The Ralph Pucci brand continues to evolve. First known for his stylish mannequins, he then began a collaboration with world-renowned illustrators, fashion designers, pop artists and supermodels, expanding into the art world and home furnishings industry, building his business into the leading modern furniture gallery in the home furnishings market. His company, , is now much more than mannequins — it's a full-service tastemaker.
Now he’s taking on hospitality. The Georgetown Inn on M Street in the historic section of Washington, D.C., is being transformed into the first Hotel Ralph Pucci. LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels, a portfolio of independent luxury properties, approached Pucci with the idea of positioning the Ralph Pucci brand into a hotel concept.
Pucci signed an exclusive deal with LXR, saying his objective is to “represent a new level of hotel experience.”
The development of the new 96-room hotel will introduce Pucci’s vision and philosophy into the world of hospitality. “There will be a ‘what’s new, what’s next’ feel without being pretentious,” he says. “The visual vocabulary is about quality. This language will be carried out in every aspect of the design, from the architecture to the furniture, uniforms and music.”
Pucci’s years in the mannequin industry have had an impact on his design concept for the hotel. His distinctive mannequin designs projected a beautiful simplicity that helped define and enhance his customers’ images and brand positionings. With his conviction to be different, Pucci mannequins always made a statement, whether they were sculpted realistically to resemble Linda Evangelista or had abstract globes or pyramids or swirling circles for heads. “I am very big on simple, clean spaces,” he says. “I also like the high/low aspect of design, an unfinished space with amazing furniture. The hotel will have touches of this experience.”
To complement his design vision, Pucci selected architect/designers Pilar Proffitt and Robert Bristow to design the façade, lobby, restaurant, guest rooms and baths. The hotel will showcase the work of five furniture designers on five different floors (created by the same workshops that make the furniture for Pucci’s New York, Los Angeles and Miami showrooms). Each will represent five different styles of living, defined by the common thread of quality and timelessness. These design styles include Robert Bristow’s “warm minimalism,” Jens Risom’s “mid-century modern,” Patrick Naggar’s “modern luxury,” Paul Mathieu’s “sculptural elegance” and Christophe Delcourt’s “tomorrow’s classics.”
Consistent with his approach to both mannequin and furniture design, Pucci is strategically integrating art into the environment. His penthouse Chelsea showroom in New York became an atelier, his mannequin line – notably designed by leading contemporary artists such as Rubin Toledo and Kenny Scharf – presented alongside original two- and three-dimensional works of art. Similarly, the hotel will feature original photography by five artists: Paul Solberg, Antoine Bootz, Gail Leboff, fashion photographer Diego Uchitel and Christopher Makos (a protégé of Andy Warhol) and rotating art shows in the lobby every four months.
Each floor will be defined by different color palettes, and will be enhanced by the lighting design of David Weeks. The floors, complemented by Madeline Weinrib rugs in all the rooms, will be walnut and oak, evoking a loft-like feel.
The Ralph Pucci brand had been recognizable and memorable in store windows across the retail landscape, quality and design the hallmarks of Pucci mannequins. Those same hallmarks will define the Hotel Ralph Pucci.