This refurbished soap factory hotel is located in Toronto, Ontario. The building carries historic significance within the red brick mass of its Victorian structure. The architecture dates back to 1891 when the building was first used as a soap factory. Afterwards, it was converted to a hotel that suffered a miserable decline in the 70s. The owners of the Broadview Hotel attempted to revive their dying business by utilizing it as a boarding house and a strip club, but to no avail.
Almost 40 years later, architect firm ERA Architects and studio DesignAgency breathe new life into the soap factory hotel by transforming the historic landmark into a 58-room boutique lodging inn. Its rustic appeal, arched windows and historic value are sure to obtain some social recognition from locals, as well as travelers.
Photo Credits: Joel Levy and Grace Bennett
Re-Purposed Soap Factory Hotels
DesignAgency Transformed This 19th Century Building into a Hotel
Trend Themes
1. Historic Building Repurposing - Architects and designers are re-purposing historic buildings into boutique hotels and lodgings, innovating the hospitality industry and preserving cultural heritage.
2. Rustic Chic Design - Designers are incorporating rustic design elements into modern spaces to create unique and inviting environments, disrupting traditional hotel design.
3. Sustainable Tourism - Hotels that repurpose historic buildings have the opportunity to implement sustainable practices and contribute to the growth of eco-tourism.
Industry Implications
1. Hospitality - The hospitality industry can adopt the trend of re-purposing historic buildings to create unique and memorable lodging experiences for guests, setting themselves apart from traditional hotels.
2. Architecture and Design - Architects and designers can focus on the trend of incorporating rustic design elements into modern spaces to create unique, sustainable, and culturally significant spaces.
3. Tourism - The tourism industry can promote and support sustainable tourism and preservation of cultural heritage through booking and promoting hotels that repurpose historic buildings.