CRÈME COMPLETES FIRST FULL HOTEL,
HYATT CENTRIC CITY CENTER IN PHILADELPHIA
Creates Property with Elevated Rusticity Inspired by City’s Heritage
| Brooklyn, NY | CRÈME, a collective by Jun Aizaki, focused on authenticity for the interiors of Hyatt Centric Center City, the brand’s flagship Philadelphia location, with a design rooted in the region's heritage. The Brooklyn-based design firm’s first full hotel project captures rich craft traditions as well as the city’s historic industrial prominence, overlaid with Aizaki’s Japanese influence. The newly constructed, 332-room upscale lifestyle hotel located in Philadelphia’s trendy Rittenhouse Square has a sophisticated simplicity, with an airy, muted palette and abundance of raw wood that references the region’s past as a lumber capital. This elevated rusticity is accented with details that connect the city's roots to its contemporary streetscape, considering the street art, mosaics, and murals that give its built environment a unique character.
The public areas feature industrial materials such as exposed concrete and blackened steel, alongside details such as stitched leather and wood paneled walls that unify the craft traditions of woodworking, metalsmithing, and leatherworking, mainstays of the cultures that shaped Philadelphia. The clean lines of a grand staircase, spanning two floors, harmonize with distinctive details in the lobby and restaurant; suspended wood spindles, custom black cage lights fabricated by Preciosa and an art installation behind the reception desk each make references to Pennsylvania's unique culture and topography. The lobby’s expansive shelf display features a mix of old and new, natural and made-made, as well as wood and metal artwork, accessories, and objects curated by Fanny Allié and Yael Caffrey. Each piece works to create a loose narrative around the natural world and the cultivation of land, as an ode to the farming history of Pennsylvania. CRÈME also used their award-winning, contemporary take on the traditional Windsor form, the Exchange collection by Stellar Works throughout the public spaces and Patchwork Restaurant and Bar.
“We are honored to have completed the full interiors and branding for Hyatt’s Centric’s flagship Philadelphia hotel,” says designer Jun Aizaki, Founder and Principal of CRÈME. “We were able to bring forward the heart and culture of the location, as well as touches of my own heritage with the incorporation of Japanese elements.”
“Crème’s design of Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia perfectly captures the spirit of our savvy, curious-minded guests, who will appreciate the deep references to Philadelphia throughout the property, experiencing the local culture through thoughtfully designed spaces, filled with shareworthy experiences and right at the hearth of the action,” says Hyatt Studio Head and Regional Vice President Lifestyle Brands, Alvaro Montoya.
Distressed textile-based works by Fanny Allié in the elevator lobbies reference the city’s visual tapestry of diverse neighborhoods, integrating recycled garments to create 22 unique collages that evoke abstracted floor plans, figurative elements and landscapes of the surrounding area. This patchwork theme is mirrored in the corridors’ custom carpet by Sacco, which includes a series of patterns based on the Japanese shibori technique. Minimalist guest rooms feature elegant, space-saving millwork, and are layered with subtle allusions to local culture; colorful kayak paddles create a whimsical nod to the major rivers of Pennsylvania, while custom area rugs by Crosby Street Studios reference Quaker quilting patterns that complement artwork sourced by Soho Myriad Art Consulting. The bathrooms also capture shifting landscapes with the Terrains wallpaper by designer Jill Malek.
The new build project team includes DAS Architects as Design Architect, with construction by Clemens Construction.
About CRÈME
CRÈME is a collaboration of dynamic, international designers and creative professionals, founded by Jun Aizaki in 2004. With a multidisciplinary background in the design field, Aizaki and his team of talented designers work globally on a range of projects including furniture design, branding, restaurants, hotels and retail stores. CRÈME prides itself in approaching all projects from the large scale of the district or block to the intimate scale of furniture and detail with the same curiosity, focus and enthusiasm. Based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the firm surrounds itself with both a local and global array of cultural influences and resources. By maintaining great relationships with local fabricators and artisans, CRÈME ensures a thorough, hands-on approach for all built elements. The goal is to meet the needs of each client and create successful and lasting spaces. CRÈME has been featured in Architect’s Newspaper, Metropolis, Dwell, BOB, Kinfolk, New York Magazine, Arrive, Food and Wine, Attitude, Elle Décor, Hospitality Design and beyond.
About Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia
Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia is a vibrant lifestyle hotel in the heart of Center City Philadelphia. Located at 1620 Chancellor Street, this hotel comprises 332 well-appointed guestrooms including 22 luxurious suites. Amenities include an expansive lobby on the second floor with an abundance of natural light, a feature staircase, and social spaces to connect with others. Guest rooms offer full connectivity with plenty of outlets and ports to charge devices, as well as discreetly designed lighting, along with in-room offerings such as custom open closets, in-room safes, HD 55” TVs, and Drybar Buttercup blow-dryers. With a passion for connecting our guests to our diverse and exciting city, Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia has direct access to the best culture, shopping, dining, galleries, boutique shops, sporting venues and top businesses. Make reservations at www.hyattcentricphiladelphiacentercity.com or call (215) 985-1234.
About Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company offering 21 premier brands. As of June 30, 2020, the Company's portfolio included more than 900 hotel, all-inclusive, and wellness resort properties in 65 countries across six continents. The Company's purpose to care for people so they can be their best informs its business decisions and growth strategy and is intended to attract and retain top employees, build relationships with guests and create value for shareholders. The Company's subsidiaries develop, own, operate, manage, franchise, license or provide services to hotels, resorts, branded residences, vacation ownership properties, and fitness and spa locations, including under the Park Hyatt®, Miraval®, Grand Hyatt®, Alila®, Andaz®, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®, Destination®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Hyatt Ziva™, Hyatt Zilara™, Thompson Hotels®, Hyatt Centric®, Caption by Hyatt, Joie de Vivre®, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Place®, tommie™, UrCove, Hyatt Residence Club® and Exhale® brand names, and operates the World of Hyatt® loyalty program that provides distinct benefits and exclusive experiences to its valued members. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.