Last month, guests were served the first round of tapas and signature cocktails at AC Hotels’ newest property, in downtown Portland, Oregon. Originating in Spain, the brand by Marriott is aimed at travelers seeking a modern, European twist to their trips – even if their travels are stateside. Blending laid-back comfort with visual excitement, the AC Hotel Portland Downtown brings together a love of food, drink and local artistry that rings true to the Portland spirit.
Art is a huge feature of this project, and installations include sculpture, paintings, furniture – even a tapestry reproduction of a Portland Mercury cover – all made by local artists and craftspeople. Whether staying the night, or just stopping in for a cold brew or cocktail, we hope guests enjoy the experience .
Tour the AC Hotel Portland Downtown
At 13 stories tall, the AC Hotel is a beacon among new development happening throughout this downtown neighborhood. Tan brick and metal window paneling complement the light brick and white terracotta facades of neighboring structures. Guestrooms ‘pop out’ over a prominent corner entrance at SW Third and Taylor. Along both streets, generous canopies encourage activity along the sidewalk, and in warmer months, the walls of the ground level lounge open to sidewalk seating on Third.
Working closely with an art consultant and the artist, the showpiece of the lobby is an ode to Portland’s designation as Stumptown as well as its favorite beverage – coffee. Poured piece-by-piece and welded together, the molded aluminum tree stump opens to guests when the in-house barista is serving pour-overs and espresso.
The check-in desk is clad in marble, bright and bold to juxtapose the masculine palette found throughout the hotel. Behind the desk, a painting is framed and lit to appear as a window onto history. The painting - a man standing beside barrel-aging brews - is an interpretation of a photo taken in a historic Portland brewery.
Encasing the communication stair are etched glass totems - a modern nod to the traditions of indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest. Viewed from the entrance of the hotel, the floor-to-ceiling totems add visual depth to this small-footprint space.
In the lounge, a mix of modern furniture seats an array of guests – from happy hour seekers to business executives. Elegant accent pieces and smoky mirrors punctuate the deep tones with shine and sparkle.
If marble marks the important destinations in this hotel, the bar is not to be missed. Designed to be eye-catching from the street, this bar is the glossy buttons and cufflinks of the handsome ground level. Assembled in geometric panels, the marble features a hint of purple veining and an all-out feel of luxury.
Above the guest computers in the library hangs a hand-woven tapestry illustrating the cover of a Portland Mercury – the city’s most prominent weekly paper. The piece adds layers of color and texture to the space.
Revered by staff and beloved by guests, the sculpture at the gateway between the Bar and Breakfast has earned the name Antonio the Ram. At 8 feet tall, Antonio perches atop a peaked roof and is showcased as though in a museum jewelry box, resting in the center of a white-lacquered recess. He also ‘speaks’ to guests from the Twitter handle @AntoniotheRam.
Inspired by the neighborhood architecture, the murals of the breakfast room were designed by the artist who also created the lobby totems. Painted in a gold hue, the design plays with the perception of the physical space through line perspectives, and add shine to guests’ mornings.
Continuing on the theme of accessories and accents as jewelry, the pendant globe lighting at the communication stair cascades like pearl drops at this connection between the ground floor and lower-level conferencing spaces.
Sourced from local schools, the hundreds of pencils that make up this piece of art add a pop of color to the common spaces of the hotel’s conference level. The artist painstakingly sharpened each pencil to a specific length in this playful 10-foot piece, which is recessed in the wall for a museum-like effect.
The corner lounge guestroom offers extra seating at the southwest popout of the building, overlooking the city. Providing a modern, yet timeless feel, all guestrooms feature wood-look flooring and a comfortable, inviting palette.
In true European fashion, the shower and toilet are tucked away from the vanity, which is a centerpiece of this room. A modern sliding door of floor-to-ceiling patterned glass offers privacy and style to the shower and toilet compartment.
Fantastic work, hospitality studio! I enjoyed managing this shoot!
Very nice!