InterContinental Phoenicia exhibit wall panel
Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts
Hotels--Lebanon--Beirut
New York School of Interior Design. Gallery
Exhibitions
Hotels--Designs and plans
Wall panel from the 2013 New York School of Interior Design exhibit "Designing the Luxury Hotel: Neal Prince and the Inter-Continental Brand."
Inter-Continental negotiated a deal to build the Phoenicia, and brought in leading American architect Eduard Durell Stone to complete the design with Joseph Salerno, an architect who had worked on Inter-Continental’s Curacao hotel in Brazil. The interiors were contracted to the New York architectural firm of William M. Ballard, where Neal Prince had worked since 1957. Because of his experience working on hotels, and a modest remodel project he did for an Inter-Continental hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Prince was sent by Ballard to Beirut to work on the interiors and to represent Stone in matters of interior layouts and finishes.
The Phoenicia Inter-Continental Hotel, completed in 1961, was the first InterContinental venture outside of Latin America. Its stunning Mediterranean setting, and the cosmopolitan nature of the city, inspired Stone to create a sophisticated design that combined elements of high modernism with Mughal and Muslim architecture. Stone designed two separate towers faced with stone, set within a larger rectangular base with a two story wrap-around colonnade set right on the water. Projecting balconies featured delicate pattern work, a common decorative motif of Beirut. The dazzling light of the region played across the facade’s patterned and recessed surfaces, with the white of the buildings contrasted with the deep blue of the sea.
Prince was similarly inspired by the natural beauty and rich cultural heritage of this cosmopolitan city. His stand-out designs focused on the hotel’s bar and the pool area. Sous le Mer, the hotel’s bar, was decorated in shimmering blue and turquoise square tiles, and provided underwater glimpses of the hotel’s swimming pool (and diving patrons) through rectangular glass panels edged in brass frames. When Prince thought the area devoted to the pool was too small for a luxury resort, he tackled the problem through design: he created undulating waves of blue, green, and white tile that flowed across the terrace into the swimming pool, that, when viewed from above, made the oval pool seem to ripple out into the courtyard and appear larger than it actually was.
Beirut was the first project where Prince applied his philosophy of design tied to location. Paisley fabrics, inspired by the arabesques of Islamic decorative arts and Arabic script, were used as wall coverings. For the hotel’s coffee shop, which featured a two-story wall of glass windows that opened onto the Mediterranean, he used sheer panels overlaid with gold paisley patterns that echoed the lacy grillwork of the building’s architecture. Like Islamic screens, the panels both mediated direct sunlight and cast intricate shadow patterns on the interior. In the case of the furnishings, Prince went directly to the souk, the city’s bazaar, to have local fabricators make samples of chairs as possible models for the hotel. When he learned that the fabricators would be unable to produce chairs on the scale required for a commercial enterprise, Prince traveled with a small local company to Germany to purchase the equipment needed for mass production. This company would become Daou et Fils, a major furniture manufacturer in the Middle East.
The InterContinental Phoenicia closed in 1976 and re-opened in 2000, under the management of the InterContinental Hotel Brand.
New York School of Interior Design
2013
Prince, Neal A.
Stone, Edward Durell
Salerno, Joseph P., 1915-1981
Daou et Fils, inc.
Neal A. Prince Special Collection & Archives, New York School of INterior Design, New York, NY, United States
New York, NY
Phoenicia InterContinental Hotel swimming pool (close view)
Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts
Hotels--Lebanon--Beirut
Hospitality Industry--Lebanon--Beirut
Tourism--Middle East
Outdoor recreation
Sun-baths
Suntan
Swimming
Bathing suits
Outdoor furniture
While employed by the architectural firm William M. Ballard, Prince was sent to Beirut to work on the Phoenicia Inter-Continental Hotel's interiors and represent the hotel's renowned architects Edward Durell Stone and Joseph P. Salerno in matters of interior layout and finishes. Prince thought the area devoted to the pool was too small for a luxury resort and tackled the problem through design: he created undulating waves of blue, green, and white tile that flowed across the terrace into the swimming pool, that, when viewed from above, made the oval pool seem to ripple out into the courtyard and appear larger than it actually was.
Stone, Edward Durell
Salerno, Joseph P.
1961
Prince, Neal A.
Neal A. Prince Special Collection & Archives, New York School of Interior Design, New York, NY, United States
Beirut, Lebanon
Phoenicia InterContinental Hotel private dining suite
Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts
Interior decoration
Hotels--Lebanon--Beirut
Phoenicia InterContinental Hotel private dining suite.
Architecture by Edward Durell Stone and Joseph P. Salerno.
Interiors designed by Neal Prince.
Furniture designed by Mr. Prince and produced and supplied by Daou et Fils.
The Hotel was closed in 1976, and re-opened in 2000 under the new management of the Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts.
Prince, Neal A.
1961
Stone, Edward Durell
Salerno, Joseph P.
Daou et Fils, Inc.
Neal A. Prince Special Collection & Archives, New York School of Interior Design, New York, NY, United States
Beirut, Lebanon
Exterior view: Phoenicia InterContinental Hotel (post card)
Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts
Architecture--Lebanon
Advertising postcards
Hotels--Lebanon--Beirut
The Phoenicia InterContinental Hotel, completed in 1961, was the first Inter-Continental venture outside of Latin America. Its Mediterranean setting and the cosmopolitan nature of the city, inspired architects Edward Durell Stone and Joseph P. Salerno to create a sophisticated design that combined elements of high modernism with Mughal and Muslim architecture. Stone designed two separate towers faced with stone set within a larger rectangular base with a two story wrap-around colonnade set right on the water.
The Phoenicia was built by Beckle Construction Company.
Interiors designed by Neal Prince.
Furniture designed by Mr. Prince and produced and supplied by Daou et Fils.
The Hotel was closed in 1976, and re-opened in 2000 under the new management of the Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts.
Stone, Edward Durell
Salerno, Joseph P.
1961
Prince, Neal A.
Neal A. Prince Special Collection & Archives, New York School of Interior Design, New York, NY, United States
Beirut, Lebanon
Phoenicia InterContinental Hotel La Panache cocktail lounge
Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts
Interior decoration
Hotels--Lebanon--Beirut
Beirut was the first project where Prince applied his philosophy of design tied to location. Paisley fabrics, inspired by the arabesques of Islamic decorative arts and Arabic script, were used as wall coverings. In the case of the furnishings, Prince went directly to the souk, the city’s bazaar, to have local fabricators make samples of chairs as possible models for the hotel. When he learned that the fabricators would be unable to produce chairs on the scale required for a commercial enterprise, Prince traveled with a small local company to Germany to purchase the equipment needed for mass production. This company would become Daou et Fils, a major furniture manufacturer in the Middle East. The drapes covering the walls and the plaster on the ceiling were used to absorb sound from within the room.
Architecture by Edward Durell Stone and Joseph P. Salerno.
Interiors designed by Neal Prince.
Furniture designed by Mr. Prince and produced and supplied by Daou et Fils.
The Hotel was closed in 1976, and re-opened in 2000 under the new management of the Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts.
Prince, Neal A.
1961
Stone, Edward Durell
Salerno, Joseph P.
Daou et Fils, Inc.
Neal A. Prince Special Collection & Archives, New York School of Interior Design, New York, NY, United States
Beirut, Lebanon
Phoenicia InterContinental Hotel coffee shop
Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts
Interior decoration
Hotels--Lebanon--Beirut
For the hotel’s coffee shop, which featured a two-story wall of glass windows that opened onto the Mediterranean, he used sheer panels overlaid with gold paisley patterns that echoed the lacey grillwork of the building’s architecture. Like Islamic screens, the panels both mediated direct sunlight and cast intricate shadow patterns on the interior.
Architecture by Edward Durell Stone and Joseph P. Salerno.
Interiors designed by Neal Prince.
Furniture designed by Mr. Prince and produced and supplied by Daou et Fils with local materials.
Photo by Arie deZanger.
The Hotel was closed in 1976, and re-opened in 2000 under the new management of the Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts.
Prince, Neal A.
1961
Stone, Edward Durell
Salerno, Joseph P.
Daou et Fils, Inc.
DeZanger, Arie
Neal A. Prince Special Collection & Archives, New York School of Interior Design, New York, NY, United States
Beirut, Lebanon
Phoenicia InterContinental Hotel swimming pool
Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts
Swimming pools
Hotels--Lebanon--Beirut
When Prince thought the area devoted to the pool was too small for a luxury resort, he tackled the problem through design: he created undulating waves of blue, green, and white tile that flowed across the terrace into the swimming pool, that, when viewed from above, made the oval pool seem to ripple out into the courtyard and appear larger than it actually was.
Architecture by Edward Durell Stone and Joseph P. Salerno.
Interiors designed by Neal Prince.
Furniture designed by Mr. Prince and produced and supplied by Daou et Fils.
Stone, Edward Durell
Salerno, Joseph P.
1961
Prince, Neal A.
Neal A. Prince Special Collection & Archives, New York School of Interior Design, New York, NY, United States
Beirut, Lebanon
Phoenicia InterContinental Hotel in-room dining service
Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts
Interior decoration
Hotels--Lebanon--Beirut
Projecting balconies featured delicate pattern work, a common decorative motif of Beirut.
Architecture by Edward Durell Stone and Joseph P. Salerno.
Interiors designed by Neal Prince.
Furniture designed by Mr. Prince and produced and supplied by Daou et Fils.
Fabric patterns designed by Neal A. Prince, and manufactured by local craftsmen in Beirut.
Photo by Arie deZanger.
The Hotel was closed in 1976, and re-opened in 2000 under the new management of the Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts.
Prince, Neal A.
1961
Stone, Edward Durell
Salerno, Joseph P.
Daou et Fils, Inc.
DeZanger, Arie
Neal A. Prince Special Collection & Archives, New York School of Interior Design, New York, NY, United States
Beirut, Lebanon
Phoenicia InterContinental Hotel bar, Sous le Mer
Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts
Interior decoration
Swimming pools
Hotels--Lebanon--Beirut
Bars (Drinking establishments)
Sous le Mer, the hotel’s bar, was decorated in blue and turquoise square tiles and provided underwater glimpses of the hotel’s swimming pool (and diving patrons) through rectangular glass panels edged in brass frames.
Architecture by Edward Durell Stone and Joseph P. Salerno.
Interiors designed by Neal Prince.
Furniture designed by Mr. Prince and produced and supplied by Daou et Fils.
The Hotel was closed in 1976, and re-opened in 2000 under the new management of the Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts.
Prince, Neal A.
1961
Stone, Edward Durell
Salerno, Joseph P.
Neal A. Prince Special Collection & Archives, New York School of Interior Design, New York, NY, United States
Beirut, Lebanon
Exterior View: Phoenicia InterContinental Hotel
Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts
Hotels--Lebanon--Beirut
Inter-Continental brought in leading American architect Edward Durell Stone to complete the design with Joseph Salerno, an architect who had worked on Inter-Continental’s Curacao hotel in Brazil.
Interiors and swimming pools designed by Neal Prince; furniture designed by Mr. Prince and produced and supplied by Daou et Fils.
The Hotel was closed in 1976, and re-opened in 2000 under the new management of the Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts.
This photograph was taken in mid 1970s showing the new addition of the second tower.
Stone, Edward Durell
Salerno, Joseph P.
1961
Prince, Neal A.
Neal A. Prince Special Collection & Archives, New York School of Interior Design, New York, NY, United States
Beirut, Lebanon