Interior Design Studio IV — Collaborative Practice in Design (INDS 350)
Instructor : Prof. Susanne Napper
This Studio IV project involved four teams collectively designing the Autery Arcade Collective — a fictional 1920s Prohibition-era boutique hotel. Each team was responsible for a distinct area of the hotel: the Lobby, Speakeasy, Themed Suites, and Guest Rooms, working together to deliver a cohesive design across all spaces.
As Project Manager, I led the Themed Suites team, focusing on translating the clandestine glamour and layered storytelling of the Prohibition era into an immersive suite collection. The design explored how material choices, lighting, spatial sequencing, and thematic detailing could create a guest experience rooted in the intrigue and hidden luxury of 1920s speakeasy culture.
The final design combined rich textures, dramatic lighting, and carefully curated FF&E to deliver a hospitality environment that reflects the sophistication and mystique of the era.
The Autery Arcade Collective:
1920s Prohibition Boutique Hotel
Teams & Roles : Project Manager, Technology Manager, Documentation Manager, Supports.
The Lobby : Guru Bhullar, Catalina Mejia, Anushka Patel, Zoe Stone
The Speakeasy : Lilly Martin, Indigo Arcila, Jessica Arinder, Maya Smith
Guest Rooms : Tabitha Pickral, Delaney Holmes, Jenna Pitatek, Max Bruster, Peter Deng
Themed Suites : Surekha Putta, Alyssa Warner, Angel Stretch, Myra Alan, Isabella Henigschmidt
Date:
March 2026 - May 2026
Project Type:
Hotel (Fictional)
Location:
Orlando, FL, USA
Skills and Softwares:
Leadership
Collaboration & Communication
Time Management
Revit
Rendering
A layered interpretation of 1920s glamour unfolds as a balance between opulence and intimacy, where rhythm, contrast, and mystery shape an immersive spatial narrative. Inspired by the Roaring Twenties, Art Deco geometry, and the concealed allure of Prohibition-era culture, the design draws from a time defined by both extravagance and secrecy. Guests are invited into an experience that feels indulgent yet intimate, where each space reveals itself gradually—evoking curiosity, discovery, and a sense of stepping into a forgotten moment.
Rich materials such as velvet, leather, and dark wood are layered against luminous metals, glass, and mirrored finishes to create depth and visual rhythm. Bold geometric repetition is softened by fluid, organic forms, while a palette of deep tones and warm highlights enhances the atmosphere of quiet luxury. Spatially, the design moves between openness and enclosure, guiding users through a sequence of thresholds that heighten contrast and reinforce a sense of mystery.
The glamourous journey of “forbidden afterglow” guides guests through layers of time and materiality, encapsulating the energy and feeling of the roaring 20s. Layered interpretations of bold dramatic forms and deep rich fabrics bring to life the grandeur of each immersive space; glistening reflections create visual rhythm inviting users deeper into the intimate atmosphere. Immersed in the depth of the past, this experience builds upon itself to create a story of opulence and intrigue that has been crafted through the iterative usage of pertinent materials, hand crafted ornamentation, and exclusivity, with a space that captures and brings the past to you.
FORBIDDEN AFTERGLOW