Virserius Studio: Honorable Mention of World Design Awards 2020. Arthur is a fictional character, a native Atlantan from the Ainsley Park neighborhood, located right behind W Atlanta Midtown. Virserius Studio’s concept for the hotel is the recreation of Arthur’s estate and secret garden, decorated with his awe-inspiring collection of art and other items obtained during his extensive world travels. He takes great pride in these collections and wants to share the stories behind these possessions. He also hopes they will make great conversational pieces, inspiring special moments among friends during their visit.

From the moment guests arrive they are transported into Arthur’s unique world and surrounded by his most treasured collections. They are embraced by the curved, abstract walls of the entry, created by brushed brass on dark woods complimented by a gem-toned custom-made carpet that also set the tone for what’s to come.

These gem tones continue in the lobby, which boasts ceilings 3 stories high. To scale down the height and create a more intimate setting, Virserius Studio created grand custom light pieces, cascading abstract birdcages representing those Arthur collected during his North African excursions. Among the other standouts are the bespoke furniture, flooring and art collection lining the walls, all of which were designed by V/S, as was the large-scale digital wallcovering extension of Arthur’s botanical garden. Also in the lobby are tiered terraces with amphitheater seating, which may cordoned off for private gatherings if desired.

The elevator vestibule is intimate and decorated with highlights from Arthur’s extensive travels to the Far East.  The large green light installations, which are made from wood beads dyed jade green, drape dramatically from above the custom rug and big round ottoman in black saddle leather. Each elevator has been curated with different, surprising, playful and mysterious imagery from Arthur’s collections that also tie into his garden: we don’t know where these gardens are, we don’t know the girl running in the French box wood maze; it is entirely up to the guest to explore and use their imagination.

Arthur’s library boasts letters of his life and travels to his friends. The room contains a collection of poetry, books and furniture, an exquisite carpet with calligraphy inscribed on it, as well as his beloved bird collection, all of which have deep personal meaning to him. All of these were conceived by Imaggo Production, Virserius Studio’s Paris-based art consulting firm. Arthur’s den was inspired by the Middle Eastern folktale, One Thousand and One Nights, and represents his many travels to that region. The den includes ceiling art designed by Virserius Studio and commissioned to a local artist to hand paint it onto the ceiling.

For the bar and lounge, Virserius Studio created a larger space providing seamless transition from indoor to outdoor living, allowing guests multiple areas to socialize and wander about freely as guests would at Arthur’s estate and garden.  His global sensibility is on full display, curated with one-of-a-kind pieces throughout. The intimate seating arrangement includes tufted pieces with transitional and bohemian touches; the flowers on the ceiling are taken from the garden itself, and a standout is Arthur’s proud collection of butterflies that he wishes to share.  The indoor and outdoor sections of the bar have different materials to mark a subtle change. The outdoor space also boasts a fireplace and sculptural pieces that encourage guests to enjoy for extended periods of time.

Firm: Virserius Studio
Architects: Therese Virserius
Category: Hospitality Built
Project Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Team: Virserius Studio
Country: United States of America
Photography ©Credit: Michael Kleinberg

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Virserius Studio is a NY and Paris-based interior lifestyle branding firm comprising a global team of designers, artists, architects and storytellers, all of whom draw from diverse backgrounds to transform spaces and create joyful guest experiences around the world.

The multidisciplinary, multilingual, and multicultural team provides a range of interior architecture, design and branding services for hotels, resorts, bars, restaurants, lounges, spas, meeting and event spaces. From project conception through execution, Virserius Studio works hand-in-hand with owners, operators, developers and other hospitality project consultants to realize their dreams and ensure superior results.