27 Aug 2015
New HOK-designed suites offer a creative feast at New York’s Mandarin Oriental hotel
BY Kate Parker
Global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm HOK has redesigned 42 suites at the Mandarin Oriental New York hotel to offer guests a unique experience of the city.
The HOK-designed one and two-bedroom suites feature panoramic views of Central Park, the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline and aim to invoke New York City life through the course of a day with their distinct theming. To achieve this, the project incorporates curated partnerships with key figures from the New York art and fashion community to combine elements of art, culture, fashion and gastronomy, aiming to provide guests with an enhanced experience.
Complementing the suites’ modern interiors is a contemporary art collection curated by Rare Culture which draws inspiration from New York City, creating the feeling of a gallery space for suite guests. Original pieces by New York-based artists – including Steve Wasterval, Per Johannson and Emmanuel Frangeul a.k.a. Blew – are featured throughout the spaces.
The hotel has a Bedside Reading Program, highlighted through a collaboration with award-winning New York-based fashion designer Joseph Altuzarra of Altuzarra. Each suite features a selection of the designer’s favourite books which have provided the inspiration for the collections of his women’s ready-to-wear brand over the years, such as ‘The Line of Beauty’ by Alan Hollinghurst, ‘Lolita’ by Vladimir Nabokov, and ‘In Search of Lost Time’ by Proust.
Commenting on the designs, Christina Hart, director of hospitality at HOK, said: “We blended myriad layers, textural elements, patterned wall coverings and saturated colours, balanced with exquisite furnishings, artistic lighting and highly-curated original artwork to create suites that are luxurious, unexpected and elegant.”
Suite guests are also given a Rodarte New York City Guide designed exclusively for the hotel by award-winning designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy, founders of the luxury clothing and accessories brand Rodarte. Created as both a functional map of Manhattan and also a collectible art piece, the Rodarte New York City Guide is a visualisation of the discoveries and insights which have defined the designer duo’s city experiences.
Other exclusive amenities include in-suite meditation and spa treatments, and a complimentary bespoke cocktail tailored to the theme of guests’ suites.
Close Window