91视频

Skip Main Links
Textured white panels on exterior wall along treelined side walk
idea

Building Community: Architectural Placemaking in Hospitality Experiences

Brian Murch

Before you step foot into a 91视频-designed hotel, the placemaking process comes to life through three architectural principles: invigorating neighborhoods, bridging past and future, and sparking curiosity and discovery, using the allure of mystery.

1st floor corner of building with window below pink Moxy sign opened up and out above sidewalk looking into dining area
Moxy Chicago in Chicago, IL. Photo by James Steinkamp.

Invigorating Neighborhoods
At the beginning of design, we immerse ourselves in the community to design as a 鈥渘ice neighbor.鈥 Contextual clues are gleaned from both the physical vernacular and the more intangible cultural zeitgeist. Architecturally, relationships are built with surrounding buildings through studied geometries, scale, and materiality. Partnerships with local artisans and fabricators underscore a friendly residential character: here is a place for comfort and connection, a place where you belong.聽Direct inside-outside connections, as seen at the聽聽above, position a hotel as part of the community, erasing the boundary between guest and neighbor.

Exterior view of historic mill district cement building with uplighting and ornamental emblems at the Canopy Mill District
Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis Mill District in Minneapolis, MN. Photo by Jim Kruger.

Bridging Past and Future
Sustainable cities breathe new life into neglected old buildings. We don鈥檛 just save old buildings; we help reimagine them and, through the transformation process, invigorate neighborhoods. Character-driven properties appeal to heritage-minded travelers and to passionate locals with pride of place. Environmental stewardship in an urban environment often relies on ingenuity and adaptation. For hotel developers, leveraging historic tax credits聽for rehabilitation can unlock a host of benefits, but must be paired with creative and flexible design. This preserves the historic integrity of legacy buildings while adapting them for new hotel developments.

View up to corner of ac hotel in raleigh north carolina with a rooftop terrace, skylight in overhang, columns, large windows
AC Raleigh North Hills in Raleigh, NC. Photo by James Steinkamp.

Sparking Curiosity and Discovery
From the streetscape, an inviting sense of warmth is caught in glimpses, building drama. Curiosity is rewarded with hints of what goes on inside, lending a feeling of exclusive discovery. A hotel鈥檚 exterior should play with opacity and transparency, with the allure of mystery. This signals activity to community and drawing in passerby. From the front door, the first impression feathers outwards and upwards: the procession of arrival has begun. Bold lighting and sound establish character. The familiarity of a welcoming, residentially scaled portal softens the edges. We call this the building鈥檚 鈥渉andshake鈥 鈥 memorable and defining.聽Discovery also happens when new vantage points are introduced, such as the popular sky lobby and roof deck overlooking the bustle of downtown Raleigh at the聽AC Hotel聽pictured above.

Ideas

Recommended Reads

Contact Us

Contact Us

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.