Renowned hotelier Ian Schrager has collaborated with Marriott International across the EDITION hotel chain, creating a unique ‘modern luxury hotel’. The New York EDITION marks the latest in this line of uniquely modern and elegant venues.
Once the tallest building in New York City, the Clocktower at Madison Square Park now houses the latest hotel in the EDITION empire. Sandwiched between Union Square, the Meatpacking District, Chelsea, Greenwich Village and Tribeca, The New York EDITION is ideally located for those looking to explore this ever-evolving city beyond the typical tourist spots.
In forming the overall design concept for the EDITION hotels, Ian Schrager saw the use of traditional decor in luxury hotels as a safe approach, a ‘give no offence’ design philosophy that was itself, offensive. Modern consumers no longer crave the traditional, stuffy fixtures associated with luxury, seeking contemporary glamour instead. Opting for modern decadence and opulence, Schrager has produced a richly luxurious design vernacular to be used throughout the EDITION hotel chain.
At the New York location, this modern glamour scheme is seamlessly fused with the inherited pedigree of the building. The blend of contemporary and historic features follows the style of previous projects such as The London EDITION, where vibrant punk elements were incorporated into the existing features of a quintessential London private gentleman’s club.
Explaining the inspired theme, Ian Schrager says: “I’m always interested in upsetting the status quo and going off in new directions. Combining opposites and unexpected surprises has always been fascinating to me. When two opposing aesthetics come together, they either fail miserably or create an alchemy. If done well, the presence of one will always serve to showcase the other. It takes the experience of staying in a hotel to a whole new level and the end result is impossible to categorise.”
The 273-key New York hotel features 360-degree views of New York City, a restaurant, two bars, meeting rooms and an animated lobby. Guests enter the building through a sophisticated entry vestibule with large glass panes, passing under the satin stainless steel canopy strewn with hundreds of tiny LEDs. Beyond this, the dark oak wood-panelled foyer and custom cast concrete steps lead to the lobby and lobby bar. The warmth of the black walnut lobby bar and reception desk softens the dense-beamed Venetian ceiling.
In the lobby bar area, Alvaro Aalto lounge chairs rest in front of a 30ft long, hand-forged blackened steel fireplace, whilst an immense, amber illuminated panel adds an unexpected and playful twist to the bar itself – a feature also used in the bar of the London EDITION.
The grand staircase is deeply symbolic of the hotel’s modernity. The vast conch-like structure is fashioned in a lacquered steel exterior and a hand-selected cerused white oak panelling interior. The sculpture creates an unusual, immersive experience for the guests who pass through it to reach the floors above.
The hotel restaurant is ideally located on the second floor of the tower, where it overlooks Madison Square Park. As with the other EDITION hotels, the restaurant is a bold space that fully explores Ian’s design scheme. Conjuring the duality of the city, bright pops of colour add a zany twist to the subtle glamour of the hotel decor and vintage fittings. Three intimate dining rooms, a parlour with a billiard table and a library are separated as in a private home – each of which holds an elaborate chandelier by modernist designer Eric Schmitt.
The hotel’s minimalist sepia colour scheme spreads from the ceiling of the room to the walls, accompanied by the same dark wood decor as seen in the lobby. The restaurant features original, restored oak floors stained in dark ebony, table tops in mahogany wood with dark bronze tulip bases, French polished custom dining chairs, and the designer has embraced and restored the landmark mahogany wainscoting.
However, various design pieces and block colour features mark this room as a unique space. Sporadic vibrant colour shots sit amongst the ocean of monochrome photographs in gilded frames; sleek black dining chairs are upholstered in contrasting shades of royal blue, magenta and bottle-green; a striking violet billiards table dominates the intimate parlour. The room offers a plethora of design features which burst with New York cool, channelling pockets of saturated colour with the depth of those used by the Dutch masters, twisted into a modernist pop-art style.
As with the lobby of the hotel, hues of oatmeal, silver and white form the core of the colour scheme throughout the guestrooms of the hotel. The unique guest rooms and suites feature oak floors and dark oak panelled foyers that create a cosy, private residential entrance. Oversized windows frame spectacular city views, ranging from a close-up and intimate view of Madison Square Park, to the world-famous Empire State Building.
Rooms are furnished with a customised collection of classic, extra-long white oak floating desks inspired by French interior designer Jean-Michel Frank, bronze floor lamps, custom dark walnut panelled headboards and nightstands, custom off-white linen sofas, luxurious linen and silk upholstery, hand tufted area rugs in silk and wool blend. Bathrooms feature custom-moulded stone composite sinks with an illuminated vanity mirror.
Suites feature series of photographs depicting different New York City scenes, curated by Trunk Archive, which are perched atop dark oak ledges on guest room floors. The guest rooms also feature large black and white photography from renowned fashion photographer Melvin Sokolsky’s iconic 1963 Bubble series.
Located on the 29th, 30th and 31st floors with 180-degree views of the city, each of the three, 1,400 square foot custom-furnished penthouses have a modern, chic, residential feel. The penthouses are furnished with an elegant mix of sophisticated furniture, hardwood floors, silk drapery and rugs. Each penthouse has its own private dining room complete with rift cut dark oak panelling and large bookcases, a full kitchen, living room with a two-toned palette of dark brown and ivory, and a master bathroom.
The EDITION chain has three other venues in London, Istanbul and Miami, with plans to launch another seven across the world by the end of 2017.
