Conrad Washington DC

Rottet Studio designed the interiors of the Conrad Hilton Washington DC as a contemporary rendition of the classic early American Town Square. The design is a nod towards the significance of Washington, DC in America’s history and the making of the law. Featuring textured warm gray brown wood, white marble walls, shattered blue and white china and glass with linen and gold inside, the spaces celebrate the historical undercurrent of the nation’s capital. The conceptual study of light further illuminates the hotel’s interiors, with light in the corners running up, down and across the ceilings, and other light emitting from floating walls.



The hotel lobby is organized as a modernist “village,” anchored by a central atrium surrounded by distinct spaces which emphasize natural light and views onto the cityscape and gardens. The atrium features natural materials constructed in an honest manner. Evoking early American taverns, warm wood walls indicate venues for food, beverage and celebration, while stone indicates more ceremonial space. Though the design is minimal and pure at first glance, it offers endless entertainment through the discovery of tiny details, light and reflections which will continue to surprise and delight.



Embracing while not mimicking historical influence, we worked with Herzog de Meuron on the concept design for a hotel in Washington, D.C. We envisioned the large, third-floor lobby space like an early American village where the inhabitants walk from restaurant to bar, to meeting halls through the central atrium court. As in most colonial towns, the tavern restaurants are clad in wood, and the town hall is clad in stone, a return to the honesty of regional materials. An oversized fireplace, natural walnut walls and leather finished white marble tables set the stage for dining early American style with hearty but natural dishes. The walnut, bronze, limestone and Calacatta marble forms sit inside the minimal metal and glass perimeter like sets waiting to be discovered. In this project, there are almost endless discoveries through the details of bronze, leather and wood, that continue to surprise and delight beyond the initial look.