Back to the Jet Age

The TWA Flight Center at New York’s JFK Airport is a mid-century marvel. Completed in 1962 and designed for Trans World Airlines by Finnish architect Eero Saarinen, the building became an icon immediately upon its unveiling, captivating travelers with its futuristic flair. The wingshaped roof, tube-shaped departure and arrival corridors and massive windows – with grand views of moving jets – marked a clear moment in architecture, when designers were looking to the stars and imagining an almost palpable Space Age.

Unable to handle the size of modern aircraft, and following the dissolution of Transworld Airlines, the TWA Flight Center closed in 2001. In the meantime, in recognition of Saarinen’s revolutionary vision, the TWA Flight Center’s interior and exterior were declared a New York City Landmark in 1994 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.

In May 2019, 57 years after its original launch, Saarinen’s wing-shaped landmark came back to life, this time as the playfully conceived TWA Hotel. MCR, one of the largest hotel owners in the United States, joined forces with JetBlue and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to oversee the complete overhaul of the building, while preserving its architectural importance. The developers added new hotel structures, set back from the original terminal, designed to reflect the TWA Flight Center’s unique look. In total, the new hotel comprises 512 guestrooms, six restaurants, eight bars, conference space and a massive public observation deck.

In keeping with the 1960s spirit of the original structure, the guestrooms – housed in two low-rise buildings – feature Saarinen-designed mid-century modern Knoll furnishings, martini bars, vintage rotary phones and gleaming terrazzotiled bathrooms with Hollywood-style vanities. Wood elements and brushed brass add warmth to the spacious rooms, all of which were designed by New Yorkbased architecture and interior design firm Stonehill Taylor. Outside the rooms, the curved hallway is carpeted in TWA’s signature red, adding further mid-century flair. “We envisioned a refined guest experience in dialogue with Saarinen’s masterpiece, a serene refuge from which to enjoy views onto one of the busiest airports in the world,” said Michael Suomi, principal at Stonehill Taylor. “Ultimately we wanted the TWA Hotel room to help create the level of excitement for and pride in aviation that travelers once felt during the rise of the industry.”

The TWA Hotel’s impressive glass curtain wall comes courtesy of US engineering firm Fabbrica. With its seven panes and 11.5-centimeter thickness, it’s the second thickest glass wall in the world after the wall at the US Embassy in London. This means that guests can sleep soundly at any time of day and even watch planes take flight without hearing them. “The rooms will provide unparalleled style and comfort to our guests as well as powerful views of Saarinen’s terminal or flights preparing for takeoff through floor-to-ceiling, full-width, soundproofed windows,” said Tyler Morse, CEO of MCR.

The hotel’s eatery is Paris Café, operating under the helm of celebrated chef Jean- Georges Vongerichten. The original Paris Café (and the Lisbon Lounge next door) were originally outfitted by Parisian industrial designer Raymond Loewy, who also created the 1955 Coca-Cola contour bottle, the 1959 TWA twin globes logo, the 1963 Studebaker Avanti and the 1971 Shell logo.

“From the moment guests and visitors arrive at the TWA Hotel, they will find themselves immersed in the ethos of 1962’s rich culture, architecture, sights, sounds and ambiance,” said Morse. “The attention to the smallest of details permeates the entire guest room experience, paying homage to the magnificent landmark and special time in American history.”

Words Niku Kasmai