Charlap Hyman & Herrero Converts Factory into Pocketbook Hudson Hotel

The article highlights how Charlap Hyman & Herrero transformed an 1883 pocketbook and textile factory in Hudson, New York, into Pocketbook Hudson—a hotel that honors its industrial past while integrating contemporary interiors, artist collaborations, and cultural programming.

Over four years, the studio revived the landmark as a multi-use destination. They wove preserved architectural features with new hospitality and wellness components, earning national recognition for interior design excellence.

Project Scope and Architectural Revitalization

Charlap Hyman & Herrero’s work preserves the building’s patinated brick, timber columns, wooden floors, large windows, and lofty ceilings. These elements form the core architectural DNA of the hotel.

The transformation balances conservation with modern utility. The original fabric remains visible within new programmatic layers.

A compact lobby leads to a larger bar-and-lounge area. Crafted furnishings, copper-toned mirrors, and claret-hued modular seating reinforce the industrial charm while creating a social, contemporary atmosphere.

Key design features include:

• Patinated brick, timber columns, wooden floors, large windows, and tall ceilings preserved and celebrated
• Ground-floor public areas with tailored furnishings and copper-toned mirrors
• A nightclub on the lower ground level with advanced sound systems for guest DJs and live music
• A 6,500-square-foot Show: Room on the fourth floor serving as a design destination and retail hub

The original factory’s rhythm shapes each space. Interior details are curated by collaborators, including art by WangShui, custom millwork by Primary Visual, lamps and mirrors by Misha Kahn, and bedside water vessels by Mamo.

Architectural Preservation

The team treated the building as a living instrument, keeping structural elements that reveal its industrial history. Large-scale openings, durable materials, and daylight-filled interiors honor the building’s original purpose.

New features, like the retail-focused fourth-floor Show: Room, bring heritage into modern experiences. The adaptive strategy keeps the fabric authentic as the space evolves.

Functional Reimagining

The hotel offers a layered program that includes hospitality, dining, nightlife, and wellness. Public spaces encourage easy movement between social zones.

Guest rooms and loft suites make use of the building’s height, with exposed brickwork and platform beds that reflect the industrial style. The program respects the building’s scale, creating intimate corners within large spaces.

Interior Design and Guest Experience

Inside Pocketbook Hudson, interior design focuses on material honesty and crafted detail. The lobby’s cozy scale contrasts with the grand upper floors.

The restaurant, Ambos, highlights Hudson Valley produce and wines in an eclectic setting. A bar-based cafe serves breakfast and lunch, supporting a day-to-night hospitality flow.

Guest rooms showcase the building’s blue-and-iron palette with exposed brick, wooden platform beds, built-in benches, and stainless-steel basins. Some rooms include industrial stainless-steel bathtubs.

Two-storey Loft Suites use double-height volumes for dramatic sleeping and living areas. The design blends raw textures with refined fittings to create a tactile, cinematic environment.

Public Spaces and Materials

Public areas feature a curated palette of brick, steel, timber, and brass, connecting rooms to the factory’s history. Lighting, mirrors, and hardware by guest contributors add a crafted sense of luxury.

The Show: Room strengthens the building’s identity as a design venue and retail hub.

Guest Rooms and Suites

The guest rooms combine industrial character with contemporary comfort. Built-in benches, platform beds, and smart layouts maximize comfort in compact spaces.

Loft Suites offer vertically integrated programs and dramatic views over Hudson’s urban landscape.

Cultural Destination, Wellness and Awards

A freestanding brick storage structure on the property is being converted into a wellness complex with sento, hammam, and thermae areas, plus movement classes. This addition, scheduled to open in spring 2026, will expand Pocketbook Hudson’s role as a cultural and wellbeing destination.

Art curation by WangShui, custom millwork by Primary Visual, lamps and mirrors by Misha Kahn, and bedside water vessels by Mamo help establish a strong design identity throughout the hotel.

Awards and Collaborations

Charlap Hyman & Herrero recently received the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for Interior Design. This award recognizes the studio’s skill in transforming historical spaces into contemporary cultural destinations.

The project’s photography is by Adrian Gaut and Sean Davidson. Their images document the building’s transformation and capture the new atmosphere.

 
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