The key to a memorable restoration isn’t just knowing what to toss—it’s knowing what to keep as well. Just look at what Waldorf Astoria did (and didn’t do) at its Amsterdam hotel.
What they kept
Nothing’s more iconically Amsterdam than the 17th- and 18th-century canal houses. Which is why the company left intact the facades of the six Golden Age–era brick-and-sandstone buildings that make up the hotel. Also untouched: the Rococo friezes by 18th-century painter Jacob Maurer.
Waldorf Astoria AmsterdamAlan Jensen
What they added
The outside may be classic Amsterdam, but inside, it’s all 21st-century flourishes—a waterfall-embellished indoor pool, a Guerlain Spa, Murano glass light fixtures, and, of course, flat-screen TVs—presented amid a palette of elegant creams and taupes.
Waldorf Astoria AmsterdamAlan Jensen