© Child Studio / Photography: Alixe Lay

It’s fair to say that New York City has an abundance of top-notch lodgings to choose from, and so much so, one can’t see the wood for the trees. But for discerning palates seeking comfort aligned with character and heritage, only few addresses come to mind, and the newly opened The Twenty Two New York ranks among them. A sister establishment of The Twenty Two London, which opened only four years ago, it’s equally designed with a keen eye for detail and elegant decor, but here, it was executed by Child Studio, an interior design studio in the British capital. Occupying a late 19th-century building with an ornate terracotta façade by architect Robert Henderson Robertson (1849-1919), the property, which is also home to a private members’ club, has been expanded from six to nine floors, featuring 76 guest rooms and suites. At The Twenty Two New York heritage is reinterpreted as an environment for contemporary living, but one infused with warmth, cultural depth, effortless comfort, and last but not least, a distinctive sense of style.

Building on the historic legacy of the structure – mind you, it originally served as the Margaret Louisa Home for Protestant Women, a then quite forward boarding house for women, founded by heiress and socialite Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt Shepard (1845-1924) – the design practice not only drew inspiration from its past and museum archives, but also the legacy of the surrounding Ladies’ Mile Historic District, a prime shopping district at the end of the 19th century. Upon entering the premises, the lobby instantly sets the tone with an welcoming setting featuring dark mahogany panelling and furnishings, most notably the ornate counter, velvet draping, and antique lamps. The design of guest rooms and suites is a seamless extrapolation, boasting settings that feel like a plush private residence with arched doorways, gloss lacquer panelled doors with hand-painted bronze details, ornate rugs, and herringbone parquet flooring. Obviously, the suites stand out even more, with The Twenty Two Suite  as the pinnacle of luxury on the premises. Across no less than 95 sqm. (1,017 sq.ft.) guests can indulge in a master king-sized canopy bed, with the option of an additional bedroom.

Additionally, this suite has a grand living space, working and dining areas, completed with a large fully stocked minibar, a bathroom clad in Calacatta marble with a soaking tub, and an additional powder room, and gorgeous views of the city. And that’s not all. A five-star hotel like The Twenty Two New York obviously makes its mark with matching facilities where to wine and dine in style. Situated on the ground floor, Café Zaffri is an intimate social salon where to feast on a menu of modern Mediterranean dishes, covering both lunch and dinner. Additionally, the private members’ spaces include a restaurant, the Living Room salon, and a rooftop club with  terrace. The setting of the restaurant revolves around an antique 19th-century stone fireplace. Opulent yet also welcoming, the decor sees velvet upholstery and drapery, hand-painted ceilings and walls, all paired with mirrors and dark-wood library cabinets. On the top floor, a tented rooftop club wraps members in layers of drapery that gently diffuse the light. The decor is inspired by the historic tented rooms of the Napoleonic era and by the 1960s salons by Italian architect and designer Lorenzo Mongiardino (1916-1998). © superfuture

The Twenty Two
16 East 16th Street (Union Square)
New York, NY 10003
Telephone +1 212 3024040

© Child Studio / Photography: Alixe Lay

Publishers Note

Just to be clear – superfuture® is a design blog and not a political commentator. No surprise there. The scope of our content has always been global and borderless, however that can often mean covering projects in countries where we will not agree with the politics or actions of those countries. In a world that’s as screwed up as ever right now, the focus of our support is to those designers, architects and other creatives who aim to make the world a more liveable one – as opposed to people that try their hardest to destroy it. So if a project hits our desk and we like it based on its design credentials, we may choose to publish regardless of its location or creators nationality. superfuture® has always been inclusive and hopes for all current wars, aggression, violence, hate and extremism to end.

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