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Welcoming Spaces: Hotel Commonwealth

Candice Shadgoo

Directed Study 103 Professor Parfitt April 30, 2014

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Introduction:

Every space possesses the opportunity to shape human experience. If an environment

feels claustrophobic, dirty, or lacks functionality, individuals may feel uneasy. On the contrary, if

an area appears open, clean, and possesses aesthetics that harmonize with its function, visitors

will leave with a positive experience. Knowing that design plays such an important role in

shaping the character of a location, architects and builders of high traffic areas dependent on

consumer patronage strive to create spaces that maximize appeal and function. Although not

every aspect of Boston’s Hotel Commonwealth succeeds in creating an inviting space for hotel

guests, in general, the boutique hotel manages to fit in with its surroundings, creates a sense of

luxury and acts as a good, temporary second home for travelers.

Surrounding Area:

Boston has a rich architectural history, and Hotel Commonwealth is located in the heart

of Kenmore Square, one of the most thriving and dynamic locations in the Greater Boston Area.

Bordering Boston University, Kenmore Square’s aura of youthful energy may be attributed to the

thousands of students roaming the shops and restaurants. As dormitories, apartments, and homes

form a part of Kenmore Square’s architecture, many local businesses remain open late, catering

to the university clientele. Additionally, the square possesses excellent public transportation, and

is known for its wide brick streets, which are ideal for pedestrians, as well as the large

illuminated Citgo sign. With its mainly traditional Bostonian architecture, most of Kenmore

Square’s buildings try to harmonize with their surroundings. In contrast to the voices which

demanded the Hotel Commonwealth tailor itself to match its surroundings and not destroy the

character of the streets, in the book, Great Streets, Allan B. Jacobs claims that, “for a street to be

special, it should be the street itself that counts, not particular historic buildings (though they

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may contribute), nor a plaza nor a discrete event on the street” (115). This assertion, when taken

out of the content of Jacobs’ discussion of Bath, seems extreme if applied to Kenmore Square.

As Mariana Griswold Van Rensselaer expressed in her review, an ill-conceived structure may

have lasting impact.

Consequently, as a relatively new

construction, Hotel

Commonwealth’s architects faced

the challenges of creating a luxury

space primarily for a different

demographic, visiting parents of students as well as businessmen and women, while not

disturbing the vibrant energy of Kenmore Square.

Exterior Architecture:

Hotel Commonwealth’s exterior needs to advertise its ability to provide a positive

experience. To begin with, the hotel’s structure attempts to mix a sense of cozy familiarity and

momentous occasion. Pedestrians exiting the T, strolling along the red brick streets outside Hotel

Commonwealth can note the large windows and clean white stone without feeling that they have

left Kenmore Square’s bustling environment. Boston, especially Kenmore Square, is very much a

walking area, and in this way, it is similar to many of the great walking cities of Europe.

According to Gordon Stephenson, in his article, “Architecture, Town Planning and Civic

Design”, urban design depends upon transportation needs and the area’s ability to extend beyond

original building conceptions. Discussing the growth of cities, Stephenson notes that, “Athens

was a living organism which evolved rather than grew from a plan. In this sense it was like

seventeenth century London, Paris or Boston” (139). As Hotel Commonwealth became one of

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the most recent signs of Kenmore Square’s evolution, the boutique hotel needed to blend with

the rest of the square. However, for most pedestrians, there is no abrupt transition from the local

shops and T station to the Hotel Commonwealth’s large glass windows looking out onto the

square. While the stone matches Kenmore Square’s architectural ethos and allows pedestrians to

continue their journey, the red tarp at the front of the hotel is meant to grab bystanders’ attention

and lure them into the hotel’s environment.

Some critics, such as architect Sheldon Kostelecky, expressed issues with Hotel

Commenwealth's exterior. Instead of seeing the hotel as an example of “how well-preserved

historic urban environments conceived in the 18th and 19th centuries can continue to play a vital

role in promoting an active and vibrant civic life in the 21st-century” (1), Kostelecky insisted

that Hotel Commonwealth lacked a “rigorous academic approach” (1) to the creation of its

structure. However, most pedestrians blend in with the rest of the square, preventing abrupt

transitions.

It is not that the covering forms a barrier; indeed, through traffic may easily proceed

underneath the red tarp. The impact of openness in creating a welcoming space remains essential

to the feelings visitors retain from their experience. When discussing the qualities necessary for

Image 2: A Side View of Hotel Commonwealth’s Entrance

The red overhang outside Hotel Commonwealth is seen in great detail

here, along with the potted plants surrounding the hotel’s entrance.

There are also pedestrians crossing through the warm and cozy tarp.

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great streets, Allan B. Jacobs claimed that, “open space breaks are important on these kinds of

streets…” (126). Nevertheless, that red overhang provides a clear dividing line between the rest

of Kenmore Square and the hotel.

While some pedestrians may choose to shelter underneath the red canopy from inclement

weather, by enlarge, those who choose to pause will note the contrast between the more formal

space and that of the rest of the street. Even travelers with no intention of entering Hotel

Commonwealth will feel the sense that they are passing by a lavish building. In his book, Space

and Place: The Perspective of Experience, Yi-Fu Tuan discusses the capacity of architecture to

transmit knowledge (102). Certainly, visitors lingering in the exterior of Hotel Commonwealth

receive the message that the boutique hotel offers a special experience and that this is how

people deserve to be treated if they wish to pamper themselves. The two oversized planters,

flanking the ends of the red overhang provide a hint of the luxury visitors can expect when they

enter the magnificent hotel. The plants themselves draw the eye upward, allowing observers

another chance to note the height of the structure. Meanwhile, the gold colored luggage trolley

adds a sense of class, wealth, and prestige. Additionally, the red carpet indicates to visitors that

by following this path through the doors, they are taking part in a significant experience,

becoming one of the “Very Important People” typically staying at the hotel. The space serves as

a tiny oasis in the middle of the barren and chilly winter streets. This helps add to the sense of

Hotel Commonwealth as offering a desirable segue-way between inside and outside. As Yi-Fu

Tuan claims in his book, Space and Place: The Perspective of Experience, “constructed form has

the power to heighten the awareness and eventuate, as it were, the difference in emotional

temperature between ‘inside’ and ‘outside’” (107).

Gender Divide:

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Although most buildings, the Hotel Commonwealth included, try to appeal to a wide

demographic, details often make significant differences on a space truly welcoming all

individuals. In her chapter, “Space, Place, and Gender” in the book Gender Space Architecture:

An Interdisciplinary Introduction, Doreen Massey claims:

space and place, spaces and places, and our senses of them (and such related things as our

degrees of mobility) are gendered through and through. Moreover, they are gendered

in a myriad different ways, which vary between cultures and over time. And this

gendering of space and place both reflects and has effects back on the ways in which

gender is constructed and understood in the societies in which we live (129).

As seen in image 3, a man is in the traditional role of opening doors. In spite of strides towards

gender equality, this bit of traditionalism may in part be attributed to old ideas of chivalry and

thoughts of women as physically weaker. Indeed, Hotel Commonwealth seems to subscribe to a

very gendered policy when dealing with certain positions,

as most of the maids observed were female. Massey

discusses the problems incurred by “a culture of the man

being the breadwinner and the woman being the

homemaker” (131). Although the front desk and restaurant

seemed more equal in hiring both men and women for similar jobs, the policy of hiring primarily

Image 3: The doorman

The doorman at the front entrance of the hotel is opening the door for

exiting guests.

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female maids and male doormen conforms and reaffirms a more traditional view of gender roles.

There may be other reasons besides an implied gender bias for having a man in the doorman

position. For instance, on extremely windy days in Boston, having a strong person, regardless of

gender, is important to open the heavy doors and lift heavy luggage articles onto the baggage

trolley seen in the background of the photo. Possibly having a doorman makes the space less

gender friendly to women who seek employment, regardless of conventional jobs. Equally likely,

consumers prefer this bit of tradition when seeking out the luxurious indulgent accommodations

offered by Hotel Commonwealth.

Interior Architecture:

Image 5: Ceiling and Lighting of the Lobby

The ceiling expresses a warm, open, and elegant space.

Image 4: Panoramic View of the Lobby

Elegant but with limited seating.

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Hotel Commonwealth’s spacious’ and elegant interior primarily succeeds in creating an

inviting space for its clientele. This panoramic picture (image 4) of the Hotel Commonwealth

lobby shows the reception desk, the seating areas, and the stairs to enter the lobby. In Mariana

Griswold Van Rensselaer’s, Client and Architect, the author describes challenges faced by those

creating functional and aesthetic spaces. She notes that, “the architect serves the public’s express

wishes…” (Van Rensselaer 1). However, for the hotel architect and the owner, there was most

likely a distinction between the general public and paying customers. As a hotel lobby in a high

traffic area, the Hotel Commonwealth needs to balance offering a sense of welcome without

extending that ease to non-paying customers. The Hotel Commonwealth did not plan for it’s

lobby to be the next Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts! Therefore, the seating is minimal and confined

to a few areas. The chairs, while comfortable, do not invite extended relaxation. Rather, the open

area space gives a sense of elegance to the hotel, which encourages people to go to their intended

destination whether it be hotel room, restaurant, or spa.

Meanwhile, image 5 provides a detailed view of the hotel lobby’s color and decorations.

The pale, yellow color of the ceiling keeps the lobby from feeling too heavy. Moreover, the

white moldings on the ceiling provide a traditional flare to the space. In order to keep the room

inviting, the chandeliers add a home-like feel to the room. Finally, the curtains and lamps, not to

mention the matching stripes on the edge of the carpet, all serve to set off the reception and guide

the traveler to registering at the front desk.

Image 6: Visitors of Hotel Commonwealth

The large lobby provides the necessary space for its function.

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Space in Action:

Although designed to hold large groups of people, Hotel Commonwealth’s design

scheme does not always allow for high traffic and may make visitors' experiences slightly

uncomfortable. In image 6, we see various travelers waiting at the reception desk with their

baggage. As a hotel, this influx of people waiting with numerous bags would be expected by

hotel designers. As Mariana Griswold Van Rensselaer discusses, an architect needs to create not

only the type of building envisioned by his client, but to also make sure that it is functional and

aesthetic (Van Rensselaer 2). The large space and minimal decor certainly work to Hotel

Commonwealth’s

advantage, as the lobby easily possesses room for these customers to wait for assistance. This

image shows that scale is of extreme importance when designing and furnishing hotel lobbies.

Additionally, image 7 shows a traveller entering the Hotel Commonwealth with his

luggage. Ideally, this image illustrates one of the consumers which Hotel Commonwealth seeks

to attract. However, as he stands underneath the heated overhang, the lush carpet and curtained

screens serve to usher him into the luxurious experience the hotel wishes to project. In chapter 8

of his book, Yi-Fu Tuan describes the significance of establishing inside and outside spaces

(107). He asserts that an environment possesses a significant impact on an individual’s emotional

well-being. In this respect, the man who looks extremely weary in the picture may not yet have

taken in the details Hotel Commonwealth’s exterior offered as hints of a relaxing and useful stay.

However inviting the hotel’s lobby, this particular perspective, with the low overhang and small

glass doors creates an almost claustrophobic environment and is not very inviting.

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Although most travelers with

luggage, as well as anyone who cannot travel up or down stairs, will

probably use the hotel’s nearby elevator, image 8 showcases the main stairs leading to the Hotel

Commonwealth’s lobby. Yi-Fu Tuan comments on the transition from outside to inside spaces

(107). For individuals entering the Hotel Commonwealth by the stairs, the image that the hotel

projects remains mixed. On one hand, the artwork, the curtains, and the golden railings suggest

lavishness;

however, the narrow confines of the staircase create a less than inviting space that is not meant to

accommodate a large number of people. Perhaps the narrow width of the staircase is meant to

reflect the hotel’s emphasis on individual needs. Nevertheless, this seems unlikely considering

the large scale of other areas in the hotel and the amount of foot traffic the hotel would get on the

stairs. This space would surely be cluttered and uncomfortable in times of high traffic. In this

Image 8: The Stairs Leading to the Lobby

The stairs display poor planning due to the visibly

lack of space.

Image 7: Man Entering Hotel Commonwealth

This particular shot contrasts with the expected impression of the space.

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way, this might go along with one of the many missteps Sheldon Kostelecky critiqued in

“Missed Opportunity”.

While many might find the hotel’s style pleasing, Sheldon Kostelecky, in his article,

critiques the hotel’s design. In a direct way, Kostelecky accuses the hotel’s architect of

“present[ing] an example of how Bostonians will express [their] ire.It is also a case study of a

lost golden opportunity to create a proper Classically inspired landmark building in the heart of

an architecturally rich urban historic district” (2). The architect feels that Hotel Commonwealth

did not remain true to the character of the neighborhood, either in the exterior or interior. Perhaps

the mix of design elements do create a less than authentic reproduction of traditional Bostonian

style.

Conclusion:

Boston’s Hotel Commonwealth, located in the heart of Kenmore Square, tries to project

an aura of exclusivity and luxury. For the most part, visitors walking past the hotel, sheltered

under the warm overhang or passing through the elegant lobby experience exactly the emotions

the architecture and decorations seek to evoke. In spite of the efforts, however, the hotel still has

its own issues, which might provide a less than positive experience for some guests. For

example, individuals looking at the hotel through the lens of gender might be unhappy with the

hotel’s seeming endorsement of extreme gender roles by filling the position of doorman with a

man and those of the maids with women. Moreover, although the lobby is capacious, there are

locations in the hotel which suggest issues with mobility and discomfort. In particular, the stairs

leading to the lobby, although not the only method of entrance, appear far too cramped to deal

with traffic expected for a high-traffic area. Ultimately, whatever the critiques of Hotel

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Commonwealth’s exterior, and despite a few mistakes in design, the hotel does provide a

positive experience in keeping the image it wishes to project.

Works Cited

"Client and Architect." The Design Observer Group. The Design Observer Group. Web. 23

Feb. 2014. <http://places.designobserver.com/feature/client-and-architect-architecture-

criticism/37695/>.

Jacobs, Allan B. Great Streets. Chapter 9. Cambridge, MA: MIT, 1993. Print.

Kostelecky, Sheldon R. "Missed Opportunity." Traditional Building. 20-24. Web. 23 Feb.

2014.

Massey, Doreen. "Space, Place, and Gender." Gender Space Architecture: An Interdisciplinary

Introduction. Ed. Jane Rendell, Barbara Penner, and Iain Borden. London: E &

FN Spon, 2000. Print.

Stephenson, Gordon. "Architecture, Town Planning and Civic Design.” The Town Planning

Review. 56.2 (1985): 135-73. JSTOR. Web. 23 Feb. 2014.

Tuan, Yi-fu. Space and Place: The Perspective of Experience. Minneapolis: University of

Minnesota, 2001. Print.