Big Apple Business: The Surrey Hotel
Built pre-war in Beaux-Arts architectural design, The Surrey has concluded a $60+ million dollar re-creation by renowned architectural and interior designer Lauren Rottet, FAIA, IIDA. Whom You Know has seen this on a preliminary basis and this is our first feature on The Surrey Hotel. You will be hearing more about this outstanding renovation. The hotel is reflective of its Upper East Side neighborhood and evokes the ambiance of a residential townhouse that has evolved over time with eclectic pieces that suggest they have been acquired through worldly travels.
The Surrey showcases coffered ceilings, limestone walls and moldings, and marble archways and floors in the lobby. Adding an unexpected twist, the hotel is accented with eclectic elements such as the front desk made of hand-tooled leather, and an antique Oriental carpet expressed in mosaic tiles. Rottet’s use of a refined palette of textures and hues of cream, silver, gray, light tobacco and black provides a timeless stage for the vibrancy each guest brings to the hotel.
Steps away from the City’s finest cultural institutions, including one of our favorites, The Met, continuously covered in Cultured Peachy, The Surrey offers its own intimate collection of contemporary art, including two photographs, You Are My Ownand But The Myth Of Love, by American conceptual artist, Jenny Holzer. A mixed collage of an anonymous woman’s face greets guests at the far end of the lobby by Austria-based artist, Gabi Trinkaus, who refers to herself as the “media thief” with many of her works constructed from the glossy advertisements of magazines. In a hidden niche between the lobby and the bar is an interactive video piece by South African artist, William Kentridge. London-based artists, Jimmie Karlsson and Martin Nihlman, best known as Jimmie Martin, were commissioned by Rottet Studio to custom-design playful residential furnishings such as an ornate armoire filled with high-end travel necessities such as cufflinks, pens, watches, eyewear and men’s and women’s jewelry from seasonal collections.
Ranging from 350 to 2,127 square feet, The Surrey features 190 salons, including 30 one–bedroom suites, a Penthouse and a Presidential suite. The 2,127-square-foot Presidential suite is ideal for Manhattan entertaining with a private terrace, baby grand piano, formal dining room, two bedrooms, kitchen, living room, full bar and two bathrooms. Residential-inspired details were added to reflect true Upper East Side living, including an Apple Macbook, fireplace, antique desk, his & hers walk-in closets, sauna, classic claw foot tub and separate shower. In a private seating area overlooking Central Park is an antique chaise lounge whimsically painted by Jimmie Martin with the recipe for “The Perfect Manhattan” cocktail. Throughout the suite, a covetable collection of modern artwork dresses the walls by artists such as Donald Sultan, Richard Serra, Cecily Brown, Amy Sims, Mel Bochner and Imogen Cunningham.
Located on the 17th floor, the modern, loft-like Penthouse at 1,141 square feet is complete with 10-foot ceilings, a fireplace, formal living and dining rooms, a retractable projection screen, oversized bedroom and a bathroom with a sleek soaking tub and rain shower. An eclectic assortment of artwork by Ann Hamilton, Jonathan Borofsky, Nathalia Edenmont, Mel Bochner and Donald Baechler add a touch of humor and inspiration to the space. Affording direct access to The Surrey’s English Rooftop Garden, a private wraparound terrace features twin couches and a dining table that seats up to nine. We look forward to telling you more about this Upper East side gem!
