Restored Book Tower in Detroit features hospitality venues by Method Co
CategoriesInterior Design

Restored Book Tower in Detroit features hospitality venues by Method Co

Several restaurants and a hotel have opened within Detroit’s historic Book Tower as part of a years-long restoration project of the building undertaken by its developer and architecture studio ODA.

The 1920s skyscraper has undergone extensive restoration work over the past seven years by local developer Bedrock, which has transformed the former office building into a mixed-use space.

Giant glass dome over a neoclassical lobbyGiant glass dome over a neoclassical lobby
Among Book Tower’s restored features are a grand glass dome, which sits over the lobby’s Bar Rotunda

A collaboration with Method Co has led to the first phase of restaurant and bar concepts, which were introduced through the course of 2023.

“We have been ever-mindful of what the restoration of Book Tower means to this city,” said Randall Cook, CEO and cofounder of Method Co, “and we’ve worked hard to create hospitality concepts that will excite and reconnect Detroiters to Book Tower once again, and at the same time honour the heritage of this magnificent property.”

View through an arch in a stone wall of an atriumView through an arch in a stone wall of an atrium
Developers Bedrock worked with architects ODA on the restoration of the 1920s neoclassical building

Located on Washington Boulevard in Downtown Detroit, the 38-storey neoclassical building was designed by Louis Kamper – a prolific and celebrated architect in the city during its Gilded Age.

New York architecture firm ODA was hired to update and expand the programming and existing structures, resulting in half a million square feet (46,450 square metres) of mixed-use space.

Le Suprême brasserie interior with green tiles and wood accentsLe Suprême brasserie interior with green tiles and wood accents
Method Co was brought on to conceptualise and operate multiple culinary offerings within the building, including Le Suprême brasserie at street level

The work included restoring the exterior windows and stonework and bringing an ornate domed glass ceiling back to life.

Method Co was then brought on to conceptualise three restaurants and bars, as well as a hotel, and operate each of these venues within the building.

Le Suprême restaurant with zinc bar top, hand-made tiles and mosaic marble flooringLe Suprême restaurant with zinc bar top, hand-made tiles and mosaic marble flooring
Designed with Stokes Architecture + Design, Le Suprême includes a zinc bar top, hand-made tiles and mosaic marble flooring

Dining options include Le Suprême, a classic French brasserie that offers an all-day menu and both indoor and outdoor seating at street level for up to 210 guests.

Designed in collaboration with Stokes Architecture + Design, the 6,200-square-foot space features a traditional zinc bar top, hand-made art nouveau tiles, mosaic marble flooring and oxblood leather booths.

Furniture and decor were chosen to reflect Detroit’s cultural heritage, and photos on the walls of the Le Mans car race tie to the city’s automobile legacy.

Kamper's rooftop cocktail bar with exposed brickwork and dark wood accentsKamper's rooftop cocktail bar with exposed brickwork and dark wood accents
On the 14th floor is Kamper’s, a rooftop cocktail bar designed with ODA

On the 14th floor is Kamper’s, a rooftop cocktail bar designed with ODA comprising an indoor lounge that opens onto an expansive outdoor terrace via large French doors.

The cosy interior has exposed brick walls and dark wood accents, complemented by marble mosaic flooring, antiqued mirrors and velvet drapery.

Expansive outdoor terrace with views across DetroitExpansive outdoor terrace with views across Detroit
Kamper’s opens onto an expansive terrace with views across Detroit

Bar Rotunda sits below the glass dome and acts as an all-day lobby cafe and bar, with 70 seats surrounded by ornate architectural details that recall the grand eateries of early 20th-century Paris.

“The space is canopied by a beautifully restored 100-year-old Keppler Glass dome that features more than 7,000 individual jewels and 6,000 glass panels making it an architectural centerpiece,” said Method Co, which also worked with ODA on this space.

Also planned to open soon within Book Tower are sake pub Sakazuki, and izakaya and omakase-style dining spot Hiroki-San.

The hotel component of the building, Roost Detroit, offers short and long-stay accommodation in contemporary apartment-style spaces, alongside The Residences that are purchasable as permanent homes.

Studio hotel-apartment with a bed, kitchen and sofaStudio hotel-apartment with a bed, kitchen and sofa
The building’s accommodation component, Roost Detroit, is Method Co’s latest iteration of its apartment hotel brand

Roost Detroit is the latest iteration of Method Co’s apartment hotel brand, joining multiple outposts in Philadelphia – including the Morris Adjmi-designed East Market – along with Tampa, Cleveland and more across the US.

The company also operates The Quoin boutique hotel in Wilmington, Delaware, which offers 24 guest rooms within a converted bank building, and the Whyle extended-stay property in Washington DC that was longlisted in the hotel and short-stay interior category of Dezeen Awards 2021.

Contemporary residential interior with lounge and dining areasContemporary residential interior with lounge and dining areas
Roost Detroit offers short and extended stays within contemporary spaces of various sizes and configurations

Downtown Detroit’s revitalisation has taken shape over the past few years, and a handful of new hotels have opened to accommodate visitors who are returning to witness its cultural and creative rebirth.

They include The Siren Hotel, designed by ASH NYC to recall the city’s glamorous past, and the Shinola Hotel, which Gachot Studios designed for the local watch company of the same name.

The photography is by Matthew Williams unless stated otherwise.

Reference

Putting On a Show: 7 Remarkable Venues With Real Wow-Factor
CategoriesArchitecture

Putting On a Show: 7 Remarkable Venues With Real Wow-Factor

Architizer’s 11th Annual A+Awards is open for entries! With a Final Entry Deadline of January 27th, 2023, the clock is ticking — get started on your submission today.

Venues are the vessels of performance, and architecture is perhaps the most overlooked player on the stage. The geometries of events structures must perfect a complex dance that juggles elements such as acoustics, scale, sightlines, illumination and atmosphere. All the world may be a stage, to quote Shakespeare’s enduring words, but it’s the task of the architect to shape the stage into its own palpable world.

Performance spaces, whether theatrical, cultural or athletic, have a storied history that reaches back millennia. Yet, these typologies continue to be revised and rewritten in exciting new ways, as these outstanding winning projects from the 10th Annual A+Awards show. From concert halls and theaters to stadiums, discover seven of the most innovative contemporary venues deserving of a standing ovation.


 Zhengzhou Grand Theater

By The Architectural Design and Research Institute of HIT, Zhengzhou, China

Popular Choice Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Hall / Theater

Zhengzhou Grand Theater by The Architectural Design and Research Institute of HITZhengzhou Grand Theater by The Architectural Design and Research Institute of HITEnvisaged as a boat traversing China’s Yellow River, this remarkable performing arts venue resembles a vast ship anchored amid the urban sprawl of Zhengzhou. A series of dramatic metal sails define the exterior; however, the structure’s imposing scale is softened by its receptiveness to the surrounding landscape. Angular glass openings create a rapport between the building and the street outside. After nightfall, the sails illuminate and the interior glows, beckoning passers-by into its theatrical world.

Inside, the complex is home to four large theaters with unique architectural identities. The spaces have been carefully designed to accommodate their differing acoustic needs while ensuring there’s no noise interference between the venues. Undulating balconies, curving forms and dynamic solid surface patterns shape an immersive visual and audio experience.


 Andermatt Concert Hall

By Studio Seilern Architects, Andermatt, Switzerland

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Hall / Theater

Andermatt Concert Hall by Studio Seilern ArchitectsAndermatt Concert Hall by Studio Seilern ArchitectsOriginally an underground convention hall, this concrete structure has been transformed into a contemporary concert hall in the picturesque Swiss Alps. The ceiling of the subterranean space was raised to amplify the venue’s acoustics and increase its capacity. From the origami-inspired timber cladding to the inclined balconies and suspended sound reflectors, the interior topography has been carefully orchestrated to create an enveloping space where sound rises and falls around the audience like a wave.

The redesign rejects the conventional notion of the concert hall as an insular, enclosed space. The glazed upper volume protrudes up into the rural landscape, allowing light to pour down into the venue and creating a mercurial backdrop for concerts that shifts with the seasons. Externally, the structure takes on the appearance of an art installation at first glance, the acoustic reflectors floating ethereally amid the mountain peaks. The result is an intriguing invitation to find out more…


Hayward Field

By SRG Partnership, INC, Eugene, Oregon

Popular Choice Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Stadium & Arena

Hayward Field by SRG Partnership, INCHayward Field by SRG Partnership, INCThe site of sporting venues since 1919, this state-of-the-art track and field stadium has a hallowed history. The newest iteration of this legacy was inspired by the energy of competing athletes. The asymmetric oval frame of the stadium dips and rises in height as though it’s in motion — a considered decision that increases the density of seats near the finishing line. Meanwhile, a canopy of wooden ribs covered in a translucent skin allows daylight to permeate the stands, shielding the heart of the stadium, the spectators, from the elements.

The athletes’ experiences are prioritized in the architectural fabric of the structure too. As well as a vast complex dedicated to training and recovery below the stands, every element of the stadium has been designed as a vehicle for practice, from the winding stairs at the entrance to the public concourses and ramps clad in track surfacing.


Montforthaus

By HASCHER JEHLE Architektur, Feldkirch, Austria

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Cultural & Expo Centers

Montforthaus by HASCHER JEHLE ArchitekturMontforthaus by HASCHER JEHLE ArchitekturThis experimental venue is situated in a medieval town in western Austria. It was designed as a fluid space, capable of hosting everything from conventions and balls, to theater, pop concerts and classical performances. While its architectural form is strikingly contemporary, the structure doesn’t stand in conflict with its historic surroundings. Instead, traditional regional materials have been reimagined in a modern lexicon, creating a continuity between old and new.

The complex comprises an array of multipurpose events spaces, each shapeshifting in their scale and functionality. The large concert hall features over 300 square meters of adjustable surfaces, including six movable acoustic sails across the ceiling for a customizable aural experience. Height limitations posed an initial challenge to the  design, which meant rethinking the theatrical rigging system. Instead, the classic fly tower was reimagined as interchangeable segments, an especially innovative configuration.


Quzhou Stadium

By MAD Architects, Quzhou, China

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Stadium & Arena

Quzhou Stadium by MAD ArchitectsQuzhou Stadium by MAD ArchitectsEmbedded within an urban park, this extraordinary sports complex in Quzhou was devised to blur into the rolling topography. Six hills, a lake and sunken gardens sit in harmony with the structure, which is nestled within a crater-like recess in the ground. The entrances to the stadium appear as apertures in the earth, oversized burrows of sorts. From a distance, the only tell-tale sign of the arena’s presence is the translucent halo of the roof, which seemingly floats above the landscape like a cloud.

Encircled by woodland, the park sits at a distance from the city, the organic terrain a counterpoint to the developed skyline. The project offers a rebuttal to the typology of the stadium as a display of power — one that often appears to dominate the landscape. Instead, the sporting spirit is sensitively imbued into a communal outdoor space, placing the training of elite athletes alongside the quotidian physical activities of city dwellers.


Intuit Dome

By Cloud Architects, Inglewood, California

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Unbuilt Sport & Recreation

Intuit Dome by Cloud ArchitectsIntuit Dome by Cloud ArchitectsCombining sports with sustainability, the ground-breaking basketball stadium of the LA Clippers is striving to become the world’s first carbon-neutral arena. Harnessing Southern California’s sunny climate, the stadium, which is currently under construction, will be enveloped by a gridshell crowned with a solar array. The building will run entirely off electricity derived from the sun, while its solar battery storage system will have enough capacity to power a basketball game or concert. Coupled with natural ventilation and initiatives to eradicate landfill waste and improve local air quality, the arena will have an overwhelmingly positive impact on the region.

Embracing environmental responsibility hasn’t compromised the experience of fans either. The pioneering design will feature a bowl-style seating arrangement that ensures each seat has an unimpeded sightline, as well as integrated at-seat refreshment services. Meanwhile, the architects conceived the arena’s interior to optimize the Clippers’ home-court advantage — 51 rows of seats will flank one of the baskets, dubbed the ‘Wall of Sound’.


Winter Park Library & Events Center

By Adjaye Associates, Winter Park, Florida

Jury Winner, 10th Annual A+Awards, Libraries

Winter Park Library & Events Center by Adjaye AssociatesWinter Park Library & Events Center by Adjaye AssociatesThis community development in Florida was designed as a cultural micro-village amongst the tropical terrain. Encompassing the northwest corner of Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, the complex comprises three pavilions that house a two-story library, an events center and a welcome portico, as well as a number of outdoor socializing areas. The scheme’s radical design articulates its core principles of empowerment, education and unity with the natural world.

Just as the indoor buildings flow out seamlessly to the exterior meeting spaces, the divisions between the designated interior zones are porous. The library and events center feature flexible floor plans that promote the cross-pollination of ideas. Rather than a traditional, closed design, the tiered auditorium is open at the back to the rest of the events complex, encouraging engagement and participation. Here, the venue is not a singular confined space but a permeable zone of collaboration.

Architizer’s 11th Annual A+Awards is open for entries! With a Final Entry Deadline of January 27th, 2023, the clock is ticking — get started on your submission today.

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