2009, revised 2017.
Hotel Archiphilia is a hypothetical project, designed to explore the relationship between architecture, the people who use it, and the stories that unfold within.
It was awarded the Rosemary Grimshaw prize at MIT.
Contemporary humans are confronted with a paradox: technological advances have made them overconnected, overstimulated, and always available. Despite or because of these advances, they are often lonely, anxious, and have trouble communicating face-to-face. In the heart of Boston, Hotel Archiphilia fills a void for these humans through three distinct programs: Reshape, Rejoin, and Retreat.
Reshape capitalizes on humans’ obsession with self-care, and serves as a full-service health club and spa. Guests can pump iron, work up a sweat, get a massage, go for a swim, schvitz, relax, practice yoga, and enjoy the latest trends in health food, all in a communal environment. Here, they can chose to interact with others, or just watch.
Rejoin gives guests the opportunity to practice communication in a carefree, full service network of lounges, which are dispersed throughout the building. Guests can mingle, imbibe, discuss, and commune face-to-face. Those who wish to continue their conversations in private can escape to one of the many surrounding hourly rooms, which are equipped with couches, beds, toilets, and automated cleaning systems.
Retreat provides single-occupancy seclusion rooms for guests who are overwhelmed with contemporary ennui. Here, they can shut out the the outside world. Guests book online, and get access codes to private elevators from the parking garage. They emerge on one of the three mechanical levels, where they can escape unseen to their rooms without ancillary human contact. The internet-free rooms are equipped with plush beds, private spas, writing tables, and push-button systems for private food delivery.
A view from the west, on LaGrange Street.
The approach from the south, on Washington Street.
A view from the north, on Washington Street, and the entrance to ReShape.
The entrance to Rejoin, on Marty's Way.
The 1st Floor ReShape smoothie bar.
The 1st Floor ReShape lounge.
The weight area on the second floor of Reshape.
The squash courts in Reshape.
The various program elements of Reshape are connected by escalators.
The towel service area in Reshape, next to the plunge pools.
The hot tub in Reshape, with the steam room in the background.
The warm water wading pool in Reshape.
The view from the warm water wading pool in Reshape.
Reshape.
An escalator in Reshape.
The swimming pool in Reshape.
The workout studios and top floor lounge in Reshape.
The stretching and mat area near the roof terrace in Reshape.
A view across the sky garden in Reshape.
The entrance to Rejoin.
The Rejoin entrance lobby.
The Rejoin entrance lobby.
One of the many Rejoin lounges.
The bar area in one of the Rejoin lounges.
Escalators connect the various lounges throughout Rejoin.
A lounge in Rejoin.
Rejoin.
The lounge spaces are surrounded by hourly hotel rooms in Rejoin.
Rejoin.
One of the Rejoin hourly rooms, with the bed, toilet and sink in the closed position. The rooms are automatically flushed clean between uses.
A Rejoin hotel room, with the murphy bed, toilet and sink in the open position. These implements are automatically disinfected during the cleaning process.
A passage between hotel rooms on the upper floor of Rejoin.
The lounge surrounding the Rejoin roof terrace.
One of the lounges on the upper floors of Rejoin.
An upper floor Rejoin lounge.
A passage in Rejoin.
The private Retreat suites are accessed through the mechanical floors.
Guests of Retreat make their way to their rooms unnoticed.
The Retreat suites are easily identified on the mechanical floors by their gold exteriors.
An initial moment of reflection in a Retreat suite.
Guests of Retreat need not interact with other humans during their stay. Food and beverage are ordered via a keypad system. Anything that the guest desires can be delivered through a double-doored cabinet, within which staff can place items without being seen.
Relaxing in a Retreat suite.
Guests can truly dance like no one's watching in Retreat.
Blue = Reshape
Red = Rejoin
Gold = Retreat
Reshape, as distributed throughout the building.
Rejoin, as distributed throughout the building.
Retreat, as distributed throughout the building.
Exterior envelope components.
West-East Section A-A.
West-East Section B-B.
West-East Section C-C.
South-North Section D-D.
South-North Section E-E.
1. Re-shape Entrance, 2. Re-shape lounge, 3. juice bar, 4. locker room, 5. office, 6. Rejoin entrance, 7. office.
2. Re-shape lounge, 8. Rejoin lounge, 9. hourly room, 10. bar, 11. kitchen, 12. weights, 13. office, 14. staff lounge, 15. laundry.
16. Retreat seclusion room. The rest of the floor is dedicated to mechanical space.
8. Rejoin lounge, 9. hourly room, 10. bar, 17. squash court, 18. equipment, 19. cardio.
0. Open to below, 8. Rejoin lounge, 9. hourly room, 10. bar, 19. cardio.
16. Retreat seclusion room. The rest of the floor is dedicated to mechanical space.
8. Rejoin lounge, 9. hourly room, 10. bar, 20. hot tub, 21. cold water plunge, 22. warm water wading pool, 23. towels, 24. sauna, 25. steam room.
0. Open to below, 8. Rejoin lounge, 9. hourly room, 10. bar, 20. hot tub, 21. cold water plunge, 24. sauna, 25. steam room, 26. open massage tables.
16. Retreat seclusion room. The rest of the floor is dedicated to mechanical space.
8. Rejoin lounge, 9. hourly room, 10. bar, 20. hot tub, 27. lap pool, 28. massage rooms, 29. showers, 30. stretching/open classes, 31. sky garden.
0. Open to below, 2. Re-shape lounge, 8. Rejoin lounge, 9. hourly room, 10. bar, 30. stretching/open classes, 32. exercise class room, 33. health food bar, 34. Re-shape roof terrace, 35. Rejoin roof terrace.
Initial program distribution concept model.
Initial program distribution concept model.
Initial program distribution concept model.
Initial design concept model.
Initial design concept model.
Initial exterior envelope design concept model.
Initial exterior envelope design concept model.