As part of the design for the TWA Hotel in New York, Stonehill Taylor transformed a vintage Lockheed Constellation “Connie” L-1649A Starliner, one of only four of its kind left in the world, into a glamorous cocktail lounge. Fully restored, the plan features murals by artist Mario Zamparelli that once graced the cabin, as well as a completely restored cockpit and navigation system. Paying homage to the industrial achievements of the era, a one-foot-wide backlit reveal, running almost the full circumference of the cabin, uncovers the raw bones of the plane.
After ascending through the forward hatch of the116-foot-long aircraft, guests enter the main cabin, which echoes the TWA Flight Center’s terminal “tube” design. Seating vignettes nod to the original TWA Commodore Club with Chili Pepper Red banquettes complete with fold-down drink holders and Saarinen tulip tables and stools. Guests can also sit in one of the 16 reupholstered original airplane seats. At the back of the plane sits the back bar, whose rivet-lined brushed-steel background was inspired by both the plane’s fuselage and Saarinen’s Gateway Arch elevators in St. Louis.
2020 SBID Awards, Connie Cocktail Lounge at TWA Hotel, Best Club & Bar Design Finalist
2022 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards, Connie Cocktail Lounge at TWA Hotel, Best Hotel (International) Finalist
2022 Architizer A+ Awards, Connie Cocktail Lounge at TWA Hotel, Best Bar & Lounge Finalist
2022 James Beard Design Awards, Connie Cocktail Lounge at TWA Hotel, Outstanding Design of Alternative Eating & Drinking Places Finalist
2022 NYCxDESIGN, Connie Cocktail Lounge at TWA Hotel, Best Bar/Lounge Winner
As part of the design for the TWA Hotel in New York, Stonehill Taylor transformed a vintage Lockheed Constellation “Connie” L-1649A Starliner, one of only four of its kind left in the world, into a glamorous cocktail lounge. Fully restored, the plan features murals by artist Mario Zamparelli that once graced the cabin, as well as a completely restored cockpit and navigation system. Paying homage to the industrial achievements of the era, a one-foot-wide backlit reveal, running almost the full circumference of the cabin, uncovers the raw bones of the plane.
After ascending through the forward hatch of the116-foot-long aircraft, guests enter the main cabin, which echoes the TWA Flight Center’s terminal “tube” design. Seating vignettes nod to the original TWA Commodore Club with Chili Pepper Red banquettes complete with fold-down drink holders and Saarinen tulip tables and stools. Guests can also sit in one of the 16 reupholstered original airplane seats. At the back of the plane sits the back bar, whose rivet-lined brushed-steel background was inspired by both the plane’s fuselage and Saarinen’s Gateway Arch elevators in St. Louis.
