Death of an Icon

The Royalton just got a makeover, and its former designer Philippe Starck-who originally did the lobby for Ian Schrager in 1988- is making some noise about the project… And he isn’t following the age-old truism that if you don’t have anything nice to say, you shouldn’t say anything at all. In an interview with the New York Times, Starck is quoted as saying, “I think if you are lucky enough to own an icon, you shouldn’t kill the icon.” While the Royalton has been credited as being the pioneer for boutique hotels, the new design, completed by Restaurateur John McDonald, who spearheaded the recent lobby redesign alongside architects Roman & Williams, insists that he has kept the vibe “sexy” while paying homage to the locale’s illustrious past.

Via The Observer