THE DIPLOMAT HOTEL

Philadelphia

The Diplomat is a four-apartment property in Old City, Philadelphia — two adjoining buildings, gut-renovated top to bottom, reimagined as a haven for groups in the middle of a busy city. The aim was to create four to five bedroom units that erased every friction point of a short-term stay: nearly all bedrooms en suite, fully stocked kitchens, in-unit laundry. We wanted a family or a wedding party of ten to be able to live there, not just camp.

Our conceptual anchor was Benjamin Franklin — Philadelphia's original diplomat, and a man whose curiosity ran in every direction at once. We were especially taken with the story of the Library Company of Philadelphia, the subscription library Franklin founded in 1731 when he convinced his Junto club to pool their books. That spirit — a shared room of one's own, a place to read and think and gather — became the emotional center of the design. Each suite leans into a cozy, library-like warmth, a haven from the city pressing in just outside the door.

From there, we layered in Franklin's wandering interests: chess, botanicals, scenes of invention, early American portraiture. And we had fun with our own readings of "diplomacy" — a boxing match, a tightrope walker mid-step, wild animals in standoff. Nothing literal, nothing themed. The result is a layered, colorful, slightly playful environment that rewards the observant guest — a property built for curious hearts and minds.

Photography by Matthew Williams | Custom Woodwork by Opal Studios | Wallpaper Installation by RGT Wallpaper