Designed by Vancouver-based interior design studio CHIL, The Dorian is inspired by both Oscar Wilde and the eclecticism of 19th century British interiors—think lots of brass, floor-to-ceiling wallpaper, and modern interpretations of tartans, houndstooths, and tweeds. Bold and directional, The Dorian is guided by the idea that a hotel should, above all, be memorable.
The Dorian is Calgary’s first and only lifestyle hotel, opened last summer, located in the heart of the city’s business district. Developed and owned by PBA Group, The Dorian marks the arrival of Marriott’s premium Autograph Collection into Alberta’s largest city.
The Dorian fills a gap in the city’s downtown hospitality market, which has largely been dominated by cookie-cutter corporate hotels tailored to business travelers. Along with 136 guestrooms and suites, The Dorian houses a street-accessible cafe by day and a lobby bar by night, plus a 27th-floor fine dining restaurant. The hotel is designed to function as a destination for both visitors and locals.
“What we’ve created is full of surprise, humour, and endless attention to detail,” said Adèle Rankin, principal and global design lead at CHIL. “From start to finish, we aimed to produce an experience at The Dorian that propels downtown Calgary’s hospitality scene forward.”
The Dorian’s name references The Picture of Dorian Gray, the iconic 1891 novel written by Oscar Wilde. Throughout The Dorian, eclectic material and colour choices evoke the interiors and fashions of Wilde’s era, along with his hallmark eccentricity and biting wit. Contrasting materials, bold colours, and the reinterpretation of traditional patterns such as tartans, houndstooths, and tweeds make for an experience that is richly layered, defined by contrasts, and underlined by a recurring sense of surprise.
“With The Dorian, we explored how bringing opposites together can create beauty,” said Rankin. “What made The Dorian such an engaging and exciting project is how unapologetically bold it is from start to finish.”
A recurring material throughout The Dorian, brass exudes a sense of historic character and serves to reference the era of the novel itself. Similarly, the Victorian period’s appreciation for saturated colours and bold patterning is further evoked with contrasting surface materials, like marble, dark wood, and floor-to-ceiling floral wallpaper.
In the guestrooms, custom wallcoverings are designed to match upholstered chairs and sofas, reflecting flair and whimsy, which is contrasted by understated brass accenting and leather headboards.
Suites contain expansive, independent sitting rooms that feature hardwood floors, custom-upholstered sofas, and unique artwork. The use of smart technology, like sensor lights on nightstands and bathroom counters, conveys The Dorian’s elevated level of experience and considered attention to detail.
The Dorian’s 27th floor is home to The Wilde, an upscale restaurant with seven-foot glass windows and an outdoor patio space. The Wilde offers visitors expansive views of Calgary’s downtown from inside an atmospheric interior.
Upon exiting the elevator, guests enter a moody lounge housing low acrylic tables, a cluster of overhead puck shaped lights, and bold carpeting. Another reference to The Picture of Dorian Gray, a series of digital screens display the movement of a peacock. In the dining space, dark wood floor, tiled pillars, custom lighting, and bespoke art exude a rich sense of atmosphere and depth. Maroon chairs and green benches nod to The Dorian’s historic inspirations, while brass accenting creates a thread of continuity with the lobby and other spaces.
The Dorian also features a 3,345 sq-ft ballroom, an executive boardroom, and prefunction areas. The recurring use of brass, from inlay detailing to ceiling coves, establishes a sense of continuity with the hotel’s other interior spaces.
“Throughout The Dorian, we’ve paid an incredible amount of attention to detail. From the materials to the light fixtures and even the art, we want visitors to feel that every moment was considered,” said Rankin.
