Home & Design

The Next Whisky Bar.

Encore

Washington Icon

Encore The famed (and infamous) Watergate Hotel has long called to mind modern architecture, a swanky Washington clientele—and a deliciously scandalous past. A comprehensive $125 million renovation in 2016 brought this 1960s icon designed by Luigi Moretti into the 21st century, lauding its mid-century roots while enhancing it with a fresh layer of bold, sophisticated innovation.

Reimagined by architect and designer Ron Arad in collaboration with Italian furniture-maker Moroso, the hotel’s refurbished public spaces include the lobby, the Kingbird restaurant and The Next Whisky Bar—so dubbed for a song by rock legend Jim Morrison. In this glamorous space, an undulating wall of custom whisky bottles is back-lit to produce a bronze glow; the labels are sculpted and stamped out of metal. Here guests quaff cocktails while seated on Arad’s sculptural Size Ten armchairs, designed for Moroso and upholstered in red. 2650 Virginia Avenue, NW; thewatergatehotel.com

Renovation Architecture & Design: Ron Arad, Ron Arad Architects, London, England. Developer: Euro Capital Properties, New York, New York.

You may also like:

Lap of Luxury
Case Architects & Remodelers turns a disjointed master bath into a chic sanctuary
Under Foot
Tips on choosing the right flooring
Architectural Eye
Deborah Kalkstein reshapes a 1970s rambler with timeless, modern flair
HOME&DESIGN, published bi-monthly by Homestyles Media Inc., is the premier magazine of architecture and fine interiors for the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia region.

The company also publishes an annual H&D Sourcebook of ideas and resources for homeowners and professionals alike. H&D Chesapeake Views is published bi-annually and showcases fine home design and luxury living in and around the Chesapeake Bay.

The H&D Portfolio of 100 Top Designers spotlights the superior work of selected architects, interior designers and landscape architects in major regions of the US.

Stay Connected with HOME & DESIGN Newsletter

Copyright © 2024 Home & Design. All rights reserved. | Back to top
magnifier