HAUTE HOTELS: A TALE IN TWO CITIES

PLANT RIVERSIDE DISTRICT Savannah:

Generator Hall in the main Power Plant building is the three-story, bricked show- stopper, and is filled with natural history artifacts beckoning explorers and design aficionados alike.

A Tale in Two Cities:HAUTE

Lake Nona: THE WAVE

The Living Room is a treat for the senses with a multicolored collection of art, patterns, custom furniture, bespoke wall coverings, and more.

HOTELS

The Atlantic building features nautical nods to seafarers and the power of water. The lobby includes design hallmarks of Kessler Collection properties with the strong color, custom furniture, and detailing like the rope above that mimics the floor pattern.

PLANT RIVERSIDE DISTRICT: JW MARRIOTT SAVANNAH

The latest, and grandest, project from hotelier Richard Kessler, The Kessler Collection, is a stunning homage to his hometown of Savannah. The process of converting an abandoned 1912 power plant overlooking the Savannah River into a dynamic arts and entertainment venue was years in the making and a masterpiece in terms of architecture and design. Architect Christian Sottile, principal, Sottile & Sottile, and Diana Simaan Kessler, creative director, The Kessler Collection, were charged with bringing the vision to life.

The 419-room JW Marriott Savannah is encompassed in three distinct buildings. Incorporating historic characteristics like the iconic twin smokestacks and brick exterior, the repurposed Power Plant building was enhanced with the addition of hotel rooms and mixed-use space. Generator Hall is part lobby and part natural science museum with large displays of fossils, geodes, and a 135-foot chrome-dipped dinosaur suspended from above.

Flanking either side are two new buildings, also featuring hotel rooms, restaurants, lounges, retail boutiques and meeting space. Each building features its own distinct design and ambiance. Three Muses, with a distinctly feminine feel, embraces the power of beauty and classic elegance. European-inspired art and décor bring a sense of serenity and joy to the spaces.

The newest structure, The Atlantic, a 10-story tower, pays tribute to the power of water with shades of blue and maritime motifs throughout. It houses the District Live performance hall in addition to the rooftop pool with stunning views of the waterfront. plantriverside.com

Guest rooms in the Power Plant incorporate the existing industrial elements with softer, muted furnishings.

The beauty of the Three Muses building envelops guests as soon as they enter the European-inspired lobby with exquisite artworks and details.

THE WAVE

The Arquitectonica-designed hotel rises toward the sky in a sculptural, undulating façade of curved glass inspired by the energy of a wave. Yet the exquisite exterior is only a hint at what’s to be revealed inside the 216-room hotel that merges art, technology and well-being.

With interiors designed by Blue Lantern Studios (bluelanternstudios.com), guests are greeted in the Living Room lobby showcasing the hotel’s unexpected design. A sinuous brass reception desk anchors the entrance, with a kinetic, color-changing light sculpture suspended above. Continuing inside, a striking collection of contemporary art fills floor-to-ceiling niches.

The furnishings, too, double as artwork, with iconic modern pieces designed by Eero Saarinen, Warren Platner and Marcel Wanders. Each seating group exhibits its own mood and style. Underfoot, the terrazzo floor features a meandering brass inlay, inviting exploration. The grand stair, with its yellow splash of paint spilling down the steps, wraps the mezzanine and draws guests upstairs. The striking lobby bar features an abstract tree, with petals creating the overbar and backing up to the column — an abstract interpretation of the dogwood tree on the landing above.

As for the dining areas, BACÁN’s color palette is warm, enticing and vibrant, reflecting its Latin-influenced American cuisine, while HAVEN is a tribute to luxurious indoor/outdoor living within an elegant garden-like setting.

Equal parts hotel and art gallery, The Wave is filled with 500 artworks, many of which have been exclusively created for the hotel. With 12 original commissions, mainly by females, and more than a dozen countries represented, there is commitment to diversity. lakenonawavehotel.com

The Lake Nona Sculpture Garden features a collection of eight world-renowned sculptures from The Lewis Collection. HAVEN Kitchen’s emerald green and midnight blue hues, gold accents, and intricate details create a lush indoor/outdoor oasis.

The Living Room Bar is punctuated with a bright pink Dogwood tree and features multiple seating areas including a dramatic stadium staircase.