DESIGN : ACE HOTEL DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
The leaders at Ace Hotel like to say that when it comes to adding to their portfolio of quirky boutique hotels , they don ’ t choose the building — the building chooses them . It was no different with Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles , the 182-key property that opened this past January in the city ’ s famed United Artists building — a Spanish Gothic structure that dates back to 1927 and once was the workplace of Hollywood luminaries including Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin , but was most recently the headquarters of televangelist Gene Scott , who added a neon “ Jesus Saves ” to the roof . ( The sign still remains .)
Also noteworthy is the hotel ’ s location in downtown Los Angeles , which has enjoyed new development in its northern portion over the last decade . Now , Ace hopes to pioneer similar activity in downtown ’ s southern end with a hotel that truly reflects its locale .
“ Ace very much wanted the hotel to be ‘ by L . A ., for L . A .’ and a reflection of and reaction to the architectural style and history of the site ,” explains Roman Alonso , co-founder and principal of Los Angeles-based Commune , which worked with Atelier Ace on interior design while Los Angeles-based Killefer Flammang Architects served as lead architect . “ Inspiration was drawn from the year of the site ’ s original construction , 1927 , and what was happening in terms of design and architecture in California at the time — the Gothic excesses of Hollywood , the rise of Modernism , the ‘ anything goes ’ attitude and the irreverence of the Wild West .”
While guestroom design was driven by function , with relatively simple , efficient interiors customized to a variety of room types , the building ’ s history shines through in spaces like The Theatre , a 1,600-seat entertainment palace dating back to the 1920s that was restored to serve as a setting for events ranging from movie premieres to conferences . “ The Theatre is a historic site we viewed with awe and had a great desire to save and ‘ do the right thing ’ with ,” Alonso says . “ That was a careful edit and restoration with a measure of Ace added to the mix .”
While Ace Hotel President Brad Wilson declines to provide specific numbers regarding the hotel ’ s rate and occupancy thus far , he notes , “ The hotel has been busy with guests from all walks of life . We ’ re very happy with how the Los Angeles community has embraced the hotel and made it a part of everyday life for Downtown Angelenos .”
Alonso adds that he hopes the authenticity of the space shines through for guests — an approach currently resonating in design throughout the industry . “ These are highly personal and customdesigned spaces ,” he says . “ Everything is collected and handcrafted and considered not only because of its aesthetic value , but also because of its story .” www . hotelsmag . com September 2014 HOTELS 43