Moxy Downtown Los Angeles & AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles

Posted in Projects on 17 December, 2023

Tower aims to attract wide range of visitors through varied offering.

We all know New York as The Big Apple, but perhaps downtown LA should be nicknamed Two Bites of the Cherry as a nod to Marriott’s dual-branded hotel offering in a striking 37-storey tower. Connecting two distinct brands under one roof broadens the property’s appeal to a wider audience of visitors, including business travellers in town for a conference and young nomads eager to explore an up-and-coming part of the city.

With a combined total of 727 guestrooms, the Moxy and AC Hotel opened in April, introducing 12 new dining and entertainment venues along with meeting and events space. The 380-key Moxy is for those who want a spirited stay with a broad range of options for socializing and dining, and a cosy but smartly designed room. AC Hotel’s guestrooms cater to a modern, design-conscious traveller who wants the essential elements of an elevated hotel experience at an accessible rate, with upscale dining and drinking options. The two hotels share Level 8, comprising eight distinct dining, drinking and entertainment venues.

“By integrating the two hotels, plus Level 8, into a single building, we’re creating a myriad of experiences never before offered in Los Angeles — and keeping it all affordable,” said Mitchell Hochberg, president of real estate developer Lightstone.

Architecture and interior design
The hotels were brought to life by architecture firm Gensler and design studio Yabu Pushelberg. Gensler’s 37-storey structure consists of an L-shaped tower, one side for Moxy and the other for AC Hotel, sitting atop an eight-storey podium. The podium is wrapped in a huge live LED screen — the largest 3D billboard on the West Coast.

Inspired by the spirit of discovery that California stands for, Yabu Pushelberg’s interior design carves out distinct identities for each hotel while remaining cohesive. For Moxy Downtown LA, the firm departed from the typical SoCal formula of palm trees and sunsets, instead evoking the iconoclastic romance and adventurous spirit of the California desert. Inspired in part by Easy Rider, the cult 1969 film that elevated the counterculture and celebrated the great American road trip, the hotel’s interiors are sexy, irreverent and playful, with references to biker culture, desert reptiles and the gritty romance of the open road.

The lobby is an expansive space with an open ceiling and an eye-catching jumble of design elements, including a retro-style motorcycle and sidecar. Organic materials, such as rammed-earth walls, reference the desert landscape, while mirrored columns and iridescent mosaic tiles add vibrancy. The snake motif on the lobby carpet connects to the snakeskin-clad bar in the adjacent Bar Moxy. A mezzanine level is home to two meeting studios along with oversize lounge chairs, vintage arcade games, an armadillo-shaped LED neon sculpture and a DJ booth.

The bedrooms at Moxy Downtown LA are designed for flexibility and personalisation, with a thoughtful balance of utility and panache. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow the sunshine to pour in. Distressed leather headboards evoke a well-worn motorcycle jacket, and cryptic markings on the wall reference the “hobo hieroglyphics” used by history’s vagabonds. Adaptable, space-saving furniture and storage solutions allow guests to stake their own claim to the space. Industrial-chic bathrooms, lined in iridescent copper tile, feature a rain shower and an elongated sink carved from lava stone. Hanging on one wall is a sculpture that consists of chrome motorcycle handlebars mounted on a taxidermy-style.

In contrast, Yabu Pushelberg imagined the interiors of AC Hotel Downtown LA as an artist’s loft, bringing the Spanish roots of the AC Hotel brand into conversation with the Latin heritage of Los Angeles. Warm, light-filled public spaces are contemporary and welcoming, while upscale, serene guestrooms provide a generously sized sanctuary for work or relaxation.

Next to the reception area, the AC Library is a sophisticated are for creative thinking and comfortable socializing complete with a majestic black steel fireplace as a visual focal point. From the library, guests enter AC Bar & Lounge, a hacienda-style haven that offers breakfast, evening bites, and drinks with panoramic views of the Hollywood Hills as a backdrop. The room is anchored by a monumental work commissioned from Turkish artist Aykut Aydogdu, a surrealist portrait of a woman whose head, tilted back, merges with a sun setting on the water.

AC Hotel’s guestrooms serve as residence-like respites from the energy of the city, with an open-plan design providing a seamless flow. Platform beds are dressed in crisp linens with a rich leather headboard. There’s an integrated bench, closet and oversize desk along one wall and a tufted, geometric rug. Artwork above each bed depicts swimming pools and iconic Los Angeles buildings.

Special features
From the ground floor, AC Hotel guests ascend in high-speed elevators to the sun-drenched Sky Lobby on the 34th floor, where they are greeted by jaw-dropping views of Los Angeles that stretch all the way to the iconic Hollywood Hills. Like the foyer of a Spanish hacienda, the lobby features textured plaster walls, box beam ceilings, a sculptural redwood reception table, and striking artwork.

Destination
Designed to draw in travellers and locals alike, the dual-branded hotel is positioned on the corner of South Figueroa and Pico streets, directly across from the Crypto.com Arena and Los Angeles Convention Center.