The Detroit Foundation Hotel inhabits the architectural shell once occupied by Detroit’s fire department headquarters, now a nationally registered historic building. Reimagining this space as a boutique hotel requires a generosity of both care and imagination. Something more than adaptive reuse, this project is an opportunity for KTGY to engage creatively with the city of Detroit and craft a place and message that express the spirit of a city. Working with local artisans and artists, enjoying a very collaborative relationship with the partnered architect, this design concept centers on “coming home to Detroit.” In brand identity and interior design, the hotel symbolizes one part of the largest urban renaissance in American history.
The design is infused with elements of municipal design from Detroit’s golden age, taken from found documents and pieces left from the building’s original use. We developed a custom typeface based on historic papers and sampled the signature brand color from automotive paint used on the fire engines. Guests enter the five-story neoclassical building through a massive, terra cotta portal and come into a voluminous space that once housed the trucks. A vintage credenza serves for a welcoming front desk. Preserved glazed tile celebrates the building’s history while new finish and lighting bring it up to date. After check-in, the space has a communal feel where visitors flow freely from space to space.
An open-display kitchen bordered by antique brass railing highlights the strong architectural gestures present in the restaurant. A monumental chandelier made of 110 pieces of hand-blown glass encircles the central bar and serves as both light source and art piece. A second chandelier, in the first-floor hall resembles an abstract smoke structure and leaves an unforgettable impression. Guestrooms feature door handles and tangibles made by local craftspeople, with salvaged trim and molding for wall art. A color palette of deep chocolates and metallic pastels is punctuated with pinks and blues pulled from 1960s automotive paint, adding unexpected hues to the clean and modern guestroom design. The result is an unforgettable experience of Detroit, a cumulative effort that only comes from a particular place and people.
