THE INTERNATIONAL HOTEL & PROPERTY AWARDS
DESIGN ET AL GLOBAL PROJECT AWARD WINNER 2022
FOUR SEASONS NEW ORLEANS BY BILL ROONEY STUDIO, INC.
Location: New Orleans, LA
Interior Designer: Bill Rooney Studio, Inc.
Architect: Cambridge Seven Architects
Hotel Group/Developer: Two Canal Owner, LLC
Construction Company: Woodward
Photographer: Christian Horan
New Orleans is a city that embraces a multicultural heritage, and celebrates life, alluring gardens, art, music, and cuisine. Set on two riverfront acres that will be flanked by lush gardens, the design of the Four Seasons New Orleans is inspired by the sanctuary and allure of this botanic backdrop. It is this restful setting that the interiors become a foundation to celebrate the multi-cultural heritage of the city through art, food, and threads of historic influence.
New Orleans is also a city filled with cherished heirlooms and it is from this legacy that the interiors emerge. The lobby is centered around the bar that is enveloped by a grand lighting installation that is made up of varying crystal and glass arrangements creating the hint of an heirloom chandelier shape. The experience creates a layered story of discovery in a room that is subdivided by contemporary shutter screens made of oak, iron, and curated art that create intimate spaces with their arrangement. The lobby is envisioned as a garden pavilion, with an interior atmosphere that is composed of an eclectic and contemporary arrangement of classic curiosities surrounded by a lush garden sanctuary.
With hints of local culture, the room design is uniquely influenced by the biophilic, and the patterns found in discrete New Orleans gardens. With views of the city and river, the fresh bright white palette is layered carefully with materials, art, and curiosities. This is ultimately expressed through a large plaster wall relief of regional planting that anchors the bed. The plaster relief is complimented by accent lighting and a regional materiality that is articulated with white shiplap walls, soft washed white oak accents, Carrara stone, Wilton weave carpet patterned after the building plan, and modern furniture forms derived from the modern 20th century spirit of the existing architecture.