Hotel ex nihilo

Year V    |   Spring 2019

Brasilia, Brazil

Duration: 15 Weeks

Hotel ex Nihilo was created with the brief of “boutique hotel unique to the city’s culture.” This design solution is nothing short of that. Each student was given an eight-floor building shell with the first floor designated for concierge and reception, the second for restaurant and bar, and the third through eighth floors as guest suites. The city of Brasilia, Brazil was chosen at random.

Programs Used: Revit, Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, InDesign

A line drawing depicting the three main levels of Hotel ex Nihilo: nihilo, impressao, and humana.

Reception and Concierge

The concierge and reception space is the first impression of Hotel ex Nihilo for any guest. It also has the most direct influence of Niemeyer’s work. The mullion spacing and stained glass is inspired by Brasilia’s fenestration designed by Niemeyer. The caternary arches also reference his work. The round columns and fluting reference antiquity and baroque design which was a major inspiration of his work, though usually without direct correlation. The balcony from the restaurant overlooks the reception area to add vertical interest, while the LC5 sofas add a modernist touch. 

Concept: Contrapposto x Brasilia

Oscar Niemeyer made a point to emphasize the curve in a time of rigidity and rectilinearity. Now, there is the opportunity to provide the curve in a human-centered interior solution. The contrapposto pose is an authentic depiction of the human posture and relays the comfort and complex contours of the human body. Hotel ex Nihilo seeks to create this comfort and humanity out of a manifestation of Brasilia’s development in three floors: nihilo, impressao, and humana (nothing, imprint, and human, respectively). Leathers and natural skin undertones juxtapose against the starkness of concrete that Brasilia is so known for, thus creating a dynamic yet familiar interior landscape.

Conference and Tech

Brasilia, particularly the area in which the hotel is located, has a high volume of traveling business people and politicians. Because of this, the remainder of the first floor is dedicated to conference space and a tech cafe. The conference  space shown above is a private  enclosure for larger business meetings. 

 Elevator Lobby

The elevator lobby features bookmatched acid-treated concrete with a  baseboard of longitudinally cut 1x1 plywood. The windows above each elevator add an element of asymmetry. A Jonathan Browning chandelier anchors the space and provides soft lighting.

Impressao Restaurant

The restaurant space leads the guest into the second level of ex Nihilo - an imprint. The recessed LED strips on the ceiling create an inset  within the tray ceiling. Moody, dark tones and warm lighting set the scene for a luxurious dining experience. Behind the bar lies two panels of brown glass with an LED map of Brasilia set in between; thus reflecting the early stages of the city’s urban development. Textured tile by Ann Sacks creates a  dimensional floor that evokes tilled earth.

Impressao Lounge

Impressao Lounge is an extension of the bar where patrons may relax with their drinks and talk business or leisure. Televisions are available for sports or the stock market and there is a VIP section towards the back for more private conversation.

The Zalsupin Annette  lounge chair is featured  in this space - a modernist furniture piece from Brazil. The ceiling feature is brass pipe with  a mirrored ceiling.

Impressao Bar

The bar is a continuation of the restaurant. Gold leaf ceilings and reflective and mirrored surfaces  create a dynamic experience for clients. It was imperative that the space continued the idea of an imprint through the extruded overhang.

King Suite

The king suite utilizes warm, human tones to relax clients and send them to a proper night’s sleep. Deep reds and rich browns provide a palette of depth and relaxation alongside sophistication.   Walls are rated for highest STC and dampened to further lower sound transmission.