Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) has completed the design of The Sound Hotel Seattle Belltown, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. The 142-room boutique hotel occupies the first 10 floors of the 42-story Arrivé tower, a new-build, mixed-use property.
HBA designers turned to the steadfast local neighborhood as their muse, weaving its relaxed, artist-driven culture and history throughout each space of the hotel.
Fresh, bright accents contrast with deeper tones and natural finishes, while custom-drawn murals, feature millwork and ceiling elements, and one-of-a-kind carpet patterns combine to evoke a greater sense of place.
“We instituted overarching threads of inspiration from the surrounding area to ensure a cohesive design for The Sound Hotel project, using a storyline-based approach from concept development to completion,” says Ashley Bright, HBA senior project designer.
“The streets of Belltown exemplify the idea that art is everywhere, and the neighborhood itself is on display as a harbor-front urban gallery. It is this essence of creativity with which we wanted to imbue guests from the moment they arrive.”
Guests are greeted with an intrigue for discovery upon entering the lobby. Artwork made of materials typically found in artists’ studios such as stretched canvases and flat files create a gallery for guests to explore, giving a glimpse into an artist’s process.
Travel along the finished concrete floors and transition to the hotel’s bar and restaurant where large, operable windows flank the front of the building. Earthen tones and textural finishes offset fresh white backdrops and softened industrial accents, serving as a canvas for the food and cocktails to become the true art.
In the guest rooms, warm wood-toned floors echo the moment of a musician stepping on stage. A dynamic, graphic mural behind the headboard is a focal point, composed of layered, iconic Seattle landmarks with direct reference to Belltown’s legendary rock and jazz history.
Denim and flannel fabrics provide an additional wink to the musical styles prevalent in the formation of what Belltown is today. Junior suites take on a more refined debonair air of the jazz scene where sheet music and abstract piano key murals draw the eye into the room, while a trunk-like closet gives the tailored feeling of a polished pair of men’s brogues and pinstriped suit.
Dark, moody bathrooms are reminiscent of backstage dressing rooms with microphone lights, plush robes, metal accents and rich black linear tiles that set the backdrop for a winning performance.
Moving up to level seven, guests are gifted with framed views of the Space Needle and city skyline. Meeting rooms along the expanse of windows absorb the natural light and highlight the textures of exposed brick. Inspired by the city’s architecture and industry, screening elements divide the intimate breakout space bordering the meeting area and club lounge.
A dramatic ceiling feature anchors the intimate bar within the club lounge, capturing the movement and evolution of the city. Plush seating in rich cognac and soft blush hues make the perfect place to relax at twilight.
