project: Commercial
location: Downtown Los Angeles, CA
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Kelly Wearstler’s Downtown LA Proper manifests a melding of mood and festive energy into an historic California Renaissance Revival building. Vibrancy resonates with global influences - Mexican modernism with an infusion of French, Portuguese, Spanish and Moroccan design elements - that authentically situate the 147-room landmark in its city’s multi-cultural roots. |
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With Mexican modernism and warm, earthy Portuguese and Spanish influences at its heart, the inviting signature Caldo Verde restaurant and bar embody a tapestry of richly varied and timeless elements. A monumental stained-glass installation created by renowned local glass artisan Judson Studios is the iconic portal and grounding spirit of the space, evoking the trompe l’oeil glass entryways in the Roma district of Mexico City. |
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Vintage hand-carved furnishings and handcrafted rugs, ornate vintage and custom tiles, rich woods and the strong sculptural detailing of the original architecture form a melange of fresh eclecticism with fantastical hand-fashioned custom designs all created by local Los Angeles artisans.
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The evolution of the DTLA Proper building over its centennial lifetime provided diverse spaces of interesting proportions for creating ultra-residential guest rooms and suites. |
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With a pristine centerpiece the building’s original indoor 35-foot long swimming pool, the iconic 7th floor Pool Suite embraces its inherent historic fabric while conveying a sense of otherworldliness. A custom sweeping ivory ceramic mosaic mural of lyrical graphic expressions by local artist Ben Medansky lines the length of the living room pool in reflective dialogue with the crystalline water. |
Designed as transportive experiences, the rooms layer curated custom furnishings with meaningful art and handicrafts created exclusively by local artists.
Vestiges of its former life as a two-story half basketball court resound with newfound splendor in this reimagined grand suite with original painted court timber and double-height ceilings. Color blocks of charcoal, ecru, moss and smoky blue ornament the living room walls as a large-scale abstract canvas while sculptural hooped lighting evokes the suite’s sporting history.
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Panoramic views of downtown Los Angeles from the terraces of Cara Cara. |
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A serene haven carved out of the urban sky, Cara Cara is the hotel’s distinctively laid-back rooftop bar & lounge restaurant. Built within a series of varied elevations, the uniquely scaled niches of the downtown skyline-wrapped space offer singular experiences articulated in an alchemy of visually stunning and tactile rich vintage, custom and artisanal designs. |
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