Salamander 2023 | Page 32

32 I SALAMANDER 2023 property as a “ total work of art ,” Bayer wove outdoor walkways through his landscape architecture to remind visitors of their relationship with nature , mind and body - which became known as the Aspen Idea . The grounds are rich with Bauhaus architecture and outdoor sculptures , and there is also an extensive collection of artwork found inside every building .
Michael Suomi , president of Suomi Design Works , a hotel design studio , worked with the resort to revamp the 98 guest suites . The inspiration ? Aspen ’ s roots in Bauhaus-inspired architecture .
“ Suomi Design Works approaches every project with significant time and energy spent both understanding the site , stakeholders and locale , as well as crafting a unique narrative-based concept , out of which the design grows ,” Suomi says .
“[ In Aspen ,] there exists a very rich history of Bauhaus-inspired buildings , artworks and furnishings , many by Herbert Bayer and other notable founders of the Bauhaus school , which became the basis out of which we developed our concepts for the resort ’ s room renovation ,” he continues . “ Our design builds upon the Aspen Institute ’ s unique legacy and storied origins and is meant to feel as a continuation of the that history .”
Suomi says the artwork is original hand embossed photographs taken and developed by noted Bauhaus photography Prof . Franz Berko while he was living in Aspen in the 1960s .
Staying true to the Bauhaus aesthetic means that the resort ’ s room renovation incorporated the Bauhaus color palette of primary red , blue and yellow , as well as restoring special “ legacy ” furniture and decor , such as Saarinen tulip tables and Bertoia bird chairs .
There ’ s also hidden stories within the walls — or in the case of Aspen Meadows , the floor . “ At our guestroom entry foyers , we integrated a unique type of highly durable textile flooring into our terrazzo tile where we recreated an iconic pattern by Anni Albers , who was one of the Bauhaus ’ original students ,” Suomi reveals . “ Much of Anni ’ s original textile designs are featured at the Aspen Institute , [ a world-renowned nonprofit for humanistic studies located in Aspen .]”
JASON DEWEY