the
gourmet room
re-imagining a modernist landmark
abstract
building history
The Terrace Plaza Hotel is one of Cincinnati’s Modernist landmarks. When it opened in 1948, it was heralded as one of the most innovative and remarkable structures in the Unites States. It enjoyed a period of great success following its opening, but after being sold to the Hilton hotel family in 1956, the slow and steady decline of the property began. What was once one of the most remarkable buildings in the city is now a dilapidated eyesore on a prime piece of downtown real estate.
The Terrace Plaza Hotel opened in 1948 to local and national fanfare for its modern design. The building was the first major project for then-unknown firm Skidmore Owings and Merril (SOM). A woman named Natalie de Blois was responsible for the majority of the design, but received no credit for the project because of her gender. SOM pioneered the design process of integrating architecture, interior design, furniture design, lighting design, and landscape architecture into one cohesive process, which changed the path of American Design. This building is one of the first examples of how that process was realized and also served as a precedent for other SOM projects.
All across the country, there is a resurgence of urban migration, both for individuals and for businesses. Cincinnati’s inner core neighborhoods are currently experiencing redevelopment and prosperity at a dizzying rate, putting the Terrace Plaza at the center of the action. Without a National Register designation, this building is at risk of demolition for a “new, more usable building.” With a little faith and creativity, the Terrace Plaza can be what it once was, and serve the 21st century city.
re-imagined: main dining room
original
Contemporary art played a major role in the significance of the building as well. All of the public spaces had one work by a major artist of the time period. In the most iconic public space, the Gourmet Room, a mural by Joan Miró, which was specifically commissioned for the space, adorned the back wall of the restaurant and offset the amazing city views from the 20th floor space.
The most important of these iconic interiors is that of the top floor Gourmet Room restaurant. It is the Terrace Plaza’s most unique space and therefore the perfect space to begin with. By combining the timeless architecture of modernism with rotating contemporary art exhibitions, the Gourmet Room can be returned to its position as one of the best restaurants in the city and an iconic interior for today and the future.
THINGS I KEPT: • mural • room layout • banquette profiles
site
CONCEPT
• orientation of views • outdoor access • function
THINGS I CHANGED: • upholstery • lighting • seating capacity
• center banquette shape
THINGS I RESPECTED: • color palette • original use • textures
• atmosphere • detailing
THINGS I KEPT: • raised patio • circulation • orientation of views
• usage of greenery • materiality
THINGS I CHANGED: • overall use • quantity of planters • seating capacity
• art component
THINGS I RESPECTED: • materiality • atmosphere • detailing
• lighting
view of main dining room
So how might we update and celebrate the historic Gourmet Room? By injecting contemporary art and cuisine into historic architecture, and having those things be ever changing, the Gourmet Room will return to its position as the most innovative restaurant in the city. The space will become a piece of LIVING ART that retains history while being representative of the present. Evoking a feeling without being a replication of what used to be. colors indicate usage; 5 block radius shown
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exterior view of main dining room
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sofa group
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corner banquette
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banquette dining
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chair pair
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freestanding dining
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outdoor lounge
bar area
re-imagined: gallery dining room
original
round banquettes
outdoor dining
view of gallery dining room + lounge
8 patio bar
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6 7 outdoor dining
entry lounge
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THINGS I KEPT: • banquette profile • lounge area • bar area
• formal reception
THINGS I CHANGED: • overall use • room layout • bar size
• art component
THINGS I RESPECTED: • building addition • orientation of views • materiality
• anchoring art piece
restrooms
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main dining room
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gallery dining room
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view of bar + reception 1 2
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view of gallery dining room
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significance The Terrace Plaza, and the Gourmet Room in particular, have since fallen into disrepair and are at risk of demolition due to the absence of a National Register designation. The current development climate in downtown is also more focused on new construction than re-use. My goal with this project is to show that there is still a lot of life left in this iconic building that most people have brushed off. Presenting the sensitive rehabilitation of the Gourmet Room sets the stage for how to approach the design for the rest of the tenant spaces. The Terrace Plaza is one of the earliest examples of American Modernism, and was the first International Style hotel in the United States. To let a key piece of design history fall by the wayside would be like erasing a signature moment in the history of American design. Not only is this building important from a design perspective, but is also a valuable piece of real estate in the downtown area. The redevelopment of this property could serve as a catalyst to show city officials and other developers the value of utilizing the existing fabric of our city to move forward. With a little faith and creativity, the Terrace Plaza can be what it once was, and serve the 21st century city.
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