by Leigh Christy

From the opening of its first hotel in New York City in 1998, the chain of W Hotels has been marketing itself to young, hip business travelers, who became a substantial customer base during the "dot.com" boom of the late 1990s.

Offering a combination of big-chain amenities and small-boutique idiosyncrasies, the W describes itself as "a new brand of business hotels" with "sleek design, superior service, and spaces that invite you to linger." There are now 20 W Hotels, primarily in North America, with more on the way.

Tackling the challenge of finding a balance between the chain and the boutique is the architecture firm Kaplan McLaughlin Diaz (KMD) Mexico, working in conjunction with New York-based interior designers Studio GAIA. The result in Mexico City is a resort turned inward and upward, a fishbowl of activity for locals as well as a temporary home for business travelers.   >>>

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The new W Hotel in Mexico City, by KMD Mexico, adds a new pinnacle in the Polanco skyline while remaining faithful to the street-level urban context. Photo: KMD Floor level variations allow diners and loungers to be performers and viewers simultaneously. Photo: KMD   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.