Before Alexy Kos and Che Huang began their journey, they were thinking about Madeleine Castaing’s midnight blue and leopard print—a nod to Renzo Mongiardino’s tented 1960s salons. They envisioned a multitude of new ways to reinterpret these classic styles. These inspirations crystallize in The Twenty Two, Child Studio‘s debut hotel and private members’ club, nestled within a nine-story Romanesque Revival landmark in Union Square. These curated influences hint at the immersive experience awaiting guests before any visual renderings come to life.
Castaing, noted for her poetic blend of jewel tones and unexpected textures, and Mongiardino, famed for using fabric as architecture, gravitate more towards grand European salons than a bustling New York square. Yet, Child Studio captures their essence nine stories up in the Living Room of this exclusive club, marking it as one of the innovative interpretations of classic elegance.
Unveiling Dimensions of Playful, Romantic Design
“We embraced Castaing’s playful yet romantic sensibility,” share Kos and Huang. “Her knack for crafting interiors that are both cultivated and surprising inspired the intimate and comfortable retreat we envisioned.” Ascend a floor, and the tented rooftop club echoes Mongiardino and the Napoleonic era’s historic tented rooms, where fabric defines space, softening the light filtering over the city with a velvet interior.
For more playful and romantic design inspirations, explore childlike dreamscapes painted on WWII bunkers, showcasing innovative interpretations of space and art.
Rich History Shapes Modern Design
Renowned for creating uniquely intimate spaces like Cubitts eyewear stores and stylish London homes, Child Studio takes on a different scale altogether with The Twenty Two. Housed in the historic Margaret Louisa Home, founded in 1891 by socialite Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt Shepard as a residence for independent women, the building’s past informs this creative rebirth. The recent design ideas are inspired by archival photos showing a Shaker and Mission style, leading to the designers’ elevated reinterpretation that remains true to the building’s roots.
Upon entering, visitors encounter a space resembling a scaled townhouse, featuring velvet drapery, dark mahogany, and a Jacobean-carved desk with a Tiffany lamp. This subtle yet innovative hotel design extends through all 78 rooms and 19 suites, where design elements like arched doorways and herringbone parquet offer continuity.
Distinct Style with Unified Soul
Upstairs in the members-only areas, the Living Room and the rooftop club flank a 19th-century stone fireplace and dark-wood library cabinets. Custom furniture and lighting crafted by Venetian artisans enhance these spaces, brought to life through collaborations across London, New York, and Venice. “Our Mayfair outpost helped set the tone, while site visits in New York evolved the design, and Venetian artisans brought our vision to fruition,” Kos and Huang explain, highlighting a transcontinental synergy and a wealth of new inspirations for future spaces.
Dive into another transformation of historic venues with stone and clay mastery in a London café, merging traditional craftsmanship with modern design.
This spacious canvas showcases Child Studio’s, marrying historical warmth with modern sophistication. Although the scale differs, the essence remains steadfast—a tribute to heritage embraced with genuine insight and a series of new creative ideas.
Mayfair Residence by Child Studio. Child Studio created a residence for a London-based hotelier and restaurateur, with particular attention paid to the spaces to dine, host and entertain.
[Images courtesy of Child Studio. Photography by Alixe Lay.]
Source: yellowtrace.com.au
Frequently asked questions
What inspired the design of The Twenty Two?
The design of The Twenty Two was inspired by Madeleine Castaing’s midnight blue and leopard print and Renzo Mongiardino’s tented 1960s salons. This inspiration was meant to reinterpret classic styles in innovative ways.
How does The Twenty Two reflect its building’s history?
The design of The Twenty Two reflects its building’s history as it is housed in the historic Margaret Louisa Home, founded in 1891. The design ideas were inspired by archival photos showing a Shaker and Mission style, leading to an elevated reinterpretation that remains true to the building’s roots.
What elements define the hotel’s distinct style?
The hotel’s distinct style is defined by design elements such as arched doorways, herringbone parquet, velvet drapery, dark mahogany, and a Jacobean-carved desk with a Tiffany lamp. Custom furniture and lighting crafted by Venetian artisans enhance the spaces.