Contract - April 2013 - (Page 77)
By Sheri Olson
Photography by
Boone Speed
Photography
A visual sonic boom greets guests in the lobby of Seattle’s W Hotel.
Space seemingly explodes outward from a four-story-tall cylindrical
fireplace that’s clad in stainless steel tiles set in a radiating pattern to
create the illusion of movement and expansion. Banquettes fan out
from the fireplace emphasizing this expanding wave of energy.
Overhead, the window of the DJ booth looms like a jet cockpit. It’s one
of several references to the region’s role in aviation history as Boeing’s
home base.
This was an early W built in 1999, and Skylab Architecture’s
charge in a recent interior renovation of the lobby and public areas was
to bring a fresh vision that captures the city’s unique identity. “It was
challenging because Seattle has such an eclectic and rich culture,” says
Brent Grubb, principal at Skylab who led the design project with Jeff
Kovel, a principal and founder of the Portland-based firm. Rather than
narrowing down references, the designers embraced them all: the
aviation industry, native culture, timber lodges, and the music scene.
Incorporating Pacific Northwestern culture
One of the challenges was to build out the space in 90 days while
keeping the hotel operational during the slow season. The architects
met the accelerated construction timeline by prefabricating as many
elements as possible, including the segmented wood column covers
that fit over the existing structure. The oblique-shaped wood wraps are
split into 3-foot sections and stacked slightly out of alignment allowing
places for recessed up-lights. The mahogany wood veneer has a
gradated fade of black stain to appear like the uneven charring of a log
in a fire. The undulating forms resemble abstract totem poles and
together the 20-foot-tall poles define what Skylab calls a “sonic lodge.”
The client, Host Hotels, requested an open design, more like a
living room, with lots of seating for their weeknight SIP (Socially
contract
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - April 2013
Contract - April 2013
Contents
Editorial
Industry News
Columnist: How Young Practitioners Can Present Themselves As Leaders
Product Focus: Rugs the Right Way
Product Focus: Sitting Pretty
Product Focus: Basking in the Sun
Product Briefs: Hospitality
Das Stue
Carousel Bar
Andaz Amsterdam
W Seattle
Jelsomino
Designers Select: Hospitality
Sources
Ad Index
Installation
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