Ruin

Zarkon Group Real Estate Builders & Developers > Blog > Ruin

Tag: Ruin

Giannone Petricone Associates rescues Ontario hotel from ruin
CategoriesInterior Design

Giannone Petricone Associates rescues Ontario hotel from ruin

By Zarkon Group,

Toronto studio Giannone Petricone Associates has spent a decade restoring a dilapidated hotel in Ontario, linking the building’s past and present through regionally influenced design details.

Located in Picton, a town in Prince Edward County (PEC) that lies close to the shores of Lake Ontario, The Royal Hotel was in bad shape when the Sorbara family purchased it in 2013.

Hotel lobby with wood shelving and floral-wrapped reception desk
The Royal Hotel’s interiors draw upon a mix Victorian and contemporary influences, as seen in the reception area. Photo by Graydon Herriott

The new owners hired Giannone Petricone Associates (GPA) to save what they could of the existing building, which was first completed in 1879, and transform it into contemporary lodgings.

“Its central staircase was lined with a lush carpet of green moss, and early in the planning phase, the roof caved in,” said the hotel team.

Bar surrounded by tambour panelling
One of four hotel bars is lined with tambour panelling

“But the family vowed to restore the property and bring it back to life as a nexus for both locals and guests of PEC’s burgeoning food and wine region.”

The architects were able to salvage three of the original brick walls, and within them created a cafe, three bars, a fine-dining restaurant; and a spa, gym and sauna.

Lounge area in front of undulated plaster fireplace surround
Playful design elements include ceiling rosettes that mimic water ripples

A landscaped terrace overlooks a fourth bar and a brick patio with lounge seating, while an outdoor swimming pool flanked by a row of cabana beds lies beyond.

A total of 33 guest rooms are available: 28 in the main three-storey hotel building, and a further five suites in a rebuilt stable named The Royal Annex.

Cosy lounge with dark tambour fireplace surround
Another cosy lounge area features dark tambour panels around its fireplace

For the interiors, GPA played on tropes of Victorian railway hotels, mixing formal elements of British tradition with PEC’s more laid-back rural sensibility.

“The Royal is designed to be a transporting experience while deeply rooted in the local context,” said GPA principal Pina Petricone. “The experience benefits from the charged contrast between ‘genteel’ and ‘real’ elements.”

In the lobby, the reception desk is wrapped in a floral pattern and a wooden shelving system forms a boutique displaying items for sale.

Tambour panelling lines the adjacent bar area, which flows into a lounge where softly undulated plasterwork frames a fireplace.

Bedroom with dark wood panelling and large marbled fireplace
The hotel offers 33 guest rooms, which feature details like cross-stitched headboards

A variety of checkered and tartan patterns are found across hallway carpets, mosaic bathroom tiles and cross-stitched headboards. Ceiling rosettes throughout the spaces are designed to mimic mushrooms and water ripples.

“We wanted to have moments in the hotel that were a bit nonsensical,” Petricone said. “The Royal is about escapism, and our research into the hotel’s history demonstrated that it was always a pretty quirky place.”

Bathroom with checkered mosaic tiles
A variety of checkered patterns are found throughout the hotel, including in the mosaic bathroom tiles

Other recently opened hotels in Canada include the Ace Toronto, which boasts a suspended lobby and rooftop bar.

Last year, the 1 Hotel Toronto by Rockwell Group and The Drake Hotel Modern Wing by DesignAgency, also in the city, were longlisted in the Hotel and Short Stay Interiors category for the Dezeen Awards.

The photography is by Doublespace, unless stated otherwise. Main image is by Jeff McNeill.

Reference

adjaye associates’ first skyscraper evokes fortress ruin in new york
CategoriesArchitecture

adjaye associates’ first skyscraper evokes fortress ruin in new york

By Zarkon Group,

now complete: new york’s modern ruin by adjaye associates

 

130 William stands completed in New York City‘s financial district, marking Adjaye Associates‘ first skyscraper. Designed as a rejection of the common glass tower, the architecture takes its inspiration from the industrial heritage of the city with its facade of rhythmic, arched windows and its hand-cast concrete skin — this way, the project evokes a ‘ruin’ in the city, proposing an alternative history of New York architecture. The building rises 800 feet and 66 stories above the city, and introduces 242 residences along with a luxurious collection of amenities and a welcoming public plaza at street-level. See designboom’s previous coverage here.

adjaye associates 130 williamimage © Ivane Katamashvili

 

 

a hand-cast concrete facade evokes the texture of lava rock

 

From the street, 130 William’s entrance plaza opens up as a lush public ‘pocket park,’ which Adjaye Associates designed as a quiet retreat from the density of the Financial District. This park is wrapped on three sides by the building’s custom hand-cast facade with its stack of arched windows. From here, visitors can observe the rich texture of the blackened concrete skin, cast to evoke the porous surface of lava rock, which is highlighted by refined bronze accents. The distinctive silhouette of large-scale arched windows are a reminder of the historic lofts that once defined the fabric of lower Manhattan.

 

‘This idea of making a ‘pocket park’ as an outdoor room for the city was the compelling part of the project for me,’ architect David Adjaye said during an opening celebration at 130 William. ‘Making not just a condo but a piece of public infrastructure, a piece of the city, was really important.’

adjaye associates 130 william
image © Ivane Katamashvili

 

 

inside the airy residences

 

While Adjaye Associates designs its 130 William tower with a dark, fortress-like exterior, the team curated its interiors with a light and airy ambience. The 242 residences range from studios to four-bedroom units, and take shape with materials gathered from across the globe. With wide-plank white oak flooring and large, bronze-framed arched windows, the each residence is designed with open and spacious interiors and a meticulous attention to detail. The team at Adjaye Associates custom-designed all the residences’ burnished bronze fixtures and hardware — including all faucets, showerheads, accessories, and door handles — along with textiles and textural wallpaper.

adjaye associates 130 william
image © Ivane Katamashvili

 

 

sheltered loggias bring private outdoor space

 

Within the top ten floors of 130 William, Adjaye Associates fits the Penthouse and Loggia Residences, which feature spacious rooms and high ceilings ranging from 11 to 14 feet. These interiors seamlessly connect to expansive outdoor areas with breathtaking views. The Loggia terraces envelop these residences from one end to the other, offering substantial outdoor space starting at a height of over 600 feet. These distinctive residences are further enriched with exclusive touches, such as sink countertops and soaking tubs crafted from exquisite marble.

adjaye associates 130 william
a ‘pocket park’ is open for residents and the public alike | image © Dror Baldinger

 

 

the luxury amenities of 130 william

 

130 William presents an extensive range of lifestyle and wellness amenities spanning over 20,000 square feet. These offerings encompass a comprehensive health and wellness club featuring a luxurious infinity-edge spa pool, invigorating cold and hot plunge pools, a rejuvenating dry sauna, and tranquil massage rooms. Additionally, there is a cutting-edge fitness center with a terrace, a serene yoga studio, and a versatile basketball court. Residents can indulge in various entertainment facilities, including a private IMAX theater, one of just two in all of New York City. Indoor and outdoor lounges offer a chef’s catering kitchen, a club room, a golf simulator, and a children’s play space. 

adjaye associates 130 williamthe blackened, textural facade wraps the public park on three sides | image © designboom

 

 

For panoramic views across the city and beyond, a private rooftop observation deck crowns 130 William, situated almost 800 feet above ground level. Convenient services include a 24-hour attended lobby, a concierge service catering to personal needs such as reservations and theater tickets, as well as a pet spa. Additional amenities comprise bicycle storage, private storage options, and exclusive rooftop cabanas.

Reference