Concepts and Identity Through Reuse

The image that I chose to depict what I feel is the single most defining element of the Iron Horse Hotel includes the pediments on the facade of the building. Though these are original, they have been adapted not only in multiple forms throughout the interior of the building, but also have been used to brand the identity of the building as a hotel. The shape of the ornamentation brings to mind a horse's head. The shapes also reveal what could be seen as the letters "I" and "H." When concepting was being done for the hotel, the surrounding environment was used for inspiration as well. Directly next to the Iron Horse Hotel are the railroad tracks for the old Soo line. When Native American Indians lived in the area, they referred to the train as the "Iron Horse." Not only did this tie in conceptually with the identity of the area, it also tied in directly to the defining aesthetic of the individual building. The hotel is situated across the street from the Harley Davidson Museum, another defining characteristic of Milwaukee. Half of the hotel's patrons are motorcycle riders/enthusiasts, so the idea was also put forth that the motorcycle can be viewed as the modern day "Iron Horse." This aesthetic is carried out in the interior on the form of actual brands on furniture, logos on multiple items, and coat and purse hangers throughout the entire hotel. If I took one image from this tour and saw how it was capitalized on, duplicated, and reused to the most benefit of the hotel, it was the Iron Horse itself. This is a prime example of taking an original object on a site and using it to accentuate the historicism and character of the site itself. Though this building is being reused as a hotel currently, with many new additions, I believe the "Iron Horse" is a respectful touch to the building's history. This feature encourages me, as a member of the community, to want to research more of the history of the area.