Ouch! Seven Inga Saffron Zingers About Home2Suites Hotel

Home2 Suites opened to the public on Tuesday and Inquirer architecture critic Inga Saffron minced no words in her review of Center City’s first new-construction hotel in a decade. Here are some highlights:

“In the heated competition for the worst new architecture in Philadelphia, the sickly yellow, synthetic-covered mid-rise across from the Reading Terminal Market is now the one to beat.”

“Home2Suites, which opened Tuesday, was produced (designed is too strong a word) by KlingStubbins, a Philadelphia firm that should know better.”

“The hotel facade is so flat and plasticky it makes Parkway Corp.’s adjacent brick-and-concrete garage look like a work of heft and dignity.”

“Tap the hotel’s surface – but not too hard! – and you will hear the hollowness.”

“But just because you’re subsidizing economic development doesn’t mean you should be subsidizing poor design.”

“Philadelphia has a long history of underwriting some of its worst architecture. Symphony House condos, a notorious contender in the race to the bottom, received government support. So did the bland, new glass apartment tower 2116 Chestnut. Both are beauties compared to the hotel.”

“… Both chains, they say, will stay open into the night and help bring life to the area after business hours. Luckily for the customers, it should be too dark by then to see the hotel that houses them.”

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