Boutique Design - October 2017 - 34

PROJECT
PARTICIPANTS
ROOM MATE EMIR
CLIENT

Room Mate Hotels
DESIGNER

Lázaro Rosa-Violán
Estudio:Lázaro Rosa-Violán;
founder and interior designer;
Santiago Inat, technical architect; Aleida Martínez
ARCHITECT

Galataas

PURCHASING COMPANY/
GENERAL CONTRACTOR

AKADEMI INSAAT

PROJECT
PARTICIPANTS

6 The Franklin's corridor
flips the focus from
walls to the ceiling and
floor for an immersive
experience.

34

boutiquedesign.com october 2017

7 Keeping accent pieces at eye level
in The Franklin's guest room bathroom not only makes art visually
accessible, but lets guests enjoy it
while getting ready for the day.

THE FRANKLIN HOTEL AT
INDEPENDENCE PARK
OWNER

The Buccini/Pollin Group
OPERATOR

PM Hotel Group
DESIGN FIRM

HVS Design: Christine
Shanahan, managing director
of design; Inad Bilbeisi, studio
director; Allie McWatters
Corneal and Elizabeth Saffell,
designers
ARCHITECT

Jonathan Nehmer +
Associates Inc.
PURCHASING COMPANY

Christina River Exchange
GENERAL CONTRACTOR

BPGS Construction

DESIGN CONSULTANTS

FXB Engineering (MEP engineering); Lighting Design
Collaborative (lighting)
BATH FIXTURES

Kohler

CASEGOODS

Lacquercraft Hospitality
FABRICS

Architex
Arc Com
Fil Doux Textiles
Kravet
Maxwell Fabrics
Samelson-Chatelane
SK Textiles
FLOORCOVERINGS

Architectural Ceramics
Karndean LVT
Masland Carpet
Royal Thai (fomerly Tai Ping
Carpets)
FURNITURE

Lily Jack Upholstery
LIGHTING

Chapman
MIRRORS

Electric Mirror
Mirror Image
WALLCOVERINGS

Astek
Wolf-Gordon

TOM CR ANE PHOTOGR APHY

7

"The lights, tech and even the tactile elements combine
and work as a motif throughout the hotel."
Case in point: the series of oval mirrors that line the
wall of a spiral staircase in Room Mate Emir. Their
streamlined shape works to suggest the traffic pattern-
directing guests up or down the stairs.
For Shanahan, it's the color palette that helps create
a roadmap. "A deep charcoal against the window wall
helps to define individual spaces within the room
(creating an orientation point so guests can easily locate
the room's features). A rich crimson is used sparingly,
but with purpose throughout the room, to provide the
feature or focal point of interest," she says. A narrow
black door draws attention to the guest rooms' coffee
maker and counter. Green mirrors, red cords and even
red lipstick prints on the artwork in The Franklin
modernize wood flooring.
Those deep tones also offer a more layered spin on a
classic East Coast vibe, something that's key for modern
travelers looking for hotels that match their 21st century
concept of city stays. Whether the shell of a hotel is a
rundown historic structure (or two, in the case of Room
Mate Emir) or a more modern building that was
purpose-built as a hotel (as is the case for The Franklin),
the fusion of new and old elements has to feel fresh,
even when the elements are traditional.
Emir's candy-pink walls and sparkling chandeliers
might be formal, but the result when combined with
wall-size black and white graphics and the caramel
leather of a round seating piece is still contemporary.
Sound like making downtown magic is a tall order?
It is. So, designers can forget about a blank slate (or,
clearly, a guidebook). Time to head out into the urban
jungle, indeed. 
http://www.boutiquedesign.com
Boutique Design - October 2017

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