A peek into Chicago’s artsy new 21c Museum Hotel. (Picture: Accor)
Newly opened 21c Museum Hotel in Chicago rivals local institutions with contemporary art collection.
Chicago’s recently opened 21c Museum Hotel is a triumph of art and design, and already a big player in the city’s art scene.
We take a look inside this art hotel in the River North area.
21c Museum Hotels comes to Chicago’s sleek River North
The Windy City’s River North neighbourhood is already a hotbed of art and culture, but its stock just rose with the opening of the 21c Museum Hotel Chicago.
Part of Accor’s MGallery Hotel Collection, 21c Museum Hotels pitches itself as the perfect blend of high-end art gallery and luxury boutique hotel, and its Chicago outpost hits the nail on the head.
Located within a stone’s throw of some seriously hard-hitting art institutions including the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Design Museum of Chicago and the Art Institute of Chicago, the 21c Museum Hotel boasts a contemporary art gallery that is open to the public free of charge all year round, putting it firmly on the art roster in this highly competitive area.
The current exhibition is entitled “This We Believe” and explores the power and evolution of belief systems.
Deborah Berke-designed interiors
Renowned designer Deborah Berke was responsible for the conception of the building’s design, in collaboration with GREC Architects, and together they have created open, bright and airy spaces that are inviting, elegant and comfortable, whether it is the ground floor gallery space or one of the 297 guest rooms.
Conceived of as a “unique contemporary destination and a serene refuge”, the hotel’s guest rooms were inspired by the nearby Lake Michigan and are executed in a muted palette of greys and whites, with timber panelling and brass light fittings adding warmth to the rooms.
The hotel also boasts ample meeting and event facilities, and each of the flexible multi-purpose spaces is adorned with art, so whether you’re throwing a catered dinner party or hosting clients, the hotel will never fail to impress your guests.
21c Museum Hotels was founded by Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson, contemporary art collectors and preservationists who are committed to bringing works of art to the public through innovative exhibitions and programs that integrate contemporary art into daily life.
