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UNVEILING OF THE
JOHN LENNON AND
YOKO ONO SUITE
The International Day of Peace, Fairmont The Queen Reproductions of the famous handwritten Hair Peace and
Elizabeth, Ivanhoé Cambridge, Sid Lee Architecture Bed Peace cutouts adorn the window once again, while
and MASSIVart are pleased to unveil the hotel’s newly the words of the song Give Peace a Chance, recorded by
redesigned Suite 1742, where John Lennon and Yoko Ono John and Yoko in Suite 1742, are inscribed repeatedly on
held their iconic Bed-In for Peace in 1969. At the same the walls, after the fashion of a war memorial—with, in
time, Sid Lee Collective and MASSIVart invite Montrealers this case, a wish for peace in lieu of the names of fallen
to join the largest bed-in ever held in North America, soldiers.
on the Place Ville Marie Esplanade, and to explore the
exhibition Posters for Peace. An immersive art experience
A suite paying tribute to a legendary event One of the distinctive features of the John and Yoko
Suite is the incorporation of artworks, interactive pieces
Preserving the historical character of Suite 1742, which and multimedia installations designed and produced by
John and Yoko took over for their second bedin in 1969, MASSIVart.
was a key goal of the hotel’s recent transformation by
owner Ivanhoé Cambridge.
They include an archival cabinet containing photos, videos
and historical items, among them a Give Peace a Chance
The concept for the redesign, developed by Sid Lee
vinyl record.
Architecture, hinged on rearranging the furniture in the
same way Lennon and Ono had for the bed-in. The first Visitors will be able to don virtual-reality headsets placed
step was to place the bed against the main window and on the nightstands on either side of the bed for an
free the central space. Rather than recreate the hotel’s exclusive immersive experience—allowing them, among
period décor, the designer draws inspiration from places other things, to sense the unique energy of the bed-in from
the couple had lived in or visited, such as London, New the point of view of John or Yoko.
York, Tokyo and New Delhi.
Photo credit: Fairmont Le Reine Elizabeth