Four Seasons Hotel Montreal, which marked the brand’s return to the Canadian destination after a two-decade absence. Art and whimsy abound against a backdrop of blush tones as well as watery palettes of gray, blue, and green. Prismatic effects throughout the interior support the hotel’s seamless transition from day to evening hours, ensuring a balanced energy amplified by a fusion of classic and contemporary focal points. The hotel’s design team also included firms Lemay, Sid Lee Architecture, and Atelier Zébulon Perron. Read the full story.
