| The Hotel Monaco is one of thirty seven Kimpton Hotels in the US where Kimpton is regarded as a boutique hotel chain. This hotel is unusual as it has been created within an historic Washington building, and is a listed National Monument – indeed the doorman commented that many people didn’t recognise it because it was so different from normal US hotel buildings. Built in 1836 the building replaced one that although it escaped the burning of Washington by the British in 1812, was carelessly burned down in the early 1830’s by its occupants. Claiming the distinction of being the first marble building in Washington, Congress met here and it was a part of the US Post Office, hence its status as an Historic Building. However its history has contributed to quite spectacular corridor spaces, although bedroom spaces are quite generous as well. |
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| Staircases and (rollover to see) corridors reflect the buildings inheritance |
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:: Panoramic Views
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Most designers recognise that conversion is both a blessing and a nightmare. A blessing because ceiling heights, finishes and materials are frequently better than the specification would allow today, a curse because the need to preserve and conserve can impose restrictions on what can be done, and also because planning such a building can be a nightmare. The Kimpton has inherited fifteen foot high ceilings which must have caused the services engineer’s problems in arriving at a satisfactory air conditioning set up, and air conditioning seems to remain a problem in some of the bedrooms whilst working well in the public areas. Donald Trump has said that the cost of conversion is about half of new build. My experience is that it can be the same as new build depending on the nature of the original building, but given a respectable building it is always worth conservation before demolition unless a major gain can be realised in the process of rebuilding. Here, where historic significance plays a role, there was little alternative to adaptation to a new use.
A little like restoring a WW2 airplane though the question is where do you stop? As the corridor photo shows (right rollover) the floor marble is not all in terrific condition. To relay floors in new marble is not an option is this kind of project not only because the cost is prohibitively high, but the time factor involved complicates the reconstruction.
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Style cues are eclectic, from the 20's signage (above, and rollover to see the National Trust sign)to the 70's paintings in the lounge. This kind of eclecticism is handled well by US designers, who seem to handle polyglot input with style.
Amongst neighbouring office is that of the FBI, and the location of the hotel in the heart of government is not unexpected given its history of housing Congress. Washington of course only has one purpose as a town, and that is government
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Located next door to the International Spy Museum, and across the road from the currently unfinished US Portrait Gallery, the hotel is about a four block stroll from the national museums and the National Mall – not that anyone but mad dogs and Englishmen go walking in the Washington summer heat, which reaches in the high 90’s with similarly high levels of humidity. Mind you a rural Virginian did say to me with some scorn that "those Washingtonians do walk places". The hotel does have an excellent central Washington location and near neighbours include the FBI building along with other major government offices.
The Kimpton occupies a complete block with some grandeur, and one would expect of a building of this age in the UK that it would be described as late Georgian. The columned front and the steps rising to the doors give it a presence lacking in many other hotels. Signage is discreet, and as the doorman said the hotel can be a little hard to recognise as such. Indeed when I asked a parked police car driver the way he laconically pointed to the other side of the road no doubt thinking Brits are pretty stupid.The hotel offers valet parking and quickly whisked my car away to their secure car park. I enjoy walking cities, and walking Washington was no exception apart from the fact that in July it is scorching hot. The chill blast of air-conditioning on entry to buildings was always welcome, and the Kimpton offered a comfortable environment in this respect throughout its public areas, a comfort that was there in other ways as well.
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