The Sophy

The Sophy stands apart from bustling downtown Chicago as a sophisticated sanctuary reflective of surrounding Hyde Park.  The design team at Stonehill Taylor combined rich materials with classic tailored furnishings, elegant finishes, architectural millwork and an extensive art collection to achieve an aesthetic distinctly Hyde Park – luxurious yet intimate, reminiscent of the neighborhood’s historic townhouses.

Stonehill Taylor focused on three disciplines from the realm of the academic community surrounding the hotel to conceptualize hotel’s amenity areas, imagining residences of leading historic figures in music, literature, science and art. Inspired by the prevalence of gospel music in the local area, the reception lobby features sinuous forms and a warm color palette with the focal point being a large chandelier made of an 18-ft long brass tube twisting and curving, almost to the sound of music. The design of the bar area is inspired by the scientific discoveries of last centuries, manifesting in metals, geometric motifs and light pieces in the space. 20^th century literary figures influences the décor of the restaurant. Imagined as the dining room of an author, the restaurant has bookshelves carved into columns that partition different seating areas. Walls feature many frames of different sizes, displaying works on paper with literary themes and significant book covers. From the restaurant, guests can pass to the Sanctuary, an outdoor lounge that offers an urban escape complete with a fire pit and water feature.