Hospitality Design - December 2020 - 43

The Commons Club in Dallas comprises ample
outdoor space, including a pool, garden, and grill

Swathed in the brand's signature red and white palette, the
chic Pool Club at Nashville conveys a transportive quality

Virgin Hotels Dallas

The newly constructed hotel in the Dallas
Design District exudes an " LA on the Prairie "
aesthetic, expressed with natural textures and
handcrafted elements that instill warmth as
well as a sense of place to " celebrate the spirit
and personality of the city, " says Joslyn Taylor,
partner with local firm SWOON, the Studio,
which served as interior designer of record
for the property's guestrooms, Pool Club,
and meeting and event spaces. The polished
look of the Pool Club, for example, echoes the
Southern California-meets-Dallas theme with a
laidback flair and subtle rock 'n' roll influence,
where notes of brass and vibrant colors balance
a restrained palette.
Moroccan-style tiles adorn the guestrooms,
known as chambers, alongside white oak
millwork, creamy linen drapery, tactile flannel
wallcoverings, and sculptural brass light
fixtures. Meanwhile, penthouse suites were
crafted by Austin designer Joel Mozersky, who
also oversaw the Commons Club and Funny

An " LA On the Prairie " aesthetic characterizes the public
areas, like the Pool Club, at the Virgin Hotels Dallas

A Grand chamber in Dallas showcases Virgin's
patented Lounge Bed complete with a corner seat

Library coffeeshop. Bold colors are employed
across the penthouse suite known as Richard's
Flat (named for Branson), while jewel and
more brass tones further heighten a sense of
luxury. " The overall aesthetic was to create
a surrealistic environment that hadn't been
seen before, a journey for the guest that was
transformative, " Mozersky says.
But the dreamlike vision hits its eccentric
climax in the Funny Library, where Iris Apfel
and Alice in Wonderland are channeled in the
form of an ostrich feather chandelier and coffered
ceilings detailed with walnut beams and brass
panels. " We wanted to create something Dallas
had not seen yet, something with a wink that
didn't take itself too seriously, but was still design
forward, " Mozersky adds. " We were told not to
play it safe and to be over the top. "

Virgin Hotels Nashville

Located on the iconic Music Row, Virgin
Nashville, another new build, stands out with
a colorful presence amid a slew of hotels

in the growing tourist capital. Brooklyn,
New York-based architecture and design
firm MARKZEFF took the Virgin tradition
of localized design a step further, drawing
upon an English-inspired music backdrop to
complement Virgin's signature cheekiness.
Housed within the concrete building clad in
brick crafted by BLUR Workshop and Hastings
Architecture, strong materials like wood
and exposed steel beams form the backdrop
for Zeff 's interiors. " We thought that using
vernacular building methods and materials
would give an understated sense of style, " says
MARKZEFF founder Mark Zeff.
In addition to the whimsical yet chic Pool
Club, Zeff also cites the Funny Library as one
of the project's crown jewels. " This is a room
with splendid ceiling tassels and hanging
lighting sculptures with stadium banquettes in
hides and rich colors, " he says. " A real tour de
force. " References to the city's heritage abound
in the form of locally sourced artwork, custom
furniture, and even carpeting that recalls

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