Jan Hendzel designs towering timber sculpture for entrance of Hotel Park Ave

A 12-foot-tall wooden sculpture by designer Jan Hendzel forms the centrepiece of Hotel Park Ave in New York by hospitality chain Lore Group.

The hotel marks Lore Group's seventh venture and is designed by creative director Jacu Strauss.

Situated on the corner of Park Avenue South and East 30th Street, Hotel Park Ave comprises 180 rooms, including nine suites, a lobby, cocktail bar and gym.

Strauss's design for the refurbished hotel, formerly the Mondrian Park Avenue, was conceived to offer a calming and cohesive interior away from the bustle of Midtown New York.

"I wanted to weave a sense of personality to reflect New York and its people, so rooms are full of bold artworks and bespoke pieces in pops of colour, but underpinned by a neutral palette that offers a feeling of calm," Strauss told Dezeen.

The lobby area features Jan Hendzel's third commission for Lore Group – and their first US project – having previously created wooden sculptures at One Hundred Shoreditch and Sea Containers in London.

"Having Jan Hendzel pieces in multiple hotels creates a nice through line in our design portfolio," Strauss said. "I love the idea of a guest spending time in the One Hundred Shoreditch lobby, then noticing the same artist on their visit to Hotel Park Ave in New York."

Named Pebble Jumble, the sculpture is crafted from British-grown timber and consists of five giant egg-shaped forms balanced on top of each other.

The piece soars towards a mirrored ceiling, surrounded by original artworks by Strauss, elongating the appearance of the sculpture even further.

"Pebble Jumble was designed to immediately capture the attention of people entering the lobby, but also pique the curiosity of passersby," Strauss told Dezeen. "We wanted to deliver that 'wow' moment."

Bespoke furniture pieces and smaller sculptures by Hendzel also feature across the lobby, including an oval check-in desk, which encircles the central sculpture, and a coloured timber bench with an adjoining statement lamp.

The nine suites at Hotel Park Ave were designed to evoke Manhattan loft living, each including a balcony and full-height glazing with uninterrupted views of the cityscape.

"The suites have an air of understated elegance," Strauss said.

In the bedrooms, a neutral palette punctuated with pops of red and blue nods to the American flag and graphic paintings by Strauss offer a contemporary take on the shapes and skylines of New York.

"The geometric shapes and block colours are a nod to the beloved city skyline," he said.

The bedrooms are furnished with a selection of bespoke and contemporary design pieces, including a chrome floor lamp by Verpan, a USM Haller black desk and a Louis Poulsen Panthella lamp.

Copper-toned mirrored headboards with chrome surrounds help to make the sleeping areas in the suites feel more expansive, while matching bedside lamps feature pleated shades.

Jacu Strauss collaborated with RD Studio to create an earthy and lived-in interior for the hotel's cocktail bar, Seed Library New York.

According to Strauss, the design of Seed Library took cues from its sister bar of the same name at One Hundred Shoreditch. However, "rather than replicate the London Seed Library, the aim was to translate the emotional quality of the bar into a New York context," he explained.

"The approach for Seed Library New York grew from the idea of creating a warm and nostalgic escape in the middle of Midtown," Strauss added.

Inspired by a 1970s living room, the bar's palette leans into earthy tones of deep red and amber, using layers of natural fabrics to create warmth.

"The darker hues and warm shadows subtly nod to the city's timeless bar culture, while still keeping the atmosphere intimate and a little fuzzy at the edges," explained Strauss.

Other hotels featured on Dezeen include The Rosemary Riad hotel in Marrakesh and The Reserve hotel in Chester Zoo.

The photography is by James McDonald unless otherwise stated.

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