PROJECT
interiors
The contemporary design of Apropoe’s, the new restaurant at Baltimore’s Marriott Waterfront, combines dining, lounge, meeting, and bar areas in one great-room-style space, divided into semi-private alcoves by wire mesh.
Weave Contemporary Design With History Woven-wire mesh provides privacy with uninterrupted views at a Baltimore waterfront hotel.
T
he Marriott Waterfront is located in the
rant and bar are now combined into one space. Mar-
plan led designers to integrate semi-private enclaves
heart of Baltimore. Situated along the water-
riott hotels began adopting the great-room style lobby
into the space, which would allow intimate and more
front of the Inner Harbor, it offers guests ac-
designs that inspired this design in 2007. At that time,
formal dining experiences without interrupting its flu-
cess to many of the city’s landmarks. Attracting those
hospitality trends started to favor more fluid, open de-
idity. To meet their aesthetic and performance goals,
travelling for business and pleasure, it has more than
signs. Combining the intimacy of a restaurant and the
designers opted to create dining pavilions. Each pavil-
80,000 sq. ft. of high-tech meeting rooms and event
relaxed atmosphere of a bar into a single room present-
ion was to house its own seating space and table, creat-
space. Beyond offering accommodations, the hotel
ed a design challenge at the hotel.
ing a sense of privacy within the large room. However,
serves as a venue for events such as cocktail receptions, trade shows, and banquets.
Designers also wanted to take advantage of the restau-
the pavilions could not interrupt the open flow of the
rant’s waterfront location. Not only are its name and its
space, so needed to be partially transparent. Apropoe’s
The hotel is the tallest building in Baltimore and has
menu, created from local ingredients, homages to the city,
designer, EDG, San Rafael, CA, and the subcontrac-
been an integral part of Harbor East’s skyline since 2001.
but its view also shows off the beauty of its surroundings.
tor, Interwood Enterprises, Woodbine, MD, worked
In 2014, it underwent a $5 million renovation—the first-ev-
Ensuring that visitors could take advantage of the stun-
together to find a solution.
er revamp of its food-and-beverage section. The renova-
ning views of the Baltimore harbor presented an addition-
tion transformed its lobby restaurant and bar from Grill
al design challenge.
EDG and Interwood Enterprises had worked with Banker Wire, Mukwonago, WI, woven-wire mesh prior to
700 and Kozmo’s Lounge into a single space, Apropoe’s.
Underlying all of these design considerations, as with
beginning work at Apropoe’s. They determined that pavil-
The name Apropoe’s is a nod to one of Baltimore’s most
any public space, was the need to adhere to current safety
ions comprised of woven-wire mesh would provide their
famous former residents, Edgar Allan Poe. Although Ed-
codes. Design elements could not interfere with the
guests with privacy if desired, while allowing uninterrupt-
gar Allan Poe is known for setting grim scenes, Apropoe’s
restaurant’s sprinkler system. Because of fire-safety con-
ed views of the waterfront and aligning with the great-
is anything but macabre. The new restaurant provides ho-
siderations, the material that comprised the semi-private
room-style design.
tel guests and locals a welcoming, yet sophisticated, place
dining and meeting areas needed to offer at least 70%
to relax, eat, and imbibe.
openness.
UNITY, PRIVACY, PRIDE, AND SAFETY
WEAVING A SOLUTION
The Marriott Waterfront’s previously separate restau-
Marrying the need for intimacy with an open floor
“The architect and designer had an ambitious vision, and the Banker Wire mesh allowed them to achieve their vision and meet the requirements of the space,” said Tad
18
COMMERCI A L BUIL DING P RODUC T S
MARCH 2015
cbpmagazine.com
Brooks of Interwood Enterprises Inc. Because Banker Wire offers several design possibilities,
