DESIGN |
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building from being demolished and letting it continue to contribute to the community in a meaningful way ,” said Micha .
One of the biggest issues was softening the echoes arising from the plaster ceilings and concrete floors . Kubala Washatko used acoustic scrims to muffle the sound , then blanketed it with live indoor plants to conceal them . In the groundfloor restaurant Marguerite , a wall of shrubbery — one of countless pieces of real greenery throughout the hotel — provides fresh oxygen , as well as aesthetic beauty . Those were one of many ideas from Dominion Properties ’ CTO , Christopher Adams , a Racine native and engineer .
Adams was critical to Hotel Verdant ’ s clean , chemically neutral design , emphasizing
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WHEN YOU START A HISTORIC RESTORATION , IT ’ S LIKE A 500-PIECE PUZZLE AND YOU ONLY HAVE 200 OF THE PIECES
– VINCE MICHA , PARTNER ,
KUBALA WASHATKO
ARCHITECTS
zero VOCs ( volatile organic compounds ) in every aspect of
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construction and decoration . Micha recalled an instance where Adams detected the wrong carpet glue just by its smell .
“ Christopher did a very careful job of making sure that when we selected any interior finishes , that it had as close to zero VOCs as we could get , even all of the cleaning products and personal hygiene products for guests ,” said Micha . “ That just speaks to the building ’ s incredible indoor air qualities .”
Working in collaboration with interior designers The Gettys Group to recapture the original atmosphere with modernist touches , the hotel was built in the Danish “ hygge ” style , favoring minimalist touches and simplified furniture to create a cozy conviviality without overdoing it .
Likewise , the guest rooms
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feature several residence-style features to make the place more inviting , most notably the apartment-like suites that can be rented out individually or connected by a private hallway .
A partnership with the Racine Art Museum has pieces from local artists adorning Hotel Verdant ’ s walls , while a freestanding fireplace in the lobby — double-paneled with glass so it ’ s always cool to the touch — embodies the space ’ s long-awaited return to the community .
“ The concept of ‘ The Living Room of Racine ’ was the driving design for all of the areas we took ,” said Gettys Group interior designer Renata Borro . “ We really have a vision of this place as very welcoming and inviting , but also looking toward the future , and what the city is going to become .”
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Eave , the hotel ’ s rooftop bar . |
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76 hotelsmag . com Jan / Feb 2024 |