Standing proud over the High Line, one giant concrete leg either side of former railway, The Standard is a veritable one-off. Its entrance, at the foot of one of the supporting columns, has a patio dotted with moulded yellow picnic tables to match the revolving door leading to the lobby. Inside you'll find a lobby full of interesting forms and concepts-it's just a shame that it can get quite congested at times. The mirrored ceiling allows the guest waiting to be seen at reception to observe goings on in the lobby from a whole new perspective while the seating is high-backed dark grey leather couches from which it is extremely difficult to get back on your feet, such is the level of comfort. The walls delimiting the lobby, which seem like a sheet of moulded door handles, are at once so simple yet so elaborate. They are a copy of a 1950s work (found in Mexico) by Erwin Hauer, a sculptor who specialised in modular constructivism, and are fascinating to look at. At the back of the hall are the two marble reception desks with the concierge squeezed between them, attended to exclusively by young, beautiful members of staff in savvy uniforms (the girls' dresses are a copy of a sexy Alexander McQueen). The hotel's gym must have the finest view of any fitness centre in the city. Several floors up, it has spectacular views onto the city and the Hudson through the floor to ceiling windows. The machines are top quality and the cardio ones have individual screens. If you cannot get motivated to exercise here, then you should probably give up trying. Throughout the hotel are many unique features such as the 18th floor glass-floored smoking deck which is a take on the expression 'smoking kills', with smokers facing up to a sheer drop. The lift features a brilliantly made video by Marco Brambilla, an Italian artist, who has put together 400 different movie images to create an interactive piece whereby heaven is portrayed when the lift ascends and hell is depicted when it comes back down again. You'll find ice available at several points in the hotel while the corridor lighting sees strip lamps fitted width ways along the corridor rather than the usual length ways. It is only to be expected that the hotel is in a pristine state given its age, but nonetheless it is no mean feat to keep a predominantly white space that colour. The staff are nothing but courteous and full of smiles and seem to have a real invested interest in the hotel; one of the first things we heard upon entering was "We are quite a new hotel. If there's anything you think we can do better, let us know."
Amy Adejokun
Section editor
