Featured in Hospitality Design
Memphis-based Hnedak Bobo Group (HBG) has revealed the design elements for the Guest House at Graceland, a 450-room hotel located just steps from Elvis Presley’s iconic Graceland mansion in Memphis. Set to open in October, the design is inspired both by Elvis’s personal style and his historic home. HBG designers researched the mansion for more than two years, and worked closely with Priscilla Presley to complete the project.
“We all recognize Graceland almost as a time capsule of 1970s design,” says Mark Weaver, HBG principal and lead designer for the project. “But if Elvis was here today, he most likely wouldn’t design his new guest house to look like it was still 1975. So, we took cues from his design style using contemporary pieces to pull it all together. We focused on creating a sense of intimacy between the guest and the property—creating a way for visitors to have an informal and personal experience as a true guest of Graceland that has previously not been possible… an experience that—we think—would make Elvis proud.”
The classic Greek revival façade of the original mansion, built in 1939, is echoed as the centerpiece of the Guest House façade. The central portion of the hotel’s exterior celebrates the original mansion in form, scale, and materials.
“From the main entry door to the large gabled roof and columned entry portico, our goal was to make this hotel look as if it was built not long after Graceland itself,” says Weaver. “It will feel like it has always been here.”
Another prominent design feature is the expansive porch, which accommodates seating from both the restaurant and lounge, and embodies Elvis’s sense of Southern hospitality. His presence is woven throughout the hotel, with features including a lobby ceiling inspired by the pattern and movement of one of his signature capes.