Competition - Bittersweet

I thought I would take a few pictures of another Old Town bakery. This is located in the heart of Old Town on King Street. It has only wooden and metal seating. It has limited seating and doesn't foster an environment to lounge and spend time relaxing and socializing. The flooring a cold and there is no carpeting to be seen. The display and food prep area is located in the middle of the store and makes it easy for people to enter and circle the shop and exit with your tasty treat. At Bittersweet, you go for the food. At Buzz, you also go for the experience.

Case Study Pictures - Buzz

I chose Buzz for my final case study because it is one of my favorite places to go and have coffee and just hangout. The fact that they make amazing pastries is also a perk. I will save more analysis for my presentation.

Hotel Monaco

I have always wanted to go into this hotel located in the Old Town district of Alexandria, VA. I have seen bellhops wearing purple velvet suits. Even though they were not around on this day, I knew I would find great textiles in the lobby. As you can see from the pictures, the designer was not afraid of color, texture, and mixing pattern. I love the vivid blue color chosen for the lobby. It is a beautiful contrast to the dark wood floors. The gold mantel and velvet sofas give a luxurious feel to the space. The red leather and gold studded check-in desk is unexpected. The last image is of the wall opposite the check-in desk. They are using an interesting side board piece that is used as a refreshment area for guests. The circular carpet creates a conversation area in-front of the fireplace.

More from the Gaylord

There is so much to see at this location, I had to create a second post. The first image is actually from the exterior; the walkway from the harbor to the waterfront entrance of the hotel. I took this picture to capture two of the treatments to the concrete walkway. Without careful observation, you would like you were walking on brick and wood, not stamped and stained concrete.

Image 2 is the exterior of one of the retail shops that is located within the hotel. I love the look of the stacked stone with the stained wood framed windows and doors. It sets the shop apart from the other spaces under the same roof.

The last 2 images give a better view of the large interior atrium. The glass ceiling and wall allows for natural light and beautiful waterfront views to be a part of the space. The bottom image shows the "town" within the glass structure. The town is varied with brick, wood, stone, metal, and interesting textiles.

Gaylord Hotel - National Harbor

I visited the Gaylord hotel to check out the glass ceiling and metal frame but was drawn to the other finishes. The top image is of the coffered ceiling in the reception area for the hotel check-in. This was repeated throughout the space. The metal look of the gold loops is illuminated by the recessed lighting and blue-grey ceiling and is an unexpected twist to the traditional crown molding framing the space.

The next 2 images feature a repeated pattern that I saw in the hotel area and the conference area. Look closely at the bottom of the red letter chair and you will see a wavy pattern carved in the wood. This same carved pattern is also covers the column in the 3rd image. In the conference are, there were entire walls covered with this treatment. I think it was used not only for visual interest but also to make the expansive space feel cosy and to control the volume created by large groups of visitors.

The last image is of traditional buttery columns that are very clean and smooth. This is a contrast to the other areas that it "touches". If you look closely, you can see the brick, stone, and metal that are a stark contrast to this structure.

Swarovski Retail Display

I wanted to take a picture of the storage units on the wall at Swarovski but I was not permitted by management to take a picture. I was surprised how many retailers and hotels have reservations about people taking pictures of their interiors. I found a image on google that shows the metal units that I wanted to photograph. They have are very simple and streamline and blend into the wall with the continuous use of red paint. The red also helps warm up the the cold metal. I also like that they used a matte finish rather than a high gloss. It doesn't take away from the sparkle of the product itself.

National Building Museum

I went to the National Building Museum with my drafting class to view the Palladio exhibit, which was amazing. The original drawings were unbelievable. After the exhibit, I took time to walk around and take photos and sketches of some of the building. The top photo is of the bottom of a large column in the atrium. I was intrigued by the pattern and design. The "marble" effect is painted cement. Next, the floor is covered with a patterned broadloom carpet. The third image is from one of the stairways leading up to the 2nd floor. I was interested in the pattern and color variations of the brick. The last image is from the 2nd floor arcade and provides a larger view of the space and how the various finishes work together.

I would recommend going to the Palladio exhibit but the rest of the exhibits leave much to be desired.