HOTEL DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT & ARCHITECTURE
THE WYTHE
ON THE WATERFRONT
IN WILLIAMSBURG
www.sleepermagazine.com
MARIA CRISTINA
THE GRANDE DAME OF
SAN SEBASTIAN RETURNS
ISSUE 46 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2013
ETT HEM
STOCKHOLM STYLE
FROM ILSE CRAWFORD
FOUR SEASONS HOTEL – GUANGZHOU • MARTI – ISTANBUL • JEAN-PHILIPPE NUEL • NOMAD – NYC
HOTEL REVIEW
The Wythe
Brooklyn
Words: Matt Turner Photography: © Matthew Williams / Adrian Gaut
A converted warehouse on the Williamsburg
waterfront is home to a new hotel created by
restaurateur Andrew Tarlow, hotelier Peter
Lawrence, and developer Jed Walentas.
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HOTEL REVIEW
B
rooklyn may not have the
international reputation or visitor
numbers of Manhattan, which,
for many people, is synonymous
with New York. Yet it is the most populous
of the five boroughs, and if it were separated
from the rest of New York City, Brooklyn
would still be the fourth largest metropolis in
the US. And Brooklyn’s recent status as the
heartland of NYC’s hipster scene has seen
it rise in terms of international influence,
particularly in the world of hospitality, where
Brooklyn-born trends in food and drink have
since spread worldwide. Whilst Brooklyn’s
bar, restaurant and club scene has exploded
in recent years, it’s hotel market has lagged
behind, and remains tiny in comparison to
that of Manhattan.
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This is beginning to change with a new
influx of design-driven properties joining the
existing mom n’pop joints, and mainstream
brands already operating hotels in the
borough. Duffield Street in downtown
Brooklyn has seen the arrival of Sheraton,
Aloft and Indigo hotels in the past three years.
King & Grove took over the management
of the Hotel Williamsburg as it neared
completion in May 2012. Hotel BPM offers
a music-inspired hospitality experience in the
Prospect Park district. But perhaps the most
significant Brooklyn hotel launch of recent
years has been The Wythe – an eight-storey
hotel on the Williamsburg waterfront.
Built in 1901, the hotel was originally
a cooperage for the making of barrels and
casks. In its conversion to a 72-guestroom
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PREVIOUS SPREAD: Artist Tom Fruin created the fifty foot tall
sign formed from salvaged New York street signs, framing red
neon tubing which spells the word ‘hotel’ down the exterior
of the building THIS PAGE: The lobby design includes Hans
Wegner Papa Bear Chairs, benches and stools by Peter Oyler
and art entitled ‘This Tree Which Men Cut Down’, by Duke Riley
HOTEL REVIEW
hotel, the building’s industrial character
has been beautifully preserved. Its concave
corner entrance accommodates a sign by Tom
Fruin, created from salvaged pieces of signage,
and neon, hand riveted to spell out the word
‘hotel’ down the exterior of the building.
Inside, original pine beams, masonry, arched
windows and cast-iron columns combine
with vintage mid-century furnishings by the
likes of Hans Wegner and Thonet. The mix
of authentical industrial heritage and hip
modernity that defines much of Brooklyn’s
contemporary culture is reflected in the
building. Atop the original five-storey redbrick
structure is a new three-storey glass and
aluminum addition that references the hotel’s
existing factory windows while dramatically
pulling the building into the present. The
views from the sixth floor bar and river facing
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rooms are incredible – an uninterrupted 180degree panorama of the iconic Manhattan
skyline, that any hotel located in Manhattan
itself would struggle to beat.
The Wythe has been created by a
team including Australian hotelier Peter
Lawrence, local restaurateur Andrew
Tarlow, and property developer Jed
Walentas, whose father’s firm Two Trees
Management transformed Brooklyn’s Dumbo
neighbourhood with a series of warehouse
conversions. This trio collaborated with
Morris Adjmi Architects and design firm
Workstead on the interiors.
The hotel’s 72 guestrooms feature 13foot high original timber ceilings, oversized
windows, heated concrete floors, and works
by local artists. Beds were custom made from
reclaimed ceiling timbers by Dave Hollier
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ABOVE: Desks and beds in the guestrooms were created by
Dave Hollier Woodwork & Design. Wallcoverings are an original
design by Dan Funderburgh, Printing by Flavor Paper. Thonet
chairs were sourced from Chair Factory and DWR. Bedside
lights are Bestlite and the bedside table is by SAW Furniture
HOTEL REVIEW
ABOVE: An outdoor fireplace adds warmth to the cobbled courtyard, which also features a planted wall by Jardins de Babylone
ABOVE LEFT: Illuminated architectural models are housed in glass boxes in the breakfast room LEFT: 13 of the guestrooms are oval
cocoons created from LG Hi-Macs to maximise the use of space
Woodwork and Design. Most of the walls
are exposed brick, others are adorned with
bespoke wallpaper by Dan Funderburgh
and Flavor Paper. Amenities include REVO
Heritage internet radio players, and carefully
curated minibars with locally sourced drinks
and snacks.
Andrew Tarlow is already a well-known
figure on the Brooklyn dining scene, having
introduced farm-to-table style eateries such
as Marlow & Sons, Diner, and Roman’s to
the borough. Here he has created Reynard
– a ground floor restaurant and bar with
wood-fired oven and grill, courtyard seating,
and a daily menu featuring market-driven
American fare and seasonal cocktails. The
design includes Thonet chairs, retro-style tiles
from Stone Source and vintage light fixtures
by Works MFG.
On the sixth floor, Ides bar and terrace has
straightforward decor that doesn’t attempt
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to compete with the stunning Manhattan
and Brooklyn views. Elsewhere in the hotel,
various event spaces include a main event hall,
a private dining room, large guest lofts and
60-seat screening room and bar.
Despite its continuing gentrification,
Williamsburg continues to attract the hipsters
and Wythe Avenue is one of its main draws.
The Brooklyn Bowl entertainment complex
is opposite the hotel. Across the street is
the Kinfolk Studios art-gallery and bar.
The weekly Smorgasburg food truck festival
takes place a couple of blocks away. The
Wythe is a sure sign that the area is evolving
into one which attracts not just a cool, local
crowd, but tourists as well – whether they
be Manhattanites crossing the water, or,
increasingly, visitors from overseas. It is a
hotel that will continue to be relevant long
after the hipsters have moved onto the next
up-and-coming neighbourhood.
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EXPRESS CHECKOUT
The Wythe
80 Wythe Avenue at N. 11th Williamsburg
Brooklyn, NY 11249, USA
Tel: +1 718 460 8000
www.wythehotel.com
„ 72 guestrooms and suites
‰ Reynard
 Ides
+ Event hall, private dining room, 60-seat
screening room and bar
Owners / Developers / Operators: Peter
Lawrence, Andrew Tarlow, Jed Walentas
Architect: Morris Adjmi Architects
Interior Design: Peter Lawrence, Andrew
Tarlow, Jed Walentas, Workstead