A new space has been given a retro makeover while a historic one is racing towards modernization as work continues on the transformation of Eero Saarinen?s iconic TWA Terminal into a luxury hotel and event space. 

The TWA lounge at 1WTC. Image © Jesse David Harris

A new space has been given a retro makeover while a historic one is racing towards modernization as work continues on the transformation of Eero Saarinen?s iconic TWA Terminal into a luxury hotel and event space. Just completed is the TWA Lounge, a satellite space for the hotel located on the 86th floor of One World Trade Center. Part gallery, part mock-up, the Lounge space recreates the look and feel of the original terminal down to the smallest detail.

The sunken lounge carpeted in Chili Pepper Red, the signature color created by Saarinen for the TWA Flight Center. The custom Solari© split-flap analog display, manufactured in Udine, Italy, shows flight departures. Image © Emily Gilbert
The space centers around a sunken seating area directing views to a functioning Solari departure board and the New York skyline beyond. A penny tile floor wraps up around the backrests of the couches, matching the exact details specified by Saarinen in his original plans. Vintage TWA memorabilia are packed into the space, including everything from TWA branded playing cards to flight attendant uniforms to graphic posters lining the curved walls. Especially notable is a supersized model of the termin...