NIGHT AT THE STUDIO

Take a moment to think about the last time you stayed at a hotel. What made you choose that specific place? Location? Price? Convenience? More often than not, these are the first questions that consumers consider when thinking about lodging.

Imagine walking into a lobby with bright hues of reds, blues, and greens canvasing the walls in magnificent abstract strokes. Statues and murals bring life and extravagant texture to the room. If you’re an art lover, you’ve come to the right place. Welcome to Studio Allston.

Found in the community of bustling Allston, MA, Studio Allston is an eccentric boutique hotel that credits inspiration to the art, culture, and lifestyle of Boston. The hotel works directly with over twenty-two national and local artists to drive an entirely new, creative, and innovative take on the hospitality industry. The idea behind partnering with artists to create this one-of-a-kind visual experience came from the desire to merge directly with the fast-growing lifestyle of its native town. In recent years, Allston has developed into a culturally driven and high-energy area that introduces the population to a life of exhilaration. The name of the city comes directly from an American artist, Washington Allston. It is home to passion, dedication, and authenticity. Creators of all types come to share their stories through the power of art, food, and even music. “Allston is a neighborhood exploding with new projects: educational, artistic, cultural, and scientific. The concept of growing along with that was what excited the developers,” said Cory Kramer, Director of Sales, at the Studio Allston.

The owners of Studio Allston, The David Company, have a history of renovating old hotels, and shifting them into new and exciting experiences that fit with the surrounding areas; this was the main idea behind Studio Allston. When constructing the carefully curated lobbies and rooms of the hotel, the design team wanted to ensure the work of the artists they collaborated with became the major focal point of guests’ attention. The theme of the hotel is constantly evolving, which allows them to expand their artistic license in the design and layout of the physical works of art. When it comes to sourcing new artists, the team only has one requirement: that the talent represents growth and creativity, the same ideals as the hotel. The team goes out to immerse themselves in new emerging talent in the city. Once they secure a new artist, the team gives the creator complete freedom on the pieces they want to showcase and how they choose to do so. Their artwork can be found in public spaces, guest rooms, and employee work zones. Each and every person, whether it be a guest or worker in the Studio Allston space, gets to bask in the swells of art and culture that makes this hotel its own work of art.

“We always call ourselves a blank canvas hotel because there’s always something you can add and make your own. We use that in terms of what we can do in our service as hospitality professionals and also how we design the building,” said Kramer.

The hotel offers a variety of different guest spaces, each with its own, eclectic finish. You have the choice to book a Standard Room, Studio Suite, or an Artist’s Suite. The Artist’s Suites, for example, feature five resident artists, whose

work has graced the walls since the opening of the hotel. These rooms are designed to offer the same level of comfort most people seek from a hotel but are a step beyond basic. For example, the “Reel Countdown Movie Suite” is practically a micro-scale movie theater. What are the odds you leave your hotel trip saying your one-bedroom suite had a separate screening area with a state-of-the-art flat-screen HDTV? Aside from size and amenities, the craft and techniques detailed in every guest space are enough to evoke that first-time feeling with every visit. The building is a mecca of hidden talents and features the work of truly astounding people. Sophia Ainslie, for example, a South African native, is a contemporary artist whose designs can be found in the “Top of the Mind” Suite. Ainslie’s work, “focuses on the connection between diagnostic imaging technologies and landscape, interior and exterior, and the microscopic and macroscopic.” (hotelstudioallston.com). Her runway-inspired suite elicits an experience of luxury and grandeur.

Another featured artist is Thomas Buildmore, a fine arts painter from New York who uses spray paint as his form of expression to transform works of art history. His work is on the walls of various guest rooms throughout the hotel. The effort and dedication of these artists is profound, as their confidence and talent shine through the walls. These creative works can single-handedly transform a guest’s experience and personal feelings as they spend time at Studio Allston. When it comes time to plan your next getaway, keep Studio Allston in mind. Travelers from all over the country have sought out a night in this one-of-a-kind getaway gallery, knowing their stay will be like no other. Studio Allston gives you the chance to be surrounded by luscious art that bridges each and every corner of this space, where you can dive headfirst into the flair and talent each creator has poured into their works of art.

@hotelstudioallston; hotelstudioallston.com