Design Hotel The Rockwell Group Chambers:: arcspace.com

The design combines a rough, industrial downtown aesthetic with an uptown classic “townhouse” polish.

Photo courtesy The Rockwell Group

Inspired by the nearby MoMA and neighboring galleries, an outstanding contemporary art collection line the walls of both the public spaces and the guest rooms, at Chambers hotel. Visitors have the sensation of walking into a private collector’s townhouse, where there are more than 500 original works of art.

The 14-story hotel occupies a narrow lot, similar in scale to the historic neighboring townhouses, at a prime midtown location. The glass facade is punctuated by a set of giant “woven” walnut doors, topped by a bronze canopy.

Photo courtesy The Rockwell Group

The two-story lobby, with an open mezzanine, features a monumental fireplace, an ebony and parchment reception desk, leather wrapped columns, and soft velvet couches and chairs. The subtle shades and textures of the furnishing, combined with the eclectic art collection, creates an atmosphere that is both exciting and soothing.
The walls are a variety of textures from concrete, to delicate hand-rubbed plaster to translucent etched glass, the floors are wide plank walnut. The glass elevators, lit on the exterior from below and above, dramatically illuminates the raw shafts and mechanics.

Photo courtesy The Rockwell Group

Photo: arcspace

Each hallway has a site-specific art piece, or installation, by an artist.
John Newson’s 8th floor hallway theme is a colorful garden environment with over-sized berries, birds, and butterflies. Smaller paintings with the same theme spill into the guestrooms on the floor.

Photo: arcspace

There are 72 rooms and five suites, including a duplex apartment-style suite with its own large terrace. The rooms have a loft-like quality with concrete walls and walnut plank floors. The bathrooms have concrete floors, inset with handmade iridescent glass tiles, translucent glass walls and doors. The showerheads are giant “rainwater” style, the tubs extra deep for Japanese style soaking. All the rooms have cordless telephones, high speed internet, plasma screens, DVD and CD players. Music and movies are available from the hotel’s extensive library.

Photo courtesy The Rockwell Group

Photo: arcspace

The two-story “Town” restaurant, owned and run by chef Geoffrey Zakarian, has soft lighting, leather banquettes and a waterfall of cascading crystals. The walls are clad with golden acoustical panels. The dimly lit bar can be accessed directly from the street.

Photo: arcspace

In walking distance to MoMA, Columbus Circle, Lincoln Center, and several other significant buildings, Chambers hotel is the perfect location for exploring architecture in midtown Manhattan.

Image courtesy The Rockwell Group

Drawing courtesy The Rockwell Group

Clients: Ira Drucker, Richard Born and Steve Caspi
Architects: The Rockwell Group

Chambers Hotel

We suggest you start with a visit to MoMA, the Museum of Modern Art, that opened its new midtown Manhattan building in November 2004. You can now enter the museum from both 53rd Street and 54th Street.
The design, by Yoshio Taniguchi with New York firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, combines abundant natural light with materials such as glass, granite, and aluminum to create an elegant structure with a shifting perspectives and visual surprise. Expanses of glass open up the Museum and provide inviting views to The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden.

Photo:arcspace

Photo: arcspace

Go back to 5th Avenue and head north, past Philip Johnson’s “Chippendale” Sony Headquarters, to the newly opened Luis Vuitton superstore on the north-east corner of 57th Street. The 1930 art deco building has a new facade by Jun Aoki, and interior design by Peter Marino. Holding more than 14,000 square feet of designer luggage, handbags and accessories, the new glass facade has a ceramic coating that makes it opaque from the outside and transparent from the inside.

Photo: arcspace

Dior’s North American Headquarters, a narrow green and white glass tower designed by Christian de Portzamparc, is a few building further east on 57th street.
Turning west on 59th Street, towards Columbus Circle, you see the huge twin-towered Time Warner Center, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The 2.1 million square feet complex, that opened in 2004, contains retail space, offices, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Rose Theater, a Mandarin Oriental hotel, CNN TV studios and 225 condominium apartments.

Photo: arcspace

Jazz at Lincoln Center on the fifth floor, designed by Rafael Viñoly, has curving blond-wood walls and panoramic views of New York. When used for concerts the blond-wood bleachers, set in a semicircle, are raised on hydraulic lifts. The big shows take place in the 1,200 seat Rose Theater, also by Rafael Viñoly, located on the same floor.

Photo: arcspace

The planned renovation and recladding of the Edward Durell Stone 1964 building on Columbus Circle, by Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works Architecture, has been the focus of many debates. The building has been declared one of the "most endangered" places in America by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Photo: arcspace

Check out the reshaping of Lincoln Center by Diller and Scofidio before heading back to Chambers via 57th street, past Carnegie Hall, that has been restored and expanded by Polshek Partnership. The recently completed Zankel Hall returns Carnegie Hall to its original, full complement of three performance venues.
Next door you will find Cesar Pelli's 60-story thin slab Carnegie Hall Tower (1991), that extends through the block to 56th Street.

More New York info in earlier kk letter.
More New York arcspace features.

February 21, 2005





		TRAVEL		Features
		Design Hotel The Rockwell Group Chambers New York, New York USA
		The design combines a rough, industrial downtown aesthetic with an uptown classic “townhouse” polish. Photo courtesy The Rockwell Group Inspired by the nearby MoMA and neighboring galleries, an outstanding contemporary art collection line the walls of both the public spaces and the guest rooms, at Chambers hotel. Visitors have the sensation of walking into a private collector’s townhouse, where there are more than 500 original works of art. The 14-story hotel occupies a narrow lot, similar in scale to the historic neighboring townhouses, at a prime midtown location. The glass facade is punctuated by a set of giant “woven” walnut doors, topped by a bronze canopy. Photo courtesy The Rockwell Group Photo courtesy The Rockwell Group The two-story lobby, with an open mezzanine, features a monumental fireplace, an ebony and parchment reception desk, leather wrapped columns, and soft velvet couches and chairs. The subtle shades and textures of the furnishing, combined with the eclectic art collection, creates an atmosphere that is both exciting and soothing. The walls are a variety of textures from concrete, to delicate hand-rubbed plaster to translucent etched glass, the floors are wide plank walnut. The glass elevators, lit on the exterior from below and above, dramatically illuminates the raw shafts and mechanics. Photo courtesy The Rockwell Group Photo: arcspace Each hallway has a site-specific art piece, or installation, by an artist. John Newson’s 8th floor hallway theme is a colorful garden environment with over-sized berries, birds, and butterflies. Smaller paintings with the same theme spill into the guestrooms on the floor. Photo: arcspace There are 72 rooms and five suites, including a duplex apartment-style suite with its own large terrace. The rooms have a loft-like quality with concrete walls and walnut plank floors. The bathrooms have concrete floors, inset with handmade iridescent glass tiles, translucent glass walls and doors. The showerheads are giant “rainwater” style, the tubs extra deep for Japanese style soaking. All the rooms have cordless telephones, high speed internet, plasma screens, DVD and CD players. Music and movies are available from the hotel’s extensive library. Photo courtesy The Rockwell Group Photo: arcspace The two-story “Town” restaurant, owned and run by chef Geoffrey Zakarian, has soft lighting, leather banquettes and a waterfall of cascading crystals. The walls are clad with golden acoustical panels. The dimly lit bar can be accessed directly from the street. Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace In walking distance to MoMA, Columbus Circle, Lincoln Center, and several other significant buildings, Chambers hotel is the perfect location for exploring architecture in midtown Manhattan. Image courtesy The Rockwell Group Drawing courtesy The Rockwell Group Drawing courtesy The Rockwell Group Clients: Ira Drucker, Richard Born and Steve Caspi Architects: The Rockwell Group Chambers Hotel We suggest you start with a visit to MoMA, the Museum of Modern Art, that opened its new midtown Manhattan building in November 2004. You can now enter the museum from both 53rd Street and 54th Street. The design, by Yoshio Taniguchi with New York firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, combines abundant natural light with materials such as glass, granite, and aluminum to create an elegant structure with a shifting perspectives and visual surprise. Expanses of glass open up the Museum and provide inviting views to The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden. Photo:arcspace Photo: arcspace Go back to 5th Avenue and head north, past Philip Johnson’s “Chippendale” Sony Headquarters, to the newly opened Luis Vuitton superstore on the north-east corner of 57th Street. The 1930 art deco building has a new facade by Jun Aoki, and interior design by Peter Marino. Holding more than 14,000 square feet of designer luggage, handbags and accessories, the new glass facade has a ceramic coating that makes it opaque from the outside and transparent from the inside. Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace Dior’s North American Headquarters, a narrow green and white glass tower designed by Christian de Portzamparc, is a few building further east on 57th street. Turning west on 59th Street, towards Columbus Circle, you see the huge twin-towered Time Warner Center, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The 2.1 million square feet complex, that opened in 2004, contains retail space, offices, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Rose Theater, a Mandarin Oriental hotel, CNN TV studios and 225 condominium apartments. Photo: arcspace Jazz at Lincoln Center on the fifth floor, designed by Rafael Viñoly, has curving blond-wood walls and panoramic views of New York. When used for concerts the blond-wood bleachers, set in a semicircle, are raised on hydraulic lifts. The big shows take place in the 1,200 seat Rose Theater, also by Rafael Viñoly, located on the same floor. Photo: arcspace The planned renovation and recladding of the Edward Durell Stone 1964 building on Columbus Circle, by Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works Architecture, has been the focus of many debates. The building has been declared one of the "most endangered" places in America by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Photo: arcspace Check out the reshaping of Lincoln Center by Diller and Scofidio before heading back to Chambers via 57th street, past Carnegie Hall, that has been restored and expanded by Polshek Partnership. The recently completed Zankel Hall returns Carnegie Hall to its original, full complement of three performance venues. Next door you will find Cesar Pelli's 60-story thin slab Carnegie Hall Tower (1991), that extends through the block to 56th Street. More New York info in earlier kk letter. More New York arcspace features. February 21, 2005