Library at The Forum Hotel
On April 26, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants held a grand opening in Charlottesville, Virginia, to introduce its first university hotel. Located on the Darden School of Business Grounds at the University of Virginia, The Forum Hotel is housed in a five-story Jeffersonian-style building and offers 198 guestrooms and 10 suites. As can be expected, the hotel features a state-of-the-art lecture hall and classrooms as part of its 22,000 sq. ft. of function space. But many informal gathering spaces are also available for groups, including a lobby living room, the Birch & Bloom steakhouse, The Good Sport craft beer bar, a botanical garden and arboretum, and a sophisticated library known as the Case Study. Diana Martinez, head of design, IHG Luxury & Lifestyles Americas, shed light on the design approach to the library: “We wanted to create a moment of awe as well as a retreat from the large-scale living room space—a corner to tuck away or a space that feels rich and tasteful to host a small cocktail gathering.” The Case Study evokes a den in a private home, with Chesterfield cognac-leather sofas, a fireplace, chess set, and vintage collectibles of cut crystal and silver, supplemented with a bar and marble table to service small groups. Care was taken to visually distinguish the space from the lobby. “The finishes are deeper, richer with an intensity that gives the space a dialed-up personality from the rest of the living room,” said Martinez. “Enveloping the library in navy high gloss on all walls, shelving, and ceiling, as well as the soft velvet navy drapery, gives the space a distinctive point of view while also starkly contrasting with the white, sun-washed lobby.” In addition, the use of navy blue subtly honors the school color palette. Donated books further support the educational aspect as well as the highly personalized ambiance of the Case Study.
1Meaningful Artwork
Provided by Artemis, the artwork is “reminiscent of landscape paintings but reinterpreted with current artists,” Martinez explained. “The landscape of Virginia being so important to the school and the city, it was important for us to honor it in this hotel.”
2Conversation Starters
The shelves display unique items of crystal and silver to pique guests’ interest. “The accessories were all hand-selected by our team at local vintage shops, providing a very local layer as well as historical sensibility that is important to this space,” said Martinez.
3Eclectic Chandelier
“We didn’t want the space to feel like a moment back in time, and so we selected specific shapes or applications of modernity to juxtapose with some of the more traditional elements,” Martinez explained. “The light fixture specifically is very modern reinterpretation of a traditional candelabra chandelier. It adds a sculptural element to the space and grounds the communal table within the space.”
4Gathering Spot
IHG sourced the seating from New York-based Stellar Works and partnered with Delta for custom seating elements. The marble table was custom made with California-based KH Hospitality and a local stone supplier.
