NEW YORK, N.Y.—Thompson Hotels, in partnership with local owners Tribeca Associates, introduces the reimagined Smyth hotel, debuting today in downtown New York City. Inspired by the history and culture of Tribeca, the 14-story, 100-room hotel features interiors by Gachot Studios and Little Park and Evening Bar from restaurateurs Chef Andrew Carmellini, Luke Ostrom, and Josh Pickard.
“As with all Thompson Hotels, Smyth is designed to inspire guests from the outside in,” said Niki Leondakis, chief executive officer of Commune Hotels & Resorts. “Reflective of the neighborhood, Smyth breathes Tribeca in every element of its redesign, which is why we turned to local partners exclusively for this project. Together, we are thrilled to offer guests a variety of authentic and engaging experiences uniquely created by New Yorkers.”
Soho-based Gachot Studios, founded by John and Christine Gachot, worked closely with hotel management and local owners at Tribeca Associates to reinvent the existing architecture and transform the ground floor into a collection of intimate spaces.
“We set out to create a welcoming and familiar environment, which inspired us to approach the project as if it were a private home,” Christine Gachot said. “It has become a special project to us because we worked with friends and family to produce everything from the furniture to the lighting to the curated selection of art and books. The space is a personal reflection of ‘our New York’ and the creative family we’ve developed over the years.”
The hotel is divided into the Living Room, Den, Library, and Evening Bar. Mixing Scandinavian and American mid-century furniture with rich textures and a neutral color palette, the spaces are punctuated by original art, books, and photography handpicked by the Gachot team from local gallery owners and friends, including Robin Rice Gallery, Matthew Benedict, and McNally Jackson Picture Room. Furniture and finishes are almost entirely sourced from local designers like Brooklyn-based artisan Tara Chapas, who brought Gachot’s handwoven fabrics to life in the restaurant design. The space is brightened by oiled, white oak floors and handcrafted tiles.
Just off the lobby, the Living Room and corner Library offer guests a place to unwind and relax. The Den, situated adjacent from the Living Room, features a fireplace clad in custom-crafted Guastavino tile, a structural terracotta material previously used on the vaulted ceilings of many New York City landmarks such as Grand Central Terminal and Carnegie Hall.
Tucked behind the Den sits the Evening Bar, a modern interpretation of a classic hotel bar. Carmellini tapped mixologist Anne Robinson to create a seasonal cocktail menu emphasizing artisanal distilleries, organic fruit and vegetable extracts, and a studied approach to tried and true recipes. The bar menu reflects the market-driven principles of Carmellini’s adjoining restaurant, Little Park. The setting’s showpiece is a four-panel frieze mural depicting archetypal scenes from Tribeca’s history by Brooklyn-based artist Matthew Benedict. Seating options include low-slung sofas, mid-century lb Kofod-Larsen chairs, and vintage settees. A back-lit eight-seat mahogany cocktail bar with navy leather paneling opposite the entry’s fireplace envelopes the 27-seat space.
The Gachots’ story of comfort and craft continues with Little Park, an 85-seat seasonal restaurant highlighting organic, sustainable ingredients from Carmellini’s longtime partnerships with local farmers, anglers, vintners, ranchers, and foragers. White marble mosaic tiles are hand-laid in a fan pattern across the floors, and whitewashed wood makes for a bright ceiling overhead. Expansive windows and leather banquettes accented with custom-woven textiles wrap around Chambers Street to West Broadway. Guastavino tiles frame the 10-seat bar. Warm oak dining tables with inlaid burnished brass details are paired with classic Josef Hoffmann chairs painted in dark charcoal and fitted with felt cushions.
Smyth features 100 guestrooms and suites, many with floor-to-ceiling windows and views of downtown Manhattan. Debuting in early 2015, the refreshed accommodations will have marble bathrooms with rain showers, handcrafted furniture sourced from New York-based millworkers, and original works of art. Inspired by residential loft living in Tribeca, the penthouse and specialty suites will also undergo interior and exterior renovations, including new landscape design by Harrison Green, tapped to create private gardens for suites that feature outdoor terraces.
