Society25
Budapest, Hungary
Client: Private
Operator: W Hotels, Marriott International
Main Contractor: DVM Group
Architect: Banati + Hartvig
Project Management: ARTELIA Italia S.p.A.
Interior Fit-out & FF&E Contractor: Mobil Project
Photography: Marriott International
Bowler James Brindley Scope: All Guestrooms and Suites, all Public Spaces.
W Budapest occupies the iconic Drechsler Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Andrássy Avenue, directly opposite the opera house. The architecture of the ornate Loire Valley inspired French Renaissance building has been carefully restored and all the interiors transformed by Bowler James Brindley. The hotel has 151 rooms including 45 suites, Nightingale by Beefbar by the legendary Riccardo Giraudi, the W Lounge, the ‘secret’ Society25, a cocktail bar in the basement, the Great Room, and the AWAY Spa. Our challenge was to respect stunning original architectural details, while harmonizing with it with a modern W interior.
Our response was careful but bold insertions. We drew inspiration from the palace’s rich cultural history, leading the city’s society café culture, as a social hub and as a former home to the Hungarian State Ballet Academy. The beautiful proportions of the space occupied by Nightingale by Beefbar, and the W Lounge were inspired by the Hollywood retro glamour and sophistication of one of the city’s famous daughters, Zsa Zsa Gabor. Another famous son, Houdini’s illusions and mystery inspired the AWAY spa with as did the city’s famous hot baths. There is a ‘secret’ underground speakeasy bar overlooking the pool, and the dramatic spaces occupied by the WOW and EWOW suites overlooking the Opera House are breathtaking.