From a former whaling merchant’s home in Nantucket to a brand-new Mykonian resort, these are the openings and renovations to know about for 2020 and 2021.
White Elephant Palm Beach | Florida
Nantucket’s iconic White Elephant Resort will open a sister property in Palm Beach on September 23, 2020.The new hotel, being completely reimagined by Boston-based architecture firm, Elkus Manfredi, represents the total renovation of the Bradley Park Hotel, which dates back to the 1920’s and was one of the first hotels in the area. As the building is listed with the Landmark Preservation Commission, the team worked tirelessly with the Town of Palm Beach to create a new hotel that embraces the history of the existing building while incorporating a contemporary interpretation of Mediterranean-revival architecture. Located on Sunset Avenue, the 32-room and suite White Elephant Palm Beach will maintain the welcoming feel of a private residence, with each accommodation offering a private outdoor space. In contrast to the bright pinks and greens that are synonymous with Palm Beach, the property will have a neutral color palate. Of particular note is the original fireplace in the lobby, which has been restored to the grandeur of the Golden Age. Outside, the Mizner-style facade will be painted a light, creamy-white color with classic black-and-white striped awnings, charcoal-grey roof tiles and black trim to bring a fresh, sophisticated look to the classic structure. The art collection will exceed 100 works that have been personally curated by the owners. Among the amenities, guests will have complimentary use of Priority Bicycles and BMW vehicles, as well as exclusive access to Barton & Gray yachts.
Images Courtesy of White Elephant Palm Beach
Jared Coffin House | Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket’s Jared Coffin House, a former whaling merchant’s home located in the heart of town, will expand August 15 with the addition of five new accommodations. While retaining the historic architecture of the 19th century building, portions of the ground floor will be reborn into four guest-rooms and one suite. Each of the suites will be named after local, historical 19th century women, including Ann Gardener, a lecturer and abolitionist. Nantucket native and interior designer, Audrey Sterk, was selected to ensure careful preservation of the pre-Civil War landmark. Inspired by the colors of the sea and sand, the interiors will offer a color palette of foggy greys, robin’s egg blue and soft neutrals. To complement views of Nantucket’s cobblestone streetscape, an extensive collection of original oil paintings, highlighting the island’s past whaling days will be on display, with each of the pieces hand-selected by the hotel’s owners. The individually-designed guestrooms will feature custom furniture, including four-poster king beds, tulip-style coffee tables and walnut brown desks with lacquered inlay. The original wood floors from the 1840s will also be refurbished. Bathrooms will feature white-and-grey tile floors and glass-enclosed showers.
Renderings Courtesy of White Elephant Resorts
The Dupont Circle | Washington DC
Bernie Gallagher, Chairman of the Doyle Collection, spearheaded the top-to-bottom renovation of the Dupont Circle, which opens on September 9, 2020. She brought together Clodagh and Martin Brudnizki as their styles both embrace the mid-century aesthetic, a nod to the building’s beginnings in the 1950s. Brudnizki focused on bold colors and varying textures in the bar (Doyle) and restaurant (The Pembroke), and Clodagh incorporated holistic touches like live-edge wood and handwoven rugs in the penthouse suite and new lobby. Following suit, all of the guestrooms in the hotel have finished a total redesign to echo the new spaces – think pops of color, geometric headboards, and plush, new robes hanging in the bathrooms – and several have been reconfigured, doubling the number of suites in the hotel.
Images Courtesy of The Doyle Collection
La Réserve Eden au Lac | Zurich, Switzerland
Joining the brand’s properties in Paris, Geneva, and Ramatuelle, La Réserve Eden au Lac opened in Zurich on January 8, 2020 following a two-year restoration by Philippe Starck. The majority of the 40 rooms and suites in the French Empire-style building, which is the only luxury hotel on Lac Zurich, have views of the lake. Taking inspiration from the location, Starck wanted to give guests the feeling of being on a yacht. He lent his signature contemporary touch with neutral tones and sleek metal accents, while honoring the building’s historical elements, revealing the original exposed red brick, marble, and hardwood floors throughout. Quirky nautical touches include wooden oars, paintings of sailboats, and room numbers printed as if they were on a racing sail. The sixth-floor rooftop restaurant, La Muña, has a Peruvian-Japanese menu in an eclectic space that resembles the interior of the hull of a ship. Guests can dine and have drinks on the rooftop terrace, which offers 360-degree views of the city and the Alps in the distance.
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express | Europe
Belmond will debut three new Grand Suites on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express with the start of the 2020 season on August 5, 2020. The new suites – Vienna, Prague and Budapest – will each feature private bathrooms with showers, double beds and a living area with underfloor heating, offering the ultimate in style and comfort. Named after the cities to which the train travels, Wimberly Interiors, who oversaw the initial three Grand Suites, created each cabin to reflect the spirit of each city whilst staying true to the original 1920s Art Deco design. The Baroque and Gothic architecture of Prague, along with the city’s theatrical feel, is encapsulated in the Prague Grand Suite through rich golds and maroons. The balance of ancient and modern will be captured through layers of hand-embroidered cushions and Cubist inspired mosaic patterns. Known for its historic landmarks and Grand Palaces, Vienna’s imperial nature is represented by an ornate and classical design in the Vienna Grand Suite. Rich hues of gold and emerald green reflect the romantic details of the city, complemented by the curved headboard with silk fabric panels and touches of dark wood. The Budapest Grand Suite aims to capture the essence of both sides of the Danube River, taking inspiration from both the Gothic and Ottoman architecture with intricate detailed marquetry and silk embroidery patterns. Additional amenities include a personal 24-hour cabin steward, free-flowing champagne, in-suite dining and private transfers to and from the train.
Renderings Courtesy of Belmond
Kalesma | Mykonos, Greece
Once home to Greek gods and a favorite destination of Jackie Kennedy as well as artists, poets, designers and actors, Mykonos has long been in the spotlight. But the whole story of the island is rarely told. Enter Kalesma, opening in Spring 2021. Set on a hilltop above Ornos Bay and just under two miles from Mykonos town, Kalesma’s 25 accommodations will be spread across five acres and set against a lush hillside blanketed with 20,000 plants. All suites will offer unobstructed lookouts from the private patio, as well as a full-sized personal heated pool. Kalesma has been brought to life by K-Studio, the architect behind the new Mykonos Airport (set to open 2021), with interiors by Greek designer Vangelis Bonios – Studio Bonarchi. Rooms will feature original artwork by Serbian artist Aleksandar Vac, whose ceramics evoke traditional Cycladic minimalistic forms. The lobby will take on an effortlessly cool look with furniture by Rick Owens, making Kalesma the only hotel in the world to have pieces by the celebrated designer. Kalesma’s design is inspired by Mykonian tradition, local history and the “aloni” – an existing threshing floor on the property that became the source of inspiration for the style and character of the project. Local materials and artisans have played an essential role in the identity of the resort, with wood, marble, stone and osier giving a contemporary look to traditional Cycladic style. Cool earth tones like taupe, grey, dark brown and charcoal will blend together with white-washed surfaces and bougainvillea-filled archways to give a strong sense of place and to allow the brilliant blue of the Aegean Sea to stand out.
Almanac Vienna | Austria
Almanac Vienna will open in early 2021, the second property from a new, design-driven boutique hotel brand that debuted in February 2018 with the opening of Almanac Barcelona. Almanac Vienna is located on the famous Ringstraße Boulevard, home to some of the city’s top monuments including the Vienna State Opera House, Parliament, and the Museum of Fine Arts. Across the street from the hotel is Stadtpark, one of the city’s most beautiful parks and a popular hangout for locals. The historical 19th century building is being carefully restored and combined with contemporary interior design by Barcelona-based Jaime Beriestain. Original hardwood floors and ornate crown molding will be contrasted with lots of marble and bronze accents. In the 111 rooms (the majority of which are suites), guests will find velvet upholstered furniture in neutral tones juxtaposed with pops of color – on a green leather chair or red lacquer bedside table, for example. In addition to an onsite bar, restaurant and spa, there will be a coffee shop, concept store, and members club.
Images are not yet available
andBeyond Punakha River Lodge | Bhutan
Tucked deep in the lush green Punakha Valley and draped on the banks of the Mo Chhu River, andBeyond Punakha River Lodge – andBeyond’s first lodge in Asia – will open in September 2021. With only six intimate luxury tents and two larger, multi-room villas, the lodge has been created in the traditional Bhutanese architectural style, sitting in perfect harmony with the surrounding terrain of paddy fields and dense forested hills. From the lodge, guests can participate in myriad outdoor adventures such as rafting, kayaking, fishing, biking, and a variety of hikes and longer treks through the striking surrounds. In between days of exploring the rice and chili farms and world famous monasteries, travelers can balance their chakras back at the spa with a traditional Bhutanese hot stone bath or gentle yoga flow, set alongside the streaming river. Following a sundowner cocktail on the Chain Bridge colored by rows of prayer flags, guests of the lodge can dine on a fusion of Indian, Tibetan and Chinese-influenced cuisine.