RICHMOND, Va.
Quirk Hotel, A Destination Hotel, opened as Richmond, Va.’s, first-ever, design-driven boutique lodging option. The hotel invites travelers to absorb the authentic culture of the community through art.
Inspired by nearby Quirk Gallery, Quirk Hotel says its DNA stems from “a twist of sophistication and humor, with equal parts Southern cordiality and Virginia pride.” The hotel’s opening—timed to coincide with cycling’s international pinnacle event, UCI World Road Cycling Championships (Worlds), taking place in Richmond Sept. 19 to 27—demonstrates a defining moment for both downtown Broad Street’s revitalization and Richmond’s emergence as an international arts and culture destination.
Quirk Hotel hopes to serve as an interactive community gathering place for both locals and Richmond visitors in its social gathering spots ranging from the lobby-located restaurant Maple & Pine led by Chef David Dunlap, to the rooftop terrace bar and lounge, to the adjacent Quirk Gallery.
Pioneering Design
An Italian Renaissance building located in the heart of The Broad Street Commercial Historic District, Quirk Hotel is housed in a 60,000-square-foot historic Richmond landmark, originally constructed in 1916 as the city’s finest department store, J.B. Mosby & Co.
The structure’s overhaul and design was led by its owners, husband and wife duo Ted and Katie Ukrop, who commissioned two highly acclaimed design companies to bring their vision to life: Richmond-based architectural firm 3north and Connecticut-based interior design firm Poesis Design.
Inspired by Richmond’s culturally rich history, the designers began the restoration project by first combing through thousands of bits and pieces of the city’s 400-year-old history, performing research on what from the past makes Richmond the unique city it is today.
A thoughtful interpretation for Quirk Hotel resulted from that research—a historically vibrant design, full of key artifacts, color and art that tell the tale of Richmond’s storied past. Details such as the lobby’s segmental arches, groin vault ceiling and ornamental ironwork staircase have been preserved.
Guest Rooms:
Each of the hotel's 74 guest rooms feature a palate predominately composed of warm-pink, gray, walnut brown, white and black, allowing alternating pink and gray colored walls (Benjamin Moore’s “Love and Happiness” and “Gray Owl” respectively) to serve as the backdrop to hang local artwork created by artists from Petersburg and Richmond—easily available for travelers to purchase if they so choose.
Historic highlights such as the original wood floors stay intact, while 100-year-old Virginia wood beams taken out of the original structure during demolition have been repurposed and used to create the glossy walnut bedframes that anchor each guest room.
Room design highlights additionally include contemporary millwork, sculptural glossy white lacquered furniture, 14-foot ceilings, frosted glass shower enclosures and high-tech amenities along with other unusual quirks within the décor and finishing. A glass cube placed atop the structure and invisible to the eye from street level will house four specially designed suites upon the project’s completion.
Convivial Cuisine
The culinary experience at Quirk Hotel is led by Chef David Dunlap (previously of The Inn at Little Washington, The Ashby Inn in North Carolina and Plume at The Jefferson, DC) and focuses on artisan cuisine, sourced locally with an emphasis on regional culinary traditions.
Maple & Pine, located in the lobby, is the hotel’s culinary cornerstone and serves as a reflection of Virginia’s inventive dining revolution. The restaurant’s modern American craft cooking showcases the region’s micro-seasons while incorporating global flavor profiles.
The rooftop bar provides unobstructed views of Richmond’s skyline and offers modern adaptations of classic cocktails, small batch spirits and regional craft beers.
Artful Amenities
Developed as an extension of the beloved Quirk Gallery which features exhibitions of “approachable” work by both established and emerging local artists, Quirk Gallery will offer an easily accessible entrance to the hotel once it relocates in September to an adjacent building. A landscaped courtyard will separate this adjacent building from the main hotel. Additionally, 2,000 square feet of unique meetings and events spaces will be available to hotel guests and locals in addition to an on-site fitness center.
The Quirk Artist in Residence program provides artists with time and space away from their usual environment to allow for an opportunity to explore new channels for creative inspiration. Located one block east of the hotel, the artist in residence is supplied with a studio/apartment with a stay ranging from 1-6 months, with participants either working toward an exhibit with Quirk Gallery or expanding their own research.
The program is exemplary of the supportive local Richmond arts community, and is open to artists from all mediums, cultures, academics and societal backgrounds, while customized to fit each artist’s needs. The program is available by application and invitation.
The hotel’s first artist in residence is Leigh Suggs, a 2015 VCU Craft Materials MFA graduate with a concentration in textiles, who will be in residence from July 1, 2015 – January 2016.
