일상의 모든것이 호텔을 구성하는 하나하나 요소가 되며 그렇게 생성된 호텔은 지역적 특징을 고스란히 반영한 통합공간이 된다. L.A, 코리아 타운에 위치한 더 라인 호텔은 도시가 갖고 있는 역사성, 온난한 기후적 특징, 다인종 다문화가 공존하는 퓨전문화를 투영 새로운 지역색을 창조, 새로운 타입의 부띠끄 럭셔리 호텔로 제안된다. 이러한 공간은 실생활이 투영된 캔버스로 노출콘크리트, 나무 등의 장식이 배제된 모던한 재료를 바탕으로 각문화를 대표하는 유니크한 오브제로 각 공간을 정의한다. 부띠끄호텔의 정의는 고급스러움, 값비싼 재료로 치장된 공간을 이야기 하는 것이 아니다. 이곳, 공간만이 전달 할 수 있는 그 특유의 에너지를 갖고 있어야 하고 그것을 고유한 방법으로 발산해야 한다. 한점의 명화가 공존하는 공간, 드라마틱한 풍경이 펼쳐지는 공간, 특별한 공간적 체험을 이끄는 공간, 삶의 여유 및 안식을 받을 수 있는 공간, 공간에 대한 특별함은 차이가 있지만 그것이 이야기하는 럭셔리는 동일하다.
reviewed by SJ,오사
Although rumour has it that Los Angeles is all about healthy eating, surfing and sun salutations; this isn’t at all the case for the Koreatown district. Situated directly in the centre of the metropolis’ multi-ethnic mixing bowl, Koreatown,
a hip, up and coming destination in The City of Angels is almost like
an entirely different city unto itself, bursting with energy 24-7 with
its almost impenetrable density of restaurants, markets, strip malls,
night clubs, cocktail bars and residences.
Conceived as a starting point for urban explorers and comfort zone for stressed out city dwellers, The Line Hotel, a full on luxury boutique hotel by the Sydell Group, opened in January 2014 inside a former mid-century hotel on the same site.
Located alongside the area’s famous 1940-prebrick colonial revival
buildings, it provides an oasis of raw luxury and design right in the
middle of L.A.’s never ending urban sprawl. Displaying full sensitivity
to its exciting location, designer Sean Knibb has achieved much much more than merely refurbishing and restyling this former middle range hotel dating from the 60s.
The undervalued and its place in an urban environment is a central tenet throughout the hotel’s public spaces and 388 rooms.
Based on unpretentious everyday materials such as canvas, raw concrete
and wood, the quotidian is cleverly raised to a new level where everyday
objects are given a new level of attention whilst the surrounding
neighbourhood is paid due homage to through ethnic references. Design -
highlights feature repurposed items from 99 cent shops,
transformed into design objects seen for example in the chandelier made
of plastic balls and the classic design chairs upholstered with
colourful Mexican blankets.
That said, The Line Hotel
is not only about its design choices that juxtapose luxury with the
everyday, as it ticks all the right boxes also through its numerous
dining options.
Amongst others, the main restaurant, POT, is an elegant seduction in Korean-American cuisine with master of fusion cooking Roy Choi,
famous for his Korean tacos at the helm. The hotel’s holistic approach
is further seen through the exclusive Poketo concept store selling all
sorts of odd but beautiful items and a greenhouse-themed restaurant
focused on home-grown fruits and vegetables encapsulating the city’s
current urban farming vibe.
Real and raw due its concrete interior, The Line’s sense of understated luxury and sudden and charming splendor have definitely placed it on the map.
from yatzer