The recently opened Quirk Hotel Charlottesville in Charlottesville, VA intertwines chic and vintage looks, while also serving as the home of a gallery showcasing contemporary artwork.
“The hotel combines a very sophisticated art program with Quirk’s sunny brand of hospitality in a place that is open and welcoming to hotel guests, diners at the restaurants and the lobby bar and really any local who wants to come in for a gallery show or a walk through the retail or coffee shop,” said Danny MacNelly, partner with ArchitecturFirm, the designers of the property. “We wanted to combine the grand lobby of an old city hotel with the modern boutique feel and all the beautiful light and rich history of Charlottesville. It really mattered that the building fit in with its context in scale and urban texture while providing an amazing civic asset to this town that we all truly love.”
Charming and distinctive by nature, Quirk Hotel Charlottesville delivers a warm sense of approachability and playfulness that appeals to curious travelers of all ages seeking a sense of belonging, and is the second rendition of the Quirk Hotel concept within Hyatt’s Destination Hotels collection, with its original location in Richmond, VA.
“After opening Quirk Hotel Richmond in September 2015, we are excited to bring to life our gallery concept and beautiful hotel amenities into a new, charming Virginia city,” said Kate Ukrop, co-owner of Quirk Hotel Charlottesville alongside her husband, Ted. “Alongside the Quirk Gallery in Richmond, I am looking forward to also being the director of Quirk Gallery in Charlottesville, continuing to make art more accessible for guests across the Destination Hotels brand.”
The 80-room hotel showcases a minimalist, contemporary design, elevated by gold accents. Each guestroom has a signature look including original artwork throughout, floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and downtown Charlottesville, minibars with locally sourced goods and custom headboards designed especially for the property.
The concept for Quirk Hotel Charlottesville stemmed from the desire to use art and history as central design elements to spark curiosity and conversation, the owners report. This vision was realized by building a main hotel around two street-facing homes that date back to the 19th century.
The two historic farm homes resemble art relics of Charlottesville’s years past. Plans for the Vernacular-style Red Brick House include a quaint café and an expansive barrel-aged spirits bar, set to open in late April. The Federal-style Beige Brick House is home to Laurie Nicole’s upscale beauty salon on the main floor, while the upstairs will be repurposed into a private room and loft suite.
Creating a novel space where guests can genuinely embrace new people, places and culture, the hotel includes original works of contemporary art by renowned artists in Quirk Gallery. Adding unexpected surprises to every nook and cranny, the artwork is speckled throughout the entire property, some of which can be purchased. The locally curated, bi-level gallery, features local, regional and national artists, and serves as a gathering place for artist talks, classes and openings, as well as private events. Above the gallery, the retail shop provides a curated selection of artisan gifts and hosts seasonal trunk shows and art workshops.
