US: The design for the 123-room Central Station Hotel – a Curio Collection property by Hilton – has been revealed by Kemmons Wilson Companies and Henry Turley Company.
Looney Associates worked closely with McLean Wilson, principal at Kemmons Wilson Companies, and Henry Turley Company to create an immersive space for guests.
The interior therefore intertwines elements of the original Central Station structure along with artistic collaborations that have a direct connection to traditional and contemporary Memphis.
Paying homage to the city’s music history, check-in desks are built to resemble 1960’s stereo consoles, whereas the lobby will feature an art installation that utilises speakers in its walls.
Reflecting Memphis’ history of metal craftsmanship, finishes will be burnished and not polished. Photography by local artist Jamie Harmon will feature stops along the New Orleans train line.
Guest rooms will offer a personal EgglestonWorks speaker – all designed specifically for the hotel. A daily printed playlist of songs will be provided outside each door to be broadcast that day, and guests can play these through the speakers by turning an unmarked, handcrafted knob on the room’s desk.
“The South Main area where the hotel is located is unlike anywhere else in the city, and our design team has done everything to incorporate that,” remarked Jim Looney, president at Looney Associates. “Central Station has more design layers than hotel guests typically encounter – especially through music and art source from cities and towns along the rail line from New Orleans to Chicago. People cannot get this experience anywhere else.”
Encompassing two storeys, the hotel’s bar 8 & Sand will feature natural finishes and large windows. Located in the centre of the bar, a DJ booth – fashioned from a repurposed church organ – will play records from the hotel’s private collection that spans from the floor to the ceiling.
Offering sofas and parlour-style seating, 8 & Sand also incorporates a Listening Lounge. Memphis-based audio designer, Jim Thompson, along with his team of acousticians, aim to create a space that provides guests with a world-class audio experience.
“Central Station is a testament to the city’s history and culture, and we are thrilled to be able to utilise the vast talents of the artists and artisans of the city in bringing this hotel to life,” said McLean Wilson. “The South Main District continues to grow as an exciting and vital area of Memphis, and the Central Station Hotel will play an integral part in bringing visitors and residents together in a true Memphian sensibility.”
