Hotel Marcel Reimagined
Our Artistic
Vision
A landmark of brutalist architecture and Bauhaus design, our iconic building started off as Marcel Breuer’s inspired concept for the Armstrong Rubber Company, one of America's premier tire production companies. Today, our historic hotel retains its original character with meticulously restored finishes, repurposed 1960's light fixtures, custom furnishings evoking Breuer's pioneering work with the Bauhaus, and a highly-curated collection of work by artists who take a passionate approach to Bauhaus principles.
A Brutalist Masterpiece
Brutalism is an architectural style that emerged during the 1950s and is characterized by minimalist constructions that showcase the bare building materials and structural elements over decorative design. It is generally associated with rough, unfinished surfaces, unusual shapes, heavy-looking materials, straight lines, and small windows.
Read MoreA Brutalist Masterpiece
Unique Architectural Features
- The hotel features a two-story void that frames a view of the city from the highway.
- The hotel’s exterior is composed of high-strength precast concrete panels known as Mosai panels that frame the building’s 525 windows.
- Cast-in-place concrete towers express the presence of 16-foot-high trusses at the ninth floor.
- The stairwells feature board-formed cast-in-place concrete walls, but steel machined railings, mahogany handrails, and trapezoidal terrazzo treads and risers.
Bauhaus-Inspired Design
The Bauhaus was an artistic movement originating in Germany in the early 1900s. The goal of the movement was to merge all artistic mediums into one unified approach. It’s often characterized as abstract, angular, and geometric, with little ornamentation.
Read MoreBauhaus-Inspired Design
Design Highlights
- The Historic Suites feature restoration of the original wood paneling - ranging from Walnut to Mahogany and Ebony.
- Each guest room has a “Cesca chair” designed by Marcel Breuer in 1928 and produced by Knoll. It is said to be the most reproduced chair design in the world and is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
- Hotel Marcel features solid hardwood casegoods designed by Dutch East Design and produced by The New Traditionalist.
- The window surrounds and vanities were produced by the Stickley Furniture Company.
- The wall mirrors, historic suite kitchenettes and stone vanity counters are from our neighbor, IKEA.
Inspired Artwork
Hotel Marcel features a highly curated collection of artwork throughout public and guest room spaces. These original pieces and site-specific installations spotlight contemporary, local, and emerging artists, with many pieces created by women.