Located in the River Arts District of Asheville, NC and designed by Suomi Design Works, The Radical hotel is a conversion of a 1920s warehouse into a 70-key boutique hotel with rebel luxe interiors inspired by the unique history of the building and the revival of the local community.

The warehouse’s long history includes housing original owner Fred Kent’s company and acting as the area’s designated bomb shelter during the Cold War before being abandoned.

In this adaptive reuse project, the team drew inspiration from the warehouse’s industrial roots, prior functions, and graffiti-covered walls while intertwining southern charm to design the property into an imagined Kent family residence. Evolving from day to night, the public areas come alive as the center of socialization and activity with colorful lighting, live entertainment, and a rooftop designed for nighttime festivities.

In the lobby, exposed concrete and brick are the base for the walls, floors, and columns. A cinematic color palette is introduced via area rugs and upholstered seating to tie in the pop and street-style artwork. In the center of the room, pillars frame plush circular booth seating with an oversized chandelier placed overhead. Theater-inspired curtains along the walls juxtapose the existing industrial finishes and cleverly enhance the layout through spaces that must be discovered. Additional layers of color and texture are introduced by light sculptures and eclectic furnishings.

The building’s original street-style art inspires the guestrooms, continuing the bold colors and rich layering from the lobby. Large sculptural furniture imitates Kent family heirlooms while high-touch finishes contrast the exposed concrete ceilings. Unique artworks painted directly onto the walls give each room a distinct look while maintaining a homogenous feel. Cold War era-inspired details including dramatic vintage Schumacher fabric canopied beds and Soviet-era antiques are throughout. In the bathrooms, stone countertops and tiles and brass details add opulence to replicate baths of the 1920s.

The hotel’s four food and beverage venues were created in partnership with renowned local chef Jacob Sessoms. Afterglow acts as a coffee bar during the day before transitioning into a cocktail lounge with a down-tempo dance club vibe in the evening. A large suspended cage repurposes the circus ‘Globe of Death’ design to house a DJ booth for live music. The signature restaurant, Golden Hour, features industrial details nodding to the building's heritage, including exposed brick, rusted steel beams, and high ceilings. The rooftop bar, The Roof, provides open views of the night sky, live music and room for dancing. Pretty Vacant Shelter Lounge, a ‘green room’ inspired secret bar, carries the same sense of discovery from the lobby. Originally ideated as a smoke room, the space features eclectic furnishings, colorful grow lighting, graffiti-style art, and artificial marijuana plants.