10 Minutes News for Hoteliers 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers
  • Top News
  • Posts
    • CSR and Sustainability
    • Events
    • Hotel Openings
    • Hotel Operations
    • Human Resources
    • Innovation
    • Market Trends
    • Marketing
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Regulatory and Legal Affairs
    • Revenue Management
  • 🎙️ Podcast
  • 👉 Sign-up
  • 🌎 Languages
    • 🇫🇷 French
    • 🇩🇪 German
    • 🇮🇹 Italian
    • 🇪🇸 Spain
  • 📰 Columns
  • About us
10 Minutes News for Hoteliers 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers
  • Top News
  • Posts
    • CSR and Sustainability
    • Events
    • Hotel Openings
    • Hotel Operations
    • Human Resources
    • Innovation
    • Market Trends
    • Marketing
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Regulatory and Legal Affairs
    • Revenue Management
  • 🎙️ Podcast
  • 👉 Sign-up
  • 🌎 Languages
    • 🇫🇷 French
    • 🇩🇪 German
    • 🇮🇹 Italian
    • 🇪🇸 Spain
  • 📰 Columns
  • About us

Reflections Reimagined

  • admin
  • 10 December 2024
  • 3 minute read
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

This article was written by Hotel & Resort Design. Click here to read the original article

image

Art and architecture coexist at the Glass Light Hotel & Gallery, Autograph Collection, a striking 20th-century revival turned gallery-inspired boutique hotel experience.

A historic 14-story classical revival building in downtown Norfolk, Virginia has undergone a remarkable transformation from its early 20th-century origins as the headquarters for the F.S. Royster fertilizer company to its current iteration as an immersive boutique hotel experience. As part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, this 114-room property captivates visitors with a blend of historic preservation, contemporary artistry, and a uniquely personal collection of glass art curated by the hotel’s owners. Every aspect of the design reflects a thoughtful intention to preserve the building’s architectural legacy while embracing modern aesthetics, making each visit a journey through both time and art.

Originally constructed in 1912, the classical revival building was predominantly used as an office building until its re-imagining as a boutique hotel. One of the biggest goals of both the ownership and design team was to maintain the building’s historic integrity and reveal its hidden beauty, while aligning with the requirements of historic preservation and overall expectations of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. During the transformation, the design team carefully peeled back layers to reveal original architectural gems. These discoveries were integrated into the new design with reverence, creating a dialogue between old and new that is both subtle and stunning. Listed on the historic register, the building benefitted from the support of historic tax credits, which helped fund the transformation while ensuring adherence to preservation guidelines.

Mews welcomes fintech leader Michael Coscetta as President
Trending
Mews welcomes fintech leader Michael Coscetta as President

“Our priority was to revive the building’s historic soul,” says Associate and Hospitality Studio Director, David Wilbourne. “Every corner seemed to reveal a new gem, like original brass mail slots, intricate moldings, and details that had been hidden for years. We felt an incredible responsibility to honor these elements—and a deep joy in doing so. Each discovery was a reminder of the building’s legacy, and by showcasing them, we were preserving its story for future generations.”

The overall guest experience follows the process of glassmaking, transforming the hotel into a vibrant showcase of artistic expression. The design concept celebrates the art form’s organic nature, incorporating elements of sand, fire, and air throughout the interiors in both subtle and bold gestures. Guest rooms are open concept, allowing guests to easily work, relax, or create in the space.

“We wanted the rooms to feel like an artist’s studio and used the glassmaking process as a conceptual anchor for each material choice and design decision,” says Wilbourne. “This creative approach allowed us to create spaces that felt both deeply grounded and immersive, perfect for a hotel that tells such a multifaceted story.”

Artwork utilized throughout is inspired by the color chips used in the process of glassblowing. In public spaces, glass art takes center stage with iconic commissioned and one-of-a-kind pieces from Chihuly, Peter Bremers, Stephen Powell, Lino Tagliapietra, and others—all from the owners’ personal collection. Bremers’ work takes on special significance with the inclusion of two whimsical, oversized glass bunnies—one welcoming guests at reception and another lounging at the bar. These bunnies, created specifically for the hotel, serve as an affectionate nod to the owner’s family, capturing a touch of warmth and personality that infuses the space with a sense of charm and individuality. The effect is both visually striking and deeply personal, engaging guests in a larger conversation surrounding the artistry, inherent authenticity, and creation of glass.

The hotel has earned significant recognition with awards including the LIV Hospitality Design Award for Interior Design Renovation and the IIDA Virginia & West Virginia Chapter Interior Design Excellence Award for Hospitality. Additional accolades, such as those from the ABC-Virginia Excellence Awards and the HRACRE Design Awards, further highlight the successful integration of historic preservation with cutting-edge hospitality.

Project: Glass Light Hotel & Gallery, Autograph Collection
Location: Norfolk, Virginia, USA
Design Studio: Baskervill
Photo Credits: Photo Fusion Media
Website: baskervill.com

Please click here to access the full original article.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
You should like too
View Post
  • Categorizing...

Unlocking Revenue Potential: The Need for Strategic Investment

  • IDeaS
  • 12 July 2025
View Post
  • Categorizing...

The Woodward Auberge welcomes new GM

  • Tatiana Valenzuela
  • 12 July 2025
View Post
  • Categorizing...

The digital future of procurement in hospitality

  • Guest Contributor
  • 11 July 2025
View Post
  • Categorizing...

New on the Menu: Crab tostada and sweet-and-savory caviar service

  • Bret Thorn
  • 11 July 2025
View Post
  • Categorizing...

Former Cambria converted to Hyatt House Washington DC Downtown

  • Denis Stackeusky
  • 11 July 2025
View Post
  • Categorizing...

A Risk-Free Way to Boost Hotel Revenue in 2025: No Contracts, No Upfront Fees

  • Marisol Frothingham
  • 11 July 2025
View Post
  • Categorizing...

Wedded to the details: How hotels are saying “I Do” to modern wedding trends

  • Tatiana Valenzuela
  • 11 July 2025
View Post
  • Categorizing...

Dreamscape Hospitality adds in Houston

  • Denis Stackeusky
  • 11 July 2025
Sponsored Posts
  • The Future of Revenue Management Is Strategic Leadership – LodgIQ

    View Post
  • Influence Society Publishes Q2 Edition of Societies Quarterly for Visionary Hoteliers

    View Post
  • Case Study: Refinery Hotel Redefines Revenue Management with LodgIQ

    View Post
Last Posts
  • Unlocking Revenue Potential: The Need for Strategic Investment
    • 12 July 2025
  • The Woodward Auberge welcomes new GM
    • 12 July 2025
  • The digital future of procurement in hospitality
    • 11 July 2025
  • New on the Menu: Crab tostada and sweet-and-savory caviar service
    • 11 July 2025
  • Former Cambria converted to Hyatt House Washington DC Downtown
    • 11 July 2025
Sponsors
  • The Future of Revenue Management Is Strategic Leadership – LodgIQ
  • Influence Society Publishes Q2 Edition of Societies Quarterly for Visionary Hoteliers
  • Case Study: Refinery Hotel Redefines Revenue Management with LodgIQ
Contact informations

contact@10minutes.news

Advertise with us
Contact Marjolaine to learn more: marjolaine@wearepragmatik.com
Press release
pr@10minutes.news
10 Minutes News for Hoteliers 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers
  • Top News
  • Posts
  • 🎙️ Podcast
  • 👉 Sign-up
  • 🌎 Languages
  • 📰 Columns
  • About us
Discover the best of international hotel news. Categorized, and sign-up to the newsletter

Input your search keywords and press Enter.