De-spec

De-Spec’s first hospitality project, the Kimberly Hotel, features two lobbies, a restaurant, bar, rooftop lounge, green walls and brand experience designed and constructed with architect Frank Denner, lighting designer Brian Orter and Pentasia Design. A penthouse-level bar and lounge are used by hotel guests as an urban oasis away from the bustling street below, with views of the East River and the Chrysler Building. At night, theatrical lights and strings of incandescent bulbs float overhead and create an intimate, sensual mood—a fresh spin on old New York glamour. The project draws on hypermodern and neogothic styles to reflect the looming skyscrapers surrounding.

The lighting throughout the bar is layered from 30-feet above roof level, with each layer contributing to create a sensual amber glow. The theatrical lighting casts a leaf pattern through the retractable glass enclosure, and creates a feeling of intimacy, as if under a tree canopy. The bar itself is made up of bent bronze panels, embossed and die cut with a complex backlit pattern. Inspired by the Seagram Tower, the metal panels on the wall are clad with embossed bronze and mixed with steel in a gunmetal finish. The trellis and cabinetries are made of reclaimed dark walnut with an oil finish.

Taking the express elevator, guests arrive in one of two lobbies, both recalling Art Deco influences. The first lobby is a classic wine cellar, and its ceiling gathers in the center of the room to form a sensual, sculptural column. The second lobby is a grand, onyx-clad room whose ceiling is composed of an abstracted branch-like pattern floating above.

Press/Awards:
The 7 Best New Design Hotels in America, Design Bureau, 2012
Water Closet Camaraderie, HA+D: The Global Resource for Hospitality Architecture and Design, 2011
Bar Décor, Hotel Design, 2010
The Best Rooftop Bars in New York, Condé Nast Traveller, 2010
Vertigo: Summer Heights, Flair Magazine, 2010
Roof With a View, Hospitality Design Magazine, 2010
Elevated Drinking, New York Magazine, 2010