Unique Hotel, Unique Interior Design
By Kathy A. Johnsonkathy.johnson@interiordesignschoolreview.com
Interior Design School Review Columnist
Summer brings a flood of visitors to California's Yosemite National Park. Along with spectacular natural wonders, the park boasts a 98-year-old, man-made masterpiece: the Ahwahnee Hotel.
Built to attract the wealthy and influential to the park, the Ahwahnee has welcomed visitors that include Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, Mel Gibson, John F. Kennedy, and even Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip. Those visitors enjoy the beauties of Yosemite while staying in an "architectural gem."
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"The principle significance of the Ahwahnee lies in its monumental rustic architecture. Inseparable from that architecture is the period art work and interior design so carefully executed throughout the building," according to "Architecture in the Parks," a National Historic Landmark theme study. The architect was Gilbert Stanley Underwood, and Drs. Phyllis Ackerman and Arthur Urban Pope directed the original interior design. Their final product has several unique features, including:
Construction materials. The Ahwahnee's rustic appearance can be deceiving. On the exterior, what looks like wood is really concrete poured into forms, shaped and stained to resemble timbers and redwood siding. The hotel's granite, steel, and concrete construction make it more resistant to fire.
Windows. When the Ahwahnee was built, large windows were unusual. The floor-to-ceiling windows in the public rooms become part of the hotel's interior design by framing views of some of Yosemite's major landmarks, including Half Dome and Yosemite Falls.
Eclectic interior design style. "The interior design of the Ahwahnee is a unique, yet seamless blend of diverse influences, including the Arts & Crafts movement, Native American, Persian, and Art Deco period," according to Yosemite's Web site. Native American-inspired geometric designs show up in the mosaic floor, as well as in stenciling, woodwork, and the hotel's china pattern. Many original features still adorn the hotel today, including sandstone walk-in fireplaces, wrought-iron chandeliers, and stained glass.
Yosemite's grandeur demands something special in hotel design. The Ahwahnee's unique beauty meets that demand.
About the Author:
Kathy A. Johnson has written articles on health, fitness, and many other topics in her career as a freelance writer and editor. She lives in Florida, and is the features editor of Forum, a bimonthly publication of the national mothers group, Mothers & More.Sources:
Architecture in the ParksYosemite Park
Eric Noland: Timeless Fit for Yosemite
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