Built in 1923, this historic Beaux Arts building has had many lives. Once the iconic London Guarantee & Accident headquarters, this property was once renowned as one of the “Big Four” skyscrapers in Chicago’s cityscape. From the 1950s through the early 1970s this building was home to The London House, a famous Chicago jazz nightclub that was once the foremost jazz club in the country. The hotel’s new name, LondonHouse, pays tribute to the original owners of the building and the storied jazz club.
For this historic property, KBAA’s team of hospitality art advisors aimed for an elegant, vintage, dramatic look with a little razzle dazzle jazz club flair. Framed historic photos of Beaux Arts Chicago architecture and vintage automobiles hang alongside abstract, jewel-toned abstract giclées that complement the rooms’ deep purple, blues and golds. Perhaps our favorite element is in the three-story bar, a signature element of the LondonHouse experience. In the 21 Indoor, an Art Deco-style sunburst lighting fixture is paired with a wallcovering of shimmering gold, appearing to cascade out of the lighting like a lit sparkler during a wild, Jazz Age party.
– Allison M. Barry, President, Kevin Barry Art Advisory
Come see some featured art for yourself at one of our galleries.