Redesign of the Year: Reinventing an Old-School Lake-Side Motor Inn

Revitalizing an old school lake house and modernizing the Adirondack experience for guests, that was the big challenge for Lake House, a 44-room hotel located in the heart of Lake Placid, New York, a town famous for hosting the Olympics (twice) while maintaining its small town charm.

Formerly the Lakeview Motor Inn, AWH Partners acquired the retreat in 2013, shut it down for a complete renovation, and has reopened the redesigned 1960s vintage Adirondack style inn as Lake House at High Peaks Resort.

For the redesign, it hired New York City-based brand identity firm Tag Collective and teamed it up with the architectural firm Mapos, and this is what they came up with (see all the photos above). The goal: “Reclaiming of the optimism and romance of time-honored American roadside motel culture that celebrates its Adirondacks location.”

As Tag Collective describes it on its blog, originally built in 1961 as a classic motor Inn and subject to a haphazard remodel in the 80s, the hotel had been sitting untouched for years.

“Tag Collective renamed the hotel Lake House. This positioned the hotel as a guest house, sitting in opposition to the cookie-cutter standard, and attracting a new kind of visitor that desires a unique experience.

The identity system for Lake house was inspired by local trail maps—encouraging guest to get out of their room and enjoy the Adirondacks. We used topographic patterns, mountain coordinates and created iconography around the activities available during each season. The color palette is minimal, letting the natural textures and landscape take center stage. A rustic red is used throughout, adding a pop of color that ties back to the rich heritage of the Adirondacks.”

And then Mapos describes the redesign on its site:

The palette of the hotel was directly inspired by the Great Camps of the Adirondacks: deep umber with rustic red highlights at the exterior, while the interiors were inspired by humble hunting cabins incorporating an eclectic mix of warm textures, found objects, and the continued rustic red highlights throughout. Each room was assigned one of the Adirondack High Peaks, and features maps and custom artwork incorporating key facts and stories about that particular peak.

We came upon this redesign on our favorite design hangout Behance and like it a lot. Possibly our favorite lodging redesign of 2014.