Still hidden by scaffolding, the hotel’s entrance is on 57th Street, at the corner of the very posh 5th Avenue. Let’s quickly cross the dark lobby. Reception and common areas are located on the 14th floor of the Crown, this 1921 building whose facade renovation is said to have benefited from around 40kg of gold leaf. Seven years of work and a crazy budget of 1.4 billion dollars turned the former offices into 83 elegant suites and 22 private houses. Aman New York, which opened in August, is the second “vertical” address for the Aman brand, after Tokyo. At the helm, star architect Jean-Michel Gatin of the Denniston firm. Launched in 1988 in Phuket, it slowly developed in unusual landscapes, far from the hustle and bustle of the world, before establishing itself in the cities. Fifteen of its 34 exceptional institutions are located on UNESCO sites or on its doorstep.
New York from above
Aman develops discretion which makes him popular with celebrities, businessmen and ‘amanjunkies’. Service excellence (five staff per guest) accompanies luxury that is all subtle, never ostentatious. In New York, it goes through the study of materials: rice paper, wallpaper reproducing the texture of birch bark, oak and walnut wood, blue stone, basalt… It gives an irresistible desire to let your hand run over these varied grains. . The feeling is magnified tenfold no doubt by the low lighting of the common passages. The silent atmosphere is so dark that it almost becomes suffocating. Where did the light go?
We find him in the generous, 14th-floor Bar Lounge, with its insanely high ceiling topped by a giant paper sculpture by Peter Gentenar. The view runs to the vegetated Garden Terrace. The cricket, not afraid of heights, sings happily there, hoping to use its hiding place this winter; the terrace is partially covered with a glass roof, which will be warm from the first frosts. A kind of mucharabieh covers it to protect the guests’ privacy. But it also hides the view of New York… The exterior becomes the “interior”. Fortunately, the corner of 5th Avenue and 57th Street is clear. You can feel the pulse of the city beating madly. muffled traffic chatter, signals ahead, rising between the imposing Louis Vuitton building and the Tiffany & Co. under construction (scheduled to open in 2023), right in the face. From a distance, you can guess the Central Park. It is wonderful: In a short period of time, happy couple will be able to drink in front of this rare sight along the counter in front of the bar.
Nama and Arwa, two restaurants in Amman
On the table, two signature restaurants of the group. A letter and his Japanese culinary concept that redefines tradition washoku With decoration inspired by the land of the rising sun. Carved from Hinoki wood according to the rules of the art, its counter lets in the soft scents of the forests beyond the seas. Italian restaurant Arva?Under the leadership of chef Dario Osola, he offers a sun-drenched menu. ricciola crudo: ($35), pomodoro gazpacho ($19), rigatoni ($38) or even pollo alla piastre: ($42)… The light-filled room, devoid of any special character other than the view, opens its tables very close together. If the space lacks breath (the same observation for the Japanese table and Bar Lounge), then power lunch, these lunches, popular with business people, contribute to this. Furthermore, listening in, we understand that our costumed neighbors are about to join the Aman Club, the hyper circle choose whose membership is $200,000. At this price, prospective members (as there is a waiting list) will not only have access to a private duplex bar and an exclusive terrace area, but will also be privileged to attend world sporting events, fashion and private visits to art galleries. … In the hope of meeting influential people, even signing contracts.
golden sleep
And the room? It starts at $3,200 (around €3,212) without breakfast, which is much more expensive than its nearest competitors. After an exclamation, we enter. A fire breaks out in the gas fireplace. Incongruous in the middle of summer when it’s over 30° outside like it was that day, but sure nice when winter comes knocking on the door in a white coat.
But is it really wise to heat up when the air conditioning is on full blast? We cannot help but think about the climate and energy crisis. the hotel will have about 200 chimneys. Air conditioner, then. Its noise is enhanced by excellent soundproofing that muffles street reverberation. But turning it off is child’s play thanks to the tablet, which also controls lights and curtains.
Facing the bed, so big you can get lost in it, a gorgeous reproduction of a 15th-century Japanese painting echoes the muted and soft tones of the bedroom. Aman’s modern minimalism is warm, the sense of detail is extreme. It’s just sublime. Mobile panels in bright rice paper have a lot to do with it in the bathroom. They invite you to play with intimacy, opening and closing at will, thus transforming the generous volumes of the room. ” They cause Asiaemphasizes Jean-Michel Gatti. In Europe you go from one room to another through a door. In Asia, a large room is divided by panels. It gives a mysterious side “. Panels or screens, he tripped all over the facility. The bedroom, a quiet refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city, can be in Japan. We regret there is no direct reference to New York or even to the building that housed the Museum of Modern Art from 1929 to 1932.
Pleasure of the senses
The atmosphere of the city will be revealed at jazz club through the notes of jazz and other musical styles, we’re told, with acoustics worthy of Lincoln Center. We could not judge for the absence of a concert that day. stay officer, spread over three floors and a total of 2,300 m2 with ten treatment rooms, a fitness center and pilates studio, a 20-meter swimming pool… A feast for the senses. You get a 120-minute Aman New York Signature Treatment (starting at $785), specifically using the crystals that make up the soil of Manhattan. Divine, of course. But there is even better.
Ultimate luxury comes with renting one of the two Spa Houses, each with a treatment room, a bedroom with a fireplace (again) and a TV, as well as a private balcony… Designer and graphic hammam in one; in one banya, Russian sauna, in the other. Could it be a special request from Vladislav Doronin, president and general manager of Aman, who was born in Soviet-era Russia? It all beggars belief how almost (fermented drink) found in the mini-bar and loved by Russians. But this experience will not be for everyone, it will cost 6200 dollars for half a day. Aman is used to dazzle his guests. But this time the race for profitability of places seems to have erased a certain poetry. The latter will no doubt feature again in the unique experiences the hotel will soon offer.
Aman New York, The Crown Building, 730 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019, USA. Such. +1 212 970 26 26. From $3,200 per night (about €3,212).
Source: Le Figaro
