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    Cafe Kitsuné Los Angeles features Parisian-style interiors with “Japanese twist”

    Paris-based lifestyle brand Kitsuné has opened a cafe next to its boutique in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, both with minimalist interiors featuring white oak and stainless steel.

    The interiors of the new Cafe Kitsuné and the renovated Maison Kitsuné store were designed by co-founder Masaya Kuroki to reflect the brand’s French-Japanese culture as well as the West Coast setting.
    The Cafe Kitsuné interior includes a mural by Jeffrey Sinich that imagines the space as an old-school marketFacing Sunset Boulevard on the east side of the city, this is the brand’s fourth cafe in North America – following locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Vancouver – and its first in LA.
    “A sprawling city of diverse findings, from cutting-edge restaurants to pockets of art and architecture second to none, LA has lent design inspiration and a backdrop to several campaigns for the fashion house,” said the Kitsuné team.
    White oak tables and surfaces are set against stainless steel counters and panelling for a minimalist look”Now, it’s the perfect setting for Café Kitsuné, a physical extension of the brand’s Franco-Japanese DNA, and reinvention of the classic Parisian cafe and wine bar experience with a Japanese twist,” they added.

    The building’s red-tile exterior and poured concrete flooring were preserved, and hand-painted signage by Californian artist Jeffrey Sincich was added over the large street-facing windows.
    Burnt orange dining chairs and upholstered benches highlight the colours of the muralInside the 700-square-foot (65-square-metre) cafe, white oak tables and brushed stainless-steel counters feature alongside burnt orange dining chairs and upholstered benches.
    Another Sincich mural covers the full length of a wall, offering “a whimsical take on Café Kitsuné’s standard appearance” and presenting the space as an “old-school market”.

    Mathieu Lehanneur snakes metal rails through Maison Kitsuné boutique in New York

    A speaker system by Japanese audio company Rotel was installed in the cafe “to provide a top-notch sound experience for customers”, according to Kitsuné.
    Next door in the boutique, a similar material palette is used for elements including a built-in storage and display unit across the back wall.
    The existing Maison Kitsuné boutique next door has also received a refreshWhite oak forms the framing, shelves and doors that lead to the stock and fitting rooms, while ribbed stainless-steel sheets provide a backdrop for the items on show.
    More oak was used for the minimalist service counter and panelling behind, and a bright blue table sits in the centre to add a pop of colour.
    White oak and stainless steel are repeated in this space to create a visual connection with the cafeKitsuné was founded by 2002 by Kuroki and Gildas Loaëc and encompasses the fashion brand, Maison Kitsuné; a music label, Kitsuné Musique; and its line of cafes, bars and restaurants.
    Back in 2017, French designer Mathieu Lehanneur designed the Kitsuné store interior in New York’s Soho, adding snaking metal rails for displaying garments.
    The photography is by David Kitz.

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    Bird feathers and burls inform New York restaurant by Polonsky & Friends

    New York design studio Polonsky & Friends has lined this tiny New York omakase restaurant with burl wood veneer panels, while its counters and cabinetry are coloured to resemble bird feathers.

    Designed as a sister location of Rosella, an East Village sushi spot that opened in 2020, Bar Miller is located a few blocks away in Alphabet City.
    The compact Bar Miller space seats eight covers around a counter made from rare Avocatus stoneThe owners brought back Polonsky & Friends to complete the interiors so that the two outposts could share the same “warm, welcoming energy”.
    Although the menu borrows from traditional sushi craft, it’s not authentically Japanese, so the designers wanted to steer clear of any tropes that might deceive customers.
    Burl wood veneer panels on the walls are framed in white oak, matching the building’s original floors”The design had to incorporate local and craft-centric elements and honour the food’s Japanese inspiration, but not fall into any folklore since the team isn’t Japanese and the menu is untraditional,” studio founder Anna Polonsky told Dezeen.

    The restaurant only seats eight covers, which surround the open kitchen in the centre of the compact space.
    Custom wallpaper hand-painted by Hollie M Kelley displays the feathers of an eastern rosella birdDeep blue-green Avocatus stone – a rare quartzite with a leathered finish – forms the entire bar counter
    A custom ceiling pendant by Madrid-based designer Pablo Bolumar is suspended above the counter like a string of pearly beads.
    Pieces by several local designers are featured in the restaurant, including ceramic vases by FefostudioOn the walls, panels of burl wood veneer are framed in white oak, which matches the refinished original parquet floors.
    “We were able to sand back [the flooring] after it was hidden for years in the previous restaurant,” Polonsky said.
    To contrast the blue-green dining area, kitchen cabinetry is coloured maroon as another nod to the rosella bird’s feathersA trio of panels feature a custom wallpaper drawn by artist Hollie M Kelley, displaying the feathers of an eastern rosella bird.
    Kelley also drew the icon for the sister restaurant, a western rosella, which has different colours in its plumage.

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    The maroon hues in the wallpaper are echoed on the cabinetry behind the kitchen counter, differentiating the food preparation area from the blue-green of the dining space.
    Other details include a panel of vertical wood slats for storing plates above the sink and moulded-glass scones shaped like scallop shells.
    Vertical wood slats provide spaces for storing dishesThe bar stools were crafted by Maderas Collective in Nicaragua and upholstered by Ecua in Queens, while ceramic vases were sourced from New York-based Fefostudio.
    In the bathroom, green tiles laid in a herringbone pattern cover the walls and a rice paper pendant light hand-painted by Claire Dufournier hangs from the ceiling.
    The bathroom features dark green tiles and a hand-painted rice paper pendant lightFor those looking for more Japanese restaurants with notable interiors, New York City has plenty of options to choose from.
    Check out the Rockwell Group-designed Katsuya close to Hudson Yards, Rule of Thirds by Love is Enough in Greenpoint, and Tsukimi in the East Village designed by Post Company – formerly known as Studio Tack.
    The photography is by Nicole Franzen.

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    RA! clads Mexico City taco restaurant with broken tiles

    Local architecture studio RA! took cues from Latin American art deco design when creating the tiny interior of Los Alexis, a small taqueria in Mexico City’s Roma Norte neighbourhood.

    Los Alexis is a taco eatery – or taqueria – in Roma, a famed district in Mexico City, which features examples of art deco architecture.
    Los Alexis is a small taqueriaRA! drew on the “vibrant personality” of the area when designing the single 15-square-metre room restaurant, housed within a former beer depository.
    “One of the most important requests of our client was for this tiny space to shine among the rest of the retail premises on the street,” said studio co-founder and designer Pedro Ramírez de Aguilar.
    RA! clad the floors and walls in a mosaic of broken tilesRA! clad the walls and floors in a distinctive mosaic of broken ceramic tiles with green joints as an ode to Barcelona, where chef Alexis Ayala spent time training, the designer told Dezeen.

    A curved bar finished in slabs of ribbed green material fronts the open kitchen, which is positioned on the right of the small open space.
    Utilitarian materials were selected for their resilienceUtilitarian materials, including the tiles, were chosen throughout the restaurant for their “endurance and fast cleaning processes”.
    White-painted steel breakfast-style stools line the bar, which has a bartop made of steel – selected for its resistance to grease, according to Ramírez de Aguilar.

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    The studio decided to preserve the space’s original, peeling ceiling “to create a wider contrast [within the eatery] and to remember the old premises”.
    Informal seating lines the pavement just outside of the taqueria where customers can eat and socialise.
    The one-room eatery is defined by its bar and open kitchenOther than a small bathroom at the back of Los Alexis, the one-room restaurant is purposefully defined by its bar and open kitchen.
    “Typical ‘changarros’ [small shops] in Mexico City are all about the conversation with the cookers, so we tried to have this interaction between people as a main objective,” explained Ramírez de Aguilar.
    Founded in 2017, RA! previously created the interiors for a restaurant in the city’s Polanco neighbourhood with a bar counter shaped like an inverted ziggurat.
    DOT Coffee Station is another hole-in-the-wall cafe in Kyiv, Ukraine, which YOD Group designed with a similar floor-to-ceiling mosaic of tiles.
    The photography is courtesy of RA!

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    Jialun Xiong highlights “intricacies and textures” at Sichuanese restaurant in LA

    Subtle nods to traditional Chinese architecture can be found throughout this restaurant in California, designed by LA-based Jialun Xiong.

    Sichuan Impression’s third outpost, located in Alhambra, occupies a 2,000-square-foot (186-square-metre) space that “takes an elegantly pared-down approach to family-style dining”.
    Jialun Xiong chose a pared-back palette for the Sichuan Impression interiors, creating a relaxed atmosphereJialun Xiong took an equally relaxed approach to the interiors, combining warm and soft colours with walnut furniture and metal accents.
    “For Sichuan Impression, I chose a muted palette and natural materials to encourage guests to look a little longer and see the intricacies and textures that aren’t so obvious at first glance,” said Xiong.
    A free-seating area beside the bar features walnut furniture and floating metal cabinetsThe restaurant is roughly divided into four dining areas, each open to one another but defined by the style of seating.

    To the left of the entrance is a sequence of partitions that alternate between heavy grey plaster and delicate metal mesh screens supported by antique brass frames.
    Plaster partitions separate the various sections of the restaurantEach has a circular opening, which align to provide a continuous view along the minimalist walnut tables and benches that run along the same axis.
    One table extends through an opening, accommodating larger parties when needed, and each compartment features an oversized, raw silk cloth light shade suspended above.
    Walls and screens of different heights and thickness create a hierarchy of spaces”The custom chandeliers nod to traditional Chinese lanterns and reflect Xiong’s skeletal furniture designs,” said the restaurant team.
    In front of the bar is a free-seating space furnished with more wooden tables and chairs, which match the cabinetry against the far wall, while glass-fronted metal cabinets are mounted above.

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    A pair of chunky plaster-wrapped columns and low partitions separate a collection of booths with leather seats and upholstered cushioned backs on the other side.
    The green fabric was chosen to resemble bamboo – a common material used in Sichuanese design.
    Booth seating is upholstered with a green fabric chosen to evoke bambooAt the back of the restaurant is the private dining area, which can accommodate 16 guests altogether, or two groups of eight when a sliding partition is closed.
    A circular window offers a glimpse into the private space, where the pared-back material palette is continued.
    A private dining room at the back has an intimate feel and can be spied through a circular window”The secluded space is designed to feel like home with its bespoke circular dining table and ambient lighting,” said Xiong. “I believe good design doesn’t always have to be instantly recognisable, it can simply blend in.”
    Xiong, who is originally from Chongqing, has also completed the retro-futuristic Chinese restaurant 19 Town close to Downtown LA. The designer recently showed her furniture and lighting pieces as part of the INTRO/LA showcase in November 2023, and at the Alcova exhibition during Art Basel in Miami in December.

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    Commoncraft draws on “beauty in imperfection” for New York cafe

    Distressed concrete, rowlock bricks and worn plasterwork create an intentionally unfinished appearance at this cafe in New York City’s East Village neighbourhood, designed by Brooklyn studio Commoncraft.

    For its expansion into Manhattan, New Jersey-based Kuppi Coffee Company secured a 350-square-foot space on bustling St Marks Place – its second location.
    Textured concrete plaster envelops the interior of Kuppi Cafe in the East VillageThe compact interior has just enough space for a customer area and the cafe counter, plus a prep area and a WC for staff at the back.
    Commoncraft approached the front-of-house space with an ethos akin to wabi-sabi, the Japanese art of “flawed beauty”.
    Commoncraft chose materials for the space that appear purposefully rough and unfinished”Employing a range of rough and raw materials, Commoncraft’s design of Kuppi Cafe seeks out the beauty in imperfection,” said the studio, which was founded by Zach Cohen and Tony-Saba Shiber.

    Textured concrete plaster curves up from two perpendicular walls and over the ceiling, enveloping the room together with the concrete floor.
    The compact space features a small bench for customers awaiting their ordersWhere these walls meet, a vertical element is wrapped in bluish plaster that’s peeling away to reveal a whitewash beneath.
    The Kuppi logo is applied faintly at the top, and stainless-steel shelves for displaying merchandise are cut into part of the pillar’s corner.
    The cafe counter is faced in bricks stacked on their sides to expose their “guts”Zones for customer interaction – including the service counter and a small bench – are defined by terracotta bricks, which are stacked on their sides in rowlock courses “to expose their core and mortar ‘guts’.”
    “Each terracotta volume is terminated by a course of cut bricks, further revealing the rough, imperfect cores,” Commoncraft said.

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    In such a compact space, the designers have ensured that their concept carries through each of the cafe’s elements.
    “The material honesty of the space is further reinforced by a number of small details,” said Commoncraft.
    A corner element is wrapped in bluish plaster that’s distressed to reveal a whitewash underneathThese include floating stainless steel shelves behind the counter, a freestanding glass splash guard for baked goods and spherical concrete pendant lights suspended at different heights above the bench.
    The cafe is highly visible from the high-traffic street through its fully glazed facade.
    The counter is terminated by a course of cut bricksNew York City is home to thousands of cafes and coffee shops, including many independent establishments with unique interiors intended to entice customers inside.
    Among them is another Commoncraft project: a Williamsburg eatery named Gertie designed as a playful tribute to the owner’s grandmother.
    The photography is by Andrew Fu.
    Project credits:
    Client: Kuppi Coffee Company (Kevin and Vivian Kim)Architecture and interior design: CommoncraftPlumbing engineer: Alan R SchwartzGeneral contractor: LTI Construction Corp

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    Studio Gameiro draws on Algarve’s craftsmanship for Austa restaurant interior

    A bench made from ancient rock salt, a carved stone bar and custom-made aluminium furniture were used by Studio Gameiro for the interior of Portuguese restaurant Austa.

    Located in the town of Almancil, Portugal, the studio drew on the craftsmanship of the surrounding Algarve region when designing the interior of the Austa restaurant and coffee shop, which also has a shoppable pantry.
    Studio Gameiro designed the interior of Austa”The inspiration behind the design of Austa was a fascinating journey rooted in the rich heritage and craftsmanship of a much underrated – and still unknown – area in the Algarve region of Portugal,” studio founder João Gameiro told Dezeen.
    “It has an extraordinary tradition in expertly crafted objects, from ceramics to weaving, iron and copper works, and even salt extraction, which ended up playing an absolute central role in the project.”
    A sofa made from rock salt is among the custom-designed furnitureStudio Gameiro used tactile materials for the restaurant, cladding its walls in soft lime stucco in earthy beige and tan hues.

    Much of the furniture was custom-built, including a four-metre-long bench and a collection of bespoke plinths made out of locally mined rock salt.
    “We learnt that right underneath our feet, in Loulé, there was a rock salt mine, 230 metres deep into the Earth, with 230-million-years-old salt,” Gameiro said.
    More than 200 salt blocks make up the bench”We had to do something with this incredible material and convinced the Loulé mine to collaborate with us to transform some of their leftover pieces into building blocks, and then ‘puzzling’ them out to form a completely original object,” he continued.
    “These blocks were carved in the same dimensions of the terracotta tiles used in several complementary projects, and arranged in a specific manner, extending the formal reference of the geometry patterns found in the local terracotta kilns.”
    Customers can shop the pantry section of AustaThe resulting bench was constructed from 230 geometric blocks made from the rock salt, which Gameiro said are “almost as strong as stone”.
    “In essence, the Austa project not only carries a story of design and craftsmanship but also embraces the strength and endurance of materials deeply rooted in the Algarve’s geological history,” Gameiro said. “Digging down to showcase something unique out in the open.”
    Aluminium chairs were made for the restaurantAusta’s founders Emma and David Campus and Studio Gameiro also worked with local artisans to create custom-made furniture for the store. This includes wooden stools informed by Portuguese cafe chairs, as well as locally made aluminium chairs.
    Stone was used for the main bar in the restaurant in another reference to the history of the Algarve.

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    “The central bar showcases intricately carved moleanos stone blocks, a nod to the region’s mining heritage, complementing the light hues of the space,” Gameiro said.
    “Bespoke designed fixed equipment, including bathroom sinks, echoes the dimensions of terracotta tiles, paying tribute to the sea’s colours and textures.”
    Copper light pendants decorate the spaceCopper and other metals were chosen for decorative and practical accessories.
    “Our research on local craftsmanship led us to incorporate copper, gold and silver, echoing techniques dating back to the Roman and Arab periods,” Gameiro said.
    “Inspired by the art of making copper saucepans (still amply used nowadays), a nine-piece series of copper light pendants was designed to create a moody light feature, celebrating heritage, memory, and expertise, and the serendipity of all involved.”
    The bar was made from carved moleanos stone blocksAusta and Studio Gameiro will also release a limited collection of the furniture designed for the restaurant that will be available for purchase, making it a shoppable interior.
    Other notable interior projects in Portugal include an Algarve boutique hotel with vintage furnishings and a home with an interior that was informed by theatre spaces.

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    Ménard Dworkind outfits Montreal restaurant with custom wine storage

    Canadian studio Ménard Dworkind has created an intimate French restaurant in the Villeray neighborhood of Montreal complete with warm interiors and a custom white oak wine cellar.

    Known as Casavant, the 850-square foot (80-square metre) brasserie-style restaurant was completed in September 2023 on the ground floor of a 1920’s residential building, replacing a sandwich shop.
    Ménard Dworkind has created a restaurant in a 1920s Montreal buildingMénard Dworkind (MRDK) designed the small restaurant – which seats 45 patrons – to bring diners together in a space that combines art deco influences with Montreal’s vibrant culinary scene. It was designed to “blend timeless elegance with a contemporary twist”.
    Located on the corner of the block, the guests enter the rectangular interior through a white brick facade. Natural light comes in from multiple directions through large, black-framed storefront windows.
    Large windows let in plenty of lightThe floor is speckled with 3D-patterned matte tiles by Daltile arranged in a custom mosaic, while beige tile climbs up the walls.

    Burnt orange corduroy banquette seating wraps around the two outside walls with two linear high-top tables floating freely in the space. The vintage French bistro chairs were acquired from another restaurateur.
    Vintage furniture was usedThe party wall serves as the focal point with the bar and custom white oak wine cellar and displays a selection of natural wines in raw wood cabinetry with rounded corner glass-front doors.
    “The wine cellar has been the focal point as soon as we started discussions with the clients,” said partner Guillaume Ménard. “It was important to be able to see it from everywhere you sit or stand.
    “Since it’s wall mounted, it attracts the eye pretty quickly with action going on behind the bar as well as the light coming out of it,” he said.

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    The compact kitchen – with an open pass-through window into the dining space that shows off the lively action of cooking – and the dark blue restroom corridor are tucked at the back of the restaurant.
    “The ceiling boasts a unique, funky patterned alcove made from colorful acoustic panels, contributing to the restaurant’s eclectic and inviting character while helping with the acoustical comfort,” the team told Dezeen, referencing the tray-like inset with a blush, maroon and peach abstract graphic.
    It has a ceiling clad with acoustic panels”We really like the addition of the patterned acoustical panels on the ceiling,” Ménard noted.
    “It adds depth, comfort and colors to the space. It also acts as a lantern since it is lightened up by a dissimulated LED strip.”
    A custom wine cabinet was installedIn addition to the locally crafted and sourced materials, artistic details occur throughout the space like a painting from local artist Nicolas Grenier and a vintage Medusa pendant light by Carlo Nason, which displays the restaurant’s charm through the glazing to passers-by.
    Two of Ménard Dworkind’s previous restaurant interiors in Montreal include the Italian 1960’s-inspired design for Tiramisu with a chrome service counter and large leafy plants and the retro-themed design for Caffettiera Caffé Bar with a checkerboard floor and teal accents.
    The photography is by David Dworkind.
    Project credits:
    Team: Guillaume Menard, Fabrice DoutriauxContractor: Avodah ConstructionCeramic floor and wall tile: DaltileLighting: humanhomeStools: UlineUpholstery: Bisson BruneelAcoustic panels: Akustus

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    Restored Book Tower in Detroit features hospitality venues by Method Co

    Several restaurants and a hotel have opened within Detroit’s historic Book Tower as part of a years-long restoration project of the building undertaken by its developer and architecture studio ODA.

    The 1920s skyscraper has undergone extensive restoration work over the past seven years by local developer Bedrock, which has transformed the former office building into a mixed-use space.
    Among Book Tower’s restored features are a grand glass dome, which sits over the lobby’s Bar RotundaA collaboration with Method Co has led to the first phase of restaurant and bar concepts, which were introduced through the course of 2023.
    “We have been ever-mindful of what the restoration of Book Tower means to this city,” said Randall Cook, CEO and cofounder of Method Co, “and we’ve worked hard to create hospitality concepts that will excite and reconnect Detroiters to Book Tower once again, and at the same time honour the heritage of this magnificent property.”
    Developers Bedrock worked with architects ODA on the restoration of the 1920s neoclassical buildingLocated on Washington Boulevard in Downtown Detroit, the 38-storey neoclassical building was designed by Louis Kamper – a prolific and celebrated architect in the city during its Gilded Age.

    New York architecture firm ODA was hired to update and expand the programming and existing structures, resulting in half a million square feet (46,450 square metres) of mixed-use space.
    Method Co was brought on to conceptualise and operate multiple culinary offerings within the building, including Le Suprême brasserie at street levelThe work included restoring the exterior windows and stonework and bringing an ornate domed glass ceiling back to life.
    Method Co was then brought on to conceptualise three restaurants and bars, as well as a hotel, and operate each of these venues within the building.
    Designed with Stokes Architecture + Design, Le Suprême includes a zinc bar top, hand-made tiles and mosaic marble flooringDining options include Le Suprême, a classic French brasserie that offers an all-day menu and both indoor and outdoor seating at street level for up to 210 guests.
    Designed in collaboration with Stokes Architecture + Design, the 6,200-square-foot space features a traditional zinc bar top, hand-made art nouveau tiles, mosaic marble flooring and oxblood leather booths.
    Furniture and decor were chosen to reflect Detroit’s cultural heritage, and photos on the walls of the Le Mans car race tie to the city’s automobile legacy.
    On the 14th floor is Kamper’s, a rooftop cocktail bar designed with ODAOn the 14th floor is Kamper’s, a rooftop cocktail bar designed with ODA comprising an indoor lounge that opens onto an expansive outdoor terrace via large French doors.
    The cosy interior has exposed brick walls and dark wood accents, complemented by marble mosaic flooring, antiqued mirrors and velvet drapery.
    Kamper’s opens onto an expansive terrace with views across DetroitBar Rotunda sits below the glass dome and acts as an all-day lobby cafe and bar, with 70 seats surrounded by ornate architectural details that recall the grand eateries of early 20th-century Paris.
    “The space is canopied by a beautifully restored 100-year-old Keppler Glass dome that features more than 7,000 individual jewels and 6,000 glass panels making it an architectural centerpiece,” said Method Co, which also worked with ODA on this space.

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    Also planned to open soon within Book Tower are sake pub Sakazuki, and izakaya and omakase-style dining spot Hiroki-San.
    The hotel component of the building, Roost Detroit, offers short and long-stay accommodation in contemporary apartment-style spaces, alongside The Residences that are purchasable as permanent homes.
    The building’s accommodation component, Roost Detroit, is Method Co’s latest iteration of its apartment hotel brandRoost Detroit is the latest iteration of Method Co’s apartment hotel brand, joining multiple outposts in Philadelphia – including the Morris Adjmi-designed East Market – along with Tampa, Cleveland and more across the US.
    The company also operates The Quoin boutique hotel in Wilmington, Delaware, which offers 24 guest rooms within a converted bank building, and the Whyle extended-stay property in Washington DC that was longlisted in the hotel and short-stay interior category of Dezeen Awards 2021.
    Roost Detroit offers short and extended stays within contemporary spaces of various sizes and configurationsDowntown Detroit’s revitalisation has taken shape over the past few years, and a handful of new hotels have opened to accommodate visitors who are returning to witness its cultural and creative rebirth.
    They include The Siren Hotel, designed by ASH NYC to recall the city’s glamorous past, and the Shinola Hotel, which Gachot Studios designed for the local watch company of the same name.
    The photography is by Matthew Williams unless stated otherwise.

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