The Hidden Door - Boutique Hotel Project
This project was completed May 7, 2018 for ID-243 Visual Presentations at Meredith College in Raleigh, NC.
The Hidden Door is a boutique hotel which appeals to music lovers and concert-goers. With a sleek lobby and updated record store, this hotel exhibits elements including light fixtures and hidden doorways that echo a prohibition vibe, which culminates in the restaurant that is hidden from view from the street, just like a speakeasy during prohibition. To tie in with the enigmatic theme of the rest of the hotel, the rooms all feature bathrooms accessed through sliding bookcases and elements selected for their rich color and texture. The turquoise and plum colors harmonize well and provide a touch of exclusivity, which is how the guests should feel - exclusive visitors to a hidden, beautiful restaurant. The clients' experience is of utmost importance and the listening booths in the record store allow for previewing the music and a live music performance will be scheduled for the restaurant stage.
This first board features a concept statement for the hotel's design and mission. These images captured some of my ideas during the brainstorming stages of the project. There is also a blocking diagram from the later developmental stages.
The second board features a floor plan and a reflected ceiling plan(RCP). The grey fabric is intended for the benches inside the listening booth. The two turquoise velvets are meant to cover the seating throughout the lobby with the lighter color saved for the armchairs. The perspective drawing of the listening booths shows how the gold rods on the ceiling should hang down against the back wall near the hidden entrance to the restaurant. These gold bars, as seen in the photo, begin at the main entrance and are meant to lead the guest to the hidden door without being as obvious as a change in flooring would be. Scones would hang on the ends of the record cases and matching chandeliers would hang in the record store section of the lobby. Track lighting would provide ample light or browsing records. The gold burst pendant would hang closer to the entrance as a visual pop when the guest first enters, as well as above each of the counters.
This third board includes several perspectives of the wine bar and lobby seating. The wine bar and check-in counters, as well as the coffee bar in the back of the record store, are all made of labradorite which was selected for it's color changing illusion. The flooring and paint samples are also on this board, but appear lighter in color when viewed from alternate angles. The plum colored velvet is to be used for the bar stools. The seating across from the wine bar is raised to give a more sophisticated ambiance while the lower and more compact seating around the record cases and coffee bar provide a relaxed "come-and-stay-awhile" vibe. The wine bar features mirrors behind the shelving and the back of each shelf has a row of golden lights which will provide a glow around the wine bottles on the shelves.
This final board features the designs of the guest rooms. These rooms have bathrooms which are accessed through a sliding bookcase. The headboards will be made of wood and blue resin (as seen in the image of the table) which will be lit from behind for a cool glow. There are two layouts for the room with either two beds or one bed with a green velvet couch and a chair in turquoise printed fabric. The rooms are outfitted in green paint, dark wood paneled ceilings and flooring, gold chandeliers and grey bedding. They also feature unique lamps on each nightstand which feature a metal rod that extends into conductive ink floating on water. These are turned on or off by tilting the lamp and creating or breaking the connection of the ink and rod. These unique lamps as well as the unique access to the bathroom and color scheme ensure that the mysterious feel is carried past the first floor lobby and into the guestroom designs.
Below are some photos of the model which were useful to visualize space and proportion as well as circulation.
