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Dip Into Downtown: The Ultimate Guide to Downtown Austin & Rainey Street Hotel Pool Day Passes

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   Dip Into Downtown: The Ultimate Guide to Downtown Austin & Rainey Street Hotel Pool Day Passes

Written by: Sonia Raudales

When the Texas summer sun starts scorching the pavement in Central Texas, locals and visitors alike look for the ultimate way to stay cool. But you don’t need to check into a luxury hotel for a full weekend to experience world-class rooftop pools, craft cocktails, and breathtaking skyline views. Thanks to resort day-pass platforms like ResortPass, you can unlock keycard access to Austin’s most sought-after hotel pools for a fraction of the cost of an overnight stay.

Whether you’re looking to unwind in Downtown Austin or experience the vibrant energy of the Rainey Street Historic District, here’s your guide to the best hotel pool passes, along with pricing, amenities, and everything you need for the perfect pool day.

1. Hotel Van Zandt (Rainey Street District)

Credits: Hotel Van Zandt

  • Vibe: Boutique chic, lively music scene, and skyline views.
  • Starting Day Pass Price: ~$20–$60 (varies by day/season)
  • Location: 605 Davis St.

Nestled right on the edge of the vibrant Rainey Street district, Kimpton’s Hotel Van Zandt offers one of the best pool daycations in town. The 4th-floor deck features an outdoor pool with underwater speakers, sleek loungers, and sweeping views of Lady Bird Lake and the downtown skyline. On weekends, the deck often features live DJ sets, catering to an energetic, music-loving crowd.

  • Amenities: Full poolside food and drink service, cabana and daybed rentals, complimentary towel service, and access to poolside bar fare.

2. Fairmont Austin (Downtown / East Cesar Chavez)

Credits: Fairmont Austin

  • Vibe: Resort-style luxury, spacious deck, and tropical city escape.
  • Starting Day Pass Price: ~$40–$80 (weekdays vs. peak weekends)
  • Location: 101 Red River St.

As the largest hotel pool deck in Downtown Austin, the 7th-floor pool at the Fairmont feels like a sprawling tropical resort right in the heart of the city. It features a large pool, a hot tub, comfortable lounge chairs, and signature VIP cabanas equipped with shade, mini-fridges, and dedicated service.

  • Amenities: Coastal-inspired food menus, tiki-style craft cocktails, whirlpool hot tub, towel service, and optional spa day upgrades.

3. Austin Marriott Downtown (Downtown Central)

Credits:  Austin Marriott Downtown

  • Vibe: Modern rooftop oasis with tiki flair.
  • Starting Day Pass Price: ~$30–$55
  • Location: 304 East Cesar Chavez St.

Situated just blocks from both Congress Avenue and Rainey Street, the Austin Marriott Downtown features a 7th-floor heated rooftop pool surrounded by lush greenery. Serviced by the hotel’s popular rooftop concept, Zanzibar, you can sip tropical cocktails while soaking in uninterrupted views of the city center.

  • Amenities: Rooftop pool lounge, tiki-inspired drinks and light bites, towel service, and private cabana packages.

4. The LINE Austin (Lady Bird Lake Waterfront)

Credits: ResortsPass

  • Vibe: Chill lakeside infinity pool with iconic city vistas.
  • Starting Day Pass Price: ~$40
  • Location: 111 East Cesar Chavez St.

If your ideal pool day involves watching the sunset over Lady Bird Lake and the Congress Avenue Bridge, The LINE Austin is unbeatable. Its saltwater infinity pool sits right at lake level, offering a sleek, mid-century design and one of the most relaxed daytime vibes downtown.

  • Amenities: Saltwater infinity pool, poolside food and beverage service from Dean’s One Sick Duck / Veracruz All Natural tacos, and towel service.

5. The Westin Austin Downtown (5th Street)

Credits: Marriott International

  • Vibe: Upscale skyline rooftop deck.
  • Starting Day Pass Price: ~$40–$50
  • Location: 310 East 5th St.

Perched 20 stories up, Azul Rooftop at The Westin offers high-altitude lounging with panoramic 360-degree views of the Austin skyline. By day, it’s a sun-drenched sanctuary with plush loungers; by late afternoon, it transforms into a bustling rooftop lounge.

  • Amenities: Heated rooftop pool, plush loungers, craft cocktail bar, complimentary parking options, and cabana rentals.

How Pool Day Passes Work in Austin

  1. Book Online in Advance: Most hotel pool passes are sold through platforms like ResortPass. Weekends sell out fast, especially during summer months, so reserve early.
  2. Check-In: When you arrive, head straight to the pool desk or host stand with your digital confirmation code to receive your wristband and towels.
  3. Food & Drink Policies: Outside food and drinks are strictly prohibited at almost all hotel pools. Expect full food and beverage service on-site, usually with minimum food/drink spends for private cabanas.
  4. Parking: Some passes include discounted or complimentary valet parking, while others require street or garage parking nearby—be sure to review the listing details before heading out!

Whether you are looking for a weekend bachelorette splash pad near Rainey Street or a relaxing weekday retreat under a cabana, Austin’s downtown hotel pool passes offer the luxury vacation experience right in your backyard.

Raise a Glass: Downtown Austin Best Happy Hours 

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Raise a Glass: Downtown Austin Best Happy Hours 

Written by: Sonia Raudales

From rooftop cocktails to neighborhood favorites, discover where Downtown Austin comes alive after the workday ends.

One of the greatest luxuries of living in Downtown Austin is having some of the city’s best restaurants, cocktail bars, and gathering places just steps from your front door. As the workday winds down, the neighborhood transforms into a vibrant social hub where locals meet for craft cocktails, shared plates, and golden hour views.

Whether you’re looking for a casual weekday meetup or planning the perfect start to an evening downtown, these happy hour destinations offer something for every occasion.    

 

     Codependent  

Photo credits: Urbanspace

Located in the Downtown Seaholm district, Codependent quickly became one of  Austin’s premier destinations for thoughtfully crafted coffee by day and elevated cocktails by night. Its sophisticated atmosphere and design forward interior make it an ideal spot for everything from after work conversations to evening celebrations.

Guests can enjoy weekday happy hour featuring discounted signature cocktails, wine, and charcuterie, while Mondays are dedicated to one of the bar’s most popular offerings, $10 Espresso Martinis served all day. Midweek visitors can also take advantage of Wednesday specials on select cocktails, wine, and beer.

 

The Modern Bar

Photo Credits: The Modern Residences

 

Located inside The Modern Residences, The Modern Bar combines a welcoming neighborhood atmosphere with a refined beverage program featuring an extensive selection of premium and luxury spirits. Known for its expertly crafted cocktails, it’s an inviting destination for everything from a casual after-work drink to a relaxed evening with friends.

Mondays are a local favorite thanks to half-price bottles of wine, making it the perfect place to linger a little longer and ease into the week.

   

Anthem Asian Cuisine

Photo Credits: Anthem Asian Cuisine

For those craving bold flavors and handcrafted cocktails, Anthem offers a weekday happy hour that blends contemporary Asian cuisine with exceptional value. Available Monday through Friday from 4:30–6:00 PM, guests can enjoy discounted signature cocktails, beer, wine, sake, and a selection of favorite appetizers.

Whether you’re stopping in for a quick drink or sharing small plates before dinner, Anthem’s happy hour is an ideal way to experience one of downtown’s standout dining destinations.

 

Edge Rooftop

Photo Credits: Edge Rooftop Cocktail Lounge

Perched atop the JW Marriott Austin, Edge Rooftop offers one of downtown’s most scenic settings for happy hour. During its “Sunset Sips” happy hour, Monday through Thursday, guests can enjoy $5 off select signature cocktails, including favorites like the SoCo Marg and Texas Sipper, along with $5 off select small bites.

Paired with sweeping skyline views, it’s the perfect place to unwind as the sun sets over Downtown Austin.

   

Punch Bowl Social

   

      Photo Credits: Punch Bowl Social

Whether you’re meeting coworkers after the office or kicking off a night downtown, Punch Bowl Social puts a playful twist on traditional happy hour. Available Monday through Friday from 3:00–6:30 PM, happy hour features discounted cocktails, beer, wine, and shareable bites, while the venue’s bowling lanes, arcade games, karaoke, and other interactive attractions make it easy to keep the evening going. It’s an ideal destination for those looking to pair great food and drinks with a little friendly competition

Downtown, After Hours

One of the defining characteristics of Downtown Austin is its walkability. In just a few blocks, you can enjoy handcrafted cocktails at Codependent or the Modern Bar, share small plates at Anthem, watch the sunset from Edge Rooftop, or end the evening with games at Punch Bowl Social, all without ever getting behind the wheel.

It’s this seamless connection between dining, entertainment, and everyday living that continues to make downtown one of Austin’s most sought-after neighborhoods.
Whether you’re a longtime resident or discovering a new favorite spot, there’s never been a better time to experience happy hour in the heart of the city.

48 Hours on Rainey Street: The Weekend That Might Convince You to Stay

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48 Hours on Rainey Street: The Weekend That Might Convince You to Stay

Written by: Sonia Raudales

For years, Rainey Street was known for one thing: nightlife.

Ask almost anyone who lived in Austin during the 2010s and they’ll have a story about a night that started on Rainey and ended… somewhere.

Back then, the neighborhood was defined by bungalow bars, live music, and a certain unpredictability that made it one of the city’s most memorable destinations. Today, the energy remains, but the story has changed.

Spend a weekend here and you’ll find a neighborhood that feels more complete than ever. Coffee shops and waterfront trails sit alongside some of Austin’s best restaurants. New parks connect downtown to Lady Bird Lake. More people are choosing to live here, not just visit.

     

     Friday Evening   

Photo credits: The Modern Residences

 

The best way to experience Rainey is before the crowds arrive.

Start with dinner at Emmer & Rye, a longtime Austin favorite known for its seasonal menu and thoughtful approach to dining. If you’re looking for something newer, Amaya is also a new neighborhood favorite.

After dinner, walk toward Lady Bird Lake. As the sun sets behind the skyline, the trail offers a reminder of what makes this part of downtown so unique. Few neighborhoods balance city life and outdoor access quite this well.

 

    Saturday Morning

     

Photo credits: The Modern Residences

If you’ve only seen Rainey after dark, Saturday morning may be your favorite discovery.

Start with coffee at The Modern Bar, a neighborhood favorite that has quickly become part of the area’s daily rhythm. While Rainey is known for its nightlife, its mornings reveal a completely different side of the district, with locals gathering over coffee, strolling the trails, and easing into the weekend.

   

   Saturday Afternoon

       

 

From there, head toward The Confluence, the newest addition to the Waterloo Greenway. Located where Waller Creek meets Lady Bird Lake, the park has transformed a once-overlooked stretch of downtown into a network of trails, boardwalks, native landscaping, and public gathering spaces.

Take a moment to notice the rain gardens woven throughout the landscape. Designed with native plants, they help filter stormwater before it reaches the creek and lake while making the area feel greener and more connected to the natural environment.

The neighborhood’s evolution is visible everywhere you look. Residential towers have helped transform Rainey from a nightlife destination into a true downtown neighborhood, where restaurants, parks, and trails have become part of everyday life.

 Saturday Evening

Photo Credits: Patrick Schecht

 

As evening returns, so does the energy that made Rainey famous.

Patios fill up. Music drifts into the street. Friends gather for dinner and drinks.

The difference today is that Rainey offers more than a night out. It offers a lifestyle. One where you can spend the morning on the trail, the afternoon exploring downtown, and the evening enjoying some of Austin’s best dining without ever leaving the neighborhood.

   

  Sunday Morning

     

      Photo credits: Robbie Polk

 

Before heading home, grab one last coffee and take a final walk along the lake.

You’ll notice something many people miss about Rainey. The sidewalks aren’t filled only with visitors. They’re filled with residents.

People who chose walkability over commuting. Access to the lake over a long drive. A neighborhood where Austin’s best qualities exist within a few connected blocks.

Spend 48 hours here and you’ll leave with a new appreciation for what Rainey Street has become.

You may even find yourself wondering what it would be like to stay.

Staying Cool: A Luxe Guide to Beating the Austin Heat

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 A Guide to Beating the Austin Heat

Written by: Enjoli Henderson

 

As May ushers in longer days and rising temperatures, Austin begins its slow transition into summer. It’s the season of sunny afternoons and warm evenings, but staying cool becomes an art form. Consider this your curated guide to experiencing the city with comfort, style, and intention.

 

Early Mornings & Golden Hour Evenings

                           

In Austin, timing is everything. Start your day with a walk along Lady Bird Lake before the city warms up, or wind down with sunset views from a rooftop or patio.

Evenings at Zanzibar offer a breezy, design-forward setting for cocktails, where the heat becomes part of the atmosphere rather than something to escape.

 

Poolside, But Elevated

                           

Photo Credit: Hotel Saint Cecila

 Austin’s pool scene is less about crowds and more about curated escapes. A day pass at Hotel Saint Cecilia or Austin Proper Hotel delivers a more refined take on cooling off—think shaded loungers, thoughtful design, and just the right level of energy.

It’s less “beat the heat” and more “embrace it, beautifully.”

 

Seasonal Dining That Feels Light

 

Photo Credit: COMEDOR

Menus shift with the temperature, and this is the time to lean into fresh, vibrant dishes. A reservation at Comedor brings bold flavors in a cool, architectural setting, while Josephine House offers a softer, garden-inspired experience perfect for a shaded lunch.

 

Retreat Indoors – Beautifully

 

Photo Credit: Abby Lynd

As temperatures climb, a clear shift is happening: entertaining at home is having a moment. Dinner parties, once reserved for special occasions, are becoming the go to way to gather, blending intimacy with a more elevated sense of hosting.

This season, it’s less about going out and more about creating an experience in. The modern dinner party leans effortlessly curated: a well-set table, ambient lighting, and pieces that feel as good as they look. It’s hosting that feels intentional but never overdone, where the space does as much of the work as the menu.

At Urbanspace Interiors, we’re seeing a growing focus on pieces designed for gathering; dining tables that anchor a room, seating that invites guests to stay longer, and materials that balance both beauty and function. It’s about investing in a space that naturally brings people together.

In many ways, staying in has become the new going out.

 

Conclusion

In Austin, staying cool is less about escaping the heat and more about how you experience it. With the right setting, even the warmest days can feel effortlessly elevated.

The Modern Austin Residences | Development

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Kevin Burns Reveals New Details About Rainey Street Skyscraper, Including Name and Project Team

The tower formerly known as 9092 Rainey, which has been in the works for several years, officially has a new name and new project specifications.

 

The Modern Austin Residences will have 56 stories featuring 346 market-rate residences and 21 affordable housing units. Austin’s Urbanspace Real Estate + Interiors is developing the project.

The affordable housing units will be available to people earning 80% of median family income, which is $98,900 in the Austin metro. The market rate units will start in the $400,000 range for a one-bedroom unit. Three-bedroom units will go for $1.6 million and above.

These updates, provided by Urbanspace CEO Kevin Burns, come just a few months after Austin City Council approved a density bonus for the project, allowing the building to go higher than typically allowed. At the time, the tower was planned to be 51 stories high and to contain 400 total units.

Burns said some of the extra stories were added to improve the look of the crown of the building by hiding water cooling towers and other mechanical features. He said they ended up reducing the number of market rate residences but maintaining the same number of affordable ones.

Many have wondered about the fate of Container Bar, the popular bar made of shipping containers that sits on the project site. Burns said the bar will close just before crews break ground on The Modern, which is set for late March 2022.

However, Bridget Dunlap — who owns Container Bar as well as Clive Bar and Lustre Pearl — has signed on to run an entertainment space in the basement of the building.

“Container Bar had a good run, but I’m excited for what’s next,” Dunlap said in a statement. “This next concept will fill a niche that Austin is missing in the music/hospitality scene, and I’m glad to have the opportunity to stay in our spot.”

Nelsen Partners will be the design architect for the tower, Flintco will be the general contractor and Page will be the architect of record. Urbanspace will handle sales and interior design for the tower.

Sales are expected to begin at the start of next year. Burns said it will likely take two and a half years to complete construction. He projects they’ll finish in the second half of 2024.

Original plans for the tower included hotel space and permanent residences, but Covid-19 forced the developer to rethink the plan.

“The fact of the matter is what my company knows inside and out, backwards and forwards is high-rise condominiums,” Burns said. “So it allowed us to really focus on what we do best.”

Urbanspace has been tapped to sell the condos for other high-profile Austin towers, including The Independent, which has an onsite coffee and cocktail bar on the ground floor, similar to what is planned for The Modern. But The Modern Austin Residences represents Burns’ first foray into high-rise development.

Calls for denser housing within the city limits have grown louder amid the city of Austin’s persistent housing shortage. In June, the Austin Board of Realtors reported that the city had only 0.7 months of housing inventory on the market. That means if no new houses were listed, the city would be completely out of available housing in less than a month.

“We couldn’t beat the timing as far as the current market demands for products in Central Austin,” Burns said.

Rainey Street, in particular, has transformed considerably in recent the years. In the mid-2000s, the neighborhood received Central Business District zoning, making it easier to build big in what was once a residential area. The street is now known in large part for its bars, which largely occupy former single-family homes.

“Rainey street is evolving for families from all different walks of life, for those that want to ditch the car and be able to walk to everything,” Burns said. “I’m excited to see not just my project but the other projects that are going up in the area that are really going to create an incredible experience, not just for those that live there, but for the entire city.”

Article from: Austin Business Journal

 

Behind the Design | The Camaleonda Comeback

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Camaleonda

 

The Camaleonda system, originally designed by Mario Bellini in 1970, makes its comeback 50 years later. Speaking a contemporary language, between structural solutions and sustainable choices.

 

                                                                             THE HISTORY:                                                                                                                                              50 YEARS THAT HAVE NOT GONE BY

 

Presented to the public in 1970, Camaleonda has passed through 5 decades of design history as a true icon. Designed by Mario Bellini, this modular sofa has designed the aesthetics of an entire era of interior design, thanks to its great success both in terms of the public and critics. It is constantly featured in most international design museums and in film-sets that have defined the collective imagination. An Object that is loved by design affectionates, antique dealers and interior designers alike is finally back in production after a careful design process that involved the close collaboration between B&B Italia’s Research & Development Centre and Mario Bellini.

Mario Bellini’s work is characterized by bringing together design and architecture and Camaleonda testifies to his unique ability to move confidently between diverse design languages, between macro and micro, geometry and curves, artificial and natural materials. As Bellini himself says, Camaleonda was created to fill a void: “At the beginning of the 1970s, upholstered furniture for the home stagnated into the tired traditional stereotypes and radical-proactive elitist forays into the future that, although stimulating, rarely challenged the relationship between the evolution of new patterns of behavior in the home and the types of furniture available on the market at the time.”

With Camaleonda we find ourselves in the presence of a sofa intended as an architectural element, capable of transforming the landscape of the interior space that inhabits. A landscape that is neither immobile nor permanent, as its chameleon-like nature involves change and transformation. A promise that is clear from the name itself, as Bellini recalls: “Camaleonda is a name that I invented 1970 by mixing two words: the first is the name of an extraordinary animal, the chameleon (camaleonte in Italian), that can adapt to the environment around it and the word ‘onda, wave, that indicates the curve of the sea and the desert. Both these words describe the shape and function of this sofa.”

Camaleonda continues to live on thanks to an identity that has become an evergreen iconic vintage, current for each generation precisely because of its timeless qualities.

 

                                                                                 THE PRESENT:                                                                                                                                                      A CONTEMPORARY REISSUE

 

In its reissue, Camaleonda preserves the elements that have made it a contemporary classic. By mutual agreement, Mario Bellini and B&B Italia have decided to keep with the 90×90 cm seat module, together with the backrest and the armrest, faithful to the original project, whose original cutting pattern was used for the new edition.

The generous polyurethane padding that forms the characteristic capitonné design remains unchanged, still manufactured with the innovative system of cables, hooks and rings created by Bellini in 1970, which defines the characteristics look and modularity. Thanks to the tie-rods and the rings, the modules can be unhooked and recombined at will, allowing the sofa to adapt to an evolving taste and the dynamic needs of those using it.

The fundamental characteristics of Camaleonda is its unlimited modularity, a geometric pattern that allows each element to become a sort of enormous pixel through which to define your home environment. By hooking and unhooking seats, backrests and armrests, you can enjoy the luxury of changing your mind as many times as you desire, moving and redesigning the space. A concept which is dead to Mario Bellini: “Of all objects, I have designed, Camaleonda is perhaps the best in terms of its sense of freedom. There are infinite number of possible configurations.”

The padding has been thoroughly updated by the B&B Italia Research & Development Centre, making it even more comfortable than the original version. Thus the magical balance between the rigorous geometry of the square and the welcoming of the roundness of the padding is confirmed, further underlining the elasticity and tactile ergonomics that characterize many of Mario Bellini’s design projects. Camaleonda can be upholstered with B&B Italia’s entire textile and leather collection, allowing for another variable in the multitude of possible combinations.

Camaleonda is a dynamic, alive and sincere object, not at all enigmatic, that allows for an infinite number of configurations while still maintaining its peculiar and unique identity.

 

                                                                                    THE FUTURE:                                                                                 SUSTAINABILITY AND CIRCULARITY

 

The re-edition of the Camaleonda does not look back at the past, but on the contrary, it aims to rewrite an indisputable classic in a contemporary perspective.

Aesthetics, dimensions, proportions, and the way it is configured remain unchanged, while the composition of the interior has been completely redesigned with no room for nostalgia. “When I was asked to update Camaleonda, it was immediately clear to me that I should never or would never be able to do anything. Change the shape? No, the way it was intended is as good today as it was then. Change the materials? Yes, and that’s why I had a conversation with a company that is a leader in terms of its ability to transform a piece of furniture into a sustainable product.”

The “sandwich” structure of the Camaleonda is made up of recycled or recyclable materials that can easily be disassembled. The seat, backrest, armrests and bases are made of wooden panels. The sofa rests on the floor on a series of spherical feet made of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified beech wood.

The padding of the seat, the backrest and the armrests are made of polyurethane in various levels of density and firmness. The highest degree of complexity lies in the seat, where elements are shaped and assembled to allow every layer to interact, at the same time guaranteeing a high level of comfort. The various layers generate empty spaces or pockets designed to create a comfortable spring effect.

The engineering and composition of the seat allow the interior elements of the sofa to be disassembled and therefore easily recyclable. The padding is protected by a removable cover made of dacron, a synthetic fabric that is entirely made of recycled PET, the same material used to manufacture plastic water bottles.

 

                                                                                   THE DESIGNER:                                                                                                                                                           BEHIND THE DESIGN

 

Mario Bellini is an architect and designer internationally renowned. He received the Golden Compass Award eight times (one assigned to B&B Italia Le Bambolein 1979) and 25 of his works are in the permanent design collection of the New York MoMA, which dedicated to him a personal retrospective in 1987.

He has designed countless art, design and architecture exhibitions over the years, both in Italy and abroad: among the latest those at Palazzo Reale with Giotto’s masterpieces (2016) and – at the Milanese Museo del ‘900 – the one dedicated to Margherita Sarfatti (2018-2019).

In 2015 the Milan Triennale awarded him a Gold Medal for his career in architecture. Since 1991 he has been named as the Royal Honorary Designer of RDI.

Bellini has dedicated himself to almost entirely architecture since the 1980s. Projects currently underway are the New Polytechnic School of Genoa (2006-2020), a vast hotel and residential development on Virgin Gorda Island in the British Virgin Island (2018-2020). He also has various projects within the design stages.

 

                                                                          ENDLESS COMPOSITIONS:                                                                          GLI SCACCHI

 

Mario Bellini has also designed Gli Scacchi, which uses a combinatorial nature of Camaleonda to create the chess pieces. These series of accessories can be utilized to become extra tables or seats.

The three pieces that make up the series are inspired by the game of chess, in particular the queen, the knight and the rook (hence the Italian names Regina, Cavallo, and Torre), light and easy to move like on a chessboard. “They are among the most playful pieces of furniture I have ever designed”, Bellini states.

In 1971, the original version of Gli Scacchi represented a remarkable technical innovation as they were produced in self-skinning polyurethane foam, a solution which was initially used only by the automotive industry and was introduced for the first time in furniture. The 2020 reissue offers soft covers made of think leather and calf hide with visible stitching.

 

A classic is reborn 50 years after its introduction, maintaining all of its original character with a new dedication to a sustainable future.

Infinitely configurable, infinitely versatile, available now for order at Urbanspace.

Behind the Design | Nanimarquina Silhouette

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Nanimarquina Silhouette

 

After success of the first collaboration with designer Jaime Hayón in 2017, Nanimarquina presents Silhouette, a collection of rugs for indoor and outdoor use that highlights the acclaimed casual style of the Valencian based designer and artist.

 

Depicted with a delicate stroke, the illustration defines the silhouettes of several imaginary characters that intertwine and coexist in a beautiful composition.

Hayón subtly introduces color through small elements brimming with personality that help to interpret each of the images.

Nine faces are distributed at different angles so that the rug can be viewed from any perspective, fitting perfectly in any space.

Through this new collaboration with Jamie Hayón, Nanimarquina introduces the embroidery on kilim techniques for the first time. A laborious process handmade in Pakistan, the chain stitch embroidery adds texture and a soft volume that emphasizes the sinuousness of the illustration.

Despite its delicate appearance, it is a sturdy technique suitable for both residential and commercial use.

Nanimarquina also presents, for the first time, an outdoor hand-tufted rug, developed with 100% recycled PET fiber and produced in India. This combination provides great utility while transferring a sense of well-being that is needed for an outdoor space.

 

 

Born in Madrid in 1974, Jamie Hayón enjoys an illustrious career in the recent history of contemporary design.

His exhibition entitled “Mediterranean Digital Baroque” at the David Gill Gallery in London, and the collections of bathrooms he designed for ArtQuitect marked the beginning of his meteoric international rise, which was then established with the BD Showtime collection and his subsequent work with companies such as Camper, Llandró, Bisazza, Swarovsky, and Moooi.

Learn more about Spanish designer, Jamie Hayón and his collaboration with Nanimarquina design inspiration behind the Silhouette:

Did you specifically create the illustration thinking that it would be a rug? And if not, what made you feel it would work well as a rug?

It’s a freehand drawing, similar to the work in my sketchbooks. I consider the disposition, which was interesting from different angles; in other words, it would work for a rug. 

You are a compulsive illustrator, where do your characters come from? Specifically, what is the story behind the figures in this drawing, and their personality?

There are infinite characters that are part of my imaginary. They change and evolve, according to my current interests. There are characters that are endearing, others are more ironic, and some even provoke fear on occasion. In the case of characters, what I am most interested in is the ability to transmit emotions.

From the sketch to the product, what happens when one of your personal drawings becomes an object? Something to be shared and interpreted by others?

This happens in very exceptional cases in which the format, material, and use are ideal to portray emotivism through the figurative. Rugs for Nanimarquina are the perfect example; the format is ideal to be able to work with absolute freedom, similar to a painting or tapestry.

Compared to the first collaboration, we could say that this proposal is less busy, depicting fewer strokes, less characters, and more restrained use of colour. How has your work evolved? Is this style a common feature in your current projects?

I wanted to contribute a different stylistic language able to integrate with other facets of character, more serene. Above and beyond the evolution of my work, I wanted to complement our collaboration and expand the range of use.

This is the second time you have worked with Nanimarquina. What would you highlight about the collaboration with Nanimarquina?

Working with Nanimarquina is a pleasure. Collaborators are able to work surrounded by respect and mutual admiration. The knowledge regarding each fibre and material, the variety of techniques, and the close work with artisans is palpable in the result of Nanimarquina rugs. 

You design different types of objects, what attracts you to specifically design rugs?

I am attracted by the possibility of working with an object from a purely artistic perspective, witnessing the translation of artistic expression onto a vary different surface than that of paper or canvas.

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