CNNMoney takes you down memory lane to experience the intriguing past and modern-day grandeur of hotels converted from historical buildings.
Tai O Heritage Hotel, Hong Kong —
CNNMoney takes you down memory lane to experience the intriguing past and modern-day grandeur of hotels converted from historical buildings.
tai o heritage hotel
Tai O police station jail cells. The police station was built in 1902 and restored as a hotel in 2009.
Tai O Heritage Hotel, Hong Kong —
Tai O police station jail cells. The police station was built in 1902 and restored as a hotel in 2009.
Tai O heritage hotel
Tai O Heritage Hotel reception area. The two doors to the right are the original jail cell doors.
Tai O Heritage Hotel reception area. The two doors to the right are the original jail cell doors.
Tai O Heritage Hotel
Built in 1922 and once the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston headquarters, <strong><em>The Langham Boston</em></strong> hotel now occupies the Renaissance Revival-style building. Above: Office of the president of the Federal Reserve Bank.
The Langham, Boston —
Built in 1922 and once the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston headquarters, The Langham Boston hotel now occupies the Renaissance Revival-style building. Above: Office of the president of the Federal Reserve Bank.
The Langham, boston
The bank president's former office is now the Wyeth event room. The room features a 20-foot-heigh ceiling detailed with gold-leaf and two original works of art by famed painter N.C. Wyeth.
The Langham, Boston —
The bank president's former office is now the Wyeth event room. The room features a 20-foot-heigh ceiling detailed with gold-leaf and two original works of art by famed painter N.C. Wyeth.
the langham, boston
<strong><em>QT Sydney </em></strong>hotel is crafted out of the elegant 1920's buildings of the Gowings department store and the State theatre, located in the heart of downtown Sydney.
QT Sydney, Australia —
QT Sydney hotel is crafted out of the elegant 1920's buildings of the Gowings department store and the State theatre, located in the heart of downtown Sydney.
QT hotel sydney
QT Sydney's Parlour Lane Roasters cafe.The luxury boutique hotel still preserves the original distinct blend of Gothic, Art Deco and Italianate architectural influences in its current contemporary decor. It houses the original Gowings display glass cabinets -- a time capsule transporting guests into the past.
QT Sydney, Australia —
QT Sydney's Parlour Lane Roasters cafe.The luxury boutique hotel still preserves the original distinct blend of Gothic, Art Deco and Italianate architectural influences in its current contemporary decor. It houses the original Gowings display glass cabinets -- a time capsule transporting guests into the past.
courtesy of design hotels
One of QT Sydney's 200 guest rooms
QT Sydney, Australia —
One of QT Sydney's 200 guest rooms
courtesy of design hotels
Part of the rebuilt palace of China's powerful Empress Dowager Cixi, who ruled in the 19th century. Above, the Beijing Summer Palace, circa 1850
Summer Palace, Beijing —
Part of the rebuilt palace of China's powerful Empress Dowager Cixi, who ruled in the 19th century. Above, the Beijing Summer Palace, circa 1850
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
The hotel is housed in a series of pavilions previously used by palace guests waiting for an audience with the powerful Empress Dowager Cixi during her reign from 1861 to 1908. For her 60th birthday, the Empress Dowager rebuilt the palace that had been destroyed by British and French forces during the Second Opium War in 1860.
Aman at Summer Palace, Beijing —
The hotel is housed in a series of pavilions previously used by palace guests waiting for an audience with the powerful Empress Dowager Cixi during her reign from 1861 to 1908. For her 60th birthday, the Empress Dowager rebuilt the palace that had been destroyed by British and French forces during the Second Opium War in 1860.
aman resorts
The modern-day Aman at Summer Palace Beijing is designed to reflect its surroundings -- traditional Chinese architecture with tranquil internal courtyards fit for royals.
Aman at Summer Palace, Beijing —
The modern-day Aman at Summer Palace Beijing is designed to reflect its surroundings -- traditional Chinese architecture with tranquil internal courtyards fit for royals.
aman resorts
Located in the historical neighborhood of Chelsea, <strong><em>The High Line Hotel</em></strong> was once the General Theological Seminary, built in 1895.
The High Line Hotel, New York —
Located in the historical neighborhood of Chelsea, The High Line Hotel was once the General Theological Seminary, built in 1895.
The high line hotel
The hotel today still offers the solitude of its past -- the gothic-styled brick facade and a gated courtyard gives guests ample space to step away from the hectic Manhattan buzz.
The High Line Hotel, New York —
The hotel today still offers the solitude of its past -- the gothic-styled brick facade and a gated courtyard gives guests ample space to step away from the hectic Manhattan buzz.
the high line hotel
The hotel's spacious lobby draws inspiration from the city's rich history; it's decorated with antiques picked from vintage markets.
The High Line Hotel, New York —
The hotel's spacious lobby draws inspiration from the city's rich history; it's decorated with antiques picked from vintage markets.
the high line hotel
<strong><em>The Cotton House Hotel</em></strong> in Barcelona, opened in February 2015, is housed in a 19th-century neoclassical building that previously served as headquarters of the Association of Cotton Manufacturers.
Cotton House Hotel, Barcelona —
The Cotton House Hotel in Barcelona, opened in February 2015, is housed in a 19th-century neoclassical building that previously served as headquarters of the Association of Cotton Manufacturers.
Cotton House Hotel
The building might be vintage but the facilities definitely aren't. The Cotton House and restoration team transformed the building's conservatory into a swanky cosmopolitan bar, offering unique cocktails and tasty Mediterranean food.
Cotton House Hotel, Barcelona —
The building might be vintage but the facilities definitely aren't. The Cotton House and restoration team transformed the building's conservatory into a swanky cosmopolitan bar, offering unique cocktails and tasty Mediterranean food.
courtesy of PABLO GÓMEZ ZULOAGA
The hotel's extensive restoration maintained the original building fixtures like its sweeping marble stairways in the lobby.
Cotton House Hotel, Barcelona —
The hotel's extensive restoration maintained the original building fixtures like its sweeping marble stairways in the lobby.
Courtesy of MERITXELL ARJALAGUER
Surrounded by a huge protected nature reserve and a two-hour drive from Rome, <strong><em>Eremito Hotelito Del Alma</em></strong> is a spiritual and monastic retreat. It's built from ancient hermitage ruins and is a perfect getaway for those seeking a break from the big city.
Eremito Hotelito Del Alma, Parrano, Italy —
Surrounded by a huge protected nature reserve and a two-hour drive from Rome, Eremito Hotelito Del Alma is a spiritual and monastic retreat. It's built from ancient hermitage ruins and is a perfect getaway for those seeking a break from the big city.
design hotels
The hotel was designed to resemble monasteries in the surrounding area. The building was constructed from 130,000 stones that emulate 13th century Italian masonry. With each room (shown above) accommodating only one guest, Eremito encourages lodgers to fully submerge themselves in tranquility by removing all modern facilities like wi-fi, telephones and TV.
Eremito Hotelito Del Alma, Parrano, Italy —
The hotel was designed to resemble monasteries in the surrounding area. The building was constructed from 130,000 stones that emulate 13th century Italian masonry. With each room (shown above) accommodating only one guest, Eremito encourages lodgers to fully submerge themselves in tranquility by removing all modern facilities like wi-fi, telephones and TV.
courtesy of design hotels
Recently restored in May 2015, <strong><em>The Press Hotel</em></strong> aptly takes its name from its building's past tenant -- the Portland Press Herald.
The Press Hotel, Portland, Maine —
Recently restored in May 2015, The Press Hotel aptly takes its name from its building's past tenant -- the Portland Press Herald.
The Press Hotel, Maine, Portland
Constructed in 1923, the Gannett building housed both offices and printing plant of Portland's largest newspaper. The Portland Press Herald continued its operations in the building until 2010 when it moved to another location downtown.
The Press Hotel, Portland, Maine —
Constructed in 1923, the Gannett building housed both offices and printing plant of Portland's largest newspaper. The Portland Press Herald continued its operations in the building until 2010 when it moved to another location downtown.
The Press Hotel, Portland, Maine
The hotel's 110 guest rooms are designed with a 1920's writer's office in mind. Each is outfitted with a journalist's vintage desk, herringbone rugs covering wooden floors, and artworks from local artists.
The Press Hotel, Portland, Maine —
The hotel's 110 guest rooms are designed with a 1920's writer's office in mind. Each is outfitted with a journalist's vintage desk, herringbone rugs covering wooden floors, and artworks from local artists.
the press hotel, maine, portland
The Press Hotel interior designer, Stonehill & Taylor, was committed maintaining a connection with the building's journalistic past. A guest room chair with the famous phrase "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" that contains all the letters of the alphabet. It was commonly used to test typewriters -- and typists.
The Press Hotel, Portland, Maine —
The Press Hotel interior designer, Stonehill & Taylor, was committed maintaining a connection with the building's journalistic past. A guest room chair with the famous phrase "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" that contains all the letters of the alphabet. It was commonly used to test typewriters -- and typists.
The Press Hotel, Maine, Portland
Designed by the 19th-century British architect E.T. Hall in 1887 as a mansion block (residential apartment blocks), the St. James Park property (shown in an artist's rendition, above) was first converted into <strong><em>St. Ermin's Hotel </em></strong>at the turn of the century in 1900.
St. Ermins Hotel, London —
Designed by the 19th-century British architect E.T. Hall in 1887 as a mansion block (residential apartment blocks), the St. James Park property (shown in an artist's rendition, above) was first converted into St. Ermin's Hotel at the turn of the century in 1900.
st. ermins hotel london
Today's St. Ermin's Hotel still retains its classic facade and exterior, welcoming guests with its lush garden courtyard entrance.
St. Ermins Hotel, London —
Today's St. Ermin's Hotel still retains its classic facade and exterior, welcoming guests with its lush garden courtyard entrance.
st ermins hotel london
With its Rococo-styled plasterworks and Art Nouveau influence, St Ermin's gives guests a glimpse of the interiors of great English houses with a modern twist.
St. Ermin's Hotel, London —
With its Rococo-styled plasterworks and Art Nouveau influence, St Ermin's gives guests a glimpse of the interiors of great English houses with a modern twist.
st ermins hotel london