Hotel Marcel
Hotel Marcel is the adaptive reuse of Marcel Breuer’s Brutilist icon, the Pirelli Building, in New Haven, Connecticut. The building is not only a historically preserved paradigm of Bruer’s work, but, in its new use, is set to be the country’s first Passive House and Net Zero certified hotel, as well as being one of a handful of LEED Platinum certified hotels in the US. Hotel Marcel has 165 keys, including suites occupying the historical executive offices, signature restaurant, and a variety of flexible event spaces.
Dutch East Design, working in the disciplines of interior design and branding, has written a new chapter for the structure, converting the abandoned building into a unique and fresh experience for travelers and locals. We tasked ourselves with reintroducing the public to this austere and formal exterior by creating a very human, approachable, and warm interior. Embracing Brutalism’s truth to materials, the interior utilizes natural woods, hand-made tiles, and custom patterns and profiles inspired by the Bauhaus.
Given the property’s historic significance within the cultural and architectural landscape, many constraints were placed on the design. At each instance, Dutch East Design found ways to weave them into the design narrative, often turning them into signature design elements.
The hotel’s sustainability systems are deeply interwoven, to achieve such high performance. Key in achieving its net-zero qualification will be the Power Over Ethernet (POE) system, used throughout for powering lighting, window treatments, and guest room mini fridges. While this new technology results in huge energy savings, it has also provided immense design flexibility for customization and integration.
Dutch East Design looks forward to continuing the sustainability agenda!
