Acclaimed global design studio Yabu Pushelberg unveils the interiors of the newly opened dual-hotel property, Moxy Downtown Los Angeles and AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles.

Offering two distinct hotel experiences under one roof, the property boasts 727 guestrooms with a total built-up area of 600,000 square feet.

Here Yabu Pushelberg have guided the design language of the first Moxy property in Los Angeles (there are 35 across the USA) while elevating the AC brand in California – both hotel brands are owned by Marriott.

Leveraging Los Angeles’ position as a flourishing cultural hub, the studio conceived two unique yet cohesive design identities representing a standout addition to the local, ever-growing hospitality offering.

There’s a sexiness about these designs.

They’re dark and cosy, reminiscent of Ken McCulloch’s Dakota hotel interiors.

Moxy Downtown Los Angeles

Building upon the success of Moxy Times Square and Moxy Chelsea, Lightstone – developer of six Moxy hotels in New York City and South Beach – called upon Yabu Pushelberg to design the first Moxy hotel in Los Angeles.

Combining Moxy’s distinct and playful brand ethos with the adventurous spirit of California, Yabu Pushelberg designed Moxy Downtown Los Angeles through the eyes of a desert nomad.

Drawing from Easy Rider, the 1969 cult film that elevated the counterculture and celebrated the great American road trip, the hotel’s interiors are irreverent and playful, with references to biker culture, desert reptiles, and the gritty romance of the open road.

This point of view crafts a world that champions bold choices and is inspired by the freedom of personal expression.

Lobby Lounge

The lobby is an expansive space with an open ceiling and an eye-catching jumble of design elements, including a retro-style motorcycle and sidecar.

Inspired by the colours of desert rock formations, the neutral rammed earth lobby walls contrast in both form and mood with reflective mirrored columns, mimicking the captivating experience of a desert mirage.

The snake motif on the lobby custom-made carpet designed by Yabu Pushelberg leads to the adjacent Bar Moxy.

Sofa groupings anchor the expansive lobby, featuring custom leather upholstery work inspired by motorcycle seating to evoke a cross-country trip through the California desert.

Fun swing chairs and communal tables provide settings for guests to gather.

The side tables are finished to resemble desert sands, while the lobby’s signature coffee table references desert driftwood.

Unique to Moxy Downtown Los Angeles, Yabu Pushelberg designed a comfortable motorcycle pouf to complement the ambiance of the local biker and motorcycle scene which guests can easily pick up to create seating arrangements tailored to their group size, large or small.

Giving further dimension to the lobby, guest check-in is tucked away in an iridescent-tiled and surprisingly expansive alcove, intended to capture the moment when sunlight hits an oil spill on the desert road.

Bar Moxy

Inspired by a roadside gas station, the Bar Moxy serves as a landmark along the guest journey.

The bold, geometric bar constructed in vertical metal mesh functions as liquor cabinet, featuring a terraced counter and bespoke pattern symbolizing the speckles of stones in rolling sand.

Bar stools are arranged in a gradient tone of plum to currant, while cocoon-like armchairs, and additional seating were designed to accommodate groups or individuals visiting for any occasion.

An earth-toned colour palette rich with warm neutrals contrasts with brass and black metal to provide definition and grit.

Fun swing chairs and communal tables provide settings for guests to gather.

The Studios

Perched on the mezzanine, the studios offer inspiring views of the lobby below to help generate ideas and enhance creativity.

The Lobby Lounge colour story carries into The Studios, where transparent technicolor glass walls separate workspaces and rich earth tones run throughout the furniture to ground the space.

Yabu Pushelberg designed custom modular furniture to allow the space to transform from private meeting environment to a relaxing secondary lounge by night.

The mezzanine can transform into a dance floor with a custom mobile DJ booth.

Neon artwork hints at the ability of the Studios to transform into a nightlife venue, infusing the workday with an energetic sense of playfulness.

Guestrooms

Upon entry, guests are welcomed by a custom copper-coloured mosaic wall, inspired by the glow of a desert sunset.

Yabu Pushelberg leaned into this warm, crimson-and-cedar palette and worked with materials such as copper that gently reflect and refract light.

The luminous effect creates a welcoming embrace of a soft, warm bed after a long day of travel.

The guestroom headboards are made from distressed green leather, telling the stylish story of a well-worn leather motorcycle jacket.

Custom handlebar sculptures hanging on the wall provide a modern interpretation of taxidermy.

AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles

Combining the excellent hospitality AC Hotels is renowned for with the artistic soul of Los Angeles, Yabu Pushelberg imagined the new AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles as an artist’s home.

The studio brought the Spanish roots of the AC brand into conversation with the Hispanic heritage of South California, envisioning the interiors as a creative space for the traveling artist.

Guests can find artworks throughout the hotel with the goal of translating their journey to their suite as a tour of an artist’s studio.

Satellite Lobby & Sky Lobby

Check-In is designed as the foyer of an artist’s home, the Satellite Lobby provides guests a glimpse to the artist’s point of view.

Nods to Spanish architecture can be seen in the textured plaster walls, evoking the spirit of sun-drenched stucco.

Occupying the building’s 34th floor and boasting a 360-degree view of Los Angeles, the Sky Lobby Check-In introduces guests to the fluency of bespoke, handcrafted artistry found throughout the property.

Yabu Pushelberg worked closely with artisan Dennis Lin to produce sculptural wooden totems custom to the AC Hotel Los Angeles.

As with the rest of the property, nods to the Spanish hacienda aesthetic could be seen throughout the Sky Lobbies’ architectural use of framing and materiality, and the fluid, open connection between distinct settings.

Five grand hand-carved wooden sculptures stand in place along the perimeter of the space, providing a first glance of the artist’s love to work with wood and natural mediums.

Library Lounge

A dramatic, black hot roast steel fireplace defines the Library Lounge, enticing guests to find respite by the fire.

A sculptural fireplace serves as the heart of the room, surrounded by intimate corner seating to promote socialization and gathering.

A locale for comfort and sophistication, the Lounge views of the Los Angeles landscape are framed by rows of hand-carved sculptures, curated by Yabu Pushelberg and showcased from floor to ceiling.

Celebrating rich earth tones and textural finishes, The Library Lounge’s furniture palette seamlessly communicates with the surrounding shades of wood, which envelop the entire space.

To further define the spatiality of the Library Lounge, Yabu Pushelberg coupled round, spherical lounge chairs and L-shaped sofas with contemporary arched floor lamps to line the perimeter of the space.

Sky Lobby Bar & Terrace

Stationed adjacent to the Library Lounge, The Sky Lobby Bar invites the Los Angeles skyline into the space through a windowed wall, reflected in the mirror-cladded columns and the large metal pendant over the bar.

A vestibule for entertainment,, the Sky Lobby Bar encompasses the design trademarks of AC Los Angeles through its palette of colours, textures, and materiality.

The Sky Lobby Terrace was designed to spark togetherness.

Comprising a lounge, outdoor bar, and dining area, the terrace plays host to a range of experiences, accommodating a wide range of occasions, from informal meet-ups to special celebrations.

Art installations and lush flora permeate the space, immersing guests in the qualities of a flourishing garden retreat.

Guestrooms

The hotel’s guestrooms are ethereal, calming, and simple, conceived to be as inviting and familiar as the spare room in the home of a creative friend.

Oak lines the space from floor to ceiling, presenting an upscale residential feeling, and exhibited artworks represent the artist’s most oeuvre.

Contemporary and residentially-inspired furniture in clean, high-contrast materials evoke feelings of modern ease and relaxation.

Yabu Pushelberg designed custom carpets for the guest rooms that reflect the geometric pattern and colour story found throughout the hotel, while possum birch wood flooring incorporates a cooler tonality appropriate for rest and rejuvenation.

As Los Angeles continues to offer unique storytelling and new perspectives on culture and entertainment, Yabu Pushelberg joins the conversation with its distinct narrative-based creative approach, positioning the new Moxy Downtown Los Angeles & AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles at the forefront of the flourishing hospitality landscape.

George Yabu & Glenn Pushelberg comment, “We wanted to introduce the Moxy state of mind to California and develop the language of the AC brand.

“It was a unique opportunity to create two parallel ways of seeing Los Angeles in style and spirit.

“California continues to attract people from around the world to experience its energy.

“It is a special place that has taught us how to dream, unwind, and nurture ourselves. There is a sense of freedom here that makes life sweeter, and we wanted to capture this spirit and infuse these moments throughout the design language of both hotels.”