This Spring, AIA award winning design firm De-Spec, in association with architect Frank Denner and Pentasia Design, unveils Upstairs at The Kimberly Hotel.
The newly built express elevator whisks you from the street level to an urban oasis thirty stories above Manhattan. This 4000 square foot space boasts 360-degree views with the iconic Chrysler Building as the star of the show.
"Upstairs follows a characteristic approach to our work," explained De-Spec lead designer Farnaz Mansuri. "Rather than objectifying the architectural solution, space is choreographed to produce the desired experience, and so in essence 'experience' is designed."
Living green walls cascade down alongside embossed bronze panels framing the cityscape from every possible angle. Renowned lighting designer Brian Orter (Ace Hotel, Gramercy Park Hotel, W Miami) interprets a fresh spin on old Hollywood glamour incorporating vintage theatrical lights and strings of incandescent bulbs that float overhead creating an intimate, sensual mood.
Deliberately shying away from the traditional outdoor lounge style furniture, De-Spec helped curate the rooftop from renowned houses including B&B Italia, Knoll and Moooi. The clean lines and elegant form at once seem hyper-modern and neo-gothic, inviting guests to relax in an environment that exemplifies subtle, urban sophistication.
Retractable glass ceilings and walls surround ambient heated floors making it just as inviting in the winter months as it is in the sunny season.