Gettys the global architecture practice have refurbished the MileNorth Hotel project.
Completed in 2013, the refurbishment included the conversion of existing tenant restaurant and hotel lobby into a new bar, coffee shop, market, restaurant and hotel lobby. The hotel is located in Chicago.
The inspiration behind the project was a nod to historic events/places in Chicago history, such as the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the 1893 World’s Fair and so forth – but with an updated, modern twist. The overall theme of the Chicago hotel is vintage luxury. Understated palette of warm American walnut, matte black metal and stone, antiqued mirrors, white subway tiled walls, silver-tipped exposed bulbs and distressed leathers, accented by bursts of color in the furniture and fabrics. The interior design incorporates both scavenged/found elements and original pieces.Unique features of this hotel are the vintage steamboat trunk inspired at check-in desk, hand-crafted lanterns that reference the famed city skyline, library catalog inspired bar front with antique brass pulls where some are cleverly inverted to double as coat hooks. Sliding chalkboard panels and metal rolling ladder. A steel and glass Ferris-Wheel-inspired sliding doors that serve as a backdrop for the dining room as an homage to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago where the Ferris-wheel was invented.
According to Gettys: “We wanted to create an authentic, but uniquely familiar space – not contrived nor a historical recreation or pastiche. There is not one overpowering element in the space but rather a collection of moments that tell the story of Chicago.”
The main challenge was that work had to be carried out within a 90-day construction schedule. Sourcing and detailing unique pieces within the timeframe and in all this the hotel remained open during construction.
