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Inside the New TWA Hotel: A Time Machine Into the 1960s

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If you obsess over “Mad Men” and and collect magazines and ads from the era, you would probably suffer a gentle heart attack when visiting the newly opened TWA Hotel. Handsomely restored inside the iconic Eero Saarinen terminal at JFK airport, the hotel boasts 512 rooms for travelers, a rooftop pool overseeing JFK’s main runways, a 10,000 square feet fitness center, and a one-way ticket to the 1960s.

The modern rainwater grid in front of the hotel had to follow the design language of the main building
A 1960s Lincoln in front of the hotel

1. Main Lobby

The lobby, impeccably restored
Hotel staff fashionably clothed in custom 1960s uniforms, in full character
A 360-degree bar and cafe to grab a retro-inspired cocktail or a coffee

The unique original design of the building didn’t use any columns which creates an impressive unobstructed view
Lovefully restored textiles used in the seats at the lounge
  • This beautiful column was originally designed to mask the AC unit for the building and is still doing so today
A closeup of the tile finish covering the entire interior of the building
Every window panel in the building is of different size
A display featuring the original TWA crew uniforms
The dining room at the Jean-Georges restaurant in the lobby of the hotel
That carpet!
Connecting the hotel with Terminal 5, is the legendary tunnel from “Catch Me If You Can”

2. Guest Rooms

Outside of the room, a tiny table surface to place your drink, keys or anything else while trying to find your room card
If you need anything, pick up the phone and dial “0” for the operator. The hotel team contacted collectors and bought out all of the original phones they could find and replaced the inside the fit the modern digital phone parts
In spare time, guests can catch up on the 1960s press

3. Rooftop

The world’s only airport rooftop pool
The tunnel connecting TWA hotel with Jet Blue’s Terminal 5
A collections of 43 original TWA posters 43 TWA designed by David Klein

4. Connie, The Plane

Right outside of the hotel is Connie, a Lockheed Constellation model, one of the 4 remaining in the world
The plane features ample headspace and unobstructed view of the whole cabin

About the TWA typeface

To demonstrate just how fanatic the team working on the restoration of the TWA Hotel is, take a look at this custom typeface: Flight Center Gothic designed from scraps and archives by Pentagram’s Michael Bierut.

The typeface comprises thick line weights and exaggerated italics that are intended to evoke the motion of flight. Curving details, meanwhile, are intended to reference the futuristic architectural elements found in the terminal building, like the wing shaped exterior, and draw on the original lettering.

TWA Hotel

Located at JFK Airport (Follow signs for Terminal 5)
See on Google Map
Open for public 24/7

Available Rates
Overnight stay ~ $270
Morning stay (7 to 11 am) ~ $150
Midday stay (10 am to 4 pm) ~ $150
Afternoon stay (12 to 6 pm) ~ $150
Day stay (8 am to 8 pm) ~ $210
Book a room

twahotel.com
@twahotel
#twahotel
Shop merch at TWA shop

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Designer & photographer based in New York City

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