The evolution of the hotel over the last century is profound, with design schemes portraying and reflecting movements like Art Deco and midcentury modern as well as the power animated boutique and lifestyle focused properties. We chose 4 of the most iconic hotels that showcase a true combination of enduring beauty and soul.
Fairmont Royal York, Toronto:
The Royal York Hotel was opened in 1929 by the Canadian Pacific Railway in order to complement Union Station. After starting the project, the Group was tasked with redesigning the public spaces of this Beaux-Arts building for the hotel’s 90th anniversary. The firm decided to reference a golden age of rail travel. For instance, anchoring the lobby atrium, a blend of navy and copper hues, geometric Art Deco patterns, and Pullman car–style seating is a double-height, double-sided clock tower.
Le Bristol, Paris:
Hippolyte Jammet founded Le Bristol in 1925, within a Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré mansion that during World War II held a secret air-raid shelter. Its natural light-filled guest rooms are fresh but opulent: a mélange of crystal, velvet, taffeta, and silk. In the daytime, a rooftop pool and garden spa, both Parisian rarities, compete with sightseeing; in the evenings, attention turns to the cocktails sipped on one of the sofas in the Pierre-Yves Rochon–designed bar.
The Siam, Bangkok:
Bangkok can be a very energising and chaotic city, as for this, staying at the Siam can be seen as a delightful and reenergising experience. Private, pool-dotted courtyards can be seen as a relaxing departure from the city stress. Designed by Bill Bensley, the property arrived on the scene in 2012 and quickly received a lot of attention die to its unique Art Deco spirit. Antiques fill the suites, which are done up in palettes of black, white, and cream and fittingly accentuated by natural materials including wood, leather, and stone.
Chateau Marmont, Los Angeles:
Originally opened in 1929, a tony Loire Valley château inspired this unique celebrity hangout as the first earthquake-proof apartment building in Los Angeles . In 1990s André Balazs took over the Chateau, thankfully preserving its romantic luster through elements like Gothic arched windows, wooden ceiling beams, and damask. All of the airy rooms, suites, cottages, and bungalows, as well as the dimly lit public spaces, evoke a hard-to-find Old Hollywood.