NEWH - Summer 2019 - 64

PROJECT | THE BLAKE HOTEL

Local Flavor
HVS and JN+A keep history in mind in a New Haven new build
By JoAnn Greco
Photography by Read McKendree

W

ith its burnished leathers, deep off tones of blue/
green and rust/orange velvet, and aged beams and
ironwork, the lobby of the Blake Hotel looks the picture
of a tony New England professor's home. But the 108-room New
Haven hotel is a just-opened new-build, so its grab-and-go market,
midcentury incidental pieces, and raw-edge communal table are
very much of their time. "The hotel sits at the intersection of past
and future," confirms Rockville, Maryland-based HVS Design's
principal Christine Shanahan, adding that her team took inspiration
from the city's judicious mix of progressiveness and history. The
hotel's namesake, Alice Blake, in fact provided a little of both: In
1886, she became the first woman to graduate from Yale Law
School.
In addition to the guestrooms, HVS Design handled the
interiors for the property's common areas, meeting spaces, fitness
center, and rooftop patio. Alexander Waterworth Interiors crafted
Hamilton Park, a New England bistro helmed by Michelin-starred
chef Matt Lambert and named after one of New Haven's-and the
nation's-first public green spaces. The six-story building itself
was designed by Jonathan Nehmer + Associates.

Shanahan says her interiors team "drew from the city's palette
and architecture." The entry sequence-a reception area and
lounge flanked by the restaurant and meeting spaces-serves
as a "study in connectivity," where, as in an urban street grid,
spaces flow into and intersect with one another. A specific design
feature that promotes this fluidity, she adds, is the "grandscale operable glazed partition" that divides the lobby from the
restaurant while allowing for "full visual connection," whether
closed or opened (where the doors stack to present the effect of
a single window pane).
The other public areas offer the lobby's same classic-meetscontemporary vibe. Soft green millwork, coffered ceilings, and
textured carpet elevate the meeting spaces with a suggestion of
the city's historic residences, while high-gloss subway tile and
wood flooring ground the fitness center in the clean modernity
also found in the guestrooms. Outfitted in dark charcoal and warm
oak and mahogany finishes, those upstairs rooms are dipped in a
minimalist aesthetic that's offset by tactile velvet sofas and other
Old-World accents. The "leather-topped desk that's so effortlessly
handsome and rich" is a favorite touch, says Shanahan. "We also
love the open shelving
and brass rail concept
in the kitchenettes. It's a
thoughtful detail that turned
out to be both pretty and
functional."

This page: While the hotel is
a new build, the Blake's lobby
nods to history with exposed
beams and deep-toned wood.
Opposite page: HVS Design
layered cool and warm tones in
velvet furniture and accents.

64 www.newh.org


http://www.newh.org

NEWH - Summer 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NEWH - Summer 2019

NEWH - Summer 2019
Table of Contents
Guest Perspective
Who’s Who
News
Conference Roundup
Have You Seen?
Scholarships
Interview
Sustainability
Premium Business Members
Q&A: Anne Hiter
Q&A: Matt Deshantz
Q&A: Michelle Purcell
On the Cover
PROJECT: The Blake Hotel
PROJECT: Cultura
PROJECT: Marriott Irvine Spectrum
Chapter Highlights
Save the Date
New Members
Partner Profiles
Ad Index
NEWH - Summer 2019 - NEWH - Summer 2019
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Cover2
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Table of Contents
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Guest Perspective
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 5
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Who’s Who
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 7
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 8
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 9
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 10
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 11
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 12
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 13
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 14
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 15
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 16
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 17
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 18
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 19
NEWH - Summer 2019 - News
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 21
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Conference Roundup
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 23
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 24
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 25
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 26
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 27
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Have You Seen?
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 29
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 30
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 31
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 32
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 33
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 34
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 35
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Scholarships
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 37
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 38
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 39
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Interview
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 41
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Sustainability
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 43
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Premium Business Members
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 45
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 46
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 47
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 48
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 49
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 50
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 51
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 52
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 53
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 54
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 55
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Q&A: Anne Hiter
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 57
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Q&A: Matt Deshantz
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 59
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Q&A: Michelle Purcell
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 61
NEWH - Summer 2019 - On the Cover
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 63
NEWH - Summer 2019 - PROJECT: The Blake Hotel
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 65
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 66
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 67
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 68
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 69
NEWH - Summer 2019 - PROJECT: Cultura
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 71
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 72
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 73
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 74
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 75
NEWH - Summer 2019 - PROJECT: Marriott Irvine Spectrum
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 77
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 78
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 79
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Chapter Highlights
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 81
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 82
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 83
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 84
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 85
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 86
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 87
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 88
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 89
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Save the Date
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 91
NEWH - Summer 2019 - New Members
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 93
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 94
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 95
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 96
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 97
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 98
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 99
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 100
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 101
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 102
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 103
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Partner Profiles
NEWH - Summer 2019 - 105
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Ad Index
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Cover3
NEWH - Summer 2019 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2024Spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2023Winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2023fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2023summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2023spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2022winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2022fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2022summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2022spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2021winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2021fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2021summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2021spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2020winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2020fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2020july_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2020july
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2020summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2020spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2019winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2019fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2019summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2019spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2018winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2018fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2018summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2018spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2017winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2017fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2017summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2017spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2016winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2016fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2016summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2016spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2015winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2015spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2014winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2014spring
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com