Andaz Wall Street
“Invent something new, something personal, something that matters,” Hyatt Hotels challenged acclaimed architect David Rockwell, when it offered him the job of designing Andaz Wall Street, the third hotel in its elegant new collection. The first two are in London and West Hollywood and the fourth will open in mid-town Manhattan later this year with each distinctly different. “That got my juices going,” he says.
The breathtaking result of that challenge becomes evident as soon as one enters Andaz. For anyone tired of travel’s inconveniences, its implicit invitation to rest, relax and savor life’s riches comes as an amazing and unexpected gift. The underlying aesthetic of Andaz, which means “personal style” in Urdu, is palpable in every detail, from the sophisticated ambiance of the entrance lounge to the rich woods of the intimate restaurant, Wall & Water, named for the hotel’s location at the intersection of Wall and Water streets.
Walking into the high ceilinged, light-filled lounge, you come upon unexpected features, such as the farmhouse style kitchen, tucked in a corner and replete with cast iron-faced, baking ovens and ceramic bowls, trays of fragrant pastries and tempting snacks displayed on a marble counter, and the communal, walnut reading table. You notice the sleek silver couches decorated with pillows in a fanciful, brushstroke pattern and the comfortable leather chairs, arranged for conversation. Then there’s the view from immense windows to a quiet park and further along, the East River.
Occupying 13 floors, the 253-room Andaz shares its location with 24 floors of luxury condominiums, also designed by the Rockwell Group. “Light is a key element,” says Rockwell, who took full advantage in his design of the 360-degree views and lofty ceilings afforded by one of the area’s few freestanding buildings. “It streams into the lounge and all the guest rooms.”
The glistening, sculptural, freestanding staircase could not be more splendid. Made of pearlescent steel and terrazzo stone, it connects floors, linking the lower level spa, gym and banquet and meeting areas with the first floor lounge and then on up to Bar Seven Five and Wall & Water. Imagine a watering hole without a main bar. That’s Bar Seven Five. Instead, there are nine small bars made of fiberglass that resemble pods, where guests can stand or sit on stools with woven leather seats.
During the day in Wall & Water, light filters through the russet curtains woven with patterns like the watermarks on dollar bills, while in the evening hand blown wall scones glimmer above the well spaced tables. Much lauded chef Maximo Lopez May, who last served as chef de cuisine at Palacio Duhau-Park Hyatt Buenos Aires in his native Argentina, presides over the open kitchen at the room’s center. He bases his menu on what’s fresh from the Hudson River Valley, changing his specialties with the season.
“The kitchen works beautifully,” Lopez May says. “I have great interaction with the guests, and I can adjust to their preferences. It’s a lot of fun, not at all stuffy or formal. Just like home.”
Andaz Wall Street
75 Wall Street
Tel: 212 590 1234
Fax: 212 590 1238
www.andaz.com