Photo credit: Mike Schwartz

9.6.13 | Chicago, IL | Combining traditional Bohemian glass making with innovative design and technology, Lasvit has created a breathtaking light and design experience within the lobby of The Langham, Chicago. Recently opened in July 2013, the hotel is located in one of the city’s most famous downtown riverfront landmarks — the 52-story Ludwig Mies van der Rohe-designed building at 330 N. Wabash Avenue.

Lasvit’s in-house designers have developed two elegant and expansive glass art installations, contemporary in their design, that reference the grandeur of the original Langham, London, while also celebrating the modern Mies van der Rohe building and city of Chicago. Inspired by the movement of the Chicago River, which flows through the city into Lake Michigan and neighbors the property on the south side, the sculptural installations feature colored glass pebbles chosen to represent the reflective and fluid qualities of the water.

For the main lobby area of the hotel, Lasvit has created a striking focal point with a 60-foot installation designed by Jana Ruzickova. Making use of the space’s ample height, the installation extends from the reception area to the tea lounge or Pavilion, named after the Barcelona Pavilion by Mies van der Rohe. The installation is comprised of hand-blown glass pebbles in two sets of colors, which are suspended at varying distances and lit from above with LED’s. The bubble-like pebbles are individually unique in shape and internally coated in liquid metal, thereby referencing water formations and creating a reflective, mirror-like effect. As visitors move away from the river, located closest to the reception area, and towards the Pavilion, the color of the glass pebbles shift from blues and silvers to bronzes and coppers. The fluid, effervescent, and transparent nature of the formation allows a view through, which not only embraces the essence of the building and its modern glass facade, but also relates to the urban riverfront setting.

In the Palm Court, another Lasvit creation imparts additional visual interest and wonder to the hotel lobby. Designed by Tomas Hovorka, the installation is much smaller in scale than its neighboring installation, with an organic, circular formation no greater than nine feet in diameter. Alike in concept, it features materials and coloring similar to the larger installation. Hand-blown glass pebbles in silver-blue and vibrant copper tones are suspended from the ceiling at different lengths, with the most depth in the center and tapering out towards the edges. While the pebbles retain the unique, imperfect, and shimmering qualities of the nearby installation, they are flattened in form. Viewed from the side, the pebbles project subtle waves. From below, they resemble small reflective pools.

Based in the Czech Republic, Lasvit’s glass and lighting projects represent the artistry and centuries-old tradition of Czech glassmaking. The installations in The Langham, Chicago draw a connection to Czech tradition not only through Lasvit and their designers, both of whom are Czech, but also through the Mies van der Rohe-designed building that houses them. Among the architect’s other designs is the Tugendhat Villa in Brno, a masterpiece of the Modern Movement in Architecture, and one of the Czech Republic’s architectural icons. In a city with a strong Czech population and ancestry, the Czech traditions and connections present in Lasvit’s installations for The Langham, Chicago are a celebration of Chicago itself.

About Lasvit

Lasvit is a leading designer and manufacturer of bespoke light fittings, feature glass installations, and award-winning collections. Lasvit is committed to overcoming the traditional boundaries of the field by using and exploring glass as a medium and experimenting with new and unconventional manufacturing processes. Lasvit projects can be seen worldwide from London, Paris and Prague, to metropolises including Moscow, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Singapore. Projects vary from glass sculptures for private residences, to large-scale hospitality installations. Lasvit cooperates closely with designers, architects and clients to help them to realize their visions. For more information visit: http://www.lasvit.com.