Maison de la Luz

A 1906 Italianate landmark is transformed into a welcoming boutique hotel, harmonizing historic detail with modern comforts.

A new luxury hotel from Atelier Ace designed in collaboration with Studio Shamshiri, this project involved the restoration and rehabilitation of a six-story 1906 building adjacent to New Orleans’ former city hall.

LOCATION

NEW ORLEANS, LA

SIZE

55,464 SF

YEAR OF COMPLETION

2019

SERVICES

ARCHITECTURE

PHOTOGRAPHER

STEPHEN KENT JOHNSON

AWARDS

2020 AIA NEW ORLEANS HONOR AWARD 2020 HOSPITALITY DESIGN AWARDS, FIRST PLACE - UPSCALE HOTEL CATEGORY 2020 LOUISIANA LANDMARKS SOCIETY AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION

ASSOCIATED PRESS & PUBLICATIONS

Collaborators

Spackman mossop Michaels - Landscape Architect Morphy Makofsky - Civil & Structural Engineer Shamshiri - Interior Designer Pontchartrain Mechanical - Mechanical Engineer Frischhertz electric Co. - Electrical Engineer Sean O'Connor Lighting - Lighting AKRF - Acoustics RNGD - Contractor

Revived Purpose

The architecture and interiors team worked in tandem to meticulously restore several historical elements found within the six-story 1906 building adjacent to New Orleans’ former city hall. Originally designed by Allison Owen of Diboll and Owen Architects, the structure is in line with the Italianate style, an architectural character typical of turn-of-the-century buildings in New Orleans. Inspired by the building’s storied history, the team strived to breathe new life and a revived purpose into the project via several design interventions.


A monumental entry portico covered by an ornamental iron and glass canopy defines the entry into the building.
Within the interior lobby, the original historic grand stair was maintained and serves as the main entrance into the heart of the building and upper guest rooms. The original marble floor was patched and restored.

The original historic grand stair was maintained and serves as the main entry to the building. Along with a variety of original lighting fixtures and historic windows, colorful marble floors, French wallpaper, and a carefully curated selection of furniture—including skirted armchairs, copper-topped tables, and elaborate Roman mosaic-tile baths—a cohesive aesthetic comes together to create a wholly unique experience, one prioritizing privacy and a layered narrative experience over the clamor of a bustling public hotel.

The grand stair was lovingly restored to its original patina, with a slight hint of gold dusting added to push it closer to the French style embodied in other design elements found throughout the hotel
A bespoke concierge desk, greets guests. Wherever possible, the design team worked to maintain a variety of original lighting fixtures.
The Living Room serves as a lobby where guests can play board games, host a meeting, or make a pre-dinner cocktail—all under light fixtures inspired by corset boning.