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Inside Chelsea

Editorial Website

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From a symbol of artistic rebellion to a pop culture landmark, the Chelsea Hotel pulsates with over a century of creative history. Famous for its eclectic mix of residents, it has been home to some of the most iconic musicians, writers, and artists of the 20th century. Within its historic walls, art was created and tragedies unfolded, all the while the Bohemian spirit thrived

The web project Inside Chelsea aims to narrate these stories through the lens of the hotel rooms where they took place, uncovering the history that has shaped not only the hotel's legacy but also the legacy of western culture as a whole.

Design & Implementation

The side scroll with static typography, hidden and revealed by monotone halftone photographs and anchored by the prominent, ever-present room number in the center, was chosen to convey an editorial feel. This approach transforms the project into an artbook-like web experience. This approach is particularly fitting given the subject matter, which explores the underbelly of the 20th-century American art world, a topic reminiscent of those you would find in the Arts & Culture section of your local bookstore.

  • The red accent colour of the project matches that used in the Chelsea Hotel's existing web presence, ensuring seamless integration of the project within the contemporary web environment of the establishment.
  • The header and footer of the web experience not only indicate the user's position within the site but also provide navigational cues and functional hints for interacting with the website.
  • The mobile and tablet versions of the web experience shift the scrolling axis to accommodate the technical limitations of these devices while still preserving the editorial feel of the project.