The Drake Hotel Modern Wing TORONTO 18 years after opening its doors, Toronto’s bastion of culture, community and hospitality has evolved with the city to introduce a new Modern Wing. Words: Eleanor Howard • Photography: © Brandon Barré
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aving spent almost two decades building
and hospitality,” Stober continues. “We invest
Underscoring the hotel’s ambition as a
his hospitality empire, entrepeneur-
tremendous energy and creativity into curating
meeting place for Toronto’s creative community,
turned-hotelier Jeff Stober has recently
our guest experiences and this expansion allows
the lobby bar is fronted by full-height windows
returned to where it all began – The Drake
us more opportunities to do just that, all while
for a visual connection between guests and
Hotel. Owing to its success, the Toronto fixture
pushing our design ethos forward.”
passers-by. Inside, Art Deco-inspired arched
has now opened a new wing,marking the next
To bring the new wing to life, Stober enlisted
panelling and a woodchip terrazzo countertop
chapter for the Queen West neighbourhood.
DesignAgency to work in collaboration with
build on the Classic Wing’s features and give the
“This has been a long-term project in the
The Drake’s in-house design team and the
bar its distinct personality.
making,” says Stober of the expansion. “We
hotel’s original designer +tongtong, with
In line with the evolution, the guestrooms
initially purchased the adjacent buildings over
Diamond Schmitt Architects overseeing the
bring a newfound sense of refinement to the
a decade ago and subsequently went through
architecture. “Many elements from our original
hotel’s playful and referential style. From
various iterations in consultation with the city
style guide continue to take centre stage in the
saturated colour palettes and abstract wallpaper
and the architects. With the backdrop of an ever-
new Modern Wing,” says Stober. “Our usage
to outlandish artworks and timber furnishings,
evolving neighbourhood, and the completion of
of douglas fir, terrazzo, brass, cork, leather,
signature design elements from the Classic
Drake Motor Inn in Prince Edward County, we
wallpapers, upholstery, contemporary art, and
rooms have been carried over, while custom-
thought it was the right time to introduce a
exciting vintage furniture finds have been a
made blankets, patterned rugs and lighting
significant newbuild addition as a complement
longstanding form of expression for us. We
by local artisans honour The Drakes’ creative
to our flagship hotel.”
embraced the challenge of constructing a
expression. The penthouse meanwhile blends
Set in a new building directly alongside
next gen building that interconnects with the
Art Deco, Nouveau and Mid-Century styles
the existing hotel, the five-storey Modern
original Classic Wing and judging by the initial
through an artful layering of pattern and colour.
Wing incorporates a living room-style lobby,
response, we think the vibe and soul carries
an intimate street-front bar, meeting and
forward seamlessly.”
“Since The Drake Hotel opened 18 years ago, the neighbourhood has matured from a
event spaces, 32 new guestrooms and a
To ensure a seamless transition between the
local secret to a world-renowned destination
cantilevered rooftop penthouse suite. “We saw
two wings, terrazzo flooring is carried through
for art, fashion, food and culture,” says
an opportunity to present an evolved, grown-up
to the new lobby, but now with the addition of
Anwar Mekhayech, a Founding Partner at
version of The Drake, but it was important to us
geometric patterns and contemporary swirls,
DesignAgency. “The interior design for the
that the scale and scope of the project fit in with
while walnut tambour panelling paired with a
Modern Wing reflects how Drake continues
the streetscape and maintain the integrity and
painted brick fireplace, vintage furniture and
to lead this vibrant scene by rethinking and
roots of our brand – art, culture, community
local artworks bring warmth.
reinventing itself.”
