The Standard, High Line, Meatpacking District, NYC
The Standard Hotel, on Washington Street, perched at the end of the High Line in New York, still holds a place in my heart for one of my favourite hotels. Right in the hub of the Meatpacking District, this district was transformed a few years ago with thanks to brands such as The Standard, Grupo Habita’s Hotel Americano, DVF and her killer design HQ, & of course Soho House has it’s steady stream of SUV’s dropping off members & guests alike. The Ganservort rocks up, Marni arrives down the road, and all of a sudden you have the powerhouse design district that is The Meatpacking District. Formerly a butchers precinct, now a hipster magnet, galleries and design studios have been popping up at a consistent enough rate to know that this area is where I choose to stay when I’m in town. During the recent New York Design Week last month this area was thriving with pop-up events from The Future Perfect to Wanted NY in the Tunnel just down the road.
It was my fourth night and my fourth hotel in New York whilst I was there on a research trip, and my final stop before jetting off to LA the next day. I planned on arriving (from the Ace Hotel) as soon as I was able to check in. I was instantly grinning the moment I left my taxi, an ice-skating rink right infront of my hotel?! Just amazing. I was whisked straight up to my room, and for anyone who’s stayed before, that moment of walking into your room, floor to ceiling windows, gorgeous sunshine gleaming into your room, you can do nothing but smile. The Standard can boast all they want with views like this. Regardless of which side of the hotel you are staying on, you either have views of the High Line, or overlooking The Hudson River. With 338 rooms over 18 floors which is already elevated way above the roads below via two enormous concrete pillars holding it nearly 18 metres off the ground. The Standard offers unparalleled views of the surrounding area.
K2 Chair by Koi Design, available to purchase at www.discover-deliver.com
With varying rooms from my perfectly formed Standard Queen to a King, Deluxe, Superior, Empire Corner King, Liberty Corner King, Hudson Studio, Liberty Suite & Empire Suite, you’re not short on choice for rooms. With a late 70’s vibe to the interior, the overall style of The Standard is a testiment to all the designers and architects involved.
The structure was designed by Todd Schliemann of Polshek Partnership Architects based in New York, whilst the inner soul, the life of this space is run and directed by hotel mogul André Balazs. He was all too aware of the rapid development of this area, previously filled with all the smells & grime of butchery depots and an underground night life scene. The Standard sits proudly on it’s two concrete pillars, as if it’s on it’s tip toes watching the area develop around him. I say he, he has to be a he, all Modernist in style, enveloped in it’s glass wrap-around curtain, allowing all to see out, and all of the outside work to peer in. The stories you will hear from the locals…Those glass windows have shared some naughty secrets. If money was no question, you would have found me in their Liberty Suite, a 575 Sq Ft suite with a seven-foot round platform bed, teacup bath by the window, huge walk-in shower and incredible views of both Downtown Manhattan and the Hudson River. The layout of my Standard Queen had been executed perfectly, a hydraulic dining table that lowers to a coffee table, & wall mounted upholstered bolsters so you can use your bed as a sofa. Think 300 thread-count linen, giant bathrobes, wall to wall & floor to ceiling windows, iPod ready sound systems, and a killer mini bar. They proudly boast that they’re overstocked. They really are, anything you want, it’s probably there. I’m used to hotel rooms in New York to be compact, and really this Queen option was just fine. There are so many other areas of the hotel to enjoy, I’m not one for staying in my room. The giant rectangle swimming pool of a bath makes up for everything though, honestly you could bath an entire family in that tub. The hotel was designed by Roman & Williams (initially) with the additional attention of Shawn Hausman. Robin Standefer & Stephen Alesch we also appointed on this project before moving on to open Roman & Williams. So a serious powerhouse of designers set to work creating this hotspot.
Time to explore the hotel, so I headed straight back downstairs and worked my way back up the hotel until I reached the Boom Boom Room in time for sunset. First stop, the wonderful Standard Grill. A classic neighbourhood staple, with all the diner food you might want. The front café, bar and street side bistro is light and airy, tiled floors, eggshell walls, with a fresh oyster bar, and the biggest club sandwiches in the city. The main dining room where you’re ushered to for breakfast is more cosy, old-world style, & a floor paved in copper pennies, reminding me of a project I once pitched to Bloomberg whilst at University. Think steak house style, deep red leather booths & linen table cloths in the evenings, it was heaving with media moguls the night I walked through…
My much deserved turkey club & homemade lemonade…
The Rink…
There’s been a recent addition since I visited. The ice-skating rink has gone (it’s a winter thing you see) and The Plaza has arrived. Optimising the prime bit of space on the corner of West 13th & Washington, The Standard have set up a very relaxed no-reservation come-as-you-are outdoor dining space for the summer. Serving Mediterranean treats, & coffees, it’s the perfect weekend pitstop.
Back through the lobby & up to the top floor, click on THIS link for the amazing video installation you may have heard about. ‘Civilization’ is a video installation created with artist/director Marco Brambilla for the lifts at the hotel. It’s comprised of over 400 video clips and it takes passengers on a trip from hell to heaven as they go up or from heaven to hell as they go down.
To the Boom Boom Room on the 18th Floor. Now ‘werk’ your magic here, & be warned, just because you are a guest, doesn’t mean they’ll always let you in. Your visual is key in this location, even in the afternoon. Take a look at my view though, just beautiful…
